This pool is about 2 minutes from my University building, where I work. I’m trying to get there at least two times a week, to have a break from work and then go back to the office. Refreshing and relaxing. I was never a big fan of swimming, but I’m getting into it. It also almost seems to be more popular here than running. Probably because they’ve got so many pools spread throughout the city.

One of the highlights of Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade on Saturday. I think this wouldn’t be possible in any other country. Even the police and various other federal institutions were participating in the parade this year.

Yesterday was the first day of the Sydney Festival. Until January 25th the festival will bring concerts, theater performances, and many other things into town. A highlight of the festival is probably Björk’s show on the steps of the Sydney Opera House! However, it’s sold out already and I can imagine that it must have sold out very quickly. Though I have to say 145 dollars is also a bit too far above the limit, even for a Björk performance at such a staggering concert setting.

Anyway, the first festival night, which was yesterday (Saturday evening) was free and had to offer a selection of really great DJs and bands. We went to Martins Place first, to see Chromeo from Canada, who apparently just finished a tour with Bloc Party. We came there around 7 pm and people were already going crazy to the turntable tunes by Ember (apparently a local DJ). Chromeo also did a great show, very funky, and they were followed by another local DJ project, called Ajax (yeah right like this Web 2.0 thing ;) ). His DJ sets might be similar to what the 2many DJs do. I don’t think that 2many DJs have started this trend, but at least they made it accessible for the alternative electro/indie crowd… Anyway, Ajax is a wizard on the turntables, you can stream one of his DJ sets online or download it as mp3. In this set he remixes songs by The Sounds, Le Tigre, Editors, Klaxons, and the like. Give it a try, it’s worth it!

It wasn’t the best festival weather yesterday, since it was raining again and again with little and longer breaks in between, oh wait, it was perfect festival weather! (I just remembered typical Austrian festival weather conditions :) ) Anyway, it was a great party. The only odd thing was that they didn’t sell alcohol at the festival site and of course you weren’t allowed to bring any alcohol. Instead they were giving out bottled water for free (see pic below). I know, that’s actually a good thing and wasted festival people can be really bad, but still… a festival without beer? That doesn’t sound right if you are used to European habits. Eventually we found a place where you could buy a can of beer for 6 dollars, but it was a specifically deticated area and you had to finish your beer before exiting from that area. Btw, the fact that there was no alcohol allowed at the festival site and people were still going crazy, contradicts one of my earlier theories.

After that electro/funk/hiphop charge at Martins Place we went to Hyde Park, where the evening’s theme was music from the 30s to the 50s. At Hyde Park, we got to see Pink Martini from Portland, Oregon, who play Latin Jazz-Pop. You don’t know them? But you might know this song. At least I did and I was very surprised that it was actually written by Pink Martini. I just don’t remember, where I know it from, but I’ve heard it many times before. Anybody out there who can help me remember?

Btw, those who’ll be in Sydney the next weeks and dare: you can get a free haircut by 10 year old kids during the festival, in case you trust them ;)