Opera Style

I have to admit, I have spent countless hours, days, and evenings surrounded by the Opera House. Time and time again, it draws me back, never seizing to amaze me. Each time I venture down to the Opera House, I see it in a whole new light. 

Additionally I have had the chance to view this iconic marvel of architecture, from across the wharf, near The Rocks & Overseas Passenger Terminal, and from across the Harbour Bridge at Milson's Point and Lavender Bay. Each view surpasses the previous with great beauty. I look forward to seeing the Opera House from the water, when I eventually take a cruise around the harbor.

For now I leave you with the views, the wonder, and majestic site of the Sydney Opera House...

Mesha w/the Opera House in the background (Milson's Point)

From the Front Steps

From the walkway back to Circular Quay Railway Station

Photo Collage - a small sampler of the photos I've taken of the Opera House...

From the Rocks (across the wharf)

from the walkway to Circular Quay

Atop the stairs leading to the Harbour Bridge walkway

from Lavender Bay, near Luna Park

from the Rocks (across the wharf)

I'm sure this wont be the last of the Opera House...this is truly one tourist stop that has yet to disappoint me. Perhaps this is why Oprah recently brought her show and a guest audience of 500 to tape an episode here - with the Opera House as her backdrop...

Sydney to the Max

Between job interviews and such I have managed to wander around Sydney more. The sunshine and the buzz of city life seems to be ever present. I have ventured back to the Opera House a handful of times and find that sitting within view of it just might not ever get old.

Jeff had a good friend from Whitworth who was studying in Sydney and so we met up for brunch.

 While in Sydney I met up with one of Jeff's friends from Whitworth, Kyle

And I wandered the streets, enjoying to amazing architecture and old buildings...

The State Library of NSW

The Anzac Memorial in Hyde Park

The Sydney Hospital

And then it was off to the Opera House (I know, I can't keep myself from there, its just that pretty)...where I stayed until the sunset.

view of the city from the Opera House as the sunset

The Harbour Bridge

As the sunset, the lights of the Opera House came on...

I know I'll go back...and there is simply nothing you can do about it. I'm looking forward to seeing the beaches, the Rocks, the Opera House from across the Harbour, and in walking across the Harbour Bridge.

In a New Town

I arrived in Sydney nearly 3 1/2 weeks ago. To my delight I arrived rested after my my 9-hour, overnight bus ride into Central Station in Sydney. On our way we crossed the famous Harbour Bridge and weaved our way through China Town.

I have been lucky enough to stay with a friend of mine from Portland, who is living here in Newtown, as I try and sort out a plan for my time here. It is definitely nice to have the company of an old friend, that is American as well. He was just completing his school year when I arrived, so for the first week I was here, there was one party after another to celebrate. This was nice as it took me to homes all over Sydney and allowed me to meet a lot of new people.

A breakfast place, that reminds me of the many good places to eat in PDX

Enmore Rd  - Newtown is lined with cafes, bookshops and Thai Restaurants

Gelato at it's finest - Newtown

We also were able to celebrate Thanksgiving here, complete with a Tur-Duc-En (a turkey stuffed with a duck which is stuffed with a chicken which is all wrapped in sacrificial bacon). It was amazing! Not to forget, we had candied yams, salads, both roasted and mashed potatoes, and a yummy chocolate moose, passionfruit pudding, and Australian pumpkin pie for dessert. We stuffed ourselves and hung out, watching James Bond movies before we all fell into a deep sleep.


The past few weeks have had me traveling all over Sydney as well, for job interviews.  While I had one job interview after the next, I am still looking for work. Trying not to end up a fruit picker or a door to door salesman. So the hunt is still on...

I have seen a lot of Sydney however and love wandering by foot around it, as there is always something to be discovered!

Signage here is pretty helpful...

First day walking around, I ventured to Darling Harbour (where Harbourside, the Sydney Aquarium, Convention Center, Maritime Museum, and Wildlife Conservation are located to name a few of the big attractions.) On the way, I passed through China Town and a few parks before coming across the visitor's center where I finally got a map to the city and its surroundings for ideas of things to see.

China Town has excellent Dim Sums for an even GREATER price!

Chinese Classical Gardens

The Wheel of Sydney, across from the Powerhouse Museum 

Darling Harbour

Maritime Museum

Wildlife World & Aquarium, best to get a 4-park pass, if planning to visit here

 So fun! Too bad I don't really know how to play chess that well!

Gum trees line the paths in Hyde Park

The view of St. Mary's Cathedral from Hyde Park

The Gallery of NSW, open free, daily until 5:00PM

After viewing the harbour I continued walking, making my way to Hype Park and St. Mary's Cathedral before heading to the Gallery of NSW, Botanical Gardens and the Opera House (for the first time, but definitely not the last.)

one of the many entrances to the gardens

Colorful plants, I think these are cacti

No idea the name of this nor any of the plants, but its pretty!

 There were heaps of Bats in these trees in the gardens! 

Funny story...so I was just wandering about, with no agenda. I made it to the Gallery of NSW with one hour to spare before it closed. I looked at the exhibits while keeping an eye on the clock. I had hoped to see them too. So, I left the gallery at 4:30PM and walked to the gardens up the road. As I walked about taking heaps of pictures, I for some reason thought that the gardens closed at 5PM. Scared I was going to get locked in, only to be found later and fined, I started running.

So there I was...running just as fast as I could...through the gardens...passed heaps of people leisurely relaxing at the gardens. As I made my way through the northern gate, my eyes gazed over the sign that said - "gates open daily, till 8PM" while at the same time, I became all aware of where I just had ended up - at the Opera House!

Found it!

I took a million of this guy, so prepare...

Mesha at the Opera House

view of the Harbour Bridge from the Opera House

I laughed to myself afterwards, realizing that all those people casually enjoying the gardens that saw me race past - must have been thinking to themselves "oh, my, look at that girl, she must REALLY want to see the Opera House". It was one thing to be at the Opera House, another to be surprised by it. The smile did not leave my face all night and it wasn't until my paining empty stomach dragged me away that I left it.

There is heaps more to explore here...and I look forward to doing such.

Surfs' up!

After visiting with the girls I headed south to Bryon Bay, which I believe should be renamed Surfers' Paradise and Surfers should get a new name. This is because everything in Bryon seemed to incorporate surfing, and there was reason enough - as the beaches were filled with them, with beginners to pros. It almost seemed silly here to be at the beach and NOT be surfing.

Surf shops lined the streets...everywhere

I'd go back in a heartbeat to Byron. It is a smaller surf town that encompassed a happy, hippy feeling. Shoes were optional in stores and most cafes, as were often shirts (well, okay so this is most of Australia).

Brilliant Blue Sea...when the sun was out, it glowed!

I cut my time short in Bryon to avoid the schoolies (the large group of year 12 students, who set out to party for a week long celebration after graduating) and to get to Sydney before my mate Jon's Graduate Expo. Hopefully I will return!


Highlights of Byron included:

1. Relaxing on the Beach

Lovely view of the beach below

Main Beach

You could hike down to the stairs, out on the rocks...so of course I did!

2. Hiking to the Bryon Bay Lighthouse

On my way hiking here, it started to pour...Cape Byron Bay Lighthouse

On the way to the lighthouse. The Most Easterly Point of Australia (mainland)

3. Being chased by a lizard...it literally ran after me.

He looked BIGGER in real life, and moved so fast!

4. Watching the Surfers (sorry I didn't dare try - come on SHARKS!)

I  just love, LOVE, love, the red board!

I heart surfers!

yes - he did eventually get in the water!

It looked a bit cold out there...

Tag team - two surfers, one board...

5. Discovering Chicken based Sushi (sushi with turkey and cranberry = not bad)

Sushi Roll  with Turkey, Cranberry, and Cream Cheese

Next up is Sydney! I will visit my mate Jon and look for work here! I know Sydney will bring many new adventures...including visits to the iconic Opera House, views of the Harbour Bridge (I may even a climb it) and much more. I'm SO excited. (Now if the 9-hour , night-bus ride would go by quickly...)