HAPPY NEW YEAR!

New Year’s has to be one of my favorite celebrations, right up there with Christmas and my birthday =) Even though we can start anew at any time we decide to, it always feels like a good time for a fresh start on January 1^st.

This NYE celebration was pretty different than my previous 23 celebrations. This year, we camped out in front of the Sydney Harbor Bridge to watch the world-class fireworks show. We got there around noon, and waited there all day so we could have prime seating for the fireworks. For a moment, it was raining. At other times, the sun was beating down like it was punishing us. Luckily, most of the time it was just overcast, and not too hot or too cold. The day was spent taking naps on concrete, eating snacks, reading books + the newspaper, taking pictures, and walking around every once in a while to regain circulation.

There were so many people there! It was completely necessary to camp out for the whole day.

Around 10pm, we started playing made-up card games with stupid rules (ex: lowest card drinks and highest card gets to pick someone to drink). The primary objective was to get a good buzz before the countdown. We also made videos regaling tales of 2010’s most memorable and embarrassing moments, and probably annoyed all of our neighbors while doing so. I didn’t even hear the countdown—just started seeing lots of fireworks!

And there we were—celebrating the beginning of 2010 on the other side of world from where we would usually be, with good friends and in good company. As it should be.

Thank you 2009, and welcome 2010!

Bondi Beach

On a day when the clouds decided to break and let the sun shine through, we hopped on a bus to Bondi Beach. I've missed the beach... It's been a few weeks since the last time I squeezed sand between my toes.

Bondi is huge! People tanning (or sun-burning), surfers in the water, and others jumping in the waves could be seen on the whole scope of the beach.

We took a nice hike along the coast, took a lot of pictures, found some dead fish, and ended up at Tamarama Beach.

I fell asleep on the beach and woke up in panic-stricken fear of being one of those people who wake up with terrible sunburn. Luckily, this wasn’t the case. I only suffered mild sunburn, unlike Brian, who was in pain from sunburned feet, back, arms, shoulders… pretty much everywhere. Yikes. No pictures to document. Felt too bad for him!

And at the end of the night, here we were, counting down to our NYE festivities in Sydney!

Tourists

Obligatory touristy sight-seeing photos @ the Sydney Harbor Bridge + Opera House:

And some dorky failed jumping shots, because these are more entertaining to look at than the ones that turn out like they're supposed to:

Christmas down under

Okay so... Sometimes I don't feel the "holiday spirit" until something sparks it in me, like Thanksgiving, or watching a holiday movie (like The Holiday!), or witnessing warm frenzies at the mall. But today is Christmas and it still doesn't feel like it...

Nonetheless, today, like all days, I have lots to be thankful for.

(1) I finally got to Skype with my family! I swear I've signed into Skype almost every time I've been on my computer, and never caught my Dad signed on until today. I got to see my parents for the first time since I left the country, and got to see my brothers, and even got to see my neighbors who happened to stop by while we were video chatting. Miss them!

(2) I love hospitable Filipinos! We've been staying with Ana's cousins in Sydney. I love how I can just get dropped into any Filipino household and feel like I'm at home. It also helps to have this munchkin running around:

That's Anton, wearing my sunglasses. Even though I didn't get to spend Christmas with my family this year, it's nice to spend it with another family =) We went with them to a 70s themed Christmas party and Noche Buena dinner after midnight with their friends. Even when I don't know the people, I love watching others opening gifts and enjoying the presence of their closest friends and family.

(3) The year's almost over and I've done everything I've wanted to accomplish this year. And more.

(4) I have the best friends + family in the world. I feel even more qualified to say that because I can still feel their love from so far away <3

(5) There's a jar of M&Ms in front of me.

(6) They make soda with pure cane sugar here instead of high fructose corn syrup.

(7) I'm just lucky beyond belief.

Happy holidays to you and yours! Count your blessings and tell your loved ones how you feel about them. Even though I definitely miss spending the holidays with family and friends, I'm still thankful for this opportunity to travel and have this experience. Being so far away from home makes me realize who and what are really important to me. I already can't wait until next year's holiday season so I'm able to spend this time with my family and friends!

Merry Christmas <3