Bflygal Trails

Sydney 52 Daytrips

2013-05-18T09:25:00.000+08:00

Daytripper: 52 great days out in the Sydney area
By Simon Webster

Simon Webster is a Sydney-based journalist whose daytrip reviews have appeared weekly in the Sun Herald since 2006. Truth is I never read Sun Herald. And I’m not based in Sydney. But this book was found on my first day of 2011 in some clearance sale and it cost me 1 AUD only.

Most importantly, it will not be brought back to SG definitely (I rarely buy books and if I do, I make sure I can discard them away unless I really like it). I have already decided whom to pass this book to in hope it will be more useful to the intended recipient. Haha.

So I’m going through the book and listing his daytrips. Note that I did not verify if the notes are valid currently. I may do so if I make my next trip to Sydney (if I ever) and intend to embark on the suggested daytrips.

1. Visit Australian Reptile Park
Hmm the book mentioned feeding of Eric the crocodile. Unfortunately it had died on 30th June 2007 (there was a disclaimer in the book too). Funny though he had displayed the same behavior as Rex the crocodile that I met in Sydney Wildlife World. Both had killed 2 of the female crocodiles whom they were supposed to mate. I find that a tad too cruel to reject the female’s affection. Sigh.

While you are there, author suggested the following:
- Brisbane Water National Park has fantastic views of the Hawkesbury River, plus wildflowers and accessible Aboriginal engravings (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)
-Horse riding at Glenworth Valley Horse Riding… hmm dependable
- Explore the Yarramalong and Dooralong valleys (maize maze, lavender farm, macadamia farm, more horseriding)
- Fishing on the Central Coast (www.visitcentralcoast.com.au)
- Climb 96 steps of Norah Head Lighthouse which run on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am till 1.30pm and on Tuesdays and Fridays during the school holidays.

How to get there: 1 hr 30 mins from Central to Gosford by train, followed by a 15 minute taxi ride (20-30 AUD). If you produce a taxi docket you’ll get 25 percent off the entry price.
Website: www.reptilepark.com.au

2. Fairfield City Farm – skipped as not interested

3. Shark Feed Extreme @ Oceanworld Manly – visited

4. Taronga Zoo – visited when I was young but I hope to do a repeat visit again because one never gets bored re-visiting the zoo right?

5. Sydney Wildlife World – visited

6. Sydney Fish Market – visited

7. Cronulla Cruises Eco-tour – don’t sound interesting.
Website: www.cronullacruises.com

8. Maritime Museum – passed by

9. Watsons Bay – visited

10. Riverboat Postman – interesting.
The riverboat postman has been delivering mail up the Hawkesbury since 1910. The 45-km return trip to Milson Island takes 4 hours and along the way, you get to see dolphin, jellyfish, and eagles.

While you are there, author suggested the following:
- Head down to Sydney’s wildest national park, Ku-ring-gai Chase. There’s Aboriginal rock art, heaps of bushwalking, beaches and possible the best view in Sydney, from West Head.
- Island hope to Dangar Island where cars are banned and the residents keep wheelbarrows at the ferry wharf to get their shopping home.
- Head upriver. Hire a houseboat and head up the Hawkesbury for a weekend
- Pat a python in the Australian Reptile Park, 30 km up the road from Brooklyn.

How to get there?
1 hour by train from Central
Website: www.hawkesbury.net.au

11. Middle Harbour Forts - Not very interested hmm.. But you can consider if you are at Taronga Zoo I think.
Website: www.harbourtrust.gov.au

12. Vaucluse House - also not interested...
Website: www.hht.net.au

13. Callan park
- Interesting park. It has been aiding the recovery of the mentally ill since 1876. The facility followed the Kirkbride Plan, a theory of 'moral treatment' named after US psychologist Thomas Kirkbride, in which the mentally ill were houesd in comfortable, elegant buildings and given access to large grounds in which to exercise, work and enjoy nature.
- There's a little Italy within walking distance.
- Go to their farmers' market in the grounds of Orange Grove School on Balmain Road, Lilyfield, held every Saturday.
Website: www.callanpark.com

14. Quarantine Station
- scare yourself silly with all the ghost rumours. Australian Ghost Hunters Society loves this place.
- Try the self-guided Heart of Manly Heritage Walk that circumnavigates the Corso and offers heaps of historical facts about the town (www.manlytourism.com.au)
Website: www.q-station.com.au

15. Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park
- The Ku-ring-gai people lived from Port Jackson to beyond Brisbane Water. 'Ku-ring-gai' means 'land of the kooris'. Among the Ku-ring-gai language group, the Carigal inhabited the land at West Head.
Website: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

16. Bells Line of Road
- Interesting to find the Big Fruit Bowl at Bilpin which is a 2-metre high fibreglass bowl, containing a big apple, a big banana, a big passionfruit, a big mandarin and some big cherries, and was built in the early 1970s by the late John Kenny, who ran the roadside store when it was called the Big Apple.
- Mount Tomah Botanic garden, 12 km west of Bilpin
- Take a stroll. Pierces Pass, 10 km before the town of Bell is the starting point for the easy Walls Lookout track or the more difficult Blue Gum Forest Walk (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)
Website: www.hawkesburytourism.com.au

17. The Source of Middle Harbour Creek - hmm not interested
Website: www.sainty.com.au

18. Blue Mountains Walkabout - visited when young

19. Olympic Park – visited

20. Bondi to Bronte
- Hmm it would be fun to do a guided walk via MP3. The whole Bondi to Coogee walk takes about 2 hours and you can keep going all the way to Maroubra.
- Bondi Markets (www.bondimarkets.com.au)

Website: www.selfguidedwalkingtours.com

21. Harbour Circle Walk
- 26 km walk sounds fun. About 7.5 hours that covers Anzac Bridge to Pyrmont with secret backstreet sandstone cliffs to Observatory Hill and over the Harbour Bridge, Luna Park and Lavender Bay. There are about 7 bridges which include Gladesville Bridge and Iron Cove Bridge.
- Climb a pylon while you are at the Harbour Bridge.
Website: www.planning.nsw.gov.au/harbour/walking.asp

22. Bradman Museum - not interested
- Morton Park for bushwalking (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)
Website: www.bradman.org.au

23. Pylon Lookout
- Drop by Rocks Discovery Museum, built in an old andstone warehouse, has archaeological finds, nteractive displays and talkign mannequins, covering life in The Rocks from when it was Cadigal land to the present day. (www.rocksdiscoverymuseum.com.au)
Website: www.pylonlookout.com.au

24. May Gibbs’ Nutcote
- Not that interested but can drop by to visit the Mary Mackillop Place Museum, which is Australia's first saint (in 2010, I remember I was in Melbourne constantly hearing the news). 10 min ride from Central to Milsons Point followed by a 20 min walk or a 15 min ferry ride from Circular Quay to Neutral Bay wharf followed by a 5 min walk
Website: www.maygibbs.com.au

25. Sydney Architecture Walk
- Sydney has always had an east-west divide. George Street follows the freshwater Tank Stream, the old dividing line. East of it was for officers; west for convicts.
- Museum of Sydney which is included in the Sydney Architecture Walk fee.
- Underground tours of the Tank Stream
- the freshwater stream that made Sydney Cove so desirable
- take place twice a year, with places awared by ballot (www.hht.net.au)
Website: www.sydneyarchitecture.org

26. Norman Lindsay’s Springwood - Not that interested
Website: www.normanlindsay.com.au

27. Sydney Observatory
- Observatory Hill is the highest point in Sydney. I want to be up there too!
- Go to market. More than 150 stalls take over the northern end of George Street from 10 am to 5 pm every Saturday and Sunday.

How to get there?
It's a short walk from The Rocks
Website: www.sydneyobservatory.com.au

28. Cabramatta gourmet Safari - Seems like a little Vietnam to me
- visit Freedom Plaza. Bronze lions and a marble and teak gateway called Pai Lau, a monument to democracy and freedom, mark the entrance to this pedestrian area where one can find statues that represent symbols of the Chinese zodiac.
- go to the Cabramatta's Whitlam Library, designed by renowned but controversial modernist architect Harry Seidler.
Website: www.gourmetsafaris.com.au

29. Lakemba Mosque - Very Islamic feel
How to get there?
A half-hour train ride from Central followed by a 10 min walk to the mosque

30. Chinese Garden of Friendship - passed by but did not visit

31. La Perouse
- a traditional home of the Dharawal people, named after a French explorer, Jean-Francois de Galaup, le Comte de la Perouse.
- Tours of Bare Island. Try scuba diving for Port Jackson sharks, weedy seadragons and nudibranches.

How to get there?
45 min bus ride from Central
Website: www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au

32. Nan Tien Temple
- the biggest Buddhist temple in the souther hemisphere, Nan Tien opened in 1995 after the City of Wollongong sold 10 hectares to Buddhist sect Fo Guang Shan for $1. Fo Guang Buddhism follows the Chinese Mahayana tradition, which states that Buddhahood is within everyone's reach.

Followers aim for 'humanistic Buddhism' - they strive to bring Buddhism into their daily lives.
"Wake from your ignorance and delusion: grasp the essence of life. Stop searching outside: find the treasures in your mind." - venerable Master Hsing Yun
- skydive (www.skydivethebeach.com)
- 2.5 hour tour of Port Kembla Steelworks that take place most Wednesday and Friday mornings (www.aiw.org.au)
- Mount Keira has a spectacular views of the steel city and its dramatic coastline, in a panorama stretching as far north as the Kurnell oil refineries in southern Sydney and as far south as Jervis Bay.

How to get there?
2.5 hours by train from Central to Unanderra and then a bus to Berkeley
Website: www.nantien.org.au

33. Parramatta - Well I stayed there for a few days so obviously I did visit it haha

34. Botanic Gardens - Very pretty indeed!

35. Camden History Walk
- A free self-guided tour of Camden's historic buildings is available from Camden visitor information centre, Camden Valley Way, Elderslie or from the website.
- visit Mount Annan Botanic Gardens, Australia's biggest botanic garden and almost 50,000 specimens (www.rbgsyd.nsw.gov.au)

How to get there?
1 hr 40 mins by train from Central to Campbelltown then bus to Camden. A car is handy for exploring the countryside around Camden though.
Website: www.camden.nsw.gov.au

36. Cremorne Point Foreshore Walk
- follows sandstone clifftops and passes through remnants of red gum and angophora forest. It takes a couple of hours to walk the loop that starts at Cremorne Point wharf.
- You can try swimming at the MacCallum Pool. Note it is closed once a week either Thursday or Friday.
Tip: To stay on the ferry for a free cruise around Mosman Bay with its magnificent waterfront houses. The ferry stops at South Mosman, Old Cremorne and Mosman Bay before turning around and heading back to Circular Quay by the same route. You can get off at Cremorne Point on the way back.
How to get there?
10 mins by ferry from Circular Quay
Website: www.northsydney.nsw.gov.au/www/html/22570cremorne-point-foreshore-walk.asp

37. Camperdown Cemetery - I would love to visit this place.
20 mins from central by bus, or by train to Newtown followed by a 5 min walk.
Website: www.ssdec.nsw.edu.au/history/camperdown/index.html

38. Balmain History Walk
- Another walk haha. I guess when you completed all the 52 items, you would have turned into a fit person too.

How to get there?
15 min ferry ride from Circular Quay or 15 min bus ride from the city.

39. Model Park - A visit to Lilliput I suppose. Unsure.
- Follow the Nepean lookout signs from Mulgoa village (10 min drive north of Luddenham) and you'll come to the Rock lookout with sensational views of the Nepean Gorge.

How to get there?
Luddenham is a 50 min drive from the CBD

40. Airside Tarmac Tours - would be interesting I guess except the cost hmm

41. Weird Sydney - seems pretty costly too.
Start and end at Kings Cross, an 8 min train ride from Central or a 10 min bus ride from Circular Quay or a 20 min walk from the CBD.
Website: www.destinytours.com.au
- Alternatively you can download 'Passion', a self-guided walking tour of Kings Cross at www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
- And it is interesting to spell Woolloomooloo. Remember sheep-poo-cow-poo; Wool-loo-moo-loo. Hahaha. Anyway take a walk down Woolloomooloo Wharf.

42. Thirlmere Flyer
- would be interested to just take a photo of the steam engine locomotive I guess.
- Take a look at the NSW Rail & Transport Museum if you really took the train from Central to Thirlmere, in the Southern Highlands. Afterall it is a short walk from Thirlmere train station and entry is included in your ticket. (www.nswrtm.org)
- Thirlmere Flyer runs on the third Sunday of the month, May to October.
There is also a Thirlmere Country Market (9am-3pm) next to the train station to coincide with the Flyer.
Website: www.heritageexpress.com.au

43. Penrith Museum of Fire
- Guided whitewater rafting trips and courses in whitewater kayaking are available in manmade rapids at Penrith Whitewater Stadium, the kayaking venue used in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. It's in Cranebrook, a 5 min drive north of Penrith (www.penrithwhitewater.com.au)
- Australia's only sake brewery is in Penrith. (www.sun-masamune.com.au)

How to get there?
45 min ride from Central followed by a 20 min walk.
Website: www.museumoffire.com.au

44. Leuralla - Toy Museum, my favourite!
- Consider exploring the Blue Mountains in a red London double-decker bus.
Website: www.explorerbus.com.au
- Take a bushwalk hike e.g. 2km walk from Gordon Falls to Leura Falls, which happens to start very close to Leuralla
Website: www.bluemts.com.au
- Smell the roses as Leura is famous for its European style cold-climate gardens, many of which are open to the public only during the springtime Leura Gardens Festival. (www.leuragardensfestival.com.au)

How to get there?
2 hour train ride from Central followed by a 2 km cab ride or walk.
Website: www.toyandrailwaymuseum.com.au

45. Palm Beach and The Basin
Barranjoey means 'little kangaroo' or 'little wallaby' in the Guringai language.
- Climb the Barrenjoey Lighthouse, at the northernmost point of the northern beaches, built in 1881 out of Hawkesbury sandstone. A steep 20 min walk leads up to the lighthouse and fantastic views. - Bushwalk from the Basin including the 3 km mostly level Elvina trail to a waterfall (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)

How to get there?
1 hr 20 min by bus from Wynyard.
Website:
www.palmbeachferry.com.au
www.sydneynorthernbeaches.com.au

46. Jamberoo Action Park
- More interested in the boardwalk through the rainforest at the Minnamurra Rainforest Centre, part of Budderoo National Park, just a few km west of the village. There's a good chance to spot lyrebirds and water dragons (whatever they are) (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au)
- Check out the blowhole. When currents are moving in the right direction the Kiama blowhole spurts seaswater up to 60 metres into the air with a mighty harumph.
The seaside town of Kiama, a 10 min drive east of Jamberoo, also has coastal walks, beaches, pubs, rockpools and a row of craft shops and cafes in converted weatherboard terraces (www.kiama.com.au)
Website: www.jamberoo.net

47. Yarramalong Valley Maize Maze Ozimaze is supposedly open 10am to 4pm everyday from Dec to Feb but please do a google check to re-affirm.
- Cedar Park Lavender is open every day.
- Pelican feeding at The Entrance (www.visitcentralcoast.com.au)
- Visit Australia Reptile Park
Website: www.ozimaze.com

48. Luna Park – visited

49. Powerhouse Museum - yeah where I saw my Harry Potter exhibition!
- Australia's biggest museum.
- Visit Paddy's Markets, a short stroll away at Haymarket.
- Visit the Sydney Fish Market
How to get there?
A short walk from Darling Harbour, close to Paddy's Markets monorail station.
Website: www.powerhousemuseum.com

50. Janet’s Royalty Rooms
Woonona is pronounced Wonoona, which can be quite a confusion I guess. Spelling error I suppose. Apparently it's from a Dharawal Aboriginal word meaning 'place of young wallabies', 'run now' or 'sleep'.
- Take a walk in the park. The world's second-oldest national park (after Yellowstone in the US), the Royal National Park, north of the northern Illawarra villages, offers fantastic swimming, surfing and bushwalking (www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au) Gosh, I want to visit it at its pristine stage!!!

How to get there?
1 hr 20 mins by train from Central to Woonona; it's a 5 min walk from there to the Royalty Rooms

51. Birkenhead Shopping Centre - Walk through seven suburbs in an hour plus. The 7km track around Iron Cove is called the Bay Run, passing through Drummoyne, Russell Lea, Rodd Point, Five Dock, Haberfield, Lilyfield and Rozelle.
- Was an interesting shopping trip haha.. Did had fun =D

How to get there?
25 min ferry ride from Circular Quay
Website: www.birkenheadpoint.com.au

52. Australian Museum - a purist's museum a throwback to a simpler time.
The book mentioned there is a $41 million revitalisation program due to complete in 2008. Not too sure what is the impact after that and does this description still rang true. Anyway the Australian Museum opened in 1827 in a room in the offices of the Colonial Secretary and was known as the Colonial or Sydney Museum back then.
- There's a giant chess set behind St James train station at the top of Market Street. Website: www.austmus.gov.au

Oh and I wonder will the journalist please do one for Melbourne too?

Build sand sculptures

2013-03-30T20:49:00.000+08:00

How to build a sand sculpture?

Step 1:
Compact your sand on the table by pushing down with both hands and squeezing in. This will ensure your sand is as dense as possible and will stay together when you being to carve.

Step 2:
Once your sand is compacted, get a tool with a thin edge, or point like the knife and mark out the edges of your sculpture before you begin to carve.

Step 3:
When you have outlined your sculpture, you can begin to carve using either the knife or one of the thin tin tools. Carefully follow your outline until you have carved all the edges.

Use a short downward cutting motion with the carving tools for the best result.

Step 4:
When your sculpture has been shaped fully along the outline, you can then begin to use the other tools to add detail. Always work from the highest point.

If using a wire tool, always cut across, allowing the wire to cut the sand. Do not drag the tool through or it will leave ragged edges.

But how do the experts build these mega sand sculptures?

Step 1:
‘Brickies loam’ (a sand and loam mix made specifically for laying bricks which many people use it for bedding under above ground pools) is brought onto the site by the truckload and moved around to where it is needed by a telescopic handler and a front end loader.

Step 2:
Each sculpture, or pile, requires layers of formwork to achieve a general shape. These forms are made to measure on site.

The base of the sculpture is made, then the forms are filled, layer by layer, with sand and water, and compacted until very hard.
Step 3:
Once the required height and shape is achieved, the top layer of form is removed and carving begins.

The sculpture is carved from top to bottom, a layer at a time. Once complete it is sprayed with a biodegradable sealant to help repel moisture.

Step 4:
Although the sculptures are strong, they need some maintenance through the event period. This is done daily by the resident sculptor.

FAQ
What sort of sand is used in the sculptures?
The sand we use is called heavy sand, or 'brickies' sand which is different to the sand you see on the beach as each grain is square, which means it sticks together better, like building blocks. Beach sand is smoother and rounder so doesn't stay together quite as well.

What happens to the sculptures if it rains?
The finished sculptures are sprayed with an environmentally-friendly, biodegradable spray that gives them a water resistant coating. Over time, wind and rain will erode a sculpture, however, if the sculpture is housed within a protected area it can last for years.

How do sculptors learn their craft?
Sculptors come from varied backgrounds that include fine arts, architecture and design. However most sculptures learn their craft on-the-job by participating in teams at sand sculpting displays around the world and honing their skills. Once they reached a high level of skill they are able to compete in championship events that are held around the world.

Do you add anything to the sand?
Apart from water, nothing is added to the sand - the secret that holds the sand together is the hard compaction of the sand.

Where does the sand come from?
The sand for the Frankston event comes from the Graham Quarries in Langwarrin.

Do the sculptors start from the top or the bottom?
The sand is compacted firmly into wooden forms to create the general shape and size of the sculpture. At this stage, the sculpture resembles a giant wedding cake with many layers. The sculptors use these layers to climb to the top, they remove the wooden formwork from around the top layer and start carving. When they have finished the top layer, they move down to the next, and so on. There is no scaffolding or ladders used.

What tools do the sculptors use?

The sculptors use a variety of tools ranging from trowels of all sizes through to things that you might find in your kitchen drawer at home. They all use a plastic tube, like a large drinking straw, to gently blow away the grains of sand as they care.

Are the sculptures solid sand?
The sculptures are carved completely from solid sand, with no foam or open space underneath what you can see. The only time a sculpture would not be solid is when indoors on a floor with weight bearing limitations. Then we may use a polystyrene core to lighten the load, but the outer sand is still carved by hand.

And the even bigger question, what happens to all these sculptures at the end of the event?
At the end of the event, the sculptures are broken down by a bulldozer and the sand is taken away to be reused or stored for the next year's event.

2011 - Creepy Crawlies

2013 - Under the Sea

Oooo so the sand that I touched 2 years ago are the very same sand I touched today.... some things never changed....

How to go?
Take a train from the city to the Frankston line.
Alight at Frankston (the last stop)
Walk in the direction of the Frankston waterfront / tourist information center. It is a 10 minute walk.

Acknowledgements:
All information were provided by Sand Castles Australia

White Night, Red Shoes

2013-02-23T02:32:00.000+08:00

Red Shoes by Nobuhiro Shimura
White Night @ Melbourne
Feb 2013

This playful projection was part of the White Night installations in Melbourne on 23rd Feb 2013.
Entitled Red Shoes by Nobuhiro Shimura, the artiste hopes to draws upon ordinary materials and objects to change everyday sites into exhibition spaces.

When I took this photo, it was among a crowd and I did not know which angle is the best way to portray it. But when I was finding a suitable photo to tag this Buddha saying, I realised this photo with the shoes searching for the other end of the tunnel, seems an appropriate photo.

This adheres to the theory that art is subjective. While the artiste had a certain concept when setting up the projection, the audience will also have their own perspective when viewing the artwork in their eyes.

Chewing jelly bears

2012-10-14T19:39:00.000+08:00

Thanks to womenfreebies, I got a free Cenovis Vita Jellies Multivitamin samples to try . These cute little jelly bears are so fun to chew and are greatly appreciated as I have just arrived Melbourne and have not stocked up my vegetables. In fact, I had a letter box full of samples after a 3 week rest. Yipee!

Visit Fo Guan Shan Melbourne

2012-08-12T04:18:00.000+08:00

Visiting Fo Guang Shan on Filial Piety Month...

It was the 7th Lunar Month and the Buddhism believe it to be a Filial Piety Month.

This was based on the Ullambana origin where the Buddha had taught his disciple Maudgalyāyana how to obtain liberation for his mother, who had been reborn into a lower realm.

Source: Wikipedia

Thus for this entire month, Fo Guan Shan is holding 'Ullambana Filial gratitude Repaying Ksitigarbha, Compassionate Samadhi Water Repentance and Triple Contemplation Dharma Function', so that our ancestors will be remembered.

And if you do not understand the chant, you can always request for an English version and read the chant in English too.

After the ritual, feel free to stay for a vegetarian lunch in the hall. The cost of lunch is decided by you via a donation amount.

Source: Fo Guan Shan Melbourne

Train station to alight: Yarraville (along Werribee line)
Address: 89 Somerville Road, Yarraville

Winter night marketing at Luna 1878

2012-08-08T19:33:00.000+08:00

Luna 1878 - a winter night

It was the first time QVM had a night market in the winter season. And the layout was so much different as compared to the night market in the summer season. The food stalls were different too, not the same as what I seen before. And the layout was entirely different. Traditionally, the food stalls used to be all lined up in one corner and the other clothes/accessories/products stalls scattered around. But the layout in Luna market was different. Every spot has about 4 stalls set up. So the food stalls are scattered about in groups of 4s.

While I prefer the layout for Suzuki night market, I do welcome the new addition of a Luna market in the winter. It may be of a smaller scale than Suzuki night market, but it emits a cosy atmosphere to get hot soups on a winter night.

Date: Wednesday nights during August from 8 August to 29 August
Time: 5.30pm to 10.00pm
Location: Queen Victoria Market, M-Shed to J-Shed
Cost: FREE ENTRY
Source: QVM

Summer night market at Suzuki Night Market

2012-08-08T14:49:00.000+08:00

Suzuki night market - a summer night

Everybody knows QVM. But not many knows QVM opens at night too. When the stores are all packed for the day, and the market is close for the day... there lurks on a certain season, a certain day, where QVM is alive with activity.

I first attended the Suzuki night in the summer of 2010, Nov 17 (which lasted till 2 Mar 2011), Wednesday. It was buzzing with activity, perhaps because there is usually not much activity at night in Oz. And that being summer, the day is longer. The food stalls were having long queues with people enjoying their cool beer. It was a perfect evening to wind down.

The Stiletto Sisters with their latin gypsy melodies

As I just return from the Luna market I am reminded once again of my first night visit in QVM. How I was fascinated with the coconut shell watches. Maybe it is time to make another trip again....

2012-13 Suzuki Night Market Season
Date: Every Wednesday night during summer from 14 November 2012 to 27 February 2013 (excluding 26 December 2012)
Time: 5.00pm to 10.00pm
Location: Queen Victoria Market, Melbourne.
Enter via Queen, Therry or Peel Streets
Cost: FREE ENTRY
Source: QVM

Elephant Memory

2011-12-21T17:12:00.000+08:00

His memories, they weigh heavily on him

In fact it is the once beautiful, now bitter, future that is on my mind

Perhaps because too much memories. After all I will associate elephant to enormous.. thus too much memories may not be a good thing. Locking away memories still take up space. No wonder memories weigh heavily...

Creator's inspiration:
Elephant Memory Man has so much on his mind. His sidekick Ele looks on and wonders what is to be done. It was a lot of fun working on the Elephant – the first time I’ve had to paint a 3D object, so it was a new challenge figuring out how the design would work. I wanted the imagery to be connected to the comics work I do, but also linked somehow to the idea of elephants.

Source: Elephant Parade Site

Take the chance to view the elephant parade, now in Singapore for a limited period time only...
Or pop by Tangs in Orchard or Vivocity like I did.. that's how I found this elephant memory...

Celebrate 7-Eleven Day

2011-11-07T04:00:00.000+08:00

To celebrate the invention of Slurpee, every year on November 7 at any 7-Eleven store you can score yourself a free Slurpee just by saying the words 'happy 7-Eleven day!'

I cannot remember if I was in Australia last year though. But I'm sure that I never had a 7-Eleven day back in Singapore. From the wiki it was said that in 2010, this promotion is from 0700 - 1411 which means a total of 7 hours 11 minutes. That seems ridiculously to me though because since young, I always associate 7-11 with that being open from 7am to 11pm. In fact based on the trivia on the cup, it is said that 'the name 7-Eleven came about in 1947 to highlight the store's opening hours.'

Anyway for this year, this promotion was indeed valid from 7am to 11pm. But from facebook, I read about stores keeping away their cups and refusing entry to children (perhaps they were rowdy too) and even to the extent of switching off the slurpee machine. That is really bad. Thankfully I got mine peacefully and without any queue at all (my friend had encountered a long queue thus abolishing the idea of getting one.)

And now for more trivias on the cup:
- 1977 - The first Aussie 7-Eleven opens in Oakleigh, Melbourne

- There are more than 600 7-Eleven stores in oz!
- There are over 42,400 7-Elevens on this planet alone. Who knows about the other ones...

- In '67 the slurpee was officially named after that delicious slurping sound

Check out their facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/SlurpeeAustralia

p/s: Back in school days, I used to did a case study on 7-Eleven. Somehow even till today, I'm still amazed by the business model of 7-Eleven and its expansion globally. Even though it is still affectionately known as the store that opens 7-11, it has turned into a 24 hours operating store in most parts of the world.

Talk to the tree

2011-11-06T20:57:00.000+08:00

My fairy tale came true when I finally met Daisy, the talking tree in David Jones @ Bourke Street.
Stepping into the Magic Cave in David Jones, the talking tree was the last to catch my notice. But after seeing how Daisy managed to strike one conversation after another, I have to admit she probably held my attention for the longest period of time. Seriously, I could stay here the whole day listening to Daisy and her interesting conversations with the children.

Conversation 1: The shy one
Daisy: Hello
Child: Hello
Daisy: What's your name?
Child: <speechless>... and he runs off

Conversation 2: The sing-a-long one
Child: Hello
Daisy: Hello, have you met Santa?
Child: Yes
Child starts singing: Jingle Bell Jingle Bell Jingle all the way
Daisy sings along with child

Conversation 3: The one that call Daisy Santa Claus
Child: Hi Santa
Daisy: I'm not Santa
Child: Sorry I call you Santa wrongly
Daisy: It's ok. I don't look like Santa do I?
Child: No you are a talking tree.

Conversation 4: The sceptic
Dad tells Child this is a talking tree.
Child: Hello
Daisy: Hello
Child turns to Dad and say: This is all pretense.
Dad shockingly replies: No it isn't...
but Child has walked away. Somehow Dad still retain the child-like belief of a talking tree but Child has 'matured' up and find it silly

Conversation 5: Secretive Daisy
Daisy asks child how old is she?
Child replies
Dad asks Daisy how old is she?
Daisy: It's a secret *in a coyly tone*

Conversation 6: Clever Daisy
Daisy: Do you like to sing?
Child: Yes
Daisy: Do you want to sing Jingle Bells
Child: err
Daisy starts singing one line of Jingle Bell Jingle Bell Jingle all the way
Child: *remains quiet*
Daisy: You don't wish to sing?
Child: Yes
Daisy: It's alright then

Conversation 7: Naughty Daisy
Child stands in front of Daisy
Daisy: Boo!

And the conversation continues...
I am very impressed by the Artificial Intelligence in-built in Daisy because it clearly shows she can ask questions, reacts and responds. Although sometimes she remains silent when there were more than one child talking because she cannot process in the end as it was too noisy. And sometimes, as what a mother commented, the child must stand in front of Daisy for her to see. But when she can see and hear you, she can really give some wacky response.

The only shortcoming: there was no signage to say talk to the tree, or sing to the tree. And thus, many parents actually just walked past Daisy, mistaking her as another decorative piece in the Magic Cove.

Whiz down The Slide @ T3

2011-11-06T20:08:00.000+08:00

The Slide @ T3

Caught sight of The Slide@T3 at Terminal 3, Arrival Hall (Level 1), Public Area when I was in the airport. I was wondering why is a fireman pole in the airport haha.

At a height of 12 metres high which is equivalent to four storeys tall, you can reach a maximum speed of up to 6 metres per second as you whiz your way down.

Funny thing is I have not caught sight of anybody playing the slide. But from Changi Airport site, they seem to have a promotion with effect from 4 October 2010 that for every $10 spent at Changi Airport in a single receipt, members of the public can redeem one ride at the 12 metre slide.

And if you just want a preview of the speed, whiz down the one-and-a-half storey tall slide at Basement 2 for free.

Both slides are open daily from 12.00pm to 10.30pm.

Entry Requirements for Level 1 slide:
Participants have to be at least 1.3 metres tall and at maximum height 2.0 metres tall.
Children aged 7 and below are not allowed.

Entry Requirements for Basement 2 slide:
Participants have to be at least 1.1 metres tall and at maximum height 2.0 metres tall.
Children aged 5 and below are not allowed.

Things To Note
Rides are redeemable at the Terminal 3 Level 1 Information Counter.
Redeem up to a maximum of 10 rides per receipt on the same day.
Changi Rewards card members can redeem up to 5 free rides per month during birthday months.

Website: Changi Airport

Spirited Away to Tassie

2011-10-31T19:57:00.000+08:00

Spirit of Tasmania I and II welcomes you aboard!
With ten decks on board and the ship full of things to discover, your journey to Tasmania begins here.

Or is it?

You see there are 11 decks but deck 1-6 are all garage and deck 8 is entirely cabin and ocean recliner area.

Thus all the activity is in deck 7 with 2 restaurants where Leatherwood Restaurant is of a higher class with waiter service and which require compulsory bookings. Only dinner was provided based on the menu I was reading.

Captains Table is more like a foodcourt serving a variety of hot and cold savoury dishes and includes a continental breakfast too in the morning.

Of course cafes and bars will never be missing in action in Australia culture thus you have the Lavender Cafe which is a relaxing lounge bar,

and you get a Spirit Bar on deck 7,

a bar kiosk on deck 9

and another on deck 10 during day sailings.

They also mentioned the children's playroom but hmm I really find it small to be of too much fun.

Same goes to the games arcade.

I did not even check out the Star Club casino because it closed around midnight. And the only activities I partaked is the 2 movie screenings in the Cinema

catching some rest as the reclining seats were really comfy in my humble opinion.. much better than those air plane seats

with pillow and blanket provided

as well as a reading lamp which I never really got to use...

Lastly, the tourist information centre to grab my map on Devonport to roam around when I disembark.
Not that there were much activities available where the restaurants, gift shop and tourist centre close after my second movie screening ended.. The only redemption is I got complimentary drinks when the Captain Table was closed too.

Caught sight of this sign while exploring the ferry... haha

I'm not saying I regret my journey but seriously an air ticket from Melbourne to Lauceston costs one third of the price I paid for my Spirit of Tasmania journey.

And because it started raining when I embarked the ship, I did not see the sun final rays along the Melbourne skyline,

nor the beginning rays shining the Devonport shoreline. Sigh!

Perhaps the day sailing would be better as you will get the chance to see the sea view with longer daylight hours during summer and you get to move around. In fact day tickets could be cheaper since you do not really require a fixated recliner to rest your body.

Check out day sailing here.

Sail and drive is another reason I would recommend boarding the Spirit of Tasmania when you have a car as one cannot go anywhere without a car and if you owe one in Melbourne, boarding the Spirit of Tasmania is indeed where your journey to Tasmania begins...

Eat at Oriental Spoon

2011-05-13T07:05:00.000+08:00

Tantalising Bulgogi @ Oriental Spoon
I may have only gone there twice but seriously if I have friends with me, it is one of my top list to bring them there.

The reason, because I do not need to make any reservation and there will always be a table despite the huge crowd they attract. That is because this place is pretty big. And the waiters and waitress all seem to be Korean to me. So how authentic is this restaurant?

Like any typical Korean restaurant, we are served side dishes.

And they actually refill it which I found out in my second trip! Thumbs up!

For starters, we had yummy spicy Rice cake

And definitely bulgogi!! IMHO, this is a must-order dish because I can never get tired of bulgogi! Had it in my second trip too. Wish I knew how to replicate the dish haha...

On both occasion, Melbourne was cold so the first time, we had steamboat...

Slurp!

And for the second trip, my soup-crazed friend chose Korean ginseng chicken soup with abalone haha. We had wanted to see how authentic this restaurant is and the best gauge is from their ginseng chicken soup where traces of rice can be found in the soup. This, as told by my friend, is the trait of an authentic ginseng chicken soup. As for the abalone, haha, it is quite big and we had to ask for a knife to cut into two. I was busy eating and had forgotten to take a photo of it though haha. So hurry and pop down for an authentic Korean meal in 254 La Trobe Street Melbourne VIC 3000 (From State Library, walk down the La Trobe Street and you will find it!)

Have a magical cupcake in Spice Temple

2011-05-07T10:53:00.000+08:00

Orange jelly cake with orange blossom fairy floss

I remember when I saw the menu for our team dinner, the dessert caught my attention. Orange jelly cake with orange blossom fairy floss. Sounds so neopetish right? And I kept wondering how does it look like. And I wasn't disappointed. It was the loveliest cupcake I ever set sight before. The nice square of orange jelly and the fairy floss gave such a delicate faerie feeling that I felt I'm eating a magical cupcake. Spice Temple Melbourne Crown Complex 8 Whiteman Street Southbank Victoria 3006 Australia Telephone + 61 3 8679 1888

Free Beginner Salsa Classes

2011-05-05T19:27:00.014+08:00

Do you believe salsa classes are conducted here... Indeed it is true... The Salsa Foundation conducts beginner classes every Wednesday and Thursday 5.30pm. I had attended twice before I got busy with other stuff. It had been fun to learn and while the steps are easy, when I start dancing, I will have hand-leg co-ordination problem and ended up pretty much like a klutz. Located in Stella Maris Dance Studio 600 Little Collins Street Melbourne, VIC 3000 0400 933 285 Check out their link here.

Eat twisted potatoes

2011-05-03T09:43:00.000+08:00

Usually found in street food, I got mine when Suzuki Night Market was being held but you can get it at any road side event. A bit salty but well I wanted to satisfy my curiosity and I did... haha...

Scrimp and Save Tip - Groccery Shopping in Woolworths

2011-05-02T18:18:00.006+08:00

Be curious and you may pick up some good deals sometime...

My encounters? I once was in Woolworths in the afternoon and I noticed a group of people crowding at a particular doorway from the storage. I asked one of them what are they waiting for and she shared with me that they are waiting for the staff to bring out some cheap deals (perhaps a dollar a bag or so style). Hmm I did not have a chance to butt in for that cheap deal because everybody was trying to grab a bag too.

So I did the next best thing. I flip their woolworths magazine diligently and see what are the cheap buys of the week. And once I was bored and joined their easter egg hunt.

My reward, a Woolworths giftcard.

Firewatching at South Bank

2011-05-01T16:46:00.004+08:00

Taken from a postcard ...

... And my version

Tip: Try Kings Way for the angle =D

Live in Chevron Green

2011-04-30T08:10:00.004+08:00

Living in Chevron Green...

A taxi driver once told me that Chevron is an old building. This is evident by the structure where the stores belonged to the past and the apartments were built after a redevelopment effort. In fact The Chevron originally took 18 weeks following the design of Leslie M Perrott in 1934 with construction of the 200 room hotel with unusual tower by E.A. Watts. The rooms featured ensuite bathrooms and garages for guests’ cars.

At its peak, it was a ritzy nightclub which hosted the likes of Ava Gardner, Gregory Peck, Winifred Atwell and Frank Sinatra. The nightclub finally closed in 2001.

For a brief time it was owned by the next door Alfred Hospital for use as a nurses’ residence before sitting derelict for many years with complete demolition proposed by at least one developer.

Around 2003 company, Development Ventures, proposed to retain the corner building and add an $100 million-plus apartment tower. However this failed to eventuate and sold the site for $16.5 million.

In 2004, the Chevron was finally redeveloped, constructed by the Abigroup1, it became a mixed use development known as “Chevron Green” with the addition of a $160 million 300 apartments and ten shops. Ground level retailers have included The TAB, 7/11, Rice @ Chevron, Shuji Sushi and Nandos.

Anyway that's all water under the bridge. Chevron Green is now where I am staying.

And to visit me, you have to tell the driver to head towards St Kilda Road. They may ask you which side it is so just tell them is the junction of Commercial road and St Kilda road and thus is the side that they will be coming from.

You will see the 7-11, the Rosco's cafe... but you may ask, where is the entrance?

Haha.. just besides the cafe is this walkway....

And you will see the box where you have to press my apartment number for me to let you in.

As for how the apartment looks like...hmm... ta-da...

This was before the clean-up..

My major clean-up was in the kitchen where I was re-arranging all the equipments.

My prized possession.. where I had been diligently watching MasterChef from Sunday to Friday. And now that I have re-calibrated my TV, I actually get to watch Top Gear too... Yipee!

and my bedroom view where my bear bear had friends for a short period of time to watch the view with...

Visit Palau Semakau

2011-04-13T04:00:00.037+08:00

Pulau Semakau is an island in Singapore where visits is entirely exclusive only when you join a guided walks with certain Nature conservation groups e.g. RMBR.

You will then meet the tour group at Marina Pier and take a boat to the island...

On the way you will pass by this cute little "Bao Island". Ok the real name is Pulau Jong 炯岛.

Upon reaching Pulau Semakau, we first had a tour round it via bus (and the hunters alighted to find the creatures for display to us later). Then we went to watch a video telling us about the lifestory of our rubbish on how they first came into Pulau Semakau via the Barge and how they have to be incinerated so that they will be reduced to 10% of their current state.

Then we march into a forest full of mosquitoes to be greeted to a welcoming sight of the shores.

The mangrove tree, Bakau Pasir (Rhizophora stylosa) used as firewood and also made to charcoal…

Look out for the bright orange flags, it means the hunters have found us something interesting! Here we have 3 garlic breads or Sandfish Cucumber (Holothuria scabra).

Look out for the crabs.. especially this one that seems to be all ready to fight it out with you!

And enjoy the beautiful shore.

At the end, you will return from the trip more aware of how to keep the shoreline healthy.

More information here:
RMBR - Project Semakau

Visit Palazzo Strozzi

2011-04-12T20:33:00.000+08:00

Palazzo Strozzi is in the most convenient and most beautiful location in the city..

Or so Filippo Strozzi, a wealthy banker, felt since he took sixteen years, between 1473 and 1489, to acquire the land to build his future palazzo in the heart of the city, on the corner of via Tornabuoni and via Strozzi.

In the olden days, Via Strozzi was one of the major road axes of the roman Florentia and it was used as a racetrack during the San Giovanni festivities; whereas via Tornabuoni was one of the widest Florentine streets, habitually used for solemn processions. Thus I have no doubt about this being the most convenient
location in the city.

Construction began in 1489 for Filippo Strozzi, who sadly died two years later, after only the foundations had been laid. 15 buildings were demolished to make room for it. Building was finally completed in 1536 and although it only has three storeys, each floor is as tall as a normal palazzo.

Even the courtyard has a drainage system in place. The architecture plan is indeed well thought of.

Today, the palace is used for art exhibitions and also houses various institutes and a large library.

Opening Hours:

Major Exhibition - Piano Nobile
Open daily 9.00 am - 8.00 pm (except Thurs)
Thursdays 9.00 am -11.00 pm
* Visitors admitted up to one hour before exhibition closes

Centre for Contemporary Culture Strozzina
Tuesday-Sunday 10.00 am - 8 pm
Thursday 10.00 am - 11.00 pm. Special free entrance from 6.00 pm (only at the CCC Strozzina)
Monday closed

Location:
Situated between Piazza Strozzi and via Tornabuoni

Source:
Palazzo Strozzi

Relive the sad love story of Bianca Capello

2011-04-12T19:39:00.000+08:00

The Palazzo di Bianca Cappello, the scene for one of the most talked about romances of the Renaissance - the Grand Duke and a Venetian noblewoman which he was madly in love despite being already married to Joanna of Austria .

Bianca Cappello (1548 – October 17, 1587) was a Venetian aristocrat, who eloped in 1563, aged only fifteen, with an impoverished Florentine by the name of Piero Buonaventuri. The couple fled to Piero’s native city, but the family of Bianca and the Venetian government insisted that the newly weds be immediately returned to Venice. Cosimo I, the Duke then, intervened and allowed Bianca to stay in Florence.

His son, Francesco I de' Medici, had became infatuated with the young Venetian despite being married to Joanna of Austria. In 1574, Francesco inherited the title of Arch Duke. After Bianca's husband was stabbed to death (nobody know if he was assassinated by the Duke), the Duke had the house in the via Maggio renovated in the early 1570s for Bianca so that she would be nearer to his court in the Palazzo Pitti.

With the untimely death of Joan, and the two could finally marry in 1579. But the idyll was disturbed by the reluctance of the ruling family to this woman. Thus it is rumoured that they were poisoned to death in the Villa Medici at Poggio a Caiano in October 1587. (Unable to verify as based on wiki, in 2006, forensic and toxicology experts at the University of Florence reported evidence of arsenic poisoning in a study published in the British Medical Journal, but in 2010 evidence of the parasite Plasmodium falciparum, which causes malaria, was found in Francesco's remains which you can read more about here.)

Meanwhile, the building was sold by White, after he became Grand Duchess, to Santa Maria Nuova Hospital, where the decoration of the facade was completed around 1579 by Bernadino Poccetti.

Above the door there is a visual pun on the name of Cappello, which means hat in Italian, in the form of a cappello di viaggio, or travelling hat, which was part of the coat of arms of its famous resident.

Today Palazzo di Bianca Cappello belongs to the Municipality of Florence, who turned it into a laboratory and headquarters of the conservation and restoration of books.

Location:
Number 26 of Via Maggio in the district of Oltrarno in Florence .

Source:
Wiki

Visit Palazzo Davanzati

2011-04-11T20:01:00.008+08:00

Palazzo Davanzati, a typical nobleman's house of the 14th century

It was erected in the second half of the 14th century by the Davizzi family, who were wealthy members of the wool guild. In 1516 it was sold to the Bartolini and, later that century, to the Davanzati family, also rich merchants (1578), who held it until 1838. After the suicide of Carlo Davanzati, it was split into different quarters and modified. After escaping the numerous demolitions of 19th century Florence, it was bought by Elia Volpi, an antiquarian, who restored it back to the original style based on his impression.

In 1910, Volpi opened the building as a private museum (Museo Privato della Casa Fiorentina Antica or Museum of the Old Florentine House). The contents of this museum kept changing as Volpi sold the furniture at auctions, including in a major sale of 1916 in New York. In the 1920s, Egyptian antique dealers Vitale and Leopoldo Bengujat acquired the building and its contents. In 1951 it was purchased by the Italian state and kept open as a museum. In 1995 it was closed for major restoration to consolidate the building that was falling down. The museum was partially reopened in 2005 allowing the ground and first floors for public to visit.

Source: Wiki

Visit Palazzo Pitti

2011-04-11T19:16:00.001+08:00

Visit Palazzo Pitti

The Palazzo Pitti (Italian pronunciation: [paˈlattso ˈpitti]), in English sometimes called the Pitti Palace, is a vast mainly Renaissance palace in Florence, Italy. It is situated on the south side of the River Arno, a short distance from the Ponte Vecchio. The original structure consisted only the middle cube of the present building as shown on the top floor with 7 windows and was built in 1457 for an ambitious Florentine banker, Luca Pitti's residence.

The palace was bought by the Medici family in 1549 and became the chief residence of the ruling families of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. The palace enlarged and altered as later generations amassed paintings, plates, jewelry and luxurious possessions.

In the late 18th century, the palazzo was used as a power base by Napoleon, and later served for a brief period as the principal royal palace of the newly united Italy. The palace and its contents were donated to the Italian people by King Victor Emmanuel III in 1919, and its doors were opened to the public as one of Florence's largest art galleries. Today, it houses several minor collections in addition to those of the Medici family, and is fully open to the public.

Behind the palace, the land on the Boboli hill was acquired in order to create a large formal park and gardens, which is now known as the famous Boboli Gardens. It is a garden highly recommended by the walking tour guide. A pity I did not visit because entrance ticket would include the museums and the day where I had planned to visit, most museums were close thus I figured it may not be a good deal to pay for the entrance tickets.

Shop in Piazza della Repubblica

2011-04-10T14:22:00.002+08:00

Shop in Piazza della Repubblica

Piazza della Repubblica is marks the center of the city since Roman times and is located in one of the oldest sections of the town. The square was the site of the ancient Roman forum and some of its currently existing adjacent streets like: Via degli Strozzi, Via degli Speziali and Via del Corso configured the Decumanus Maximus, while Via Roma and Via Calimaia shaped the Cardus Maximus.
In 1861, subsequent to the annexation of Tuscany to the Kingdom of Italy, the flattening of the Mercato Vecchio (Old Market), accomplished in 1870, enlarged the Piazza della Repubblica considerably. Several significant ancient monuments and buildings were irremediably demolished.

Fortunately, a splendid column from the Mercato Vecchio could be saved and this Column of Abundance (a Roman column crowned by the statue of L’Abbondanza which means abundance sculptured in the 18th century) still stands on the square.

The dominant element of the presently imposing square is the outstanding Arco del Trionfo (triumphal arch) placed on its western side. It was completed in 1895. The “Arco del Trionfo” had been constructed to honour Florence as it had been designated capital city of the Kingdom of Italy, from 1865 to 1871, in the reign of Vittorio Emmanuele II. In 1871, Rome became definitively the capital city of Italy.

The inscription above it
L'ANTICO CENTRO DELLA CITTÀ

DA SECOLARE SQUALLORE
A VITA NUOVA RESTITUITO
And the English translation:
The ancient centre of the city / restored from age-old squalor / to new life

Today, lots of shopping boutiques are found here. La Rinascente is one of the famous shopping centres in Italy and can be found at the Piazza too.

In addition, if you are looking for a Louis Vuitton branch, crossing over the Arco del Trionfo to Piazza Strozzi where a LV branch resides.
Address: Piazza Strozzi, 50123 Firenze.
Tel: 055 2396786