Day 2 in the Land of Oz!

Yes after a protracted leave of absence to herald in the new year, i am back with the adventures. We were so shagged out by the first day due to the long flight and all that we went for a nice sleep. Like erm, 9-10 hrs of sleep. On a holiday. Yup. Thats the fantastic thing about free and easy cos your time is your own. Anyways the best mode of transport in Sydney is on foot. The train system, though extensive, is exorbitant. I think a 2 stop ride costs about AUD $1.80. Wah lao i go Boon Lay from Pasir Ris costs S$1.84 niah. But really, the best way to enjoy Sydney is on foot as you explore the architecture and enjoy the weather. Although in the middle of summer, but the wind from dunno where means you don't really feel the humidity. Thats why lazy ol' us decided to walk!

When we were there, we would keep hearing a story, about this particular convict who was sentenced to work on one of the islands surrounding Sydney. He apparently remarked to one of his captors that "My, you have a most beautiful harbour." I believe i read it from a brochure, heard it from a tour guide, and a park ranger separately. Oh, and the person next to me in the toilet cubicle too.

But truth be told, Sydney harbour, and the surrounding area, is really most beautiful. It is quite obvious what Singapore was trying to do with Clarke Quay, but I have to say, no fight man!

Our first stop was Circular Quay! I can't really remember the name of this place haa haa, but its actually a library. So we of cos did not spend much time there. Like, less than 5 mins. We're not very cultural people.

Another famous building. Again, we din go in.

OH MY GOD. SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE!! YES!! We practically went SOH-crazy. You will not guess how many days (and nights) we spent at SOH. But when you witness the place first-hand, its really quite breath-taking. We took pictures at it from many angles, but you seem to still get the same view from each angle. I can't explain it also.

Cadman's Cottage. The oldest residential place in Sydney. But there's nothing inside 'cept pipes and holes in the ground.

Another angle of SOH! Told you we went crazy liao.

More give me more!!

The Sydney Harbor Bridge! Another thing we went crazy over!

This whole area is actually known as The Rocks. Cool name eh.

The Rocks is actually a stretch of prime shopping. And thus all we could do there was pose for photos.

We took a ferry! Yup another popular mode of transport in Sydney is the ferry. Cos the main water thoroughfare runs through most of the happening spots in Sydney, some people actually commute by ferry to their office around the harbour, and back home. Thats one hell of a way to beat rush hour.

Us at Fort Denison! Its some heritage site near the Sydney Harbour, and it costs like 27 AUD per person to go there by ferry and for a guided tour. Erm, in our humble opinion, not worth going. Had a good tour guide, but the place is simply a rock on the sea. You can spit from one end and land it on the other. And they had the usual cannons and gunpowder sacks lor.

Me firing a cannon.

And the next stop on our packed itinerary for the day was Pylon Lookout! You see, you can either choose to pay up to AUD 200 bucks to do the Bridge Climb, or you can pay 7 bucks to climb the Pylon Lookout, and get essentially the same view. The Choice is Yours.

I was hungry.

There was an eclipse when we finally reached the Opera House.

I have to say though, we both look so coooooolllll.

The sun came through. But truth be told, i think the Opera House actually looks better from a distance. Haa haa. That reminds me of the saying: yan kan hua hong hong, jing kan hua shen cong.

To round off our overwhelmingly packed day, we wanted to walk to this Government House thingy near the Opera House (Everything good in Sydney is near the Opera House or the Harbour one lor)

...But closed liao. So we take photos from outside only. This picture is of some conservatory, not the Government House though. Needless to say, I was shagged out by then. I believe we lost 10 kg each from walking that day.

We walked all the way to Martin Place to take the train back. My friend Damien had actually told us we can walk to the Opera House from our hotel in the city centre, but he obviously over-estimated our stamina.

We had dinner at this nice cafe near our hotel! Yummy pasta and risotti! Even the waiters and waitresses in Australia are so warm and friendly. This particular waitress insisted, after the 3rd time i called her "Excuse me!" that i call her by her name. Which i have obviously forgotten now.

Day 1 in the Land of Oz

Yup the good stuff starts now. As with all trips, you start with the mode of transport. The only way to fly, in our humble opinion, is the ubiquitous SQ. The only airline we had ever contemplated, and the only airline anyone should contemplate flying.

I used to be a frequent budget flyer, (i just love the feeling of squeezing into my little seat and have my butt firmly wedged between the seat handles....shiok ah!)

But after experiencing the thrill of flying with the kebaya-clad maidens, you will never want to fly budget again....Granted, they are a bit more expensive than the rest (the airline, not the maidens), but they are worth every cent. Case in point, we once booked a flight to hong kong, but cos we booked too late, we din get the flight we wanted. So two days before our flight, we went down to the SQ office at Paragon, and politely, cutely, handsomely asked the staff whether there was any way they could push us up to the flight we wanted.

And she did!

For no extra cost!

WOO HOO!!

SINGAPORE AIRLINE WAN SUI!!!

Oh and they did something fantastic for us during this trip too! but this one tell later.

Ok wait. I just remembered the food. Think must discount liao. Cos they din have what i wanted for breakfast and I had to make do with some smelly noodles.

Us at the airport. Looking fugly in specs. Bo bian, 7 hour flight. Our seats were alright, service was ok, stewardesses weren't that hot though. Sadded. That led to our rather protracted discussion (while the plane was making its infinite rounds on the runway while preparing to take off) about the general slide in 'standards' of the stewardesses. I think Carine did mention that even she could be one. I of course agreed. haa haa.

Anyways, the most eventful part of the flight (apart from me watching Tony Leung and Takeshi trying to one-up one another, and Lin Chiling's rather pitiful attempt at acting) was when we finally landed at Sydney Airport.

As i was contemplating how best to siam smelling the armpits of the huge angmohs as they reached out for their luggage, there was a sudden "ding dong". Then the chilling annoucement:

"Ladies and Gentlemen, please do not panic. Simply put on the oxygen masks that will be dropping before you. Please put on the masks before putting it on for your child or any other passengers. Again, please do not panic."

Well of cos we did. There was a visible gasp, and everyone started staring at everyone else. I was desperately trying to recall the safety video screened earlier, only to remember that i was busy trying to choose between lin chiling and selma blair for my inflight entertainment later.

Anyhoo, although i am sure the worst possible scenario was running through everyone's mind at that time, no one actually panicked. I of cos remained supremely calm. After a few painful minutes, the captain's voice came on to announce that someone had activated the wrong button, therefore activating the announcement.

Yup. What a way to arrive in Sydney.

Carine with 2 luggages!!! No lar, one is mine. The ugly one is hers. Although I was made to carry it most of the time....sigh...

The CityRail which we took from the airport to the city central, where our hotel was. About AUD $15 (which is SGD $15, hee hee). I guess the train was the fastest way to get around in Sydney, but they're also quite expensive lar. And they are quite dirty too, with the vandalism and all.

The location of our hotel!

Picture of the streets near our hotel. That line you see is for the monorail, which we din have a chance to sit lar.

After a short break in the hotel, and to put on our contact lenses so we dun look like old fogies, we went out! And our first stop - Chinatown! Haa haa! Everytime chinese people go to angmoh country, we will surely whack the chinatown one. Dunno why lar. But the Chinatown in Sydney is really nothing to crow about. Its mainly just a stretch of shophouses selling thrift clothes and knick knacks lor.

Another part of Chinatown!

Paddy's Market! Its a famous flea market kinda thing. But the day we went it was closed lar. So we take picture lor. Cos take picture is free one. There's a factory outlet-ish shopping mall in Chinatown too, in the same building as Paddy's Market. You can tell from our enthusiastic blogging about this place that it wasn't the most fun place in the world. Haa haa.

Our first meal in Sydney. Oporto's Burgers! Its like Burger King, 'cept lousier. The meat was dry, and the sauce was rather too exotic for my taste. Anyhoo, we had had quite nice weather as we were strolling through the streets of Chinatown. But around the time we started to eat, we could already see ominous gloomy clouds in the sky. We started to joke, haa haa won't rain one lar, Sydney summer lei! Where got rain one!....then....

Rain.

More Rain. Being the garang seasoned travellers that we were, we had brought along my tiny umbrella, and our jackets. So braving the rain, we chiongded to Darling Harbour! Sydney's other not-so-famous harbour!

Rain's out, sun's in!

Darling Harbour has a fantastic view of the Sydney CBD. Its mainly a chill-out area, and its also where the Sydney Wildlife Park and Sydney Aquarium are found. Quite a touristy spot, as evidenced by the ample number of japanese tourists we saw there.

The main shopping centre at Darling Harbour. Again a touristy place, and how do we know? They were selling 'Australia' T-shirts and Jackets. And Koala bears too.

The view from the other side.

We damn shag ah! Our flight was a midnight one, so we din actually sleep much, having had to wake up at 5 am Singapore time (and 8 am Sydney time) for breakfast on the plane. Hence the need for a caffeine boost. Oh and Carine wasn't posing actually. Haa haaa.

Darlings at Darling Harbour! (Carine's caption, not mine! Hee)

Yes the sun's out good and proper now.

King Street Wharf! Yes i know u can read.

A secluded part of the wharf. In Sydney, people can actually dock their boats and yachts at these harbours, which are next to the City. So you can practically get off work, and walk right to your yacht from your office.

Handsome and Cool.

Pretty and Cute. Yes we are bhb.

Us on the Darling Harbour Bridge! At least i think thats what it is....i can't remember liao..haa haa...

A highly-recommended restaurant! Conveniently located in the mega shopping centre. We shared a pizza and Quesadilas, i think. The portions were huge! Man if u eat in Australia, you have to expect portions 1 and half times more than Singapore. It was a challenge, even for me.

Yes me the pig.

And the crowning glory of our dinner, the eponymous pancake! We had chocolate pancake with ice cream i think. Sibei shiok. But also blardy filling.

The night view of Darling Harbour. As i commented to Carine, it looks exactly like Raffles Place. I think all CBDs are the same lar. Stiflingly boring.

End of first day! I was freaking shagged out and i think i started snoring even before my head hit the pillow.