The days count towards my 20 years in Australia. What are my top twenty things I cherish from this stay in this big dry land?
A penchant for lamb from the land and opportunities to mingle with almost every culture from around the world.
Understanding better my Straits Chinese roots.
Sunday nights having home cooked dinner in Carlingford.
Thankfulness for having a network of truly great mates and relatives.
Rearing goldfish and listening to the rhythmic bubbles of the aquarium or the water bamboo spout feature.
Ability to refresh my inner soul and social side with family and good overseas friends each Lunar New Year.
Lanterns that light my way outside my house.
Inspiration from special individuals whom I have been fortunate to know.
Amazement at the amount and quality of printed media in postboxes, newspapers,magazines...until cyberspace took over.
Understanding my Cantonese roots.
Salmon grilled, steamed or added to pasta.
Tingling at driving sensations over a variety of roads, sceneries and weather.
Relishing liberal freedoms and at times too much choice, but why is there no true winter?
Abalone, oysters and lobsters enjoyed in a degustation course.
Lifting my inner passion for caring for dogs, plants, fruits and blooms.
Immersing myself in soft sleep on a perfectly quiet dawn.
Accepting that there is not much night life after work on most days, but then there is some jazzy tv viewing at times.
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Tuesday, 25 August 2009
Monday, 24 August 2009
Chinatown Groceries
A Selection of Pick-Me Ups from Chinatown Grocery Shopping -
Top L to R:
Thai chicken seasoning mix; coconut cream and pho (rice noodle) soup stock;
Penang prawn mee condiments and dry noodle pack; sago dessert in Malacca palm sugar and pre-mix sauce for stir-frying pad thai (rice noodles Thai style).
Bottom: Seasoned sauce for steamed fish ala Hong Kong.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
August In The City
Tamarind-flavoured crispy prawns, cold crispy glass noodle salad and pork belly roast garnished with fresh chilli cuts and a kick-up sauce - that was how I revitalised the early afternoon on a Saturday with Viv and Janie at Spice I Am near the Capitol Theatre, after enduring unusual traffic jams on the Southern Cross trying to get into Sydney's CBD. Sitting at a Mackers outlet near the Airport to ride out the snarling slow traffic did not help, but I was able to appreciate more the subtle and more obvious changes in a MacDonalds store as we head to the close of the first decade of the third millennium.
If one has only around eight hours to sample some shopper highlights in Sydney's CBD, I suggest this - find delightful surprises at the well stocked the Kinokinuya Book Store; immerse in the World Square multi-cultural shopping; enjoy the elegant surrounds of another era at the various levels of the QVB; stand and stare at the rush and hush along Pitt Street Mall; get surprised by the rabbit warren shops at No 1 Martin Place; stroll along the Circular Quay to the Opera House, not forgetting to stop by the Guy Lian cafe in the late evening; and check out the basement grocery displays at the David Jones store outlet, downstairs from its men's clothing floor.
At Guy Lian one charming twilight, I had raspberry flavoured cakes, downed with a hot white chocolate drink, whilst outside one of the larger harbour ferry boats - the Collaroy - could be seen pulling into the ferry pier.
Rival chocolate boutiques have strengthened their offerings to Sydney visitors - these include Haigs at the Strand Arcade on Wynyard side and the three cafes maintained by Suisse Lindt. They provide temptation to seemingly nourish our sweet tooth while we walk around the flats and slopes of the cbd, asking for our attention together with cup cake shoplets, Japanese food and Krispy Kream doughnut stores.
On a Saturday morning in the Sydney cbd these days, it is a bonus to find the original main outlet of Australia Post at Martin and George open for business, joined by several branches of various banks.
For an afternoon snack, don't worry about hotel high teas or scones, reward your taste buds and keep your wallet more full in Hong Kong-inspired char siew so (roast pork buns), tarn tart (egg custard tarts) and peach-coloured festive buns at a corner bakery in Chinatown's Dixon Street Mall. They only cost a dollar each, cheaper than most canned drinks. Guys may prefer having a quick one at the numerous pubs.
At the fish market outlet in Market City, Chinatown, I saw silver and black pomfret, not easily available in Wollongong, and how there was an obvious price gap that day between fresh specimens and frozen ones, at least ten dollars in difference. The market mechanisms play on the southern Chinese penchant for fresh seafood.
If one has only around eight hours to sample some shopper highlights in Sydney's CBD, I suggest this - find delightful surprises at the well stocked the Kinokinuya Book Store; immerse in the World Square multi-cultural shopping; enjoy the elegant surrounds of another era at the various levels of the QVB; stand and stare at the rush and hush along Pitt Street Mall; get surprised by the rabbit warren shops at No 1 Martin Place; stroll along the Circular Quay to the Opera House, not forgetting to stop by the Guy Lian cafe in the late evening; and check out the basement grocery displays at the David Jones store outlet, downstairs from its men's clothing floor.
At Guy Lian one charming twilight, I had raspberry flavoured cakes, downed with a hot white chocolate drink, whilst outside one of the larger harbour ferry boats - the Collaroy - could be seen pulling into the ferry pier.
Rival chocolate boutiques have strengthened their offerings to Sydney visitors - these include Haigs at the Strand Arcade on Wynyard side and the three cafes maintained by Suisse Lindt. They provide temptation to seemingly nourish our sweet tooth while we walk around the flats and slopes of the cbd, asking for our attention together with cup cake shoplets, Japanese food and Krispy Kream doughnut stores.
On a Saturday morning in the Sydney cbd these days, it is a bonus to find the original main outlet of Australia Post at Martin and George open for business, joined by several branches of various banks.
For an afternoon snack, don't worry about hotel high teas or scones, reward your taste buds and keep your wallet more full in Hong Kong-inspired char siew so (roast pork buns), tarn tart (egg custard tarts) and peach-coloured festive buns at a corner bakery in Chinatown's Dixon Street Mall. They only cost a dollar each, cheaper than most canned drinks. Guys may prefer having a quick one at the numerous pubs.
At the fish market outlet in Market City, Chinatown, I saw silver and black pomfret, not easily available in Wollongong, and how there was an obvious price gap that day between fresh specimens and frozen ones, at least ten dollars in difference. The market mechanisms play on the southern Chinese penchant for fresh seafood.
Saturday, 15 August 2009
Standing Out
Andy has an accent that reminds me of bangers, fish and chips. He was patient enough to adequately answer my questions on the Sony T900. I thought he may have been on a year long stay Down Under, and he was doing well in customer focus, with a genuine smile and show of interest. How refreshing and different from some sales people at white goods, furniture or electronic stores. Andy stood out like "I want to buy from him" at Moore Park in Sydney's east.
The same enthusiasm was shown by staff at a modernly adorned restaurant serving Japanese food in suburban Eastwood, north-west of Sydney CBD. Janie had recommended the place for dinner, a contrast to the tone set by the majority of the nearby businesses. Information was written on glass platelets above where we sat. Although space was at a premium, solid tables supported customers who were seen to be relishing their food, especially the ramen and the bentos. Customers who did not book ahead were content to wait on this Saturday night. It was a refreshing sight to see a blonde-haired bloke attend to customers instead of the expected smiling Asian women. My sashimi of tuna cuts were fresh and went down well with the miso soup and tempura.
At Broadway shopping centre, I noticed Asians selling Italian pastas - was that a contradiction, I thought. The place had not changed much even if I had not been there for years. The demographics of the shoppers and visitors reflected the variety of neighbourhoods it was surrounded with -university students, gay couples, young families, elderly matrons, Chinatown spillovers, fitness practitioners, bohemian dwellers and cinema goers. The outdoor store Ananconda offered challenges to the likes of Kathmandu, Australian Geographic and Paddy Pallin. L'Occitane was pretty in display and suggested a touch of Euro chic. The GNC store of many years ago had disappeared, but the Dymocks book store still thrived, retaining its industry initiatives of having a coffee shop amongst its well-stocked shelves and display innovation. A new feature of Broadway in Sydney is the Oxfam store, with its brightly coloured baskets out front and socially conscious shoppers inside.
The same enthusiasm was shown by staff at a modernly adorned restaurant serving Japanese food in suburban Eastwood, north-west of Sydney CBD. Janie had recommended the place for dinner, a contrast to the tone set by the majority of the nearby businesses. Information was written on glass platelets above where we sat. Although space was at a premium, solid tables supported customers who were seen to be relishing their food, especially the ramen and the bentos. Customers who did not book ahead were content to wait on this Saturday night. It was a refreshing sight to see a blonde-haired bloke attend to customers instead of the expected smiling Asian women. My sashimi of tuna cuts were fresh and went down well with the miso soup and tempura.
At Broadway shopping centre, I noticed Asians selling Italian pastas - was that a contradiction, I thought. The place had not changed much even if I had not been there for years. The demographics of the shoppers and visitors reflected the variety of neighbourhoods it was surrounded with -university students, gay couples, young families, elderly matrons, Chinatown spillovers, fitness practitioners, bohemian dwellers and cinema goers. The outdoor store Ananconda offered challenges to the likes of Kathmandu, Australian Geographic and Paddy Pallin. L'Occitane was pretty in display and suggested a touch of Euro chic. The GNC store of many years ago had disappeared, but the Dymocks book store still thrived, retaining its industry initiatives of having a coffee shop amongst its well-stocked shelves and display innovation. A new feature of Broadway in Sydney is the Oxfam store, with its brightly coloured baskets out front and socially conscious shoppers inside.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Catching Up, All Over
Kit, Bee and Kev at the Prima Tower, Singapore July 2009
On the Farm - Bee, Roy and Kev on Sentosa Isle
The Campbells on the 8th of August, 2009
Neil and Yeen Yee at their summer wedding
Bee and Kev at airline promotional fair in Singapore, or maybe Provence
Kev Yong and Nieve Campbell - a pleasant Saturday afternoon at the Pymble Golf Club
On the Farm - Bee, Roy and Kev on Sentosa Isle
The Campbells on the 8th of August, 2009
Neil and Yeen Yee at their summer wedding
Bee and Kev at airline promotional fair in Singapore, or maybe Provence
Kev Yong and Nieve Campbell - a pleasant Saturday afternoon at the Pymble Golf Club
Sunday, 2 August 2009
Catching Up, Class and All
At the Ipoh Old Town kopi tiam, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, July 13, 2009
Coffee break, Novena, Singapore, 17 July 2009
The vegetarian do near the Old Sentosa cinema site, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Coffee break, Novena, Singapore, 17 July 2009
The vegetarian do near the Old Sentosa cinema site, Section 17, Petaling Jaya, Selangor.
Sydney Sentiment
Twilight at Circular Quay 1 August 09
Sydney's Apple Store, second largest in the company network
Town Hall in the heart of the CBD
Dusk at the iconic Harbour Bridge
Sydney's Apple Store, second largest in the company network
Town Hall in the heart of the CBD
Dusk at the iconic Harbour Bridge
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