I've been dreaming about Australia for the longest time I could remember. I don't remember telling anyone before, but since I've decided to do this, I think I've told A LOT of people (Yea I like to share happy stories, so what?). I've been in Aussie for 2 weeks plus now, it has all been good, but oh so new and refreshing!
At Sydney Opera House!
So the idea came up last year when I saw my seniors heading to Aussie for their electives. So I thought why can't I go too? It was all just a thought at that time, but all thanks to my family, my dear sister especially, it did come true after a year of planning with a lot of ka-ching, ka-ching involved (I'm not born in a wealthy family, of course a month in Aussie is expensive!).
At Melbourne Airport whilst waiting for our transit flight
I'll just be sharing a few photos here and there to summarize the trip I had in Aussie. No point crowding up my blog since I've already crowded up my FB with pictures! How I love taking photos! It's like 'cik-cak here, cik-cak there'. Even better now with digital cameras, so convenient, no more worries about not enough films la, how to develop films la, over exposure la, pictures don't turn out good etc etc.
On the ferry on the way to Sydney. So cool getting to ride the ferry so often right? Lol
So basically I'll be spending like 5 weeks here, so this being my 3rd week la if you wanna count it correctly. I came here earlier, arriving at Melbourne Airport late night on 2nd of May before transiting to Sydney the next morning at 7am. That explains all the fooling around airport. And I tell you, Melbourne is like so cold! I was bundling myself up with everything possible but it was useless! So sejuk I tell u! Hopefully the 3 days I'm spending in Melbourne will be good! *fingers crossed* Weather please be nice to me.
At the top of Sydney Tower with the other 3 I came to Sydney with
So on arrival at Sydney, our landlord was kind enough to come to the airport to pick us up. Well he's charging us but still.. The airport system here quite the confusing if you're a first time traveler like muah coming to a foreign land (macam pergi other planet pula). I think I should stop using too many Malay phrases in my sentences. I mean we were warned by him, let's name him R. Like me, JP, Mad and Jem, when we get together the 1 and only language we can communicate through is BM or english. So we were like having dinner one night and suddenly he came up to us and like 'excuse me, I would like it if you speak english when other people are around'. We were like 'we were speaking english!'. 'Doesn't sound like it to me!'. *smacks head* My english really that cha mehr? Too much of manglish I guess.
The platter for 2 we had at Lowenbrau. It was fantastico!
So where was I? Oh arrival in Sydney. My first impression of Sydney was it was so darn clean! You'll not see smacks of rubbish piling up, or plastic bags flying around, tissue papers on the grounds, heck not even a toothpick! Well there were some times when you do see a cup lying on the floor at times, but in general, the whole country is like so clean! One thing I think Malaysians should learn from them is their recycling system. It's so well organized with every household having a recycling bin to themselves, and the rubbish truck comes and collect them fortnightly! Good right? Definitely helping the environment (I think). But we came up with the conclusion that if we were to implement it back home, you'll see lots of Malaysians stuck in front of the rubbish bin, thinking to themselves whether the item they are about to discard is recyclable. Lol
Pancake on the rocks (Yum yum!)
On the day of our arrival, R was like taking us out to show us where the hospital was (it is like 2.9km from the house!) and where all the grocery shops, supermarkets are. So we were like how are we gonna get to hospital daily la? He was kind enough to prepare bikes for us (FOC) for us to cycle to hospital or shops. But I tell you I dread everyday to cycle to hospital! I mean it's good exercise and all, tones my thigh etc, but the pain it causes down there and horror stories Mad told about losing virginity to a bike. I was like I don't wanna lose my virginity to a BIKE (too much info). Anyway, the bike is still the simplest and cheapest solution I have in a form of transport. So no more complains and receive it with open arms. (At least I have a bike)
The renowned Sydney Fish Market. Would like to head back there again!
We did our first tour to Sydney the next day itself. We were like so excited cause the easiest way for us to travel to Sydney is actually by ferry! I mean not everyday you get to ride ferries as a form of public transportation. This is what you call travel in style! Lol. So the routes are confusing here and there but I tell you the schedule that they have for the ferry and I assume all the public transportation are so on time!They say 10.25am, they arrive at exactly 10.25am (kalah KTM). And the public transport is so extensive that people actually don't buy cars unless they live in suburbs (unless of course you freakishly wealthy and no where else to spend money and want your own car la). Mind you owning a car here is not cheap. So Malaysia, how to challenge la?
On the Sydney Harbor Bridge, capturing the Opera House, with Kok Wye.
We took so many pictures on the first day that by the 2nd day we were like, been there, done that (typical human beings). So instead of taking in the scenery like what tourist usually do, by our 3rd/4th time on the ferry we were like sitting inside playing with our phones instead. Lol. Apala? We actually bought this combo ticket thingy that allows us to enter into 5 places for AUD80. Places included Aquarium, Wild life, Madam Tussauds (new), Sydney Tower (as seen above) and lastly Manly. In just a span of 2 weeks, we've gone through all of it, except Manly which we will gladly cover by this Sunday. Another place that I would want to visit is of course Bondi Beach since my sister kept mentioning about it.
At Madam Tussaud with one of my all time idol, Oprah!
We're still thinking of whether or not to go to Blue Mountains. Well for me, I've never heard of Blue Mountains before so am not too keen to go. Plus a 1 day trip up cost more than 100AUD (Mahalnya!). But then the thought that we're here and we're not going there seems a bit of a waste. So I'm still not too sure. Would love some opinions here. I've seen all the photos and all of blue mountains, it is breath taking! Yet somehow I'm more of a shopping person. Lol. Dilemma dilemma.
At Taronga Zoo! More exciting photos on FB (even the sampat giraffe!)
For now I could just say that for the past 2 weeks, I mean the weekends heading down to Sydney, I've gotten to know like so many animals! Why wouldn't I not know since I've been to like Aquarium, Wild Life then the ever so famous Taronga zoo! If I do not know, then the smack comes straight to the head! Lol. I'm proud to say that I've seen a real life Koala! They're like the laziest animal alive! Sleeping for more than 20H a day. No wonder my German friend here says that they are on the verge of extinction as they're too lazy to f*ck! Hilarious I tell you! I've never thought about that before. Lol.
Ribs @ Hurricanes! JP was like 'eat women eat!'
Other than that of course I'll not miss out on the 2 most prominent landmarks of Sydney. The Opera House as well as the Harbor Bridge. The first time being so up close to the 2 structures really shaken me back to reality. It was like 'I'm here! I'm finally here!' Seeing them in pictures and all is so different to when you actually am up front with the structures themselves. Take Sydney Harbor Bridge for example. I was like 'Wow! It's all made up of real thick steel and it's Humongous!' I think I was like thinking about those bridges that my brother used to play with with all his HotWheels car. And the Opera House. No words could explain.
So fascinated by the sharks at Aquarium
The weekly Darling Harbour Fireworks on Saturday!
So I think I'll leave my post on Australia here (for now). I haven't even mentioned about the hospital condition here (which is actually the main reason I came to Aussie). It hadn't been all fun and games only. I'm still brushing up on my rusting surgery. Will update about that sooner. Till the next post then!
-KaRLeeN-
