We’re still settling in to our new house. The creak of the floorboards, the sound of the birds up here in the Blue Mountains, all the little things you discover as you get to know a place.
This morning I woke up early, and while my family were still sleeping I got to sit with a coffee and watch the light change as the sun rose.
I’d never heard of Yum Cha before we arrived in Sydney. It has now become a firm family favourite on a Sunday, combined with a trip to visit a museum or exhibition.
Ladies push trollies of dim sum around the restaurant, and as you pick delicious sounding dishes (fluffy, doughy buns filled with char sui pork and rice noodle parcels containing scallops and spring onion are our favourite) they stamp your card with their ID, ensuring they get paid for their service. A large pot of green tea washes it all down.
And as any parent with impatient children will appreciate, you are tucking in within seconds of taking your seat.
Shelly Beach is my wife’s favourite in Sydney. I’ve noticed a habit of naming beaches around here after English poets.
We’ve discovered the Family Funday Sunday transport tickets – unlimited rides on bus, train and ferry for $2.50 on a Sunday. It’s a wonderful way to see the area around Sydney – not only do we avoid the hassle of parking, but we get to sail past the Opera House regularly, and that’s enough to put a smile on anyone’s face. Ride the ferry to Manly, and a short walk takes you from the bustling seafront to Shelly beach. As soon as you turn the corner around the bluff, it’s a quieter world.
Looking back at Manly on the way to Shelly beach.
Yes, it was as cold as it looked! Imagine having this salt-water pool on your doorstep. Apartments here go for a bargain $2.4 million.
Wonderful textures on the trees.
An interesting bric-a-brac shop on the way.
Rainy weather is a great excuse for ducking into a cafe…
As the last sunshine of autumn left us, we tidied up the back yard and prepared for winter.
I’ve finally been catching up with the photos I’ve been taking since The Move, and found a set from Easter.
We hid a bag full of small chocolate eggs for our son to find in the garden of our rented house. As the garden is only slightly bigger than a postage stamp, it didn’t take him long to find them all. This didn’t seem to bother him, though.
Returning home from Sunday lunch in Manly, we passed a lot of building going on on Broadway. Luxury apartments that will look out over the city. The moon was starting to rise.
The Vivid Festival takes place each year around the harbour of Sydney. It is a celebration of light and sound, with buildings lit up with wonderful patterns of light, some of them interactive.
Although much of the festival is on a grand scale, I found the interactions of people much more interesting…
Mike Baker | Photography 