Trippin’ - A travel blog

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

This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 28th, 2006 at 11:46 am and is filed under Travel. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.