Nov 08, 2007 14:30 - By: Alex von Oech
Where would you go if you could go anywhere, do anything, this holiday season? That’s the question that fellow Kblogger Pat asked me last week. Sure, I have a list of places I want to check out in the next decade (Dubai, Petra, Santorini, the Seychelles, Buenos Aires…), but what would make for an awesome end-of-the-year getaway?
The days are getting shorter and the weather’s getting colder here in Palo Alto. This imaginary journey begins with a trip south, to a land where a quick 16-hour flight turns winter into summer. Yes…..I speak of Sydney, Australia.
Sydney, an eight time recipient of Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best City“, is home to friendly locals, a diverse social life, and distinctive structures (Opera House, Harbour Bridge). Sydney is a great city for travel, as 31% of the inhabitants are travelers themselves (born overseas) with the main streams of immigration coming from England, China, and New Zealand. After a bit of research and some friendly recommendations, I’ve compiled a list of the top five activities and “must sees” for the youthful (or young at heart) traveler.
1. After the transpacific flight and a bit of jet lag, I’d jump right back on a plane and go skydiving over Sydney Harbor. I’ve yet to jump out of a plane at 14,000 feet, but from what I’ve heard there’s no better place to do it than Sydney. Clean air, endless ocean views, a beautiful cityscape below, and the far reaching outback in the distance. This would surely start the trip out on the right step…..err jump.
2. Minus 5 “the coolest experience” is a bar made entirely out of ice, cooled to a teeth chattering -5° Celsius. All patrons must dawn fur overcoats, thick gloves, and boots before entering the bar. After you finish your cocktail, you can shatter your ice glass on the icy floor. There’s a 30-minute limit in the igloo bar to avoid onsetting hypothermia. Very cool! 
3. Next I’d like to spend a half day on the water, sailing around beautiful Sydney Harbour. With the world famous Sydney Opera House to my left and the massive Harbour Bridge to my right, I’d be surrounded by architectural beauty.
4. Being an avid sports fan I would love to catch an Australia v New Zealand rugby match. Rugby is a fast paced, hard hitting, continuous demonstration of speed and strength combined with athletic creativity. The Wallabies (Australia) and All Blacks (New Zealand) are two of the best national teams in the world and share one of the fiercest rivalries in sports. I’ll just need to remember to wear a Wallabies jersey.
5. Finally, a trip to Australia wouldn’t be complete without a Kangaroo sighting (the fact I’m a Kango likely influences this impulse), so I’d make my way over to the Taronga Zoo to catch a glimpse of the marsupial in its native land (well not the zoo).
Wow,Next locale on this phantom vacation of mine…Bali, Indonesia.
Sydney –> Bali –> Hong Kong
An exotic city – island paradise – exotic city sandwich if you will.
