This morning we didn't have to wake up super early. Hallelujah!
At around 10 am we left to the aquarium. Since it was was my birthday Stacey offered me a ride in a van with a family that she knew. I got right on that because well why not?!
So we made it to the aquarium and let me just say this aquarium was nice! Like they had a lot of interactive games and screen. Plus, they had a cool shark tank. It looked like this...
I saw all sorts of sharks swimming above me. The whole time I thought "if this glass breaks I'm done!" and it didn't help when I saw this little guy smiling at me. I bet he thought I was dinner... haha
But seriously that was perhaps my favorite part of the whole aquarium. Then I went through a place where they gave a glimpse of all the creatures out on the Great Barrier Reef. Which got me super excited because in case you didn't know I'm going to be snorkeling down there in just a few weeks!!!!
So after I was done, Mary and I went to get lunch because we were both starving. Because someone suggested a restaurant nearby we decided to go check it out. As I'm looking ready to order and pay my bill Mary says, "No, I'll pay. This is my gift to you." I was speechless. First, because that was very nice of her. Second, I didn't expect it and third, I really felt special and loved.
Plus she gave me this....
10 minutes later and our food was ready!! Yummm
Chicken Pesto Salad (Mary) & Chicken Sandwich (Me)
Thank you Mary!
After we were done we met up with the rest of the group and headed to the Museum of Contemporary Art Australia.
Some of the art was strange but some of it was pretty cool. Like there was one about a house and an octopus. The house represented the human body and the octopus the outside force. The house began scratching and tearing away some pieces and then suddenly you see the tentacles of an octopus just force their way into the house and the doors close. Apparently, the artist wanted to portray the power and influence outside forces can have in our inner self. Deep huh?!
Here is a picture of me and the sign. It's nothing special. I just wanted to show my peers back home that I'm cultured... haha
After that, we went to the Botanical Garden.
That place was so beautiful EVEN THOUGH it's winter over here.
I did manage to take pictures of flowers that are unique to this part of the world...
Enjoy!
Oh and I saw my 1st ...
Spyiiiiider
and it looked something like this....
I didn't freak AS much... hahah just a bit
I really wish it was spring or summer here because I bet there would be even more flowers to see. But it's ok I loved it all.
Right after that we met with others from the group and went to the Art Gallery of New South Wales.
This were my two favorite paintings...
Frederic Leighton "Cimon and Iphigenia" 1884
Arthur Murch "Allen" 1993
You can read all about them on: www.artgallery.nsw.gov.au
We are now officially done and ready to head home.
Right before the train station, I noticed this water fountain which has many Greek gods and goddess statues and this beautiful cathedral. Sorry my camera doesnt take good pictures..
This picture does not do it justice.
Don't know what this is only that it looked pretty with the lighting.
After much confusion, we finally managed to find our bus. But guess what?! The bus was not taking us directly to our home which meant that we had to walk a few more blocks home :( I was not looking forward to more walking but because there was no other option I buckled my big girls pants and kept on moving.
The walk was painful but we made it home and I was ready to go to bed. But little did I know Stacey had a little surprise for me...
She had made me and her son a birthday cake and bought some ice cream.
Here is a pic of me surprised...
After some nice ice cream and cake I was officially going to bed because tomorrow is our last day/free day and I have so much I want to do.
1) Session at the Sydney Temple
2) Patty's Market (the equivalent of a flee market)
3) Sushi for lunch
4) Explore more of Sydney
5) Head to Institute at 7:30 pm
and....
6) Do laundry, clean and pack...
See? Busy busy busy.But before I forget let me tell you two things I learned today...
1) People can be good better yet people are good. Normally, I keep my guard up with people because of my preconceived notions. Today a thought kept coming back to me. "Don't make some pay for the mistakes of others." In other words, everyone should have the opportunity to have a clean slate. If we already make up our minds about someone without really knowing them then it will be hard for them to change our minds and we can lose out on great influences in our lives.
2) The house and the octopus piece I saw at the museum really impacted me because it was so literal in a sense. As I watched it, I thought to myself "what influences are impacting who I am today?" and "who do I want to become tomorrow?" Today I am 1 year OLDER, so what do I want to with my life? What influences will I allow to enter my inner self and influence me?
Today my thoughts were everywhere as you can tell but I'm glad today went well.
I love you all a lot.
XOXO
Your traveling soul
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