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.
Dapper Chaps & Urban Ghosts
Quick Delivery
Climate action rally in Sydney
Gucci Brolly
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.