the map village street editors

Sydney. Lauren and I had been driving since 8:30 the morning of January 18, swapping the wheel for an uncomfortable but welcome short nap every two hours. Conversation was thus smothered in either the beginnings or after affects of sleep snatched from the humming and vibrations of passing traffic. When Sydney came within double-digit distance, thick clouds began moving in and as far as the eye could see, the colour grey obscured any blue, object or horizon. Flanked by national park on both sides, the New England Highway introduces visitors to Sydney from the North in a most relaxing and inspiring manner. I quickly realised I was enjoying the design of the outskirts of this city and the associated sensations. No strip development was here like my home town. Just clumps of green and impressive engineering feats of roads cutting huge swathes through sheer vertical cliffs, some rising forty metres into the passing low clouds. Turning left off the highway, suddenly we entered suburbia and began our navigated descent towards the feared tunnels and toll-way roads crossing Sydney harbour. When our wheels bumped up over a traffic island fifteen minutes later, we knew we weren’t in Brisbane anymore. Thankfully, we managed to arrive at our destination and could relax and open up to the smells, sights and sounds of yet another new city. Now based in Darlinghurst, we are coming to know that Sydney is big, exciting and energised, and over the next few months I hope to bring you my perspective of what its leafy green streets, cute terrace cottages, network of regions and its people have to say/display. Happy Australia Day 2008.