Its mid-morning at Kingsford Smith Airport. As I cruise into Australia, it feels friendly and efficient. From immigration to quarantine, I stroll smoothly through the system, assistance is everywhere, accompanied by a smile and a ‘mate’. The guy at the information counter helps me organise a shuttle bus into town, saving me $20 or a potentially long trudge up a steep hill. I am grateful while loading my bags into the bus and settling down to enjoy the trip into Sydney. I fight jet-lag so as not to miss anything, but find myself almost dozing off until I realise we are in town. As I get my first sighting of the famous Sydney Opera House I feel like doing a ‘whoop’, and realise nobody else on the bus is even vaguely as elated as I am about this.
Sydney looks as though it is still suffering from a hangover. Today is a public holiday after the holiday after New Year’s Eve and the streets have barely a scattering of people, all of whom appear to be shuffling along or sipping coffee behind sunglasses. I am staying in Darlinghurst, just a short walk from King’s Cross, the infamous bar and nightclub district – seedy in spots but lively at night. Darlinghurst has a wonderful sense of ‘old-fashioned charm meets trendy young professional’. The building I am in has polished parquet floors and even a do-it-yourself manual elevator.
I am only here for a few days before setting off up the coast and I am all too eager to get down to the harbour and breathe some fresh Pacific air. Once more the efficient and helpful nature of the Aussies helps me find my way around getting a prepaid ticket and catching the right bus down to Circular Quay. Before I know it I am looking out towards the striking Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House along with what seems like hordes of tourists and enthusiastically exercising locals. Wandering up George Street and into the Pitt Street Mall there are scores of shops all advertising frantic post holiday sales. I take advantage of the lowered prices and settle on a new Canon camera to replace my Pentax, which has begun giving me hassles . . . as if I need an excuse to buy a new camera. Crime seems non-existent here and everything just works well. I take a walk down Darlinghurst Road that evening in search of dinner and feel perfectly at ease all on my own. A glass of New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc and well-priced sushi and I feel first world again.
I devote the next few days to getting orientated and adjusted to the Australian way of living. I visit Bondi Junction for shopping and Bondi Beach for a drink at sunset. I swim laps in the Cook and Phillip Aquatic Park pool and take a local Sydney Harbour Cruise with Captain Cook Cruises. The view back towards the city, Harbour Bridge and the Opera House, make the cruise worthwhile as they stand stately and picturesque. Waterfront property looks like money well spent, and the sea breeze is welcome under the Australian sun. Friday, my last night before heading off, I visit the Ivy Bar with a local for drinks and dancing, and experience the more pretentious side of Sydney. Luckily, my budget prevents me from overdoing it and I catch a taxi home to pack for my trip to the Sunshine Coast. I return to Sydney at the end of my trip and am pleased to be getting out of the hustle and bustle of this well endowed city.
