Going to the Zoo Zoo Zoo

Friday 29th June

The temperature was expected to get up to 21 today and it looked nice outside so the big people decided to take us to the zoo for the day. 

A friendly bus driver asked us where we wanted to go and they said circular Quay. He said he actually went close to there so to get on. When we got down near that end of town he turned around and asked if anyone else  wanted to go where he was meant to be going and they all said no, they wanted to go to Circular quay. He said well that makes it easy and promptly took us all to Circular Quay. Only Down under!  Mary says that would never happen in London. BerLin says it would never happen in Germany, but Oprah says...You're in Sydney now mate.

The harbour looked beautiful and it was a lovely trip across to Taronga Park Zoo. After a quick ride up in the cable car we were at the top gate of the zoo and we spent the day walking back down the hill.

Well this as close as we got to a koala.

The animals are all really easy to see and have as natural habitats as possible.

Alan took some wonderful photos.Don't mess with any of these guys!  Notice we are not in any of these pics.

Out and About in Sydney

Thursday June 28th

Just for fun, Mary decided to give us a ride on the monorail today. It is going to be ripped out of Sydney this time next year, so they decided to have a ride around the city on it. It looks really ugly in the street with it's rail in front of lovely heritage buildings but it is a really fast way to get around the city and the view is amazing.

Here we are having a ride on the monorail.

The day pass included the light rail as well so after one circuit on the monorail so we got off and transferred to the tram. It was jam packed and it looked unlikely they would get a seat. But when it got the Star City stop everyone suddenly left and went into the Casino.

Star City Casino.  We were not  allowed toraid our piggy banks to go in here!

 Nothing much at the end of the line, so we stayed on and went back to Glebe and had a walk around.

Prymount

On the way back they got out at the Casino and went to  the theatre and booked tickets to An Officer and a Gentleman, (the musical) for Friday night.

The evening was spent catching up with Mary's cousin Liz. After drinks on level 47 of the round building in Australia Square we went to Liz's apartment for dinner. Magnificent view over the harbour but it was dark so it was just lights.

Liz, Mary, Oprah and Ber Lin

Angel Place

Today the High School choir were performing their adjudicated performance at the Angel Place Concert Hall.  We spent the morning slowly strolling in the general direction. 

First stop was at Paddy's Market which is just a stone's throw away from where we are staying.  There were a ll the usual t-shorts and tacky souvenirs for sale.  However Mary noted that unlike China and hong Kong, there were no pushy sales people.

Further on up the street we got caught up in the teacher's strike.  Mary spoke to a few of the teachers and then a bought a badge that said "No League Tables."

Apparently they have the same grievance as the teachers in NZ.

In a small alley way near the concert hall was a street full of bird cages.  There were no birds in the cages, but there was bird song playing.

We got into the hall in time for the performance.   Alan took one photo of Tane warming up before a grumpy man told everyone to put their phones and cameras away.  Really it was pointless as it was just parents and supporters who were there watching their own kids.  Mary found a spot where she could plant her video camera and managed to video it.

Then it was to the lovely Queen Victoria building for a late lunch and home for a rest!

A Day at the Opera (House)

Woke up and it was dull, grey and raining. No problem for me though as I get to travel in the dry in the back pack. I had my first photo taken today outside the Youth Hostel with Tane. He was off for a Harbour Cruise in the rain. Mary said I had to go with somewhere else so I waved Tane off on the coach and told him I would see him later at the Opera House.

 This is me with Tane outside the Youth Hostel. 

Mary and Alan set out walking and stopped to buy some bus tickets in case they needed a ride back to the hostel at any stage.

They were talking about going to Hyde Park Barracks Museum. and so they made their way there on foot along Elizabeth Street. This building was built by convicts in 1819 and is the most important historic landmark in the heart of modern Sydney. More than 50,000 convicts passed through its gates from 1819 to 1848. the building later became an immigrant hostel, an asylum for destitute women and eventually government offices. Of course it was nearly pulled down as they modernized Sydney, but luckily it was saved and it is a now a world heritage site. Mary and Alan had the audio guide, but I got see lots. I really liked getting a little snooze in the hammocks that the convicts used to sleep in. There were lots of kids there with their teachers and they were having a really good time as there was so much interesting to stuff to look at. 

Plenty of room for a little fella like me.

The rows of bunks where the convicts slept.

When it came time to leave it was raining koalas and dingos outside so we had to wait for it to go off enough to get across to the cafe in the crypt in the church across the road. This was a really important stop because it was at this church that Mary's great great grandfather and grandmother were married. St James' church is the oldest church in Sydney . It was opened in 1824. It is in the oldest part of Sydney were a fine complex of Georgian buildings were established. Mary assures me that there were no convicts in her family and she checked the computer at the barracks just to make sure!

Not sure I'd enjoy a convict's meal!

After lunch it was on to the Opera House to buy tickets for a tour. While waiting for the tour,Mary kept her promise and bought a new friend for me. In the shop at the opera house was a Sydney Opera House bear, so Oprah is now my travelling mate. The tour gave fascinating background information into the building and ongoing refurbishment. We got to go into 3 of the theatres and the highlight was hearing the Sydney symphony practicing in the concert hall.

Sydney at night outside the Opera House

Here we are in our seat at the concert hall.

In the evening we made our way back to the Concert Hall for the concert which Wanganui High School was part of. Wow they looked great on stage with their red and black and Tane was easy to see! Their item was really different from all the others and the compare went to great lengths to talk about it being a groundbreaking performance. It certainly kept us little people awake in our seats.

The other items were great as well and we are glad we are not having to judge them.

Tane at the Opera House.

Interior of the Concert Hall.

We made it to Sydney

Monday 25 June

Today I got up bright and early and helped pack up all the stuff and before I knew it we were off in the car to Wellington. Now I have never been to Wellington but seems that was not the destination. After lunch it was off to the airport and onto the plane, and before I knew it we were in Sydney.

Alan did not bet through security without having his hand luggage opened. There was soemthing suspicious in his bag. Turned out to be the hand weighing scales.

Everything was easy and we caught the Airport Express into Central Station. The Sydney Central Youth Hostel is right across the road from the station.

Checking out a couple of mates in departure at Wellington.

Teddy Bear Riot at 62

The toys have been in full scale riot on the couch.  The teddy bear union have rallied the troops and are unanimous that they send a representative  on this trip.  After much fur tugging they have decided that Ber Lin should be allowed to travel to Oz.  This is only on the condition that he brings home a new mate to take up residence with them on the couch.
So Ber Lin who gained a lot of confidence travelling in Hemi the Blue Van is currently packing his bags and taking orders for duty free.
Some of the others have been promised trips in the Waka when we go down south in the summer.

Off to Sydney

Just a little trip but it should be a good one.  We are off to Sydney on Monday to enjoy the fabulous Wanganui High School Choir who are the only New Zealand school to be part of the 2012 International Music Festival.
The highlight will be the concert in the Sydney Opera House on Tuesday evening.

Our grandson Tane who is in Year 12 is part of the group.  He is playing bass guitar and is on the right in this photo.