February 2024

A week in Sydney has given me ample time to both enjoy and scrutinize this world-class city with objective consideration.Skeptical at first, I was quickly swayed by the Opera House and the infusion of Asian culture. A continuous palette of cultural activities couldn’t help but seal my positive opinion of this city.

In a way, Sydney doesn’t get the recognition it deserves. Respecting aboriginal rights, embracing multi-culturalism, good planning, and fortunate climate all contribute to this energetic outcome. Everyone should come and participate in this cultural experiment in the making, and perhaps, like I did, discover why other parts of the world are unlike it.

The Views, the Views, the Views

Compare the activity and views below to San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf, the Cruise Ship Terminal, and the Ferry Building along the Embarcadero:

Wherever you live in Sydney, you get a good mental picture of the fact that you are located near water. Gently rising hills provide sneak peaks of the harbor and adjacent seaside locations.

The Australia Museum

This national history museum offered interactive displays that were entertaining for both children and adults. The good old British tradition of documenting and researching the natural world is evident here, along with excellent communication and approaches to educating the public.

Captivating Video at the Australia Museum

Museum of Contemporary Art

25% of the museum artwork is dedicated to aboriginal communities and their art. It was inspiring to learn about the original inhabitants alongside the latter day settlers as they form a context for artistic expression unique to Australia.

Conveniently located adjacent to the Cruise Ship Terminal and the Circular Quay, the MCA shared magnificent views of the Sydney Harbor Bridge and Opera House.

The Taronga Zoo

A quick 20-minute ferry ride to the Taronga Zoo made a perfect family outing. Elephants, giraffes, zebras are on display here, along with native animals such as the emu, kangaroos, and koalas

Naturally the koala bears were the first items on my agenda. I was still grateful that I took the extra two hours each way earlier in the week to visit the Ferndale Koalas outside of Sydney. The access to the male, female and baby koalas were more accessible, b ut I got my fix both ways.

The zoo’s proximity to the water and views of the city from the ferry continuously compete with the venue’s main attractions. Visitors and residents alike form an intimate connection to all points of the city wherever they are. Even the animals got a view of downtown Sydney!

More irresistible views of the city and its landmark opera house from the Taronga Zoo ferry:

To top it off, walks through stately Hyde Park in the middle of the city will make you fall in love with the city:

The Chinese Garden

Just footsteps from our hotel in the Central Business District was a beautifully designed Chinese Garden. We happened to be in town on Chinese New Year, and the festive atmosphere was supported by many children and even adults dressed in Chinese outfits. Being 20% Chinese, 20% White, and 16.5% Asian, the Asian influence is undeniable. At least in the downtown area, noodle shops and late-night retail services abound.

In the next neighborhood, Chinatown was hopping with tourists over the weekend. Festivities were topped by a fireworks display that was a fitting finale to our fascinating week in Sydney.

The difference in each Chinatown could be marked by its beginnings. The influx of Chinese in Sydney began in the Eighties. In comparison, Chinese immigrants who came illegally to San Francisco several generation before were primarily farmers and laborers. Exclusion laws, segregation and isolation dictated much of the history of San Francisco’s Chinatown.

Quirky Sydney

From photos above:

He-man drinking is alive and well in Sydney.
Not to forget Australia’s convict past, this building’s graffiti seemed to capture the mood of the country.
A reminder of the gargantuan creatures that have inhabited this vast country.

Adventure programs galore on broadcast television. I was fascinated by HE-man energy shows. Ex-excavator operators used their skills to find gold in Africa, American yokels from different corners of the country yanked logs stuck in rivers, and of course love at first date programs added to the intrigue. Maybe all TV is like this, but watching it gave me a window into the world of the Australian mindset.

After a solid dose of these mesmerizing shows, I was wishing I could watch TV as I did when I was young. It felt strangely comforting to watch a screen flicker into the night and allow a machine control your brain and what you were about to see. I wasn’t stressing out over instagram posts, nor was I constantly checking for emails. The empty promotions for advertising or political campaigns could at least be avoided, and not in a better, but different way.

Who knows? Maybe we will all go back to TV one day, when AI programming is done for you on your phone. You no longer have to search The NY Times guides to 50 best Netflix or Max shows to watch before they disappear. You just turn it on and get given it on a bigger screen. Yikes.

“I Left my Head in Sydney”???

Despite many confident conclusions that Sydney is like San Francisco, that old saying is obsolete. In its early days, Sydney may have appeared to be a poor second cousin to the romantic image of the City by the Bay, and where Tony Bennett left his heart.

But no, Sydney is not just like San Francisco. True, it’s missing a romantic tune that everyone can sing. But that’s just about where the shortcoming stops. In a nutshell, Sydney seems to be more vibrant, safe and sane. At least in my opinion and after ten days here, traveling with myself and others.

If Sydney has 5 million people compared to San Francisco’s population of 750,000, Sydney should have more than five times the problems. Yet it feels like it has five times fewer problems. Why is that?

People work in Sydney! Tons of workers in the financial district dress smartly, rush to get their lattes before facing a day in the office. This is a city for crane-spotting, but they were too numerous to count. Maybe it, too, will reach a climax like San Francisco’s financial district. The pandemic didn’t affect Australia in the way it did in the U.S. But bad on us for what happened during that time.

San Francisco seems to be tired, shaken, and ailing. It’s crashing by its own success and in need of solving some major societal ailments. Lack of housing, income disparity, and political uncertainty contribute to the insecurity. But those are not just predicaments for the city of San Francisco. More people across the globe share the same disease that the American people are facing.

Things could change in either direction quickly, and my opinion may change accordingly. Until then, escape to Sydney. It has more hope for the future. If the problems are here, at least they are different. And seeing them photoshopped out of view, you have time to enjoy the scenery.

It’s still a little unbelievable to think that I made this trip to another part of the earth so quickly after COVID pandemic. From 2020-2023 the world stopped and travel overseas was limited if not non-existent. Now, it seems like everyone has forgotten, or wants to forget about it. Time to get on with loving life and traveling.

Sydney has surprised me in many ways. Let’s start with an admission that it is more spectacular than San Francisco. What Horror!!!! I have never admitted that to anyone, primarily because I truly believed San Francisco could not be outdone. Until now, no other European or Chinese city could beat San Francisco, I could never confess that any city fared better for combined climate, culture, diversity, transportation, and environment.

I’ve changed my mind. The vibrancy, sheer beauty, summer weather, buzz, and thoughtful planning of Sydney have all contributed to my change of heart. The buses, light rail, underground systems work seamlessly. A debit card or Opal card, the equivalent of a Clipper card, is all you need to tap on for any trip. You just need to remember to do the same when you leave, or you get charged to the end destination.

Modern buildings are tucked into sites adjacent to old 19th Century buildings. Both are clean and well maintained. There are plenty of public toilets everywhere, another safety and cleanliness indicator in my book.

There seems to be little blight, at least in the city center, and little or no homelessness. Moreover, it feels safe. A big bottom line: GUN CONTROL.

The harbor seems much more immediate in Sydney than in San Francisco. With active ferries scurrying back and forth, and the magnificent Sydney Opera House and Harbor Bridge looming on its edges, Sydney Harbor has so many drop-down gorgeous views that you’re exhausted by its sheer beauty.

People, particularly the women, are well dressed and attractive. That may be a bit of stretch in general, but my first impression is that they either look like Nicole Kidman or Survivor contestants. Bikinis or workout gear on public transport are the norm rather than the exception. I feel overdressed in my sleeveless, knee-length dress.

True, Sydney has a population of 5 million and San Francisco is a scrawny 750,000. But if I were to imaging San Francisco scaled up more than five times, I think the political system would collapse it before it crumbled under its own weight. Whatever the politicians and planners didn’t do to Sydney, we somehow haven’t figured it out, even on a minuscule scale.Let’s try BART for starters.

Sydney Opera House

It’s hard for an architect to ignore the stunning presence of the Opera House. I have read in-depth articles on the formation, process, and disaster that created this international structure. Everyone recognizes this iconic form.

Despite having seen this on a previous visit, it was less imposing than it is now. Maybe activities outside enhance and support the building. Its sheer size, based on a full concert hall, an opera house, and series of performance theaters make it one of the largest entertainment venues in the world. The proportions of the building are monumental, but in this case, very warranted.

Sold-out performances of Ludovico Einauldi in addition to an opera gala were held at the same time. The ample outdoor terraces provided overflow space for crowds and the staircases were sized appropriately. You never felt claustrophobic from the expansive bay views visible from every corner of the building.

A one-hour tour was packed with information and details about the history of the building. The spherical shapes and combination of wood, concrete and steel were elegantly arranged, despite what seemed like random angles and inexplicable geometry.

Architect Jorn Utzon and the political will at the time were forces that delayed and promoted the project. In the end, it took 14 years of engineering ingenuity and construction to be completed. The project budget that was initially estimated at $7 million ended up costing $102 million, largely funded by a state lottery. Oh well. Sydney has probably been paid back for its world-class imagery. and reputation.

Ferndale Zoo

Just to put things in perspective, my first day trip was not to any museums or to attend a performance at the Sydney Opera House. Instead, my longing for seeing koala bears was fulfilled. It took two hours each way by public bus to the zoo in the outskirts of Sydney. The searing 40 degree weather did not daunt my determination to commute with the male, the females, and the joeys (babies), who were all segregated.

To be expected, most of them were sleeping, but I was happy to see a few munching on eucalyptus leaves or wandering along a branch. Like visiting a famous museum, I picked my battle by only focussing on the koalas and bypassed all the other zoo animals.

	Anonymous on Lounging in Luneburg
	Anonymous on Lounging in Luneburg
	VickieVictoria on Neues Museum, Nürnberg
	VickieVictoria on Throbbing Verona
	VickieVictoria on Throbbing Verona

Monthly Archives: February 2024

No, Sydney is not just like San Francisco (Part II)