Today was the day that I bared it all with 5, 199 other people in front of the Sydney Opera House. Before I start on the journey that led to the actual event let me just say that I was so happy that I did this, and it truely was a once in a lifetime amazing/surreal experience!
The journey begins with a little trip to Kings Cross. I was blissfully unaware what this area of town was like, and didn't ask anyone about it before booking my backpacker for the night. I had decided it would be easier to get a room in the city then try to fight my way into the city in the wee hours of the morning. I had to be at the Opera House no later then 4am, so I figured if I could get up a bit later and walk it would be easier. I took the train into the city in the early afternoon to check into the backpacker and find the best route to the Opera House from where I was staying. As I emerged from the train station I noticed that the area was peppered with backpackers and budget accomodation. There were vans with people sitting in them listening to music, reading, cooking supper etc. It was pretty evident that this was backpackers turf. I walked down the street having a look at my slightly dodgy surroundings. I passed a man who was cursing obscenities at himself and smoking a hand rolled cigarette, so I think you can surmise the type of area I was in. I turned onto the side street where the backpacker I was staying at was located and I wasn't too surprised to find a hole in the wall offering me a nights stay. The good ol Jolly Swagman. The hostel itself wasn't too bad, but I was sketched out about the area and did not cherish the thought of walking around there at 3 in the morning. So after I made my bed up, stored my belongings and such I used a few minutes on my free internet card I got for booking. I sent a message to three people. I told them where I was and what my plan was, and told them if they didn't hear from me then to alert the NSW authorities. I wasn't kidding, that way I had a timeline for cops to go on if I went missing. Then I struck off for a trial run of the route I picked out and timing it to see what time I had to get up.
I didn't take too much time to stop and look at things on my timed run. If I did I just stopped the watch while I looked. I did stop a few times and looked at a few interesting things. I stopped at the S
ydney Hospital to see the boar. They say that if you make a donation and rub the boars nose and make a wish it will come true. I had little to no money left on me, but I made a little donation, and a wish. Here's hoping that wishes do come true :). I hustled along the streets of Sydney as a woman on a mission to get a good time on this walk. I could have cut down time by taking side streets, but decided it was probably the best idea to stay on the main roads at such an early hour. So all together my walk took me about 35 minutes or so. Not so shabby, and that meant if I left at 3ish then I would be early like I had planned. I was going to walk through the Botanic Gardens on my back to the hostel because I wanted to see the giant bats in the trees. I entered the gardens beside the Opera House and started walking. Just as I entered the gates I heard thunder rumbling over head. I thought to myself "ah crap!" So I started walking and looking at a map of the park. I only got a bit into the park when it started to rain. At first it was light rain, then it got heavier, and then it got heavier. People were running for cover under the large trees and small garden awnings and things, but not I
! Oh no, I am too damn smart for my own good I tell you. I have learned rather quickly that the weather here in Sydney can change on a dime and without warning. That is the very reason, my friends, why I have started carrying a handy dandy............................poncho, with me where ever I go. I have one in my backpack, I have one in my purse, I have one in the backpack I take with the kids. I am 'Jessica the prepared one' (Andrea, I put this story in here just for you because I know you are peeing yourself laughing right now. Funny enough the ponchos I carry with me are much more durable then the ones we used at many of our outings, or I am not drunk, either way they last longer.) So I whipped out my poncho, threw it on and carried on. Unfortunately it was raining so hard that I didn't much feel like going to see the flying foxes anymore so I headed back to the backpackers. I relaxed the rest of the evening and read. I did however find out why the monorail was shut down the day before tho. While I was reading the paper I came across this article explaining that two monorails crashed into each other. If you notice on the right side near
the bottom it says "Those who purchased day passes were offered full refunds" As per my little story of my argument I think we all know that this is false ;). I tried to get to bed early, but hardly got any sleep. I lay awake in my bed listening to the hooting and hollering and glass smashing going on in the street the backpacker was on, all the while thinking that in a few short hours I was going to have to go out there in that and walk 30 minutes to the Opera House. I must be crazy! I formulated a plan and was able to sleep for about 2 1/2 hours before I had to get up. I got up and showered and got dressed. I had to remove all my jewelery and things before going because those were some of the conditions. After all that I was ready to head out. I stepped out of the backpackers and called my mother. I told her to call me right back, and when she did I told her that I would kindly like her to talk with me for about 35 minutes or so while I walked through Kings Cross to the Opera House. She obliged without question. I was also armed with my metal waterbottle filled with water, a small but heavy flashlight and my keys of course. All of which could easily been used as a decent weapon against anyone. I know they say that people might be more likely to attack someone on the phone because they are distracted, but in my case I was not distracted from anything in my surroundings, and I figured this way they would at least know the exact moment I went missing. So Mom and Dad chatted with me about just about everything until I reached my destination. Thank goodness for Moms and Dads! I got to the Opera house at about 3:35am, and there was already about 1000 people or so waiting at the gates. I hopped in line and waited for the gates to open, as the line exploded behind me!
ydney Hospital to see the boar. They say that if you make a donation and rub the boars nose and make a wish it will come true. I had little to no money left on me, but I made a little donation, and a wish. Here's hoping that wishes do come true :). I hustled along the streets of Sydney as a woman on a mission to get a good time on this walk. I could have cut down time by taking side streets, but decided it was probably the best idea to stay on the main roads at such an early hour. So all together my walk took me about 35 minutes or so. Not so shabby, and that meant if I left at 3ish then I would be early like I had planned. I was going to walk through the Botanic Gardens on my back to the hostel because I wanted to see the giant bats in the trees. I entered the gardens beside the Opera House and started walking. Just as I entered the gates I heard thunder rumbling over head. I thought to myself "ah crap!" So I started walking and looking at a map of the park. I only got a bit into the park when it started to rain. At first it was light rain, then it got heavier, and then it got heavier. People were running for cover under the large trees and small garden awnings and things, but not I
! Oh no, I am too damn smart for my own good I tell you. I have learned rather quickly that the weather here in Sydney can change on a dime and without warning. That is the very reason, my friends, why I have started carrying a handy dandy............................poncho, with me where ever I go. I have one in my backpack, I have one in my purse, I have one in the backpack I take with the kids. I am 'Jessica the prepared one' (Andrea, I put this story in here just for you because I know you are peeing yourself laughing right now. Funny enough the ponchos I carry with me are much more durable then the ones we used at many of our outings, or I am not drunk, either way they last longer.) So I whipped out my poncho, threw it on and carried on. Unfortunately it was raining so hard that I didn't much feel like going to see the flying foxes anymore so I headed back to the backpackers. I relaxed the rest of the evening and read. I did however find out why the monorail was shut down the day before tho. While I was reading the paper I came across this article explaining that two monorails crashed into each other. If you notice on the right side near
the bottom it says "Those who purchased day passes were offered full refunds" As per my little story of my argument I think we all know that this is false ;). I tried to get to bed early, but hardly got any sleep. I lay awake in my bed listening to the hooting and hollering and glass smashing going on in the street the backpacker was on, all the while thinking that in a few short hours I was going to have to go out there in that and walk 30 minutes to the Opera House. I must be crazy! I formulated a plan and was able to sleep for about 2 1/2 hours before I had to get up. I got up and showered and got dressed. I had to remove all my jewelery and things before going because those were some of the conditions. After all that I was ready to head out. I stepped out of the backpackers and called my mother. I told her to call me right back, and when she did I told her that I would kindly like her to talk with me for about 35 minutes or so while I walked through Kings Cross to the Opera House. She obliged without question. I was also armed with my metal waterbottle filled with water, a small but heavy flashlight and my keys of course. All of which could easily been used as a decent weapon against anyone. I know they say that people might be more likely to attack someone on the phone because they are distracted, but in my case I was not distracted from anything in my surroundings, and I figured this way they would at least know the exact moment I went missing. So Mom and Dad chatted with me about just about everything until I reached my destination. Thank goodness for Moms and Dads! I got to the Opera house at about 3:35am, and there was already about 1000 people or so waiting at the gates. I hopped in line and waited for the gates to open, as the line exploded behind me!I made chit chat with the people around me while we waited but then lost them on the inside of the gates. Since I was one of the first 2500 to enter I got a special ticket to do a shoot inside the Opera House (I didn't end up able to go to it because of timing, but I really really wish I could have). I was placed in a grou
p of people known as the 'ticket holders' and told to wait a while for everything to get organized and most importantly for the sun to come up. I sat down beside a middleish aged couple and eventually started chatting with them while we waited. James and Kim from Bowral. They were great! I loved chatting with them and James, an retired cop, was funny as hell! They really just had a great outlook on life, and had great energy. So I mostly chatted to them, and then a young guy from England Richard) eventually joined in the convo as well. Us four kinds hung out during the waiting period and had some laughs. Then as the sun started to rise they started to give instructions about where we were going to be located, where to stand etc. Then they made the announcement to the none ticket holders "Get naked!" People started ripping off their clothes like it was a race to be the barest. It was amazing to see the people all around so free and uninhibited. We watched a procession of naked people make their way into position and then were told to get naked ourselves. So on came the moment of truth! I stripped down there in front of the new friends I had just met and 5000 other people I didn't know. It was awesome! After getting over the first offical shock of ' oh my god I am naked in front of thousands of people in public' it was okay. Well apart from the cold wind comming off the water. I think today was the coldest that it has ever been since I arrived here, go figure! As we were getting into position a gust of wind would sweep over the forecourt and the whole crowd would shiver and say "brrrr!" It was funny! The people there had great spirt, and we did a big naked wave, we waved at the news choppers up above, and the ferries on the water. Richard and I stuck together. Although we had only known each other for a few hours we got along great and had a fun time. The artist had us first front on staring ahead, then back to looking at the Opera House, then back on with our hand up in the air, then lying down on the stairs. Then he said " I know that a lot of you have come here with a partner and a friend. I would like to you embrace that person and kiss them. If you have not come with a partner or friend, find a stranger." He said you didn't have to kiss the stranger just stand cheek to cheek (the cheeks on your face, lol). We moved around alot and it was pretty cold standing up there for almost 2 hours, but I am so glad I had that experience. It truely was a once in a lifetime experience, and I can't even describe the feeling of being part of something like that. I was elated when I left, and have been talking about it all day. I had so much fun, and it was just awesome to be a part of! I could write and write and write about how I felt about this moment in my life, what it was like to be in a sea of naked bodies, but no word I could ever write could describe what it was like. One word that I think best describes it was surreal. It truely was surreal. I can not wait for the picture to come back, I want to play where's Waldo with myself and see if I can see me. After the shoot I ran back to the hostel, gathered my stuff and headed for home because I had to work the rest of the day. It has been one long friggen day, but I wouldn't trade it for the world, it was worth every minute of it. You can check out the link that I posted on my facebook profile of the Sydney Morning Herald article about it. You can't see me in any of the shots because of where the media area was located, but you can have sneak peak at what went on. Don't believe everything that is written tho. One quote says that they were having a hard time getting the straight people to embrace the gay people, but this was untrue. Everyone at the shoot was very excepting, but it makes for more paper sales if they write stuff like that.Well it is getting late and I am sooo tired I can barely hold my eyes open. Facebook is still screwy, and I haven't been able to use the uploader, but I will get the newest pics of Mardi Gras up when I can. I didn't take my camera to the photo shoot, so no pictures from that. I am going to bed now :).
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