hunting for breakfast: Getting lost in Surry Hills

When was the last time you set out on a journey to a place you’ve never been to before? Alone and unarmed - well, at least a map with you? 

The idea might seem daunting but when you’re twenty-five and had been working your ass off for more than a year without any legit vacation, you’d be thrilled to do something outside your usual grind. That, for me, meant getting lost in Surry Hills on a sunny day in Sydney.

Several months before my Sydney trip, I’ve been googling up restaurants and other places to “be” in Sydney and stumbled across Bourke Street Bakery. For some reason, this place got stuck to my head and I decided to visit it for breakfast that day. I woke up unusually early and eager to start my great Sydney bakery hunt in Surry Hills.

Since it seemed to be the nearest jump off point to my destination, I got off from Museum station and started to walk straight, along Elizabeth Street. 

According to the map, it didn't seem like a long walk. The map was inconveniently big and I didn't want to attract attention from the locals. I decided to keep it inside my bag and enjoy the stroll. I just needed to walk straight on, make a couple of left turns and voila, BREAKFAST! I kept that as my motivation as the walk started to get a little weird. 

After a couple of turns, I made my way into a plain and quiet neighbourhood with similar looking houses. It was just around seven in the morning so I assume most of them are still asleep or preparing for work. I thought, hmm, this could be Surry Hills already. However, I was starting to worry. I didn’t want to be “judge-y” but this doesn’t seem to be the place for a good bakery to be in. Aside it being sleepy and slow, it was a pain to be wandering around because it was hilly and boy, I had some cheeky sandals with me. 

I wasn’t quite dressed appropriately either. Though a sunny day was about to explode (so says the weather station online), people wearing layers of sweaters and jackets were giving me bewildered looks as I went around wearing sleeveless and shorts. 

Yep, with some Ruby Woo to top! That pic was taken when I finally gave up my pretentiousness and dug up my map. I retraced my steps and at that time, I was able to walk around 5 kilometers within the span of an hour! I was already half way so I decided to stay there, rest my bones for a bit before the final stretch.

I began to see some establishments along the street - a couple of cupcake stores, laundromat and even a mini grocery. This could only mean that the bakery is but a few meters away.

To cut the story short, it took me around thirty minutes of hardcore "hill" walking before I finally got to the place and was on the verge of giving up. Lifting this from my travel journal:

I was supposed to give up already but then I was able to get a whiff, a smell of really good bread. And just as I was about to give up - THERE IT IS!

Bourke Street Bakery (Surry Hills)

There was a line when I got there and on several times when I was eating. Most have their coffee and bread to go but for those of who want to enjoy their breakfast, there's a couple of chairs and tables on the side (al fresco).

Come to momma!

When I finally got to the counter, I was too giddy enough to get a decent shot of their goodies and just ordered. It felt overwhelming to finally arrive at a place you've been thinking (and drooling) about for the past few months. I got myself a decent Reuben Sandwich and some Mocha.



Was it good? HELL YES! My only regret was not trying their bagels, pies and muffins!

That ends my story about breakfast. Sharing with you some of my thoughts and feelings about this mini adventure:

1. Sometimes, the journey will last longer than expected.
2. Despite ample preparations, you could get lost. No map could prepare you for being right there, on your own. Just go, walk as planned. Check your map or pointers from time to time. Again, there's a possibility of getting lost but this should not scare you. 
3. You may have a map with you but you also need to know how to use it. Sometimes, you just don't take it and use it as it is. You have to study the map, know where you are (cross-reference it with the map) and find out the best way to go to your destination.
4. Taking shortcuts is okay. Switching paths could either make the trip shorter or longer and one wrong turn could make you lose your way. If shortcuts don't work, use the map.
5. You can also ask other people. Ask people along the way. 
6. Sometimes, getting there won't feel like what you've imagined for so long. Just take whatever you have and move along. I imagined me taking lots of snapshots of the place but ended up cozied at one corner with my coffee and sandwich. 
7. However tiring it is, nobody can take away the miles you've covered, the sights you've seen, the lessons you've learned along the way, the coffee and the Reuben sandwich you got for breakfast.