Australia - Sydney

Aunty Jo-Jo@ Circular Quay, Sydney

Sydney, Australia was my home for over two years.

I fell in love with it at first sight, as countless others have. Once I got over the seduction of the the Opera House and Harbour Bridge, I began to explore other facets of the city. Here's a sample of what I discovered...

• Sydney Olympics 2000 was another dream come true! Living right of the city was the best thing that could have happened. I watched volleyball, badminton, marathon and best of all - I witnessed Cathy Freeman cross the finish line to win the 400m gold medal! That night, I learnt to sing Advance Australia Fair, the national anthem
• Music is alive and well in Sydney. Together with my best friend Trish, I heard some of the best live music ever. I was introduced to the sounds of Van Morrison at the Basement, Kylie Minogue at Sydney Entertainment Centre and even the Harlem Gospel Choir at Angel Theatre
• Food is an art form. I learnt this from some of my friends, Glenn and Pierre, who are professional chefs. Glenn taught me that freshly-squeezed organic orange juice is one of the best things in the world. And Pierre taught me that IKEA knives are a no-no(at least, not if you want to be taken seriously ;-)
• Alternative lifestyles are OK. We are all different and we need to learn how to embrace those differences, while still holding on to our personal values and beliefs

Australia - Dubbo

Where, you ask?

Well, Dubbo is a town in central-west New South Wales, approximately 420kms from Sydney. While it may not feature prominently on the world map, it has a big place in my heart because of the Christmas I spent with the Mawbey family - the warmest, loveliest, down-to-earth people I have ever met.

L to R: Mawbey's Daughters - Michelle, Marie (a.k.a Mum), Lyndal, Tania...and Grant (in orange)

Tania and I worked together in PwC Sydney, and she kindly invited home to spend Christmas with her family in 2001. The Mawbeys welcomed this lonely little Asian into their home with such warmth, they completely won me over! I was introduced to classic Aussie fare such as ham, curried eggs, tuna bake and coconut tart....and I loved it! I even got the recipes off Marie, but unfortunately, have never succeeded in re-producing her masterpieces. It's probably because of the lack of one key ingredient - unconditional family love.

One incident that I remember fondly took place during the Christmas Carol Service at the Dubbo Oval (cricket ground). A reporter from the local newspaper approached us to take photos, and Barry (a.k.a Dad) introduced me as Joanna Mawbey!

Aunty Jo-Jo facing her first bull on the Mawbey family farm...yikes!

Another first for me was a real-life bull rodeo! One of Tania's cousins gallantly offered to ride a bull for me to watch. So off we went to the family farm at Gilgandra and I watched him battle a one-ton bull. WOW...

He later killed a goat and threw it on the barbie just for me - DOUBLE WOW...

Australia - Memories and Images

I have so many memories from the four years I lived in Australia - and even more photos! Here are some images that spring to mind whenever I think of my life Down Under.

Beautiful nightime view of Sydney Harbour Bridge & Opera House, taken from my friend Rene Bommer's apartment in Mc Mahon's Point

And in contrast, a sunrise view of Brisbane's Story Bridge taken from my apartment. I spent countless hours looking at that reflection off the water, contemplating life..

Noosa Beach on the Sunshine Coast was one of my favourite weekend retreats when living in Queensland. Especially one delightful weekend when I discovered the lifeguard training grounds ...heh...heh...

View of the amazing 75-mile Beach on Fraser Island, from a single-engine Cessna plane. I stayed at the Kingfisher Bay Resort gratis, thanks to my pal Jo Cabritit who worked there

Aunty Jo-Jo on her annual pilgrimage to the Floriade in Canberra. The sight of thousands of colourful flowers does indeed make one's heart sing for joy!

Australia - Brisbane

Views from Aunty JoJo's apartment in Brisbane, Queensland

The State of Origin Rugby League match is played annually between Queensland and New South Wales. And although I've spent more years living in Sydney, I am an ardent supporter of the Maroons (Queensland). And this is because Brisbane was the place where all my adventures in Australia began.

In August 1999, I was offered the chance to work for Queensland Power Trading Corporation as part of the PwC team. I jumped at the chance and re-located to sunny Brisbane. Some of my happiest moments include:-

• Waking up every morning for a walk along the river to the Botanical Gardens, and back, before going to work. It's especially beautiful when the purple jacaranda trees are in bloom


• Lobster dinners (almost!) every weekend at Breakfast Creek Wharf for A$10 - and they come with free champagne ....aah...those were the days before I had to worry about cholesterol


• Watching my friend, Jenette, scream when a Chinese waiter unveiled the "phoenix claws" dim sum (a.k.a chicken feet) in Fortitude Valley


• Visiting Newstead House - Brisbane's oldest surviving residence - for the first time. It was a museum that allows visitors to touch and try, which was fantastic!


• Driving around in a cool Toyota Celica that I rented from Georgie, a colleague from QPTC

Best of all were the PEOPLE - Queenslanders are dinky-di Ozzies and proud of it! I quickly discovered that I needed to learn Strine after missing two meetings because I didn't know what an arvo was. It's Aussie slang for "afternoon". By the time I left a year later, my collection had expanded to over 100 phrases and here are some of my favourites...

• Free grog - Alcoholic beverages free of charge (good to learn in any language :-)


• Up Shit's Creek in a barbed wire canoe without a paddle - Hopeless situation


• Off like a bucket of prawns in the hot sun - Spoilt / Rotten


• Up at sparrow's fart - Wake up very early in the morning


• Technicolour yawn - What happens when you're drunk :-P

But please don't ask me the difference between a woos and a sook. I innocently asked this question at work one day, and set off a 2-hour debate which left me none the wiser.

Australia - Great Ocean Road

Australia is a blessed land, "girt by sea" and filled with mile after mile of gorgeous (and expensive!) ocean views.

I fulfilled one of my dreams in August 2006 by driving the length of the Great Ocean Road. Staying just ahead of a tour bus filled with Chinese nationals, I drove all the way from Geelong to the London Bridge - 260kms (one way!) and back to Geelong.

• All along the way, I found myself torn between the majestic ocean views and the emerald green hinterland scenes. So I stopped for morning tea, lunch, coffee, afternoon tea and lots of photos in between.

In addition to the world-famous Twelve Apostles and London Bridge, I fell in love with a little town called Apollo Bay. The foreshore views of the bay are breathtaking - among some of the best I've seen in the world.

Aunty Jo-Jo@ Twelve Apostles, Victoria

USA - Los Angeles

The City of Angels was the first US city I visited in 2000.

After seeing so much of LA on television over the years, the real experience fell a little flat. It was hotter, dustier and noisier than I imagined. But it was real.

The tour of Hollywood homes was hilarious. I've got tons of photos of houses and front lawns, but no idea who they belong to. But I did see Henry Winkler's (a.k.a the Fonz) police patrol car. That was probably the most exciting thing I saw all day :-)

Still, it is a city that attracts huge numbers of blonde, good-looking hopefuls hoping to make a break into the entertainment world. So, make sure you collect the autograph of your waiter because you never know, he may be the next Leonardo de Caprio!



Aunty Jo-Jo @ Rodeo Drive, Los Angeles

USA - Washington DC

Aunty Jo-Jo @ White House, Washington D.C.

The 3 M's - Museums, Memorials and Monuments - are what I remember most about Washington D.C.

Apart from the usual sights: White House, Lincoln Memorial, Washington Memorial, Vietnam Memorial, Smithsonian, I also had the privilege of visiting the inner sanctum of the World Bank. Very impressive...especially the cafeteria that serves first-class cuisine from five continents....and the priceless artworks that are scattered around the lobby. And their role is to help finance development of third world countries? Enough said ;-)

USA - Disneyland

One of my earliest memories of childhood was watching The Mickey Mouse Club on our black & white TV.

Every episode ended with a little cartoon figure of Tinkerbell waving her wand, and spreading little stars all over the Magic Castle.

Disneyland is a magical place to every child.

My inner child discovered that truth when I visited Disneyland for the first time in 2000. For the record, I entered the park at 8am (opening time) and left only at 12 midnight (when the gates closed)

What a fantastic day it was...

• Taking a photo with Mickey Mouse & Donald Duck is a must - whatever age you may be
• The Indiana Jones ride is such a realistic re-creation of our favourite archaeologist's adventures. You have got to try it
• It's a Small World is an amazing ride filled with dolls wearing national costumes of different countries. But only go if you don't mind the song playing in your head for the next 3 days.
• Riding the Magic Mountain roller-coaster, after a Coke & hot dog, is NOT advised. I have never felt so sick in my life!
• The scariest ride in Disneyland is..... Snow White & the Seven Dwarfs....go see for yourself why that is...
• Don't miss the parade that happens at 8pm every night. Cinderella, Snow White, Goofy, Ariel, Belle and all the other Disney favourites make an appearance

I'd like to record a special note of thanks to Kathleen and her husband William, who insisted that I make Disneyland a stop on my tour of LA. Also thanks for the free entry ;-)

USA - New York

I LOVE NEW YORK
I really do.

There is no city on earth that "packs a punch" like NYC does. Vibrant - Energetic - Passionate - Cosmopolitan - Colourful

I spent 4 days in the Big Apple in 2000, and it's still one of my favourite places on the planet.

Here are some of my fondest memories:

• BROADWAY - I had so much fun running around the theatre district. Cats was clever and playful, while Cabaret was hauntingly beautiful (especially the minimalist finale on a bare stage). Fossie was a delightful dance tribute to a legendary coreographer while Les Miserables left me in love with the best Enjolras ever (and I've seen musical four times!)

• The Statue of Liberty left me breathless - literally. I made it to the top to take in the amazing views of New York, on my very first morning in the city
• Gray's Papaya hotdogs are fantastic! I've always wanted to try them after watching Matthew Perry chomping on one in "Fools Rush In". I'm proud to declare that I polished off SIX hot dogs over a period of two days. No regrets nor apologies to my cardiologist
• Greenwich Village, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, the Waldorf Astoria, Trump Tower, Central Park. All these magical names that I'd only ever watched on TV sprang to life that afternoon when I walked 75 blocks from Battery Park back to my hotel on 74th St
• I was so excited when I stepped onto the observation deck of the Empire State Building. Not because it's an American icon, but more importantly, for being the setting for the last scene of "Sleepless in Seattle". Sigh...very few people would peg me as a die-hard romantic...but...there you go :-)

USA - San Francisco

Joanna & her sister, Julie in beautiful San Francisco




So many songs, movies and stories have been written about this little gem of a city in northern California. Any attempt to add to it almost seems futile, but Aunty Jo-Jo will try, nevertheless.
My first trip to San Francisco was in the summer of 2006, to visit my sister Julie, who now lives in the Bay Area. We saw all the famous sights and I found the city very pretty and comfortable, but not overwhelmingly so.
I found myself thoroughtly enjoying:-

• the beautiful tourist sights - Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz, Pier 39, Red & White ferry ride around the Bay. Despite what anyone says about commercialism, just enjoy it!
• Monet in Normandy exhibition at the Legion of Honor. It was amazing to study so many of my favourite Monets sitting side-by-side: the water-lilies, the haystacks, Rouen Cathedral. I also enjoyed introducing Julie to the world of the Impressionists.
• the ethnic neighbourhoods which integrate so comfortably into each other. I loved the fact that I could have my wonton mee for lunch, and wander down the street to pick up an authentic gelato for dessert!
• SFMOMA (San Francisco Museum of Modern Art). Although I don't really understood modern art, I was lucky to bump into Carmen Garcia, an aspiring artist, who was kind enough to show me all her favourite pieces at the museum
• the wine regions of Napa and Sonoma are a delight to discover. The wines are so different to the Australian vintages I'm used to. Especially last year's Orange Muscat by Villa Mt Eden...yummmm

Summer of 96 - Versailles vs. Schonbrunn

Left: Versailles Palace, France

Right: Schonbrunn Palace, Austria

Both palaces were the royal seat of their respective empires. Chateau de Versailles housed the French court of Louis XIV - The Sun King, while Schloss Schonbrunn was closely connected to Emperor Franz Josef I of Austria.

While Versailles is the better known of the two, I prefer Schonbrunn Palace. It seems to be a happier place. The quarters reflect a certain charm and the personal touch of the Hapsburg family, reminding visitors that despite their royal birth, Emperor Franz Josef and Empress Elisabeth were just a couple trying to raise a family.

I must admit, however, that this view is heavily influenced by a biography I read on Empress Elisabeth entitled "The Reluctant Empress" by Brigitte Harman. The preface reads -

"This book is the life story of a woman who refused to behave according to her rank. Drawing on her remarkable self-confidence, she strove for and achieved the goal that it took the 20th century feminine movement to name "self-realisation"

She played none of the roles assigned to her by tradition and her surroundings: not the role of loving and devoted wife, not the role of mother, not the role of principal figurehead in a gigantic empire. She insisted on her rights as an individual - and she prevailed. "

Summer of 96 - Venice

While other travelogues offer romantic images of the Bridge of Sighs, gondolas and the Venetian waterfront, I'm serving up a more irreverant image of Joanna Yeoh (on a bad hair day) standing in front of Basilica San Marco.

All I remember is:

• how crowded the piazza was - we had to physically stop other tourists from wandering into our photos
• how smelly the canals were
• how expensive the gondola rides were - definitely not within our meagre student budgets
• how loud the Americans were about the awful pizza - "nothing like Domino's back home" - were the exact words

AND HOW I'D GIVE MY RIGHT ARM TO BE BACK IN VENICE AGAIN!

It's one of the most romantic cities in Europe - need I say more?

Summer of 96 - Montagnana

Montagana was one of the most delightful surprises of the Grand Tour. Especially since it wasn't even on our itinerary. We detoured into this lovely town because we couldn't find any accomodation in Venice or Padova.

This medieval city in Northern italy is so incredibly well-preserved - it's like stepping back in time. The Youth Hostel was located in one of the castle towers and I was lucky enough to spend the night in one of the cells that was used to store cannonballs - supercool!!

Watching the sun rise over the turrets the next morning was a religious experience.

I am certain my prayers were heard that day.

Summer of 96 - Vatican City

Aunty Jo-Jo @ Basilica San Pietro, Vatican City, Rome

I must admit I don't remember feeling very pious during my visit to the Vatican City. We had been told to get there very early in the morning to avoid the curse of the tour buses. When we got there at 8am, there was already a large group of "mature" pilgrims (in wheelchairs and walkers!) ahead of us. So we nimbly and politely manouvered our way past them, and bolted up the circular ramps, towards the Vatican Museum ticket office.

It was well worth it. I remember being inspired by:

• Michelangelo's "Pieta" - a sad, gentle sculpture of Mary with the body of Jesus resting on her lap. It was hard to believe that the scene before me was entirely made of cold, hard marble: so life-like were the figures, and realistic were the folds of their clothing
• the Gallery of Maps - an entire corridor plastered from walls to ceilings with ancient maps. Even one used by Vasco da Gama to sail from India to Malaga (our very own Malacca!)
• the Sistine Chapel - I was lucky enough to find a seat and spent a good 20 minutes gawking at the art masterpiece that cost Michaelangelo his health and eyesight. I was particularly impressed by the "Creation of Adam"
• the Vatican treasure - the amount of precious art, artefacts and treasure in those museums is just mind-boggling. Botticelli, Raphael, Da Vinci, Michaelangelo, Rosselini cover wallspace just like Dulux paint covers the walls of my apartment!

Summer of 96 - Rome

Following in the tradition of fashionable society, my first (and only!) Grand Tour of Europe took place in the summer of '96. One glorious month of wonder, excitement and new experiences - and I loved every minute of it.

ROME

"I now realise all the dreams of my youth" - Goethe

"At last, for the first time, I live." - Henry James

Standing at the foot of the Arch of Titus in Rome, I thanked God for allowing me the privilege of seeing Rome for the first time. Not that I have any Catholic tendencies, but just walking around the city, I was overwhelmed by the history and romanticsm that surrounded me.

Rome was the centre of one of the greatest empires ever built. Julius Caesar, Mark Anthony, Peter the Apostle, Paul the Apostle had walked these cobbled streets, past all the monuments and arches, drinking from the water spouts - just as I was doing. Sigh...

It was very hot and dry when I visited Rome. The thermometer registered over 40 degrees centigrade. And yet, the thrill of seeing the Colosseum, the Pantheon, Roman Forum and temple of the Vestal Virgins, completely overpowered any fatigue I was feeling at the time.

Some of the "less glamorous" highlights I do remember include:

• trying almost every gelato in sight - it was so hot!
• throwing coins into the Trevi Fountain
• falling down with a loud "SPLAT" inside the Basilica San Paulo (the site where Paul was matyred) because I couldn't take my eyes off the gold-covered ceilings. Well, I suppose if I had to fall at the feet of any man, Paul the Apostle would have been the most worthy :-)
• yelling at Harvey in Hokkien - to get away from a bunch of gypsy women who had surrounded him - but they still managed to steal about 50,000 lira out of the money pouch that was underneath his shirt. My poor boy said he felt so "violated".
• being secretly upset at not having my bum pinched, as I had been warned all Roman men would do. What's wrong with my bum? ;-)

Freefall!

Aunty Jo-Jo tandem-skydiving over Queenstown, New Zealand

This is THE most exciting thing I've ever done - period.

While others proudly display photos of graduations, weddings and kids (all good things by the way), this photo takes pride of place in my home.

The date: 30th December 1999

The place: Queenstown, New Zealand - the adrenaline capital of the world

The time: Can't remember, I was too scared :-)

Modus Operandi

1. Sign forms to agree that I'm taking my life into my own hands.
2. Swipe Visa card to hand over half my life savings
3. Attend 30-min training on what to do - bla..bla..technical jargon..bla bla - basically trust the instructor and don't PANIC!
4. Get into skydive suit and hook up all the gear
5. Climb aboard a small Cessna plane and wait till you get to 12,000 feet
6. JUMP!

Yoooo......hooooo......

P/S: Highly recommended for anyone with fear of heights - it'll cure it once and for all