After getting a spectacular night sleep, I woke up to check out of the Novatel, and head to downtown Sydney, to check into the Diamant Hotel – Lovely place, reminds me of the W. The front desk woman was kind enough to not only inform me of the best restaurants in the area, but also “all the bars and strip clubs are right down the street.” OK then.
Grabbed breakfast at Bills, recommended to me by several people – While eating, was watching the weather, pretty sure that the rain was going to continue unabated, and my Sea Plane tour, and bridge climb would both be canceled.
As I walked back to the hotel after breakfast, it actually stopped raining for a few minutes! Was still cloudy with a really low base, so I didn’t expect much. But getting back to the hotel, I had a message from Sydney Tourism, informing me that despite any weather, both the sea plane tour and bridge climb would take place. I was happy to go, even though I didn’t expect much with the weather.
Upon arriving at Sydney Sea Planes, I saw a weird bright spot on the water in front of me – Having never seen it before in Australia, I wasn’t sure what it was – Then it hit me – It was a patch of sunlight! I was floored! Made my way to the dock, and boarded my seaplane! This might be fun!
The Sea Planes of Sydney Sea Planes
Jumped on the Sea Plane, (with our typical Australian pilot from Oregon!) and we took off! Some photos from a really fun 15 minutes in the air:
Me, a pilot, and a plane.
Back on the ground, I started walking towards the Sydney Harbor Bridge. I then realized it was like, a two hour walk. I jumped in a cab. Got out around St. Mary’s Church, and walked the rest of the way. Gorgeous church, by the way. Went inside – Windows are tinted so it always looks like a sunset. Beautiful!
Passed the Sydney Hospital…
Sydney Hospital
And then, walking down the hill, it appeared – just like it’s looked in every establishing shot of any movie ever shot in Sydney:
The Sydney Opera House
Of course, right next to it, the famed Sydney Harbor Bridge, built in 1932, one year after the Bayonne Bridge opened. Why do I bring that up? Because they’re the same damn bridge.
The Sydney Harbor Bridge
Walking past it, I found the Sydney BridgeClimb. Now let’s stop for a second and understand what I was about to do.
I was about to go into a facility, at the base of one of Sydney’s most famous landmarks. I was about to scale it, with seven other people. And I was somewhere in the neighborhood of the 2,500,000th person to do it.
Let’s think about that. Sydney is actually progressive enough to say “Hey! We can actually offer something no other city does. We can make it fun, affordable, and most of all, safe. We can do it in such a way that doesn’t impede the use of the bridge, doesn’t affect traffic, doesn’t endanger anyone, either climbers or passengers/cars/trains below. We can do this.
Stop and think about it. Can you imagine if I walked into Governor Patterson’s office with the same idea for the Brooklyn Bridge? Or the Verrazano? OMG, I’d be thrown out on my ass so fast, it’d make my head spin. Yet Sydney had the foresight to see past all the possible detractors, and take a chance. According to our guide, Bernie, (one of the best storytellers to whom I’ve ever had the pleasure of listening,) it took about ten years of convincing, but it happened, and it was successful, and they have a FLAWLESS safety record.
Something to be said for taking a chance, huh?
Some of the many rules of the bridge climb: Nothing in your pockets, nothing carried with you, nothing on your head, nothing you haven’t been given by them, nothing that’s not latched to your jumpsuit. No outside clothing. You get to wear your underwear and your sneakers. Everything else comes off, goes into a locker, and is replaced by a gray jumpsuit. What all the hot bridge-climbers will be wearing this year.
What can I say about the bridge climb – You’re wearing a harness that’s connected to a clip, that attaches to a cable that runs the entire length of the bridge. Essentially, from the second you leave the first shaft and make your way onto the undersides of the bridge, you’re connected to it. You’re part of the bridge. Nothing you do, nowhere you can go, will put you away from the designated path – you don’t have a choice. You’re carrying nothing, there’s nothing to lose, nothing to drop, nothing to forget.
It was the most freeing experience, short of skydiving, that I think I’ve ever had.
The entire climb was three and a half hours – it felt like five seconds.
Bernie, our guide, was spectacular. We were all wearing walkie-talkies with headphones around our ears, so he could talk to all of us at once. He told us everything about the bridge, it was never boring. He told us spectacular stories about the people who created the bridge – the builders – the riveters, the painters. He told us about the head architect – and – (how cool is this) – About a third of the way up the bridge, he stopped, and said, “Hey Peter – Just thought you’d want to know, since you’re from America – The Saints just beat the Colts, 31-17 in the US Superbowl.” I don’t know how you got your information that the Saints won the Superbowl, but I got it ON THE WALKWAYS OF THE SYDNEY HARBOR BRIDGE!
Upon finally making it to the top, Bernie pulled out his camera (tethered to his harness) and took photos of all of us, as well as individual photos. We sat on top of the bridge, next to the Australian flags, just talking – listening to Bernie’s stories, looking at landmarks, (Interesting fact – Want good sunlight when you buy your apartment in Sydney? Look for ones with NORTHERN Exposure. Makes perfect sense – My apartment in New York City gets such great light because of the Southern Exposure – and we’re on the other side of the world. Logic. I haz it.)
Anyhow – Photos:
Top of the Bridge!
The Sydney Opera House, seen from the top of the Bridge!
Team Discovery 13:30
And that was my day. Headed back to my hotel, thoroughly spent, but with a massive smile on my face. Tomorrow, I’m supposed to be taken “Canyoning.” I have no idea what that entails, but I’m sufficiently freaked out by it.
Off to sleep, live from Sydney, Australia, Day 2.
Posted on February 8th, 2010 4:50 am with 3 Comments »
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So it’s the end of day one in Sydney… It’s Sunday night, around 20:50 here. I arrived around 11:30am, after a few hours delayed on QF12 out of LAX. Left NYC around 3:30pm on Continental to LAX, sat in the OneWorld lounge for a few hours, boarded the Qantas flight, found my Business Class seat, and settled in for the 14+ hour flight from LAX to Sydney.
Slept surprisingly well on the Sydney flight, got about eight hours, all told. The Airbus A380-200 had lie-flat seats in Business Class, so after dinner, I conked right out. They give you Pajamas to wear, which were quite t-shirt-sheet like, and exceptionally comfy. Finally woke up, changed back into my jeans, and replied to/deleted a ton of emails that have been waiting in my in-box forever. Had breakfast, broke through the clouds, and touched down into Sydney around 11am. Cleared customs without an issue, car was waiting, and I was at the Hotel Novatel Sydney Manly Pacific by noon.
View from the Hotel Novotel Sydney Manlay Beach
Took a so-wonderful shower, got dressed, headed out to find some food. After a lovely fish-burger at Burger Me, I realized I was way over-dressed, found a surf store, bought a pair of shorts, then walked on the beach for a while, where I watched the surfers. All I could think about was the final scene of Point Break. (”I’m not gonna paddle to New Zealand!” RIP, Patrick Swayze.)
Surfing on Manly Beach
Watched some very brazen seagulls for a while, (brazen or just photogenic – not sure which) then headed back to my hotel for a quick catnap to catch up on Sydney time.
Gulls on Film. HA!!!
Two hours later, my watch beeped, alerting me to wake up for dinner with Tourism Sydney. Unfortunately, someone, somewhere, (I’m guessing in LA) got the times and dates mixed up, and booked me an itinerary based on my landing on Saturday, which I didn’t, since Qantas “ate” my Saturday. Instead, I landed on Sunday, so when I showed up at the restaurant and checked on our reservation, it was nowhere to be found.
That was ok. I walked around the Wharf area at Manly beach, and found a bar called the Manly Wharf Hotel and Bar. Seemed happening, so I went in.
A few notes on Manly beach, and until proven otherwise, on Sydney as a whole.
What started out as a penal colony, is now apparently a continent on which you can’t live unless you’re smokingly hot. This applies to both males and females. I mean, DAMN. I’m from NYC, and we all know there are no more beautiful women then in NYC, but still – DAMN. Everywhere you look! This might have to do with it being summer here now, but still – It was insane. And I don’t get impressed easily.
Additionally, I’ve been saying “no worries” for years. I had no idea it was an Australian phrase, until I said it and a knowing smile was returned. Go me for being all universal n’stuff.
Grabbed a beer and made my way to the outside deck to watch the water. There I met Kathryn and Cat, who immediately decided that I should join them in playing “Destiny Cards.”
While you know me to be a big believer in the universe and such, I’m not such a believer in these types of things. Tarot, Destiny Cards, Jack of Spades at the Rio… Whatever… In the end, my NYCynicism still shows through. But I indulged with them.
So you ask the cards a question, shuffle them, blow onto them, then pull three or four cards. Total scientific stuff here, no doubt. I don’t even remember what the question was, but the answer is below:
My Destiny Cards...
Yah. OK.
People just seem to congregate here in Manly Beach. One of the people who joined us shared with us his unique talent – He could fit anyone’s mobile phone into his mouth. I suppose that somewhere, at some point in his life, this will get him out of a potential felony charge.
No, he's just really happy to see you.
A good group of people, nonetheless. One of the women there told me that she’d recently been living in LA, and on her last night there, got the tattoo, “Land of the Brave” on her wrist. Guess America isn’t as hated as we used to be. That’s a good thing.
Note I'm the ONLY one not in shorts.
Headed back to my hotel when jet lag started kicking in. Off to sleep, then, I believe, a walk up and over Sydney Harbor Bridge tomorrow – Which, yes, for some reason, is copied, piece for piece, from the Goethals Bridge, connecting Staten Island and New Jersey. Really, Australia? Of all the bridges in the world to copy, you copy the GOETHALS? OK then.
Night all, from Sydney, Australia, day one!
Posted on February 7th, 2010 5:29 am with 2 Comments »
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Go to Google right now and type in the word “Publicity” without the quotes. Go ahead. I’ll wait.
Notice the second item that comes up in search? NOT in the Google ads, but in actual organic search?
Here’s a photo, in case you didn’t.
Yes, that’s HARO right there as number two, right behind Wikipedia, and in FRONT of a domain with the word “Publicity” in it.
Thank you Evan, at First Page Sage.
I was never a real believer in SEO, thought it was too much math, and figured it better to get people to link to us, which would help grow our ranking in Google. I still DO believe that – no doubt. But I also have been converted. Search Engine Optimization WORKS, and if you’re not including it in your marketing plan, you’re not truly marketing.
Then Evan, a HARO member, and founder of First Page Sage, emailed me – “Hey, can I do some SEO for you? If I can do it right, mention it, ok? I met him for coffee – He’s like – eleven years old, I think. But he’s brilliant. And he’s already started and sold a bunch of companies.
He’s a younger me. So I gave him a chance. And he proved it. Man, did he prove it.
I don’t know all the details as to why it works – but I do know that Google is essentially nothing more than one giant algorithm, waiting to see what sites are playing the game the right way. At the end of the day, I’m talking about “Good” SEO – not “Evil” SEO. Google is smart. Doing “stupid” SEO will be pointless – but doing “smart” SEO, “Good” SEO, where you’re using industry approved techniques to help grow your company, should be part of any marketing plan.
We’re number two on a WORD. A WORD! That’s insane.
Give Evan a shout at First Page Sage. I RARELY give recommendations in my blog. This kid deserves one.
Posted on February 2nd, 2010 9:33 am with 12 Comments »
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I got to wear the 1986 New York Mets World Series Ring and hold the trophy today, in a parking lot of an Embassy Suites, in Omaha, Nebraska, because Ed Hearn, a former NY Mets player, sent me an email asking for advice about publicity.
1986 Mets World Series Ring and Trophy
I get a lot of questions from people who see me speak, are on HARO, have read my book, or have seen me on TV. Email is probably 60% or more of my time.
I’ve been told over and over to outsource my email. I will never do it.
If someone takes the time to email me, the least I can do is email them back, even if it’s just to say “no thanks.”
My rule: Always answer the first email, always take the first meeting. Why?
Five reasons:
5) You never know when someone you meet will lead to work – either now or in the future
4) It gets you out of the house/office and forces you to see things in a new way.
3) Every second of every day in life should be a networking opportunity
2) You get to meet truly amazing people when you least expect it, and get a window into their lives.
1) It’s good Karma.
Posted on January 28th, 2010 5:00 pm with 21 Comments »
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Back in 2000, I used the term “run” only in conjunction with “to the store for cigarettes.” I wasn’t a fat-ass by any means – I’d been super-heavy when I worked for AOL – I walked everywhere for the first 22 years of my life, then spent the next three driving from my apartment in Herndon, VA (land of NOTHING back in 1995 but a Taco Bell, a 7/11, and two brand new apartment complexes – one of which I shared a three bedroom apartment in) – to Vienna, VA, where I worked for AOL as one of their founding news editors. But when you grow up walking everywhere, you’re never truly fat – you’re “he could lose five pounds” to “I’m driving everywhere and eating Domino’s on a house account!” I came home and had fatter people orbiting me – it was scary. So I lost weight in 1997/98 – I spent a year smoking Marlboro lights, eating fat-free pretzel nuggets, and drinking Diet Pepsi to wash down my Ripped Fuel with Ephedra tablets. I don’t recommend it, but 70 pounds later, it worked.
Fast forward to 2000 – An employee of mine told me that running was “like walking, but faster.” She also mentioned that “thinner people get more dates.” So I started running. And that led to who I am now. I run a LOT – I run because I like the solitude – only time of the day (unless I’m skydiving) where I’m not with a blackberry or mobile phone. I run for the endorphins – Beats Adderal. And of course, I run, so that occasionally, I can have this.
The Philly Slim's Widowmaker
Sometimes, at the end of the day, you just want a double meat, double cheese, Widowmaker sandwich from Philly Slim’s. And when that craving hits, you have two choices: Deny, or indulge, knowing that you ran a 10k run at 7am yesterday morning by yourself, or you’re running a half-marathon this weekend, just so you can.
And it doesn’t affect your training, and it won’t raise your caloric count specifically because of that.
And that makes it ok.
And it makes the Widowmaker taste just that… much… better.
Yum.
Posted on January 26th, 2010 8:12 pm with 11 Comments »
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