Last Saturday, when the bus from Canberra pulled into Sydney's central station, I found myself feeling curiously nostalgic for this city, and particularly this bustling and somewhat seedy[1] neighborhood of Haymarket and Redfern.

I only spent 5 days in Sydney, but living in a shared house there, walking up to Central every day, and returning to the outskirts of the Haymarket every evening to slurp noodles or other asian food, I got into a routine. And got a sense of the place that goes perhaps a bit beyond the tourist sights.

Perhaps if I'd had more time I would have found a decent coffee shop that had both free wifi and abundant seating. They seem scarce in Sydney. I instead often got on the ferry to Manly when I wanted some sit down and code time.

One time when I was exploring the headlands above Manly beach, I noticed this sign.
Then I ran into this guy. Click him for an amusing video.

Anyway, Sydney is on my very short list of cities I'd actually enjoy spending some more time in some day, along with San Francisco, Vancouver, Oslo, and London.

[1] Depending on what's inside all the "VIP lounges" and "Thai massage parlours" on every corner that I did not explore, perhaps thoroughly seedy?