Being a long weekend because of Anzac Day, we ended up heading to Sydney after quite a while of umming and ahhing. It was a pretty exciting week leading up to the weekend anticipating catching up with Atap after quite a while. Work demanded I spend a few hours at work on Thursday morning and then began the crazy dash to organize a few last minute purchases before heading out to the United Parking lot at the Tulla. Headed out to a pretty mundane flight to Sydney, which turned pretty interesting upon its arrival. The city looked bright and wonderful from up there, but the minute we got below the cloud cover things took a nasty turn. At 4:45 early evening, it turned pretty dark and we were in the middle of some heavy Sydney rain. But it all changed in an hour post our arrival and we couldn’t have been more happier in the sun.

Atap came to pick us up that evening and we spent Thursday evening catching up at their home and enjoying a delicious meal that Tanvi prepared. And we headed out to Darling Harbor that evening. Here are some pics of that evening.

After a fun evening at the harbor we headed over to see our first glimpse of the iconic Harbor bridge and the Sydney Opera House from a secret viewing point that Atap and Tanvi discovered nestled among a few residential buildings by the waters edge.

We came home that night at about 2:30 in the morning all ready to crash for an early day the next day to head over to the Blue Mountains. It was a lovely misty morning that day at the mountains. It took us about 45 minutes to get to Glenbrook/Lapstone area, which forms the entrance to the Blue Mountains. But its getting to Katoomba and Leura that took another 45 minutes. These are the most popular tourist towns in the heart of the mountains. It was a lovely drive, where we enjoyed the sights while Atap slogged away in the dreadful traffic on our way there.

The three sisters, without a doubt, was a stunner.

We then headed over to the Scenic Railway and Cable Car building that takes us to the bottom of the Valley by either the steepest train ride in the world or by a transparent bottomed cable car. We decided to do the train ride while Atap and Tanvi headed for the cable car. i think I lost a few years on my way down that train. 1,361 feet in two minutes… I didn’t think my heart could take it again. I probably am just being a big baby, but Meenal did enjoy it immensely.

After that rush we headed over to the Jenolan caves. It was a really tight winding drive leading up to the caves. The Jenolan caves are arguably Australia’s best cave system. We headed over to the Tourist centre there that has a historic lodge built adjacent to the caves.

As for the caves, they were spectacular. We had a wonderful guide for our Imperial cave tour. It lasted just over an hour and offered some insightful geology lessons. I got some tight photo opportunities as well. I also got to learn about the difference between a stalactites and stalagmites. Roger, from my office, taught us another easy way to remember which is which; Mites go up while tights come down… Hahaha! Now thats easy.

This was the first stone cut entry to the caves by the explorer who dropped his hat down this cave.

They looked like little cities. We went down about 70 really narrow steps that led to a fresh water pond that linked to a river around there. It was a whole new experience and we lapped it up. Good fun… Must see.

We then drove about 3 hours to an “Indian-Chinese” joint in Parramatta. We made it just in the nick of time and enjoyed some lip-smacking manchurians and chop-sueys. And being over three years now that I’ve had that kind of greasy, fatty, spicy stuff; I hope you can understand my excitement.

We spent our last day there, exploring the city. We started early again on this bright and sunny day heading out to the City by the trademark double-decker train in Sydney. We got off at the St. James stop that lead us to the St. Mary’s cathedral. We walked about Hyde park and did the normal touristy things around there.

We then walked across to the Art Gallery of NSW which sat across the Botanical Gardens. It was a lovely day and perfect for occasion.

It was then after this refreshing saunter that we came across this breathtaking sight…

I had no idea that this Modern Expressionist building was sheathed in these small ceramic tiles. And its just superb from any angle.

After feasting on that sight we decided to feast ourselves on something that would carry us through the day. We came across some happening joints along the Quay. Like this one called the “Opera Bar“, that had a lovely live band belting out some catchy tunes.

And while we were there we spotted something that Meenal just HAD to do. The harbor stunt jet boats! We left our cameras and our glad, content faces back on the harbor and set out with some manic faces on this vessel that was up to 400 horses. They just bounced and raced across the waves and wakes. What a way to see the Sydney Harbor. It was divine. The pilot put the boat through some fish tails, spins and power-brake stops and really got us drenched. But it was really really worth every scream!

We grabbed a bite and a few drinks at this nice joint called the “East Bar”. Spent quite a while there before heading back home to a relaxed evening spent catching up and watching a hilarious “One-Two-Three”.

All in all a fantastic weekend. We haven’t had so much fun in quite a while.

Thank you Atap and Tanvi! We hope you give us a chance to return the favor on your next trip to Victoria.