Dogmatic

Day 1 - The Eagle Has Landed

It’s proven to be a long day but after all the planning and all the chaos of finding a decent place to stay at over New Year’s Eve - we finally arrived in Sydney.

It’s close to 2am in the morning and I am too wound up to go to sleep yet. Even if, as stated, it has been a long day.

First of all, we had to make our way to Kilmore for Boxing Day lunch with Sam’s family. Took us a while to get there and we could only stay for a short while, as we had a flight to catch at 6.15.

After our stop over in Kilmore, it was back on the road as we headed to Melbourne Airport.

I wanted to be there nice and early as in June when we went to Tasmania, we barely caught our flight and I made a promise to myself, not to go through such a stressful time like that again.

I detest flying with a passion. It terrifies me. But thankfully, our flight today was just perfect.

Once we landed in Sydney, we caught the train into the City and then checked into our hotel. We are in the absolute heart of the City and close to everything we want to do and see. Really, couldn’t ask for a better room or hotel and I’m really pleased with what we got. Five Star all the way and I really have to thank Sam for her diligence in hunting us out a really cool hotel over the next week of our stay.

After settling in, we realized it was close to 10pm and we hadn’t had a thing to eat since lunch. We went to a Spanish restaurant, just outside our hotel and after dinner we decided to hit the pavement and see what Sydney nightlife has to offer. (sorry, but when it comes to nightlife, cafes, bars and restaurants - ole Sydneytown just cannot even begin to compete with Melbourne!)

One thing that struck me, the streets here are filthy and there is not a sign of street art or cool graffiti anywhere. I mean, it’s so friggn dull! But, I am sure we will stumble on some over the next few days… just too spoilt by the color and brilliant work that can be seen in Melbourne’s alleyways and the like.

So, we’re in Sydney for the next week. Looking forward to a ton of fun and action.

Day 2 - Witness To A Crime

I have just witnessed a mugging and it could have so very easily have been me that was the victim.

After dinner tonight, Sam and I decided to go for a walk. We ended up heading towards Kings Cross - one of the seedier sides of Sydney, as has been well documented in the past.

It was my idea to head towards the Cross as I wanted to see it all for myself. Maybe not a wise choice when you are carrying expensive camera equipment around your neck and Sam had a substantial amount of money in her bag.

So we were heading to the Cross and noticed two guys in our general vicinity. I thought nothing of them but Sam felt a little uneasy about them and was exercising some caution.

The two in question overtook us and headed for a guy who was at an ATM. They stood around whilst we overtook them again and we paused once more as Sam was pretending to look at her map.

They then crossed the road in front of us and in the blink of an eye they had attacked an Asian couple who just came out of their hotel room. One of the thugs had grabbed the Asian ladies’ purse and was making a run for it, whilst the other coward was swinging violent punches at the husband who chased them down the street.

The Asian ladies’ husband was gone for quite a while and I said to Sam that we should cross the road and try to help her. Whilst Sam was trying to console her, I immediately called the police and gave them a blow-by-blow description of what I just saw. I gave them a detailed description of the perpertrators. I got a good look at both of them and as best as I could - told the police they were both about 5′8″ - 5′9″, both with shaven heads, one had a white baseball cap on and a light tan t-shirt, both had shorts on.

We waited on the corner with the Asian lady who was joined by her tour group. She was most distraught as her husband had yet to return and their passports were in the stolen bag.

We tried to comfort her as best as we could, but her English was limited so it was hard to communicate but we did ok in getting info from her that could be relayed onto the police.

The police arrived after 15 minutes or so and I gave them the story from the top and pointed to where I was standing, what I saw and where they thugs went.

An amazing series of events.

I’ve lived in Melbourne all my life and have explored some of the seediest alleyways and abandoned warehouses in the dead of night and never encountered any problems. Two days in Sydney and this. Wow!

Apart from all that, we had a good day today. I got to go to Utopia Records which is clearly the best record store in the Southern Hemisphere. Period! Spent some good cash there today I can assure you!

We also did some shopping in the market for some veg and supplies for our apartment. We have a fully decked kitchen in our apartment so we can prepare our own meals. (which with Sam’s culinary abilities far outdo what any restaurant can offer).

An eventful day. Probably explains why I feel exhausted!

Day 3 - We’re Officially Tourists

Today was our first real touristy type of day here in Sydney. We spent the entire day at Circular Quay where we checked the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Luna Park, the Rocks and the like. It turned out to be a glorious sunny day. I actually feel a little sunstroke as we were in the sun all day (without sun-screen too, which isn’t the wisest thing to do).

After seeing the ugly side of Sydney last night when we witnessed a sickly mugging, it was certainly refreshing to see the beautiful Sydney today. And beautiful this city is. In my eyes, Melbourne’s charm lies deep within its corners and crevices - the laneways, the alleys, the art, the cafes, the nightlife… but Sydney on the other hand, looks positively radiant and glorious when one can take a step back and view it all from afar.

Standing at the top of the Harbour Bridge Lookout Pylon and looking back at the city is short of breathtaking. I wanted to see Sydney this way under a perfectly blue sky and today was just the opportune day to do the tourist thing.

We walked across the Harbour Bridge to the other side and checked out Luna Park. With Melbourne’s Luna Park virtually in our doorstep and something we constantly see, I wanted to see the famous Sydney version as well. Unfortunately Sam slipped and hurt herself on a stairwell which kinda put a damper on things, but thankfully it wasn’t anything too serious and we were able to continue our day out.

I wanted to take the ferry back over to Circular Quay, but Sam had her heart set on going for a walk through the Rocks to check out some of the historic buildings on offer so it was a 20 minute walk back over the Bridge. I was feeling pretty tired by this point as we had been walking all day, but it was still wonderful to be able to see and experience Sydney’s famous landmarks as we did today.

It was really a fun day today albeit my feet feel like they are gonna fall off after trudging around in Doc Martens all day and my face is going to resemble that of a cooked lobster come morning time!

Day 4 - Anniversary

I feel positively fatigued! It has been an exhausting bunch of days and we have covered so many miles on foot. Still, it is probably the best way to really see the nitty-gritty of a city, but my feets are killing me. Ow!

We did quite a bit today and broke it up with periods of respite back at our hotel room before heading out for more.

Early on we attended the Glebe Market. Glebe seems kinda cool. It reminded me of Fitzroy in places as it has a similar sorta bohemian look and feel and crowd. We walked back from Glebe to the city, had a break and then trekked it the other way towards Oxford Street.

Now, I really like this side of Sydney. Oxford St features some amazing stores. There is a Route 66 here (there are two in Melbourne) and the Wheels & Doll Baby store which has to be seen to be believed. The girls working in there were total and utter dolls. I kid you not! Do check the store out when next you are in Sydney. This side of town also featured a myriad of fetish stores which we checked out and enjoyed. Some really cool stuff on offer and Oxford Street was the first place we got to see some genuine street-art with works by Lister and Benzo amongst others, scattered throughout. It kinda all reminded me of Melbourne and for the briefest moment, I felt a little homesick!

After our Oxford Street expedition, we went out for dinner. Today marks our anniversary and I am proud and honored to confess, that the past year has been one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling years of my life. Actually, it has been one of the best. The good times have been plentiful and it feels so good to have someone care for you and have your back in all instances. Really, words can’t do justice to the feelings of joy and pride I have in the most amazing and wonderful person to have ever entered my life. Sam, you put up with so much of my crap at times and for that, I am grateful and thankful to have someone like you in my life. I cherish you babe!

Day 5 - Taronga Zoo

Today we decided to check out Taronga Zoo. We caught the train to Circular Quay and then had to mingle with the myriad of (fellow) tourists that have overtly populated the area. It was pretty hellish getting a ticket to the Zoo and the ferry which was to take us over there.

Baking under the midday sun is not anyone’s idea of fun. Especially for yours truly who is not a sun-lover at the best of days - but there was nothing we could do but wait in the massive queue for said tickets.

Eventually, we were on board the ferry and on our way over to the Zoo. A pleasant cruise indeed and a great way to experience the harbour.

Pretty much standard fare at the Zoo. There’s nothing I can elaborate further that no one has not ever experienced at a zoo. Unfortunately due to the heat and sun, most of the animals were in a comfortably numb slumber that had me envious! It just seemed so hot out there today and the sun has the ultimate power of draining one of every last bit of energy.

And so tomorrow is New Year’s Eve. We really haven’t made any plans for the night, so I have no idea what we will be doing and where we will be. NYE in Sydney can be pretty crazy so we’ll see what transpires.

We head back to Melbourne on New Year’s Day and I’m really looking forward to that. As much fun as Sydney has been, I’m worried about my cat Luci and I hope she has been well looked after.

Day 6 - New Year’s Eve

And so it is all but over. Another year has come and gone - and for the second year in a row, I have managed to maintain this daily photojournal.

It can be quite a challenge coming up with a photo each and every day - but when the camera goes, wherever I go - every day, it is there - always ready. Always prepared to catch that one solitary moment that captures the essence of my day.

I have no idea who reads this thing. Frankly, whether it is one person or a hundred - it really is of no concern as I only do this project for myself. At this point in time, I am aiming at it being a five year project documenting a slab of my life that one day I can look back on and have a laugh or a cry or whatever the case may be.

I digress.

Today marks the end of 2007. I can honestly say that some of the happiest moments of my life have taken place throughout the course of this year. Granted, there have been some hurdles here and there, but what’s a hurdle that can’t be jumped anyway? And besides, when you have a like-minded person jumping those hurdles with you together… it makes it all the more easier.

With that in mind, I would like to personally thank one person in particular who has had to put up with me (and my camera for exactly one year now).

Though she complains that some of the stuff I put online shouldn’t be shared with the world, she is always there by my side to lend a voice of reason and support.

She has made me complete and not a passing day goes by that she isn’t in my thoughts.

So as our wonderful holiday in Sydney comes to a close, and 2007 is nothing but a distant (and fond memory) - I would like to extend my best wishes to all who have commented on my shitty photos and to all who read my daily diatribe.

Happy New Year guys…

Day 7 - Coming Home

You know, they say you need a holiday to recover from a holiday. How freaking true! Thankfully I have the rest of the week to recover before heading back to work next Monday.

Today was our last day in Sydney and it proved to be a fatiguing one at best. After we got back to our hotel room last night after the Darling Harbour fireworks, we set about to get our stuff packed for our trip home.

Most of it got taken care of last night, but we still had to get up early today to finalize it all and make sure we had checked out at the alloted time.

Easy enough.

Packed. Ready and willing we get to the lobby. I decided to pay for my internet usage at the hotel with one of my credit cards. Open wallet and quickly realize the slot that holds said credit-card is empty!

One of my cards… is missing!

Huh? Wha? This has never happened to me before.

In a slight panic we waft through the suitcase in search of the card. No sign. I ask reception if they wouldn’t mind if I went back to our room for a quick search. Naturally they obliged. But there was no card to be found.

The last I recall using it was buying the Blade Runner deluxe bot-set at Ezy-DVD. Nervously and anxiously I call the bank to cancel the card so a new one can be issued. The card was cancelled and I was informed the last purchase on it was for the said DVD.

I’m pretty sure that is where the card could be. The store attendant was pretty flaky and actually overcharged me for the DVD in question until I corrected him with the proper price which was blazened behind him in post-Christmas-red-felt-tip-pen!

Anwyay. The card was cancelled and no weird transactions had taken place. Even tho the panic was over, I still felt unsettled that I could have lost it.

After our (dramatic) checkout we had a ton of hours to kill before our flight. All good and well, but I was physically on the verge of collapse. It’s been a tiring several days as we tried to cram as much as we could into each day. I cannot even begin to describe to you the pain at the bottom of my feet. I’m really hurting!

So, even with fatigue as our constant ally, we decided to catch the train to St. Peters as we had been informed that there was a lot of graffiti there. (Thanks Fray!) And a lot there was. We spent an hour or so shooting the various street art that the lane had to offer.

Back on the train and back to the city - we mistakingly stopped off at Starbucks for some coffee. Seriously, this ain’t coffee. It is garbage! Sam had never had a Starbucks ‘coffee’ before and I can quite categorically say she will never again. Putrid stuff. In my haste, we didn’t seek out a decent cafe for some real coffee. Unlike Melbourne, you don’t trip over cafe after cafe in these parts, so we had to settle for this pap.

We then decided to crash at a net cafe for an hour or so in the desperate quest to kill some time before our flight.

We then had to go back to the hotel to collect our (ample) luggage (thanks to all the shit your truly bought in Sydney) and then head back to the airport via train.

I was knackered and eternally grateful to be finally on the plane and back to Melbourne. I could have quite easily fallen asleep on the flight, but my adrenaline was keeping me alert and awake.

It has been a long and wonderful week, but I’m glad to be back home…

More over at Flickr!