South Indian Mee Goreng

Yellow Hokkien noodles are thoroughly mixed in a potato-based gravy that is garnished with the juice of kalamansi limes, cut green chilies, prawn and onion fritters, a dash of spring onions, bits of Chinese celery. fried shallots, slices of hard boiled egg, fresh bean sprouts and tau kwa (deep fried pieces of firm tofu). The gravy is most critical in deciding the quality of the overall feel and taste of this dish, for it also contains a combination of dried shrimps, chicken curry paste, tamarind paste juice, ground fine peanuts and salted soybeans. The resulting product - mee rebus - pictured above from the kitchen of Janie Low - just means simmered noodles. Janie's version I tasted is removed from the main stream, a dry concoction but equally with the distinct flavours of this unique South Indian creation. Back on Penang Island, I just adore the version made by Mum!

Flora and Fauna in Balgownie NSW

Guppies and tetra, although minuscule, have a liveliness in them - a dash of colour and group display.

They do not require much in feeding - but tolerant only of a narrower range of water temperatures,important in a temperate and colder climate zone.

In Balgownie, the challenge is to ensure a continuity of blossoming plants even in the cooler

mid-year season. On the other hand, succulents and other breeds not requiring much care nor watering epitomise the most adaptable plants for the Australian weather (background, with frangipanis and jade plants).

Ornamental plants are a hit with time starved modern lifestyles anywhere.

Above image, fern like grass and below, the small leaf jade plant.

                             

Sydney Olympic Park - An Enchanted Evening

The cries of  "Aussie,Aussie,Aussie" still reverberated in my ears this cool and nippy Saturday evening.

This is what the Sydney Olympic Park (SOP) can do to me. I have many happy memories of the Sydney Games, especially when viewing live the diving and gymnastics events - plus the Opening Ceremony on a mild September night.  I was there this time one Saturday night to attend the encounter between the Waratahs and the Brumbies in rugby union at the officially renamed main year 2000 Olympic Stadium - the ANZ Stadium (above, at dusk).

I could recognise the key facilities and buildings from the heady days and nights of the Sydney Olympics - and also recall the hordes of volunteers in their bright and distinguished shirts. There is special fondness for the Aquatic Centre and Acer Arena.  Apart from the still maintained parklands like Blaxland and Bicentennial, I noted hotelsl like the Pullman, Novotel(above image) and Ibis ( all a stone's throw from the ANZ Stadium).

There is also a commercial hub centring around a Commonwealth Banking Group office support presence near the Olympic Park Station.

Two boys size up the concrete ramp which thye later scaled,with the encouragement of Dad. (above)

The lighting structures around the ANZ Stadium suggest transformer-like appearances at sunset. (below)

The names of every sports person who participated at the Sydney Games in the year 2000 are recorded alphabetically for posterity on each of the poles (above), inspired by indigenous Australian culture.

The SOP continues to host sporting events ( for example AFL, NRLand the second annual State of Origin) ,concerts  expositions, conferences and community functions like the annual Sydney Royal Easter Show.  I have to conbfess that my camera ran out of battery power just before the rugby union match, but I did have a whaleof a time at the match!