From St. Kilda to King's Cross pt. 2 - Living in Sydney

Sydney was the highlight of my year in Australia in 2018. It was the city I spent around 5 months back then, and I enjoyed my time to the fullest. Sydney is so beautiful, full of nature and exciting architecture. I was a little bit afraid I wouldn't feel the same this time, but I shouldn't have worried. From the first day onwards I knew it - this is where I would most likely spend the rest of my Working Holiday visa (and maybe more). Living in Sydney was finally on my roster.

Sydney was noticeably warmer than Melbourne, though there were some really bad rainy days in the beginning. I had booked a hostel bed from a 5-bed female dorm in Surry Hills, which was the place I first arrived in 2018 as well. Maybe I was trying to be nostalgic, or maybe it was just the fact that the hostel was one of the cheapest one I could find.

Surprisingly, the prices were much cheaper than in Melbourne, but it was clearly because there was more competition. You could always find a bed in Sydney, so the hostels can't raise their prices too much, or backpackers will go elsewhere.

King's Cross' famous Coca-Cola sign

I did roam around a little bit in the beginning. I went - again - to some free museums and art exhibitions. I walked around the same areas where I had spent most of my time in 2018, and explored Sydney to see what had changed and what had stayed the same. There were less construction works going on, which was nice to notice.

On the first day I went to a walk in the beautiful Chinese Garden of Friendship at Darling Harbour. I have no memory of the garden from 2018, but maybe I visited back then as well. The garden has been on the spot since 1988, and it was made to resemble some traditional Chinese landscape paintings of mountains and forests. The place was so peaceful and stunning.

I immediately started job hunting and sent multiple job applications to restaurants, schools, travel agencies, movie distribution companies and cinema companies. I got a couple of interviews in local language schools but ended up choosing the same school I worked for in Perth as well - the working hours were just a better fit. In the other school I would've had an evening shift, which would be the end of my already very minimal social life. I would just end up sleeping in every morning and going straight home after work.

After finding a job, it was time to start apartment hunting. In Sydney, it is tough. The rental costs are high and utility costs are constantly rising, as it currently is all around the world. I went to see multiple places that seemed amazing in the pictures, but reality was something completely different. 12 people apartments, own room, but the places seemed like they were never cleaned. Windows and doors were broken, and they requested 350-450 dollars per week for it.

There were also places that had built make-shift walls into an apartment living room and separated that one space into three super small "rooms" for people to live affordably. I was confused on what was going on around Sydney. In 2018 everything was a lot cheaper.

I wasn't in a hurry, because I thought I could easily live in a hostel with the same price as long as I could, and just take my time in finding a place. Soon I did get a message for a room in Ultimo, and I went to see it. The place itself was amazing, I had a balcony and the room was spacious. My flatmates were two super nice guys, and I enjoyed my short (a little over 1 month) time there. Short, because I soon realised that maybe 380 dollars a week was too much for me, as I did want to try to save some money as well. The place was also super cold, but I knew that it was something all Australian homes had in common.

I didn't actively search for a new place but just casually scrolled in some groups once in a while. At some point I received a message on the Flatmates-platform, from a profile that didn't have a profile picture, or no pictures of the room. Location seemed super good, and price a bit lower as well, so I thought, why not. I went and inspected the room and decided to accept it nearly on the spot.

I knew that the lease in the new apartment was going to end mid September, and after that the rent would most likely increase significantly. I understood it, but still didn't want to pass on this opportunity. I could always find a new place in September, if needed.

My new place is directly in Darling Harbour and next to Chinatown. I can walk to work in Chippendale and be surrounded by so (too) many restaurants and cafes and things to do. So far, I love it. The apartment complex has their own gym and swimming pool downstairs, which also lowers my costs as I don't need to pay for membership fees (as if I had paid anything in Sydney yet... but now I wouldn't need to!).

Sydney is so far been a lovely place to live, but as the months get colder, I notice I am missing the Perth weather. I also have a lot of work to do in creating a friend group around me - I have participated in some social walks and events, but I haven't yet built any long lasting friendships. But I will do my best and try to throw myself into new situations with new people. More on city of Sydney, friendships, work and art exhibitions later!