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IN AND OUT OF SYDNEY

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 2 Comments

September 24, 2013

It’s rare that I travel without any plan. But that’s what I just did. As soon as I heard my eldest sister needed surgery, I flew to Sydney as fast as I could. The first 2 weeks involved pre-surgery medical procedures. The 3rd week meant life in St. George Private Hospital in Kogarah where my sister had her surgery and subsequent recovery. Thereafter, we waited nearly 2 weeks for the pathology results. It was quite an ordeal but by the 5th week, we were celebrating! All throughout, the family stayed tight and kept faith. We celebrated “being family” as we made excursions to heritage towns and beach spots, visited Abbeys and churches, watched movies, packed picnic baskets, walked through some parks, dined out and in my last week before going home to Manila, partied like crazy. In the midst of adversity, we managed many family outings. This is our story.

DAY TRIPS OUT OF SYDNEY

Kiama and The Blowhole

The Benedictine Abbey in Jamberoo

Wollongong

A Sunny Break In Watsons Bay

Kangaroo Valley

Blue Mountains and Echo Point

Jenolan Caves

A Rizal Park In A Sydney Suburb?

Berrima

A Ferry Ride To Manly Beach

Goulburn’s BEST Bakery

Off To CANBERRA’s Cockington Gardens

IN AND AROUND THE CITY (SYDNEY)

Darling Harbour

Hyde Park, St. Mary’s Cathedral, The Domain, Bondi & Coogee Beaches, Circular Quay, Etc

Mt. Annan Botanic Garden

We’re FAMILY!

FINALLY, SOME MUSINGS & RAMBLINGS

Tags: Australia, Day Trips Out of Sydney, New South Wales, Suburban Sydney, Sydney, Sydney's Suburbs

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Winter Over, Here Comes Spring!

Filed under: Australia, Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — 7 Comments

August 31, 2013

No travel plans, really. I came for personal reasons and for my OZ family. Specifically for my older sister who fell ill. Last time I visited was back in 2004. Yes, a long time. I grew complacent as it was always THEM visiting me, rather than me visiting them.

Gratitude is the memory of the heart.
(An afternoon in Mt. Annan Botanical Garden)

One overseas call and I dropped everything to secure that OZ visa and get on a flight to Sydney. Took a while and it felt like decades just waiting. Just when the visa was issued, the weekend flights were all fully booked…. except for one. I got the last seat on Qantas for a direct flight. Just in time to be around for the pre-operation medical procedures, the surgery and hospital stay, and another “decade” waiting for the pathology results. All of 4 weeks in Sydney and we finally heaved a collective sigh of relief.

Lissa and Levy are 2 years apart. I was the “baby” in the family.

Three Sisters. Two Survivors. We terribly miss our middle sister — the talented one in the kitchen who baked breads, muffins, blueberry cheese cakes, strawberry tortes and the finest-tasting sans rival cakes and other pastries. She was only 37. Levy and I took turns at the hospital watching over her. It’s been 30 years since. All 3 of us must have inherited the dreaded C disease from Mama who passed on at age 55. Papa joined Mama in 1991, some 22 years back. Levy and I — 9 years apart — survived. But we were continents apart, and Ate (older sister) Levy has yet to fully embrace this internet technology. [Once she called me and forgot to turn off her mobile. Her bill could have covered nearly half of my airfare!) 🙂

Mama with Ate Levy and Me in Baguio City back in the 60’s.

Family and friends prayed and prayed real hard. We lived from day to day until Week 4 when we received the good news that Ate Levy beat the odds. To amuse ourselves and keep us off the worries, we made family trips here and there. Ate Levy’s children took turns taking leaves from work to drive us around. I only managed ONE DAY with college friends who came by and took me off on a day out to Berrima — a wonderful break from family duties. (Thank you Lin and MA) My other friends based here and around do understand I simply wanted to be around my sister and family. Others I decidedly didn’t get in contact with as I realized it’s not a good time for “first meet-ups” (my apologies, my TravelBlogger friends). It’s just ME —- eager to make up for lost time with my OZ family. Besides, I was just too busy keeping the worries at bay. 😦

The “kids” posing in front of the ancestral house, with their grandfather’s namesign behind. Once I heard my grandnephew Xion say … “We’re cousins. We should love each other.” Makes me proud these babies are being raised as good kids as these nephews and nieces are.

But winter’s over. And that’s true literally and figuratively. At the beginning of spring and on my fifth week in Sydney, we made so many unplanned day trips. Our hearts overflowed with joy and gratitude. The first trip — from the surgeon’s clinic to the first church we passed — was most significant. Like we remembered every single step towards the church smiling ear to ear, not even missing each melodious note from street buskers nor the aroma of food delicacies from a neighborhood Filipino store. God in His mercy blessed us with a good sense of humour to survive adversities, a grateful heart for Him and the many prayer warriors, a keen sense of family and unity, and above all, a strong faith that our “winter” will soon be over.

Rookie took many of these shots in Mt. Annan Botanical Garden. Flowers abloom to welcome spring. In our hearts, it was all time-spring.

In our trying times, my sister and I nearly forgot the children have grown. THEY took over. And I’m mighty proud of them all. I have no doubt our grandchildren will all grow up as responsible adults. Like their moms and dads. Knowing that, I don’t mind growing old to welcome more “springs”…….

Here’s an amateur’s video of “Levy Beating The Odds”

http://youtu.be/ASHK8WmpOd8

MARAMING SALAMAT SA INYONG LAHAT. Thank you so much for all the prayers.

Tags: Australia, Family, Musings and Ramblings, Sydney, Travel, travels

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SYDNEY’s Harbour: WHAT A DARLING!

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 2 Comments

August 28, 2013

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Tags: Australia, Darling Harbour, Lindt, New South Wales, Nick's, Sydney

Of Sydney’s Parks, Beaches, Quays and Churches

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 1 Comment

August 27, 2013

Sydney is NOT the capital of Australia. Canberra is. Rather, Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales. And it is a most charming state capital. Earlier, I didn’t think much of Sydney. While I love the harbour bridge, opera house and adore Darling Harbour, it ended there. This recent trip of mine changed all that.

The Iconic Sydney Opera House

View of Sydney Olympic Park while having breakfast in “Lilies On The Park”.

This old hag from the Tropics arrived in the dead of a mild winter. Mild, for them. And I came NOT as a tourist but for very personal reasons. All of 6 weeks without stepping foot outside of the state of New South Wales. I wasn’t keen to “tour” around, having visited twice before, and really, not having much by way of expectations. But the family decided for me. After all, we needed the “break”, and we wanted to feel “family”.

Kid-friendly. Seniors-friendly. Lake Belvedere in Sydney Olympic Park.

Finally. BONDI BEACH!

The last 2 trips, I have not visited Bondi Beach. Many friends asked why I missed it, and I grew tired saying there wasn’t time nor a chance. Next time I was asked, I decided to simply lie. And so my family thought it’s about time I come “clean” and finally dig my toes into Bondi sands. Winter or not! Luckily, we had a sunny break and Bondi Beach was teeming with wakeboarders and swimmers in scuba outfits. So, this is Bondi! Frankly, I prefer the more relaxed vibes in Manly Beach, Watsons Bay and Coogee Beach. But that’s just my opinion.

The 9 km walk along the coast. Manly Beach.

Coogee Beach. Lovely. Even with planes hovering above…

Once, I was given some “me” time when I met up with my niece in Hyde Park. I decided to go a couple of hours early. Enough time to round up the park and the gardens before visiting St. Mary’s Cathedral where a Filipino priest said Mass. It was tempting to just stay inside the Church given that cold afternoon. Determined not to “waste” the opportunity, I walked till I grew tired and cold. This stab at solitude was most comforting, if you ask me. Plus it allowed me to see and appreciate Sydney in a different perspective. This country puts a lot of importance on quality living considering its many parks, gardens and safe beaches. Whenever I find filtered water stations, clean toilets and train stations, safe beaches and jetties, I gain a newfound respect for Australia. What clinched it for me was really the fact that I felt safe and undisturbed while enjoying my “me” time. Something I failed to do in other cosmopolitan cities elsewhere in the world. (Read: no touts selling their wares, no beggars or bums asking for a cigarette stick, no pushing crowds).

St. Mary’s Cathedral

Hyde Park.

The only things that broke my “temporary break from society” were those magpies swooping down as if to hit them dumb ones like moí. I took cover in the shaded areas of the park and royal gardens and then sought comfort in one park corner watching chess played out in a giant board. I found this gem right beside the Saint James Station.

Doesn’t look like winter, right?

The Domain. Be warned. It can be a long walk!

When the magpies took leave, I started walking again towards the church. Right outside were a bride and groom likely doing their pre-nuptial shots. Garbed in their wedding outfits, it looked kind of odd to watch them reviewing their shots. Leaving the odd couple, I walked towards the square fronting the church (or is that the back?) and headed back towards Hyde Park. There I waited till my niece arrived. Thankfully, in time before i started freezing. 😉

Shall i call this the Church Plaza? Or Church Square?

I didn’t mean for this photo to come out this way. Seriously. 😉

Tags: Hyde Park, New South Wales, Opera House, St. Mary's Cathedral, Sydney, The Domain

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SYDNEY’s Mt. Annan Botanical Garden: Just A Family Affair

Filed under: Australia, Musings & Ramblings, Travel, travels — 1 Comment

August 26, 2013

Today’s one afternoon that’s all ours. No worries. No rush. No serious discussion. We’ve had one too many in the preceding 4 weeks. The gardens and ponds are waiting for us. Today. The empty benches beckon. The ground is carpeted with blooms, signalling the onset of spring. We peeled ourselves off the thicker jackets and got ready for a “walk in the park”.

We have passed this Park many times on our way to my nephew’s house. All of 416 hectares between Camden and Campbelltown. Because it is too near, there was no interest to drop in in this botanical garden claimed to be the largest in Australia! But today is a special day. My bags are packed, nearly all clothes laundered clean and stuffed into a suitcase, ready for my imminent departure. I’m down to my last pair of pants and jacket, along with my pair of boots that will all stay here and wait for my next visit. We all wanted to take a leisurely stroll with the kids, even spend some time in the playground, hike up a small hill, sit by the bench near the pond. Act like a family 😉

It would be nice to have a LONG walk here next time. Or maybe, given its size, biking is the better option. I haven’t biked in decades but I’m confident I can still do this. I should plan my next visit here real well. Maybe bring a picnic lunch. There are picnic tables and benches by the pond. Yes, that should make for a lovely afternoon.

What a relaxing afternoon for us all. A prelude to last-minute repacking and a long flight home. Say hello to Spring. Bye, Winter.

Tags: Australia, Botanical Garden, Mt. Annan, New South Wales, Sydney

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Day Trip Out of Sydney #10: A Ferry Ride To Manly Beach

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 1 Comment

August 20, 2013

Bustling with ferry-riding crowds, daytrippers and street buskers, Circular Quay was typically busy the day we visited Manly Beach. Off the train and into the quay, we quickly purchased our ferry tickets while snapping photos of the iconic harbour bridge. A fine example of civil engineering, it only happens to be the world’s 6th longest spanning arch bridge.

: Circular Quay. 10am.

: They were there back in 1999. Then 2004. Now 2013.

I remember the ferry rides I took the last 2 trips I made to Sydney. Ferry rides are adventures by themselves. The breeze and the scenic views highlight my moments with my trusty, resurrected Canon cam. Letting the winds slap on my face and mess up my hair, I marvelled at how the Sydney Opera House can still hold one’s attention after all these years, and many cam shots. Zooming into the top of the bridge, I felt jealous I wasn’t with this small group hiking towards the top. Must be quite an exhilirating moment as one nears the top, enjoying a 360 degree view of the harbour.

: Quite an architectural wonder. Iconic.

: Brave souls scaling the Sydney Harbour Bridge on this windy morning.

The 7 mile journey has been navigated since 1855, but there are now driving options to reach Manly Beach. But I still think it’s best to take one of many regular ferry rides getting here. The Manly Wharf alone has metamorphosed into a lovely food and wine pitstop just before negotiating the 9mile walk along the water edge. Either that or you can cross over from the wharf towards the Corso where you’d find a variety of shops and dining places.

: Pretty wharf with many dining choices on a broad price range.

: Lovely walkway by the beach, complete with benches, picnic tables and distilled water stations!

Here’s a tip. Once you get here, decide on your lunch place right away to beat the lunch crowds. The kids can be “deposited” in the Manly Aquarium while the adults can while away the time in the airconditioned Museum just right aross the marine sanctuary. Those seeking adventures may choose to do the 9 mile walk, OR if you want to combine exercise with retail therapy, head for the Corso and check out the shops along the way. In my case, I went for the walk. Alone. Needed some ME time. Plus the exercise. 😉

: The Aquarium is a good option if you have kids with you.

: Don’t you just love this view?

Truly, Sydney’s parks, boardwalks, biking and jogging pathways leave you impressed. They even have distilled water stations! I felt safe walking alone, and took liberty with the many benches lining the water edge. The few joggers passed by but not without saying hello. My solitude was only broken whenever I hear the ferry approaching or leaving the wharf. C’est la vie! I can live here 😉

: Just a 30 minute ride, packed with scenic views!

: The Sydney Opera House. Dusk.

Thank you, Reia, for bringing us here!

: Those boys look happy!

: Thank you, Reia!

Circular Quay. 7pm.

Tags: Australia, Circular Quay, Manly Beach, Manly Wharf, New South Wales, Sydney

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Day Trip Out of Sydney #9: Historic Berrima

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 1 Comment

August 19, 2013

Missed by the railway route, nearly abandoned, and now wonderfully preserved as a heritage town. The Old Post Office, turn of century old houses like the Harper’s Mansion, the court house, the jail — or should I say “gaol”? — the quaint and still operating bakery cottage. While I’ve kind of read up on this historic town before coming over, Berrima still surprised me. For one, I tasted the best scones ever in this 1850’s bakery cottage, but that’s getting ahead of my story. 😉

Don’t you dare miss Devonshire Tea in this 1850’s Tea Room cum Museum.

Freshly-baked scones, homemade jams, and heirloom tea spoons!

Top of mind to visit in this corner of the Southern Highlands of New South Wales would be Harper’s Mansion, the Court and Jail House, a couple of churches, a few more Georgian houses and public buildings. But if you’ve come here just for Devonshire Tea or to check out some of the family-run cafes, that’s fine. Berrima makes for an excellent day and food trip for couples, families and friends.

Lots of choices. We opted for Two Skinny Cooks. Thank you, Lin, for lunch!

You gotta love Australia’s sense of history and heritage!

Kids would love the gardens and the maze in Harper’s Mansion. Though the trees reflect winter, the blooms in the gardens signal the onset of spring. A lovely background for the 18th century Georgian mansion which has since been turned into a Museum. The guide “threatened” us with some ghost stories before we toured the mansion, but “no luck”. We must have scared them off.

Harper’s Mansion. No ghosts here.

Gardens behind the Georgian Mansion.

And then, there’s the Court House. And the “gaol”. Complete with cells and jury scenes. Not for kids though. The court scene involved zombie-like characters in a dark room. Walking from the court house, one passes the jailhouse, some brick cottages used by government officials then, the Post Office and surely, you can’t miss the row of cafes just across the street. We didn’t have time to check out the Masonic Temple and the Churches as we lingered over our lunch at Two Skinny Cooks, tried the Maze behind Harper’s Mansion and toured the Court House. Just as well. After all, we can’t miss the afternoon tea at The Old Bakery Cottage before heading home. Priorities! 🙂

The Old Court House.

Here was where the first woman-convict was sentenced to be hanged. Case? Axe Murder of Husband. OUCH!

Tags: Australia, Berrima, Harper's Mansion, New South Wales, Sydney

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Day Trip Out of Sydney #8: A Rizal Park in Rosemeadow?

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 1 Comment

August 18, 2013

Out with college buddies today and off to Berrima with a brief stop at Rosemeadow’s Rizal Park. This is where a 5-meter brass statue of Dr. Jose P. Rizal carved by Eduardo Castrillo stands tall within a park named in his honor. Yes, the same artist credited with having sculpted the tallest Rizal statue which can be found in the patriot’s hometown of Calamba, Laguna south of Manila.

A 5-meter brass creation by Filipino artist Eduardo Castrillo

The statue differs from the many other, typical Rizal statues and monuments. I do not know what motivated the popular Filipino sculptor to depict Rizal in this fashion. And I say this without meaning to criticize or complain. Just that I find it unusual. You see, the good hero’s hands are neither holding his coat, or his hat, or simply on his sides. One hand holds a book but the other hand is raised up high like addressing or summoning a large group into action. It draws visitors to think and mull over some message.

Unveiled only last October 2012 in Rosemeadow, a suburb of Campbelltown.

Campbelltown has the 2nd largest Filipino community in Sydney who made sure the national hero’s legacy is preserved in their community. The Park area has a playground and picnic facilities. No less than President NoyNoy Aquino graced the unveiling of this statue last October 2012. Hopefully, many other Filipino communities around the world would do the same. We found quite a few in Madrid, Heidelberg, Alaska, etc. More importantly, may all global Filipinos share the same values of patriotism, commitment and love for country.

Thank you, Lin and MA, for bringing me here.

Tags: Australia, Eduardo Castrillo, Philippine-Australian Friendship Association, Rizal Park, Rosemeadow, Sydney

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Day Trip Out of Sydney #7: JENOLAN CAVES

Filed under: Australia, Travel, travels — 3 Comments

August 17, 2013

Stalagmites. Stalactites. Having gone through so many caves in recent past, you would have thought I’m done with them. But this is the WORLD’s OLDEST DISCOVERED OPEN CAVES and we simply cannot miss this. Besides, Nature plays out differently in every setting, perhaps depending on its “moods”. Counting 370 million years, these creations even pre-date the dinosaurs! For sure, they were certainly in no rush….. no, they took their own sweet time to make certain Nature did not “repeat” itself in design.

It was a long 175 kilometer drive from Sydney on a lone, winding road deep within the Blue Mountains. All of 3 hours. No public transportation is available but one can join coach tours from the city or Katoomba. Driving dead straight, we reached our destination….. curious what Nature has in store for us. There was a sizable crowd when we reached the place, more by the time we were ready to leave. We’re only too glad we came early.

It was a no-brainer deciding which of the oldest show caves we’d “explore”. That with the least difficulty but still packed with adventure — nothing extreme — was what we were prepared to do on this gloomy day. Other adventure seekers may choose the more challenging self-guided tours. Or the night and ghost tours. Methinks I’d be feeling more secure with a guide leading us in, and then leading us OUT of the cave complex.

Yet the Imperial Cave didn’t disappoint. The guide kept reminding us NOT to get too excited, citing how the place looks pretty much the same judging from photographs taken 80 years ago. 🙂 This cave has the least number of stairs and steps, so we thought the next hour and a half should be easy to navigate.

“Jenolan” is rooted from the local tribe Gundungurra’s word, “Genowlan”, which means a “high place shaped like a foot”. Story goes that men from the tribe used to carry people into the cave complex to be bathed in the pools which are believed to have healing powers. We can only imagine how the local tribes must have found the place sacred, in much the same way we found the natural formations magical.

For sure, Nature got busy here. The many caverns and tunnels attest to that. I wouldn’t be surprised if the present “cavekeepers” discover more caves in this limestone rock complex. Nor that many fossil discoveries of extinct animals are found here.

Claustrophobics we are not, but the idea of breathing the same area with a dozen others so many meters underground can be a bit unsettling. It should be interesting to also visit other caves which can take in more visitors in one group. And that “underground concert cave” with natural acoustics! The latter must have claimed quite a sizable space underground looking more like an atrium.

Thank you, Rahns and Shelly, for bringing Mamu here 🙂 Hope you enjoyed the adventure as much as I did. And that’s coming from someone who didn’t really dig caves before. I do now. Got to give a lot of respect for Mother Nature. After all, where the HELL did they say they found those Tasmanian Devils here again? 😉