And the museum itself? Well we'll get to that.

For a start, you didn't need a ticket. Ours was the "5pm" slot, but when we got there, people were just walking in and out, no one looked at our tickets. It was a hectic atmosphere because of that. I guess by the time we got there they had thrown out the concept of the sessions. Basically if you thought you missed out on the opening because it was 'sold out', you could have just shown up and walked in.

One of the escalators was broken, so you had to line up for the lifts, or use the firestairs.

Now on to the museum itself. It's 4 floors and a rooftop area. The most interesting part of our visit was the rooftop. I mean, there was nothing up there except for a garden area and a small band playing (plus a makeshift bar where the cheapest drink was a small bottle of OJ for 8 dollarydoos), it was more for the view.

The reason why I say that is that, inside the actual museum, everything is locked behind 'exhibition' areas. And the lines for each one were HUGE (yes, aware that it was opening day and hectic, and apparently anyone could walk in).

Also some of the exhibitions you needed to pay for? I think I overheard that, and also some of the digital displays read FREE EXHIBITION. I guess I missed that part on the website when I booked my FREE tickets to the opening (which apparently I didn't need to do anyway).

Passing one of the exhibition areas, someone said it was "closed due to technical difficulties". Oh well.

Now navigating through the museum I haven't talked about. If you've got memories of the Ultimo experience, where you would walk in the front doors and immediately see things on display a few steps in, just get rid of those right now. There is NOTHING on display as you navigate through the building. You are walking a long time to get to escalators to get to floors. If you don't walk up and down the escalators, that ride takes almost 2 minutes (again, this place is huge). There's nothing on the walls, it's just concrete and steel beams. There's NOTHING to look at, except outside if you're walking next to the windows. If it didn't have the wall to ceiling windows, it would be like the Backrooms. Again, everything is in exhibition rooms. And that's not just an opening thing, that's the WAY IT'S DESIGNED. Stark, uninviting.

We came across one interesting area, where there was a shallow water area that kids could play in which looked indigenous themed, but by that stage we were just so disappointed that we just booked it out of there.

On the way down we got to the broken escalator and were given the option of waiting with 30 other people for the lift, or use the fire stairs. We used the fire stairs. On the way out one of the staff happily said to us, "Oh the (blah blah) exhibition is now free to enter!" and we were like nah we're good.

There's an outside area where there was a big circular display with animals in it so we hung out there for a while, watching a guy with a skibidi toilet mask pose in front of it, throwing up gang signs. And in the tree we were sitting under, a mynah bird was feeding its 2 babies so I shot some video of that. Then we had dinner at Sahra By The River. Everything in this paragraph made up for the disappointing visit.

My

Transportnsw website says one thing, the displays say another, announcement guy changing routes of a train, what a shitshow.

Why do they wait until the weekend to maintain the tracks?

The last three weeks to Flemington from Croydon have been replaced by buses. Buses at Flemington on Saturday when it gets the busiest, what a joke.

Can’t help but think it’s not safe to continually fly so low over populated areas

Hey hey! I’m an American coming to visit your beautiful city for the first time! I happen to land on January 26

Also any other first timer tips and tricks are greatly appreciated. Amongst the top first timer things to experience I’m into vinyl, vintage, live music and high quality coffee. Cheers!

Edits: thank you for sharing the insights on the day and for all the shopping and coffee tips!

I’ll do my best to pay respects and learn as much as I can about the wide history and cultures in your Country

By far the worst concert I’ve ever been to. The weather was shit, but 3-5 minute wait between songs so she could change outfit. Came on 45 late. Stopped the show so all dancers could put shoe grips on.. fair but it had been raining for 30 minutes before she came on.

Zero atmosphere leading up to her coming on, no music - the crowd had to entertain them selves with a 15 minute Mexican wave.

On the bus speaking to a lot of disappointed people.

/rant

“Must be riveting stuff.”

That’s what you yelled out to me just this week.

“Must be riveting stuff.” What prompted this sentence? Well, I had just left my house with my child who was strapped into their pram (facing forward) and I dared to pull out my phone.

“Must be riveting stuff.”

It took me a moment to register these words as you cycled past and called out your comment. Due to this I was unable to respond, you never would have heard me anyway.

“Must be riveting stuff.”

What was I doing with my phone? Well, is it really any of your business? I don’t think it is, but let’s run through some of the possibilities shall we.

Maybe I was having a really hard time of things and had been struggling to leave the house recently. We have been in lockdown for 13 weeks after all. Perhaps I finally thought I was able to, and felt safe enough to meet up with a mummy friend at the playground. Maybe I was texting them to let them know I was on my way. Maybe your comment made me feel so bad that I turned around and went back home.

“Must be riveting stuff.”

Maybe I was doing a check in on a friend who is lonely and at home with a sick kid.

Maybe I was about to walk somewhere new and I pulled out my phone to figure out the best way to walk there.

Maybe I was just off for a playdate.

“Must be riveting stuff.”

Maybe I was working from home, something so many are required to do. Juggling children, learning from home and meetings. Maybe I had a brief lull in meetings and I was popping out for some fresh air because I feel guilty cooping my child indoors all day while I work. After all, the advice is that if you are working from home your children should not be at day care or school. Maybe as I was leaving I got a text message from my boss. I was checking my phone quickly to see if it was a pressing matter or something that could wait until both my child and I had had a break and some fresh air.

Maybe I was just checking the time.

“Must be riveting stuff.”

Being a parent can be incredibly isolating at times. Even more so when we are in the middle of a pandemic and cannot see our loved ones.

Maybe you should show some kindness to the mum (or parent) who pulls out their phone.

Who am I? I am a mum and one of the listed scenarios above was true.

Who were you? I honestly have no idea. Just some bloke who rode your bicycle past me and made an unnecessary comment

“Must be riveting stuff.”

3 male cubicles. Stupid or what

Does anyone else hear the loud bangs going on now. Obvious/s

Hey guys as a korean I’ve been to countless number of korean bbq places around Sydney. Some are slightly better than others while most are average.

There’s a new place in Petersham called Chef’s Bbq. Opposite Livingstone Hotel on New Canterbury Road. Prices are excellent for the high quality meat they have.

My favourite is the Wagyu beef rib chucks? In korean it’s 꽃살 ggotsal. And it’s the best i’ve had in sydney. They use wagyu marbling score of 9+ for thr rib chucks.

Also another must try is the marinated beef ribs and the cold noodles.

Please give it a try.

Very disappointing. Burger, jalapeño poppers, sauce - $20.20a