Experiences from Down Under

"Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!" -1 Corinthians 9:15 I was thinking about the title of this post, and I originally wrote "Final Reflection," but the "final" just seems too... abrupt and definitive. Yes, it is my last day in Australia for this trip, but I hope to come back, and it isn't a defining moment or anything. It is just a transition , Everyone has been asking me my highlights and what I’ll miss most. It’s so hard to choose; there have been way too many amazing moments the past 130 days. But here’s my attempt at picking the Top 3 (in no particular order): The beach! I’ve taken way too many pictures of the sky and the sea, and sometimes I wonder if my favourite colour is blue instead of purple. Whether it’s at Surfers Paradise or Noosa or Coogee, I’m blown away by the beauty of it all. I love the beach for its randomness and constancy: no two waves are the same, yet the tide constantly comes in, incessantly washing up ...

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that  he remain until I come, what is that to you?  You follow me!" -John 21:22 So more about Sydney: Sightseeing Barangaroo is worth a visit, although you don’t need to spend too long there. That section of the bay is covered in stone steps, and you can walk all the way around until you’re under the Harbour Bridge (which is worth walking across and going to the lookout). The top of the Barangaroo Reserve is also a great stargazing place apparently.  Barangaroo Paddy's Market isn't really a sight to see, but it's a market that sells cheap(er) souvenirs and is a must visit for tourists! The market is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm, so make sure to set aside some time to wander through the many, many stalls to find the perfect gift to bring back! :)  Food There’s so much food in Sydney, but the places by Circular Quay are high in price and low in quality. Eat in Chinatown for better food, and don...

I know, I know, I’ve already been to Sydney, but this time I went with my mum and did everything that I wanted, and more! We also got more perks because it was my mum’s birthday one of the days we were there 😃 To change things up a bit, I’ll do a Sydney tourist recommendation thing and split the trip into multiple parts so each post won't be too long.  Tour Guide Justine -Take the “I’m Free!” Sydney walking tour, which meets between St. Andrew’s chapel and Town Hall and runs daily at 10.30am and 2.30pm. The founder, Justine, is a Sydneysider (Sydney local) and started the tours eight+ years ago because all the tours back then were super expensive (like all the food there) and short. This tour lasts for three hours and takes you through lots and lots of Sydney history. It really is free, but you are invited to donate “what you thought the tour was worth” at the end.  -If you enjoyed the “I’m Free!” Sydney City tour, you can join their The Rocks tour every ...

Yay I finished uni in Oz this morning! I took my final exam, and now I'm on break for two whole months (although it feels like I've been on break for awhile not gonna lie). I expected much worse from Tuesday morning’s final, but God is gracious! So now I get to show you more pictures of Gold Coast :) This is probably my last time visiting Surfer’s Paradise, and I’m definitely going to miss it! Also can’t believe that I’ve visited four times in the last four months haha.  White Puffy Clouds & Reflection! Monday morning, my mum and I watched the pelican feeding at Charis’ Seafood restaurant at Harley Park. The shop feeds unwanted fish parts (head, bones, etc.) to the pelicans every day at 1.30pm, and the birds seem to know when it’s 1.30.    We got there around noon and the birds  were further out on the shore, but at 1.30pm on the dot they gathered by the shop even before the fisherman came out with the food. They’re really big! Their...

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses,  let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us" -Hebrews 12:1 I did it! This was one of the reasons I came to Australia to study abroad, and I finally hugged a koala at Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary with my mum yesterday! We rode the bus to the world’s largest koala sanctuary, home to over 130 koalas. It also showcases many different Aussie animals, including various reptiles, birds, and marsupials. Touristy Pic I learned a lot about these Australian animals and realised I’ve held lots of misconceptions about them. Koalas are pretty big (and my mum thought it was a bit heavy) and sleep 18-20 hours/day because their eucalyptus leaves diet doesn’t have much nutrition. The platypus (the plural is “platypodes,” although scientists use “platypuses” and people say “platypi”) we saw was very small! They’re onl...

I went to Noosa this weekend! Uncle Carey had a 30-year reunion, and he took me to see more of beautiful Australia. I didn’t do much except walk along the beach, look at the views, and feed the mozzies haha. It's amazing how the ocean looks different during different times of the day. I could be there all day and not get tired of watching the waves, climbing rocks, and getting splashed by the water. Evening Morning! Hell's Gate (Late Morning) On our way back, Uncle Carey drove along the coast and showed me Sunshine Coast 😃. A two hour drive home because twice as long because he would turn into the side streets just to give me glimpses of the beautiful ocean. So sweet and touching <3.  Sunshine Coast I went home, cleaned my room, and Aunty Jenny came back to pick me up to sleep over, because look who we picked up from the airport Monday morning! Mummy & Me So now I’ve just been showing my mum around Br...