Sydney Pictures

Here it is. Finally, the sydney pictures. After some minor editing, some cleaning up, I've reduced my 800++ pictures to just 358. Not bad considering that most shots were bracketed. Anyways, here they are with caption.

My flight, running away from the sun

My first official meal in the room, although
my first official meal in SYD was a kebab from the
kebab shop to the room.

The 1st view of a well pictured bridge,
taken from circular quay station.

Museum of comtemporary art

A pair of buskers doing it the australian way

FINAL Day

I checked out of the hotel precisely at 10am. Now i had not many places to go carrying all my bags. So I decided to try my luck with an early check in at the airport. It's just a short hop by cab there. 1030 or earlier i'm there. They operate in similar fashion to SIA in T2. Common rows for Qantas flight with some dedicated counters for specific flights. Their rows and aphbetically labeled unlike ours which are numbers. Mine was at Row D, counters 13-24. Not too hard to find. There was no line there so i asked one of the counter staff if my flight, QF5, had an early check in. Yes but only start at 12pm. They have comfy chairs around the counter areas, so i sat and read. A line, bank queue, was forming around 1130. Around 1215 i decided that this was my line as no one was being turned away and i knew that the flight is chockers. Actual check in transaction was smooth. Chattered with the CSA there, identified myself as a fellow CSA from singapore who handled Qantas. bitched about CM.

They have an outdoor Viewing area that sits about 3 stories up. there's a lift but it doesn't work. nearly had a heart attack climbing those stairs. took a few pics then needed to pee. So i went thru security first before finding a toilet. Security was tight. had to remove my boots as it was setting off the alarm, sigh. their dearture area was undergoing renovations so it looked a shamble. piping and heating tubes hanging from the ceiling, areas closed off. Not too many dining areas although i did find a spot so i could eat, read and people watch. Wasn't too chilly in there. regret not packing my jacket in the main bag.

After munching, i went to find the gate. not a long walk. actually, same gate as when i arrived. In SYD their arrivals and departures both operate on diff levels with arrivals on the lower floor. Cos of that, the upper floor, departures, is about eye level with a 747's cockpit. The gate pier had an area over looking the southern approach. took some pics of planes coming in and leaving. The departure call for BA16 was going out at this time. Mine wasn't not too far off. When the call finally came, it was a mad rush. Here in changi, we board pax by row numbers, there it's a free for all. like i said before MAD RUSH. The queue was long so i waited till it cleared. then i was one of the few into the plane. no biggie. Found my spot, found an even smaller spot for my bag so i had to squeeze it in. Then a ground staff came on board to clarify the ID of the couple next to me. what do you know, they had a slip thru. HAHAHA!

The flight itself was like any other flight. I just sat and watched movies. didn't sleep. had lamb for dinner and linguini for refreshments. then i realised that i would b able to see the sunset although i soon found out that we were flying into the sun, thus the only ones with the view were the pilots. damn! But i got to see the beautiful colours as it lit up the clouds. This lasted almost 90mins as we chased the sunset.

Landing into SIN was on time, supprisingly. 2204 as estimated and confirmed touchdown at 2204. in chox was 2209, not bad. In and out of the terminal by 2230 and home not too much later.

Well that's it for my sydney trip. now my next leave will be for F1.

(pictures of the trip will be published in the next couple of days)

SYDNEY DAY 6

Sorry for the Delay.

Yesterday I spent more tie roaming the city. looking for nothing in particular. Just killing time till I make my way to Fairfield to visit Mervin n Audrey. Shopping was on the top pf my list. Had to get something for 2 friends. He ordered it thru me to find in aus. One is dimethylglycine or DmG for short. It's a feel good pill (in the clean sense of the phrase). You can't get it in singapore and they have stopped manufacturing it here too. But just on the off chance that chemist might have some balanced stock, i'm to get it. I tried hunting for it in every chemist and drug store that i passed, nada. some never even heard of it and for those that have, they agree that you can't find it here in Oz anymore. The other thing is a kind of lycra leggings called SKINS. It's mostly used for runners but my colleauge wants to use it for work. it helps with blood circulation. And if it's that good, I might just try a pair. But i got to find it first. The one store he told me that stocks it is Rebel Store. I went to the one at world square but they only had stock of medium and small. nothing bigger. they asked thier other branches in the city by phone and they too had only the small and medium. Must be a rush of big sized guys clearing stock.

I wondered by QVB (Queen Victori Building) again and of course ended up inside. This time i went upstairs and lo-n-behold, a HOBBYCO. that's about another hour used. Came out with a box, couldn't help myself. bought the star destroyer from episode 3. It's pretty expensive back home and worse if i get it thru ebay. I thought it might fit in the backpack but no. Now i had to lug this long vertical bag around town. Lucky for me it was time to make my way west. I had planned to take the 1654 train from town hall but when i get there, there's news of trackwork. Town hall's platforms 1,2 n 3 were inop. everything was being shuffled thru platforms 4,5 n 6. So my train actualy was rescheduled to an earlier slot. I had to wait 25 fucking mins for the next one. That would make me late now. bugger. But when it finally came i realised it was more of a express line there. it stopped no more than 10 times before reaching Fairfield. I just slept all the way but not before memorising the route. didn't want to miss the stop or wake up and panic, not knowing where i was. But got there alright. and it was dark by then. Was told of a bus route. saw no buses. saw no one waiting for buses. so i took the easy way out, i cabbed it.

Getting there was ok. I remembered and picked out familiar landmarks on the way. Made sure the cabbie was taking me the scenic route. The church, the police station. not too long i was there. Didn't need the house address, i knew Mervin's garden from memory. It was good to see them but i was in for more of a supprise. Sheryl and husband Jamie were visiting. So was Darrel n wife Myla. Myla also had her mother, brother n his wife. There were also 3 other friends. There was a BIG group in that house. Audrey cooked standard chrissie food. Feng, Devil, Rendang, Pie, Roast pork, Turkey, only thing missing was the pickle. She says they normally cook like this whenever Darrel comes to visit cos that's the only time he gets to eat this kind of food. He resides up north, Rockhampton. Sheryl lives about 10mins drive away. I got to see Sheryl's son Jacob. He looks like a codeiro alright.

Getting out from that area would be difficult so i was offered to stay the night. Since all three rooms were already filled, they offered me the sofa cushions, blankets and a sleeping bag rated for -5 degrees. i took it cos it was only 9pm and getting bloody cold, even with Merv's heater blasting at max. We gossiped on family matters.All thru the night. Merv n me eneded up watching the closing ceremonies of the olympics and after that F1. He didn't make it all the way and went to sleep around lap 40. I stayed up and slept after Massa won. That sleeping bag was great. so cosy and warm i only woke up to the sound of planes overhead (Bossley Park is not far from bankstown airport). I ended up having leftover lunch there too and fianlly said my goodbyes around noon.

Went back to the rocks. bought a shitload of souveniers. Got some great buys for the house n mum. Also tried looking for an army surplus store. I asked at The Rocks visitor centre and a friendly guide named Joe told me that they have all but moved out. I found out that the left handed store was not located in hobart. to fucking far and too fucking cold. Did more wandering and ended back here in the cross. I'll go back to the hotel, pack a bit and might take tha camera for a last roam of sydney by night.

This is the last evening I have here. It's a wee bit sad thinking about it. I maybe might blog again tomorrow before i leave for the airport.

Till Tomorrow.

SYDNEY DAY 5

Another day of little happenings. Went for a trip round Darling Harbour. Started my walk at Town Hall station. Went to look for the Strand Arcade, looking for a particular shop. Wasn't hard to find as it was only the 3rd shop in from the entrance. Strand Hatters,

http://www.strandhatters.com.au/default.html

They are Akubra's only shop left in Sydney. Yes they stock other brands too but majority are Akubras. Needed another hat other than my 13yr old Snowy River. Wanted something like a day hat. something to walk around the city with. Tried on a few, the saleslady was excellent, settled on one, the International. Looks like a fedora, black. cloth band instead of a leather one to reduce shrinkage. only 140aud. Worth it.

Then i turned my sights to darling harbour. i could have taken the monorail but i decided to walk instead. Not too far tho. Went round the entire harbour up to the far end where the maritime museum sits. I wasn't aiming for the maritime museum first but i was actually trying to find the Power House Museum but never found it. Now this was close to 4 when i get there. The museum closes at 5 but when i tried to board the HMAS Vampire n Oslow, their keepers tells me that they are closed. But the sign says 5. He insists that although the museum closes at 5 the boats closes at 4, but there are NO FUCKING SIGNS that say so. I try to argue my way in , no go. I went to complain to the museum guides and they to insist that the boats are closed. Luckily the museum entrance was FOC. Didn't think there was any more to do so i got something from the store and left. Went back round past Tumbalong park, round the entire darling harbour site. Coming back to the place i started at, i go past the IMAX theatre. There's an ad for the Dark Knight filmed in IMAX. cool. it's 6pm and when i come back out after watching batman on an 8m high screen it's around 9pm. I made my way to the bridge spanning the harbour for more pics. The i took the monorail back to city centre. only then did i find the POWER HOUSE MUSEUM. Too bloody late, eh? back in cit centre, i decided to go to the Marble Bar, i place Subra told me about. Long line outside. Not wanting to wait in line, i left. Decided to call it quits and head back.

Noticed hundreds of teenagers and young adults in the subway heading for the Cross. Find out from John that there are a number of pubs and nightclubs on BaysWater Rd, just behind the strip. So, i got to the room, dumped the bag, watched tv (F1 Quals) till about midnight then went back out. Found a pub, met 2 ladies whom i had seen at my hotel, had a few(many) drinks with them before stumbling back to the hotel with them. Didn't wake up ti about 12pm today.

Today i'm of for more shopping. then to Mervin's place in fairfield for dinner.

SYDNEY DAY 4

Didn't do much yesterday. Just lazed around in the room. My feet were killing me so i decided to rest a bit. Good thing tho since it was wet and cold out. Finally left the room around 1400hrs. made my way to city center ad walk around a bit. Been trying to find the strand arcade, in it is a shop called Strand Hatters. Want to get me a walk-about hat. Got directions from 3 diff ppl and still couldn't find it. found many other buildings tho. at around 1600hrs, it was time to leave. had to be @ yagoona station @17oohrs. By now the rain had stopped but the wind was still howling. Even in the tunnels it was cold and they have central heating in the city stations. So from Town Hall it was to Yagoona on the Bankstown line. Had another good snooze on the train. Of course, I woke up lost. Didn't know if i had missed the stop or not. Then came to Wiley Park station. Name sounded familiar and I knew I was close. True enuf, bankstown was next. The shoppiong centre looked bigger. Bankstown square it was once called, now Centro Bankstown. Everyone hates the name and still calls it by it's former name. Next was my stop. By now I needed to piss like a race horse. I knew by now that most stations had tioilets and low n behold just as i exited there was one, but LOCKED. Then an old woman assaulted me with her umbrella.

It was JAN!!!!!! violent as usual. She looks the same but older. I think she should be around 58 by now. ok ok so not that old. She took me back to her place, only a 5min walk. I must say, aussie's have a diff definition of 5mins compared to us. She took me the scenic route cos when she got to her town house, she says " I usually take the back way ". I could have done the back way. nevermind. Walking down the driveway, i nearly kill myself by slipping on the metal grating covering the drain. AND slipping on the 'broken ankle' foot, bending it in a way not made possible since the time i broke it. OUCH. She lives now in a lovely 2 bed room town house. Living, dining and kitchen downstairs. 2 rooms upstairs. The blue car she once drives is gone and she drives a tiny red daihatsu. but the one thing taht's not changed is that ROMAN is still alive. she's had that dog for ages i.e. over 10 yrs cos it was still a pup when i left. He's fat now. waddling around.

Lauren's husband Robbie came ot pick us up. he drives this jet black huge mazda. don't know which model. We went back to their place to get Lauren.Why she didn't come with us in the first place i don't know. this family is complicated. They live in apartment style lodgings. Very upmarket. Robbie in the IT line, more about this later. When we finally leave, we're about 30mins late. The dinner is planned at the Outback Steakhouse. Now we have one back in singapore, and there are a couple in the US. But the one here was only opened 2 years back. strange for an establishment that's based on aussie food. The interior looks like the one back home. food menu looks the same too. Of course i had the steak. It was steak almost all round the table. Some had Barrumundi ( that's a bloody big fish). Jan had pasta. Appitisers were of course the Bloomin Onions. 4 pcs. Then the salads n soups. i had the best pumpkin soup so far. Then the mains got here. There were about 10 of us. Let's see if i remember all of them. Of course there was Jan, Lee & Tony, Lauren & Robbie, Theo & Ella (Lee's friends), another Theo & his wife for whom i can't remember her name (Tony's friends) and Jamie. ok that's 10, plus me 11. There were some complains about the mains. Well done was dry, another well done was still bloody. steamed veggies were raw. But myself, no complaints. only the skin of the sweet potato was left. Lauren had baked cupcakes for lee. that was her cake. FUCKING sweet. diabeties in a paper cup.

After dinner we went next door for bowling. it was one of those flourescent, liminous glow in the dark thingies. most of them bowled. I tried but ankle wouldn't bend too much. then i got pissed about it and decided to call it quits. We rounded things up bu about 0100hrs. It had started to rain again. out came the gloves. I inquired on how late the trains ran in the burbs cos i know they run till 0400 in the city. no one knew. Lauren offered her place for the night but was too drunk for me to take it seriouly. Robbie agreed that it would be a bad idea since they have no spare room and offered to drive me back to the Cross. Jan was sent home first but not before finding out that she didn't have the credit card with her. Either the steakhouse didn't return it to her or she dropped it somewhere. tried calling the restaurant but they didn't have it. She tried calling the bank but was on hold for a long time. when i last saw her she was still in hold. On the way to send me back, lauren got sick and threw up in the back seat. Robbie got a wee bit cheesed off and sent her home. We spent about 30mins there so Robbie could make sure she washed up all right and was in bed before sending me home. We had a good conversation about computers, broadband and such on the ride back to the Cross. Found out something intersting. 1 terrabyte drive here only costs about 175AUD. not too bad. Might get one before flying back. Got back to the lodge safe. It was about 0200 by then.

It was a good day seeing Jan, Lee & Lauren. Their other halves and great guys too.

Till tomorrow.

SYDNEY DAY 3

Yesterday started late. didn't get up till around noon. Not that i minded, had to recover from the previous night. Katoomba was on my list. Since it was balmy i only had my flannel shirt and a t-shirt on. of course jeans too. Only left KingsCross station around 1300hrs. The train ride to central was short but when i got there i was in the a shock. the next train wasn't for the next 55 fucking mins! Crap! so i wondered the station taking pics. mostly in b/w. All this while my ankle were aching. Thinking it might get wet in the mountains, i wore my boots and they were strapped on tight. So i stopped at a platform bench and loosened them. Oh heavenly. that was a good call. Didn't feel the ache anymore. The train got there in less than 55mins, but stay at the platform for about 20-25mins. I got a comfortable upper deck seat. the seats are 2 per side but the stairs leading up are offset from the middle. so the end seats are a single and a 3-seater. No prizes for the one i took. The wait in the station alolowed for another 20mins of sleep for me. i wanted to be awake for the TWO HOUR ride up to Katoomba. The ride was pretty boring up to Emu Plains, the foothils of the blue mountains. The the ride started going uphill. you can hear the engines take the strain of liftin the 500ton machine uphill. Slow n winding the track was. Passsing thru abt 10 stations we get there. Irony. Katoomba being the only tourist stop of the whole leg, the station only has one platform in use compared to the normal 2.

So here we are in Katoomba. U can bus it to the 3 sisters, u can even cab it. But nooooooo....... i decide to walk. down a small hill, up a small hill. Then down a STEEP hill and then flatlands. round a corner and still not fucking there. But off the side of the road, a clift, i must be getting near. I can see trees and more trees. Ahha, echo point. That must be it. Lots of small motels and such. And yes, i can see the edge. The wind is howling up here. Now i was not yet dressed for this. but luckily i had my Long Coat in my bag. out it came and i was toasty. The lookout point has 2 tiers. the upper on gets in tie full view of the valley but the lower one is closer to the sisters. So out comes the tripod. I want to leave the sisters till later when the setting sun lights it up. So most of my initial pics are of the valley. looking down off the edge of the barriers, i realise that the lower platform actually STICKS OUT. nothing much keeps us up. the valley floor is 'miles' below us. I can't see it for the trees. Then I have company up here. An pinoy and his mum. He's come with the sam e thing in mind as I have. All decks out in similar style too. Long jacket, gloves, camera, tripod. The sun's setting on us. Little did i know was that strong lights were fitted below the rim of rocks where we were standing. they light up the sisters during dusk. Actually i would assume thoughout the night. So there we were trading tips, info on how to make the best of the conditions given to us. By the time we both finished, the sun was long gone and it was bitterly cold. My gloves weren't made for photography, so i had taken them off to manipulate the buttons on the camera. By now i couldn't even feel the individual buttons and had to visaully locate them. plus the lack the light made it almost impossible. So i called it a day. Packed my bags. made sure i was tightly wrapped up in my coat, gloves tightly fastened, i made my way out. It was a ghost town, the visitor center had long closed, the heritage center was empty. everything was dead. I dreaded my long walk back to the station for i didn't notice any streetlights on the way here. something told me that the visitor center might have some transport info. It sure did, cabbie numbers. called a cab and took the short ride out. The cabbie was a native to Katoomba and we drove right by his house where his wife and son lives. I asked about the current temp so we drove past the RSL which had the temp diplayed outside. Only 9 fucking degrees. Round the corner was the station. Enjoyed my brief conversation with the cabbie, nice guy. The train back was fairly full. got the same set of seats as of when i came up the mountain. was able to contact my cousins merv and audrey. made plans to see them on sunday. Not much to see on the way back so i plugged in my ipod and slept. Central was a grateful sight.

One would think after a walkabout like that, my day would be at an end. Think not. exited the train at St james. wandered around in Hyde Park. Needed to piss so badly. So a found a dark tree. After taking some pics of the fountain there did i finally find the public toilet. murphy's law. The other side of the park reveals the anzac war memorial and reflection pool. A quiet part of the park. not many ppl here. Found a skate boarder trting to perfect his kick flips. so i rested my feet and watched him. Then i found myslef wandering past St mary's Cathedral. wonderful spot for pics. went past that and wondered how far to Martin's PLace so i could take the train back to the Cross. at the road juction i could see the famous coke sign that locates the start of darlinghurst road. "It's only just there" I told my self. so i walked. It was another long walk. Luckily it was still cold so not that bad. on the way i passed the maseratti, ferrari and lamboughini showrooms. There's an akubra shop just round the corner from where i stay, i was estatic. But upon closer inspection, is not to be. the sign still stands but the shops long gone. more changes. Round the corner i went, a wee bit dissapointed. to the deli for some food and back to the room. found something new to eat, roasted pork ribs. like the roast pork during christmas, including the crispy bit ( you know what I mean). watched the olympics then to bed.

Today was a late start. It's wet and colder. Going to city center. Meeting up with Jan and family for Lee's birthday dinner and drinks. I'll fill you all in about that tommorrow.

SYDNEY DAY 2

Yesterday, I had a walk around circular quay. So much has changed. They built an outrageously ugly building leading up to the opera house nicknamed 'the toaster'. The opera house still stands majestically out in the harbour. Took pictures, took in the view, took more pictures. then walked to the other end of circular quay, past all the buildings to a site i've never been to. The foot of the harbour bridge. Yes, the base of the pylons. the site where the arches meet the ground. and there read the plague regarding the bridge laying. Then i walked thru The Rocks and went nuts. everywhere i turned, an old building. It was crazy. coloured pictures mixed with b/w. All in all 279 pics. didn't even max out the card.

During the night we, lee and myself, went to watch Dralion. It was fantastic. Lee was thrilled and amazed. She kept asking how they did what they did. I just replied with one word. They are all Chinese!. Yup, majority of the cast are MUNJENS. Since Dralion is an amalgamation of east and west, most if not all thier acts were based on chinese acrobats. They had their standard clown routine at the begining, planting a clown in the crowd. But the technical side to it is mind boggling. The moving stage, the climbing wall, the huge circular lighting which dropped down to stage level. It was bloody cold last night too.

Before the show, Lee was dropped off by Lauren. Of course I didn't recognise her and thought it was just another of Lee's friends. But when Lee said it was Lauren, OMG!!! She had changed alot. Much slimmer, less bitchier. I also got to meet Lauren's husband, Robbie and Lee's husband-to -be, Tony. Robbie and Lauren had driven Lee there and had brought along thier dog, Don't ask me the breed, she told me but can't remember now.

After the show, Lee called Tony to come n get her. I asked for a ride to the nearest rail stop so i could get back to the Cross. We waited ages, then out of the cold comes her knight in his electricians van, smiling like an idiot. Nice guy, very friendly. He offered to send me back into the Cross. How could I say 'no'. Had dinner then watched the telly before crashing.

So, for today, it's a balmy 20C. I'm going to take the 2hr train ride to Katoomba. It's planned to be cold there today.

Till i type again tomorrow.

SYDNEY DAY 1

I'm finally here. After 10 long years i've finally stepped back onto familiar ground. The weather's pretty great. Not too cold, just nippy. Went back to Kings Cross to stay. The ground might look familiar but the surroundings sure have changed. Hungry Jacks is long gone, replaced by a bar. The Springfield Lodge looks the same but the interior has gone thru major renovations. the small room in the attic is long gone too. But when i walked into my one bed closet, the scents wafting into my nasal cavities reminded me of my room back @ AFTS. Tonight I get to watch Dralion by Cirque du Soliel. It's my birthday present to Lee, Jan's daughter. It's a supprise, unless she reads this before meeting me.

Now I think I'll spend time walking around circular quay. maybe the opera house, maybe the bridge. just walk around till about 5pm.

I'll put pictures up when i can.

Motorcycle Greats

Sometime last week i was doing duty in the QF lounge, this is what you do when your management is too damn compliant with the airline, when a passenger handed me the boarding pass below. I remember thinking, this name's familiar.... Then when I looked up, I was lost for words. There standing before me was Mic Doohan, 5 time world 500cc motorbike champion ( 5 times in a row), with his familiar smile. I asked if he was the man I thought he was and he confirmed it. I sneakily asked for his autograph and he pleasantly agreed.


And then just a couple days ago at the counter, this man turns up with his family. His long neck length hair is framing a lobster red face. My passenger mentions that that man is a famous tv guy back in england. So i look over and who do I see, Charley Boorman. He's the guy that teamed up with Ewan McGregor to ride motobikes the Long Way Round & the Long Way Down. The counter was pretty busy so I sent my minion to go seek him in the transit area for an autograph. The result is below.

8 MORE DAYS!!!!

Yes, that's all that's left till I hit Sydney. I'll be leaving on the 19th and returning on the 26th. yes i know it's short but that's all the company will release me for. damn them!

Bloody 'ell. it's been 10 long years since i set foot there. Although i have been downunder last year, Perth, it doesn't count. sydney is where i lay my hat. flying friends, cooking friend and partying friend, all whom i've set up to meet. Also, one of them would be celebratng her 23rd birthday when i'm there. that's one night that'll be taken care of. cirque du soleil's Dralion performance will also be in town during my stay and thus i'm GOING!!

It's good that i'm going alone. I don't have to conform my plans around anything. So, with the drinking night being friday and dralion being wednesday, that leaves me with thursday, whole, free. Thinking of taking the train up to katoomba, spend te day there. Visit 3 lovely ladies. take the vertical train down the side of the cliff. I haven't actually been there for a good 20 odd years. I know i even studied i sydney for a year and a half but then too i didn't go up there. only flew past it a couple hundrew times. I heard that if it gets cold enuf, yes i'm going in winter, and with any luck it just might snow. Yes snow. but my luck has to be damn good for of the full 3 months of winter, katoomba gets an average of 5 days of snow lasting no more than an hour each day. i'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Saturday, maybe walk the city. darling harbour, the bridge, opera house, circular quay, take the boat to manly. i'll have wednesday and friday day to fill in too. but no plans yet. sunday morn. mass at mary's cathedral. then maybe spend the day with jan n lee.

ah well, that's all i have planned for now.

SO BLOODY EXCITED!!!!!!!!