Canberra to Sydney - Dash 4 800 - Vistas from a Window

Taking off from Canberra Airport on a sunny Friday afternoon - order and simplicity at this air terminal.

Approaching Botany Bay (above) and then the Dash makes a curved route to make a landing at Sydney runways from the ocean side (below).  The southern Sydney shire of Sutherland is laid out below , together with the entrance to the King Georges River, a main artery of Australia's largest metropolitan region.  Sydney Airport, Kingsford-Smith with the international,  domestic and airline cargo terminals, is sited rather close to the city centre and its iconic Harbour Bridge.  In 2010, this airport handled 36 million passengers.  It has strict aircraft curfew restrictions in place since 1995, and also has a cap of 80 aircraft landing at any one time, perhaps causing the infamous delays on Friday evenings with aircraft having to go through a waiting pattern over the Blue Mountains or the Canberra region before they are authorised to land.

Above and below, the Dash flies over the Royal National Park, a bush reserve that separates southern Sydney from Wollongong and the start of the NSW South Coast.  The RNP was the first Government declared reserve in Australia, modelled on and inspired by the preservation of the Yellowstone National Park by the US Congress.

It is always impressive to see Sydney, whether from a passenger ship or from an aircraft, so it is good to have a window seat. Something about the ocean and the coastal landscape combine to have this exhilarating effect on passengers as the craft swoops in close to land, whether by night or in the daytime.  The Dash provided  a more personal and close up perspective of this experience.

Aqua Cafe - North Wollongong, NSW

I had the Irish cream milkshake to begin with and ended with a barista made coffee, and in between had some red wine and drinking water. What was more interesting were the dishes served at the Aqua, a long time institution in North Wollongong, popular with cyclists, couples and groups, and the company I had. It was a relaxing arvo, when rain had come down in most of Sydney but not in the Gong, but the Tasman Sea looked only a shade of its true self on a summer's day.

Above, the seared South Coast prawns  served on a roquette salad with avocado, Italian relish and balsamic dressing. Andy and I had this and there was no regret absolutely - the prawns were juicy and tender, not over done and literally melted inside my mouth.  The relish was sufficiently provocative and yet reassuring.  Below, the salt and pepper squid, which Nancee chose,  with a sweet balsamic dressing generously poured over - but what captivated me was the macerated mango slices with fresh mesculin ( a mix of young salad leaves including lettuce, spinach, dandelion greens and raddichio).

The risotto above, chosen by Vinu,  was presented with a bed of rocket, while below, the really red tomato slices celebrated the flathead fish and chips, garnished by a Mediterranean styled canopy of capsicums, lettuce and sweet Spanish onion slices (Chye had this).

Other items that caught my eye are the Fritto Misto ( a rather nice name for a variety of fried sea foods);
the Aqua Cabernet Merlot; the hazelnut milkshake; the guava fruit frappe; the freshly made pineapple juice; the veal escalope;  the Scotch fillet wrapped in pancetta; pan fried mussels with garlic and parsley accompanied by vermicelli; and the seafood marinara served on pasta shells of conchiglioni.  Aqua also distinguishes itself in providing a  choice of entree or mains servings for many of its menu items.

The Aqua Cafe is open everyday for breakfast, lunch and dinner. My impressions of my most recent visit to the Aqua, with a mate, Penang and California relatives, are:

Taste: Rather fresh ingredients used and up lifted the outcomes of each dish ordered.
Service: Friendly but one does wait for over the average time in other restaurants, so do decide early.
Ambiance: Compact space, looks more cafe than restaurant but the food is more restaurant than cafe.
Location: We can see the ocean just a stone's throw across Cliff Drive in North Gong, and those ever present container ships queuing their way to enter Port Kembla.  provides both indoor and outdoor seating.
Innovation in Cuisine: I thought this was good.
Overall: It makes the most of Australian seafood and produce, gives a Mediterranean twist and is worth a try.
Would I return? Yes.

Lunar New Year of the Snake - Gatherings

 William and Martin cut the two flourless chocolate cakes at Cherrybrook, north western Sydney.

Tasty and aromatic Indian styled curry from Nancee.

Beijing duck with skin sliced , ready for use on hoi sin sauce smeared wraps, garnished with shallots and cucumber cuts.

The festive yee sang mix (left of photo above) and the dried pork jerky (right of photo above), two dishes with auspicious meaning for the Lunar New Year.  Picture taken in Carlingford, NSW.  Yee sang has raw salmon, crunchy bits, fresh herbs, chili garnish and a light sour and sweet dressing.

One of the best quiche I have ever eaten, made by William of North Ryde, NSW.

Egg based noodles, stir fried with broccoli, to provide a lighter contrast to the richer foods on the table.

Cakes and more. Reunions and catch ups. Relaxing summer afternoon and easy chats. Photo credit to Zoe Yu.

Lai Mee's version of  the yee sang (above) and caught at late lunch (below).

Sydney to Canberra - Dash 4 800 - Vistas from a Window

Take off over the Sutherland Shire in the south eastern parts of the greater Sydney region, New South Wales.

Inland from the Wollongong coast, the aircraft does not go up much higher.

Over the Goulburn Valley, the Dash is already preparing to descend and the cabin crew are sent scurrying clearing up after already served drinks and snacks.

Skirting over pastures, the shadow of the Dash can be seen in the foreground, as aircraft wheels already detract and poise to land.

The Dash approaches Canberra Airport - it can be a vibrant ride, with the vibes of vibrating turbo propellers, and yet at the same time, cosy, as the plane only seats around 80 passengers.  You can embark from the front or back - and like riding in a  manually driven car, always feel close to the craft, engine and all.

Manuka, Canberra - Summer Impressions

Manuka, which lies nearby to and south of the Australian Parliament in the Australian Capital Territory of Canberra, is named after a tea tree from New Zealand.  It is a hub of fascinating architecture, dining, communal and lifestyle possibilities.  Above, fast food culture interposes with buildings from the 1920s onwards. Quiet but orderly and yet I felt more things can probably be lurking underneath - maybe undeclared or undisclosed deals, secret recipes, well dressed residents, the hint of wealth and health and a veneer of fascinating modern history.

Old fashioned cafe settings mingle side by side with contemporary designed spaces and multicultural choices. You can find Basque tapas and related fare on the first floor of the Capitol Cinema Complex at Legends, or Mexican at Francisco's at Bougainville Street.   Alanya Turkish has group banquet menus and Charlie Black is another choice for office or family gatherings.  Chef Surya Maharjan has a wide selection of Nepalese infused dishes in goat, fish, lamb, chicken and pork for his diners at the Taste of Himalaya, sited along Palmerston Lane.

A convent is related to St Christopher's Catholic Cathedral and forms an imposing presence over the low rise hops and buildings in Manuka, although officially the Cathedral is located in Forrest.  Members of Parliament have their opening year's formal prayers in this church.  Walking around on the way to breakfast, I also noticed the heritage Capitol Theatre.There is also an army tank placed at a junction in front of a military related site. The other landmark that impressed me is the Manuka Oval - when I was recently there, the site recently hosted a game between the West Indies and Australian national cricket teams.  Manuka's neighbouring suburb is Kingston and the politicians are never far away when Parliament is in session. Below, the courtyard of the Rydges Capital Hill, a bit jaded in my view but still providing several worthwhile guest facilities and within walking distance to Manuka restaurants and cafes.

The foodie scene in Manuka is full of possibilities, offering diversity, ambiance and culinary delight.
I caught up with Shibani and we had risotto at Belluci's Trattoria for a Thursday evening dinner, al fresco, at the corner of Franklin and Furneaux Streets. Belluci's was packed with diners that night  (service was smiling friendly and responsive). Abells' Kopi Tiam , in which chef Abell Ong served Straits Chinese, Indonesian and Malaysian styled food, is near by Belluci's. The Zucchero at Bougainville Street stocks the Italian coffee blend IIIy and throws in signature offerings like the chicken Caesar salad, the blueberry flavoured brulee and the lime or pear frangipani tart.  The Saffron provides a heady Mediterranean mix of Greek, Kosher and Halal cuisine and their Armenian styled lamb cutlets called the Castalita is a must try.

I am told that the way Canberrans pronounce Manuka is not the same manner as what should be the Maori version of the name of the tea tree.  I understand that in those days when Manuka was named, there was a high possibility that New Zealand may join the Australian Commonwealth.  Nevertheless, the precinct seems to be alive, on a summer's morning, with political connections, public presence, money and sophistication. Maybe I perceive the place as one to be stepping out , in style, in connectedness, in networking, in spaciousness and on the national stage.