September 2012 - Regina Chow - Singapore Fashion, Beauty, Lifestyle & Travel Blog

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Saturday, September 29, 2012

Sydney Biennale on Cockatoo Island

Friday, September 28, 2012

Cockatoo Island, an UNESCO World Heritage site situated just minutes away from Sydney Harbour, is an attraction that I've always wanted to visit. I've heard about the island coming alive at night thanks to the pubs but since I'm not exactly a fan of booze, the best time for me to visit was during the Sydney Biennale!

To reach this island, the easiest way is to hop on a ferry. Well, JW did contemplate swimming across the harbour while I take the ferry, but it didn't take him long to realise that he'll drown on the way there.

Anyway, did I mention that I love taking ferries? I may be afraid of water, but my eyes love feasting on the scenic views that ferry rides offer.

I love miners too, especially when they come in the form of cute little robots. This is one of the art installations at the entrance of a dark tunnel on the island. So creative, isn't it?

As we trudged through the cloud of darkness, we suddenly saw a light at the end of the tunnel (pun intended)!

Many flickering lights in fact, not just a light.

Here's what the tunnel looks like:

Did you know that Cockatoo Island was previously used to house convicts? It then became a shipbuilding and repair hub, which closed down in 1992. The island then underwent major restoration works and was only recently opened to the public in 2007.

In spite of its history, the island is a picture of calm and tranquility. It is such a joy to just wander around nature and bask in the warmth of the sun. The most amazing thing? Cockatoo Island is just a stone's throw from Sydney Harbour but it makes you feel like you're in a completely different city altogether.

JW was especially fascinated with one of the houses on the island, and he just kept snapping! He definitely takes a lot of pictures for someone who has no interest in photography whatsoever. Haha but I'm not complaining!

Instead of taking photos of the art installations, JW was busy trying to perfect the shot of this doorknob. I know right? I was rolling my eyes too until a fellow visitor, who happened to be a builder by profession, complimented JW on his keen eye for details.

I nearly fainted.

Apparently, Cockatoo Island was known for their skilled craftsmen in the past and it's nearly impossible to find such impeccable workmanship today.

Er okay.

Before he decides to take other inconspicuous objects like spiders and cobwebs, I dragged him out for some fresh air.

After all, pretty flowers are certainly more worth taking than doorknobs.

Before I veer too far away from the topic of this post, let me share with you some of my favourite art installations.

The entire room was transformed into what seemed like a children's playground filled with colourful paper cut-outs of all shapes and sizes.

If this isn't pretty, I don't know what is. I can't believe everything is made of paper! The Chinese artist is a genius.

My second favourite installation has got to be the cloud installation. Designed to mimic cloud vapour, the designated area was engulfed in layers of mist which only got thicker with time. I was rather overwhelmed as there were points when I couldn't see at all, and I struggled to move through all the mist with outstretched arms. That made me feel so incredibly small and vulnerable but it was such a fun experience!

Now, I'm going to share with you some of the installations that I disliked. This particular one with floating children's dresses made it to the top of my list because it is so freaky. Can you imagine them coming to life in the dead of the night? I don't know about you, but this sends shivers down my spine for sure.

My second most hated installation is this. What was the artist thinking? To me, it looks just like a pile of rubbish.

Ok, this is most certainly not an installation, but I have a love-hate relationship with the seagulls on Cockatoo Island. They may look cute and all in photos, although they start out being really ugly in their younger days (yes those grey spotted birds are the babies), but they love to swoop down on you unabashedly especially when you're holding on to food.

They even have a sign in one of the cafes warning visitors that seagulls have been known to attack you. So, if you have a bag of fries (some of the best fries I've had!!) on Cockatoo Island, remember to run away from these creatures!!

Preppy Tweed

Sunday, September 23, 2012

Hello I'm back in Sydney!

Saturday, September 22, 2012

I was in Melbourne for the past 5 days. Did the Great Ocean Road drive, which left me totally unimpressed and saddled with motion sickness. I'm sorry, but I think it is highly overrated though the pictures turned out to be pretty amazing.

I had a great time catching up with Karen though, who flew over to meet up with Clara, Pete, Raphael, and me (JW too)! We've been meeting almost every month! We had a ball of a time taking tons of pictures and gorging ourselves crazy. 5 days seemed way too short! I'm still sorting out the pictures, but meanwhile, here're some pictures taken when Alvin and Eli came over to visit about 2 weeks back!

We took them to Sappho Cafe at Glebe for brekkie:

Then we checked out the flea market at Glebe for vintage buys before heading for coffee at The Wedge, also located at Glebe.

Next up was the Sydney Fish Market, also known as the must-go place for all seafood lovers. I've been here 3-4 times at least but this is my first time capturing a seagull in action!

We saw a plane writing "R U OK" in the sky. Did you know that Australia has a "R U OK?" Day to inspire everyone to ask people around them if they're okay? The whole idea is to lend support and prevent depression from taking over our lives in difficult times. I personally think Singapore should start a movement like this to raise awareness about depression, which is a real problem in every society, except that Asian societies tend to regard depression as a taboo topic for discussion.

Anyway, let's move on to happier things, shall we? If you ever come to Sydney Fish Market, please buy the sashimi and oysters at Claudio's! I've tried most of the stalls and this stall wins hands down in terms of flavour and freshness.

Giant oysters! Yummy! JW is not a fan of oysters, but I've been eating a lot of oysters lately thanks to our friends from Singapore.

It's great to sit outdoors in the company of seagulls and feast on seafood (but do keep an eye on your food lest you lose them to the active seagulls!).

I know this sounds strange but I was truly amazed by the size of the seafood. Haha..so I'm ending this post with a few pictures to whet your appetite.

Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach Coastal Walk

Thursday, September 13, 2012

I've done a couple of bushwalks and the coastal walk from Spitbridge to Manly beach, but the one and only walk that took my breath away in a good way has got to be the coastal walk from Coogee Beach to Bondi Beach.

We started off at Coogee Beach, a quiet family-oriented beach nestled in a residential estate.

Ok here's the start of the walk to Bondi! I wasn't too excited to see the rocky terrain, but thankfully the path came to an end soon enough and the rest of the walk was a breeze.

What I really love about this walk is the panoramic coastal view of 4 beaches. The walk is very exposed, so you don't feel cooped up amongst trees or greenery.

In fact, you're in for a visual treat every step of the way!

I love the sea breeze, the crashing waves and the glistening sea against the glowing sun and azure skies. None of these photos were edited so you can only imagine how captivating the scenery is in real life!

The bowling club located right beside the sea at Waverly is the perfect spot for a game or two. What a leisurely way to get some exercise and spend the weekend! And no, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Unlike in Singapore where bowling is an indoor activity, bowling here is done outdoors!

More mesmerizing sights along the way.

The coastal walk takes you through the Waverly Cemetery, probably the only cemetery with such a gorgeous view. It is quite an interesting experience because there's absolutely nothing freaky about the place. On the contrary, it feels really serene and peaceful, though I'm pretty sure the spectacular view had something to do with it.

We passed by Bronte beach and Gordon's Bay as well, two beaches which I intend to revisit when the weather gets warmer.

After about 2.5 hours of walking, we arrived at Bondi!

Bondi beach is probably the most crowded beach in Sydney. Everyone flocks here to grab a piece of the action.

Along the way to Bondi beach, we saw a massive rock formation. Of course, my other half had to get his hands on them.

I think I am an excellent photographer.

We did the walk last Sunday, which happened to coincide with the Festival of Winds, a festival that celebrates the start of spring with beautiful kites in all shapes and sizes.

We were a tad early for lunch with some friends, so we picked a strategic spot to bask in the sun and watch the kites, with my favourite fruit juice from Boost in tow. I usually hate the sun, but I've learnt to appreciate the warm sun rays, especially when it's windy!

Our couple shoes from Keen. A random lady gushed about how beautiful my shoes are recently and even asked me where I got it from. These shoes are not my idea of pretty but they certainly are very comfy. They're the perfect trekking shoes.

We were totally exhausted at the end of the walk but it was worth every bit of our time!