Australia Part 9- Gap Park at Watson Bay, The Rocks Market, Queen Victoria Building, Darling Harbour, Paddy's Market, Thai Food

Day 13 (2/1/16)
Started our day with the Gap Park at Watson Bay
I came here during my last visit
Unfortunately
The sun was setting so we could not see clearly
Luckily it was bright and sunny today!
You have to walk up the observation deck in order to see the full view
Mesmerizing! 
A great exercise in the morning~
See the Sydney tower and Harbour Bridge?
Walking back~
A park nearby~

Around noon
We went to The Rocks Market which is a Sydney institution made up of 200 stalls
It is the oldest area of Sydney
It is the site of Australia's first European Settlement
You can explore the laneways or grab a drink in some of the oldest pubs
I always love the historical buildings there
And most importantly
It showcases an ever-changing range of art (my favorite space art!), fashion, homewares, jewellery, and gifts
That's why this place is top on my list!
Everything is made of real wood!
Industrial Jewellery. My first time seeing such unique pieces!
I like the design of this building!
Kinda regret for not going to Museum of Contemporary Art Australia and The Rocks Discovery Museum as we were running out of time
Will definitely pay them a visit if i have a chance to come back next time!
Overlooking Circular Quay. See the cruise ship on the left?
Saw the State Library on our way to the train station
You can enjoy the free exhibition, modern cafe, bookshop, public talks and free film screenings at the State Library of New South Wales
If time allowed, I actually thought of spending the whole afternoon reading my novel and enjoying a cup of coffee there
Next time maybe~

Sydney Town Hall
Queen Victoria Building stood elegantly among other skyscrapers
Queen Victoria's statue














The Queen Victoria Building, now affectionately known as the QVB, was designed by George McRae and completed in 1898, replacing the original Sydney markets on the site. Built as a monument to the long reigning monarch, construction took place in dire times, as Sydney was in a severe recession. The elaborate Romanesque architecture was specially planned for the grand building so the Government could employ many out-of-work craftsmen - stonemasons, plasterers, and stained window artists - in a worthwhile project.
Drastic 'remodelling' occurred during the austere 1930s and the main occupant was the Sydney City Council. As recently as 1959 the Queen Victoria Building was threatened with demolition. As it stands now, in all its glory. It is testimony to the original vision for the building and the superb craftsmanship of the artisans who put it all back together again.
The dominant feature is the mighty centre dome, consisting of an inner glass dome and an exterior copper- sheathed dome. Glorious stained glass windows and splendid architecture endure throughout the building and an original 19th century staircase sits alongside the dome.
Old lift
Don't miss out any corner of QVB as they are all pretty!
The visual message of Sydney's coat of arms, on the cartwheel stained glass window, is that the beehive depicts business, the sailing ship - trade, and the dolphins - the harbour. Panel 1, on the left hand side, represents the Council of the City of Sydney, and symbols of architecture, while the letters I.G.B. on panel 3, on the right, represent Ipoh Gardens Berhad, the Malaysian company who restored the QVB.
The symbols are of property developers - the builders. The bottom central panel represents the heraldic symbol of a finished building and the joining of two hands denotes the fusing of two cultures. There are many interesting and charming exhibitions and attractions throughout the building, along with portraits of the Queen. There is also a letter from Queen Elizabeth II to the Citizens of Sydney to be opened and read by the Lord Mayor of Sydney in the year 2085. 

After that
We went to Darling Harbour
It is the newest part of Sydney where you will find anything touristy you want
Followed by Paddy's Market
Time to shop for some souvenirs to take home!
Darling Harbour
Had Thai food for dinner after shopping
We found this place at Chinatown
Chinatown has 17% of Sydney's population of Asian decent, you will find great Malaysian, Vietnamese, Thai, Korean & Chinese at affordable prices
I remember there was one curry called Pad Thai which was very good!

Banana fritters
Had been walking for the whole day
Need some rest~


Location: Sydney NSW, Australia

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Australia Part 11- Stanwell Park, Kiama Blowhole, Kings Point Retreat Ulladulla for Camping

Image
Day 15 (4/1/16) The plan was to visit Stanwell Park, Nan Tien Temple, Kiama and finally Ulladulla to set up our tent for camping The weather forecast said that there would be a shower or worse, thunderstorm these few days Besides, Nan Tien Temple at Wollongong was closed for some reason Quite unlucky huh~ Driving through the forest Stanwell Park  Feeling so tiny in front of nature~ Stanwell Park is the first of several pretty coastal towns south of the  Royal National Park , on Lawrence Hargrave Drive. It's a popular beach for surfing and picnics and an easy day trip from  Sydney . The hills that rise sharply from the coast to the escarpment and the strong air currents make Stanwell Tops a prime spot for hang gliding. The  Grand Pacific Drive  passes through Stanwell Park on its spectacular route along the coast to the South Coast. Stop at Sea Cliff Bridge, located between Coalcliff and Clifton, for a walk along this engineering masterpiece (need to zoom in my pi
Read more

Eco Forest One Day Trip

Image
Have you heard of the Eco Forest in the heart of Kuala Lumpur? (Formerly known as Hutan Simpan Bukit Nanas) I only got to know about it recently And it shocked me that the city centre of KL actually has a forest?! This is the entrance that we entered from We took the monorail to Station Bukit Nanas Once you walk out from the station You will see this sign Just follow it There are actually 2 routes (one from Jalan Ampang and the other one from Jalan Raja Chulan) If you follow the Jalan Ampang route You will need to hike for approx 20-30 minutes in the Canopy Walk depending on your speed It was quite an easy hike But lesser people The Raja Chulan route is the nearest to the suspension bridge So if you just want to grab some nice Instagrammable pictures It is better to go to the Raja Chulan route Immersing ourselves in the forest There were actually very few people using this route So it is better to come in a bigger group of people And remember to bring mo
Read more

Palladium Cafe KL & Batu Caves

Image
On one fine day (3rd of August) Our original plan was to have our lunch at NU Sentral followed by Palladium Cafe KL But we ended up with a half day trip to the Batu Caves Unexpected trips are the best right? So after having done some shopping and lunch at Pasta Zanmai We took the KTM to Taman Wahyu According to one blog The Palladium Cafe is actually within 10-15 minutes walk from the Taman Wahyu KTM station We initially followed But unfortunately there was some construction going on that day So they blocked the roads (you can still walk there but it will be quite dangerous given that you have to walk besides the highway with speeding cars) After walking for about 10 minutes We walked back to the ktm station and took a cab instead (which only cost us RM3 cuz it was really near) It was a great workout especially when we had to carry the shopping bags and walk under the evil hot sun! Your mood will be instantl
Read more