This is the entry to "MyPictureDay Photography Contest" run by @timsaid and sponsored by @blocktrades and @theycallmedan.
All photos were taken by myself with either my Olympus OM-D E-M10 II or my iPhone 8.
At the beginning of this year, before Corona became the main topic of our world, my mother came to visit us for the second time in Australia. The flight was an early birthday present for her 70th Birthday a few months later in may. She visited us for 4 weeks during a housesit in Ballina, south of the Gold Coast in New South Wales. But since it was raining constantly, I invited her to go on a city trip to Sydney. which was an even bigger gift for her than the actual visit to Australia.
A few days later we were checking in into a Airbnb in Sydneys Kirribilli, with one of the best views out of a Apartment I ever had. The view was so breathtaking that my mother didn't want to leave the Apartment.
But that should only be the beginning. Since she is not quite as fit anymore, we started slowly and started with a ferry ride from Kirribilli towards Circular Quay, the heart of the city center. The ferry departed from the famous Luna Park in Kirribilli and then drove under the Harbour Bridge.
When we drove into Circular Quay, my mother experienced her second highlight. We passed the Carneval Splendor, a large cruise ship that was anchored in the Harbor. I have to admit that I have never been so close to such a large ship. That was very impressive. But that shouldn't be the last and especially not the biggest ship we'll see.
From Circular Quay we went onto the next Ferry which brought us over to Watsons Bay. On this ferry ride you´ll have a perfect view on so many things, like the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the Skyline.
During the ferry ride i noticed that i was not only doing my mother a favor but also myself because Sydney is a really charming city
When we were back at Circular Quay we decided to walk back to Kirribilli, which led us over the Harbour Bridge and to the next highlight. When we arrived in Kirribilli it was already getting dark and the skyline of Sydney was even nicer. I´m not really good at shooting in the dark, but I can guarantee you that this view made my Mum speechless for the rest of the evening.
On the next day I showed my Mum all the other things I think was worth it to show her. I noticed that it is quite impossible to explore Sydney in just 2 days, but we could still see some great things. My mother was very easy to impress, these mighty buildings alone ... or the old backyards in the rocks district
In the afternoon we went to Chinatown which gave her the rest in terms of culture shock :)
My Mum has never been out of Europe and most likely she has never seen a sign with chinese language on it.
When the second day came to an end I decided to walk home over the Harbour Bridge. I checked the cruise ship timetable in advance and surprised my mother one last time. As we walked home across the bridge, another large cruise ship took off and maneuvered out of the Harbor. My mother was speechless again about this spectacle, which seems almost surreal from up here.
Those were two wonderful days that i spent with my mother in Sydney that i don't want to miss.
Looks like a beautiful place!
It is! :)
Thank you
Yes, we used to have many Australian customers at our restaurant in Cambodia. It is such a beautiful country but the visa restrictions make it impossible for us to visit. Australia is not ready for Cambodians just yet.
Great to see your love for your mum. And these pictures are just soo good 👍👍 i hope to visit this once in my life for sure.
Thanks for sharing all these beautiful picture and the Story behind it too. 😇👍
It was great to see her that happy. I see it as my job to show her a bit more of the world.
Thank you. I hope you get the chance to visit it one day.
😇👍
Sydney is a nice place to visit however I don't think I'd be able to love there as it is too busy, too expensive and too busy. Yes, I know I said that twice. I have a sister who lives there and have spent a lot of time their myself for work and on sort vacations and for those purposes it's great. So much to do, always something to do, and some really nice places to eat. It's the Blue Mountains where I'd rather be though, if I had to live close to Sydney. Cold in winter up there though. Lol.
Really nice images, thanks.
Thanks!
True! I could not live there as well...maybe for a couple of month, that would be great, but not forever. And yes, it is expensive. These 2 nights cost me a lot, but it was worth it.
I´ve been to the Blue Mountains twice and I´m loving it up there. Woukd love to spend a winter there.
I spent a week in Katoomba, staying at a B&B. Was cold. It snowed...But was amazing. So beautiful. I agree, 2 months on Sydney would be ample. I much prefer less populated cities. (Towns are even better.) Thanks for responding, have a nice weekend.
Totally agree. The best spots in Australia are the small surf towns. I´m in Maroochydore at the Sunshine Coast at the moment and even this is to big and busy for me :)
cheers, same to you
Ah yes, the Sunshine coast. I have some friends who live on a mountain overlooking Coolum Beach, just up in the hinterland. A lovely location with forest all around, but only 12 minutes away from Coolum and the beach. I visit sometimes. Lovely part of the world.
Your Photography is awesome it reminds me of my own travels in Sydney i loved this place 😍
thanks. Sydney is awesome. So much to see and explore.
My home town is Sydney and it is just a beautiful city with an amazing harbor i am glad your mum got to see all this she must be a fit 70 year old to be doing all that walking. What part of Europe did she come from ?
What part of Sydney do you live? It´s a awesome city. I´ve spend quite some time down in Cronulla a few years ago.
My mother loved it. She´s from Germany and has never seen such a big city.
I live in the Maroubra beach area the other side of Cronulla and your living in the Gold Coast now right another nice city.
Mum would have certainly loved been all around that harbor water 😊