A proud member of the 7 Continent Club.

Day 3: Friday, June 19th, 2015
Steps taken: 15,095 (At this point the timer on my 3DS is 14 hours behind.)

When everyone claps after a flight, especially a long one such as this one of fourteen hours, there is a sense of relief.  For me, it was a culmination of all the flights that I have taken to get here.  I was applauding myself for seeing so much of the world in the past seven years.  I was applauding myself for living life.  In the months between booking the trip, and getting here I thought about the instant of seeing my last continent for the first time, touching down on Australian soil, and was sure it would be a freeing, tearful occasion.  While I blunk back tears it was no less poignant.  I wonder if it was the build up or being surrounded by others, but I didn't feel the need to shout that I was the world's greatest explorer or weep with a huge smile on my face.  Regardless, I made it and I might have been the proudest person in the world at that particular moment.

With my head held high I went through customs, picked up my luggage, and got a shuttle to my hotel for the next two days: the Sydney Boulevard Hotel.  When we arrived in Sydney, the weather did not match my spirits.  It was raining, and a bit gloomy.  It was definitely cool to see the plane rushing/hydroplaning through the water on the runway.  I do not think I have ever seen that before.  I arrived at my hotel at 10am.  Thankfully I was able to check in.  Because of the weather, and long flights I was not in a hurry to explore Sydney.  While my first impression of the city's aesthetics was a positive one I vegged until noon or so.  Then fatigue set in.  I decided to set the alarm for 2pm, and rest up before going out.  The alarm clock was a bit odd, and definitely not easily programmed like the ones I was used to.  The alarm did not go off at 2, and seemed to be progressing along with the standard clock, therefore I slept an extra hour or two.  I didn't leave my hotel room until 5:30, and by then it was getting dark.

I decided to take a left out of the hotel, and that led me towards the King's Cross area of Sydney.  My first stop along the way was a convenience store where I picked up some peanut butter timtams, and some raspberry ones.  Then I found a book store, and checked that out for a few minutes.  I was weighing my dinner options.  There were a few good looking Thai restaurants along that stretch of Williams Street.  As I was crossing a street, this guy made a comment about the cracks in the road.  It was sort of strange, and I didn't know exactly how to reply, but he didn't come off as dangerous.  I thought about it as we were walking down the next street along side each other and asked him if he knew of any good places to eat in the area.  He said he wasn't from Sydney (I think he said he was from Adelaide), but we wandered looking for places.

Dave and I after finally introducing ourselves went to a pub called The Sugar Mill.  Dave had already eaten so he was only there to drink.  I ordered a cider, and a BLAT.  Since it was on the burgers menu I was confused and thought I was getting a bacon, lettuce, avocado, and tomato burger, but it was just a sandwich.  Still a good meal.  Since Dave was interested in drinking more than anything else I left after I finished eating to wander around a bit more.  It was nice to have some short lived company though.

After wandering for half an hour or so I returned to my hotel room and cracked open the PB timtams.  I turned on the telly, and the last twenty minutes (starting from when The Master fights back against the Time Lords) of the Doctor Who episode "The End of Time' was on.  Fitting to think what I have done in my travels.  As David Tennant transformed into Matt Smith I imitated the act of regeneration.  Full of time & space energy from getting to this point.  While I didn't physically become another person I would like to think that I have regenerated internally.  People regenerate every day that they live; they take everything from the previous day and become something more (or less).  I want to believe that from the time that I started my adult world tour in Egypt until I reached Australia that I have become a new Dylan.  Regenerated into the 2nd Dylan (or maybe I'm on my fifth incarnation as a being.) if you will.  I will regenerate again.  Perhaps as a Doctor of Literature or an accomplished author whose stories help others regenerate themselves or maybe even as a husband and father.  No matter what I regenerate into I am beyond proud of the Dylan I have become.

I posted on Facebook to share in my accomplishment (And shouted out to my friends who were already in the 7 Continent Club: Scott Palma, Dan Hsu, April Harrington, Dave Peck, and Melvin Mendoza.  We all have conquered the world in our own special ways.)  I also posted a quote that sums up how I feel as an adventurer from my favorite Japanese role playing game called Lunar: Silver Star Story.  After defeating the Magic Emperor Ghaleon and saving the day, the former Dragon Master Dyne/Laike tells the new Dragon Master Alex and his love Luna before they return home to Berg that "The world is boundless.  I'll never claim all of its treasures, or learn all of its secrets.  But I don't feel hopeless about it...I feel fortunate.  Fortunate that I'm alive and able to explore a world with such endless adventure".  I am indeed fortunate to have been able to do what I have done and although my initial feelings post-Antarctica was that my life had peaked, there will always be new adventures to be had, destinations to go, and mountains to climb.  My suggestion is that while no one's world is going to be constructed and lived the same way, to go find your own path to happiness.  Mine was becoming a member of the 7 Continent Club and I shall never forget this day.  Next goals: 50 states before I turn 50, and then become a member of the Century Club (100 countries).  More regenerations on the way.