CALLING ALL NATIONS

NewSensation

I was very lucky enough to fly to sydney for this event..here is my wrap up Enjoy.

Michael Hutchence Sydney Weekend

Friday 23rd November

Waken at 5am with anticipation for what the weekend may hold I was firstly off to work. Arriving back home mid morning I quickly got changed and finished packing my INXS Switched On Tour backpack. (Yes travelling very light). My first little journey was 'on a bus' to take me from my hometown to the states' capital where I would meet my friend Ross and eventually fly to Sydney from. The traffic was very busy, as everyone I think wanted to go away for the weekend. At the airport, Ross arrived and we checked into our flight and then had some lunch. We soon boarded the Virgin Blue aeroplane and were on the way to Sydney. The flight only took 1hour and it seemed as soon as we took off we were landing again. Continually after landing I was singing Girl On Fire. "I just landedgirl on fire".

Sydney was wet, cloudy and cold. YUCK! Taking a taxi from the airport to our hotel allowed us to see the city of Sydney. It was what I thought it might be: BUSY. After checking into the hotel, (Ross was on floor 10 and I was floor 20) which by the way was very flash, we decided that we would go and meet the rest of 'The Strangest Party' members when they got off their harbour cruise. This is where is saw the bridge and the Opera house for the first time and wow they are both HUGE. We met the other people and isn't it funny how we picture people on the Internet? Usually nothing like they really are. They were an enjoyable group and as we got to know them they are passionate too. We decided to go back to where they were staying in a part of Sydney called Kings Cross. We had a few drinks together and did the usual get to know you stuff. In the early hours or Saturday morning we bid them goodbye and would see them later that day.

Saturday 24th November

After a sleep in we rose to what was a very wet Sydney day, great I thought for our day of sight seeing. However our sights were not exactly the usual that the common tourist would see. After brunch our first location was the Hard Rock Café, which was two blocks away. Unfortunately it has been shut down and the building is for sale. Through the door windows we were lucky enough to see the wonderful painting of Michael in the arched roof. The second location was to visit the Stamford Plaza in Double Bay-formally the Ritz Carlton. A short bus ride later and we were there. The whole area just screams money at you and I can see why all the stars stay in that area. Walking around the back we could quiet clearly see the infamous balconies of floor five.

Next in the itinerary was to meet with the strangest group so that was could all taxi out to Michael's memorial. On the way to meet them we were able to buy some Iris's and I asked for a single Lilly to be placed in the middle and we added a card with names of those sending love and peace to Michael. The journey to the memorial took us on the Harbour bridge and there were many conversations about INXS and Michael amongst the group.

The memorial: this place took us on the most emotional ride we have had, well in 10 years anyway. As we found the site we could see that there were some other fans already there too. We all laid our flowers and took a moment to take it all in, for some it was too much and they needed a shoulder to lean on. Everyone took photos and read all the other tributes that were there. The man that worked at the memorial garden was kind enough to bring out to portable CD player. Now we could not only see Michael but hear him too, this was very kind. Amongst the others at the memorial was Susie Hutchence, Michaels Step mum. As mentioned above the weather was not the best, however funnily enough as soon as we got to the memorial the clouds parted and the sun shone through and got quite muggy then as we left it became cloudy once again!?! Thank you Michael.

On the journey back to the hotels, all conversation was of course how wonderful the experience was. The other people in the party were dropped back to their hotel however we continued back to the city centre as our next place to visit was St Andrews cathedral where Michael's funeral service was held. The church was not how I thought it would be from all the footage and pictures. It was really quiet small and surrounded by big commercial buildings. I don't know at the time (10 years ago) how all the cars and limos parked there as it is in the busy city. We snapped some photos and made our way back to our hotel to get ready for "The Strangest Party" dinner.

After getting dressed and ready we made our way back into the city to find the Star Bar. This seemed harder than what I first thought. It just proves that you shouldn't always trust Google maps. However after we rang Lesley she quickly redirected us and it was ok. We arrived just in time to take part in an INXS quiz. Wow Lesley had really done her research and made the questions tough. We all enjoyed chatting and eating while the quiz was being marked. I am very glad that we didn't miss the quiz because as it ended up Ross came second and I came fourth!!! (Pretty good I thought for my age!). The surprise was that there were prizes all kindly donated by Kirk from his 'shed'. The winner won a signed (well Kirk, Tim, Andrew+ Jon) Just for Kicks t-shirt, 2nd Welcome To Wherever You Are CD pack signed, 3rd Kirks Rockstar INXS backstage pass and I won an 1988 INXS in San Francisco Mug-fairly rare I believe. We were very happy.

The night went so fast as we talked some more while the venue played some video INXS clips on the jukebox (which of course it was hard not to dance and sing around) and some people played on the billiard table then the room went fairly quiet and Lesley said surprise!!!Next to her were Kirk and Tony (INXS manager/security). We were all excited that they came to join us. Everyone gathered to chat, get autographs and photos with them both. After a little while they blended in well and relaxed. They joined on playing billiards and chatted with everyone for about four hours! I thanked Kirk for everything and told him that I saw the guys in Europe he was very surprised. Lesley made a lovely speech thanking everyone for coming and thanking Kirk for INXS's 30 years of music. Kirk also said a few words of thanks to us all.

Another quiz game shortly followed. This one was a lyric game; Lesley would start saying some lyrics from INXS songs and the first person to call out the name of the song gained a point. This was a very fun game yet frustrating, as you knew you knew the song but couldn't name it quickly. It was hot competition and only by one point I came 2nd with six points. Kirk joined in yet only got two points. This time the winner won; 1st signed Welcome To Wherever You Are t-shirt, 2nd Kirks Switched On Tour Pass, 3rd Signed INXS poster and 4th Heaven Sent signed CD single. Ross managed to pick up the poster. We were again ecstatic.

The final surprise of the night was again another special donation by Kirk. Everyone's names were put into a 'hat' and he selected one out. Teena (a girl that came all the way from New Zealand) was the winner and she received a fully signed by all 6 members including Michael, Live Baby Live poster. WOW we all thought. She deserved it as she hadn't won anything all night and she was also one of the girls that did the organising. Soon Tony and Kirk bid their goodbyes to everyone individually. Finally at the end of the night we took down the large poster from the strangest party and all signed it. It will eventually go to the band.

With all this excitement, we had lost all sense of time and the Michael Hutchence tribute concert had started and finished out at the Sydney University. We had planned on going to it after the dinner but we had such a good time. We have heard reports that it was a good event and there was a good size crowd there too. After packing up the area we all headed to back to Kings Cross. What can I say, the night scene it is VERY different to anything I have seen at home. Eventually we made it home in the early hours of Sunday after a very big night. After shutting my hotel room door and looking down at my prizes in my hands I couldn't believe the days events one I won't forget in a hurry.

Sunday 25th November

On Sunday I couldn't believe that it was all over after so much planning. Our check out time was 11am and our flight was at lunch. (Speaking of hotels, when leaving your room am I the only one who looks and pauses when they see the automatic closing mechanism on the back of the door?) However for breakfast we were meeting Matthew. I have know Matthew only via the Internet and Ross has known him a bit longer. He has worked with the band for a long time and contributed to 'Story to Story' official book. So I wanted to meet him and listen to all the things he might have to say. We chatted about anything and everything including travelling, INXS and Michael and the tribute concert (he attended it the previous night). The time went all too quickly so we had our photos taken and we bid our farewells and caught a taxi to the airport to go home. On this final day in Sydney the weather decided that it would be nice and warm.

Beyond

You will all be glad that that is all I have to say. I hope it gives you an insight to how the weekend went and almost make you feel like you were there. In these following days most people have been busy adding each other to their MySpace friends list. INXS and Michael's music 'live baby lives' on strong and I don't think will ever be forgotten. I also heard rumours that the next "Strangest Party" will be in 5 years time. So start saving and planning fans

Love and Peace

Allira.

Monika

Wow Allira, thanks for that. It's awesome. You make me feel like I was there.
And thank you for the pictures with the flags!

Great to see you here again! Smile

delightedangel

First Allira I'm so happy to see you on this forum!
and second thank you so much for your wrap up!

xx

Deb · Dołączył: 12 Sty 2008 Posty: 24 Przeczytał: 0 tematów

Wow Allira!!!!!
Gosh i am SOOOOO jealous!!! Shocked

I wish so much that i could have been in Sydney for Michael's Anniversary, you are so lucky.

Thank you so much for sharing all that with us,yes it was almost as if i were there you told it so well! I am really envious that you went to Michael's Memorial. Also i would have visited the exact same places that you did..Hard Rock Cafe (what a shame it has closed down Crying or Very sad

),the church where Michael's funeral was held and The Stamford Plaza (no Allira..you are not the only one who pauses and looks at the automatic closing mechanism on the back of some doors...i did the very same thing this morning whilst sat in the Doctors surgery Sad

)

It sounds like you had a really good time,sad though it was.Well done on the quiz too!!
I've always wanted to go to Micheal's Memorial.How nice of that man to bring a cd player out so you could all hear Michael sing too.And how nice of Michael to brighten up the weather for you just at the right time.Michael seems to have a habit of doing that... Razz

Oh as i mention in the other thread i was suprised but THRILLED to see my photo/card i'd sent at Michael's Memorial in one of the pictures Wow!!

Hopefully i will be able to get there in 5 years time.Like you say, i better get saving!!

Deb Very Happy

NewSensation

Ok I tried doing this when i did the last post. Here is a link to a page of photos that relate to the above story. I do have more if interested.

[link widoczny dla zalogowanych]

delightedangel

Hi Allira,

Thank you so much for sharing your pictures with us!
I love them very much!
Of course we are alway's interested in more pictures Very Happy

lilyisa · Dołączył: 09 Sty 2008 Posty: 4 Przeczytał: 0 tematów

THANK YOU!!! I love see this pics,all flags are beautiful. Very Happy