On the ferry ride back from Manly, the Opera House was all lit up. I have always wanted to see it at night all lit up and when I saw it I was very excited. I didn't have my camera when we went to Manly so Kia let me be the designated photographer and use her camera. While I was able to get a lot of good shots I wasn't comfortable with her camera and wasn't able to get any good shots of the Opera House from the boat. We had dinner at a harbour side Chinese resturaunt and we got some really good food, good enough to make up for the lame fortune cookie. Gramma Dofu, a lamb dish, and a something else I can't remember, all very tasty and delicious.

We walked back to the hotel and everyone was tired but I wanted to get better shots. So at the hotel I said goodnight to everyone, grabbed my camera, and headed back out to the harbour. I know it's supposed to be the middle of winter and even though everyone else was in coats it felt amazing to walk around. It was a little brisk but very beautiful and peaceful. There was not many people out so I pretty much had my pick of photo ops and all the time I wanted. I put my headphones in and walked around snapping shots for over an hour.

I was given a gorilla-pod for Father's Day and the boys had been asking me when I was going to use it. I have it say I'm a fan. I was able to wrap it around posts and rails and not have to worry about it or bump it for the longer exposure shots. I was able to get about every angle I could need with it as a tripod on flat and not-so-flat surfaces. I was able to get some amazing shots and will create an album just of shots from that night. I was up later than I should have been for how jet-lagged and tired I still was but it was worth it. Cross that off the bucket list!