Exploring the nation's capital

Sunday 29th March 2015

Surprisingly, the girl in the bunk below me was taking the same bus as me to Canberra so we were getting ready simultaneously in the morning.  Only knowing her for a few short hours there was an awkward moment when I was ready to leave the hostel, not wanting to be late, while she was eating breakfast but I continued ahead, eating my breakfast at the bus stop and then sleeping most of the 3.5 hour journey. 

Stepping off the coach, three of us who were heading to the YHA found each other and I managed to navigate our way there.  I have to say I gave great directions (!!) through the deserted streets.  It was really quite eerie that there were so few people round in the centre of the capital but there were some interesting sculptures to admire!

Deciding to take a day of sightseeing I wandered to City Hill where there wasn't really anything to see and then sat in Glebe Park, reading and people watching.  There was a calorie burning exercise class taking place and I almost unintentionally got involved in a dance class in the bandstand!  Back at the hostel I crocheted in front of the Cricket World Cup Final before dinner.

Monday 30th March 2015

After a day of rest I was ready and raring to go for a day of sightseeing and by 9:30 I was waiting for the explorer bus in from of the hostel in a chilly 11 degrees!  Unlike the open top buses of other cities, this tour took place in a small mini bus but the guide was very informative.  I decided to pass the War Memorial and the monument filled Anzac parade and return to them tomorrow.  Instead I started in the sculpture garden of the National Art Gallery and was drawn to this life size maquette of Antony Gormley's Angel of the North.  Wandering around, there were bells chiming from across the water, filling the air.



Inside the gallery I admired several pieces including: 

This piece by Sonia Delaunay

Untitled by Arshile Gorky

These two famous pieced by Andy Warhol.

Pages from a Ramayana Kekawin manuscript created in Bali.

This section of the Asia gallery.

This Aboriginal Memorial in which the meandering pathway represents a river and the decorated poles is positioned in locations that correspond to the home of the artist.

Honey Ant Dreaming by Old Mick Walankaru Tjakamarra

Aliding Easy by Richard Larter

The Music Lesson by Alexandra Exter

And finally these sculptures at the front of the gallery.

After I left the gallery I returned onto the bus which took me to Parliament House.  Between the new Parliament House and the War Memorial (which can be seen in the distance) lies the white Old Parliament House which the government outgrew.  

Parliament House is built into a hill and pre 9/11 you could walk right over it without having to enter the building.  Now, with heightened security, you have to enter the building and take a lift onto the rooftop.

Inside, I took two tours, the first of which cost $25 and I was the only participant!  Still, it was interesting to learn about Australia's political part in the World Wars and about some of the key political figures from their portraits.

The second tour was a free tour around all of the building, taken by a guide which reminded me a little of Gareth Malone, the famous choral master!  During the tour I discovered:

• The materials of the building reflect history with an Aboriginal mosaic and red stone outside, marble from Europe in the entrance hall, and Australian wood inside.
• The great hall houses the 2nd biggest tapestry in the world behind Coventry Cathedral.
• The Australian parliament system takes elements from both the UK and US systems.
• The House of Representatives in decked out in green (mirroring the House of Commons) while the House of Senators is red (mirroring the House of Lords)

• The Queen can only sit in Senate (where there is a special seat), not in the Representatives, reflecting the UK system which stems from the time of Charles II and the start of the Civil War

 

• There are 150 odd seats in the House of Representatives which a voted in equally populated areas and there are 75 off seats in the House of Senate where each state provides 12 regardless of population.  As the territories are not recognised in the constitution they only provide 2 senators each.
• There is a 4 minute time call when a vote takes place.
• The speaker of the representatives and the president of the senate can see each other ben both are seated and the doors are open.
• Kirribilli house in Sydney Harbour is Tony Abbott's current residence.
• The reflection pool in the centre of the House has upward water in the centre so that no single person can hold the position of central power.  The water reflects the flag which flies directly above and is in line with the war memorial as reminders for the politicians of what the represent and what is at stake.

 

 

 

By 2:15pm I had a head full of facts and an empty belly to I wanted a speedy lunch - McDonalds fitted the bill!  On the way there we passed a whole block of embassies and high commissions (which relate to commonwealth countries).  I'd certainly had my dose of sightseeing so the rest of the day was spent crocheting, journaling and Facetiming!

Hitler didn't travel.  Stalin didn't travel.  Saddam Hussein never travelled.  They didn't want to have their orthodoxy challenged.  - Howard Gardener.