Robot Claw

The flight was just as you’d expect, made bearable by the amazing customer service and the unusually comfy seat (for premium economy). Since I talked it up to anyone who’d listen, here’s a photo of my delicious fruit platter dinner:

I count eight types of fruit! It was all incredibly fresh and delicious too (especially the strawberries). But it didn’t stop there, since my second ‘snack’ meal was a special fruit version too:

The flight attendant probably thought I was a monkey since she randomly offered me (and it seems just me) a banana at one point as well 🙂

Anyway we arrived, and just in time since the currency/SIM card booths were closing as I reached them! The rain was also torrential and the taxi ride was quite an experience since the driver thought he was a formula one racer and cared not for the poor visibility! He even did a U-turn when he missed a street!

Dinner has been et, some important supplies bought, a bath had and it’s long past time for bed. At least it should be, but I just turned on the TV and this is starting:

Maybe I’ll stay up for a bit longer to see what it is 🙂

I’m at the airport waiting to board. The above is not my flight, but I can’t get a photo of my plane since it’s well hidden by a jet bridge.

I’m extremely tired and have very sore eyes, but I’m excited about the second half of this trip. I hope I can regenerate some energy on the flight!

Over eighteen days in Australia I did and saw a lot, and importantly spent a wonderful time with mum. I averaged just under 14k steps a day, which probably explains my exhaustion! It’s a good thing I’m immediately going on a second holiday to recover 🙂

The last Chomp has been eaten (except for the 8 in my suitcase), the last frozen coke drunk and the last postcard – from Oz – sent. Now it’s time for Japan!

I’m in Sydney for my last full day in Oz. Sue was nice enough to drive me down this morning, and I finished my packing and relaxed in my room through the afternoon until nightfall, at which it was time to go and see:

This is my third year of Vivid and I was looking forward to seeing some lights. The weather was mild and it was a very pleasant walk down to Circular Quay to see the bridge and Opera House. The crowds were busy but not as great as previous years.

As scheduled the lights came on as scheduled exactly at 6pm. I had arrived early and as you can see had a great spot, and as with the last two years I found the bridge the most impressive.

The projection on the Opera House seemed to be an animated story rather than the a series of varied images as previous years. I found this less interesting, but I liked the spotlights that shone up from behind the structure.

There were more building projections than ever, and the resolution of the projectors has become incredible. I watched the above building for about ten minutes and the images never repeated. They were so fluid and varied I wouldn’t be surprised if they were randomized in real-time. It was extremely impressive!

Other buildings nearby had equally impressive projections, and next to the above was a gigantic rectangular structure made of lights. I got closer and found it was a walk-thru installation (by Samsung) that looked dazzling but had a 1 one hour wait time! I didn’t wait 🙂

I spent about 90 minutes exploring all the lights in and near Circular Quay, and had so much fun I seriously considered heading to Darling Harbour to see what they had. However I’m very tired and had walked enough already, and it was time to return and relax since I have a big trip ahead of me tomorrow. It was a nice end to the Australia holiday.

A wet day today. We woke to rain, it rained all day and now as night falls it’s still raining. I needed to pack today since I’m off to Sydney tomorrow, but first I decided to fit in a walk to see the beach in the rain.

It was somewhat early when I set out – around 8:30 am – and there were few other walkers, and no one else with umbrellas like myself. The rain was weak but steady, and the temperature cool. I headed to Mereweather, dodging puddles and observing that even on such a comparatively bleak day the sky in Australia is painfully bright. The storm water drains ran quick with rainwater.

I reached Dixon Park Beach with the intent of walking to Merewether Baths but at the sea’s edge the wind was powerful and I feared it would take my umbrella. The rain down on the sand was almost parallel to the ground and I gave up trying to keep my shoes and socks try. I popped into the public loo at the Dixon Park surf club and an elderly man stood naked inside, obviously changing after a swim. It was a confronting site, and only afterwards did I think that if he had indeed been swimming he was the only one. I was getting hungry.

I had intended to take the Anzac Walk for some lofty views of rain-soaked Newcastle but the wind and a rare moment of self-preservation due to my exhaustion changed my mind. I headed back to Darby street and walked toward the city. A gaggle of lightly dressed girls ran past. Were they joggers? In this weather? I took a brief break under an awning to tighten my belt since the bottom third of my pants were now soaked and they were falling down. I was getting tired.

Darby Street is anathema to me: cafe after cafe after cafe. What city needs so many in close proximity? I crossed the street to admire the gigantic Bob Hawke mural and take another brief break under cover since the rain had now picked up. A bit further on I stopped at Cooks Hill Books and bought nothing, in part because the owner clearly disapproved of my umbrella. I own too many books anyway.

Some sort of market was happening at Civic Park. Food and craft sellers huddled in their tents as the rain lashed down. There were no customers that I could see. I stood under a tree watching a kookaburra play in a muddy puddle as I tried to remember which building adjacent to the park was used in a Superman film. I was hungry and tired.

I walked to Hunter Street and headed west, following in my footsteps from… last week? It was very wet now, everything from my knees down was sodden. I flipped a mental coin and it came up Colonel Sanders so I traipsed in and repeated an identical order from last week. The cashier was either incompetent or an idiot and needed help from two others before i received my food. I sat and ate my burger and lukewarm chips without vim, as a homeless man garbled nonsense at me and then with strange clarity called me ‘professor’. I ignored him and left.

I went to Marketown and bought chocolate and a single breadroll. My intention was to save the chocolate for the plane but I knew that would never happen. I resisted the urge to grab a frozen coke (it would just make me pee in this weather) and continued on to Beaumont Street and then back to mums. I returned about two and a half hours after I had left, with a full belly and clothes I very much hope will dry before I need to pack them.

An uneventful walk perhaps, but another very nostalgic one for me. Every day like this is a day in the life of me that never left Australia. Now and then, that’s not such a bad thing.