Published: 18.11.2025
The third day of my journey begins with a tour that truly lives up to the name 'Sydney City Highlights & Hidden Gems.' It's not an ordinary city walk, but a dive into stories, perspectives, people, and moments that bring Sydney to life.
⸻
The Sydney Opera House – A Wonder of the World with Hidden Dramaturgy
Most people see the Opera House as iconic architecture. But today, I see much more.
Our guide explains how the building's evacuation routes are strategically aligned with the Sydney Harbour Bridge. A connection between two monuments that define the city – a design line that can only be discovered when you know where to look.
I photograph the building from three different perspectives. Each reveals a different facet:
Elegance, strength, and the underlying intelligence of the architecture.
I also learn where King Charles and Camilla sit when they are here. Small details, big impact – Sydney has style.
⸻
Sydney Harbour Bridge – A Walk Above the City
The path across the Harbour Bridge is more than just a transition from one neighborhood to the next.
It offers a glimpse into the identity of the city:
Wind, height, water – and the feeling of standing in the middle of a living metropolis.
⸻
Kirribilli – The Sylt of Sydney
Jeffrey Street in Kirribilli feels like the exclusive Sylt of Australia.
Luxury residences, sea views, tranquility.
In front of a property stands a Rolls-Royce – a home worth around 100 million AUD.
Sydney can be glamorous. Very glamorous.
Not long after, we follow the Sydney Hills, another area full of aspiration and quality of life.
⸻
Watsons Bay – Where Sea, Light, and Flavor Merge
Watsons Bay presents the postcard image of Australia:
Turquoise waters, clear air, and a view that calms.
I order Barramundi, the traditional Australian fish.
Light, fresh, perfectly prepared – a delight that remains in memory.
⸻
Bondi Beach – A Promise to My Daughter
This moment carries a piece of home within it.
My younger daughter had said:
“Dad, when you're at Bondi Beach, you absolutely have to take photos with a lifeguard again – and send them to me!”
So, I set out to find one.
But at the lifeguard tower, it clearly states:
“Our job is to save lives – not to take photos.”
Respecting that.
Of course.
Later, I see a lifeguard who is out on the beach.
I muster the courage to approach him – and indeed, great photos are taken.
My daughter is thrilled.
A dad moment that stays with me.
⸻
Daniel – The Guide with Insights Behind the Scenes
Daniel, our tour guide, is a special type of person.
Someone who not only knows Sydney but understands it.
He tells stories that you won't find in guidebooks:
About backgrounds, connections, architectural decisions, and the people who have shaped this city.
This day was not only informative because of him, but deeply interesting and beautiful.
⸻
VIP Tour for Two – Familial and Inspiring
I spend the day together with
Edwin Cabanero Duria from Dubai (BNI).
An impressive person with an intriguing international story.
His video: https://youtu.be/_Vg-1t7ut_s?feature=shared
The exchange is lively, inspiring, and humanly valuable.
A day that connects.
⸻
BNI New Zealand – A Deep One-on-One Conversation
A conversation with Geoff Brokenshire (71) shows experience, calm, and wisdom.
He has been married longer than Bibo and I for over ten years – a nice side note that enhances the personal character of the moment.
He also establishes the contact with Dr. Joachim Bender – a valuable professional impulse.
⸻
USA Meets Sydney – A Photo Full of Laughter
Another highlight:
An impromptu photo with the BNI head from the USA.
The moment was unplanned – and that's what made it special.
We both laughed heartily.
A picture that has more energy than any posed group photo.
⸻
The Evening: Partners, Team, Family
In the evening, our entire team, including partners, joins the gathering.
It feels like a large, young, vibrant community.
And me?
I'm now “under young supervision.”
⸻
Additional Chapter for My Wife
“Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair – A Place for Love”**
There are places that carry history within them – yet feel personal.
One of those places is Mrs. Macquarie’s Chair, located in the heart of the Royal Botanic Garden in Sydney.
This spot was created over 200 years ago by Governor Lachlan Macquarie for his wife Elizabeth.
A sandstone seat, carved from rock by convicts.
A place where she sat for hours, gazing at the sea and watching the ships come into the harbor.
A place of tranquility, waiting, hoping – and perhaps a deeper connection between two people who built a shared life in a faraway land.
As I stood there, I couldn't help but think of us.
Of all the paths we've walked.
Of the challenges, the strength we had – and of what has always carried us:
Connection.
Mrs. Macquarie often walked here alone while her husband built a nation.
Yet he created this one special place for her – a place just for her.
That’s how it felt for me:
A quiet moment when I felt you particularly close.
A place that shows that even in the greatest expanse, the most important connection is the one you carry in your heart.
This spot was one of the most beautiful of the day –
because it reminded me of you
—-
Conclusion of the Chapter
Day 3 is a day full of contrasts:
Architecture and emotion.
Sea and metropolis.
Strangers and new friends.
Family moments and international impulses.
A day that shows what this journey is about:
Wonder, encounters, and the feeling of being vibrantly alive.
