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https://www.mymapblog.com//rss/valez The lasts posts from user valez en-us
Unfortunately, I was not lucky at Cummins' Stables, so tomorrow I will leave Wahroonga and go towards Richard Webb, looking at all the stables and trainers I found during my research this wednesday. Except for researching, I did nothing but a little walk with Tess again. So this was my unspectacular 10th day in Sydney...

Thursday, 30th of April
Just arrived in Wollongong, which probably is a quite nice city. The train track from Sydney leads directly on the coast at some times and the view is definitely beautiful, unfortunately it rained all the journey. Just at the moment, I called a riding stable about 30 km NW from Wollongong for a job, but she couldn't give me one. Luckily, she gave me the number of a friend of hers, who is struggling to find help in Sydney... So if I am the lucky one this time, everything goes back again.... Now, nothing happens until tomorrow, I am very exciting about Jacqueline calling me...





]]> http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/01_05_09/Wollongong_und__mal_wieder__Sydney/ http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/01_05_09/Wollongong_und__mal_wieder__Sydney/
Spent the whole day in Sydney, strawling over Circular Quay, taking even more pictures. Afterwards I visited the Botanical Garden, which is a very nice plays for killing time. Huge trees of all kinds, as well as hundreds of birds. Seagulls, ducks, cockatoos and ibis (which are the big white ones I saw at Pitts Street the other day).
Then was in the City Library, ver nice, too. Had internet access for nothing, looking for a job. Isn't really easy here. Delicious lunch, made from three rice paper rolls, very filling. Then home with the train again. Looked in Wahroonga itself, but doesn't seem to have a great chance for working, but even more than for an accomodation. Have to go to Hornsby tomorrow, perhaps they can show me a place to live. Also applied myself to a gas station, where I have to come again tomorrow morning, as well as to a sandwich bar and a chicken grill restaurant. For the supermarket and the pizza bakery I will need a reference, which must be written by Melissa.
For all cases, if nothing matches, I will go to Ryde again and on Sunday going on for Canberra. It is worth a trial!

Friday, 24th of April

After breakfast, I went to walk Tess, then went to Hornsby, where a very big shopping mall is located to ask for jobs and accomodation. Unfortunately, they also need a reference, but I will get it tomorrow. I also bought a simcard for my mobile so that my applications can be actualized and poor Melissa is not in need anymore to answer the phonecalls (not that there have been any...)
In this shopping mall, there is a big music shop with guitars, pianos, drums, saxophones, trumpets and trombones, as well as many, many notes. Unfortunately, I was not able to take a picture because of the copyright. They also have a ALDI, where I found some almond Spekulatius, which is a German biscuit we usually have for Christmas.

I also visited the Library for dating up my blog, unfortunately this cost 2,60 AUD for 60 minutes. But Melissa's computer is too old, it is always breaking down when I'm uploading my pictures.
Went home relatively early, at around 1:00 p.m., because the more I see, the more I buy, the less money I have..
Then walked Tess again, Melissa and the boys went for Christiane's place for dinner, so I had a very quiet afternoon which I used for looking for jobs,writing applications and so on. For dinner, I had noodles with eggnog-pesto and sourdough bread with olives and ham.
Went to bed at about 10:30 p.m., after having put my laundry in the washing mashine.

Saturday, 25th of April

Today is ANZAC day, which reminds of the day, when 77 Australians won a war against 990 Japanese soldier, when I understood this correctly. There are ceremonies and services all over the cities, many celebrations, and the families are baking very tasty ANZAC biscuits, which are made from oat flakes, flour, syrup and a bit of cinnamon, I think. Have to look for a recipe.
Now updating my blog, having it translated in German...

Sunday, 26th of April
Was in Sydney, visiting Rocks Market, which is not mostly a foods market, but an arts and painting market. They have many nice things there, boomerangs, didgeridoos, clocks that look like surfboards and many more.
Then I walked over Harbour Bridge, had a very nice view from there. Unfortunately it was very windy at Milson's Place, so I did not spent much time there. Then I drove home again, sat myself in the Wahroonga Park, taking some pictures of the birds. Unfortunately, I am always way too slow, because if I notice that they are leaving, they are already gone... So I only got them whilst sitting on the trees. Perhaps tomorrow is my lucky day...
This evening I decided to leave Wahroonga as soon as my bank card has arrived. Heading up towards Cairns, having stopps in maybe Port Macquarie and so on, already placed an issue in the internet to find a lift.

Monday, 27th of April
Walked Tess, when I got home, Robert's back from Florida. Whilst listening to him, my mobile rang and Robert Webb, a Western trainer from South NSW, border to VIC, called me because of my e-mail. Unfortunately, he is only needing me from 25th of May, so there are still 4 more weeks to go, and it's the wrong direction, because here in the south the weather is getting really cold and ugly, if I can believe Melissa, which I do, of course.
Now, I'm going to walk in the Park, maybe travelling to Hornsby or maybe Sydney, don't know, and this evening I will look for another accomodation and hostels on my way down.

Whilst listening to him, my mobile rang and Robert Webb, a Western trainer from South NSW, border to VIC, called me because of my e-mail. Unfortunately, he is only needing me from 25th of May, so there are still 4 more weeks to go, and it's the wrong direction, because here in the south the weather is getting really cold and ugly, if I can believe Melissa, which I do, of course.
Now, I'm going to walk in the Park, maybe travelling to Hornsby or maybe Sydney, don't know, and this evening I will look for another accomodation and hostels on my way down.
Was in Hornsby after taking some pictures of the birds living in the Park. Unfortunately, I am way too slow to get a picture of a cockatoo flying away.
In Hornsby, I just strawled around, trying to find some accomodation,but I am not sure, if I was lucky. I got an email from Bart Cummings, who is Australias most famouse racehorse trainer and for this, I looked for accommodation near Randwick Racecourse, which luckily is near the Univeristy.
Afterwards I got home, took Tess for another walk and then had a real German dinner which Rob prepared for us: German Bratwurst and fried potatoes. Very tasty.
The evening I spent with planning my further trip.

Tuesday, 28th of April

After the usual morning walk with Tess, I walked to the Park, getting some more nice pictures of the cockatoos, unfortunately not flying, but they, in opposite to the parrots, really seem to like being photographed. The parrots I couldn't even see.
Then went to Sydney for another visit at the Sydney's Music Conservatorium, for checking mails and so on and after having lunch (a delicious greek lamb wrap), I went to Randwick Racecourse, unfortunately the foreman was not there, so I have to go there again tomorrow morning. If I am really lucky, they'll give me a job as a rider, so that I can work there for nearly 4 weeks and then, by 25th of May, go down to Illabo, which is almost in Victoria, and work for 2 more weeks with Richard Webb, who is a cutting horse trainer.
And when I am even more lucky, I also can get an accommodation direct at the stables, so no money needs to be spent on that. If not, I will look for the nearest possible one and hopefully be able to hire a bicycle, because to walk it is really, really far. Such a huge area...




]]> http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/27_04_09/Wahroonga%2C_Sydney_and_good_news/ http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/27_04_09/Wahroonga%2C_Sydney_and_good_news/ Didn't sleep well, and because the plane is leaving at 9:40 a. m., I decided when I heard the Muezzin, to go up, have a shower and breakfast and so we left at about 6:30.
At the Changi Airport, I had an excellent foot massage and afterwards we went for a second breakfast which was a huge plate of about 12 sushi rolls for only 9 $!!! This is about 4.50? and we're at the Airport! In Germany, this plate surely had a price of 20? or even more. It was sooo delicious! In general, the food is very cheap and very diversivied and so on. Would be nice to visit Singapore again, but this time not for the weekend but from Monday to Friday...
We had to board the aircraft, the A380, with delay because of technical problems, I think, and because of a thunderstorm, we couldn't take off until 10:10 a. m. Flight was not this long, ?only? 7:40 h, but it was long enough. Luckily, I get the window place, so I could take some good pictures, unfortunately, my camera is not that good, so I wasn't able to picture Sydney appearing in the dark...
But that was great! Having flown for approximately 4 hours, the last 2 of them only over the sea, we finally reached Australia! This aircraft has a great board entertaining system, even a camera is integrated in the tail of it, so that you can see exactly what is going on in front of you. It was such a impressional view to really see this country and as I peeked out of the window about every 30 minutes and there was no change in the view, only red land, divided by some very seldom lakes and riverbeds, it was really an adventure!
It nearly took another 3,5 hours until we reached Sydney, and we flew directly from Darwin straight over the country, being on target for Sydney. I knew Australia is a big continent, but HOW big, I didn't realize...
The QANTAS crew again was very friendly and each and every hour brought something to eat, drinks or anything, so I hardly wasn't able to read a single chapter in my book... When we arrived, still delay half an hour, we went straight on to the customs, where queues were standing, nearly as long as the ones at the Night Safari. Of course, we filled out the form the QANTAS team handed to us, and so we had to go to the quarantine, showing the officer everything we brought with us, and he waved us through! Told us, food is packed well enough, shoes are not as dirty and so this chapter was over very fast.
At the exit, Ria and Victor Lahoud picked me up, together with their son-in-law, Eddie. Luckily, my uncle was able to build up this connection, so I was not alone for the first week. So I said goodbye to Marvin and we drove for Wharoonga which is a suburb of Sydney in the North of the town. Sydney is soo huge, it is very widespread, not with so many skycrapers as you can see in Singapore, but even more comparative small houses. The trip nearly took 45 minutes, and when we finally arrived, I was carsick. Getting used to the left-hand-driving will last, I am afraid....
Now I got to know Melissa and Robert, who is the son of Ria and Victor, as well as their cute little schnauzer dog tess, who is only 6 months old and very, very cute. They also have two little boys, James is 5, blondhaired, and Alexander is already 8 years old and darkhaired. But these two were already sleeping when I arrived. Robert and Melissa live in a huge house, near the station of Wharoonga, and they have so much room and space, they even have a tennis court as well as a swimmingpool right in their backyard. When I was shown my room, I nearly got a nervous breakdown, because it is sooooooo big, have my own bathroom and toilet, an enormous bed and it is soooooo quiet here, exactly what I needed to get over the jetlag. So the family is very, very nice and totally helpful, whereas the kids are a bit (very) fussy and when you have them around you all day, its very exhausting because there are Easter Holidays right now.
At this evening, I fell into bed at about 10 o'clock and slept like a log, until the kids awoke me at about 7:30 a.m.

Tuesday, 22nd of April

Robert has to leave for a conference in Florida, he's a ?Infertilization Doc?, and away very often. AT 8:00 a.m., Ria and Victor picked me up to show me Sydney, as well as presented me to their daughter, Muna, and their children Sofia, 6 years old, and Anthony, who is only 4 years old. They are living in Ryde at the moment, so we took Sofia with us and went to the ferry at Meadowbanks. This brought us to the Circular Quay, where the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House are located. Because of the school holidays, the ferry was way too crowded and very, very noisy and I got seasick again. When I was a child, I could bare this, but the older I get, the less I can stand the motion of the sea.
Sofia is very chatty, never stopping to talk. But she is a nice little girl, explains me all the words I don't know and eagerly learns all the German words I tell her. After about 45 minutes we finally reached the Quay and I really was disappointed when watching the Bridge and the Opera House. Would have thought they are much bigger! We walked down the Pitts Street, where strange big white birds were sitting, no seagulls and no pigeons (which, by the way, are looking far the same as they do in Germany), but unfortunately I could not take a picture of him. Perhaps I would get another chance. We went back to the car by train, public transport is relatively cheap in Sydney, there are day tickets which only cost about 15 or 16$ and you can use them as well as for the ferry, for the bus and for the train. At Meadowbanks, we drove to a Woolwoth's to buy some things for dinner and I got my first package of Tim Tams. Am excited how they taste. Look way different as I expected. Then we went back to Ryde for dinner, which was a very delicious Libanesian one: Mihschi wark enab, which were filled grapewine leafs (filling made of rice, onions and herbs), Kafta, a sort of meat balls, grilled over the oven, and Za'tar, which is a very oily sauce made of olive oil, oregano and salt, when I remember right. We also had delicious, but very filly Libanesian bread. All tasted very yummy, but afterwards I could have been rolled, was so sated!
Went home, the suburb is by the way called Wahroonga, at about 8:30 p.m. And updated my blog.

Wednesday, 23rd of April

Melissa is soooooooooo nice and friendly, when I get home again, I will be really spoiled! Had my first Weetbix for breakfast, very tasty, but also totally filling which should not be so bad for breakfast, I think. Was allowed to use the Lahoud's computer to check mails because for the wireless you need some password, Robert's gone and Melissa doesn't know it. At about 8:30 a.m. we were taking Alex and James to the tennis camp. Poor Tess had to stay at home.
At the tennis camp I was introduced to Melissa's friend, Alicia, whose two sons are about the same age as Alex and James, and they both took me off for shopping. We went to another huge shopping mall in Hornsby, where I bought an adapter for my camera, laptop and mobile phone; a laundry sack and also a wire lock for my suitcase at KATHMANDU, which is an outdoor supplier. They by chance are having a sale-out, so that the prices are off up to 40%, so I was only paying about 12 AUD for all these items. Afterwards Melissa helped me to open up a bank account at Westpac bank, so that I can have my employees put the money on it. We then went shopping, having a coffee and I finally got some plasters for my blisters, which were quite expensive, about 16 AUD! But it was a pharmacy, so I should have expected this. Melissa invited me for lunch, which was a very delicious sushi plate, but quite expensive. About the same size as the one at Changi airport, but it here costs about 8 AUD. Nevertheless, it was quite tasty. We had it after picking up the kids again, Alissia, Matthew and Scott joined us. After lunch, I took poor Tess, who had to wait in the garden all morning, for a walk towards the railway station. We went through a park where many cockatoos are living in the trees. I think I saw same parrots too, but of them I am not sure. Took some pictures, but unfortunately the trees are very big, the cockatoos relatively small and my camera not this good, so I hope I can take better pictures during this week.
We then got back, Alissia's gone and Melissa phoned her German friend, Christiana, who is drawing maps of Australia, and her husband Jerry, who is an IT-specialist for the betting software at the race courses. She agreed in giving me a good map of Sydney, so we went to visit her. Very nice family, too. Was very, very helpful. Had some delicious ANZAC biscuits because it's ANZAC day on Saturday, made me some coffee and gave me this exact Sydney map, which would sure be very, very helpful, when I am in the City on my own.
As Gerry went home from work, he just sat down in his office and contacted many old acquaintances, for helping my to find a job. He gave me a big list of web-addresses, telephone numbers and names to look at. It is soo good not to having to search for all this on my own!
It is getting here at about 6:00 p.m., which is very early, I think. So we then went home, let poor Tess come in the house again and had some pasta and Schnitzel for dinner. Now I am going to ask Melissa if I may use her internet, so that I can load up this blog and all the pictures... ]]> http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/23_04_09/Exploring_Sydney/ http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/23_04_09/Exploring_Sydney/
Nach einem sehr anstrengenden(da 12 Stunden langen und fast komplett gefüllten Flieger), aber zum Glück ereignislosen Flug bin ich zusammen mit meinem Bekannten Marvin in Singapur gelandet. Vor dem Auschecken hatten wir richtig Bammel, da man ja weiß, wie die Singaporer zu Drogen und sonstigen Vergehen stehen und man auch sehr viel Übles hört. In unserem Fall trafen die ganzen Gerüchte glücklicherweise nicht zu, wir mussten nur unsere Rucksäcke und Koffer auf die Durchleuchtungsbänder legen und das wars. Keine Drogenhunde oder sonstiges. Sehr angenehm.
Alsdann alle Koffer ihren jeweiligen Besitzer gefunden hatten, begaben wir uns auf direktem Wege zur MRT-Station, um mit dem Elektrozug zum Hostel zu fahren. Das zu finden gestaltete sich als nicht ganz so einfach, da die Differenzierung zwischen rechts und links zu diversen Missverständnissen führte. Auf jeden Fall waren wir nach ca. 2 Stunden erfolgreich und konnten einchecken. Ausser einer etwas dubiosen Beleuchtung und seltsamen hygienischen Verhältnissen scheint es aber ganz ok zu sein, wobei mich die Preise doch etwas schockiert haben. Für eine einzige Nacht in einem gemischten Sechserzimmer 28 Dollar plus 10 Dollar für das Schlüsselpfand... Dazu liegt das Hostel noch direkt neben einer Moschee, wo wir des Nächtens sicher auch viel Spaß haben werden, aber das ist ja nur die Einstimmung auf Sydney, von daher... Mein erster Gang (nach dem Essen gehen) wird mich auf jeden Fall zum Sandalen- und Sarikaufen führen und ansonsten lassen wir uns überraschen.
Hier ist es mittlerweile zwanzig vor zehn abends und so langsam macht sich Hunger breit.
Leider haben wir nichts mehr gefunden zu Essen, da die ganzen Straßenrestaurants um zehn zumachen, also blieb nur noch der mitgebrachte Flugzeugproviant.


Freitag, 17. April 2009

Die Nacht war nicht so schlimm wie befürchtet, keine schnarchenden Zimmergenossen, nur einmal kamen welche recht lautstark rein, aber damit muss man wohl leben in einem Hostel.
Das mit dem Frühstück passt, sehr leckerer Teller mit Früchten und dazu zwei Scheiben Toast, Marmelade und Kaffee. Für die letzten Nächte bin ich umgezogen, in ein reines Frauen-Zimmer, acht Betten, davon 4 Deutsche, eine Asiatin, zwei Neuseeländerinnen und eine Irin.
Heute waren wir erst in Chinatown, dann am Clarke Quay und als sich unsere Wege dann trennten, bin ich noch nach Little India, da gibt?s feines Essen, wollte noch die Night Safari machen, aber das hat leider nicht mehr gereicht, da die Entfernungen hier doch recht groß sind. Hoffentlich klappt das am Samstag noch, nach Sentosa Island.


Samstag, 18. April 2009

Nix wars mit Sentosa Island, viel zu voll. Waren dafür auf Kusu Island und St. Johns Island, leider haben wir die Mittagsfähren verpasst und hatten daher nur eine sehr kurze Sequenz von jeweils 20 Minuten auf den beiden Inseln, aber war trotzdem schön. Dort gabs ein super nobles Seafood Restaurant, was eigentlich gar nicht für Backpacker ausgerichtet ist, aber trotz böser Vorahnungen war das Essen, das zwei Minuten, bevor wir ees bestellten, noch lebte, sehr sehr lecker und nicht teuer, umgerechnete 5 Euro pro Person für leckere Tiger Prawns mit Reis und einem Obstsalat aus Erdbeeren, Papaya und Äpfeln. Interessante Kombination.
Wetter sehr schwül, sehr heiß, aber einigermaßen menschenleer. Dagegen die Nachtsafari war totaaaaal voll, dummerweise ist halt Samstag und daher dreiviertel Singapore unterwegs zu all den Ausflugszielen, die unsereins auch anschauen will. Zwischen den beiden Ausflügen waren wir noch am Raffles Place und dort am Fluss gesessen. An der Promenade reiht sich ein Restaurant ans andere, was für Europäer sehr gewöhnungsbedürftig ist ist die Art der Asiaten, vor jedes Lokal jemanden mit Speisekarte zu stellen, die dann die Kunden werben. Sehr nervig und das Essen, zu dem wir uns schlussentlich entschieden haben, war viel teurer und viel weniger und viel unleckerer als das im Nobelrestaurant... ]]> http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/19_04_09/Five_days_Singapore/ http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/19_04_09/Five_days_Singapore/
Right now, there are only 10 days left to go and very slowly, I'm getting nervous...
Now everything's done except for packing and this I have to do today and tomorrow so that the next (and last....) week in Germany can be used for visiting friends and other nice things which I never made before here in Germany...]]> http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/05_04_09/Preparations_for_Singapore/ http://www.mymapblog.com/valez/05_04_09/Preparations_for_Singapore/