There are scores of great spots to see the New Year's Eve fireworks on Sydney Harbour. This map will help you find the best place to see the midnight spectacular!

Different wine, the length of life is different. French Beaujolais wine (Beaujolais, also translated "Beaujolais"), also six months shelf life; Bordeaux wine village of some names (such as Margaux Castle), a century did not cooked. Generally believed that white wine because the tannin content of less antioxidant capacity somewhat less resistant than red wine release. However, many of Burgundy wine produced, have more than a decade of storage capacity.

Look at the color, is to identify a way to age wine. 18 to 27-year-old white wine, will show the same light as straw yellow, the color deepened from 28 to 35 years old, eventually become golden. Wine storage to this time, then do not drink on aging, and if the soil becomes amber and yellow, this wine has come to basically the end of life, does not drink up. Young red wine, usually purple or dark purple, the color becomes cherry red or ruby red when the description of this wine has begun to mature, it is best to drink. If you become red-brown or brick red, ordinary red wine becomes old.

The Rocks Market

What makes a great market? If it’s about passionate people selling things you want to buy in a pretty cool location then
The Rocks Markets is one of Sydney’s greatest.
You know The Rocks is on the doorstep of the CBD, but it’s slower here, and infinitely more charming. And, really, who wants to rush when there’s so much to take in.
Where else can you buy dresses and bags designed by the stallholder, one-off jewellery, original artworks and prints, in a place where you can feel the sun on your face and catch glimpses of our gorgeous harbour?
If you haven’t been for a while, come back. You’ll be genuinely surprised.

With an eclectic range of shops nestled within easy reach throughout The Rocks, this is the ultimate boutique shopping experience.
Wander the cobblestone laneways and discover a haven of specialty stores, galleries and boutiques offering everything from handmade candles to Aboriginal artefacts. If you need to buy a gift for that special someone who already has everything, then The Rocks, Sydney is the place to find something quirky and unexpected.

Choose The Rocks Centre in the heart of The Rocks for special shopping surprises. You'll find fabulous fashion, chic accessories, fine food and sweet treats. Around The Rocks, you'll find other hot shopping spots including Metcalfe Arcade, Nurses Walk, Playfair Street, Clocktower Square and George Street. 
Luxury shoppers are catered for with Gucci, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and many other famous international brands.
Iconic Australian clothing, jewellery and gift stores can also be found in The Rocks including Ken Done, RM Williams and Percy Marks.
There are also a number of hidden Sydney shopping delights to discover in The Rocks. Buttons, Buttons, Buttons offers a unique range of antique, vintage and new buttons for shoppers with an eye for the unusual while The Candle Factory has beautiful handmade candles in every imaginable shape, colour and scent and Bottom of the Harbour Antiques specialises in nautical antiques and marine artefacts.
Make sure you find time to experience The Rocks Markets, Sydney's best-loved street market, which trades every Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Stroll beneath the famous all-weather sail canopy to discover a wonderful array of gift ideas from more than 150 stalls. There's art and crafts, jewellery, frames, photography, indigenous art wares, delicious homemade produce, fresh food and much more.

You'll find fabulous fashion and chic accessories in The Rocks Centre, Metcalfe Arcade and along George Street.
Luxury shoppers are catered for with Gucci, Burberry, Ralph Lauren and many other famous international brand stores. Iconic Australia clothing stores can also be found in The Rocks including Rip Curl, Done Art & Design and R.M. Williams.

For more information simply click on a shop from the list below.

Between the Flags One of the best places to find authentic Aussie beach wear - this true blue outfitter and retail partner of Surf Life Saving Australia stocks a wide..
Boutique Belle At Boutique Belle we cater to the mature customer. Come in and admire our unique collection sourced from Australian and International designers...
R M Williams More than 70 years ago, Reginald Murray Williams began to make bush saddlery and boots while camped in South Austraila's remote Gammon Ranges. Since..
Rocks Style Rocks Style specialises in quality Australian clothing, including Drizabone, R.M. Williams and Coogi.
UGG Australian Made Since 1974 Our family company began manufacturing UGG boots in 1974 and have continued to produce the highest quality Australian Made Ugg boots possible. With..
Wombat at The Rocks Quality Australian clothing, ugg boots, hats and other accessories for men, women and children.

Overview

Red wines are made entirely from red grapes varieties containing anthocyanins and pigmented tannins in the skins. The lightest most elegant red wines are centred around primary fruit character and a delicate, soft texture. Other red wines designed for cellaring can be rich and full-bodied with dark colour and intense chewy tannins. Maturation is a crucial stage in the production of full-bodied red wines whereas lighter reds are bottled earlier to capture freshness.

The Big Picture - The Red Raw Ingredient

The key difference between white and red winemaking is that red wine is made by fermenting the juice, skins and seeds together and then pressing the wine.  Depending on the style of wine being made and the condition and ripeness of the stalks, whole bunches of grapes are sometimes fermented along with de-stemmed and/or crushed berries. Again, depending on the grape variety, the style of the desired wine and the condition of the fruit, the winemaker chooses whether or not to crush the berries and to what degree.

Crushing and Destemming

Fermentation, Extraction and Maceration

Red wines are fermented at higher temperatures than whites, typically in the range of 28 to 30 degrees Celsius, and the total period of maceration varies tremendously, from as little as two to three days to one month or more, depending on the desired wine style.
Prior to the commencement of fermentation, the temperature of the must can be adjusted to allow a period of cold maceration. This allows the gentle extraction of compounds from the skins without the presence of alcohol (a powerful solvent) and is particularly important in preserving the delicate character of lighter red wine styles.
Because the extraction of compounds from the red grape skins is the key to red winemaking, the correct ratio of juice to solids (skin, pips and sometimes stalks) during fermentation is crucial. To regulate this, juice can be run off prior to fermentation and vinified separately as rosé.
There are various styles and sizes of fermentation vessels available, ranging from rotary fermenters (rotating stainless steel barrels) to large static vessels. Most high quality red wines are fermented in open, static fermentation vessels to allow greater control of the extraction process.  Once yeast cells are active and fermentation is underway, the solids (skins and pips) are pushed upwards by carbon dioxide gas, forming a solid layer known as the cap. Winemakers then carefully manage the extraction of compounds from the skins and pips, particularly tannins, anthocyanin pigments (that give red wine its colour) and compounds that form flavours and aromas.

Red Wine Making Process

Full-bodied red wines warrant deeper extraction of these compounds and lighter reds suit a gentle, softer touch. For extremely delicate extraction, the cap is plunged down into the fermenting juice using a plate on the end of a pole, known as hand-plunging or pigeage. This process is now mechanised in some wineries.
Alternatively, juice can be drained from the bottom of the fermentation vessel and pumped over the top of the cap by hose, known as rack and return or it can be continuously pumped over. Another method uses wooden boards to hold the cap submerged beneath the juice. Each of these techniques, used in isolation or combination, will have a strong influence on the structure of the finished wine (ie how rich in colour, tannin and ultimately flavour the wine will be).

Shopping in Padding

Just further east along Oxford Street from Darlinghurst is the suburb of Paddington. Known for its terrace apartments with wrough iron lace balconies and leafy streets, the suburb is worth exploring for its Victorian era ambience and character.

You can find interesting antique shops here, as well as numerous small art galleries featuring the works of upcoming and established artists.

Elizabeth St and the Five Ways are two places worth visiting in Paddington. On the Five Ways there are three streets that cross Glenmore Road and is lined with buildings that date from the 1800s and the beginning of the last century. There are some great sidewalk cafés here, serving excellent coffees.

Elizabeth St has decorator and other speciality shops as well as antique shops and cafés.

Every Saturday from 10am… rain or shine. Paddinton market has over 200 stalls that sell a wide range of beautiful Australian made goods. They also have a place to sit, have lunch or a light snack inside or out. Choose from Himalayan, Aussie BBQ, Thai, Grumpy Baker, Gosleme Fresh Juices, Tea, Coffee, Cakes, fresh farm strawberrys, jams, and spices, you must try Anne’s sponge roll, in the Hall.

Take a look at the Emerging Designers Section in the Courtyard of the Market, all these products are Australian Made.

Way back then, the Hall was used for people to create objects during the week to sell on weekends.  It was very much a creative space, with many a young fashion designer, craftsperson, and visual artist who “cut their teeth” here before venturing out into the business world.

The mission is still the same – support emerging designers, and encourage artists, and still remain with a strong focus on Australian Made.  Some of the older stall holders are still here. 

Paddington market as a Parish Mission in Paddington feed many homeless, and socially isolated people every day. The general public are not aware of this important part of our community services.  

The basketball skills

To get better skills in basketball players need to first understand and master the basics of the game.

In basketball, there are 6 different fundamental skill areas that players should concentrate on in training.

Dribbling
Dribbling the basketball is done to move the ball around only when a passing isn't a better option and a lane isn't available. Both new and experienced players make the mistake of dribbling the ball when it isn't needed. Ask any collage or professional basketball coach - they will all tell you the same thing. Dribbling should be done when the player (you) have some purpose to fulfill. Dribbling while looking for an offensive option is a good way to lose the ball. When you are looking for that option, take the ball in a firm grip and put your body between you and the defender. Regardless of how good you are at dribbling, the defense will always have a greater chance for a steal if you are dribbling the ball instead of gripping it in both hands.

Passing
Passing is the number 1 option for moving the ball around the court on offense. Passing is quicker than dribbling and so it is a deadly offensive tool for reaching that open man so they can have the shot. Good passes are the hallmark of good teams because most offensive plays are set up by good passes.

Shooting Shooting is probably the most practiced skill for new and experienced players. Yet so many people still practice it wrong. In practice all drills should be done at game speed and done as you would under pressure. Players are usually too lazy to do this and instead of practicing the sweet jump shot that they are constantly doing in the game they lazy-it-down to a hop-shot. Instead of jumping to give power they use their arms for the power and the legs give the rest. Practicing the wrong way to shoot is something that players do all the time yet they do not understand why they miss all their jump shots during the game...

Rebounding
Rebounding can come in two forms - offensive and defensive. Lots of newer player look at rebounding and immediately think that it is a big mans area. Yet this is not so. Rebounding is more than just being big. It even surpasses just jumping ability. To be good at rebounding you need skill and dedication. Skill is mainly the ability to position yourself and read the shots - something that comes quickly with practice. Dedication is probably the most important factor in rebounding. The person who gets the ball is the one with the most hunger for the ball and who is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.

Offense
Offense is a fundamental which encompasses all aspects of the offensive court. Shooting has already been covered (and is covered more in the basketball website listed below). Yet moving off the ball to give offensive options to the player with the ball is another thing that is essential for good offense. Supporting your team mates with screens and being able to locate the best offensive option and get the ball to them are also essential things on offense. These skills are often overlooked.

Defense The best defensive teams in the NBA are often the ones that make it into the playoffs. This is seen year after year so a simple conclusion can be made here - defense is key to victory. Defense is not only about getting the steal or block but also about intimidation of the opponents

by 42310121 (Hui Xu)

Shopping in Sydney

Shopping in the heart of Sydney is a pleasure compared to the haggling in south east asia and hustle and the bustle of other cosmopolitan cities. Most of the large department stores and shopping centres are within a few blocks of each other and if it's raining you can make your way around under cover using the intricate system of malls, arcades, interconnected department stores, tunnels and overhead walkways that link four blocks of local and international outlets.
Shops are generally open from 9-5pm Monday through Friday (with the exception of Thursday when most stores will open until 9pm), 9-4pm on Saturday and some stores in the city will open on a Sunday but hours vary so it's best to call up and check. Almost all outlets accept the major credit cards like AMEX, Diners, MC, Visa and some city stores will accept JCB cards. You can also use Maestro or Cirrus electronic network debit cards in most stores.

The Queen Victoria Building

The Queen Victoria Building was a purpose built shopping centre opened in 1898 celebrating Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee. In more recent years the building was largely neglected and fell in to a state of disrepair until the early 1980's when the Centre was painstakingly restored to its original grandeur. Today the QVB is one of the most stunning examples of Victorian architecture in Sydney. The Centre now houses a superb collection of 190 designer label and specialty stores and excellent eateries. The QVB occupies a full block along George Street between Town Hall and Market Street. For more information visit http://www.qvb.com.au/.

The Strand Arcade

The Strand Arcade is a more hip and groovy version of the QVB. The Strand was opened in 1892 and was almost destroyed by fire in 1976. The resident shopkeepers restored the building which now houses some of Australia's top designer labels, jewellers, boutiques and beauty salons. The Strand extends from the middle of Pitt Street mall through to George Street, a block towards Circular Quay from the QVB. For more inforomation, visit http://www.strandarcade.com.au/.

Centrepoint

At the southern end of Pitt Street Mall you will find Centrepoint which houses over 130 specialty stores and forms the foyer to the 305 metre high AMP tower. Other shopping areas in or close to Pitt Street Mall include the Glasshouse and the MLC Centre which are linked to one another via a covered overpass. Further down towards the Quay is Chifley Plaza, home to a selection of the world's most famous and stylish international brands.
There are also some excellent markets around Sydney throughout the week and every weekend where you can pick up anything from new and preloved clothes and hand crafted furniture to mouth watering home baked food.
Keep in mind that if the feet hurt or you like to play hard ball when it comes to shopping then an organised guided shopping tour may be your best option.

Paddington

Paddington is a trendy inner-city suburb populated by a fusion of high-end clothing stores and vintage boutiques set among beautiful Victorian terraces.

Oxford Street is a mecca among Australian shoppers for its array of designer flagship stores including Zimmerman and Diesel, so be sure to browse the racks for designer outfits at the cutting edge of fashion.
Visit the specialty stores of Australian designers like Collette Dinnigan, tucked away on the slightly less-frequented Glenmore Road and keep an eye out for stylish vintage clothing in neighbouring shops.
Snap up the bargains from emerging designers and pick up vintage pieces at the Fringe Bar Markets. The markets are hosted every Saturday at the popular Oxford Street nightspot.

Don't miss Paddington Markets which are held every Saturday and showcase the best of Australian contemporary art, craft and fashion with 250 stalls.

                                                          by Vivien Lin (42056756)

Dragon Boat Races

Dragon Boat Races Presented by St George Bank
What better way to celebrate the Year of the Dragon then Chinese New Year Festival Dragon Boat Races?

Dragon boat racing is a cultural phenomenon of China, with a long history dating back to the Zhou Dynasty (770BC to 256BC). A symbol of good fortune and a sign of intense power, these mythical beasts appear to surge through the water, as 12-metre long boats decorated to feature the head and tail of the dragon battle it out in the waters of Cockle Bay. Each boat is large enough to seat 20 people with a sweep to steer and a drummer pounding loudly above the thrashing of the oars.

Eye-dotting Ceremony

Did you know a dragon boat must undergo an awakening ceremony before it can compete? This is done by dabbing red paint on the eyes of each dragon boat's "blind" figurehead. Once the eyes are dotted, the dragons come to life and the mythical beasts surge through the water in the highly anticipated, and very exciting Dragon Boat Races. Come along to the eye-dotting ceremony and the blessing of the waters before the first race on Saturday at 9am.

Introduction of basketball

Basketball (commonly nicknamed "B-ball" or "hoops") is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules. Basketball is one of the world's most popular and widely viewed sports.

A regulation basketball hoop consists of a rim 18 inches in diameter and 10 feet high mounted to a backboard. A team can score a field goal by shooting the ball through the hoop during regular play. A field goal scores two points for the shooting team if a player is touching or closer to the hoop than the three-point line, and three points (a "3 pointer") if the player is "outside" the three-point line. The team with more points at the end of the game wins, but additional time (overtime) may be issued when the game ends with a tie. The ball can be advanced on the court by bouncing it while walking or running (dribbling) or passing it to a teammate. It is a violation (traveling) to walk with the ball, carry it, or to double dribble (to hold the ball and then resume dribbling).

Various violations are generally called "fouls". Disruptive physical contact (a personal foul) is penalized, and a free throw is usually awarded to an offensive player if he is fouled while shooting the ball. A technical foul may also be issued when certain infractions occur, most commonly for unsportsmanlike conduct on the part of a player or coach. A technical foul gives the opposing team a free throw.

                                                                                                                               by 42310121 (Hui Xu)



Basketball-NBA History

The National Basketball Association (NBA) is the pre-eminent men's professional basketball league in North America. It consists of thirty franchised member clubs, of which twenty-nine are located in the United States and one in Canada. It is an active member of USA Basketball (USAB), which is recognized by the International Basketball Federation as the National Governing Body (NGB) for basketball in the United States. The NBA is one of the four major North American professional sports leagues. NBA players are the world's best paid sportsmen, by average annual salary per player.

The league was founded in New York City on June 6, 1946 as the Basketball Association of America (BAA).The league adopted the name National Basketball Association in 1949 after merging with the rival National Basketball League (NBL). The league's several international as well as individual team offices are directed out of its head offices located in the Olympic Tower at 645 Fifth Avenue in New York City. NBA Entertainment and NBA TV studios are directed out of offices located in Secaucus, New Jersey.

                                                                                                        by 42310121 (Hui Xu)

5 benefits of playing basketball

There is no doubt when you play basketball that you are getting some benefit from it. It is, after all, a form of great exercise. Children, especially benefit form this game. It is becoming more and more popular too with children who love the fact the game is good for any age and any skill level.

Basketball packs a lot of benefits, but here are the top five things your child can get from playing a good game.

1. Physical fitness

 As mentioned, the physical and health benefits from basketball are the one benefit that is most recognizable. What you may not realize is exactly how many ways basketball benefits your body and your health.

Basketball is a great cardiovascular workout. You are running and jumping and that really works the heart and lungs. You are getting your blood pumping and your breathing is accelerated. It is an amazing workout for your body.

You also get the benefits of strengthen your muscles, increasing your flexibility and burning fat. Additionally, you are increasing your speed and agility. You are learning to move in new ways and that is a great benefit to your body.

2. Team work

Basket ball is all about working together to a common goal. Everyone on the team has to learn to work together to get the win. This is a wonderful skill for children to learn. It teaches them that they can not always be the star and that letting others help you reach a goal is okay. Learning to work with others is a life long skill that your child will use forever.

3. Coordination

 Basketball requires your feet, legs, arms and eyes to all work together to win the game. Coordination is a skill that growing children often struggle with. By playing basketball they are able to practice their coordination skills and learn to improve them.

4. Confidence

 Basketball can really be a confidence booster. No matter how good a kid is at the game, making a basket or just being on a winning team can really improve their confidence. This is an important aspect of childhood. A child who can build confidence will find life to be easier and be able to overcome obstacles better, as studies have shown.

5. Social skills

 Basketball is a social sport. It brings people together and creates bonds and friendships. It is great for a shy child to really bring them out and help them to meet new people and learn to socialize. Social skills are something your child will carry with them in the future and in all areas of their life.

These five skills are very valuable to children and even adults can reap the benefits of a game of basketball. If the love of the game is not enough to get you and your kids out on the court then maybe seeing all these perks of the game will help motivate you to get out on the court and start playing today.

Competition of swimming

Competition of swimming:

The aquatic sport of swimming is based on the human act of swimming, that is, locomotion in water by self propulsion, usually with the goal to complete a given distance in the smallest time. There are also swimming competitions based on endurance or precedence rather than speed, such as crossing some other stretch of open water. As a sport, swimming is usually distinguished from other acquatic sports such as diving, synchronized swimming and water polo that involve the act of swimming but where the goal is neither speed nor endurance.






Competition pools:
Standard pools are either 50m or 25m in length. Lanes are at least 2.5m wide, with two spaces of at least 0.2m outside of the first and last lanes. In Olympic or World Championships, pools are 50m long (except for World Championship 25m) with a minimum of eight racing lanes. There are two spaces 2.5m wide outside the eight lanes. If the swimming pool and diving pool are in the same area, they must be 5m apart from each other. 

Some advantages of swimming

Some advantages of swimming:

People are becoming conscious about the various benefits of having a fit and a healthy body. Health and fitness experts always stress the importance of including swimming in their exercise regime. Swimming improves the blood circulation in the body and is a great workout for all the muscles. It is a form of low impact aerobic activity and increases strength and cardiovascular stamina. Apart from being a full body exercise, it is also a great way to relax and rejuvenate. A lot of people swim regularly to control their weight and improve body contours. In fact, swimming is considered as one of the greatest stress busters. Many people, who have the resources, prefer to have a swimming pool in their house.

Many people pursue swimming as a profession as well. There are people who work as lifeguards at swimming pools and beaches. They rescue people who are unable to swim or those who are facing problems while swimming. Some expert swimmers take up the job of a swimming coach to teach and guide new and amateur swimmers. They teach them the technique of swimming resistance and various swimming strokes. It is advisable for swimmers to wear appropriate swimming costume to reduce friction and facilitate unobstructed swimming.

As the human body gains buoyancy in water, the swimmers can float effortlessly. However, water offers more resistance than air. Various water-based activities include water aerobics, water therapy, and water toning. These activities are instrumental in enhancing metabolism and offers relief from the fatigue and exhaustion associated with routine life. It is recommended for new swimmers to begin swimming under the guidance and training of a proficient swimming coach. It can be fatal to enter a swimming pool without having prior training.

Swim styles

Swim styles:
In competitive swimming, four major styles have been established. They are Freestyle, Breaststroke, Backstroke, Butterfly and Individual medley. 

Butterfly or fly

Butterfly or fly: the course must be completed entirely in the butterfly style, in which the swimmer brings both hands over their head close to the water, breathing forward, "Dolphin kicking" with both feet together in sequence, two kicks per arm stroke. All end walls must be touched with two hands, and the swimmer will be disqualified if his/her arms do not clear the water at the same time. 

Backstroke back

Backstroke back: competitors must swim in the backstroke style, which is similar to the front crawl, except on your back. Kicking by alternating both feet, pulling each arm one at a time, and looking straight up. At the end walls, flip turns are permitted (the swimmer is to turn on to his/her front before performing the turn), and a two-hand touch is not necessary. 

Breaststroke or breast

Breaststroke or breast: competitors must swim in the breaststroke style, where the swimmer kicks legs out (much like a frog, but more whip like, it is important to keep the kick narrorw), scoops the water in towards the chest with his or her hands and then thrusts the hands out in front just before the kick is repeated. One underwater "pull-out" is permitted for the start and after every end wall, with, in order: streamline glide, one fully extended pull, one dolphin kick (must be timed precisely with pull), one breaststroke kick, and all while not breathing. The two hands must touch the wall simultaneously at every turn. 


Freestyle of free: competitors are free to use any stroke they wish. Most select the front crawl, as it is both the fastest and most efficient. The front crawl is a stroke where the swimmer breathes to the side, kicks by alternating both legs, and pulls with each arm at different times. Flip/tumble turns are legal. Variants include free relays, in which four team members each swim an equal distance of freestyle; when one member touches the end wall, the next can dive off the block.

Freestyle of free

Individual medley or IM: each swimmer must complete one quarter of the full distance in each of the three competition styles (butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke) and one part in free style. Open turns are required in the switch from one style to another, but flip turns or bucket turns can be made during backstroke and freestyle. Each part must be completed in its style before moving on to the next style. Variations include medley relays, in which four team members each swim one part (in the order backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, and free). 

An Introduction To Swimming

Introduction To Swimming:


The basic principle of swimming is buoyancy. The human body has a high water content and its density is close to the density of water. Due to its cavities, the average density of the human body is lower than that of water, so it naturally floats.
There are two ways to swim faster, the first way is increase power and the other way is reduce water resistance.Because the power needed to overcome resistance increases with the third power of the velocity, the first option is not really effective.

Due to the lungs, the center of buoyancy and the center of gravity of the human body are not the same. Therefore the lower body has a tendency to sink. If the body is not horizontal but even slightly inclined, the area it offers to drag is much higher, leading to higher resistance. An easy way to stay horizontal is to lean forward and position the head straight in the extension of the spine. In this position the eyes are directed straight downward and the head is more immersed.