Tourist time in Sydney.

Aradhna and I spent the past weekend celebrating Diwali with her parents in Sydney's western suburbs. After flying up early Friday morning we traveled into the CBD, where she went to her company's office on Hunter Street and I roamed like a tourist. Just behind this jacaranda in full springtime bloom is Sydney's iconic Harbour Bridge.

Hyde Park.

Sydney Tower, as seen from Hyde Park.

Underground walkway leading to the Domain.

Domain fountain.

Sydney skyline from the Domain.

Fig tree in Royal Botanic Garden.

Sulphur-crested Cockatoos in Royal Botanic Garden.

Postcard view of Circular Quay.

Circular Quay from Cahill Expressway walkway.

Museum of Contemporary Art and Sydney Harbour Bridge at Circular Quay.

Opera House looms over Circular Quay.

The Rocks.

Doom with a view.

Memories of high school basketball rushed back yesterday morning as I crumpled to the ground after tearing up my ankle. Aradhna, mom, sasuma and I had just parked beside the international passenger terminal in The Rocks. They were heading towards Sydney Tower and I was walking towards the harbour when 'CRACK', my right foot caught the smallest edge of a pothole and I went down like an unpoled circus tent. Two very sweet Aussie ladies offered assistance, as did a kindly cook from a nearby restaurant, who brought me a bag of ice. I sat in the sunshine with a panoramic view of The Rocks, Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House and Circular Quay and wondered if I'd finally broken something after multiple ligament tears suffered as a Parsippany Hills High School Viking basketball player. X-rays last night showed no fractures.

This'll teach me to leave Melbourne .....

Bridge Over Troubled ... Bus

Commuting in and out of Manhattan is like having chicken pox: Once stricken, you're immune to its effects forever. Hence, when Sydney is in the grips of 'commuter hell', it's water off a dusky moorhen's back to me. A North Shore train broke down on the Harbour Bridge last night, providing a choice between squeezing onto a bus or walking over a magnificent, Depression-era structure and marveling at the glorious harbour below.

I chose the latter. Wouldn't you?