Sydney VT Meet 31st August 2002
by M0B1US
Well here we were in Sydney surfing the web when we found the Vitual Tourist Website - and a meeting to be held only two days away on the 31st organised by Helen (Hailun)...
Getting to the Town Hall steps at noon, we looked for the likely traveller types at this popular meeting point...
Lo and behold, the first group we approached were indeed the intrepid VTers!
After the introductions (see pic: clockwise from left to right, Me, Chet (Chetans), Morgan, Helen (Hailun), Ken (Kendable), Mei Leng (Dragontml), Ting (Tintinlee) and Liam(Gedebage)), Liam suggested a ferry ride from Circular Quay to watson's Bay for lunch at Doyle's Fish restaurant.
We had a fabulous sunny day for the last day of winter with temperatures at around 23 degrees celsius. Food was great with the bulk of us plumping for Fried Barrumundi fillet with chips! Afterwards we went for a nice walk up to the South Heads (entrance to Port Jackson) for a view of the Tasman sea and Sydney harbour back to the city.
We then returned to town for drinks and a meal at Jet cafe/bar at the QVB Building where we we met by Mei Leng's friend Celine, and Chet's wife Shilpa...
All in all we had a fantastic time meeting people from around the World, listening to great stories and making new friends - a perfect introduction to the World of VT!
Thanks to Helen for organising this and thanks to everyone else for turning up!
Sydney Tip
by Adriani
The city's impressive FINANCIAL DISTRICT is also worth checking out. A highly recommended activity to do here is to take the Captain Cook cruise for a 90-minute tour of SYDNEY HARBOUR and the surrounding areas.
A world apart
by iandsmith
The initial reaction, it must be said, is striking. From the claustrophobic walls of the lift to an endless panoramic extravaganza beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass 52 stories above the pavement is a bit of a shock, albeit a pleasant one.
The faint hum of air moving through the conditioning vents was all that disturbed the aural serenity but the optic nerves went into overdrive. Cars, cabs, buses and bikes lurching from light to light and sometimes, due the density of traffic, not lurching at all, simply frozen in position whilst cross traffic deterred any forward motion.
The dramatic presence of nearby towers with their night lights ablazing contrasted with a black outline beyond that designated the harbour boundaries. Others were in the room. Seven to be precise. Lyrical waxing about the splendiforous night vista of Australia's premier city was issuing from their vocal chords. Something wasn't happening for me. I found it interesting rather than fabulous, contrived rather than spectacular. Talk of "best views" etc. were being lost on me. There were lots of lights to be sure and it was certainly a priveleged position but something in my mind clicked and I what it had been trying to tell me surged into my conscious. Comboyne. Now there was a view to die for. There, nothing was contrived. On the verandah you can not only see the weather you can feel it, interact with it. It takes total hold of you and the sounds of thunder, lightning, birds and the whistling wind are supplied for your total enjoyment.
It was a seminal moment for me. Surprising that it came so late in life. But now I truly realised that my heart is not in the cities, though I may enjoy them from time to time. Sydney will always be a drawcard for me, but never a terminal destination.
Weddings in Sydney
by M0B1US
Consider this an excuse to get my Fiat Bambina picture in somewhere - sorry...! ;-)
Sydney seems to be a real hotspot for people to have their weddings!
It seems that every week you will come across wedding couples getting there snaps taken in front of one landmark or another...
This particular party I saw just after New Year's Day and I was taken by the procession of cute little Fiat cars - behind me is the Martin Place fountain, and the wedding couple were posing in front of that as well...
It seems to be a real thing in Australia to get some wedding shots 'on location', but then there are so many romantic and stylish settings all over Sydney.
Places I've seen couples taking photos include:
The Opera House
The Rocks
Sydney Harbour Bridge
The fountain in Hyde Park
The Chinese Garden
The Botanic Gardens
Really, that is just the tip of the iceberg for romantic locations, but it's a good start in this oh so photogenic city!
Why not come here for a honeymoon - you'll not be sorry!
Packing List
by Ilena
Make sure to take a jumper, umbrella and/or a raincoat because the weather can be rather erratic, even in summer. You can buy everything you need there. As in the whole of Australia, you now have to ask for paracetamol over the counter. Sunscreen, hat, sunglasses - that sun gets pretty hot.
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My Leffe and Jackie's Chimay Bleu
Get your passport ready Ava....
Trainer with a Koala
The Monorail
