Aesthetics

Every now and then I check out the stats on my flickr stream. If I had to pick my favourite shot, I'd pick this one:

However, this pic has only been viewed 33 times.

There really is no accounting for tastes. This is the current winner for popularity with 98 views:

Followed by this shot of Richie with "Australia" branded across his cheeks, with 84 views:

More worryingly, I've been invited to submit the portrait of KY licking someone's buttocks to a group called "Random Body Parts"! What is this world's obsession with male buttocks?

Run away! Run away!

I'm officially in the Guiness Book of records for participating in the biggest coconut orchestra in the world! 4382 people showed up at Trafalgar Square to join in singing to "Always Look on the Bright Side of Life" with coconuts *grin*

Do you _realise_ how long I've wanted a pair of clip-cloppety coconuts just like the ones from Monty Python and the Holy Grail? No? Well, ever since I saw the movie a few years ago, and even visited the Holy Grail castle in Scotland! So today, I left work at 5pm on the dot, and rushed over to Trafalgar Square to register and get my free pair of coconuts! :D

Even Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones made an appearance!

I do have a video of the event, but it's not uploading properly, and to be honest, it really wasn't that exciting *grin*

Huzzah! I have Monty Python coconuts! Run away! Run away!

Dutch people

... think they're soo funny. Wicky took this picture of me standing inbetween the grooms man and the best man. There's got to be some serious growth hormones in the water to make a nation grow that tall.

Looking "American"

While I was in Sydnery, Abercrombie & Fitch opened its Rondon flagship store on Saville Row. Saville Row! Wah. That's where the sugar daddies go to get their tailored suits. I'm talking, this is where you go to buy suits that start at a minimum of 2000 squids! Anyways, I visited the A&F store with T&D on Saturday. I was met at the entrance by a very buff, very topless, "clean-cut American" looking guy. Cue old lady next to me saying to her friend, "OH, I just found you your birthday present!"

*Bleargh*

Beside the very buff beefcake, stood a very skinny, blonde young thing. It didn't take me long to notice that most of the service girls in the store are very skinny, blonde young things. Well, it didn't take me long to notice once my eyes had adjusted to the darkness of the barely lit store. This store would make a great club. Personally, I found it frustrating that I could barely see the clothes. Once I started browsing, I noticed that clothes started at size 00. Size 00? I can see where this is going... So I tried on a size Medium singlet top, and lo-and-behold - I looked and felt like a heifer in it. Aaah, I guess I'm just not supermodel enough to wear these clothes. Well, it's a good thing, cause I can't afford these clothes anyway. It's 50 squids for a pair of cotton short shorts! This doesn't stop people from forming a massive line at change rooms or the cash counter. Believe me, A&F are easily making their rent on Saville Row. I sat outside the store and people watched for awhile. I saw husbands/bfs/fathers in BMWs/Mercs dropping off their wives/gfs/daughters outside the entrance. Oriental tourists have also jumped on the A&F brand wagon.

The thing that astonished me the most is how A&F are promoting their all-American-wholesome-look. I really do wish I had my camera on me. I'd never seen so many good looking sales people in one store before. Hrm, make that good looking and white sales people. According to this article, the sales team earns a miserly GBP$6.50 per hour. Wow, for that rate, I think I'll stick with non-glam IT job and my cheapie Threadless tshirts.

(I ripped this picture from the article mentioned above)

U&W wedding pix

... are up :) Clicky here.

Yummo

So, curious to know how many places on my Sydnery "Must Eat" list I managed to cross off? :)

Degustation @ Becasse with C (we scored free dessert! w00t!)
Ring Burner @ Burgerfuel with A&P
Vincisgrassi @ Buzo with Dave
Abalone @ Golden Century with my parents
Unagi Zara @ Ichiban with da gals and Shuai
Thai @ Sumalee with Yin*
Degustation @ Yoshii with C

Not bad. Also managed to fit in:
Pasta @ Alfredo's with da gals
Hotpot @ Masuya with KC
Brunch @ random cafe with KY
Laksa @ Malay Chinese Takeaway with Yin*

Best Meal: Yoshii degustation. Japanese Somen with Black Truffle - G.A.W.D. My eyeballs rolled back into my head. And the Steamed Kurobuta Pork Belly... to die for. Seriously the best pork dish I've eaten in a looong time. In fact, I can't remember a better tasting pork dish. Yoshii has definitely up'ed the standards when it comes to food. This was the meal that reminded me how happy good food could make me feel. Thanks C :)

I'd forgotten how huge Burgerfuel burgers are:

And I finished it all!!! Couldn't let the Altiris-now-Symantec boyz show me up *grin* Doofers are like the best invention ever.

Fruitiness

I was in fruity heaven in Sydnery. Screw those mini punnets of English berries! Give me kilos of fresh fruit variety!! The Brits really don't know what they're missing out on when it comes to produce. Giant rock melons, sweet plums, fuji fruit, longans... MMmmm...

Last post from Sydnery

I landed in Rondon exactly one year ago today. It was chilly, I caught a minicab and B met me at Daz's door. It was the start of my new life.

What a distant memory.

Coming back to my old life has been strange. Whilst it's been great catching up with mates over lunches, dinners, coffees and cocktails, Sydnery, no longer feels like home. Ruh roh. I'm not saying Rondon's where I belong, but it's a bit disconcerting having no ties to anywhere. My parents will always be here for me, but I'm definitely not ready to move back yet. Good thing my visa was extended :P

A part of me wants to move on from Rondon, another part of me thinks I haven't given it a decent chance yet. Let's see how the Summer goes and I'll do a review at the end of it. Ibiza here I come! :)

To all my Sydnery friends, thanks for being there :) It's meant a lot to me that you've made time to see me. And to feed me *grin*

To Craig S & Daniel G - sorry I didn't get to meet up with you guys. But there was never any confirmation on your part!! Hopefully see you in Rondon instead.

Guess who's?

And no, last Sunday wasn't a shotgun wedding *lol*

Congratulations to the happy parents :) I knew it!!!

Troo Wuuuuv

In hindsight, I should've warned Ula and Wilco about my last bridesmaid experience. My first time, I went to Malaysia to be bridesmaid for a cousin. I got the wrong colour dress to begin with (the bride wanted me in pastel and I just thought, "I'll get this dark lilac silvery dress instead cause I look good in it"). Then there was the drama of me getting my heel caught in the bride's skirt in the car and literally tumbling out of the car and onto the floor infront of her in-laws. Classy entrance. I did learn my lesson though, and made sure my heels didn't get caught in Ula's skirt this time round ;)

I must be the clutziest bridesmaid EVER. I thought I was doing well on Sunday... until I fell down the stairs at Ula and Wilco's apartment. I blame the heels, but to be honest, it was probably just me being uncoordinated and trying to carry too much - a garment bag, my overnight bag, Ula's overnight bag, Ula's bag with shoes, my own bag with shoes and my handbag. I'm freaking lucky that I didn't break my neck. Although the rubber ends of both my heels did go flying off. I managed to find them and whack them back into my shoes. Not the most elegant bridesmaid thing to do. However, I lost one of them again, and ended up clacking down the pavement at the ceremony.

Mental note, the most important things to have in your wedding emergency kit are safety pins (*someone* stepped on the bride's hoop and broke some tulle), and a hammer.

In hindsight, I also realise why I wasn't asked to do a speech at the wedding *grin* Maybe because the last time I did a speech for Ula, I got really drunk to gain the courage, and ended up groping Philo's (great) ass, Uma's (great) boobies, and kissing Ula's (great) lips.

So, to save myself from any lesbianish embarrassment this time round, I'll blog my speech to Ula and Wilco.

Ula, I've known you for at least 16 years, and I've even lived with you for a year. For that one year that I lived with you, I woke up every morning to the phone ringing at 7am, when Wilco called, and to your footsteps running down the hallway and past my door, to answer the phone. In those 16 years I've known you, I've never seen you happier than when you are by Wilco's side. I knew you found the right man when I saw you and Wilco together. Wilco is the one who will make you smile when you're down. The one who will be there for you when it counts. The one who will take care of you and put you first before himself. And the one who will love you for an eternity :) When Wilco said, "I DO", at the wedding, he said it loud and proud, and I'm sure the whole of Sydney could hear him.

Wilco, I've only known you for about 5 years, and although we've spent probably about a month together in total in the same city, you've become my Dutch big brother :) Ula was a bit stressed out in the bridal car about getting there in time to marry you *grin* I had to keep telling the driver, "Mate you have to drive faster!! The bride says we have to get there soon!" Ula wanted everything to be perfect, not just for herself, but for you too. Ula is the one who will always want everything to be perfect for the both of you. When Ula made the big move to the Netherlands to be with you and Krelis, even though she was allergic to cats, I knew that this was it, and that you were really special to Ula. I know in my heart, that Ula is your perfect match.

So this is what you've both proven to me, that true love really does exist. That true love doesn't let anything get in the way, and that true love overcomes all trials. Here is my toast, to Ula and Wilco, and to true love.

*clink virtual champagne glass*

PS: As the drunken bridesmaid, I ended up in bed with another girl ;) *lol*

Vanity

One year on, and my beautician is still filled with angst and outspoken comments ("I've had a terrible year. You look different, you've lost some weight"). Why do I keep going back to her? Because she still does the best eyebrows in Sydnery. Although I was a little worried that she kept ranting as she was plucking. I'd never experienced such energetic plucking before. Almost to the point where I was worried I wouldn't have any eyebrows left. I had to ask Yin* for confirmation that my eyebrows looked alright at lunch. A little bit too much on the archy side this time, I think. I look a bit like the Joker :P A lot of gals baulk at the amount of money I spend on my eyebrows. But trust me, people look funny when eyebrows are done wrongly. It's just like having a really bad haircut. Only, with eyebrows, you can't wear a cap to hide it :P

I'm getting vain with age. Well, maybe it's a good thing I'm putting more effort into skincare. I was almost refused service at Opera Bar on the weekend because I couldn't prove my age.
Me: "Vodka, cranberry, pineapple please"
Bar guy: "Do you have ID on you?"
Me: "Errrr... I have a big tattoo on my back, does that count?"
Bar guy: "I need to see your ID before I can serve you."
Me: "This is my second drink. And I'm 28!"
... and on and on...
Bar guy: "I'll take your word for it this time, but you need to bring ID with you."
Lady next to me: "What do you do to look so young?"
Me: "Vodka, cranberry and pineapple..."
From then on, Eleri made Ed buy my drinks for me *grin* Thanks guys! Love yous! *MUAH*

I really do wonder how old I'll be when I actually look 18...

Girls just wanna have...

...Fuh-un :)

Never again will I ever don a lycra catsuit...

Not mine

As you can probably tell from my awkward baby hold, this one, ain't mine *grin* I've never had a hungry baby suck at my neck before. Or spew milk down my back. Somehow, it's just cuter when the baby's blood related. Normally, I'd be like, "YAAARGH!", now it's all, "AWWWWWW...."

Nope, I'm still not feeling clucky. If anything, I'm panicking everytime little Sagey cries.
Me: "What's wrong? Do you want Mummy? Or Daddy? Are you hungry? Are you pooping? Am I holding you wrong? DON'T CRY!!!" *frantic helpless look at my brother and sis-in-law*

Aussify'ing meself

If there's one thing I really love about Sydnery, it's the cafe culture. Every cafe is unique, and Starbucks doesn't even feature on the list of options for "where to go". How was my day today? I started off with a mocha from Toby's Estate cafe, went to the gym for a run (I ran!!), and had brunch at a trendy Surry Hills cafe with my fave Muffin:

All before 12pm! Gawd, I love being able to sit outdoors in a cafe... My day's not over yet. I was dropped off at Coogee beach to catch some rays. I need a tan before the wedding! I didn't stay long though. It was a bit too windy to lie around in a bikini all day. But mate, look at this, it's SAND at a BEACH. Not pebbles!

The hardest thing for me so far, is the commuting between Blacktown and the City. I spend a shiteload of time and money on public transport here. As much as I love my parents and Chubbs:

...I can't imagine living in Blacktown again. This is one skanky neighbourhood. And oh, what's Australia without a few scary household spiders??

Mum found this fella in our living room. I can almost hear B scream :)

"Take care of my p*nis!"

The things that come out of Ula's mouth sometimes! Ula doesn't look it here, but she _is_ quite drunk... Drunk enough to wear a giant p3nis mask anyway. I'm sifting through my pictures, and some are even a little tooo risque for my blog *grin* I can't wait to see pix from the glamour photoshoot! To all the bridesmaids out there, I definitely recommend it as a Hens event. Thanks Di for the great idea!

First day back

What's it like? Well, it's... different. Not exactly good, but not exactly bad either. Just different.

For the first time in a year, I caught the train from Blacktown to the City. It was an express train and even then it took about 45 mins. 45 mins is a long time to wait when I'm used to 5 mins on the tube to get to Central Rondon. Looking out windows at suburbia and greenery, that's something else I haven't seen for a year.

Walking around Sydnery, the pace is a lot slower, there's a lot less people, and the thing I noticed is that people just aren't as fashion conscious *grin* Sorry. In Rondon you get all types, in Sydnery, everyone blends into the background.

Even jay-walking confuses me here. I'm so used to lights turning first red, then orange and finally green in Rondon. Orange means I have about 3 seconds to run across the road before cars start moving. Here, I forgot that I have to pay attention to lights facing traffic travelling in the perpendicular direction if I want to cross the road. It was just safer for me to wait for the green man in the end.

Good things? I met up with my brother for a DECENT cucumberless curry laksa lunch :) I had *GREAT* coffee TWICE today, from NON-CHAIN cafes :) And even though it was raining, it was freaking warm enough for me to walk around in a singlet top all day *aaaah* Seriously, 20 degrees feels like Summer to me.

Hrm, my Mum's calling me out to the kitchen for more food. Gotta go, peidaan and pickled ginger await me.

My Mum's amazing

So I land. I get home to Blacktown. My Mum has ready for me, my favourite dish of homemade Assam Laksa, marinated oven dried pork, and longans. There's still a tub of jam tarts waiting for me. Golly gosh. I'm never going to fit into Ula's bridesmaid's dress! Time to look up some gym classes *sigh*

Carb City

My hard work over the past month to eat in moderation and eat healthily was pretty much ruined by 3 days in Florence. Ahhh well. I'm sorry, but there's no way in hell I can refuse pasta or gelato in Italy.

I seriously have no idea how the Italians manage to fit in about 4 courses in one meal, but I dang well had a good time trying to keep up. Needless to say, I spent most of my money in Florence on food.

When not eating, I managed to fit in the Uffizi Gallery. Home to Botticelli's Birth of Venus. Errr, you know what? Keep in mind that the painting's approximately 600+ years old, and you won't be disappointed by how faded it is. The funny thing with Florence, it's filled with art, history and culture. Yet, the seedier side of human nature will always find a way to defile a masterpiece to make a buck. I hated the sight of all the boxer shorts for sale, with Michelangelo's David's penis printed on the front.

This trip, I tried to play around with camera angles. Not sure how successful I was. It's not as simple as turning the camera diagonally and clicking, as you can see from above *grin* I do like this shot of Ponte Vecchio though:

Packing

Ever since BA left my luggage in Scotland whilst I travelled back to Rondon, and then failed to deliver my luggage (D had to drive me to BA's warehouse to pick it up before my flight), I've had an inherent distrust of airlines. Do I trust checking in my 10 pairs of undies? NO. Having been stranded for days without a fresh pair of undies before, my Bonds babies are coming with me in my handluggage. All 10 pairs of em. So are any gifts that I've bought for my family. And my new stripey singlet top that I haven't had a chance to wear yet.

Okay, so 10 pairs is probably too many to take with me. But I never want to be stuck without undies again. Laugh at me now, but just wait... till it happens... to YOU.

Hrm, I should leave some at home.

Soft shell crab

It's been so long, that I can't remember the last time I've eaten it. I had it today at Cocoon. It was, SO. GOOD. Rondoners, if you have time in the next few days for lunch in Picadilly, take this voucher:

and get moving to Cocoon. 20 squids for 2 people! Bargain! Here's my chicken yakitori bento box, that came with soft shell crab salad, beef and foie gras (!) gyoza, duck spring roll, tuna and salmon sashimi: