Et cetera

I was in Sydney exactly ten years ago for a design conference. During that time we were staying at a cheap student hostel in the city. It was a really memorable trip for me, most of all because it was the first time I was allowed to go on an overseas trip with my friends, unsupervised. A guy who was working at the hostel had offered to take us tourists to check out “the best Sydney sunrise view” and I was really stoked as I was already falling in love with the city. So one morning just before the break of dawn he drove us kids out to this spot where I took this picture on my dad’s panoramic film camera. I remember quite a lot about that day – it was freezing and I was in a football jersey. My thongs had broken and I was wearing the new sneakers I’d bought the day before. We stopped by a gorgeous place I now know as Rose Bay. I even remember the hash browns we’d gotten on the way back from Maccas. But most of all I remember the promise I made that morning – I told myself that I would come back one day and it would be for much longer.

I know not what it is that fuels my fascination for this place, but this city has always been special to me in a way I can’t explain. This picture has been sitting on my fridge for as long as I’ve been in Sydney and I haven’t been able to find it until now..

It’s funny, but I have this romantic notion that one day I’d find this place again and my Sydney story would have an ending of sorts. After a few drives, countless GoogleMap searches and showing my picture to just about every local who’s ever been to my place.. I’d finally met someone who knew where it was!

And it was every bit as magical as the first time.