Sydney X'mas eve morning surfing at Bronte

It was bit chilly in the air but a beautiful morning at Bronte beach

early morning.

I don't remember the last time when such a smooth and mellow surf with offshore wind at Bronte.

Actually I felt like I was in Hikkaduwa, except a curry cooking smell, aha!

Dinosaur in Blue mountains, Ehh?!

Dinosaurs are in Mountains.  At the moment the boardwalk taking you to the dinosaur walk is closed due to the damage caused by a storm last week.
Hopefully they open as soon as possible.

But this dinosaur welcomes you at near the front entrance.

KAKADU (Gagudju) NATIONAL PARK Crocks & Aboriginal Art rock

Wurrgeng(Cool  dry season ) is nice to travel around Kakadu,

The early morning was  bit chilly so the the jacket was needed.

The daytime temperature is 32C and dry, means the intake of the water

is a must.

Whistling Ducks and Egret in Mamukala wetland

One third of a whole continent inhabits here in Kakadu, so many

exotic and pretty birds are spotted.

Yellow water cruise

Jumping crocodile

In muddy rivers hundreds of Crocs are hanging around.  At jumping Crocodile
 they feed  blocks of meat to make crocs jumped, personally I am not really into
this kinda thing.  Yellow water cruise takes 2 hours and our guide Ruben kept
talking about the nature, animals and the history of Aborigine ( himself an part Aborigine).  I didn't like some of his jokes but I liked the way to let people know
how the traditional land is import and how they have to protect their right.

Mabuyu

Rainbow serpent 

Ubirr flood plain

Rock Art site at Ubirr shows some significant laws of Aborigines.

Art means teaching, a map, and ceremonial stuff, so artistic masterpiece is not necessary.

party time

Mindil Beach sunset in Darwin

Sign of Spring

The temperature was 1C in Cowra N.S.W. over the weekends.
But forget about how cold in the morning, Ume blossoms started flowering
in Japanese Garden in Cowra, 318Km west of Sydney.

The garden was designed in the style of Edo period.(1603-1868)
Sakura maturi is the major event held in mid September and it is awesome to
see hundreds of Cherry blossoms in the garden.

90% Organic Clean taste food " O'uchi "

Vegetarian Bento

My lunch today, yes already I had in my mind last night, was at O'uchi,

located in Clarence St, Sydney.

The atmosphere is very cozy and welcomed and as the restaurant name shows, I feel like I am at home.

The lunch menu is mostly Ramen or Bento box but has variety.

The dinner menu is so unique so you might be ended up having everything

if you are with friends.

Good meal makes me happy and energised.

The coldest winter surf I remember at Bronte beach

Today the temperature recorded 4.8C at Sydney Airport.
That is the coldest morning I remember since I came to Sydney.
This winter started early in June and we are still in middle of July.
Ohh, I have to be tough ...  usually the coldest winter begins now......

Luckily the sun has been with us .

There are plenty of winter swell around. 

I dream of surfing in swimming cozzies only surfing though!

Soul-stirring trip to Northern Vietnam, Ha Giang

I am living in a world which flooded with so many information, too many tourists and so much of waste .
My soul was asking me to feed something rich in a heart.

I remembered those days when I was travelling as a backpacker long time ago. 

Yes there were no smart phones, e mails, sns.....

I cannot do the same because I already travel with a smart phone, but I strongly wanted to travel

like a backpacker style.  And I have chosen Ha Giang, Vietnam as a destination.


Beautiful, amazing ... and I was speechless........

2 days motorbike tour was unbelievable...... I was like flying .......

8Hours  night train ride from Hanoi

6 hours local bus ride to Ha Giang

Sydney good organic eating house -- O-UCHISYDNEY

When Uchi restaurant located at a back of Oxford St, Sydney several years ago announced its

closure, I was so dissapointed.  The owner mentioned that he would be come back sometime

in the future. 

Then I have forgotten about it.

But a few weeks ago, one of my friend whom I went to Uchi restaurant with, brought me a surprise

that she found the restaurant in CBD.

It is a cozy space and the food didn't betray us at all.   Quality is wow!!

Mussle with wasabi

Dumpling Kale 

Sweet potato fried with QUINOA 

Duck , matcha salt 

Sydney CBD Cakes and Coffee

Black star pastry has been extremely popular for several years.

One branch is located in Kinokuniya Book building near QVB in Sydney CBD.

Cafe is always busy but I was so fancied about Japanese forest cake which features Umeshu Ume
(Japanese plum soaked in a plum sake).

It tasted good, but for me I prefer more moistureness  added to the sponge cake itself.

Friends insisted me that I should have tried Strawberry Watermelon Cake, Ok I will have it soon!!

 A  larger coffee and good taste coffee, no disappointment. 

Also you can have self-serve  still & sparkling water as much as you want, great!

Finding a cozy & good cafe in Sydney ---Yucca cafe

It is great fun to spend a time in cafes if the cafe has a quality.

Yucca (owned by a young Japanese lady) is located in Kings Cross, Sydney though the address shows

as Elizabeth Bay.  the cafe is kind of hidden so protected by street noise so on.

Menu is unique.  My favourite is a handmade Banana bread , big pieced of banana  are kept in a

bread, and not too sweet thus it is really matching with coffee.

But this time I tried a different cake, Maccha strawberry cake for change.

It has a strong taste of maccha,  I like the hand made style  because I feel Yucca's feeling

what she loves for.  Honestly I prefer Banana Bread ,though.

love fish restaurant Barangaroo

This is the third restaurant to dine out at Barangaroo.

But I am not a trendy eat out chaser, I tell you.

It is the newest development place for Sydney's office workers and cafes&restaurants goers.

The vibes around this area is so high and bubbly, that is why I love to come here.

 The third and the first restaurant for 2018 is love fish.

As the restaurant's name shows, they have more fish dishes compare to the other restaurants.



Grilled Snapper is excellent (they cook the fish so perfect)

Two salads are good.

Squid ink fettuccine seafood pasta is ok, average.

School of prawns ..... I thought they made salt measurement mistake ... too salty to damage the

prawn taste.


Oysters.....Never order Oyster here!!!!!  It was so dried up, been in a fridge for a long time.

                 Year Natural oyster but not fresh.


Dining out in love fish wasn't so bad after all. 

The good open air atmosphere and good service are helping a fun dining, I would say.

Bondi Icebergs Pool

The 3rd day of   a New Year was in low 20C and had a scattered shower.

Thus there were not many beach goers at Bondi.

Even under this weather, the coastal walk from Bondi to Bronte was fun.

Just the beginning of the walk, I looked over Icebergs Pool where I learned how to swim

long time ago.  50M long salt water Pool sit here as King Bondi.

The guy on the right corner looks funny!

2018 A happy new year Lyrebired Dell

There were some clouds in the sky  over the horizon at dawn.

I was not able to see the 2018 sunrise out of the ocean.

I wanted to do a kind of ceremony to celebrate the new year.

Thus I came to Lyrebird Dell and Pool of Silom Circuit Walk, Leura.

I have been here a few times and it is my favourite place in Blue Mountains.

I know that there aren't much water flow in the creeks but anyway ,

Having a connection with the mountain water spirit to start a year is sacred and precious.

Lyrebird Dell

I saw many fish this time

Ceremony ..sinking my body in a creek to become Pool of Silom