Return of the Monks - Annandale, Sydney

Pictured above were captured at the Wat Buddharangsee, located at 49 Trafalgar Street, in Annandale, inner city Sydney, NSW. It signified Kartina, a ceremony to honour the monks, who return to active community life after a month of meditation and reflection away. A street food fair was also held in conjunction with this celebration, which centres around the offering of food and drink to the monks, who do not partake of such things after morning has passed by each day.

The Dale Cafe - Annandale, Sydney

Located at an unassuming and residential corner of Annandale, not far from Sydney's Anzac Bridge, I had the opportunity on a recent weekend to be introduced by friends to the Dale Cafe. Run by three twenty somethings, two guys and a lady, the place is divided into a cafe sit area and one with leather lounges, all placed with no airs, graffiti on a door and with a feel of a heritage past. The crowd on a Saturday arvo is relaxed, seems to be full of regulars and know what they want - a home away from home.

The Dale Cafe is located at 18 Trafalgar Street, Annandale, NSW 2038, in Sydney's inner west, close to the Italian quarter of Leichhardt. The nearest cross road is Albion Street. It also hosts The Little Marionette On the Dale, which offers breakfast, lunch and takeaways, but more interestingly, provides a one-on-one barista training opportunity for those interested.