| Sydney buzzes with the vibrancy of a true city | | | | area to soften it and add a touch of decor from |
| of the world. It has the largess of New York's | | | | the Indian Ocean, if only in the nature of the |
| skyscrapers, the warmth of the cafes and bistros | | | | fabric chosen. They'll also expand the bar menu, |
| of Paris, the sparkling skyline of Tokyo. Uniquely, | | | | which is fairly limited at the moment, although the |
| all its own, it touts one of the most beautiful | | | | cocktails offered are quite unique and inspiring, |
| natural harbor's of the world, fixed by the | | | | even before your opinion has been influenced by |
| stunning architectural feat of the Sydney Opera | | | | the generous alcohol pour. |
| House, it's white roof rising like the sails of the | | | | They also intend to move the lobby from its out |
| foreign ships that grace the bay. There is no | | | | of the way location, to front and center, which I |
| debating it; it's quite stunning. | | | | believe will be a logical and welcomed change. If |
| As I write this, I am sitting at the Icebergs | | | | there are additional changes in mind, Mohan is not |
| Restaurant over-looking the panoramic vista of | | | | saying, and we'll just have to wait for the |
| Bondi Beach. It's a "crowded" day, but | | | | unveiling. |
| everything's relative. Crowded on Jones Beach in | | | | The Blue has 100 deluxe guest rooms, including 36 |
| New York, means you can't find a place to spread | | | | loft rooms with city and harbor views. Be careful |
| your towel. Crowded here, means you can hear | | | | to request the marina side of the hotel, as it is |
| your neighbor's conversation from a few meters | | | | clearly more picturesque, facing the lovely yachts, |
| away. There are, apparently, nets that are | | | | park, and city. The rooms on the other side of |
| supposed to keep the sharks out, but every once | | | | the hotel, while technically facing a harbor, are |
| in a while, I'm told, you'll hear them sound the | | | | relatively unexciting views, except when the |
| shark alarm, signaling that a wayward, headstrong | | | | occasional naval vessel is docked. |
| one has made its way through the barrier. I think | | | | The rooms are a modern, sophisticated design, |
| that's just to spice up the excitement on the | | | | with muted beiges and white, accented with blue |
| beach, but I'm not eager to test the truth, so I'm | | | | chairs and couches, brown linen, and the |
| watching the action from above. | | | | occasional red pillow. There is an oversized work |
| Below me is the Icebergs Club and Pool, which is | | | | desk in most of the rooms, wireless high-speed |
| a salt water pool that literally gets its salt water | | | | access, cordless phone, 27" T.V. (soon to be |
| from a pump nestled in the rocks from the | | | | converted to Plasma), Bose CD Player, VCR, |
| adjacent ocean and from the waves that from | | | | king-size beds with pillow-top mattresses, 250 |
| time to time cascade over the side of the pool. | | | | thread count sheets, goose-down comforters and |
| It's just exquisite, and apart from the black lines | | | | pillows. There are even some pocket-sized office |
| that mark the swimmers' lanes, with the sound of | | | | supplies in the work area: a tiny stapler, scotch |
| the waves crashing against the rocks and the side | | | | tape and highlight pen in a sleek brown leather |
| of the pool, you feel almost as if you're in the | | | | box came in very handy as I wrote my article |
| ocean, minus the threat of sharks (all but the | | | | and organized my materials. |
| very, very ambitious once, at least). | | | | There are seven different room categories: The |
| As a home base, I chose the Blue Sydney, | | | | Wharf Room (575 AUD), the Woolloomooloo |
| primarily since it just celebrated its one year | | | | Room (675 AUD), the Pier Rooms (775 AUD), the |
| anniversary, having recently changing hands from | | | | Marina Rooms (875 AUD), the Pier Lofts (775 |
| the "W," a Starwood Group, to Taj, under the | | | | AUD), the Marina Lofts (875 AUD), and the Ultra |
| genteel auspices of General Manager | | | | Loft (2000 AUD). I stayed in the Ultra Loft, a |
| Kottarapurath Mohanchandran ("Mohan" for short), | | | | huge duplex with skylights and windows running |
| whose last posting was Udaipur, where he served | | | | the entire length of the room and overlooking the |
| as GM for the Taj Lake Palace. | | | | yachts below and a bedroom above with a small |
| For those of you who have not seen the | | | | bathroom (Aveda travel-sized products), but |
| property, it is a brave and ambitious choice for | | | | managing a bath and separate shower and a small |
| Taj Structurally, it is quite different from any Taj | | | | closet, the latter being inadequate in relation to |
| I know, having been converted from a | | | | the largess of the room. I personally didn't care |
| warehouse that once processed and stored wool. | | | | for the separate space, going up and down the |
| As it is a Heritage Landmark, the base structure | | | | stairs rather continuously for something or other I |
| remains unaltered, a modern hotel, reflecting its | | | | forgot to bring up or down the stairs, or trying to |
| historic wharf roots. | | | | turn off 12 lights without a master switch. |
| The first thing that strikes the visitor is, "What is | | | | I preferred instead, the Marina Room, with equally |
| this?" By that, I mean that despite the 11 meter | | | | panoramic views (marina side) and much larger |
| ceiling, exposed corrugated iron and timber from | | | | bathrooms, despite the fact that there is no |
| the original frame of the building, and defunct | | | | separate living space and the overall space is |
| conveyor belts, there is a rather funky, chic bar in | | | | considerably smaller. Without doubt, it is the best |
| a vast space that is the very first hint that the | | | | value room, with identical amenities to its big |
| purpose of the structure includes recreation and | | | | brother counterpart. Rates may vary during high |
| imbibing. It does not, however, appear to be a | | | | season. Guests I met were charming, and |
| hotel, as the reception area is out of sight to the | | | | demographics are approximately, 50% Australian, |
| right as one enters and up a flight of stairs. Not | | | | followed by the United States, New Zealand, India, |
| exactly the curb appeal that screams, "hotel," and | | | | and Asia, in varying percents and in descending |
| perhaps that is part of its mystique and appeal, | | | | order. |
| but for the traditional among you, be advised. | | | | In short, staff is friendly and efficient, |
| The hotel sits on Finger Wharf in Woolloomooloo | | | | housekeeping, including turn-down service, quite |
| (no, I did not make a mistake, it really has eight | | | | sufficient, Mohan is a soft-spoken, sophisticated |
| "o"s, and is thus on the outskirts of the | | | | treasure, and the anticipated changes in softening |
| Commercial Business District or "CBD" as it is | | | | the ambience will be anticipated. Guests may be |
| known. The wharf was constructed in 1910 during | | | | put off only by small bathrooms and closets in |
| a period of expanding wool, wheat and import | | | | huge suites, the ultra-modern and somewhat |
| trading which lasted from late last century until | | | | disorienting entry, and the lack of an on-site |
| the 1930s depression. Changes in the nature of | | | | restaurant, but there are plenty of lovely |
| international shipping after WWII rendered this | | | | restaurants just outside the front door, lining the |
| once modern facility increasingly redundant for | | | | marina, a reasonable room alternative for guests |
| cargo handling. | | | | in which a large ensuite is desirable, and as for the |
| In 1956, Shed NO. 7 was modified to handle the | | | | historic roots as a warehouse for wool, one can |
| growing passenger trade, however this too | | | | either reject it as an architectural concept, or |
| diminished with the completion of the Circular | | | | revel in man's capacity to adapt structures for |
| Quay Passenger Terminal. With the exception of | | | | alternative use, when the initial function no longer |
| minor modifications, the wharf structure remains | | | | suits. |
| in its original condition. In the 1990s, perceived as | | | | Pleasing alternatives are the Park Hyatt Sydney, a |
| redundant as a passenger terminal, the wharf was | | | | location over-looking the Opera House, with views |
| redeveloped as a luxury marina, entertainment | | | | of it from most rooms, and adjacent to the |
| and apartment complex (now hosting the likes of | | | | Rocks market, cannot be exceeded anywhere in |
| Russell Crowe, John Laws, and Lang Walker). | | | | Sydney. The InterContinental Sydney, despite its |
| In 2000 the warehouse was converted by "W" | | | | lesser location has spectacular views from the |
| into a luxury hotel, and the surrounding space into | | | | 31st floor Club InterContinental Lounge available to |
| boutique restaurants that line the marina, offering | | | | guests on premium floors with an additional cost. I |
| indoor and outdoor dining with a lovely view. | | | | particularly enjoyed the Mint Restaurant. Jeff |
| Parking continues to be a challenge for the | | | | Campbell appears to be Sydney's celebrated chef |
| property, as is the unique challenges of maintaining | | | | of the moment. Following a jet-set career that |
| a property that sits on piles drilled into the harbor | | | | has taken him to Japan, London and France he |
| bed, but those aren't challenges the guest needs | | | | has spent three years in the company of |
| to confront. Not much has changed since the | | | | celebrity chef Jamie Oliver where he collaborated |
| hand-over to Taj, although the hotel may close | | | | on many of the well known Naked Chef television |
| for a short time to give the place a Taj lift, | | | | programs and Naked Chef books. His creations |
| adding hanging silk draperies in the massive cafes | | | | are divine. |