15 March 2016:- AUSTRALIA & NZ Brisbane

AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND :- Brisbane

10th Day: 15.03.2016 

I have allocated the whole day for Brisbane. Since I was late last night I did sleep longer this morning and woke up around 09.30 o’clock. I do not want to interrupt my logbook on the Blog Spot and therefore I worked hard last night.  Around 10 o’clock I went out from the hotel and walked with quick steps to the South Bank of the Brisbane River. I crossed the Victoria Bridge which is only 700 meter from my hotel.

Yesterday I had decided to take the River Tour. Tour boat departs only two times a day and it is scheduled at 10:30 and 12:30. The jetty next to the Brisbane Wheel is the place where the boat departs from. I came to the boat very punctually and bought the ticket (29.-AUD).

At the lower deck they had prepared breads with cream and jam. The newly brewed coffee was also standing there. I am really lucky. I did not have time to have breakfast and this service made me happy. For the later departure there is no snack and coffee !!!

On the boat to the direction to Storey Bridge (on the left last part of the Botanic Garden)

Boat is heading to the Storey Bridge

Storey Bridge:- This time we are approaching from the other side.

Last bent to the Southbank, Building next to the bridge are of Queensland Technical University

I took two pieces of bread and a coffee and climbed the upper deck. It is a small but wide boat with length around 15 meters and a beam of 5 meters. There are chairs for every passenger. Sides are open and nice breeze cooling us in the sunny weather. The boat took us with reasonable speed up to the Newstead House. It is about 4,5-5 kms in the north part of the river. The captain was also briefing us about the important buildings and cultural facts. It was really good to have some idea in a limited time in Brisbane.

The boat drove us back again to the same place where we did boarding. Two ways took around 1 ½ hours.

As soon as we landed I walked to the Queensland Museum which is located on the Southbank on the west side of the Victoria Bridge. The building had been designed with minimalist approach and it does not break the rules of the profile of the land. It is connected to the next building GOMA (Galery of Modern Art) and Library with nicely arranged parks. Occasionally there was also a big exhibition for the time being.

The 8^th Asia Pasific Triennial Exhibition, shortly APT 8 is comprised of paintings, sculptures, installations etc. The artists have been invited from the Asia Pasific area.

Artpaint done by an Artist from Nepal

Installation open to public

Artist from Australia

I am not the artist

Artist is from Myanmar:- Classroom

Artist from Myanmar:- Classroom

 I spent some time in the museum and then I took a quick lunch at the Museum Cafeteria. At 15:30 I finished also my visit at GOMA. Then I proceded to the North Bank of Brisbane.

Looking from the park between Library and GOMA

I have my ticket for the performance “Sound of Music” at 18:30 at the Lyric Theater. I want to see also something around my hotel where there are a lot of shops and cafés. I walked to the King George Sq. I saw partly Ann Street, Edward Street. I came around 5 o’clock to my room at the Hotel Mantra Midtown.

Having changed into smart casuals, I went out for the musical theater. It is only 15 minutes’ walk from my hotel. The Lyric Theater is within the Old Performing Arts building at the south side of the Victoria Bridge. I was there around 18:00 and took a Coffee latte at the theater‘s café. I had paid 130.-AUD yesterday when I bought my ticket. I have a good seat right in the middle axis on the 9^th row. After watching the play we came out from the theater around 21:00. Over the bridge Victoria, walking all along the Charlotte Street I ended up at the Eagle St Pier. Last night I had my dinner here at the Pony‘s Dining. This time I will try another restaurant. I saw this time a Sea Food Restaurant. I sat at the balcony looking over the steel bridge called Storey Bridge. After having a delicious sea food (oyster and prawns) I walked back to my hotel.

It was late and I have my flight to Sydney tomorrow at 12:25.

I packed most of my stuff and start to sleep.

Good night to everybody.