BOOK REVIEW - "VELOCITY: A MEMOIR"

I read another autobiography - this time written by an Australian, Mandy Sayer. She was telling about her difficult and troubled childhood, coming from a broken family. Being a single mother, her mom seemed just could not be independent without a man beside her and unfortunately, she chose to live with someone who was abusive. The mother herself was an alcoholic and had attempted suicide numerous times. They ran away from Sydney to Melbourne, and yet, the man still managed to track them down. Despite all the difficult times she had to face, the writer still attended school, completed her education and survived.

I think almost all the autobiographies I read had very sad beginnings, especially when the writers were all growing up. Sayer had successfully told her story living in Sydney in 1960's and I am glad I am familiar with many of the places mentioned in the plot. 

I am already reading another book, but I don't think I could finish it before the school reopens next week.

THE LAST DAY IN SYDNEY: LAKEMBA AND THEN GOING THAI

With a few more hours remaining, Mr. Ridwan took me to another small town called Lakemba. Here, many Asians are residing so it is one place where you can shop for local groceries although the price would be much more expensive than you can get at home.

And we ate out again and this time we went to a Thai restaurant. One good thing about Australia is there are many immigrants from Asian countries so you can get halal food and restaurants around the place.

I think that is all about my journey to Australia for 9 days - 3 days in Gold Coast and 6 days in Sydney. It was definitely the days I enjoyed and would not know whether I could have the chance to experience Australia in the future. Thanks again to Mr. Ridwan, Puan Suhaila and their daughter, Reihana for welcoming me and making me feel at home. Goodbye Australia, goodbye Sydney.

LAST DAY IN SYDNEY: KOALA PARK

The very last destination of my visit to Sydney was the Koala Park. The animal sanctuary was not that big and it had a small collection of local Australian animals. The main attractions here would be the koalas and penguins. There was a petting session with the koalas and feeding session with the penguins. And during my last day in Australia, I finally touched and petted a real koala. These animals are really cute, I don't mind taking back home one. Actually, they are not tame as the ones we saw in the sanctuary. In the wild, koalas are wild and aggressive. So never ever judge a book by its cover.

19th DECEMBER - PICNIC LUNCH SYDNEY STYLE

We stopped at a park by the Hawkesbury River for a picnic lunch. Not many people were around the picnic area but they were somewhere else not that far away. This is because there was a jet ski competition going on, so we managed to get a free jet ski show while enjoying our pasta. Compliments abound to the people preparing the food and the chance to picnic under the Sydney summer sky.

19th DECEMBER - EXPLORING HAWKESBURY (PART ONE)

Finally I have come to my final day of my 9-day visit to Australia. Hope that you have not grown bored reading my elaborate writing of my travelogue.

On the last day of my stay in Sydney, Mr. Ridwan and the other family members took me to Hawkesbury. Our first stop was the Hawkesbury Regional Museum which discovered by accident. Since it was a free entry museum, so we spent a little time there, learning about the story of this quaint town in the suburb of Sydney.

Rabbits with wings? They are a hoax actually

ROAMING A PARK IN SYDNEY AT DUSK

To experience a lifestyle of a Sydneysider, then a walk in the park is compulsory. Sorry I could not remember the name of this place that we visited, will ask Mr. Ridwan later.

One good thing about visiting a foreign country in the summer is you can always spend more time outside. We were there at the park until 8:00 in the evening (or much later than that) and managed to observe the sunset at dusk. Looking at the last three pictures, I am now considering taking up serious photography.