Day 49 - A tourist day before the shocking news

​I have been umm-ing and ahh-ing whether to write a blog this evening with the current events unfolding in the city. There are still a lot of sirens around following the tragic shooting at Bondi Beach. I had been thinking of going over to Bondi this afternoon - a few from my group were over there and I haven’t been on this trip (but went in 2015) - but decided not to, having spent a lot of time in the sun today. I believe everyone in my group is safe, but we are a large group and there were some who were nearby. It is all very shocking, and it is clear that there have been a number of fatalities. 

My day in the sunshine had been a result of going to the Australian National Maritime Museum. I had assumed that this would be a largely indoor activity, but not so much, as I spent most of my time exploring some of the boats. 

I first went onto the HMAS Onslow - a submarine - and quickly concluded that I would be a rubbish submariner! It was really interesting, and I especially enjoyed looking through the periscope and being in the Ops Room - but 20 minutes or so in the confined space was more than enough for me. 

I then went aboard the HMAS Vampire, a Destroyer from the Australian Navy. Again, it was very cool to see (although surprisingly, as a Gen-Z boy near me said, ‘humble’).

It was then really cool to watch a short film about the Krait - the boat involved in Operation Jaywick in Singapore in WWII that I had learnt about in the National Museum of Singapore - and to see the Krait itself. It is just a small fishing boat, but I loved the story behind it and also how it is linking up my travels and learning! 

After another failed attempt at finding a geocache that was nearby, I then went to possibly my favourite ship, the restored nineteenth century tall ship called the James Craig. 

My final boat was the HMB Endeavour, a replica of Captain Cook’s research vessel. I loved learning about all the scientists on board and what they learnt from the expedition. I did, however, once more conclude that I would not do well with life at sea!

After a quick dunch at the museum cafe, I did then spend some time at the indoor exhibits, most notably the Ocean Photographer of the Year exhibit, and then some smaller exhibits on, for example, Kay Cottee, the first woman to sail solo, unassisted, around the world. I particularly liked that she had a huge teddy bear onboard with her, and he was in the museum!

When I had finally had enough of the museum, I took a detoured route back to my hotel, via a geocache I wanted to find. I was then thinking about going out tonight, but as events have unfolded, have decided to stay in instead.