A Tribute to the Queen

March 6th/7th

Standing under one of the ginormous plants in the Royal Botanic Gardens

The Queen Victoria Building is a sight to behold. It is an old Victorian building that has been converted into a shopping centre. Its beautiful intricate design is reminiscent of an old English mansion, only it has got moving stairs running right through the middle of it.

Grey headed flying fox--these Australia native bats are some of the largest in the world
they typically stay in roosts during the day of hundreds to thousands of bats and are quite common in Sydney.
What is almost more stunning is the fact that beneath the building is an elaborate set of shopping tunnels that continue where the QVB left off. I did not realise that I was standing over floors of stores when walking on the main thoroughfare in the Central Business District.

(Will update this with photos of the Queen Victoria Building soon)

Vivid painting at the Art Gallery of New South Wales

The day after visiting the QVB, I ventured with Zach into the Royal Botanic Gardens area near Circular Quay. We first went to the Art Gallery of New South Wales, a state funded art gallery. It exhibited primarily Australian artwork but also had artwork from around the world. It was a mid-range sized art museum with several floors, not bad for free.

Statue outside the gallery

The Royal Botanic Gardens held a wonderment of pathways stretched along neatly planted flowers, and other flora. The Gardens sprawled in and around the harbour and ended at a gate near the Opera House. Quite the dedication to the Commonwealth of England I must say.

Suitcases shaped like humans, how metaphorical

2nd week of classes start tomorrow.

Cheers!


Jono De Costa

P.S. I've naught been this healthy in a long time. I've been walking all over the city and I plan on taking up jogging nightly under the cool breeze.