Bundeena Village, NSW

Bundeena lies south of trhe greater Sydney region, just a tip out of the Sutherland Shire and a perfect hideaway from the Big Smoke. It lies on the outer north-eastern edge of the Royal National Park and faces a bay. You can choose to walk along the eastern coast of the Royal National Park for 26km, from Bundeena in the north to Otford in the south. Bate Bay, at the mouth of Port Hacking, is visible from the shore of Bundeena Village and beckons you to the bright lights of Cronulla and the refineries of Kurnell.

Nearby to the west, over a sandspit is the village of Maianbar,which has two wharfs jutting out to its Fishermans Bay. Maianbar has a Simpsons Hotel. Other nearby visists are to Garie Beach and Wattamolla Lagoon and Beach.

Above, a hearty but low carb breakfast at the Manaa Cafe, across from Horderns Beach and the site of the Bundeena markets. Apart from the RSL, there is a Bell's Diary at the corner of Thompson Street; the Bundeena Oval with a community centre; and the Bundeena House heritage site. Sunday markets are held once a month, on the first weekend.

Above, a creek that leads out to Horderns Beach.

Below, an outdoor siren along Brighton Street in Bundeena that leads to the ferry pier.

The foliage in Bundeena is highlighted by the cabbage-tree palms, Port Jackson figs, coastal banksia and the Bangalay eucalyptus. It was the first day of May, and as bright as it could be in weeks, with the perfect blue sky and a promising day ahead.

Cronulla Beach, Sydney - What a Beaut Arvo

Guan an Bau Truong Restaurant in Canley Heights, Sydney

An offering of fresh cut chillies, already soaked in vinegar marinade, with dashes of chili paste sitting in oil (image above) was a refreshing introduction to a Vietnamese experience.

The critical test of a stir fry is to have the aroma, garnered from a sufficiently heated wok, bring up all the flavours of ingredients, garnishings and noodles blend into a melting moment for our palate sensations. Penang island fried rice noodles (char koay teow in the Hokkien dialect) offers one such opportunity. Vietnamese cooking utilises much of clear glass noodles, and often I have had them cold stir mixed with seafood, but not stir fried. A visit to Bau Truong in the small but organised suburb of Canley Heights in Sydney's south-west made a revelation to me - a rather tasty outcome of the right wok heat, rightly textured glass noodles and flavoured by bits of pork slices and prawns (image below).

The restaurant is open throughout the day and is located along the main strip in Canley Heights. It was a rather wet and miserable day outside weather-wise, so we felt welcome to its bright red coloured walls, busy staff movement and variety of the menu. There were the favourites of crispy chicken with tomato flavoured rice, rice paper rolls (chao tom), beef stock soup with rice noodles (Pho) and the quintessential goat meat curry. Two doors away is 246 Canley Heights Road with Hong Kong styled barbecued meats and further along the short road is Avoca wood fired pizza. So although one could easily stereotype this suburb as primarily Indo-Chinese, it does prove surprising, if we look closely enough.

Canley Heights is not as chock-a-block as one may encounter in adjoining Cabramatta, and I found the pavements clean like an Australian suburb usually is. We also took occasion to purchase a variety of fruits at Yung Le Market - persimmons, custard apples, pears and sweet mandarins - as well as stock up on char siew yoke ( red lined barbecues) and Chinese styled roast pork for the Wollongong kitchens.

Bau Truong is located at both 250 Canley Vale Road in Canley Heights and at 42 John Street in Cabramatta, both suburbs of the greater Sydney region.

SushiGoi at Coogee, Sydney

The Nishikigoi (goi fish) is a respected cultural symbol in Japan and most of east Asia of life, growth and plenty.

When Drew suggested having lunch at a restaurant with the namesake of the fish along Coogee Bay Road in Sydney's eastern suburbs, I was curious. It turned out to be a most satisfying experience for an easy afternoon - no fuss, smiling quick service, relaxed clients, fascinating decor (image above) - and I would return. This was a place so different from its competitors in Sydney's Chinatown and most of its so-called Asian suburbs.

The SushiGoi restaurant basically ran a train of food - the sushi kaiten concept - around a horseshoe layout - and apart from the main servings of bites rolling in front of you, you can also order sides from the menu and especially their udon. Amongst several things, we took in braised unagi; tuna and Tasmanian salmon with vinegar laden compacted rice; wagyu beef bites in marinade; crispy fried chicken Nippon-style; agedashi tofu (silky, melty and yet crispy all at the same time)and a lovely Italian-styled dessert, the mortal sin.

Families, couples, mates and more seemed to roll in with ease during lunch hour on a public holiday. The location is fantastic - we went for a lazy beverage time along Coogee Bay Road after paying our respects at the Dolphin Point Memorial Coogee victims of terrorism at Bali. The site moved me - so beautiful overlooking the surf and so touching, realising the young lives that had been cut short and so sad compared to some petty selfishness I have seen amongst some individuals I come across. Walking down some grassed slopes, we also came across a make shift shrine in honour of the apparition of the Virgin Mary. On the beach, I was impressed by how close the descending aircraft to Sydney Airport flew above the beach combers with such regularity.

The SushiGoi Restaurant is the heart of action at 230 Coogee Bay Rd, Coogee Beach NSW 2034.

What I Remind Myself

Peace of mind is rooted in affection and compassion.

When I had my house burned down, I gained an unobstructed view of the moonlit sky.

Drops of water, one by one, can fill a giant pot.

To overcome fear, use our motivation and imagination.

Great love and great achievement involves great risk.

Remain in the simplicity of the present moment.

My brain and heart are temples; my philosophy is kindness.

Tame your inner mind - and the outer enemy cannot harm you.

The trouble is that you think you have time.

Thoughts become words; words become behaviours; behaviours become
habits; habits become values; and values become destiny.

A single disappointment may instead herald the beginning of a fulfilling adventure.

Remember the principles that will help the hearth fires glow brighter.

True love rises above mere attachment.

Learn to be secretly happy within your heart in spite of whatever
circumstances. Our inherent personal happiness does not have to depend on others - only
ourselves.

You can't stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.

Try to speak, occasionally, a few words with quietude and sincerity.

The best relationship is one where your love for each other exceeds
your need for each other.

In the hope of reaching the moon, men fail to see the flowers that
bloom beneath their feet.

See things for what they are - and not what they seem to be.
Laugh with abandon on occasion, and allow the light in your heart to shine.

All things change - nothing perishes.
 
(Copyright is acknowledged to the originators of those wonderful statements above)