Starry, starry night

Life in Sydney keeps getting better despite winter breeze and the occasional rainfall. Autumn/winter weather here is more like mild spring/summer weather back in the UK. Oddly enough, there has been a lot of rain since I came in November. We had the “worst summer ever in 40 years” with almost a month of rain non-stop, spoiling my travel plans around the country. 

In March, some areas were affected by floods followed by drought. One day you see the water level of Parramatta River above the bottom steps of the stairs towards Lennox Bridge, Parramatta. The other day you will find yourself staring at a thin layer of water remaining in the river, with the dry riverbank clearly visible – very dramatic changes over a couple of days and not to mention the temperature differences throughout the day. However, I am not going to let the weather spoil my stay in Australia and I WILL make the most of my time in Sydney, I said to myself.

After my first interstate trip to Brisbane, Queensland, I found my traveler-spirit back in my blood. I am curious about everything. I am eager to learn about different forms of arts and the vast cultural diversity this country offers. I am TAKING OFF!

First day back to Sydney, Monday 4^th June, back to work as normal. Had an emotional morning saying goodbye to my German friends Andrea and Patrick, an adorable couple, at the end of their short stay with me in the flat and in fact the end of their 7-month adventure in Australia. Over the past six months, I have been hosting travelers from Germany, France, Austria, Russia and Indonesia, having the opportunity to meet great people who I would never have the chance to meet and share experiences with. Indeed, it is the people I meet who enrich my life here in Sydney and expand my knowledge.

Andrea and Patrick my adventurous German buddies!

Monday evening, I took the train to the city, had Japanese Tofu Bento by myself (as it was my vegetarian diet day) in a lovely restaurant near Town Hall and walked to Sydney Observatory for a night visit with telescope viewing session at partial lunar eclipse and educational talks. Beautiful moon, round and bright, mysterious and inviting, seems so near looking from the top of the Observatory Hill yet so far away.

After the educational talk, I had the most magnificent views of the near side of the Moon in front of me – perfectly round and white, sharp and bright, tracing shadows and light. Lighter and darker shades, formed by debris and craters from meteor and planets, crawl across the surface of the planet, sketching strange shapes from one end to the other. The light areas are in fact the Lunar Highlands. The dark areas are called “Maria” which means sea, but technically speaking there is no solid evidence of water existence on the Moon yet. The “sea” is filled with solidified lava from earlier lunar volcanism. 

(http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/moon/moon_surface.html)

iPhone photo taken with the telescope using special device

A couple of minutes later, I found myself at the very top of the observatory, in the domes, watching the breathtaking views of Saturn and Mars through the “historic 1874 large refracting lens telescope, the oldest working telescope in Australia (in the south dome), or our computer-controlled reflecting (mirrored) telescope (in the north dome).” (http://www.sydneyobservatory.com.au/whatson/telescope-sessions/) A snapshot of the (rather complicated) computer screen is shown below.

During the night telescope session, visitors have access to all the exhibition objects and a 3D theatre programme all of which tell us more about where we originally come from (stardust apparently!), how tiny we human beings are compared to the endless universe, different kinds of telescopes, history of witnessing the transition of the Venus (which was literally twice in a lifetime opportunity for us) and indigenous star discoveries… Incredible night visit experience and I would definitely recommend it to anyone like me who once had the dream of being an astronaut, despite where we are and what we do for a living today, always have the passion and curiosity about the unknowns beyond Earth. I guess that’s partially the reason why I enjoy flying with planes, especially when I can be at a seemingly parallel level with sunset or the starry, starry sky, watching the night go by and embracing the first glimpse of light from sunrise.

Finally got home at midnight after changing train twice along the way, still managed to stay awake and cook lunch for next day to bring to work… But it’s worth the effort. Night night Sydney. Sweet dreams.