Return To Parramatta, NSW






I used to work there, having figured out its initially unique one way roads and grid lay out.

Like with Kuala Lumpur, I have mixed feelings about Parramatta and the way it has changed and developed.

It holds a special place in recent Australian history, having been the first inland settlement for the colonising Brits after they established themselves at Port Jackson, now known as Sydney's Rocks district.

Parramatta the name is based on a reference to "where the river ends" but today serves as the administrative centre for the New South Wales State Government and has demographics NSW Governor Macquarie in the late 18th century could have never imagined. The regional centre rivals some other Australian capital cities in terms of business, tax contribution and variety of cultures.

(Image above shows how to create captivating bouquets out of lollies in a Parramatta business near the Church Street Mall).


















The Town Hall in Parramatta on a cloudy July Sunday in 2010.

All images in this write-up were taken on the run with an I Phone concurrently with a shopping frenzy chill out

by the author of this website. Shopping in Parramatta is centred on an extensive Westfield centre, but amazingly some shops do more than survive along its original CBD streets.












Innovative display window from Gymboree.








Image above taken at the Hype DC store near the cinemas. I could not resist getting one of the Pointer canvas casual shoes, assisted by Mark.












The Ed Hardy outlet, a rare find in Australia, along Church Street Mall.














Spanish inspired chocs found in an ambient cafe along the dining strip of Church Street.














South Indian influenced mee rebus from the main Malaysian restaurant along George Street in Parramatta. The dish was spicy, had fresh cut chili bits and depends on a tasty potato-based stock for the essential gravy. Deep fried soya bean cakes, hard boiled eggs, Hokkien noodles, prawns and aromatic herbs are added for body. Rebus means simmered.












Hmmn, I wonder what they sell - this unusual sign is found along George Street.










Another version of the ice kacang, this time from southern peninsular Malaysia and Singapore.












How will the primary Anglo-Christian culture in Parramatta accommodate and share the space with other influences and religions? What is being transformed in this area has significant impact on the socio-political landscape of New South Wales.

(Image above - Sunset at St John's Cathedral)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Vietnam - Some Souvenirs

Image
Vietnam is a prime exporter of agricultural products, like rice, rubber,coffee and pepper, but to individual visitors, what comes across remarkably are lacquered products , embroidery, pottery, silk fabrics, weaved craft, stone carvings, bamboo and rattan articles, ceramic, wooden contraptions and paintings.  This is a result of long established cultural traditions and a developing economy.  The majority of the current population is under 30 years old, laden with the enthusiasm, agility and promise of youth.  The centre of handicraft is still central Vietnam, with the hub around Hue and Hoi An. You can see many water colours offered by local artists in shops, markets and pavement stalls.  I was more fascinated by origami-like paper cuts which you can come across being sold by vendors all over the place.  Best of all are the hang lanterns, available in all sizes, which are made from varying qualities of Vietnamese silk fabric, the best of which a...
Read more

Aunty Gaik Lian's - Straits Chinese, Georgetown, Penang

Image
A simple but appetising egg omelette as starters. Gulai Ikan Tumis or sour and spicy fish curry. The previous long standing branch of jewellers B.P De Silva, almost at the corner of Bishop and Beach streets in the old quarter of Georgetown, has a few months ago been transformed into a hub of Straits Chinese cuisine. Straddling two shop lots, located in an evening quiet location but near to the banking district on  business days, Aunty Gaik Lian's provides a refreshing change to the Nyonya food landscape on Penang island.  I have always found that the best Straits Chinese food is found in homes in Penang, like what my Mum dishes out, and it has been exasperating to be really satisfied with commercial outlets in this cuisine.  The Penang variation of such Peranakan food tends to be more influenced by ingredients and cooking styles from Thailand and the Malayan peninsular , when compared to the Malacca version (with more of stronger Indonesian influences and the ...
Read more

85 Degrees Bakery Cafe Hurstville NSW

Image
There are several outlets of this bakery cafe for several years now in Australia.  Did they coem from the USA? Each franchised outlet is in a busy area, often in suburbs so-called by a diverse Asian demographic.   The one in Hurstville is rather roomy and lots of baked stuff on its shelves.   The base of Sydney operations is in Chester Hill, a suburb south-west of the Sydney city centre. Some of the cake creations would be viewed as rather leaning on the East Asian dimension  - Strawberry Angel (with chocolate base and top) and Mango Cheese ( with yoghurt).   However, to counter this perspective, there are also Death by Chocolate, US Cheesecake, Coffee Brulee and Blueberry Marble options.     The pastries are definitely filled with ingredients more suited to perhaps  Anime loving fans and non-mainstream cultures - for example, garlic, pork, tuna, green tea, red bean, shallots, pork floss, coconut, Hokkaido butter cream...
Read more