Travelling to Australia – My first night in Australia

After looking at flights to Australia and some ‘umming and ahing’ I did it.  I bought a one way ticket from Manchester to Sydney.  So my first night in Australia was also my first night away alone by myself.  Therefore this night is rather significant and a very memorable night, and is one i’ll never forget.

On the plane to Australia developing square eyes staring at the TV monitor on back of the seat in front of me dreaming about what awaits me down under, I am feeling an entire list of emotions: anxiety, excitement; optimism; happiness and nervousness.  After all, it was my first trip abroad and I had bought a one way ticket and wasn’t planning on returning for a year.  I had no idea what to expect but was excited at the prospect.

With no accommodation planned on arrival I had dreamt about jumping on the back of a kangaroo and riding into town and finding the nearest and safest hostel to Sydney city centre

With no accommodation planned on arrival I had dreamt about jumping on the back of a kangaroo and riding into town and finding the nearest and safest hostel to Sydney city centre. In reality, I jumped into the back of taxi and headed to a suburb north of Sydney.

After handing over the money to the taxi driver I suddenly felt out of my depth and comfort zone. Faced with a hoard of drunken Aussies and homeless aborigines I gulped at the prospect of walking past them to reach the little hostel that lay in wait a little beyond them.  I found this hostel online prior to departing but heard it wasn’t necessary to book.  I had hoped for a nice single room with a view of the city. No luck, all singles were taken, instead I got lumped with an 8 bedroom dorm which looked as if it had been ransacked and with pants and socks strewn about the place it looked like one giant sock drawer. And instead of a view overlooking the city I was faced with a window overlooking the drunken street people. Welcome to Australia!

It was fair to say I didn’t sleep a wink my first night, my expectations of how my first night would be were far from the reality I faced, but nevertheless, I was excited about the adventure and couldn’t wait to wake up the next morning to start exploring.