Tim and I decided to take the ferry boat from Sydney Harbour out to Manly early Sunday afternoon, but before we did that, we did some grocery shopping. Going to grocery stores in foreign countries is always an interesting experience: what they have, what they don’t have, what they do completely differently, and the varying cost of things. Everything in Australia has appeared to be … Continue reading Day 10: Sunday Funday Sydney Style
Even though I was still adjusting to the new time zone, I managed to fill a day of sightseeing around Sydney. On the recommendation of my friend Cindy, I had breakfast at Bills in Darlinghurst. I sat at the communal table and enjoyed a hot cup of coffee and some decadent banana ricotta pancakes. After breakfast, I wandered through the jacaranda lined streets of Paddington, admiring … Continue reading Day 9: Sydney – Paddington Market, The Rocks, Kings Cross
My flight arrived in Sydney early on a Friday morning. Once I cleared customs, collected my luggage, bought my Australian SIM card and withdrew some Aussie dollars, I got in a taxi and headed to Darlinghurst to meet Tim, my Sydney host, at the Horizon Tower in Darlinghurst. The Horizon Tower is a somewhat controversial structure in Sydney as it is the sole skyscraper … Continue reading Day 8: Sydney, Australia – First Impressions
Because my flight from LAX to Sydney took me across the International Date Line, Day 7 of my trip was essentially a “lost day,” all of which was spent at cruising altitude over the Pacific Ocean. Essentially, I never got to have an October 24th. However, I’ll get one really long day on the way back over the Pacific sometime in February. Americans dream of … Continue reading Day 7: The Lost Day
My last day in Los Angeles was mostly spent getting ready to travel to Australia. I had some errands to run, but took some time for a relaxing massage to help me unwind before the long flight to Sydney. If you ever happen to be in the Los Angeles area, I would highly recommend him. He came recommended to me by a friend as well. … Continue reading Day 6: Hollywood Boulevard
Downtown LA is sometimes spoken of derisively, a place that empties out at 5 o’clock and is known more for the appalling conditions of Skid Row rather than having anything charming to offer the curious visitor. My relatives who live in Los Angeles warned me that it can be dangerous, but also noted that it has some interesting places worth exploring. Indeed, Downtown Los Angeles … Continue reading Day 5: Lost and Found Los Angeles
After returning to Los Angeles from Palm Springs, I decided to drive up to the Griffith Observatory, which sits at a high point offering spectacular views of the Los Angeles Basin, and do some hiking nearby. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that the observatory is closed to the public on Mondays; however, you can still walk around the building and admire the views. An upside of … Continue reading Day 4: Hiking above Hollywood
After catching up over dinner and drinks with some LA friends on Friday night in West Hollywood, my friend Jim and I made a 2 hour drive out to Palm Springs and checked in very late at the Villa Royale. The desert beauty of Palm Springs revealed itself in the morning as I took a walk around the Villa Royale’s charming courtyards and admired the … Continue reading Days 2-4: Palm Springs
The weather couldn’t have been more amazing in Los Angeles yesterday. After landing at LAX and picking up my rental car, I headed to Santa Monica to explore the beach and take a walk around the city. The Santa Monica pier is admittedly touristy, but it’s a pleasant way to walk around and soak up the California sun, watch surfers ride the waves and admire … Continue reading California Dreamin’: Exploring Santa Monica
After months and months of preparation, the day has finally come. Early tomorrow morning, I’m going to board a plane in Nashville that will be the first flight of many on a worldwide journey that may last over a year. I’ll be spending a few days in Palm Springs and Los Angeles before flying across the Pacific to Australia. After a month traveling there, I’ll … Continue reading Tomorrow the Journey Begins
Journeying Jeff 