Scenes from Sydney

The largest metropolis in any nation is bound to be special, controversial and unique. Several British colonies around the Australian coast vied for the honour and title of going to be the most important, the most productive and the most nurturing city. One may speculate about the harbour with many bays, or the more benign climate between the tropics and the temperate, but Sydney turned out to be ahead of other locations, even those with more viable hinterlands. A city may be great, but it is the people who live there - and enjoy the best of its opportunities or suffer the worst of its excesses - who count and matter. A sprawling urban congregation may thrive on the benefits of business and economic advantage, but the final judgement of a meaningful place to call home is its heart, its degree of organisation and the quality of its environs. Above image (credit to Torsten Blackwood / AP/ Getty Images) encapsulates the view of a beggar on a city street pavement, in a country with structured social security, rather high minimal salary rates and a relatively low population.

Sydney was founded more than 224 years ago, and yet it is relatively young compared to the old cultures of the world. Added to the indigenous history are the heritage richness of various streams of immigrants, most recently from both the Western and Eastern Hemispheres. Once joined to old land masses, it currently is infused with strong influences from more than two hundred nationalities. A significant contribution to what Sydney is today was made by the working classes, many of them from the Celtic tradition and arising from mass Irish immigration to the New World. Image above, Scruffy Murphy's Pub stands proudly alongside surrounding skyscraper buildings in the Chinatown district and near Central Station.

What the denizens of a great city do in their spare time also define the character and attractiveness of a place. Slim cyclists are seen out on the streets of Sydney and its suburbs on any weekend, especially early mornings (above, along Anzac Parade in Kingsford on a December morning), whether in groups, leisurely solo or on training intent. The world perceives Sydney as a surf beach mecca, and rightly so - but more than that, essentially most of its residents love the elements of the outdoors, wear shades and get the barbie going, plus not missing any opportunity to be one with Nature, whether in bush trialling, taking a drive, walking the dog, boating, having picnics or having a beer on the patio.

And of course , eating in innovative restaurants, during home parties, on outdoor pavements or in ethnic enclaves. Melbourne can claim that as well, except for the different climate. Sydney has always had notable southern Italian food, questionable American fast food and retro Chinese food. In the past twenty years, Sydneysiders have had the privilege of having access to more varieties of cuisine at various price levels than almost any other city on Earth (again, maybe except for Melbourne). Above, a typical Singaporean food joint and below, the corner of Crown and Oxford Streets, in Darlinghurst, one of the many growing hubs of choice in dining.

There is no such thing as the perfect place. For all the variety of its entertainment options, cultural displays and seaside bays, Sydney city has still to grapple with long standing issues - to improve public transport, a housing dilemma (above image - inner city apartments ), rising costs of living, traffic gridlock at rush hours, quality of personal and property security and childcare challenges. They increasingly say that if one has wealth, it is a good Sydney to live in, and if not, oh well, please just refer back to the very first picture in this piece. The spectacular fireworks at Sydney Harbour on New Year's Eve may give a thrll for a night, but it is the city's residents who has to face the reality of daily life long after that magical, annual stroke of midnight.

Sydney - Louis Vuitton George Street Maison

Louis Vuitton, the harbinger of expensive but potentially rewarding experiences, the symbol of quality and elegance, and an European tradition hallowed by many of the new rich in rising China and India economies, has opened a flagship outlet at the corner of King and George Streets in Sydney CBD. Officially it is known as the Louis Vuitton George Street Maison, opened on 2 December 2011. This follows the opening of another maison in Singapore's Marina Bay precinct. Its neighbour in Sydney is the second largest Apple store in the world. Its staff attending to clients on the floor are minimally university graduates. On the morning of my visit, the scene could be summed up by Indian sales staff taking care of mostly China buyers. There was no rush at the entrance, but two well dressed staff members controlled the flow of visitors by opening and closing doors. When you enter the three level delight, you first notice the high backlit ceilings, sense the buzz of eager buyers (mostly women) and know that you are going to enjoy a very well planned and thought of experience in checking out both clothes and accessories for both genders.

The outfit is thought to have cost around 10 million Aussie dollars to set up. This is the tenth LV store for Australia. Another good reason to drop by this store is the choice of personalising your selection of an LV purchase, an option not to be taken lightly as it may not be available elsewhere. Japanese tourists have been in obsession with LV for so many years, and this may draw them back to Sydney. Above, one of the several wide-sized shopping display windows that stand out in striking red. Below, a bicycle on an upper floor that caught my eye, combining perhaps the best of French daily life and the exquisite LV touch.

LV is a master of catching attention, celebrating the unique and providing excellent taste. I immediately fell for the rooster (picture above), active, inquisitive and purposeful. The contraption was made of various LV products, cleverly combined and created into a wholesome piece having a separate life of its own, so to speak. Individual items, glowing and beaming, are carefully placed in clear glass displays over the various floors, suggesting more of the Louvre in Paris rather than a fine jewellery shop. There is space, plenty of it, in this magical retail outlay, space to walk, space to admire and space to contemplate. Staff wear dark suits, carry themselves with both a purpose and a smile and the result is to make the client comfortable enough to make a decision. I came across a young Caucasian lady of not more than twenty years old, holding a beautifully wrapped LV box, beaming to her parents, as the latter had to take a picture of this important moment in time, in this young lady's life. I felt that truly, madly and deeply, this roadside take was as important as her prom, her graduation and her first kiss.

Festive Holidays - What do They Mean?

A small but characteristic church (above picture) can be seen along George Street, Sydney CBD, for Christmas. Liz, the person I also enjoy chattering to at my local petrol pump, mentioned about having to prepare so much in time and effort, ostensibly just for an apparent one hour gathering with family at Christmas time. I mused about this whilst sipping Absolut vodka and orange juice in the glow that happens on the eve of the festive holidays. After the so-called season is over, each of us gets back to so-called routine and regime, or better still, embark on new adventures and initiatives.

Jews light the candles in commemoration of the successful retaking over of a significant temple and this occasion is still faithfully recalled in Hannukah. Most of human festivals recall the triumph over challenges and difficult times, many celebrate charismatic figures and often relate so much to the turning of the planet Earth and its impact on its denizens. Modern day festivities may sometimes have been called by different names in previous epochs. It may be in the human persona and make-up that we need to gather, regather and reflect. Commerce may have hijacked part of this inherent ritual by the layers of purchasing, night parties, restocking and supposed customs, but once any one pulls away such ostentations like the Christmas tree, one may rediscover the possibly true meaning of such occasions. Image below, from the Strand Arcade in Sydney CBD, December 2011.

All that glitters may not be true gold. Beneath the shiny baubles, each of us has to manage the reality, navigate the journey to realise the dream and enjoy the sights along the way. At the same time, festivals remind us to think more of others. It is true that we have to put our own house in order before we can meaningfully relate to others, especially special ones. To me, I believe that is a concurrent journey, and my own experience is that I learn and receive so much more from other human beings when I reach out to them in a positive way.

Festive occasions also offer an opportunity to get away. Away from our day to day runs. To have the pleasure to dream again. To do the things we find we may otherwise not have the time for. One can literally get away physically, but one need not to. More importantly, it is the occasion to be able to immerse yourself inside your heart, and your heart will show the way forward.

A summery Christmas season in Australia offers opportunities for cutting down the sugar fix and balancing with fresh cherries, bananas and lychees. Thee last mentioned three fruits echo the various climes in which I have lived through, and to consume them at year's end can be symbolic of recalling the fruits of personal labour and conviction, the love of immediate family plus other relatives and the support of mates and close friends. Christmas fruit pies (picture above from Out for Lunch, Wollongong NSW) may be eaten only once a year, but the meaningful relationships each of us have are more reliable to the nourishment of both our heart and soul. And for us to be grateful about them.

The Backstreet Cafe, Wollongong CBD

It can be special and rare when I get to enjoy authentic food, prepared in the same way as still being done in the source country. Australian multiculturalism can also mean fusion in implementaion, especially when it comes to realistically attracting local diners. Whilst fusion in cuisine can also be exciting and inspiring, there is also room for transplanted communities to serve traditional styles of preparation. This authencity was experienced by me recently when Wills suggested trying out the Backstreet Cafe, a modest outfit beside an unassuming lane located off the pedestrian mall of Crown Street in Wollongong's city centre. The cafe specialises in northern Chinese noodles, both stir-fried or in soup, but also offers other choices in ramen and dishes from other parts of China and south-east Asia. Above image, hand made noodles in rich stock soup accompanied by katsu battered chicken.

Wills and I had an entree of Korean-styled kimchi (image above), which had a zip and kick of chili smeared and marinated with cripsy fresh bites of vegetable. That heralded a good start in our impressions of the cafe. The small dining area was also tastefully decorated with Beijing opera masks, hello porcelain cats and soft tiger cub toys, all remniscient of the north-eastern corner of China (picture below).

The beef version of noodle soup (above) with the katsu chicken below.

Albee's Kitchen, Campsie, Sydney

Albee's Kitchen is located in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the main strip in Campsie, sited south-west of Sydney CBD. (282 Beamish Street, on the same side as the shopping centre with K Mart). This suburb has emerged as a very good example of multi-culturalism, a product of over thirty years of open minded Australian government policy and implementation in freeing up immigration from sources hitherto unthought of before 1980. The operators of Albee's Kitchen come from Sarawak, a state on the Borneo side of Malaysia, but they provide a variety of beloved street foods from Peninsular Malaysia, unique dishes of south-east Asia and reflecting the three main ethnic groups that still reside in Malaysia today. Above image - the most delightful curry puffs, with a half portion of hard boiled egg in each, together with a most appetising curry mixture.

The day of my most recent visit to Albee's had their tables fully occupied, with access to behind the kitchen seating areas for those unable to find a table at the front. Small in size, the cafe-restaurant offers a menu with variety. There are impressive photos on the walls to initiate newcomers to Malaysian food, but the fellow lunchers that Saturday seem to know their fare. My attention was caught by a most savoury tasty hotpot ordered at a neighbouring table - egg noodles al dente and more in a rich stock, aromatic of Cantonese traditions and topped by a poached egg. I saw the luscious and tempting photo of char koay teow, a must for any visitor to Penang island. There are stir-frys, curry dishes (notable is the curry fish head) and oodles of noodle choices. Service was friendly and efficient in an atmosphere of a family run business - the customer could readily feel at home as well.

I tested their version of Hainan chicken rice (picture above) - I appreciated their serving of a wholesome soup (upper left) and the extra pickled vegetables beside the vinegar flavoured chili condiment.

Beamish Street also offers fare from Korea, the Philippines, India, the Middle East, Pakistan, Thailand and China. This includes dry goods, spices, groceries and household items. I dropped by an outlet offering practically priced kitchen utensils and equipment. I also got samplings of barbecued roast pork and soy sauced chicken done ala Hong Kong (southern Cantonese). Vehicle parking is best secured along the side streets of Beamish.