Reflections regarding Sunday March 16, 2025 through Monday March 17, 2025 in Sydney, Australia
One of the activities we really wanted to accomplish this year was learning how to surf. I figured—what better place to try than the famous Bondi Beach in Sydney? I had been (not so) patiently waiting for this day to come. The boys had been talking about it for weeks, and as a family we were especially eager to see Eitan, with his long, beautiful golden locks, feel right at home with the other surfer “dudes,” hanging ten while catching some waves.
I found Let’s Go Surfing online and signed up for a one-hour family lesson. With so many surf schools to choose from, their professionalism and incredibly fast response time made me feel great about my choice. It’s probably par for the course in weather-dependent industries, but their team reached out a few days ahead to adjust our lesson time for optimal surf conditions—a thoughtful touch that made a big difference.
After slathering on globs of zinc and wriggling into our wetsuits, we hauled our surfboards down to the beach through very hot sand. We learned all the moves — chicken, seal, warrior. It was silly, but fun and easy to follow. Everyone felt confident going from lying down to standing up on the boards… until we got into the water. It’s a lot harder when your surfboard is actually rocking on waves!
Our instructors, Archie and Marly, were wonderful with the kids. Everyone caught a wave, and a few of us even stood up. The boys were instantly hooked. They loved the lesson so much that we ended up renting boards and practicing for another two hours. Suffice it to say, we were completely zonked by the end. Everyone fell asleep early that night.
The next morning, Amichai, Eitan, and I woke up early to climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Sadly, the twins weren’t old enough to join, so Chaim, Shai, and Matanel spent the morning at the Sydney Aquarium instead. They loved it.
As for the climb—it was more of a walk with a couple of ladder moments than an actual climb, which left us a little disappointed at first. But once we adjusted our expectations, we could fully enjoy it. The views were spectacular. It was a crisp, clear day; the Sydney Opera House sparkled, and the water below glistened. We could see for miles.
After our respective excursions, we regrouped. Chaim headed to work, and I took the boys to the Taronga Zoo by ferry. That ferry ride is a perfect way to take in Sydney’s beauty. Between the bridge climb and the ferry ride, we could really appreciate how stunning and unique this city is. It feels different from other cities, yet familiar. Several of us were already talking about wanting to return for a few months — before we’d even left!
The zoo itself was lovely. Best part? We saw koalas! I was so excited. They were just hanging out in the trees above us, and we walked right underneath them. They’re so cute and cuddly-looking — it took all my willpower not to reach up and try to pet one.
There’s a great playground at the zoo, and we let the boys play while I noticed my phone battery was nearly dead. I sheepishly asked a nearby stranger if he had a charger I could use. A lovely man from Singapore came to the rescue and kindly let me use his. We ended up talking about traveling, Singapore, and parenting while the kids played. About fifteen minutes in, Matanel gave Shai a bloody nose (brothers!). Somehow, all of my “mommy bag” resources were gone, and I had nothing to give him. The kind man saved me again, pulling out tissues from his own stash. The odds of us ever meeting again are slim to none, but I will be forever grateful to him.
We stayed at the zoo until closing, which meant we missed the last ferry and had to grab an Uber home. Once back, the boys immediately got to work helping me pack — our next adventure awaited: Vietnam! We wrapped up the night with a family movie — Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (Amichai had made Harry Potter “required reading” for the boys while we were in India.)
Onward to Vietnam!
