Sydney Opera House

On Wednesday, I finally took the Sydney Opera House tour. The opera house was designed by a Danish man and took 16 years to build (2 of which were choosing a design). Also interesting...The Australian government wanted it to be finished in a couple of years and for 7 million dollars. In actuality, it cost 102 million dollars...but have no fear, the debt was paid off in 5 years with gambling profits.
Architects were able to achieve the roof's design with cutting sections from a mold of a sphere. The roof was constructed by lifting up and securing sections (or "ribs") like these.

These are the tiles that cover the opera house (over 1 million in total).
I probably know more (the tour was an hour long) but those are the only fun facts that I can remember right now...sorry!

Goodbye Homebush...HELLO Milson's Point!

As our time in Sydney is coming to an end...we moved. At first, I was really sad to leave the place in Homebush/Olympic Park. We had a great view of the bay and could eat our meals out on the balcony...very nice. Well my sadness did not last long. As soon as we stepped foot into the new apartment, I forgot all about my Homebush woes.

We are truly blessed. I can't believe this place. This is the view to the right:

To the left:

Off the balcony:

And at sunset:

Now I really don't want to come back!

Don't Look Up!

Sometimes it's better not to know what's around you...
Don't know what you're looking at...How about a closer look...
Fruit bats! Hundreds of fruit bats (or flying foxes) spend their days in a couple of trees in the Botanical Gardens downtown. These bats awaken around dusk and spend their nights flying over the Sydney harbour.

And in the mangroves, there are dozens of Golden Orb Weavers slinging their webs over the biking/walking trails. For a closer look at these spiders...check out Nathanael's blog http://righthanddrive.blogspot.com.

Needless to say, some days I just look straight ahead.

Evaporating Eucalyptus Oil

One of my favorite places that I have been is the Blue Mountains. This national park is about 2 hours inland of Sydney. The name "Blue Mountains" comes from the blue hue that the range takes on when oil from Eucalyptus plants evaporates. About two weeks ago, we hiked all day through the rainforests and on the rim of the canyon. I haven't quite known what kind of blog to write about these majestic mountains because they are the type of thing that cameras don't capture (even though we tried...we took 190 pictures). So this is my best attempt to show some of the beauty of the Blue Mountains...
This is looking out from Echo Point. The three rock formations are called the "Three Sisters" and are probably the most photographed thing in the Blue Mountains.

Wentworth Falls. We ran out of time to hike down to the falls...I can't wait to go back! You can actually see some people crossing over the top of the waterfall.

There is a dense rainforest in the valley of the Blue Mountains.
Also very cool...this is the Carrington Inn. It is located in Katoomba, a town in the Blue Mountains. Established in 1880, the Carrington Inn used to be considered one of the four great hotels of the British Empire (the others being Lake Louise Canada, Savoy London, and Raffles Singapore). With 59 rooms, 2 dining areas, and a day spa, many tourists still visit this Victorian heirloom.

Birds of Sydney

I have taken all of these pictures of birds in Sydney and have done my best to identify them. My brother is especially interested in birdwatching, so it has been one of my main objectives to photograph as many birds as possible. Within the Olympic Park, there is a "bird refuge" where many birds stop as they migrate up and down the eastern coast of Australia so many pictures come from right down the road. Most of the pictures are from the wild, but a few are from the zoo. This blog (which may be the longest blog known to man) is dedicated to my brother:

White-faced Heron (Olympic Park, about 1/2 km from the apartment)

Sulphur-crested Cockatoo (Downtown Sydney, muckin' around with seagulls)

Rose-Crowned Fruit Dove (Taronga Zoo)

Rainbow Lorikeet (Taronga Zoo, they are all over Sydney but I stink at taking their picture)

Purple Swamphen (Olympic Park)

Royal Spoonbill (Taronga Zoo)

Masked Lapwing (downtown Sydney)

Magpie-Lark (at the Ferry, neither a Magpie nor a Lark)

Common Myna (downtown Sydney)

Blue-Billed Duck (Olympic Park)

Australian Wood Duck (Olympic Park)

Emu (Taronga Zoo, just walking around)

Black-winged Stilt (Olympic Park)

Australian White Ibis (EVERYWHERE, a scavenger)

Banded Stilt (Olympic Park)

Australian Raven (downtown Sydney, sounds like a dying child)

Australian Pelican (Homebush, our apartment)

Australian King-Parrot (Taronga Zoo)

Little Penguin (Sydney Aquarium)

Believe it or not, there were more birds that I photographed and could not identify...so if you're interested, just let me know!!!

The Year of the Rat

Over the past week, we have become more acquainted with Chinatown. We caught the end of the Chinese New Year Parade about a week ago. After the parade, there was a performance of that followed the history of China.


We then tried to keep in the Chinese spirit and headed towards Chinatown for some Chinese food. Every Chinese restaurant was packed, so we settled for sushi instead...strictly due to proximity, not because we think that Japan and China are the same! We have truly gotten our fill of sushi while in Sydney. The fresh seafood and large amount of Asian immigrants have assured that we have sushi at least once each week.

MORE Speaking Aussie:
mozzies: mosquitoes
lift: elevator
travelator: like a moving sidewalk except it is a moving ramp, usually found in malls
Good on ya!: Way to go! Good job! Well done!
tellie: television
sms: text message
carpark: parking lot
smash repair: auto body shop
Shiela: woman

Speaking Aussie

To all of you who have only one Aussie saying in your repertoire (Let's put another shrimp on the bar-b!) even though people really do say bar-b:

Aussie (pronounced Ozzie): Australian

Kiwi: New Zealander

mate: friend, enemy, brother, sister, child, stranger

bloke: man

How's yas going?: How are you guys doing?

How are you going?: How are you doing?

Is it fine?: Do you like your food?

What do you reckon?: What do you think of this place?

Eat here or take away?: For here or to go?

Pram: baby stroller

Trolley: shopping cart

Feb: February

Don't piss in my pocket!: Don't flatter me.

Don't come the raw prawn on me, mate!: Don't try to pull the wool over my eyes.

Capsicum: bell pepper

And you must shorten everything. For example: uni (university), brekkie (breakfast), rellies (relatives).

...just to get you started.

It's still raining!

We thought that when we left Oregon, we left the rain. Not the case! There have been more days of rain than days of sunshine here in lovely Sydney. There is flooding throughout southeastern Australia leading to road closures and ferry delays/cancellations. When things are running well, I just don't want to go out and get soaked...I know it sounds ridiculous...I should take advantage of my time here, but you should see these rain storms! Who da thunk I would be sitting on my butt in AUSTRALIA?! Well the sun is supposed to come out in the next couple of days....and maybe then I will stop whining! Here are some pictures of one of the last sunny days we have had.
Bike riding around Sydney Olympic Park.

Taronga Zoo

Sydney's zoo is a short (15 minute) ferry ride from Circular Quay. We spent about 4 hours at the zoo...and it was 4 hours well spent if I may say so myself! The first exhibit we saw was the Australian walkabout. There were kangaroos and wallabies lounging around as we walked very close to them. These logs were the only enclosure that "divided" us from WILD AUSTRALIA! (Oh, and that's Steve, the wild second mechanic!)
More from the walkabout:


The echidna (the animal on our coasters at home)...

Red Panda:

...and the run of the mill koala:

Giraffes feeding...check out the amazing view:

First Picture: Monitor Lizard, Second Picture: Komodo Dragon

And what Australian blog would be complete without the Tasmanian Devil:

Still to come: Birds of Australia

Australia Day

January 26th is Australia Day. This day is a commemoration of the first penal colony established in Australia by the British. Aussies celebrated by concerts, wearing flags as capes, and drinking. Tourists celebrated by taking pictures of the crazy Australians.

Circular Quay

Bondi Beach