To Sydney!!! (Part One)
Mr. Gecko and I came back from a week's trip to Sydney just last week. From unpacking, destressing from jetlag, dealing with the mountain of work accumulated to Mr. Gecko's birthday celebration plans, I was kinda hard pressed for time to post this holiday entry and I so want to do so before my feelings and enthusiasm wear thin.
Sydney, definitely is one of our most independent and researched travelling experiences. We raced against time to book our air tickets and in the event, paid for 2 days of entrance fees at the NATAS Travel Fair. We practically combed every budget hotels online in Sydney / Blue Mountain for 2 months before eventually we settle down on 3 budget boutique hotels over the week's stay which stretched Mr. Gecko's dollars and cents to its limits.
By far, Sydney also broke many first travel records for us: Longest distance travelled (10 hours of flying), longest time in transit (Spent 4 hours in transit in Malaysia's KLIA airport), longest stay in one destination (7 days, 6 nights) and most travel research done for a destination. We really spent a lot of time beforehand, at least 2 months, to do our research and planned our 7 days travel itinerary - being our first time there and our mode of transport in Sydney all public and damn lots of legpower needed. Sydney public transport and cab fares - not cheap! Well, we really did our homework quite diligently that I felt I already knew Sydney even before I went there!
Sydney, definitely is one of our most independent and researched travelling experiences. We raced against time to book our air tickets and in the event, paid for 2 days of entrance fees at the NATAS Travel Fair. We practically combed every budget hotels online in Sydney / Blue Mountain for 2 months before eventually we settle down on 3 budget boutique hotels over the week's stay which stretched Mr. Gecko's dollars and cents to its limits.
By far, Sydney also broke many first travel records for us: Longest distance travelled (10 hours of flying), longest time in transit (Spent 4 hours in transit in Malaysia's KLIA airport), longest stay in one destination (7 days, 6 nights) and most travel research done for a destination. We really spent a lot of time beforehand, at least 2 months, to do our research and planned our 7 days travel itinerary - being our first time there and our mode of transport in Sydney all public and damn lots of legpower needed. Sydney public transport and cab fares - not cheap! Well, we really did our homework quite diligently that I felt I already knew Sydney even before I went there!
1. Arrival - Took a train from Sydney International Airport station to Central station
2. We got lost for a while in the maze of streets while hunting down our hotel. Pic taken at the end of George Street
3. Yipee! We found Vulcan Hotel!
Two things that really amazed us in Sydney, besides the costly standard of living there, were the erratic weather and how early Aussie shops / businesses retired from a day's work. Even their hotel concierge! We were given keys to enter the hotels from a locked SIDE door if we came back any later than 7 in the evenings! The weather was still pretty chilly (late Spring) especially when it rained. A day in Sydney starts early. Strong sunlight was streaming into our window as early as 6 in the morning, like it's 9 in Singapore and you guess it, night creeps in pretty early in the evening too. So having a well-planned itinerary was of utmost importance as we wanted to squeeze in as much activities as possible during the daytime.
For the first 3 days in Sydney's city heartland, we were venturing to most of the touristy places like Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Wooloomoolloo, Sydney Fish Market, Chinatown and of course, the renowned Bondi Beach. Ahh... I hate to write this but Darling Harbour, to the both of us, is really all name, vastly overhyped and *kekekeke* expensive! The scenery was nice only in some areas around Cocke Bay Wharf which is really unexciting in itself, unless night life to you is a must. It is really just a long row of upmarket restaurants and pubs. Don't even get me talking about Darling Harbour Mall. What mall? BUT, I will not recommend you to give this place a miss if you are a first-timer to Sydney, just like nobody should not give Sentosa a miss if coming to Singapore for the first time.
Ohh... but we do love walking the short distance from our hotel to Sydney Fish Market in the morning and arrived there with a hungry stomach for the bounty of fresh seafood. It'd be even more glorious if we could eat under the canopy of bright sunshine, the winds carrying the smell of the sea with the Sydney Harbourbridge view... if only the seagulls and seabirds will leave us alone *sigh~~* and there are really many, many birds which will only be too happy to share your breakfast! :)
It also helped that we had strategically planned to arrive in Sydney during the weekends so I can explore all those infamous weekend markets!! Paddington market, The Rocks market, Bondi Beach market... gimme more! Gimme! Gimme! Seriously, I saved all my money so as to shop to my heart's content over there. Disappointingly for me, this was not to be so. Prices at these flea markets are not dirt cheap nor bargainable as those markets in Hong Kong or Bangkok. Aussies are very proud of their own handiwork and crafts, you have to pay to duly appreciate. But it was still pretty exciting to throng through all the knick knacks and to rest our tired feet in one of those quaint little courtyard cafes for a cuppa. The Rocks will be best place to experience that! You truly wish you can own one of those charming little stone cottages that will transport you back to those old English times.
I did venture to Oxford Street but by the time we arrived after getting lost and walking all those spacious winding streets... I only wanted to sit down after I arrived. The few shopping strips I went to along Oxford Street... gosh! A normal Charles and Keith lookalike soles sets me back by at least a hundred Aussie dollars. I where got the heart to spend? Mr. Gecko was sweet and kept on encouraging me to swipe his plastic card despite the price but I felt it was not worth buying something I can get in Singapore for a much lower cost. Yeah?
2. We got lost for a while in the maze of streets while hunting down our hotel. Pic taken at the end of George Street
3. Yipee! We found Vulcan Hotel!
Two things that really amazed us in Sydney, besides the costly standard of living there, were the erratic weather and how early Aussie shops / businesses retired from a day's work. Even their hotel concierge! We were given keys to enter the hotels from a locked SIDE door if we came back any later than 7 in the evenings! The weather was still pretty chilly (late Spring) especially when it rained. A day in Sydney starts early. Strong sunlight was streaming into our window as early as 6 in the morning, like it's 9 in Singapore and you guess it, night creeps in pretty early in the evening too. So having a well-planned itinerary was of utmost importance as we wanted to squeeze in as much activities as possible during the daytime.
For the first 3 days in Sydney's city heartland, we were venturing to most of the touristy places like Darling Harbour, The Rocks, Wooloomoolloo, Sydney Fish Market, Chinatown and of course, the renowned Bondi Beach. Ahh... I hate to write this but Darling Harbour, to the both of us, is really all name, vastly overhyped and *kekekeke* expensive! The scenery was nice only in some areas around Cocke Bay Wharf which is really unexciting in itself, unless night life to you is a must. It is really just a long row of upmarket restaurants and pubs. Don't even get me talking about Darling Harbour Mall. What mall? BUT, I will not recommend you to give this place a miss if you are a first-timer to Sydney, just like nobody should not give Sentosa a miss if coming to Singapore for the first time.
Ohh... but we do love walking the short distance from our hotel to Sydney Fish Market in the morning and arrived there with a hungry stomach for the bounty of fresh seafood. It'd be even more glorious if we could eat under the canopy of bright sunshine, the winds carrying the smell of the sea with the Sydney Harbourbridge view... if only the seagulls and seabirds will leave us alone *sigh~~* and there are really many, many birds which will only be too happy to share your breakfast! :)
It also helped that we had strategically planned to arrive in Sydney during the weekends so I can explore all those infamous weekend markets!! Paddington market, The Rocks market, Bondi Beach market... gimme more! Gimme! Gimme! Seriously, I saved all my money so as to shop to my heart's content over there. Disappointingly for me, this was not to be so. Prices at these flea markets are not dirt cheap nor bargainable as those markets in Hong Kong or Bangkok. Aussies are very proud of their own handiwork and crafts, you have to pay to duly appreciate. But it was still pretty exciting to throng through all the knick knacks and to rest our tired feet in one of those quaint little courtyard cafes for a cuppa. The Rocks will be best place to experience that! You truly wish you can own one of those charming little stone cottages that will transport you back to those old English times.
I did venture to Oxford Street but by the time we arrived after getting lost and walking all those spacious winding streets... I only wanted to sit down after I arrived. The few shopping strips I went to along Oxford Street... gosh! A normal Charles and Keith lookalike soles sets me back by at least a hundred Aussie dollars. I where got the heart to spend? Mr. Gecko was sweet and kept on encouraging me to swipe his plastic card despite the price but I felt it was not worth buying something I can get in Singapore for a much lower cost. Yeah?
1. View of Sydney Harbourbridge - The Rocks area
2. We discovered this charming, underground puppet-maker store in The Rocks area
3. The famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Wooloomoolloo - A Must!
4. Exploring our way to Oxford Street to go to Paddington Market
I really could yada on but you may hard it hard to stifle your yawns. I realised it's kinda long huh? Generally, it was fun-filled the first three days as we explored every nook and canary of Sydneysiders' everyday life. I'll cut this short by declaring Bondi Beach's the best for our first three days. It was the brighest and sunniest that day though the seawater's temperature still not for the faint hearted. Still... woo~~woo~~~ the whole beach strip was packed (hunks a galore!!), these people really loves the sun over there. There were also quite some nudies sunbathing and we top off the day by having a hearty Chi-na meal in a Chinatown foodcourt before we packed for Blue Mountains for the next 2 days. Ahh... by then, we were already missing our rice and sick of the bread / meat affair Western style.
Hee-ya!!! To the Blue Mountains!!!
2. We discovered this charming, underground puppet-maker store in The Rocks area
3. The famous Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Wooloomoolloo - A Must!
4. Exploring our way to Oxford Street to go to Paddington Market
I really could yada on but you may hard it hard to stifle your yawns. I realised it's kinda long huh? Generally, it was fun-filled the first three days as we explored every nook and canary of Sydneysiders' everyday life. I'll cut this short by declaring Bondi Beach's the best for our first three days. It was the brighest and sunniest that day though the seawater's temperature still not for the faint hearted. Still... woo~~woo~~~ the whole beach strip was packed (hunks a galore!!), these people really loves the sun over there. There were also quite some nudies sunbathing and we top off the day by having a hearty Chi-na meal in a Chinatown foodcourt before we packed for Blue Mountains for the next 2 days. Ahh... by then, we were already missing our rice and sick of the bread / meat affair Western style.
Hee-ya!!! To the Blue Mountains!!!
1. Suntanning At Bondi Beach (or trying to)
2. Hmm... Soft sand
3. A Bikini Babe For Me Please!
2. Hmm... Soft sand
3. A Bikini Babe For Me Please!
posted by lierliar at 7:03 PM
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