I’m not a fan of repeat destinations. Not because I find places I’ve visited before to be uninteresting or lacking beauty. But with thousands of cities and countries in the world, there’s always a trade-off.

There was an opportunity at work to do a short engagement in Australia. Without hesitation, I seized the moment and went.

Side note: for taking me from the Netherlands to Australia, among many other things, I’m grateful to Unilever.

This was my third time in Sydney. I was under no pressure to check out sites, go on hikes, or eat at specific restaurants. Hence, the exact cost of what I miss out on every time I opt for something new became clearer.

I saw friends I haven’t been in contact with for a while – from university, work, debates, and travels. I’ve also enjoyed my time with colleagues who’ve become my friends.

And this reminded me of what I already know but keep on forgetting – their lives go forward as I embark on my own adventures. And that happens with or without me in the picture.

I’ve slowed down my pace. Too often, I’d finish the must-sees without experiencing local life. They do their routines – cook food, do groceries, exercise, meet up, etc. And I did some of those things this time around.

The biggest bonus was being in Sydney for Anzac Day. Even though I hate waking up early, I got up at 4am to attend the Dawn Service. When else would I be in Sydney during a national holiday? A couple of hours later, the Anzac Parade commenced.

I pretend I’m above emotions. But seeing the joy on the faces of veterans, as the crowd cheered and applauded their contributions, was heart-warming. As moments of silence were observed, and as the servicemen and servicewomen got their recognition, I witnessed people tear up and get overwhelmed with an immense amount of gratitude.

This is to say that staying put is fine. However, that choice isn’t mine.

I’m not switching gears yet. But the equation is less blurry. The flipside got more compelling. But these realisations strengthened my resolve to continue traveling and exploring my unchartered territories.

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For places I visited in Sydney, you can follow this link.

The trip to Sydney happened from April 2023 to May 2023.