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