| | May 27, 2006 - Sydney - A Home Away From Home | (click to enlarge)
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 | Our loft - home for 13 nights
| | Great city views from the Eastern Suburbs
| | Shawn and Eric - Best friends from home
| | Having a coffee in Bondi
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 | Carl and Shirley in Hyde Park
| | With Shirley at the Opera House
| | Views of Circular Quay from the Opera House
| | St. Mary's Cathedral in the setting sun
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 | Having the Aaron Family and Shirley over for dinner
| | "Hi Riley!!"
| | View from our balcony in Potts Point
| | Fountain where King's Cross meets Potts Point
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 | Granite sidewalks of King's Cross
| | Famous Sydney Opera House
| | Eric and Shirley near the Opera House
| | Signs of Sydney
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 | Opera House Roof
| | Sydney Opera House
| | Heading to Manly on the ferry
| | Sydney city skyline
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 | On board the ferry to Manly
| | Manly Beach
| | Best buds - Eric and Shirley
| | Walking around Manly
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 | Bird's eye view
| | The Sydney Harbour Bridge
| | Shirley and Carl in the loft
| | Queen Victoria Mall
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 | Bondi manequins
| | Walking from Bondi to Coogee on a cold windy day
| | Friends re-united - Carl and Xanthe
| | Lunch at the famous Wheels
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 | | | Beautiful Wooloomooloo Wharf - where Russel Crowe lives
| | Bye bye Sydney - harbour viewed from the air
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| | Sydney Australia - A Home Away From Home
After about 3 months of travelling in Africa, followed up by 3 months in South East Asia, we were very ready to settle in somewhere that was comfortable like home. Somewhere we could turn the tap on and drink the water. Somewhere we could order a salad in a restaurant and not have to ask if they wash the lettuce in purified water and wonder if they were answering truthfully or even understood what we asked. Or somewhere to be able to wake up in the morning and have breakfast without going out to a restaurant. And a place to be able to throw a load of laundry in, without tracking down a laundry service or doing it by hand in the sink (my least favourite chore in the world!). Of course, travelling for a year is the most incredible experience of our lives however, there certainly are some of those comforts of home that you start to absolutely yearn for and Sydney was our stop for satisfy these cravings.
Since both Eric and I had been to Sydney before, we were not too concerned about doing all the 'tourist things' and more looking forward to just enjoying city life and the comforts of home. For thirteen glorious days we settled in to our comfortable home in a gorgeous loft we rented, centrally located in trendy Potts Point. To make it feel even homier, we were fortunate enough to have friends in town as well. One of Eric's best friends from his school days and his family were living in Sydney for a year who we got together with several times. Shawn gave us a great tour of the Eastern Suburbs where he and his family have settled for a year. He then treated us to an amazing steak dinner where Maddie, his 7 year old daughter proceeded to tell us, "Daddy asked at the store for the best steaks they had and paid $32 per kilo so Eric would be happy." Kids do say the darnedest things, don't they! We later had them for dinner at our place loving the fact that we could actually have a small dinner party - something we certainly had never even thought about since we left home.
Often, Eric and I find we talk about how much of the travel experience is the people we meet when we are away. It can be not only the locals in the destination we are visiting, but also the other travellers we meet from around the world. I am sure the people we meet are going to be some of our fondest memories from the trip, as much as the places we have visit. While in Sydney this theory was further reinforced by meeting up with two people we had met from previous travels. The first was Shirley, our boisterous and fun friend from Melbourne. When we were in Southern Africa earlier this year doing our 20-day overland safari, we met Shirley and spent days and days laughing with her as we travelled along in our safari vehicle. It was certainly one of those special connections that makes the journey that much more enjoyable. When she found out we were coming to Sydney, she promised to fly up from Melbourne for a visit. Sticking to her word, Shirley arrived complete with her Lebanese cooking spices, to spoil us with more of her great cooking and good laughs throughout her four nights stay with us.
In addition, ten years ago when I was in Sydney I had a good friend Xanthe that lived there. Over time and wrapped up in our busy lives, we had lost track of each other. Through the power of the internet and a few phone calls (I felt like a private investigator) I was able to track Xanthe down and reconnect with her. We went out for a few beers and an incredible meal and caught up on past times. She spoiled us rotten with a few gifts that are great for travellers like us much like her generosity had spoiled me the first time I had ever set foot in Australia. Again, Xanthe is one of those people you meet travelling that becomes part of your fondest memories of the destination and one day I await her to come to Toronto to return the favours.
So, how much more like home can it be when you have houseguests for 4 days and dinner with old friends? We loved our stay in Sydney! The weather for the most part was sunny with brilliant blue fall skies. The leaves were falling and blowing around the streets and for us to experience a season other than summer on this trip was a pleasure. We roamed the city daily taking in the sights and noticing how the city has become even more gorgeous since the pre-Olympic days when we were both there. A different day, a different area to explore - Manly, Bondi, the CBD (Central Business District or downtown as we would call it), Woolloomooloo, the famous Opera House, Darling Harbour, Potts Point and even the somewhat seedy Kings Cross that has been given a face lift since our last visit. The city is world class and nothing short of stunning. A place I could move to in a heartbeat.
Alas, our 13 nights seemed to zip by us and it was time to take the clothes out of the closet and cram them into our overstuffed and overweight bags once more. We were none too excited about hitting the road again, enjoying our comfortable home and very content staying in one place. However, as we sat in the taxi on the way to the airport, suddenly the feeling came over me that I was going on vacation. Like the excited feeling you get, when you are heading off for a week long winter break in the Caribbean. Only this time, we were off for over 3 months in the South Pacific, starting with New Caledonia, somewhere I knew virtually nothing about!
TEN TRAVEL TIPS FOR SYDNEY
1. Sydney is a world class city offering pretty much anything and everything a traveller could want - great culture, nice beaches, beautiful parks, excellent dining, plenty of shopping and a wide range of accommodations to fit anyone's budget. If you love city vacations this is a place for you and don't cut your time too short as there is always something new to explore in Sydney.
2. Take the ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. This is an excellent way to get out in the harbour and take in the views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and city skyline. As well, the ferry takes you to the gorgeous Manly area with a beautiful beach, great ocean sidewalks, cafes, restaurants and shops.
3. For a beautiful walk start at Coogee Beach and follow the path along the coast to Bondi Beach or vice versa. If it is the right time of year, you can enjoy the beaches at both ends and in the middle of the walk as well as taking in the beautiful views and ocean breeze.
4. No visit to Sydney would be complete without a trip to the unique, world-renowned Opera House. Book tickets in advance if you are interested in actually seeing a show at the Opera House. However, for most tourist just walking up to the Opera House, sitting on the steps and strolling around the outside of it with its unique roofline is magnificent enough. If you are interested, you can also book a tour of the inside of the Opera House.
5. For the adrenalin inclined tourist, you can climb to the top of the Harbour Bridge giving you great city views. For the less adventurous, who are still looking for views of the city, you can pay to head to the top of Centre Point Tower located in the middle of the Central Business District which also gives great panoramic views of the city and harbour.
6. If you love nature and the outdoors, take a stroll through some of Sydney's great parks. There is an abundance of green space to be enjoyed such as the popular Hyde Park and Botanical Gardens. Most suburbs also have great parks so find the green on a map, take a blanket and picnic lunch and enjoy the sunshine and fresh air.
7. Spend some time enjoying Darling Harbour with its numerous shops, cafes and restaurants. There is also a nice park and of course being located on the harbour, some beautiful water views to take in.
8. The Rocks is a historical area of Sydney where the British set up the first penal colony upon their arrival in Australia. Today, it is a gorgeous little tourist area to wander around and explore. The Rocks make a great place to head to for a nice lunch or dinner or cold Australian Lager.
9. If you are staying in Sydney for a long duration try to book accommodations with kitchen facilities to make your stay more comfortable. It can also really help you save some money if you are on a budget.
10. Finally, plan your time according to what you enjoy. Sydney has so much to offer there is something for everyone. A world-class zoo, architectural walks, the Blue Mountains, the Aquarium, night clubs, museums, galleries and the list goes on. Do some research before arriving so you can maximize your time in this great city and do as much, or as little, as you would like to do.
www.carlhenderson.ca
www.imagestoframe.com
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