Category: travels

Speedwalking Through Sydney

Taking from Taronga Zoo.

My trip to Sydney can only be described as a whirlwind as we only stayed about 5 days – two of those days I was left to myself while my husband worked. We both considered it a vacation for our vacation because there was literally no agenda and much more relaxed.

First night was joining him for dinner with coworkers at a restaurant that a spectacular view of the Sydney Opera House. In all honest opinion while it was iconic, it was not impressive. The architecture was great and very interesting, but overall it was not as awestruck I had hoped. However perhaps we were too up close because it was much better at a distance whenever I traveled by ferry.

However right across from it, I was much more awestruck by the bridge. Which I was told you could even walk across the suspension part of it (for a price).

I learned my younger cousin’s first word was chocolate. He woke up just in time for this feast.

Sunday was meeting my two cousins and her family. We ate and a cute Thai place and then walked to Darling Harbor where we saw our first koala sighting in front of Wildlife Sydney. I was told this would be the closet I would get to a koala compared to the other parks (which I learn they were very true). For a mid-afternoon dessert we went to a Lindt Chocolate cafe where we had a smorgasborg of waffles, ice chocolate, hot chocolate, and two types of cake. After we said our goodbyes and tried to make the last hours of Wildlife Sydney – which due to two people in front taking a long time we decided to pass.

Monday I set out early for Taronga Zoo. A simply ferry ride to Circular Quay it was easy enough. My only mistake once I got there was that I failed to get the shuttle right as we docked the boat. I realized my mistake when I started walking into the park that was also on the island.

Thanks to the Sydney Guide I picked up at the airport (which I highly recommended if you’ve never been before), I got a discount on my admission ticket. The zoo was divided in two, three parts: Austrialian Walkabout, African plains, and Ocean. Much of the ocean exhibit was closed but between the two areas it still took half a day to explore.

For lunch I went to the cafe and got a burger. Which was more than just your average burger with pickles and onions. It also contained beets making it crunchy and delicious. Note: it’s best to hide your food or keep it closed as much as possible. White ibises are everywhere and they are like the seagulls back in the States. Not afraid of people and more than happy to eat the food off your plate when you’re not looking. I kept my fries in a closed bag and they still reached for it, even jumping on the table. Also feeding them will not make them go away and cause only more to come to you.

After my fight with an ibis, I went back to explore the shopping area more. I had seen a Kinokuniya in the area and decided to take a peek. Unlike the one in New York, this was very much a bookstore similar to Barnes and Nobles than a store that sold Japanese books. The reason I went was to not only check out an international branch but that they carried Chinese translated manga. I picked up a series called Peach Sisters for $20AUD.

Mocktail, sushi, and pork belly.

For dinner, I rejoined my husband for an izakaya style dinner.

Tuesday was really lax as I felt I couldn’t do too much in a day. So I got up early to head to the Sea Life Sydney Aquarium and bought a combo ticket for $75AUD (at the desk, it’s cheaper online)–this allowed me to visit Wildlife Sydney, Manly Sealife Sanctuary, and the aquarium for a significantly discounted price (At first I had one for the Sydney Eye, but didn’t have time, but they were able to easily exchange it).

And then after I checked out the Garden of Friendship – a garden that was a gift from China to Australia. For $6AUD it was pretty much a steal compared to the museums and park pricing.

With not much time left in the day, I decided to take a Sightseeing bus for $29AUD. I’ve never taking one in New York—for obvious reasons—but I would recommend it wherever you are if you are only going to be at your destination for less than a week. It not only gives you a sense of the city but also you see everything within a short amount of time. They provided me with a set of headphones to listen to the recorded audio tour that goes along with the bus route as well.

Pictures from Wildlife Sydney.

Manly Sanctuary

Wednesday was our last day, and we had a free day to spent together. Staying close we checked out Wildlife Sydney and then with some time left we took the ferry to Manly to visit the sealife sanctuary. We also learned there was a penguin colony underneath the wharf!

There is a potato underneath somewhere.

An early dinner consisted of spicy wonton noodles and an extremely stuffed baked potato. Then it was off to the airport and back home. I wish I was able to do more since on our last day I found two tea salons and a Ladurée cafe, but perhaps next time right?

One Week in Hong Kong

Hong Kong is similar to New York. Lots and lots of people, places to eat, places to see, and, of course, places to shop. I’ve been away for a week on a holiday before the summer convention season really begins. My parents were literally begging for my husband and I to make the trip (mainly to introduce him to the family), and thanks to some advanced planning we were able to take one week. His work took him to Sydney, so we got to go to Hong Kong as a pit stop.

Since HK is much more compact, we stayed at a hotel so as not to cramp up my aunt’s already tiny apartment. South Pacific Hotel was just blocks away from Times Square, a major shopping hub on Hong Kong Island. (For those unwares about the makeup of Hong Kong–there are three parts: Hong Kong Island, Kowloon, and New Terrioritories.)

Usually I will record food after food dishes, but after the week all the dishes started to blend together into basic platters of chicken, fish, and vegetable. Initially we had been both worried about my husband’s dietary restrictions but that was never a problem. Or rather the problem was being fed too much.

It’s hard to describe what to do in Hong Kong because there is so much or not much to do. It is more about living the Hong Kong experience of shopping, eating, walking, and perhaps more eating. There are must-see attractions like the Tian Tan Buddha and Victoria Peak, but you could also be very happy just walking around all the street markets scattered in Mong Kok and Wan Chai.

Armed with an Octopus Card, a main form of transportation fare (MTR), we were able to take everything from a tram to a ferry to the subway to double-decker buses. Supposedly now they are an accepted form of payment and select stores, like 7-Eleven etc. And thanks to Wi-Fi practically everywhere I was able to post snippets whenever I had the chance.

Since we had such a short time to spend, it was a flurry of traveling to all the must-see sites. First stop was the Tian Tan Buddha, a giant Buddha statue and the top of a a mountain peak where you need to take a cable car to get to it. It was a special occasion so we took one with a glass floor –it was not scary as you might think, but quite cool once you were over water and trees. If you ever plan to visit I recommend not wearing a full skirt (as the cable car and mountainous area tends to be more windy than you expect.

Monday we went to Ocean Park, the local amusement park/animal reserve.  It was the amusement park of my childhood and it has improved tremendously since the last time I went. With a lot more rides and attractions. Even the food was better.

Tuesday we went to Western Market and then Stanley Market/Park since the original plan of visiting Victoria Peak was cancelled due to cloudy weather. Stanley Market is a must-go if you want to go shopping with all kinds of clothing, wears, and souvenirs.

Wednesday involved walking up the longest series of escalators. An odd attraction but an attraction nonetheless. Unfortunately for us it was half under construction—we had to walk all the way up and take it partially the way down. Then off to Victoria Peak, the highest point in Hong Kong and like the Empire State Building, it needed a clear day in order to see the bird’s eye view of the city. You have the option of taking the bus or the tram. Thanks to our Octopus Card we were able to get to the highest viewpoint without paying extra tickets.

After we heading to see the Rubber Duck Project at Tsim Tsah Tsui and get something to eat. The Rubber Duck project was on my husband and I personal “must-see” – especially since it was only there for a month. A giant inflatable rubber duck that could only make you smile everytime you look at it. We even managed to get pictures with the smaller ducks along Harbour City’s ferry terminal. The key was to go towards the end of the exhibition, where there were less ducks being photographed.

Lunch was the usual, but we were able to finally try “fried milk,” a dish recommended by some friends of ours. It turned out to be a custard like mixture and deep-fried; think fried tres leches in popper-size.

For once, we were able to have some time to ourselves to explore the city at night. Or at least Causeway Bay. Being a vegetarian, my husband had a fixation on falafel and noticed BLT Burger had a falafel burger whenever we past by to take the MTR. Unbeknownst to me it was a New York based chain. If you’ve even been to LT burger it is brought to you by the same people but with a different flavor. I had a regular burger than seemingly got devoured right away. Either my stomach had been craving American style food or it was really good. Moist, juicy, and flavorful; I think I’ll stick with it being a very good burger.

Thursday was the big dinner of introducing my husband to all the family. Which was mostly a very informal affair, but involved a lot of food.

Friday was a scramble to get some last minute sightseeing in by going to the Wong Tai Sin Temple, a temple honoring Buddhism, Confucianism, and Taosim. Then it was just some last minute packing and shopping before we were on our way to Sydney.

Oh and then one more meal at the airport.