Western Plains Zoo (Taronga)

Taronga Zoo has a branch in Dubbo which is a safari style drive through around the zoo. You can also rent bikes to look around. The animals are sectioned by continent, some you can have animal contact, and most are fully restricted.

We had too many pictures so I'll just show a few of them that I like. The zoo had animals ranging from kangaroos, emus, tigers, water buffalos, giraffes, zebras, tortoise, koalas, monkeys, elephants, cheetahs, dingos, and a lot more. I recommend checking out this place - not a typical zoo but a safari style zoo.

Dubbo Observatory

This is exactly what we saw at the Dubbo Observatory - I thought they had glued a picture of Saturn on the telescope.

And of course, we had a look at the moon and Alpha Centauri, the closest star to our Solar System.

Wellington Caves

The largest stalagmite found in the Southern Hemisphere is located at the Wellington Caves.

Next to these caves we went to was a phosphate mine. I didn't know phosphate was made out of bat poo!

Ready Steady Cook

I was able to get tickets for a TV show on Channel 10...a cooking competition show, similar to the Iron Chef. My first time being in a studio audience (we almost got into the David Letterman show in New York one time).

We were at the audience for about 3hrs for a 30min show to be aired like 6 months later. The double takes and bloopers are what made it take that long. And the audience participation with the applause, oohs and ahhhs when they zoom in on a food. It was soo funny! Anyway, if you get a chance in your hometowns to be part of a studio audience, its an interesting behind-the-scenes experience. Try it!

Meteorite Crater

Do you see that mountain range behind us? That's actually a meteorite crater. Where we are used to be flat. Where we're standing is on top of a hill (among lots of hills) that was formed from that hit.

And without those glasses, that's Doogie Howser on the right (with the red T shirt)

Kings Canyon

I was more impressed with Kings Canyon than Uluru and Kata Tjuta. Its so grand...like the Grand Canyon in Arizona (not that I've been there). We did a 3hr, 6km walk, climb, and walk some more all around Kings Canyon under a heat of about 30 degrees!!! Whew!!!

They say the Grand Canyon is not really a canyon. Its a gorge. The difference between a canyon and a gorge is this: 1) a canyon starts off with a crack and widens for water to flow through; 2) a gorge starts of with water flowing then widens the gap. Kings canyon started off with a crack while the Grand Canyon had water first. So it should have been called the "Grand Gorge."

During our 3hr drive back to Alice Springs on dirt road, it actually rained a bit, which is pretty unusual. We had rainbows along the way. Wild horses, kangaroos, and donkeys. Then we stopped over at this little town where they sell the best coffee in Australia (what a marketing ploy by our tour guide. I bet she gets a free drink out of this place every time she brings her group). I tried it anyway. It taste just like any other coffee.

Ayers Rock

Sunset

It took us approximately 4hrs to drive from Alice Springs to the town of Yulara to see the most famous of them all. The huge monolith, centered in Australia, that is Uluru!

Uluru was turned over to the aboriginals back in 1985 with the Australian government leasing the place for 99 years. As it is with the Olgas, this place remains sacred to the aboriginals. Through our walk around this one piece of rock, we see aboriginal camps, waterholes, and paintings. It is advised not to climb up the rock. Although if you'd like to, you better get there before 8am. After 8am and when temperatures are predicted to go up to 36 degrees, they close it down for climbers.

Some stories say that if you take a piece of the rock, weird things suddenly happen to you. So some people have actually couriered what they have stolen back to Uluru. Beware!

This place was unbelievable! One huge rock in the middle of the continent. Amazing!

Sunrise!

Kata Tjuta (the Olgas)

I remember we had a competition at work and one of the groups called themselves, "Kata Tjutas", and here I am seeing this place.

Compared to Uluru, the Olgas is a bunch of massive rocks (actually, composed of rocks and pebbles), higher than Uluru, but similarly formed from tectonic plates pushing the ground up. It is still a sacred place to the aboriginals (they still come to this place to perform rituals) and so they advice people not to climb it (how would you feel if other people start climbing your church???).

The temperature must have been in the 30 or 40 degrees. One of the girls in our group didn't even walk with us and by the time we got to our campgrounds that night, she had to be brought to the hospital...for dehydration. The tour guide recommends bringing at least 1.2 liters of water to the walk. Otherwise, they won't let you go.

Camel Farm

Did you know that Australia has about 1 million camels? Even middle eastern countries import camels from Australia. John Stuart (in which the Stuart Highway was named after), used camels to carry his things while he explored Australia. Camels can last about 3 weeks without water and if you've been to the outback, you'll know why camels would last better than horses.

From Alice Springs to Uluru, we passed by a camel farm. I've never tried riding on a camel so for $5 bucks, I went around the track. At the farm, they also sell camel burgers. I wanted to try it but I was already too full that morning.

How's this concept - what if I buy a camel burger and feed it to the camel???

And the hump? That's all fat!!!

Alice Springs

My first impression of Alice Springs was this: small town consisting of hotels, motels, tents, campgrounds, and swimming pools. Wrong!
Alice Springs is situated in the middle of the continent in the Northern Territory. Population: 30,000. This place is pretty much a stopping point for tourists heading to Uluru, Kata Tjuta, and Kings Canyon. But they do have a few sites to see which I checked out during my 2 day stopover.

1. Mbantua Gallery and Museum - exhibits paintings (prices ranging from $3,000 to $14,000 AUD) by the aboriginals mostly from the north (a place called Utopia). I was amazed at how many aboriginals from that place were so talented. Painting must be a part of their culture. One of the most famous artists is Albert Namatjira.

2. Anzac Hill - the only hill you can climb up in Alice Springs. All others are sacred. You can see a view of Alice Springs from the top point.

3. Todd Mall - I didn't think they would have a mall!!! Lots of shops and restaurants.

4. Reptile Museum - you wanna see some fossils, Terry, the crocodile, live snakes, lizards

I recommend going to Alice Springs from April to August. It was probably 36 degrees when I was there. The heat was just a turn off!!!

Toilet Seat Covers

I was a bit disappointed when I came here to Australia and found that public toilets do not include the toilet seat paper covers...I mean, not even in five star hotels!!!

The first time I saw one was actually on the plane...c/o Virgin Blue Airlines. Thank you, Richard!

And today, I was at the Westin Hotel and had to use their restroom. I was surprised when I went inside the stall and found it fully equipped with toilet paper seat covers.

Now I know where to use public toilets when I'm in the city. Shh, don't share it to anyone!!!

Harbour Bridge Pylons

Two days after I climbed the Harbour Bridge, I went for more and climbed up the bridge's Pylons. Boy were my baby cows (my calves) were hurting after that.

The Pylons of the bridge were not part of the original design. They serve no structural purpose. They are just there for aesthetics and they don't even touch the bridge except at road level.

Bridge Climb

I'm on top of the Harbour Bridge! Whew!

Peruvian Restaurant

I went to the best Peruvian restaurant (ever!!!) that I'd like to share with everyone...and please try the place. This place was recommended by a Peruvian so it must be really good.


If you're a meat lover, you'd love this place.

La Parrillada
470 Parramatta Rd
Petersham, Australia
02-9560-0943

Enjoy!!!

Mardi Gras Parade

The Mardi Gras Parade is one of the most celebrated Gay and Lesbian events in Australia. As you may already know, San Francisco is the #1 gay capital in the world and Sydney comes in as #2. And so there is no doubt that this would be such a big event that even its "sister-city", San Francisco, had a float represented from Castro.

It was crazy as expected!!! Here's just a few pictures to share

Spanish Class

Que pasa, muchachos? Estoy aprendiendo Espanol. Yo hablo ingles y tagalog muy bien pero hablo espanol un poco.

Me llamo Celestine. Yo soy Filipina. Yo soy de La Union. La Union es una ciudad de Filipinas. O yo soy de San Francisco de Estados Unidos. O yo soy de Sydney de Australia. Bien bien! Hehe!

Los estudiantes en mi clase son Tim de Nueva Zealandria, Joyce de China, Kelly de Inglatera, Monique de Australia y Alex de Frances. Nuestro profesor es Maria Paula de Colombia.

Que pasada!!!

I remember taking Spanish class when I was a freshman in high school. On our last day of class, our teacher asked us to write a letter to ourselves and he would mail it out in a few years. I got the letter a few years later and I was amazed how good my spanish was at the time. So I want to continue my spanish. Below is a podcast you can listen to for free.

Free Spanish podcast: http://www.notesinspanish.com/

Balls Head Reserve

I went to a wedding at Balls Head Reserve over in the North Shore overlooking the Sydney Skyline. The bride and groom stood on top of this huge rock during the ceremony. After it was over, I asked the bride and groom individually why they chose this place. And both said this: before they were even going out, he or she would come to this place, on this rock, on their own, to pray to God. And they didn't know that long after they've been going out. What a perfect place to get married. That is fate!

Fat Tuesday Party!

Have you been to a Fat Tuesday Party? Fat Tuesday (which is also Mardi Gras) is the day before Ash Wednesday, the start of Lent. During Lent, you are supposed to fast or sacrifice something you really like for 40 days and 40 nights.

We invited a few people to come to the house and eat up on Fat Tuesday (hence, the name 'fat'). We had so much leftover from a party during the weekend that we had to get rid of most of them. Hey, eat lots now. Otherwise, you'll have to wait for 40 days! Thank goodness my birthday is before Lent.

January 28

I now share my birthday with two other friends - Victoria and Patricia. What's the probability of that?

My friends took me to Newport Beach on my birthday, which happens to be Australia Day (and we all had a day off)! It was supposed to be just four people going and it ended up 11 people showed up. Thanks, guys! Lunch at Newport Arms Hotel and swimming at Palm Beach - and I did get on the water...for like 15 min =) and I got dark! Need more whitening cream - can I have that for my birthday gift?

After Palm Beach, we went to visit one of our friend's elderly friend (we call her Lola Fey). Its so nice to see an elderly woman with that big smile when she sees five young kids (that's us, by the way) give her all the attention. I bet the other elderly residents were so jealous coz they probably don't get visits from kids like us. And that's what these old people like - to have someone talking and listening to them and give them the time of their day. And to do this on my birthday is a plus for me.

After the visit, we got so hungry we ended up at Dee Why beach. It was like a mini Manly beach to me with the palm trees and the boardwalk. Gosh, they have so many beaches here! If it wasn't a "school" night, we probably have gone swimming but its been a long day!!!!!!!

Til next year! (Will I still be here in Sydney for my next birthday??? I think so! Maybe not in Sydney but hoping to be in Melbourne for the Australian Tennis Open. That's the plan.)

Five Ways, Paddington

One night, my friend and I got lost driving around the city and ended up on this corner where five streets meet (just like the Trevi). It was a cute little area lit up by shops and restaurants around. I thought I'd have to come back here again and check it out! A few months later, another friend of mine asked if I've been to this place, described the place to me, and I remembered this was the spot we drove past by while we were lost.

So we found our way back to Five Ways at Paddington and ate lunch at "Gusto". I ordered this lovely vegetarian couscous. It was so good that we ended up figuring out the recipe, bought the ingredients that same day, and made it for dinner (and my lunch and dinner for the next three days).

Here's the recipe for you. Its an easy one:

Roasted sweet potato
Cherry tomatoes
Spanish onion
Sweet corn
Raisins
Shredded carrots
Shallots
Orange
Celery
Pepito seeds (pumpkin seeds)
Almonds (shredded)
Herbs - cilantro/coriander, parsley, dill
Garlic
Salt & Pepper
Couscous (add olive oil)

Enjoy!!!