Dear All,
Apologies for the lack of blog posts. I have had other commitments on my time recently, however and fully committed to regular blog posts on content you would find interesting,
Cabramatta, a suburb in the South West of Sydney about 1 hour from the CBD by train. Due to its mix of Vietnamese, Lao, Cambodian, Macedonian, Thai and Chinese populations, it is famous as a unique cultural melting pot with great restaurants, cheap markets and a unique atmosphere. It is an old suburb by Australian standards, dating from the first village of 1814 to take the name and a township arising in the 1850s, however the creation of the Cabramatta and Villawood Migrant Hostels in the 1970s and 1980s were, along with the increase of immigration of refugees from the Vietnam War (a policy of the Whitlam Government - Gough Whitlam himself lived for a time in Cabramatta), instrumental in the place developing a large South East Asian population that defines Cabramatta's unique multicultural character today. It is now Australia's largest non-anglo-celtic town centre and considered a culinary centre for south South East Asian cuisine.
Its unique shops, restauramts, architecture, signage, peoples and atmosphere have created an ambiance that would not be out of place even in Saigon. It is worth the 1h trip. Also the prices of food, clothes and other items in its markets are often much cheaper than the equivalent in the Sydney CBD or the Eastern Suburbs.
Here are some pictures of my most trip today below...
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| Freedom Plaza by Park Road, with the Pagoda at the far end. |
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| Belvedere Arcade, often called "Vegan Alley" due to the large number of Buddhist vegan restaurants in and around it. The arcade does however contain several restaurants serving meat... |
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| Pho 54 Vietnamese Restuarant on Freedom Plaza |
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| One of the many shopping and market areas. |
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| The Loving Hut Vegetarian Restaurant on Cabramatta Road West, one of the most well known restaurants in Cabramatta and part of an international chain of restaurants formed and owned by Vientamese-American Buddhist leader Supreme Master Ching Hai |
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| Yum! :D |
There is a wide range of well-priced South East Asian (meat and vegetarian) restaurants in the suburb along with great shops and markets. Well worth a visit and exploration if you need a change of scenary outside of the CBD and tourist areas....
