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Published: December 14th 2008
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Sydney Opera House - 3
Taken from the Royal Botanic Gardens It was snowing when I flew out of Kalamazoo. Total time in transit, with three flights and the layovers, took about 24 hours. I travelled with a co-worker. The transpacific flight was on an A380... which on Qantas seats 450 passengers (it is a double-decker superjumbo jet).
We arrived in Sydney to a temperature in the mid-80s (~25 Celsius) with mostly sunlight. We took a taxi to the hotel, had the windows down, and could smell the Eucalyptus trees in the fresh summer air. I was relieved to be back in Sydney and in the sunlight.
After relaxing in the hotel and getting organized, I took a stroll around
Darling Harbour, which is next to the hotel. Darling Harbour is located southwest of the Central Business District (CBD)... or maybe still part of it.
There are plenty of restaurants and shops around the harbour. It has various fountains, plenty of seagulls, and a walkway along the water. There is also a pedestrian bridge (Pyrmont Bridge) across the harbour (the monorail also crosses it). In addition, there is a convention centre, exhibition centre, the
Sydney Aquarium,
Wildlife World, an
IMAX, and the [url=http://www.anmm.gov.au/site/page.cfmNational Maritime Museum.
Quite a lot to see and
Wall and Light Fixture
Royal Botanic Gardens - In front of the Sydney Opera House do.
After that it was off to my afternoon surf lesson at
Bondi Beach with
Lets Go Surfing. I took a group class with about six other people.
We first got changed into wetsuits and then headed to the beach. We picked up our boards at a van they have parked nearby, introduced ourselves (name, where from, surf lessons before, etc.), did some stretching, went over the basics, and then got out into the water.
While wading out into the water, watching the waves come in, I pondered why I continue to do this kind of stuff to myself. After going through a few waves, I got more excited, though. And after standing up I was sold again on surfing. The instruction and practice I had taken previously paid off and the instructor soon had me working on turning.
We surfed for about an hour and a half. We were in a shallow sandy area (usually around mid-chest deep) and stayed closer to shore. We waded or paddled out maybe 30 or 40 meters from shore to catch waves back in. Out further from shore was another group (of more experienced surfers) catching moderately larger waves; by staying in
Sydney Opera House - 4
This is a close up photo of the roof of the opera house. we had better waves to learn on and also stayed out of the way of the experienced surfers.
Following surfing, I headed back to the hotel, ate dinner, and then went to bed for some much needed rest.
---------------
In the morning (on Sunday) I headed back out to Bondi for another surf lesson. Same routine and I continued to improve and work on turning.
From there I went back to the hotel, showered/changed, and headed to Circular Quay and the
Sydney Opera House. I had a short lunch by the sidewalk at an Italian restaurant and then took a tour of the Opera House. The tour was well worth it. The Opera House has a concert hall, an opera theatre, and multiple other venues -- it is more of a performing arts centre than an "opera house". The tour guide took us around to all of the venues while detailing various facts and history about it.
During the tour of the
Opera Theatre, a rehearsal was going on for a Christmas production with about two dozen young girls running around while the voice of an unseen choreographer sternly instructed them by name as they were performing. She
Sunday
Royal Botanic Gardens would say things like: "Amelie! Stay in line! .... Julie! What are looking at!? ... Amanda! You are supposed to be sleeping! Sarah! Next time come out earlier!" and on, and on. She wasn't mean at all and I admired how well she handled them (how else can you get so many children to work together like clockwork).
It also reminded me of an instructor I had when I used to take ballet. She would shout at us and was uncompromising in every detail. I've been admiring that method more and more as I watch so many children flounder (in other things beyond ballet) under a much softer, gentler approach. Of course, I admit, the instructor I had more than one time nearly brought me to tears (she brought a lot of people to tears);. But it shook me, rattled me... but isn't that often where growth begins? I can see where children need that sternness; not anger or yelling, but sternness.
After the tour I walked around the Royal Botanic Gardens next to the opera house. It is massive and, unfortunately, I only saw about a third of it. It has many varieties of
Outside the Hotel
These roads run along the south side of Darling Harbour. trees and surrounds Farm Cove (which connects to the larger harbour).
Many other people were also enjoying the park... strolling, laying on the green grass, playing. I took off my shoes and walked around. For awhile, I laid down and watched the clouds and the leaves of the trees.
There were some large birds with long black beaks walking around... looking for food.
The Botanical Gardens also has a patch of very tall and thick bamboo except for a few trails carved through it. This reminded me of a home I lived at when I was young that had bamboo in the back yard -- there I had carved a trail to the middle of it where nobody could see me... I used to sit and enjoy the seclusion and the sounds of nature... my own hideout.
In the Botanic Gardens, I reminisced as I walked barefoot through a little trail through the bamboo.
I then circled back and headed to the Opera House for a performance of
Handel's Messiah in the
Concert Hall. My seat was six rows from the front. They had four soloists (a soprano, mezzo-soprano, tenor, and a bass baritone) and six choirs
(in total, I think over 500 singers) along with the Sydney Symphony.
During the performance I read the Messiah Text in the program.
It started out with a solo by the tenor, which was nice. However, when the chorus first sang I was floored... the feeling of so many people singing in coordination was profound.
Also, different parts of the choir would sing different parts of the texts, and then they would all sing together, which created unique sounds.
It progress with the symphony playing while singing switched between soloists, different parts of the choirs, and with all of the choirs together. Some of the parts I recognized, some not. All beautiful.
Probably what stands out the most is when the choirs and soloists break into singing "Hallelujah!". Imagine the symphony beginning, the sound and sight of 2,100 people standing up in unison, and then the choirs singing the following:
"Hallelujah: for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. The Kingdom of this world is become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ; and He shall reign for ever and ever. KING OF KINGS and Lord of Lords, and He Shall Reign for Ever Light Fixture
Royal Botanic Gardens - In front of the Sydney Opera House and Ever. Hallelujah!"
Actually, they didn't sing the above straight through. Instead, they jumped around and repeated lines... often different parts of the choirs repeating lines or phrases, sometimes overlapping... making it quite powerful and beautiful.
Following the performance, I headed back to the hotel, got some much needed sleep. It was quite weekend... from Michigan to Sydney to Darling Harbour to surfing and Bondi Beach to the Opera House, the Royal Botanic Gardens, and Handel's Messiah.
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Celeste in Missouri
non-member comment
Awesome!
How cool Henry! I'm glad you linked your travel blog to your facebook page!