A Day in Australia's Capital City

On my last day in Sydney our benevolent hosts, husband and wife, took us to Canberra. We were not able to start early, but we left house before 8:00 am. For Australians, driving long distances is not really a big deal. I am fascinated with the landscapes along the way, the vegetation that somehow change too as we conquered a long vast track of land. It would have been nice if i can get off the car for a few minutes and take some photos, but i don't have that option, so i just embed all the views in my consciousness. It is also wonderful to just look at the awesomeness of it all. I am at the right side of the car, so on the way back i will be on the right and i have fully seen both sides of the road.  It took us more than 4 hours to reach the capital city.

 That above photo is maybe at the middle of our drive. It is the only structure in a very long stretch of the highway. Yes it is a toilet, very well maintained with water outside that door, where that man on the photo is currently in. He is washing his hands. The room has the old old style toilet that is not yet water sealed. If you look down there, you will still see the septic tank under. There is toilet paper and a light bulb, and it doesn't smell repulsive. It is I guess well maintained. Perhaps that lone bulb inside is supplied with power by the solar panel at the top of that tall pole. Hmmm, i like that.

Our first step in Canberra is for lunch, where else but the very ubiquitous McDonalds that t is prominently inviting in front of where everyone pass. I wonder if it is the hunger, but i thought the filet-o-fish here is much more yummy than where I came from.

We only have a half day to tour around, so we first visited the Parliament House. The sun is shining hot and look at the sky, very lovely and blue. This new Parliament House started building in 1981 and opened in May 1988. The principal design is based on the shape of two boomerangs with an 82 meter flagpole on top. There are 4,700 room and more areas are open to the public.  


Photo above is lifted from Wikipedia, just to show you the full image of the Parliament House.

At the right when facing the building is this rows of flagpoles, with a telecom tower at the top of the hill in the background. I just don't know when the flagpoles get the flags hoisted there.

Just in front of the front building wall, on top is a big Coat of Arms of Australia. All the states are represented and held high by a kangaroo and an emu. These 2 animals are found only in that continent, and claimed to both just move forward symbolizing progress. However, i checked the net and they said the two animals actually can move backwards but very seldom. I smiled and at the same time nod in agreement with their choice!

The foyer of the Parliament House is massive and elegant. Those posts are clad with slabs of greyish-green Italian Carrara marble. Natural light filters from windows and skylights through those 48 columns, creating an impression that one is just walking through a forest. The floor is geometrically patterned in white marble and black limestone, the latter said to be about 345 million years old. Small marine fossils are contained in the limestone.

We entered inside the building and even attended the Parliament in session. The security is thorough and systematic, all our things are left outside in lockers made just for this purpose. The session is a typical happening maybe in all parliament/congressional sessions in the world. The pros read, and the cons contradict. It is a bit funny, and we left after a few minutes.

The Parliament House above is shot from the War Memorial, directly in line of sight from the two structures, where this shot is taken. I am imagining that it is a red carpet laid down on the ground from the War Memorial to the Parliament House, or maybe that is really the effect they envision there.

"The Australian War Memorial is a museum, archive, and memorial that aims to help people remember and undestand the Australian experience of war." I got if from their written tribute.  We spent the longest time that afternoon inside this museum, contemplating, saying some personal prayers, photographing many structures. We also encountered some tour groups with guides, and we left just the time enough for a late dinner back in Sydney. 

We hurriedly went to the basement parking when we heard the loud music signifying that a ceremonial service is starting. It maybe 30-60min long so we opted not to wait for it. On our way down we unexpectedly encountered this lone bagpiper, who is doing the loud music call signifying the start of the service. We left at the back door and started for home. 

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