Shop Windows and Indoor Christmas Decorations - Random Street Wandering Snapshots

Shop front, hotel lobby, interiors - in the mood of Christmas.

Some of my favourite Christmas decor for this year.

Westfield front desk adorned with white light Christmas trees

A cheerful Australian Christmas shop window of swimwear and ladies' fashion

Wholly edible gingerbread house with candies, icing and stuffed toys.

From the masters of crystal crafts and manufacturing

Good to look at : designer wear that most ordinary folks like me can't afford to buy.

Christmas Decorations at David Jones on Pitt, Museum @ Sydney CBD

Can't hold a candle to London and New York but the animated decorations and display at the windows of David Jones departmental stores always attract huge crowds from locals, out of town visitors, to foreign tourists.

Much talked about in the news : Fireplace, Drummer Boy, Nativity scene, Wise Men and the King.

St Mary's Cathedral, Christmas Eve Carols and Blessings

Sydney Tower Observation Deck - city view by night

Bird's eye view of Sydney city and beyond.

Darling Quarter by the harbour - new kid of the block - restaurants, pubs, water playground

The latest happening place in Sydney CBD, Harbour area is no longer the classical entertainment and exhibition centre, but Darling Quarter, which boasts of fine dining, pubs, fountains and children's playground. There will be some interesting activity to suit every one. Check this out.

Crystal Christmas Tree at Queen Victoria Building, Sydney

Christmas garden decorated with crystals - feeling of a magical Christmas.

The three storey high Crystal Christmas Tree

The back of the garden donned with raindeer sihloutte with back lighting.

The stem of the Christmas tree made of lighted Sarowski crystals.

Viewed from a distance

Christmas decor at QVB after shopping hours

Town Hall, George Street, Sydney : Merry Christmas

Wishing you a Merry Christmas from Sydney

St Andrew Cathedral - Town Hall, George Street

Christmas Fireworks Sydney Harbour

Every Saturday evening in December from 9 - 9.15 pm at the Sydney harbour front

Crafty gifts for Christmas - make something for friends

Sometimes, it may be more meaningful to make something for friends than to splurge your share of the stimulus package on expensive gifts. The same gifts sold at the stores could cost two or three times more. So why not let your creativity blossom during the festive season.

Time your purchses of quilting cotton material when they are on special price. Most ladies would love the pretty floral and geometric prints on cloth imported from Japan, Korea, Pakistan and USA.

Try to avoid panels as they are not as versatile. You could sew eye pillow, computer mouse wrist rest or heat pack. Leave a gap after sewing the seams of the desired size. Fill with flax seed and oat husk. Infuse some fragrance with dried flowers (do not use lavender for heat pack as they burn easily) or strongly scented tea bags. When it is almost half filled, seal up the gap. Fold and tie a ribbon around it and gift wrap with tissue or glossy paper. Now, you're ready to send your special Christmas present.

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Moon Festival in Sydney southwest - multicultural Cabramatta

The wait was probably worthwhile, detours and negotiating through narrow lanes to get into the congested public parking areas. Cabramatta celebrated the moon festival, also known as the mid-autumn festival. The fifteenth day of the eighth month is marked by the Chinese and other Asians on the lunar calendar. The most repeated mythology was about the empress who swallowed the elixr pills and saved the people from tyrannical emperor from gaining immortality. However, the empress Chang Er drifted to the moon and remained there eternally.

Two Australian artists were putting on the finishing touches to the sand sculpture of the lanterns and mooncakes to depict the happy occasion.

Cabramatta is perpetually crowded even on a normal weekday. The strong winds did not deter local residents and visitors from all over Sydney to turn up and join in the fun and festivities.

Cake decoration courses from basic to advanced. Various styles showcased were a fusion of Vietnamese, French/European and Thai food decoration.

These are fruit and vegetable carvings of beautiful pink roses!

The longest queues could be seen at the BBQ jerky and Thai food stalls. My favourite stalls are the vegetarian noodles and cake stalls.

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