I had the privilege of helping my client, Tara, her husband, Dwayne, and their Taekwon-do club plan an 18-day trip to Sydney, Australia, this fall. Here is an excerpt from her epic adventure.
After a long journey, including two flights totalling 18 hours that crossed several time zones and an 11-hour layover in Los Angeles, we finally arrived in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It was more than worth it.
Dwayne and I had an amazing sleep last night, and we woke up promptly at 5:30 am to new sounds outside our window: the gentle splashing of the Parramatta River against the nearby pier, the intriguing call of the ibis, and the distant horn of the incoming ferry. Our curiosity got the better of us, and we quietly, not to wake our guest mates, ventured outside to explore our new world.
Near the pier, we found a well-marked path indicating the River Walk of the Sydney Olympic Park; it was surreal knowing we were walking where Olympians had competed less than 2 decades ago. This trail not only marks the past, but it is well-used by future Olympians. We were greeted with “G’day” with cyclists and runners speeding by, and we admired the ambition of the dozen rowers and sculls already well into their morning training.
Moved by the Olympic spirit, Dwayne coached me through my Taekwon-do pattern, which I would perform at ITF World Cup tournament at the Quay Centre in the Sydney Olympic Park tomorrow. The energy from the area fuelled me through the best performance of my Taekwon-do career.
On our way back to our apartment, we took a moment to breathe in the crisp, spring, salty air and appreciate the sun rising 16 hours, a day and a half, ahead of our friends and family back home.
It is a moment that I will cherish forever.
