28. Morning Tour of Norfolk Island - TCC #295 / Evening in Sydney (10/27/2024)

Breakfast at the Olive

mmmmm

        Twenty-two hours after arriving on Norfolk Island from Brisbane, Australia, we were scheduled to leave for Sydney.  This meant that we had to maximize every minute, and did so on Sunday morning by walking to morning breakfast and coffee and later taking a 3.5-hour orientation tour of the island in a bus.        On our walk, we saw a installation demonstrating the struggle between Norfolk Island and the Commonwealth of Australia for self-determination. In 2015 and after some requests for economic assistance, the Commonwealth governemnt removed the Island’s Legislative Assembly and its ability to self govern.

Demonstration of support for self-determination

Declaration

              The route included a lookout over the Kingston settlement that we had visited the previous evening, a ride by Cascade Bay on the east, a stop at the Sunday market in Burnt Pine that included a demonstration of Tahitian ori by local teenagers, and a stop for Devonshire tea and scones at a cliff overlooking the western coast. The information about the history, geography, infrastructure, and unique language of the island was fascinating, although mom and I both missed about 30 minutes when we fell asleep. We were sitting on the right side of the bus and fell asleep in the warm sun when the bus turned north. 

Views of Kingston from Queen Elizabeth Lookout

Mini-trucks prominent on Norfolk Island

Tea and scones during the Orientation Tour

        We checked in at the airport at 11:45 but still had almost 2 hours before boarding. I grabbed my binoculars and some water and walked a mile each way to see St Barnabas Chapel. Our tour guide mentioned it when we passed by and a N.I. historica site described it as one of the finest historic buildings in the South Pacific. It was a lovely, impressive chapel with an equally impressive white fig tree overlooking a small graveyard in the back. I made it back to the airport with an hour to spare, and we ended up spending a lot of that time talking with a lovely couple from Melbourne that we sat next to at last night's dinner.

St. Barnabus Chapel

Looking back at the door in St. Barnabus Chapel

Decoration at the chapel, significance unknown

Enormous White Fig Tree

Goodbye N.I.

        The history of Norfolk Island was incredible to learn about, but I can't help also be amazed by nature's rich beauty. I snapped a bunch of photos so that I could research the plants later. Mom and I were both struck by the tree we saw as we walked up to 9 Quality Row, as it had a strong resemblence to the endemic Dragon's Blood trees we saw on Socotra Island, Yemen, in 2020. It turns out we were on to something. The dragon tree in Australia (Dracaena draco) is a cousing to the dragon's blood tree of Socotra (Dracaena cinnabari). 

Norfolk's Island Plants

Follow that truck!

Dragon Tree (but not Dragon Blood Tree)

Ornamental Calodendrum ‘Cape Chestnut’ Tree

Outside the Headstone Reserve and in front of amazing 200-year-old trees

Tree ferns along the road to St. Barnabus chapel

Unique ferns outside of St. Barnabus Chapel

Ornamental Calodendrum ‘Cape Chestnut’ Tree

Ochna serrulata / Mickey Mouse flower

RETURNING TO THE MAINLAND

Syndey airport

        Getting up early, the walk to St. Barnabus Chapel, and the whole business of daily travel had made me cranky by the time we checked into our downtown hotel. I was also hungry, and not being interested in eating at the bar at the hotel, we headed out. Mom was afraid that this was going to turn into another one of my wild-goose-chases in which we wander around and find nothing, but in the end I think I did really well. I had no idea what we were walking into when we finally found the O Bar and Restaurant, and it was clear that we were not dressed appropriately. The host staff very gently suggested that we may be more interested in eating in the lounge (AUD50 minimum spend) than the dining room (AUD200 minimum per person). Looking at the menus, we agreed. And it turns out it was perfect. Not only was the lounge 48 floors above ground with great views of the city at night and played very chill EDM, the entire restaurant!  We passed N, E, and S during our 1.5 hour dinner and had a really nice time. I just wish we had dressed a little more upscale. 

Interactive sculpture by a husband/wife pair of artists

        We will get a chance to wear "upscale" outfits on Tuesday evening when we attend a musical at the Royal Theatre, but I still don't think we'll blend in.  With one suitcase each for forty days of travel, we left the blazers and heels at home.