Sydney 2014 day 1

Sydney 2014 day 1

Stairs to nowhere

Today was really nice before I flew to Sydney even though it was bright and early in the morning before light. I didn’t need to get to the airport several hours early as it was only a domestic flight to Sydney and I think I was around the first flight out of the airport. I was also 15 mins early before the shops opened for food, but I was able to get my coffee and my breaky before the plane even thought about loading. I did watch the sky lighten and the planes that were waiting were appearing out of the darkness with workers prepping them.

The flight was uneventful other than he fact I was sitting in the second row seat, which was pretty good. I wasn’t concerned about the little bit of turbulence that we got either. I was reading my magazine the entire way. I did get a multipass that lasts for 7 days, which means I can get any Sydney bus and train with certain ferries. Outside was overcast compared to what it was like at home. I did catch the bus to Paddington where I am staying, but did get off a stop too early as I wasn’t sure of the location as the bus doesn’t talk. Some tell you the destination. I did get to meet Panda and Lucy with little Harriet, which are all dogs with two greyhounds. I did help Dawn, the friend I am staying with, with several things she wanted done. After some lunch I was off again into the city.

I wasn’t worried about which bus I caught so long as it got me near to where I wanted to be, which was Hyde Park as I wanted to visit the Barracks. I did wander along part of Oxford street until I found where I was wanting to go though I did wander off the path too. I started with the war memorial at Hyde Park and then slowly made my way to the Barracks. I did walk around inside the grounds before entering the building itself. Several of the building displays did show the old court rooms and where the judges had to walk along with everything else to do with. Inside the barracks building it took you through the history of the building including the many uses it has had. From convict barracks to offices for the judges and other legal council. There was even talk of knocking the building down too. I took the audio tour with me and it gave little bits of insight into the area like Aboriginal people like Bungaroo who greeted many convicts on their arrival and that some people would wear a second layer of clothes they had stolen to buy rum and other things. There were holes cut into the walls where the men slept as the officials wanted to make sure the men were not getting frisk though the building did hold 600 people so it did get cosy with the hammocks.  The early town was spoken of and shown on a map on the floor like the brick works that are now Surry Hills I think along with where Central is too. I wanted to find more about the tank stream too, which was the original fresh water stream for the area and now only certain tours a year are done there. Also there was many historic remains they had found on the site including complex tunnels made by rats under the building and things they stored too. The building is well worth the visit.

After leaving the museum I was on a quest for coffee and the Barracks coffee shop was closed and I was sad, but another one was open where I ordered a coffee and didn’t have to pay until I had finished the coffee. That was unusual and a coffee shop across the road from the Sydney hospital. That was some trust they had in a customer too. I did then take off and bumped into Martin place where I had research that there was a monument to the Tank Stream. I found it on the George Street side where it was beside the war memorial. It wasn’t much to go on though and I did wander looking for more including the entrance, which I didn’t find. I did find a nice one in Alfred Street across from Circular Quay and I was happy with that find. I did find the police museum by accident as well, which I was thinking I could see sometime if there was time. Along the way I did find an obelisk that had the distance to other locations from that very point like Bathurst or Parramatta. Nearby as the cannon and anchor that could have been from the Sirrus one of the first fleet vessels.

 It was getting late and had started raining so I had my brolly up as I took a short cut through The Rocks looking for the stairs to nowhere and I did walk past some interesting parts that I didn’t know about as I hadn’t been there the last time I wandered through. There was the big dig archaeology site under the YHA and also Susannah Place another tour place that you can book to learn about Sydney of old. I was on a hunt and then I did get stuck above Hickson road as I wanted to get to that road, but couldn’t from Argyle. Munn Reserve didn’t take me anywhere either and the drizzle was constant. I did find a set of stairs that took me to that level and on I wandered to the other end of Hickson before turning back as I couldn’t find what I was looking for. I did find those pesky stairs as my brolly had hid my view as I wandered past below them. They supposedly had been blocked off at the bottom as they never reached the top of the cliff to the street above.  I then headed back to the train and a bus where I wanted to head back to Paddington for the night as the next day was another day. I did make a shop assistant happy when I said thank you as I needed water and I was damp and thirsty.

Day 20. Whirlwind home

Day 20. Whirlwind home

I didn’t get that much sleep on after I had gone to bed as I seemed to be clock watching the entire time. I did get some sleep and was ready for the super shuttle bus that would take me to the airport. I was happy to find a book I had forgotten to pack that was nearly under my bed. It was just after 3am that I was up and about sorting my bags and bed out before wandering downstairs. The shuttle arrived 10 mins early and I was able to check in and be across into the waiting area well before boarding time. My bag only weighed 17 kilos and I did shove my jacket inside so I didn’t have something extra to carry around. I had thought it would have weighed more with several of the books I had bought.

It is amazing the amount of people who were not at their flight at boarding time, who were being off loaded. I would hate to think how many people were ignoring the calls. I did hear one whole family get called. It would be interesting to be around when the people are being told they cant board their plane as they were too late in getting to their gate in time. The book I was reading on the plane was about Kauri, which I found to be interesting, although it isn’t finished yet. There was not much waiting around and I did have a wander through the duty free items and not too interested in what I seen although I did buy some alcohol on the Auckland side and will go from there

The flight was easy and routine though I did take my boots off and was happy to have them off. One of the flight attendants was talking about the previous flight to New Zealand being full and this one was not very full at all due to school holidays finishing for New Zealand. I nodded off several times, but not for very long at all. I was happy to have landed, but it was not very hot as I was lead to believe, but at least I had one happy dog that greeted me once I jumped into the car. It is always great to be home from a decent holiday and to see some country that I have not seen before. I have some places that I do want to visit another time especially after going past the towns while on the bus. I hopefully have them committed to memory and will see how I go when I do look into the research at a later date.

Home means I have to go back to work and to clean up my travels stuff as well. It also means I can reflect on what to do next and talk to family members who make suggestions as to where I end up next time like overseas or explore the current country you are living in. The real world wants me back and I have to honour that request or else I might not be well liked.

Day 19. Whirlwind in the national library.

Day 19. Whirlwind in the national library.

Today I was going to take an introductory course on oral history for Video. I woke up to find that the weather was overcast and trying to rain. I was going to go out with a jumper and my heavy jacket, but I thought better as I felt it wouldn’t be that cold and went to have breakfast. I was right I didn’t need the extra layer, but I will need it when I leave for the airport in the early hours of the morning.

The walk to the National library wasn’t too bad and I did get there quicker than I thought I would. I did think I would have been delayed by the traffic or where I was walking. I am not sure if you are supposed to be walking on bike lanes when pedestrians are not marked. I managed to make it into the library and one of the hosts let me in the elevator to head to the first floor. I was offered coffee and scones. I felt there is something unique about walking around a library with a cup of coffee in my hand. There were books I had never heard of like a woolly mammoth in the library and several other kids books about libraries. I met Tyna pronounced China with a T. She was maori and had started over 20 years ago with oral history with her specialty being with a video camera. We were supposed to have a camera and while it wasn’t necessary, they would like you to have one. It was explained during the day some of the techniques used to interview people and how video is used.

I think most of the videos were aimed towards those who are of Maori decent and there were several people like that.  I do like New Zealand as they seem to focus on Maori genealogy and it was explained a little to us as things could lengthen as time goes on and distractions do occur. We were all expected to work in teams to produce video although the lady I teamed up with, her recorder had a flat battery and nothing worked unless we had the machine on charge. All the people who were there from some sort of background revolving around oral history. One lady was even talking to deer hunters from the 1960s as they have a story to tell about their experiences and Tyna did also interview those in the Maori battalion for WWII I think. I will have to look into this. We all had to get up and introduced yourself although I was the only one from Australia, but also still a kiwi in everyone elses eyes. I did get some paperwork for interviewing people and did write down notes as well. One of the interview techniques we did was to interview each other and that was on school life as a kid. What was wanted of us was for us to learn to zoom and use the wide view. It was interesting doing something like this though I am going to have to learn this, but the day wasn’t about learning the ethics at all as all the people wanted to do was learn about making a video. The ethics was for the two day course and Tyna wanted us to be very hands on.

I thought the day was very informative even though there were technical hitches as Tyna was from Wellington and the equipment didn’t have all the wires or leads. She hadn’t been to Auckland National library before and there was actually only one tech that worked at the Auckland branch. Tyna did apologise to me for all the problems, although I was telling her this does happen. During lunch I did get to have a look through the displays in the library especially the one about women getting the vote in the late 1800s and what happened regarding kiwi women until the 1960s. One of the information leaflets did have more records the National library like manuscript and other research papers.  We did end up leaving just before 4pm after watching and giving advice about some of the videos that were recorded. It is interesting when everyone used certain maori words especially since no one really does that back home that I have heard of. It was raining by the time I left for the hostel and I was lucky it stopped raining when I got closer to the university. There was only one real plan to pack to heave for the airport in the early hours. Everything is actually charged and ready to go.

Day 18. Whirlwind through Panmure and train stations in Auckland.

Day 18. Whirlwind through Panmure and train stations in Auckland.

I woke up and looked outside to find the weather was not looking too great and was cold as well. It seemed warmer in the hall walking to the loo, but I was going to leave for the day once I had checked my emails and seen the news quickly. My roomie appeared without a word of hello while I was checking the weather on the computer. She stripped the bed and started packing her stuff. I didn’t say a word other than look at my computer as though I was busy. She left though she had her bag still in the room and that was the time I decided to leave for breakfast and the rest of my day. I was happy she was gone as then I wouldn’t have to bother if she tried to smother me with a pillow in my sleep.

After getting something to eat I went to catch a train to Panmure as I was wanting to grab two CDs from the family history centre. I found the train I was after was waiting for other trains to leave as the line was congested. I was lucky to catch the correct train this time first off. I did have to ask as I wasn’t sure if the train was the right one as the train did say it was going my way, but the platform said no service. I was happy to grab the train the entire way though with the weather not looking so great I was not going to climb one of the local hills. I knew of a stone cottage museum near to the family history centre and that was only open on Sundays. The building was an original to the area, but had been moved. I did find al old hotel as well that was boarded up that was historic too. The historical society for Panmure was very active as they seem to have plaques for just about everything including a random hill that was a pa and also the cemetery I found quite by accident with a church. I was surprised by this small Anglican church especially the small cemetery attached. I was aimless wandering and unsure of exactly where I was going, but I found my way back to the train station for the next part of the trek. They are upgrading the train station and including a new road way as well to improve the area. Should be done by 2014 or close to it.

Once I was back at Britomart I was wanting to head to the arena as there was the old Auckland railway station I was going to check out on my way to finding where the national library was located. I walked out of Britomart and was confronted by a zombie wearing a party hat. He was wandering down the street and wasn’t very hungry, which I thought was great. I was wandering towards the arena keeping an eye on the weather still as I wasn’t sure what it wanted to do. The old railway station wasn’t hard to find and I entered to have a look. It looked really spacious and I did see a very bright area further on that looked like a platform. The door I was trying to was actually a locked door and I was getting looks from a guy at the desk, so I quickly walked out. The sign on the window gave a clue to why I couldn’t get in.  The old railway station happened to be a hotel or apartments. No wonder I couldn’t enter and somehow I don’t think I could afford one night there. I needed lunch and while eating with free wifi as I wanted to read the news I found there is supposed to be a storm going to hit Auckland during the night. It did explain it being windy at times.

After filling my belly I walked back past the arena intent on finding where I had to go in the morning, although I did get distracted by something up above the hill that was a nearby park. The castle like building I had seen happened to be part of the Auckland University and I took a wander through the campus as it was something I randomly did. I found the History admin building before finding the university map to inform me where the campus bookstore was. I wanted to see what sort of books they had and how much they were. Books don’t seem to be cheap in New Zealand at all for some reason.  I do like to look at the books about New Zealand history as there could be something interesting that I want to buy. The text books were not that interesting either, but I was happy to browse around the library and it did seem to have plenty of students around. I was getting very warm as I was wearing a jumper and my leather jacket as well. In the wind its just right and out of the wind I heat up.

The national library of New Zealand was bigger than what I thought it would be as I have always looked at the archive centres. In all the years I been coming to New Zealand this was the first time I even knew there was a branch of the national library here. It does help me though as I could see what there is there. I am going to spend all day at the library to learn about oral history techniques. I did walk inside though not into the actual library itself, so will find out exactly what it is like. I think kiwirail is in the same building too, but upstairs. Something else to know and I do think I know the easiest route to take too, which is via the university. The next place I went to was the museum as I was going to use this as my last stop of the day my body seemed to be happy that I was using the library visit as a relaxing several hours. Some displays have changed like around the military stuff especially in regards to the WWII displays. They are going to have a memorial for Passendale tomorrow and I didn’t even know this was going to be on. It doesn’t matter though as I have something that will be considered to be relaxing. Once I finished looking at displayed I went to have a coffee only to find there was no coffee left in the coffee shop, so I had to have a coke and cake instead. That has never happened before at all.

I was blown away when I left for the hostel. The wind was very strong outside the museum and I made it back to the hostel and I met my new roomie and she is younger than the other lady and this one doesn’t care that I am there. I did go out to tea and to find some stuff from the shops and she had her washing hanging up above her bed. She thought I would have a problem with it and I said nope not at all as I had done it before. I last did that while picking fruit, but that was some years ago and I have no problems at all. Tomorrow is going to be another day and we will see what happens then. At the moment it is raining and windy. Lets hope this doesn’t continue on Sunday where flights will be delayed or anything.

Day 17. Whirlwind to MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)

Day 17. Whirlwind to MOTAT (Museum of Transport and Technology)

Today I was unsure what the weather was actually going to do as it looked sunny outside my window, but with any weather it could change and it changed during the day though little showers that didn’t stop me at all. It was chilly though and I didn’t mind that at all and I actually wore a jumper all day, which I found to be comfortable though I had to take off my sunnies at one stage as I found the museum to be a little dark.

The day started off pretty well and my roomie hadn’t come back after getting annoyed at having a male in the room and I wasn’t worried by that at all. It only got annoying when she insisted that I leave, but I was backed up by the reception as I wasn’t going to play her game or room tango as that is exactly what would happen. I think she will warm up to me, but who knows. I am not going to dwell on something like that and it has added spice to my trip. All I know is she took her bedding and never returned until I got back from my wonderful day out.

I left pretty early compared to my going to be around 2am, but that was because I was sorting things out and had gone to see the show Wicked. I did get chatting to some random guy who turns out be one of the ushers and he has seen the show quite a few times while he has been working. I manage to have an uninterrupted breakfast before I went to find the bus that would take me to MOTAT. It was a pretty quick ride in the morning and I think around 20 mins. I think an interesting area called Grey something had a park of artworks that caught my eye though next time I will have to stop there. I had to wait for around an hour before MOTAT opened, but I was able to wander around Western Springs Park.

The park at one point in time was the main water supply for Auckland until the city out grew that is now a park with MOTAT and the zoo close to each other and joined by a tram, which takes you to MOTAT 2, which is the plane hanger. The park was converted to parkland at a later day though I cant remember when. To the Maori it was good for finding the eel and many birds visit especially the rare ducks that are not local and don’t breed at the lake. I found it interesting several barbies were actually fenced in. Just the barbie and nothing else and had gates too. Could be to stop kids and never seen this before. It is a really nice park to just walk around the lake on a very nice day and the sun did stay out for a bit longer. By the time I had wandered most of the park it was time for me to head over to MOTAT. There was a small line up when I walked to the front of the building, which was the shop.

Once inside I spent several hours wandering around the displays especially when they had horses dragging a cart for the tourists and being holidays too. I even sat and watched a Punch and Judy show, which was basically for kids, but I did enjoy it I was interested in the firefighting equipment especially the medals and I should do more research in those especially when a family member was involved. I didn’t know that Edmund Hillary had a big involvement in regards to Antarctic exploration especially when writing down rules like loading vehicles on last so they would be first off the ship instead of being stuck in the middle of the hold and to drag equipment off the sea ice as they had experienced at one stage after a storm. He even designed some sort of bunk bed so everyone would have space. Although the Massy Ferguson tractors did become a reliable machine down there too. I am surprised no one else came up with these list of rules and everyone listened to Ed. The home front during the war was interesting as conscientious objectors to the war were basically imprisoned including those against war in general through religion. There were fighting between the Maori and Americans. Displays about the different vehicles and what they were used for and includes push bikes too as they had changed through time. Some of the stuff I had seen were from what I had found in other museums like the trainlines though I did like the trams and som even had honesty boxes.

Once I had lunch I went over by tram to the aircraft hanger known as MOTAT 2. It was full of aircraft I had never seen before although I fell in love with the flying boat that the museum is slowly restoring. I like it better than the Lancaster they have at the front of the museum. I did see some ignorant tourists not paying attention to their kids especially when one child began climbing onto one of the aircraft. The parents panicked only when one of them was crying and another had climbed up onto one of the planes. Yet they allowed them to go through the barricade. I did see plenty of information about the planes and I found the way out back as well that I had wondered about on my map. Turns out not many people realise there is a back to the hanger and I did see another plane being sand blasted I think. That or being painted as it was partially covered up. On special days they do have trains running and military vehicles. I think the two aircraft sitting outside are waiting to be restored and put inside somewhere, but I could be wrong.

The time had come for me to leave and head back into the city. Luckily I knew the bus would be marked downtown as last time it confused me. I got a little reprimand from the driver as I had signalled a little too late and that he was running late himself. He was expecting the call for him to become drop offs only. The call came across only several minutes after I had sat down and he did say I should consider myself lucky. Everyone seems to think I am local, which I do find funny. I got off near sky tower and headed to Victoria Park to see what was interesting down there. The only things I really found was that it was at one stage during the war a rest area for American soldiers like at Western Springs. Also they have a free kindergarten though I am not sure if its still in use. I walked back through to the hostel, which was on the other side of the city in Queens Street. Not a bad walk but getting crispy.

Once I headed to my room I found my roomie had come back and I am not sure if she is really happy that I am back. I don’t care actually as I will be sleeping there and there is nothing she can do about it. She did say hello and I was happy to note that my stuff was still in my room and she hadn’t moved anything out. I think she might have seen the reception or has gotten used to the idea of me being in the room. I found I have my last day booked out as I am going to learn about Oral history interviewing through the Auckland library. They had a spot open and I don’t have a video camera I will see what can happen. I think its cool though and I should learn as I feel that it is a weak point and might show me a little appreciation for oral history with the family tree stuff or even with other things like marine rescue. I did visit an Italian restaurant, where I had eye fillet with truffles and duck liver pate. I did this while washing my clothes ready for the next couple of days.