My all time favorite thing about traveling is finding my way around new cities. I prefer to walk around and get lost and then find my way back again. It is the best way to get to know a city. Another great way to see the city and to cover more ground is by utilizing the public transportation system.
All of my favorite cities have great PTS. The street car in New Orleans, the subway in New York, the tube in London, the metro in Tokyo and Hong Kong and now the Underground Railway in Sydney.
We had one day with nothing planned so we decided to jump on the train and see where it took us. We got on at Central and took the train 4 stops to Bondi Junction.
Bondi Junction is a great shopping area of Sydney. It has several stores that line the streets and then a huge mall. I have to give you a little back story so you understand why this was such an exciting site for me.
In China, there are a lot of high end malls. Lots of name brands. You can find any and everything you need in China. Except for a shoe in a size 9.5. In the six years I have lived here, I have never been able to purchase a pair of shoes. It is really sad because, I love shoes. I mean, I really love shoes.
I have been wearing the same 3 freakin pairs of shoes for 18 months now (last time I was in USA). I needed new shoes.
In Sydney Australia, I found shoes. In fact, I found several shoes stores in Bondi Junction and every single store I went to and every shoe I asked to see had a size 9.5. I was in 9.5 shoe heaven. I was such a great feeling. I brought 4 pairs.
So, I send thanks out to you all. To Sydney for loving big feet people, to Bondi Junction for housing some great shoes stores and especially to the Underground Railway. If it was not for you and your easy access all over Sydney, I might still be wearing the same 3 freakin pairs of shoes.
Sydney Aaliyah Michelle 
You are so right, jumping on the underground is a fab way to discover new places in a city. I love to just wander around and get lost. For me, traveling is about seeing the places I’m visiting ~ the people, the businesses, the culture. Sure I like to see the sights and landmarks, but it’s the off beat places that make the trip that much more interesting.
Hey, for you Z challenge you could do a city in China that starts with Z or maybe Zip Codes. Or a food that starts with Z? Same with X ~ aren’t there about a thousand places in China that start with X? I should be writing, instead I’m trying to figure out what you can do for your A-Z challenge. Oi. 🙂
Tameri, I appreciate the help, but get back to work. haha. I think I have Z figured out, X. I like your idea. There is this city in China that I have to go to before I leave. You can read about it on Friday.
It is much more fun to explore a city on foot or public transportation than via tour. I can relate to the street car in New Orleans and the subway in New York. Great systems.
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Yeah. I agree, New Orleans is fun because you can see the scenery as you go along. NY subway, it took me a couple of tries to figure it out, but easy to navigate now. I think the London tube is my favorite. It goes so far out into the country side.
I was hopelessly lost on the Sydney Underground the first time I tried taking it. I was tired and jet-lagged, and had absolutely no idea where I was going or where I was to get off. If I ever get back, I’m going to get a map and make sure I know where I’m going. That’s the most helpless I’ve ever felt.
John, the Sydney system isn’t this easiest to follow. We didn’t intend to go to Bondi Junction, we just got on the train going to wrong way. HAHA.
I love undergrounds and the whole concept of exploring with a camera and seeing as opposed to viewing what is around me.
As to feeling helpless, I can recall feeling exactly that fear when I left Marks & Spencer’s in Brirmingham clutching a briefcase when I realised I was lost because I had gone out of a different door!
Yet, 12,000 miles and wandering the streets observing and mingling no problem!