Australia travelogue: part 1

[a_t_rain]

OK! So, as promised, pics and storytelling to follow.



So, after going through customs and immigration and all that, and finding my way downtown and checking into the hostel, I set out to explore Sydney. Which seemed like any other big city at first, until I got to the park and saw this:



The GIANT BATS in the Botanical Gardens the next day were another surprise:



I saw Faustus at Sydney Opera House, which was, unfortunately, rather odd. It was billed as an "adaptation" of Marlowe's play, and the first hour was fine: basically, a really stripped-down and heavily cut version, with some nice staging moments (Faustus first appears as a paunchy middle-aged man, in a grey wig and spectacles. When he signs his soul over, a curtain drops. In silhouette, you see female demons stripping him down. And then a young, sexy Faustus emerges, with a mirror. And he can't stop looking at himself.)

Then, rather randomly, the adaptor decided to splice in a big chunk of a modern-English translation of Goethe. So all of a sudden, the play turned into this whole soap opera about Faustus's love affair with this girl named Gretchen. In rhymed couplets. It SO did not go together. And then there was a random chunk of Paradise Lost, and some bits from the Bible, and then for some reason Faustus recited "Batter my heart, three-personed God." And then we were back to Marlowe for the last ten minutes. By that time I was totally distracted wondering what they were going to throw in next, which was a shame, because the Marlowe parts were actually quite good.

The next day I took the bus to Canberra, which is a rather confusing city of concentric circles. It was also where I went hiking and saw my first kangaroos:



The parrots were also a highlight.





So then I took the overnight bus to Melbourne, which was enough to convince me that I'm getting too old for overnight buses. I had a seat to myself, so I could sort of curl up, but it was still not at all comfortable, and very cold to boot. We went through Wagga Wagga at midnight, but I didn't see any werewolves.

Comments

[lilacsigil.livejournal.com]

Canberra is a weird, weird place! I've been on that bus *in summer* (my grandparents lived on the South Coast of NSW), and I've never been so cold in my life.

[dreamer-marie.livejournal.com]

We went through Wagga Wagga at midnight, but I didn't see any werewolves.

Well, duh, Gilderoy Lockhart got rid of them all! These are lovely pictures, now I want to go to Australia too!

[author-by-night.livejournal.com]

I saw Faustus at Sydney Opera House, which was, unfortunately, rather odd. It was billed as an "adaptation" of Marlowe's play, and the first hour was fine: basically, a really stripped-down and heavily cut version, with some nice staging moments (Faustus first appears as a paunchy middle-aged man, in a grey wig and spectacles. When he signs his soul over, a curtain drops. In silhouette, you see female demons stripping him down. And then a young, sexy Faustus emerges, with a mirror. And he can't stop looking at himself.)


At first I thought you meant it was one of those awful modern versions! It's a fascinating play though. I think it's especially interesting if you're like me and fascinated with how hero/antihero storylines have changed so much. I feel like in a modern play, there might be a bit more moral ambiguity. But that's a whole other topic of discussion - if you'd like me to get a bit more tl;dr, please let me know because I DO have a bazillion thoughts on the matter, but I don't know too many people who are interested in the whole "from Beowulf to LOTR to Harry Potter" thing.

Then, rather randomly, the adaptor decided to splice in a big chunk of a modern-English translation of Goethe. So all of a sudden, the play turned into this whole soap opera about Faustus's love affair with this girl named Gretchen. In rhymed couplets. It SO did not go together. And then there was a random chunk of Paradise Lost, and some bits from the Bible, and then for some reason Faustus recited "Batter my heart, three-personed God."

"...um, o... kay..." is about all I can muster. O_o

I love your pictures! What did you think of Canberra overall? One of my friends is from there.

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

I liked Canberra, overall, although I seem to be the only person in the world who does. There was a lot of green space and free museums, and it felt less overwhelming than a bigger city.

[lareinenoire.livejournal.com]

That sounds like a completely nonsensical production of Faustus, but I also really love the mirror thing.

Those are fantastic photos and make me want to go to Australia (I went when I was five so I only remember vivid snatches of it). I don't think I could do an overnight bus either, for what it's worth. Not anymore.

[krisomniac.livejournal.com]

Yay!! The wild birds were probably one of my FAVE things about Sydney--even when that meant early mornings. :D

[baranduyn.livejournal.com]

Flying foxes! That'd make the trip for me. I <3 them.

[featherxquill.livejournal.com]

I think you were mostly here while I was over in London *g*.

The birds, for you, must be what squirrels are like for me. So endlessly interesting and entertaining.

Also, I like Canberra, too, though I haven't been there since I became an adult. I remember it being fun, though, when we went on a family holiday there. I think there are lots of things for kids to do, but not much night life for adults. It's very pretty, especially in Autumn - lots of trees all over the place, which isn't like inner Sydney at all.

[aome.livejournal.com]

I really want to go to Australia someday - thanks for the little taste!