Sydney: Explore The Facts Of The City

A close look at Australia’s most vibrant city in the backdrop of a literature festival.

- M Venkatesh

No worries mate! That phrase probably sums up Australians and their attitude to life. You could have asked for help, you could have thanked your interlocutor, you could have said sorry or could have simply lost your way and approached someone in the street. This is the response that puts you at ease when you are exploring Sydney—on foot, by train, ferry, bus or cab.

There are many reasons for visiting Sydney. In the case of my colleague Swati and I, it was an invite from the Australia Council for the Arts to attend the visiting international publishers’ programme alongside the Sydney Writers’ Festival held in mid-May. Nothing comes as close to a work meets-pleasure trip (being involved with literature has its attractive points) than this.

Visual delight

When we landed, Sydney was abuzz—the city was also getting ready for another gliitering offering—Vivid Sydney— an annual festival of light, music and ideas. The festival is a smorgasbord of cultural events; lighting of public spaces and points of tourist interest and Sydney becomes a brilliantly lit fairground in the 23 days of the fest. The glow stays on for much longer.

Thanks to the Australia Council for the Arts, we were booked in at the Four Seasons Hotel that overlooks Sydney Harbour. Depending on which wing you are in, you could have the view of the Opera House or the Sydney Harbour Bridge.