Royal Botanical Gardens, Bats & Manly Beach and Home

For reasons too boring to go into, I was forced to return a day later than expected and have now just got back. Thirty-two hours door to door and I feel surprisingly well. With unexpected time to kill, I decided to take a walk around the Royal Botanical Gardens and the ferry over to Manly.
I'm glad I did.

The Gardens are smack in the middle of the city and are a lush oasis.

They border the harbour and the walk approaching the opera house is one of the nicest in Sydney. The gardens themselves have a surprise in store, namely as the home of giant bats which roost in the trees by day and fly out over the harbour at dusk every evening. I managed to get some cool pics which may give you an idea how big they are. From the gardens you swing back around the Opera House and find yourself in Circular Quay from where it's a simple matter to take a ferry out to Manly.

People commute to work this way and it sure beats the hell out of the subways and traffic jams most of us are used to. The scenery can only ease you into (or out of) your day if you're a Sydney worker-bee.

The trip takes about 1/2 an hour and felt effortless.
Manly itself has a laid-back vibe.

Its easy going and the beach in contrast to Bondi, seemed more about families and less about posing.

While I was there , a loudspeaker urged everyone out of the water as the inshore breeze had swept in hundreds of blue-bottle jelly fish.

Here's announcement and I quote:

" Gidday.

The breeze is blowing in the little blue devils, so I suggest you get out pronto.

If you're stung, be sure and pull out ALL of the stinger. Pour a little fresh water on the wound and put up with the pain for about 45 minutes.

Ya it should be fine after 45 minutes."

Hardy lot these Aussies.
Manley is a suburb of Sydney but feels a world away.

Its like a seaside town and has a wonderful 10k walk (which I didn't do) that runs across the bluffs over looking the bay.

As you can see, there are some great views.
Just three ways the Aussies take to the water.


I finally got away Sunday evening and after a brief stopover in Singapore, arrived back to rainy Blighty.
I'll be here all week then have a day trip to Paris next week. The following week I'm in Berlin and then head for RIO, Sao Paulo, and Brasilia the last week of the month.
No doubt there will be plenty of pics and posts.
For now, I'm going to get out of the office and head for my bed.


Ciao
T