Sidney Part Two

Me and my parents received a great present: a paid cruise around the Harbour in Sidney, plus a trip up to the Sidney Tower.
And that’s what we did on 27th.
The cruise lasted one and an half hours. We went all the way up and down the harbour. I took a few pictures - 150 was the total of the day - proper Japanese, as I have been described a while ago by someone who used to know me quite well. Some of them are good, some others are average. Others already met the bin.
It was misty all over the harbour, it has been quite foggy the whole day. No real good pictures. I’ll go back on a sunny day.
The Sidney Tower was a fantastic experience. Sidney from far above, in a Tower that counts more than a thousand steps to get till the top. A tower that swings for a maximum of one meter and which was inaugurated almost 30 years ago (23rd September 1981, if I’m not wrong). It is as tall as the Eiffel Tower. It has a restaurant at the top. And while you are eating the tower turns around. So you may start your dinner overlooking Watson Bay and by the time dessert is served you can give a look at the Darling Harbour. Not bad.

Xmas and Boxing Day

Xmas Day spent as usual: family and relatives around a table where all sort of food has been served for a quite a few hours.
Of course we started the day opening all the presents: the kids got most of them. The rest of the day has been about drinking excellent wines and eating eating eating..
An hour walk at 7pm helped my stuffed stomach and my slow digestion eventually changed gear to a faster one.
I woke up on 26th December and a great sun was shining bright up in the sky.
A couple of phone calls and then the whole family (mum+dad, auntie+sons&wifes and kids) went to Manly Beach.
Manly beach is another famous beach around Sidney (Bondi beach could be another example). In my opinion Manly is better than Bondi. It seemed to me that Bondi beach was all about “beach bodies”: people who spent months at the gym sculpturing up their muscles. Browning under ultra-violet rays seems another much loved activity before walking down the beach.
Anyways, Manly beach: it was all about sunbathing for a couple of hours, eating ice cream and reading (my cousin gave me a weird look when she realised that my beach magazine was The Economist.. fair enough, each to his own.. )

Xmas Eve Part Two

Xmas Eve.
There are Xmas trees around, plenty of golden stars and Santas and colourful lights that brighten up the streets in the evening. Representations of the Nativity are everywhere. Everything is right in the place where it is suppose to be for this time of the year. Still, I cannot feel Xmas. Nothing seems to help me in getting in the “right” mood for this time of the year. (by “right” I mean that kind of feeling for which you just feel good, quite joyful and you enjoy all of the frenzy given by the shopping, holiday time and partying).
I’m sure that an average of 28 Celsius degrees, a new pair of flip-flops and my tan do not help in setting my mind onto the “Xmas mode”.
As tradition, we went to the Church on Xmas Eve.
I did not expect it to be SO different from what I am used to.
We drove half an hour to get to the Church. I almost did not even recognise it between the other buildings. It was a contemporary church (2 years old, that’s what I have been told) with a big but skinny Christian cross above the entrance. Inside, the walls were bare, a mix of cement and wood, with wide rectangular clear glass windows. There were fire exits on each of the main sides (the church had an irregular shape; it reminded me of a pentagon). There were 3 video cameras and four screens spread around the Church (one of them was outside in the courtyard). The mass was broadcasted live (the church holds an average of 350 people.. not that many).
On the screens you could read the lyrics sang by the choir (so that you could sing along). The priest was young and charming, with a foreign accent. He was kind and preached in an open minded, fresh way.
I was really surprised.
It was so different from my usual Xmas mass. I am used to medieval churches, with tall massive heavy walls, covered in paintings representing the life of Jesus Christ. There are marble altars dedicated to the main figures in Jesus’ life (the Holy Virgin or John the Baptist). There is always a wooden organ giving solemnity to the mass with its sound and flowers adorn the main altar. Candles and incense add mysticism to the sacral atmosphere. Once you step in the church you are welcomed by a referential and respectful silence. And you just follow it, you cannot help it.
Priest tend to be in their 60’s, with a traditional view and explanation of religion.
This is what I was used to.
I have lived now the modern, unusual (for me) side of religion.
I found it interesting.

Xmas Eve

I'm back in Sidney. Already. My trip is over.

I thought I would have been sad but no, I'm happy to be with my family again and tell them most of the things that happened to me while I was away. I can't tell them everything!
It is impossible to maintain a chronological order of what is happening to me.. time goes far too quickly and I can't keep up!

As usual on a Xmas Eve, everyone is rushing for last minute presents. I can't feel Xmas this year. Not that I ever gave too much importance to it (I'm not at all a Xmas person.. which makes me some kind of cynic but I don't mind it.. the whole thing of being with your family is fine for me.. it's just all of that spending and buying and being happy and cheerful..you have just cos it's Xmas.. no thanks).
Plus I'm used to a cold Xmas and not one in flip flops and skirts! It is quite unreal.. I was in a shopping mall in Newcastle and there was this man dressed up as Santa.. sitting there, greeting kids and a fan was on just next to him, giving him some relief from the heavy and warm Santa costume.. I did found it funny, it made me smile.
Mom and auntie have been cooking now for two days in order to get everything ready for the Xmas dinner (or lunch .. I have not been told yet). This morning they were busy with some pork cooked with herbs and beer.. I don't eat meat but it smelled fantastic!

Merry Xmas everyone!

Byron Bay

I got here two days ago.
It took me five hours on a crowed bus from Brisbane.. Most of the people were backpackers, travelling around Australia or around the world, just like the Swiss woman I met. Asia, Australia and South America: these are her destinations. We had interesting chats, we agreed on lots of different subjects, from politics to environment to way of living .
Once in Byron a shuttle bus from the hostel picked me up. Great service! And amazing hostel! I thought it was good but not SO good! It is in the middle of the Australian forest, with 5 acres of land all around. There is a swimming pool and a small Jacuzzi (heated) open till late at night! The same day I got here I spoiled myself in the Jacuzzi.. empty pool, stars above me and palms around me. A fresh wind played gently with my hair.. I was in heaven! and I will be till tomorrow morning when I head down to Port Macquire.

The bay is amazing.. clear water, empty beaches, seagulls and crabs.
Both yesterday and today I woke up early in the morning and went for a walk along the bay.. I kept on walking for three hours, climbing rocks in order to go to the next beach.
I also went for a day trip in the rainforest. An unforgettable experience.
And last night we had a storm! one of those tropical ones, that starts slowly with some wind and then you have rain pouring down and lightning and thunder! I was at the hostel by that time having dinner.. The sound of the rain in the forest was quite scary. You could not talk to the one next to you.. it was too noisy! after that a fresh night came along.. I needed it! Another unforgettable experience.

Brisbane

I fell in love with Brisbane.
There are no words to explain what I was feeling while walking around the West End or Gregory Terrace. I fell in love with its salty river, the magroves, the wind, its rain forest (yes here there is a rain forest right in the middle of the city centre!).
I had lunch at the shade of a secular mangrove, colourful birds and two waterdragons kept me company!
After a whole day of walking around, taking as many pictures as I could, I sat on one of the docks of the Brisbane River. Resting my feet, enjoying the spectacular view, the sun the wind..

No pics yet, have no time right now, I promise I'll post them soon!!

Sidney

It's hot!! It's sunny and windy! perfect weather to walk around! I went to Sidney both Saturday and Sunday. It is a gourgeous city.. old and new modern buildings mixed together, massive green trees everywhere.. I did enjoy the Opera House, walked all the way around it, went up the stairs and looked at the harbour surrounding me.

Australia!

And here I am.. after 22 hours around the world on a plane, I landed in the country of kangaroos and aboriginal people. My legs and knees are slowly recovering from the flight - well, the 3 flights: Venice - Frankfurt, Frankfurt - Singapore, Singapore - Sidney.
I'm not tired, not at all and its past midnight.
That’s what jet lag is for.
I do feel like I am living in a dream.
It is quite weird to see Xmas lights and decorations on green leafy trees! There are plenty of flowers and colours all over. I can hear the crickets singing in this fresh night. It seems so unreal!
Here they don't have robins flying around but pink parrots, every house has its own and special letter box and two massive fridges.. one for the food the other for the bottles of wine! By the way: Australian wines are great!
I have not yet enjoyed the warm sun.. It has been raining since I got here! Tomorrow the weather should change, starting with 24 C degrees on Saturday, moving to 34 C on Sunday!
C'mon sun my bikini is waiting!!

few hours left

This was probably one of the busiest weeks in my life.

My comfortable bed did not help me in getting much sleep.. too stressed out! Too many things to do, too many people to say goodbye to, I spent hours in front of my pc planning my 10 days "en solitaire" around Australia.. and thanks God I made it! That was a real challenge! My credit cards details are spread between Brisbane and Newcastle.. I still have a few things to work out like buses and trains timetables or maps of the places I will go, but I'm sure I will find time once there.

By the way: I haven't packed yet.

passing by..

I was right - I did not sleep much.

I met a girl from Colombia and we had an interesting chat on the political situation in her country. She agrees with President Uribe's policies. A different point of view that I could not question as much as I wanted to. We soon landed in Italy and left our opposite opinions at the airport in Treviso. She was going to Venice and I was closer and closer to home.

My village.. the most beautiful place in the world... This picture was taken a year ago at the end of August. Colours and temperature are quite different now! Brown in all of its shades, yellow, orange, grey. Wet and cold. Still beautiful.

starting from here..

Leaving Oxford tonight for an adventure that will take me on the other side of the world.

Some time off from the disappointments of the last six months.

I'm not quite sure I will sleep tonight.. I can't wait to get out of here!