The exotic food I had in Down Under
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Posted:Feb 21, 2015 5:11 pm
Last Updated:Feb 23, 2015 6:12 pm 137409 Views
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I joined WTT (Women Traveling Together) and gained friendship. I emailed with them, exchanged our photos, we shopped together, laugh together, .... Carol lives in Salt Lake City, Utah, my roommate lives in Minnesota state (she said she missed the warm weather in Down Under as she lives in a snowy state now), ....
I am the only Asian in the group. The strange one who ate exotic food. However, they taught me many deserts and liquor that I have never had before.
The Barramundi fish fillets is the best among all the exotic food. The fish fillets has no bone, it is very fine and dedicate, taste better than Salmon. I like "Lamb cutlets" the 2nd. You need to order medium rare for the best taste, dip in the special sauce they provided and come with salad. The 3rd exotic food is kangaroo meat, but you need to order medium rare, or else, it will be too chewy. As that famous "crocodile medallion", it is such a small portion (a big coin size), I really didn't know (not enough for me to describe) its taste. It taste like chicken. As the "Seafood platter" which probably can get from elsewhere that is near ocean, such as California. It is the various seafood in a same plate. However, that Calamari taste much better than squid. (sometimes, squid almost can chock my throat). My first time had calamari on the seafood platter. I ate "King Prawns" on the Michaelmas Cay cruise. The size is large prawn, steam cooked. NZ and Sydney, Australia have good seafood. Cairns in Australia has lots of fruits, pineapple is sweet, watermelon, melon, cantaloup, apple, orange, banana, kiwi fruit, .... mixed with carrot, celery, and beets, ... you got the best vegetable & fruit juice in the morning.
I am an omnivore and enjoyed all kind of food in New Zealand and Australia. Of course, I gained weight.
Photo #1. Seafood platter in Auckland, New Zealand
Photo #2. Medium well cooked kangaroo dinner in Sydney
Photo #3. Medium rare kangaroo and crocodile medallion in Sydney at "Rocks"
Photo #4 Barramundi fish fillet inside of buns at "Outback Jack's" in Sydney
Lamb cutlets photo (previously provided)
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The movies I watched on Quantas Airlines
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Posted:Feb 19, 2015 9:14 pm
Last Updated:Mar 27, 2024 2:14 pm 134731 Views
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1. The Love Punch ------- Comedy
2. St. Vincent -------- Comedy
3. My Old Lady --------- Drama
4. Kill the Messenger (Gary Webb)
5. If I Stay - ---- Romance
6. The Hundred Foot Journey
7. The Best of Me
8. This is Where I Leave You
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The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 5)
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Posted:Feb 19, 2015 11:50 am
Last Updated:Apr 12, 2015 3:04 pm 143643 Views
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On February 11, 2015 we fly back to Sydney from Cairns. We settled the same hotel in Sydney where we signed in "loyalty membership" WiFi that has strong signals. My smartphone started to update internet as soon as I got off the bus. Wow. My roommate heard it, so she immediately signed in to use the WiFi for internet. We stayed at that hotel for 3 consecutive nights.
The tour leader took us to the historic Rocks area. We finally had chance to see Opera House a little closer. We had dinner at "Rocks" area where we can see the harbour (British spelling) of Opera House and enjoyed dinner at same time. I ordered my 2nd kangaroo with crocodile medallion (such a small piece of meat) as I was anxious to try new exotic food. I am the only person ordered that dish. The waiter recommended to have medium rare kangaroo and it really tasted better. (I have provided 2 photos Sydney Opera House at night before and after the meal photos of me previously)
The next morning we had another cruise to see the Sydney harbour. We had buffet seafood lunch onboard with delicious Barramundi fish fillets and prawns. I took lots of pictures of Sydney Opera House and harbour bridge (photo included previously with green Koala T-shirt). We had spectacular view of Sydney harbour. There was English and Japanese introduction on that boat. After we got off the boat, we had a tour guided tour of inside Sydney Opera House. (I emailed those inside Opera House photos to my friends and they told me they saw plenty of the iconic Sydney Opera House, but NEVER seen inside). Yes, we visited inside of Opera House including the smallest room that has 359 seats (they had rehearsal at the time, so we can't take photo for copyright), the largest room called "Concert Hall" has 2,679 seats (photo included), and an opera room (they are putting up the background of "Madam Butterfly", so we are NOT allowed to take photo for copyright protection). The tour guy told us Sydney Opera House has taken 16 years and 102 millions (equal to 2 billions of today's money) to build it.
Then the bus took us to a "Opal Museum" where we saw a video about opal from million years ago (dinosaur age). The Canadian bought an opal necklace for $3,000+ and some women spent few hundreds $ for opal jewelry, but I didn't. That night we walked to Woolworths on George Street to buy Tim Tam cookies and more shopping at Queen Victoria shopping mall cross street. We had dinner on the 3rd floor. One women needed to buy extra luggage to carry her shopping stuffs. All the stores close late at 9 p.m.on Thursdays in Sydney.
On February 13, 2015 was a free activity day, no schedule till 5:30 p.m. for "Farewell Dinner". My roommate and others (6 in total) spent $278 each to climb on top of Harbour Bridge. I went out with some women for a city view in Sydney. I went to Citi Bank for cash but been told I couldn't because I brought my credit card NOT the debit card. I told them the merchants accepted my Citi credit card but why NOT Citi Bank? They said they don't have my account information in Sydney or anywhere outside of USA. If I brought my debit card, I can use ATM (with code) to get cash with a small charge. I need cash to pay tour leader "tips" (she can't get pay from my credit card). I walked back to hotel without cash. We had "Farewell Dinner" (photos provided previously) at a Italian restaurant. We wasted lots of pizza (not eaten).
After hotel breakfast, the bus took us to Sydney airport to fly back to USA. The Aussie driver said to us we have Valentine's Day twice (one in Sydney and one in Los Angeles). Yes, we went on the airplane on 2/14 and came back it was still 2/14.
This will be the conclusion of my journey. Thank you.
Photo #1. "Concert Hall" the largest room inside Sydney Opera House
Photo #2. An Opera diva, was an Australian Dame Joan Alston Sutherland who died on Oct 10, 2010 at age 83.
Photo #3. The bust sculpture is the musician Eugene Aynsley Goossens who had affairs with Rosaleen Norton, the "Witch of King’s Cross". His career/ marriage/ reputation in ruins by the scandal, he died on June 13, 1962.
Photo #4. The opera show program display
Photo #5. Queen Victoria shopping mall outside
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The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 4)
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Posted:Feb 18, 2015 7:35 pm
Last Updated:Apr 12, 2015 3:02 pm 113936 Views
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On Feb 8, 2015 morning, the bus took us to the airport in Queenstown and end of 7 nights in NZ, we fly to Sydney, the capital of New South Wales in Australia. We were in cold and quiet Queenstown, NZ to hot and crowded city of Sydney. When the bus picked-up us at 5 p.m., it was the peak of rush hours. Full of people, cars, noise, hot, humid, .... so much different in the same day. Aussies in Sydney wear professional suits on the streets. They just finished their working day at 5:30 p.m.
We settled down at a hotel in Sydney. The hotel concierge told us if we signed up free "loyalty membership", we can get free WiFi. We, all 18 women, went out to have dinner. I ordered kangaroo as exotic food to me. There are only the tour leader and I ordered kangaroo. The meat over-cooked and the butter knife is too dull to cut, so I asked the waiter to change to steak knife. It tasted chewy as I shared some kangaroo piece with others. That was my first time had kangaroo. When we returned to hotel, most of us signed up "loyalty membership" and got free WiFi 24 hrs, no limitation. The signal is very strong even at outside of hotel. Wonderful WiFi, everyone was happy that we can connect with the world. I checked my email messages.
The next morning, we headed to airport again. The destination is Cairns, Queensland state in Australia. When we arrived in Cairns, it was raining. The showers come and go. We needed ponchos. We had an Aussie BBQ lunch, then we couldn't wait to see the Koala at a souvenir store. So, we ate half lunch and ran to see the cute Koala. I think all 18 women purchased the photo with Koala. They only gave us one minute to hold that Koala and then "Next". Yes, I bought the photo I held a Koala and 2 T-shirts (one is Koala and one is Cassowary). Next we saw Aboriginal Australian boomerang and arrow throwing and blowing the Didgeridoos. We visited a small zoo area to see Kangaroo, wallabies (I couldn't tell them apart, but I know wallabies are smaller), crocodiles, koalas, Cassowary, and ugly "Tasmanian Devil", .., we saw Pamagirri Aboriginal dancers show, and rainforest (jungle) tour. It was raining hard, so we got free ponchos. Everything happened so fast in 4 hours. We returned to hotel for 2 nights stay. That Cairns hotel has weak WiFi, but at least no limitation of usage (no 30 minutes in 24 hrs limit). However, the view from our hotel room was the best (see photos).
Cairns is in tropical area, full of fruits. The breakfast fruit juice is the best. They have sweet pineapple along with watermelon, cantaloupe, melon, apple, orange, banana, celery, carrot, beets,... It reminds me the season in July - August in Taiwan.
The next morning we have "Ocean Spirit" cruise to Michaelmas Cay. Lunch onboard with large prawns. Again other women didn't eat prawn or only 1 or 2. I ate the most. I had 6 prawns. Yummy ! There was a free "snorkeling" lesson, lot of people joined in, but I can't swim, so I didn't snorkel. My roommate wore her swimming suit inside and joined that free snorkel lesson. Some women in our group paid extra fees for "scuba diving lesson", I didn't. I am afraid of using nose to breath under the water. I only joined submersible boat to see the fish under sea and boat ride to Michaelcam Cay seabird sanctuary.
They served us with fruits, cakes, and drink in the late afternoon when all the activities were finished. People bought many photos that photographer took scuba divers under the sea photos, charged a lot because it was taken by undersea camera. There were two languages used on the boat (English and Japanese). Many Japanese on boat with us.
We returned to hotel and took a shower. Then six of us went out to dinner. They ordered the pizza, I didn't eat any pizza, but I ordered a cocktail named "Shhh ....." (see photo) and they had gelato but I had sorbe for desert in Cairns.
Photo #1 All 18 women and the Aboriginal Australian (boomerang guy)
Photo #2 The view from hotel room on 7th floor
Photo #3. Carol blow Didgeridoo with an Aboriginal guy in Cairns.
Photo #4. Holding a koala in Cairns, Australia
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The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 3)
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Posted:Feb 18, 2015 2:10 pm
Last Updated:Sep 3, 2015 11:10 pm 101863 Views
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The next morning the bus driver took us to airport and we fly to South island of New Zealand (colder) Queenstown - a popular tourist town. Queenstown is summer season in February because snow will come in June or July. After hotel check-in (another WiFi weak with limitation of usage Novetel for 3 nights), we headed in town for more shopping and enjoy the beautiful Lake Wakatipu (3rd largest lake in NZ). I saw the cable way up to the high mountain. The town was packed with tourists. I went into a bank to get NZ money exchange from US $. That night we had dinner together, I ordered the "Lamb Cutlets" with salad (photo provided before). I enjoyed the dinner, while nobody else ordered the same.
Next morning we went up to Bob's Peak on a scenic Gondola cableway - it is high but very safe. Of course, it is cooler up on the peak. We took lots of pictures from the beautiful scenery on the top. I bought a photo inside of cable car (photo included).
The bus took us to Gibbston Valley Winery that has a cave for storage (stable and cool temperature). The free tour of winery, wine tasting and lunch there. Some bought cheese and wine there, but I didn't. That winery has won over 300 national and international wine awards. Please Google it for detail.
We continue our journey to Kawarau Bridge to watch bungee jumping. I video taped 3 jumpers and 1 preparation of the bungee jump video (tie both legs together at ankles). It really requires courage to bungee jump. Exciting. None of us tried.
Then, we went to Arrowtown for shopping, I bought a beautiful Paua shell bracelet for myself. The bus took us back to Queenstown hotel. Six of us went out for dinner and found out every restaurant had 15% surcharge because Feb 6 is NZ national holiday - Waitangi Day (similar to 4th July in USA). Yes, we paid for 15% over the regular prices on the menu.
The next morning the bus driver took us to the magnificent "Milford Sound". Although Queenstown is near Milford Sound but due to the high mountain, so took 7 hours and 14 stops to go around, including Te Anau Downs, Mirror Lakes, Knobs Flat, Cascade Creek, Lake Gunn, Lake Fergus, The Divide, Hollyford Valley Lookout, Lower Hollyford Road, Monkey Creek, Homer Tunnel, The Chasm, Mt. Tutuko, .. finally cruise Milford Visitors Centre. We went on a cruise and had lunch onboard. There are English, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese and Korean languages to explain the scenery (how high is the mountain, what is the height of the biggest waterfall, the widest of the lake and narrowest area.of lake....). There are hundreds of waterfalls, the highest is above 50 story building high (3 times higher of our Niagara Falls in USA). It was a magnificent, breathtaking scenery. My camera only can take part of the scenery. You have to be there to see it yourself.
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The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 2)
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Posted:Feb 18, 2015 1:54 am
Last Updated:Feb 22, 2015 3:51 pm 98019 Views
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This is the most exciting day in Rotorua, NZ. We saw "Agrodome Sheep Show" for one full hour. Lots of people were there. I sat on the first row near the center. I got the closest seat to the stage. There are 19 different species of sheep imported from different countries to farm sheep in NZ. The show is funny, full of excitement. The first sheep came out to stage is the most famous and the very first sheep that NZ imported called "Merino". (I have been told by the bus driver that all 19 sheep on stage are male, no female) (My photos were taken by the bus driver, Andrew, who is very knowledgeable). The show host showed us how thick and long wool of Merino that NZ is so proud of to farm Merino. The Merino stopped at his name at the high and center place. Amazing, he knows his name "Merino". Then, each different species of sheep came out to stage one by one and they all know their own name and stopped at right there. Then, there was sheep auction show, milk cow show, shearing wool from a sheep, and 2 Shepherd dogs chasing ducks show, feeding the 3 baby lambs show, and 2 Shepherd dogs barked loudly and jumped over each 19 sheep. Amazing and funny. I was totally enjoyed the show. I love it.
Of course, I bought lots of wool mixed with possum hair clothing, socks, hat (cap), groves, .... that Made in NZ. I spent near $300 NZ dollars. I don't need those in California but my is studying in Detroit, she needs those warm clothing.
The next stop was "Kiwi Encounter" in Rainbow Springs Nature Park. NZ people is well preserve "Kiwi bird" (same spelling with Kiwi fruit) because possum eat Kiwi birds in wildlife. Kiwi sleep 20+ hours a day and possum eat them. Kiwi bird laid very big eggs (huge compare with its body size). NZ hand-feed those chicks from incubator (temperature controlled) to food weight controlled for those Kiwi chicks. However, because Kiwi sleep long hours, so the room was very dark and NOT allow to take pictures and we can't talk loud. So, it is NOT much fun there.
The 3rd stop is "Te Pula" for Maori cultural performance and Ingo lunch. A Maori guy told us to put chicken and vegetable of our choice to put in a luch box and write name on cover". Then he took us to see Maori sculpture and women dresses made from weeds. Then we saw the Maori and Polynesia culture dancing and singing. Then he took us to the geothermal valley famous for Pohutu Geyser (similar to Yellowstone National Park in USA, but smaller). After 1 & 1/2 hours, we returned and the Ingo lunch are ready to eat. They use the geyser steam to cook our food. Amazing. It is fully cooked by steam for each of us that we put in to the lunch box earlier.
So, we had the most excited day in Rotorua, NZ from 3 places we visited in one day and came back to hotel. We went out to dinner (photo provided)
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The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 1)
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Posted:Feb 17, 2015 9:20 pm
Last Updated:Mar 21, 2015 8:34 am 98809 Views
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We, 18 women, met at a hotel near LAX (airport) at 5 p.m. had dinner there. 16 of us have USA passports, 1 Canadian passport and 1 Danish passport (a Muslim Egyptian who lives in Denmark). Everyone had brief self-introduction. The tour leader said "if I lost anyone in this trip, I'll be fired", so she passed out 3 different color ribbons. Each color has 6 women in a group and we needed to remember who in the same group. We departed at 10 p.m from LAX. After 15 hours, we arrived at Sydney airport (we cross the International Date Line and lost a day). Then, we needed to transfer to Auckland, NZ. While we waited at Gate for 1 & 1/2 hours and found out we lost one woman. The leader was petrified. She went to information desk and broadcasted the missing woman's name. The plane delayed for another extra 1/2 hour, finally that missing woman showed up. She explained that she had surgery and got some metal inside her body, so she didn't pass the security door. She had been taken to a private room and separated from us. From that incident on, we each got a number for roll call, I am #7. (lucky 7 or 007 James Bond). We did very good job for roll calls for the entire trip from that point on.
We settled down at a hotel in Auckland, NZ by a bus (The bus driver held a sign Women Traveling Together) for 2 nights. The hotel is old but the WiFi is good. 4 of us met in lobby and ate desert at hotel restaurant. I ordered Creme Brulee. We went out to walk around the city. We saw some people jumped out Sky Tower (the tallest towers in the world) with a cable wire holding at waistline. Some women already had NZ money and showed to me. Next morning the bus driver gave us Auckland city tour and "winter garden". I ordered the seafood platter for dinner and vanilla ice cream with wine and coffee for desert that night. (my primary photo)
Next day, bus driver took us to Waitomo Caves - tour by boat of the limestone caverns & glow-worm grotto. Then, we had BBQ lunch at Roseland farm (photo shown) - I chose fish fillet. The bus took us to Rotorua, the thermal & volcanic resort capital of NZ. We stayed at a hotel in Rotorua for 2 nights.
Novetel hotel is new but WiFi is very weak with restrictions (free WiFi only at lobby, only 30 minutes for every 24 hrs). Using WiFi in the room you need to pay $9.90 for 24 hrs. Even in the lobby, the signal is very weak. I could see who emailed me but couldn't open the individual message. Everyone got mad but hotel said that is their policy to use free WiFi. When 30 minutes up (expired show up), you need to wait 24 hrs to use again. Almost everyone had some sort of device on hand, but became almost obsolete there. I saw my stock agency sent "transaction confirmation" email, but I couldn't open the message to know which stock I bought or sold at what price, how many shares. I got nervous and insomnia. I went to lobby to complain with my pajama on at 2 a.m. to 4 a.m. One hotel employee at counter told me to use the desktop. That was even worse. I used that desktop and yahoo said need a "code" to enter my email account. My smartphone was NOT working outside of USA, and my Gmail can't open because no free WiFi time. I was very frustrated that I couldn't access any internet. Half hour later, my yahoo sent me a message "Someone attempt to get access of your yahoo account", it was me. I complained to that employee but nothing he could help me. I told him Auckland hotel WiFi was strong but why not Novetel, the guy said the more fancy hotels have worse WiFi. I had insomnia whole night, while my roommate slept with snore.
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The cocktail drink named Shhh ..... with Carol
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Posted:Feb 15, 2015 11:16 pm
Last Updated:Feb 25, 2015 6:58 pm 91797 Views
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I ordered this cocktail named "Shhh ......" It says on menu "Villa's favourite. A sexy combination of strawberries and lime muddled with Vodka Strawberry liqueur and Midori. Chilled with crushed ice."
I copied down the description of this drink in my smartphone note. Just for fun.
Everyone had pizza except me. But we stopped at a Gelato store, they had Gelato, but I had Sorbet because I am "Lactose Intolerant".
I used to NOT DRINK ANY ALCOHOL at home as I set "good role model" for my when they were under 21. Now they are over 25 and I am traveling, so I drink "liquor" with dinner while traveling. It helps a little for my insomnia (jet lag).
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6 more photos from the Down Under
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Posted:Feb 15, 2015 12:18 pm
Last Updated:Feb 17, 2015 3:29 am 87315 Views
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Photo 1: Concert Hall (the largest room) inside of Sydney Opera House.
Photo 2. Michaelmas Cay cruise on Feb 10, 2015 (Cassowary T-shirt)
Photo 3. BBQ lunch at Roseland farm in Rotorua, New Zealand
Photo 4. Farewell dinner with Barbara on Feb 13, 2015
Photo 5. Dinner in Rotorua, NZ
Photo 6. Milford Sound cruise in Queenstown, NZ
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10 New photos from the Down Under
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Posted:Feb 15, 2015 11:57 am
Last Updated:Feb 19, 2015 2:18 am 89220 Views
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Photo 1: Waitomo Caves with roommate in New Zealand
Photo 2. The farewell dinner in Sydney with roommate
Photo 3. The cocktail with Carol
Photo 4. Sydney with roommate
Photo 5. Sydney Opera House
Photo 6. Sydney Opera House at night
Photo 7. Sydney opera house and bridge
Photo 8. Sheep show with a shepherd in Rotorua, NZ
Photo 9. Sheep show in Rotorua, NZ in Feb 2015
Photo 10. Lamb cutlets dinner in NZ
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