Last days in Melbourne, 29-30 June 2006

Thursday, 29 June 2006
With JetStar, we flew back to Melbourne from GoldCoast airport. The journey is about 2h15 min.

Uncle George came to visit us again, and we had lunch together at Allan/May's house.
After that, three of us went to Box Hill by train to buy persimon and nougat to bring back to Singapore. Actually BoxHill is quite a distance from Hoppers Crossing, but most of the price over there is quite cheap, as many Asean staying nearby.

After took a walk, we went straight to Williamstown beach. The beach here quite nice, but by the time we reached there, the sky was dark. In the day time Williamstown scenery is very nice and suitable for picnic or just a walk. The photo in the day time shown here were taken last year (2005) when I went there with May.

We went to FastaPasta for dinner with Allan and May. Fasta Pasta is one of my favourite eating place. They serve Entree and Main course for the same dish... Unless you have a big appetite and can eat more, my advise, order Entree is enough. Their portion of entree is as big as shown in the photo..

The price for each portion of entree is about A$8.00-12.00

Very nice, hmmmmm, I missed it already. Other than pasta, they also serve pizza.

Friday, 30 June 2006

Last day in Melbourne and Australia.............. Going back to Singapore this afternoon.

Since, we still have half day, Bagio and I went to the nearby nice places, at Weribee. We drove Allan's Land Cruiser (notice the plate number, in Australia you can choose your favourite words, as long as 6 digits (for Victoria state)). Since Allan and May is doing orchid, they chose this word, ORCHID as their plate number.

We went to Victoria State Rose Garden. During Spring and Summer, this place is full of Roses... when we went there, the flowers only left here and there. The entrance fee is free, but donation is welcome.

This Rose Garden received a 'Garden Of Excellence Award' from the World Federation of Rose Societies in 2003. The design of the garden is innovative and in its entirety contains many extravagant features including The Tudor Rose, The Heritage Rose Border, The Federation Leaf and the David Austin Bud.
The five petals of The Tudor Rose feature bush and standard Hybrid Teas and Floribundas. There are also Rambling and Climbing roses and weeping standards.
The Heritage Rose border is 400 metres long and contains old and species roses. The Federation Leaf showcases Australian-bred roses and The David Austin Bud is home to 50 fragrant cultivars.

Thinking to visit this place?? For information can be seen from http://www.parkweb.vic.gov.au/1park_display.cfm?park=197

Then we went to Mansion Hotel, next to the Rose Garden. I went into the Mansion that opens for tourist. This mansion will show us The elaborate Italianate Mansion in a unique and amazing work of art. Crafted with detaisl, grace and wealth to the class of the English gentry, step into the character of Lord or Lady of the house as you venture through the beautifully restored rooms. Listen to the chatter of the Chirnside family with a fantastic audio tour.

The magfinicent mansion, built between 1874 and 1877, is testament to the status and success of the Chirnsides.
Today the mansion, including the main bedrooms, the billiard room and the reception rooms on the ground floor and part of the kitchen wing, is open to visitors. Replication of the decor has restored an air of opulence, with crystal chandeliers, giant gilt-framed mirrors and the patterend tiled floor of the entrance and staircase. Some fabrics, carpets and wallpapers were reproduced from surviving fragement or by using authentic nineteenth century materials.

The landscape behind the hotel is very nice., the formal garden. This time when we went there, they just started planting the flowers... otherwise during summer

you will be able to see more and nice flowers (compare the 2 photos, the first photo was taken in the early winter, the other photo was taken when the flowers are full bloom).

About 13.00 hr we went to airport and flew back to Singapore for 7 hours. We landed safely at Changi airport around 21.40. Thank to God that already brought us go and back safely.

More photo???? Please, click here: Melbourne, June 2006

GoldCoast & Brisbane, 27-29 June 2006

Tuesday, 27 June 2006

We flew from Sydney to GoldCoast by Virgin Blue. The journey is about 1h 20 min. Actually our next destination is Brisbane, but when we checked the air ticket, the price to GoldCoast (GC) is cheaper than Brisbane (one trip can difference about A$70-80, depend on the date and time). We checked with Timothy, our friend who is staying in Brisbane now, he said that the distance from his house to GoldCoast airport and Brisbane airport is almost the same, different about 15 minutes drive. So.... we decided to fly to GC instead of Brisbane for the sake of saving money.... and also take a glance of what is GC looks like.

Timothy picked us up from the airport and he brought us to the beach and the famous place called "Surfer Paradise". The weather in GC were very nice, much-much warmer than Melbourne and Sydney... Timothy only wore short sleeves T-Shirt with short pants.... so contrast compare with our atributtes.....

We took breakfast "Hungry Jack" (the logo and menu is exactly same as Burger King) at Surfer Paradise then continue the journey to Brisbane.

We met Vasilia, Gabriel (Timothy's wife and son) and also Sis. Yeh for lunch at Calam Rd., Chinese food. After that we went direct to Tim's new house. They just moved to this house today... so when we arrived at the house, nothing inside... and we just helped them to move house.

Evening, after dinner we went to the church prayer meeting. And after that, with Bro/Sis Wan as the guide, they brought us to Mt. Cook Tha.. a high place to enjoy the night scenery of Brisbane. Unfortunately, we did not bring our tripod, so the photo result not so good.





Wednesday, 28 June 2006
We left the house at about 09.00 direct went to South Bank Park. South Bank (SB) is located next to Brisbane River. A good place for family outing and picnic, day or night with some restaurants and entertainments. Interested with South Bank? Visit their website at http://www.visitsouthbank.com.au



Then we went to Chinatown for lunch [at that time, Chinatown is very quite and nothing much to see except for groceries shopping, but quite a good choices for food lovers] and from there we went to another side of Brisbane River to enjoy the Floating Walk [*the bridge will move when there is a ferry/boat pass by*].
















In Brisbane, we can enjoy the nice scenery of Brisbane River from different sides and for different activities. When we were there, some people prepared to have a rock climbing, picnic, barbeque, cycling or just a walk..... The weather in Brisbane in the noon time is about 16-20C with full sun.

We went to Bro/Sis Wan for tea blending. Evening they brought us for another Chinese Food Restaurant, operates by Singaporean.
Thank you for your kind hospitality, Timothy & fam, Bro/Sis Wan and Sis. Yeh.

Hope to see you again......

Looking for more photos....? Click here Brisbane Photos

Kartu dari Ostraliah & Jerman

Barusan ngecek email... eh dapat kiriman kartu dari Ostraliah... dari Keluarga Nugraha (Astri) .
Makasih ya dik.... karena sudah mengingat hari ulang taonku....

Ini kiriman kartunya:
http://www.123greetings.com/view/CS90705164109848

Dapet kiriman kartu lagi dari temen lama dulu di Surabaya, Yap Kok Liang, yang sekarang udah jadi wong Germany... (sayang kemarin Germany kalah dari Italy...lha kok??!!!). Nuwun.
http://www.123greetings.com/view/AU40705002921177

Juga untuk Agnes, JKO, Shirley, Lidya, cik Hong yang udah ngirimin ucapan dan doa, terima kasih banyak deh. Semoga Tuhan yang membalas, amen.

Nggak ada hadiah .. nggak ada pesta.... tapi aku tetap bahagia, karena masih ada yang mengingat hari ulang taonku, berarti masih mengingat diriku ini....

Terimakasih Tuhan, atas semua berkat dan karuniaMu. Amen... Amen...

Sydney, 24-27 June 2006

Saturday, 24 June 2006.

Early in the morning (about 5.30 am), Allan sent us to airport to fly to Sydney to visit my cousins, Cosy&Marlina. We booked Virgin Blue flight at 6.45 am. When I tried to do self-check-in, the machine told us that our flight were cancelled due to heavy fogging at Sydney's airport. We so dissapointed and just followed the queue to get the next available flight. Thank God, that when the people in front of us on queue only left about 4-5 pax, the Virbin Blue staff announced that the next available flight is at 07.15 ... hoorrayy.... we still get the space to go eventhough the departure was delayed up to 08.00.... I quickly informed Cosy that we would arrive in Sydney airport at about 09.00.... The flight were smooth and we arrived safely and on time.



From airport Cosy & Marlina brought us back to their apartment at Wiley Park, about half an hour drive. Just put our luggage, we went out for brunch.... breakfast and lunch. They brought us to Sydney Fish Market to have fresh seafoods there. The environment and weather were very nice. The food also nice. . .

We ordered seafood platter (for 4 persons) and lobster.... for A$92.00. Look at the portion served... eventhough we were hungry, in the end we still could not finish all... In Australia is very common that we bring back the left over foods... as the price is very expensive, so better don't waste the foods.

From Fish market, we went to the Rock, is the birht place of Sydney, and take a walk to Circular Bay, where we can enjoy and admire the famous landmarks of Sydney: Opera House and Sydney Bridge.



Many street performances along the Circular Bay to entertaint the visitors.




We took ferry to go to Manly Beach (Northern Beach of Sydney) for about 1/2 hour journey. The wind were very shy to disturb the good weather, so we can enjoy the trip. On Sunday, 24 June 2006, Nicole Kidman and Urban were married in one of the chapel at Manly Beach. Click here to read the story of The Wedding of Kidman-Urban .

We just took a scroll down to the beach. Many people were playing in the beach and surfed.

From Manly Beach, we went to LUNA PARK and enjoyed the evening sight of the Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge. Luna Park is an entertainment place with many rides and games inside. The entrance fee is free, but for the ride you have to pay.

We had Vietnamese food for dinner... Beef noodle and broken rice combination (what's a name).

Sunday, 25 June 2006

Morning we are going to the church meeting.

After finished lunch (together with the saints), we went to Fox Studio. There is a mini bazaar with many varieties of foods, crafts, handicraft lesson, performance, etc. I did joint their Candle Making classes (FOC -- free) and the result can be brought back.

Then we went to Bondi Beach... another famous beach in Sydney. Many people surfing and also a group of people played skate board in a big hole (??)

We tried Mars Bar Fried with batter... quite nice, especially when you eat it with coffee no sugar, because the Mars Bar itself already very sweet.

From Bondi, we went to Darling Harbour. Cosy had to work, so only 3 of us. From Darling Harbour, we walked to Chinatown to have our dinner there... This time Marlina and I ate Korean Food and Bagio tried the Indonesian Food...

Actually from here we could straight gone home by train (because Cosy drove the car to work), after we bought the tickets and while were waiting for the train to arrive, Marlina just remembered that the house key was inside the car... so we changed the direction, we went to Cosy's office and waiting for him to finish his work then went back together...

Monday, 26 June 2006

I booked the hald-day tour to watch the Whale..... the biggest creation in the sea....We booked aftertoon tour, started at 13.15 (1.15 pm), so we left the house a bit later. While waiting for my camera'a battery to be charged, we watched Jewel of the Palace, as when I left Singapore, the series were going to finish and I missed the last 4 episodes.

The cost of 4 hours tour is AUD85.00 per person. Departure from Darling Harbour Wharf 8. The more information can be obtained from http://www.atstravel.com.au. If you not insisted to go on this tour on that day, during weekdays, you can take a walk along the Darling Harbour, near Sydney Aquarium, and ask the available tour and the price can be cheaper (I saw one tour agent only offer A$60.00 -- but I could not cancelled our booking already).

The journey started very nice and we were sitting at the upper deck. The weather was nice and clear. Again, we passed by the Sydney Harbour and Opera House. We also passed by the Bondi beach and saw the rainbow in a far..

After passed Bondi Beach area, the wind started to blow quite strong and the wave was getting bigger..... Oooppssss.... my stomach could not take it and after that could not enjoy the whole journey already. Only when the other passengers or the tour operator told us where the Whale is appear, then I quickly stood up and take a peep of the whale. I could not see it clearly [*shhhs... what a waste*]. Also no photo taken to show it to you.... the whale photos here were taken from their website .. sorry ..

So... my advise, if you would like to take this tour, will be better if you take the motion sickness pill in advance to avoid the uncomfortable feeling throughout the journey. Don't go with full stomach and bring enough warm clothing (water proof is better). Also bring your 'waterproof' camera just in case the sea water splashed ....

On the way back to Wiley Park, we had our gelatissimo ice cream and dinner at the same Vietnamese Restaurant with the same food to order.... [*I really enjoyed the Vietnamese Food in Australia... very nice leh!*].

After shower, we joint the young people gathering at Cosy/Marlina's house.

Such a long day.... take a rest earlier for the morning flight to Gold Coast next day.

More photos??? Click here: Sydney Photos

Melbourne City, 23 June 2006

Bagio arrived safely at Turramarine airport from Singapore in the morning.
Around late morning, we went to Melbourne down town by train [*I will write more about the train system in Victoria on the next posting*] to meet up with our ex-colleague back in Singapore, uncle George Neo.
We went out for lunch at Chinatown area for Chinese Food (Spicy Noodle). Uncle George came with his wife [aunt Pauline], daughter-in-law [Yeen Fong] and grand daughter [Erika]. After lunch, we went to visit their house at Brighton suburb.

From uncle George's house, we went back to Melbourne city, and take a walk toward Botanic Garden from Flinder Station. Along the road, we enjoyed St. Paul church, Federation Square, Yarra River, Art Tower, Queen Victoria Garden, Shrine of Remembrance, and some others statues and late autumn leaves and trees....

We had dinner with Allan and May, at Kuni's Japanese Restaurant at Chinatown. This photo is taken at the gate of Melbourne's Chinatown before dinner.

The weather that nite was about 10C.