Last Day in Sydney!

Last day in Sydney - beautiful blue skies - so what better way than to walk through different gardens.  First I walked over the Harbour Bridge to Wendy's Secret Garden, then I metroed back to enjoy the Royal Botanical Gardens of Sydney! 
As I write this, I am now back in Cirebon, where it is hot and rainy.......
Happy New Year everyone!

Walking over the Harbour Bridge

There is a pedestrian walkway on the eastern side of the Sydney Harbour Bridge that offers some of the best views of Sydney Harbour.

Wendy's Secret Garden

When Wendy Whiteley lost her husband, Australian artist Brett Whiteley in 1992, she funnelled her love and grief into transforming a disused, derelict train yard space Wendy’s Secret Garden. It has been nurtured by Whiteley and two gardeners over the past 25 years. They’ve planted natives, exotics, plants and herbs and landscaped the space with winding paths supported by raw bush timber balustrades, benches to sit on and cobbled stairs, retaining walls and paths.

Alongside the natural beauty of the plants and trees, you’ll also find bronze busts, engraved stone tablets, wooden carvings and other sculptures dotted around the garden. 
The garden also has a fantastic view of the Harbour Bridge.

Prior to the Lights of Christmas at St. Mary's Cathedral

Before the light show began, there was to be a choir (from where this angel belonged) but the rains began and they all scattered.  As the night grew darker,the lights on the cathedral began to illuminate. 

The Lights of Christmas

After enduring a bit of rain, the light show began, with orange and red lights, and actually reminded me of fire and brimstone. Finally it gave way to the the Christmas story.   The light show was matched by a soaring musical soundtrack and included a few  pieces from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

Mrs Macquarie's Chair

Mrs Macquarie's Chair is a Sydney landmark. The chair was carved out of a sandstone rock ledge by convicts in 1810. Specially commissioned by Governor Macquarie for his wife Elizabeth who was known to love the area this is one of the best vantage points to view the sights of Sydney Harbour.

Sights and Sounds of Christmas Eve- summer version

Darling Harbour is the  area was originally known as Long Cove, but was generally referred to as Cockle Bay until 1826 when Governor Darling renamed it after himself.
Now it is predominantly a big tourist area with lots of restaurants, shops and children's activities.