I Heart Sydney

Friday July 30

Day 1:

Maccas at Melbourne Aiport for Breakfast

Chamberlain Hotel for Drinks, Phuong and Josh surprise

Chinese lunch at Dixon Street

Darling Harbour

Paddy's Market

Eating frenzy at Dixon Street Festival

Meet with Nadya and Jonah for Dinner at Dixons Street

Drinks at 3 Monkey's Pub and

R&B Club at Pavilion Hotel

Saturday July 31

Day 2:

Japanese food for breakfast at Ajisen

Sydney Wildlife World

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Korean food for dinner at Milliore

Claw machine and sticker pics at Capitol Square Arcade

Fish balls and midnight walks around Chinatown

Late night snacks at Coles

Sunday August 1

Day 3:

Rydges Buffet Breakfast

Sydney Aquarium

Shopping at Harbourside Shopping Centre

Meet with Nadya and Jonah for Pancakes on the Rocks, The Rocks

Bondi Beach

Meet with Richard and Janet for Dinner at Yumsei (?)

Drinks at Haymarket Hotel and

Mr. B's

Monday August 2

Day 4:

Rydges Buffet breakfast

Elizabeth Book Store

Shopping at Harbourside Shopping Centre and

Market City

Lunch at Korean resturant

The massive highlight of the trip was the surprise I got at Chamberlain Hotel. We had just touched down in Sydney and me and vman were having morning drinks. Vman told me he was meeting up with his cousin, whom he's never met before and he was quite nervous. I fully believed him as he has mentioned this cousin before. I felt his nervousness and we were both anxiously waiting and expecting everytime the pub door opened.

When it did, Phuong and Josh walked in! I was so shocked, she told me months ago that she wouldn't be coming due to uni and expenses. This sydney holiday was months in planning and I was so gutted when she announced the bad news. I was very disappointed. So you could imagine how shocked i was to see her walk through the doors of a sydney pub!

i remember my exact thoughts, my facial expression, my feelings and 1st words. this was what went through my head when i saw her:

'this girl looks like phuong, i think it is - she's smiling at me.

but it can't be phuong, she's in sydney. am i back in melbourne??

no i am in sydney, she's got luggage with her, she must've flown here

this is a surprise, a set up! this was planned!!'

My face was just a stare of disbelief, i frowned with confusion and my jaw dropped with shock. after re-affirming myself that yes, i was indeed in sydney and yes, that is indeed phuong, my words were:

'What are you doing here???'

repeated several times since she didnt answer me. we embraced in a hug and that is when i truly knew this was real ;')

it was a lovely surprise. apparently no one on facebook was allowed to post anything about sydney to me, and phuong died inside as she kept this secret from me. i know it wud've been hard. vman was in it too, his whole cousin story was bullshit. i realised he had tricked me!! i was annoyed that i didnt catch it out! hahha i congratulate everyone on their efforts, especially phuong and vman, surprising me would be difficult.

Maccas Breakfast Feast, Melbourne Airport

Phuong and I, Dixon Street Restaurant

Vman, Josh, Phuong and I, Dixon Street Restaurant

Phuong writing on the table cloth

Free bags from Paddy's Market

What a thrill!

Walking down Hay Street, Sydney

phuong and josh also bought me and vman annual passes for Sydney museums, another reason to return when the flights are cheap. I recieved mint and green tea cupcakes as well =]

Choc Mint and Green Tea Cupcakes from Pitt Street, Sydney

Kids at Sydney Aquarium

A dugong and I, Sydney Aquarium

Day 1 was a beautiful day. the fog that delayed and diverted planes (including ours) had cleared, so had the rain which fell everyday of the week. it was a sunny, hot 21degree day. the weather was happy with us.

I believe exploration and discovery cannot happen if you stick to your comfort zones. I like to try new things and walk alternative routes for example. me and vman made an agreement to not eat at the same place twice. But buffet breakfast at Rydges was so good we had to have it again. It was $15 pp as we were Rydges Priority Guests. Buffet included, but wasn't limited to:

• Crunchy hashbrowns
• sausages
• scrambled eggs
• fried tomatoes
• bacon
• bread, toast of all sorts (pumpkin seeds, wholemeal, white, raisin)
• warm krousoints and pastery desserts
• fresh sliced fruits like watermelon, rock melon and honey due
• oats with nuts and dried fruits
• coffee, tea, fruit juice
• cerals

so good, the harshbrowns killed it.

Ajisen for Breakfast, Gyoza Noodle Soup

Something different, Sapporo Japanese Beer

At Milliore, the waitress recommended

Seol Joong Mae - Plum Liqueur

Korean Beef and Veggie Hot Pot

Chocolate and Cherry Pancakes, Pancakes on the Rocks

Darling Harbour

We climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of the main reasons we came to Sydney. We had a 4:15pm Night climb. It took about 30minutes for preparation for the climb. we had to dress in special uniform, get strapped up in harnesses, practice on a mock ladder, sign some forms and perform a breath test. We commenced our climb just before the sun set, so we got to experience the Bridge during daylight, sun set and night time. deciding to climb on Saturday the 31st of August at 4:15pm was a very good decision as even the weather was perfect!

I thought i wud faint of tiredness and fear of heights. The previous night i didnt sleep for more than 37 hours. My mind was active but my legs trembled on the ladders that were almost a complete vertical angle. I hated when the flooring was a metal mesh because i could see how high we were off the ground. one of the guys who scheduled a climb, cancelled as he was so scared. i made sure vman was behind me so he'd encourage me if i got scared or caught me if i fell =] literally.

our climb leader was friendly and knowledgable. they hooked up everyone with ear pieces so we cud hear her commentary while we climbed. here are some things we learnt:

1. The Sydney harbour bridge opened in 1932 by the Jack Lang, Premier of NSW
2. Was planned with the estimated growth of the city, the bridge didnt need to be as big as it is now back in 1932
3. is a tollway bridge, tolls are used to pay off Sydney construction debts
4. built for 8 traffic lanes, trains and trams to cross
5. 134m from sea level
6. 16 people died in construction of the bridge, although only 6 people fell to their deaths
7. a worker fell 55m of the bridge, but with skydiving as a hobby of his, he knew exactly how to fall. he was lucky enough to fall into water deep enough and in the correct position, feet first, knees slightly bent. he was taken to hospital with a few broken bones. As the bridge was built during the Great Depression and finding jobs was difficult, he returned to work 2 weeks later. He's bosses recognised this commitment and presented him with a watch, inscripted with a congraluation for surviving death.
8. the large blocks making the pillars of the bridge needed to be imported from overseas. As they are put together like a jigsaw puzzle, they are numbered on the inside for convenience. a small one weighs about 700kg

before the sun set, the sky was a gradient from a pink to a light blue. The sydney opera house looked its best. Then the pink turned into a pale orange, the opera house now turned on its exterior lights. Then the sky was a gradient of dark orange and black, until it was finally black. it became cold, we needed to put on the extra jackets they packed for us. it was so windy that our eyes were drying up.

the highlight was standing at the summit of the bridge and watching the massive austrailian flag fly in the wind. it was beautiful, sydney was beautiful. call me a patriot, it made me smile.

from the summit we saw a 360degree night time view of sydney city. from the centre of the bridge i could look down, past my feet, where i saw the busy saturday night traffic gush through. it was scary, but i dared to look. all that kept be between them was a plank of metal. when a train passed it wud vibrate the flooring and railing. i tried not to shit my pants.

After the climb we were presented with a free group photo on top of the bridge and a certificate of congratulations.

3 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW

Vman and I with the rest of the Climbers

We wasted more than $30 cash at Capitol Square Aracade. The most wasted parts were spend on rigged claw machines with tempting prizes. They were all some cute asian stuffed toys, like square marshmallows with faces and red bow ties. Or oversized mushrooms with smiley faces on them. Once we've got the claws straddling the sides of the toy, it wud bring it up and DROP IT. The abrupt and suddenness of the movement was enough to drop the toy, it was torture to watch but addictive too. I found comfort in the fact that I 'almost had it'.

Sticker Pics at Capitol Square

Sticker Pics at Capitol Square

There has long since been a massive debate as to which city is better, Melbourne or Sydney. Idf you have read my previous blogs, you would know i am passionately in love with Melbourne City, so much so that it would be natural for someone to assume I hate sydney. However, I recognise the obvious differences between the two cities that make them unique.

1. Life in sydney is experienced at a much faster pace
2. From my experience, Melbourne people have the time to stop, chat or assist you.
3. Sydnisiders are more extroverted and outgoing, Melbournians keep more to themselves
4. Melbournians are usually dressed in black/grey and in my opinion, look more sophisticated
5. As the sydney city is indeed a historical and ancient one, compared to melbourne, the urban layout is seemingly confusing with one way streets and triangular blocks. Melbourne's urban layout takes the form of the famous 'grid'.
6. As sydney is structed around harbours, it makes for a more naturally beautiful city
7. Melbourne public transport is definitely more orgainsed, cheaper and works in collaboration with trams, buses and trains.
8. Living expenses are higher in Sydney city, even their cheap asian food is more expensive and lacking in quality
9. The shopping in sydney is a plus, with unique and cheap items at markets like Paddy's, Rock's and Bondi. Even their large national stores like Rubi are cheaper there.
10. Of the 4 times i've been to Sydney it is always overcast, with a white glaring light from the sun. it is usually humid during summer.

Me at the famous Bondi Beach

3 Monkey's Pub, George Street

Typography in Sydney

I also did my fair share of shopping and was disappointed to find out how much i got ripped off with my Red Hooded coat that i recently bought (previous posts). I paid $55 in highpoint and in Sydney it was $30, I could have almost bought 2! i was frustrated and decided to buy things to make up for it. Sydney shopping is the best. Things are cheap but stylish and one off. Chinatown, Paddy's Market and Market City are my favourites. I can always find things here. This is what I bought.

Canvas Lace-up Boots, Rubi Shoes for $39.99

White Cropped Knit Hooded Cardi,

$10 at Market City

Military Style Shirt

$35 at Market City

Assorted Tights, $5 each at Rubi Shoes

I bought 6 in total.