World Australia New South Wales Sydney

Kangaroos are Not Kosher - Howie & Debbie Down Under

Something Fishy This Way Comes Oct 18, 2009

Sunday October 18 – Sydney

Something Fishy This Way Comes

The fattest seagulls in the world live next to the picnic benches on the wharf outside the Sydney Fish Market. They are not at all aggressive. No need. There are plenty enough remnants of fish and of other things that crawl on the bottom of the ocean but have now made it above ground to go around.

Taking photos of things you are about to eat or have already eaten may or may not be a good idea. A lot depends on what the thing actually looks like. Some of the accompanying photos will clearly indicate the reason why the thing depicted has not and will not be consumed. Others of the things are sneakier.

Having seen most of them in their unnatural habitat at the aquarium two days ago also provided a different perspective as compared to seeing them deceased & expired on slabs of ice (well, most of them anyway – a few were still gilling, I think).

It can also be a bit off-putting to see the fashion in which the “Seafood Gorge Yourself Silly Delight Platter for 16” is cobbled (literally thrown?) together but when you are standing in front of the counter watching the show, it is nonetheless quite fascinating.

And then, of course, there is the free beer samples. Yep, overall, the Sydney Fish Market is a fine place indeed.

Which reminds me: Three more Australian beers to add to the list in the past few days:

• Coopers Pale Ale

• Crown Lager

• St. Arnou Pale Ale (which, as you will see, received a very welcome reception)

Elaine & I went to the top of the Sydney Tower for 360-degree views of the city from .5km up in the air (which is like 14 bazillion feet). I could see my house from there.

The ticket to the top was discounted, as have many of the ‘attractions’ (zoo; aquarium; etc.) by flashing our World Masters Games accreditation. I think that is very nice and will flash it other places now that the Games are (almost) over but I think, perhaps, with somewhat less success.

The fact that there have been 28,000 of us wandering the city for the past 8 days flashing our accreditation passes everywhere has probably been annoying for the other 4 million people who live here but don’t get ‘free’ transport. C’est la vie.

After our tour of the top of Sydney, Elaine & I got to buckle up and strap in for the heavy bar over your shoulder to prevent you from falling out of your chair while hydraulics buck you all over the place to view “Oztrek” – a thrill a minute ride around, up, down, over & inside the continent. I’m pretty sure the overall injuries sustained will be more than mere soft tissue whiplash damage so I’m expecting we’ll be able to make a nice tidy settlement to assist with the financing of this journey.

While Elaine & I were visiting the tower, Pat accompanied Debbie to the yarn store (no, really – I made him turn in his “Guy” badge after that). Actually, Pat isn’t much for the heights so this discretion was probably the better part of valour.

This evening, we stood in the umpteenth line-up associated with the World Masters Games. This time, it was to enter Tumbalong Park in Darling Harbour (literally steps from our hotel – did I mention how well-located the hotel is?) for the Closing Ceremonies. The flag was lowered and passed onto the Mayor of Turin, Italy, host city for the 2013 Games and a reputed hotbed of golf courses in Italy (honest!). We’re going for sure – it’s a great party.

During the Closing Ceremonies, two athletes were singled out and honoured for their spectacular achievements. One woman had 7 gold medals around her neck; the other had 6. Both were well over 90. They could barely hold their heads up.

The Games have been a fantastic experience once again. Pat & I have determined that if we can hang in there until we are about 112 (maybe 114, just to be certain) we are going to be shoe-in’s for a gold medal in pretty much whatever we feel like entering. Frankly, tho’, at that stage of the game, we’ll be pretty happy just to be able to get out of bed; never mind actually throw a shot put.

And so, while the young people (ie. over 80) danced the night away in Tumbalong Park; us older folks were tucked away for the night, as it’s off to Melbourne tomorrow and onto the next phase of our Search for the Kosher Kangaroo.