Chaopraya at Randwick

We had Thai food at a suburb called Randwick.
Sydney has the most ethnic diversities in the whole of Australia so the city is full of many different types of restaurant choices.
The food was great.

Le chocolat

everything served at Le Chocolat was made of chocolates!
we ordered hot chocolate, chocolate lattes, chocolate mochas and some strawberry tarts and chocolate cookies.
having a hot drink in winter is a bliss.
the temperature was 17C. it was not very cold but when the wind swept it could be pretty chilly

with the gang

Excuse the very unladylike and ungentlemanly eating stance when we were enjoying our meals!
we couldn't sit down on the benches because it had just rained n the seats were wet!hahahaha!

after the heavy breakfast, Keyna n i still had some space for some fresh youghurts from the farmer's market. i had the passionfruit yoghurt and keyna chose the fig youghurt. it was so tasty!

many people were at the wharf enjoying the scenery and great food despite the rain.

later in the afternoon, we went to the Westfield mall at bondi junction. Thursday nite is late nite shopping so we walked for several hours!

Sydney : Fisherman's Wharf

Thanks to Keyna, Belinda, Egbert and Ben for fetching me when i landed at Sydney airport yesterday morning. the flight from Brunei was less than 1/3 full so i managed to occupy the 4 seated middle lane and had a great sleep throughout the 7hr flight.As soon as i met them, these compulsive gamblers made me buy some " scratchies " to try our luck at winning Aus 75000.....no luck there!

1st stop of the day was at Fisherman's Wharf where there was a wide selections of seafood, fresh fruits n veges, breads, cheeses ,wines etc.
everything was so fresh!

the fish market was a wonderful sight ...with the early morning's catch the fishermen brought in.

We shared some cheese lobsters, fried calamaris with tartare sauce, salmon and butter fish sashimi's, seafood fried rice....for breakfast! i was stuffed!

Travelling to Sydney

Above are some pics of Sabah coastline n nearby islands i took as i was flying off to Brunei... where i am on transit now before continuing my trip to Sydney!

I wasn't sure i was able to visit Sydney until yesterday.I had quite alot of trouble getting my visa approved.
Apparently there was another "Fiona Lim " who had previously overstayed in Australia.
so my visa application was upheld....i got a little panicky cos i was due to fly out today.
I decided to take my own action! i rushed up to the visa office to queue for an interview to clear my name....and as i tried to look pitiful and seem polite....when under my breath i was really meaning to say " give me my visa...NOW!"

I love travelling....except the flying bit and waiting long hours at the airport.
the brunei airport must be one of the most boring airports in the SE Asia region.
U would have thought with all it's country's wealth, the government would have built a better airport.

I am really looking forward to Sydney.
It's going to be really cold! i packed lots of wollies.

When i travel, i always have a blast whether i am on my own , or with family n friends.
I think the trick is to not have set itenaries... i just wander everywhere n anywhere and always get pleasantly surprised with the things i discover here, there n everywhere.

I like places with parks, wildlife and beautiful nature.
I don't really like shopping malls ...but i enjoy visiting supermarkets and pharmacies,sports shops n health shops. a little strange you might think !!
this trip i didn't pack my bike to travel with me.
I decided to roam abit more freely as i am staying at YMCA.
in perth last year, i brought my bike along.it was more convenient as i was homestaying with an Aussie family the Ainsworths . and i had Barnaby to whip my ass as he was a very strong cyclist!

I like all things Aussie.... i love the lifestyle ,the different mix of cultures , the beautiful landscapes... i hope i get to live there one day.

photography

my baby brother Dr.Gavin (ok.....not that baby anymore....he just turned 26 on 4th April !) likes to bring his state of the art Cameras with him everywhere.he has a new found hobby in photography.
I admire his black n white photos especially.whilst he was home for the Chinese New Year, i got him to take a few portraits of me...except they weren't nice and i forced him to retake many times over !! Gavin said it was my skin tone , Melvin said wryly, " just smile naturally Fiona!". Grrrrrrr!
Hey Gavin...must be the lousy lens you have!
Both Melv n Gavin hit back ," no Fi....it's your face....n suck in your tummy!"
hahahahaha!
Recently, i developed a small interest in photography as well.
no way like Gavin's super polished skills, but it's a start!
and it can only get better!
so here are some random photos i took : (above)Sunset at 6:24pm .viewed from my parents' house on Shangrila heights.

a little humorous shot of a teddy bear whilst i made a pit stop at Pondok 3 on mt.Kinabalu recently.

my favourite pool : Sutera harbour where i usually swim.

Over the Weekend.....

My triathlete friends from Germany, Ira and Herbert came to visit me over the weekend.
They brought along their 5 yr old son Thomas.
They are now on their way to Hainan to participate in Ironman China this coming weekend!
good luck guys!

They reside in Neumacht, a small town of 45,000 population ,about 150km north of Munich and is only 25km from Roth....the famous town where "Quelle Challenge Roth " is held every July.
The couple has been waterboy n watergirl volunteers at the Roth race many times.
they suggested i should do Quelle Roth and stay at their house.cool!
Herbert and ira had a big chuckle at how i pronounced " Quelle Roth "..... so i had some lessons in German during the weekend :)

Ira was able to fit in a swim n bike ride with me.She was amazed at the number of potholes on the roads.
She said they have good roads in Germany and many forest trails to run in . i am jealous!!
as she had attended many Ironman training camps, i tried to pick her mind on some training ideas.

the books i ordered through the Net finally arrived. I was so excited i didn't know which book to read first.
i decided on Paula's book. i was really busy so i was glad i finally was able to put up my tired feet and started reading on the sun deck at the Sutera pool.

3rd Class Reunion : Class of 58 !

Special Bulletin !

My Dad and his classmates will be celebrating their 3rd class reunion for the coming next 2 weeks!
Class reunion 1958.......50 years anniversary !!!!!!!!!!

i would like to dedicate this to my Dad, my mum ,my dad's classmates and their spouses :

"The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on the porch and swing with ,never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it
was the best conversation you had."

......EXCEPT they are the noisiest and most energetic bunch of "sixtysomethingturningtoseventy " TEENAGERS i have ever met!!
i wonder how their teachers coped with them in high school?
Was Uncle Dixon made to do ear squats in front of the whole class???
Was Dad made to run round the field 10times and write " i will never skip class again" 100 times as punishments???
kekekekeke!...................i think so too!

after finding each other a few years back, the class decided to meet upevery 2 years.
1st time it was reunion in Sabah, 2nd time they went on Star Cruise. this year the class will be celebrating in Shanghai.

i wish them a safe and memorable trip and come home with lots of stories to share with their friends, children and grandchildren.

I find inspiration from my Dad and his friends because they truly live life to the fullest.
As they share with each other a lifetime of friendship,
i leave you with this message :

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best things in life,they just make the most of everything that comes along their way."

silver-leaf monkey

if i were not wrong,these are the silver leaf monkeys.

it was a rare sighting today , as i was cooling down after an easy run at a park.

they are vegetarians and it appeared someone must have left them some legumes to munch!
the infants are orangy colour.when they become adults, the coat color change.
Weird!

Tacx Bike Trainer

it's smooth, fluid and quiet. you may order from Razani at 09-7438366.

trying to fix up the trainer myself.

Santik and Razani at the JJ Sunday market in Bangkok.

some cool CDs i bought.... the lyrics in Thai and i don't understand a word of it but it's still beautiful music.
the bottom two CDS are Thai Reggae!! Santik took me to several music shops before we could get hold of them. apparently. the albums are so hot now they are always sold out !

CKT and CSK bikes

cool looking full carbon bikes and wheels.
if you are looking for these awesome bikes n CKT wheels,
call Razani !