The trip had me thinking quite a bit, esp. about the parents. Not sure if we were too adventurous about this trip, that we haven't think a lot in their shoes. Yup, they'd enjoyed during the trip. But maybe we didn't prep them enough information before the trip because, we were all too occupied with other stuff. And it all started with the packing. Oh wells, I have to admit that I didn't handle it the best way I could. I was being authoritative. And I guess also because it is somewhere unfamiliar to them, they were slightly more worried as compared to, say, the HK trip we did years back. It's hard to convince them, isn't it?
小时候都是爸妈带我们出国，东西都是他们为我们准备的。现在长大了，出国有时也由我们决定，但好像不是准备得很好。这次的经验让我知道下次要带父母的时候得要再准备的好一些。虽然我们也没有让旅程太困难，也没有太无所事事。轻轻松松，尽量不让他们需要走太远，毕竟他们通常都跟着旅行团，都不需要走太多的。
But then again, it seems like they have enjoyed the trip. It's quite a mixed feeling ya.
Traveling in large number is not easy, esp. with a few folks. Of course, with my parents being the eldest. They are also game enough for most of the things we planned.
Anyhows, let's recount the trip:
Day 0 - 1: Thankfully the flight was okay. Because we booked separately because of the price, our seats are also split into 2 groups. I was seated with 2 aunts, but it was fun. Fortunately I have interesting aunts. haha
We got there early in the morning, while waiting for our rooms at the Meriton Service Apartment to be ready (we went there at 7am, of course it is still occupied), we got around for breakfast and met very nice servers already. Thankful for the good weather throughout the trip because it has been basically raining for days before we got there.
After the hearty breakfast, we got to Circular Quay to the Rocks market and then to the Whale Watching cruise. It seems to be a little heavy for the folks; even I felt nauseous on the return trip and just had to sleep through it. Nonetheless, it was quite breathtaking to watch the whales. 3 of them! (Book online for a discounted rate). By then we were quite jaded so we got back to the apartment and had some rest before meeting our cousin and cousin-in-law for dinner. Dinner at Bondi Beach Hurricane's Grill OMG I really miss their ribs. :D It was delicious. No wonder for the crowd right. :) And Ben 'n' Jerry's after that. A great first day ended with a visit to the Coles supermarket at the mall right beside our stay. (we actually went there every day hahaha)
Day 2: Started off with Sydney Fish Market. Oh yes, I loved the food there as well. All the fresh seafood, just too awesome. HAHA Had some really good oysters, lobsters, fish, crab leg. Just yummy.
Then went around to the Darling Harbour to look see look see because da-jie's boots fell apart. Went to The Star to just take a look at their casino. Apparently there's some texas poker competition going on. Went to the Sydney Wildlife Park because well, the zoo is too far isn't it? The aunts didn't go in, so well, we stayed but not too long... and I don't remember seeing the huge crocodile. Wonder where it went. Hmm...
Had a rather early dinner at Pancake on the Rocks (the branch at darling harbour), there was no queue. Desserts for the day includes Churros from San Churros at Darling Harbour Mall, Cakes and Macarons from Adriano Zumbo Patisserie and ice-cream. HAHA
The day ended quite early so the folks decided to make our own fruit salad for the night! :D
Day 3: Back to Circular Quay again, visiting somewhere I didn't go to the last time round - Royal Botanical Gardens. And yeap, passing by the Sydney Opera House means taking lotsa photos with the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.
It was a sunny day and we had some trouble finishing the walk to the MacQuarie Chair, which is at the far end of the garden and suppose to have to best view of the opera house and the bridge. We gave up in the middle of the garden. hahaha. So we decided to proceed to the St. Mary's Cathedral.
Coincidentally we walked into a local food court in the heart of the CBD, of course, with the food prices twice of our food courts. 😅 Had some donburi, thai-style rice and dishes (our mixed veg rice), salad, Udon, Chicken strips. To be honest, they are rather tasty.
And despite the lunch, we went to Queen Victoria Building for high tea after that. Haha. Didn't go to The Tea Room but The Palace Tea Room instead. Well, it's just good to have a nice afternoon tea and cakes and scones in one of the oldest building around. 😁
After that we shopped for while waiting for cousin to knock off so that we can meet and go to his friend's place for a national day gathering. Honestly, we are a little out of place but nonetheless, thankful for the great host.
Day 4: K Mart in the morning, just behind our place actually, while sister and bro-in-law pick up the car from airport. Had a coffee from a what seems like a joint from Toby's Estate - great start to the morning. :) Head to Dim Sum at Marigold when the duo are back with the car. Seems like there are more variety since the last time I went there (I can't rmb) but the food isn't really fantastic. :( Slightly disappointed, but we didn't have chance to visit another dimsum place during the rest of the trip anymore.
And then something touristy - visiting the Paddy's Market, and all we did was get some touristy souvenirs. hahaha
While on the way to get the car, realising that we are near the I-Creamy that sells ice-cream cones with the ice-cream presented as a rose, we just had to go. Because we love ice-cream and we tamjiak and it looks cool and pretty. Turns out it's a company opened by Thai, it really takes someone with skills to make that rose. (Yup, we have seen and witnessed that not all the staff are able to form that rose). So it was worth the wait and definitely instagram worthy. 😍
Then proceed to May Street, recommended by Aunt, turns out the street art is really commendable, judging from the scale of each of them. Not an extremely busy street but still there are cars coming through now and then, how do the artist then even did it? Some are at least 5m tall. Took all the photos we could before the sun goes down anyway.
Dinner was this Japanese joint near the K Mart. So we had rice! haha Grill meat (chicken/pork) and onsen egg! It was delicious I must say. The salmon was good too. It was quite early when we got back but the folks said they were tired already, so the 4 of us secretly went to get Max Brenner for ourselves even though we were also full. And all the other shops have closed. :/
Day 5: Blue Mountain - Revisited places I have been and a few I haven't. We drove so we could take more stops leisurely. It was a long drive though... Staff at the Glenbrook is really helpful, gave us a map and suggested route and what we could look out for through the route. But poor judgement and memory (mine) for the first stop and hence missed a better viewing point for the waterfall, and we guess the folks are not very keen also. Oh wells.
So revisited Echopoint, then time really 3 sisters! 2 sets of 3 sisters, in fact! HAHA The wind was seriously, damn cold. Went to the Scenic World as well. Took what I took the last time - only with an extra trip on the cableway. They upgraded the carriages for the Railway. Looks more atas and safe now. Hahaha. Oh oh, lunch was at the Eats270 cafe with a view. The food was nice though there was a waiting time for the food and there weren't many stalls to choose from.
We don't want to drive too late into the dark and was also afraid that traffic will get heavy on the way back so we left late afternoon (3+pm) and got back to city around 5pm. And went to shop for our dinner at Coles. Bought roast chicken and got some salad and veggies and some wrap (that was a tat too thick to be a wrap in the end) to make our own chicken wrap dinner. We were fed with fruits. A truly healthier dinner. :)
Day 6: Spent half the day at DFO for some shopping, I think everyone got something, at least. Lunch was at the food court. (Yup!) Had some really good sandwich which Aunt shared with me and some nice pasta salad and what not, while the rest had their dose of the thai mixed rice again. Apparently, it costs 12AUD for a plate of rice with 3 dishes, regardless meat or veggies. HAHA That's like almost triple our mixed veg rice here. But it was truly nice also lah.
I had myself a superdry t-shirt, a pair of new balance, 2 tops from Esprit, some gift for a friend's baby, super nice lindt's chocolates (OMG we got about 1kg mixed flavours each, so it was super duper heavy) haha! Actually I didn't go overboard with my shopping right...
Visited the olympic stadium thereafter, which we aren't exactly sure which is the specific site we must go, so we just stopped outside the stadium itself and took photos. It was near DFO anyways.
And to the long-awaited University of Sydney. To do the grass shots. I mean seriously, the grass is just so nice you could sit there all day long. Okay, that applies to all the grass all around Sydney but the university one had a view behind which makes the place looks so nice. So anyway that's at the University Square, which is a highly sought after photo spot by many many other tourists (groups) as well. Jump shot is mandatory, and we even did some funny group photo outside. Lol. Weather and view was so nice you would just want to stay there longer.
It was still early to meet cousin for dinner so we went to San Churros instead. And funny things happened when we drove to town hall and park, just to walk all the way back to where San churros was, and right where we parked. Things that happen when you are new to a place and have no idea where your friend is going to bring you. But food was good! Had my fav salmon, which comes with some starch thing which I can't rmb its name. :x Mum order chicken with quinoa and salad without knowing what it was and didn't really enjoy until sister exchanged food with her. Had a great time at the restaurant korkor recommended.
And we were back to prepare to leave the next day :(
But before that, it means shopping at Coles again for snacks and all to bring back :D Turns out we still bought too much to be consume. I just realised a few snacks already expired. A bit heart pain, but also shows how little of such I eat nowadays. A reminder to myself to give them all away if I buy next time. I'm really not going to eat them.
Day 7 - LAST DAY!: Finally managed to convince everyone and squeezed enough time to get us all to Bondi Beach again, this time for Trio cafe because it was highly recommended. Indeed, the place was full and we were told the waiting time is 1h, which then will not be able to fit into our schedule anymore. But somehow the sister managed to get us all seats while some of us walked down the street to search for other options. We were seated separately but better than nothing! Food was great. And it's my first time seeing Bondi Beach for real and in the day. No chance to do the walks though. Next time if I decide to go again. haha
And then off to the airport we went.
