Bats, Bugs and Birdcages

Sunday...... 25/3/2012

Well we arrived in Sydney safe and sound. The flight from England was fine, Emirates did a good job, no complaints, but lets get to the main task at hand....Sydney!!

Did we realise that by being upside down, on the other side of the world,that we were no different really, just hanging onto the Earth by the effects of gravity. Was Australia so different to England ?

Of course it was! To coin a well worn phrase " its a whole other country ".

We couldn't wait to explore with our willing guides Ben and Anna. First port of call, a walk to the harbour from our base in Surry Hills. We took a meandering route through the Botanical Gardens, which contained two of the B's, i.e., Bats and Bugs.

How strange it was to see hanging in the trees very large Fruit Bats. The problem with these natural habitants is that they kill the trees they live in. Bit very silly really, but the powers that be have decided to scare them away by a variety of means, scarecrows and electronic radio waves. None seem to work, but they are trying the humane way. If your life depended on them being removed you would just shoot them!! Being pragmatic let them stay and plant more trees.

Australia's claim to fame is the depth of its deadly species. None more famous than its spiders. To the Woosey European's big spiders seem drive us into fits of panic. The Golden Orb Weaver is a case in point, looks a killer, but is really pussycat, very common throughout the Sydney area, when you first see them, wow, but after a while you realise that they aren't going to leave their webs, you can learn to like them.

The harbour walk through the gardens was so enjoyable that you hoped that the first sight of the actual harbour, with the bridge and opera house would not be too disappointing.

How false our fears proved.................

Two photos which really need few words...stunning being the apt description...

Australia is somewhat famous for its quirkiness and it did not disappoint. Within the city environment is, in my opinion, one of the best urban arts exhibits on offer to day.

Angel Place features an installation known as "Forgotten Songs". It features a canopy of empty birdcages hanging in the sky, accompanied by the sounds of Sydney's lost birds which may have lived in this area, before the city including this laneway, replaced their native habitats.

What a great way to end our first day...3 B's that truly took our breath away.....roll on day 2