Sydney: What's Great & What Sucks...

[shaker81]

So on day one of my SameSame experience, I thought I'd start a little thread asking your opinions and experiences on life in Sydney. Keen to hear what everyone thinks of the place seeing as I'm planning on moving down there in the very near future.

Let me know: what are your Sydney greats, Sydney Sucks (take that any way you like...), Sydney Secrets, Sydney Don't-Come-Anywhere-Near-Here-Within-A-Ten-Block-Radius and anything else you feel like sharing about the place.

[Tim D]

Hey Shaker, welcome to Same Same (and to Sydney soon).

I love my Sydney, I've lived here my whole life and no matter where I travel to around the world, I'm always going to end up here. Here's my list, although it prob changes every day:

Sydney Greats: Walking around the harbour, the size of the gay community, fresh cooking, the breeze, fireworks, shiny Sydney gloss, the go-getting nature of most of the people, the fast pace, competition (keeps you on your toes), Woolloomooloo wharf.

Sydney Sucks: the fast pace, it can be a bit shallow a times, the size of the gay community, fauxmos (although I think I secretly love them - FYI a fauxmo is a straight guy who acts/dresses/looks gay ha)

Sydney Secrets: Bondi to Coogee walk really early in the morning as the sun rises, Kirribilli (yes, the other side of the Bridge).

And that's just to start, it's a wicked place to live, there's always something going on and, best of all, it's full of some great people. It's a place that you'll either love or hate - and if you love it, you'll really love it.

[genkij]

Tim - I concur ... I have lived & traveled & when you fly in over that city scape - aahh it brings a tear !!

There are plenty for GREATS about Sydney BUT there are also a lot of Suckies too.... Living in other countries makes you realise that there is more than one way to live your life.

If you want THE cleanest of air ? live in the arctic (NO not Arq Ladies! -Geesh !!) BUT the FM Stereo ain't the best... It is really great to be able to see just how great a place is to live and embrace ever day for all it has to offer ... Good & Bad ...

I love Sydney for it's diversity (Esp. The FOOD!!!) We are luckier than most parts of the world to be able to enjoy some dishes that are seasonal only in their native countries - Food here is amazing & just watch either Food lovers or Food Safari ... mmmmm ...

Suck ? A Surry Hills Morgage !!

More reports on Great & Suck later !!

WERD !

[Christian Taylor]

Sydney Greats: The harbour, the sunshine, the beaches, good coffee, my loved ones who essentially make this place home, Mardi Gras - I don't care what anyone says, as much as people bitch about it, we are so damn lucky to live in a city that hosts such an amazing event. I guess I am talking more about the party than the parade here, although both are very unique. Sydney Theatre Company rates a big mention, it's gorgeous down there.

Sydney Sucks: Parramatta Road - DELETE. This city's tendancy to renovate itself into boring, yuppified oblivion, Cockle Bay Wharf - akin to an abbatoir, full of tragic, bejeweled swine all on mobile phones...

Sydney Secrets: Hmmm... Some of them need to remain a secret. Gay men talk too much, so I think I'll keep those ones to myself! McKell Park is a gem. Cafe Guilia in Chippendale on a Saturday morning. The cliffs at Watsons Bay - follow the path up from the secluded beach there, and there's this one cliff (often where people dive from) where I often go and drink booze with friends in the sunshine - it reminds you why Sydney is such a special place to live.

[Cheetah77]

Having moved down to Sydney from FNQ 10 yrs ago, I'd have to agree - Sydney ROCKS.

FAVE THINGS: Definitely the sheer range and volume of restaurants and bars to check out. Agree with Christian that Sydney Theatre Company rates up there, along with Sydney Dance Company and all of the great little community companies around town too - sure, some are crap but there are a lot of really good ones too! Anywhere around the harbour, beaches, city. Some great old architecture too! My absolute fave thing - walking through Centennial Park or Botanical Gardens in autumn - the leaves are turning and falling and there's that certain small and crispness in the air you just don't get anywhere else!

WORST THINGS: Definitely the traffic (driving up the coast on a Friday afternoon? FORGET IT!) the beggars everywhere you go, avoiding the charity collectors in Martin Place EVERY SINGLE DAY, the state of Sydney roads, Real Estate prices.

[danny corvini]

Well, from a Melbourne perspective (but at the same time, from someone who has lived a long time in both cities...)

Sydney Greats The hills - eg looking down Crown St from Oxford St to the harbour; the nachos at Deans in Kellett St, Kings Cross; the cafes on Macleay St, Kings Cross, and south King St, Newtown; the size/diversity/power of the gay scene; the history; the glamour; the ocean breezes, and knowing that the harbour and beaches are always there to enjoy; the terraces in the sunshine; Club Kooky (new venue to be announced, having left Club 77 last month..)

Sydney Sucks The lack of architectural vision, which I think has been changing since the Olympics, but only goes to the rich people; the lack of visible alternative culture (as opposed to Melbourne) - including dress sense, bands, groovy cafes etc; the prices.

Sydney Secrets The Manacle Bar behind Taylor Sq... haha aye Christian?? ;)

[genkij]

MMM ... a few add ons here ....

I was at Manacle on Sunday ... HOOT!! I love it !! - always a good time there !!

What sucks in Sydney ?? - Now I have just had 3 days in Briz On Bizz & I have to say I found the ladies were not raters @ all BUT the guys .... OMG ... I think the average guy is 19 slim, Toned inked & incredibly HOTTTT !!! Yes ... Now before everyone starts with the whole "r u callin Sydney guys Mingerz" argument ... Love guy too ...

Vote 1 Manacle for Best bar in Australia !!:cool:

[shaker81]

Seems like Manacle's gettin all the votes...

My first experience there was in 2005 - my first trip to sydney and I had NO IDEA what i was walking in to LOL! Had never been out on oxford street, was there by myself, didn't know anyone - typical "country boy in the big smoke" appearance (though I'm far froma country boy). Walked in there and within about 5 minutes, realised where I was, clicked my little red heels and prayed like hell to go back to Kansas! I think I saw many a 'Toto' in there that fine saturday morning...

So I guess it's time to go back for round two then hey? This should be interesting...

And thanks for the Brissie vote Genkij - nice to hear a compliment coming up our way hehe

Shaker

[genkij]

Dear Mr Shaker81 ... I did not ,However, get me any !!

Luckily though .... My mind is rather Fertile !! .....

But it would have been nice .... I now know when I return for Biz in Briz next December to be ready !!;)

xoxoxox Happy Mardi Gars everyone - Don't get caught doing anythjing I haven't done in the past !!?? (does that make n e sense ??):D

[Christian Taylor]

Sydney Secrets The Manacle Bar behind Taylor Sq... haha aye Christian?? ;)

Fine - reveal my secret! That's fine! Honestly, this place rocks, even more so during the day on the weekend! Sunday morning, around 10am, you will never find a club with that much genuine energy... and the music! Don't even get me started.

Love it.

One guess where I'll be come Mardi Gras recovery time!

[meezon04]

MMM ... a few add ons here ....

...- Now I have just had 3 days in Briz On Bizz & I have to say I found the ladies were not raters @ all BUT the guys .... OMG ... I think the average guy is 19 slim, Toned inked & incredibly HOTTTT !!! Yes ... :cool:

Hahaha, yep, think that's why I love it here :P

[Kittins Sister]

Sydney Greats:

Top chefs and restaurants, beaches, summer weather, great festivals, NYE is always special and most of all, Sydney is buzzing... there is always something happening...

Sydney Sucks:
The drug epidemic, housing market, crime, public transport, racial tension, morons drivers on the road but most of all, Sydney people just aren't as nice anymore... No one seems to care.

Sydney Secrets:
* Balmain / Birchgrove parks: great for picnics
* Flying Fish: one of the best restaurant in Sydney!
* Palm and Whale Beach
* Taronga Zoo: Amazing views over the city and always lots of fun
* Surry Hills / Newtown Festivals: annual suburban festivals with great live music good food and markets. Always fun!
* Riverside Oaks: for all the golfers, this is a great place to play a round, with wildlife right next to you on the greens... Kangaroos and all!
* The Gap: as cliched as it may sound, I love walking up the rocky path to just look back and get lost in the city skyline.

[atari]

I've been living in Sydney for just under 5 months (though I spend a good part of my time in Melbourne for work) and so far my feelings on Sydney generally fluctuate all over the shop...I'll admit up front that I think I'm swaying toward Melbourne over Sydney, though I'll refrain from saying any more on that...

Sydney Greats:
The population (which is big enough to sustain having many more venues and events than smaller cities), the natural beauty (harbour, beaches, blue mountains), the lack of isolation (I grew up in Perth and so still get excited about catching a plane at 6.45am to make a meeting in Melbourne at 9am), perhaps this gets back to population size too - but Sydney offers many more opportunities than smaller cities, Sushi train in Newtown, Paddington markets, the charismatic windy, narrow inner city streets, the number and variety of great art galleries, and also - there are some really lovely people in this city!

Sydney Sucks:
The cost of living, the lack of cafes that serve leaf chai after 4pm and small bars hidden behind lane ways (please someone tell me that these exist in sydney?), the traffic, the pretentiousness that comes with the fast pace/competitive/money driven culture...the limited options for eating dinner after 10pm (I am still struggling to come to terms with the fact that Perth of all cities seems to offer more late night cafes/restaurants despite having similarly archaic restaurant licensing laws and a smaller population!)

Perhaps my least favourite aspect: the humid weather!

Sydney Secrets:
Being new it seems I have much to learn still...so far secrets I've stumbled upon include:
* Bondi-Bronte walk
* Kawa cafe in Surry Hills (they serve good leaf chai and good coffee)
* Phamish in Darlinghurst for great Vietnamese
* Darlo bar
* The lomo store in Paddington

[jackie87]

Sydney Greats:
The harbour bridge and Opera House, the harbour, the diversity and multiculturalism (such as places like Leichhardt, Petersham and Chinatown), the sea breezes, the sexy sexy people, the shopping, the freeways are A LOT better than they are in Adelaide, the constant buzz, our gay community, coffee is still lest than $5, the transport isn't as bad in non-peak times than places in America, the harbour beaches and how clean they are, easy getaways such as cheap domestic flights, the amount of people from all over the world who I get to meet out of the blue at bars and get to visit, the Inner West I love especially with its style and unpretentiousness. The fact that we are more in sync with the world than other cities in Oz. My Uni (Sydney Uni) I am very proud of it has the most fantastic quadrangle in Australia.

Sydney Sucks:
High real estate prices, shitty humid weather in January/February, not much of a proper cold winter, typical Sydney unfriendly pushy attitude, shitty public transport in peak hours, delapidated city areas around Central, Racist attitudes have increased dramatically within both the ethnic communities and the original inhabitants, the amount of drunken young Aussie yobbos have increased, Conservative outer suburban areas filled with McMansions, Conservative attitudes in outer suburban areas that I love such as the Northern Beaches. Shock Jocks who shit me such as Kyle Sandilands and Alan Jones. Religious people making a resurgence such as "making capitalism a religion" Hillsong, Fred Nile and that idiot Grand Mufti. the drug problems and mistreatment of Aboriginal people, the homophobic attacks which are becoming more common, the fact that Melbourne outdoes Sydney in the fashion/bohemian stakes. Manly. Parramatta. Rockdale. Auburn. Lakemba. Hornsby. Ryde. Fairfield. Carlingford are all suburbs that have fallen past the point of no return

Sydney Secrets:
Whale Beach, Palm Beach and the Basin - my meditation spot
Balmoral Beach
Redleaf pool
Stanwell Park Beach
the Thai restaurant in Victoria Street, Darlinghurst.
Club 77
going on a train trip from Sydney to Kiama
Leura in the Blue Mountains
having sex in the Botanic Gardens while the sun rises
Cafes at Bronte
Rose Seidler House, Wahroonga
hiking in the Royal National Park and Ku-ring-gai Chase national Parks, I will be very angry if developers try and get their hands on these beautiful tracts of land.

[meezon04]

Hillsong...
Haha being Christian I used to love the idea of this, but nowso, I'm inclined to disagree... I'd love to wander in their one day in my short shorts and red devil horns :P


Sydney Secrets:

having sex in the Botanic Gardens while the sun rises

Well that's not a secret anymore IS it!? hahaha

I suppsoe I should give my view. I went on my first trip EVER to Sydney only in January this year, to check it out. I was by myself and didn't know anyone there, so it was a time to explore and check out things and take heaps of photos. Might see if I can find a few...
Sydney Favs
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/luvncraze/Sydney01.jpg
Your skyline is AWESOME, right near the harbour...
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/luvncraze/HarbourBridge3.jpg
Your harbour bridge just as pretty
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/luvncraze/Bondi1.jpg
Bondi!! Unreal - I got such a good perve session that day hahaha

Dislikes but I really didn't mind!
http://i150.photobucket.com/albums/s114/luvncraze/SydneyCrowd.jpg
I took this pic purely cos I was amazed at the city crowd!


Is it random that I noticed that there happens to be a picture of a rubbish bin in every photo? Not tryna give off a vibe are ya Sydney?

[kylierose]

sydney has way more aussie flags on buildings, bridges, boats, etc than brisbane ever will

[jackie87]

What else sucks - too many aggressive touts outside strip clubs :angry:

[chad_74]

What sucks most about sydney is that its too far to get to from perth.