Newcastle

Actually been back for like a week now, was impressive and I liked it.

I was pretty shocked mistaking Sydney as Newcastle on the plane, well if it really was that would be horrible, endless lights spreading into the night, a city that never sleeps. I thought Newcastle would not be that huge, and I was right.

The airport is obviously small, with only two or three parking places for planes. and you will have to go around the plane to get back to the terminal building. Switching on my phone, considering that you might not have arrived that I should call after going to toilet. I was rushing to that sign of a faceless stand straight man while you suddenly spoke into my ear that you are going to pay for your parking.

You drove me around the city although it is dark and not much is actually seen, all I could feel was Newcastle is actually a pretty hilly city with heaps of beaches. Then to your place, which was pretty dark (no doubt at night). We are both bit tired and we just fell asleep.

The weather next morning was pretty pleasant as far as I remember, and I was surprised that it was actually Lake Macquarie outside your window. Was to go to the beach but it seems we are pretty slack so we only got to go for grocery shopping and for the materials I need to cook for tonight.

It took quite some effort to find the Asian grocery that you found on the Yellow Page, we finally got there though. Well, just really a grocery, pretty small, we found all what we need though, that's good enough.

It was hard to find the steamer under your housemate's bed, we pulled out every single box and opened them and checked, and it was finally there. Pretty small one, means we'll have to divide the chicken into two and steam them separately.

Yes steamed chicken with Shitake mushroom is one of the dishes that night, with boiled dumplings and a stir fry. Rice had to be bought from a nearby restaurant as you don't have a rice cooker here.

The vegetarian stir fry was surprisingly good as I actually seldom do stir fries. (stir fry is actually not Asian, instead American-Asian as we don't actually do it at home, it was invented by the immigrants but you guys love it) It seems the chicken was not as welcomed, think it was bit bland though but I still love it. Seems we had a lot of alcohol that night.

The next day we got up at 6AM, going to Maitland where you worked, I just go around the small town and take pictures everywhere. Two things surprised me, it was not a big town and there are like half a dozen churches, and the churches sound bells! This immediately evaluates my favor towards the town. At the centre of the main street mall was all kinds people singing and dancing hilariouly. Bored and tired by the last one or two hours of the waiting, I just sat at the back.

It rains in the afternoon and we were trapped in the cafe of Hunter Valley Gardens, pretty regretful that we didn't visit the vineyards though, just comforting myself that the grapes are not ripened at this time of year, and there is always next time.

It was another slack morning on Sunday, and a 'completely Aussie BBQ experience' for me at lunch. Everything's overcooked (just as usual) though...

Beach. Simply wonderful.

The last day, we had a fight in the morning, my fault though. And we just drove around trying to kill the time before the flight, realizing there's no opening restaurant for a dinner at 4PM the only choice was junk food.

We seated ourselves right opposite to the chek in counters chilling for like an hour and felt the guys inside peeping at us, and it was time to go.

Got myself a Latte and a window seat, a bit of a rush, just finished replying a guy on facebook and it was boarding time.

I will remember that old man running on and off the skybus like five times and making me miss the train home!!!