Thursday, 30 November 2006
Jeremy has booked me into a hotel next to a flyover! The Icon of Sydney
Old Meets New Crazy Juggler
Why don't Vauxhall make sensible cars like this?
Well the ankle has put up with a day tramping round Sydney. Still having problems going down stairs and hills and uneven ground is painful. But overall it’s doing fine. Which is a good thing as Sydney is a great city for walking in. I walked from the hotel round to the Opera house this morning. Didn’t get going until 10:30 as I had my best nights sleep yet. Mind and body have adjusted to the new time zone just in time to go to New Zealand and another 3 hours further on in the day.
The area around the hotel, Darling Harbour is a fabulous combination of tourist attractions, bars and restaurants and residential/business developments. I had a good walk round last night and again this afternoon. Looks like there is some kind of free concert this evening so I’ll be going back later. Also found an Indian restaurant, so curry for tea later I think.
From Darling Harbour I walked through the working docks past a cruise liner and a car transporter ship. The area between the docks and the skyscrapers of the central business district is full of quaint colonial houses, mostly painted in mellow fawns and browns, looking glorious in the sun. I then found my way into some very expensive and trendy looking pier developments for my first good view of the harbour bridge. The expensive was confirmed when I noticed that each one comes with a parking space and yacht mooring.
I then went under the bridge and round to The Rocks. The Rocks is old Sydney, with warehouses, terraced shops with verandas and a couple of large traditional hotels (pubs). I had a mooch round the rocks and thought about giving it all up to become an outback opal miner. They must make a few quid looking at the price of opal jewellery. From The Rocks I carried on to Circular Quay, the main ferry terminal and ferry rail connection.
The Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art is also at Circular Quay, but unfortunately only one of the four floors was open as ‘a major installation’ is going on. The sign didn’t say what was being installed. The one floor that was open had an exhibition of Australian poster art and signage from the 1930’s to current. Some great stuff including a fantastic gate sign reading ‘Beware of the god’ maybe you had to see it to appreciate it.
On the grass next to the museum is a 50 foot high TV screen erected especially to show the cricket. I didn’t hang around there long. Instead I moved along circular quay to listen to some aboriginal didgereedoo players busking. I bought a copy of their album and I’ll see if I can post music on the blog or at least post a link to their website. So high tech these aboriginals. Sorry the typing slowed down there but it has just gone 6:00 pm so I had to stop and open a cold beer. For the connoisseurs it is a Carlton Draught. Not as good as the Pure Blonde I had in the week, but OK. I though the guys from Imperial were winding me up on Wednesday evening when they sent me to the bar for 4 Pure Blondes. Was disappointed when the barman gave me four bottles of lager.
Anyway back to today. I then spent nearly half an hour watching a crazy English fire juggler build up a crowd from nothing and then get $5 off of each of them including me, for his wild and very funny show. I went from Circular quay round to the Opera House and had a lunch time beer in the bar on the terrace below the Opera House with a fantastic view of the harbour and a pleasant sea breeze. From the Opera house I walked round to the Botanical Gardens for a stroll in the indigenous trees and then from there back across the peninsula to Circle Quay for the ferry back to Darling Harbour.
I am going to post this blog entry, drink me beer, take a shower and go find something to eat and, hopefully, watch a free concert. Had a text message from Julie Dunn this morning and her flight was delayed out of Heathrow so she won’t be in Sydney now until 7:15 on Sunday morning, so not sure if I will see her, may just pass like ships in the harbour. That reminds me I have to send her an email.
Old Meets New Crazy Juggler
Why don't Vauxhall make sensible cars like this?
Well the ankle has put up with a day tramping round Sydney. Still having problems going down stairs and hills and uneven ground is painful. But overall it’s doing fine. Which is a good thing as Sydney is a great city for walking in. I walked from the hotel round to the Opera house this morning. Didn’t get going until 10:30 as I had my best nights sleep yet. Mind and body have adjusted to the new time zone just in time to go to New Zealand and another 3 hours further on in the day.
The area around the hotel, Darling Harbour is a fabulous combination of tourist attractions, bars and restaurants and residential/business developments. I had a good walk round last night and again this afternoon. Looks like there is some kind of free concert this evening so I’ll be going back later. Also found an Indian restaurant, so curry for tea later I think.
From Darling Harbour I walked through the working docks past a cruise liner and a car transporter ship. The area between the docks and the skyscrapers of the central business district is full of quaint colonial houses, mostly painted in mellow fawns and browns, looking glorious in the sun. I then found my way into some very expensive and trendy looking pier developments for my first good view of the harbour bridge. The expensive was confirmed when I noticed that each one comes with a parking space and yacht mooring.
I then went under the bridge and round to The Rocks. The Rocks is old Sydney, with warehouses, terraced shops with verandas and a couple of large traditional hotels (pubs). I had a mooch round the rocks and thought about giving it all up to become an outback opal miner. They must make a few quid looking at the price of opal jewellery. From The Rocks I carried on to Circular Quay, the main ferry terminal and ferry rail connection.
The Sydney Museum of Contemporary Art is also at Circular Quay, but unfortunately only one of the four floors was open as ‘a major installation’ is going on. The sign didn’t say what was being installed. The one floor that was open had an exhibition of Australian poster art and signage from the 1930’s to current. Some great stuff including a fantastic gate sign reading ‘Beware of the god’ maybe you had to see it to appreciate it.
On the grass next to the museum is a 50 foot high TV screen erected especially to show the cricket. I didn’t hang around there long. Instead I moved along circular quay to listen to some aboriginal didgereedoo players busking. I bought a copy of their album and I’ll see if I can post music on the blog or at least post a link to their website. So high tech these aboriginals. Sorry the typing slowed down there but it has just gone 6:00 pm so I had to stop and open a cold beer. For the connoisseurs it is a Carlton Draught. Not as good as the Pure Blonde I had in the week, but OK. I though the guys from Imperial were winding me up on Wednesday evening when they sent me to the bar for 4 Pure Blondes. Was disappointed when the barman gave me four bottles of lager.
Anyway back to today. I then spent nearly half an hour watching a crazy English fire juggler build up a crowd from nothing and then get $5 off of each of them including me, for his wild and very funny show. I went from Circular quay round to the Opera House and had a lunch time beer in the bar on the terrace below the Opera House with a fantastic view of the harbour and a pleasant sea breeze. From the Opera house I walked round to the Botanical Gardens for a stroll in the indigenous trees and then from there back across the peninsula to Circle Quay for the ferry back to Darling Harbour.
I am going to post this blog entry, drink me beer, take a shower and go find something to eat and, hopefully, watch a free concert. Had a text message from Julie Dunn this morning and her flight was delayed out of Heathrow so she won’t be in Sydney now until 7:15 on Sunday morning, so not sure if I will see her, may just pass like ships in the harbour. That reminds me I have to send her an email.
Here is the view from my hotel room window
Well the second one is done. It all went well and they were happy bunnies.
Got a chauffer driven Ford Falcon V8 from the hotel into Sydney. This was a company recommended by one of the course members who uses them a lot and said they were cheaper than a taxi. They are also picking me up on Sunday to take me to the airport.
The Crown Plaza at Darling Harbour is a typical cuty centre hotel. I ordered Sirloin, chip, asparagus and mushrooms and they bought rib eye, mash and green salad. When I said it wasn't what I ordered the waiter said "yes it is". I got the original waiter who took my order to come over and confirm what I ordered and eventually they admitted they were wrong. Think I'll eat out tomorrow.
Went for a walk round Darling Harbour, looks like their are plenty of options for eating out.
Wednesday, 29 November 2006
Second Course
Just got back to my room from post traing dinner on the verandah. Temperature has dropped today and it has been very cloudy, not very summer in Sydney at all. We had the plastic verandah curtains closed and the gas patio heaters on.
Second course is going well, another enthusiatic group with good questions and a healthy air of practicality. We are planning 3 more projects and all seems to be going well.
Put my washing into the hotel laundry this morning and was told it would be back by 5:00 pm. Checked my room at six and it wasn't there. Checked again at 8:30 and it still wasn't there. Was starting to worry as I have to pack tonight to move into Sydney tomorrow. Hotel had been chasing it up since 6:00 pm they said. Just got back to my room at 9:45 pm still not been returned as far as I could see. Rang reception, they said they would chase it up again.
Opened the cupboard to get my passport and travellers cheques out of the safe so I didn't forget them in the morning. Noticed what looked like my shirt sticking out of one of the draws. All my washing had been neatly packed into the drawers!
The thing that puzzles me is, if the hotel had chased it up why had they not been told it had been delivered? Did they ever chase it up, do they care about my socks?
Second course is going well, another enthusiatic group with good questions and a healthy air of practicality. We are planning 3 more projects and all seems to be going well.
Put my washing into the hotel laundry this morning and was told it would be back by 5:00 pm. Checked my room at six and it wasn't there. Checked again at 8:30 and it still wasn't there. Was starting to worry as I have to pack tonight to move into Sydney tomorrow. Hotel had been chasing it up since 6:00 pm they said. Just got back to my room at 9:45 pm still not been returned as far as I could see. Rang reception, they said they would chase it up again.
Opened the cupboard to get my passport and travellers cheques out of the safe so I didn't forget them in the morning. Noticed what looked like my shirt sticking out of one of the draws. All my washing had been neatly packed into the drawers!
The thing that puzzles me is, if the hotel had chased it up why had they not been told it had been delivered? Did they ever chase it up, do they care about my socks?
Tuesday, 28 November 2006
Well it has been a good days traing with a happy bunch of people. We successfully defined and planned four of their projects and they were all ahppy bunnies. I've just watched the sunset over the Blue Montains from the hotel veandah with a cold beer and eaten an excellent steak and chips followed by chocolate and ginger pudding and more beer.
Fantastic thunderstorm this afternoon with about 3 inches of rain in 40 minutes. Temperature is in the low 30s C and air con is runnin g flat out in my hotel room. Will have to turn it off to sleep so it will be a hot sticky night.
Sorry there are no pics today, batteries went flat in the camera and I have had to walk to the nearest garage to get new ones.
Monday, 27 November 2006
Well not much to report today as I have been running a training course. The participants are a lively bunch who have been keen to learn but a bit cynical that their UK bosses should send some pomme out here to tell them how to manage projects. We had a great dinner out on the hotel veranda with traditional Ozzie barbeque fair. Big Shrimps, beef styeak and beef sausages with loads of salads. I am confused by the potatoes, it said on the label they were jacket potatoes, but their jackets had been removed! When I questioned this they said “yeah they are jacket potatoes, roasted in the oven” I said “where is the skin” and they looked at me like I came from another planet.
No pictures today so I’ve posted some more from yesterday.
Taking stick about the cricket.
No pictures today so I’ve posted some more from yesterday.
Taking stick about the cricket.
Sunday, 26 November 2006
Scenic World at Katoomba is a bit touristy, but with only a day to spare and an injured ankle it seemed like a great way to see the mountains, The Jamison Valley and some rainforest. You buy a ticket and then get taken to the valley floor by the world’s steepest scenic railway. When you sit in the seat at the top station you are laid on your back, when you get to the bottom station you are leaning forward in the seat trying to stop yourself falling out. It was steep.
There is then an elevated boardwalk through the rainforest that takes you on a tour of the flora and fauna, with the odd story about ghosts from the mine and mining disaters. The whole place was originally a coalmine. After the walk you are transported back to the top on a Swiss built cable car.
You can then cross the valley on a glass floored cable car. Sounds a lot more spectacular than it is, but great views and fun. The Jamison valley is evidently 15 times older than the Grand Canyon, but less than a tenth the size!
I then drove back over the Darling Causeway and down through Richmond and Windsor. No not a trip west out of West London, but a fantastic mountain road that winds it’s way along the top of sandstone cliffs, drops down through Australia’s major fruit growing region and then crosses the Hawkesbury River valley. Soon after Windsor the Sytdney suburbs start again and there is a McDonalds every 10 miles, a couple of KFCs and three Red Rooster fast food restaraunts. I wonder if Mr Macdonald realised he was going to make the world so uniform?
Got back to the hotel about 6:00 pm. It was empty, had a phone call from reception to ask if I was planning to eat in the restaurant as they only had two other bookings and would close once they had fed them.
Got to read through the notes for tomorrow and get some sleep. The jetlag’s not been too bad so far, think my body has made the 13 hour adjustment, not sure my mind has.
There is then an elevated boardwalk through the rainforest that takes you on a tour of the flora and fauna, with the odd story about ghosts from the mine and mining disaters. The whole place was originally a coalmine. After the walk you are transported back to the top on a Swiss built cable car.
You can then cross the valley on a glass floored cable car. Sounds a lot more spectacular than it is, but great views and fun. The Jamison valley is evidently 15 times older than the Grand Canyon, but less than a tenth the size!
I then drove back over the Darling Causeway and down through Richmond and Windsor. No not a trip west out of West London, but a fantastic mountain road that winds it’s way along the top of sandstone cliffs, drops down through Australia’s major fruit growing region and then crosses the Hawkesbury River valley. Soon after Windsor the Sytdney suburbs start again and there is a McDonalds every 10 miles, a couple of KFCs and three Red Rooster fast food restaraunts. I wonder if Mr Macdonald realised he was going to make the world so uniform?
Got back to the hotel about 6:00 pm. It was empty, had a phone call from reception to ask if I was planning to eat in the restaurant as they only had two other bookings and would close once they had fed them.
Got to read through the notes for tomorrow and get some sleep. The jetlag’s not been too bad so far, think my body has made the 13 hour adjustment, not sure my mind has.
Sunday The Blue Mountains
Lithgow High Street The Groom's HarleyMet my first ‘real ozzie’ at breakfast today. The restaurant was very busy as many of the wedding guests had stayed the night. I shared a table with a guy in his late 50’s who admitted to being the bride’s uncle. He had driven over 600 miles to come to the wedding from his cattle station in somewhere unpronounceable. He was very interesting. Won’t go into detail about him but here are a few quotes.
“The kids don’t have a clue, all they want are computers and mobile phones. They’ll be no bloody good if the genny breaks down.”
“This country’s full, we can’t take any more of those boat people and refugees”
“I’ve seen the world, I was in the air force for 5 years before I settled down, and I don’t want to see any of it ever again”
“Sydney is full of poofters and foreigners”
“The government want to send me some of the unemployed, I’ve got plenty of work for them”
“The Blue Mountains, they’re not bloody bush, they’re suburbs of Sydney”
I have to say he was very interesting. He was very concerned about what will happen to his cattle station that he inherited from his father. All of his kids have left for the city and have no interest in the cattle station. He also manages his neighbours station. She lives 45 miles from him and is an 80 year old woman who has been on her own for 5 years since her husband died. She has no children or other living relatives and he thinks she will leave it all to him, but what will he do with it?
Anyway he got me going fairly early so I was off to the Blue Mountains. Arrived at Katoomba (renowned for its spectacular views of the Jamison Valley) in thick mountain fog at 9:30 am. The locals said it would burn off by noon. So I got back in the car and headed over the mountains to Lithgow. From Sydney to Katoomba it didn’t feel like real Australia. The Great Western Highway is a string of ribbon developments each with its own fast food restaurant and Holden dealership. But west of Katoomba was a different matter altogether. The settlements seemed to consist of a few houses and a large hotel (ozzie for PUB!). Most also had some kind of liquor store and a petrol station doubling as a car repair shop and supermarket. From Mt Victoria to Lithgow was stunning mountain road with great views and little civilisation. There was supposed to be a place called Bell on the way, I saw some signs and a cross roads, but no houses.
Lithgow was like something from a 1960’s BBC/ABC joint production. The quaintness was helped by the fact that it was Christmas Fayre Charity Sunday and the main street was full of tombolas and bric a brac stalls. There was an excellent display of classic cars. After walking round the stalls I headed back to Katoomba to see if the fog had gone. The route back included the climb of Mt Victoria where the road goes from 300m above sea level to 1370m above sea level. Would have been more fun in the Subaru or a Land Rover but the Toyota hire car did the job.
“The kids don’t have a clue, all they want are computers and mobile phones. They’ll be no bloody good if the genny breaks down.”
“This country’s full, we can’t take any more of those boat people and refugees”
“I’ve seen the world, I was in the air force for 5 years before I settled down, and I don’t want to see any of it ever again”
“Sydney is full of poofters and foreigners”
“The government want to send me some of the unemployed, I’ve got plenty of work for them”
“The Blue Mountains, they’re not bloody bush, they’re suburbs of Sydney”
I have to say he was very interesting. He was very concerned about what will happen to his cattle station that he inherited from his father. All of his kids have left for the city and have no interest in the cattle station. He also manages his neighbours station. She lives 45 miles from him and is an 80 year old woman who has been on her own for 5 years since her husband died. She has no children or other living relatives and he thinks she will leave it all to him, but what will he do with it?
Anyway he got me going fairly early so I was off to the Blue Mountains. Arrived at Katoomba (renowned for its spectacular views of the Jamison Valley) in thick mountain fog at 9:30 am. The locals said it would burn off by noon. So I got back in the car and headed over the mountains to Lithgow. From Sydney to Katoomba it didn’t feel like real Australia. The Great Western Highway is a string of ribbon developments each with its own fast food restaurant and Holden dealership. But west of Katoomba was a different matter altogether. The settlements seemed to consist of a few houses and a large hotel (ozzie for PUB!). Most also had some kind of liquor store and a petrol station doubling as a car repair shop and supermarket. From Mt Victoria to Lithgow was stunning mountain road with great views and little civilisation. There was supposed to be a place called Bell on the way, I saw some signs and a cross roads, but no houses.
Lithgow was like something from a 1960’s BBC/ABC joint production. The quaintness was helped by the fact that it was Christmas Fayre Charity Sunday and the main street was full of tombolas and bric a brac stalls. There was an excellent display of classic cars. After walking round the stalls I headed back to Katoomba to see if the fog had gone. The route back included the climb of Mt Victoria where the road goes from 300m above sea level to 1370m above sea level. Would have been more fun in the Subaru or a Land Rover but the Toyota hire car did the job.
Saturday, 25 November 2006
Saturday Beaches
Jez had said go to Manly, so I started north of there at Mona Vale and drove down the coast stopping everynow and then at a beach. The beaches are fantastic and the surf was awesome. Unfortunately the ankle certainly wouldn't stand up to a dip in the surf so I watched from a safe distance.
Manly was very nice and after an ice cream and a coffee I drove over the Harbour bridge and went to Bondi. Bondi is awful. It is a small beach, with rubbish urf and feels a bit like Scarborough on a very sunny day. Stayed about 10 minutes. Drove back to the hotel.
Now the hotel, there is a place. Last night when I arrived there was a charity ball going on and the police were in the car park breathalysing any one who went near a car. Tonight there is a wedding, and the groom is a hells angel. car park full of harleys and bar full of men in leather waistcoats with long spade beards.
Tomorrow the Blue Mountains.
Graham
Saturday excursion
Went for a drive in the bush. as you can see there are several bushes. Went to the Ku-ring-gai national park Lots of eaucalyptus trees, the sound is amazing and the picture really doesn't show the smell. The trees are full of exotic birds and the air is full of eucvalyptus vapour.
The Flight Out
Well it was long. The first leg from Heathrow to Hong Kong was uneventful in a 747-400. Cathay cabin crew are very good and the whole thing wizzed by. Watched Talladega Nights and Fast and Furios.
The second leg from Hongkong was hilarious. Sat next to an ozzie geezer (his words) who hated kids. Unfortunately a family with 2 kids had been moved back from first class as their headsets didn't work in first class. The parents treated the cabin crew like hired help and expected them to look after the kids while they got on with sleeping. Cabin crew did a great job.
Decided to hire a car and drive to the hotel from the airport. Girl on the car hire desk gave me directions and said it would take an hour. Took me 90 minutes, mainly because her first direction was "turn right out of the car park" which would have had me going against the flow of a one way street!
The second leg from Hongkong was hilarious. Sat next to an ozzie geezer (his words) who hated kids. Unfortunately a family with 2 kids had been moved back from first class as their headsets didn't work in first class. The parents treated the cabin crew like hired help and expected them to look after the kids while they got on with sleeping. Cabin crew did a great job.
Decided to hire a car and drive to the hotel from the airport. Girl on the car hire desk gave me directions and said it would take an hour. Took me 90 minutes, mainly because her first direction was "turn right out of the car park" which would have had me going against the flow of a one way street!
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