St. Andrews Cathedral, Sydney CBD

Literally a church atop an underground train station, St Andrews was consecrated in 1868 and is strategically located near the Town Hall section of Sydney CBD. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 and continues to be in the centre of lively activities, surrounded by swirling crowds of shoppers, office workers, lunch goers and tourists. It maintains a Chapter House, school and choir, with significant building restoration undertaken in 1999 and 2000.

Images taken on Sunday, 9 May 2010.

Sydney Sights

The Spanish Quarter along Liverpool Street, CBD South

Chrysanthemum blooms in a crowded city profile

          Never lack of time for a refreshing dip into the water, to then watch and stare, as the world goes by.

Effort, talent and market exposure - an enterprising band buskers at teh corner of George and Liverpool Streets on a weeknight.

           Past Arncliffe on the Princes Highway, heading south past semi-industrial blocks in the city's south.

And mankind tries to shape his vision and will on the Earth.

The Art of Making Murtabak

Above is the final product, accompanied by three different types of South Indian curries - chicken, vegetarian and lamb with potatoes. The murtabak - crispy bread with fillings of minced lamb and aromatic onion - is a meal by itself. All this for under AUD11.

The fillings are placed ready to be wrapped up once the fresh dough translates into a delectable bite of roti.

Utensils of the murtabak maker.

Swirling the dough on to the hot plate - the very first step of making murtabak.
Images taken at the Mirchi Indian Cuisine Cafe, Sydney CBD World Square.

A Sunday Night in Carlingford

A home setting - stirfried vegetables with mushrooms and more, typical food of Chinses immigrants around the world.

Susan and Boo Ann's delectable chili concoctions and combinations, to garnish the main dishes and tickle the palate.  That home grown chili is hot.

Crackling roast pork, suitable for snacks but best served with rice on a winter's night.

This particular serving has a special ingredient - we have to ask Boo Ann.

Hainan-inspired chicken flavoured rice.

Bean curd squares with minced pork - easy to digest and good for any age.

Rippling Good Too

Imagine this: a Saturday afternoon, with the wind stirring and the waves rising. We are at least over thirty kilometres from home. The moment is perfect, with the random elements of Nature in our faces, and we are seated feeling the sand on our footwear, with attentiveness surrounding us, not just in the smile of an alert German-Australian waiter, but also in the set-up of a cottage and the delicacy of the food placed in front of us. Surfers in wet suits pass us by in sheer enjoyable abandon of their sport, and we melt into this ambiance without resistance. We are at Whale Beach in New South Wales.

(Canadian scallops and roast pork crackle from Ripples, The Strand at Whale Beach in Sydney's Northern Beaches)

“Wisely, and slow. They stumble that run fast.” - William Shakespeare
(Oyster on shell dressed with lemon aioli, part of the Tastes of the Sea starters
from Ripples, Whale Beach)

In between goals is a thing called life, that has to be lived and enjoyed. -- Sid Caesar
(Northern end of Whale Beach, NSW)

You don't have to cook fancy or complicated masterpieces - just good food from fresh ingredients.

- Julia Child

( Roast lamb rack and braised shank, graced by lentils, carrots and crafted potato, the mains I had at Ripples Whale Beach)

“Whatever the present moment contains, accept it as if you had chosen it.” ~Eckhart Tolle (via The Mindfulist)

(Tuna and soft shell crab from Ripples Whale Beach)