Penang Trip 2018: Day 5

It was our last day in Penang. We lazed till 1pm before heading over to Hin Bus Depot to visit the Hin Pop-Up Sunday Market. 

Peranakan shophouese along the way to Hin Bus Depot

After the Sunday market, we headed back to Lebuh Pantai, Georgetown as Marieann wanted to get a few things from the shops. 

Street art on the wall of a cafe

Incidentally saw more street art

Mareiann had late lunch/ early dinner at an Ajisen ramen equivalent while I went back to Lebuh Presgrave hawker centre for dinner after leaving Marieann at the hotel. I had fried oyster and chendol. Yummy! 

I took pity on Marieann for not having tried local food so I packed Heh Chee (fried prawn pieces, tofu, sausages, etc) and Buah Long Long drink for her to try. Kudos to Noordin Mews for their excellent service. When I returned to the hotel, the staff immediately offered to unpack the food onto a plate and brought it to our room with a big smile! 

A Noordin Mews postcard in place of snack after turn-down service tonight

My goodies from the Sunday Market

Public Garden Consumer Trade Show

This is the first time that I attended a Public Garden event. I heard about it from my friend, Mari-san whom I met at STGCC 2012 and have since become friends. Apparently Public Garden is held a couple of times a year and features hundreds of labels of designs, art, fashion, vintage beauty products and food. It is like the flea markets or the craft markets that I always visit when in Australia and UK. :)

I met my friend, Mari-san. It is nice to see her again so soon after STGCC 2015 in September! :) I spent about an hour and a half, just browsing through the stalls. There were plenty of handicrafts that caught my eye but I had to control myself as I am planing to go away at the end of the year for a break lol. 

My friend, Mari-san :)

The only things I bought at Public Garden :)

My girls and I showing off our Mari Brand key chains :)

I will definitely attend future Public Garden events. :) 

Brisbane Reminiscence Day 5/ Fun Day 4

Today's itinerary is to visit the Eagle Street Pier Craft Market or the Sunday market as well as to meet up with another two of my UQ classmates/ friends. :) We woke up to a cloudy day, just praying hard that the weather would hold for the rest of the day.

Close to 10:45am, we took the train to Central Station and walked over to Eagle Street Pier Craft Market.

On board the train

Sights along the walk to Eagle Street Pier Market

I can't believe Oshin Japanese Restaurant is still around!

The office buildings in Brisbane CBD

The Eagle Street Pier Craft Market is a lot smaller than I remembered! I asked one of the stall owners and she said the restaurants around Eagle Street Pier complained about the Sunday market affecting their businesses and the government reduced the once 100+/200 stalls to only 50 stalls or so. :( What a pity! Even though the market is now reduced to a third of its original size, I still enjoyed the colourful sights, the interesting handicrafts, as well as the music. :) We also walked to the Customs House which is a cultural, educational and heritage facility of the University of Queensland. :)

Kookaburra River Queen paddle wheeler - one day I will go on a lunch/ dinner cruise!

Eagle Street Pier ferry terminal and the Kookaburra Rive Queen

The Story Bridge - a heritage-listed steel cantilever bridge over Brisbane River and the CityCat ferry

The Customs House

The Customs House - up close

The Brisbane CBD

Us and the Story Bridge in the background

After an hour at the market, we made our way back to Post Office Square, Anzac Square, and the City Hall as I wanted to take photos of the historic architecture. We went to Queen Street Mall across from the City Hall and shopped. :) 

Various sights of The Cathedral of St Stephen

The inside of Post Office Square

The front of Post Office Square

Central Station and Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square

Shrine of Remembrance, Anzac Square

Central Station

The 'Eternal Flame of Remembrance' - cannot see in the day

Albert Street Uniting Church

Brisbane City Hall

We met my UQ friends, Zarinah and Claire at 2pm and we went to Pancake Manor for a snack. Two days in a row, we had pancakes/crepes and we still love it! :P We chatted for close to 2 hours! There was so much to catch up on lol. Hopefully Zarinah, Claire and Lachlan will make a trip back to Singapore since their last trip was in June 2000! Time to make a trip again, guys. :)

Juliane's Pizza Power: buttermilk pancake with ham, cheese and tomato sauce

My Chicken Crepe: chicken with fresh mushroom in creamy sauce wrapped in crepe in tomato sauce and salsa with side salad

We went back to our apartment about 5pm. I was in time to take more photos of the sunset over the Brisbane River. :) 

Our home - Apartment 2207 for the past 4 days

Sunset over Brisbane River

Soaps bought from the Eagle Street Pier Market and from Lush

TimTam - to bring home! :)

Our simple dinner - instant noodles and potato salad from Coles

I had to pack our 2 luggage to be stored at Meriton because we will be going to Gold Coast for the next four days. We will only bring the carry-on trolley bag to Gold Coast. Hope that I have enough space in the carry-on bag for all the shopping we are going to do at Gold Coast. :P