My Aussie Adventure!!!
Part 2
Day 3 – Tuesday, 27th May 2008
Super excited this morning!! I get to go on a Helicopter ride! WhooPeeDoOO! I’ve been in up Hotair Balloon rides numerous times, planes (yes, enough thank you – had to take 3 to get to Canberra), Gliders (planneur – planes without engines, lifted up by a Fokker then set to glide...yes it’s mighty buttaflies-in-tummy-thrilling!), Parasailing...BUT I’ve NEVER been on a HELIC
Had breakfast, and donned my black leather jacket!
Flight with
Drove to the airport and waited for our pilot Christine Farrell of Aquila Helicopters. We were again...ahead of schedule..heh..even with the morning traffic jam...we made it before the allocated time...not bad Dave (our driver for the day – I found out he’s actually from Bristol, England but have been serving in the Australian Air Force for over 20 years!)
Christine met us at the gates (can’t have randoms running around the airstrip can we?) and we were taken to meet her helicopter. CUTE! Was my first thought! Dark green, with an eagle painted on one side and fur covered seats! So POSH! The interior was smaller than my CAR! Imagine yourself up in the sky somewhere .... in a vehicle ...smaller than my Kelisa. Buttaflies??
Christine gave us some safety instructions and before I knew it...we were packed into the compact flying machine and off we went! Taking off was something different....the Helicopter’s nose needed to be angled down...and we were tipped a slight 40 degrees forward...so we were actually looking at the tarmac! Hah!
But we were up Up and AWAY in no time!!
Being up in the air in a copter is a whole different experience altogether! The view from above is simply MAGNIFICENT! Lake Burley Griffin was GORGEOUS! Especially when it reflects the sky, clouds, trees...BEAUTIFUL!!
We could see how well planned
We were flying at about 350 feet in the air....at some point Christine took us as low as 50 feet! That was way awesome! She asked me to look out for some Kangaroos! I looked n looked n looked....but I think they’re on vacation....lazy buggers.
We flew out of the city, over rocky hills, past the Telstra tower and towards the
It was a 45 minute ride but it felt so short!
I didn’t want it to end...but the rest were waiting for their turn...so back to the airport.
Christine was such an excellent pilot! Smooth all the way! I mean, with 22 years under her belt...u’d expect no less hey?
Flight with
For those seeking a broader view of city and countryside this flight of 30 minutes and over 70 kilometres is the ideal choice. It tracks from the airport over
Parliament House, the
Valley to
Contact: Christine Farrell - Chief Pilot
Address: Brindabella Airlines,
Website: www.aquilahelicopters.com.au
Phone: +61 (0)412 066 766
All that flying sure made me hungry! FAMISHED in fact!! Good thing lunch was next on the agenda! So off to Mecca Bah!! Cous cous....MmMmmm........yummm.......*stop drooling!*
We arrived at this swanky looking restaurant...contemplated whether we should sit indoors or at the terrace outdoors....weather was fine...but some of us didn’t bring out jackets down...so Indoors it was!
They even had the fireplace going especially for us! A beautiful blue fire....
We couldn’t decide what to have...and yet again...we overdid it....but the food...was FABULOUS!
I, without a doubt ordered Lamb with Cous Cous and we had various starters – Tabouleh, yadda yadda yadda.....
The dips...were just fantastic! Wanna know something BLONDE we did?? Hah! I mean, WE okay...not just ME! Daphne & I both ordered our mains with cous cous....the meats came (Chicken for Daphne & Lamb for me)...so we waited for our couscous....a long time...none came...so we asked the waitress....and yea...i bet u’ve guessed it by now....a huh....the couscous was UNDER the meats! How were we to know??? Its full of gravy....no hint of any couscous unless u actually DIG in!!!!
(YOU find the COUS COUS la!)
HAR HAR! Yea yea laugh at us....Naz did!
There’s a cheerful buzz in this busy restaurant, which has a fireplace inside and a terrace with outside heating. The dishes, served on brightly coloured Tunisian crockery, are Middle Eastern with a contemporary twist. Served in small portions designed for sharing, they include a selection of mezze, Turkish pizzas, tagines, grills and pastries.
Note: does not have a Halal kitchen but offer Halal meals: Kofte with yoghurt sauce, Meatball tagine, Pastirma pizza, Lebanese sausages and chickpea salad
Contact: Cath Claringbold
Address: 25-29 Maunka Terrace,
Phone: 02 6260 6700
Website: www.meccabah.com
Lunch really hit the spot! Couldn’t finish my main meal unfortunately but it was heavenly! The Lamb practically melted in my mouth! Too bad I was kinda stuffed with the starters...as usual.
U know how u’ll feel sleepy after a huge meal?? And just wanna go hit the sack for a snooze?? Well, that’s how I felt....BUTTTTTT!!! guess what’s next?!?!?!
SH
So off to the CANBERRA CENTRE WE WENT!!!
Had to go change in the toilet first tho...sigh...this thing about not wearing the same thing at different locations....boy..i had to lug my backpack around with my boots, jeans, top, scarf....the works!
Passed SUPRÉ (one of my fav brands) on the way to the toilet..and spotted some nice cream jackets! I WANTTTT!!!! But kenot yet...sigh....duty calls.....sheeshhh.......*grumble*
Hopped out to shoot the intro shot for
So we randomly went into any shop that gave us permission to shoot...hey free publicity okay....they’d be crazy to turn us down...well...some shops did....TOO BAD FOR THEM!!
*turn nose upwards*
After wrapping that up....we were finally allowed to break free and roam on our own.....don’t need to tell us twice...ADIOS!
What did I buy? I bought my cream jacket/coat from Supré ...MmMMm I LURVE IT! A couple of casual and work tops, a green scarf, hmm.....thats about it...
Oh..when it was almost time to meet up with the rest...there was a fire evacuation...apparently there were two cute firemen in the building .... too bad I didn’t see them....buggah! N
There was a malfunction in one shop...so there wasn’t a real fire.
Sorry no pictures....was too distracted....SH
Browse over 100 new stores, including high-end fashion and cosmetic outlets, catch a film in one of nine plush new cinemas at Dendy and relax at chic restaurants that complement an al fresco streetscape dining and cafe precinct.
Contact: Sarah Gallagher
Address:
Phone: 02 6247 5611
Website: www.canberracentre.com.au
After a very satisfying afternoon of shopping and my legs were ready to MURDER me...(yeah, I was wearing my 3inch high boots, hiau as u would call it!). Met up with the rest and headed for dinner at Milk & Honey.
Wasn’t too hungry so 4 of us shared a main course of Spaghetti Marinara. I couldn’t resist the potato soup...so I HAD to order that...which turned out to be a HUGE helping so in the end..i couldn’t really had much spaghetti...but I did order a dessert to share...some Hazelnut..thingie...it was YUM!
Milk & Honey
This is a great place to pop into for a coffee, milkshake, cocktail, snack, full meal, dessert or cake. The food is reasonably priced and contemporary with
Address:
Phone: (02) 6247 7722
Website: www.milkandhoney.net.au
Day 4 Wednesday 28 May
Oh...early start today! *Groan* But promises to be an exciting one! We were going to the Deep Space Communications Centre!! Think Satelites...think communication with ET! (okok...stop thinking...).
Wolfed down my brekkie...same ole same ole...
Packed into our mini coach...and headed for a 30min ride out of
We were met by Glen Nagle, the Education and Outreach Manager, a Michael Douglas look-alike!! But he was so knowledgeable and passionate about his job! Can’t help wanting to know everything about space, the UNIVERSE out there....
After snapping pics with the dishes...and filming and talking and learning all we could in that short period of time...we wrapped it up with my feedback interview...
Yes, I was in awe and overwhelmed by the vastness of space...and how tiny we are compared to what we do not know yet...out there..
OH we tried a Space Ice cream!! Neapolitan flavour. Wasn’t fantastic...oh u should see the food astronauts have to eat....looks like
.... yea.....BADDDDDDDDD....(like various degrees of poo!)
But according to Glen...they taste fantastic..and astronauts actually gain weight because they eat so much of it....rrrriiiiitteeee.....
Did u know that the first living creature sent to space was a dog named Laika? She survived a few hours in the space. I was so humongously happy to learn that was a dog who was first! GO DOGGIE!! Who would have thought!
Glen Nagle,
Communications Complex
Filming at
Deep Space Communications Complex
Learn all about NASA at the Visitors Centre at the Canberra Deep Space Communications Complex, which for 40 years has played a key role in the exploration of space as part of NASA's Deep Space Network. The Visitors Centre houses displays, models and audio-visuals recording past, present and future space exploration and discovery. The Complex is still active in the command, tracking and recording of results from a number of space exploration projects and provides a vital link with NASA spacecraft.
Contact: Glenn Nagle Address:
Website: www.cdscc.nasa.gov
Admission: Free
ABELL’S K
So after a whole morning of mind-blowing, first-hand bountiful information about mankind’s achievement for the discovery of life in the big unknown...we needed nourishment for our bodies instead. We were whisked away to Abell’s Kopi Tiam for yummy Malaysian delights! (truth be told, I wasn’t really craving or missing Malaysian food yet anyway!)
Abell himself was onsite to recommend delicious delights for our palettes. And delightful it was! We had seafood wantan soup, fragrant beef rendang, stir-fried veggies, panfried fish (with some spicy sauce), chicken curry and a few other dishes (of which I can’t remember, obviously). I was...again....STUFFED....ok la...i had a second helping of rice....it was too yummy!
Lunch at Abell’s Kopi Tiam
With contemporary décor, this busy, cheerful café serves a fusion of Asian cuisines at modest prices. There’s a strong Malaysian and Nonya influence, with the occasional Chinese and Indonesian dish mixed in.
Address:
Phone: (02) 6239 4199
CANBERRA GLASSWORKS
Done with lunch....off to
Well, it actually wasn’t THAT difficult la....cut short what I was suppose to say ...and winged it...sorta...
We were introduced to Matt who was our guide at Canberra Glassworks and immediately transported to make our very own glass products!
We all chose to make globe paperweights (should have chosen a bird instead!).
Donned goggles (eye protection ler), 2 aprons (one for protecting my clothes against the
Well, of course there was an experienced glass instructor who kinda did all the work la...i mean honestly, would YOU know what to do???
As we could put colour into our globes..i chose white, blue and green, my fav colours!
Ok...here’s what we had to do....grab a steel pole...dip it into the furnace...with the er...melted glass (?) and get a big dollop of glass with the pole...cool part of the pole with cold water (poured over the pole), dip it into the bits of coloured glass....melt it further in the furnace by turning it continuously to even it out (keep the round shape), take it out...flatten it....add another dollop of melted glass on top...dip it into another colour....do the same thing...about a dozen times...HAHAHAHA! get burnt in the process! Nah, kidding...no burns...my gloves felt TERRIBLY hot at one point tho! Must have held the pole too close to the end....where the melted glass was...
Shape it with a pail-like wooden device by turning it evenly...with a certain amount of pressure...
Another piece of melted glass was brought to the table and cut...for the stand. Tiny tap on the pole and the globe was detached and instantly attached to the stand....et VOILA!
Then to the oven to bake for another....dunno how long..HAHA!
No I haven’t gotten my globe yet...sobs...
NEXT, Kiln forming....
What’s that??
Its randomly composing your masterpiece of bits of coloured glass on a clear glass base, which would be fused overnight in a kiln.
And well...i’m not an artistic person...so I kinda made a random mess....
That’s mine...obviously.
So off to the oven it went...am still waiting for that one....come on...come on!!!
Canberra Glassworks provides artists with state-of-the-art equipment; intensive workshops taught by leading glass artists; studios and mentorship programs; and a unique context to explore, develop and realise new work. Canberra Glassworks also provides opportunities for visitors to interact with and learn about glass making and the heritage of
glassmaking as it happens, view exhibitions, take tours and have a
Experiences included: Kiln Forming - you will create a colourful postcard sized tile of your own design. Using precut sheet glass you will arrange the different coloured pieces over a clear base of glass which is then fused in a kiln overnight.
Hot Glass - Experience the drama of glass blowing in our state-of-the- art Hot Shop! Working one on one with an experienced glass blower, be guided through the processes to make a stylish paperweight. Shape molten glass, adding colour and using different tools to create your own unique piece of glass.
Representative: Matt Frawley
Address:
Phone: 02 6260 7005
Website: www.canberraglassworks.com
Canberra Glassworks was our last stop... *sad*.... I wish we had more time in
Packed into our mini-coach...and headed back to the hotel for some R&R before dinner.
TURKISH PIDE HOUSE
At around 6.30, we met Shea at the reception and took a nice walk to the Turkish Pide House.
It was a really nicely decorated restaurant...the artwork on the walls were just stunning! We ordered 4 sets of mixed platters and another 2 mains...starters were ...again...amazing...all the dips!! With the Turkish bread....gosh!! Salivating just thinking about it!!! Yes, again...stuffed....but loving it....good thing we had to walk back to the hotel again...the air was cool and refreshing.
Turkish Pide House in Civic (Halal)
This is one of three Pide Houses across
Personally, I think visiting Canberra...or even
Would I visit
Last words?
1 comments:
My owner is awesome!
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