Almost perfect

What’s not to love about a Chinese garden? The lake water glinting in the sun with its little bridges and stepping stones. The willows and the bamboo. The natural paths that meander here and there. The moon gates and interesting shaped windows through which you look into different ‘rooms’. The peace and serenity.

All so good. Yet there’s one element I just can’t relate to: those huge rocks – integral to the classic Chinese garden. Tradition favours the placement of dark, top-heavy, grey, textured rocks, riddled with holes and crevices and lumps – artificial mountains. To them, beautiful. To me, not. Maybe loving the smooth golden glow of Sydney sandstone is my problem.

Nevertheless, sipping jasmine tea in the Chinese Gardens of Friendship in the heart of Sydney, watching the koi leap with a splash, is a pleasure not to be missed.

June 2019