Ed Brill

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1. 1  Stephen C Wales  | 10/24/2007 2:43:14 PM

   Hi Ed - is there any likelyhood that you'll be making a side trip over the ditch to Auckland?

1. 2  Darren http://www.dadams.co.uk | 10/24/2007 2:55:00 PM

   Ed, any chance you could write me into your will? Just the air miles thanks ;o)

1. 3  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/24/2007 3:03:51 PM

   @1 Sorry to say, not enough days in a week for me to get over to New Zealand this trip. My daughter hopes you'll understand... it will have to be next time.

1. 4  Rob Novak http://www.LotusRockStar.com | 10/24/2007 4:30:18 PM

   When you're done you can click your heels and come visit me... :-)

1. 5  Darryl Miles  | 10/24/2007 4:59:34 PM

   Hi Ed,

   Maybe { Link } ?

   Darryl

1. 6  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 10/24/2007 5:18:22 PM

   2 possibilities:

   -Take the ferry form circular quay to Taronga zoo, if you haven't done that already.

   -Head out to Coogee, IMHO the best beach in the area, plus good food options along the main road....

1. 7  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/24/2007 6:03:55 PM

   @5 nah, not my thing. I've been up on the bridge at ground level enough :)

   @6 Taronga zoo is a been there, done that (though I still might). Coogee -- where's that in relation to Circular Quay? I've only been to Bondi and Manly beaches.

1. 8  Andrew Brew  | 10/24/2007 6:27:15 PM

   If you've already done the zoo, Ed, but it's a good day to be on the harbour, you might try the ferry out to Watson's Bay (on the harbour side of South Head). It is a great tour of the harbour, and having got there it is a short stroll up to the Gap - the vertical cliffs of South Head, overlooking the ocean. Excellent fish and chips and Doyle's seafood restaurant right by the jetty.

   Alternatively, if you are into good beer and decent pub food, the Lord Nelson - { Link } - (built about 1830, I think) brews its on just west of the bridge toward Miller's Point. A few of us celebrated Trafalgar day there last Sunday with a pint or four.

   Looking forward to seeing you in Sydney again.

1. 9  Kirsty Whetham  | 10/24/2007 6:28:08 PM

   Coogee's nice, but further south than Bondi, so a bit of a trek.

   If you want to stay closer to the centre and have already done the zoo and liked it, then I would recommend the excellent Aquarium and the new Wildlife centre down in Darling Harbour. About a 20 minute walk from the Rocks, and there's some lovely restaurants and bars with water views there too; magical if you're still there for sundowners.

   Looking forward to hearing you on Cup day.

   Kirsty

1. 10  Kieran Egan  | 10/24/2007 6:28:31 PM

   @7 Coogee is only a few beaches down from Bondi I'm pretty sure (Maybe 10 - 15 mins from the airport). I'm from Melbourne but was up there for footy trip about a month ago. Really nice place.

   Oh and I'm pretty sure I will be at the session in Melbourne! Good to hear your coming

1. 11  mike  | 10/24/2007 6:40:38 PM

   November 6 is the day of the Melbourne Cup .. shame you won't be in Melbourne on that day ( although it's a public holiday there so it wouldn't happen ).

   { Link }

1. 12  Karl Merckel http://www.merckel.ca | 10/24/2007 7:01:09 PM

   Hi Ed,

   If you decide to go to Bondi or Coogie you can take the costal walk. Its easy and connects to most of the beaches on the eastern shore. You can then take the bus back to the CBD from any of the beaches

   The ferry ride to watsons bay is nice and then you can walk up to south head. Personally if you are going to do the ferry thing you should go to manley and go up to Northhead. It has a spectacular view

   { Link }

   { Link }

   { Link }

1. 13  Mark Plowman http://www.managementsoftware.com.au | 10/24/2007 9:58:57 PM

   A trip to Watson's Bay is a must. There is a pub there where you can sit outdoors right next to the harbour forshore and relax and take in the incredible view the our harbour/city.

   Also have you done the Sydney Harbour Bridge walk yet?

   Best regards,

   Mark Plowman

1. 14  Craig Davies  | 10/24/2007 10:25:48 PM

   Time for you to see Sydney from another angle. Feel like coming for a sail?

1. 15  Giulio http://www.buzznotes.com.au | 10/24/2007 10:48:50 PM

   Ed,

   Before you rush out in a taxi from the airport to the rocks market. Please note that the market is only open on weekends, as they have to close down a section of George street for it... Sorry to pop your balloon on that one.. But you will be in town for something much bigger than that. It's a celebrated national event, "the Melbourne cup".

   www.melbournecup.com/melbourne-cup-carnival/event-planning-calendar-detail.asp?calendar_group_start_date=2007/10/01&vrc_event_id=82

   Although you are in Sydney on that day, almost every plasma screen in the country is tuned in to watch it televised between 2-3pm. Basically it's an un-official holiday but you still come to work anyway and get sloshed. So everyone should get merrier as Tuesday progresses.

   An iconic event nevertheless. The race is held at Flemington race course in Melbourne. So make sure you have a race guide handy....

1. 16  Nigel Roulston http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au | 10/24/2007 11:01:30 PM

   Hi Ed, I won't see you until you hit Melbourne, but while you are in Sydney (and assuming you don't have thing about heights) how about this - { Link }

   I'm told it's a spectacular thing to do (and it's on my list for the next time I'm in Sydney with some time to spare). If not, you can always just walk across the bridge - it's pretty good even from the ground - don't forget the camera!

   Giulio is right about the cup. No matter where you are, don't expect to get anything done after about 2:00pm on the first Tuesday in November (the 6th). It's the race that stops a nation!

1. 17  Andrew Brew  | 10/24/2007 11:15:13 PM

   Since Ed is flying in Sunday, Giulio, the market will be waiting for him.

   I'd skip the pub at Watson's Bay - the view is great, but the pub is dingy and the beer industrial

1. 18  Mike Brown  | 10/25/2007 12:29:23 AM

   I'm not a big fan of that Watson's Bay pub - it's called Doyles - either. They've got that whole waterfront sown up, and the lack of any competition shows. The cliff views are great though.

   If you're in the Rocks anyway, there's good few pubs to check out around there. The Lord Nelson's already been mentioned, but just around the corner from that is the Hero of Waterloo, which is actually an Irish bar. They have a jazz band in there on a Sunday afternoon, or did when I was last there, anyway. Most of the hotels (as in pubs) in the Rocks area of George Street have live bands on a Sunday, in fact. There's one band that I keep running into, which does nothing but U2 songs on acoustic guitars.

   Also, not be missed is the Löwenbräu Keller { Link } . A few litres of Franziskaner Dunkel will soon put paid to any jetlag!

   Cheers,

   - Mike

1. 19  Nathan Chandler  | 10/25/2007 1:51:56 AM

   Some great Pubs (notice the aussies mostly suggest pubs?) such as the Belgium Beer Cafe, or Bavarian Beer Cafe. Also, if you like a good steak, I strongly suggest you check out the Meat and Wine Co. in Darling Harbour. They have the. best. steak. Period. (try the $55 one on its own, or one of the other cuts with vodka & blue cheese sauce)

   As for activities, definately a harbour cruise, or a ferry to Manly

1. 20  Stu Downes http://www.sdownes.co.uk | 10/25/2007 7:19:46 AM

   I'd recommend the Quarantine Station which is near Manley (ferry or cat from circular quay). It was about 10 years ago when we visited but is was a superb insight into the immigrant history for the area. { Link }

1. 21  Giulio http:www.buzznotes.com.au | 10/25/2007 8:01:58 AM

   @17 Andrew, that's right.. sorry... Skipped over one crucial bit of information. I just saw the 6th and thought it will be an interesting user group meeting...Those roasted almonds will be waiting for you Ed.

1. 22  Jamie Hecker  | 10/25/2007 4:42:25 PM

   Check out the Sydney Harbour bridge climb -- since you're already in the Circular Quay area.

1. 23  Peter Herrmann  | 10/25/2007 8:00:51 PM

   If you feel like a stroll, you could get some take-away seafood on the way from Circular Quay to the Opera House and visit "Speakers Corner" at the Domain. People get on their soapbox and speak on whatever topic they like (and whether others listen or not). { Link }

1. 24  Gerry Murphy  | 10/25/2007 10:32:39 PM

   Ed,

   Go and do an afternoon coffee cruise from either Circular Quay, this would be Captain Cook cruises or from Darling Harbour, this is Matilda or Aussie Cruises:-

   { Link }

   { Link }

   { Link }

   The evening ones tend to be a bit boring as soon as it gets dark and the food isn't that really special.

   Opera House tour?

   Walk along the bridge and go up the pylon, tower, closest to the Opera House.

   Walk around the Botanic Gardens - these are to the east of the Opera House.

   Get someone to score you a dinner reservation to Tetsuya's near the Darling Harbour IBM office, actually just across the street.

   BTW it will cost you this time as the $a is around $0.90 at the moment.

   Gerry

1. 25  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/26/2007 8:34:19 AM

   @24 yeah, having just spent a weekend in Toronto, where the C$ is similarly positioned against the US... ouch. Ah well.

   Some great ideas, but what to make of so many recommendations for the bridge tour and relatively few consistent other recommendations? Nobody, for example, has suggested the Sydney (AMP) Tower, or a tour of the Olympic site at Homebush (done both of those already LOL)

   I'm thinking something on the water is a good idea, or out to "The Gap" does look cool.

   One other cool bit -- looks like my arrival time on Sunday morning overlaps with the A380's presence at Sydney airport by about 45 minutes. Hopefully I'll get a chance to watch the big mama take off. Shame I didn't find an excuse to connect through Singapore.

1. 26  rob axelrod  | 10/26/2007 10:31:11 AM

   Some things I love in Sydney:

   1. The fox bats in the Botanical Gardens

   2. Best Thai Food I have ever had (try the jungle curry) at Spice I Am at the Cnr Campbell Street and Elizabeth Street

   Sydney, New South Wales, 2010

   3. The huge market of crap and food in Chinatown (I think it is called Paddy's). I'm don't know why but I love places like this.

   Enjoy!

   Rob

1. 27  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/26/2007 10:38:02 AM

   @26 and gee, they're modest, too!

   { Link }

   "Spice I Am, Sydney's Multi-Award winning Thai Restaurant, possibly the best Thai food outside of Thailand."

1. 28  Brian Benz http://www.softwaresoapbox.com | 10/26/2007 8:32:45 PM

   Wow! Lots of action since I checked in....Coogee is just a little down the coast from Bondi. Cool little burb, very few foreign tourists, lots of good eats, nice beach. Lived there back in 1989, when it wasn't so cool....visited again this year, beautiful!

   Pic of Coogee at Sunset: { Link }

   If you go, I too definitely recommend the trail between Coogee and Bondi. Just turn left at the beach and follow the trail. Winds though wilderness, beaches and burbs, Stop when you want to and catch a cab back.

   Views from the trail:

   { Link }

   The Rocks is cool too, my only warning is that late at night the drunks get pretty rowdy....Pics of the Rocks and the pubs are urther down in the previous set (I'd send a link, but the blog template isn't letting me...

   And here's a video of the inside of the Hero of Waterloo Pub mentioned above, listen a bit to the song, you'll recognize the old Australian Classic :)

   { Link }

   If you do go to the Rocks, go to Phillip's Foote, a cool steak place where they give you the food raw and you cook it yourself on grills scattered around the place - a little touristy but nice.

   Man, I really went link-happy here...

   Have fun!

1. 29  Geoff Clarke  | 10/28/2007 2:29:35 AM

   Ed

   Australia stops for the Melbourne Cup

   3pm first Tuesday in November every year.

   Get your self invited to a Melbourne Cup lunch or a workplace Melbourne Cup event.

   You will have missed a unique australian cultural event if you don't. You can come to ours but you will need to wear something equine.

   Geoff

1. 30  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/28/2007 10:10:06 AM

   Better to wear something equine than to eat something equine. At least IMHO. :)

   It's looking like next week is going to be a great week!

1. 31  Nigel Roulston http://www.dtf.vic.gov.au | 10/28/2007 6:52:51 PM

   Hmmm, so no bridge - ok, surely we can think of something....

   Zoo, Aquarium, Opera House backstage tour, Jet boat ride on the harbour (you'll get wet but it's great fun), wander around The Rocks, Jump on a ferry to Manly and back, go for a swim at Coogee, sit in a beer garden - have a beer and read the paper, have a punt at star city, study the form for the Melbourne Cup, grab some great fusiony food at longrain or rockpool (use the corporate card), Find a pub with some live music and settle in.

   I know it's not as interesting as Melbourne (that ought to fire up the Sydneysiders), but in a pinch you can always find something to occupy your time :-)

1. 32  Ric http://aqualung.typepad.com/aqualung | 10/29/2007 1:14:39 AM

   Ed - a quiet reminder that there is a lot of Australia west of the Great Dividing Range ... would have been good to see you in Adelaide. Probably too short notice to get to Sydney or Melbourne, but will look out for feedback ...

1. 33  Ed Brill http://www.edbrill.com | 10/29/2007 9:54:04 AM

   @32 understood -- the local team coordinates my schedule so I go where they specify. I have been out to Perth but not yet to Adelaide -- maybe next year....

1. 34  Richard  | 10/29/2007 5:32:03 PM

   If you have a technical bent you could try the Powerhouse Museum near Darling Harbour.

   Like a good Schnitzel? Try Unas for dinner up in Darlinghurst.

   I have to agree that Spice I Am has very good Thai food.