My first side trip upon arriving in Sydney was Canberra. Chinatown offered cheap day tours, and the price was too good to be true. A bit skeptical what would be available to sightsee, I took the risk and it turned out to be a very exhausting day on the road.

Parliament House is the highlight of the tour. The building stood out well. The top looked a bit like a lightning rod though.

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8103.jpg

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http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8122.jpg

Inside, the scale was not too big and monumental. It felt approachable, simple, but not claustrophobic.

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8037.jpg

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Style looks a bit modernist. I still prefer the traditional chambers in another New World planned capital city, Ottawa, Canada.

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8070.jpg

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God Save the Queen

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8099.jpg

I took a short walk around Lake Burley Griffin. Canberra seemed deserted except for my tourist group. It was serene and relaxing though, in an eerie kind of way.

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8126.jpg

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Australia seems to take great pride in its war-time efforts. The War Memorial was an amazing museum showcasing much more artefacts than I had time to see them.

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_8168.jpg

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Having been to many miniature worlds during my lifetime, Cockington Green Gardens didn't seem so special. If I were a lot younger, maybe I would have been amazed and dazzled by the display. Great flowers though ...

http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra/20080323/IMG_7893.jpg

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Overall, I wasn't so impressed with Canberra. In fact, most of the time, I get disappointed at modern planned capital cities. It just didn't have the vibrancy of a capital. It seemed a bit too laid back and empty.

Full set : http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra.htm

Overall, I wasn't so impressed with Canberra. In fact, most of the time, I get disappointed at modern planned capital cities. It just didn't have the vibrancy of a capital. It seemed a bit too laid back and empty.

Full set : http://www.globalphotos.org/canberra.htm

Nice pics.
I thought Canberra was a nice city when I visited but certainly I think it would be great if the focus was not only upon functionality and more upon making the city a more vibrant place. No doubt its very small population is a factor.
Some Aussies argue that melbourne should have remained the capital. Canberra's still got some interesting points however. I think its meant to reflect Australian egalitarianism as opposed to Melbourne which was a real old moneys city in its day

Here´s a city I don´t see often here...but it´s understandable...doesn´t seem an captivating city...capitals shouldn´t be like that.

It's rare to see Canberra here in SSC..but after those photos I know why people say that the city is boring. Looks so "dead" and not vibrant like Sydney, Melbourne, Gold..When I go to Australia I don't expect to know the capital. I agree when some people say that Mlb should be remained the capital of the country. It could be better. I think this is the reason for a lot of people think that the australian capital is Sydney :lol:

Canberra it's like Brasilia in Brazil.

The capital where all things governmento are and nothing else. :)

Amazing photos of Canberra city :cheers: