AU2009 - Roppongi Japanese Restaurant

Being in Wollongong for so many years, this is probably my third or fourth time in Roppongi, a venue we chose to have a small gathering dinner.

 

 

It seems to me that the service remains at the same standard as years before, which is obviously poor services. The waiter and waitresses are usually not attentive and they only have specific people to do certain tasks. So, if the restaurant is busy (which usually are), chances are, it will take a while before they attend to you, even though you may see a bunch of people standing around doing nothing.

 

The chef making sushi

 

But, if you are into Japanese food, then you don’t really have much choices as there are only three Japanese restaurants in Wollongong.

 

Table setting

 

Anyway, I guess as long as you were out with a bunch of friends, just like we did, you will be enjoying the dinner there.

 

Seafood teppanyaki

 

Grilled salted salmon

 

Grilled eel in teriyaki sauce

 

Soft-shell crab tempura

 

Large assorted sushi

 

All in all, I think the food are okay, but pricey and small portioned. In addition, there’s plenty of room for improvement in terms of their service. I don’t think I will ever go back to Roppongi again, or recommend it to anyone else, unless we plan to have another gathering at a Japanese restaurant (and there are no new places available).

AU2009 - Snowy Mountains: Day 2

After a tiring day, we had to wake up early in the morning to clean up the house and leave by 10am because there’s another group coming in.

 

All cleaned, packed and ready to go!!

 

However, instead of going back to the snow with all the muscle ache, we decided to head back to Wollongong.

 

A pleasant drive home

 

Along the way after returning our ski gears, we decided to detour into Canberra, the Australian’s capital! Our first stop was at the Parliament House, …

 

Parliament House

 

… where we met the queen!!!  

 

Queen Elizabeth II

 

Moving on, we stopped by at the International Flag Display, …

 

 

… then over to the Australian War Memorial, …

 

 

… before a drive up Mount Ainslie.

 

 

Our weekend getaway is then concluded by a 3 hour drive all the way back to Wollongong.

AU2009 - Snowy Mountains: Day 1

Departed Wollongong on Friday evening, we arrived at our rental property for the weekend at East Jindabyne just past midnight on Saturday. It was a 7 hour drive from Wollongong to Jindabyne, which includes our dinner stop at Goulburn and ski hire stop at Cooma.

 

Our road trip map

 

With four ski fields (Charlotte Pass, Perisher, Selwyn Snowfields and Thredbo) to choose from in New South Wales, we decided to give Perisher a visit as it is Australia's largest skiing resort. The resort is an amalgamation of Perisher Valley, Smiggin Holes, Blue Cow and Guthega skifields. After getting our skitube tickets and lift pass from Perisher’s Jindabyne office, …

 

Snow-capped mountains

 

… we proceeded to Bullocks Flat to catch the skitube.

 

Entrance to Skitube

 

Skitube, also known as the Alpine Railway, is a convenient and innovative train ride from Bullocks Flat through the Ramshead range into the Kosciuszko National Park then onto Perisher Valley and Blue Cow Mountain. It is one of the longest underground train tunnels and is also Australia's only underground rack-railway, travelling at a depth of 550m. Since the Bullocks Flat Terminal is well below the normal snow line, the skitube is the best way to get to the snow if you are restricted by your car hire company (Avis for example, does not allow their cars to be driven past the snow line in Winter) or if you are driving without chains.

 

Our packed carriage

 

After travelling 8.5km, with 6.3km of underground trip, we arrived at Perisher Valley.

 

Perisher

 

After a quick exploration, …

 

Perisher’s church, ambulance station (they don’t call it a hospital) and fire station 

 

… we moved on to catch the free shuttle bus over to Smiggin Holes, where our ski lessons will be held after lunch time.

 

Shuttle bus stop

 

Departing every 15 minutes, it was a short bus ride over to Smiggins.

 

Smiggin Holes

 

Back in the 1840’s, the trampling of hundreds of cattle consuming rock salt that graziers had placed there, caused depressions that filled with water. These depressions were called "the smiggin holes", and hence the place was named after that.

 

 

More suitable for beginners, the slopes were not as packed as Perisher Valley. And since its where the Snowsports School is located, you are always in good hands of the instructors (if you are taking lessons). After lunch at the Arcade, …

 

Our fish and chips lunch

 

… we gathered at the meeting place for our lessons.

 

Meeting place

 

The lessons took about two and a half hours, before we were let off skiing away by ourselves.

 

Friendly slopes, …

 

… chair lifts

 

… and the J-bar.

 

This is also where I get to see disabled-friendly (wheelchair) skiing.

 

Wheelchair skiing

 

Soon enough, its closing time but its also where the fun part begins. It started snowing!!

 

Low visibility while snowing

 

After playing in the snow and packing up, we hop on board the shuttle bus, making our way back to Perisher Valley to catch the skitube down to Bullocks Flat.

 

 

All in all, it was a fun but tiring day!!