My last fun time in Australia

After a long weekend at Blue Mountain and in Canberra I’m finally back in Sydney. Being in Sydney this time was different from other times because Caroline and the kids were gone to Vanuatu and Jolyon was on his rode trip for his work, so it was only me alone in Sydney.

In Cable car crossing blue mountain 2009.

In the cave 2009

The stone in the cave 2009

The stone in the cave 2009.

Me and Three sisters at blue mountain 2009.

Cambodian's Sea wolf band played in Sydney, Cabramatta 2009.

Sophie and I at Bronte Beach. Sydney 2009.

On stage with Cambodian famous signers in Cabramatta, Sydney 2009
Khat So Khim (the lady with the purple dress), Tat Vichaka, Soun Chantha and Srey Nark.

Me and Khat So Khim. Sydney 2009.

While the family was gone, I stayed at Caroline and Jolyon friend’s (Susie and Simon) house at Bronte Beach. Simon and Susie’s house was lovely and they were such wonderful, generous people, I felt very welcomed. They were very open for me doing anything I liked and making myself feel at home. For the first two days there were four of us staying in the house, but on the weekend Susie and Simon went for a holiday, so there was only Phil (their son) and I in the house.

With Noung. Cabramatta Sydney 2009.

Me, Barang, Noung and Kim. Sydney 2009.

Susie, Simon and Phil. Bronte, Sydney 2009.

To be able to stay close to the beach without two children around, all I did was sleep and relax. I slept until 11:30am then got up to eat. After that I spent three hours walking around the beaches. For the first two days I walked from Bronte Beach to Bondi Beach. On the way to Bondi Beach I also saw a small beach named Tamarama. Tamarama beach is a small beach compared to others, but it was lovely too. The second day as I walked around the beaches I took frequent breaks on the big rock that I found. I climbed up the rock and took a rest for about an hour and a half listening to my music. After I finished sitting on the rock I continued my walk, but again I stop at the tallest rock to look at the view. It was really a beautiful day, with a perfect view of the beach. Many people walked past me when I was sitting on the big rock, some were couples, some were groups and some of them were walking alone like me, but everyone seemed to enjoyed very much their time along the beach and the view of the Pacific Ocean.

My shadow.

In the rock at Bronte Beach 2009.

The wind blew stroking on my face; it made me felt a little bit cold. Children were playing in the sand and ran around with their balls. The big waves in the sea made the surfers happy and they enjoyed their surfing. That moment made me feel like I was standing in a heaven that I never had felt nor seen before.

What a lovely cuple!!, I wish someone could love me that much!!
Peta Hoff and Brand Hoff at their house in Canberra 2009.

With Brand Hoff 2009.

With Peta Hoff 2009.
With Brad Hoff at Blue Mountain 2009.

On the way back I walked pass all the beaches as normal, but this time I looked at the sea from the street along the beach. I saw a lovely little penguin swimming in the big ocean alone, and it was funny because I was the only person who saw that and I was standing there watching it playing in water. Around fifteen minutes later the penguin’s body was carried by the waves and got hit against the big rock, up and down until it died. I stood there nearly an hour and watched its dead body and felt very sorry for the little penguin that died from the big waves. The first time that I saw penguin it was very happy, jumping up and down in the big ocean, and then I saw it died. Suddenly, I looked the water again and thought “the water in the ocean is clear and so beautiful, it makes people feel good and relaxed from all the stresses they have just looking at it. The water brings a lot of fun to people who know how to use it, but it can also kill life if you are careless for just a minute”.

My best friend Daniel changing nappy for his son Otis.
What a different world I'm living in :o)
Sydney 2009

Otis in Sydney 2009
Cutiest photo of Quinn of the year!!! Hotel in Sydney 2009.

Cutiest photo of Quinn of the year!!! Hotel in Sydney 2009.

With Grand (Caroline's Mother) Sydney 2009.

That evening I went to a Cambodia charity concert with my new Cambodian friend name Ngoun and his friends Kim and Barang. At the Cambodian concert there were many people, most of them were Cambodian. It was a fun time because everyone dressed up and put on a lot of makeup and wore a lot of jewelry, except me looked very casual (normally I like to dress up too, but not that night). I spoke to some people there about how excited I was to come to this concert, and they all said “Oh… your Khmer language is very good! Where are you from?” I said “I am Cambodian too, but I am living and working in Washington DC. Then they said “Oh…you are Cambodian too, but you don’t speak good Khmer!” And I thought “What is wrong with my Khmer??” Anyway I was the only Khmer person who had brown hair at that concert, because all the Khmer girls there had either highlighted or blonde or red hair. I should have been the person who looked like Cambodian and they all have looked like foreigners. The rest of the night I spent watching the performances and doing traditional Cambodian dancing.

Power Museum in Sydney 2009.

With Vigirnia at Oprah's house 2009.

With Vigirnia and Sophie at Glebe 2009.

Although, I didn’t know many people there, but I had a wonderful time and was very happy to see how Cambodians living in Australia live and still keep their culture alive.

Thanks to Noung who invited me to the concert. Thank you very much to Noung, Kim and Barang who droved two hours picked me up, dropped me back home, bought me the ticket, paid for drinks the whole night. I did have a really great time with you guys!!!

I thought you guys are awesome!!

Let me know if you coming to the U.S and I will make sure you have fun!!!

Now, it’s time for me to get ready to go to back to Washington DC. Maybe I will see everyone again next year.

Canberra

Old Parliament house. Canberra 2009

Canberra is one of the capitals cities of Australia located at northern end of the Australia Capital Territory. With population over 345,000 it is Australia’s largest inland city and the eight Australian city overall. This was the first time I had been to Canberra.

On the way into the city, I saw Canberra’s Parliament House, it’s tall and on top of the building had display with Australia’s flag.

Parliament house. Canberra 2009.

In Canberra is less nosy than other cities I have been to. Most of people living here are middle class people also government and NGOs people, so that makes everything seems more expensive than other cities I ever been in the world. The positive things I can find in Canberra was the beauty of environment, people look neat, city looks natural full of big trees everywhere, quiet but feel like a lot of happiness that you can not see but you can feel it inside. People seem to live in very peaceful life. A lot of people there are living in big house with nice garden, swimming pools and tennis’s courts. The house that I was staying is Joylon father’s house, and yes it is similar to other houses around here, it is a big old house with a pool and a tennis court.

With PJ and Kirsten at Cocktail party in Canberra 2009.

Lovely people I met, Ema, Hoties,lovely, cuties, sweeties handsome and clover at the 5am party in Canberra 2009

At cocktail party, Canberra 2009.

The first week I’m arrived, I took the children to Questacon. Questacon is a national science and technology center, which provides free games, quizzes and activities to explain science to children and teenagers. When I arrived at the center I went directly to buy the tickets for me and children, Quinn’s entre was free, because he is under age and doesn’t require a ticket, so I paid AU$18 for Elliott and me. The first section we went to Questacon was dinosaurs section. There were five giant dinosaurs and seven little ones. They looked like a real animals, they moved, screamed and open their big mouths with their sharp teeth seemed like they want to eat us. Elliott was scared and he was afraid to pass through the first section. I held his hand and told him that “They are phony” animals don’t be afraid, just kept walking; he laughed and stared at the dinosaurs until we passed through the first section.

With my three sisters, Bobilee, me, Sharni, and Phebe. Melbourne 2009.

Driving Bobilee's car around winery, lucky after I drive we both still alive! 2009

Dinner welcome Nika to Melbourne and good bye to Bobilee leave Melbourne for three months. 2009

After the first section I kept taking the kids around the center to check out the games that they created in the center for children. We stopped at the children’s play section for an hour, because there were lots of interesting games that the children could enjoy and also it was good for them as there were many children play inside. After the children’s section we went to the top of the center to see the clown ball and the other games. We walked until we finished all the sections, and then went to the ground floor for lunch. I ordered sausage ball and big chips to share with Quinn and Elliott. When we were eating lunch, one lady who was sitting next to our table and had a daughter said “Your children are very cute and well behaved, you must be a very good MOM” I replied “ho… thanks, YES! They are… I am very proud of themJ”. After we finished lunch I took the children home.

My Australian's family! Alex, me Bobilee, Nat and Myline. Melbourne 2009

On the way back home I thought, why is it everywhere I have been people think I am the mother of these two children?? Can’t they see my skin color and my appearance? I am very different from them, plus I’m too young to have two children that old. Perhaps, I am looking old enough to be their mother?? I think people are just being silly to think that way, or maybe time for me to have a baby??? Humm... first have to find a husband :o) :o)

My first time in Sydney

Book signing in Spelling Bees. DC 2009

I arrived in Sydney on Saturday, June, 13th 2009 with Jolyon, Elliott and Quinn. The plane to Australia was very long. We flew from Washington DC to San Francisco, which took five hours, waited in San Francisco’s airport for three hours, then flew fifteen hours from San Francisco to Sydney. When we arrived in Sydney we were all tired, because the flight was so long and we weren’t able to get enough sleep as we had to take care of the two kids… I looked like a 93 year old lady coming off the plane.

The music guy try to make a living in Sydney 2009.

After a cup of tea we went directly to the hotel and arrived there at noon. I was very excited because the place that we are staying is around Bondi Junction and it is very beautiful. The view from my room is wonderful, I can see the Opera House and Harbor Bridge (the river it really beautiful). Under the hotel is a train station and there also the bus stops that I can take to city or the beaches or to the city. Everything is close by so it is easy for me to travel around the city or get to the suburbs.

Sydney building 2009.

I’m not very stable because of the long flight, jet lag and not getting enough rest. I feel everything around me moving and I’m tired all the time. I feel time here running slower than I used to feel in America. At 8pm I already want to go to bed which is so different from DC. In DC the earliest I go to bed is between 12 and 2am. However it’s just the jet lag that makes me feel this way. I hope I can feel normal soon.

Since I arrived I have been quite a few places in Sydney and have taken the children around with me. The first place that I took the them to was Sydney’s park and children playground. The playground here is beautiful and there are more fun things for the children to play. Also the park is greener than ones I seen in America, in the park here have a lot of big tree and people can ride their bike for fun or go for jogging around the park. I took lot pictures of the children, they seemed to be having so much fun. I have been to visit the Opera House, the Sydney Aquarium, a shopping mall and China town. I’ve just walked around the city looking at the buildings. I took the kids to have lunch at a Japanese restaurant in China town and they had some fun, and I was stressed because they both had jet lag and I tried to keep them awake and make them get used to the time here so. They were not very happy and look tired all the time so do I.

The weather here is a little bit cool and rainy, because it is winter, but at least it is not as cool as DC.

Oprah's House and Harbour bridge. 2009

I find everything in Sydney seems to be better than DC, the food is healthier, the country looks more beautiful, people are friendlier and helpful, etc. Everything in Sydney seems to be positive to me.

With children take the tourist car. Sydney 2009

The Oprah's House 2009.

I met my friend Virginia and we had a lovely dinner at Bondi Junction Beach. We talked about in the past and we worked together for ChildSafe. We talked a lot about our former colleagues. I really had a great time with her. I will leave for Canberra on Sunday for two weeks and will be back in Sydney for another two weeks, but between those times I will go to Melbourne for five days. I would love to spend more time with Virginia and we are looking forward to that.

Elizabeth and Jessie volunteered at Spelling Bees. DC 2009.

On the way to Caberra

Me and the Oprah house. Sydney 2009.

After one week in Sydney we drove to Canberra. On the way there Quinn got sick in his stomach and threw up in the car so Jolyon had to pull the car off the road and clean up everything. I just sat in the car listening to my music and didn’t help them, because before we left Sydney, I was in a bad moon and got annoyed with everyone that kept changing the plans, I was running out of patience so I just sat in the car quietly and didn’t talk much, trying to get back my patience while moving on with this trip.

Oprah house on special night 2009.

Water Fire celebration in Sydney 2009

After listening to one hundred and twenty-five songs on my Ipod I fell asleep.

Jolyon woke me up because we had arrived in Canberra and he thought I might want to see what it looked like. When I saw Canberra all I could say was “ ho… it’s ugly, quiet and seems like a boring city” and they laughed.

Caroline and me tried to get photo together. Sydney 2009

I started making more jokes in the car after I woke up because I felt much better after being quiet and having some time alone. I have been trying to think what is the best way to handle being in a bad mood. I’ve always thought that if I am angry or in a bad mood being quiet is best way to be. I find that whatever I say when I’m angry is wrong. People often say the truth when they are angry and it is fine to speak the truth, but often it’s said inappropriately, and often hurts other people’s feeling.

So a small problem becomes a larger problem. Sometimes the way to solve the problem is to drop it and move on to different topic. Another way is to end it with a word or a sentence. As long as one keeps thinking about positive ways of solving the problem everything will be ok, because whatever happens it is not the end of the world.

Funny guy trying to make a living. Sydney 2009

Box light on Water Fire night. Sydney 2009

I have many of problems in life, and I can see that problems are a part of life and happen to everyone. If one lives with friends there will be problems with the friends. If one works there will be problems with works. If one lives alone there will still be problem with things around. It is just the way life is, it can never be perfect for one can’t be perfect for others. As long as one learns know how to manage one’s problems it will be fine in the end.

Happy Quinn in Sydney play ground 2009

Happy Elliott in Sydney play ground 2009

The best thing I can do when I have a problem is to be aware of it and keep an eye on it, try not to allow it go into my heart or my head, because I can always close my eye to things I don’t want to see, but I can’t close my heart to thing I don’t want to feel.

At Sydney airport on the way to hotel 2009.

At Sydney airport 2009.