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Published: February 9th 2014
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Friday 31st January, 2014. Return from Collaroy Bay & Dinner at Mr Wongs, Sydney, NSW, Australia
After a breakfast of honey, Greek yogurt and fruit juice we checked out of the hostel and caught the bus back into Sydney, arriving back at lunch time. We had a snack lunch as we were going out to eat early tonight. In the afternoon we did some laundry.
At 4.30 we left the house to go into the city to meet our friend Andy who used to work with D at MVM. Last time we were here in 2008 Andy showed us around the city, and even found a Mexican restaurant for M who wanted a bit of spice after being on the ship for so long. We met him at The Establishment Bar in George Street. We had been for a drink in here with Andy last time we were in Sydney but M couldn't recall it until we went inside. Then she remembered immediately. It is not a place you forget easily (M did). Here in this ground floor bar, classic elegance meets a
pitch-perfect party atmosphere. Flanked by lines of magnificent iron columns and a 42-metre-long marble bar centrepiece,
the former George Patterson House retains much of its formal glory. It was built in 1881-85 as an emporium for Holdsworth MacPherson & Co, the great Sydney hardware merchants. For 30 years from 1931, it was the home of the Bulletin newspaper. The 7 storey building is a good example of Victorian Free Classical style design, containing some notable interiors of the period and is rare for the time in displaying Australian National Symbols in 3 dimensional form. The facade of brick and render is essentially in the Baroque manner with unusual attention to the side elevations, which have arched bays and pilasters. It was seriously damaged by fire in 1996 but was restored as it is a heritage building.
The space is packed with heritage features which make this historic venue a unique place to enjoy a drink. Quick bar service, with experienced staff and the winner of multi-awards all add up to make this bar a true Sydney icon. It was extremely busy, as Friday night sees the trendy bar abuzz with an after work crowd of those in their 20s and 30s, but Andy got served straight away (on first name terms with the bar staff).
Almost as soon as we had arrived Andy's girlfriend Patricia arrived. A really lovely girl from Hong Kong. This was the first time we had met Patricia as the last time we were here, Andy was single.
After we had had a drink we went outside and around the back to a restaurant called Mr Wongs. There was already a lengthy queue outside (it was only 5.20 pm) - and it was going to be buisier than normal because it is the start of the Chinese New Year Festivities. Sprawled over two levels, the 240 seater Mr. Wong is one of the largest restaurants in the northern end of the Sydney CBD. It offers a range of dining options varying from private dining rooms and large group tables, through to intimate tables for two and seating at the open kitchen. Andy knows the staff here very well
and Patricia was one of the 'tasters' on their opening night. As a result we were given a nice table downstairs.
The restaurant is layered with timeless colonial furnishings including timber floors with tiled inlay, bamboo framed French woven chairs and slow turning ceiling fans, Mr. Wong pays homage to classic
Chinese influences in a contemporary style. The Cantonese-style menu features over 60 dishes as well as an unrivalled dim sum (bite sized steamed and fried snacks) selection. We walked past the kitchen where there were mouth-watering Peeking Crispy Ducks hanging from hooks. Patricia ordered a plate each of fried and steamed din sum which we shared. This was followed by a whole crispy duck which we demolished between the 4 of us. A bowl of fried rice, some white fish and some spicy beans finished off a fantastic meal which Andy treated us to - despite our protestations.
After this we returned to the Establishment to go to the members area on the 4th floor. Unfortunately D was wearing shorts - which are not permitted at weekends. Andy went in but came down and said it was too busy anyway. We tried the 'Speakeasy' bar around the corner, but that too was full.
Andy knew of another place that he thought would be less busy so we walked there. On the way we passed a place called Birdcage Alley, in Angel Place. We are glad the other places were too busy otherwise we wouldn't have seen this. The
alley is decorated with lots of birdcages suspended above your heads. It is a piece of artwork called 'Forgotten Songs' created by Michael Thomas Hill, Dr Richard Major, Richard Wong and David Towey. The laneway features 120 birdcages hanging on cables above. Forgotten Songs commemorates the songs of fifty birds once heard in central Sydney
before they were gradually forced out of the city by European settlement. The calls, which filter down from the canopy of birdcages suspended above Angel Place, change as day shifts to night; the daytime birds' songs disappearing with the sun and those of the nocturnal birds which inhabited the area sounding into the evening. Habitat loss is credited as the biggest threat to bird survival. At present there are 129 species of birds native to New South Wales formally listed as extinct or threatened with extinction. Some of these birds can still be heard on the city margins where they
find food and shelter in thick native vegetation. Others have retracted still further.
During the day, you may hear the calls of the Eastern Whipbird, Rockwarbler, Regent Honeyeater, Grey Shrike-thrush, Fan-tailed Cuckoo, Spotted Pardalote, Brown Gerygone, Jacky Winter, Scarlet Robin, Golden Whistler, Leaden Flycatcher,
Dollarbird, White-eared Honeyeater, Superb Lyrebird, Brown Thornbill, Varied Sittella, Brush Cuckoo, Dusky Woodswallow, Eastern Spinebill, White-throated Treecreeper, Little Lorikeet, Mistletoebird, Pallid Cuckoo, Red-browed Finch, Rufous Whistler, Brown-headed Honeyeater, Scarlet Honeyeater, Eastern Yellow Robin, Shining Bronze-Cuckoo, Southern Emu-wren, Spotted Quail-thrush, Striated Thornbill, Superb Fairy-wren, Tawny-crowned Honeyeater, Grey Fantail, Variegated Fairy-wren, Whistling Kite, White-browed Scrubwren, White-browed Woodswallow, White-naped Honeyeater, White- throated Gerygone, Wonga Pigeon, Yellow-faced Honeyeater and Yellow- tufted Honeyeater.
At night, you hear the Australian Owlet-nightjar, Powerful Owl, Southern Boobook, Barn Owl, Tawny Frogmouth and White-throated Nightjar. These were the birds we could hear as it was dark. We must go back again in the daylight to listen to the daytime birds.
We shared a bottle of wine in a nice quiet bar which allowed us to talk easily. Then we caught the bus back to Rachel's house.
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