Epic-logue

Our journey around Australia ended some months ago, now. I feel I should bring things up to date and finish up the last page of the story.

When we returned to Sydney we had less than a week in Australia. The time was mostly spent visiting relatives there, whose paths we had somehow barely crossed with the whole time we’d been here. I spent much of the time reflecting on the trip as a whole; it seemed crazy to think of the things we’d done and the places we’d been, even so soon after it’d happened.

A breathtaking view of Sydney, from the auditorium at Taronga Zoo

Our time in Sydney finished up with a few more attractions. We visited the Powerhouse museum, a fascinating array of exhibits that reminded me of London’s Science Museum. They had a working replica of the Strasbourg Clock, an interactive proto-AI with a reactive facial simulation mounted on an articulated arm and New South Wales’ very first steam locomotive: the Tyneside-built Locomotive No 1.

We saw Snow Leopards at Taronga Zoo, as well as Penguins, Tasmanian Devils and the Platypus. We checked out the Sydney Harbour Bridge’s museum, located in the south east anchor tower (all towers are hollow and basically serve to weigh down the feet of the arch), atop which used to be several white cats kept by the tower’s old curator. The cats are no longer present, but small toy ones have ceremonially taken their place, as they were minor tourist attractions. We even found a little time on our last day to check out the Chinese gardens at Darling Harbour.

The beautiful Chinese gardens at Darling Harbour, Sydney

Looking back on those last few days, I find it a little strange that I should struggle to recall our thoughts on the trip to the airport as we left Australia behind. But then, they would be overshadowed by the flight that was to come. After some delays keeping us on the ground for nearly an hour, we took off behind schedule. This was further compounded by the fact that a technical fault had developed that pressed our A380 to extend its stop at Singapore. Supposedly, this would be for a few hours. But it quickly turned into over a day, as the landing gear servos had a small electronic sensor that needed replacing. So we were put onto a coach and driven out of the airport, to the mystery final stop of our grand adventure: Singapore.

It may look like a docked spaceship, but it is in fact a part of the grand superhotel Marina Bay Sands

Unlike our brief tarmac-kiss on the way over, we had hours to admire the sunrise over this space age city from our gorgeous hotel room. I cannot fault Quantas for how they looked after us; the hotel was all splendour and some sleep in a real bed came as a huge relief to me, as I’m unable to sleep in just about any moving vehicle. It all came as more a novelty than an inconvenience. And it was nice to have finally seen the city where my father was born.

We finally arrived home in Heathrow, some sixteen hours late, to a warm family welcome. I could scarcely believe all the things we’d done, the wonderful people we’d met and the places we’d seen in our epic Australia adventure. Thanks for coming along for the ride!

2 thoughts on “Epic-logue

  1. Haha – I love that you are afflicted by the need to FINISH this blog- I have the same affliction.

    Tomorrow will be the anniversary of my departure for Australia. I’m back to work but I think I’ve “made a horrible mistake” – only time will tell.

    See you in Santiago -lol.

  2. Hey Lorne, great to hear from you!

    Shows how long it took us to finish given that the entry was started in July, but yes indeed it needed closure. I know it feels strange having that year mark come around, we’ve been recently thinking of all the things we were doing this time last year (somewhere around Rockhampton most likely). It’ll only be another month or two before Albany was a year ago, I can scarcely believe it!

    Being back at work certainly has been a change of pace, not too bad; but missing the freedom, every once in a while.

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