Sydney with mum! (part 2)

Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that 

he remain until I come, what is that to you? 

You follow me!"

-John 21:22

So more about Sydney:

Sightseeing

Barangaroo is worth a visit, although you don’t need to spend too long there. That section of the bay is covered in stone steps, and you can walk all the way around until you’re under the Harbour Bridge (which is worth walking across and going to the lookout). The top of the Barangaroo Reserve is also a great stargazing place apparently. 

Barangaroo

Paddy's Market isn't really a sight to see, but it's a market that sells cheap(er) souvenirs and is a must visit for tourists! The market is open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-6pm, so make sure to set aside some time to wander through the many, many stalls to find the perfect gift to bring back! :) 

Food

There’s so much food in Sydney, but the places by Circular Quay are high in price and low in quality. Eat in Chinatown for better food, and don’t miss the Night Market on Friday evenings! It’s small compared to the ones in Asia but has similar vibes. You can get crocodile kebabs there, which we tried. The meat was really hard, which is confusing because I thought crocs just tanned in the sun all day... My mum said she wasn’t sure if she had travelled to Sydney or Taipei; there are so many Asians people and Asian shops! This city is indeed very globalised. 

Croc Kebab! (with Emperor's Puffs)

The fish market is amazing if you love seafood! Everything is super fresh so of course it’s delicious. But it you’re not into seafood, there a meat market across the parking lot that sells lots of meat! And if you’re vegetarian, probably visit some other place instead haha. 

There’s also amazing cheese tarts at Uncle Tetsu’s on George Street. It’s not a cheese cake and not a custard; the filling is this creamy thing that’s so amazing you just have to try it for yourself. Emperor’s puff is also a must-try, and there’s no excuse for not getting any because you get 3 for $1 (cheap). There was a long line when we got it both times but definitely worth the wait. 

Birthday Specials

You can find a more extensive list of birthday specials in Sydney online, but these are the ones we did! Most of them require signing up at least a month in advance, so don’t make it a last-minute search.

-$27 voucher to Bondi Pizza. We went for lunch on our way back from Bondi Beach on Friday. We went to the restaurant at Bondi Junction, and it was on the sixth floor, so we got a fantastic view of the city while enjoying delicious food (we only paid $4.50! So worth it)

Birthday Meal!

-$1 visit to Taronga Zoo. Must be done on your birthday, so we went after going to Hillsong. There are lots of animals from, and they all have beautiful colours! And Aunty Jenny is right — the giraffes have the best view; since the zoo is across the bay from the city, you can spot the Opera House and Harbour bridge in certain places, like the giraffe exhibit. We saw the echidna (spiny anteater)! It waddles when it walks, so cute ^_^ And the crocodile is MASSIVE. 

Taronga Zoo

There’s a lot more birthday treats, but these two were super really special.  

~

So I’m back in Brisbane! Last night, I finally got to eat at the Turkish restaurant that I've walked by so many times with Laura and my mum. We sat that these low couches, and the tables are covered with a thick tablecloth that looks like fancy carpet. The food Turkish bread and Babganoush dip was amazing! The skewers taste like the meat from the kebab places, but at least I now know that those kebabs are legit.  Afterwards, we got Durian ice cream! The durian flavour gets stronger after the ice cream melts, so eat it before then! 

Turkish Dinner

This morning my mum and I packed up most of my stuff. It hasn’t hit me yet that I’m leaving, but I did just come back from a farewell/birthday dinner with the fellowship tonight. They gave me a photo album with notes inside and told me not to read it until I get to the airport haha. My mum keeps telling me that, "回家要用功念書” (I need to study hard when I get home). This is not real life for me, and John 21:22 reminded me that I am not called to compare my life to other’s but to keep my eyes on Jesus, because He has called me to follow Him. God has a unique plan for every one of His children, and what He has for me is what He knows is best for me, no matter how difficult the present may seem. 

❤️❤️❤️

I will see y'all soon! Can’t believe it’s been so long.