SYDNEY - Take 2

Australia, Sydney Review  
 


By z_l3nG


Pancakes Rock!

Nah, we weren't on a gastronomical trip in Sydney, but an economical one.
Food in Sydney is costlier than in the US and the statement is based purely on my observation.

Nonetheless, we spoilt ourselves one evening by having this wonderful dinner at the 'Pancakes on the Rock' restaurant.

You don't have to guess what they serve 'cos it's so obvious - Pancakes.

We ordered one plate of pork ribs, a Thai chicken salad and a yummy-licious pancake for dessert.  We devoured everything (except the bones) and ended up with big bellies.

Now,  let the food be served.

(Top: The pancake is called the Devil for good reason! It's so delicious you'd be asking for more)

 

I can't remember all the names of the food we ordered, but does it matter?  

What matters most is that the food were absolutely scrumptious, every single bite of it. 

The huge piece of pork ribs was very well-marinated and the meat, Tender, which means you don't have to have razor-sharp teeth to tear the meat apart. 

Still, you need to have a good set of teeth.

The best is always saved for last, they say.  

Oh yes, the pancake was heaven-made. 

The ice-cream as the topping and melted chocolate spreading all over the pancake and fresh strawberries - Muah! A perfect combination.

(Note: A friend told me the Hurricane in Sydney serves to-die-for pork ribs. We found one at Darling Harbour, but the food is really pricey.)

On a Quest

To see koala bears!

I have this obsession for koala bears since I was very young.  The first time I saw it on TV, I told myself I Have to go to Australia one day. 

So, I was there. And my fiance brought me to Taronga Zoo! 

To get there,  we took a ferry ride from Wharf #2 at Circular Quay in Sydney.  

The ticket is priced at AUD49.50, which includes return ferry trip, entrance fee and sky safari (cable car ride).

 

(Top: Lady Northcott ferry took us to Taronga zoo)

The ride was an awesome one. We sailed passed some of the biggest landmarks in Sydney, such as the Sydney Opera House and the bridge. 

Oh, so cute!

Ta-Da! Adorable bears.

I had no luck with them that day for all three of them were taking a nap.
They slept in funny ways.

They looked like cute stuffed animals to me when they were sitting motionless. 

To see them, their captivity is on the immediate right at the entrance.

To see them upclose and even cuddle them, a fee of AUD20 is charged per person for 10 minutes.

Even cuter animal

The highlight of Taronga zoo, to me, is the Platypus.  

OMG, was that fella cute or what! 

It's small-sized and it looked like many animals combined.

Unfortunately, the place was dimly lit and there was only one platypus swimming in the tank, I didn't think it was possible to snap a photo of it.


Not-so-cute animals

For instance, penguins, sea lions, chimpanzees and gorillas, nocturnal species (some are really cuties, I must admit) and also the bird in the picture, plus so many more...which I can't recall.



On Taronga Zoo

One thing's for sure, none of the zoos in Malaysia can compete with Taronga zoo. Who are we kidding, right?

Taronga zoo was, I'd say OK, considering that the view was pretty amazing and, they house more variety of animals there.

Central Park Zoo in New York City, on the other hand, is rather small, but it was more fun!

 

(This is the view you can get from Taronga Zoo)

Do take note of this, the zoo's under construction when I was there, so you might want to delay your plan to go there.

I hope the zoo's going to have heaps of exotic animals after the expansion.

To get a map of the zoo, you can find it at the zoo entrance. 

Note that the ferry leaves every half an hour.

(Note: All texts and photos are copyright reserved - Z)

SYDNEY - Hyde Park

Australia, Sydney Review  
 


by z_l3nG


HYDE PARK 

(pronounced as Hide)

Australians don't mind sharing, for there's plenty of space for them to share.

Sydney's park (aka Hyde Park) is big, beautiful and very well-maintained.

The colours of the flowers are so vivid, it makes the whole environment so alive.
                                                                                                                                                                        
That's why, Aussies love spending their time at the park.


I saw them laying on the grass in bikini, office attires and casual wears.

Some were reading books, some were sunbathing while some were simply enjoying the nature.

They were so laid back!


A trip to the park will definitely transform your mood.

Breathe in the positive 'Qi' around you.






ANZAC Memorial 

After you're done running around the park, sniffing the sweet scents of flowers and sunbathing, head to the next destination.

A nice place to get shelter from the sun and heat.

Anzac Memorial Building, which nestles in Hyde Park South, is dedicated to all Australians who'd served their country in the war.

Anzac Memorial building's exterior is equally as beautiful as its interior design.

It's such a unique and simple structure.

Here's one thing you can only see from the inside, the dome of the Hall of Memory, which is covered with 120,000 golden stars, made from plaster and painted in gold.

Each star was purchased at 2 shillings (20 cents)  to fund the construction of this building during the Great Depression.


Rule:
You have to remain silent while you're in the building as a sign of respect.

Opening Hours:
Everyday from 9am to 5pm.

(Close on Good Friday and X'mas.)


Admission is FREE.

(Note: All texts and photos are copyright reserved - Z)

Dubai, not just another city

  

By z_l3nG

Nov, 2008


DUBAI - a metropolis, and a spanking one!


Day: Extremely hot
Night: Cool & Breezy


NOTE:
If there's one thing I couldn't live without in Dubai, it had to be my sunglasses.

The sky's always cloudless and the sun's always bright and glaring in Dubai during the day.



Me in Dubai

I still can't believe I was there.

Dubai was the name everyone talked about, all over the world.

All top-notch projects - the Palm, Burj Khalifa, Atlantis Hotel and Burj Al Arab -  are all in Dubai.

This fast-developing metropolis is a gallery on its own, displaying the best designs you can find in the world.




Far-fetched 

Common people can only dream of buying a house at the Palm or staying in one of the 7-star hotels here in Dubai.

Rich and famous people,  on the other hand,  had wrestled their way through to get a property in the much sought-after property development - The Palm.

But who cares?

You don't have to take a heli ride across Dubai to be able to admire these architectural designs by top-notch designers.  They are Everywhere.

The architectural designs in Dubai are a reflection of best brains put together.


The land of Monopoly

I wish Monopoly had a Dubai version.

Then, I could imagine myself owning stunningly wonderful buildings and just the thought of it makes me happy.

The buildings are tall, not to mention glittery, and one of them at a mind-blowing height - it's the renowned Burj Khalifa (was known as Burj Dubai).

This is the best picture to show you how tall Burj Khalifa was.

You know, when I looked up at the horizon and saw these jewels (the buildings, I mean),  I would think Dubai was the richest metropolis in the world!

Who would expect it to be in critical economic situation now?

It's probably the only city with the most skyscrapers in the world. And,  the only, which almost hit the point of banckruptcy.



Big boys with Big toys

Dubai - Beverly Hills of the UAE.

These cars are literally everywhere! It's like Proton in Malaysia. *Spanking!*

It's so common that you'd eventually stop WOWing after a while.

Hummers are the most common here in Dubai. Are these people rich or what?


Proton Wira on Sight


There are,  of course,  cars for the not-so-rich class, like the Proton Wira!  Oh boy,  was I lucky to have spotted it in Dubai!

Our home brand car in Dubai.  Malaysia memang Boleh!

Oh, wait...there's another homegrown brand in Dubai. It's in Australia too!

And, it's Vincci and Next.

Malaysia Double Boleh!


Air-Conditioned Bus Stop

Everything is well-planned here in Dubai, including its bus stop. It's air-conditioned! However, you still need to wait outside to hail a bus or cab.

Nonetheless, it's better than Malaysia.

I guess we haven't reached this stage yet, whereby infrastructure is top priority.

Even the roads are so poorly-planned and maintained in Malaysia. I wonder where all the contribution from tax payers have gone to.

There's a map too, inside this comfy, cosy bus stop for viewing.

Time factor got in the way, preventing me from getting close to Burj Khalifa and Burj Al Arab (what's the meaning of Burj, anyone?).

Sigh. And, I missed out the alleged thrilling desert safari ride too! How disappointing.



Mall with Tallest Aquarium

Dubai Mall houses the biggest aquarium in the world. The entrance fee is pretty costly indeed.

So, I didn't enter. Instead,  I joined the crowd, admiring the big tank from the outside.

To be con't

(Note: All texts and photos are copyright reserved - Z)

Travel with Caution

Stories of Robberies

We're all aware.  Crime rates have shot up, drastically.

We've heard stories from our friends,  families and at coffee shops.

We read them in the papers,  everyday.

SNATCH THIEVES. ROBBERS. RAPISTS. MURDERERS.

They hide in all corners,  preying on vulnerable victims,  regardless of their age.



My Classmate @ University

Few years ago,  a friend from the university I was studying was knocked out near her house.

She was only carrying a bag,  full of notes and books,  and was on her way to her house,  just a few steps more,  when a motorcyclist smashed her head with a helmet,  left her bleeding and helpless.

They sped off with her bag.

She had stitches on her head and couldn't come to school after that.  She was traumatised and her brain was affected by the impact.



That was a few years ago.

Today,  robbery is epidemic.

Thanks to the economic slowdown,  the increase  in the number of immigrants (both legal and illegal) and unemployment rate,  robbery is a common occurence.

We've accepted it.  We've become more vigilant.  We've tightened security at home.

Unfortunately,  our efforts are still insufficient.



An elderly woman taking a walk

I've heard of another story, which you may find it amusing.

An elderly woman was taking a slow walk at around 6 sth am, when a man approached her.

He demanded her to hand all her money over to him. Since she was just taking a walk, she had no money with her.

Infuriated, the robber gave her two hard slaps on the face and told her to bring money the next time she wanted to take a walk.

How cruel!



Robbers have their own modus operandi. Some mark their targets first. Some choose by random (easy target), while some are high on drugs.



Mum's handbag got snatched

This is fresh from the oven. We were in Ipoh last Saturday, driving an MPV with a KL car plate (be warned, robbers in other states may aim for KL cars).

It happened when we've just reached the house (in Taman Bercham) we were staying for the night after a heavy, happy meal  at a food court nearby.

The street was dimly lit and the Taman was a quiet neighbourhood.

I was waiting for my brothers to get down from the car, when suddenly two robbers on a motorcycle snatched Mum's handbag from her tight clasp.
Before Dad could even start the engine, they were already out of sight.

Dad then smsed friendfinder to get the location of the robbers.

Once he received the info, they headed out, leaving the 3 of us at home.

I was caught with surprise when I received a call from Mum's number a few minutes after they'd left. I had to clear my head, twice, to realise it was the robbers calling.

He demanded for Mum's ATM pin number in exchange for the handbag (together with other items in it).

I was furious. I asked him, "Di mana kamu?"

He replied, "Di sini lah! Sini!"

He demanded for the pin again and I said, "Berani kamu!" in the harshest tone. I then hung up.

They couldn't be reached again.

That was the end of the life of Mum's ATM cards, credit cards, house key, ICs, handphone, a lot of cash and foreign currencies and several other important documents.

And, she wasn't even at a non-vigilant state at the time of the robbery. She was clasping her handbag tightly with her two hands! Yet, they managed to grab it from her, easily.

Anyways, we're all relieved she didn't fall down and injure herself. She walked away without a single scratch.



So, my advice to you is not to be vigilant, but be extra, extra vigilant. Just let them snatch your belongings, not your life!

Narita & Me

Nov 13, 2009


This is a story about my 8-hour romance with Narita Airport.

Yes, Narita is in Japan. I was there (with fiance) for a transit and it was a LONG 8 hours.

We ate. We shopped. We snored. We explored.

The airport is very spacious and has a minimalist design. Very pleasant and cultural.

Things I like about Narita Airport

#1 Its RestRoom

Besides having spic-and-span (clean and neat) washrooms, Narita Airport comes with state-of-the-art WCs!

Mmm, you must be wondering....what's so special about it? Oh, you have no idea!

Let me give you a closer look.

See all the coloured buttons? Yea? Able to identify the symbols?

I was staring, long and hard, at the buttons while I was on the toilet seat. 

You can have soothing, Japanese tunes while you're answering nature's call? Wow.

Hey, so if there's volume control, the music can actually cover the sounds you'd be making in the washroom! Double wow!

You have no idea how long I spent in the restroom, admiring and snapping photos. I just loved it!

There's an indicator on the door, a baby seat and lots of supplies! Oooo, how well thought of!



#2 Its Dispensers

I apologise if I behave like someone who's seen too little. But, there were ice-cream dispensers!!!

Ahem. Well, it's nothing, really. Who cares? We have Coca Cola dispensers here in Malaysia.

Ok, who am I kidding? I was THRILLED to see the ice-cream dispensers at Narita Airport!

I was drooling,  just by looking at the images displaying on the screen. How tempting...ahhh....Haagen Dazs...



#3 Its Strange, but Funny Ad

You don't have to understand a word to find this absolutely amusing!

Look! It's a fish. No, it's a man. NO, it's....FISH-man! I know, it's lame.

The ad's Off the wall.



#4 Its Cultural display

I don't know if we can find something like this at LCCT or KLIA.
I guess not,  since I didn't notice any.

Paintings

You can find an aisle full of paintings and short descriptions. The paintings are absurdly beautiful.

 

Contemporary art

Narita Airport goes fusion. The showcasing of glass panels splashed with paints reflect contemporary art.

Origami on display

Just crazy. Just how did these Japanese fold the papers into a golden dragon?



#5 Shower Room

I cannot say how glad I was to see this.

I can't imagine how I would've survived the gruelling  (exaggeration is intended here) 8 hours without a 2-hour break in one of the rooms here.

Let me show you the room.

I'll tell you what you can get with 1600Yen/ first hour.


1. 2 clean, comfortable single beds with soft pillows
2. Towels
3. Hair dryer
4. Supply of body lotion and basic toiletries
5. Shoes
6. 2 hangers
7. And a wake-up call!



There! I've listed 5 Things I like about Narita Airport.

Bon Voyage.

(Note: All texts and photos are copyright reserved - Z)

Things that annoy me @ the movies

You do watch films at cinemas, right?

Well, I definitely do. What else can I do in KL (Kuala Lumpur)? (besides shopping, food hunting and getting a new haircut)

OK, OK, let's get to the point!

Now, like others, there are things I can withstand and things that I can't tolerate in life.
Hey, I'm not perfect! (there, I said it)

I wasn't easily annoyed, not until recently, for some reasons which I can't even explain. Hormonal imbalance, maybe?

Ok, here goes....


Things that annoy me at the movies


1, People who talk or text on their mobiles


Some people just don't find it a problem talking on their phones or texting while the movie is on.

There's a reason why we're required to switch our mobiles to silent mode in the cinema, no?

Let me tell you a related, non-fictional story:

An Indian girl sat in front of me,  with a bunch of her friends,  in the cinema one day.

Despite the fact that she and her friends were the most noise-making bunch in the cinema,  I cared less.

But when her phone rang TWICE,  I was REALLY annoyed.  Pissed off.

Her phone didn't only ring TWO times,  she was playing with her phone almost throughout the movie!

Her phone's bright screen almost blinded me.

ARGHH! GRRR!


2. People who forget to switch off their mobiles

It's simply mind-boggling as to how movie patrons can forget the most basic thing to do when they enter the cinema  BECAUSE   I've never once failed to switch off my mobile once I'm in the cinema.

It's purely automatic.

The moment my butt kiss the surface of my seat,  I would take out my phone and switch it to silent mode. Next,  I would remind my fiance to do the same.

Maybe I just hate attention.


3. People yelling

To be more specific, it's talking out loud.

So far (touch wood),  I've only met a guy who's done this in the cinema.

No, I've got no idea who he is. (but my guess,  he's a guy who's not reached puberty,  hence the attitude)

This young chap or fella, who was hugging his popcorn box, came with his guy friends and 2 chic girls.

The level of his ego must have had gone high when his pretty friend sat next to him. 

He started talking when he took a seat a row in front of me.

Throughout the movie, he would go,  "Ah!" "Look at...!"  and a lot more comments.

All I could hear were his annoying voice.

One guy saved the day by "shushh-ing" him.

GOD bless him!


4. People who can't sit still

This is not a rare phenomenon. No,  trust me.

We're not westerners, so the legs shouldn't be TOO long until they keep knocking on the seat in front.

But much too often, there are way too many people who have the "I don't care" attitude. I just do whatever I like.

What I would usually do when faced with this problem is turn my head around, indicating my frustration towards that fella's non-stop motion.

If it doesn't work, well, try turning your body around, putting on a glaring look (eyes must open wide, wide) and speak, "DO YOU MIND?"

Hopefully he gets the message.

I should be doing the latter next time. (when I've got the balls)


5. People coming in late

Late for the movies is OK, as long as you don't block my view!

I was watching a movie just recently.

The starting was exciting and I was glued to my seat,  when this group of people stood in front and totally blocked the screen! They blocked my view!!

I tried peeking on the left, then right. I wasn't able to see what's going on in the movie!
That left me in frustration, really, for a minute there. 

Just because they came in late and had no idea where the seating were. So they had to find and stand and find again. OOoooh, these people had to get on my nerves!


6. No movies?

I find it comical.

It was the first time I went to the movies at Capsquare.

I was alone at that time and was pretty glad it wasn't crowded. Just a handful of us.

15 minutes passed. 20 minutes passed. There was nothing on the black screen.

Something's not right. I went out to find a staff I could talk to, but no one to be found on the first floor, where I was.

Without given any choice, I went to the lobby and grabbed someone to ask.

To much of my surprise, they had totally forgotten about the screening! When me and few others were stupidly waiting in the hall and nobody even realised we were there.

If I didn't ask, we could easily be sitting there for ONE hour before they realise!

San Francisco Nov '09

Winter
10-15 Degree Celcius

          

     (Left: Seagulls crossing the beautiful 
     San Francisco bay in the evening sky)       





In a glance, San Francisco exudes the sense of tranquility.

Unlike the loud and bustling New York City,  San Francisco is very much quiet and peaceful. 

However, once you start exploring the corners of this populous city, you may find many loud, hidden treasures here in San Francisco and one instance is the Golden Gate Bridge, which is a sight not to be missed.   

       

Attractions

#1 The Golden Gate Bridge   


This bridge boasts wonderful architectural design, so it's little wonder why it was ranked 5th on the List of America's Favourite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects in 1999 (wikipedia).

(L: What better way to spend the cold, beautiful evening than cruising around San Francisco's Golden Gate bay?)

I find that to truly experience the beauty of this bridge, there's no better way than taking a ride on a cruise across the Golden Gate bay in San Francisco.

You can take the Bay Cruise at Pier 49 at Fisherman's Wharf.


The Bay Cruise

The best time to board the cruise is when evening is nearing...

You won't regret it, I promise! The setting is just purely romantic...just sit, chill and admire the landscape around you.

But, do remember to bring along your gloves if you're not adaptable to cold weather.

I initially thought the weather was bearable for me; that I wouldn't need to put on my gloves, like everybody else on the boat, but, the strong and freezingly cold wind forced me to surrender.

I had to wear gloves.

Now, besides taking the cruise to take a close view of this bridge, you can either drive or take a bus to Fort Point (allegedly the best point to see the Golden Gate Bridge).


(Note: Renting a car might be affordable or cheap, but the parking can cost a lot in San Francisco. Get a MUNI or CITY pass instead.)

You can get tram rides with your passes...just flash your pass to the conductor. It's easy and the rides can be thrilling when it's going down the steep slopes.

Must try the tram ride!

#2 Fisherman's Wharf

It's definitely a one-stop family entertainment place!

Well, we planned the course of our trip according to what we could find online and in forums. 
Most of the mentioned attractions are all in Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco.

There's just plenty to see and do there. It's just so 'colourful'.  

Pumped with excitement, we dropped our bags at Marriott hotel and immediately checked out the Fisherman's Wharf...it covers a really huge area! 

L: Happy times at McDonald's

 Bottom: Fire up at Johnny Rocket!  The atmosphere's good and the food will take you to the space.


That's why we decided to stay in the vicinity - Marriott Hotel.


Marriott Hotel 

Let's talk about Marriott at Fisherman's Wharf, shall we? The staff were very helpful and friendly.

We reached the hotel a few hours before check-in time and if you were us, you'd surely want to go to your room and take a rest after so many hours on the plane.

So, we politely asked if there was any room available for an early check-in and without reluctancy, she checked and said, yes (with a wide smile)...and if we didn't mind to stay in a disabled-friendly room, we could check in right at that instant.

I felt like hugging her!


(Note: All texts and photos are copyright reserved - Z)