Sydney

I had wanted to go to Australia since I was 12 or 13 and watched the Australian Open. I dreamed of being an exchange student there. Finally at the age of 31 I was realizing my dream. Melbourne was my first stop and of my 4 nights there, most of the time was spent recovering from food poisoning and to make matters worse, I tweaked my knee so walking around was nearly impossible, but that didn't stop me from hobbling around a few days and seeing as many sights as I could. By the end I was feeling a little better and it was off to Sydney.

Melbourne had a lot of cool graffiti and buildings, I would of liked to see more of it.

My new and dear friend Jhanna picked me up at the airport in Sydney. Although we had just met a few months earlier, we spent 2 months at Esalen, which can be like spending 10 year with somebody. She was nice enough to let me stay with her and show me around all the beaches like Bondi. Sydney is really a beautiful city with a high quality of life. The only downside really is that it is expensive! The biggest thing I can't get over about Australian culture is that they say, How you going? Instead of How's it going or How are you doing. The question stumps me everytime.

 

I was expecting brutally hot weather but its pretty pleasent most of the trip. After not knowing anyone for a few weeks, seeing Jhanna is like eating after being starving. Its so great to be around someone I know and care about. I am starting to mentally and physically prepare for a tennis tournament I signed up. I haven't played a tennis tournament in over 2 years, so I am rusty and nervous about my knee and lack of conditioning. The good news is I don't have any pressure on myself, the tournament coincided with the dates I got a flight, so I thought it was a great idea to play. Tournaments are always a great way to meet people. Speaking of meeting people I have one of those strange stories that just has to be mentioned. Funnily enough, Jhanna and I had been talking a lot about omens, signs and synchronicity and how we interpret them and do they have any meaning and if so, what is it?

So Jhanna had made dinner reservations for Valentines day for me and one of her close Aussie friends she wanted me to meet. Let me remind you, I don't really know anyone in Australia except for Jhanna who I met 2 months prior. So she dresses me up in a nice shirt and we go to Long grain, an upscale Thai restaurant. It turns out, that I do actually know someone else in Australia. Sort of.

Remember when I played that tennis competition in Cologne in 2010?(Deutschland blog entry) I had met Ross randomly there, he was staying in the same hotel as Daniel and I and I ran into him at the internet lounge area. I remember him telling me he had just been to Berlin and that he was a designer of some sort, furniture or something. So we all had a lovely dinner. Jhanna was flabbergasted, what were the chances? Did it have any further significance? I interpreted it that I should keep playing tennis! Afterwards we went to Ross's furniture and design store. The man is a genius. He creates sustainable furniture and accessories that are beautiful and great for the environment. His store was mind-blowing beautiful. I bought a journal. Afterwards we all went for some gelato in Bondi. It was a great Vali day. The next day my tournament was starting.

The tournament was in Olympic park, where they play the annual Sydney pro tournament and where they had the Olympics. Its a wonderful venue and they put my match in the stadium. I end up playing allright and winning my first match. I am happy and surprised, it feels good to be back playing a tournament, to have an adrenaline rush and to have a win.

The stadium may have been empty but my heart was full. What a great dream come true. My next match I lose to the overall winner and play a competitive match. I couldn't have asked for a better come back tournament.

This is the after tournament dinner. There were a few other fellow Americans playing and Tyrone, the one next to and behind me, made a really kind effort to take me under his wing and make me feel welcome. He let me hang out with his crew, found me housing during the tournament, fed me, got me some practice matches and hits, in addition to rides to and from the venue. So I can't thank him enough, he was also hosting another American and playing in the tournament and balancing his own private life. That's why I love the glta tour, its a great way to travel, meet people, and make friends. They were glad that by the end I had loosened up a little, and I couldn't imagine a better visit to Sydney.

 

Jhanna gave me a few books to read on my long flight home. I had discovered Bryce Courteney in Bangkok, by reading the Power of One. It was an amazing book. Apparently he had moved to Australia(hes from S. Africa) and wrote a handful of other books. She lent me April Fools Day and it destroyed me like only an unbelievable true story can.