Easter Holiday

Day 1
Good Friday, a public holiday in Australia. Today, I choose to travel around Sydney CBD with my newly bought weekly pass accompanied by my roommate. He is nice enough to bring around although he had travelled numerous times already. It is a u-turn of the week for the weather. Suddenly, it is so cold until I keep shivering while waiting for the bus. When I arrive at Circular Quay, I am in luck to see a cruiser. It is really big. I can't imagine what my face will look like when I see the Queen Mary 2, the largest ocean liner in the world. Then, rather than revisit Sydney Opera House, this time I went into the Royal Botany Garden. Although nothing much there, but it did provide me a different view of Sydney Harbour.

View of Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House from Royal Botany Garden

Another view of Harbour Bridge

Special shape tree

After walking from one end to another, we are too tired to walk back to the entrance, and we don't know the road at the other end of the garden. Thus, we start to enjoy using our weekly pass by taking one bus to a place follow by another. LOL.. Finally we reach Circular Quay again. It's time for my first ferry ride.

Reminder: Weather temperature - 19 degree Celsius.

I board the ferry going to Darling Harbour. It is freezing.. To make thing worse, the wind is so strong until I can't hold the camera properly, but the view is spectacular. Darling Harbour is a nice place, but nothing much different from Circular Quay.

For lunch, I tried Oporto. The burger is tasty, the meat is different from the burger in Malaysia. Haha.. Maybe because it is grilled, not fried. Opps, I am advertising for Oporto. LOL.. Finally, I end my trip by passing through Chinatown.

Advertising for Oporto...

Chinatown

Day 2
Went to Pizza Chow's house. Today we will explore Taronga Zoo. We have to travel by ferry to reach there. Different from yesterday's ferry, today's ferry is smaller and can travel faster. Resulting from this, the wind is so strong until my eyes cannot open while taking photos. Today's weather is a bit warmer. By the time we start our journey in the zoo, the weather is warm enough to take out the jacket. Although the zoo is big, we can see all sort of animals, but still I don't feel like really enjoy in the zoo except taking photos. Maybe because it is totally self-guided tour, and I am expecting someone to explain certain animal characteristics in detail for me. Nevertheless, it was a fun and tiring tour in the zoo. At night, we have steamboat for dinner. It is so nice and filling. A wonderful day!!!

View from the ferry

The wind is so strong.. Can't even open my eyes

Han Chow and me in the cable car in Taronga Zoo

Day 3
A brand new day starts off early. First ride in Sydney's train. It has two storey and comfortable inside. However, the train is travelling slowly and not fast. It took us one and a half hour to reach Wollongong. While the train is in journey, the view is spectacular. The train runs through forest, mountain, along the coastline before reaching the town of Wollongong (卧龙岗). Our destination Nan Thien Temple (南天寺), the largest Buddhist temple in the southern hemisphere. Although not as big as I expected, but I recognise the difficulty to build such a big temple in a foreign land. We spend most of the time in the temple before heading back to Sydney. Then it is time to go back to Malaysia Hall.. Good times past fast..

View of the temple

Another view of the temple

View of Wollongong from the temple

Day 4
Marathon of travelling runs into day 4. I am a bit tired but my excitement keeps me energetic enough to spend another day outdoor. Today, it is time for the Royal Easter Show, an annual event for Sydney to celebrate the Easter Holiday. We have to go there by train using a Show link ticket. It includes all the transport expenses and acts as an entrance ticket for the show. Destination: Sydney Olympic Park, the place where Sydney use to host Olympic Games in year 2000. There are so many people going to the show on Easter Monday, which is still a public holiday in Australia. Stunning performance, animal exhibition, and stalls are some of the attraction in the show. I even get a chance to squeeze milk from a cow. It is just too wonderful.. Then, at night, we get to watch a spectacular fireworks show despite it is raining at the same time. It is definitely a wonderful day albeit tiring.

Danger man and Danger woman.. That's how they call them...

Stunned?

Cow...

My first cup of beer in Australia... Free..

Sydney Olympic Stadium

Squeeze milk from cow.. New experience..

Ferris Wheel..

Spectacular fireworks 1

Spectacular fireworks 2

Stunned again? LOL..

Day 5
I am having a good rest after 4 days of travelling. At night, I joined my friends to Sydney's Observatory, a place I have a feeling I will visit repeatedly during my stay in Sydney. However, the night was cloudy. Despite we get to use the powerful telescope to view some of the ground landscape, I am still disappointed as I can't get to see the stars via telescope. Never mind, I promised myself, I WILL be back..

A telescope..

Day 6
Time to be serious. I went back to uni to do assignments. Nothing much happen except doing some shopping afterwards.

Day 7
As Day 6, except today I get myself some new clothes. Didn't bring enough from Malaysia. I get myself a new comforter too, the one I am using now will prove to be inadequate soon when weather starts to turn cold.

Day 8
Nothing happens. Stay at Malaysia Hall, as the travel pass expired yesterday. No point going out.

Day 9

Nothing much will happen. Have to finish assignment.

Day 10 (Prediction)
Last day of holiday. Must have enough rest. Time to be serious in studies once semester resumes.

Starting To Blend Into Sydney's Life

Wow, I have been in Sydney for 2 weeks already. Time flies. The first week in university reminds me of the life in Singapore where they also practice the lecture and tutorial system. Thus, it is not a big shock for me. However, being in a new environment where the people here are native speakers of English, it took me quite a while before be able to catch up with some of the words they say. Still, I found this a wonderful experience. I will try my best to survive through all the troubles that are in my way. Ha ha..


Now, off the serious topic. It's time for some fun. I have been to the most famous beach in Sydney, Bondi Beach. The view here is incomparable to all the beaches in Malaysia. I have never seen a beach with such beautiful scenery. With the wind blowing strongly on my face, I really have the surge of feeling that I do not want to leave the place. It is really nice.. But, the water is so cold until I wonder how the people can swim so happily inside. It must be that they already be able to tolerate this kind of temperature.

Bondi Beach in my background

Scenic View

Waves...

Lots of people..

Apart from that, I have seen the night of Sydney as well. It is indeed very different from Kuala Lumpur. After night, the streets are like deserted. It's kind of scary to walk alone in night. Nevertheless, it is quite safe to walk along the street. Ha ha..

Deserted Street at Cirqular Quay, main tourist spot at 8.30 pm

View of Harbour Bridge at night

View of Sydney Opera House at night

Me with partial Harbour Bridge in my background

Well, it's time to talk about the place I live. Although before this I plan to rent a house outside campus since I am not able to get on-campus accommodation, however, the reality is cruel. The real estate market in Sydney has been so competitive until one single house inspection can draw up to 60 people. The competition is so strong until I don't see the need for me to waste my time on the potential fruitless search on rental house. At this time also, Malaysia Hall offered me a permanent place to stay. Thus, I received the offer and now became a permanent resident in Malaysia Hall. Although this is not a luxurious place to live in, but given the rent is just $4 per day and breakfast plus dinner for just $7 per day, I will have quite some allowances left for me to enjoy life in Sydney. Ha ha.. Thus, give and take, one always have to lose something in order to gain something. True for my case as well.

View from my room at Malaysia Hall facing the Royal Randwick Racecourse

That's all for now.. My next post should be about Australian people..

Bye and take care..

Sydney Tourists' Spot

Just showing some photos around the Circular Quay, Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House. Now I am still busy searching for house to rent. It is insanely difficult to find a house in Sydney Suburbs now. Wish me luck..

Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House