An affair to remember

Romancing Sydney is the best way to dig into the Aussie way of life

They say love comesunannounced. I didn'tbelieve in the adage till Ialighted the airbus tolock lips with my raindrenchedbeloved. Sydney,unlike many foreign ubercities,doesn't intimidate you.It only flirts with you till yougive in to its playful gimmicks.And then, you may no longerseek artificial companionship.

As I settled for a hot cuppaat a high-rise hotel at George Street in New South Wales with the Opera House on onecorner, the Sydney HarbourBridge on the other pleasurerefused to elude me. I bitinto the clear sky with a laidbackluncheon at Café Sydneyat the Circular Quay. Fish,chips, wine and banter introducedme to the exuberantlife the metropolis is knownfor. There were aboriginalmusicians (with their didgeridoos)on the street facing theMuseum of ContemporaryArt (MCA) which housessome quirky digital artworks; a film crew shooting by theharbour as bronzed bods tookoff for a mid-day jog, andtourists making a beeline outsidesouvenir stores a typicalday under the Sydney skylinehad me delighted.

Hopping across Sydney isnever a problem. You canjump a cab (like I did) or takea bus or the metro that zipsthrough the city. Either waydoesn't pinch your pocket.The second day was a Westside story. Literally. TheParramatta, situated in theWestern suburbs, had me swinging to a live concert aspart of the annual SydneyFestival. Since it houses manyIndians, be prepared to bumpinto an odd auntyji who mayknow your neighbour's tenant.The suburb, quite differentfrom the lush Centralsphere, offers neighbourhoodentertainment through malls,parks and stores. However,it's the Eastern suburbs thatrocked me alive.

The bays here offer respitefrom the city madness.Palatial bungalows openingto beaches tickle the Donald in you. A Sunday brunch herewith family is perfect. Let thekids shape up castles on thebeach, while you enjoy a mojito.Take a walk, and you'llhead to Watsons Bay thatalso plays host to a bar popularamong youth. The Gap,known as the city's suicidepoint, offers a picturesqueview of the Pacific Ocean.

There are 'tasks' that thecity throws at you. The one Iwas most kicked about hadme climbing 456 feet on foot!Take time (and moolah) outto climb the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The three-hour'workout' may leave you dry,but the breathtaking 360-degree view of the city fromthe top is worth the pain.

Spending time with thisgorgeous city, I figured, couldbe therapeutic too. You couldwalk the restaurant-ladenDarling Harbour at night,strum the guitar at BondiBeach or enjoy a beer 'n' meatpie at the WoolloomoolooWharf and breathe life intoyour worked-up soul. Mineneeded attention, and Sydneyhelped me fix it. Just in time.

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