Sydney Trip
@Aug/'01 Australia
[Oceania] [Articles 2004] [Top]
From the Leaflet of "the Bridge Climb"
When I was living in Melbourne, I had a chance to visit Sydney a great
commercial city in Australia. The city I admire very much of its magnificent
view of the Harbor, and where I visited Australia first time in 1982. I
parked the car at long term car park in front of Melbourne airport. There
are free bus services between the car park and the air port in about every
10 minutes. Ride on the bus and said to the bus driver that I am going
to take a domestic flight of Qantas. Melbourne air port has three major
sections, center part is for international flight, the right wing is for
Qantas flight and the left wing for Anset flight. In this rather early
morning hour, to my lucky, there only few passengers were in the line.
After successful check in, I went through gate 22. The craft that we fly
today is B-737, packed with single day business travelers who might return
to Melbourne this afternoon.
It is 40 minutes flight between Melbourne and Sydney. On arrival to Sydney
air port, I bought A$ 15 bus ticket for hotel shuttle bus. In 10 minutes, Silk Bus stops at bus
stop. Colored driver greeted me in Japanese. It reminds me that Sydney
is one of the best tour destinations of Japanese group travelers. The picked
an elderly couple and me. The distance between the air port and the city
center is approx, 7km, far shorter than that of our country’s, but the
road congestion is the worse I experienced ever.
After half an hour drive of 7km, the bus arrive Grace Hotel in York Street.
It is old but gracious middle class hotel in one time glorious decoration. The room is big and ceiling is high.
When you enter the room, you will find a small sitting room with sofa, mini bar, TV set and book shelf,
a bed room beyond it.
Half space of the bed room is made for study for the business traveler.
Deli Café is in ground floor, and a live music wine bar is in between ground floor and 1st floor.
One can take meal at any time at 24 hour
open Brasserie in 2nd floor. The room is in building’s corner and one can look down fine view
of Sydney.
Sydney Tower (AMP Tower)
Next day, we supposed to participate in "Bridge Climb", to climb
the Harbor Bridge, in the afternoon. To kill the morning time, we went
took light meal at foods corner and went up the Sydney Tower. The tower
is 350 meters height and supported by 56 steel wires. From the observatory,
you can enjoy the magnificent view over the Sydney Harbor, one of the best
three picturesque sea ports in the world. To our chance in this season,
it was complete fine day without having a single cloud I the sky. We really
enjoyed the view just like described in the tourist leaflet.
Harbor Bridge
At 13:40, a bus of Tour agent came to our hotel as promised. The name of
the person who came from the agent was coincident to my name. When we got
into the bus we found one Japanese tourist was already in the bus., he
came to us and introduced himself. He was Mr. "O", came with
his family, but his family had no idea to climb the bridge. So he came
himself alone. Instead, he said, the rest of his family were enjoying lunch
cruise in Sydney Bay. Bridge climb is three hours course. When we heard
first time it takes three hours, I thought, it takes rather long time just
to climb the Bridge. But soon after we actually stated the tour, we understood
well, why it takes so long time.
The tour is made one group of 12 members.
There are so many participants were in the queue, they are from all over the world.
We have to go through many check points/preparations before actually start the climbing.
First test was alcohol check.
Just like traffic police ask us,
we were given mouth piece to check whether our breath contains excess level of alcohol in it or not.
If the alcoholic level of the breath exceeded the limit,
the climb is canceled, and the fee was refunded immediately.
Next, a paper was given to everyone.
This was a declaration that if any accident happen would be one's own responsibility,
and do not claim the compensation to the tour organizer.
Next stage, we gad to take off all accessories worn, like watch, bracelet, earnings,
neck lace, pendant and etc. Empty the contents of all pockets. Take off the coat.
Then all 12 members are to stand where foot mark printed on the floor, in circular form,
circling a climb leader (guide) in center.
The climb leader asked us, everyone introduced oneself to the others.
Our team was three Japanese, two Italian, four American, three Australian from Perth, no one from Sydney.
After introducing each other, we wore a gray one piece like astronaut wears,
holds a handkerchief and globes with rubber band to fix to the one piece.
Glasses are requested to fix to the body with elastic lead. Cap is even
attached elastic lead and fixed to ring in the tip of the slide fastener.
Next is a safety belt. Once the tour started, we are connected to the 5mm
steel wire all the way with this safety belt. Metal hook that connects
the safety belt and wire are well designed, it could not easily release
from the wire, but easy to pass the point where the wire is fixed to the
Bridge flame without disconnecting the hook from the wire. The wire fixed
to the Bridge flame every one meter. If one, by accident, fallen, this
hook preventing one falling further at this connection point. This wire
and hook can sustain up to two tons weight. Therefore, even Sumo Wrestler
came to climb, it can well handle him. The safety belt is rather heavy
with metal hook. Next, over-jacket is handed. It has also a lead that is
tied to the safety belt. Now, we are almost fully equipped to climb. Before
climb to the actual bridge, there is a short training course of the staircases
made resembled to the bridge. We made practice how to climb the bridge,
and how to use safety belt and hook using this training stair steps. After
finishing this practice, we stand in a line to wear a radio set to communicate
with the leader during the climb. One put the radio set to the rear side
of the safety belt of the person in front of you. Of course, the radio
is also fixed with lead to the safety belt. Earphone is fixed through the
ring of tip of the sliding fastener. Now, you are perfectly equipped to
climb the Bridge. This preparation took well over one hour. These kind
of safety measures and preparation took time and cost. I now totally agree
the cost of the Climb is so high.
We started walk to the bridge in line like Apollo Astronauts.
In the beginning, we walk approx, 100 meter catwalk leading to the start of arch structure.
The leader explains major land marks we can see from the bridge.
The view is so terrific, blue water, high rising building beyond the water and thick green forest.
Direct breeze from the water is extremely fresh and gentle.
On the summit of the bridge, an Australian Flag is raised.
It is said the flag will be damaged by the constant sea breeze in less than five weeks and have to be replaced.
We looked down the car lanes of seven. The middle lane changes its direction depend on heavier traffic volume.
The lane is rather narrow, and cars are running with so small gap each other.
They say that women driver is not recommended to drive the bridge.
Like any country around the world, women are so good at driving a car.
Snaps during the Climb
After the Bridge Climb, we went to Four Point Sheraton to check the point where the
Wild Tour starts tomorrow morning. There are lot of Japanese tourists I this
expensive hotel where I hardly can afford to stay on my vacation.
I knew the reason later, because it was JAL hotel until recently. Today,
many Japanese still use this once JAL hotel, since many facilities are
made for Japanese senses, and Japanese language are spoken in many shops
in the hotel. These are what I do not like to see or experience in the
foreign countries. I prefer more foreign atmosphere in other country. We
got back to our hotel in York Street and enjoyed dinner at Deli Café
in ground floor looking people strolling in the street, from where the
music of live band in wine bar connected to the cafe could be heard.
Certificate issued by the Bridge Climb
2nd day, we are going to Taronga Zoo and will have Lunch Cruise afterward.
After the breakfast at the hotel, we walked down the street to Four Season Sheraton.
This previous JAL hotel is built facing to Darling Harbor. The view from the room shall be fantastic.
A bus came 10 minutes behind the schedule. Miss. "H" is today’s tour conductress.
She is Japanese living in Sydney, and having nice atomosphere to the guests.
The bus drove through the town picking other guests at several hotels.
Tour member became 17 in total. Now, it headed to Taronga passing through under sea tunnel.
Big ad, panel of NEC is also seen in the north area where many Japanese are living and their offices locates.
Miss. "H" started giving us information on Sydney, how Australians are working in shorter hours,
why the color of the roof is red, why garden of the house is full of greens and trees,
why big Coca Cola advertising panel is in Kings Cross where advertising is prohibited.
After finishing Sydney information, she took out A4 size panels printed the animals,
she must explain the animals in Taronga. She explains all these in short time until the bus arrives to the Zoo.
Two hours free time in Taronga Zoo. Crystal clear blue water and shining
town are seen beyond the zoo. Taronga means the place where beautiful water
can be seen. It is true that the word never betrays us, magnificent silhouette
of the Opera House and Harbor Bridge are sitting on blue water. There are
always few people never show up in time. Some of us not come yet to the
bus. They showed up in minutes later. These people are generally brace
as well. Everybody else was in the bus already, but their mind is different
than others. They asked the bus guide another shot before getting in the
bus. The guide shoed her professional of offering comfort to the guests.
I imagine that she is very up-set in her mind, but she never show her irritation
on her face, but with charming smile, she took a shot of them and kindly
ask them to rush to the bus.
Now, this is the main event of the tour, lunch cruise.
The bus went though north area where most Japanese wish to live,
took bus lane in the Harbor Bridge heading for Circular quay.
Where, "Aussie One" of Matilda Cruise was waiting us. A twin hulled big yacht.
"Aussie one" uses engine when she leaves the quay till arrives to the middle of the Bay.
A big sail was winched off, wind on the large sail canvas powers the ship forwards in real smooth.
Spectacular views of Sydney, tall building, Harbor Bridge,
Opera House, beautifully settled houses are passing through as "Aussie One" glides along the Bay.
Our tour conductress, Miss. "H" is approaching to the tour member in just good timing
and serving them like shooting a shot of them and etc.
This kind of manicure cut tailor made services would be one of the particular things Japanese could provide.
An hour and half lunch cruise was real good experience on the water.
The yacht passes under the Bridge and turns to left homing to Darling Harbor Quay.
Dual Hulls Catamaran, "Aussie One" of Matilda Cruise
The last leg of the today’s tour is Sydney Aquarium. The yacht now homes
to the Darling Harbor Quay. After touring this real sea water aquarium,
we departed from other tour member, saying thanks to our tour conductress
Miss. "H". There was one more thing we wanted to do. The ticket
we bought yesterday had two sections, one section was entrance to the Sydney
Tower, and the other was entrance to Sky Tour in Eye MAX Theater. We did
not go the Sky Tour yet. We went to the Eye MAX Theater. This is the 35
minutes film show in the Eye Max Theater. We sat down in the mechanical
chair that moves in six directional, equips water splash beside our face.
Screen of Eye Max Theater is all round shape, so that we can feel as if
we are really in the scene. Australia spreads over in the vast nature land.
To introduce this huge nature in 35 minutes is hardly possible. The every
scene was so wonderful and gave us a great idea about Australia, but it
was so rapid to pass along scenes.
We got back to the hotel and took a little early dinner. The time was little early to
dinner, so only we were in the large dining room. I took a hotel shuttle bus
heading to the air port, moving like slug move in badly clogged with cars
bumper to bumper. But my mind was filled with comfortable satisfaction
experienced a pleasant short trip of 2 days in Sydney.
City View from Sydney Bay Water
11/Aug/'01 Rinzo@Melbourne Australia (Updated on 29/Aug/'05)
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