Sydney Revisit

My first travel abroad when i was still younger was to Sydney, Australia. That was a very exciting trip, nothing compares to your first "whatever", isn't it! But excluding the novelty of it all, the happenings still stand as exciting and memorable. I worked in the Plant Physiology laboratory then. From that first trip, decades thereafter, and many countries in-between, Sydney, Australia is still my favorite place. I even wanted it more than my own. I said i want it, i didn't say i love it. The later adjective describes my feeling for my native country, and where i will be living till i transcend to the State. That only means State-of-no-return. Yes i am trying to be funny, but maybe only my countrymen will appreciate that joke. Never mind, at least i hope i conveyed my message about Australia.

For years i longed to be back to Sydney, reminisce the wonderful times, visit the old places. And last November i had the chance to return, to attend an international conference. Another excitement was with me, but not as comparable to the first time. I lived in a friend's house at the outskirt of the city, which entails train rides to the university where the conference was held. The University of Sydney has many buildings occupying many blocks in the Central Business District. At least it is just walking distance from the Grand Central Station.

The University of Technology Sydney has some new buildings including the one where we held our conference. Above is also a unique new building that will still open this year, supposed to be devoted for business courses. It was said to be made starting from the center outwards because of its structural design. It looks like it is collapsing isn't it.

One of the conference dinners was specially held in one of the Darling Harbour Cruises. We just walked to the harbour to board the boat which stopped at sea, while we were having buffet dinner. What more can one expect for a Sydney visit more than a Harbour Cruise! This is where most of the city landmarks and icons are very visible. It was a Thursday when we had the Darling Harbour Cruise, so there's a lot of people in bars and restos around the harbour. I haven't seen a lot of people in Sydney as big as that afternoon. They really spend Thursdays to have a good time.

 Above is the city skyline before dusk. The Sydney Tower is visible at the left side. I have crossed the harbour in the past, but i already forgot the details. It is overcast and the light for photographing is not very good, nevertheless, i was able to at least document the landscape.

The both famous Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge. They are far from each other, but looks attached in this view where our cruise boat passed.  Oh how wonderful it would have been if i am on ground with a tripod waiting for the sunset to light the sky. I wont dream for it to still happen in my future, that is hitting the moon too!

This is the right post of the Harbour Bridge on our way back.  I know walking the top of the bridge is also a very famous activity in Sydney, but that is not a thing i look forward to. Heights are not one of my most favored conditions, in short i am afraid of them, so i don't envy anybody who walks on there.

This view is on the way back after our boat dinner. Please pardon the somehow blurred photo, but what do you expect from a night shot handheld on a moving boat with strong winds blowing at the viewdeck? I can almost hear your verdict, the above photo is decent enough for those conditions! AT least it shows the lighted buildings, the Tower, and the Opera House prominently standing at the north part of the skyline.

All of us were on the boat's deck trying to capture the beautiful Sydney Skyline, no matter how difficult. I am sure many of us were so disappointed with the resulting blurred photos, but at least we got some semblance of the real thing.

We needed to be so quick in taking photos because the boat is faster on the way back. I haven't taken some decent shots of Luna Park, The Rocks, Harbour Bridge, and yet we were almost back at the pier. What a pity, these were all. The clearer photos however are permanently embedded in my mind. I have recorded them at 360 degrees, and i swear they are really beautiful. I cannot show you the evidence, so you just need to go there for validation. I promise, trust me, you will not be disappointed.

As a parting shot, this is my first afternoon at the house i was staying. Sunsets always accompany me wherever i go. And beautiful sunsets are always good omen for me, happy things ahead! Thanks for all the things that happened in Sydney, something was closed.

Outdoor Wednesday