Sydney

I was in Sydney for a couple of days on my way back to Hong Kong and as usual took a snap of the Opera House. Not sure why I bothered as I must have posted10-15 similar pics from previous trips.
I arrived in HK last night around 11:30 and leave tomorrow morning at 12:30 am ( for all intents and purposes tonight really.)
I'll be in Europe for 10 days or so then back to Asia and a week in Beijing.
I'll post from the UK over the next couple of days if anything interesting happens.
I plan to be busy with my kid.
Stay well everyone.
T

Sydney

Ok the picture comes from my last trip.
I am wayyyyy too jet lagged to get any snaps today.
Here's how the last 36 hours went:
San Diego airport- I hand over the wrong passport and they can't find my electronic VISA.
I come up with the right passport and the dreaded "SSSS" pops up on my boarding card.
Soooo.
The BIG search ensues and they go through ALL my stuff, swiping everything with that little wand thingy with the little tissue on the end.
No problem, just inconvenience right?
"Ding , Ding, Ding!"- Alarm
Apparently the sensor picked up traces of lens cleaner on my 70mm-200mm lens.
25 minutes discussion.
OK free to go.
Arrive at LAX.
Onto the big bird.
FAT, STINKY man burps and farts his way through the flight next to me.
Climbs over me every two hours or so to go to the toilet and always returns with foul smelling alcoholic beverages.
No sleep for 13 hours.
Arrive Brisbane Intl airport and wait for bags to clear customs.
No bag.
45 minutes later on the train to the domestic terminal with little time to spare and upon entering the terminal hear: " Mr Terence Robinson please return to the International terminal and claim your luggage."
Back to International terminal.
Sydney flight time has come and gone.
No one knows anything about the announcement.
1 1/2 hours later bag found.
Time to clear customs.
Dog "hits" on my bag.
EVERYTHING emptied on the metal table and nothing found except half eaten chocolate bar and bag of peanuts.
Both dangerous items confiscated and I'm on my way.
Much hilarity at over packed supply of underwear.
All neatly folded by hotel laundry.
I appear to be a rather neat and precise fellow.
" Mate, what ARE you planning for this trip?"
Back to domestic terminal and secure last seat on next Sydney flight.
Arrive Sydney...........Bag arrives .....LAST off the plane and makes appearance as baggage carousel stops.
Nothing today is easy.
Fast forward to hotel
No trace of reservation.
Full house today.
T weaving slightly as tiredness threatens to erupt into bad temper.
"Don't you know who I am?" considered but bitten back.
Try pleading look and weak smile.
Silent beseeching and swaying in 5 star hotel lobby whilst other guests make wide detour to avoid scene as I rummage through bags looking for reservation.
Big wedding party arrives.
Bride's horrified expression prompts Front Desk Manager to make an executive decision.
Room secured.
Bed.
Phone rings.
Credit card rejected.
Oh God.
Told to come down in 45 minutes: " NO EARLIER!!"
Once sorted out collapse in bed fully clothed and wake up as maid enters to clean up the room.
I must have looked as state as she scuttled away sharpish.
Love to all
T

Bits and Pieces

I've finished what's felt like a long week and head home soon. My time in Sydney has not been without its lighter moments as the picture with work colleagues above attests, but I'm ready to head back to the rain and cold.

I've noticed an odd fashion trend here about which my female visitors may be able to enlighten me.
Many of the women here wear dresses with extremely high waistlines.
I'm talking right under the bust.
Its a sort of maternity wear chic for the un-pregnant. If someone is of a certain girth they appear pregnant, but are unlikely to be so given the copious double gin and tonics being consumed. Have I missed the logic of this fashion trend?
Not criticising exactly, just puzzled.
I think it looks odd but then again I'm just a guy and have never really understood these things.

I spent much of the week at the convention center in Darling Harbour. This area is the redeveloped docklands and used to be a nasty, dangerous part of town. Now its got a "Disney-Singapore" air of unreality. Its quite squeaky clean and has a contrived vibe. It also has the biggest TV I've ever seen which shows an unending stream of sports. These guys LOVE their sport.
The one thing undeniable about this city is that there is pretty much a killer view everywhere you look. I had dinner on Tuesday night at Circular Quay in the Park Hyatt hotel. The view out the window was pretty nice as you can see.

The food and wine were great. The problem lay in the fact that there were cockroaches the size of your thumb scuttling around under the table. It kind of takes away from the precious presentation and haughty service when bugs are crawling up the back of your chair.

Finally, a bit of unhappy news.


I got word that an old friend died suddenly leaving behind 4 kids. I won't invade his family's privacy by posting his name, but I wanted to acknowledge this sad event.


You never know what may happen tomorrow so enjoy today.



I hope all is well wherever you are and you're making the best of the here and now.

T

Sydney Opera House

Greetings from Australia where it's tomorrow.
Strange huh?
I went to bed at 9 last night and heard the city partying through the night. Sydney must have a massive citywide hangover today. I for one was feeling exceedingly virtuous and was up at 6 and in the gym by 8. I felt "oh so superior" to those who were staring into their eggs at brekkie, waxen and pale.
Never mind that will probably be me tomorrow or Monday.
As I seem to have gotten over my jet lag, being sensible is likely to go out the window tonight.
Man these guys know how to party!
The Sydney Opera House has become one of the iconic buildings in the world. I think of it as "The Turtle". Since seeing it for the first time a few years ago its become a sort of point of reference for me and springs to mind when I see similar buildings in other cities. The Bahia temple in India, half a world away appears ( to me at least), kind of the same, but different. What do you think?


What follows is an amateur attempt at a photo study of this building.










That's it for now.

Hope everyone is happy and healthy wherever you may be.
Love
T