By Paul Topping

The ferry leaves from wharf 3 circular Quay Sydney . It’s mid-week and mid-day, so  only thirty percent full. Departure time is fixed. It’s the first day of autumn, the first day of March, Mad Hatter's Day. We, Jezzabel, Hiranthi, and I, step off the ferry at Manly after twenty-six minutes on the sea. We book a table at Hugo's restaurant facing Manly Cove, for later in the day. This gives us four hours to walk Manly, some say that’s all the time we need.

Manly Cove has shark nets to protect swimmers, as four people have died from attacks in Sydney in one month this year. It is the first time I’ve ever seen such nets. We plan a walk about Manly, starting with the main shopping drag. It reminds me of the Bolton UK high street in the nineteen seventies. No designer shops, most supplying basic needs, plus a bit of fashion and swimwear.

We drop into the Anglican church. The organ is being played. There is someone to greet us, and we do the walkabout. We are about to give a five-dollar note in the box, but the church warden says don’t. We do anyway.

Aboriginals lived in the area for thousands of years. Back in 1788, a British Captain Phillips called the area Manly, relating to the behavior of the indigenous chunky male people. In 1850, as an attractive location, Phillips constructed a pier and started a daily ferry to Sydney. In the 19th century, it became a seaside resort.

The local dead from the two world wars are remembered on a monument on the main street. I’m interested that against each name, there is the specific battle location where they died. I have not seen this on many monuments as I travel worldwide.

The lunch location looks out to sea and the beaches. The service is great. We even have a lady staff member who comes and sits with us for ten minutes to chat . No IPA beer, so I drink Felon's beer from a brewery a hundred yards away.

Back on the main pedestrian shopping street that links the two waterfront locations, upper-floor facades date the buildings' age. Some date from the 1850s. There are some stunning old buildings. The big old Steyne hotel dates back to 1859. I avoid a shop called “Budgy Smugglers”. Swim wear  an Englishman will never wear . 

The Felon brewery runs across the three piers with bars, restaurants and has rows of metal tanks . I could see well over ten different brews. I wish I’d seen them on arrival rather than when leaving. Missed out on doing a tasting. I think they should promote it more on the inbound journey.

We leave with the masses on the ferry after four hours in Manly, which includes one hour in the amazing lunch venue. What more do you need on a dull weather day when the sun is not shining, and the beaches say “closed”. I think this refers to the sea rather than the beach. People live here and commute to work in Sydney. It is also a great location for retirement, but not for Jezzabel or me in Sydney. We enjoy being in Colombo. 

Back on the ferry to Sydney, we view some major cliffs and some turbulence. Sunset drinks near the Opera House, bad service, poor wine at Wahlburgers. The people watching end our day, as does the red wine. Tomorrow is a visit to New Town, Sydney.