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Denver-Mall.Com
Press Release : Article : Denver Colorado
On The
Road - Year One and Counting
Tempus Fugit. Time Flies.
 September
and October is a time of remembrance for me. At that time in 2008 I was
preparing to leave Denver, via a Holland America re-positioning cruise
from Vancouver BC to Sydney Australia aboard the cruise ship Volendam. I
was packing, visiting family, spending the dwindling days and nights
with friends and saying goodbye to my long-time precious companion,
Cowboy Kittie.
As I sit writing this in my little bedroom at my families’ house one
year later I started thinking about time and how we measure it. Surely
somewhere in the core of time, a minute is much shorter than its 60
counted seconds. That must be the explanation of why there are times
when I feel I have been here in Ashfield Australia for no more than one
month. The reality of one year passing seems strange. Is time is truly a
constant thing - cemented in science? The closeness and fondness that
has boundlessly expanded with family and friends, as well as the number
of experiences I have had certainly fortifies the notion of 365 days and
yet I cannot get my arms around it. A former co-worker often voiced his
concerns about all of this. He felt that a person would be unable to
avoid occasions of strange thinking since Australia’s location on the
planet could only result in making the blood rush to one’s head... And
so here I am. It’s October 2009. And I am living in the Land Down Under
and it is an experience not to be missed.
Sydney is an amazing multi-cultural, sophisticated and fun city to live
in. It hustles and bustles as any large city does. Name a language -
you’ll probably hear it being spoken here on a street corner, in a train
car or at a restaurant with “take away” (to go) service. Australia’s
total population in just over 21 million people. Seven million of those
live in New South Wales, most notably in Sydney and surrounds. I reckon
that Sydney is the melting pot of the South Pacific. I would not earn a
gold star on any intelligence test for that thought, considering
Sydney’s location in the southern hemisphere and Australia’s status as a
first world nation. That’s not to begrudge any other nation in this
area. But Australia is the country that the US considers to be the
“peacekeeper” in this part of the world and that’s nothing to scoff at.
In terms of cuisine, well everyone profits from the joy of living in a
place where you can find taste treats encompassing an area that includes
all of the countries that are part of the Eurasian continent from Japan
all the way south and west across the continent to India and beyond.
Throw in the eastern flavors of Pakistan, Napal, Iran, Iraq, Turkey and
the Middle East and there’s no end to the types of food you can taste
and enjoy. If you are a fan of Greek, Italian and Portuguese food there
are many options to choose. You could literally enjoy a different type
of cuisine every night. And did I mention fresh fish?
But the food isn’t the only thing that makes Sydney special. It’s also
that touch of Great Britain, from the convicts to the “Ten pound Poms,”
who immigrated from all over Great Britain in the 1970s, that adds to
the city’s happening, international attitude. There’s always news of the
latest “goss” (gossip) about the Royals at the news stands, as well as
nightly reminders of cricket and soccer grudge matches between the two
countries and their respective teams which creates an interesting
love/hate, love/love, hate/hate thing with GB.
There’s a lot to love about Sydney. One of my favorite things is that
people are friendly and helpful, especially if you have an accent. Most
people inquire as to whether I am Canadian. This is the polite way to
avoid pissing off Canadians, who can become quite offended when asked if
they are Americans. (Of course, technically speaking Canadians are
Americans since their country is geographically located in the North
American continent, but to most Canadians “American” means US citizen.)
To be polite, I usually say, “No. Further south.” Which allows my
inquisitor to learn that yes, I am an American and a permanent resident
of Australia. Disclosing your American citizenship usually results in a
myriad of questions about the US - what it is like? Where did you live?
Sharing stories about places they have visited. Sometimes the accent of
my inquisitor throws me for a loop, but people are generally patient and
kind even when I have to ask them to repeat the question. I must admit
that having an American accent has proven to be a plus because you can
ask any dumb question you want and people will oblige you because you of
it. It’s a bit like a “get out of jail free” card. The other day I was
asked if I was from Michigan, which I thought was a dumb question. “No,”
I replied patiently, “California and Colorado.” And now citizen of the
world, I said silently...
I have always had favorite places in the city or “CBD” (Central Business
District) and I am happy to say that I keep finding more. I love being
in “exploration” mode. Sydney’s city center is somewhat compact and is
confined by the harbor to the east, north and south. It’s size makes it
a great place to enjoy on foot and there is also a free circulator bus
that stops at many of the “places of interest” within Sydney’s core.
There are also a number of parks and pedestrian malls where you can sit
on a bench, be a “sticky beak” (lookie loo) and enjoy the many sights
and sounds of the city.
Last year, my sister and I set out to see all of the museums of Sydney.
We did well, but I must admit we have a ways to go. Of those we did see,
the Powerhouse Museum is one of my favorites. I have always loved
museums that are a combination of science and transportation. The
Powerhouse is all that. And it has exhibits with buttons. I have always
loved museums with interactive exhibits. I am not sure why, but I do
love to push exhibit buttons when offered just for the pure joy of
seeing what happens. (I think I got the “bug” at Griffith Observatory in
Los Angeles.) But I digress... In early 2009, the Powerhouse put on the
traveling Star Wars exhibit that originated in Boston. I could have
stayed all day and gone back the next. Did I mention that the Star Wars
exhibit included wonderful displays and models and buttons you could
push?
One day, purely by accident, (which really means “unplanned) we wondered
into a special exhibit about Charles Darwin and his sea travels at the
Australian Maritime Museum. The Darwin exhibit was one of two special
exhibits being featured. The other featured the evolution of the
swimsuit. (Although I doubt Darwin’s Theory holds here...) This exhibit
was closed to persons under the age of 18 because it featured the famous
topless swimsuit from the 1970s. You might recall. It featured long over
the shoulder straps that attached to the bottom portion of the suit.
Scandalous!
Never one to pass on a bit of this or that, I also attended some of the
cultural events that Sydney has to offer. Many of these include markets
where people display their goods every other Saturday or Sunday and
feature home goods, knick knacks, gently used items, food, books,
candles, art wares, etc. You can purchase just about anything you are
looking for as well as the things that you just can’t resist. You can
find t-shirts made in Samoan sizes (extra big), beautiful handmade arts
and crafts and the most beautiful fresh fruits and flowers. I also
attended several “high brow” events, both at the Sydney Opera House.
Neither my sister or I could pass up a concert featuring a brass
ensemble, plus harp that played wonderful pieces filled with trumpet
solos, fluid French horn, trombone and tuba riffs. Nor could we pass on
a performance by the Sydney Symphony whose concert theme was music from
the Star Trek television series and subsequent movies. Wonderful... I
also was privileged to see Leonard Cohen in concert at the Sydney
Entertainment Centre, located between Darling Harbour and Chinatown.
Speaking of great locations, Darling Harbour is a bit like Disneyland
for adults. There are lots of mid to high end eateries, boats, IMAX, a
chocolatier, excursions and tours by boat and the Chinese Garden of
Friendship, which is a lovely little escape from the city while being in
it. There’s a tea house, a pagoda, water falls and weeping willows.
Meandering through the gardens is a little bit of paradise and if you
want a souvenir, you can hire a Chinese silk costume and have your
picture taken as a member of a Chinese royal family near the flowing
waterfall or weeping willow. Star City, an upscale gambling and
entertainment venue is within easy walking distance. You can put some
money in a “pokie” (slot) machine, have a nice meal for less than you
might imagine, watch a musical show or stage production and bet on the
ponies. If you get tired, a room, an apartment or a luxury suite is
yours - all within reach. Did I mention the 47 metre long bar (that’s
154.19 feet), the 45 different brands of beer, the 28 different brands
of bourbon or the 8 sports stations?
Darling Harbour also has a slightly more sophisticated feel to it than
other places in the CBD, although I am not sure why. It could be because
it houses the Entertainment Centre where I saw Leonard Cohen or it could
be because it’s the home of the Sydney Aquarium that features a
walk-thru aquarium with its moving walkway that offers the feeling of
walking through the ocean. The IMAX Theatre is also in this part of
Sydney. Watching images of turtles, dolphins and all manner of fish
projected larger than life on its massive screen is awesome and moving
and is often well worth the weird “crick” in the neck that accompanies
the experience. Did I mention that I have personally seen Klingons and
Vulcans and Earthlings and all manner of aliens hanging around the Imax
Theatre as well? It’s true. Perhaps that time rift runs down to Darling
Harbour from Cardiff....
China Town consists of several blocks that are within an easy walk or
you can take the Monorail or light rail there depending upon where you
are in Sydney. The streets are always full of “hawkers” beckoning and
calling you to eat at their restaurant. There are usually booths
promoting information about the Falon Gong and other concerns held by
this large community. And girls, let me tell you... there are jewelry
shops featuring the most decadent bejeweled gold baubles that you can
image everywhere. Window shopping is a must, especially if you like to
look and admire the art of jewelry making in all of its iterations. Did
I mention pearls?
Sydney, as a whole, is a city that features every kind of entertainment
imaginable. There’s music of every kind, theatre, comedy and film. And
I’ve dabbled in a bit of each. Not surprisingly you can hear great music
without spending a penny. The Pitt Street Pedestrian Mall features
musicians who set up their portable amps, plug in their instrument of
choice - be it electric guitar, violin, double bass or whatever, set up
their “dosh” (money) collection device of choice and then play hoping
whoever passes will add some coins or notes into their “Hey, I like your
music” pot. One day, when I was in town on business, a musician was
playing the Flintstones theme song... (“Flintstones. We’re the
Flintstones. We’re a modern stoneage family. From the town of Bedrock,
we’re a place right out of history...”) on an amplified standing acrylic
doublebass. Made me laugh. It was a great day of many.
 Circular
Quay, which includes the CBD’s ferry commuter area, also features a
number of different types of musicians. Not only is Circular Quay a
popular tourist area, it is also the meeting place of many locals
because of its proximity to the Sydney Opera House and the Botanic
Gardens. On just about any day, you will hear the sound of the
didgeridoo, native singing and the clacking of sticks at the Quay. I
must admit that I always linger a bit and slow my pace when I hear the
unusual sounds of Aboriginal music. There’s something very earthy and
stirring about this music which contains the stories of these ancient
people. But the fella who always captures my attention and causes me to
stop in my tracks is the fella who plays the Caribbean drums. I don’t
know how anyone can remain unhappy when they hear that tinny, bright and
happy sound. Just thinking about it makes me smile.
The Rocks, which is the oldest part of Sydney, is adjacent to Circular
Quay and features an open air market on Saturdays. The errant shopper
could find themselves confronted with choosing beautifully crafted wood
bowls and boxes, license plate notebooks and purses, natural lavender
lotions, hand painted kittie sculptures, glass works, food, jewelry and
books. It’s hard to resist buying something at this market, although
just walking up and down the isles and being a “sticky beak” is a treat
in itself.
There are also events and tours of every shape and size in Sydney. As
spring drifts into summer, there are marathons and bike rides and runs
and walks and road closures within the city, usually on Saturdays or
Sundays. Want to have breakfast on the Harbour Bridge? There’s an event
featuring that. Want to walk up the span of the Harbour Bridge? There’s
a tour that will take you up. Want to have a close up look of the
harbour? Pick a traditional boat or gear up in “wet weather” clothes and
take the jet boat. It’s your choice. Want to have a cocktail in a room
with a temperature of minus 5 celsius? You can do that too.
Nearby, you will find people stumping for charities at the Queen
Victoria building which features high end designer shops, coffee and
gelato stops and a myriad of retailers in its upper and lower levels.
Outside, just a few meters away in front of Town Hall, you may hear the
melodious tones of someone having a “go” about something on a megaphone.
Wander a bit further and you may come across people marching through
Hyde Park in protest for the cause “du jour” or playing chess on the
giant outdoor chess board which includes giant game pieces. A further
venture to Hyde Park’s fountain of industry or Saint Mary’s Catholic
Church will find yourself testing your patience to get that special
“kodak moment” amongst the many bridal parties, their photographers and
the tourists who frequent this popular location.
Sydney is golden, with the occasional rain storm. But is generally, “17
(celcius) and fine” (which is a description of the weather that includes
fair, sunny skies) as reported by the weather bureau. There are places
to explore, movies to see, music to hear, causes to be involved in.
Sydney is an active, vibrant and exciting city comprised of people from
all over the world. It is truly a melting pot.
In my mind, “real” exploring means that you have to be willing to
venture off the beaten path. I have certainly done that in this past
year. I’ve explored places that I never expected to see in my life such
as Fiji, Vanuatu, New Caledonia and Samoa. I’ve seen expressions of
welcome that included marching bands, hand painted signs and flowers. I
have learned more about the world through my exploration of it and by
interacting with those around me. It has been a magical year, full of
new ventures and personal “firsts” -- a collection of moments in time to
remember.
On the Road - My First Year In Sydney
Filed by Bev Saidel for the Denver-Mall.com
October 2009
Bev Saidel is a freelance writer and photographer on assignment in
Australia. For more information about Bev click here:
http://www.denver-mall.com/cheapshots.htm
email:
bsaidel@live.com
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