Sunday 29th May 2016 - VIVID Darling Harbour Laser Dragon Water Theatre, Fireworks and Maritime Museum

I have to admit I was very disappointed with the 7 pm Laser Dragon Water Show and what happened to the 7 pm fireworks that went with it as advertised? I stood on Pyrmont Bridge to watch it and videoed the first 5 minutes of it only because it was just so boring!

I then walked down to the other end of Darling Harbour and watched the next Laser Dragon Water Show from another perspective. Still no fireworks but I did manage to video the entire 10 minute show and I loved the music although a little loud as I was near a speaker.

Technical difficulties anounced with the fireworks so I'll just sit and wait until the next show which hopefully will include the fireworks.

My patience paid off with the 8 pm laser dragon water show which included the delayed fireworks. Spectacular and I videoed all 11 minutes of it. (refer youtube video uploaded). WOW!

I went straight home after this highlight. Very exhausted - very busy day!

Sunday 29th May 2016 - Cobblers Beach , Chowder Bay and Balmoral Beach

In my previous blog post I mentioned I would return to Chowder Bay and I did today. What a perfect day it was - about 19 degrees with the sun shining all day.

I took the 244 bus from Wynyard to Chowder Bay getting off at the 2nd last bus stop outside the HMAS Penguin naval base. I was trying to find the Chowder Bay to Balmoral Beach hiking track but could not find it.

After finding a hiking track which said Cobblers Beach I asked some hikers if this track will take me to Balmoral Beach. Unfortunately not it led to a nudist beach named Cobblers Beach.

Having never been to a nudist beach I decided to hike down to the beach. Yep it was full of nudist and some non nudists. The beach was beautiful and very secluded. I took quite a few photos being careful not to take any "unscenic" photos. (photos below)

From Cobblers Beach I could see Balmoral Beach. The music playing after the completion of The Balmoral Burn fun run that day at Balmoral Beach could be heard very loudly from Cobblers Beach - a distance of over 2 km.

After hiking back upto the main road where HMAS Penguin naval base was,  I decided to hike all the way along Chowder Bay Rd and back.

A distance of about 2 km round trip probably. What an incredible view when I arrived there. I kept stopping along the road to take photos. (photos attached) - old buildings, boat sheds, marine life institute, accommodations, jetties etc

I caught the 244 bus from opposite the HMAS Penguin naval base back to Mosman and connected onto the Balmoral Beach bus. I arrived at Balmoral Beach at around 3 pm but the sun was still out so I could go for a swim although the water was a little colder I still didn't want to get out once in. I was in the water a few minutes when I noticed the water was teeming with millions of baby fish ( looking a lot like swimming sperm) being pushed out to sea and pulled into shore with every ripple of the rough waves. It was an amazing sight and snorklers paradise today at Balmoral Beach as the water was still very clear.

After my swim I had a hot shower and headed back home to cook and eat a quick dinner then off to night 2 and another 2 precincts of VIVID - Darling Harbour and the Maritime Museum.

Saturday 28th May 2016 - Lyrical Jazz Beginner Dance Class SDC and Good Design Showcase Overseas Passenger Terminal Circular Quay

I went to my usual 1pm - 2.30 pm Lyrical Jazz Beginner Dance Class today. I am unsure what the music we danced to was today - a song by Nick Jonas ? Not my type of music but just go with the flow.

The choreography was very "aerobic" - a classmate made a comment on the amount of "burpies" there were in the choreography. The class was advised by the instructor not to "go full on" as we would not have any energy left for the chorus.

After class I took a few photos of what VIVID exhibitions looked like during daylight en route from my lyrical jazz class at SDC Whalsh Bay to Circular Quay - an opportunity to see some of the exhibitions before I see them at night.

Since it was't the best day today to go for a swim after my dance class - wet, cold and overcast most of the day, I stopped off instead at the Overseas Passenger Terminal and spent some time viewing The Good Design Showcase. I really liked this showcase. Rating : 9/10 highly recommended (refer photos attached)

Friday 27th May 2016 - Opening Night VIVID Sydney Part 1 Circular Quay Opera House Forecourt and The Royal Botanic Garden Sydney

Today was a day to morn and a day to celebrate with a family members funeral and someone's birthday. Choosing to not morn or celebrate I needed sometime alone therefore spent the evening attending a few VIVID precincts.

It is impossible to attend all 15 VIVID precincts in one evening therefore decided to split them over a several planned visits.

My aim is to visit the following VIVID precincts in no particular order

Evening 1 - Circular Quay (1st half of) , Harbour Lights, Opera House Forecourt and The Royal Botanic Garden ( refer youtube favourite videos uploaded Customs House and Cathederal of Light and photos attached) Rating : 8/10 enjoyed The Botanic Gardens very much although path a little dark in spots therefore walk with caution. Food and drink pop up venues available enroute. Spoiler the Indeed Virtual Career Mirror technology too slow, queue wait time very long.

Evening 2 - Circular Quay (2nd half of), Harbour Lights, The Rocks, Campbells Cove and Walsh Bay

Evening 3 - Taronga Zoo

Evening 4 - Martin Place, The Galleries , suburbs and surrounds and Central Park

Evening 5 Chatswood (any nigjt on my way home from work) - previewed already

Evening 6 - Darling Harbour and Australian Maritime Museum