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Vivid Sydney 2010 – Macquarie Visions

29 August 2010 Ibyang Sanchez 17 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Photography, Travel

This entry had been in my drafts section for two months but I haven’t had time to properly post it until now. I almost didn’t post this but these photos were a result of a few winter nights of my Husband and I’s adventure during the Vivid Sydney held this year.

For this year’s Vivid Sydney, the stoic Macquarie Street of Sydney lit up into an art gallery from 5:30pm onwards.

One Thursday evening of June, we trooped down to Hyde Park and started off taking photographs of the Hyde Park fountain enveloped in blue lights.

The Macquarie Visions is a celebration of 200th anniversary and story of two visionary leaders, Governor Lachlan Macquarie and his wife Elizabeth.

The story started at St. Mary’s Cathedral – “Designing the Nation” – which depicted the arrival of the Macquaries in 1810.

We only had one tripod with us so all my shots were hand held.

I had to lie on the ground (boy was it cold!) in order to get decent shots such as these.

First time that we saw the St. Mary’s Cathedral all lit up so we had a souvenir shot before we left.

Second stop was at the Hyde Park Barracks Museum – which depicted the Australian tradition of a “Fair Go” originated from Governor Macquarie’s practices.

Tried to be creative with The Downer Macquarie Arch by playing with my camera’s shutter before taking photos of the light show of the Barracks Museum.

The Downer Macquarie Arch symbolises the greatest achievement of Governor Macquarie–the building of roads to Blue Mountains.

Even the gate of the Barracks Museum were lit up. It was a cloudy night which added more character to our photographs.

This was the Barracks Museum.

Third stop was the Sydney Mint – “Common Wealth” – Governor Macqaurie introduced coinage to Australia, forever changing the life of its inhabitants.

The Parliament House – “Advance Australia” – in this light show, interviews and images described inspirational projects that have advanced Australia on the world stage.

The State Library of New South Wales – “Words on the Street” – this is to honor Elizabeth Macquarie in highlighting the importance of literature in the early colony.

It was a bit difficult to take photographs of this building due to the big old trees in front of it.

On the way to the Palace Garden, we saw this lighted fountain…the Morshead Fountain.

Palace Garden Gate – “Giving Gardens” – in honor of Elizabeth Macquarie for designing and developing the Royal Botanic Gardens

This was just a small space outside the Royal Botanical Garden.

Last stop of the Macquarie Visions, the Sydney Conservatorium of Music – ” Pastimes” – Lachlan and Elizabeth created a social life for Sydney such as annual fairs, balls and public holidays.

Another difficult structure to take photographs of. There were cars parked in front of the building and there weren’t strategic places for photographers to take photos.

After taking a few shots of the building, the Husband and I went inside the Conservatorium of Music to warm up, rest and watch a recital concert for free. A great way to end the night.

The Macquarie Visions adventure took us about two and a half hours of walking, exploring and taking photographs. This avenue of lighted art gallery leads to Circular Quay which is the home of Sydney’s beloved Opera House which was also lighted beautifully for the Vivid Sydney event. I will share photos of the lighted sails of the Sydney Opera House next!

Photos by Chris & Ivy Sanchez

Related Post : Vivid Sydney Experience with Friends

Good Food & Wine Show (Sydney, 2010)

20 July 2010 Ibyang Sanchez 8 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Charmed Life of a Mrs, Food, Photography, Tips

The recently concluded Good Food & Wine Show in Sydney was a blast!

It was my husband and I’s first time to attend this awesome event and we’re so glad we shared this experience with my mom. For weeks, I’ve been so excited to attend this show at the Sydney Convention Centre and it didn’t disappoint at all. Not only were we able to discover and taste culinary delectables, we were also able to watch two celebrity chefs in action.

We arrived at the venue at a quarter to 10 on Sunday morning. We were the first ones to enter the venue and we got on to exploring right away. The Husband bought a Good Food and Wine Show Granny Trolley, his way of gearing up for the shopping that awaits us (how cute!!!), and a Wine Glass with Wine Glass Holder (a pink one especially for me!) so I’m all geared up for all the wine tasting ahead. How thoughtful, right?

I love the clever concept of the The Wine Glass Holder because it keeps your wine glass insulated and has a strap so you can wear it around your neck for easy mobility. It also helps you avoid losing your glass.

What’s in the Good Food and Wine Show? Other than an opportunity to taste food and wine, you also get to discover appliances and knick-knacks related to cooking, plus there are stalls for magazine subscriptions, all for discounted prices and lots of give-aways.

On the first hour of the morning, we were able to walk around and took photos of the place conveniently but after lunch, there was very little space to move and the hall looked like this…jampacked!

Nevertheless, it was still fun. The event organizers provided a Show Planner and Map to help people maximize their stay and in getting their way around the place.

The best experience of the day was having to watch celebrity chefs and Masterchef (Australian Reality Cooking Show for Amateur Chefs) hosts & judges Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris.

I am a fan of Gary Mehigan. I’ve seen him once when I was at the Vivid Sydney at the Rocks just a few weeks back and I was happy to see him in person. To watch him on a show and do what he does best was such a great pleasure.

The show we watched at the Celebrity Theatre was entitled “Your Place or Mine” which is a 45-minute cooking show by Gary Mehigan and George Calombaris. I’m not much of a fan of George but he is a great chef as well and I like him too.

Together, Gary and George make a very entertaining team. Not only did we learn a few recipes and cooking tricks from them, they made the show really fun–they made us laugh and dance. As judges in the Masterchef show, they sometimes appear strict but on-stage, they are really approachable, funny guys.

The Celebrity Theatre had a big TV screen on stage so everyone can see what Gary and George are doing while they cooked and for close-up views of the food.

I remember they made pasta then turned them into tortellinis. Another dish they made was baked prawns on a bed of Hommus. They baked bread too. And they made this dish that has beetroot as a main ingredient but I forgot what it was called.

After the show, George went straight to the Good Food Magazine stall and made a cooking demonstration again. I didn’t watch this time as I wanted to get on with my shopping and going around.

We had lunch somewhere else as we had to meet up with friends. We went back in and went straight to the Nespresso stall to watch a demonstration of the Nespresso machine and for free coffee. Chris wanted me to see how the machine works.

Years ago, we planned to buy this machine for our home but I’ve been delaying it. Chris already got me Nespresso cups and saucers but I said, “let’s wait awhile before we buy the machine”. However, after attending this show, we finally decided on what Nespresso to buy in the future. Now we are just waiting for the right time to buy it.

After coffee, we went around for a taste of more food. The last order of the day was to buy wine. We went to a several wine tasting, boy did I have so much fun. Other than the taste of the wine, we wanted a good deal from sellers because we were buying in bulk. We discovered Beelgara wines and bought two bags of wines from them. Since we bought wines in bulk, they gave us two wine bags. The wine bags are insulated to keep wine cool.

We went home with all of these from the show….

Two of these food magazines were free while the other two came from the two grocery bags we bought.

We bought two grocery bags for only AUD$15. The products inside those two bags where fixed and the total value of both bags were AUD$189. Since you are buying it from the Good Food and Wine Show, it was only AUD$15. Such big savings!

What we paid AUD$15 for— From Left to right (from top row): bag of caster sugar, small bottle of olive oil, small packs of condiments and spices; 2 jars of pasta sauce, cans of tuna, a jar of chicken soup; packets of chips, biscuits, peanuts and dried cranberries; samples of coffee and tea; bottled green teas; dog and cat food; small tube of whitening toothpaste, smales tubes of suntan lotion and Nivea facial wash and Blistex lipgloss; cleaning products and wet ones.

It was a long but fun day. We learned a lot from the celebrity chefs plus we get to bring home lot sof goodies, some free and some bought at discounted price.

I look forward to attending next year’s show.

Some Tips:

1. Book your tickets early. The earlier you book, the better seats you will get on the Celebrity Theatre Shows and more freebies. The later you book, you might not have a chance to watch a celebrity chef cooking demo.

2. Be early to avoid crowds and get more freebies. In the afternoons, most freebies are gone and there are long queues for free wine/coffee/food tastings.

3. Bring a granny trolley or your own grocery bags if you plan to buy lots of stuff. You can also buy the Good Food & Wine Show granny trolley bag. It’s good quality bag and can serve as a souvenir from the event.

4. The event’s Show Planner and Map is your best companion. Get it from the information booth as soon as you arrive. It lists the schedule of cooking demonstrations, exhibitors and their corresponding stall number.

5. Be prepared. Check out the Good Food and Wine Show website so you know what to look forward to.

6. Have some cash with you. Some exhibitors don’t have and EFTPOS/Credit Card system so having cash with you will surely make your shopping more convenient. There are ATMs in the convention center but since there are a lot of people, there is also a long wait to withdraw money.

7. Bring your own or buy your own wine glass. Most wine exhibitors don’t have wine glasses for wine tasting. Having your own wine glass is a must if you will attend this show.

8. Be discreet in taking photographs. Not all exhibitors like people taking photographs of their products. If they ask you to delete the photos you took of their store or products, delete them. It’s their loss anyway.

Restaurant: Grill’d Healthy Burgers

14 July 2010 Ibyang Sanchez 10 Comments Category: Food, Photography

Their brochure couldn’t have said it better— “Welcome back to burgers”.

Must be destiny because just when I was on the lookout for the best burgers in Sydney, I found delicious, indulgent and yet healthy burgers at Grill’d.

Once upon a time, I was a burger monster. Way back when I was young and had fast metabolism, I ate a burger once or twice a week. When I moved here in Sydney, I had a changed of lifestyle and that included “no burgers for the longest time”. For the past three years, my burger indulgences were very minimal, about 3-4 times a year and that was it.

So one day, I asked around on where to find the yummiest burgers in Sydney so at least when I eat one of my favorite food in the world, I’ll be eating the best. And one of my mates answered, “Grill’d“. At that time, the nearest “Grill’d” to me was Crows Nest. Then I got news that Grill’d will open a branch in Darling Harbour—such luck! That’s where my Husband works and where we usually hang out.

As soon as their Darling Harbour branch opened, off we went to Grill’d in Harbourside Mall to have a taste of their handmade burgers.

I love the classy, neat and cozy atmostphere at Grill’d. As soon as we entered, we were greeted by their friendly staff.

Being the burger fiend that I am, I ordered the Almighty Burger.

What’s inside the Almighty Burger?

Grilled 100% lean beef, tasty cheese, crispy trim bacon, free-range egg, slices of beetroot with salad, relish and herbed mayo.

I was in burger heaven when I had a bite of this massive burger. Full of flavor and very juicy.

The Husband ordered a simpler burger, Crispy Bacon and Cheese.

What’s inside the Crispy Bacon and Cheese Burger?

Grilled 100% lean beef, crispy trim bacon, tasty cheese, salad, relish and herbed mayo.

A simple and yet very tasty burger.

The Grill’d burgers are big. If you have a small appetite, you might need to share it with someone. The first time we ate here, we ordered a burger each but nowadays, we just order one burger and we just share.

One time when I went out with friends, I ordered their Mini Moo burger. I expected a small burger but this was what they brought me.

I really had a funny look when the waitress served this. I thought it was a mistake. Their Mini Moo burger is bigger than a fastfood chain’s cheeseburger.

What’s inside a Mini Moo Burger?

Grilled 100% lean beef and relish. You can add tasty cheese and salad for additional cost.

Other stuff I’ve tried at Grill’d:

Mushroom and Feta Salad

It had mushroom, rocket, roasted peppers and feta (one of my favorite cheeses).

Salad was fresh. Servings are very generous.

Hot Chips
Why it’s healthy? It is cooked in high-quality cholesterol-free oil, contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives.

I love their chips especially when dipped in Herbed Mayo.

What we love about Grill’d:

They use 100% lean beef. More protein, less fat, less cholesterol.

Their buns are to-die-for!!!! According to them, their buns are baked daily and contain no added sugar and no artificial preservatives. And they toast them so it’s crispy when served. You also have the option to choose between a normal bun or a gluten-free bun.

Their crunchy Hot Chips and flavourful Herbed Mayo dip.

Their friendly staff who even accommodated our request to take home our leftovers. You can ask them to cut the burgers in half so if you cannot finish them, you can bring your leftover food to them at the counter and they will wrapped them up for you.

Affordable and reasonable prices.

They have options for those who want healthier food like Gluten-free options and Vegan burgers.

Now that I found Grill’d, I welcome myself back to burgers—healthy burgers.

Grill’d Darling Harbour

Level 2, Harbourside Shopping Centre

To find the nearest Grill’d, click here.

Please do not use our photos without our permission.

A Cupcake Tower for an 18th Birthday

11 July 2010 Ibyang Sanchez 9 Comments Category: Cherished Memories, Food, Photography, The Married Life

My Husband and I are still glowing with joy from the success of my cousin’s 18th birthday bash. Last night was the culmination of two weeks of hard work. My Husband and I were asked to cook Menudo and bake cupcakes for the party. Other than helping out in the food, we were also in-charged of creating an AVP for the debutant and to officially cover the event.

I will share my story and photos of the event on another time. I still haven’t shared two events we have covered: a wedding in May and a christening a week ago. I believe I should share them first before jumping to another event. Our photography journey is becoming exciting by the day and I really would love to document everything as I know in the future, I will be coming back to my writings for learning and inspiration.

In the meantime, let me share with you the cupcakes we especially made for my cousin’s debut.
Since this is a debut, we decided to create a simple, sweet and classic design.

We bought these cute little rose icing decors and pink & white fairy bitz. The rose icing decors came in three different colours: pink, white and yellow. We made two cupcake flavours this time: vanilla and chocolate. We only used silver foils with white paper inside to hold our cupcakes. Since this was for a debut we wanted our cupcakes to have a more classy look.

We invested in a 6-tier cupcake stand for better presentation. Our stand can hold up to 22 cupcakes.

On the topmost cupcake, I put the rose icing decor on the side and placed one silver candle.

My cousin had two blowing-of-cake portions during the party. One was solely with her friends and so we used the Cupcake Tower for that. The second blowing-of-cake portion was with her big tradional cake as she was surrounded by all the guests.

We made 3 batches of cupcakes which equaled to 36 pieces. We were told by guests that they loved our cupcakes and we can’t be happier.

To our dear cousin Rachel, we hope you had a great time on your 18th birthday. We are so happy to be a part of it. We love you!

International FIFA Fan Fest Sydney 2010

5 July 2010 Ibyang Sanchez 8 Comments Category: Aussie Life, Photography, Sports

A few Fridays ago (11 June 2010), I had dinner with friends, Jackie and Chie (Jojo, Jack’s husband eventually joined us). We had a taste of the yummiest burgers at Grill’d. It’s the newest burger place in Darling Harbour and they serve the healthiest burgers ever (will blog about them soon).

It was the opening night of the International FIFA Fan Fest Sydney at Darling Harbour, so after dinner we had a bit of a walk around Darling Harbour and took some photos (our group photos courtesy of Jojo).

For this year’s FIFA World Cup, Sydney has joined London, Paris, Berlin, Rome, Rio de Janeiro and Mexico City as International FIFA Fan Fest cities.

Sydney’s International FIFA Fan Fest is setted up at Darling Harbour, one of the globe’s leading waterfront leisure and entertainment destinations with more than 100 restaurants, cafes and bars and over 20 nearby accommodation options from serviced apartments to five-star hotels.

They have this massive soccer ball that has TV screens, it’s so cool.

This area gives soccer fans a chance to watch matches live on a 50-square metre floating screen, with a view of Darling Harbour and the city skyline as backdrop. Soccer fans come to watch and enjoy live music and soak up Australia’s amazing cultural and culinary diversity at the biggest World Cup celebration in Australia.

There are booths for food, drinks and souvenirs. The soccer celebration at Darling Harbour is on til 12 July 2010.