 |
| Sugarloaf Rock - where's the edible part? |
 |
| The grass, the water and the grey sky |
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse is one of the lighthouse which allowed one to climb up with a fee. Up till now, I have yet have the chance to climb up a lighthouse :(
Side note: Looks like I am forced to put the picture in the middle. Bleh.
There's a souvenir shop inside this little building, at the start of the jetty.
My baby niece skipped her newly started swimming lesson, my sis and bro in law postponed their usual morning grocery in Subiaco market and I missed my usual Saturday jog. We made our way, together with mom down south in Western Australia. After a brief stop in Mandurah and Bunbury, the next pit stop was Busselton.
I was at Busselton Jetty a few years ago, for a short 10 minutes as part of a day trip tour to Margaret River. This time around, it was a little longer. Busselton Jetty is said to be the longest timber-piled jetty in the Southern Hemisphere. It stretched 1.8 kilometres across Geographe Bay. You can spend a little more cash and take a train ride, or walk to the end. You will be rewarded with entrance (if you have paid for the ticket) to the Underwater Observatory at the end of your walk, if you are lucky. I said, if you are lucky, because it was closed the day we were there. LOL, speaking of timing.
Entrance up till the souvenir shop is free of charge. To access the remaining of the bridge, one has to pay $2.50 per person.
Side note: I'm tired of being tired :(
My niece refered to this as “会长大的石头”, literally translated as stones that can grow up. They aren't exactly grow up but thrombolites, or rather 'living rock's are a form of microbialites, which are rock-like structures built by micro-organisms. One of the few places in the world where thrombolites grow is at Lake Clifton in Western Australia, approximately 3 hours drive south from Perth.
At the entrance, there were two walks to lead to the thrombolites - Thrombolites boardwalk or Lakeside Loop Trail. Difference being that the former was 600m return, while the latter 5km return. No prize in guessing to which we took.
It was fairly quiet on the day we visited. Not too sure if it was due to the winter season or merely because we were the only visitors at that time.
The thing to see was obviously the thrombolites, but Lake Clifton itself were beautiful and serene. The quietness obviously add to the beauty.
Side note: 端午节快乐 ^_^
 |
There was suppose to be some image of someone sleeping on the roof of the Opera House, just not in this pic that I took.
|
I'll confess. This is an overdue post, I actually went to see those lights on the first day of the event and the event went on for slightly over 2 weeks... the event has ended on 11th June 2012. My apologies.
Vivid Sydney is an annual event (so, there's always next year... just saying) where a few spots in Sydney, usually the Circular Quay area - is transformed into a canvas of lights, music and ideas after the sun has set.
It was not just the buildings, there were some 'stations' set up along the walk up to the Opera House. There were heaps of people posing with the lights.
One of the two buildings with lights shows was the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art).
... and the other was the Custom House...^_^
Side note: Of late, blogger is such a nuisance to format.. bleh.
It's hard not to notice the Opera House in Sydney
Initially had the intention of doing a whole day walk, something like seeing Sydney City in a day or something. By the time I reached Pitt St Mall, I canned the idea, got some grocery and hopped on the train home. :P
Comparing to KL, Sydney is a much more walkable city... much, much more, just put on a comfortable shoes and you are good to go, though I've seen many ladies walking across the bridge in high heels, a very impressive feat, in my opinion.
The other side... the side opposite the Opera House
The Harbour Bridge is my usual running trek..and to set the record straight, everybody who runs, zip pass me. I must be the slowest in a slow pack, if there is any.
This is what you see if you walk towards the City
I find it interesting to see a church in the midst of the tall buildings, all trying to get the best water view.
Anyway, there are a few "exits" from the bridge, going to The Rocks, Circular Quay, Opera House. I took the one going down the staircase, heading towards The Rocks. There's usually a ice cream van to greet you once you reach the end of the staircase. Diagonally from the staircase, you'll see the Australian Heritage Hotel. 
If you are looking for Kangaroo Meat Pizza, this is the place you can find them.
If you walk along the road, it will eventually bring you to George Street, the main street. I usually cross the road, and take the road where the hotel is on my right hand side. A short walk will bring you to Susannah Place Museum.
At Susannah Place Museum, turn left and go down the staircase. If you turn left, you'll find yourself at The Rock's market, held every weekend. If you take the right turn and walk straight on, you'll be heading towards George Street. I took the right turn but instead of walking down the street, I walked towards the Circular Quay :)
The artist is an Italian, but this picture is really taken in Sydney oh...
Across from Circular Quay, is this beautiful building - Customs House. On/off there are some exhibitions held here, there's also a library in this heritage building. I remembered looking at some Japanese books in the library there.
When I go for leisure walks, I try to take different roads, so I can see different things. The a lot of the roads in Sydney are parellel to one another up to a certain area, example Pitt Street and George Street. I turn right at Philip Street, which is parellel to George Street. At the corner of Philip and Albert Street, stood the Justice & Polic Museum.
Nah, never been into this one either...
One street east from Philip Street, lies Macquarie Street where you can find the Parliament House, State Library and Sydney Hospital.
State Library of NSW
Guess where I see this fountain?
By this time, I reckon it is time to reward myself with a dark chocolate mocha from Lindt (at Martin's Place)
Not the cheapest coffee but I like the dark chocolate mocha from Lindt, can't have it often.. only once in a while. Somehow the one I had yesterday doesn't seem to match the taste I had locked in memory.. maybe just one of those days.. shrug..
If you haven't give up walking, a short stroll to Hyde Park to take some photos of Archibald Fountain and St Mary's Cathedral.
Giant chess set
Side note: Kirribilli Markets today!
I know this is not a lot, especially since a lot of people do bring their own food to work... but I don't really do takeaway coffee (despite I drink a lot), I don't shop a lot either. So I've decided that I'll give up takeaway lunch for the month of May.
This is a shameless plug (though not a lot of people read my blog anyway) to sponsor me on giving up takeaway lunch. The money I saved, I will donate it to the Australian Red Cross. :)
Donations of over $2 are tax deductible (not sure if this applies to outside Australia though).
Thank you. :)
Side note: I got this new hypothesis where I think May and June must the two months when most people goes on holidays.