Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sydney. Show all posts

September 6, 2009

Nyonyachef check out Sydney

Nyonyachef check out some of the main attractions in Sydney



First stop !

The Gap, an ocean cliff located in the east of Sydney. Beautiful view of the sea,...too beautiful that you might feel like jumping into the sea....!!??? The locals somehow picked The Gap as a suicide location. As least 50 suicidal cases a year. Hmmm...


Another place that you must not miss...Port Stephens ! A place sighted with Dolphin with many wonderful bays and beaches along the coastline hosting beautiful landscape views. Port Stephens has remained relatively unspoilt, avoiding the high-rise rush adopted by other areas along the NSW coast. Just drive towards north of Sydney for two and a half hours and you will reach the beautiful port. Check it out !

Once you are at Port Stephen, don't miss the opportunity to go skiing..?..Snow ?!!..Sand !


It's actually called "sand boarding" Interesting,....at first, I was like, no...no way I am going down !...."chicken"....all the ladies just jumped down with the sand board.

150m all the way down !? Well, finally I have to go down,....without choice !...if not, how to face all the ladies. It's fun though....but I don't really know how much sand I have swallowed.

Hmmm....I remember there were 4 of us slid down,....erh...why there's additional sand board on the ground !? One person missing....Must be eaten by the quicksand ???


Some parts of it....this looks exactly like the actual dessert....wwwhy ?


Camel !!! Check out that lady touching the camel. First encounterment with a camel...her question to me..."Can the camel bite".....she is touching the camel but the body action was half way ready to dash out in case the camel makes a sudden move !

It was a memorable experience and exotic too....

...back to the city.

One thing I loved about Sydney, our movement seems to be easy and convenient.....you can either take a bus, cab, train, walk or even take a water taxi.....interesting ! Apparently, the water taxi or The Sydney Ferries has been a mode of transport in Australia for the last 135 years.


How convenience ! The Sydney ferries explored 39 destinations. By taking the ferries, you will be able to have a close up view of the harbour bridge, the opera house and.....also to our next destination.....



...Taronga Zoo ! It's nearer to take the ferries than taking one big round if travel by road.

Taronga Zoo is the nation's leading zoological garden featuring Australia's finest collection of native animals and the best thing is its location. It is situated on elevated land along the waterfront, in one of the most beautiful vantage points on Sydney Harbour overlooking Sydney Cove, the Harbour Bridge and also the Opera House.




Like they said, if you not seen a Koala,....you have not been to Australia !

So it's a must for Nyonyachef to go to the Zoo !

Well,...Sydney is nice, is like having a mixture of rush hour in the city, and yet it's very relaxing,...beautiful scenery, cooling weather and the culture is diverse and multicultural. Sydney has many of the individual cultures that make up the place mosaic are centred on the ethnic, linguistic and religious communities formed by waves of immigration.


I was so tempted to just relax,...do nothing !...Just let the flow goes by !....and take some photo of the flowers.


...and one more thing you have to do !...if you have not done this, than you have not been to Australia....??!!



...Haha ! Must try the delicious,...juicy kangaroo steak ! Taste sightly like beef but...it has a strong smell....turn off smell !

Well,...nyonychef motto,...u xplore, u eat !

August 23, 2009

Nyonyachef goes to Sydney Fish Market

Before I even reached Sydney, many recommended a must go place to me,...The Sydney Fish Market. A must go place !...when you are in Sydney. Let's see what they have....


Hey ! nice place...it's just like a huge wet market, but they only sell seafood.

Check out some of the succulent oysters, apparently they have many varieties ranging from miniture to XXX extra large size. Price from AUS$ 17.90/dozen to AUS$ 29.90/dozen.




They told us to pick the small oysters coz it's much sweeter, so sometimes the size and looks can be deceiving....well, let's pick both small and big for comparison....



Lobsters AUS$ 89.90/kg....1 live lobster will cost you approximately AUS$ 250++ depending on the size, but the huge guy can feed at least 5-8 persons.



These are cooked lobster at AUS$ 66.90/kg


Cool !...prawns AUS$ 22.90/kg. Serve cold with soy and wasabi.


Spanner crab at AUS$ 22.50/kg



Beautiful fresh Atlantic Salmon at AUS$ 33.80/kg....make your pick !


Well,...after 1/2hrs admiring all the stalls, nyonyachef is ready to make his pick !...Hmmm that oyster only cost AUS$ 15.00/dozen...but looks dry though ??!!! Nah....next ! I can do this all day long. It's interesting picking from almost 10-15 stalls with different presentations.


Check out 1kg lobster AUS$69.90, 1doz miniture oyster AUS$17.90, 1doz XXX extra large oyster AUS$19.90, 1kg prawn AUS$ 22.90, 2kg crab AUS$ 30.00, 1/2kg Atlantic salmon AUS$ 16.90 and a 4 liters white wine AUS$ 10.00.....total damage AUS$ 187.50 for 5 persons.

On a beautiful sunny Sunday with good fresh seafood and wine,....who is complaining !

What I enjoyed most...nice ambient by the pier, the fish market..come to think of it,....it doesn't smell fishy at all, and the amazing thing is there's lots of seagull sitting next to you,...watching you,....waiting,.....waiting for you to make a mistake...then,...within split second you just lost a lobster....haha !


If you do drop by at Sydney don't miss Sydney Fish Market Pty Ltd

August 22, 2009

Nyonyachef goes to Sydney

Nyonyachef went for hibernation in one of the farm in Sydney. Back in my teens I always loved adventurous, outdoor activities, and xplore things that I cant's imagine doing....but it happens without me knowing.

Looking back,I used to canoe 3hrs in the open sea at Batu Ferringhi just using,...not a canoe, but a surf board !...jumping off the boat in the middle of the sea,...camping alone for 2 nites !!??? Scary at times !....having oyster, mussels, sea creatures for breakfast. 

Wow ! still alive !

But when I started my work,..it's all about work....work...and work, no more country life,...merely city life. Well, it's time I change and get away from all the pollution, haze, deadlines, phone calls,....and haha !...back to basic farm stay at Mowbray Farm. I just want to capture this moment of peace. Check it out !




Mowbray Park Farmstay is just located 1hr off Sydney Airport. From their history this farm was founded almost 2 centuries ago,...and still standing ! Cool ! I have a snooker table, fire place, equipped kitchen...etc. I was staying in Barker's Lodge. Hey ! it has nice cool weather here and fresh air....argh...my lungs find it difficult to adjust to the fresh air!...haha, no haze !

Once I have settled down, let's check out what does the farm has to offer....



Hmmm....horse riding, sheep shearing , canoeing, feed the wild dangerous cow !!???, how to hit someone with Australian boomerang, milking and whipping ?.....whipping ! Yup !....see the picture on top,....they even teach the women how to whip their husband !...Interesting !


Meals were pre-arranged, no mamak, no chinese, no fusion, or japanese....only one type of food,....the farm cook food....Whatever they serve that's it ! It's interesting coz I actually ordered a BBQ meal before I came,...and the six foot lady chef came out and apologized saying "I am sorry, I only can do it tomorrow" and "today I am cooking cauliflower soup and stewed chicken with tomato sauce".....Mmm, that's it ! Either you eat or....starved to death.

Another interesting thing.....I tried to order beer or wine....."Sorry we have not alcohol license so no, no, we don't sell beer.....BYO !??? For a moment I was thinking hard what is BYO ?!!!....Hehe I need to refresh my cultural moments.


After dinner, well enjoy the beautiful sun set. Beautiful quiet moment ! But it's that all for the day ?!!...no,no for nyonyachef !

What is next ? Cannot be sleeping at 7 in the evening...right ?

Liquorland ! my kinda home !


Happy hour just started


Either I am seeing double, or the camera man was drunk !

This is heaven ! Very rare I have the chance to really take a break and I can say,...this is a life time opportunity to see and experience the beautiful Mowbray Park Farmstay

Check it out, who knows, you might like it too.