Korea's Got Talent?
Trip Start
Jan 16, 2012
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71
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Trip End
Jan 01, 2014
Rozelle, New South Wales, Australia
Sunday, July 15, 2012
On Saturday we took the lengthy walk from our flat to the Harbour Bridge, pausing on the way to sample a beer and a cider respectively at a distinctly English looking - but very apparently Australian priced - pub in the exclusive Rocks area of the city, which occupies Circular Wharf ("THE" view over the water from which has made Sydney famous worldwide). The bridge itself is impressive in its scale, but visually I think that the Tyne Bridge would fair adequately in a comparison. Our destination on the other side of the harbour was Luna Park - a kitsch 1930s fun fair complete with old school rides, but 21st century prices. As well as the scary pricing, Shelley had neglected to mention that all of the rides on offer (save for the kiddie ones) would have made her sick so we decided to stick to soaking in the view back over the harbour the park offered as the sun sunk, something which surely makes this one of the most valuable pieces of real estate in Australia. I hope that the lure of developers' cash is resisted and that this site remains a weird old fun fair forever (although if I owned it, I'd flog it in a heartbeat)...
On the way back into the centre we took in a drink at another kitsch venue - the quirky "Grandma's" basement bar, complete with retro stylings but - there is a theme here - prices which would make even Bill Gates consider his choice of drink very carefully. Fortunately we didn't have too long to kill before wandering down to brave the chill night air for the weekly spectacular that is the Darling Harbour fireworks display (which will cease in a couple of weeks). We returned home to be reminded that Oz is a naturally dangerous country as some unfortunate 24 year old surfer had become the fifth victim of sharks in the last 12 month period. I have the perfect tactic to prevent myself from becoming another shark victim statistic - i.e. giving the ocean a very wide berth - but can do this to avoid the spiders, snakes, crocs and other land based nasties. Best not to think about it...
Sunday morning started with a relatively early alarm call, for a slightly unknown adventure. We had seen various posters around during our wanderings on Saturday, advertising an audition call for "Superstar K" - a singing competition boasting a AUS$500,000 first prize. A small amount of net based research on Saturday night revealed that the aim was to uncover Korea's next superstar singer, but there were a handful of English language entries which had been submitted to the website, which was enough to encourage us that it would not be a futile use of time. By the time we arrived at the appointed building in the city centre around 20 minutes after auditions were due to have started, there was a queue of around 200 - hardly something of X Factor or biblical proportions - so we decided to take our place at the back of the line, which was understandably about 99% Asian, with the Caucasians standing out like burgers in a sea of noodles. Shelley was by now not convinced about the wisdom of spending several hours queueing (albeit in glorious sunshine) and so against my orders (I felt like the Colonel to Elvis or Brian Epstein to the Beatles in trying to keep her in line) she enquired if her race would be a barrier to entry - no was the response, but not being fluent in Korean was fatal. All seems a little discriminatory, but at least it salvaged our day although I may never be able to answer the question in the title to this note. (I think I have an idea after hearing some of the vocal warm ups taking place in the line, and it's not good news for some who should consider a different Korea. Ha ha).
The unhappy result of our having an unexpectedly free afternoon was that we were soon on a bus heading to Rozelle Market, despite a poor showing last week. The God of Second Hand Tat smiled on us this week however and we were soon making the return bus journey together with a large rusty metal trunk and a battered old faux leather suitcase - total combined cost = AUS$35. Not a bad morning's work (although the various other items we have purchased and bought since arriving here are yet to have anything more than a number of 'Watchers' on eBay and we will be relying on a late surge of bids to keep us in reduced price cinema tickets and Pizza Hut Tuesday deals.
Before our weekly visit to Hillsongs I still had time to tackle a much needed run, with only a week to go before the first of my three marathons in the next 21 days (eek - http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/NickTurner31 by way of gentle reminder)...Anyway, all went terrifically well in stunning 23 plus degree sunshine until I got slightly carried away in the Botanical Garden and managed to go over on my ankle, something which may have put next Sunday's marathon in Hunter Valley in jeopardy (Shelley is not entirely devastated). We shall see - I have overcome worse before and will no doubt need to again, especially if my current state of 100% under employment persists...
