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To Travelers Digest Sydney Page
Travelers Digest Review of Sydney & Environs, Australia Celebrated as the ‘Queen of the Pacific Rim' vast, vibrant Sydney is home to one of the world's most beautiful harbors with the imposing Opera House as the jewel in its crown. The Opera house is world renowned for its architect, its picturesque harbor view and renown theater performances. The splash of the sky blue ocean, the song of the birds nesting in its enveloping roof and the feel of excitement as you sip coffee at one of the many fine restaurants that adjoin this magnificent house of art and music enhance the thrill of being in the presence of this architecture wonder. My staff and I
arrived in this city of millions in the middle of June 2002 via the
Indian Pacific Railway from Perth. Traveling from the other side of
this massive continent on a five-day journey across the flat red
desert was one of the greatest adventure train rides in the entire
world. Arriving, we stepped off the train in downtown Sydney. The air
was cool, as it was winter, but there was vibrancy in the excitement
we felt being in this famous city. We all knew that we would seek the
best the city had to present and was anxious to begin.
We had no idea of
exactly where we were, but needed to get into a hotel. Looking around
for a café or a close proximity hotel, I noticed a large banner
draped down the side of a 8 story building. All it said was "Wake
Up" written in massive letters. I didn't know if it was a message
board for coffee or hibernating bears? As it was across from the train
station and being of the hyper curious sort we drug our heavy bags
into the buildings lobby. We had scheduled several hotels to tour and
review, but for now, we would check out this tall skinny building with
the large sign. The reception counter was staffed with young smiley
faces and after learning that it was a unique back packers inn…we
decided to check in for a couple of days to give us time to learn our
way around. You can read the Wake Up review by clicking on the
following link. Travelers
Digest Wake Up Review!
Sydney is a thriving
center for business, arts, culture, a thriving port, offers great
nightlife, endless miles of golden sand beaches, hundreds of parks,
numerous museums, creative architecture, colonial prisons and, as with
everything in Sydney, a landscape larger than life. Carved between the
mountains and the sea, the city offers the convenience of a large
metropolitan while providing the ultimate in outdoor activities.
The Pacific Ocean swells
gently onto golden beaches, while a seasonally shifting palette of
colors unfold magically further inland over the Blue Mountains. In
addition to the ships, tankers and personal boats sailing the harbor,
every inch of the water captures and mirrors the distinctive curves of
the Opera House. The numerous inland waterways flow from the bay &
lead into large parks of vivid green grass, beautiful flora
and frequent open aired events. Across the bay the city zoo offers an unforgettable
panorama of the adjoining harbor and the Sydney skyline and in
addition to the numerous African wild animals you can actually walk
among the native animals. Be sure to take your camera and loads of
film as you stroll side by side and even get to pet Kangaroo's of
varying color and size…from the giant red kangaroos to females with
a Kid in pouch to the stunning white albino.
The staff will even let you hold a cuddly Koala, if any are
awake. They sleep up to 20 hours a day. It could be all that sunshine,
but most likely it's the enormous amount of eucalyptus leaves they
consume. It's a natural sedative…hmmm!
The relaxed, out-door,
lifestyle the locals enjoy is unique and distinguished from other
world-class cities. A multicultural city of style and festival
atmosphere it definitely captures the hearts and minds of all
venturing to the city that began as a British penal colony. It has as
many restaurants as Paris…as many stores & boutiques as Rome and
one thing that both of the former cities lack…genuine friendliness.
It's the one thing you notice immediately in Australia...its
always…No WORRIES MATE! The polite and hardy greeting of G'day
mate" will leave you mimicking the very distinguished accent for
years!
Engineers, that actually
drove cars, designed the highways, streets and lanes and getting
around is a breeze. There's a monorail, a subway, light rail and
extensive bus system and an unfathomable number of cabbies. Fashion is
left to your own taste and can range from tuxes to baggie shorts.
Every man, woman, child, couple or large group owe it to themselves to
visit this phenomenal city. Sydney is an eye-opening…spirit
rejuvenating city on a most unforgettable bay and even though the
country may be nick named the land 'Down Under" it is on the
absolute top of places to experience during your life. When coming to
Australia be sure to bring your cameras and your suntan lotion, but
leave your…worries at home!
We small band of
adventurers traveled extensively through this amazing country for an
entire year and spent an entire three months in Sydney. From the most
isolated, but hearty city, of Perth across the red deserts and
plains…through the southern towns and cities we explored every inch,
not wanting to miss a thing. Southeast of the riverfront city of
Melbourne we spent an entire day standing in awe at the visual
perplexities of the twelve apostles as they guarded the beach from the
wind swept waves of the Tasman Sea as it reluctantly surrendered to
the overwhelming mass of the Indian Ocean.
An hour and a half ride
southwest of Sydney; we rode horses through the hills of Mowbray park
while spending a week on a large ranch near the small country town of
Picton. Wearing my packed boots for the first time in a long while I
immersed myself in this cowboy life. It was reminiscent of my youth
spent in the Texas panhandle. We enjoyed long conversations with the
ranch hands, sipped some Billy Tea and enjoyed star-studded skies
while sitting around a campfire chewing down on some open flamed
bar-b-que. Giving up my spurs was not easy, but it's a big country, so
we once again loaded our car and drove north up the entire eastern
coast, stopping everywhere that presented itself as a visual, physical
or mental stimulate and after two months on the road we settled down
for three months in the festival city of Cairns. It was the gateway to
the indescribable great barrier reefs, where we dove and snorkeled the
unbelievable warm, crystal clear waters of the world's largest and
best-preserved reef.
During our stay in
Cairns we took many three to four day journeys up into the pointed
coves of Thomson bay. We eventually headed as far north as the red
sand roads would take us and after several weeks we ventured to the
renowned north shore town of Darwin. The area around the city was wild
and strangely exotic, rivers, streams and lakes filled with giant
crocs. The entire region was encompassed with countless hidden valleys
and bizarre red rock mountains. The land remains the home of the
ancient tribes of the Aboriginals and is shared with wild, heavy
drinking locals, many were surely the remnants of the first settlers.
The Aboriginals were strong and peaceful people and gallantly
represented their ancient past. They reflected genuine warmth and
self-control and were wise in the ways of life, both spiritually and
physically. They were definitely one with the land. I was immediately
and deeply connected to their persona and to their way of life. I will
forever cherish my memories of these people and the wild unforgiving
land they have called home for over 40,000 years.
To learn more about
Sydney and this fantasyland of Australia read our many reviews and if
you would like even more information or would like to book any
business or service listed on our 7,500 page travel directory you may
contact our staff by clicking on the following link. Contact
Us!
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