Trippin’ - A travel blog

A country so vast it’s considered a continent along with it’s partner in crime, New Zealand.  More than koalas, kangaroos, didgeridoos, Kylie and Nicole, Australia is a land of contrast and diversity.  From the sights, to its flora and fauna, the best way to describe Australia’s diversity is through its people.  So far, this is the place where I have witnessed different cultures co-exist harmoniously (well at least most of the time).  Unlike other countries with a big number of legal and illegal immigrants, people from Asia, Europe and North America come here and preserve their own culture.  They retain their identities including their accents (cute or uncute they may be) and their grandma’s recipes.   They are not ashamed of where they come from.  In fact, if you ask someone where they are from (preferably someone obviously not a pure bred white Aussie or an aboriginal for that matter), chances are you will NOT get a cocky response claiming they are from Australia, even if they were born there.  They will say "Im from (country of origin) but I was able to get my Australian citizenship/residency" or "My family is originally from (country of origin) but they moved here."    Notice the format - they declare to the world that they are Malaysian, Singaporean, Kenyan, Irish or Filipino FIRST before indicating they have now become part of the land down under.

It is a land where you can surf and enjoy the sun and sand, then afterwards travel by land for a few hours and you find yourself in a ski lodge or the desert.  It is a land where Kmart is still operational.  It is a land where McDonalds is not called Micky D’s but Mackers and Burger King is called Hungry Jacks (or H&J’s).  It is a land where you can hear "Bloody hell" and "lah" in one sentence.  For example, "Bloody hell, the bloody laksa tastes like shit lah!".   I have indicated earlier that most migrants retain their accent.  Sadly, a lot of the Filipinos there try their bloody best to imitate an Aussie accent and guess what, it sounds soooo fake!  Believe me, Filipinos sound so much better with our acquaried "American like" accent, or if you can carry it really well, do a British accent instead.  Accept it, our local tongues are just not naturally programmed to mimic the Aussie accent.

If you plan to travel to Australia, here are some basic tips regardless of which Aussie city you plan to visit:

• Always wear sunscreen.  I think the sun’s rays over there were made to be set at maximum level.  Whenever the sun is out - regardless of season, I never fail to turn red (even with my dark skin) by just driving or walking for 10 minutes.  The Aussie way of saying "Wear sunscreen" is "Slip, slop and slap".
• Always have your sunnies handy. 
• Buy a multi travel card, regardless of any major Aussie city you can buy a local bus/ferry/train card from a newsagent (aka newspaper stand) or convenience store.  In Perth it’s called a MultiRider.  In Sydney, there’s the Travel ten, Weekly Travel Pass and other similar travel cards.  The best thing is, all you need to do is board, insert the card into the reader, pull it out and you’re off!
• Get a map.  Don’t worry if you look like a tourist, even the locals use it too. If you still get lost, ask around.  The locals (regardless of nationality) are very friendly and will point you to the right direction.
• Try the Aussie clothing brands.  They are cheaper than their American and British counterparts but are of very good quality.  Personal favorites of mine are: Portmans, Sports Girl, Witchery, Valley girl, Sussan, Jacqui-E and Bonds for underwear.  If you are on a strict budget, stick to Target, Kmart and Supre’.
• If you need to get over the counter or prescription medicine, ask someone for the nearest Chemist.
• If you need to get some basic grocery stuff, ask someone for the nearest "Woolies" (it’s short for Wollworths) or Coles.  It’s cheaper than the convenience store.

Next on Trippin’ - Australia: SYDNEY

So where the bloody hell are you?, that is Tourism Australia’s official slogan.  Cool huh? 

The first pit stop of most visitors would be Sydney - and that would include me, & I only had one afternoon to explore the place since I had a flight to Perth the very next day.  Funny thing is, my first impression of the place was surprising - I hated it.  I think it’s because during my 1st day there, all I did was walk from point A from point B.  Walking - at that time for me - was a much hated activity.  My friend who showed me around that day informed me that everybody in Sydney walks - great, just my luck.  So there I was following her to see the sights and ended up with a bunch of blisters as we traversed George St and the surrounding area.  Well at least I got to see Chinatown, Darling Harbour, Town Hall, QVB, The Rocks, the Harbour bridge and the Opera house all in one afternoon.  Luckily, 1st impressions don’t last. 

I gave Sydney another chance to prove me wrong on my succeeding visits - and it did.  This time around my body was more conditioned for walking.

What never fails to fascinate me is the Harbour Bridge.  The structure is simply amazing. 

Tip: a good and cheap way to enjoy this attraction is by ferry - this way you get to see both the bridge and the opera house at the same time (great photo op).  Go to Darling Harbour and take a ferry to Circular Quay or vice versa - I personally prefer boarding via Circular Quay so that after the ferry ride I can enjoy my caramel machiatto at Starbucks Darling Harbour.  Don’t give in to the harbour cruise packages that will set you back at least AUD20.  You’ll see the same relaxing view on a regular ferry for much much less. 

Another must see each time I’m in Sydney is Coogee beach especially during late spring or summer or early autumn.  It has a very relaxed feel to it and for some reason I find the whole scene very similar to Sta. Monica, California.  The hilly streets, the shops, the cafes, everything! The best thing about it is that after an afternoon on the beach, you can go clubbing straight away!  Imagine MTV Springbreak edition but with a little bit more clothes on.  It’s the best way to end a Saturday or even a Sunday afternoon! There are several options for your early evening night cap, but my personal favorite is the Coogee Palace bar.  Ciggie on one hand and a Midori splice on the other while dancing to house music…sweet!!!

There are several beaches in this city :

• The famous Bondi beach which is too touristy for my taste (backpackers galore!!!);
• Manly beach which is the "go to" beach if you are a surfer dude/babe;
• Coogee which has salt water baths and lots of gorgeous people;
• Then the less popular but equally good Bronte and Maroubra beaches. 

Tip: do the beach side/coastal walk and if you’re lucky you’ll catch the Sculptures by the Sea exhibit.  The stretch of the exhibit is from Bondi to Tamarama.  Word of caution though, if you do plan to swim in Australian waters - swim between the flags and be careful of jellyfishes - they sting really bad.

Personal picks:

Eat!

• Dim Sum/Yum Cha @ Golden Century or Marigold restaurant @ Chinatown - Undeniably the best dim sum or yum cha in the world - even my friends from Hong Kong say so.

• Malaysian Laksa house @ QVB.  It’s at the lower ground level where the underground walkways start - you can’t miss it since so many of people go there.  My favorite dish here - Char Kwey Teow - the best one I’ve tasted so far.  Very cheap.  Do note that during luchtime this joint is pretty packed.

• North Indian Cuisine @ Oxford St, Darlinghurst - Very cheap yet very good Indian food.   They have everything from tandoori to masala and you can choose if you want a regular plate or a big plate - depending on how hungry you are.  Cash basis only.  It’s near the Museum station.

• Jordan’s Seafood Restaurant @ Darling Harbour -They have the best lobster sashimi.  It’s so fresh that sometimes after being served it’s eyes still move!

• The Rocks Cafe @ The Rocks - their Sticky Date Pudding is just divine

Live!

• Accommodation for non backpackers - if backpacker hostels are not your thing then try the lesser known hotels to get the best bang for your buck - Pacific International hotel along George is ok and very convenient to the all things you need.

• Accommodation for long staying guests (at least a week) - Get a serviced apartment instead of a hotel. My favorite is Medina @ Central Station or The Saville along Bond St.  A little bit pricey but at least you have a much bigger living space compared to hotels. You also have your own kitchen and white goods (fridge, dishwasher and washer/dryer).

• Accommodation for those staying there permanently/semi permanently - Of course it depends on your budget and this will dictate which area you will live in.  Good suburbs to live in: Coogee, Bronte, Bondi Junction, Balmain, Rockdale and those in the Eastern suburbs.  If you have a slightly higher budget (around AUD400/week for rent) then try to see  if you can get a place at the Rhodes House (Parramatta Rd cnr Missenden Rd, Camperdown) it’s 5 mins away from the city by bus.  You won’t regret it! Loft living, a rooftop with a view of the Anzac and the Harbour bridge on one side and the Blue mountains on the other.  Perfect for a candle lit dinner for 2, and the bus stop is literally at your doorstep.  Now if you have a wallet as deep as the Mariana Trench, then get a place by the harbour and enjoy views of the Opera House, Harbour Bridge and the city skyline whenenver you look out the window.  Tip: The nearer a property is to a body of water, the more expensive it gets.

• 10 Places to see on a lazy day -

1. Mrs. Mcquarie’s chair, Botanical gardens.  The best viewing spot to enjoy the panaromic Sydney Harbour. 
2. Taronga Zoo.  To get there, all you need to do is go to Circular Quay and hop on a ferry.
3. Hop on the Monorail to tour the city and the nearby suburbs. 
4. Take a guided tour of the Opera House.  This architectural marvel has an intresting story behind it.
5. Do the BridgeClimb and feel like you’re on top of the world (Sydney Harbour Bridge). 
6. Walk around the cobblestone streets of The Rocks. 
7. The Blue Mountains and the Three Sisters.  Tip: Instead of walking to the viewing deck, hop on the tram which feels like a mini roller coaster.   
8. If you have the time, Hunter Valley for wine tasting and Thredbo or Snowy Mountain if you want to try skiing.
9. La Perouse - An old precinct with great water views!
10. And of course, the beach!!!

• Friday/Weekender night spots -  PJ O’Brien’s Irish Pub, York St.  Sydney.  Super fun Irish pub. The Coogee Palace bar, the perfect combination of sun, sand and dance!; Homebar and Home, Cockle Bay wharf, Darling Harbour. A good place to get yourself acquainted with Sydney’s nightlife especially if you just arrived to this great city.

Shop!

• Pitt St Mall and QVB - take the underground walkways from QVB or Town Hall (which is also full of shops) and navigate your way to Pitt St. Mall.  Tip:  Read the signs.  You can easily get lost in this labyrinth like place especially if you are new to Sydney.

• Paddy’s market, Chinatown - Open on weekends. Enjoy great finds!

• Any Westfield mall, the one in Parramatta is good - All you need under one roof, but you do need to take an long train ride though.

• IKEA @ Homebush Bay - You will go gaga over this store.

• Fantastic furniture - If you are getting your own place, then this store will be your best friend, along with IKEA.

Next on Trippin’ - So where the bloody hell you? - PERTH