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)

Swan Song

Here at the White Horse Inn, Crown Street, Surry Hills, a large red banner hangs: Go Swannies Go. And today at the top of the Sydney Harbour Bridge the Australian flag was replaced by a red and white one. What's the fuss? This afternoon a thrilling (I was told) match opposed the Sydney Swans (red and white) and the West Coast Eagles (yellow and blue) in the AFL grand final. What's AFL? Australian Football League, an oval ball game played with specifically Aussie rules. Wouldn't have a further clue. Anyway, the Swans lost. By one point. But no time to indulge in sorrow, tomorrow another grand final awaits. The Broncos against the Storms, in NRL this time. National Rugby League, another oval ball game with different rules. Don't ask me more. This week-end all sports-loving Sydneysiders (doesn't that mean ALL Sydneysiders?) sure will be spending a lot of time watching TV! I'm off to the beach.

Evening glory in Manly

Manly is a seaside resort located seven miles from Sydney on the north shore. Its situation is unique in that it boasts a spectacular surf beach on the ocean side and some wonderful protected coves on the bay side. Discovered by Captain Phillip in 1788, it was named after the local clans of aborigines who greeted him with 'manly' gestures. The Quarantine Station was built there in 1832 to segregate ill passengers when they stepped off the ships arriving from England. Manly remained quite isolated until Henry Gilbert Smith bought some land there in 1853, introduced a ferry service and started to plant along Manly Cove the iconic Norfolk Pines that are now so deeply associated with the place. Two superb specimen here.

Hungry Jack goes crazy

Where it is revealed that hunger leads to some truly psychedelic experiences.
With late night shopping until 9 pm, Thursday is a busy night in Sydney. I was walking home when I passed this closed shop window in Oxford Street all covered in shiny plastic reflecting the street lights outside. Given my interest in reflections I clicked away happily, but only when I downloaded the photo did I read the words Hungry Jack's from across the street - easy to see if you enlarge the picture. Poor Jack was so hungry he went wild...

Grey geometry

Grey morning today. No soft pinks at sunrise, no crisp blues, no golden syrup, no harsh blinding sun. Suddenly I realise how much of Sydney's beauty lies with its extraordinary light. Without it and for its grey geometry this could be an (ex) Eastern block city. But I like the composition. Where is this ? Philip Street. The sandstone façade in the right bottom corner is the Museum of Sydney.

Off the rails at Central

1906-2006... Sydney's main train station, Central, celebrated its 100 years last August. To the keen eye it reveals a wealth of delightful period details such as this superb glass window pane. I had to go out of my way to find this door leading to administrative offices that are closed to the public, but isn't it lovely?
More about the history of Central Station

Monday morning on the train

From the Central Coast north of Sydney, more than sixty thousand people commute to the city every day. It's an hour and a half by train along one of the slowest but most scenic lines I have ever seen. As the train enters Ku-Ring-Gai National Park, it meanders along the banks of the Hawkesbury River. The wilderness of this stretch of the ride is amazing but the lady sitting across from me is too busy knitting to look up. The large streaks across the window are the result of the latest fad in railway vandalism : scratching the glass with anything sharp to leave your mark. How fun...

Hot, hot, hot

There are some pretty spectacular beaches on the coast north of Sydney. Here at The Entrance there was this most unusual set of clouds above the lake yesterday at sunset and today we are getting a scorching hot westerly wind that seems to be blowing straight from the desert. Unusual, unusual. Is this global warming ?

Chalk the walk

For four days 21 to 24 September, about three dozen artists are letting their talents loose on the pavement of Pyrmont Bridge.Two days into the exercise, few are even near completion of their work. Gold coin donations are welcome but it's mostly a labour of love. Visitors can cast their vote for the People's Choice Award. This work wasn't necessarily my favourite but I like the artist's posture and hat. Chalk the Walk, Pyrmont Bridge, until this Sunday.

Lazy hazy day

Early morning in the Royal Botanic Gardens. Across the bay, the north shore appears blurred in a soft blue haze. We're heading for a warm day. Relax, it's Friday. This afternoon there will be plenty of TGIF parties in Sydney's office buildings. TGIF ? Thank God It's Friday ! Are there any such parties where you work ?

Yellow water taxi

Sydney's yellow water taxis are famous. But at this very early hour no crew is on board. The bay sits absolutely still. Not even the softest breeze wrinkles the water's surface, no passing boat has damaged the perfect reflection. I catch the moment before heading for the office, thinking : wouldn't it be wonderful to take on these to go to work? Or better still, to take one of these to not go to work?

Welcome to Chinatown

The red porch with the green tile roof is the gateway to Chinatown. A large bronze lion also guards the entrance but you won't see it: by choosing a side angle, I caught two white marble giraffes instead. Not sure why these two are here, these animals are neither Astralian nor Chinese. I'd need to find out. In the meantime, welcome to Chinatown.

The colours of music

After my comments yesterday about how well new immigrants are supposed to blend in, it just makes sense to take you to Chinatown. Here's an interesting example of east meets west: this ad for the Ipod can currently be seen all over the city, but in this street in Chinatown it takes a special twist with the neon signs of nearby Chinese shops appearing in reflection. Technology meets music, movement and colour. The music is in your ears and in your eyes, action!

Fair Dinkum, mmm?

The Government announced this week its intention to toughen access to Australian citizenship by introducing several new conditions, among which are language and culture tests. Prime Minister John Howard, asked to comment about how the hard the change would be on applicants, said: "if they're fair dinkum, they will have no problems". No doubt that the use of the word was calculated. Fair Dinkum? Few foreigners would know what that means... Tell me, Mr. Prime Minister, for those of us who were not 'made in Australia' like the girl on my photo, is that expression going to be part of the test - along with the lyrics of Waltzing Matilda and words like swag, damper or billy tea? I won't ask about the knowledge of a few Aboriginal words... (don't know what Fair Dinkum means? Look in the comments)

I don't play golf

I don't play golf. I have no right to be here. But precisely, isn't a nose-in-the wind dreamer like me far more sensitive to the fantastic views than anyone whose primary concern is not to lose track of a minuscule white ball? So when shadows are long and human encounters scarce, I regularly take a tour of my waterfront property to enjoy the million-dollar views. Ignored by all, I march on my own, peacefully and without banner for the right of non-golfers to the beauty of the coast.

Saturday at the beach

The beach is one of the things I most enjoy in Australia. A perfect morning with no wind (it will pick up later, around noon), clear blue skies, long emerald green waves and an incredible sense of peace. All is well. It's a Saturday morning at the beach.

The lady in the tree

Paddington, mid-afternoon. Click on the image to enlarge it and you will better see the dark lady figure appearing in between the branches. It's the reflection of a portrait exhibited in a gallery in Glenmore Road. I love the eerie effect it adds to the street. I took this photo last week and walked past the same place again yesterday: the exhibition has changed, the buds on the tree have grown to leaves, this magic appearance can never be captured again. It will only live on through my photo.
Visit Australian Galleries

The Palisade Hotel

The Palisade Hotel is a weird sight. Just steps away from the harbour and bridge, it testifies to one of those urbanistic failures every city knows: at the time it was built, it was surely expected other similar buildings would come and balance its size and shape. This never happened, so it is now left freestanding on a dull corner of Hickson Street. Dull? Not so dull, the firemen are here! Oh they're only here to change a light bulb on a nearby street lamp. As for the Leaning Tower of Pisa effect, it's just a matter of framing - as you would have guessed.

Coming here soon... three kangaroos

Would you like to pat a kangaroo? See koalas up close? Of course you would, every tourist does! So the Sydney Aquarium on Darling Harbour is expanding. In the soon to open Sydney Wildlife World, you will be able to see all of Australia's wildlife without having to leave the city. Flapping flags all over the CBD promise you the wilderness... in a area half the size of a football field. Ah it's a brave new world, where the big outdoors are disneylandised (do you like my new verb?) for the mutual benefit of foolish consenting tourists and greedy unscrupulous developers. But why should I be surprised?

1891

The Strand Arcade, detail of stained glass window. The anemone shown here is not an Australian flower. Built in 1891 and typical of Victorian Sydney, the Strand Arcade was named after the famous street in London which was synonymous with fashionable elegant shopping. It would be another fourty years or more before Australian designers and artists realised that instead of copying British and European styles they could make a unique contribution to the world by drawing their inspiration from the local colours, flora, fauna and landscapes.

No picnic in the park

More and more rain again today - lunch will have to be indoors! Here at The Strand, picture taken from the first floor balcony.

Rain and tears

Driving rain again today. Browsing the Internet I stumble upon Beirut Daily Photo. It opens in April 2006 with carefree snapshots of a happy city: balloons, cafés, monuments and beaches. It ends on 31st of July with (professional) photos of the bombings and injured people being pulled from the rubble. The site is now closed, the author has been evacuated. As yet, he hasn't returned. Viewing this, I reflect on how lucky we are, we who live in safe parts of the world, that our daily photos reflect such an easy life. Peace seems such a luxury now… May you treasure it and help maintain it in every way you can.

Your place or mine?

Saturday night fever. When bodies come close and grow impatient, when desire locks them together, in the end only one question remains: your place or mine?
'Your place or mine?" by Sally Lange is part of a group exhibition by the Sculptors Society, visible only until tomorrow at the Darling Centre, 201 Sussex Street. Wonderful. www.sculptorssociety.com

Glitzy glam Sydney

The day was windy with showers and traits of sunshine chasing each other faster than Tom and Jerry in my favourite cartoons. I left the office before sunset hoping for a lucky strike. You bet! Suddenly the city turned to Hollywood, Las Vegas and the pirates' treasure chest all in one - what a show!
By the way, my office is in one of the smaller buildings on the left, it's just a ten minute walk away.

Bondi - art is everywhere

There is so much to look at on Bondi beach: the golden sand, the waves so blue, the white bodies of exhilarated tourists, the tanned and fit bodies of the locals, the ongoing ballet of surfers, joggers, swimmers … but if you turn your back to the sea and walk right up to the cliff at the southern end of the beach, you will find places where the naked rock exposes itself with a candour that I find incredibly moving. Art is everywhere! But it is the artist who reveals it to the world.

An ordinary day in the city

Circular quay 8:30 am. You step off the ferry and walk to work while having a look at the paper you just bought. You read that Steve Irwin will be getting a state funeral. He is described as a passionate conservationist. There are photos of him mucking around with crocodiles. You reflect on how remote from the wild side of Australia your daily city life is. Round the corner, you buy your cappuccino, which comes in a foam cup. In Sydney alone, fifteen thousand of those are thrown away every day. But you don't think about it. It's just an ordinary day in the city.

Crikey, wot a sad loss

Steve Irwin, famously known as the Crocodile Hunter, was filming a documentary on the Great barrier reef when he died yesterday as a stingray's barb pierced his heart. Today the emotion is huge: the Sydney Morning Herald titles “Death of an icon” and the Daily Telegraph runs a special edition about it. The owners of my local fish & chips shop (Pinky’s Take Away) also decided to express their sympathy on their notice board: in addition to the usual messages Size does matter (a reference to the large portions they serve) and Under New Management, they added “Crickey, wot a sad loss” (Crikey was Steve Irwin’s favourite expression). The whole thing seems ooh so Australian to me: the wonderful hero himself, the very casual spelling, the genuine sincerity, but also the lack of thought (or care?) leading to quite an odd combination of messages on the board… Despite my sadness, I couldn’t help but smile!
PS - Click on the photo to enlarge it and you'll see that the smaller sign, the Maxibon ad, says 'In the wild, lickers never survive". Not sure what to make of that one... Steve wasn't licking that stingray, was he?

Big Brother is watching you

Downhill from St Mary's cathedral, Cathedral Street leads into the now trendy suburb of Woolloomooloo. An art gallery there currently exhibits quite powerful half-wood half-steel creations. Working with the reflection in the window, I caught this bioman of sorts watching over the street. I positively love this photo.

Spring by the sea

On Friday I showed you spring coming to town with a beautiful magnolia in Darlinghurst Street. Today here's spring at the beach, in Toowoon Bay near where I live. The weather was unusually warm this weekend with 28°C (that's 8°C above the average for September) and many took their first swim of the season. But the surfers had a disappointing time, the waves were so tiny.

Doorways - pull !

Yesterday I really wanted to tell you about spring but the 1st of September was also a Theme Day for the community of city daily photo bloggers and the theme was 'Doorways'. So now, one day late, here's my entry: I'm taking you to the Australian Maritime Museum. Reflected in the glass door is the replica of James Cook's ship, Endeavour. I'll show you more of it soon.

What? Spring is here ?!?

It's hard enough to adjust to the southern hemisphere: when it's winter it's summer, and when it's summer it's winter - but fair enough. Where it gets really bad is when they tell me it's spring. Yes, in Australia, they change seasons on March 1st, June 1st, September 1st and December 1st so today is the first day of spring. I find this rather shocking. Was it all too hard to follow the natural rythm of solstices and equinoxes? But what upsets me most is... they're bloody right: spring is here: look at this!

Through my bedroom window

Every morning when I wake up, I look through my window and this is what I see. I promise it's true. What's the story there? Ha, I'll tell you one day, but not now. I'll let you think about it first and enjoy the photo...

Do it now !!

Saw this sign yesterday in front of an Oxford Street bookshop: "Do it now !! There may be a law against it tomorrow."
Oxford street boasts a large number of gay cafés, bars and nightclubs (have a closer look at the magazines on the left). I enjoyed the message. A reminder that freedom should never be taken for granted... Visit Elizabeth’s bookshop here.

Secret garden

Where is this garden located? Somewhere between Darlinghurst and Edgecliff I believe, or perhaps further on near Bellevue Hill, I'm not sure. In the hills out there, the streets wind in most unexpected ways, I got lost. It was hot and way past midday when I finally got out of the maze. So this sunny garden lives in a haze of mystery. If not for the photo, I could have thought I had only dreamed it...

Bondi, finishing line

City to Surf, finishing line. It took just 40 mns for the winner to arrive in Bondi Beach. I got there three hours later, in time to witness the finish of this young man in a wheelchair. His friends' cheers were heart-warming. No record broken here but quite an achievement nonetheless: the 14 km run, which includes the infamous 'heartbreak hill', is very hilly.
Meanwhile, the red cap crowd has spread like a scarlet tsunami onto the beach, lawns and streets of Bondi. In the pubs, beer flows freely. Let's put it kindly, this is not my style. I race out of there.

Winter migration

Each year in August, Sydneysiders take to the streets en masse and rush to the sea. This winter migration is called the City to Surf or City2Surf . This year, 65 000 people of all ages in red caps felt the urge to run. I found a fantastic vantage point to view the race start, perched up on a fence in the middle of William Street. Can you imagine how it feels to see thousands of people rush towards you? I remained trapped on my refuge island for 20 mns, so dense was the flow ! Tomorrow, I'll show you the other end of the race, in Bondi Beach. Tip: click on the photo to enlarge it, it's the only way to fully appreciate it.

Daffodil Day

Yesterday in the city I saw quite a lot of people wearing a yellow flower on their lapel. It was Daffodil Day - buy a daffodil (or even a whole bunch of them) and support cancer research. This photo was taken on Darling Harbour around 2 pm. Passers-by were few and far between, but the bright glow of the daffodils made my day...

Day One, Sunrise

A daily snap of Sydney... How to pick the first? Keep it simple, go for the obvious. The Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge all in one, on a cool winter morning... (August is winter here, remember?) It took an early start to be there at sunrise, but I got my reward: see how the sun lights up the bridge from underneath, detailing the structure?