VIVID!

What an amazing surprise to arrive in Sydney with a city-wide display of light! 

The administrators of Sydney dreamt up a brilliant way to draw people into the city during its ‘low’ season…winter.  The weather is still perfectly delightful – average in the 70’s – but still they wanted to see what they could do to bring people in.  This intense 2-week festival launched 5 years ago and has grown exponentially each year.   I can’t even imagine what it will be like in years to come. 

This year’s festival is May 24 to June 10 and commences each evening at 6PM concluding at midnight.  People are out, street vendor food, music, INCREDIBLE light shows all over the city…small and large!  I tried to take pictures, but all lights are moving, so it was impossible to truly capture the essence of the art with still photography.  I did take some short videos with my camera (inferior quality at best), but really and truly…you need to go to experience it for yourself!

The video is of the display on the Contemporary Art Museum.

Whitehaven

Last night was a champagne sunset cruise in the Whitsundays…Australia…pretty spectacular!!

This morning was a sunrise seaplane outing to the most beautiful beach in the world - Whitehaven beach.  The Whitsundays is a series of islands in Northern Australia with various resort and yachting options.  I stayed at Qualia and Hayman.  Both fantastic in their own way, but distinctly different. 

Either resort offers a seaplane excursion to Whitehaven beach – a beach on an island in the Whitsundays that is not inhabited…it is not a national park, but it is protected and owned by the country.  STUNNING!!  You can take breakfast or lunch outings to the beach and stay for as long as you like.  It stretches for 4 miles and so if other people show up, you can still have your privacy.  We went at 8:00 AM because that’s how our schedule roles….fill every moment possible! 

An Intriguing City

Melbourne has taken me a bit by surprise.  Having visited numerous cities around the world, I wasn't expecting much out of this bustling Australia city, but have been quite surprised.  In short (because I am exhausted and have a super early morning tomorrow...) sport, art, shopping, cafes, parks, food and I am sure a host of other things that I didn't have time to experience.  Well worth several days on any Australia itinerary!!

Realizing now that I did not take enough pictures of the public art installations or the amazing architecture, so will do better tomorrow!