Watson's bay in Sydney– Friday Skywatch

I was in Sydney mid of this year. Such a lovely city. I am yearning to go there again. I was going through my Sydney album and  found these pictures. These were taken when I went out for  ferry ride. They say, ferries are the best when it comes to  authentic Sydney experience.I bought a combo ticket for Torong Zoo and 24 hour hop on hop off  ferry  for $40.

I started from circular quay.My first stop was Torong zoo. The cable car ride inside the Torong Zoo offered a good view of Sydney. By the time I took a tour of the Zoo and came out  it was already  1pm. Though, ferry ticket can be used for 8 destinations. Practically it is not possible to go there unless we plan it well. Ferry schedule was something I couldn’t understand it easily. Nevertheless, I never count how many sight seeing places I visited. I love to explore and leisurely experience the place.

I didn’t have any plan for my next stop. While I was choosing my next destination, a ferry arrived. Next minute, yours truly was there inside the ferry. After 15-20 minutes, ferry stopped as   captain’s  announced the stop  ‘Watson’s bay’.

 

Hungry to the core,I was so happy to see many restaurants adjacent to the harbor. But didn’t find anything vegetarian there. They were sea food  restaurants.Later, came to know that Watson’s bay is famous for seafood and it was once fishermen’s village .

I walked towards left  side of the bay in search of food. After a km, found nothing to eat but a beautiful beach. Now, I had time  till ferry comes back. So, started walking in the opposite direction. Found some steps and information board mentioning that place as GAP. GAP is an ocean cliff facing Tasman sea.

 I was so happy to find this place accidentally. It is an amazing  vantage point which offers Sydney’s bird’s view.Walking along the cliff was so relaxing. I decided not to hop on the next scheduled ferry. So continued enjoying the views. Lovely veg roll,cone of ice cream, GAP park bubbling  with locals having leisurely time made my afternoon a memorable one. 

My hop on hop off ferry ended with only 2 stops. Absolutely no regret as Watson’s bay filled up all the gaps.Few more pictures on my way back to circular quay..

6 Public art installations from the streets of Sydney

Sydney is a lovely city. It has beautiful public art installations across the city. Taking a walk along the streets  is the best way to explore any city. I try to walk as much as possible in all the new places to feel the place. Sydney being one of the best cities to walk due its perfect footpaths, provides more reasons to take a walk and it is all worth it. I never got tired walking on the streets of Sydney.

A few  art installations which were intriguing are here for you. There is a story behind each of these pieces. These interesting installations made me to stop and take pictures.

1.  Forgotten songs

A small alley in Angel place, opens up to sky with number of cages suspended and birds chirping. It was such a fabulous sight. There was queue of couples posing for wedding photography. A great framework for a memorable picture.  

 I took some time to  realize these cages were empty. Song of birds was coming from speakers. Forgotten Songs is an audible cum visual  installation of  suspended empty cages in the air singing forgotten songs of birds. This art was developed by Michael Thomas Hill with a team of technical consultants in 2009. This art commemorates the songs of fifty birds once heard in Sydney which don’t exist now due to urbanization.Speakers have been set to change according to the chirping of morning and night birds.

2. Islay 

Islay, QVB Sydney

 

As we move closer to him he says, "Hello, my name is Islay. I was once the companion of the great Queen Victoria. Because of the many good deeds I have done for deaf and blind children, I have been given the power of speech!!". Apparently Queen Victoria was fond of her dog, Islay. On his memory this bronze sculpture is installed in  front of the famous QVB building  with motion sensors. He asks us to pay him money.It was so funny that when he was alive he was begging for biscuits now he begs for coin to help blind and  deaf children.

II Porcellino

Wild boar, II Porcellino

 

Staue of wild boar stands outside the  Sydney Hospital. Apparently it is the copy of one in Florence. It is believed that if we rub his snout, it brings luck. I don’t know how many were lucky after rubbing his snout, but certainly almost everyone one will try. Snout color will certainly speaks of number of rubbings.  We need to make small donation towards the hospital before we rub his snout.

4.Waiting

A business man reading newspaper is a statue by J Steward Johnson by name Waiting. It is located in front of Australia square building.

Waiting - News paper reading man, Sydney

5.Rhino Sculptures

Rhino sculpture

 

 When I was in Sydney in April, there were Rhino sculptures all over Sydney.Each one was different from the other. It was an initiative taken by Tarong Zoo to raise fund for Rhino conservation program. I was told that all these sculptures will be auctioned to raise fund. When I again visited a month later I didn’t find them.

 

 

6.Eternity

Eternity

 

Eternity is a very significant word in Sydney. Word  Eternity is  written in aluminum  on the path at Town Hall Square. It has an interesting story. As told by my guide, word Eternity handwritten was found everywhere in Sydney from 1940 to 1960 for 20 years. Only in 1956, it was revealed that an eccentric man who found peace in religion was writing the word everywhere and it seems it was found in half a million places on wall, footpaths and everywhere.Now, as Aussies say, word Eternity  has become quintessentially Sydney message. During opening of Sydney Olympic, Sydney displayed what this word Eternity means to them by writing it in fire works. 

 Other related Posts which might interest you - 

Vivid Sydney - Festival of light
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Sydney - 5 things to do at free of cost
Sydney - Skywriting and beaches
Sydney Skyline - Skywatch Friday

Sydney - Opera drenched in lights during VividSydney

Vivid Sydney is a festival of light, music and ideas happening in Sydney from 23 May 2014. This  winter festival continues up to 9 June 2014. It is developed by Destination New South Wales(NSW) on behalf of NSW Government. I was told Vivid Sydney is a success story for Australia's tourism. Millions of people visit Sydney during this time. Sydney drenches in light and you never get tired walking around Sydney. Celebration fills day and night across the streets of Sydney. 

There are light shows at most of the important buildings. It creates fairy world keeping us mesmerized. Projections, light installations, building illuminations and much more from the world of light. Darling Harbor, Circular Quay and The Rocks  rocks !!

Building illumination, Sydney

Building illumination on museum of contemporary art, Sydney

I got to be there on  first day of Vivid Sydney. I went back to my childhood jumping in excitement with the wonder lighting world in front of me. I am so happy to be part of Vivid night.

Even ferries are decorated with LED lights. It changes colors from harbor to harbor. Harbor bridge changes its color. 

Harbor bridge during VividSydney. Look at ferries in different colors

Swans, dragons, ballet dancers are created in light and water. Best of all is Opera house. It shines in plethora of design, colors and light. Opera house looks like a bubbly teenager shedding its otherwise serious look. All the light shows are for free.

Opera during Vivid Sydney

I couldn’t attend any music programs. But I understand it features many performances from different genres. 

Ideas flow from architecture, design, fashion, music, lighting, film , performing arts and science.There are exhibitions, talks, discussions and shows. Some are ticketed and most of them are for free. I saw few exhibitions and art works in museum of contemporary art which was a world of imagination with no end. I will write about this later. For now, some more pictures of Opera on Vivid night.

 Pls share if you have seen similar toVivid Sydney

Other posts which may be of interest to you  
Sydney - Sunrise by Opera
Sydney beaches 
Sydney - 5 things to do in Sydney for free