ANZAC Day

This morning I got up before 3 am to attend the dawn service in Coogee, by the beach. The last night bus arrived there at 4 am and the service started at 5 am, but the chilly morning air helped me stay awake. The service then consisted of speeches, hymns, prayers, wreath laying, and the Australian national anthem. Since it is ANZAC Day, I had hoped to sing along to New Zealand's national anthem as well, but no. I sang it to myself afterward instead.

There were plenty of people who had left their warm, comfy beds on this chilly morning to attend the ceremony. I was very surprised at the turnout. Several services were held all across the city, so the combined attendance would have been well into the thousands. After the service, I waited around a bit to see the sun rise before catching a bus into the CBD.

At 9 am, a very long parade of school bands, veterans, and current servicemen marched down Elizabeth Street to the ANZAC monument in Hyde Park. It was impressive to see all the aged soldiers who once defended their country against aggressors so proudly walking down the main street of Sydney. Some were in wheelchairs and used walkers, but there was no mistaking their joy of being able to still participate in this day of remembrance and celebration of those who went before us. I was quite touched.

My eyelids by this time were so heavy, I had to go home and get my head down for a few hours. I also changed to shorts and left my sweater. Once the sun is up, long trousers are no longer comfortable. I ended up catching a ferry from Circular Quay to Manly in the afternoon, and then further on by bus to Palm Beach. Quite a long ride, but nice to see parts of Sydney many tourists probably never reach. 

Those who are interested in Australian soaps can take a tour to Summer Bay ("Home And Away") from Sydney, and to the real life Ramsay Street ("Neighbours") in Melbourne.

Funny story:  on the way to town this afternoon, the bus unexpectedly stopped in front of a large gay bar on Oxford Street. Two drag queens, clearly way past their prime, staggered out of the locale, as if they had just emerged from their coffins before putting their wigs and slap on. Aged drag queens, like vampires, do not fare well in daylight...

I'll save my review of the local public transport system for later. Tomorrow I'm taking a day trip to the capital, Canberra.