Sydney City
Liverpool was a nice suburb with placid surroundings which included
a river. A narrow-nice walk further, we reached the Liverpool station to board
a train till Sydney Central. We had been advised to not travel privately but to
take a simple option of the Red Bus (Hop-on-Hop-off). Sydney Central felt no
different than Grand Central at New York. We had some difficulty finding our
way to the Red Bus pickup point.
 |
| Waiting for the Red Bus outside Sydney Central |
 |
| Aboard the Rooftop of the Hop-on-Hop-off Bus |
 |
| With my Professor at Sydney IMAX |
Once aboard the bus, we first learnt how to properly park the baby
stroller from the Conductor. We also purchased a subsidized entry to 2
attractions of Sydney City – Madame Tussaud’s & Sydney Tower Eye. I felt
other attractions could be missed because part had been seen at Perth &
others were probably better at Gold Coast. At the King’s
Wharf, right outside the IMAX, the sight of a familiar face astounded me. It
was one of my professors from Delhi. We chit-chatted a little while, clicked
pictures & bid goodbyes to each other. I realized once again, how small is
this world.
 |
| I replaced Barack |
 |
| And She replaced Elizabeth II |
 |
| As usual, I played the Lead though unusually Neha took on the Drums |
 |
| Ives Steps besides the Harbour Bridge |
 |
| Harbour Bridge from the Sydney Tower Eye |
 |
| Dining by the Opera House |
 |
| Romance at the Opera House |
Despite my doubts, I felt very glad when we completed the entire
city route & reached Opera House (our last destination for the day) by
5:30. One hour of photography & romance later, we caught our last bus for
the day for Central from where we had to take the train to Strathfield to meet
my cousin paternal uncle. He picked us up from the station & his home –
once we reached – was a big comfort to our bones rattling with the cold weather
outside. I & Neha wondered to each other – “Is this Aussie summer? Really”
Our aunt had known about our arrival & had prepared a very very
nice dinner for us. We chit-chatted late through the night – so late that when
I recalled where I had to sleep – it was already way beyond 12 and they
insisted that we stay with them for the night. I was really in a complete 50-50
dilemma – but then such remarkable & incorrigible comfort mixed with finest
wine & delicious food was un-refutable.
As we changed
into the clothes lent by our hosts, we laid our tired bodies on the bed
reminiscing about touring through the city where many a Bollywood movies had
been shot with action, romance, drama & comedy. We hoped that we had lived
some of that. I commented “Neha, you have not just seen Sydney today. New York,
London, Paris, Singapore & even Tokyo are not that different. I said this
reminding myself that I had seen just NY myself albeit most of others through
my family’s eyes.”
