After leaving Port Stephens, we arrived at Sydney city at around 6-7pm, just in time for dinner at the Night Noodle Markets at Hyde Park.
This is the signature event under the Crave Sydney International Food Festival, bringing together dozens of international food stalls, three bars and nightly entertainment which includes a Chinese lion dance performance.
![Sydney is ON Sydney is ON](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6108/6262391474_3c1f407d8a_z.jpg)
![The lion dance was a crowd pleaser The lion dance was a crowd pleaser](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6261861689_5ff881ecf2_z.jpg)
![Rows of Chinese red lanterns at Hyde Park Rows of Chinese red lanterns at Hyde Park](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6262380086_4d78d8807a_z.jpg)
The annual festival starts on October 1 and runs through the end of the month. It’s celebrates Sydney food with a series of “100 mile” events, whereby chefs use only food sourced within a 100-mile radius, culminating in the 100 mile challenge.
Sydneysiders love the event, judging by the packed turn out at Hyde Park for the Night Noodle Markets. Duglass told us that Australians generally dislike queuing. If they bother to queue for their food and drinks, these have to be really good stuff!
I went through the program guide printed by The Sydney Morning Herald newspaper and found out that all the stalls were set up by established or up-and-coming restaurants in Sydney, eager to showcase their cuisines for a big break at the annual Night Noodles Markets.
![Check out the crowd! Check out the crowd!](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6212/6262379250_b866ba8031_z.jpg)
![Longrain: they have an Asian restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney - http://www.longrain.com.au Longrain: they have an Asian restaurant in Surry Hills, Sydney - http://www.longrain.com.au](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6159/6261857507_16be540932_z.jpg)
![Curly Moo Yoghurt - http://www.curlymoo.com Curly Moo Yoghurt - http://www.curlymoo.com](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6262379492_877acb76c4_z.jpg)
![Ang moh selling sushi, interesting Ang moh selling sushi, interesting](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6110/6262379682_0a44884dd4_z.jpg)
![As night falls, more people arrive As night falls, more people arrive](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6262378278_77e35f0c30_z.jpg)
![More international food stalls More international food stalls](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6160/6262385134_f49018cc29_z.jpg)
![Coloured smoke for effects Coloured smoke for effects](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6035/6262391372_11a375934a_z.jpg)
![Spotted the deejay shed where the music was coming from Spotted the deejay shed where the music was coming from](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6092/6262386372_955ec9ca8b_z.jpg)
There are lots of other side events surrounding the month long festival other than just the Night Noodle Markets. Check out the official Crave website for more details. For food lovers, if you are planning a trip to Sydney next year, you can consider planning your stay to coincide with the Crave festival next year to attend some of these events.
For dinner, all of us had our food from a Chinese stall called Iron Chef as it had the longest queue. I ordered a fried noodle set with Peking Duck and Baked Pork Ribs with Spicy Sweet Sauce. One would not expect quality Chinese or Asian food in a Western country, but being the cultural melting pot that Sydney is, the food was really great, even to a picky Singaporean taste bud.
![We ordered from this stall We ordered from this stall](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6173/6262382464_5f2d734ecb_z.jpg)
![My order and Eunice's order for dinner My order and Eunice's order for dinner](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6151/6261860143_8c71dc117e_z.jpg)
![Tables and chairs are provided Tables and chairs are provided](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6040/6262384292_e9e1897406_z.jpg)
![If you can't get a spot, lying on the grass patch is welcome too If you can't get a spot, lying on the grass patch is welcome too](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/6261859659_705ce52c8b_z.jpg)
![Me enjoying my dinner Me enjoying my dinner](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6234/6262393604_3daea606d9_z.jpg)
![Eunice enjoying her dinner too Eunice enjoying her dinner too](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6262389058_a596a9aa01_z.jpg)
![Crave Sydney International Food Festival - food lovers can plan your visit to Sydney around it Crave Sydney International Food Festival - food lovers can plan your visit to Sydney around it](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6091/6262384610_307bdd6f21_z.jpg)
One thing wonderful about such big public event in Sydney was the availability of wide open space for people to sit around. This may not seem like much, but for Singaporeans who are constantly squeezed for space with an overcrowded population, I value extra room very much.
![St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney St Andrew's Cathedral, Sydney](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6261863441_8dd3febf79_z.jpg)
![Came across this interesting guy on our way back to the car Came across this interesting guy on our way back to the car](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6171/6262392254_5ea389e266_z.jpg)
After dinner, we checked into our hotel at Fraser Suites where I will be hosted for 4 nights till the end of my stay in Sydney.
![Fraser Suites entrance Fraser Suites entrance](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6179/6261860533_ce45c8817f_z.jpg)
![The lobby area The lobby area](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6051/6261858219_b973f3893b_z.jpg)
The “suite” in the name is not just for show. I was flabbergasted when I stepped into my room. The place was large and very well furnished, just like a luxurious one-bedder condominium studio apartment. What’s even more amazing – the stunning view of Sydney city from the full-length windows of the 39th floor room that I was staying in.
Willy was so impressed he did a 3D video introduction of his room on the 40th floor using his HTC EVO 3D:
[youtube url=”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wud4Sua3HPI”]
The suite is divided into three living area – the kitchen, the living room and the bedroom.
The kitchen comes with full sets of cooking stoves, utensils and accessories. There’s also a fridge, kettle and an iron with an ironing board. I was pleasantly surprised to find a dishwasher, a washing machine and a dryer! I have never had these in any of the hotels I stayed in for all my travels so far. At least not individual pieces in each room itself.
Usually, I would not bother to do my laundry when traveling or would only wash just a few selected pieces which are quick to dry. This time round, I made full use of the washing machine and dryer, clearing a basket load of laundry in a night.
![The kitchen area The kitchen area](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6175/6262388400_86bd5cd320_z.jpg)
![Kitchen utensils Kitchen utensils](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6168/6262481874_9a7f2e962d_z.jpg)
![Full set of bowls, plates and cups Full set of bowls, plates and cups](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6055/6261966095_88b2b9e07e_z.jpg)
![Microwave oven to heat snacks like this pie I bought from a local supermarket Microwave oven to heat snacks like this pie I bought from a local supermarket](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6216/6262486088_1a6d7f3370_z.jpg)
![Dishwasher and dryer Dishwasher and dryer](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6262491476_de49cddb4d_z.jpg)
![A washing machine and a dryer! A washing machine and a dryer!](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6116/6261969983_b6c63f7656_z.jpg)
The living room has a dining area; a sofa as well a lounge chair to laze and watch television on. Best of all, there’s also a wide activity table for me to set up my Internet work station and other tech gadgets.
![The living room area The living room area](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6221/6262388192_8670a16abc_z.jpg)
![Dining area with magnificent view Dining area with magnificent view](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6111/6261856563_3c5519d03c_z.jpg)
![Cosy lounge chair Cosy lounge chair](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6176/6261867683_f82317151c_z.jpg)
![My work station My work station](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6215/6261955993_ced2baf1df_z.jpg)
The bedroom has another television and a connecting bathroom, filled with lovely organic bath products.
![My lovely bed My lovely bed](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6169/6262379300_51dfa745b4_z.jpg)
![The bathroom The bathroom](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6113/6262390096_b18c5af9c6_z.jpg)
I slept well during all my four nights stay at Fraser Suites. I also hosted two friends on separate days in the living room for chit chat, thanks to the large living area.
If you are interested to stay at Fraser Suites for your next Sydney visit, check out their official website.
![Heading out for a night stroll Heading out for a night stroll](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6261864629_ebf944157e_z.jpg)
After checking into our rooms, my ex-colleague, Christine came by to visit me with one of her local friend. Christine happened to be in Sydney for a business trip and we decided to catch up.
Christine and her friend joined Willy, Eunice and I as we leisurely stroll from Fraser Suites in Kent Street all the way to The Rock at Circular Quay, checking out Sydney’s city night scape along the way.
![Window shopping by night Window shopping by night](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6037/6261862081_b6515643a6_z.jpg)
![This shop sells quirky jammies and nighties This shop sells quirky jammies and nighties](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6053/6261863921_223e6d8e84_z.jpg)
![A classy night club which we walked passed A classy night club which we walked passed](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6162/6262390448_d889ed221c_z.jpg)
![Gourmet cupcakes Gourmet cupcakes](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6222/6262390862_282e7d0314_z.jpg)
![Sydney is a city which is adorned with pockets of art all over, here's an installation piece Sydney is a city which is adorned with pockets of art all over, here's an installation piece](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6230/6261857877_5fe727afcf_z.jpg)
![Passed by an Apple store where tributes were presented to Steve Jobs outside Passed by an Apple store where tributes were presented to Steve Jobs outside](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6098/6261867797_8606e9989d_z.jpg)
![Drinking hole, The Rock at Circular Quay Drinking hole, The Rock at Circular Quay](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6031/6262393532_eb229070f9_z.jpg)
![Sydney Harbour Bridge by night Sydney Harbour Bridge by night](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6229/6261852903_efab20927b_z.jpg)
![Sydney Opera House by night Sydney Opera House by night](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6038/6262379592_3148857776_z.jpg)
We took a cab back from the Sydney Opera House at around 11pm. Willy and I were a little hungry, so we bought some pizza slices from a stall near our hotel.
![Pizza for supper Pizza for supper](http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6173/6261865163_84974d258e_z.jpg)
It was way past midnight by the time I got to sleep. We have to wake up at 5am the next day to catch the sun rise at Bondi. On hindsight, we should not have taken such a long night walk, but I guess all of us were suckered in by the city’s beauty and companionship. 🙂
Stay tuned for my next update on Bondi.
Useful Links:
HTC Escapade featuring Willy Foo, Eunice Khong and Alvinology
Day 1 – Quad Biking, Sandboarding and 4WD Ride
Day 2 – Horse Riding, Parasailing and Dolphin Watching
Frasers Hospitality (Fraser Suites)