Looking out my office window

 
So I've been doing some temping work to bring in some cash while I attempt to land a more stable role. My current assignment is with ABN AMRO bank and this lunchtime I'm taking in the north-east view from the 27th floor while I chow down on a sandwich. It's pretty spectacular (the view I mean, the food is pretty ordinary).

The lush oasis of the Royal Botanical Gardens lies immediately below, its backdrop the various bays of Sydney Harbour that meander out into the Tasman Sea and beyond as far as the eye can see. The waters are calm but busy today - I can count almost 60 yachts and small recreational sailboats all of which are seemingly unfussed about which direction they go, whichever catches the best wind I guess. My eyes glazed over just for a moment as my mind escaped from sitting behind this desk to the lazing on the back of a boat with the sun and wind in my face, joining the steady stream of runners around the waterfront route through the gardens or the Touch@Lunch game that's happening in the Domain (a park on the opposite the Botanical Gardens on the other side of the Cahill Expressway) . Yahwell, back to reality...

Down to the left is the world famous Sydney Opera House sitting prominently and proudly on what from some angles appears to be its own island, overlooked by the colossal Sydney Harbour Bridge - two iconic symbols of a city and nation if ever there were. No surprise then that millions continue to flock to Sydney to ring in the New Year, the harbour area is a perfect setting for what is a dazzling fireworks display… *iff* (no I've not misspelt it) you can get a good spot to view it. But I'll save that insight for another time.

Warning: random tangent approaching. I wonder what was architect Jørn Utzon's inspiration was for his [Opera House] design. I admit I haven't a clue when it comes to art, or the Arts. The roof structures are commonly referred to as "shells" so perhaps he was a pasta lover. Funnily enough their tiles have the same sort of pastel matt light beige cream colour that cooked pasta takes on - despite all the images you've seen the building is in fact not white - so perhaps I'm actually onto something there. Having resigned in 1966 from the project amid much controversy and finger pointing, Utzon never returned to Australia to see the completed Opera House. He was apparently to do so in 2009 at the age of 90 but unfortunately died last November.

Completing the panorama is the cityscape of Sydney's Eastern Suburbs that stretches out to the east coast and the beaches of Bondi, Clovelly, Bronte and Coogee. Although it is completely built up and dotted with high rise buildings (even the occasional cluster of them) it's interesting to note the clumps of green that permeate the urban sprawl, making it look like they actually built around them.

I really could gaze out at this all day if there wasn't more work to be done. Must remember to bring my camera tomorrow...

What are you looking at?