Eternity
in the Heart of Sydney. Arthur Stace, a derelict, wrote 'Eternity' on
the streets of Sydney for thirty-seven years. 'Because he wrote that
word, in that elegant copperplate, in chalk and in crayon, for
thirty-seven years, on the sidewalks of Sydney -- over half a million
times. No one knew who he was, and he preferred it that way. The mystery
grew: the word had evident spiritual overtones -- it was called a one word
sermon -- who was writing it, and why? But no one knew, for years and
years. Perhaps this mystery, so long sustained, instilled the fascination.
Perhaps also, it was the suggestive power of the word itself. '
Walking
in Glebe, in Sydney's Inner West. The Chinese joss house is worth a
visit.
17th August Rosaleen Norton Gallery.
Originally from New Zealand, Rosaleen was a witch and artist who lived in
the Sydney suburb of Kings Cross. Fascinating woman; sinister, too. Rosaleen Norton :
Australia's favourite witch. 'If she was the face of evil, she was a
remarkably nice face of evil.'
One of the more unusual and
interesting sculpture galleries in Sydney is outdoors, in the Plaza
Iberoamericana by Central Station. There's a collection of busts of
various Latin American notables - Bolivar, O'Higgins, Juarez, Marti etc.
Worth a look.
I'm in Sydney! Just arrived, and planning to
re-visit some of my old haunts tomorrow. Wish you were here ;). Kuala
Lumpur was a nice place to chill out for a few days. There is an
interesting Chinatown to wander through, complete with second-hand
English-language bookshop (run by a friendly Indian anglophile), and an
Internet cafe (schoolkids playing Quake and screaming very loudly). Some
interesting Chinese clanhouses and Hindu temples. Nice, lovely people.
Petronas Towers - huge and tubular and ... erm, Freudian. I'm glad I
stopped by. More updates in a few days!
5th August Well, I
think this is the last update before I head off. I'm going to a wedding
later, and tomorrow I'm going to pack and get ready. An update will be
made once I'm in Sydney.
