Sydney- Australia

After graduation from high school I decided to take a year off before I went to college, I wanted to see Australia which had always been a dream of mine.  Australia is one of those places that just seemed so majestic in nature with the Sydney Opera House, the Great Barrier Reef, and the wilderness that surrounded it.

During my youth my parents traveled quite often for work, sometimes I got to go along with them, we stayed in different places; some of them were quite nice, really nice actually.  I especially remember one really great rental in Vienna, Austria that was booked via Tellavista.  Unfortunately, you can’t  book a rental in Australia through Tellavista; however, there are plenty of other options available.  I wasn’t really concerned as you can look here to find different rentals in different areas of Australia.

I planned to be there for about 2 months, I wanted to see a lot of different things in many different places.  It wasn’t a time to rest and relax, it was a time to see and try.  Although I didn’t have any plans in mind, I did have a few different things that made it to the top of the “to do” list.  Over the next couple weeks I stayed in Sydney.  I was able to see a performance at the Sydney Opera House which has been just amazing.  I have always been a lover of the performing arts, so this was a real treat to me.  During my time in Sydney there was so much to try that I decided to be the quintessential  tourist.  I think I might have eaten in every restaurant within 30 miles of my apartment.

One of the things that was on that “to do “ list was the Great Barrier Reef.  Ever since I was a young boy it has always been something I wanted to do.  I found a guided tour that takes you to the most beautiful parts of the reef to dive and snorkel.  Fortunately they know just about every inch of the reef so they know where to go that were the best.  I spent the next couple weeks in different areas around the reef, seeing different parts of it, taking different tours to explore more and more.

As the days were ticking by, I came to realize that doing everything I wanted to do wasn’t going to happen; there is simply too much of Australia, and not enough time.  While it wasn’t the easiest choice, I decided since this is a once in a lifetime experience, I was going to take more time to be here.  Since I didn’t have to be back in the states for a while, I opted to make this my home for the next year.

Australia has so many places to visit and so much to do, as a tourist, I didn’t really know where to begin.  I have heard of people backpacking through Europe for a summer trip so I decided to do that through the land down under.  It was an experience like no other, long days, exciting sights, and great food.  I was able to experience things that I never could imagine.  During my backpacking I would stop for a week or two, maybe pick up a side job for a local and get some additional cash.  I learned so much in so little time that I was even impressed with myself.

Now and then I would find a place, stay for a week or so to recuperate and relax.  During these times I would meet people and talk to the locals there, find out what was around the place and then go there.  It was the most difficult experience I have ever been through, I walked hundreds of miles, got sick a couple times along the way, but the experience and knowledge I gained was priceless.

The year I spent in Australia was a life experience that I will never forget.  It was full of surprises, new adventures and a lot of things you just won’t find in the states.  While not every single day was jammed packed with excitement, the main focus was to broaden my horizons and to experience all that I could.  It was during the time I was there that I made a decision that I would travel to a new country about every five years.  I think my next trip will be in Mexico.  The culture that they have there has always interested me and I believe it will be a great time.  With any luck it will be able to compare to Australia.  That’s a tall order but it’s going to be a great time anyway.

Brad Williams loves travelling and checking out new places (who doesn’t).  It was his wanderlust and the love for penning down his experiences that compelled him to become a travel writer.