A good 6 days of lovin' life and spending money like water HAHA. It's payback time now *sobs* My 'Kor' joked that I gotta cook him soba every night till a 'nong nong' time. I know you're magnanimous right haha but I just feel so uneasy owing anyone.
Nonetheless, it was lovely being in a land of 15 degree celsius, AUTUMN, my favourite kind of cold heh, unlike hot and humid Singapore. Plus me getting my mind off things.
The best parts were the breathtaking scenery, ancient building structures and faking Aussie greeting accents like "How are ya?" "G'day" and "See ya later".
Was damn confused cos'
1. They don't expect a reply when they say "hey how are you" but you may sound rude if you don't reply.. So do I just smile and end it with a "fine/good?" Awks...
Eh but I tried "Hey, I'm good, thanks, how are ya" to an air steward on my flight back and he looked pretty impressed! Just that I 'zao xia-ed' on the "how are ya".
2. Why would I "see you later"???
But Australians are so friendly. Totally unlike nonchalant and indifferent S__________.
The worst parts were getting lost, especially on one of the nights, on huge highways with zero batteries on our phones and relying on physical maps (I became so good at it) and seeking directions from random pubs. And getting tailed by a burly guy in the back alley that I immediately darted across to get to the main roads. Haunting.
By God's grace, I got some brief directions and stayed calm. (was so afraid that my anxiety attack would act up.) Helped my 'Kor' to navigate along with road signs that I roughly remembered from the past few days and the physical map that I held in my hands. It was no child's play.
Eventually, we got ourselves parked at a less dubious carpark than the night before. Freaking A$100 for overnight parking in a lousy carpark on that previous night. "Parking in Australia's more profitable than car rental service"- true that.
While exiting the carpark, I was so touched by a gesture of my brother.
"Are you ok? Don't stressed ok"
I snubbed his comment with jest, "No la, haha."
"Come, give me a hug"
I was shocked out of my wits. But I gladly reciprocated his gesture, but with "OMG Kor, you're so weird!!! Not used to it."
Little did I expect that after living with him under one roof for the past 19 years would he display such a sweet gesture. After years of giving each other a cold shoulder and him giving me shit cos' we aren't blood siblings, I'm really glad that God restored this kinship and he recognises me as his sister. I'm just moved beyond words. The greatest thing above all is just LOVE. (and forgiveness)
So, here's a summary. I went on this trip with my aunt ("guma"/ "gums"-heh that's what I call her) and my 'Kor'. I missed my three annoying siblings and my parents so much. I can't stay away from home too long. I'll get sick. And btw I got real sick of cafe food cos I had it 6 days in a row (+6 streak). In the meantime not a fan of it already.
Me: Mom I miss you.
Mom: Miss ur mischievousness. love u, mum.
Me: TSK. I'm so sick of cafe food.
Mom: Ofc. Will 'dabao' your fish or fishball soup for you when you are back.
Here it goes.
There will always be that rainbow after the rain.
Vintage cafe- Smoked Salmon pizza (crust was really good)
Sydney Opera House
❤
Ferryyyy. Kor: I checked, the ferry's only coming like only after 30 mins. All the dumb people just sit here and wait. Me: K then we try take the bus. *Waited at the bus stop for ages, with direct rays shone onto our faces.* Kor: OMG THE FERRY'S LEAVING!!! Me: OMG KOR NOW WE'RE THE DUMB ONES!?! *Ran to catch the ferry before it departed*
Interior. (the stage can spin 360)
Wide & shallow steps for performers/ guests with long gowns.
Glossy & Matte shells
I was totally enlightened by the facts and history of this stunning architecture smacked right in the centre of Sydney. It was so fun listening to how major theatrical productions actually take place on this iconic stage and how a single man's foresight and determination made it possible. FOR THE RECORD I DID LEARN SOMETHING I AM NOT A BIMBO WHO TRAVELS FOR THE SAKE OF TAKING STEP PICTURES. Here are so interesting facts I remembered:
1. The designs for this dedicated opera house were submitted by numerous architects around the world back in the 1950s and they ranged from really boring squarish ones to rounded ones but Jorn Utzon's , a Danish architect, masterpiece stood out from the rest although his was initially rejected due to non-compliance to technical rules.
2. Glossy and matte shells were used in amalgamation cos' glossy ones create the shiny effect while the purpose of using matte was to divert the solar rays.
3. Jorn Utzon met with several obstacles because of his 'too picture perfect' drawing that made it almost impossible to make it to life. Because of this, he took donkey years to revise his plans and work with his engineer and construction team, which then incurred a huge debt. The new government was not willing to support his ambitious ideas then.
4. He resigned due to the immense pressure and objection and a new team was employed by the government to join the scrap pieces and work on the interior. He never returned to witness his masterpiece.
5. The mammoth debt was subsequently settled easily within a couple of years. To my surprise, it was via BETTING ON THE OPERA HOUSE OPERATED BY NSW LOTTERIES. Big gamblers huh.
Opera Bar
BIRD
Pan-seared Barramundi
Chill feels.
Cockle Bay Wharf.
To make up for the 2 degrees increase in temp heh.
HARBOUR BRIDGE!!
Your beauty's etched in my mind.
Museum of Contemporary Art.
The Rocks Market.
WILDLIFE SYDNEY
KANGOOOOOOO
What harm can you bring to me when we're separated by glass.
Get your ass movin'
MYTH BUSTER: Koalas care bout' nothing but SLEEP, EAT & REPEAT.
Shine bright like a diamond.
BILLS Cafe @ Darlinghurst.
Banana ricotta pancakes.
Best scrambled eggs!
Roadtrip to Blue Mountains wheeeee
Windows down. High speed. Breathtaking scenery. Singing and groovin' to Marvin Gaye!!
1 hr drive just to witness your existence.
Three Sisters Rock. (+headlands & bays)
How I wish life could be this simple and beautiful. Swimming in the ponds with my sheep and cows.
OK so the journey to Jenolan Caves was approximately 2 hours and while reading directions to my Kor I was literally dozing off cos' all I could say was "STRAIGHT". And he tapped me hard to wake me up after he sensed that I was going all silent.
Kor: Eh faith wake up. Talk to me leh.
Me: Straight.
You were worth the arduous journey I guess.
When I spoke, there's smoke. That's how cold it was in it.
Stalactites, Stalagmites and limestone pillars.
Fossil imprints on the sedimentary rock.
Icicle-shaped calcium carbonate deposits.
After studying and drawing limestone features for 2 years, I finally saw it come to life it's so amazing!!
Sunset was like at 6pm.
Found this homely Thai place at some awkward and dark back alley. And it had a heater yay.
Gigantic prawns iloveyou.
"We must eat fish here cos' it's Sydney Fish Market" K can.
Can you sense the freshness!?!
Seafood Platter SO FRESH!! Highlight of my trip man.
Then to Sydney Olympic Stadium.
Cuties darting their soccer balls all over.
How I wish I ended my sporting journey this high.
Aquatic Centre.
I woke up 3am (1am SG time) for this. GSEWS prolly just went to sleep.
6am @Hawkesbury
KINDLE THOSE FLAMES.
Beauty without edits.
Ascending.
See la I woke up so early that I didn't get to comb my hair properly. K YA'LL MUST BE THINKING I DON'T EVEN COMB MY HAIR USUALLY.
Humans and buildings become so insignificant.
Cloud 9 HEHEHE.
Let me be a lil' step in the sky.
How I wish I could 飞 forever.
It's all done manually.
I DID IT!
BONDI BEACH.
Why got no one.
Cos' it's gonna rain la.
BEST RIBS HANDS DOWN @ Hurricane's grill by bondi beach.
Watsons Bae. BAY.
She scared me out of my wits.
Gud eyedeer.
Guess how hungry they were.
Was craving for an authentic dim sum breakfast!
Liu Sha was damn good.
"Outside, they ostracise Asians. Inside, Asians ostracise them."
First sentence that came out of the waitress's mouth was "how many people?" in Cantonese. Felt so at home for once.
On a side note, it was pretty amusing spotting how everyone had teapots on their tables except a table with Coke and Sprite bottles, and them experiencing immense difficulty using those chopsticks.
The portions are so much bigger (the prawns were spilling out of the 'cheong fun') which made it a little dreadful toward the end.
Cafe hopping @Surry Hills. K it failed we only made it to two. Cos' we were just so sick of it already.
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The highly raved about Bourke Bakery. 'Ye hai hao' only la.
Spiced Carrot Cake & Ginger Creme Brulee Tart.
The carrot cake left me reminiscing though.
St Mary's Cathedral. Like a castle!!
?
Sydney Tower Eye.
View from 260 metres.
Caught Les Miserables @Capitol Theatre. So deserving of a standing ovation!!!
Really thankful for this trip. But the stuff in Sydney is expensive.. Maybe cos' we were crazy paying AUD$100 for overnight parking and busting endless tolls on our self-drive, and hiring a hot air ballon for close to $1000. But it's always an experience, and it was indeed a good one with my aunt and brother. Although I wish it was a whole family affair. So that I can be crazy with my crazy siblings, HEH but I'll be constantly shunning away from my dad's death stare.
Sydney's food is like x2 of SG portions (also x2 the price), which made me feel so bloated and sometimes suffocating after meals. Plus it's so dry and my throat's still screaming for help. Cafe food everyday was no joke, would totally trade it anytime for some rustic soupy Asian food.
And Mom asked us to get Blackmore's Primrose from Aussie cos she said it was cheaper cos it's made there, but it wasn't much cheaper anyway, and we dragged 12 bottles back in our luggage. However, I really appreciate that my mommy thinks of us in every single occasion, cos' those cod liver oil and primrose fed to us every night and the Cetaphil cream bottles my sisters and I apply everyday are her lifetime investments to aid our dry skin problems. Today, I can say I've got pretty good skin. To me, she's the epitome of selflessness, cos' the ultimate vain one 20 years ago gave up almost everything to provide the best for us. I really love you so much my mom. (That I'll send an "I love you mom." message on random days. She told me that she would say this to her colleagues, "Aiyo, my daughter sure gonna ask me for something tonight." Where got!?! WL. Mother's day to me is everyday please.)
Got some souvenirs for my loved ones. I've learnt to buy thoughtful ones otherwise it's just a plain waste of money and effort. I'm really excited to hand it to them but for one group of them, all I feel is apprehension and awkwardness. If you guys ever read this, I remembered that y'all like salted caramel and mint, and the lady boss's a fan of ginger with chocolate. I'm not sure when I'll ever return to hand it to you guys although we're just a few kilometres away. Will we turn into strangers? Idk. But I'm really glad that business's prospering, maybe you guys don't even need me anymore.
ANYWAY, I'M HAPPY. Although I'm broke HAHAHA, but my happiness is defined by my beloved Jesus, my family and close friends. And chilling at a quaint cafe alone, sipping on my iced mocha to avoid the blazing heat and pending down my thoughts. Is there such a job?
A few months left to unwind, then reality starts. This is life.
In the meantime, let's groove to my new found favourite song~
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