Friday, November 15, 2013

Mission Australia 2013 - Day 09

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.”