World Youth Day 2008
Pilgrim walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge for WYD08
Monti & I attended the walk across the Sydney Harbour Bridge with the pilgrims celebrating WYD08 in Sydney.
Photos here - http://ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/wyd08
World Youth Day (or in short ‘WYD’) was initiated by Pope John Paul II in 1986. It is celebrated on a diocesan level annually, and at a week-long international level every two to three years at different locations. The international level events attract hundreds of thousands of youth from almost every country on the planet.
Watsons Bay
Sunset on Watsons Bay, Sydney Harbour
Jenn & I spent a lovely afternoon at Watsons Bay via the Sydney Ferry service.
Photos here - http://ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/daytrips/watsonsbay
Watsons Bay sits on the end of the South Head peninsula and takes its name from the sheltered bay and anchorage on its western side, in Port Jackson (Sydney Harbour). It provides spectacular views across the harbour to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Gap is an ocean cliff on the eastern side with spectacular views to Manly at North Head and the Pacific Ocean. Vaucluse is the only adjacent suburb, to the south.
Gibson SG Guitar
Gibson SG Voodoo Electric Guitar
I’ve bought another electric guitar!
This time I’ve gone with an original Gibson SG Voodoo axe.
Photos here – http://ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/toys/gibsonsg
Sydney Aquarium
Huge ray in the aquarium tank
Today Jenn & I visited the Sydney Aquarium. It was the perfect day for it as it was a miserable, rainy day outside.
Photos here - http://ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/landmarks/sydaqua
Sydney Aquarium is a public aquarium located in the city of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. It is located on the eastern (city) side of Darling Harbour to the north of the Pyrmont Bridge.
The aquarium contains a large variety of Australian aquatic life, displaying more than 650 species comprising more than 6,000 individual fish and other sea and water creatures from most of Australia’s water habitats.
Its key exhibits are a series of underwater, see-through, acrylic glass tunnels where sharks swim above visitors, and recreation of a Great Barrier Reef coral environment.
The Sydney Aquarium was opened in 1988, during Australia’s bicentenary celebrations, and is one of the largest aquariums in the world. It is regarded as one of Sydney’s premier tourist attractions with over 55% of its visitors each year coming from overseas.
Anzac Bridge Walk
Anzac Bridge & Sydney city
Today I walked over Anzac Bridge, around Black Wattle Bay, past the Sydney Fish Markets and back home.
Photos here - http://ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/landmarks/anzacbridge
The ANZAC Bridge spanning Johnstons Bay is one of Sydney’s outstanding landmarks. Opened in December 1995, at a cost of $170 million, it provides a key link between Sydney City and the suburbs to the west. Via the City West Link and Victoria Rd it is the major east west route to the M4 toll way at Concord and the Homebush Bay Olympic 2000 site.
The bridge has a main span of 345m, a total length of over 800m with the two towers supporting the 128 cables 120m high. It is the longest cable-stayed span bridge in Australia and amongst the longest concrete cable-stayed span bridges in the world.
This new bridge replaced the old Glebe Island bridge and initially adopted that name.
On the 80th anniversary of Armistice Day, the 11th November 1998, the premier of NSW, Bob Carr, renamed the bridge as the ANZAC Bridge as a memorial to members from both sides of the Tasman who formed the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps – the ANZACs. Flags were placed on the tower tops, an Australian flag on the eastern tower and a New Zealand flag on the western tower.
Circular Quay to Lavender Bay Walk
View of Sydney Harbour from the Bridge
I completed this walk today with Kelli, Carly, Tamara & James from work.
This walk starts at the Rocks end of Circular Quay. After enjoying a freshly cooked corn cob, we set on our way ascending the stairs to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The path over the Bridges is about 1.5 kilometres to Milsons Point train station and the cafes of Kirribilli.
From the bottom, we walked along the foreshore of Kirribilli and enjoyed the harbour views right along to Milsons Point with the North Sydney Olympic Pool and Luna Park.
We then followed the waterside path into Lavender Bay, leading down to McMahons Point Wharf. Most people would have caught a ferry back to Circular Quay but we walked back via a stop at the fish & chips shop in Kirribilli.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/daytrips/cq2lb
Sydney Harbour Photography
Sydney Harbour HDR Imagery
I spent the evening over at Kirribilli on the shores of Sydney Harbour trying my hand at sunset photography using my digital SLR camera and tripod.
I also attempted taking different exposed photos to later combine as High Dynamic Range (HDR) photos. Very interesting results as can be seen in the gallery shots below.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/landmarks/harbour
Opera Bar
Birthday drinks overlooking the harbour
The occasion – Tamara’s 30th birthday
The location – Opera Bar, Circular Quay
With spectacular and uninterrupted views, Opera Bar boasts the most enviable position in Sydney. Located on the lower concourse level of the Sydney Opera House, Opera Bar offers unrivalled views of the Opera House, Sydney Harbour Bridge and all the wonders of the city skyline.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/nightout/operabar
Manly to North Head Coastal Walk
Scenic North Head on Sydney Harbour
On Sunday morning, Kelli, Carly and I walked the Manly to North Head coastal walk.
It all started with Kelli & I catching a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly. This was followed by an 8km round trip to North Head.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/daytrips/northhead
Bavarian Bier Cafe
Howard, Grant & I at lunch
Another Friday “business lunch” …
This occasion was to farewell Howard who is undertaking a six month temporary posting to Accor IT New Zealand.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/nightout/bbc2
Paintball
Accor IT Paintball Soldiers
The Accor IT team organised a full day of paintball adventure out at Rouse Hill in Sydney.
We all had so much fun and were able to share war stories and bruises for the next few weeks!
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/daytrips/pb08
Toga Party
Toga Party Fun
Kyle from work threw a spectacular toga party tonight in celebration of her birthday.
I had heap of fun with my new digital SLR camera, flash and tripod.
Photos – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/nightout/toga08
Bondi to Coogee Coastal Walk
Million dollar views along this coastal hike
Jason and I spent a few hours this morning walking the Bondi Beach to Coogee Beach coastal walk.
This is Sydney’s best known coastal walk and for good reason. It’s a stunning path that hugs the clifftops and beaches all the way to Coogee. There are cafes or kiosks at every beach, lifeguards to look out for you in the surf and saltwater pools at Bondi, Bronte, Clovelly and Coogee.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/daytrips/btc
Australia Day
Australia Day fireworks over Darling Harbour
I spent this Australia Day down at The Rocks and Darling Harbour in Sydney.
I watched Something for Kate play a free hour long concert and then watched a spectacular display of boats and fireworks at Darling Harbour.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/aussieday08
The Adventure Continues
Enjoying the photograph playtime around Sydney Harbour
After a great break over the Christmas/New Year period, it’s now back to work.
This year is gearing up to be even more intense than the last so who knows where I’ll end up. In the back of my mind is the idea of moving back to Cairns as a base mid-year and continue my same role within Accor IT.
See what happens …
Blue Mountains
Hiking in the Blue Mountains
I’ve visited the Blue Mountains twice now yet still have so much left to see. I’ve stopped at Katoomba to see the Katoomba Falls, the Three Sisters, the Jamison Valley, Mount Solitary and Orphan Rock.
At Scenic World I experienced the world’s steepest railway, the Skyway, Cableway and rainforest walkway. At Blackheath, I visited Govetts Leap (named after a daring bushranger), Bridal Veil Falls & Evans Lookout. I’ve walked halfway along a cliff-edge track towards Pulpit Rock and hope to complete this next time.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/daytrips/bluemtns
The Blue Mountains acquired their name because of the blue haze produced by the scattering of the sun’s rays striking dust particles and droplets of moisture in the atmosphere. The blue haze effect is magnified by the droplets of oil produced by the extensive population of eucalypt forest within the Blue Mountains.
It is an interesting scientific phenomenon called ‘Rayleigh Scattering’ named after Lord Rayleigh who in 1871 first published his investigation of the scattering of light. He was the first person to be able to explain why the sky was blue.
Happy New Year
Sydney NYE Fireworks!
Welcome to the new year!
I was very lucky to spend New Year’s Eve in Sydney watching the world famous fireworks on Sydney Harbour and they surely didn’t disappoint.
Photos here – http://www.ozmatrix.com/gallery/v/sydney/nye07
