Damn. The more i look at the pictures of melbourne, the more i wanna go back there again..

Day One

We hit Melbourne airport at like 4.30am, much earlier than expected. it was so bloody early, but by the time we reached the hostel it was almost 7am! 'cause we were stuck at the southern cross station totally lost since the station had 16 platforms and we had no idea which was our train... best of all, all the people we asked said they weren't sure. and they live in melbourne. rrrrright. anyway, we didn't catch up on any sleep, even though the hostel's really cosy and clean (most importantly) and the bed was soooo soft; totally made me wanna just lie down and sleep the rest of the day away. forgot to take a picture of the room but at least of our very friendly and helpful hosts, who always went the extra mile for us and gave us the tips on interesting places to go.

Bob, his wife Christine & i at the hostel




We set off for the city straight away, and spent most of the day there. first stop, flinders station, probably the most famous station of all.

Nice tram eh?
The GPO
He insisted i took a picture with this gigantic clam shell purse

Me & the mini houses at Fitzroy Gardens
Wild possums live on trees in the day
Then climb to the ground at night

Surprisingly not shy of humans at all

i'm baaaaack! haha.. first week of school's already over and i can feel the pressure already. had my elements of law of contract, short for elc, just the friday that passed and i'd already zapped the entire book from the library on that same day. how kiasu right? haha.. this year has got to be the final year, and i die die am going to pull up my socks. i have seriously no idea how to get a second-upper if i don't get at least As or Bs to balance all the borderline passes.

anyway, the melbourne trip was fantastic! we totally enjoyed ourselves and were reluctant to leave on our last day... we're definitely staying longer the next time we visit there. i'll never forget our trip to the great ocean road, not only to see the majestic twelve apostles (there are only 7 left) but also kookaburras, koalas in the wild, the famous bell's beach, loch ard gorge, etc etc. as i told a few before, it's like national geographic right before your eyes! the seas are sooooo blue and the limestone cliffs are just woaaaaaahhh.. especially the aerial view of the twelve apostles, it's just beautiful.

at first i thought we'd gone at the wrong timing but turns out the weather was perfect! except for the winds that left you cold and shivering, it's just cool the entire time, since it was end of winter and the beginning of summer. should be the best time of the year to go there, instead of summer when it supposedly gets too hot and most people stay indoors in the afternoon. i was told summer could go as hot as 40 degrees!

didn't do much shopping while we were there cos i didn't have enough cash, but we did window shop a lot in the city as well as bridge road, which was having sales and some warehouses are there. that's as far as shopping goes, but i love cotton on! it's opening soon at wisma. they have cardigans in lots of colours and designs similar to topshop and miss selfridge for a much lower price. it's like singapore's giordano, i mean the price.

lygon street must not be missed for traditional italian dishes! cafe trevi, the place we went, had the best pasta and pizza we'd ever tasted! pizza dough is freshly made and live demonstration of the making of pizzas by the italian chefs. i really regretted only going there once, 'cause i really miss the pasta and pizza back there.

there's so much to tell for just a week spent there. haha.. perhaps it's 'cause it's new to me, and i'm excited by new places. when i grad and get a job, i'm definitely setting a rule that i have to travel at least once a year. haha.. travelling and seeing the world is such fun! the ij aep trip was not that much exposure 'cause it was a school trip and most of the programme is around art museums. the rome trip was my first trip with just friends and we were on our own. i guess that was when i realised i truly loved to travel.

it's really a euphoric feeling, therapeutic even, for those who are too tensed up about work or even school. travelling can really relax you, gets you recharged. i got that feeling as i came back. :)

i made tiramisu for daddy's birthday, but the cake part turned out too soggy. humphhh. the recipe said to soak the ladyfingers in coffee! i didn't even really soak it, just dipped quickly, but still.... the next time i'll just bake coffee sponge instead then brush on the liquor. *frustrated* and nobody could taste any alcohol! i poured one and a half shots into the coffee, should've done 3. haha. oh well, just to console myself, at least it looked alright.


above: my soggy dessert

i think i feel nervous and excited i can't sleep! we're flying off tomorrow or rather, later today. luggage is packed, but i'm always afraid to leave out something, even though i always have a list.

mutually, we promised not to quarrel, 'cause even if we do, where can we run? we'll be in foreign land.. at most i'll just buy some gelato. it's damn shiok eating ice-cream when it's cold out there. best of all, ice-cream chases all worries away. :)

i had thought of doing a blog tour, but my laptop's too zor deng to bring over so i'll just come back to do it. regretted not doing it for my rome trip 'cause that would've been fabulous since i took lots of photos of churches and architecture.

darn, really need some sleep. still have to print some maps later.

i'm so bloody pissed. i'm the one planning the entire trip while he does nothing and he can still tell me he's stressed about the trip. heeeelloooo.. i'm the one doing the research here, and i've been overseas before so don't try to act as if you know everything and tell me what and what not to pack whatsoever (and it's common sense that girls pack more things than guys) and irritating the shit out of me about the money. we're on a budget trip, WE'LL GET BY. it's not as if we're going on some luxurious tour. for the past few days, i've been irritated till i don't even feel like going with him anymore. the next time i travel, i'm going with my friends. come on, u're being the irritant here and you still complain that you can't communicate with me. who's being the asshole huh?

bloody hell. my day went very well until now. met up with ra the first time since she's back and it's great hanging out with her. i was already thinking of the next time we're going to meet up when i called him and got this shit. he's right, we can't communicate. he's saying he just wants to enjoy the trip, who doesn't? you weren't eager to plan anything, so don't come blaming me on things that i can't help it being the way it is.

and fuck safari 'cause it's been shutting down repeatedly for no reason for the past ten minutes so i have to keep logging on again and again. even the com is against me. what the hell have i done wrong huh? why do things have to suck so bad just before the trip?!

there's still daddy's birthday this sunday, the day we leave, which is also angie's birthday. will be celebrating daddy's birthday on saturday evening instead.. agreed with bro that the rest will split the cost and treat daddy, but i think i might not be able to afford, even though it's just ichiban boshi. sucks, why is it money again?!

i'm hopeless. i bought a pair of boots for the melbourne trip! i'm vaaaaaaain. but at least i bought flat ones, not those with heels. i can't possibly wear 3-inch high heeled boots strutting about the streets of melbourne, right?! and definitely not for almost a week. actually i bought a pair that resembled army boots but was actually converse look-alike with laces all the way up. it was, obviously not my style, as peipei wisely said. i don't know what possessed me to buy those in the first place. *faints* fortunately, i "woke up" and went back to exchange for a much nicer pair, which is more me: dark brown and nothing fancy. :)

just the day before yesterday i went through the rome photos on my com. omg, i didn't realise i was so much slimmer. haha. i guess 'A' levels did me some good huh.. hah. got some proof for you:

there.. behind me is the famous colosseum. hmm.. the purple gloves look funny on me..

ra is back from germany! welcome back, ra! *waves banner* miss you soooo much. msged this girl the day after she returned but until now no reply.. i think i msged to the wrong hp? maybe she's still using her germany number. hmph. jo and i promised to meet up with her when she's back, and have a great dinner. heh. can't wait to see her!

chilli crab at macpherson, jackson centre. yummy except for the starchy sauce. eeeeuk. nice buns. haha...

i have been craving for tiramisu for the past few days! argh... i just have to get my butt off the chair and buy some mascarpone. hmph.


doesn't this look cutesylicious? :)

i caught my first episode of Bare Beauty on artscentral today. i think it's a great show 'cause it's about being beautiful using natural ingredients. what got my attention was the java coffee bodyscrub that uses freshly ground coffee, gula melaka and rice. i never knew freshly ground coffee helps to clear pores, until today. lol. and i knew rice helps give translucency and radiance to skin, so i thought this is a wonderful recipe. for those who'd like to try out other recipes, you can visit: http://barebeauty2.wordpress.com/

courtesy of Bare Beauty:

Recipe for Java Coffee Body Scrub

Makes 1 application

Prep Time: 30 minutes

Materials:
- Mortar and pestle
- Table spoon
- Mixing bowl
- Grater

Ingredients:
2 tbsp java coffee powder
4 tbsp palm sugar (gula melaka), grated
4 tbsp ground raw rice
1/2 tbsp peanut oil

Method:
- Mix ingredients together with a little water to moisten.
- Use immediately.

P.S. you have to soak the rice for 30 mins and then dab it dry before grinding it.

today was the second and last day of the ite "flea market". i feel super cheated for paying $50 rental and getting only so few customers i just covered the rent. the guy next to our stall for today (who was selling cute little gadgets and optical mouse and card readers and the like) was right: ite students have little spending power. if we were to sell at an actual flea market, i'm sure i would have sold at least half of all my clothes. the first day was a disaster. most of the stalls didn't have much business and i only sold one top (of mine) for the entire day. tons of people walked past but they just basically, walked past. a few took a look and only 3 people bothered to search the rack. i was very sure i would make a loss from this bazaar. luckily, perhaps thanks to my mom's prayers, we had some business today. the number of people was prolly only one-third of the first day's but more people actually browsed. i managed to earn about 30 bucks. some of the stalls weren't as lucky as we were: on the first day one packed up before time was up and quit the bazaar (she had a high opportunity cost just being a sitting duck), today some stall owners didn't come and the ladies who sold bookmarks and stuff packed up at like 3 plus and the events organiser even had a quarrel with her about packing up before time's up and that's against the "law". like, what law? you didn't give a confirmation letter for the booking of the stall to begin with, much less rules and regulations. no contract whatsoever, so don't blame people for packing up when they're making huge losses? seriously...

anyway, it's over.

maybe next time i'll try to rent a stall at a real flea market, but that would most prolly be after i come back from australia. anyway! met up with sam and greg at RK after dinner. it was great! it's hard to meet up since we always say we must meet up again but never set the date. haha..

shit, feel damn tired the past two days. all 'cause of the bloody bazaar. i think i'll need to sleep 12 hours to make up for all the lost hours..

sigh. tomorrow or rather today is exactly one week since i had my makeup test. if i don't get any calls from them, i've decided to be thick-skinned and call them.

later in the day i have to open my wardrobe and pick out all the clothes that i'm going to sell at the fair. it's gonna be sorta like a family day plus celebrate-national-day event at ite college east (simei), which is the one near the expo mrt. i'm sharing the stall with rena. i'm selling mostly 2nd hand but hardly worn clothes while she's selling some of her stocks from bangkok. the events company is aiming to sell mid-range products, and expecting at least 5000 people. i hope i'll manage to sell most of what i dish out, 'cause all the profits are going to the funding of my trip. :) P.S. the fair is this coming fri and sat (3rd-4th aug) from 10am-5pm! if you stay near the east or happen to be around the area, come and look-see-look-see! :)

talking about the trip, i may miss the twelve apostles 'cause it might be out of budget. it's like my top places-to-see! it's one of the things that are driving me on this trip, and the sad thing is we're most likely booking a hostel/budget hotel near the city. i mean, it's for the convenience, but it's bloody far from the twelve apostles and the great ocean road is such a loooong stretch and it's either u drive there or book a tour which will not be that cheap. arrrrrggghh.

i feel like exchanging my bagpack for a bigger one but i lost the receipt. it's 45L but now i have a feeling it's not gonna be big enough. oooops.

monday has already passed and i've yet to receive a call from m.a.c regarding the results. i have a feeling i didn't make it.. the makeup wasn't perfect 'cause i didn't give a final check of my work before i said i was done, so there were imperfections. sigh.. they're really strict when it comes to makeup and hygiene: u must never apply foundation using your fingers and mascara's applied in disposable wands; even concealor is picked using a cotton swab. no wonder m.a.c is such a reputable brand. plus, the makeup is really good. as i applied the makeup on my model, i couldn't help but want to buy the makeup for myself. heh. oh man, i really wish for a miracle that they were delayed in calling so i may still have a chance. sigh.

singtel sent me a msg today regarding some "sweet treats" they were offering. what caught my eye was the 2 tickets to bangkok for only $88 nett each, which means $176 nett for 2. and the registration ends 31st july, which means today. haha. i managed to send in, even though i never have the luck, it doesn't hurt to try right?

saw lester's email regarding the play "the jeweller's shop" written by the late pope john paul II. i'm really interested in it. it'll be up on the 4th, 5th & 6th sept. lester's booking tickets for 6th sept and if do block booking can get discount, less than the current price of $25 for student and $28 for adult. anyone wanna go with me?


this is the hardcover. the dvd didn't look so nice. :P

Review by www.catholiccompany.com:
Love is "one of the greatest dramas of human existence," writes Pope John Paul II. In this illuminating three-act play--here in the only English translation authorized by the Vatican--he explores relationships between men and women, the joys--and the pain--of love and marriage.
The action unfolds in two settings at once: a street in a small town, outside the local jeweler's shop (people go to buy their wedding rings there), and the mysterious inner landscape of personal hopes and fears, loves and longings.

Each act focuses on a different couple: the first happily planning their wedding, the second long-married and unhappy, the third about to marry but full of doubts. Writing with power and understanding about a love that survives the grave, a love that has withered and died, a love budding out of complexes and insecurities, the Pope addresses such fundamental human concerns as:

What does it mean to fall in love?
When do we know that a love is real--and can it last?
If it dies, how do we go on living--and loving again?

There are no easy answers, and there is no happy ending--such is the nature of men and women, and such is the nature of love--but there is hope, if we only acknowledge our need and accept the risks of a deep and lasting commitment.

This is a play full of wisdom on a subject of great relevance to all, and it provides a special insight into the thoughts of the man who, like no other, has captured the imagination of people of all faiths throughout the world.

Karol Wojtyla--Pope John Paul II--was long involved with the theater. As a student of literature, then priest, bishop and archbishop, he acted, directed, wrote dramatic criticism, made a Polish translation of Sophocles' Oedipus Rex, and authored six plays.

paprika is a must-watch! :)

Last fri i went for the interview at m.a.c, and yesterday they called to say i passed the 1st interview! the makeup test is this coming wed at raffles city robinsons. jas is going to be my model! i'm really so thankful 'cos she has her jap exam the next day yet she still agreed. just hope the test is not too difficult. >_< hopefully, without any hitches, i'll soon be working part-time at m.a.c counters.

things seem to be going well. the australia trip is confirmed: we got the visa ready and just short of booking the tickets, which i will get down to booking during the next couple of days. hurray! need to plan the itinerary soon.

i'm the kind that likes things organised, read up and plan before i go somewhere instead of waiting till i reach the place and start fumbling for the map. maybe that's why we had a disagreement on my borrowing aust guide books from the library, which, in my case, was totally uncalled for. :|

since he'll be working there for dunno how long, i'm planning to surprise him with some things he can bring to aust: a nice scarf, that cd that has classic chinese songs sung in jazz, a picture of us in a frame so he can look at it everyday.. heh. hmm.. i need to start saving for all that..

i've decided that colourful blog skins are too messy. difficult to update the template and to maintain it. plain and simple is the best. haha.. but the template is still quite sucky, so i might end up deleting this blog altogether. livejournal seems like a good option..

this coming mon, which is the day after tomorrow, i'm going to see dr. ong at niks maple clinic with grace and joyce. finally.. funny it seems like i've been waiting forever. was supposed to go to dr. ong with the rest of the girls but it's difficult for everyone to be able to make it on a certain day. nonetheless! ktv is still on on 1st aug!

the trip to melbourne seems confirmed yet unconfirmed. dunno what the heck is wrong with him. i mean, once u really decide on something then you don't keep hesitating or changing your mind, or else it won't be considered decided isn't it? don't make me get all frustrated about getting money for the plane ticket and then telling me it might not be confirmed. what the...

now i have to find a job urgently. partly for the trip and partly for the upcoming school fees, which, hopefully is my last year. i really can't afford to waste another year at sim. until the ecr, i didn't even know that u can't self-study anything more than twice, not a subject more than twice. instructions are misleading. :(

i know i know.. the blog's almost dead again.. but it seems like there's nothing much to post about now.. life's mostly a routine, except for meeting up with a couple of good ol' friends sometimes to chill and just hang out..

anyway, chinese new year certainly doesn't evoke the feelings in me anymore.. is it because i'm getting older? or am i mentally ageing? but! alas! i'm very looking forward to 4th feb! is anyone is free in the afternoon? please come and help me to chop the veggies and the meat and the whatevers.. haha. there're still quite a lot of people who haven't replied if they're coming.. :(

recently i've been wondering.. is it really bad if 2 people have nothing much to talk about on the phone? after the usual questions of how's ur day/how's work/how's class/have u eaten there's this pause afterwards which i can't explain. is the relationship in decline? if my guy is not my soulmate, then is he the one for me? or am i getting bored of this relationship? and i'm not really happy about the way things are going to turn out for the next few weeks or so. i'll just leave it at that.

i think i need someone who can give me surprises; routine after a long while gets really BORING.. and i get bored quite easily. i need someone that i can talk whatever shit to.. the good and bad shits.. or maybe i just don't have much shit happening in my life.. he's always at work, always tired.. i understand that, but that just means he doesn't have much life left for me.. it's not like it's going to be temporary. it's his job and it's gonna be the same thing for like dunno how many years? and i'm going to continue meeting him once a week for the next dunno how many years? all of a sudden i just feel very negative.. or i'm being too demanding..

sigh. better to not think about it. i'll just concentrate on getting ang baos. need money to buy food! :(

Omg. I just accidentally went back a page and now i've lost my entire entry!!!!! ARGGGGGHHHH!!!

Sucks.

Anyway! i remembered i first mentioned about today/yesterday's meeting with angie! Thanks hons! i had such a great time! and i'm still so damn glad i didn't buy that Warehouse top! haha.. and Thanks again for helping me pick the top i eventually loved so much! Whee! oh ya, we really should go back to eat the indian food again.. haha.

She told me about the 2 flashers and 1 pervert in her estate! hons, i hope you had a safe journey home! oh ya, i forgot to tell her that actually my neighbourhood once had a case that went on the newspapers.. it was many many years back, i think i was in primary school or something.. there was a rape case in one of the 5-room flat blocks.. it sounded really horrid when my mom told that to me.. *shudder*

So angie was supposed to leave before 10, but we ended up leaving at 10.. (oops) and i thought i could have a good night's sleep when i reach home.. but when i was packing for tomorrow's/today's lesson i realised i haven't done my microecons assignment that's due tomorrow/today.. Argh.

Anyway! it was a good thing i stayed up cos there was a surprise mail! MR WEE SENT A CHRISTMAS CARD! i wonder if the other A51 people have received it? If the date is correct, he's actually now in chiangmai.. date states 28th nov-28th dec, exactly one month.. which means! mr wee won't be able to attend the to-be-confirmed christmas party! :( but nevertheless, i'm sure he'll tremendously enjoy his time there.. sigh. after reading his card/letter, i'm starting to miss him... and miss A51 and SAJC days.. :(

okie, i have to go sleep or else i can't wake up in time for lecture tomorrow/today!

YAAAAAAAAAYS.

Guess wad! i had THE Cambridge Road chwee kueh this monrning for breakfast! haha.. i'm so contented.. :) i think i'm having it again tomorrow, cos my mom bought extra.. haha.

Sigh. i can't believe Christmas is coming! i was just around town yesterday and i happened to see so many wonderful things that i so wanna buy! but they cost quite a bomb :( SIGH. peipei advised me to shop on eBay where some of the stuff's cheaper! btw, for those who dunno, peipei was my ij tp classmate and my clubbing khaki! haha.. i still remember it was she and kim whom i gave my first time.. eh, i'm talking about clubbing la. tsk tsk tsk. hahaha...

Talking about Christmas, i'm thinking of organising a Christmas party for my jc mates! i doubt it'll be an official A51 thingy, but more of whoever can make it.. i'll see how.. might have to decorate the entire house too man! it's been a long time since my house was decorated for a Christmas party. i think i've only told Yansy about this.. msned her and was telling her that there might be a dresscode. haha.. eh, i'm seriously thinking about that you know? :P

Not only am i thinking about having a Christmas party, i've been pondering about repainting my room. it looks like it needs a brighter colour! and probably rearrange the furniture.. cos i don't think my parents are so nice to buy me some new ones. Saaaad. Maybe if i could just d.i.y. something from my old furniture.. if i start the floor plan and designs now i'm sure i can get it done before Christmas. haha. i think i'll start right now...

Omg. This is disastrous!

I'M CRAVING FOR THE CHWEE KUEH FROM CAMBRIDGE ROAD! WITH CHILLI AND LOTS OF CHAI PO PLEASE!

But luckily or unfortunately, there's no one to buy for me, nor is the stall open (i think).. SIGH.. i so love the chwee kueh from there! the chai po's so fragrant and i believe the chilli has hay bee.. delicious to the core..

Phew. Just finished revamping my blog. I thought the template looks nice, but i realised i made a huge mistake.. see the right-hand corner of the frame? It shouts "SUICIDE" with a toxic icon.. darn. Dear readers, please ignore that while i try to find a way to get rid of that word... Thank you very much for your cooperation. :)

If i have the time, i'll find another skin that is suicide-free and profanities-free and negative-thoughts-free.. haha.

Anyway, guess what? i jus got my new internet connection today! which means to say, i no longer need to hijack my neighbours' bandwidth.. haha. My mom has been nagging at me about hijacking other people's connection. She says it's a sin. Well, i feel that in a way, yes. Depends how you look at it. I saw it as you-dun-put-a-password-i'll-just-help-myself thing.. But i definitely feel much better having my own secure connection. No more d/cs anyway... haha.

After my serving of surfing, i'll be preparing tiramisu! Anyone who has a good tried and tested recipe please let me know k? haha. i'm officially a baking/dessert-making enthusiast. Er, actually i was since quite long ago.. lol. maybe i should convert this blog to a recipes site.. haha. I'm looking forward to trying out new recipes too! Recently got some sounds-good-looks-good dessert recipes online.. haha. Perhaps in the future i'll open a Auntie Anne II.. and definitely not selling pretzels.

Talking about desserts, i really need to have my dinner now man...

i overslept this morning, so i'm going for evening mass at 6.. i'm still tired actually, but since i'm still full from lunch, i thought it'd be good to update my blog (i know.. what took me so long, right?)


Anyway, been sleeping late these few days.. stayed up fri night till about 3am to bake Daf's birthday cheesecake (caramel toffee cheesecake.. want the recipe?), which i'd promised I would do. it was worthwhile, i guess, cos most of them liked it, and i have "orders" for birthdays.. haha. i'll see how by then.. oh! and i've learnt how to make muah chee! haha.. daf's mom taught us.. and there's khalsa, or kalsa, or is it calsa?! whatever, but it was GOOD.. gonna add that to my list of recipes.. besides my "famous" pork rolls.. haha.


btw, i have an interview tomorrow, at amk.. hoping to get that job or any job, for that matter. i'm dying for something that generates income!


oh ya, i haven't forgotten that i'm accompanying angie to Holy Spirit church this coming wed! gonna be a new thing for me too cos i haven't been to other churches' RCIA or RCIY.. not that i've been attending Risen Christ's RCIY.. but i'm looking forward to it cos uncle david's told me a little about the RCIA/Y there..


oh my! zhen qing is on.. haha.. i have no idea why i still enjoy watching its re-runs.. more like re-re-runs.. haha..