Monday afternoon sights

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House is located near the Bridge overlooking the harbour. I think if you were to ask someone abroad, be it the US, Africa, Asia or Europe, what they knew about Australia I would be surprised if they didn't mention the Opera House. Like the Statue of Liberty in the US, the building is so closely associated with the country that they are almost inseperable. When you first see the building what strikes you is just how different it is to everything else you have ever seen. From any angle it is simply gorgeous especially when the contour lines glime in the sunlight. Added together with the Bridge it makes for a truly superb sight in what is undoubtably one of the most gorgeous cities to visit.

Government House
Behind the Opera House, well overlooking it actually, lies Government House which is where the Governor General of NSW works. Now Australia has a fascinating system of Government. As the country used to be six countries prior to the Federation of Commonwealth about 100 years back, they have a state and federal system much like the US. Unlike the US Australia has a relatively small population of only about 20 million people and yet retains this extremely large amount of beaurocracy. Every state has a House and a Senate as well as a Premier and a Governor General of the State. Now what a Governor General does, especially of the smaller states liek Tasmania is a bit of a mystery to me. Maybe their is lots of gardening or something to do! Actually thats not fair, but you get the point as it just seems to be an extremely excessive system to me!

Government House is a very quiet place with some outstanding parks lying around it. People were having picnics under the trees and couples laid on the floor embraced in each other in the rather nice weather. With the skyscrappers of the city in the background it was a rather nice setting I must confess.


Australian Pop Idol Final
Walking down from the Government House through the Park I noticed that a large area around the Opera House was shut off to the public. Barriers were up round both sides with big grumpy looking guards keeping people out. Curious as to what was going on I stepped a little closer to take a look as one would under such an occasion. As I did so I began to hear screams which got louder and louder. Wondering what was causing this I slowed down and tried to listen further. Now I remember a few years back watching a documentary on the Beatles. At the height of their fame when they still toured girls would scream at the top of their voices, crying and fainting occasionally as well. Now what makes girls do this is a bit of a mystery to me. I very rarely cry, and certainly never faint unless of course I'm ill or have eaten something that didn't quite agree with me! Well these girls sounded exactly the same and from the sounds of it sounded like there was a lot.

Getting as near as I could to the gates, looking down from the hill, I could see a long line with thousands of people, predomoinantly girls there. Deciding that this was far to interesting not to get a closer look I walked down the hill through the shops towards the entrance to the Opera House where the quere was. I think the average age of the audience can't have been over 15. Girls dressed in all manner of cloths held hand-held banners which must have taken many hours to make. Now I must admit my knowledge of things like this is, well limited to say the least. I knew there was some kind of final on for Australian Idol but never knew it would be at the Opera House. You see I have to admit those kind of reality shows really don't get me that interested. Now I don't know why as people regularly ask me. Maybe its the fact that I am a little bit old fashioned, or maybe that all the hype really doesn't interest me and gets me thinking there are better things to see and do on TV!!!! But as I stood there I was rather entiched by it. I mean here are thousands of girls screaming, no sorry shrekking at the tops of their voices, like life itself was at stake. I wondered what was inducing this hystery from the girls? The closer I got the more I could see this TV host with dark spiky hair talking to the camera's and occasionally to some girls at the front of the quere. As he stepped nearer the girls screamed which then made him stand back, understandably as the man probably feared for his life!

The main ceremony was going to be during the night inside the Opera House, but outside a stage had been erected and live music was going to be played for free to crowds. Thats one of the great things about the city, the amount of free shows which the city puts on for its people and those fortunate enough to visit. I remember when I was younger, 15 or 16 I think, seeing the highlights of Crowded House's 'Farewell to the World' show which they played in the same place. I remember at the time thinking it must have been amazing to have been there. The crowd numbered tens of thousands of people with the music echoing throughout the top of the city. Whenever I see the Opera House it always makes me think about that show and what it must have been like to have been there at the time.