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.
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