I wasn’t planning on visiting Sydney this year. Last year, I intimated to him that I wanted to celebrate my 10th year wedding anniversary in South Africa where we honeymooned in 2000. I hadn’t been reading the news then, or I’d have known that the World Cup was taking place in South Africa this year, and knowing my husband, he’d find a way of getting there way before our wedding anniversary, without me. What I also didn’t know was that he was planning on being in Sydney two days after our anniversary (in November 2010) to watch Metallica (the heavy metal band from 1981) perform. When I did find out about his plans, I calmly told him that he was on his own because I wanted to go to South Africa or Egypt or somewhere exotic. For months, I refused to budge, but he had other tricks up his sleeve to get me to go to Sydney. About a couple of months back, he gave me a “belated birthday gift” – tickets to Sydney for our anniversary. Bugger. I thought I was the one with the brains in the family.
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with going to Sydney, of course. It is one of my favourite cities in the world; two years back, we celebrated New Year’s eve there. We perched ourselves on a slope at Bradley’s Head at the Sydney Harbour National Park, a little bit inebriated after the numerous bottles of wine and good food which we had consumed earlier at Ripples (an amazing Australian fusion restaurant) and watched the fireworks go. It’s a feeling that I can’t quite describe. It felt like all of Sydney was out there, some at the Opera House, some in the anchored yachts near the harbour, some at the various lookout points, some at home…all watching and cheering together. Hugs and kisses all around. Best feeling ever.
What about my memories this time around? Of course, I remember our wedding anniversary celebration. We had checked ourselves in at the Sydney Hilton and when we went downstairs to the Zeta Bar for pre-dinner drinks, our dear friends Aly and Michael surprised me with their presence. Bald Eagle had planned with them all along to meet up for a couple of days in Sydney, and it felt so good to be there with fellow KL-ites. Michael presented us with a precious anniversary gift, his new cookbook – Cooking with Michael Elfwing, filled with Modern Australian and Malaysian inspired recipes from his years of experience in the industry. (The book is available for sale at Senses, KL Hilton, and will be hitting the bookstores in mid January 2011.) After some fabulous deconstructed cocktails at Zeta Bar, we proceeded to Quay, which was voted No.27 on the San Pellegrino World’s 50 Best Restaurants list, 11 spots above Tetsuya’s. Expectations were high; Peter Gilmore’s tasting menu wowed us in many aspects but, being acquainted with some pretty amazing Asian cuisine already, we weren’t as impressed with some of his Asian inspired dishes. However, we loved the freshness of the ingredients, and his acclaimed snow egg dessert was out of this world. The entire experience was enjoyable – we had a table overlooking the Sydney Opera House, and as the skies cleared after the spring showers, the stars came out.
The next day, we took a wine tour to several boutique wineries in the Hunter Valley. We sampled 41 different wines – semillon, shiraz, voignier, chardonnay, sauvignon blanc, merlot, etc – and what holds true is this – when we drink the wines that we have brought home with us, we shall remember that radiant sunny day spent out in the country, admiring the fields of shimmering green vines, getting intoxicated on wines and laughing in each other’s company. We shall remember our friends from Brazil and UK and Australia, and we shall remember doing the samba with them.
Holiday memories are not all about destinations and taking great photos. The most poignant memories are not always captured on film. Our brief encounter with 90-year-old Vera at church in Manly is one that I want to remember because it reminds me that life has to be lived to the fullest. She talked about climbing down the wharf to spy on fairy penguins – this 90-year-old woman, and her eyes lit up with mischief, her exuberance masking her million wrinkles.
A day trip to Cabramatta and Bankstown, southwest of Sydney, exposed me to some of the best Vietnamese food I had ever tasted. I loved the pho at An, a restaurant in Bankstown, because the thinly sliced beef cooking in the boiling broth was just so fresh and flavourful. We had dinner with Bald Eagle’s friend, Peter, and his family who brought us to their favourite Vietnamese restaurant in Cabramatta – Quan an Bau Truong, where we had delicious spring rolls, salads, noodles topped with coconut cream, banh xeo (stuffed pancake) and crispy fried quail. It was such a satisfying meal, and more importantly, it gave me the chance to get to know Peter and his wife better, and to be thankful for the solid, uneventful middle-class upbringing that I had. Peter’s story is one for the movies – boy grows up in Kajang, girl grows up in Saigon, girl escapes Saigon with her family and lands in the refugee camps in Malaysia, boy drives past refugee camp everyday and sees children playing, girl looks out of window and sees boy, girl goes to Australia, boy and girl grow up, boy goes to Australia to study, boy meets girl, girl meets boy, boy and girl fall in love.
Everybody has a story to tell. And they’re all equally fascinating.
Happy 10th anniversary, my darling husband.
Addresses:
Quay
The Rocks, Sydney
Tel: (61 2) 9251 5600
An Restaurant
27 Greenfield Parade
Bankstown
Tel: (02) 9796 7826
Quan an Bau Truong
42 John St
Cabramatta
Tel: (02) 9727 4492
I love the photo of the spider and its web.
And BE with hair!!! Or rather Sivalingam Moorthy Muthusamy.. 😀
You two looked gorgeous 10 years ago, and you two still look gorgeous 10 years later! Happy Anniversary, handsome and beautiful!
Wow tht spider shot is so cool!
And you look so pretty in your wedding pictures 🙂 Congrats on your 10 year anniversary. 🙂
ooh, looks and sounds like a holiday to remember and cherish after all! anyways, there’ll always be egypt next year (maybe david archuleta will have a concert in cairo in november 2011, and u and BE can both happily attend together!)
such beautiful and revelatory wedding photos. somehow i can almost imagine being there 😀
I can hear Jennifer Warnes and Bill Medley singing in the background.
“Now, I’ve had the time of my life.
No, I never felt this way before.
Yes, I swear it’s the truth
And I owe it all to you.”
Beautiful story and happy wedding anniversary my Uncle BFF. You still look as pretty as girl in the wedding pictures.
Now, I secretly need to take a boat and sail off to Sydney’s dashing harbour for the summer.
Happy Anniversary to you and BE!!
Gosh so many people going to Quay, my cousin just went yesterday nite..
Now if i can save enough to con the Wife to go to Sydney..hmmm…
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. 🙂
*wipes away tear*
Damn sweet. Congratulations on the first 10 years, and here’s to many many many many more years filled with happiness and laughter and more love than both your hearts can hold. 🙂
(And lots more fun holidays too, exotic or not)
Happy 10th anniversary! Gosh.. your wedding pics looked like some cut outs from classic movie scenes.
gfad: I was watching the spider spinning the web from start to finish! very national geographic-ish. 😀 he almost got a victim too. no, this is not the lifestyle of the poor and bored. 😛
thanks, girl….:-D
Baby Sumo: Glad you like the pic….we were having dinner by the poolside and suddenly, the spider started weaving its web. Very interesting. 🙂 And thank you…..we enjoyed our 10th, and we are looking forward to more celebrations.
Sean: Let’s see….Metallica – David Archuleta – Metallica – David Archuleta……hmmmmmm……see what’s wrong with the picture?
What do you mean by revelatory pictures ah? I din reveal anyfink oso.
alilfatmonkey: trying to emulate the boat people ah? Oooh nice song. 😛 Can just imagine you cartoonising this!
Joe: Thank you! Oh, I hope your cousin enjoyed his/her meal at Quay! It’s quite pricey, though, for the experience.
J: hehe….thank you, my dear. I think he isn’t so bad to live with. 😀 Yes, here’s to my egypt/south africa/brazil trip in the near future!
gina: Thank you! Well, I kinda sepia-ed my pics to make them look old. hehe. well, I am…but…oh well…teehee!
Happy 10th anniversary! Such a memorable trip this must be! Love yr wedding shots – beautiful!
Happy Belated Anniversary! Has it been 10 years already??? Time sure flies! Oh, those photos sure bring back memories. 😀
Happy 10th Anniversary Meena & Tim 🙂
wow… it’s 10 years already?? Jenn & I are going to hit our 4th anniversary next year’s January..
love the vintage wedding shots (10 yrs already, can be categorised as “vintage” huh? ;p). stories like this always warms my heart like a bowl of pho 🙂 here’s to many more years to come with Bald Eagle!
Pureglutton: Thanks! It was a very enjoyable trip!
Barbie: Yeah, how time flies. I have a picture of you in my album. Will uhmmm….snap a pic of it and put it up on FB!
thule: Thank you!! Yeah, time sure flies! Oooh, 4th year anniversary for you, eh? How exciting. Made plans to celebrate already?
Jun: I sepia-ed them to make them look more vintage ler. hehe. Glad you enjoyed my cerita. 🙂
happy 10th anniversary! thanks for sharing this post, i’m all warm and fuzzy from reading 🙂
not really 🙂 u see… my 2nd child will arrive end of Dec or early Jan! So Jenn will still be in confinement period on our anniversary… lol!!
however… I’m planning a surprise for her earlier. Most likely before she gives birth
kimberlycun: thank you! I’m glad you enjoyed the writing. 🙂
thule: Oooh, so your 2nd child will be your anniversary present! how nice! I’d love to hear all about your celebration. 🙂
When you coming to Egypt? Mitchu there. Faster come!! Within the next 2 years preferably.
2000. What a good year to get married in. Or be born in. Can’t ever forget how old your marriage/you are. 😀
You watched a spider spin its web in its entirety?? Cool! Never done that before. How long did that take? With such scintillating guests like yourself, how can one ever be bored.. 😉
gfad: LOL….gotta see what BE has secretly planned for me. 😛 Yeah, helps to be married in 2000 oso if you can’t count without bringing out fingers and toes. The spider was pretty quick. Took him probably half an hour or so to complete the web. So impressive. I actually destroyed his first web. Walked right into it. I bet he was pissed off.
Sydney has good memories for me too! glad to hear that u guys enjoyed the holiday there! Such a shame I can’t meet u this time, see u soon yeah? Come over to Singapore and we can pig-out together 🙂
Hugs Meenachi…warm feelings all around reading this post 🙂 Tim looks a little like Arnie in the last shot 😀
Awww….happy anniversary to you and BE!! *hugs* 🙂
psst.. BE: I know you’re reading this.. Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011
u both are so lovely together…happy anniversary!!!!
i’m glad u liked sydney! you certainly visited many places:-)
1. “Holiday memories are not all about destinations and taking great photos. The most poignant memories are not always captured on film.”
So true, this. So very true. Thank you for reminding us of this when most may have forgotten or worse, never experienced before.
2. Happy 10th, LL + BE. You had me at every word and every pic, but it was the final pic of your wedding that got the waterworks going. *sniffs*
WALLAU! So cool … i think you really had the best anniversary ever with such a romantic husband (BE , didn’t know you had it in you! hehe.. great job!) surprising you with friends at the SYDNEY Hilton no less.. totally cool. Love the last shot… oh you look gorgeous in your sari! xoxo
BE with HAIR! weirdest sight ever.
Somewhere exotic? You and BE come join me in Kathmandu lah. I think there are more spinning web spiders to watch there. 🙂
Happy anniversary, LL and BE! 🙂
ladyironchef: Ya lor, been so long since I saw you (has it been a year already?? wah liao!). Will definitely make an effort to see you in SG soon!
unkaleong: Tim looks like a white man? ROFL. Hugs sweetie!
Bangsar-bAbE: Thanks babe! Mmuaks!
gfad: LOL….I’m sure he’s laughing as he’s reading this! can you record your voice and i can play it to him while he’s asleep ah?
mystic: thank you, and thank you!! 🙂
hcpen: I actually visited a lot more, but ran out of space to write. 😛 hehe. I’ve always liked Sydney! You lucky thing!
LFB: Don’t bluff…of course you know how to make the most of a holiday, you holiday buff(oon) you! 😛 Why you cry when you see my photo ah?
ciki: I know, right! Can’t imagine BE with hair these days. I’m so glad he shaved it all off!
HairyBerry: So sad that observing a spider web is considered fun in my books hor. *hangs head in shame* Enjoy Kathmandu, dear! Come back with tales of sherpas and the Himalayas!
Eh, your voice better la. Just whisper in his ear every night at 3-4am when he’s in his deepest sleep.
I’ll do my part here and slip this into all future comments..
Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011.. Egypt 2011..
You are so cute, gfad! I hope your whispering works, though. I really really want to go to Egypt…and Cuba….and Hungary….and Aboo Derby!!
Metallica and David will affect different aspects of your senses. Metallica will make your ears cry, while David will bring tears to your eyes instead 😀
Oh, revelatory in that they show you both in a way that we’ve never seen (and will never see in the flesh anymore). Next up, we wanna see baby photos of both you and BE! 😀
1. Haiya, what I meant is that others may not have had the good fortune to actually enjoy their holiday cos they’re too busy taking photos and running from one place to another to fulfill some mad sight-seeing itinerary. You reminded us it’s the stuff in between, the true connections we make with real people that matter the most, that will linger in our memories long after we forget where we placed our photo albums…
2. I cwy cos you so bootiful. Then and now.
And then I laff cos, well, BE With HAIR!! 😛
Sean: Yes, David will most likely leave me breathless. 😀 Btw, I’ve already posted my baby pic on my blog. I give you 3 hours to find it. 😛
LFB: 1. I was just teasing you, but I’m glad you get what I mean. 🙂 It’s actually just as well we blog, because we record the important stuff for the times when our memory sinks to the depths of our sagging boobs.
2. Roll eyes.
3. I laugh with you. hahaha. muahahaha.
awwwwwww you guys make me ill with your sickeningly sweet story. I’m nauseous with envy! :-p Heh heh… You guys are so lovely together, heres to the both of you – may there be many, many more wonderful years of eating, surprises, love and travels together eh!
p.s/ Lurrrrve the wedding photo. Look at cha! Wah those eyes are sizzzzzling with seduction. I was wondering who that man beside you was! lol
Paps: Imagine, 10 years down the road, your Hunky could be bald too! (naturally bald lah, coz he’d be 50 then hehe) Since you’re so inspired by us, I recommend that you name your baby after us….use any of our names, it doesn’t matter!
Oooh.. Cuba. I oso wanna visit. Could I tag along to your Hungary trip? Aboobabi is only good enough for a transit stop, I’m afraid.
Egypt 2011..Egypt 2011..Egypt 2011..Egypt 2011..
too many words to read, but who’s the chick that tim is kissing in the black and whites at the last frame?
Awwwww such a sweet sweet post and hubby! 😀 Wishing both of you a very happy 10th anniversary and may there be many more to come 😉
gfad: Eh, your kids won’t let you leave them on a wild and romantic trip with Uncle Tim and Aunty Meena! Aboobabi! hahaha.
FBB: Your brother!
babe_kl: Thanks, babe! Mmuaks!
happy belated anniversary to you and your hubby! A decade down the road! awww…… and you’re hot babe! love the wedding photos 🙂
Awww…
now i want a 10 yrs anniversary like that!
LOL.
congratulation to you and BE !!
“When our memory sinks to the depths of our sagging boobs”?
Oh dear, if it reaches that stage, my memory would be the least of my problems, hahaha…
I love your wedding photos 🙂 Cheers to many more Anniversaries 🙂
What a heartwarming entry! Love this a lot! And BE is so romantic, even though he’s a lil’ cheeky! LOL! May you have many more 10th year anniversaries to come! 🙂
The pho at Pho An is the best in Sydney in my opinion. I’m not sure if Quay deserves the accolades though. You take some great pics.