An Alfresco Lunch at the Opera Kitchen

Photo by Ronnie Alonzo

Photo by Ronnie Alonzo

I was looking forward to this lunch for a few good reasons. 1) it was a chance to catch up with a former student - and it was his treat, 2) in all my years of stay in Sydney I have never eaten in any of the dining establishments at the Opera House and 3) I wanted to bask in the sun and the majestic view Sydney Harbour had to offer. The Opera Kitchen can be found in the Lower Concourse Level of the Opera House at Bennelong Point. It is a fair bit of walk from Circular Quay Station but very scenic so you would not even mind the distance. For a tourist, every angle along that walk would call for a photo opportunity.

The long but casual walk my student and I made from Wynyard to Circular Quay worked up an appetite and it was a good thing that when we arrived at the restaurant, the place was just getting ready for the lunch hour so there were still seats available. The menu (Opera Kitchen) offered a range of dishes and reading the description each dish had was already mouth watering. We finally settled for the El Toro Burger (ground beef patty with chorizo, roasted capsicum, aged cheddar, rocket and smoked paprika mayonnaise with a side of fries) and a couple of Cokes. The queue at the counter for order taking was also starting to build up as tourists and corporate executives were already in lunch mode.

Within fifteen minutes our order arrived served on a wooden plate (looked more like a chopping board to me) with a small tub of tomato sauce for the fries. The burger itself was big and packed, not just with ingredients but with flavour as well! The fries was amazing, golden crispy on the outside but soft and tasty on the inside! The weather was sunny with a mild, cool breeze which was every alfresco dining dream. One draw back was the flock of sea gulls that constantly threaten to fly over our table and nick the french fries or our fingers. I found myself constantly shooing off the birds - maybe because I am not a fan of birds. Some of the diners did not mind the sea gulls one bit! Apart from the birds, the wait staff was quick, attended to our needs and very friendly. The whole place was clean and the toilets were immaculate - even with huge groups of tourists on toilet break. 

Good food, good company, good ambiance made for an excellent lunch date. 

Vivid Sydney 2012

Photo by: Cris Pacis

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

The very first city event I witnessed since arriving in Sydney last June was the much talked about Vivid Sydney 2012. I was with close friends who braved the winter night chill and walked around the city along with thousands of other people who came to witness the last night of the event.

Photo by: Cris Pacis

Photo by: Cris Pacis

Vivid Sydney is an ‘annual event of light, music and ideas’, check this link for more information: Vivid Sydney. The good thing about this event is the fact that it’s also free! Designated areas, places and landmarks around the Sydney CBD come alive after dark and become a feast for the eyes. It was amazing to see and think that such masterpieces were created by someone.  The arts scene is definitely active and alive and this event was a good outlet for such incredible creativity.

Photo by: Cris Pacis

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

I saw heaps of interactive light sculptures and light shows (the one done on customs house was tops for me – aside from the light show, it was some sort of a short animation of a typical working day in Sydney). Each exhibition had a description which was very informative as it contained the concept of the exhibit, the artist, among other factoids. If you view the map Vivid Sydney Program Map you will find a lot of exhibits of which I was only able to see maybe a quarter of the total – credit that too the freezing night, major-major long queues to any reputable dining establishment and wearing shoes that wasn’t meant for heavy walking. After two hours of going around Circular Quay, we just about had it and decided to walk all the way back to Town Hall to fetch the car and go home.

Photo by: Cris Pacis

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

Because this was my first experience of Vivid Sydney, in my eyes it was already good. My friends however said Vivid Sydney 2011 was far better than this year’s. They could be right but for a newbie like me, it was way beyond my expectations. I’m looking forward to what 2013 will bring to this event and for sure I’ll be better equipped (good walking shoes, load up on food to last me the night, a good DSLR in hand and I will try not to see it on the last night!).

The Beauty of Medicare

One of the things I appreciate about living in Sydney - or in Australia for that matter, is its established and very beneficial health care system. For a person like me who already has health issues, having a medicare card is like ice cream with a sweet cherry on top.

It's only now that I'm starting to discover how medicare can really help me. When I first migrated to Sydney I was granted a medicare card immediately and since I was ok - health-wise that is - I never got the chance to use it much and my knowledge of medicare was limited to never having to cash out for doctor consultations as well as public hospital admissions. 

This time around it's different. With several health issues already on my plate, since my arrival in June I've been to see my GP close to seven times, seen a cardiologist, an endocrinologist, a podiatrist and a dietician. I've had a couple of blood tests done and I'm booked in for an ultrasound next week. Guess what? No cash outs! Oh I had to cash out when I saw the podiatrist and endocrinologist but I got close to 95% back through medicare. Just to give you an example: a consultation with my GP without medicare costs $40, with medicare - nothing. My insulin (thank goodness I'm already off it) without medicare would cost me $400 (for 5 boxes with 5 pens in each), with medicare - $35. Healthcare is really expensive here, I guess it's expensive everywhere but if a country has an established healthcare system that really and I mean REALLY benefits the taxpayers I say well and good!

The next on my list is taking out private health care insurance to cover my dental consultation and procedures and of course to take advantage of the other benefits a private health care insurance covers (like a private room in a public hospital - it's like a freakin' hotel man!).       

Chocolateria San Churro

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

I've always held the saying "you never forget your firsts" when it came to my life experiences. That's why as much as possible I tried to make my firsts as good as it gets. But as life would have it, the memories of my firsts came with elements of good and not so good. Fret not, this post belongs to the "good!"

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

My very first experience with this fried dough pastry called churros was in Darling Harbour (shop 107/109 Harbourside Shopping Centre, Darling Harbour). Since I was with a former student, we ordered 'churros for two' consisting of six churros sprinkled with cinnamon and icing sugar and two dips - milk chocolate and dark chocolate (guess who picked the dark chocolate dip?).

The place itself was very cozy, dark brown was the colour of the place and the centrepiece was the counter filled with decadent chocolate desserts. The air filled with hot chocolate gave a sense of warm, fuzzy feeling - like I'm being hugged. Waiters took our order, served it and left  the tab to be paid at the counter before we left. I wouldn't mind coming back to this place (and maybe order the 'churros fiesta').

As soon as the churros came my mouth was already watering. The dough was crispy on the outside but so soft on the inside. Dipped it in chocolate and boom! Heaven exploded in my mouth. It was like a complete home on a plate.  I think part of what made this first a good one was also the fact that I was with someone whose company I enjoyed a lot. The food , the place, the company plus endless hot guys walking past = one heck of a good "first!"

                      

Lunch @ Pepper Lunch

Photo by: Ansette Garcia

Food was always a big part of my cultural heritage. It is in food that we gather to discuss issues, decisions, catch up and it's a form of bonding for me. I've always held this theory that food will taste magnificent if you like/adore/love/fancy the person you're sharing the meal with. I really don't think you'd enjoy a good steak when you're with the person you despise.

Pepper Lunch was one of my cousin's favourite places to eat. We haven't really spent time together since I got back and this was the perfect time (and place) to catch up with each other.

Photo by: Ansette Garcia

This cozy eating place is in Town Hall - 537 George Street to be exact.  They serve their meals on a hot plate with rice and a choice of drink or miso soup. I got the salmon and rump steak combo (they usually name the meals in Nihongo). After several minutes, out came my meal cooking on one side and I had to turn over my steak and fish after spreading the yummy sauce they provided on the meat to be cooked on the other side. Majority of the waiters are Asian, Japanese I presume but then again I might be wrong. The place is clean and tidy and get really, REALLY busy during the lunch hour. At the end of the meal, just before you leave the premises you'll hear the cashier and the waiters shout out "Arigato!" 

We had a good catch up. We shared our hopes and dreams, current struggles and plans for the coming year. It has always been my cousin and I while growing up here in Sydney.  Times have changed our priorities but the most important thing remained constant and that was the simple pleasure of having someone to talk with.

The Official Sydney Guide

You can do all your research via the internet and talking to people who've been to Sydney but a big must to get is the Official Sydney Guide book.

It's free when you alight the plane upon arrival in Sydney. It's available in English and other languages as well. The contents differ every two seasons (like the one on the photo is the autumn/winter edition of 2012) based on what activities are on Sydney that time.

What is inside is very helpful for someone who's in Sydney for the first time, someone who's been to Sydney lots of times or common Sydneysiders as well. The guide I picked up last June contained: 

• A free pull out map of the Central Business District (CBD) with short snippets of some sights and sounds around town
• A list of local and regional events 
• City experiences - tours, sights, food 
• Additional sight seeing and experiences in other areas of Sydney
• Sydney shopping - where to go and what shops sell which
• Eating and  entertainment hotspots
• Essential information such as public transportation, travel passes and the A-Z manual
• Discount vouchers on some of the tours and museums

There's simply a lot to do and see when you get to Sydney. Even a Sydneysider like myself is still in awe at the many places that I still need to see and the many things I still need to experience and do. All the more fun if you come experience it with me.

Come on! Plan that trip and pay Sydney a visit!!!
  

Migrating to Australia: How I did it

Australian Government: Department of Immigration and Citizenship

Lately I've had friends asking about migrating to Australia. I've never actually shared how I got to Sydney on a Permanent Resident (PR) visa so here it goes:

Time
It took quite a while for me to decide to migrate. After spending six years in Sydney on a student visa, I was having the time of my life in the Philippines with new friends, a job that I liked and the laid back life. I was in my ultimate comfort zone. I had relatives and friends in Sydney who always encouraged me to apply as an immigrant. Because I had family in Sydney there was always that option of a family sponsored visa. My aunt sent the customary immigration booklet (thick with lots to read and fill out) which sat on my desk for about a year until that phone call which jump started everything. "Lily, you better apply now because you're uncle is set to retire within the year!" 

So tracing back there was a year of deciding, a year of preparing everything for  lodgement of application plus nine months of waiting before receiving the permanent resident visa - 2 years and nine months all in all.

Finances
It's no joke. A huge sum of money was needed in my application. Money for assessment fees, lodgement fees, IELTS, obtaining documents, medical examination fees, courier fees, family had to show proof that they could support me financially while I start out in Sydney, the bond and plane fare. Good thing I had family to help out otherwise I wouldn't know where to get the 500k pesos or so (mind you this was 10 years ago). My friend put it lightly, "every move needs money."

Documents
The very important of all documents was the application booklet. Then I had to provide documentary evidence of every single claim - NBI clearance, IELTS results, employment certifications & references, birth & baptismal certificates of my father and myself (even if papa wasn't migrating with me), affidavits, skills assessment certificate, results of medical examination, proof of income support in Australia, etc. 

My Plus Points
Because I took my high school education in Sydney (the whole six years), family was sponsoring me and the fact that I was skilled made my application successful - well that's what I thought anyway.

Options I took
The first option was considering what type of visa was I going to get. I took the 'skilled-family sponsored' visa as it was what would increase the chances of my application being approved. Next was the decision of applying directly to Australia's Department of Immigration and Citizenship in Adelaide as opposed to using a migration agent or via the Australian embassy in Manila. Since it was a life altering change, I wanted to make sure that it was legit and worth the money I was going to spend. Using a migration agent could double the cost, turn out to be a scam or not get me the visa that I wanted in the beginning - believe me I know a lot who had bad experiences with migration agents . If I applied via the Australian embassy in Manila it would mean plane fares back and forth.      

What you can do
The link above takes you directly to the Australian Department of Immigration and Citizenship website where it has everything and I mean EVERYTHING you need to know and do if you are considering migrating to Australia. What it will require from you is a lot of reading and the determination to take the necessary steps toward the 'big move.' Also consider which visa class will give you the greatest chance of getting an immigrant visa. It would greatly help if you have family or better yet, your skills fall under their skills shortage. Lastly, if the objective is migrating somewhere, you might want to consider New Zealand (http://www.immigration.govt.nz/)or elsewhere if it would mean greater chances of you scoring that immigrant visa - and then make that move to Australia when you have a different coloured passport in hand. Oh and don't forget to match your efforts with prayers. Good luck! 

An Enormous Difference from the Good Old Days

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo

Sydney this time 'round is more vibrant and bustling with a wider multicultural society. It means as I see it, a much more enriched society brought about by a more diverse influx of migrants, people on student visas, people on working holiday, etc.

A classic example would be an encounter with a Filipino. In my early years here I encounter a fellow Filipino once in a blue moon, usually if there was a gathering. Now, almost everyday I encounter a Filipino at work, on the bus and train, at the shopping mall...almost everywhere! Never have I heard the Filipino language spoken as often as I have now a days. 

Australia has opened its door to migrants like me with hopes for a better life and a much more secured future. With it came this vast diversity in food and culture and to my enjoyment, snippets of their language that I can add to my foreign language vocabulary.

Of course this influx of migrants also brought about some negative aspects. But nevertheless Sydney would not be who it is now if not for the people who work hard to make it a better place to live in.

Long live Sydney!!!

A Love Affair with Sydney

Photo by: Ronnie Alonzo. Taken inside an airplane prior to landing

It has always been a back and forth trip between Sydney and the Philippines. For starters, let me give a time-line on this relationship of mine...

December 1983 - It was my first trip overseas and my first visit to Sydney, Australia. Little did I know know that it would be the start of a lifelong love affair.

December 1985 - Old playmates were a little bit grown up and my cousin and her family just migrated to Sydney. It was in this trip that I decided to take my father's suggestion of taking my high school studies in good old Sydney.

February 1988 - I flew back to start my high school. In between Years 7 - 12 were holidays back in the Philippines.

March 1994 - It was off to the Philippines for University studies. Sydney and I wouldn't be reunited until 10 years after.

November 2004 - It was back to Sydney in the hopes of securing a better and stable future. It fell short of 2 years as 2006 marked the death of my father and I had to go back to the Philippines.

June 2012 - Back to Sydney and this time I rekindle an old relationship which I hope will last for good.

Sydney, honey, I'm home!