Sydney & Melbourne - Australia Sight Seeing

“Unless I have my Preity Zinta alongside me, I am not going to watch the Opera show”, I was confirmed in my mind as the scenes from Dil Chahata Hein (DCH) when Preity takes Amir for an Opera were flashing in front of my eyes and I was resisting the temptation from the Sydney Opera tour guide enticing the group to buy tickets for the Chinese Opera evening shows in the famous Sydney Opera House.  

Once when I was shown the spectacular picture of the Lotus temple in Delhi-India and I had misrecognized it as the Sydney Opera House. To me, any structure with a white tiled quarter-spheroids stacked multiple times signified Sydney Opera House.  It’s not then a surprise at all that the about 4 billion people in the world (i.e. 2 out of every 3 in the universe) do recognize the magnum opus Sydney Opera House in the frame and framing it from the Sydney harbor bridge during a quiet evening walk was one of the charming experiences… 

Sydney Opera House in front of Sydney Harbor Bridge

Sydney Harbor Bridge

Sydney Harbor Bridge reflection in the Opera House glass

Equally splendid experience is to capture the glittering Sydney Harbor Bridge in the day and night times. It’s one of the popular places for nocturnal photography with a lot of flashes hitting the skyline. The area must be at its spectacular best during the new-year evening fireworks. However, on a normal day it’s good too…

Sydney Harbor Bridge - A night view

Sydney Opera House - a night view

Sydney skyline

A Museum or an art gallery in Sydney

The great thing about Australia is that the entire continent is not fragmented into fractions called nations. There are no fights/wars for the same resources, no political skirmishes, no man made border issues and seamless access to disparate cultures resulting in harmony*. With a total colonial stamp, the entire continent speaks a single language (a bit boring), eats the same food and drinks similar drinks. Taking a cue from Australia, it may not be a bad idea for other continents to reorganize themselves forming a Pangaea yet again. Well, just a passing thought... and a few more pictures:

Melbourne skyline - An angled view

Sporty Melbourne: Boating in Yarra River

Shrine of Remembrance - Melbourne

My first trip to the continent has focused only on the two cities (Sydney & Melbourne) and most the sports venues. With blessed nature all over the continent, the opportunities are aplenty. A few that readily come to the mind are:
n  Great Ocean Road
n  The Uluru (The famous red stone)
n  Blue Mountains
n  Entire west coast

And last but never the least...
n  World wonder “The Great Barrier Reef”

Time for next trip…

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^* I am not a geopolitical expert. However, the assumed hypothesis seems alright. 

The SCG and the MCG

“Where is Sydney Cricket Ground-SCG? How do I go to SGC?,” was my first question to the host in Sydney after the rudimentary check-in procedures. “Come here,” pointing me to come outside the door he was pointing his forefinger up and not so far. “Can you see those standing lights? Yeah? That’s SGC for you my friend.” Wow!!! I was gasping my breath; coincidently I had booked a place at an arm’s length from SCG, next to Cricketers’ Arm hotel. No wonder then that all the walls downstairs were filled with ex-Australian cricketers like the Waughs, the McGraths and not the mention the big Don Bradman. Now, it was my turn to point to my bag and saying, “Can you please hold on to it for a while as I just can’t stop my excitement even for a second. Here I go…”

Marathon Cricket Tournament @ SCG-Sydney

Innings break @ Australia-Srilanka T20 game @ MCG

MCG during the tour 

As much as I have hated the smug invincible look on Ricky Ponting and his teammates’ face, I have been a salient admirer of the success the nation has achieved in sports arena. Be it an Olympic sport, be it Cricket – a game played by only handful of nations, Aussies have set new and newer standards for the world to chase all the time. Just can’t forget the days of getting up very early in the morning not only to catch the captivating cricket action along with an outstanding channel 9 commentary but an equal attraction was to get the glimpses of the lush green, nicely curetted outfields, seagulls dancing on the boundary lines. Those were just wonderful, wonderful memories and being in Australia I desperately wanted to have a first look at both the SCG and a must do THE MCG…

After a short brisk walk, I was at the SCG gates inquiring for the guided tours at the stadium. “We are afraid, Sir!!! We have guided tours every morning 10AM and tomorrow being an Australian day* – a national day, we have no tours for public,” a stern face at the counter poked. Even his Sir sounded stern. After traveling shores to see the venue, it was not a pleasing response. “Is there any way I can visit the grass at least once,” disappointment must have flashed on my face as if the sky has broken loose. With a broad smile the passer by tour guide quipped, “However, you have come in this august place at a very special occasion, Sir!!! Today, we have a “Marathon Cricket Tournament” scheduled and (not to mention) the entry is free and you will be able to witness a real cricket game @ the SGC.” “But…but, how about the dressing rooms and pavilion etc.,” ecstatic though, I still sounded a bit paranoid, “Do Not worry, Sir! You will be able to enter the dressing rooms, take pictures and above all, you would be amongst the very few- a very lucky few, who can claim to have a chilled beer at the Sydney members club.”

Bradman philosophy @ Home dressing room - SCG

"Mera Bharat Mahan" - @ Guest dressing room  - SCG

Two maestros celebrating elders B'day @ MCG

A few moments later, I was clean bowled by a waitress holding Samosa trey and mango chutney at the members’ hall. Well, the next few hours, I was at my happiest best wandering on the fields of SCG. Capturing the pictures, I walked through the pavilion, the members club, the Bradman hall. Above all standing on the center turf, waving his willow to the midwicket dressing room followed by watching the skies as if gesturing his father with meditating eyes, I did simulate a Tendulkar scoring a couple hundred without playing an offside drive.

Simulation @ SCG turf

Finally, @ MCG press box after the game (tour)

Two days later was the date with awesome MCG and I also enjoyed a last ball finish T20 game between Australia and Srilanka. Was just an incredible experience too...