I don't usually pay attention to "native" sounds, but this pair of aboriginal street musicians caught my attention. That they were friendly and encouraged photo-taking, even posing with tourists, added to the joyful mood.
I ended up getting their spirit of the land CD - a compilation of didgeridoo on techno phunk.
I see my light come shining
The thing to do on weekends in Sydney is the weekend markets.
I managed to do Paddington, the Rocks, and Paddy's.
I expected really funky, arty, creative, unique stuff. There was very little originality or cleverness for sale.
My precious find is this boho 2-layer sari silk wrap that I am able to wear 100 different ways. I have worked up my way up to No. 3.
It will keep me entertained till the next shopping spree.
It's got taste. It's got style. It's got attitude. It's got funk.
The Bite Me burger is definitely not your ordinary quarter pound beef patty hurriedly slapped onto a hamburger bun .
I am amazed at how the lowly burger can be elevated to cult gourmet status.
Bite Me Burger Co is located at
340 Oxford St, NSW 2021
tel: 61 2 93311916
and
108 Campbell Parade
Bondi Beach NSW 2026
Tel: 61 2 93006566
Dinner at a middle-eastern restaurant is still what I look forward to on the weekends.
For the food. For the ambience. For the bellydancing.
Even if it is for all of 15 minutes.
We made it to Abdul's and Hannibal's this trip. Yes, they are next door to each other. And yes, we went to one on Friday and the other on Saturday.
Abdul's Exotic Lebanese Restaurant is located at
563 Elizabeth St
Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Tel: 61 2 96981275
Hannibal Lebanese Restaurant is located at
557 Elizabeth St Surry Hills, NSW 2010
Tel: 61 2 96988288
I love the pulse of Sydney. Especially within the CBD where we stayed. Many places of interest, eateries, shops are within walking distance. Public transport is easily available for access to places that are not within walking distance.
The problem is that the pulse stops too early for visitors like us who are used to the Asian city lifestyle, where the action never stops. In Sydney, they roll up the sidewalks by 7.
We are on holiday. We move late in the day. We wake about 9 in the morning. We do a self-catered big breakfast of eggs and bacon. It is only at noon that we are finally ready to step out of our room.
We next feel like eating about 3 in the afternoon. No way we want dinner till well after 8.
In Sydney, the shopping stops at 6. The food courts prepare to shut down at 5. Restaurant staff are twitching to throw you out at 9. We refuse to change our holiday timetable, and we refuse to be rushed at dinner time. So, we never made it to any of the fine dining establishments.
We made it to many Chinese eating places though - the food at some more forgettable than others - because they stay open much later. We even stumbled upon a Sichuan restaurant that served up the real thing, as oily and unpalatable as what we had in Chengdu!
This post is dedicated to the food experience that I'd like to delete from my memory bank.
The highlight of my Sydney trip this time is the Bellydance Expo 2008.
It was a full day of performances and workshops. In the short breaks between showtime and jamming, I was busy being tempted at the booths offering bellydance costumes, accessories, henna tattooing, coffee cup readings.
Dozens of lovely ladies and one fun-loving man gave their best performance to an appreciative audience of fans, friends and family - they were just awesome in their passion and love of the music and dance. Styles ranged from folkloric to cabaret to tribal and fusion - the diversity makes for an unforgettable show of creativity and originality.
The darling of the day has to be 10 year old Janelle (below) with her wings of Isis dance. She has incredible control and maturity of any child dancer I have seen in a long time.
I have to mention a very special lady I met: Ileana was dancing to a sound track that I love, but the CD was not available at the expo. I am extremely touched by her generosity and kindness when she insisted that I take her copy instead. I gratefully accepted, and hope that our paths will cross again soon.
Maybe at the Farha Tour in Sydney in early November?
1. Opera House Promenade
2. Sydney Harbour Bridge (the Coat Hanger)
3. Circular Quay
4. Strand Arcade
5. Central Station
6. Manly Beach
I know I must have covered most of the CBD on foot!
all we need is music, sweet music 
I loved that I could dress like a urban hippie again and not feel out of place ...
My violet-streaked hair showed up brilliantly in the soft wintery sun. I love being funky :)
There are many, many middle eastern restaurants in Sydney. But bellydance entertainment is limited to only Friday and Saturday. I had only one evening free for this, so after much asking around, I settled on Almustafa.
It turned out to be a very good choice.
The decor is all textile and texture; low-lit lamps and an eclectic display of bric-a-brac make the place feel more like a home than just another restaurant.
The menu offers just about everything anyone can want in a middle eastern restaurant. Every item is better than good. I know - I find that hard to believe too.
The bellydancer started her show sometime between the end of dinner and the beginning of desserts and coffee. How more perfect can the timing get?
I have to hand it to this bellydancer - her interaction with the audience was superb. She managed to allocate just enough time for the obligatory picture posing, jammed with the crowd and delivered a drum solo that was exhilarating as it was mesmerizing. I wish they do more than one set for the evening, but on the other hand, maybe one set of really superior performance is what makes it so special for everyone there that night.
Almustafa Lebanese Restaurant is located at
23 Glebe Point Road,
Glebe, NSW 2037
Tel: 61 2 96609006
was the month
- I made my first ever trip to the continent of Australia.
- I was in downtown Sydney, within the CBD to be exact, the entire 8 days. I was totally happy just being in an urban environment where I am most at home.
- And realised how much I miss being in a Western city.
- The days were glorious blue skies, the nights were crisp chilly. Perfect for ducking in and out of shopping malls.
- And so starts that chapter of my life when my time is mine, my life is mine.
- I am happy.
