Saturday, 23 April 2011

Saturday 23rd of April

Today there was en Easter sale (rea) at the malls, so I did some more shopping.
Found a good looking shirt at a good price!
(Found another one for $229! That was way over my budget! It looked good, but didn't buy it...)

In the evening I was invited to a game of badminton at a place in the suburbs of Melbourne. Haven't tried this for several months now, not since the bachelor party of one of you readers... you know who you are...
We played double, and my team won! :-D
I just got out of the shower, and back to town! Happy... :-)

Tomorrow night I will go back to good old Sweden!

Although on Wednesday I will go to Paris...
Two dear friends are getting married, and wouldn't want to miss it!

Many thanks
for sharing this journey with me!
Your comments and emails have been greatly appreciated!
Looking forward to meeting you all in real life soon!

Friday 22nd of April

Today I just wandered around Melbourne. On Swanston Street I saw a theater group performing. They were performing a short play, and doing a number of song and dance numbers. They were very good.

Here are some of the pictures I took:



On one of the streets I found this "waterfall". It is a wall with a thin stream of water falling down on it. People put leaves (it's autumn here, although still warm) in different shapes or words, and the wall is special so the leaves stick on it! This wall was very popular!

I found a pancake restaurant, and couldn't resist this one,with
raspberry, rhubarb and vanilla ice-cream.
Yummy! 

Thursday, 21 April 2011

Thursday 21st of April - Melbourne

Today Qantas has taken me to Melbourne. This is my final stop, before returning to Sweden.
Stay tuned for more pictures!

Wednesday, 20 April 2011

Wednesday 20th of April - A farewell

Today's entry I would like to dedicate to my dear aunt Ingagunnel, who passed away yesterday.

Thank you for all the joy and happiness that you always have spread to me and your loved ones!
You were one of the most loving persons I have known.
I miss you!

Rest in peace!

Tuesday 19th of April - The Observatory and the Opera House

Those of you who know about my former interest for astronomy, may have guessed that I would pay a visit to Sydney Observatory.


Originally this was built to keep the time for the Sydney citizens. The yellow ball on the top of the building fell down at exactly 1 PM every day, and it still does!


This is the inside of one of the domes. It contains an ancient telescope, which is no longer in use.

The other dome was closed, but I managed to sneak in, and could see that they were using a much more modern 10 inch Meade telescope, and two computers. They also have a webcamera there, so they did discover my trespassing. Shame on me! :-)

This observatory is currently only a museum over old times. Would love to see some amateur astronomy here. According to one of the employees, their goal is only to make money, so they have time for nothing else except guiding and tours. I'm sad about this... The Tycho Brahe observatory outside Malmo, where I used to spend much time, is much more amateur astronomy active.

The sun is about to go down, so I took this beautiful picture!

I am very close the Sydney's famous opera house, so I decided to walk there.

This is really tourist quarters, as you can see!

Getting a little closer...

and even closer...
It is a really beautiful building!

I went inside too, but did not watch any play. Instead watched the sun going down, and the moon rising. It was fullmoon today.


Tuesday, 19 April 2011

Monday 18th of April - Darling Harbour

Today I went down to Darling Harbour in Sydney. Besided that it is a beautiful harbour, there are also playgrounds for kids, a huge shopping centre (where I did spend some money! Wait until you see me new shirts!), a huge imax theatre.




Further I found the Chinese Garden of Friendship, and I felt I should go in.
It was like coming into a new world. Everything seemed so peaceful there. Small waterfalls (I love them!), big rocks resembling animals, paviljons. Fantastic energies! Even though there were many tourists, which I normally hate, they couldn't diminish the wonderful experience!
If you ever go to Sydney, and want to really relax and calm down, this is the place to go!

On my way back to the hotel I walk past a cinema, and decided to go in. The choice fell on Sucker Punch, a very interesting dark story, with fantasy elements in it. Quite violent though, but I liked it. Recommended!

At night I went back to Darling Harbour for some night photos. This is what it looks like at nighttime:
Can you imagine a temperature of 25 degrees, almost silent, no wind at all, hearing some seagulls, and many people (especially couples) walking or sitting here.
There were several other photographers here!


This is the beautiful city view, seen from the harbour.

Sunday 17th of April - New Year

Today I wandered around in central Sydney.
Suddenly there was a big demonstration. Or at least it looked like that.
It turned out that the sikhs were celebrating new year.
They completely jammed the traffic while walking through town.
They wore very beautiful clothes, and there was some ceremony too, that I did not understand.


Friday, 15 April 2011

Friday 15th of April - The lovely small creatures

Today I got an impulse to go to Sublime Point, just a few km from where I am staying.
It is a beautiful canyon, but you have already seen those pictures.
What made it interesting where the sounds from it, sounding like many bells ringing all the time.
Asking the people there, I learned that it was the sound of the bellbirds!
They actually sounded like genuine metal bells.
Also I noticed at the lookout, there were really wonderful energies.
I spent a few hours at the lookout, just enjoying being there.

Also, I had brought my telescopic lense, and decided to go bird hunting!
Here is the result. I am very happy with the pictures!





A small dragonfly also proudly posed for me. 

Tomorrow I will go back to Sydney and spend a few days.
See you there!

Thursday 14th of April - Magnificent sunset

Today I witnessed the beautiful sunset from Evans Lookout, a few km from Katoomba.
The clouds made this sunset really spectacular!

Can you imaging seeing this from a beautiful canyon!
Sitting comfortably high up on a cliff, watching this all by yourself! Or with your loved one!


Notice the bluegreen cloud, about the centre of the image. I have never ever seen this phenomenon before.
That in combination with the white clouds and the orange cloud below.
Can just say - Wow!

I love when the colours turn to yellow, orange and red!

Stunning!

The clouds look like they are on fire!
Fantastic!

Wednesday, 13 April 2011

Tuesday 12th of April - Katoomba

Now I have arrived in Katoomba. Here is freezing cold!
At night it is almost 0 degrees, and it is windy!
At daytime the temperature rises to about 20 degrees in the sun, but that is all.
Welcome to the Blue Mountains!

I am starting today's trip at Wentworth Falls. Next to the falls is this great canyon!


On my way to the falls, I saw this tree. Look at the flowers below. It looks just like corn!


Here is the beautiful view of the Wentworth Falls.


It is autumn here! Look at the wonderful colours of this tree!


Close to this is the Leura Cascades. Here are many lovely small waterfalls.
This is the first one, rather small. I am standing in the middle of it.

This wonderful picnic room was close. It resembles the Phantom's cave. I love places like this!

The view from the inside.


Continuing to walk, I came to this marvellous canyon! Wow, what a view!

The Leura Falls.
Can you see the tiny people on the upper left side of the image?

Wonderful vegetation!

A small waterfall, on my way back.

The sun is setting. Wonderful red colours on this cloud.

The half moon is also out!