Posts Tagged eve
The buck stops here
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on March 10, 2012
Transparency is the new conspiracy. And everyone should be involved.
LAST Sunday was pretty spectacular. It was one of the nicest Sundays, perhaps even any day, that I have had in a while.
An impromptu afternoon tea and cake session at my sister?s new digs, complete with a dip in her pool, and many adults willing to share the load with an adrenalin-fuelled munchkin. Aaaaah, bliss.
The afternoon also saw a last-minute addition by way of an adopted family member and her new husband! she had been away for quite a while, over in the land of Oz, busy getting ready for her wedding and getting wed. she had returned home so that the rest of us deadbeats who couldn?t make it for her big day would have the chance to make it up to her (and the husband, of course)!
After much catching up and hurling ?abuse? at one another ? as is usual for a family ? we started talking about the New Year and Christmas holidays.
The festivities are often quieter and more subdued when adopted family members are not around to add to the cacophony of the Gill crazies. so we were chatting and the subject of New Year?s Eve came up. I had spent mine in Accident and Emergency with the little Man. she had spent hers on a boat on Sydney Harbour watching fireworks. Or rather, hiding from the fireworks.
Sparkles in the night sky cost the country gazillions of dollars every year and she was rather outraged by the whole spectacle. In light of the problems Australia has faced by way of natural disasters and other on-going issues, to her, the whole concept of putting on a good show seemed so extremely excessive as to warrant questioning.
Time came to end the soiree and as we bade each other farewell, I could not stop wondering about what she had said. And it has been gnawing at me ever since.
The things we pay for. yes, the things that WE are paying for. It is after all taxpayers? money that foots all the big shows, the offerings of grandeur, the flights of fantasy generated by the country in order to proclaim itself capable, modern and ?fun?.
I don?t really know where my tax payment goes. Do you? Does anyone?
In the paper the other day, there was an article about the discovery of another prehistoric skeleton, in a cave in Tasik Kenyir, Terengganu. Wow, incredible, I thought ? until I read that someone, somewhere, had said the new cave was going to be equipped with a ?moving ladder using solar energy, costing between RM16mil and RM18mil to facilitate visitors ??
Err ? hang on a minute. what do you mean? Why?
Look, I am all for discovering things from the past; hell, I wish I could have been an archaeologist. the idea of finding such a mystery amongst stones and earth is more exciting than most things.
I am not stupid either. I understand how much a country can benefit from tourism, which can destroy it at the same time.
But since when has the preservation of our heritage really been the point? And do we love our culture enough to establish a decent exhibition of all its important details? We seem too wrapped up in political trajectories to keep our history clean and honest.
Has anyone been to Argentina or Morocco to see how the old has been adapted to co-exist with the new, while retaining its beauty and history?
In Istanbul you can drive on the main roads and see history literally strewn around you. the Byzantine walls, the palaces still in place, the museums filled with the most magical things. sure the country isn?t perfect; nothing is. But everything from the past is embraced by the present.
Why can?t we do that? I wouldn?t mind my tax money going towards the country. But not a darn solar-powered escalator for tourists in a cave far, far away that benefits no one, or submarines we have no use for on our shallow shores.
Our school curriculum needs a re-vamp. FRIM (the Forest Research Institute Malaysia in Kepong, Selangor) could do with toilets for the disabled and wheelchair-bound, so that they can enjoy the peace and beauty of the jungle. Orphanages need constant support; our borders need tighter control to stop trafficking. the zoo could do with a complete overhaul to benefit the creatures that are bound within its walls.
I do not have enough space to write my whole wish list here.
Whatever we do seems to be half-baked, straddled between intention and actual execution, which always suffers when there are too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
In this Black Water Dragon year, I want to find my leaders prescient, open and responsible. the people make a country great. And we need a change. a future. a ?wholeness? that seems to have evaded us thus far.
As the Musketeers put it: ?All for one and one for all!? It?s about time, don?t you think?
Asha Gill put her globetrotting life on hold to focus on the little man in her life and gain a singular perspective on the world.
Sydney Harbour Bridge “speak” in 16 languages
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on February 23, 2012
The largest bridge in Sydney – Harbour Bridge – new Year’s Eve will be “welcome” the citizens and tourists in 16 languages. The inscription, “Welcome to Sydney!” will be projected onto the pylons of the bridge on Russian, Chinese, Greek, Arabic and other languages, including Aboriginal language – gadigal.
According to ITAR-TASS, according to Sydney’s City Hall, on new Year’s Eve the city is expecting many tourists from Russia, China, Greece, the Middle East. Also, over the bridge into new Year’s Eve break out the traditional fireworks, which are intended pyrotechnics, the show will surpass previous years. It is expected that in the area of ??Darling Harbour (Darling Harbour) will hold a 1.5-million-strong crowd celebrating.Single-span arched bridge Harbour Bridge, colloquially known as the “hanger”, was opened in 1932. Since then it has never changed the road surface. The need to repair the bridge, it will be closed for the passage of vehicles throughout January. Cyclists and pedestrians will still be able to use the crossing. On the bridge, at an altitude of 134 meters above the water, observation deck, which attracts many tourists.
Photo A Day = S = Sydney Harbour Bridge « 2012 AllStars Library Blog
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on February 7, 2012
This is one of the famous landmarks in Australia. It is called the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
It has the best views, if you live close enough to the city you would be able to see it. they celebrate here in the city when it is New Year’s Eve and there are fire works everywhere. That is why the city is the most expensive suburb in Sydney.
It is better when you are there at nighttime you see different colour lights reflecting in the water beneath the Sydney Harbour Bridge like a rainbow. That’s why people like it.
You should have a visit to here.
By Philip
Image: ‘reflections of sydney‘
Photo A Day = S = Sydney Harbour Bridge « 2012 AllStars Library Blog
Enjoy party on Sydney Harbour Cruises
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on January 17, 2012
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Sydney Harbour is one of the most beautiful harbors in the world and is an essential fraction of any visiter to Sydney. everyone can benefit from the harbor, either on foot to rent the apartments, a small boat, water taxi or ship over the heads of mannish from spherical dock.This is not actually a surreptitious, such as a cruise port of Sydney provides an stimulating opportunity for an entertaining and memorable event, but what some people know is that there are also a number of Sydney Harbor Cruises ensure that, especially for corporate clients for a meeting or an treasured business. the City of Sydney is an unbelievable place for any type of event, but the most beautiful calming waters in the development of the port to be coupled with an amazing light cruise on a private yacht seems the perfect place for the best event company.there are cruise companies that can navigate around the harbour, to short and long tours, including food and amusement, dinner and dance, music and joy! They offer various options, including lunch and dinner cruises. They arrange special trips on the eve of new Year, Australia Day and the boxing day, and you do not miss any accomplishment and can see all the pleasure about the events of that days. there are various Rate this Article:
Sydney's motto is light the fuse and pop the champers
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on January 8, 2012
Midnight fireworks celebration on new Year’s Eve as seen from mrs Macquarie’s Chair in Sydney. Picture: Adam Ward Source: the Daily Telegraph
EVERY new Year's Eve Sydney's lord mayor takes over the city's prime harbourside viewing area at the Opera House just so society's self-serving elites can get their snouts in the trough, quaff free champagne and look down on the poor people below them.
I know this because, after years of trying, I finally got an invitation. Last Saturday marked the first time I had ever managed to see the new Year’s Eve fireworks display up close without the water police involved. (This does not count the year that I thought I was watching the fireworks display but had actually just set the kitchen on fire.)
Drinking champagne while watching fireworks on the Harbour is so stereotypically cliched Sydney that it is almost unbelievable.
Fortunately Sydneysiders love cliches, so it actually happens all the time.
This is largely because drinking champagne while watching fireworks on the Harbour fulfils a Sydneysider’s primary needs.
First, the champagne makes you more and more stupid and also more and more chatty, thus guaranteeing that you can talk constantly without running the risk of saying anything sensible.
As an added protection, if anyone is on the verge of saying anything sensible someone can always cut them off by saying: "Omigod!!! Look at the fireworks!!!"
And, of course, the activity also features Harbour views, which alone is enough to make the average Sydneysider murder their grandmother.
(NB: this is not a figure of speech but an analysis of figures from the Bureau of Crime Statistics.)
And so indeed when the fireworks started going off everyone at the party started either jumping up and down while squealing or gasping in a state of religious epiphany, all for the sole reason that someone managed to make bright colours and loud noises go together.
It was shallow and vacuous, extravagant and pointless, a complete victory of style over substance — and not very much style at that.
In short, I’d never been so proud to be a Sydneysider.
Because that is what Sydneysiders do. that is who we are. We don’t sit around writing screenplays (Melbourne), smuggling blood diamonds (Perth), blaming the demise of Western civilisation on pay TV (Adelaide) or moving our lips when we read (Brisbane). We get drunk, we party and we go to the gym.
If Melbourne were a person it would be Jean-Paul Sartre. if Sydney were a person it would be Paris Hilton.
But the fact is we can’t allow ourselves to think too deeply — or indeed sober up — because we’d be forced to confront the reality that everywhere in Sydney sucks. Let’s just go through the list:
* THE CBD is cramped and overcrowded, except on weekends when it turns into a ghost town;
* THE Rocks is trampled by aimless tourists and a constant rotation of bucks parties;
* THE eastern suburbs are posh and unwelcoming, except for the beaches which are swamped with Irishmen who are not posh enough;
* THE inner west is overrun by hipsters operating cafes out of recycled wooden crates;
* THE north shore is great, unless you’re not a fifth-generation Scottish Presbyterian;
* THE northern beaches are great, unless you want your teenager to stay sober beyond their 13th birthday;
* THE Shire is God’s own Country but nobody else is allowed in;
* THE south west is great but if you step outside of Camden you have to wear a sidearm;
* THE north west is great but good luck trying to get there; and
* THE mighty west is great but according to Clubs Australia will collapse into a black hole overnight if the pokies cap goes through.
Yes, if we were more intelligent we would perhaps move out of the place but something holds us here, something powerful and pointless.
This is why, when you ask a Sydneysider what it’s like, they’ll tell you it’s expensive, overcrowded and impossible to live in but if you ask if they’d ever consider leaving they’ll look at you like you’re retarded.
And so we have to stay shallow, because otherwise we’d have to confront such questions as: "Why don’t we have a functional public transport system?" and "Why does this coffee cost $5.50?" and "Why am I walking down a public street wearing nothing but leggings?"
So yeah, everywhere in Sydney does indeed suck — but Sydney itself goddamn rocks.
And if you’re not stupid enough to understand that then you’re obviously not from around here.
If you love Sydney go to: blogs.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/joehildebrand
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Twitter: @Joe–Hildebrand
Travel memories #5: Sydney Harbour, Australia
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on September 28, 2011
Where?
Sydney Opera House and Harbour Bridge, photographed from Mrs Macquarie’s Chair.
When?
What?
Two of the most distinctive and iconic structures anywhere in the world sit just a couple of hundred metres apart in the centre of Sydney. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was completed in 1932, with a 503-metre long arch which remains the fifth longest spanning-arch bridge in the world (the three longest have all been constructed since 1977) and the longest in the southern hemisphere. The Sydney Opera House was commissioned from a competition-winning design by Danish architect Jørn Utzon in 1957. It eventually opened in 1973, ten years behind schedule and 14 times over its original budget, with Utzon having notoriously left the project under a cloud never to see his finished work in the flesh.
Memories
We have been to Sydney twice: the first time on our honeymoon in 1997, the second five years later for new Year’s Eve.
First time around, our five days in the city were a whirlwind of newlywed wonder, not least because it was the first big trip we had done together on our own. the memories are too numerous to mention but many of them involve places in and around the harbour: walking up to and across the bridge for the very first time; taking the ferries to and from Circular Quay; strolling round the harbour towards the Opera House along the Australian equivalent of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, passing various musicians and street artists as we went; the tour of the Opera House itself.
Other recollections spring readily to mind whenever I see the photo above, a print of which hangs on the wall in our living room. Waking up every morning and eating breakfast on the balcony of our hotel room with its view of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. some great food experiences at restaurants such as Edna’s Table (now sadly closed, it specialised in modern takes on traditional Australian foods) and the Darley Street Thai. A fantastic day spent touring wineries in the Hunter Valley (a well-lubricated day spent with a couple of American cargo pilots on layover). taking a tour of the Sydney Cricket Ground. Being woken up at 3am by a fire alarm and being forced to walk down 14 flights of stairs to huddle in the street outside. Losing a camera and credit cards in the back of a cab. (Oops.) And generally just having the time of our lives.
Our return in 2002 – a flying three-day visit en route (well, not really) from Perth to Kuala Lumpur – was for the specific purpose of being part of the new Year celebrations, Sydney being the first truly major city to see in the new year by virtue of being ten hours ahead of GMT. And Sydney certainly knows how to throw a party. A million people gather at vantage points around the harbour from early in the day on new Year’s Eve. we started at lunchtime down by the Rocks surrounded by a contingent of the Barmy Army – fans of the England cricket team – who had arrived in the city in advance of the Test match against Australia which was due to start two days later. by early evening, we decided to up sticks and seek out a spot at the Royal Botanic Gardens instead, to afford us a better view of the celebratory fireworks.
It certainly didn’t feel like it as we secured ourselves a tiny patch of available grass, but numbers in the city were apparently considerably down that new Year’s Eve versus previous years, coming as it did barely ten weeks after the Bali terrorist bombings which killed 202 people, 88 of them Australians. the mood was further dampened when the early fireworks show – scheduled for 9pm so as to be family-friendly – was cancelled due to 90kph winds, with a similar threat hanging over the midnight edition which caused a ripple of discontent. But go ahead they did, with a spectacular display which featured an animated dove on the Harbour Bridge and ended with the word ‘PEACE’ spelt out across its famous arch. as a mass shared experience, I have never witnessed anything like it either before or since. How often do you get to share a moment with a million people?
The following day we went to Bondi Beach. Only in Sydney.
Travel memories
#1: Tongariro Alpine Crossing, new Zealand
Im thinking of doing a cruise on Sydney harbour this New Yrs Eve.?
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on February 12, 2011
Has anyone been on a Sydney harbour New Yrs Eve cruise with Eve harbour cruises? I've been looking at this one bcos the cost seems reasonable @ $350pp (incl buffet & drinks), compared to others. Anyone have any other suggestions? 
No! (showoff)
Sash;-)
Lucky you. I was in Sydney in 1985. that does sound like a reasonable expense. Enjoy!
Make sure for that price that you get both sets of fireworks. There is the early display for kids and then the midnight show to see the New Year in. $350 a head is a bit steep but the demand is very high so they can charge what they like. Book early as they always sell out very quickly.
My only thought was as tentofield said…. BOOK NOW!
Im thinking of doing a cruise on Sydney harbour this New Yrs Eve.?
10 places you should celebrate New Year « Travel Snitch
Posted by Malcolm in Uncategorized on December 5, 2010
A New Year. New opportunities. New adventures. a chance to put behind us anything unpleasant that may have happened and focus on the future. Celebrations and customs may vary around the world, but in most places, New Year’s Eve is one of the biggest party days of the year.
Spending New Year in a foreign country is exciting and a great way to see that city celebrating as hard as it possibly can. there are many great places to see in the New Year, so along with bootsnall.com, we’ve tried to compile a list of some of the best locations across the globe to witness the biggest party 24-hour long party event that unites the whole world.
Sydney, AustraliaThe first and the largest major city to ring in the New Year, the Aussies know how to do it right. There’s something for everyone in Sydney, from families to backpackers. the fireworks display on the Sydney Harbour Bridge is the main highlight for anyone celebrating here, and the fact that it’s summertime in Sydney gives it a different feel for those in the northern hemisphere. the setting of the city, with the Harbour and Opera House, creates a wonderful backdrop. if massive crowds aren’t your thing, look into getting a spot on a boat and enjoy the festivities from a unique vantage point, the water.
The Rocks by Circular Quays is the place to be if you find yourself down under for the New Year’s celebration. the massive fireworks display is one of the main reasons people from all over the world come to Sydney to celebrate, so be sure to check out the vantage point map. the more popular viewing places fill up early, so planning ahead and arriving as early as afternoon is essential. there are plenty of restaurants, bars and clubs in the area hosting parties, but like the harbour, these fill up quick. And advance tickets are more than likely required.
Tokyo, JapanIf you plan on celebrating the new year in Tokyo, know that you’ll be celebrating for a while. in Tokyo, the New Year’s celebration can last up to a week, with festivities beginning on December 29 and lasting until January 4. One negative aspect visitors should be aware of is much of the city shuts down (most restaurants and a bars will remain open), but if it’s an authentic, local experience you’re looking for, you’ll find it in Tokyo. Fireworks, dancing, and singing are the norm, as well as the traditional eating of Toshikoshi Soba (New Year’s Eve noodle), whose long noodle symbolizes a long and healthy life, and listening to Juya No Kane (the Watch-Night Bell), which rings 108 times at temples all over the Japan, symbolizing a prosperous New Year.
The Tokyo Tower is the most popular place in the city with the largest gathering of crowds. but the cool thing about ringing in the New Year in Tokyo is that you don’t have to go to the most popular of places to have a unique and memorable experience. Because of the Japanese tradition of ringing the Watch-Night Bell, as long as you’re near a temple, you’ll be close to a celebration. in addition to the New Year’s Eve festivities, another major highlight of spending your holiday in Tokyo is that the gates to the Imperial Palace open to the public on January 1, one of only two days in the entire year this happens.
Koh Phangan, ThailandIf you’re into partying and dancing, there aren’t many places better to welcome a New Year than Koh Phangan. known for its full moon parties and festive year-round atmosphere, Koh Phangan amps it up a notch for New Year’s Eve. Over 50,000 people descend on this Thai island for several days of debauchery, and if you’re young (or young at heart) and concerned with finding one of the biggest and wildest parties on Earth, this is your place. Celebrating with so many like-minded people should be reason enough to come, but the fact that attire is swimming suits and flip-flops, and down time can be spent lounging under palm trees on beautiful beaches with crystal clear waters, should put Koh Phangan over the edge.
Haad Rin is the centre for the party, so if you have your heart set on staying here, plan and book in advance. if you don’t care about staying at party central, then you’ll have no problem staying at another beach. planning transportation is another important part. Many Thais are on holiday during this time, so trains, buses, and planes book up early. once on the island, you won’t have a problem finding where the party is.
Edinburgh, ScotlandEdinburgh has perhaps one of the most unique and longstanding New Year’s traditions, even having their own name for their celebration, Hogmanay. a fireworks display and torchlight procession through Edinburgh are just a few of the traditions still celebrated today, taking after pagan celebrations hundreds of years earlier. Many Scots still adhere to “first footing,” a tradition in which the first person to enter your house in the New Year should be male and dark (this tradition started in Viking times when a blonde visitor usually meant trouble). the guest is also expected to bring a few presents, usually whiskey and shortbread and a lump of coal.
The Hogmanay celebrations last three to four nights, with the torch procession kicking off the celebrations on December 30. upwards of 100,000 people join the street parties on December 30 and 31, keeping the celebration going with fireworks, live music and entertainment, and plenty of eating and drinking. January 1 sees several activities, including concerts and other cultural events. anyone can take part in any of these celebrations, with the torch procession beginning on High Street in the Old Town and ending at the Edinburgh meeting ground of Calton Hill. Be sure to come back on New Year’s Eve itself and take part in the street party running the length of Princes Street. a massive fireworks display above the Edinburgh Castle rings in the New Year at midnight.
Brussels, BelgiumNew Year in almost any European capital is legendary. Paris is one, as the Champs-Elysees and Montmarte erupts with life, fireworks explode around the Eiffel Tower and all against the backdrop of arguably Europe’s most beautiful city. However, one location that you might not think of immediately, but still proudly boasts an amazing New Year party is Brussels. not only is there usually snow on the ground at this time of year, but some cheap last minute deals can be found as many of the huge, luxury four and five star hotels – normally packed with businessmen and Euro MPs – struggle to fill their rooms over the holiday period.
But…Brussel’s best kept secret is a little bar called Le Corbeau located 18-20 rue St-Michel. only anyone who has actually lived in the city will know of it. the beer here is served in hourglass-shaped glasses, very similar to a yard glass – which makes drinking much more fun. Midnight will come and go and you won’t even notice, as the venue doesn’t really fill up until 2am. but be advised to get there early as it does fill up. And when it’s full, everyone climbs on the tables and chairs and dances the night away like some Animal House-esque university frat house party that’s got out of control. Live bands and DJs play and the bar itself it often referred to as the “one where you dance on the tables”.
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