I'm sitting at home instead of at badminton on a Wednesday night. Tt forbade me to go because I kicked my toe on a chair. Hard. It became all purple and bruised, went swollen and painful. It's not so bad now, but I decided to be good and listen to him... for once ^^'' So I shall blog instead. Blogging does not require movement of the feet =) so therapeutic too.

Starting from today! I'll go backwards in this entry, from late today, till yesterday~

From Week 2, 2010

We had lemon curd pie at Azuma's Patisserie. This was one I've never seen before, and as usual, it looks beautiful- the meringue on top of the lemon curd piped into a perfect flower, artistically charred slightly to faded gradients... the sweet meringue went so well with the sour lemon curd. I would want to try making this if I didn't already know that lemon curd takes a lot of effort to get right =_= No patience.

From Week 2, 2010

My t-shirts came!

From Week 2, 2010

But most of them are not mine.

From Week 2, 2010

Went to the fish markets again this afternoon with my family, my sister specially requested sashimi =) tuna and salmon there.

From Week 2, 2010

Usual lobster~

From Week 2, 2010

This looks like Nigella's calamari~

From Week 2, 2010

You're to be my dinner.

From Week 2, 2010

Yum~ =D

I shall now warn you that this blog entry is very graphic heavy, so close the window now while you can.

Yesterday, my family decided to travel to Hunter's Valley... not for wine-tasting, or else I won't be able to drive, being still on my P's, but to have a look at the gardens. Apparently, today was the last day the Christmas lightings will be up, so we went yesterday, hoping that there won't be such a crowd since work has resumed for most people.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Long drive up, so we stopped by Nelsons Bay. Nice blue sky, it would have been hot if there weren't real sea breeze coming through. It was horribly crowded, since it had been cloudy and rainy the past few days, and yesterday, the sky was clear.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

We really only stopped for lunch. Had some fish and chips... to be fair, it was really nice, but I'll always be biased towards Windsor Seafood place, which still sells the best fish and chips.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Steak sandwich... that was my brother's, so I didn't have any =(

From Hunter Valley Gardens

and burger. The fries were really just potatos cut into wedges, skin and all. Haven't seen chips with skin on them before, this is the first, but it's really nicely fried, fluffy inside, crispy outside, not too dry =)

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Taken in the car, which accounts for that random passing car in the photo. We're there!

From Hunter Valley Gardens

It was so hot yesterday, not funny. My nose is still peeling from being sunburnt. Funny, that's really the only part of me that burnt yesterday. Out at Nelsons Bay, it was near the sea, so it was quite cooling. Up in the mountains must have been at the very least 3 degrees higher. We arrived at about 3pm, only to realise that the gardens close at 4pm, before opening again at 6:30-10pm for the night lights. Deciding one hour is quite a rip-off since we still had to pay full priced tickets of $25pp, we opted to wander for a couple of hours before heading in for the 6:30pm entry.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

There was a small chapel nearby, so we went and had a look (to see if there's any back entrance into the gardens through which we could sneak in via).

From Hunter Valley Gardens

The doors were invitingly open.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

The chapel was absolutely beautiful. The bible passage is very suitable for Hunter Valley (known for its vineyards) and to be able to see nature through the clear glass at the front so clearly, one is reminded of His awesome creations.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

My mum kept ranting to my sister about what a perfect wedding location this is (M, if you ever read this... *hint hint*)

From Hunter Valley Gardens

We did have a couple of hours to waste, but it was stiflingly hot, humid, and frankly, we really didn't want to be outside, so half the time, we were in the car soaking in aircon, and whenever we saw something interesting, we'd stop the car, get out, snap a few photos and get back into the car, pronto.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

There was a little town just opposite the chapel with a few interesting shops. The chocolate company was one, though horribly disappointing, because it was nothing like the typical chocolate cafes you see in Syndey.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

It was really just a shop selling commercial products.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

like oil..

From Hunter Valley Gardens

chilli pastes from the chilli factory. I tried a 10++ spicy paste at the Easter show before. It killed me and took about 2 cartons of milk to spawn me back.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

They do look suspiciously like colefax chocolate, but I'm not certain. Anyway, the weather was wayyy too hot to buy any chocolates, so even though I wanted to get some as souvenirs, I've had too many experiences with melted chocolate turning into disasters to get any.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Random lily pond in the middle of the town.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

There was also a British Lolly shop there. I'm no big fan of British candies though, they're usually too sweet, and when they say it's sour on the packaging, it cannot be trusted.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

We resorted to staying in a cafe, poring over the Hunter Valley gardens map and deciding where we wanted to head to first. Which was a complete waste of time. More on that later.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

A giant keg-like building with a very cute restaurant called "Muse" next to it. This is a wine-tasting venue, with a vineyard just in front of it. The restaurant was closed though, so we couldn't have tried any food from there.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

There it is, the cute little restaurant, with Icie in the way.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Barrels of wine~

From Hunter Valley Gardens

We finally entered the garden at 6:30pm... with a long queue to get in behind us...

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Upon entering, we see some sort of carnival going on. This guy posed with a smile next to a pony. Kids can have a ride on it =) There were the usual sausage sizzle, some flash torches being sold, entertainment for kids...

They opened the gardens at 6:30pm, but really, the main gardens were blocked off with fences. Wondering why we couldn't access the gardens, we asked the attendants there, who replied that the fences open at 7:30pm, but even then, only a specific route is opened. Out of the 10 gardens that are available, only about 4 were open to the public at night. Feeling rather ripped off because we were hoping to visit all the gardens while the sun was still up to get good photos, we then asked why only at 7:30pm, and why most of the gardens were blocked off.

Because the 6:30pm tickets were really only for the lights, and they didn't install light decorations in some gardens. It'd be really dark, and they don't want people hurting themselves in the dark. Also, when we enquired when the musical water fountain, which was advertised on the signboard in front of the garden, was scheduled to start, they said it wasn't going to be on that night.

Please note that all this information- the fact that most of the gardens will be closed off from the public, and that the musical fountain was not showing that night, was not conveyed to the public in any way. They really should be specified, then maybe we would have gone in at 3pm afterall, at least we would have been able to see all the gardens. That was a bit dodgy, because there was entertainment for children, but all the elderly people were just sitting around waiting for the fences to open between 6:30-7:30pm.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Have to say though, the gardens are quite nice.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

There were only very few photos that do not have some random kid or person inside. There was a massive queue as previously mentioned, so there were a lot of people inside the gardens.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

The formal garden- ruined because of all the carnival stalls set up, plus the entertainment for kids.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

It would have been a lot nicer if it was really as it says- a formal garden. They did have beautiful plants and statues, but kids' entertainment set up there?? Why?!

From Hunter Valley Gardens

I suspect this was part of the Indian garden, which was blocked off =_= Took this photo while leaning over the fence that blocked the way.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

This was also part of the Indian Gardens. Grr... really wish we went in.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

We could only see the entrance into the Indian garden, with the two elephants...

From Hunter Valley Gardens

At least we could see the waterfall. Have to say though, the Leura Garden's waterfall was a lot more impressive. Do not even mention the gardens in Japan.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

This was the Border Garden. Lots of hedges, fountains and flowers, which will be beautifully lit at sun set.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

This is what Hunter Valley Gardens is famous for- its Storybook Garden.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

It was really more a nursery rhymes garden.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Why is Humpty Dumpty sitting so far towards the left of this photo? Because people were posing with him on the other side.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Hansel and Gretal went into the Gingerbread house, enticed in by the witch, who fattened Hansel to be cooked alive in a burning hot furnace. What a delightful story for children!

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Alice in Wonderland- the Mad Hatter's tea party. Alice is looking rather offended because she's had no tea. "Have some more!" said the Mad Hatter.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Giant concrete playing cards.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Behind it, Old Maids. My sister said three elderly women were posing in front of these cards before. Cute =)

From Hunter Valley Gardens

I don't actually remember this one very well. Something about the cow jumping over the moon, and the cat playing the fiddle.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

A big wall of stories.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Another nursery rhyme I haven't really heard of.

There were others of course, like Jack and Jill (who went tumbling down the hill and Jack did die, because he broke his crown, but a mother was telling her kids that because the hill had soft grass, they were really alright after the tumble), Mary and her lambs, etc etc. I did take heaps of photos, but decided not to put it all up ^^''

From Hunter Valley Gardens

From Hunter Valley Gardens

And they lived happily ever after. The end~

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Cutely shaped hedges.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

These look all plasticy and fake. Because they are fake.

(I just spent an hour blogging thus far T T)

From Hunter Valley Gardens

We went for a second round around the route that was set out for us. We didn't get to see the oriental gardens, the Italian grotto and many others... =(

From Hunter Valley Gardens

These statues were set up in the middle of the rose garden. Dedicated to all grandmothers around the world.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Sun was setting quickly, my brother had to hurry to get his photos taken in the lighting he prefers.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Another one of the border garden, second round.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Humpty Dumpty is lit up!

From Hunter Valley Gardens

So is Wee Willie Winkie. We tried to do some light graffiti with his blown out candle. For much more beautiful photos, see icie's blog.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Almost completely dark now. Think it was about 9pm then.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Lights put up to mimic fireworks above the Harbour Bridge and the Opera House. Must complete the whole Aussie theme with kangaroos =_=

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Really liked how the lights reflected off the waters though...

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Santa and his deer sleigh.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Before

From Hunter Valley Gardens

After~ yea, my camera still sucks when it comes to bad lighting.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Border Garden revisited a third time. This was the only garden we visited on the third round because we wanted to get home already.

From Hunter Valley Gardens

Peace on Earth!

We decided that despite being ripped off for that one hour (what WAS the point of barring people out of the gardens from 6:30-7:30pm?? So we could enjoy the carnival that was really only targetted towards little kids?) and not being able to access all gardens, we will most likely come back during winter or during a season that's much cooler. The Hunter Valley Gardens do not have very many shelters and shades, so going there in summer is like being baked in a furnace, as the witch intended for Hansel.

From Japan 3

Oh, what a beautiful garden!

From Japan 2

And such beautiful lightings too! Australia still loses in terms of Christmas decorations and the beauty of gardens. Having gone to Japan and seen their gardens and lightings for Christmas (above two photos), even the best Christmas lightings in Australia appear dim =(

I miss Japan. I miss Singapore. I miss travelling. I still think Sydney is really only good for retiring. =( How unpatriotic.