Sydney: A metropolitan gem

It is six am and I am staring out the window of my luxury five star hotel- the Clarion Suites Southern Cross Darling Harbor. Sipping a cup of coffee I am wondering if the monorail that will take me to Chinatown is running yet. Sue, who’d traveled with me up to Melbourne, had mentioned the exotic Asian food and condiments that this bustling spot in Sydney is home to.

I stare up at the rather sumptuous clock mounted on the wall of my one of the best luxury hotels. It reads seven o’clock. Too early for breakfast but not too early for a brisk morning walk. I head out towards the Darling Harbor and walked around Cockle Bay, the most recent addition to the harbor and renowned for its contemporary nautical design. I understand it plays host to some of the best classical music concerts in winter. My watch says 8. I head back to the luxury hotel for breakfast, a hasty affair comprising bacon and eggs.

The next thing I know is that I am sitting on this monorail and staring out at the busy streets, the harbor, and the CBD spread out below my feet.

Chinatown exists in the southern part of the city’s CBD in a place called Haymarket. It is like entering a different world altogether with street signs in both Mandarin and English. After spending a good half an hour at the flea market where I buy a bargain Levis jacket, I head back towards Cockle Bay, reading a book at a café where I sip cold coffee and generally watch the world go by. I realize how much I am enjoying the sheer luxury of idleness. But only for a while. I put away my book as Sue’s words come back to me: “Don’t forget to visit the Sydney Aquarium. I am astounded by the sheer variety of aquatic life.

The next morning I have to head out to Bondi beach in another state. But that’s a different story altogether.

Bendigo: A nugget of the Gold Rush

It is 25 degrees in the shade as the station wagon draws up outside the Comfort Inn Bendigo Central Debra. Isn’t it a little too hot for March, asks Anne fanning herself. Sue who’d wanted to meet this psychic in Bendigo had dragged us along. The soothing environs of the Comfort Inn, however, puts all misgivings at rest. I am willing to forgive Sue for embarking on such a foolhardy enterprise. “Tomfoolery”, Anne who worked with us in the same office had scoffed. Poor Sue, always the butt of jokes and ridicule. But she seems to take it rather well.

A nice cool shower later we walk across the street to the Pizza Hut Restaurant. We order a large family-sized pizza I forget which, and colas. I pick on my lunch listlessly, it being too hot to eat. I am too tired to drive so Anne takes over at the wheel after lunch. She wants to view the Sacred Heart Cathedral, she says, despite our protests. But getting off I am quite delighted with I see. To be sure, it isn’t like the churches I have seen in France but its façade is impressive nonetheless. The soaring stained glass from Birmingham and the seven-meter cross cast in bronze are pretty fetching.

Next, we drive past the Alexander Fountain over the main Bendigo Boulevard into Emu Point. To tell the truth, I like the Chinese Joss House more than the cathedral; it has such a lively ambience

Later we drive back to the Alexander Fountain- our first encounter with a gold rush relic. We learn that it came up in 1881 and is one of the famous landmarks of Bendigo along with, of course, the Shamrock Hotel.

We drop Sue off at her ‘psychic’s’, after much good-natured ribbing of course. Anne and I spend the rest of the day shopping at Myer at Pall Mall. The Myer story, we are told all began here. Although smaller than the Melbourne store, the varieties are pretty interesting.

It gets quite late as we repair to the Beechworth Bakery on High Street waiting for Sue to return from her psychic. One tip: don’t miss the cakes here, they are heavenly!

The stuff of fairy tales

The luxury hotel called the Radisson SAS Royal Hotel was picked by my travel agent who thought I would absolutely dig its Danish design and he was not far wrong. A tad too expensive, I was completely bowled over by the friendly and eager staff of this magnificent five star hotel. Having arrived in the afternoon I had a quick light lunch and stepped out into the Tivoli Gardens practically next to the luxury hotel.

This original Disneyland spread out over 80,000 square kilometers has some lovely rides, exciting watering holes and some really crazy thrills. I particularly enjoyed the live band that started around late evening.

The next day I headed out towards the waterfront at Christianhavn and took a stroll around the Townhall before stopping by at a bar to sip some beer and gelato. I was particularly enraptured by the quaint little houses dotting the canal at Nyhavn.

While in Copenhagen it was difficult to stay away from the Hans Christian-inspired ‘Little Mermaid’ perched elegantly over a rock in Langelinie which is not too far from the city center. I, personally, wasn’t too taken up with the little lady.

I was far more impressed with the parks and the harborside views. I also loved the Amalienborg Palace although public access to the gorgeous Australian Princess Mary is sadly denied. I was in time, though, to witness the official changing of guards- a pretty impressive sight.

Copenhagen, I was pleased to notice, has a near-flawless transport system and an infrastructure in ship-shape condition. It is also quite a safe city to be in as I discovered while checking into The Dubliner, a jolly Irish pub rocking with cheerful music. Not being a sporty person I found myself, nevertheless, captivated by a football game between France and England.

I was sorry when the ‘fairy-tale’ vacation ended.