Checking Out Natural History At Sydney's Australian Museum

The Australian Museum in Sydney is the country's oldest collecting institution, concentrating on the history of the world's flora and fauna. Rocks, dinosaurs, animals, civilizations, soft ice cream. OK, maybe soft ice cream hasn't made it out of their cafe.

Starting with the classics, throwback styled room full of the Curiosities of Man.

Things to collect. Birds from the wild and wood carvings from other peoples. Contain them if you've got 'em. Way back when, researchers crammed their little catch in any old box they may have had around. "Honey, do not open the OXO Cubes!"

There's one, classic, diorama still intact, Lord Howe Island. Dozens of species of birds, rocking out.

What killed the dinosaurs? In the museum's dino section, an autopsy imagination of a T-Rex tries to find the answer. Or freak out six year olds. Or us. Moving to cuter things, a stuffed koala. Definitely easier to see this one over running into a bear in the wild.

"Oh, brother, just leave me alone." Wombat heading back into its lair, fed up with the human gaze. We hear you.

Paying Respects At Sydney's ANZAC Memorial

ANZAC is Australia New Zealand Army Corps. The alliance gained fame for its joint fighting during WWI and ANZAC Day is now Australia's biggest military observation event. Every town, city has an ANZAC memorial and the building in Sydney is impressive.

Imposing, solemn, Art Deco in design, built in 1934.

In the central rotunda, a slightly moving, slightly freaky sculpture of a nude man, martyr on a column. The basement of the memorial contains extensive exhibits on all wars that involved Australians, including artifacts from air battles against the Japanese during WWII.

There's a central, underground courtyard that features every town in Australia that has sent people into battle and a corresponding sample of dirt, soil from that town.

WWII uniforms and a signed Italian flag, commemorating the capturing of Tobruk, Libya. Fun with HMAS ship logos, seals. Go get 'em, mighty Oxley.

There's a nice, Claes Oldenburg-like sculpture of giant bullets and spent cartridges near the memorial. It was designed by indigenous artist Tony Albert and the installation honors Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who have served in the Australian Defence Force.

Doing (A Little) Time At Hyde Park Barracks

In Sydney, Hyde Park Barracks was a sort of a flop house for convicts. Australia brought in many UK convicts to come settle the land, develop a new world. Despite having a record, convicts weren't sitting in prisons. They did need a place to rest their tough bodies at night and Hyde Park Barracks was constructed in 1819. Vacancy!

A grand brick building, looking a bit like a factory for cheap labor.

Keeping track. Convict clothes and pardon paperwork. Be good, get out.

No privacy for the sleep of the unjust. The Hammock Room, capacity infinity.

Tools of the trade. Tiny, eensy-weensy pistol and gunpowder holder. Items more productive, woodworking implements.

Eventually, convicts became model citizens and the barracks evolved to become the Female Immigration Depot. Mmm, hammocks to beds, progress.

Enjoying The Art Gallery Of New South Wales

Sydney's main art museum is definitely worth a visit. The main gallery is housed in a classic building, new stuff is in a snazzy modern wing and a fun Kusama is waiting for you on an outdoor deck. Polish your eyes and go look.

Start them while they're young. Lots of school kid groups are busy being indoctrinated to life's beauty.

Iconic Aussie subject, the noble labor of sheep shearing. The new wing, nestled in native landscaping.

Back in the original gallery, a classic, 19th century salon setup.

New, interesting works. Statue of famous British navigator, James Cook. He "discovered" Australia. The mirror finish asks, does Cook represent him or us? Boom box in bronze, taking a fad in time and turning it timeless.

Big, flowering trippiness, by fun Japanese artist, Yayoi Kusama. Smells great.

Roaming The Royal Botanic Gardens In Sydney

Did you know that Sydney has a tropical climate hot and humid enough to grow palm trees, lush ferns, and beautiful bromeliads? True! And you can see all of that lovely flora and more exotic plants at the Royal Botanic Gardens.

Location, location, location. The gardens are tucked in right behind the opera house, just off the center of the city skyline.

As promised, palms and ferns. Nirvana.

A Famous Person Sat Here. Something about a Mrs. Macquarie. If she comes wandering around, make sure to give way.

The bromeliad beds. Lion sculptures, sitting guard. Regal.

Opening up with expanses of grasses and paths for running, the Royal Gardens have something attractive for all interests.

Going Up Inside Sydney Harbor Bridge

Who doesn't want to climb inside an iconic bridge? The fine folks of the Sydney Harbor Bridge let people get inside one of the pylons and they even created a museum there as a temptation. You had us at a million steps.

Going up, way up.

Inside the pylon, inside the museum. Several iconic Depression era steel worker re-creations greet you. "What's a safety harness?"

A case for all the details of the bridge, from hinges to lighting to ongoing maintenance.

Holy work. A great stained glass window with images of the iconic laborers. Old, cheeky signs from when the museum was first opened. Tempting the passerby with snappy ad copy phrases.

Heavy metal, girder cross section. Looks like the bridge should last a while.

Seeing The Sydney Opera House

The best thing about the iconic Sydney Opera House is its famous facade. Instantly recognizable, no matter the view, the angle, the sightline. Just wander around the harbor and keep looking back for a different perspective.

Oh, there you are, just beyond a blah building and hordes of people. Can't miss it.

Find the right location and it looks like the opera house is puking up the harbor bridge. Zoom in on the roof and it reveals a sea of intricate tile work.

Harborside view of the back of the building, too wide for the widest angle camera lens.

Looming everywhere, from inside the Royal Botanic Gardens and across the harbor beyond a boardwalk promenade.

Big things. Giant cruise ship arriving behind a glass skinned restaurant.

The Pen Museum In Gundagai Is Open

The great thing about small town Australia is that anyone with a giant collection of whatever can easily turn it into a museum. Keep hoarding until you've outgrown your house. Ask the city council for an underused public building. Open your museum. Good for you, good for town tourism, good for head scratching visitors.

First things first with a pen museum, learn how to write. Glommed on to the back of the Australian Pen Museum is a re-creation of a one-room schoolhouse.

Get your Vana of Church or England exercise book open. Do a good job and maybe you get a stamp of your great country.

OK, how about all those pens. Writing implements on the left, important documents on the right.

So many pens, so many colors, so many super detailed labels. A passion, obsession. The ink well collection is fun. Is the pen mightier than a cowboy with a rifle?

Pen museum front entrance, saving an iconic building on main street from being just another empty shell. Australia has enough cafes and op shops.