Sydney Under Covid-19
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Author Archives: Paul Carson
Quiet City
As of writing, Sydney hasn’t gone into full lockdown due to Covid-19, but it has become a lot more quiet as many businesses close as a preventative measure. The CBD wasn’t as empty as I was expecting, but it was noticeably less crowded.
Social distancing guidelines on the floor of my local café.
Martin Place at 12:20. Usually a lot busier than this.
Lunchers outside the GPO building in Martin Place.
New measures for pedestrians.
Park and George Streets.
Sydney Town Hall steps. A popular rendezvous point, now virtually empty.
The gates to Chinatown on Dixon Street.
An eerily quiet Dixon Street.
This place usually has a queue of around 15 to 20 people, waiting for cream puffs. Today, only one.
Safe distance.
Dapper Chaps & Urban Ghosts
Quick Delivery
A food delivery rider cycles through downtown Sydney, Australia.
Climate action rally in Sydney
Ecopella, an a capella music group with a focus on environmental issues, performing outside Sydney Town Hall at the climate action rally.
Young protesters at the climate action rally.
Protesters at the climate action rally.
Nadeena Dixon, a Wiradjuri, Yuin & Gadigal woman & Indigenous activist, addressing the crowd at the climate action rally.
Protesters at the climate action rally.
A protester at the climate action rally.
A protester at the climate action rally.
Protesters march through the city streets as a part of the climate action rally.
Protesters march through the city streets as a part of the climate action rally.
A protester at the climate action rally.
A protester at the climate action rally.
A protester at the climate action rally.
Signing a banner petition at the climate action rally.
Gucci Brolly
A pedestrian battles the rain and wind outside the Gucci store in Sydney, Australia.
Night Moves
A stroll through Sydney’s Chinatown at night. Taken with a new 50mm prime lens I picked up the other day.
Sydney Monochrome
Something I’ve not done in a very long time… taken my trusty Nikon for a walk and gotten some street snaps.
School Strike For Climate Rally in Sydney
A huge crowd estimated at 25000 turned up at Town Hall in downtown Sydney today to protest against climate change inaction.
The rally was organised by school students from across Sydney and was part of a global series of protests.
Even though the rally was part of a student strike, people of all ages were in attendance and determined to make known their displeasure over political inaction against climate change.
Lebanon
The Middle East has interested me for some time. Unfortunately, travel to some countries in the region would be… unwise…
I’ve worked with a few Lebanese-Australians in various jobs and each of them, after hearing my stories of travel in Southeast Asia, said that Lebanon would be my cup of tea.
And so I went.
Because of its location between Europe and the Arabian peninsula, Lebanon is a country with an ancient and turbulent history. It shows a very strong influence from both cultures. I don’t think there are too many cities besides Beirut where you could be enjoying a beer at a rooftop bar while the mosque down the street broadcasts the call to evening prayer.
The people are amazingly friendly and accommodating, exhibiting that famous Mediterranean hospitality.
Lebanon is a country which was until recently at war, and the presence of military patrols and checkpoints as well as bullet-scarred buildings were reminders of the country’s strife in the not-too-distant past. Even now there are tensions at the southern border with Israel, and the presence of Daesh (ISIS) in neighbouring Syria is a constant worry.
I stayed mainly in Beirut but had a couple of days in Baalbek in the east of Lebanon where there are some of the best preserved ancient Roman ruins in the world. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see much else of this beautiful country due to becoming ill for about a week. I’m determined to make it back sometime soon to explore more.
Beirut building damaged by gunfire.
Beirut building damaged by gunfire.
French colonial building in Beirut
French colonial building in Beirut
French colonial building in Beirut
Pigeon Rocks, Beirut
The Mediterranean coast
Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque, Beirut
Interior of Mohammad Al-Amin Mosque
New residential towers in downtown Beirut
Roman ruins, Baalbek
The temple of Bacchus in Baalbek
Beqaa Valley view from the Roman ruins in Baalbek
The temple of Bacchus in Baalbek
Mosque in Baalbek
What’s left of the Holiday Inn in downtown Beirut. Used as a sniper position during the Lebanese Civil War. The building has been condemned and has been empty for decades.
French colonial building in Beirut
Beirut pizza shop in a building damaged by the war.
A street in Hazmiyeh, a neighbourhood in southern Beirut
A street in Hazmiyeh, a neighbourhood in southern Beirut
A street in Hazmiyeh, a neighbourhood in southern Beirut
A street in Hazmiyeh, a neighbourhood in southern Beirut
New residential tower in downtown Beirut
Embikei 