Opera on Sydney Harbour

Last night we went to Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour's La Traviata. The whole production was outdoors at the Fleet Steps in the Royal Botanic Gardens, with the stage floating in the harbour, and the Sydney Opera House and the Harbour Bridge in the background.

La Traviata might not be a favourite opera, and an outdoor production could be distracting at times (ferries rumbling by periodically, etc). However, the performance was good, and it was quite something to see an opera in that setting.

The 9-metre chandelier suspended from a crane above the floating stage.

Photo time during intermission.

Nighttime on Sydney Harbour - 15-second exposure.

Here's a timelapse video of opening night.

Pics from the 2012 Sydney Royal Easter Show

We went to the Sydney Royal Easter Show again this year. It's a country fair with competitions (arts & crafts, animals, woodchop), a big petting zoo, carnival rides, junk food and showbags. Showbags seem to be a big deal, with families buying multiple bags, at $10-$25 each!

We were in it mostly for the animals. I patted a calf, a deer, a donkey, a piglet, a goat, a sheep, and a ringtail possum! As usual, the Poultry Pavillion was oddly fascinating, and the woodchop competition was amusing. Flyball, dog relay racing, was really fun to watch, too. The Showbag Hall gives me hives; I'd be happy never to go there again. ;P

The Easter Show reminds Matthew and me of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, for which we both have fond childhood memories. Remember the pig races?!

2012 Sydney Royal Easter Show

Easter

Happy Easter/Happy Spring/Happy Autumn! Here are two popular Aussie Easter items: a chocolate bilby, and a hot cross bun.

Despite the fact that Easter happens in Autumn here, Aussie Easter still involves spring things like eggs and bunnies. There are plenty of chocolate bunnies in the shops right now. There are also chocolate bilbies! The bilby is a cute Australian marsupial. Feral rabbits are an environmental pest here, so years ago someone introduced the concept of an Easter Bilby.

Hot cross buns aren't really a big deal in American Easter celebrations, but they're quite popular here. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the two main grocery store chains alone (Coles and Woolworths) will sell an estimated 90 million hot cross buns across Australia over Easter.

A Couple of Photos from West Head

I forgot to post these from ages ago when we went with Jon to the West Head Lookout!