Sydney day 8 - Syndey reflections and getting to Brisbane

Built Enviornment:

It seemed as if sydney is one step ahead of us in many areas as far as energy savings.  Everywhere we go it seems as if there are places to store grey water in gigantic barrels.  This method of water savings seems to be the new thing.  I think it is a very good idea and something that americans should look into doing.  I do think we are getting better at this through our LEED programs around the states but we could definitely be on Syndey's level and it seems as if we are far from that.

Grey water storage tank.

Natural Environment

Syndey seems to be extremely well planted.  Yes, well planted... I mean that they seem to take advantage of every tree and it seems as if the last thing they want to do is to destroy more trees in order to gain more parking spaces... etc.  I see this most at their beaches.  If you have ever been to Destin you know that there is very little vegetation by the ocean due to high volumes of parking lots for huge grocery stores and shopping malls.  It's hard to find natural vegetation around three miles away from the ocean.  It is completely different in Sydney.  There are trees everywhere that have been there a very long time and parks everywhere.

Local Culture

The local culture in brisbane is hard to distinquish between what I expereince in Birmingham Alabama.  Everyone seems to pass each other with a face of determination to get to their next destication wthout really smiling back at you, the people seem to mind their own business, and the culture seems to be a little bit faster paced than Birmingham but slower and Atlanta.  Every now and again you would see someone walking around with a suit on but maybe that is beecuase we were so close to campus.  I got a very "chill" feel from Syndey.  Even though it seemed slow paced I couldn't help to notice the fashion around town.  The guys wore tank tops and the girls wore draping dresses.  I felt like I was California for a little bit!

Lazy day at Bondi Beach

Minority Culture

I wrote more about this on my earlier blogs.  It still is really strange to not see a large Hispanic culture around the job sites... etc.  I also have noticed that I rarely see an African America.  What I do see alot of here is an overwhelming amount of Asians.  It is hard to go one block without running into a large group of Asians.  At some points I feel as if I am in Asia!!

Conversation with a Native

So we have been to a few bars and I have been lucky enough to have met a lady friend that has lived in Sydney her whole life!  She has told me so much about the Australian culture and what to avoid and what should do during my time here.  We keep in touch through text and phone and I look forward to continuing to follow her advice in Australia/New Zealand.  She is coming to tour the United States within a year so I told her that I'll return the favor once she is in my neck of the woods :)

BRISBANE!!!

So this morning we woke up feeling extremely rough.  We decided that last night we were going to go “all out” for our last night in Sydney (until we get back in about a month).  Needless to say every single one of us didn’t have time to take showers before rushing to the airport to jump on a plane to head to Brisbane.  It was one heck of a scary flight for me for some reason… I’m already a little hesitant to fly as it is.  When we were being pushed out of our terminal there was a really strange noise coming from the bottom of the plane.  It sounded exactly like if you were to try and start your car and it would almost start but be halted by a grinding noise.  As I was peering out the window asking God to please let me get of this plane somehow I turned to my right to see my buddy Matt acting like he was trying to crank his car while pressing on the gas.  I then proceeded to laugh for at least 5-10min all the way through the safety announcement that the flight attendants give.  As she was giving the safety speech (as if anyone would have a chance at survival if the plane plunges to the ground) I began to shed tears and the flight attendant had trouble finishing the talk because she started laughing with Matt and I.  After the laugh attack the plane literally taxied to our runway for about 15 minutes.  At one point I looked over at Matt and asked if he had any extra cash for me just in case we needed tip the taxi driver because I was afraid we would have to pay a rolling fee. 

Anyways, we finally took off and it was the most terrifying plane ride ever.  I used to fly single engine planes so I have a little bit of a sense of what descending and how the landing process should go.  This pilot flew like he was on flight simulator version 2000 and was flying a F-16 jet.  He took crazy, steep angle turns and while we were about to land he has to push the throttle to full power which means we were about to land on the highway right before the landing strip.  Kind of sucks knowing all of this because it does nothing but increase my fear of flying.

After we landed we were greeted to a presidential way off the plane… Stairs.  I thought it would have been more proper for the stairs to have red carpet because I felt like a new man getting off that plane.  I HAD SURVIVED!  We then continued on to our hotel that is very nice.  Two bedrooms in a box shaped room, Kitchen in the hallway right before the bathroom and our own personal washer and dryer.  Oh and yes we do have a television.  Oh, and no we do not have internet.  Oh and we finally have Air Conditioning.  That is the best part about it!  After we got settled up in our rooms we go on a walk to the park where we were supposed to get on a ferry to take us around the city.  When we got there we were told that it only goes twice a day and of course we missed both of the opportunities so we will just have to do that tomorrow.

On our way back to the hotel we all decided to stop by the grocery store and grab some food that we could grill out.  We grilled out on the top floor where they had a pool and great view of the city.  Soon after dinner I was quick to head back down stairs to my room where I am about to fall asleep.  It’s 9pm and I’m going to sleep until 9am (thank the lord).  We’ll I’ll be writing you later.  Night everyone!