TRAVEL | Weather forecast for Sydney

In less than 12 hours we'll be in Sydney and I hope the weather will be nice despite the forecast.

TRAVEL | The Powerhouse Science and Design Museum in Sydney

The Powerhouse Museum located at 500 Harris St, Ultimo and is close to Darling Harbour, Chinatown, Central Station (Sydney Terminal), Broadway bus station (Railway Square), and Paddy's Markets Monorail Station. For $10 adult entry fee we can explore the many current exhibitions and permanent exhibitions. Some are shown below.

TRAVEL | Frost* office in Sydney

This may not be a conventional tourist activity but I am going to do it anyway. Vince Frost is one of my favourite graphic designers, originally from England but have setup office in Sydney. The studio produces amazing works and this is my chance to be outside the studio and take a picture while I am holidaying in Sydney this weekend. The studio is located on 15 Foster Street, Surry Hill.

ECONOMIC | Top 10 countries with the biggest gaps between rich and poor

No. 1 Hong Kong
No. 2 Singapore
No. 3 US
No. 4 Israel
No. 5 Portugal
No. 6 New Zealand
No. 7= Italy
No. 7= Britain
No. 9 Australia
No. 10= Ireland
No. 10= Greece


A United Nations global study was recently conducted on the topic of 'income inequality' worldwide.

TRAVEL | See Sydney & Beyond Smartvisit Card

It is not too far away now, 3 days until our long-weekend getaway oversea trip! I was considering whether it would be worthwhile to purchase a See Sydney & Beyond Smartvisit Card, A$75 for one day or A$135 for two days. What do you think Ricky?

TRAVEL | The Goldfish club in Sydney

Is it a coincidence for a bar in Sydney to be named Goldfish? This is one of the many new bars in King Cross. Ideally I would like to visit three of these bars, however given the short time we will be in Sydney I am not sure if that's possible. It appears that Sydney scene is a mile ahead of what we have here in Auckland.

TRAVEL | Sydney Opera House Open Day

8 days and counting down. There is a build up of excitement in me especially looking forward to participate in the Sydney Opera House Open Day next Sunday where we'll get a free tour inside the House and get a glimpse of some of the behind-the-scenes. Also what I look forward to is the 'Please step quietly everyone can hear you' exhibition features photographs by a Magnum photographer Trent Parke.  I think Sunday 25 October 2009 will be a great experience.

TRAVEL | Sydney Opera House

In just a little more than two weeks I will be in Sydney and I was thinking how exciting it will be to visit the Sydney Opera House on its Open Day on Sunday the 25th October. It is a free event running from 10am to 4pm, raining or not. Just a little bit about the House, it was designed by a Denmark architect Jorn Utzon. In June 2007 it was inscribed in the World Heritage List.

TRAVEL | Eureka Tower

Eureka Tower is a 300-metre skyscraper located in Southbank, Melbourne, the world's tallest residential tower when measured to its highest floor. However, Q1 located on the Gold Coast is officially the world's tallest residential building because of its spire adding to its total height.

I really like the design of this tower. Apparently, the building was named after Eureka Stockade, a rebellion during the Victorian gold rush in 1854. The building's gold crown represents the gold rush and a red stripe on the side of the tower represents the blood spilt during the revolt. The blue glass cladding that covers most of the building represents the blue background of the stockade's flag and the white lines also represent the eureka stockade flag.

The observation deck, known as the Eureka Skydeck 88, occupies the entire 88th floor of the Eureka Tower and is the highest public vantage point in a building in the Southern Hemisphere at 285 m.

Do you see the blood?

TRAVEL | Australia

My last post explains the difference between states and territories in Australia. This post will show you the various climates in different parts of Australia. The lower part of Australia where New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania are, have similar climate to New Zealand, they are temperate. In case you don't know the difference between a temperate climate and a tropical climate, I will explain briefly here. To put it in terms of season, a temperate climate has four seasons (Summer, Autumn, Spring, Winter), where the temperature doesn't vary greatly. A tropical climate is the opposite, there is a dry season and a wet season. In dry season, there is a period of cool dry weather, and a period of hot dry weather.

TRAVEL | Australia

22 days until my trip to Sydney! As I said before that I will get to know Australia beyond pretty pictures in travel brochures, I read more on the geographical divisions of the country. Australia, as you can see below, is divided into six states and two territories. So what is the difference between a state and a territory? Read on.

Australia's six states represent the six British colonies that joined together to create the Commonwealth of Australia.*

Any land within Australia's national border that is not claimed by one of the states is called a territory.*

Okay. so what is the difference!

Well territories do not have the right to convene their own government or pass laws as the states do. Under the Constitution, the Commonwealth makes the laws for the territories.*

But, the line is blur because the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital Territory are often treated like states, because the Commonwealth passed a law allowing each territory to convene a parliament and make their own laws in a similar manner to the states.*

Right, you would think what is the difference again?

Well, the difference here is that six states' powers are defined through the Constitution, but the powers of the territories are defined in the Commonwealth law which grants them the right of self-government. This also means that the Commonwealth can alter or revoke these powers at will.*

Now you see? Do you feel more like a smarter traveller now? I bet so.

*Australian Government: www.australia.gov.au

TRAVEL | Australia

I am going to Sydney in less than a month, how exciting! Despite having visited Melbourne, the Gold Coast and Brisbane I don't have much of knowledge of Australia. This is further sadden by the close proximity of Australia to New Zealand, where I live. So I have made a plea to know Australia beyond the pretty pictures in travel brochures. To start with here is Australian Coat of Arms.

TRAVEL | Sydney

The state capital of New South Wales, Sydney, often known as the Harbour City, is the largest, oldest and most cosmopolitan city in Australia. Since I will be visiting this alpha+ world city in a month or so, I decided to introduce some must-go attractions in Sydney.

The Opera House

One of 20th century's most distinctive buildings. Built by Danish architect Jørn Utzon.

The Sydney Botanic Gardens

An immense green space right next to the concrete jungle of the CBD.

The Sydney Tower

The second tallest observation tower in the southern hemisphere, after Auckland's Sky Tower

Sydney Olympic Park

Home to the Sydney 2000 Olympics.

Darling Harbour

A leisure and entertainment area immediately to the west of the CBD, with restaurants, waterside boardwalks, aquarium wildlife and the maritime museum.

China Town and Hay Market

Paddy's Market with lots of clothing, sunglasses, souvenirs, and food.

Kings Cross and Oxford Street

Sydney's red light district and the city's world famous gay scene.

Manly Beach and Bondi Beach

Sydney's most popular beaches

So many must-go attractions! Can't wait!


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TRAVEL | Whitsunday Islands

Along the Queensland coast of Australia, dotted with hundreds of tropical islands lies the Great Barrier Reef, the world's greatest Coral Reef system. And in the heart of the reef are the 74 islands of the Whitsundays, the largest group of offshore islands in Australia. It is said that the sand found here is so pure (99% white sand), that NASA uses it to make lenses for its telescopes.

The majority of the Whitsunday islands are designated national park, leaving them uninhabited and in their purest natural state. The azure seas, the white sandy beaches and the amazing reef make it one of Australia's must go holiday destinations.

It would be a dream come true for me to be able to go scuba diving in the coral reefs, seeing the variety of wildlife that exist here, and then spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the white sandy beaches.

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TRAVEL | Sydney Opera House

Built by the Danish architect Jorn Utzon, the Sydney Opera House is one of the most well known multi-venue performing arts centre in the world and definitely one the most distinctive 20th century buildings architecturally. It was made a UNESCO world heritage site on 28 June, 2007.

The opera house houses two main venues, the Opera Theatre and the Concert Hall, together being defined by the two larger shells.

The designer, Jorn Utzon, received the Pritzker Price in 2003, architecture's highest honour.

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TRAVEL | The Great Ocean Drive

The Great Ocean Drive begins near Torquay, about 100 km. west of Melbourne, where it follows the coastline for several hundred kilometres to Warrnambool and rejoins the Princes Highway.

The total length of the drive is 247 Km and follows the coast all the way, with some of the most spectacular coastal scenery including rugged cliffs, sandy coves and spectacular rock formations.

The highlight is undoubtedly the Twelve Apostles, a unique group of 12 limestone stacks in the Port Campbell National Park that jut out of the sea.

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