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The journey to New Zealand and Australia (part 5) 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      Honesty is the best policy. |
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laogui: That's a new discovery - cannot delete or edit your own comments! ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes, I knew that long ago. You can edit your post (by click Edit Post), but you can't edit your comments, either you misspelled or grammatical errors. So, be careful to proof-read your comments before you hit that "Post" button below. Honesty is the best policy.
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Kayra: You asked a very good question about "exotic food". Honesty is the best policy.
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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 fist 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 juice in the morning. I enjoyed all kind of food in New Zealand and Australia. Of course, I gained weight. Honesty is the best policy.
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Kayra: I have had a great time for this Down Under trip. Everyone said I am the most "courageous" woman who dare to try exotic food. I don't know why they didn't try crocodile and kangaroo?? They only ordered (beef) steak and chicken and Barramundi fish fillet. I couldn't find snake from the menu, otherwise, I would order snake. I think those 17 women would be afraid of snake. I appreciate those 17 women friendship and we laugh together. We had very good "roll calls". The schedule has been a little too tight for some of the days, but over all, I have had a great time. I have learned a lot. Honesty is the best policy.
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I showed many of my receipts where I charged by my Citi credit card to the employee of Citi Bank employee in Sydney. She said "they asked you to sign your receipts, didn't they?" I said "Yes, I signed the receipts and got the merchandises". That when she said "we don't have access of your bank accounts and can't verify your signature." I tried 3 times at ATM there and reached the maximum of 3 times. I don't have the habit using my debit card and didn't bring my debit card either. Next time I will bring my blank check with me also. Honesty is the best policy.
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Next time I will bring both credit card and debit card. Citi Bank didn't even look my USA passport, I also showed them my account #s to them. They simply said we have no access of your account information and can't offer cash advance from your accounts. Do you know that Citi Bank location? It located right accross to Queen Victoria shopping mall on George Street in Sydney. A very busy location, full of people and traffic. Anyway, I sent my check to tour leader home address and paid her "tips". The thing has been taken care of since my arrival of Los Angeles, California home. It has done. I paid my "tips" to the tour leader by checks in US dollars. Honesty is the best policy.
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I brought my Citi Master card and Chase Visa card with me and tried both credit cards with my debit card PIN #. Failed. All the merchants got charges from my credit cards. Okay. Most of them asked me to sign but few didn't need to sign because small amount. I didn't bring any debit card. Honesty is the best policy.
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Kayra: Our tour leader (lives in Ohio state, USA) did a pretty good job. She arranged so many things in itinerary. Contacted airline company, made reservations with hotels, the local bus transportation, the local restaurants, bought tickets for the shows,.... before the trip even started. She must did her homework, made lots of phone calls. She is NOT like the restaurant waitress, she did more than that. So, she desert to have "tips". The suggestion of the tips is $5 per day for 16 days on the top of $10,000 we already paid. Honesty is the best policy.
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The tour guide of Sydney Opera House knows that opera diva in painting personally. He said she had her fair always puffy, on the stage or her own kitchen. Lot of hair. She passed away. As the guy in the sculpture has his name caved under the bust. I didn't have time to write his name down. The tour guide mentioned the name but it doesn't ring a bell to me for who he was. If you have time to visit Sydney Opera House someday, pay attention to his name. Okay? I thought my camera will copy down his name. I don't know is architect or engineer. You can ask around. Do you live far from Sydney Opera House? The tour guide was facing and talking to the Danish passport woman (she actually is a Muslim Egyptian), when he explained about that sculpture. I didn't hear very well. Honesty is the best policy.
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laogui: Since you are an Aussie and live in Sydney, would you please check out what are the names of that "Opera Diva" and "the person of that sculpture" in local area? I am NOT good in "Names" and there were many other group of tourists before and after my group of 18. I didn't have time to write down the name under that bust sculpture. I would like to get accurate information. Thank you. I am in California now. Honesty is the best policy.
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Kayra: I know my debit card PIN # but tried 3 times and the maximum times had been expired, I didn't get cash. Citi Bank employee in Sydney called Citi Bank credit card toll free # (in USA) in the back of my card I spoke to Citi Bank USA credit card dept. Anyway, I told my tour leader about the incident that I couldn't get cash. I emailed her after I returned to USA about her residence address, she replied and gave me her home address. I already sent a check for her "tips". There were some women didn't pay "tips" also. The tour leader lives in Ohio state in USA, I am in California. I finally paid her. She should get the check by now. Monday was holiday in USA, the President Day. Honesty is the best policy.
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laogui and goannoil: Please check out who that sculpture is? Is that the Danish architect who designed Sydney Opera House? Thank you. I didn't have enough time to copy down the name under the sculpture as the group moved on. Honesty is the best policy.
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Life is short. I write down my journey so I will remember when time goes-by. I use the blogs as my journal and share with you about my perspective. Honesty is the best policy.
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I bought an Indian Jones hat at the mall which has a scarf around. Honesty is the best policy.
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