July 2nd

I'm back (in New Zealand)!

So this will be the last time I update my "Sydney Facts" list (at least for the next few months).

Updated points are in bold italics.

(1) Scarcity of rubbish bins. (I have received intelligence that there's a lack of rubbish bins due to its potential threat to national security. Apparently, it is a perfect tool for terrorists. Do not expect Sydney to be litter free like Singapore!)
(2) Sydney is not as livable as Auckland, apparently. [10th vs. 5th, Mercer's Survey]
(3) Sydney is hopeless at making espresso coffee or hot chocolate. They can't even get the milk right! (Oh yes, I've tried many outlets- all bad!)
(4) The movies in Sydney are only $9 on Tuesdays!
(5) The movies in Sydney have a 15 minute "pre-show program" before they actually start playing. It was very boring sitting through it.
(6) Sydney trains are double glazed and air conditioned. Very comfy indeed. (NYC trains are freezers in the winter!)
(7) The "top of the pops" in Sydney right now is "No Air" by Jordin Sparks (all over radio).

(8) The Pacific Highway is just a 3 lane road (extremely narrow) with a 60 km/hr limit.

(9) The supermarket conveyor belts are shorter here.

(10) "MX" is the free subway newspaper you would read if you didn't have an iPod or a book.

(11) "Ivy" is the new hottest hang out place in Sydney at the mo. (The only young people around my age were the cleaners/waiters.)

June 29th

I drove in Australia for the first time today!

I made my own version of "Sideways" by visiting the Hunter Valleys; although I did not get too drunk.

Sydney Facts Updated:

(8) The Pacific Highway is just a 3 lane road (extremely narrow) with a 60 km/hr limit.

June 26th

June 25th

My days in Sydney are almost coming to an end..... =(

Work is boring, but I've come to the conclusion that Sydney has the best night life! So it makes up for it.

Sydney is just so versatile: It's got great cocktail lounges, great pubs/bars, and they have clubs too. Auckland is full of clubs, clubs and clubs. 

Shopping is still better in Melbourne. And coffee has improved: I now order a "double shot soy latte, no sugar", which is what Sydney seems to do best for me.

I have a "theme music" for every city I visit, and for every part of the year. I'm sure most of you will have music that sparks memory of a place or time. For Sydney, I have the following...

No Air by Jordin Sparks

Deciphering Me by Brooke Fraser

June 20th

I bring you fresh pictures of the first Apple store in the Southern Hemisphere.....

Apple Sydney

It's exactly the same as the store in 5th ave, Soho, San Fran, etc....Nothing new, just a geek's heaven!

June 18th

Sydney Facts UPDATED!!!:
[A list of quirky little things about Sydney as I discover the city]

(1) Scarcity of rubbish bins. (I have received intelligence that there's a lack of rubbish bins due to its potential threat to national security. Apparently, it is a perfect tool for terrorists. Do not expect Sydney to be litter free like Singapore!)
(2) Sydney (10th) is not as livable as Auckland (5th). [Mercer's Survey]
(3) Sydney is hopeless at making espresso coffee or hot chocolate. They can't even get the milk right! (Oh yes, I've tried many outlets- all bad!)
(4) The movies in Sydney are only $9 on Tuesdays!
(5) The movies in Sydney have a 15 minute "pre-show program" before they actually start playing. It was very boring sitting through it.
(6) Sydney trains are double glazed and air conditioned. Very comfy indeed. (NYC trains are freezers in the winter!)
(7) The "top of the pops" in Sydney right now is "No Air" by Jordin Sparks (all over radio).

June 12th

Happy 12th boys and girls! I'm reporting from Sydney, Australia!


More details of this ritual can be found on Chad Darnell's blog.


-------------------------------
12 of 12, June

7:26am: Breakfast- Weetbix, muesli, milk and yoghurt. What you don't see is the cup of coffee I also had.

8:14am: Waiting for my train to work in Central Station. You see the train heading the other way, but you don't see any train heading the way I want to go.

8:43am: Arrived at work. This is the shop I'm placed in for the next 3 weeks. You see everything here, and there's nothing you didn't see.

1:04pm: Lunch- spag bolognaise while reading the free paper. What you don't see is the mandarine I ate after that.

3:39pm: My 3pm appointment didn't show up, so I'm haging around in the testing room. This is a camera that takes a picture of the retina. What you don't see is the visual field machine, which is an extremely expensive machine that flashes light.

6:28pm: Looking for a nail clipper at K-Mart. I forgot to pack this, so have to buy one. Being an optometrist means you've gotta have short nails all the time! What you don't see is my dirty nails- kidding!

6:47pm: Home time! I'm waiting for the train again. I'm also eating a cream puff which you don't see.

7:03pm: Sitting on the train home. Most people leave the city at this time, so the train into the city is empty- therefore I can stretch my feet and listen to my iPod. Notice I'm wearing a blue shirt (its new, I bought it yesterday from French Connection). What you don't also see is my skinny wool tie that goes perfectly with it!

9:37pm: Walking back from Surry Hills through the Central station. What you don't see is the cocktail and seared tuna & beef I had at Toko.

9:39pm: The clock tower in Central station. What you don't see is that I'm desparately trying to get enough pictures to post- so I'm taking this for no good reason.

9:47pm: On my way down to the Internet Cafe. What you don't see is the Subway (sandwich store) on top of it.

10:13pm: Blogging! With a bag of doritos. What you don't see is my macbook this time, because the internet at home has not been hooked up yet! Uggh, look at what windows did to my pictures! It's all f*cking skewed....

That's all folks.

June 11th

Ok, I'm starting a list of "Sydney Facts" as I discover them.....so far I've got two (I will update as I go)

Sydney Facts:

(1) Scarcity of rubbish bins.
(2) Sydney (10th) is not as livable as Auckland (5th). [Mercer's Survey]

June 9th

Good morning world, I'm reporting from Sydney.

It has only been less than 24 hours, and Sydney hasn't "wowed" me- not yet at least.

I'm living on King's Cross' main street where Sydneysiders have their parties. Ever seen the mess in a club after a night of partying? Well the street I'm living in was filled with bottles, wrappers, cans, condoms, prostitutes.... when I woke up this morning.

I went across the road to have McD's and I was sitting next to a girl who's obviously had her heart broken. She was bitching away to her gay guy friend who was wearing a bright pink shirt, nodding and "umm-ing"- poor guy.

Sydney rail is not really up to my standards. I can't believe the trains are dirtier than the NYC subway!

This is my initial experience- hopefully things brighten up.