My tribute to Halloween

Halloween isn't big in Australia. Doesn't fit with the climate. Spring blossoms everywhere, we've just switched to daylight saving time and a warm bright sun fills the streets until late: nothing spooky here! But I dedicate this grimacing figure to our American friends. It is located in the gardens of Carisbrook House, a historic house in Lane Cove. There are occasional guided visits but when I discovered it by chance, walking uphill from the water's edge among dense green vegetation, the house was closed and silent. And when I suddenly found myself facing this ugly figure - yes, it was spooky. Amazingly, the gargoyle faces the main gate at eye level so it's the first thing regular visitors see when they arrive - hardly a welcoming figure! More about Carisbrook House here.

On ne fête pas Halloween en Australie. Ca ne colle pas avec le climat: le printemps fleurit partout, nous venons de passer à l'heure d'été et le soleil chaud remplit les rues jusque tard le soir ! Mais à nos amis américains je dédie cette figure grimaçante qui se trouve dans les jardins de Carisbrook House, une maison historique de Lane Cove. La maison se visite mais quand je l'ai découverte par hasard en remontant un petit chemin venant du bord de l'eau, elle était fermée et silencieuse. Je marchais seule dans le jardin ombreux quand je suis tombée sur cet impressionnant personnage... L'étonnant, c'est que cette gargouille se trouve à hauteur d'oeil sur un mur juste en face du portail : c'est la première chose que les visiteurs habituels voient en entrant - pas très accueillant, n'est-ce-pas ? En savoir plus sur Carisbrook House.

Backpacking in style

This colourful house located in the vibrant suburb of Kings Cross is a youth hostel called The Backpackers Headquarters. Bug Australia, a great resource website for backpackers in Australia, reviews the place in the following terms: ‘This is a very nice hostel that is kept clean and well maintained. The hostel features a nice bright TV lounge, a kitchen, Internet access and a rooftop sundeck with a barbecue. Accommodation is of a high standard and beds are made up and feature real mattresses.’ (Source: Bug Australia)
What do you mean real mattresses? What do the other places have? Straw?


Cette jolie maison aux couleurs pastel est une auberge de jeunesse située dans le quartier populaire de Kings Cross. Bug Australia, un excellent site de référence pour les routards en Australie, la présente ainsi : "Voilà une jolie auberge de jeunesse, propre et bien entretenue. On y trouve un grand salon télé bien éclairé, une cuisine, l'accès internet et une terrasse sur le toit avec un barbecue. Cet établissement est d'excellente qualité, les lits sont faits et équipés de vrais matelas." (Source: Bug Australia)
De vrais matelas ? Mais il y a quoi chez les autres ? De la paille ?

Pelicans near the fish market

I found these pelicans standing at the end of the dock near the fish market in Sydney. As I approached them slowly from behind, they watched me from the corner of their eye, nervously turning their heads alternatively to one side and the other. When I finally came too close for comfort (approximately 2 metres), they threw themselves heavily into the water and paddled away...

J'ai trouvé ces deux pélicans au bout d'un quai près du marché aux poissons de Sydney. En me voyant approcher doucement derrière eux, ils m'ont surveillée nerveusement du coin de l'oeil, tournant la tête alternativement à droite et à gauche. Puis quand j'ai été trop près (environ deux mètres), ils se sont jetés lourdement à l'eau et se sont éloignés en palmant.

Diwali, the festival of light

In celebration of Diwali the festival of light this week, the Art Gallery of NSW offered a free show of Indian music and dance performances on Wednesday night. I loved this little shrine set up in the Gallery. This special event also marked the opening of the Goddess, Divine Energy exhibition that will be on until 28 January. For more photos of Diwali celebrations in India, visit Mumbai Daily Photo or Bangalore Daily Photo : Happy Diwali!

Cette semaine dans tout le monde hindou, c'était Diwali, la fête de la lumière. A cette occasion, la Galerie d'Art du NSW a organisé mercredi un spectacle gratuit de musiques et de danses indiennes absolument magnifiques. Le spectacle venait également saluer l'ouverture de l'exposition Déesse, Divine Energie qui se tiendra à la Galerie jusqu'au 28 janvier. Après le spectacle, certains sont venus près de ce petit autel effectuer les gestes rituels. Pour d'autres photos des fêtes de Diwali en Inde, visitez donc Mumbai Daily Photo or Bangalore Daily Photo.

Such a beautiful hospital

St Vincent’s Hospital in Darlinghurst has one of the most beautiful facades I have come across in Sydney. Built in 1870, it was founded by five Irish Sisters of Charity who had migrated to Australia in 1838 to serve the poor and disadvantaged. More about the hospital’s history here. But don't be fooled the ancient façade: it has modern buildings at the back and this 326-bed hospital is a leading medical, surgical and research facility. Philosophy: St Vincent’s Hospital is a Catholic hospital with values based on Gospel Teachings. These values are compassion, excellence, human dignity, justice, unity.

L’hôpital Saint Vincent de Paul à Darlinghurst est une des plus jolies façades que je connaisse à Sydney. Construit en 1870, il a été fondé par cinq Sœurs de la Charité irlandaises qui avaient émigré en Australie en 1838 pour servir les plus démunis (pour la petite histoire trois d’entre elles, infirmières diplômées, avaient été formées en France). Pour en savoir plus sur l’histoire de cet hôpital, cliquer ici. Mais ne vous fiez pas à la façade ancienne, elle est prolongée à l’arrière par une aile moderne et bien équipée qui fait de cet hôpital de 326 lits une unité médicale de pointe. La philosophie de cet hôpital catholique : respecter les valeurs de l’évangile, compassion, excellence, dignité humaine, justice, unité.

Merger

Until now I have been posting in two different languages under two different names:
Sydney Daily Snap in English
Sydney - Une Photo par Jour in French
But it was just too much work to maintain two sites so I have decided on a merger: Sydney Daily Snap becomes bilingual. Welcome to our French readers!

Special Edition

Thursday is market day in Bondi Junction and I had planned to take you there today but burning news prompted me to amend the programme. The sunset was so spectacular last night I just had to show it to you. So there it is, sunset over my neighbour's roof, photo taken from our driveway. The colours are absolutely natural, no artificial boosting... aren't they indecent?

Rowing at sunrise

I'm off on a walk along the water's edge at 6am when I come across these girls rowing on the bay. The two boats have just turned around in Darling Harbour and the girls are listening to their coach's instructions for the next run. Then they notice me taking pictures of them and they're delighted. We exchange a few words, we are no more than a few feet apart. They tell me they have been on the water since 5:15 this morning. I am amazed, the sun hasn't even hit the water yet! But its golden rays are already illuminating the buildings above, creating bright reflections contrasting with the blue shadows in the foreground.

Surf Machine

This is a hilarious game I saw at the beach on Sunday, it's called the Surf Machine. You try and hold on the surfboard as long as you can. The movements of the board are controlled by the guy on the left (see his hands on the white box?) . This little girl is just about to fall off after about 45 seconds, in roars of laughter. The game was free, so her whole family (mum, dad, big sister and little brother) had a go after her. None lasted more than a minute.
What do you think the record time can be? Can you guess?

Thanks to all who had a go at guessing. None of you were anywhere close: The record time was a whopping 1 hour, 10 minutes and 23 seconds and it was held by a girl named Chanelle.

Monday, free steak at the pub

Walking past this pub in Pyrmont Bridge Street, I read the sign: Free Rump Steak Monday 5pm-10pm. Wow, sounds good!
I step in to inquire about the conditions - there must be a trick.

The name of the game is Heads and Tails. It works like this : You buy a steak (A$6, approximately US$4.50 or 3.60 euros) and a drink and then you throw a coin: Tails you lose, you pay your fare. Heads you win: your steak is free, you only pay for the drink. Sounds like fun! Are you coming to the pub tonight?

Kangaroo in the wild

There are several wildlife parks in and around Sydney where you can get close and personal with kangaroos and wallabies. You can pat them (their fur is so soft to touch!) and they will probably eat off your hand too.

But where can you see them in the wild, roaming free? There's one place I know where you can be assured to see them anytime: Euroka clearing near Glenbrook in the Blue Mountains. It's a just an hour's drive out of Sydney. You'll find the clearing a few kilometres into the national park, there are always a few kangaroos there eating the grass. They're just tame enough to let you come close and take good pictures, but wild enough that they will never really let you touch them - they will hop away if you try. A truly natural experience. More about Glenbrook here…

Do my local readers know of any other good wildlife spots around Sydney?

Watch out for kangaroos

Ah, the famous "Watch out for Kangaroos" sign! How close to the city can you see it? Not far at all! This is Lane Cove National Park: as the crow flies, it would be no more than 5 km away from the city centre. Seeing the sign doesn't mean you will see the beast though. For that, try and come real early in the morning: if you're lucky you might spot one hopping away. By the time the picnicking crowds arrive, the mob will have disappeared deep into the bush.
And by the way, they aren't kangaroos here but wallabies, a smaller grey member of the family.

A tattoo and a haircut

Walking up King Street I noticed this man with a striking tattoo on his arm; I stole his picture from behind. Tattoos are very popular in Australia for men and women alike and I'm amazed to see how mainstream it has become. Is that a fairly global trend throughout the Western world ?
For a different style of tattoo, visit Newcastle-upon-Tyne (UK) Daily Photo : Chris had a camera tattooed on the back of his neck!

By the way, most barber shops in the city offer A$10 men's haircuts. How much is a haircut in your country ?

Sunset on Paddo

Paddington, Paddo for those who love the place, is a suburb east of Sydney renown for its Victorian terrace houses. Built in the late 1800s, these houses typically display a minuscule garden at the front, a small yard at the back, two storeys and elaborate iron lace balconies. Originally home of the middle classes, they often were in a derelict state when people started restoring them in the 1960's. Today they are extremely fashionable and reach impressive heights on the real estate market. I wouldn't buy one because they tend to be dark inside, but still I love the way the wrought iron lace is stenciled onto the facade by the setting sun here. The street is quiet and very peaceful, how not to love Paddo?

Rooftops in Paddington

Yesterday was a grey day but the rain never came. As sunset was approaching, a ray of sunshine filtered through softly, illuminating the chimneys and rooftops of Paddington. Then the clouds closed in again.

Will it rain?

For the past two days, big grey clouds have rolled into the sky, yielding no more than a few droplets - to our utter dismay.
WE NEED RAIN.

On the Central Coast where I live, we moved to Level 4 water restrictions two weeks ago. This means no garden watering, no car washing, no filling of pools, no outdoor use of water whatsoever. Car windows may be cleaned with a cloth and bucket, that’s all.
Level 1 water restrictions were introduced in February 2002. Level 2 in May 2004, Level 3 in June 2006 and finally Level 4 on October 1st, 2006. In this time span, the community’s water usage fell by about 30%.
"We acknowledge that people have already done a great deal to save water, said Gosford Mayor Laurie Maher, but with dam levels currently just below 16% we need to do even more. We are in the grip of the worst drought on record. Indeed 90% of NSW is also in drought so we need to respond accordingly.”
The current average consumption is 180 litres per person per day. The aim is to reduce it to 150 litres per day.
“Take shorter showers, use greywater on your garden, install a rainwater tank or put a brick in your single flush toilet cistern. Every drop counts.”
We abide of course, and I look at the sky: will it rain? So far, only a few drops…

Back to school

Monday morning. After a two week holiday our children are back to school today for the fourth and last term of the year, which will end just before Christmas.
But life at school is not all work and no play, as demonstrated by this photo of our teenage daughter and her friends during a school excursion at the Sydney Aquarium last month. The Aquarium is magnificent and definitely worth repeat visits... but for the moment, back to work!

A humorous wine

Gone are the days when the French were so sure of their supremacy they merely laughed at Australian wines. Today, most of the wine sold here is produced in Australia, and exports are growing. In liquor shops, French wines are confined to a small corner at the back along with other foreign bottles. But the other week there was a promotion on this one. I was startled to read the label: The Arrogant Frog. Well, how's that for self-depreciating humour? These French know how to speak to foreigners. What do you think of it?

Walking on Gandhi's head

On the topic of education...
Do you remember the Chalk the Walk street art competition I showed you on September 23rd? I went back a couple of days after the event to see the finished artworks. Some were magnificent. I asked myself if anyone would dare walking on them. You bet! See above. Do you think this little girl is too young to learn about Gandhi? Perhaps (although... ?) but all along the bridge she and her dad (and the mum following behind) treaded over a red aeroplane, a green Martian, an Aboriginal dot-paint snake, St George on his white horse, fighting the dragon, Steve Irwin holding a baby crocodile against his cheek, just to name a few - without a care in the world. I'm angry with the parents. I don't understand how they could waste this golden opportunity to teach their child to see, appreciate and respect the works under her feet. Curiosity and respect, two fundamental qualities to me...
The following day, the bridge was washed clean, the drawings were gone.

My Sydney Opera House

Between yesterday's photo and today's, there is no more than a rotation of the feet - I merely turned around.
On board the cruise ship I was referring to yesterday, had you taken a cabin on the port side, you would have had views to the Sydney Harbour Bridge; had you been given a cabin on the starboard side, you would now be seeing this... provided you'd woken up before dawn of course. I hope many passengers on board the QE2 bring themselves to it.
I'm not on an expensive cruise, just standing on the quay, but here and now I am treating myself to one of the most inspiring and magnificent sights in the world. I'm happy to share.

My Sydney Harbour Bridge

1932-2007: Next year, the Sydney Harbour Bridge will turn seventy-five. In the lead up to the celebrations a drawing competition themed ‘My Sydney Harbour Bridge’ was organised for primary school children. The five best drawings were printed on a poster that appeared on all bus shelters last month and the public was invited to vote for the best artwork. Make your own opinion, view the five best drawings here. The winner will be announced on October 30th, 2006. In the meantime, I'll offer my own entry: the Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunrise.

The building on the left is the cruise passenger terminal, so if you sailed into Sydney on a cruise ship (say the Queen Elizabeth 2 next February), your vessel would be berthed here and you'd get that view from your cabin... dream on!

...And the original

I had promised myself I'd never do the standard tourist shot.
Never say never, because there you are. But then I couldn't just leave you with Coke's ersatz image of the Sydney Opera house, could I? Here's the original, from a similar angle so you can compare it with yesterday's view. This has to be the most conventional picture you can think of but one thing may save it from the ordinary: the early hour. At 7am, the only people around are locals running or walking along the water's edge. No tourists at all - apart from me!
Can you picture yourself doing your morning jog here?

Sydney by Coke

"The most refreshing destination on earth"
The black fizzy drink that generates obesity at an alarming rate can be found worldwide. This particular ad, only in Sydney. To put it mildly, I have no affinity with the product, but I do find the ad graphically attractive. Coca Cola has a very strong visual presence in the streets of Sydney, Pepsi almost none.
And if I jumped from Asian cuisine yesterday to the famous American soft drink today, it's because many Australians wouldn't mind having the two together. Sigh...

Glow-in-the-dark Noodle Market

If you drive or walk (I suggest you walk) along Hyde Park this week at night, you'll see hundreds of red lights glowing under the trees - a magical sight. It's the Night Noodle Market, an event organised by the Sydney Morning Herald as part of the Good Food Month. You choose a dish from the dozens of stalls lined up near the Archibald fountain and eat at one of the tables set under the trees. Dishes start at A$7. When I got there last Thursday, it was close to 10pm and the staff was packing and cleaning: too late ! But it's on again this week and the next, Monday to Friday from 5pm to 9pm until October 20th. I'll try to go back. Learn more…

Did you see the moon last night?

Did you see the full moon last night? Here it was beautiful. We are lucky on the east coast that the moon rises over the ocean.

The smell of antifouling paint

This Saturday, I took an early morning walk around Kirribilli on the north shore. My erratic steps lead me to this yard at the very posh Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron. As I approached this sailboat, the strong smell of antifouling paint brought back incredibly powerful memories.
A good number of years ago, my husband and I sailed half-way around the world from France to Tahiti in a 30-foot sailboat we had built: two years of sailing and discoveries followed by six years in French Polynesia.
Today, seeing a yacht hauled out immediately conjures images of many other yards we saw around the world... usually much scruffier than this one, we never had the budget for expensive yacht clubs! Hauling your boat out means days of hard physical work scrubbing, sanding and painting, mostly working on surfaces above your head until your arms and neck ache. But finally the last coat of paint has dried and the boat, all pretty and clean, is ready to take to the water again, new adventures awaiting. I dedicate this photo to all those around the world who know what I'm talking about and who can, just like me, smell the antifouling paint just by looking at the picture.

Fitness First

On an ascending escalator, do you climb the steps or do you wait to be carried to the top? In my experience, responses are varied and variable. I'm one of the walkers. But right here, this Friday 6 pm in Bondi Junction, I had the shock of my life. As I came out of the train, I saw everyone, and I mean everyone, walking up the steps - some feverishly (was it because of the week-end coming up?), others not so fast, but not one static bundle was to be found blocking the twin marching lines. Flabbergasted, I then reflected that here in Bondi, fitness is almost a religion. Whether it's through Pilates, jogging, walking, surfing, swimming, yoga, martial arts, biking, gym, weightlifting, dance or whatever, fitness appears as both a means and an end. A bit monolithic for me. When I got back to the station at 9 pm that same evening, I saw this lonely boy going down the escalator, quietly standing there. In a way, I took to liking him. I have a contradictory mind.

My butterfly collection

There's infinite pleasure in meandering light-heartedly through Sydney's streets looking up and around like an amateur butterfly collector. This building looks lovely with its pink ribbons, wouldn't it look good in my collection? I catch it with care, drop it in my box and walk on with a twinkle in my eye and a soft smile...
Photo: Clarence Street

I don't eat bananas

I haven't had a banana in the past six months. Why? The price used to be around A$3 to A$4 a kilo but went through the roof (A$12 a kilo = approx US$9, or 7 euros) after Cyclone Larry crossed the tropical north Queensland coast on March 20 this year. In the regions of Innisfail, Tully and Atherton, 80% to 95% of the banana plantations were destroyed. Australia protecting its local farmers will not allow imports, so whatever little is left sells at shocking prices. Well, we''ll just have to wait till the new banana trees start yielding again (about a year I believe) ... and in the meantime, keep eating apples! How much are the bananas where you live?
More about cyclone Larry and the Queensland banana industry here.

Enters the monokini

Flicking through the Sydney Morning Herald last weekend I almost had a fit when I read this headline: Arrival of the monokini. What? As far as I know, a bikini is a 2-piece bathing suit, the monokini is just one piece: the bottom. So - are Australian beaches going to go topless? The trend is popular everywhere in France, including on all family beaches. But here! Even on Bondi Beach where hordes of young European girls swarm, very few go topless; anywhere else in Australia, it's a big no-no. Is that going to change? Not at all: the Aussie version of the monokini is just a standard one-piece cossie with large chunks taken off the sides, have a look at the photo! Pheeeew, virtue is safe. (Photo: Bikini Island window, Bondi Beach waterfront, last Saturday)
PS - Cossie is one of the many Aussie words for swimming costume.

Season opening

Fresh and full of salty breeze (my poor camera!), today's photo was taken less than an hour ago. I wanted to show you the opening of the swimming season. The beaches have been unpatrolled all winter but now, as the October holidays start, the surf life saving teams are back on duty. The season will last six month, until after Easter next year. These red and yellow flags (identical throughout Australia) are your key to safety: they mark the patrolled area. Treacherous rips and surf claim a number of lives each year so the single most important rule here is 'Swim Between The Flags'. And if you're caught in a rip, just raise one arm (not the two, it's too tiring and you need one to keep afloat!) and the life guards will come and get you. Have never figured how someone who's half drowning can keep an arm out of the water, but these are the instructions anyway...

Beat the traffic, take to the water

Have you missed my first Yellow water taxi ? Here is Taxi 2, the sequel. Been sitting in the traffic for what seems ages, haven't moved an inch? Use a water taxi and beat the traffic! Today is a City Daily Photo theme day and if you want to see what taxis look like all over the world click on any of the participating sites below. Bet none of them gets such a fast run as my yellow water taxi! For another angle, see Sally's entry today Water taxi, Darling Harbour.
Re websites below, one of the most interesting in my opinion is the last (St Paul, MN, USA) for the comment about muslim taxi drivers refusing to take people carrying alcohol. Will they soon also refuse to carry single women not accompanied by a male relative? This sets a precedent for future dangerously divisive paths. The cutest is number 28 (look for the Oct 1st entry)...
Participating sites : 1 (Porto, Portugal) -2 (Albuquerque, NM, USA) -3 (London, England) -4 (Seattle, WA, USA [Kim]) -5 (Edinburgh) -6 (Stayton, OR, USA) -7 (Greenville, SC, USA) -8 (Budapest, Hungary) -9 (Antigua, Guatemala) -10 (Alexandria, VA, USA) -11 (Manila, Philippines) -12 (Twin Cities, MN, USA) -13 (Szentes, Hungary) -14 (Paris, France) -15 (Portsmouth, England) -16 (Ryde, UK) -17 (Sydney, Australia) -18 (Oulu, Finland) -19 (Singapore [keropok]) -20 (Santiago, Chile) -21 (Melbourne, Australia) -22 (Dubai, UAE) -23 (Bandung, Indonesia) -24 (Copenhagen, Denmark) -25 (Sequim, WA, USA) -26 (Singapore [Raymond]) -27 (Tenerife, Spain) -28 (Sharon, CT, USA) -29 (Tuzla, B&H) -30 (Jakarta, Indonesia) -31 (Rotterdam, Netherlands) -32 (Brussels, Belgium) -33 (Stavanger, Norway) -34 (Aliso Viejo, CA, USA) -35 (Oshawa, ON, Canada) -36 (Vantaa, Finland) -37 (Trier, Germany) -38 (Newcastle upon Tyne, England) -39 (Hong Kong) -40 (Shanghai) -41 (Brussels, Belgium) -42 (San Diego, CA, USA) -44 (St Paul, MN, USA)