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Australia 1989
Strict quarantine
Sydney airport had the strictest quarantine measures of any airport I have ever been to. I was surprised to see that they applied to a wide range of items, including plants, animals, products derived from animals and plants, and certain foods (e.g. dairy products, fish and fish products, honey, meat and meat products, etc.).
In the past, the introduction of foreign plants and animals caused the extinction of native Australian plants and animals. In order to prevent the entry of pests and pathogens and to protect the Australian environment, the animals and plants, and the health of the Australian people, strict quarantine and customs procedures are in place.
On the plane, before preparing to land at the airport, the flight crew actually sprayed what appeared to be disinfectant over the passengers’ heads, probably as a prelude to the strict quarantine that would follow upon arrival.
The Rocks, Sydney
The Rocks in Sydney is the site of Australia’s first settlement.
It is a quaint town of harbours and slopes lined with warehouses and terraced houses that still retain the atmosphere of the time. It is a popular tourist destination along with the Sydney Opera House and Darling Harbour.
Sydney, Harbour Bridge
A huge steel-framed arch bridge that connects Sydney’s city center to the other side of the bay.
Photo by author, 1989
The Rocks
The Rocks is said to be the birthplace of Sydney, as it is where European settlers landed in 1788. The Rocks is a historic area that was home to rowdy and rowdy convicts, soldiers, sailors and street gangsters who were rejected from their home countries. Convict transportation from Britain ended in 1840.
Today, The Rocks is one of Sydney’s tourist attractions.
Photo by author, 1989
The Sydney Bridge crosses over The Rocks’ historic district.
With the construction of this huge Sydney Bridge, most of the townscape of Rocks, which is the oldest remnant of the planting period in Australia, at the foot of the bridge, has been lost.
Sydney Bridge, construction started in 1923 and completed in 1932.
Photo by author, 1989
The Sydney Harbour Bridge can be seen at the end of the main street of The Rocks.
Photo by author, 1989
The Rocks. The best way to enjoy the beautiful old townscape of The Rocks, with its stone buildings, warehouses reminiscent of pioneer times, cafes and shops converted from terraced houses, and cobblestone streets, is to take a leisurely stroll !
Photo by author, 1989
There are still buildings like old warehouses and former apartment buildings. Shot from a hotel room.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo taken from the hotel room.
Photo by author, 1989
The Rocks downtown area around the hotel.
It’s not crowded, considering it’s one of Sydney’s main tourist attractions.
Photo by author, 1989
I booked a stay at The Rocks OLD SYDNEY PARKROYAL in Sydney.
I don’t remember how I managed to find this hotel in the middle of The Rocks in the days before the Internet, but choosing this hotel was a great choice.
Above: Sketch of the hotel typical floor.
Below: Sketch of the hotel room.
Rydges Sydney Harbour
From the guest room, I can see the Sydney Opera House, a World Heritage Site, across the bay.
Photo by author, 1989
Church spire and Sydney Harbour.
Photo by author, 1989
The hotel has a great view of Sydney’s city centre. The weather is sunny.
Photo by author, 1989
Sydney Harbour was also perfectly captured from the hotel using a telephoto lens.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
Sydney Harbour through a gap in the building. Photograph taken from the hotel.
Photo by author, 1989
A duty-free store located at the entrance of the Rocks district from the city center. It is often used by Japan tourists.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
To the Gold Coast
Big fail of the day.
Our next destination from Sydney was a domestic flight to Gold Coast.
We discovered something impossible at the departure airport in Sydney.
At the airport check-in, the staff told us that the date on both our tickets was yesterday. This meant that our tickets had expired.
I don’t remember what kind of explanation I gave him, but as a result of my explanations, I was able to board the plane and go to my destination as planned. It was probably fortunate that it was a domestic flight.
Below: Australian Domestic Airlines, EAST-WEST, DC10.
A commemorative photo was taken before boarding the flight up the stairs at the front.
Photo by author, 1989
Prepare to land at the airport on the Gold Coast.
I stood up to take a beautiful bird’s-eye view of the coast, but a burly female Australian flight attendant started yelling abuse at me, so I gave up!!
Photo by author, 1989
The closest airport to the Gold Coast was even smaller than those in regional cities in Southeast Asia.
The airport’s name is COOLANGATTA, which means “place of good views” in the language of the Australian aboriginals.
In 1989 it was not yet an international airport.
Ten years later in 1999 the name was changed to Gold Coast Airport, and at the same time it became an international airport, after which the number of passengers exploded.
COOLANGATTA AIRPORT, Photo by author, 1989
Ramada Gold Coast
After check-in the hotel, the view of the Gold Coast from the room.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
There are many buildings for long-term stays along the coast.
Photo by author, 1989
In the 1980s, as Japan’s bubble economy began to expand, developers began to invest more and more, leading to the construction of many of these high-rise apartment buildings.
Photo by author, 1989
In front of the lobby is the shore of Surfers Paradise.
Photo by author, 1989
Sketch of the Ramada Hotel Standard Floor
Sketch of Ramada Hotel rooms. It has 3 beds and an area of about 35 m2.
Ramada Hotel Room
Photo by author, 1989
Japan Restaurants in Gold Coast
When I was shown around the city of the Gold Coast, I found that there were many Japan restaurants. There was also a luxurious one with a garden on a large site. They may have made an upfront investment in anticipation of an increase in tourists to Australia in the future.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
This restaurant, “Sangen”, is apparently part of the same chain as the one in Singapore’s Orchard. I used to often eat at a restaurant on the rooftop of a building on Orchard Road, so I felt a sense of familiarity and decided to go in.
The waitresses were all white Australians dressed in kimonos, which was a new experience for me and made me feel very out of place.
Orders were made using a mix of English and Japanese, so it didn’t feel strange in that respect.
Photo by author, 1989
Japanese garden with rocks.
Photo by author, 1989
A Japanese restaurant run by an acquaintance of mine.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
Surfers paradise
ANA Hotel Gold Coast
Photo by author, 1989
Downtown Gold Coast
Photo by author, 1989
Gold Coast Food Court
Photo by author, 1989
Japanese takeaway at a Gold Coast Food Court
Photo by author, 1989
A bustling street corner.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
Duty Free Shoppers, Le Classique, my client company in Singapore.
Photo by author, 1989
Elegant housing and living for expatriates
In the late 1980s, Japan was in a state of unprecedented economic bubble with money surplus. The wealthy were buying up real estate overseas.
I had the opportunity to visit this house, which was an amazing property owned by a Japanese person.
There were plenty of space to park several cars in the spacious front yard.
Photo by author, 1989
Behind the house is a natural creek, a waterfront space, and a privately port connected to a pier.
From here, whenever you feel like it, you can start the engine and sail through the cove to the open sea.
Photo by author, 1989
Early in the morning, they made rice balls and were ready to set sail.
A group of permanent Japanese residents and their female visitors.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
The local Australian captains prepare for the outing.
Photo by author, 1989
Set sail for fishing
The area around the natural cove is surrounded by residential buildings and high-rise apartments.
Photo by author, 1989
Photo by author, 1989
Slowly sail down the secluded and quiet cove towards the open sea.
Photo by author, 1989
Going out to sea to fish
Out to the coast of the open sea.
Fortunately, it was a clear morning. We can see the buildings of Surfers Paradise. We had a rice ball for breakfast. Beneath the surface of the sea, there are many sharks that attack people.
Distant View of coastline of Gold Coast
Photo by author, 1989
I caught a scorpion fish!
Scorpion fish has spines on its dorsal fin, and this is where the poison lies.
If you get stab in its spine, you will struggle with severe pain and numbness.
Be careful when handling the fish so that the spines do not prick your hands, and cut off the spines with scissors.
Photo by author, 1989
The dorsal fin neatly cut off. This is reassuring.
The taste of this scorpion fish is said to be very delicious.
Photo by author, 1989
It looks very punchy, but the taste is said to be very delicious.
Photo by author, 1989
Sharks were also caught
An Australian angler caught a shark.
It is dangerous to bring it on board with a fishing line.
Photo by author, 1989
In anticipation of this, a sickle-shaped tool which is brought onboard the ship, is used to pierced the shark and is lifted onto the deck.
Photo by author, 1989
Sharks make tremendous noises (voices) when they are in death.
It is an ominous sound (voice) and a “grr” that I have never heard before.
When it is quiet, the blood it had spurted out was wash off.
Photo by author, 1989
(Is it a baby shark?) However, when we pulled it up, it was unexpectedly large!
Photo by author, 1989
Desert Continent
On the way back, I returned to Sydney and headed for Singapore.
Less than an hour after takeoff, the land loses its greenery and becomes a desert area.
As I continued to observe from the plane, I did not see any clouds, and the dry, reddish-brown earth continued for four hours of flight.
Its seems like the habitable area for humans on this continent’s land area is about 10% only.
