Fly...

I was heading to Sydney on SQ's new A380. The seats are wide with leg-room aplenty, beckoning one to slumber, but the wide range of in-flight entertainment might persuade you out of it.

The service from the cabin crew is top-notch yet discreet - when I needed a glass of wine to go with the tasty lamb goulash, the touch of a call button brought leading stewardess Yeap Bee Ling promptly to my seat with a personable smile and congratulations for my win.

This was my first time to Australia and, naturally, to Sydney.

I began imagining what it would be like experiencing the harbour city during the Vivid Sydney festival. It was a good prelude to being spoilt for choice - that moment of having to decide between continuing fantasizing, or choosing from KrisWorld’s plethora of inflight entertainment options (including learning a new language!), or just having a good rest in that comfortable seat dressed by Givenchy.

I will not torture you with a list of my enviable experiences in a chronological sequence; instead, I will share only those that most impressed my five senses - and my soul.

See...

As a photography enthusiast, I am most compelled to share the sights that so pleasured my eyes.

Kelly, my traveling companion, and I had seen many photographs of the world-renowned Sydney Opera House previously, but nothing could measure up to actually seeing this architectural marvel. "The sails" as it is affectionately referred to, reflected light in an amazing way no matter the weather (This we discovered when it rained and shone in quick succession everyday in Sydney.)

Because of this, shutterbugs like yours truly are invariably helpless under its spell to snap without restraint.

Vivid Sydney painted these sails with zesty projection lighting during the night, and the sight was nothing short of arresting - imagine frozen rip curls that God decided to spill a palette of paint over. Each spectator's mouth was issuing joyful exclamations at every change in colour configuration.

Besides "Lighting the Sails" (mentioned above), my other favourite was "Electric Canvas". As its name suggests, it was a megawatt sight. The Museum of Contemporary Art, near Circular Quay, was painted by projectors in the most striking patterns (mostly still, with some moving) to create visual surreality.

Imagine a bright yellow sunflower, practically emitting its own sunrays, standing out in a bed of white lilies - that would be akin to what I saw at the Electric Canvas.

It's quite inevitable to feel the sparks go off under your skin as you contemplate the creative minds of these great artists who created them when you stand in the presence of these beauties.

Less obvious displays abound in the vicinity, which are equally delightful. Deceptively mundane trash bags suddenly glow in a corner, while a simple wall suddenly lights up in a kaleidoscope of colours.

Not far from the Vivid Sydney displays stands a majestic bridge nicknamed the "Iron Lung". If you do not yet know why the Sydney Harbour Bridge has been associated with an internal organ, take a few minutes' to look it up. I'll put my last Aussie dollar down that you'll appreciate knowing that interesting bit of history.

Kelly and I were treated to a climb on this Iron Lung with BridgeClimb Sydney (Cumberland Street, The Rocks) that took us to the highest point on the arch of the bridge, awarding us with a panoramic view of the harbour cityscape.

For Kelly, an extraordinary sight came in the form of a shopping mall. Queen Victoria Building on George Street delights shopaholics with several stories of shops, selling everything from the latest fashion to aboriginal art. For those embracing an addiction to shopaholicism, this was paradise - and I suspect Kelly must be chairperson to the informal Shopaholics United Club.

This Victorian-style architecture had one of the most beautiful interiors I'd ever seen in a shopping mall. Tinted glass windows, huge extravagant skylights, and flowing curves on wooden railings had me ecstatically snapping away.

However different Kelly and I were, we shared a common appreciation of the laid-back beauty of Bondi Beach, which is a quick drive from Sydney city centre or a short bus ride from Circular Quay. The Bondi Explorer bus took us along scenic coastlines, and we drooled at desirable waterfront housing along the way. Kelly decided to work harder on saving up.

The relaxed charm of Bondi beach was a pleasant contrast to the hustle-and-bustle lifestyle of the city centre. On the beach, we smiled at a lone surfer looking out for the next good surf; at kids zipping-by on their kick-scooters; at a couple holding hands, strolling along the long romantic stretch of the flour-fine sand.

I scribbled something in the sand:
=)
=) ondi

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