雪梨海灘全覽一日遊 / Grande tour of Sydney beaches

這幾個 weekends, Andy 帶英國舊識認識雪梨, 宅女我託福認識了北雪梨以外的海灘 (好隱誨的抱怨呀...)
We have been spending most of weekends with Andy's old acquaintance around Sydney lately, last weekend, we visited the major beaches near Sydney, which includes Bondi, Bronte Beach, Clovelly Bay and Coogee Beach.

Bondi and Bronte Beaches are next to each other, but most of tourists are gathering in Bondi.

Clovelly Bay is mainly rocky coast, but there's a swimming pool built along the bay, it is pretty astonish to me in watching waves splashed and flooded the platform of pool (see photo below)

Coogee is further south from Clovelly Bay, compared to busy/touristic beach of Bondi, I'd prefer much quieter Coogee Beach, I will visit Coogee again sometime for sure.

離雪梨市區最近的就是名聞遐邇的 Bondi Beach 了, 隨著氣溫漸漸升高, 這裡的弄潮人也愈來愈多, 前兩星期帶一對朋友來此朝聖, 沙灘上人群三三兩兩, 這日前來, 豔陽高照, 如需弄潮, 可得先努力為自己挣得一塊空地才行, 步道上, 咖啡座裡, 各種語言的歡樂交談聲充耳, 好個國際觀光聖地.

在 Bondi Beach 隔壁, 往南約1, 2公里的距離是較小的 Bronte Beach, 這裡觀光客明顯減少許多, 多了悠閒享受日光浴, 家庭出遊野餐的澳洲當地人.
這裡有一個天然海水游泳池, 看見浪花打高一點, 濺進泳池, 還覺得挺刺激的..., well...直到我看到在 Clovelly Bay 的泳池為止...

再往南一些就是 Clovelly Bay 了, 到這裡就得要有車子代步了
這邊只有一丁點兒的沙灘, 其他都是像佳樂水一樣的風化岩石.
在漏斗狀的狹長港灣裡, 建了一個泳池, 潮水一波波地往峽灣裡灌, 浪花打到岸上, 漫過整個泳池平台, 宅女在此立下志願, 一定要再來這裡下水游泳, 但是...不是今年! XD

再往南開, 就是跟 Bondi Beach 很像, 有很寬的沙灘腹地的 Coogee Beach, 除了沙灘, 這裡還有一大片公園綠地, 可供遊客野餐, 打球,  小孩亂滾, 小狗亂跑....
覺得這裡跟Bondi 一樣熱鬧,  但是又比 Bondi 安靜多了, 希望下次有機會可以自己來逛逛, 發覺這裡的 cafe and shops.

這趟海灘全覽, 最喜歡的當屬 Clovelly Bay 了, 所以完全不管Andy 和友人, 自顧自的拿起相機拍了起來

Clovelly Bay

港灣游泳池 swimming pool in the bay

浪來囉...! here comes the wave!

另一頭的泳池, 延伸到最底部就是一小角的沙灘
Pool is along the narrow bay, ending at a tiny sandy beach

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Eating out/外食 - Balmoral / Billy's Cafe

Balmoral Beach 開了一家新 cafe - Billy's Cafe, 在好奇心驅使下進去用了早餐.
雖然是新 cafe 但是生意很好, 樓上樓下樓外滿滿的客人, 服務生很專業, 第一印象不錯, 雖然餐點貴了點, 但還是很期待等會兒將送來的早餐.
This is the newly opened cafe in Balmoral Beach - Billy's Cafe, although it's a new cafe but it is always busy...
Service is good, waiters are all well trained, but food is bit pricey to me.

Billy's Cafe 外觀
The exterior of cafe

Cafe 2樓內部 / interior of 1st floor

Andy 點的 少得可憐 muesli - AUD18
Andy's organic muesli

我點的孤苦零丁可頌 - AUD16
my croissant with Gruyere cheese

我只能說住 Balmoral 附近的人真有氣質, 有錢, 胃口又小...
I reckon our food shares certain rental of this cafe...

x                            x                          x

這個週末回到 Balmoral 附近的 Mosman 用早餐, 還是平民咖啡館最貼近我的身心靈....
This weekend, we got chance to return to our favourite cafe in Mosman - Don A'Dan

看到我應該知道是哪間Caf'e 吧!?
this time, we got a moody bear...

Andy 點的充滿朝氣 BLT wrap - AUD12
the BLT wrap ordered by Andy

我點的營養滿分 muesli - AUD9
the muesli with grated apple and strawberries

熊寶: 人家猜不到就算了啦! / 熊貝: 我就是愛生氣啦!
it looks like these 2 bears need some help..., I'll have a word wz them...

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Ocean Series Race II / 海洋系列划船賽第二賽

Andy attended Ocean Series Race, the 2nd race last week, it was taking place at Palm Beach, which is further north of Long Reef, approx. 1 hour of driving from north Sydney.
上週末Andy 參加海洋系列划船賽的第二回合賽, 競賽地點是在比 Long Reef 更北邊的 Palm Beach, 從北雪梨開車約1小時的車程.

To me, it was a race hosted by very professional organiser, not because there were a coffee ventor nearby, a BBQ sandwich stand offering hot grilled sandwiches (well, my judgment is mainly bcs of freshly brewed coffee...), but because of the smooth registration procedure before race, 2 hosts as commentators carrying on the race report in the entire race, they also interviewed the winners after the race...etc
個人覺得這次的主辦單位十分專業, 當然不是因為現場有義式咖啡餐車, 和BBQ 熱食供應(well, 當然有現煮咖啡讓我私心的給主辦單位加分不少), 主要是當天從報名到簡報, 到開賽流程都很順暢, 賽事進行中, 還有兩位主持人兼現場轉播員, 一搭一唱報導比賽狀況, 比賽結束, 還訪問前幾名選手的心得.

Although the weather was not good, but Andy was in good condition this time and enjoyed this race a lot, that's main thing :-)
雖然當天天氣不怎麼樣, 但Andy 狀況不錯, 也划得很愉快, 這是參賽重點 :-)

the registration office
賽前報名站

the souvenirs from organiser
當天發的紀念品

many racers turn up
有多少人參加? 多到連停船位都難找得多...

the kayaking route which starting from inner of palm beach,
made a round circle to outer sea on the right,
then head to north of Lion Island,
then come back to finish point in inner bay, total 14K.
比賽從海灣內開始往外灘繞, 之後在往北繞過獅子島,
再回到灣內結束, 總長14公里

racers heading to starting point
參赛者開始往起點集合

this racer as well, with a bottle of water and a banana.....
這位參賽者也是, 只是加帶了一瓶水跟一根香蕉...

And I am glad that I had chance to film the starting of race clearly this time,
這次還很幸運地可以很清楚的拍到開賽時況,

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變色的農婦週報 / my poor garden

春天是可人的季節, 大街小巷, 公園, 海邊, 只要看得到植物的地方, 一定看得到花朵, 不管是大的小的, 素的豔的, 每種都能讓人流連.

看著自己照顧的植物長高, 長壯當然也是一件讓自己每天早上心情愉快的事, 我也很期望可以給各位發送農友週報 ---- 但---是 ---- 很不幸的, 因為情況急轉直下, 我只能給各位發殺戮戰報了!!

是什麼讓農婦的綠姆指染上鮮血? 讓農婦每天早上殺紅了眼? 一早起來即殺氣騰騰的往盆栽衝去, 在植物叢林裡穿梭, 見一隻殺一隻, 見兩隻殺一對, 管他是新生幼兒, 還是母子同行覓食, 全部殺無赦! 我也很想與萬物和平相處, 如果他們不吃到我的盆栽變盆災, 我也不至於開殺戒...

現在就請各位來評斷吧...

被鬼剃頭的薄荷
the empty stalks of mint :-(

長黑點, 之後變黃, 掉光的葉子, 白粉蝨幼蟲的傑作
the mint leaves have spots, then turn yellow, then fall off,
-- the work of the baby whitefly

變黃,  倒地的荷蘭芹
the weary, falling parsley

黃葉子下躲了好幾隻吸汁吸得飽飽胖胖的蚜蟲
there are a few chubby, contented aphids underneath the yellow stalks

還是有欣喜的事啦 -- 像仙女棒的蔥花 :-)
well, one pleasant thing is that the spring onion has flower,
just like sparklers

贊成該殺的舉手!

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台北有多遠? 過橋就到了!

上個週末順道去了真正的China Town (在雪梨市中心 Hay Street) 用午餐, 這裡的港味較重, 但是幾家重點的台式餐點也落在這裡.

何謂港味重呢? 因為街名都有粵語音譯, 例如 Hay Street 譯為"禧街", 聽起來真吉利, 又如下圖:

粵人先民足跡踏遍全球, 並在各地開花結果, 造福了21世紀的我可在一步之遙買到白米, 醬油, 實有一隻草一點露的感受, 又想百來年前, 這些先民在東西文化交流未開時期, 是怎麼在這個異域落腳, 跟異人打交道? 一瓶從家鄉帶來的醬油可用多久? 怎麼打聽家鄉消息?
唉呀..., 只是來這裡找東西吃午餐, 怎麼有這麼多勞騷了?! 因為.....



重點在中華民國21年!

 發了思古憂情讓人特別餓..., 預計找大名鼎鼎的"台北禚家餃子館 (Cho Dumping King), 但因是臨時起意來到這兒, 當然是找不到, 進了China Town 主街, 映入眼簾的是朱媽媽台灣小吃, 朱媽媽頗有台味是因為她有兩店隔著走道, 一邊賣鹹食, 一邊賣甜點, 實在很像台灣夜市的家族經營模式 :-)

有進入華西夜市的錯覺

點了偽鍋貼, 燙青菜

加黑白切, 兩杯豆漿, 共 AUD28
頓時又讓我從台北回到雪梨....

用完餐, Andy 說要帶我去一家日本糕點店, 店名"風月堂", 裡面賣的是蜂蜜蛋糕, 芋頭酥, 鳳梨酥, 牛軋糖, 蛋捲, 起酥皮蛋糕卷, 各位看出端倪了嗎? 明明就是一家正台灣點心店!

這趟China Town 之行就在含淚付了AUD30 的停車費後, 畫下句點..., 下次打死我都不開車來China Town...

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