Where has the time flown. Remember tearing up as the coast first came into view from the window of the plane, as we approached the airport and descended quickly lower. The froth of the waves, clearly folding over and over in a layer of twos and threes rolled over to touch the shoreline.
How Sydney has changed from when I last visited for an extended stay such as this one. We’re almost halfway through to our vacation. The biggest shocker has been the high rises that have cluttered the skyline. The horizon marred by over.y tall cell phone towers.
The other things MIA are the Bubble and Squeak patties by Birds Eye which were a staple burger to make a sandwich with. The cheesecake shop has far fewer locations in Sydney, so will probably wait till we’re in Canberra next week and get my Fruit Flan, which I so loved, could eat the whole in three days, all by myself. However, I’m sure my digestion is not what it used to be. I’ll give it a shot anyway.
On the plus side found my Cole’s Muesli that I loved and have been eating it. Coles in the City, on George Street is where I did my first shop this trip. It was about 10 minutes from the hotel.
Still haven’t gone to Meadowbank, but have been looking at it on Google Maps. With lots of Nostalgia. Met up with Baljeet and Harleen, our Meadowbank neighbours, one of the very few Indians there, who have moved out west, into a lovely home with stone floors. They’ve been there 23 years. She drove us to the Glenwood Gurudwara and we had an awesomely delicious Langar which runs all day to support the many
Doesn’t feel like my Sydney, from when last we were there in 2003, except the one night with Latha in 2012, when flying back to Orlando after K had moved to Canberra in 2003. What even is my Sydney. Baljeet remembered things I had forgotten and remembered moments she could not recall. It was good to hear about the children.
The city seems a bit soulless with so many high rises. I’m not sure I can get over the claustrophobia of the concrete overwhelm. I loved going to work wearing pantyhose and jacket, as Sydney had a very formal workplace culture, with regards to attire.
I wince seeing the high rises, with no consideration of the weight of concrete the housing situation puts on Mother Earth. A tells me people have to live somewhere, Mum. Yes, but it’s not really living, is it? Sydney has so much more to offer, glimpses of which I saw as the scores of new Indian migrants thronged the green spaces, which lined the train tracks. People making the most of a muggy Spring Sunday, after a coltish and fairly wet week, that stole four days from me as I came down with a cold, fever and scratchy throat.
The trains are newer, and Sydney now has a Metro system and trams, just like Amsterdam. I used to watch them from the hotel window. Moved to Abel’s apartment today for the rest of the week before heading to Canberra for the next week. The monorail is gone. So many people I meet have not heard of the Sydney sights I remember, the newer migrants and so very many Indians! Amazing how young the population is here.
I remember all the train coaches made of wood, (an all wood train) when we took the train from Sydney to Kiama in 1992. Those trains were called bone rattlers, (officially Red Rattlers, because they were painted red) because they rattled on the tracks. Quaint seats also all wood, can’t recall details. It was winter in July and the guard had come with a tall pole which he pointed up to a box up high on either end of the coach and lit a fire at each end, Eva use there was no air conditioning. Beats me how they had a fire burning in a train car made of wood? It’s too long ago!
So many memories, and making new ones now. Explored Chinatown like never before due to proximity to the hotel, a new.y opened Hyatt, not quite a month old. Of course the changing face of the population, more migrants, and the Napalese here are what the Mexicans are to the US. The maid who came to do our room, the chefs and servers in Indian restaurants, I noticed several Nepali people.
Unplanned and unexpected trip must be the highlight of my year which has had its ups and downs, and can’t say more downs now, especially because of Sedona, Peru and now Down Under. Finally got my sleep settled. Somewhat. Oh, the jacarandas. Everywhere, heart hugging, joyful to beg\hold. The flowering trees, the sun strong when it appears, all marking of Spring and a summer to look forward to!
Veenu Banga
November 3, 2025
9:45 pm.
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