Singapore - Mah Jong Update

Mixed Results
I played Mah Jong a few times, starting off slowly and finishing stronger. I generally felt like I was more in control of what I was doing and knew what was going on. I was aware of the wind of the round and my own wind at all times. I made some mistakes but I knew what they were. I also made some big scores, the best of which was a $45 hand - the last hand of the last game I played. Unfortunately, with typical facetiousness, I lambasted the player to my left for being unfriendly - as in not feeding me any good tiles. I was joking. I ended up offending the poor lady, a family friend I'd just met. Later, when Dodo's mom complained to her about it I was once again reminded that my serious, fierce face doesn't lend itself to dry jokes with strangers...

Singapore - Fort Canning Park

Highest Point in Downtown
I wouldn't have believed I was surrounded by downtown's tall buildings if I hadn't left them ten minutes prior to clambering to the top of this tiny park. At 200 feet it's the highest point in the central business district and is thought to be the burial site of ancient Malay kings dating back 600 years. When the English arrived and started building a fort on top of the hill they couldn't convince the locals to help - it was then known as Bukit Larangan, which means "forbidden hill."

Singapore - the Towers, Final Chapter

Checking out the Roof Deck
I'm pretty excited about my roof deck so I take any chance I can to see one and get ideas. Granted, this one is 57 stories up, on top of the three towers I've been following for over a year, but I was still eager. We figured a week day afternoon would be less crowded and we were right. After a quick elevator ride we stepped out onto what felt like the top of the world.

Sydney - the Map

The Map
I made a map of the places I went. Navigate to the map by clicking on the link that says "Sydney", below.

View Sydney in a larger map

Sydney - Language

What I Call the "-ie" Phenomenon
Australians love to shorten words and add an "-ie" or "-y" to them. Excuse me, I mean "Aussies" love to....

Some examples:
brekkie - breakfast
bikkie - biscuit
brickie - bricklayer
greenie - environmentalist
hottie - hot water bottle (not a sexy woman)
kindie - kindergarten
middy - beer glass that measures 285 milliliters

Sydney - the Election

First Hung Parliament in 70 Years
Saturday night was the big night. They'd been building up for this moment for many months and the television and newspapers covered nothing else. Austalia was voting for a new prime minister and parliament. I had a hard time figuring out who the good guy was and who the bad guy was: it was the incumbent Julia Gillard against a Labor Party challenger named Tony Abbott. Apparently, noboby else could figure it out either. Neither won a majority. There are five independent seats out there for the grabbing which make all the difference in the outcome. Let the jockeying begin...

Sydney - Ferry

Direct to Manly Beach
We hopped on a ferry to Manly Beach, which is a thirty minute ride northeast, across the bay, on the Pacific Ocean. We got on the ferry at Circular Quay, home to one end of the Harbor Bridge and next door to the opera house.

Sydney - Getting Out to the Burbs

Everleigh Market
On Saturday morning I told the Dodo I was taking her out to the burbs. She didn't seem too excited to go - she kept asking me for the destination but I only said "a market." We hopped on a train for a few stops south to a neighborhood called Darlington. Our destination was the Everleigh market - a farmer's market that only takes place on Saturday.

Sydney - the Wharf

Staying With the Gentrification Theme
Just west of the harbor bridge is a large wharf which was the epicenter of the wool trade. It is now a renovated mix of stylish apartments and commercial space. Where wharfies once toiled endlessly for low pay, the upwardly mobile now sip lattes and fine wine. I'd be referring to myself if I weren't imminently downwardly mobile....

Sydney - Strange Bird Identified

Australian White Ibis
Relative of the African Ibis, the one venerated by the ancient Egyptians as symbol of the god Thoth. Sadly, the Aussie cousins seem to have fallen in the pecking order, fighting it out with pigeons for park scraps.

Sydney - Gentrification

Surry Hills
This old neighborhood dates back to the early 1800's and was named after Surrey Hills in Surrey, England. It's the usual story - close to downtown, folks abandoned it for the suburban dream and in the 1970's the entire neighborhood was derelict. Lately, it has made a big comeback.

Sydney - Transport

Jumping the Train
I woke up starving this morning and Dodo had already gone to work. I wanted to get out of the CBD (central business district) so I jumped a train/metro south a few stops.

Sydney - Eastern Suburbs

It's Obvious Why Downtown Clears Out Early
Puffin told me to pay attention to how quickly after work the downtown area shuts down and empties out. On a visit to the eastern suburbs it became clear to me why.

Sydney - the Opera House

More Interesting Close Up
I took a walk after breakfast on the inner harbor. I walked through the huge botanical gardens east of downtown unaware that they lead directly to the opera house. Up close, the angles are much more interesting, especially in direct sunlight.