Glebe Markets

The Glebe Markets are my absolute favorite! There are SO many cool vendors from crafty to vintage to new fashions to absolute weirdness. It is held every Saturday in the city (Sydney). Amy's friend Ashlee lives like a minute away.
I could spend all day looking at all the cook stuff. Amy bought 2 awesome vintage dresses for $5 each.
There were vendors that only sold jean wear, some that had only jewelry, shoe vendors, crafty stationary, jackets, t-shirts, etc...

Right when I walked in I saw this really cool dress. I think it is from late 80s or early 90s. So cool. I love glitter.

Some cool jewelry and a cool tea kettle purse.

This sweet girl is from England and she makes jewelry out of old stamps no longer in circulation. I bought 2 really cool rings that were Australia stamp bottle tops.

These purses are questionable.

KYLIE KWONG!!!

Jon sister Amy's boyfriend Luke's cousin is Kylie Kwong and every Saturday she has a stall at the Eveleigh Markets in Newtown.

There are a lot of local farmers with fresh produce, florists with fresh cut flowers, cheese makers, bakers, sauce makers, jam makers, maranade makers, organic olive oil, coffee, etc

Fresh bread

Luke 

We got their really early because Luke said Kylie's stall usually sells out by midday. We had delicious pork wontons and a yummy crepe scramble with fresh herbs. SOOOOOOOOOO DELICOUS.

An article I found on Kylie at Eveleigh

Woolooware Public School Village Fair

Less than a five minute walk from my home in Australia is where the Woolooware Public School Village Fair was held. There were rides for the kids, food vendors, and tons of local artisans to showcase their work.

I thought these custom made hula hoops were REALLY cool! There were several people trying them out and it looked so fun.

This next stall I took a picture of was way bigger but the pictures I took did not come out and the photo I have do not do the art work justice. Some of the pieces had cool glittery paint and the colors were vivid and eye catching. 

Yum!

Beth and Ali enjoying some frozen drinks.

Candid shot of Kate walking by the sculpture artist tent. 

Really cute tea towels and aprons.

There were so many cool things. The school also had a stall for students to have an arm cast put on to help raise money for children who need medical help. There were a lot of cool stalls for baby clothes that were so cute.

A link to the facebook and information page 

Australian Rugby League

There are three codes of football in Australia: Australian Rules more commonly known as Aussie Rules, Australian Rugby League, and Australian Rugby Union.
I went to several Australian Rugby League games. My favorite team and the team I saw live were the Cronulla Sharks. They are the team for the Sutherland Shire. They play at the Toyota Stadium in Cronulla.

I went to an afternoon game to watch Cronulla play the Sydney Roosters. I wore a blue flannelette shirt from Lowes (a mens retail store) because it's a typical thing to see people wearing. And blue is the color for the Sharks.  We bought general admission tickets for $20AUD and stood up on "the hill" or "the drunk hill" which is where the locals watch the game. Most everyone drinks at these games. The fans of the Sharks are very loyal and love their team.

RULES: Rugby league football,^[3] usually called rugby league,^[4] is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. 

The objective in rugby league is to score more points through tries, goals and field goals (also known as drop goals) than the opposition within the 80 minutes of play. If after two halves of play, each consisting of forty minutes, the two teams are drawing, a draw may be declared, or the game may enter extra time under the golden point rule, depending on the relevant competition's format.

The try is the most common form of scoring,^[21] and a team will usually attempt to score one by running and kicking the ball further upfield, or passing from player-to-player in order to manoeuvre around the opposition's defence. A try involves touching the ball to the ground on or beyond the defending team's goal-line and is worth four points. A goal is worth two points and may be gained from a conversion or a penalty. A field goal, or drop goal, is only worth one point and is gained by dropping and then kicking the ball on the half volley between the uprights in open play.

Field position is crucial in rugby league,^[22] achieved by running with or kicking the ball. Passing in rugby league may only be in a backward or sideways direction. Teammates therefore have to remain on-side by not moving ahead of the player with the ball. However the ball may be kicked ahead for teammates, but again, if they are in front of the kicker they are deemed off-side. Tackling is a key component of rugby league play. Only the player holding the football may be tackled. A tackle is completed when that player's progress is halted, or he is put to ground. An attacking team gets a maximum of six tackles to progress up the field before possession is changed over. Ball control is also important in rugby league, as a fumble of the ball on the ground forces a handover, unless the ball is fumbled backwards.The ball can also be turned over by going over the sideline.

LINK TO WIKIPEDIA

The Oceanics at The Brass Monkey

The Brass Monkey is a really cool restaurant / music venue. It is located in the CBD/mall of Cronulla, NSW. You walk through the door and down the stairs. There is a bar to the right and a little stage in the far right corner. There are rows of 2 person dinner tables then big tables in the middle surrounded by tables of 4 for dining. In the back are booths and couches for people to sit and order food or drink and enjoy the music.
There was a group of ten of is that sat in the middle. We got there around 7 and sat down. We ordered bottles of wine and beer then we ordered food. The owner is Lebanese and the menu is inspired by traditional Lebanese cuisine.
Appetizers were dolmah, hummus, baba ganoush, lamb skewers etc. The main meals were lamb skewers with rice and salad, tasting plates of lamb, falafel, dips, and sea food, and several pizzas. I ordered the lamb pizza that had tzaiki sauce and fresh herbs. It was delicious. The food is fresh and very yummy. They also have really good wine at reasonable prices and a lot of bottled beer, a few on tap, and lots of cocktails.
About 8, the opening act came on. His name was Lyle. He was dressed in an Indian poncho, tight raggedy jeans, and woolen golf cap. He had a guitar, microphone, and foot peddle. He  began by making beats with his voice that recorded and looped to play back with his guitar and vocals. It was different, interesting, and entertaining. It was kinda weird in a confusing not too sure if I liked it or not kinda way. I did not - not like it kinda of way.
Our food came after he finished and then the main act, The Oceanics came. I had been listening to their demo cd all week and was excited to hear them live and for them to play my favorite song. The music is really fun and upbeat. I wanted to get up and dance but there is not room for dancing and I was kinda embarrassed. We just sat and listened. It was really good. I really like them and would go see them again. I would also love to go back because I love the food and atmosphere at The Brass Monkey.
Luke Young works for Spanish Caravan ( a really cool t-shirt company from Sydney). They supply t-shirts to Hamish of Hamish and Andy   . They areAustralian media personalities -which is really cool. They do have tv shows and radio shows and are really funny.
Spanish Caravan also supports up and coming bands like The Oceanics. That is how we heard they were playing at The Brass Monkey. The bass player and drummer were wearing Spanish Caravan T-shirts.

ANZAC Day

This year Anzac day fell on the same weekend as Easter. Anzac Day is celebrated on April 25th each year in both Australia and New Zealand. I saw on TV that there was also a ceremony in Vietnam by Australian and New Zealanders. It is a day to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps ( the acronym is ANZAC) who fought at Gallipoli in Turkey during World War I but now it is a day for all those who died and served in military operations for their countries. 


I spent the weekend in the small town of Ulladulla. On Anzac day there is a thing called dawn service. We had to be there at 6 a.m. We went to the Dawn Service at the Ex-Servo's club. That is a club for all the ex-service people. At the dawn service people said hymns and readings. There were songs played on the bugle and we had a two-minute silence followed by the laying of wreaths were family members loved ones lay wreaths commemorating fallen soldiers. 
This is a picture I took after the service.

Most people are off of work for ANZAC day. The pubs are open and after the Dawn Service some people go straight to the pub. I heard that from 7-10 beer was $1. We went back to the Ex-Servo's that afternoon to watch Rugby League Football. Every year since 2002, the National Rugby League (NRL) has followed the lead of the Australian Football League, hosting a match between traditional rivals St George Illawarra Dragons and the Sydney Roosters to commemorate Anzac Day in the Club ANZAC Game. It was really fun. I tipped the Dragons to win and they did. 

Australians get Friday off of work and the Monday after Easter as a public holiday. This year because Anzac day fell on that Monday, Tuesday was also a public holiday. 

Australia Day

On January 26th Captain Arthur Phillip, commander of the First Fleet of eleven convict ships from Great Britain and the first governor of New South Wales, arrived at Sydney Cove in 1788. Convicts and sons of convicts began marking the colony's beginnings with an anniversary dinner.
Australia Day is an official public holiday and nearly everyone is off work. It is also called Invasion Day by some Indigenous people.


I experienced my first Australia Day on January 26th, 2011. Many families and friends go to the beach, have picnics, and barbecues (a very Aussie thing to do). 
I spent the day with my boyfriend and his family and their friends. We walked up to Cronulla Mall for breakfast and to get a few things from Woolworths grocery store for the barbecue later. About 10 A.M loads of people dressed in red, white and blue began spilling from the Cronulla Train Station. Girls had on their cozies (swimsuit) and girls and boys had Australian temporary tattoos adorned all over their bodies. They had Aussie hats and t-shirts and fake nails. Boys had the Australian Flag as a cape. Many people had eskies (ice coolers) full of food and drinks. 


I went with my boyfriend, his sister, her husband, and their baby to their friend Tim's house that was on the water for a barbie. It was a super hot day reaching 35 degrees! Lucky we were at a house with a pool and the bay to jump in. Beers, potato chips, and sausages were served and it was fun hanging out all day. 


In every major city a firework show is performed for family's to enjoy. Also in smaller suburbs like Cronulla, (where I live) music, fun, and games are just the pre-show for a fantastic firework display. 

 

 I feel like the closest resembling holiday in America would be the 4th of July or Independence Day. American's celebrate the signing of the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain by getting together with friends and family for barbeque's and to watch fireworks.