Australia Day 2007

Happy Australia Day!

Today is Australia Day, and Ying and I decided to spend the day in the city doing the Australia day usuals.

We caught the ferry at 10.15am and headed into town. The ticket queue for Manly ferry was very busy and we almost missed getting on it, the gates literally came down on our heels. Tourist Tip: On public holidays and weekends - get to the ferry early to get your tickets!!

We walked up Macquarie Street and enjoyed looking at the old cars as part of the annual NRMA Motorfest. The thing that worried me was that I saw a Ford Cortina there, just the same as one that I used to own - how can that be vintage - am I getting old?
We then went and sat in the edge of the botanical gardens on our picnic blanket and enjoyed the fresh air and the people going past. Whilst there I put an Australian flag tattoo on Ying's arm:


I had a tattoo put on my neck by Ying - but the goose put it on upside down:
After removing that one and applying a new tattoo, we had a wander around the botanical gardens then headed into Hyde Park where all the action is. For the first time Triple J were broadcasting the hottest 100 as part of the official Australi Day celebration. They had a big screen set up and the DJs doing a live broadcast.

We had some lunch there in Hyde Park - yummy Turkish Gozleme - sat in the shade under one of the beautiful Moreton Bay Fig trees.

After lunch we took a look around the old mint which is now home to the Historic Houses Trust. It is a beuatiful old building and they have done an extrodinary job with the rennovation and integration of the old and new - its really beautiful.

We then headed down to the Rocks and watched some live music, including a really cool human beat box dude. We then went down and sat on the grass by the harbour and watched the boats moving on the choppy harbour. After a few hours in the sun we wandered back through the Rocks and started to watch a street performer. She turned out to be a contorsionist!

After standing watching for a couple of minutes, I got dragged up to help her! She was going to squeeze into a 16" perspex box. I had to hold it securely so it didn't tip over as she got in. Believe it or not she bent herself into some bizarre ways and squeezed in - very impressive.

After that we hoped on the ferry and came back home.

Another fun Australia Day!

A Drive to Hunter Valley

We took a drive to Hunter Valley last weekend. There we had a great time in Maitland one of Australia’s most historic colonial towns.

Festival of Sydney Funnies

One of the great things about living in Sydney is the annual Festival of Sydney. This year since we are back in Sydney we are keen to go to some events (there are many free and many paid events). One show that Ying wanted to see was La Clique, on the website it said that it was sold out but to ring up and check.
So I rang up the booking hotline and the polite guy asked how he could help me - I told him that I wanted to see if there were any tickets to La Clique left. He asked my name, and thinking that was so he could make the booking and do the credit card transaction, I gave him my legal name - Stewart. He then proceeded to say "Sorry Stewart, all the tickets are sold out!".
So he wanted to get my name just so that he could be polite intelling me that I can't get what I wanted!

Huskisson Camping Trip

A couple of weeks ago we went camping at Huskisson - a place down the South in Shoalhaven area - three hours drive from Sydney. There we found the whitest beach in the world - Hyams Beach. I am always obssessed with white sand beaches - when I booked the camping site, I didn't even know the world's whitest beach is there! I have to say: Like energy attracts like energy.

Apart from playing badminton, swimming, surfing, sunbathing, watching sunset, listening to birds' singing, we sat there all night watching a gang of possums robbing us of our bread and capsicum. After no food was left, they started to lick our dinner plates and frying pan! As small as they are, they can eat six times of food that I can.

Manly From My Window

Another Pair of Flying Visitors

We had another flying couple visiting us right at the minute I was writing about the Rainbow Lorikeets couple - what a coincidence.

I was actually trying to download the Rainbow Lorikeets images I took this morning when a Cockatoo landed where the Lorikeets couple snacked this morning. One second later, another Cockatoo joined the first one - another pair of lovers.

They both looked into the window inquisitively like investigators on duty. They didn't look shy or show any sign of fear at all.

Cockatoos can live up to 60 years and also mate for life;I"m wondering if that visiting couple is newly wed or grandma and grandpa.

Our Flying Visitors Dropped By This Morning

That Rainbow Lorikeets couple came back to visit this morning - well, I'm not exactly sure if they are the same pair as last time, but they seemed to know that food is available here on our window sill.

Curious and expecting, they looked into the window. So I opened the window and handed them some sun flower seeds and sultana. They happily enjoyed the snacks.

Next some amazing thing happened: they began to kiss each other - French kisses. They must have counted "1, 2, 3 start" in their own language because they turned to each other simultaneously and stick each other's tougue into the partner's mouth at the same time. (Maybe there is a more practical reason t: they were sharing food.)

I realized these Lorikeets couple are just like human couples - helping and supporting each other.

When they were resting on the window after the kissing, another pair of Rainbow Lorikeets flew towards the window. Suddenly I could hear warning and cursing noises - the original couple was flapping their wings trying to scare the other couple away, defending their exclusive food territory. The female (I guess) intruder left after a few rounds, standing on neighbor's window watching the battle whilst the male intruder was very persistant, constantly teasing the defedant couple.

I was so amused that I forgot feeding any of them. So after a while the original couple realized that they were fighting for nothing, they suddenly took off. Now the intruder couple were left to enjoy the whole territory. They picked some leftover seeds from the window sill but turned away from the sultana I handed over - they obviously have different taste from their cousins.

I know that King Parrots mate for life, but I'm not sure if Rainbow Lorikeets are the same. They do live in pairs though.

Proof That Our Kids Will Be Good Looking

In this (several years old) article, a professor at UCLA concluded that biracial people are `percieved' to be more attractive than uniracial people.

Its all based on the struggle of the enzymes produced by genes as they compete to dominate. Anyway, it all adds up to the fact that our kids will be more attractive than average, looking at Ying I would already guess that anyway.

Flying Visitors

One of the great things about living in Manly is the fact that we are surrounded by nature. Compared to our time in Shanghai, we feel that we are really again part of the wonderful and beautiful natural world.

This afternoon while sitting looking out the window, a pair of Rainbow Lorikeets flew up and landed on the window sill and started looking in the window. They were very curious about what was going on inside. We just happedned to have a packet of trail mix on the desk, so I stuck my hand out the window and hand fed them some sultanas. Ying then had a go and had them eating off her dainty little fingers.

They are a beautiful bird, and showed absolutely no sign of fear as I opened the window and stuck my hand out towards them.

We love Manly!

PEOPLE COME INTO YOUR LIFE FOR A REASON

A friend sent me this article. It is an interesting read:

People come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime.

When you know which one it is, you will know what to do for that person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a 

need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a 

difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you 

physically, emotionally or spiritually.

They may seem like a godsend and they are.

They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrongdoing on your part or at an inconvenient time, 

this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an 

end.

Sometimes they die.

Sometimes they walk away.

Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire 

fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been 

answered and now it is time to move on.

Some people come into your life for a SEASON, because your turn has 

come to share, grow or learn. They bring you an experience of peace 

or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done.

They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy.

Believe it,it is real.

But only for a season!

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons, things you must 

build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job 

is to accept the lesson, love the person and put what you have learned 

to use in all other relationships and areas of your life.

It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Thank you for being a part of my life, whether you were a reason, a 

season or a lifetime.