Friday, October 24, 2008

18 Sep 2008: Finding our way to the Sydney Observatory



Time flew pretty fast while I was enjoying the views from the west of Circular Quay. I think I was on a pretty 'spontaneous mode' that day. I merely wanted to go with the flow and travel to places that came to my mind. Thankfully, when I met up with my beautiful friend, RL, in the late morning, she was very obliging to my possibly out-of-the-blue requests.

My first request, if my memory does not fail me, was to visit the Sydney Observatory. The Observatory Hill, which the Sydney Observatory sits on, is Sydney city's highest natural point. I just had a urge to visit the Sydney Observatory as somehow I felt it is a place with historical significance.

The thing was that while I had a map of Sydney in my hand, the 'spontaneous mode' in me that day got me rather reluctant to use the map. I was more interested to just find the way to the Sydney Observatory somehow or rather, by simply looking for and following the directional signs. So that day, RL was tasked with the important mission to help find our way to the Sydney Observatory from the Circular Quay. We probably relied on our intuition, at the same time, relied on the directions given by helpful strangers.

The next strange request that yours truly had was to stop to take a photo that you would see right below. I was rather fascinated with how one could see light at the end of what seemed to be a tunnel. Anyway, the photo turned out to be less poetic than I had envisioned. Now, if you could please use a lot of your imagination, maybe you may see what I had wanted the photo to turn out to be.




The exciting part was that, we lost our way!

RL
was diligently following the directions given by a staff at the Visitors' Centre when we realised we were not getting any nearer to the Observatory. Yours truly was so soaked in her 'spontaneous mode' that there was absolutely no sign of worry when we got lost. Afterall, there would be a way out somehow, won't it?

Sometimes, when one is lost, one may get to experience interesting things that is beyond one's expectations. Maybe that is the beauty of getting oneself lost? Admittedly, such statements are likely to be made when yours truly is in a spontaneous and unstructured mode.

Along Kent Rd, we met a fine, wise gentleman, JN, who saw that we needed some help, and he offered to give us directions. In the end, we unexpectedly started having a conversation with him. It was an interesting experience listening to him. He simply had a lot of wise experiences and tips to share. After we parted with JN, I inferred from my discussion with RL that the culture in Australia seems to value honesty and being forthcoming.


It was somewhere nearby here that we met J. Many thanks to him for his invaluable directions.



JN gave very clear and good directions. RL was so diligent in fulfilling her mission that she remembered JN's directions well, and led the way. With these, we eventually reached the Sydney Observatory. I suppose when we know what destination we wish to head towards, getting there is just a matter of time?


Flagstaff near the Sydney Observatory.


It was a pleasant adventure trying to find our way to the Sydney Observatory. That was possible because I had a lovely company in RL.

3 comments:

mistipurple said...

"..the culture in Australia seems to value honesty and being forthcoming."

i think it's true of different cultures and different countries. and broadly speaking ie.

i know i smile more readily than most people here in singapore, and i feel more comfortable when i smile at a 'westerner'. their smiles come on more naturally and genuine.

oceanskies79 said...

Misti: I haven't think of how smiles differ from one culture to another.

Wishing you many good reasons to smile often. :)

eastcoastlife said...

I had a few good experiences with Australians when I was there a few years back. They are very helpful and friendly... there were some racists too.