Merry Christmas!

圣诞快乐!
Hyvää Joulua!
Merry Christmas!
God Jul och Gott Nytt År!
Selamat Hari Natal dan Tahun Baru!

Blue mountains

Compare to mountains in China, the blue mountains are less spectacular. However it is still a wonderful get away from the city like Sydney. During the week people are busy for work and school, at weekend they can take 2 hours train to enjoy the nature.

Blue mountains are 300 meters above the ground level. It consist of number of tropic hiking tracks. There is also tourist hop on-off bus available. You can choose any hiking path you want deep into the mountains, the hiking may take from 45 minutes to 2 hours. If you feel tired, you can always hop on the bus to the next spot. The bus runs every 30 minutes intermediately.

The blue mountains are famous for its peak "Three Sisters".

(The three sisters)

There are 3 types of cable cars going into and across the valley. You can also access the mining location via the cable car.

(Water falls)

(Blue mountains)

A nice camping and hiking get away.

Melbourne

Mammy's Malaysia exchange buddy Marie family lives in Melbourne. This time shall pay a visit to them too :-)

Melbourne locates at south of Sydney, 1 hour flight away. It is considered as the culture and sports center of Australia. Each year Australia Opens and F1 car tracing are held here. Melbourne and Sydney are called as "rivalries" ;-) Perhaps it is bit like Shanghai and Beijing? That's why Australia sets its capital Canberra out of nowhere but in the MIDDLE of Sydney and Melbourne to ease the tension :-)

(View from airplane to Melbourne)

Marie family live in new suburb of Melbourne. Car journey to the city center takes about 30 minutes. This living area is brand new, most of the houses are just constructed. There are still quite a few under construction. It is wonderful to have own house! Let me think of our own project, when will it be ready? Perhaps next Christmas???

(Australia style??)

For the first time in life, we tasted Kangaroo meat. Hmm, actually it tastes pretty much same like beef. What about reindeer's meat? Tuomo always says it tastes like wool socks (villasukat :-)

(Kangaroo dinner)

Any beautiful city must have water around, the same applies to Melbourne. High school canoe club is in action, very much British style.

(Melbourne "eye"?)


(City center runs through by the famous river)

It took 15 minutes for Bobo to get comfortable of the new thing "beach". This time it's real sand not play yard's sand box :-) In the end it was so fun and didn't want to leave...

(St. Kilda beach)


(Sea food)

As one of immigration country, of course you can always find China Town in each major cities of Australia.

(China town)

General to say, Melbourne is a city more European alike. It is much younger and newer and cheaper than Sydney. Melbourne's winter is colder too. Well, perhaps the only thing Sydney can be proud of is the weather.

Taronga Zoo

Taronga zoo locates on one island near by the city center (same as Helsinki zoo Korkeasaari). From Circular Quay it takes about 15 minute ferry journey to reach. The zoo is designed that visitors walk from top of the island while enjoying the well kept animals. It has wild Australia, Asia and Africa etc. different parts. It's so well designed and brings lots of convince for the visitors, especially families with children. Cable cars are the fastest way to reach the top of the hill.

Because of the famous Koalas, Kangaroos and wombats, the entrance tickets are quite expensive. Even for a daily pass including ferry and cable car costs AUD44 (Euro25, RMB250) one person. It is good idea to plan for the whole day there.

(Ferry to Taronga zoo)


(Cable car to the top of the hill)

All the animals are fun to watch :-)

(Watching kangaroos)

(Baby giraffes)

(Chimps hiding under shades)

(Sleepy koala)


(Sydney city viewed from the zoo)


(Peaceful bay)

With lunch, snacks and resting stops, at the time the zoo is about to be closed we didn't even get chances to see newly comers - giant elephants. It is pity the zoo door closes too early at 6pm. Well, till next time...

Sydney

Nini's mammy is my high school classmate and best friend, actually we shared the same table :-)
Few years ago, the whole family immigrated to Australia and settled down in Sydney. We seldom meet nowadays, the last time we saw each other was summer 2006 in Shanghai . Finally we are going to meet again...

Nini's home locates at Sydney north suburb area called Hornsby. It takes about 35 minutes by local express train from the city center.

Once you are in Sydney, of course you must visit the Sydney harbor. To my surprise, the opera house is actually yellowish. Often I saw pictures of it with white surface, perhaps because of the good lighting. I was told the outside surface is actually made of shells, that's why it is yellow.

(Bobo and Mammy)

Sydney city has very good rail system. You can access most of the places via metro and local railways. During rush hours they are packed with people for work. The ticket price is not cheap, rush hour ticket price is bit higher than other time of day. Therefore for travelers, it is the best to avoid that period time.

(Townhall's big Xmas tree)

David Jones is the biggest department store in Australia. During Xmas time, it establishes a Santa village for children to meet the Santa and take photos. But of course it is not free ;-) Since Santa lives in Finland, Bobo has many chances to meet him and receives gifts.

(Department store David Jone's Santa village)


(Street Kangaroo)

Sydney's city center is pretty much like other big cities with high skyscrapers, department stores, shopping complex and offices. And the city is not a cheap place to live either, a normal restaurant lunch menu costs about AUD30 (Euro18, RMB180). It is the most expensive city to live in Australia.

Summer sun is really strong, it is advised to apply UV30+ sun block before going out. Even the sun is behind the clouds, you still can feel the heat.

Little little traveller

Less than 2 years old Bobo is already a pro-frequent flyer :-) Before she was born, Bobo has already traveled to France, Belgium, Holland and China (of course inside mammy's tummy :) Bobo had her first air voyage at age of 4 and half month. She went to Stockholm Sweden to visit cousins. In additional every year, Bobo goes to visit grandparents in Shanghai 2 to 3 times as well.

Mammy counted her passport's visas and stamps, hmmm... Bobo has already flew 16 times airplanes. Wooow, most of them were long haul cross continent flights.

Mammy recall her first flight was a short distance trip to nearby city via a propeller airplane at age of 12.

After this Christmas Bobo will turn to 2, Mammy and daddy decided to pay visit to Australia. Mainly to visit three good friends of Mammy, and enjoy some sunshine. As you know it is summer down there...

(little experienced traveler to AU)

Winter is here... Christmas is on the corner :-)

Finally winter is here. We had some snow fall during the weekend, today's temperature is around zero degree. Hrrr... It is cold. Next time to enjoy light and warm sun will be in 5-6 months time.

Lately I have been busy with work and study, therefore didn't get much time playing with Bobo. Last Saturday was church holiday, our library session was canceled.

Suddenly Bobo found interests of listening Xmas kids songs. Muuma bought a CD as Christmas gift last year. Bobo has been requesting to play them. Tuomo said to Bobo "Anniina, you must be kind, then Santa Claus will bring you lots of gifts. " "Jooo, Lego!" Bobo replied. I wonder if she really knows who is Santa Claus?

Each Christmas I have to prepare many gift packages. It has not been easy, since there are quite a few similar age kids around us. Everyday birthday, nameday and Christmas, its the gift season. I am running out ideas what to buy? :-(

Soon Bobo will turn to 2 years old. Many people has said age between 1 to 2 is the best time for babies. After that, they develop their own wills. Wuuu, Mammy will miss this period of time...

(In the library)

(interesting...)


(little friend and Lego)

Name day

Today is the name day for Anniina, Aniitta, Anja and Anita. Finnish people have a custom of celebrating of name days. To certain extend, it is even more important than a birthday.

Muuma (Grandmaa) has sent a package, Daddy bought a pack of sweat and a BIG drawing board...
:-P :-P :-P

Happy Name Day to Bobo!!!

F1

Congratulations to Kimi!!!

Long time no see "Tontti"

Another sunny day! After making some dumplings, I packed some of Bobo's playing gear (rain clothes, rubber pants and rubber boots) we headed to the lot. The weather is getting chilly, rrrhrrr, winter is surely on the way...

Bobo is quite happy that we are visiting the lot. Perhaps in her mind, its a land of adventure and lots of new things. Tuomo is currently working on the garage wall, once they are ready (hopefully before the first snow fall), he should concentrate on the main house.

Bobo was eager to to play her three wheel bike which was given free my Tuomo's colleague. Daddy has repainted bit. Hmmm, it seems still few more center meters to grow before she can reach the pedals. Anyway, you can see how happy she was! :-P

(Bobo on bike)

Very few lingo berries were still visible, Bobo was excited to discover them. Heeeheee, she fell down few times in the forest and even laughed by herself. You see with that much clothes on like a little little bear, it doesn't matter that much.

(Little little bear)

(Resting a bit)

Garage's chalk walls are up, just waited to put outside wooden panels. After that it is ready for this winter...

(Garage)

Hopefully till next weekend, we will see you again!

The first visit to local library

Finally it's weekend! What a wonderful feeling to have a long sleep...

Tuomo has left to the lot in the early morning. Oh, I can not remember when was my last visit. Before Bobo was born, I was a valuable labor. I was always there no matter moving the bricks or mixing the cement. Now Bobo is aboard, I have less chance and time to go there.

After the lunch, I told Bobo "Let's go to the local library and shopping mall." Bobo was very excited and managed to put on her pants and hat, ready to go. Heheeeee.... "You still need to put on your jacket!", I said. After all set we dashed to the library.

Last weekend, I was planning to visit there as well. But after shopping, it was closed. In the end we were only able to hang in around in the book store. Though there is also kids reading area, I thought it would not be a good idea, then we left after a while.

Few weeks ago, I have checked where exactly do the kids book locate. Once we stepped in, we headed to that section straightly. Sitting on the stroller, Bobo was getting very exciting to see so many books. This is Bobo's first official library visit!

Bobo stepped on the ground, and started her expedition. After few minutes, she already got few books in hand. I had to follow her and put those back to the shelf :-) Few moments after the excitment, I told Bobo "Let's read some books!" "Joo...", Bobo answered and climbed onto the sofa. Suddenly, she noticed Micky Mouse and Pingiun in the toy box and demanded to have time. After all are set, we started to read one book I have picked. Just few pages later, she took my book and put her own book to my hand and said "Äiti otaa" (Mammy take it). It seems always other person's apple is sweater than own one :-)

There are other kids were reading CD books, Bobo wanted too. Once there is a computer available, I put her onto the high chair, she was cheering "Anniina paina, Anniina paina" (Anniina click, Anniina click)

Just like that 1.5 hours passed quickly. We left with few books in hand. The library closed at 4pm.

We continued our shopping. Bobo was treated with an ice cream. She was satisfied with it! Once we got home, it was almost half past 6pm. Another day has passed...

From Bobo's eyes

Recently I have been very busy, often leave early morning and return late. Therefore feel bit "guilty" that haven't playing enough with Bobo. Knowing Bobo loves books, every now and then I bring back few books to make her happy :-)

In one of Bobo's drawing book, here comes the dialog...

Tuomo asks "What is this?"
Bobo answers "Papa's house"

Tuomo, "Hmmm, this one?"
Bobo, "Papa's airplane."

Bobo, "Anniina's airplane".

Bobo, "Papa and Anniina's car."

Bobo, "Puha Pete (Bob the builder)" :-)

(Bit like Bob the builder?)

Tuomo, "What about this one?"
Bobo, "Mammaa."

(Bobo plays slider)