L.A.M.B!

Sydney's beauty
Sunday, January 13, 2008

Just spent the day browsing through my photos... Seems as though I had went back in time to when I first set foot onto Sydney. It's a beautiful place and Australians are definitely more outspoken and welcoming. Grocery-shopping was more pleasurable as every cashier would smile and greet you with "Hello! How's your day?"

Photographed at one of the stalls in The Rocks Market. The vendor is selling cooking utensils made from eucalyptus bark. I've bought a letter-opener and butter spreader. Haha, don't ask me why, I just felt like spending that day.

Took this while strolling along Darling Harbour. Actually, I wanted a photo with Darling Harbour at the back. Guess the photographer didn't realise that...

The group of us were resting on a widespread lawn in UNSW and just decided that it's photo-taking time.

Went to Bondi Beach... Not much RA stuff... Haha, just quite a number of women laying out in the sun without their tops for sun-tanning.

My hair's in a mess in this picture. Oh, that dreadful wind... Spoils my photo. Haha anyway, we're standing in front of the famous Opera House. Didn't had the chance to go in, since it was already closed. Nevertheless, it wasn't that spectacular. Esplanade in Singapore is more pleasing to the eye.

My 2 most satisfying self-prepared meals: Stir-fried noodles and pasta. Looks easy, but the ingredients are more than it looked. I had to buy oyster sauce, fish sauce, some vegetables, minced meat, eggs, mushrooms, fishballs and nuggets. Now, you can understand why I had to think through my meal menu and come up with a list before shopping for grocery.

There is how my room looks like. Seems clean, right? Somehow, it is not cockroach-free though...

This is the common room, where we always laze around to watch TV or to cook. The common room has plenty of houseflies. It is no surprise that our hands were very busy during mealtime, cos' we had to keep 'swiping' away houseflies that were attracted out our food.

Oh,I've got a few videos of the New Year's countdown in Sydney. Fireworks are really beautiful, better than the ones released during National Day. The videos are not really a good depict of the celebrations, since watching them 'live' offers better visual effects.

It's a pity though that I was there on a summer programme. This would mean that assignments and projects were more time-compelling and less time could be allocated for fun and pleasure. Not that there isn't... It just felt insufficient... Wish that I could stay a couple of days longer... Not in the hostel though, maybe elsewhere like in a rented apartment near the city.

--Mary HAD a little lamb--

7:35 pm

I'm BACK!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008

Yahoo! After more than 7 hours of flight, I'm finally back in the same old house that I've been living for more than 15 years... It feels good, definitely much better than the hostel in UNSW, where I live in constant doubt for the sight of cockraoches. I had to conduct a thorough check for 'blackies' each time I returned to the hostel room. That is the nickname for cockroaches in Sydney, cos' they're huge and black in colour.
This trip has enlightened me much more than the previous one to Germany. For once, I felt like I've been thrown into a completely foreign place where I have to complete every task on my own. Prepare my own meals... Shop for groceries, taking into consideration the expiry dates and costs... Washing my own load of clothes... Ensure that my lunch and dinner menus are different each day so that I won't feel sick of cooking the same dishes every and then... Basically, it felt as if I had moved out out of my comfy home and the accomplishment of every chore is now solely upon my shoulders. This realization has definitely led me to appreciate the things that my family has been doing for me and how fortunate I am to go home each day, with food ready on the table and my favourite drinks and fruits in the refrigerator. One thing's for certain though: Hostel life is not for me. I need lots of care and love, so home is the best!
So imagine my excitement to exit Changi Departure Hall to find my dad and brother waiting for me... It finally felt like home in 5 weeks. One thing I didn't expect was Natalie's presence. Haha, thanks gal! Thanks for going to the airport to fetch me, you've just made my day better!

--Mary HAD a little lamb--

11:15 pm

8 days left...
Wednesday, January 02, 2008

The weather here is getting warmer. I'm beginning to miss the strong blow of cool wind across my face and sending chills down my spine. At least, it wasn't as warm back then. Now, the climate just totally reminds me of Singapore.

Post-Christmas Sales in Sydney are just madness. Everyone is out shopping on Boxing Day (including me, hehe), cos' almost every shop is having 50 – 70% sales. The amount that I spent over the Christmas period (26th – 30th Dec) is equivalent to the expenses for the first 2 weeks. The central shopping district is just filled with a sea of people. Myer (something like high-end Metro in Singapore) is completely filled! Loads of people and just heaps of shoes and clothes... Even the queues for the cashier take ages. My friend, who bought a GUESS bag for AUS 50 (Cost price: AUS 99), queued for 30 minutes to pay. Nevertheless, the discounts are really worth it. I was so tempted to get a GUESS wallet and bag myself... They look really gorgeous.

Went straight to Bondi Beach after shopping... Pretty diasppointing for a beach that was so overly-praised... Laperous Beach is much prettier.

My biggest headache now is to fit all my shopping accomplishments into my luggage. Masses of chocolate and biscuits, several clothes and bags and slippers... No souvenirs though, since I guess everyone is just sick of getting bookmarks, keychains and magnets... Or at least, I am sick of looking at those things...

Yeah, I completed almost every name on my agenda for the Christmas week. I've been to the Sydney Aquarium, Wildlife Park, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Sydney Fish Market, The Rocks Market and Paddy’s Market.

Sydney Harbour Bridge in the evening

Taken at the most beautiful beach (my personal opinion): Laperous Beach

I love the wind!

Taken in the Sydney Aquarium... I feel blue...

The Sydney Wildlife World was quite ok. Not very spectacular... At least, I did manage to see the koala and wallabies, and touch a lizard. Oh, the koala bears are really cute!!!

Last place to go before I'm totally satisfied: Taronga Zoo! I'm planning to go next week. Hopefully, it won’t be too crowded.

Three more essays left to do… I’ll persevere!

--Mary HAD a little lamb--

9:16 am