Mental Health Recharge Winter Weekend in Sydney

I’m in Sydney to visit Jik.

I couldn’t sleep on Friday. Up at 4, then 5-ish, as always happens before a morning flight. So I gave up and got out of bed early for my 7 AM airport run. Getting ready at that hour always feels like a hassle, but the payoff was worth it. Sonic Sue jeans, hair blow-dried, blue tulip earrings on. It felt good to arrive at the airport looking put together instead of rolling up in glasses and wild hair (my usual travel look, let’s be honest).

On the flight to Sydney, I had a slice of passion fruit coconut cake (super nice), a few sips of apple juice, and a mini bottle of water. Read a chapter of Swimming, snoozed a little, and had Jordy’s commentary playing in my earphones. So glad my right earphone decided to work again.

After landing, I took the train from the city. Quiet carriage, everyone lost in their own thoughts, the kind of mood where you can just be. I was especially grateful for the body warmer stickers I’d stuck on my back. They gave me exactly the warmth I needed. Sydney isn’t even that cold, just gloomy, but still. I’m now wondering if I should stock up on more of those warmers.

On the Metro from Central, I found myself thinking about what would make a really good weekend in Sydney: relaxing, resting, eating, but not overeating like I usually do when I am here. I was open to anything nourishing. Food, company, chat, warmth, all of it sounded perfect.

Also spotted on the Central station: a big man with an interesting fortune water bottle thingy hanging from his pants.

Eventually, I reached her place. She was on a call, so G let me in, and I felt a fresh wave of gratitude that I wasn’t working today.

After a bit of chit chat, I asked him the important question: what should we order from Uber Eats for lunch? I wanted Indonesian, but there was none nearby, so he suggested Cuvai, a Sri Lankan place he and Fafa went to for his bachelor party last year. We put in the order: kottu roti for Jik, veg biryani, okra, potato, and white rice. Because one should always have white rice.

We continued chatting about life until Jik came and joined us for a late lunch. Eventually, she wrapped up work and started making us mulled wine at 5 PM.

The fireplace was on, and Harry, the dog they’re dog sitting, was curled up on my leg. We talked about life, called my Amma, caught up about her Amma, all by the fire.

That Friday overall was an early start, a comfy flight, and a nourishing afternoon with friends. Exactly as ordered.

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We picked things up again on Sunday evening, arriving in Blacktown after a weekend in the Blue Mountains, in the late afternoon before Ubering back to hers.

At home, a vegan Japanese feast awaited us. Edamame to start, ponzu-glazed carrots (my absolute fave), grilled corn and agedashi tofu. I kept eating while she kept pouring soju for both of us.

Drunk and full, we put on Obsession, talked way too much through the whole movie, and thoroughly creeped ourselves out before going to bed.

The next day was a blur: two hours of brain-rotting in bed, two cups of espresso, packing, a phone call with Amma, saying goodbye to Harry, hijacking their horror movie collection, and downing two plates of Indomie that she cooked exactly how I like it.

Knowing how someone takes their Indomie is a sign of love. It is a sign of love.

And with that, I said goodbye to my friend and to a lovely winter mental health break in Sydney.

Now back to Melbourne.

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