New Years in Sydney

Stephen and Kim's very lovely home in Woden

Braidwood excursion (27 Dec.)

After several more very busy and crazy days in Woden, Seth and I drove to Sydney with Fahad (the person with whom we want to share accommodation when we leave Johns) and his girlfriend, Hayley. Shelden, Carmen and Carlos were out of town but were generous enough to let us stay at their home in Leichhardt while they were away.

View from Shelden's balcony

We made it down by the late afternoon, just in time to search through a flower bed looking for their house keys (for quite a while -- they were hidden well) before hopping over to Balmain Point to watch the New Year's Eve fireworks.




The fireworks were set off from at least 6 points all along Sydney Harbour, and another group shot from high buildings that lined one of the bays. As you can see, the bridge was the center of attention. We had a good spot to watch the fireworks, and it was a relaxing event, but on the way home we had to suffer through a two hour bur ride that should have only taken about 15min.

On New Year's day, Fahad treated us to some Pakistani food and cooked a curry called Chicken Jalfrezi.

Seth, Hayley, and Fahad munching on Chicken Jalfrezi

We spent the rest of the afternoon at the famous Bondi Beach. Seth and I had good intentions, but still could not get ourselves to actually go into water (or even step on the sand!). It just seemed so hot and crowded... We walked around the shops instead.

Bondi Beach

After dinner we all took a walk down to Leichhardt (the Italian part of town) for some coffee.

Fahad and Hayley in front of Leichhardt Town Hall

The next day Fahad did a bit more cooking -- this time Chicken Ginger (not to be confused with Mom's Ginger Chicken).

Fahad and me in the kitchen

That afternoon Seth and I went the the Gallery of New South Wales and checked out the contemporary art exhibit (apparently Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban were there the very next day :P ), then walked around sketchy old Kings Cross before rushing over to the dumpling place called Da Niang (in China Town) before it closed. Not only is it a chain restaurant, and Seth and I don't like going to the same place to eat more than once, but it is soooo delicious and cheap that we have to go there at least once during each visit to Sydney. I daydream about this place all the time.

On Thursday (3 Jan) Seth and I took a quick trip back to China Town to pick up some sweet buns and poke around a few shops. We also spent a bit of time in Paddy's Market, swimming around the vast rows of super cheap veggies and fruits.

China Town

Paddy's Market

Seth looking for sweet potatoes in Paddy's Market

We left Sydney that afternoon. On the way home stopped to see the Big Merino- a giant Merino sheep that is the pride and joy of the town of Goulburn, about an hour outside of Canberra. They say you can actually go inside the sheep and peer out through its eyes that overlook the highway. It is a noble sheep indeed.

The Big Merino- very cool way to end the trip

Now Seth and I are back at Johns. Time to finally get back to real work I suppose...