{"id":4709,"date":"2018-01-26T13:10:21","date_gmt":"2018-01-26T21:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?p=4709"},"modified":"2019-07-03T10:50:28","modified_gmt":"2019-07-03T17:50:28","slug":"antipodean-adventures-sydney-tap-on-tap-off","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?p=4709","title":{"rendered":"Antipodean Adventures &#8211; Sydney : Tap-on, Tap-off"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2537-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter wp-image-4794 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2537-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2537-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2537-1024x1536-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2537-1024x1536-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2537-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2543-1600x1067.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4720\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2543-1600x1067-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2543-1600x1067-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2543-1600x1067-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2543-1600x1067-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2543-1600x1067.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>The Opal card brings you Sydney! Just &#8220;top up&#8221; and then &#8220;tap on&#8221; when you get into a bus or train or ferry. At the end of the trip, &#8220;tap off&#8221; when you leave. In our first adventure, we didn&#8217;t &#8220;tap on&#8221;. At the end of the short ferry ride, we had to &#8220;tap off&#8221;, and they charged us the maximum fare. Now, we understood the system that easily takes you everywhere in this lovely city by the extensive Sydney Harbor. During our week in Sydney, we &#8220;topped up&#8221; to the tune of about $50 each &#8211; travel money well spent.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2649-1600x1067.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4727\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2649-1600x1067-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2649-1600x1067-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2649-1600x1067-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2649-1600x1067-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2649-1600x1067.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a>When Capt. Cook stopped nearby in Botany Bay, he tried to claim Australia for the Brits but he missed Sydney Harbor, one of the greatest harbors in the world. Some 18 years later, Capt. Phillips showed up and found Botany Bay waterless and soon discovered the estuary that now is Sydney Harbor.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-1' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4724'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2540-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4723'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2542-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4722'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2541-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>We have enjoyed the varied aspects of this vibrant city.\u00a0 One afternoon we took a behind-the-scenes tour of the Sydney Opera House.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-2' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4742'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2681-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4741'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2510-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4739'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2519-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4734'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2651-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2651-1600x1067-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2651-1600x1067-640x640.jpg 640w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4735'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2812-1600x1067-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4736'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/ThomasOfVienna.jpg-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4737'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2518-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4731'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2525-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>That evening, we viewed an amazing multi-media play, The Wider Earth, with actors and puppets taking us on Darwin&#8217;s intellectual journey from God to evolution.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-11.jpg.image_.800.450.high_.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4712\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-11.jpg.image_.800.450.high_-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-11.jpg.image_.800.450.high_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-11.jpg.image_.800.450.high_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-11.jpg.image_.800.450.high_.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-24.jpg.image_.800.450.high_.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4711\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-24.jpg.image_.800.450.high_-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-24.jpg.image_.800.450.high_-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-24.jpg.image_.800.450.high_-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/TheWiderEarth2016-24.jpg.image_.800.450.high_.jpg 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div>Sydney can be hot in the summer, but the ocean beaches are just a &#8220;tap on &#8211; tap off&#8221; trip away. During the Depression, Australia put people to work building many ocean swimming pools, some natural and some Olympic. Many remain and are maintained and used today.<\/div>\n<div>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2925-1600x1067.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4749\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2925-1600x1067-300x200.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2925-1600x1067-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2925-1600x1067-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2925-1600x1067-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2925-1600x1067.jpg 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div>\n<p>Sydney seems to be a tropical city of flowers by the sea with sailors always skimming the protected waters.\u00a0 Our hotel in Potts Point <a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2930-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4717\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2930-1024x1536-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2930-1024x1536-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2930-1024x1536-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2930-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2930-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a>was nicely located; we walked through the Royal Botanic Garden many times to get to Circular Quay, the ferry hub of the city, with the majestic Sydney Opera House looming in the background.\u00a0 We took the ferry and bus several times to lovely white <a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2557_crop_348x399.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-4801\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2557_crop_348x399-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a>sand beaches &#8211; once to Bronte Beach, where we walked to Bondi Beach along a lovely coastal track, and once to Manly Beach.\u00a0 The latter was particularly crowded on Australia Day, January 26th, with many people picnicking or swimming in the refreshing aquamarine water.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-3' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4754'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2851-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4753'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2876-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4752'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2891-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4751'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2868-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4747'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2914-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4748'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2843-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4750'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2815-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4746'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2906-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4745'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2916-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4744'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2895-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-4' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4772'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2947-1536x1024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4771'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2950-1536x1024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4770'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2456-1536x1024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4775'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2482-1536x1024-1-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-5' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4777'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2957-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>A ferry trip to the zoo gave us a close look at the unique fauna of this long-isolated place.<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-6' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4757'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2752-1067x1600-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-7' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4760'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2767-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4758'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2446-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4756'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2783-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2595-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4768\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2595-1024x1536-200x300.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"200\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2595-1024x1536-200x300.jpg 200w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2595-1024x1536-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2595-1024x1536-683x1024.jpg 683w, https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2595-1024x1536.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 200px) 100vw, 200px\" \/><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2578-1024x1536.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-4763\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2578-1024x1536.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" \/><\/a>Sydney is full of friendly, easy-going people.\u00a0 We&#8217;ve met lots of helpful individuals and many interesting travelers.\u00a0 Our questions about Aboriginal art in museums have always been answered knowledgeably<\/div>\n<div>and enthusiastically.<\/div>\n<div><\/div>\n<div id='gallery-8' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon portrait'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4765'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2642-1024x1536-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\">\n<\/blockquote>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-9' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4767'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2636-1536x1024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4766'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2598-1536x1024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4764'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2638-1536x1024.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div id='gallery-10' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon '>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4779'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1\" height=\"1\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2437-1600x1067.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4782'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2940-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4780'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2932-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4778'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2438-1600x1067-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n<div>Tomorrow we head to the Blue Mountains National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.\u00a0 As the final part of our Australia exp!oration, we hope to bushwalk in canyons and on cliffs while searching for Aboriginal engravings.<\/div>\n<div id='gallery-11' class='gallery galleryid-4709 gallery-columns-3 gallery-size-thumbnail'><figure class='gallery-item'>\n\t\t\t<div class='gallery-icon landscape'>\n\t\t\t\t<a href='https:\/\/leslieval.com\/?attachment_id=4795'><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/IMG_2975-1536x1024-150x150.jpg\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"\" \/><\/a>\n\t\t\t<\/div><\/figure>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Opal card brings you Sydney! Just &#8220;top up&#8221; and then &#8220;tap on&#8221; when you get into a bus or train or ferry. At the end of the trip, &#8220;tap off&#8221; when you leave. In our first adventure, we didn&#8217;t &#8220;tap on&#8221;. At the end of the short ferry ride, we had to &#8220;tap off&#8221;, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":4734,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[33],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4709","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-australia","entry","has-media"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4709","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4709"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4709\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5421,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4709\/revisions\/5421"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/4734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4709"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4709"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leslieval.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4709"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}