It has been almost 2 weeks since I last log on to this blog. Time flies when I don't have to stress about looking for a job. In the past two weeks, we have been busy planning for our trips in the next two months and trying out all these restaurants recommended by our friends here. I am enjoying the freedom I have now (let's not look at the bank account for a moment). :) [View Full Entry]

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The next week after Hunter Valley / Port Stephens have been quite dramatic to me. First, i got rejected by my first and probably only interview in Sydney and I am thrown back to the endless process of job hunting again. For the next couple days, I spent hours on the job searching websites, while Carlos is working. As one can easily imagine, this process is quite frustrating and discouraging. I have to say, those were the days I hate Sydney the most. I am glad it didn't last very long. Carlos said 虎落平陽被犬欺, I agree. Of course, those w [View Full Entry]

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Another road trip on the weekend. First stop, Hunter Vallley, a wine country that is about 2 hours drive north of Sydney. This place is kind of like Kelowna, full of vineyards and wineries, except it is a lot bigger. Wines are cheap here, but of course quality varies. The Yellowtail wine that we had on our wedding is almost 50% cheaper here! ><" OK, i will bring some back when I leave. Next day, we headed to Port Stephen after breakfast. Guess what Port Stephens is famous of? Yes, OYSTERS! YEAAAAAAAAH. We went to an oyster farm and bought another [View Full Entry]

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A day at the Sydney Coffee School. I am a talented barista! [View Full Entry]

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Our third weekend here in Sydney. This weekend we toured around Sydney - Sydney Chinatown, more CBD, Paddington, Bondi Beach. Visiting Sydney on the weekend is very different. Weekend markets are very popular here - fashion and jewelries by local designers, arts and paintings, etc. We also visited the Hyde Barracks Museum. This building is once home to many prisoners, old but well-maintained. Knowing a little bit about the convict history of Australia, we went in with a high expectations. To our great disappointment, the museum was full of only rusted cutlery, names of prisoners, [View Full Entry]

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So we picked Canberra as our first road trip destination - not the most exciting place, but how can we not visit Australia's capital! Canberra is about 2.5 hours drive South of Sydney. It is a city and a state of its own. My first comment about this place: "Is this it?". Yes, this is it - small city, and potentially the smallest National capital we've seen. Being the national capital, one can imagine it's got the most Government funding on city development. This is a "planned city", meaning all the developments are planned from its inception. This is unusual in [View Full Entry]

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We are renting a car for the first time since we arrived here - looking forward to see Sydney in the comfort of my own car, without smelling trains. It did not start off very well. The place that we were supposed to pick up the car from is located at 700 Foster Road, Hurstville; so, we started out from Hurstville train station, around 250 Foster Road, thinking we will get there within 15 minutes walk. After half an hour, we weren't even at 400!! THEN, we realized we will never get there on foot. It was hot and sunny, thinking [View Full Entry]

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The last time I went to an interview was over 2 years ago. It has been a long time. I got calls from two recruiters within a few days I arrived in Sydney. I was impressed by their quick response to my emails. I started out quite hopeful, thinking that they must have a lot of postings on hands that they need people to fill. After two hours of discussion, I began to realize it may not be very easy for me, as a foreigner, to look for an accounting job, at my level, in this economy. Anyway, let's see what [View Full Entry]

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After two days of busy shopping around the suburbs, we have finally got our Internet and phone set up. Phew. We want to see the real Sydney! It is warm but cloudy today. We decided to spend the day in Sydney Central, hoping to see the metropolitan side of it. To get there, we need to take the train. Boo - the train station is so old and dark. Graffiti is all over the place. Train tickets are sold manually at the station windows with only ONE ticket machine. Old school. Who said Octopus card was invented by the Australian? After [View Full Entry]

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Finally arrived at Sydney at 11:30am on October 10 - after almost 12 hours of flight!! Thanks to the transfer at Taipei >_<: Fresh air - I feel like I am back in Vancouver. This is the smell that I missed during my stay in Hong Kong last month. Today is one of the cooler days here, considering that it is almost summer. They said the weather has been quite extreme. It was 31 degrees last week. Darn, we brought only one windbreaker jacket. Special thanks to Connie for introducing her Australian Uncle and Aunt to us. They are so kind [View Full Entry]

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