WE landed on the last week of May at the Sydney International Airport for the final leg of a month-long vacation I had with the family. Mario Deada (from Toledo City), who is married to a niece, Dr Anet Libre, fetched us at the airport. But with the numerous bags, only the ladies in our party rode on his vehicle, while my son Kim and I, took the train.
The train rides (as we transferred to another line at the Central Station) were simply smooth and efficient, and took us to Quakers Hill, a suburb 40 kilometers from Central Sydney. The railway system in Sydney is impressive and must be one of the best in the world. Quakers Hill where we stayed has modern residential houses, wide streets and balanced greenery.
According to Mario, development in the outer suburbs of Sydney is non-stop and it is evidenced by the on-going construction of residential houses. He said that the Filipino population is increasing with many settling in the neighboring suburb, Blacktown.
A visit at the Featherdale Wildlife Park at Doonside allowed us to mingle with kangaroos, wallabies, koalas and other endemic animals. Birds and reptiles were, of course, placed in cages. One cannot but admire the commitment and care that park personnel pour into the clean and well-managed facility.
A trip to Sydney is never complete without visiting the iconic Sydney Opera House and viewing the Harbour Bridge. We made our way to the site by train. We were for a treat as the Vivid Light, Music and Ideas Festival had just started its two-week run. It was late in the afternoon that we arrived, and people were starting to congregate for the spectacle. By the time we had finished posing for photos in the different spaces of the Sydney Opera House, it was almost dark.
At first, we noticed the tall buildings facing the port change colors, followed by the Sydney Opera House turning into a screen with colorful images changing in matters of minutes. The night was magical, as we strolled to nearby buildings that changed colors as well. It turned out to be a unique experience that I’d treasure in my memory bank.
But in the end it is people that define a place. The Deada family lavished us with their generosity; classmate/lawyer Jess Icao and nephew/lawyer Tom Baena Jr. took time out to bond with us; and the generally easy-going Aussies were everywhere going about with their work, in their off-hours and in their celebrations.
Sydney, I must say, lived up to its reputation as “The City of Celebrations.”