tattler magazine

*from Sydney by Eskimo Joe. Debby is currently based in Sydney where she is on the ground scoping out the best places and things for you to go, see, eat and do.

Sydney = Darling Harbour. Harbour Bridge. Centrepoint. Opera house. Bondi Beach. Koalas. Kangaroos.

That’s what most people would think of. But oh, there is so much more to see and do in Sydney – even if you are on the budget of a university student.

This leap into the unknown (well relatively speaking, the last time I was in Sydney was 2003, so much has changed) was exciting more than scary. I’m one of those people who focuses more on the fun and independence versus the change and loneliness. So what do I really feel about this sweet escape of mine? Well, this half year exchange has allowed me to prove to others (mainly my family) that I can do household chores, cook some tasty dishes and take care of myself. So, I’m more of the ‘prove it to others’ than ‘prove it to myself’ kind of girl.

Being away from Singapore thus far makes me wish some things would change for the better over there. People say “hi” or “how’s it going” to the bus driver when the board the bus and shout “thank you” all the way from the back of a crowded bus when alighting. When sales people say “hey, welcome to xx,” customers give a simple “hey” instead of the typical Singaporean ‘ignore what he/she just said.

I also love how people balance between work and play, as seen by how lecturers and tutors find it perfectly acceptable that students skip out on class due to the long Easter weekend. I’ve managed to escape the classic case of students trying to bullshit as much as they can to gain participation points in class. People here contribute freely, most of the time; discussions take up most of tutorials! Sydney has allowed me to have an excellent balance between school and a social life, since school is 3 times a week, 3 hours a day. I have the freedom to hang out at the museum, watch a concert, discover a new eatery and chill by the beach. Oh the lovely things you can do when the weather is perfect at 20 degrees and the sunshine warms your soul.

For the past two months, I’ve been walking (and I mean a whole lot of walking) around and exploring the city. The foodie in me started searching online blogs of Aussies with cafes and restaurants to recommend. Abbotsford. Balmain. Campbelltown. Darlinghurst. All these suburbs, where are they? Luckily for me, www.131500.com.au comes to the rescue. Simply type in your origin and your destination, the day of travel, the time to reach/leave and all the possible public transport options are made available. What’s more, the transport system works on a tight schedule, which tells you to be at Platform W of X station at Y time in order to get to your destination by Z hours.

But I have learnt not to trust the bus timetable. I’ve sat on the bench for a good half an hour, with the freezing wind blowing and not seeing the bus come, despite the two timings within the half hour — which explains the whole lot of walking I’ve been doing. So, just do as I do. You’ll get there before the bus does, in all likelihood. If you’re in a rush, flag a cab, but it will cost you at least $5 for a two minute ride (I’ve done this before when Iwas late for school and could not walk fast enough). But if you’re out late (i.e. past midnight), it is safest for you to take a cab, despite the hefty $60 ride (once again, I’ve paid for this at 3am for a 20 minute ride).

But I digress. The range of cuisines and the yummy-factor of the food are incredible. From kebabs, to fish and chips, to $10 steaks, to French pastries, to kimchi spicy soups, you name it, it’s there (just the question of whether the shops are open when you are hungry remains — which will most probably leave you with Korean food, since those are the only ones that open till late). As for beverages, alcohol is the way to go. Get a glass of champagne for AUD$7, a cocktail for $5 and a shot for $3. Personally, I have yet to see a hungover student attend lecture. So don’t everything anything you hear. But I have seen girls totally wasted at 8pm on a Friday night. Shattered pieces of glass beer bottles on the streets at 1am on a Saturday. And vomit spewed all over the bus stops at 10am on Sunday morning. So yes, people do party hard.

My food recommendations:

1. Seoul Ria – Level 2, 605-609 George St, Haymarket - One of the many Korean eateries in the city open till 3am. They have the longest supper menu I’ve ever seen!

2. La Renaissance – 47 Argyle Street, The Rocks - I love the French lady behind the counter who counts what you owe her in French. Doesn’t hurt that the chocolate éclairs are to die for.

3. Green Chillies Thai Sydney – Shop 5 & 6, 113 Oxford St, Darlinghurst -The Seafood Tom Yum is the perfect mix of spicy and sour. Plus, rice is on the house

4. Ju Ju – Kingsgate Shopping Centre Shop 320 Bayswater Rd, Kings Cross - You need to take off your shoes and carry them to your table in a plastic bag. Real Japanese service staff, with real Japanese food. Karaoke starts at 10pm!

5. A La Turko – All around Sydney @ http://www.alaturko.com – The yummiest kebabs and pides

6. Bondi Surf Seafood – 128 Campbell Parade, Bondi Beach – FRIED MARS BARS. ‘nuff said.

Which brings me to the topic of music festivals, performances at bars, concerts and musicals. Music festivals are not purely for the young, but the young at heart as well. At the recent Sound Relief concert, I had a pair of five year old twins sitting next to me, jumping up and down to the sounds of Jet. When it started to rain at the event, it certainly did not dampen the spirits of the festival goers. Instead they ran around the field and got soaking wet, something you’d never see Singaporeans do. They would probably grumble and get out their umbrellas. (Oh how I love the laidback and carefree nature here!) The list of acts to see is endless if you were to check out sites like www.ticketek.com.au and www.ticketmaster.com.au, all at fairly affordable prices. In the month of March, international acts such as The Fray, Oasis, Coldplay, Taylor Swift, Lily Allen, Snow Patrol and The Killers all came down to Sydney. If you love attending live performances as much as I do, you’d be utterly broke yet supremely contented with life by the end of March. If you prefer more indie acts, simply check out www.moshtix.com.au, with listings of up and coming performers at smaller clubs and bars.

On Thursdays after three hours in school, it has become a habit to hop onto a bus to get into the city. After all, Thursdays mean late-night shopping with stores opening till 8pm -the norm back in Singapore, but here, most shops close at 5pm. Every week, without fail, there will be some form of sale in store, from 20% off shoes, to 25% off for students, to 30% off books. Walking around George Street, one can see all the brands Australia has to offer, such as Sportsgirl, Dotti, Supre, Country Road and Witchery.

My most feel good purchase to date:

Step into a Myer and you’ll get everything you could possibly need under one roof. But if you are interested in cheap bargains, be sure to check out factory outlets like Birkenhead Point and DFO, with popular brands offering discounts of up to 70% on previous season apparel. Or you could check out the markets of Paddington, Bondi, Glebe and Balmain on the weekends if you like to scour for one-of-a-kind pieces.

This sounds like a “Come Walkabout Australia” ad, but it only goes to show what a blast I am currently having here (plus, there’s so much more I could write about). So if you are ever in need of escaping from reality – and have some spare cash lying around, hop onboard a plane and you’ll arrive in Sydney within 8 hours.