The penultimate day of their stay in Sydney turned out to be so exciting, so passionate, so unrestrained, and so terrifying.
In April of the following year when she entered the first grade of a junior high school in Zhonggang, her aunt flew to Sydney and stayed there for nine days. What made her most envious and jealous during those nine days was not that she could see the world's famous attractions, but that she could not visit them. It is she could see all kinds of delicious food, however, she could not reach them.
For her, the saying "The farthest distance is when I stand in front of you, but you don't know that I love you" should be changed to "The farthest distance is when you are in front of me, but But I can’t eat you”. She thinks this is the saddest thing in life.
Thinking back to how she felt when she swiped Facebook and saw oysters appear on the screen, she couldn't explain it in just a few words. She had to run to 7-11 to pick up snacks, yogurt, and milk bread to comfort her injured heart. Of course she didn't forget the flavored wine grandma ordered.
And since she came to Sydney, one of the things she has been looking forward to most is this. The three of them were now at the Central Station. Li Qiao looked at the number of platforms displayed on the electronic screen, and her jaw almost dropped to the ground.
"Oh my God!"Li exclaimed, "There are 26 platforms here!"
"It's really big. I almost got lost when I first came here."Yu Xiaoyu said laughingly.
Yu Ruoling looked around and saw that the crowds were about two or three times more than those at Taiwan's high-speed rail stations. It was indeed a very large "train station". Thinking about this, Taiwan feels weaker, she sighed.
Comparing it internationally, except for Taiwan's reputation for medical care, food, politics, human relations, etc., the rest of the world seems to have not seen much of it. Of course, if the cleanliness of the MRT is also taken into account, or as is the 2017 Taipei's world university games.
Having no other choice, she got off the car and followed her mother and aunt on the light rail to the Fishing Market. Taiwan's area is simply too small. Even if countries want to do something, they will probably do it for its transportation and strategic position in the center of the East Asian festooned archipelago.
Moreover, Taiwan guards important waterways entering China - or mainland Asia - and serves as a central rest stop and transfer station. It is impossible for such a big piece of candy to fall into the hands of any sovereign power. Unless those people are crazy.
Everyone wants to share some benefits. She believed in true friendship between people of different nationalities, but not between countries. Of course, there are a few exceptions, and she calls those exceptions "miracles."
To be honest, she believes that Taiwan would not be visible to the world if it lacked political entanglements(compared to human touch)and food and medical care. This is probably a bit like having its own luminous body to say "We are different", except it's not written on the national flag.
"Wow!This smell is so strong!"Li Qiao wrinkled her nose as soon as she stepped off the light rail, trying to block the strange and refreshing smell that hit her nostrils.
"...I think I'm very healthy. "Yu Ruoling took a deep breath and said deliberately, "Mommy, don't worry, just treat it as gaseous fish oil."
"Oh nononono, just enjoy it yourself."
"Across the road is the fish market. There are a lot of seafood there, so the smell of fish is certainly strong. "Yu Xiaoyu looked as usual, but there was no covering of excitement in her eyes, "Let's have lunch here!Ling, your oysters stored here can eventually be received!"
Yes, yes, she was so excited. Yu sniffed the smell in the air again and felt hungry.
"Xiaoyu, look!"Li Qiao excitedly slapped Yu Xiaoyu, who was standing next to her, and pointed her other hand at the large glass jar in front of them, "Oh my God!Ling, come here!Oh my God, this lobster is so big!It almost can compare with your arms!”
Yu Ruoling silently stared at the lobster, which was about as big as her calf, and couldn't help but pick up her phone and take a photo.
Lord Jesus, even the lobster is bigger than her. Does that mean she is really too short?
(இωஇ )
"How much does this cost?One can eat this for a whole day."And would be very full.
"Let me take a look, Ling, do the math. "Yu Xiaoyu read the price list on the glass jar, "75 Australian dollars."
...1,725 NT dollars - 57 US dollars - She turned her phone over to her mother who wanted to see the price after multiplying by the exchange rate.
She couldn't help but feel filled with emotion. It is indeed Australia...
So cheap. The unit price of seafood of this level in Taiwan would probably start at 200 US dollars.
"It's not expensive!It's a great deal!"Li Qiao said.
"Because this is Australia."Yu Xiaoyu said.
…
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After nearly half an hour at the seafood museum, the three members of the Yu family finally walked to the open-air dining platform near the port, carrying a tray containing two boxes of oysters and a creative set meal similar to sushi and scallops. If they ignore the several parked fishing boats and embankments not far from the platform, this place really looks like the outdoor dining area of a typical manor-themed restaurant.
So many people that today hardly seems like a working day - Thursday. In Sydney, it should be said that many Western countries attach great importance to entertainment and leisure. Even on working days, one can see residents sitting and having a drink everywhere, wearing regular clothes and spending money in cafes.
But it's not that they all not go to work, it's that they get off work really early. Compared to Asia - especially in East (Eastern-North)Asia - the pace of life here is extremely slow.
"Oh SHIT!"
An oyster in Yu Ruoling's mouth suddenly stuck on her right cheek, and the stunned expression with the round protrusion was really too funny.
In addition, her voice was a bit loud, and the little girl with blond hair and blue eyes at the next table couldn't help but look over curiously.
"Yee~ Yu Xiaoyu uttered the most popular catchphrase in Taiwan at that time, "Two birds~"
Yu stared blankly at the shadow reflected by the awning above her head flying to the ground. The golden pointed beak and the snow-white chubby body came into view, as well as another slender black bird with a pointed black beak next to it that looked very mean.
Unknown bird. Seagull.
"Hey!It grab food!"Li Qiao put down her fork and watched in horror as the seagull flapped its wings a few times and in an instant took the vanilla ice cream from that little girl with blond hair and blue eyes.
There were even several drops of melted ice cream dripping in the air.
"Mom!!It..."The little sister opened her mouth and started crying in grievance.
Oh, the poor little one. Yu Ruoling silently stared at the seagull that had flown away, and then turned to stare at the long-beaked black bird that didn't know when it jumped onto the low stone wall next to their dining table.
The sharp eyes of the blackbird were fixed on the scallops and oysters on the table.
"When did it come up?!"Li Qiao was startled, "I was scared to death because of you. Don't grab it!You have to be good."
“Otherwise, I'll give it a scallop. "Yu Xiaoyu plucked the mayonnaise off a scallop sushi, and used bamboo skewers to break the scallop into small pieces, "Here, this is your lunch."
"Seagulls are more aggressive?...Auntie, was your last grilled squid snatched away by seagulls when you visited here last time?"Yu observed the blackbirds pecking.
"That's right!Thinking about this makes me angry. I only took one bite!Damn."
"Were they snatched away directly?!"Li asked in surprise.
"Yeah, it just flew down from the sky and snatched it away in one go. That grilled squid is a bit expensive."
"It's so terrible..."
"Australia."
*
At 2:30 in the afternoon, the weather was sunny and cloudless, and the wind came from the southeast, carrying a little sticky moisture. Someone held up an umbrella as a parasol, trying to block the ultraviolet rays coming out of the sun - that umbrella happened to be anti-UV, thanks to the manufacturer - and another person tried her best to stuff herself into the remaining space of the umbrella.
Her hand holds up a bottle of ice lemon sparkling water. Several small dewdrops form on the body of it.
Not long after walking, after crossing the last block, the large building that seemed to have jumped into reality from a fantasy novel series suddenly appeared in front of them.
There are several shops open outside the building gate, and the tables and chairs with umbrellas outside the shops are almost full.
The best-selling product of these merchants today is ice cream.
The University of Sydney in Australia is famous for its style and appearance that is very similar to Hogwarts, the magical school in Harry Potter written by J.K. Rowling, which is also famous in reality.
Before they saw "Sydney University" engraved on the road sign about 300 meters away from the gate, the three members of the Yu family had already seen the mysterious corner of Sydney University. And when they could fully see the whole scene, they were finally willing to throw away their parasols.
Although it was not Yu Xiaoyu's first time in Sydney, it was her first time to visit the University of Sydney. Her mobile phone had not stopped taking pictures since the road signs appeared.
"Ling, Qiao!Come on, let's take a photo!"
"Wow, it's really beautiful here!"Li Qiao raised her head and turned around to admire it, except for turning her head at a 180-degree angle to look at the scenery behind her, "Ling, if you want to study abroad in the future, just come to the University of Sydney!"
"It's not bad, "Yu said, "but I will most likely be regarded as a genius skipper."
"Why?"
"You don't know. In the supermarket near the hotel, the cashier there regarded me as a primary school student. (´థ౪థ)σ "Yu Ruoling said jokingly sad, "He also said...'You are so brave' , it seems like he really wants to give me a candy."
So what she got in exchange was the merciless ridicule from her mother and aunt.
"Just say you should play more basketball and exercise!"
"Just say drink more milk!"
Yu Ruoling: "...(I AM a milk nouveau riche. I AM half tired to death from playing basketball with Muxi in every gym class, but I AM not tall enough. God's will, what can I do. ㄟ(▔,▔) ㄏ)”
…
Leisure time when traveling always passes quickly, and soon the scorching noon sun in the southeast gradually sets in the west.
The heat drops, and the temperature felt by the human body is finally no longer hot and uncomfortable. The coolness is gradually rising, and the air is filled with the desolation that autumn should have.
China Town.
The ancient Chinese archway of the “Four Seas All Family” stands impressively in front. The red paint is slightly mottled, adding to the oriental classical atmosphere revealed by the archway.
Although China Town is called China Town, it is also subdivided into Chinese District, Korean District, Japanese District, etc., which are the largest communities in Asia.
Even if one is in a Western country - once under the colonial influence of the British Empire - what one hears now is full of Chinese.
Full of Mandarin.
Occasionally, they can even hear a sentence or two of Taiwan's authentic Hokkien.
"Gong CHA hahahaha!"Yu Xiaoyu found it funny and couldn't help but laugh, "Ling, Qiao, let's go back to the hotel after we're full and buy the Gong CHA, do you want it?"
"Okay!Hey, Sushi Express!"Li Qiao was still looking at the decoration of the Gong CHA store. When she looked up, she saw the words flashing brightly on the street opposite, "Sydney also has Sushi Express?"
"It opens up places with good consumer markets around the world, Mommy."
"It feels a bit magical. "Li Qiao said, "Shall we go eat the 'Dranoo' in front of us?"
"Qiao, you actually want to eat noodles?Don't you prefer rice?"
"There should be rice. It doesn't matter. I want to eat noodles. Let's go, let's go. I'm going to be so hungry that my chest touches my back."
Li held her daughter's arm and walked forward while walking side by side with Yu Xiaoyu.
Walking straight to the door of "Dranoo", after looking at the price, the three of the Yu family jointly decided that tonight's dinner was indeed the most considerate meal of "Dranoo".
They stepped in the door happily and prepared to enjoy their last dinner in Sydney.
"Welcome!How many guests are there?"The sweet and lovely waitress asked in Mandarin.
…
…How do you know we are Taiwanese??The three members of the Yu family wanted to ask this question in Mandarin.