Photo Moment: Taronga Zoo
July 9, 2009
photo credit: Declan Prendiville Photography
FP: Sydney Central – William St.
June 15, 2009
Darlinghurst is an excellent, central Sydney location with plenty of excitement. This property is on William Street, with the nightlife of Kings Cross, the cafes of Darlinghurst, and the five minute walk to the CBD within easy reach at all times. The apartment features two bedrooms that can make for a great home for you and your friends!
Features:
Two bedrooms
One bathroom
Centrally located
Polished floorboards
Apartment Includes:
Full Lounge Room Fitout
Full Kitchen Fitout
TV/DVDorVCR
Laundry Facilities
Views
Bus access to Bondi Junction
Bus Access to City
Walk to Central Station
Rooms Include:
TV
DVD/VCR
Lounge Set
Chairs
Coffee Table
Commercial Quality King Bed
2 Commercial Quality King Single Beds
Pine Wardrobes
Pine Drawers
Events for June: Vivid Sydney
June 5, 2009
Vivid Sydney is currently underway, but still has plenty to offer over the next week. Be sure to check out some of the amazing events being offered:
Lighting the Sails: See some colorful art displayed on the sails of the Opera House. From Now until June 14th
Reggie Watts: See what Reggie can do with a loop machine and his voice. June 7th, June 9th – June 10th
Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry: See a concert of ‘Live Dub’. June 11th
Light Walk: Take a walk to see some light art sculptures. From now until June 14th
Fire Water: See a recreation of the 1814 event where a ship burst into flames on the harbour. June 12th – June 14th
These are just a few of what Vivid Sydney has to offer. If you want to see more, take a look at the website at http://vividsydney.com .
Activities for a Rainy Day
May 31, 2009
Since we are no longer in wonderful, sunny summer in the southern hemisphere, the weather is starting to make finding activities a bit more on a limited scale. Rain seems to be falling a little bit every other day making those outdoor events a thing of the past. In light of this, finding some fun shouldn’t be too difficult, and I decided to help out by making a list of indoor activities good for any season!
photo credit: smoodysarah
Galleries and Museums: I know this isn’t tops on everybody’s list, but there are some great galleries/museums around that should be checked out. And, better yet, you can get by without spending much money in the process.
- Art Gallery of New South Wales
- Australian National Maritime Museum
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- The Powerhouse Museum
Bowling: Bowling is not cheap around these parts, but if you know when to go, you can get a decent deal and have a great time. Any AMF Bowling center offers $8 games on Thursdays. I have also been finding some coupons for AMF Bowling on the backs of my Cole’s receipts, so make sure you check ‘em before you chuck ‘em.
Movies: Yet again, movies are not the cheapest thing to do around Sydney, especially if you consider the price of adding on a soft drink and popcorn. However, I have heard recently about a restaurant and movie theater in Darlinghurst called Govinda’s where you can eat a buffet dinner and then proceed to watch a movie while lying down on couches! There is a dinner and movie package, or just make your way to the movie alone, and it doesn’t seem too pricey for Sydney.
Coffee: Cafes are a dime a dozen around Sydney, so why not grab a nice book and a nice cup and sit down for a while when the rain is falling?
And there you have just a few activities to keep you occupied on some rainy days. If you have any other tidbits, please leave us a comment and let us know where to go!
Find a Job or a Place First?
May 15, 2009
So, this post goes out to all the Working Holiday Visa-ers who have found their way to the Sydney area. It was definitely a concern of mine upon arrival, so I’m sure you’ve had to think about it as well. What is the best route to take after arriving – find a job, or a place, first?
photo credit: SOCIALisBETTER
The decision was a difficult one for me to make, even after weighing all the options. If I decided to find a job first, I would then be able to find a place closer to it and have a better idea of the budget I was working with. This could mean the difference between living in a dive, or living in comfort during my time in Sydney. It could also spare the cost of certain travel expenses in the future.
On the other hand, I found it was just too difficult to look for a job while living in a hostel. There’s a certain amount of preparation that goes into getting interviews, as well as looking the part, and living out of a backpack was just not cutting it. Just finding a quiet place to talk on the phone to potential employers was difficult, not to mention the fact that internet use was limited. Some nights, I didn’t quite get the sleep I was in dire need of because of the sounds from my other roommates. Also, getting ready for the interview itself seemed to take me twice as long as it would otherwise.
Because the stress of needing to find a job was breathing down my neck, I cracked one Sunday and decided that I needed to find a place first so that all efforts could be focused towards the job. I hurriedly made appointments to view whatever I could for the cheapest I could. But, what did I know? I barely knew the area, or the market.
I ended up taking something that day, and later regretted the decision immensely. I won’t get into the details just yet, but I’m sure they will come up in future posts. Overall, I do think getting my own place first was the way to go because my ability to look for jobs was significantly improved, but really it should have been done in another way.
What do you guys think? Find a place, or a job, first? Take our poll below, or share your own experiences by leaving a comment.
Meat Pies! Get Your Meat Pies!
May 11, 2009
Being from America where they don’t really exist, I always found myself being quite confused when traveling and meeting Aussies pining away for their beloved meat pies. I was always left wondering just what the heck they were talking about.
Finally, after my arrival down under I can understand what all those Aussie backpackers were craving and raving about. Meet the meat pie (taken with my phone camera):
The picture is obviously not doing it justice. This meat pie was in fact 10 times tastier than it looks above, and I immediately felt like I could relate to those many comments from months before. I became a huge fan, and now, in my mind, the meat pie is like the ultimate food item – versatile, cheap, tasty, and diverse. Here’s why:
1 – The meat pie is versatile. If you’re wanting a snack, or a full meal, the meat pie is up for the challenge. Meat pies are handy, meaning you can grab one and eat it on the go. Better yet, eating them without utensils is easier than thought because the gravy-like filling has a surprisingly thick consistency maintaining order and shape during the eating process.
If looking for more than a simple snack, add some mash to your order and it becomes closer to a full-sized meal.
2 – Meat pies are cheap. My delicious meat pie from Harry’s Cafe de Wheels cost me around $3.50, and around $4.50 when I added some mash. Other places may sell them for cheaper. Are you traveling on a budget and looking for ways to save a buck? Make sure you grab a meat pie for lunch!
3 – Meat pies are tasty. Did I not mention that already? In case I didn’t make it clear enough, meat pies are quite tasty all the way from its crispy pie crust to its juicy filling.
4 – Meat pies are diverse. Not only can you use them for a snack or a meal, but they also come in a wide range of flavors. Beef, veggie, and curry are all tastes to choose from so there’s never a dull moment. And definitely don’t miss The Tiger!
If meat pies are new to you, too, I suggest you try one of your own. If around Sydney City, there’s a Harry’s over on Haymarket where you can snag some pie goodness. Be sure to check their website as they actually have many locations around the area. If you do stop by, let us all know what you got and how good it was!
