Vivid Sydney

When I heard Vivid Sydney was taking place during the time that I was in Australia, it didn't take much convincing to get me up there! 

I took a Greyhound coach from Canberra, which is much less ghetto than its US counterpart. Arriving in mid-afternoon gave me the chance to walk around the city, do some shopping, and see some of my favorite sites before the lights went on. I was amazed at how easily I could navigate the CBD after only one trip there. 

I checked into my Air BNB, which was a really beautiful home in Darlinghurst.  Compared with the sky-high hotel prices, this was a no-brainer. With such a local experience and a much larger living space, it's no wonder why AirBNB is becoming so popular. 

My friend arrived from the suburbs and we decided that a bottle of wine was in order before venturing out to the festival. When we did eventually make it out, our first stop was University of Sydney.

Even before arriving at the campus, I could hear the music and I was getting excited like a little kid on Christmas. We watched the show for at least a half hour, and I was surprised that none of the segments were repeating. This was a great start to the night. 

Just one of many beautiful pictures at Sydney Uni

From the university, we walked through CBD and Chinatown, on our way to the fountain show at Darling Harbour. This part of the city was completely packed with people, and the show was admittedly shorter and less impressive than it had been hyped. 

Rather than waiting for a seat at one of the tourist traps in Darling Harbour, we walked back to Chinatown area and found a great Vietnamese restaurant. 

The next and final stop was Circular Quay, which has the biggest concentration of attractions. On our way over, people were walking in the opposite direction in droves, which made me a little nervous. I looked at my watch and noticed it was already almost 11pm!

Circular Quay, as viewed from Park Hyatt hotel

We first saw a silent (yet intricate) kaleidoscope effect at the Museum of Contemporary Art. The various geometric patterns on the building were mesmerizing. Next to that was an interactive exhibit, where people got to make the lights move around as if they were butterflies in a garden of colorful mushrooms. 

Museum of Contemporary Art

Interactive light display at Vivid Sydney

Of course the most iconic structure to be lit up was the Sydney Opera House. By the time we got there, the lights were just silently dancing around the roofs, but I think the show is set to music in the earlier hours. Even without the music, the silent display was still beautiful to watch.  

Andy and me, with the Opera House lit up in the background

Sydney Opera house gets decorated for Vivid

Further around the quay, there were countless of other light-based exhibits - each produced by different artists and with deeper meanings. For example, a series of branch-like tree sculptures called "Arclight" was meant to represent various environmental phenomena such a temperature, wind speed, and humidity. 

Arclight, with the Sydney Harbour Bridge in the background

Even something as simple as a lit-up pig has deeper meaning if people take the time to learn more about the story behind it.  This exhibit called "Entitle" represents the overly-indulgent contemporary lifestyle. I think these more thought-provoking exhibits are what make Vivid Sydney a great destination for all ages.  

Entitle Exhibit at Vivid

I know I'm a tourist, but Sydney is just one of those cities with immeasurable "wow factor". For many of my family and friends, Australia would be the trip of a lifetime, and I'm so fortunate to have been there twice already. 

If anyone told me they were visiting Australia in late-May / early-June, I would absolutely suggest that they put Vivid Sydney on their list of must-see highlights (make sure to spend more than one night there because there is just too much to see). The city is a joy to visit in any time of year, but the lights just add an extra layer of mystique and fun that most people don't get to experience. 

I have heard that this idea of projecting lights onto buildings is already growing in popularity, with similar events in Moscow and Berlin. It would be difficult to match the childhood wonder that I experienced in Sydney, but I would love to see what the other cities have in their arsenal for such an event. 

Boston

It’s fun to take a business trip to my home city. Especially when that city can be enjoyed with someone who has never been there before. My week in Boston helped to remind me that the place I grew up is somewhere I would like to live again... Someday.... But for now, I am content visiting for short periods at a time and departing before the excitement starts to fade. 

My hotel was located in the financial district, but I forget just how easy it is to navigate the compact city center. From the historic Quincy Market to the upscale shopping on Newbury Street, Boston is a true American jewel.

View from my hotel room in Boston

The first evening, I went to dinner with my colleague at one of the many amazing Italian restaurants in the North End. I haven’t been to this area in over a decade and I am thrilled that it is more easily accessible, now that the highway dividing it from the rest of the city has been moved underground. We could have chosen from countless restaurants, but we ended up at Vinoteca di Monica. The tables were crammed in a tiny space and the semi-open kitchen made the experience feel like we were eating in the home of our Italian grandmother. 

After dinner, we couldn’t go back to our hotel without stopping for  cannoli from Mike’s Pastry. My mouth was salivating as I debated which of the flavors I wanted to try. The amaretto was incredible and I had to restrain myself from returning the next night to try the other flavors.
 

Mike's Pastry sign lights up the night

On our last afternoon in Boston, we had some time to go on a tour of the city. The tour guide was full of great information that I hope to retain some of it so that people don’t think I am lying when I tell them I spent 22 years of my life in the Boston area. Some of my favorite facts about Boston: 

- Fenway is more than just the home of the Boston Red Sox. This part of the city was once only marshland, until land reclamation projects began in the 1820's.

Exterior of Fenway Park - the oldest stadium in major league baseball

- Just a few blocks away from Fenway Park is the oldest remaining Victory Garden in the United States. Victory Gardens emerged during World War II as a way to reduce pressure on the public food supply. Today, it is mostly filled with flowers, but it serves as a living reminder of both the contributions and the sacrifices that Americans made as part of the war effort. 

- Beacon Hill is now one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the city and its name came from an emergency beacon that once stood at the highest point in Boston. The narrow streets remain much of their historic character, including the most gas lamps of any city in the United States. Many of these lamps still burn for 24 hours per day - a tradition that began out of necessity, when the lamplighter union wages became prohibitively expensive for manually lighting and extinguishing the lamps each day. 

Beacon Hill is also home of the Massachusetts State House

- The Christian Science religion is headquartered in Boston, and the beautiful cathedral is certainly a focal point in the city. I'm still not sure how they can afford such prime real estate with only 100,000 members across the country, but it certainly adds to the overall beauty of the city. 

- Just a few blocks from the Christian Science headquarters is Trinity Church, which is honored as one of the "ten most significant buildings in the United States" by the American Institute of Architects. For me, this church is such a symbol of Boston and its reflection in the adjacent John Hancock tower adds to its appeal. 

Trinity Church reflects beautifully from the adjacent John Hancock Tower

- Harvard Bridge is 364.4 (and an ear) "smoots" long. This unit of measurement was developed in 1958 when an MIT student was laid down, end-over-end, to measure the length of the bridge. The markings are repainted each semester by the incoming class of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity). The unit of measurement was so widely accepted that bridge renovations in the 1980's actually incorporated scores in the pavement at every smoot (5'7''). 

While crossing the bridge, people are also treated to gorgeous views of the Boston skyline:

Boston skyline, as seen from the Harvard Bridge

Of all areas in the city, Downtown Crossing and the waterfront seem to be transforming the quickest. In Downtown Crossing, there are several new luxury condo buildings and a skyscraper in the early stages of construction. I remember this area to be a little seedy when I was first graduating college and I am glad to see that it has already improved substantially.

Modern touches in an otherwise historic building in Downtown Crossing

The waterfront – home to Boston’s new convention center – also feels like an entirely new city. There has been so much construction that it makes me wonder what existed there a decade ago. I can hardly imagine that such prime waterfront real estate remained undeveloped, but maybe it was more of an industrial area.

On Friday night, I attended the Boston College football game with my parents. In most parts of the country, attending a football game would be considered a popular local activity, but not in Boston. Here, college football is almost forgotten – even when BC enjoys a national ranking.

One of the reasons I chose to attend Boston College was the Division I athletics, which I feel brings such unity to the student body. This game was proof of that, as the student section was the most crowded and most lively area of the stadium. For little more than a price of a movie, everyone gets an impressive game-day experience, but the students bond in a way that simply cannot be replicated at schools without popular sports teams. The final score was a disappointment for my alma mater, but it was a lot of fun to relive all the great memories from my years as a student.

Boston College Football

Over the past week in Boston, I enjoyed seeing the city from the perspective of a visitor. Boston is so filled with history, yet it continues to transform with cutting-edge art and architecture. Learning so many interesting facts about Boston and hearing the glowing reviews from my colleague allowed me to gain a new appreciation of my home town.

I normally visit the Boston area purely to reconnect with family and friends. Occasionally, I will go into the city for dinner or drinks but most of my time is spent in the suburbs. My experience got me wondering: How many people fail to take advantage of the tourist activities in their home cities?  Sometimes, just a tour of the historic sites or slow walk with a camera in hand may be enough to renew their sense of pride in the place they live.

Melbourne

When I arrived in Melbourne, the weather was dark and rainy.  It remained this way throughout the entire weekend.  I must admit that my first impressions of the city were not overwhelmingly positive. There was nothing wrong with the city, but it just failed to draw me in. 

The Central Business District (where my hotel is located) contains a lot of modern office buildings, restaurants, and a shopping mall the spans several city blocks.  Walking around, I strangely felt like I was in Toronto.  Everything seemed very "live-able" and clean, but also somewhat generic.

The view from my hotel was equally as uninspiring.  All I could see were railroad tracks, some green space, and an under-developed river. 

Good morning Melbourne!  Look at railroad tracks and a deserted river!

Gradually, Melbourne grew on me.  I went out a couple nights and appreciated the "buzz" of the downtown area.  Even on the weekends, people were enjoying the restaurants and bars, which is more than can be said about many cities in Midwest USA.  

The arts scene is thriving, with several large theaters and art galleries downtown.  One evening, the cast of "Wicked" was out on the streets in full costume, performing snippets from the show.  I doubt you would ever see that in Manhattan!

One of several theatres in Melbourne CBD

As the days passed, I started noticing the interesting mix of 'old' and 'new' in Melbourne. Beautiful historic buildings like you would see in Europe intermingle with modern architecture.  Gothic-style cathedrals are dwarfed by neighboring skyscrapers that have grown up around them.  The result is a city that appears modern in every panorama but has pockets of history that can be appreciated by anyone who is willing to look deeper. 

Historic Hotel Windsor juxtaposes with the ultra-modern Sheraton

The spires of St. Patrick's Cathedral no longer dominate the skyline

Interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral rivals any in Europe

Many photograph opportunities in the cathedral

Interior of St. Patrick's Cathedral

One of my friends lived in Melbourne for a year and he described it as "England mixed with Baltimore".  Phrases like "How ya goin?", "good on you", and "no worries, mate" reflect an amazingly relaxed lifestyle that mixes perfectly with the old English sophistication. Everyone loves to talk and - more importantly - they love to have a good laugh.  

One morning, I captured these unique personalities on the street

I prefer the marshmallow peeps to anything advertised here!

On Mother's Day, I was invited to join the local staff on an 8k run, which was a surprisingly huge event.  Thousands of people packed the course to raise money for breast cancer.  The Mother's Day Classic is a national event and I love how Australians embrace the spirit of charity in conjunction with a day to celebrate Mom.   

Photos from the Mother's Day Classic in Melbourne

On my way back to the hotel, I discovered an alley that is filled with graffiti.  Normally, I detest this form of self-expression but Melbourne has found a way to show off its artistic value. Fortunately, the graffiti is confined to just a few streets, while the rest of the city is impeccably clean. 

Graffiti has transformed this alley in a surprisingly aesthetic way

I felt very "hipster" in this part of the city.

The more I explored Melbourne, the more I discovered its fun side. Hidden in the seemingly boring business district are musicians, parks for relaxing, and buildings with unconventional character. Just like Sydney, Melbourne is filled with hidden gems.

A street performer entertains people in the CBD

People enjoy the beautiful weather in front of this building

I am happy that I have four weeks to explore Melbourne because it is a city that requires a little extra time to really appreciate. Tourists have even fewer sites to visit than in Sydney, but lifestyle is what really makes the difference here.