My decision to pay the highest point in Sydney a visit was an impulsive one. Slightly-motivated by the sheer greed of student discount entitlement, I am certainly not going to somewhere that I am eager to step my feet into. I rather consider it as a rational decision looking at Sydney Tower located just steps away from where I was put up. My intention to visit has never been there as I was constantly being confronted by this towering image whenever I peep through my window. My desire just drained or remained neutral each moment I look up, which I attribute to my lack of interest in general.
The fateful day, I saw a tiny billboard, by my standard in Pitt Street but good enough to catch my attention as the gateway to the peak. What a good reason to at least have a view of Sydney from the top! I was not particularly excited while queueing for the ticket but I could not resist the thought of grasping the geographical area of this major city. I heard about the bush fire in 2002 and how it could have destroyed the city. With that thought, I would have a perfect objective to grant myself, this sudden diversion.
My journey was an easy one. Three escalators and I was already in a queue for my ticket. A$18 was how much I paid for my trip which includes OzTrek, a 3-D motion ride, just like the ones we normally have in indoor theme parks. I was not that interested and would prefer to pay a lower ticket price as my objective was clear enough. Anyway, after the security check, just like the ones at the airport or any entry points, I was in a queue again. This time, it was for the lifts. I waited patiently and was greeted by a fellow visitor from The Phillipines. We exchanged greetings and brief introductions. Not long after that, it was our turn to enter the lift. I must say that the lift was packed and not a single space was spared for comfort.
Almost a minute or two later, the doors opened and the bright blue sky greeted me generously. I was convinced that Sydney looks very different from there. At 250m above street level, I could see the vastness of the land and the bush land till the end of the horizon. Looking closer, I suddenly felt familiar as I was looking at the window where I was at moments ago. I walked slowly, took pictures and looking for familiar landmarks of the city. I even used the binoculars to zoom in to where I wished for a closer look. I was quite amazed by being able to tell the people on the streets and their attires even in Darling Harbour. I saw many houses, thousands of them surrounding the city. Opera House was hiding with its back facing me and Sydney Bridge just add on to the familiar view of the water. 25 minutes and 40 seconds was about the length of time I spent in Sydney Tower. I was quite satisfied even having to repeat the torment ride down inside the elevator.
When I finally had a good look of the tower again from my window, I could feel better now by knowing that I had at least been up there...
Sometimes, we just have to have a little diversion, allowing ourselves a view from a different perspective...But to me, I am still quite fixed to my own and I hope my view from the top will make a difference one day.
