friendship

On our last day in Sydney (which happened to be my birthday), we all went our separate ways and did our own things. For me, that meant a quick trip out to Bondi with a fellow WWOOFer, and then back to Darling Harbor to meet up with another friend at the Chinese Garden of Friendship. And wow, was that ever beautiful. Nestled in between high-rises, a pocket of green tranquility right in the city. We spent our time wandering around the curving pathways and pausing in all the pavilions, catching up and trading tips on gardening, great reading, and self-enlightenment (really). It was so wonderful that after Sue had to go, I went around again by myself, really soaking up all I could. It was the perfect way to spend my birthday, and a gorgeous last day in Australia.

blue mountains

Well hello. A few more posts from Australia and then we move on to San Diego! Things are getting pretty busy around here with summer fun and lots of travels coming up. Should be a great summer. Anyway, on one of our days in Sydney, we took a bus up into the beautiful Blue Mountains...

First we stopped at a wildlife park, where we saw and interacted with some creatures both adorable and strange

Then we moved on to a lookout on the edge of some cliffs. A little bit of bravery and vertigo, gorgeous views, and amusing inscriptions from people who really loved the place

After that it was a walk alongside a cascading creek, and another amazing vista. I have new camping dreams, and they definitely involve this area

Next, a glass-bottomed cable car across a ravine, and a ride down the mountain on the world's steepest railway. Really more like a roller coaster. (I've included a found video of this at the end of the post, there's really nothing to compare to the experience of seeing the cars in front of you just seem to vanish as they go over that first decline.)

And then a walk through stunning rainforest, which just so happened to be host to a sculpture exhibit

Orphan's Rock. I love a good ominous moniker

We even spotted a lyrebird, and watched him do his dance and sing his oddly beautiful calls 

And a stop to see the Three Sisters on our way back down

Finally, we cruised back into Sydney on a ferry. Watching the moon rise, gliding past tiny little coves filled with sailboats, and pulling into town under the great Harbour Bridge. A fantastic day. 

 Katoomba Railway Video

sydney

After doing all we could with our time in Cairns, it was on to Sydney. The final stop on this whirlwind tour. Upon arrival, we walked across the Pyrmont Bridge and got an eyeful of Darling Harbor (and a mouthful of delicious dinner at one of the waterfront restaurants). The next morning it was off to the Opera House, and a tour of the interior. The outside facade is something marvelous, but it was the soaring concrete inside that really got me. I'm huge fan of Brutalist architecture, and this was just so fluid, ornate, and dare I saw delicate? Yes. Delicate concrete. Fantastic. Next was a walk over to The Rocks, and a stop-in at one of my favorite places in the city, the Museum of Contemporary Art. So much fun. Finally, we made our way to the Sydney Tower, for a high altitude lunch at 360 (so named for the fact that the restaurant completes a full rotation in just over an hour). Beautiful food, dizzying views, and a nice cap to a busy day.

Concrete, warm wood, plenty of glass, all my favorite architectural elements in one dazzling space

Wonderful little peeks of the surrounding city from inside the museum

and plenty of colorful, engaging works of art

bold color, smooth cement, bright natural light, I absolutely love this room

masses of bleached starfish, suspended in free space

and a massive, wildly colorful, intricately taped floor that everyone, young and old, was captivated by

then my favorite piece, one of the best things I've ever been a part of. A submersion into a stunningly beautiful video and music, with life-size, human shaped pillows on the floor for cuddling. Wonderful. 

And finishing our exploring high above everything, slowing making our way around and getting a glimpse of the truly gargantuan spread of the city