Sydney.... What can I say? The city I've been too one too many times as a teenager and I can still remember the places and streets at the back of my fingertips as nothing has changed much. However my trip this time was different, I’m old enough to enjoy the ‘other’ side of Sydney, which I never had the chance to encounter before.
A memorial somewhere in Pyrmont.
I landed in the morning, hardly had a wink of sleep thanks to the snore machine next to me and the crying baby in front. Despite the headphones on, I couldn't sleep. At the point of meeting Stan, I was tired and yet I pushed myself to go out, and that got the ball rolling.
My friend lives in Pyrmont, an area close to Darling Harbour so it's just walking distance to everything and the city centre. We walked a short distance to the pub to meet some of his friends and from the first greeting I received, I knew I was in for a really long night.
My friend lives in Pyrmont, an area close to Darling Harbour so it's just walking distance to everything and the city centre. We walked a short distance to the pub to meet some of his friends and from the first greeting I received, I knew I was in for a really long night.
We were in The Quarryman Hotel on Harris St. and then after that we went to the Pyrmont Bridge Hotel. The group I met made me reminisce of the time I lived in England of nights out with my Irish friends. It was always a long and loud affair, but a fun one for sure. This lot are exactly the same. I have to admit, the Irish are a lot of fun! They are a loving lot, loud as hell, and can drink for the love of god. You'll always have a good night out with an Irish! Do be prepared to pub-crawl, have your liver marinated and stay out till sunrise.
Braza Churrascaria an all you can eat Brazilian meat fest with the Irish clan!
One pub to another it was and the next thing I knew, my weekends out was spent with this bunch and my days got blurred soon after. Between Saturday night and Sunday night, I went sailing. Mind you, the weather was brilliant for spring. It was actually really hot for spring especially during the day.
On Sunday, the temperature went up to 32 degree Celsius! Being on the boat was great, with the heat and the wind, it was perfect. I went from a nice olive to a super dark down on the tan scale. It was that hot plus I caught up with some snooze time on the boat hence the super tan. Got to catch up on sleep at some point if I’m going to continue to hangout with Stan and his friends.
On Sunday, the temperature went up to 32 degree Celsius! Being on the boat was great, with the heat and the wind, it was perfect. I went from a nice olive to a super dark down on the tan scale. It was that hot plus I caught up with some snooze time on the boat hence the super tan. Got to catch up on sleep at some point if I’m going to continue to hangout with Stan and his friends.
And finally, its lift off from the ski dance! LOL.
The few days at Stan’s was perfect, it was easy access to everything from his place and the weather too had been good. I've never been to this side of Sydney before and walking in the suburbs around Pyrmont was just quaint with neatly arranged trees, boutique shops and cafés. The Star Casino is not far from the Pyrmont Bridge and just a short walk from there, across the bridge, I'm in the city centre. How convenient!
Sydney, as a city has a lot going on, especially on the weekends. One of my favourites is the market on the Rocks during the weekends. It’s a craft market selling hand made goods from chocolates right down to bed linen. It’s a beautiful stroll to take and there is always a little stall in the corner that sells corn on the cob and it’s usually adorned by little haystacks which doubles up as seats. I love walking around this area as the shops and houses are beautiful to admire. I remember walking up these streets, looking for my way up to the observatory (which is a 10 minute walk from the Rocks area), coming across all sorts of quirky shops tucked away between houses and little alleyways.
The observatory on the other hand is worth the walk. From the viewpoint, you can see both North and South Sydney together with the Harbour Bridge. It’s really beautiful and peaceful up here. This place is definitely one of my favourite spots!
Sydney, as a city has a lot going on, especially on the weekends. One of my favourites is the market on the Rocks during the weekends. It’s a craft market selling hand made goods from chocolates right down to bed linen. It’s a beautiful stroll to take and there is always a little stall in the corner that sells corn on the cob and it’s usually adorned by little haystacks which doubles up as seats. I love walking around this area as the shops and houses are beautiful to admire. I remember walking up these streets, looking for my way up to the observatory (which is a 10 minute walk from the Rocks area), coming across all sorts of quirky shops tucked away between houses and little alleyways.
The observatory on the other hand is worth the walk. From the viewpoint, you can see both North and South Sydney together with the Harbour Bridge. It’s really beautiful and peaceful up here. This place is definitely one of my favourite spots!
Beautiful day to be on a boat.
I picked a café by the rocks to have coffee and cake, I thought I might as well catch up on some reading. Just as I got comfortable and tucked myself well into my meringue pie I had a little visitor who casually sat at my table to dine with me. Beautifully dressed in blue, green, yellow with a touch of red my little friend, the parakeet, was after my pie. Obviously my first reaction was to try to chase it away but clearly it wasn’t happening. So here I was placing my book in front to this little bird, to which the little fella walks to the edge and peaks over so to say ‘pee-ka-boo, I still see it!’ to my pie. This went on for quiet a while, the bird and me playing pee-ka-boo with my pie. Finally I gave it and thought I’ll just have to let this bird have my pie, while I prep my camera to take a picture of it. Mind you it was a very pretty little parakeet.
Clearly that too didn’t happen as it went after my coffee! Now that is one thing I can’t share! Anyways someone was watching and by the time they got to my table the little birdy flew away and sort of kept an eye on my still from a distance. Of all the tables it had to pick mine and no one bothered to help thinking it was my pet! Seriously? Really? My pet? Only in Australia will your food be snatched away by birds and mind you, you get stalked by them too! Everyone thinks that it picked my table because of my scarf… and it had almost all the same colours as the little parakeet!
Clearly that too didn’t happen as it went after my coffee! Now that is one thing I can’t share! Anyways someone was watching and by the time they got to my table the little birdy flew away and sort of kept an eye on my still from a distance. Of all the tables it had to pick mine and no one bothered to help thinking it was my pet! Seriously? Really? My pet? Only in Australia will your food be snatched away by birds and mind you, you get stalked by them too! Everyone thinks that it picked my table because of my scarf… and it had almost all the same colours as the little parakeet!
China Lane just off Ash Street.
Darling Harbour, as always, is clustered by well manicured restaurants and café’s. It also houses the maritime museum and the Imax theatre among other things. The Hard Rock café is also situated along here. There is something always going on in Darling Harbour on the weekends just like other ‘hot’ spots around the city.
In the city centre, those who love shopping would fancy a visit to Pitt Street or George Street to the all-famous Queen Victoria Building. Be prepared to burn a hole in your pocket as Sydney is too expensive to shop. Trust me when I say it’s cheaper for you to get a round trip ticket to England or Europe and shop there. Australia is just too expensive! But do visit the building, as it’s beautiful as well as Pitt Street as you might never know what you’ll come across on that street.
Just behind Pitt Street is Hyde Park. Its beautiful plus I was in luck, there was the Noodle market open in the evenings. It was in conjunction with the good food month in Australia. Beautiful-neatly lined white tents decked the park with people being spoilt for choice on Asian cuisine. It was fun to watch and soon I too joined the crowd of can’t-make-up-my-mind-too-much-to-choose-from crowd.
In the city centre, those who love shopping would fancy a visit to Pitt Street or George Street to the all-famous Queen Victoria Building. Be prepared to burn a hole in your pocket as Sydney is too expensive to shop. Trust me when I say it’s cheaper for you to get a round trip ticket to England or Europe and shop there. Australia is just too expensive! But do visit the building, as it’s beautiful as well as Pitt Street as you might never know what you’ll come across on that street.
Just behind Pitt Street is Hyde Park. Its beautiful plus I was in luck, there was the Noodle market open in the evenings. It was in conjunction with the good food month in Australia. Beautiful-neatly lined white tents decked the park with people being spoilt for choice on Asian cuisine. It was fun to watch and soon I too joined the crowd of can’t-make-up-my-mind-too-much-to-choose-from crowd.
Darling Harbour by day and night.
Among the places I’ve been taken too I have to say that The Hero of Waterloo down by the Rocks is just brilliant. Filled with people, live music on the weekends and it’s just a whole lot of fun. For some reason, they sing this one song… ‘singing in the rain’ where all the lads take their shirts off. It’s awesome for once and the bar itself is rustic. Some how it's filled with, again, the Irish! Feels like they are taking over the fun scene in Australia and for once it’s good news!
A little bit on the up scale side would be the Ivy Pool Bar, close to George Street. Beautiful roof top bar with lounge and deck chairs. The ambient lighting here is just perfect. If you fancy a dip, you can always get a towel from behind the bar plus there is a changing room just below complete with shower cubicles. Even if you’re not swimming I do suggest you visit the changing rooms down below. Trust me when I say it’s worth the visit, so just DO it!
A little bit on the up scale side would be the Ivy Pool Bar, close to George Street. Beautiful roof top bar with lounge and deck chairs. The ambient lighting here is just perfect. If you fancy a dip, you can always get a towel from behind the bar plus there is a changing room just below complete with shower cubicles. Even if you’re not swimming I do suggest you visit the changing rooms down below. Trust me when I say it’s worth the visit, so just DO it!
T-shirts off at the The Heroes of Waterloo pub! Talk about en engaging crowd.
A wonderful little bar tucked away at the Rocks is one place one should never miss on a weekend!
A wonderful little bar tucked away at the Rocks is one place one should never miss on a weekend!
I split my trip to Sydney into 2 halves, the one half with Stan and the other with my family. They mostly live in the suburbs and my aunt was sweet enough to take time out to drive me about. One of my favourite places to visit is Balmain. The ferry stops here from Circular Quay as well and they have amazing boutiques and café’s. The most raved about macaroons by Adriano Zumbo is something I had to try. I’ve been hearing it all the while from Stan of how great it is. There is an outlet here by Adriano Zumbo so I decided to try a few and boy was I disappointed.
The Ivy Pool Bar just off George Street, definitely a place to check out.
It wasn’t all that hyped out to be although the few I had such as the salted caramel popcorn macaroon, now that was pretty nice but it wasn’t as good as Sprüngli (a Swiss chocolatier that also makes heavenly macaroons). Maybe it wasn’t all that good as someone got my expectations skyhigh. But on the over all it was alright, it wasn’t nasty, neither was it great.
The café 2 door down from here on the other hand has good coffee and wonderful artwork. They managed a local street artist to paint their walls plus they have a world map on the other side of the wall filled with coins and notes pinned to it. Pretty neat place to chill and have coffee in plus the owner is really sweet!
The café 2 door down from here on the other hand has good coffee and wonderful artwork. They managed a local street artist to paint their walls plus they have a world map on the other side of the wall filled with coins and notes pinned to it. Pretty neat place to chill and have coffee in plus the owner is really sweet!
Delmain Providore in Balmain.
Overall, I had a great time in Sydney, catching up with family, old friends and making new ones. Spent most of my days just wandering around the city or the suburbs. For once I wished I stayed longer but if I did I’m sure to be broke by now as Sydney is seriously an expensive city to live in. Till the next trip down under, adieu!
I absolutely love this lot.
Ps: To be perfectly honest, my days were mostly blurred out between work and going out. And I partly blame my friend and his friends for showing me an absolutely rocking fun time in Sydney.
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