Friday, 28th January, 2011,
Changi Airport beckons and we made sure to do an early on-line check in for our overnight A380 flight to Sydney....
Arrived Sydney at 7.00 a.m. and got caught up in a massive jam at Immigration......cleared customs after an hour and found our way to the Hertz rental car waiting for us - liked the car we got this time - a nice chilli-red Toyoya Camry.
Took a leisurely drive into town and checked into our favourite Meriton Service Apartment suite - got the 20th-floor suite no. 2009 this time - with great sitting room, dining area, kitchen, study and bedroom.......wow !
We liked the Meriton for its great location in Chinatown......and for its facilities which include a roof-top garden - great for our morning tai-chi sessions......
....a nice gym with all the usual exercise stations......
plus a great heated jacuzzi and in-door swimming pool !
As usual, our first outing was to the Thai-Chinese supermarket in Chinatown to buy all that we need for the kitchen........
Then.... a trip to Sydney Fish Market to get the prawns, sashimi, fish, wine..........
and.......of course, the crab.........
and so its all set for our daily cookfest.......of breakfasts and lunches - yummy !
Saturday - and we were joined by Rosemary's sis - April and beau Glen who took the 4-hour drive from Cowra to do a 'Re-union Dinner' at Darling Harbour Jordan's Seafood Restaurant......
We also had some memorable dinners at several of the best restaurants in Sydney......
The East Ocean Restaurant at Sussex Street.........great char siew, and roast duck..
and steamed fish and herbal soups.....
yum cha at Emperor's Garden Restaurant , Sussex Street.......
Fusion Chinese dishes at 'China Doll' restaurant , down by Woolloomooloo Wharf - what a beautiful setting and ambience........a great sunset, moments to cherish....
Another great meal at 'Jimmy Lik' at Kings Cross...... we like the roasted crispy 'mandarin' duck.........
Modern Loatian cuisine at the 'Pink Peppercorn' restaurant down by Oxford Street.....
The best Wagyu beef steaks can be found at the 'ChopHouse' along Bligh Street in the CBD.......
Indian curry, tandoori chicken and garlic naan.............found at the Food Court at Bondi Junction.......
and good 'Showchef' teppanyaki - available at Oxford Street..........
A short walk from Meriton Apartments is the must-visit Paddy's Markets - supposed to be a 'weekend market', but now opens Wednesday to Sunday.........
We spent quite a lot of time here......CNY time sees a lot of festive activities there - parades, lion dances, lucky draws......
And, of course - the shopping - we always look up our friend, Lee who runs a stall at the Clothings Section ..........
she's become such a good friend now - we get great discounts for the stuff we buy from her......
continued......Part 2
