Boxing day sales...the day I've been looking forward to for I don't even know how long!!
Totally disappointed though!!
The sales here are just...just...its not a sale!!
Went shopping at Macy's, Bloomingdales, Soho...all the well known and big stores...but only bought 1 thing...1 thing...how sad is that?! And it was at the end of the day too...sigh...
I guess I got to see the shops though...but still!!
Anyway...the sales here weren't great...as in not very many things were discounted, and the things that were weren't even discounted that much...!!
Plus...its kinda bad coz with everything that you see/buy, taxes need to be added...so the price you see isn't actually the price you pay!! Kinda learning the slow way but I'll get there eventually!!
Anyway...hoping for better luck along the way...maybe the sales in the west will be better?! A bit of wishful thinking here...!!
Tuesday, December 27, 2005
Merry Christmas!
Christmas in New York...
not what I envisioned but still way way cool!!
Didn't get my white christmas...apparently it was snowing a few days before I arrived but since then, it just hasn't been cold ENOUGH for it to continue...instead, its been raining!! doh!!
Went to mass on sunday morning...it was so packed you wouldn't believe...services every hour...people standing in every possible nook and cranny...the very grand and old church just crammed with WAY too many people...
Then went to TGIF for lunch!! I must say that the TGI's in melb is way way better though!! hehe
then STARBUCKS...its not true though...there ISN'T one on every corner!! There are a lot but it just seems that every time you want one, you can't find one, and every time you don't want one, they're everywhere!!
Anyway so it was 2 things crossed off my list of "things to eat" in America...!!
Saw King Kong...I must say, its kinda cool watching movies in America coz as soon as you walk out of the cinemas after watching King Kong die on top of the Empire State Building, you can actually see the building...WOW! haha
Anyway...that was my christmas...hanging out with friends from Melb and across the globe...totally awesome!!
To everyone back home...MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Hope you have a good one with heaps of great food and carolling!! Party hard and live life...wish you all were here!!
not what I envisioned but still way way cool!!
Didn't get my white christmas...apparently it was snowing a few days before I arrived but since then, it just hasn't been cold ENOUGH for it to continue...instead, its been raining!! doh!!
Went to mass on sunday morning...it was so packed you wouldn't believe...services every hour...people standing in every possible nook and cranny...the very grand and old church just crammed with WAY too many people...
Then went to TGIF for lunch!! I must say that the TGI's in melb is way way better though!! hehe
then STARBUCKS...its not true though...there ISN'T one on every corner!! There are a lot but it just seems that every time you want one, you can't find one, and every time you don't want one, they're everywhere!!
Anyway so it was 2 things crossed off my list of "things to eat" in America...!!
Saw King Kong...I must say, its kinda cool watching movies in America coz as soon as you walk out of the cinemas after watching King Kong die on top of the Empire State Building, you can actually see the building...WOW! haha
Anyway...that was my christmas...hanging out with friends from Melb and across the globe...totally awesome!!
To everyone back home...MERRY CHRISTMAS!! Hope you have a good one with heaps of great food and carolling!! Party hard and live life...wish you all were here!!
New York here I come!!
Christmas Eve...1:05pm...get on the plane in melbourne bracing and mentally preparing myself for the 24.5 hour journey ahead...only thing keeping me going is that after this monster of a plane ride, I still get to NY in time for christmas!!
Get to the airport, check in without any dramas...after all what could possibly go wonrg with my 2 almost completely empty suitcases?! Had been previously warned by Ben to pack light and only bring 1 jumper as I would be doing a lot of shopping!! Board the plane...get the seats that I had previously reserved, settle down, and before I know it, I'm in sydney...time to get off...wait for a couple of hours in the airport...but thats cool - coz I still have my phone so I sms people, call people...walk around and check out the international terminal...and its finally time to board again!! Actually, I almost missed my flight from Sydney to LA coz I was so busy talking on the phone I didn't hear the final boarding call..I mean I saw everyone get up to leave but I figured I still had time...and before I knew it, everyone had disappeared so I literally ran to the gate and found out that I was pretty much the last to get on!! hehe...ok not so funny at the time but its pretty funny now!!
Anyway its a LONG flight to LA and when I got off, I had to go pick up my luggage and get everything checked again before I left from LA to NY. Its here that I think I got black marked coz I fiogured I didn't need to declare the apple I brought off the plane...I mean afterall, it was from the USA so why did I have to declare it?! hehe anyway I tried walking through the green line but got caught by this guy who asked me 50 million questions and I then got directed to the red line where I had to lug all my bags on to the belt to be scanned. Of course they found the apple and I had to explain that I had taken it from the plane etc etc..they then asked for my passprt and scanned it and typed all this stuff into the computer...this is why I believe I got black-marked!! Anyway...I gave them the stupid apple and went on my way...
Boarded the plane for NY...arrived...tried to put on my shoes and collect my bag but - hang on a minute...my feet wouldn't fit into my shoes!! They had swelled so much that they just would not fit!! haha...so I slid them half on and stumbled to collect my luggage... walked out...it was cold!! All these people kept asking me if I needed a lift and I had to tell them no...but after waiting an hour, Ben had still not arrived to pick me up and the same people were still looking at me wondering if I really DID need a lift so I had to keep smiling and shake my head at them!! Finally, Ben arrived...actually, he kinda stumbled across me sitting in the corner on my suitcase looking around and trying to look occupied with myself!! I didn't recognise him!! haha...just heard someone yell out my name and I looked up and he was standing there kinda looking at me going...what are you doing?!
Anyway after the whole hello thing, we had a 3 hour subway ride to tackle...and I mean tackle...had no idea where we were going...took the wrong line numerous times...missed the subway so had to wait for absolutely ages!! And finally, we reached the christmas house party...me in my travelling clothes meeting all his friends...what a site!! haha
So that was my trip to new york...more to come!!
Get to the airport, check in without any dramas...after all what could possibly go wonrg with my 2 almost completely empty suitcases?! Had been previously warned by Ben to pack light and only bring 1 jumper as I would be doing a lot of shopping!! Board the plane...get the seats that I had previously reserved, settle down, and before I know it, I'm in sydney...time to get off...wait for a couple of hours in the airport...but thats cool - coz I still have my phone so I sms people, call people...walk around and check out the international terminal...and its finally time to board again!! Actually, I almost missed my flight from Sydney to LA coz I was so busy talking on the phone I didn't hear the final boarding call..I mean I saw everyone get up to leave but I figured I still had time...and before I knew it, everyone had disappeared so I literally ran to the gate and found out that I was pretty much the last to get on!! hehe...ok not so funny at the time but its pretty funny now!!
Anyway its a LONG flight to LA and when I got off, I had to go pick up my luggage and get everything checked again before I left from LA to NY. Its here that I think I got black marked coz I fiogured I didn't need to declare the apple I brought off the plane...I mean afterall, it was from the USA so why did I have to declare it?! hehe anyway I tried walking through the green line but got caught by this guy who asked me 50 million questions and I then got directed to the red line where I had to lug all my bags on to the belt to be scanned. Of course they found the apple and I had to explain that I had taken it from the plane etc etc..they then asked for my passprt and scanned it and typed all this stuff into the computer...this is why I believe I got black-marked!! Anyway...I gave them the stupid apple and went on my way...
Boarded the plane for NY...arrived...tried to put on my shoes and collect my bag but - hang on a minute...my feet wouldn't fit into my shoes!! They had swelled so much that they just would not fit!! haha...so I slid them half on and stumbled to collect my luggage... walked out...it was cold!! All these people kept asking me if I needed a lift and I had to tell them no...but after waiting an hour, Ben had still not arrived to pick me up and the same people were still looking at me wondering if I really DID need a lift so I had to keep smiling and shake my head at them!! Finally, Ben arrived...actually, he kinda stumbled across me sitting in the corner on my suitcase looking around and trying to look occupied with myself!! I didn't recognise him!! haha...just heard someone yell out my name and I looked up and he was standing there kinda looking at me going...what are you doing?!
Anyway after the whole hello thing, we had a 3 hour subway ride to tackle...and I mean tackle...had no idea where we were going...took the wrong line numerous times...missed the subway so had to wait for absolutely ages!! And finally, we reached the christmas house party...me in my travelling clothes meeting all his friends...what a site!! haha
So that was my trip to new york...more to come!!
Thursday, December 15, 2005
Update upon update...
Its been a really busy and hectic past couple of weeks...this is my "very brief" update of the last 14 days...
Thursday 1 December:
Shopping and self-control - IMPOSSIBLE!! Saw this really cool bag diesel bag I could easily lug around New York with me...sigh...but restrained myself!! Pity its the only thing I can think of now!! Why are all the shops having sales now?! Stop tempting me!!
Massage at Geisha...went WAY too quickly...but was absolutely fantastic!! Came out feeling like a million bucks!! So totally relaxed and pampered...if only I felt like this 24/7!!
Streetlife - great workout lugging the bags of bread up and down the stairs...!! Then cleaning my fingerprints off Steve's car!! hehe sorry dude...but at least I got rid of most of them!! Even the ones that weren't mine!!
Conversation topic: can you say no if someone asks you to be their bridesmaid?
Friday 2 December:
Gym membership expires - I calculated that it would have been cheaper for me to pay everytime I used it rather than signing a membership...sigh...oh well - its the thought that counts!!
Dinner with Ann at Papa Ginos!! Then starbucks - babe remember you want to get your hot chocolate WITH cream - it tastes better!! A flurry of chatter, sharing, scheming plans, laughter - scheduling our next "double date + 1"!! hehe..."just wait 'til you see his opera thing!!"
Saturday 3 December:
Shopping on chapel - sorry Ben but I used your oxford card! - then revived the body by stuffing my face at yum cha with the parents!! Followed by more shopping - finally bought all my winter stuff to take over to New York, my camping gear and a whole lot of other random useless stuff like locks, chargers, drink bottles!! Ben stop laughing - its really not that funny - we're gonna FREEZE!!
Sunday 4 December:
BBQ at Yoj's - with the flies!! hmmm...I wonder where they go in winter?!!
Monday 5 December:
G man turns 20!! Larry and I plan the PERFECT surprise...only for it to have a "not-so-perfect" outcome!! hehe but fun all the same - family pack at nandos and TWO heavenly cakes from crown!! Who's complaining?!!
Tuesday 6 December:
SLEEP!!
Wednesday 7 December:
Work christmas luncheon - sooo sooo full!! Buffets and me just don't go well together!!
Then a long-awaited KK exchange and drinks at Cookie!! Very cool!!
Thursday 8 December:
My cousin's ballet concert - one cousin up on stage, another lying on my shoulder fast asleep and me stuffing my face with caramello koalas and mentos!! What a site!!
Friday 9 December:
Aaron the "high-flyer" shouts dinner at Sarti then gets us a table at Florentinos for dessert!! Sticky date pudding to die for!!
Saturday 10 December:
Gave my body a good work out today - got a phone call from my bro telling me his eye was bleeding...shock horror - heart palpitations!! Then its my fingers smsing continually...followed by my brain being racked of what to do next. My mouth talking a hundred words a minute...my legs running up and down the stairs...my mind in a frenzy...
At night its publicity + drinks = Justin and Sylvia...Alex and some chick with curls, Jesse, Joy, Michelle and me!!
Sunday 11 December:
Turns out my 20 minute powernap turned into a 6 hour sleep!! Wake up at 9pm, DVD fest with my cousins, then back to bed...oh what a feeling...!! Recommend watching monster-in-law!! Larry you still owe me - I still have all those DVD's from Sungei Wang you know!! haha no escaping!
Monday 12 December:
Sinking in very quickly that I'm running out of time!! Heading to USA in less than 2 weeks and I haven't planned ANYTHING except my flight there and back...I think I'm dead!! I KNOW I'm dead!!
Tuesday 13 December:
VCE results celebrations - toasts to my cousin, the braniac! This guy scored a big fat 99.95 even though he spent the last few weeks before exams in and out of hospital with a broken arm and attending surgery after surgery!! He even had to TYPE his exams since he couldn't write!!
Also get a call from the infamous Joh telling me shes on her way to the airport - 10 DAYS EARLY!! You suck!!
Realise I've been sending emails to the wrong people!! For some reason when I press reply I don't reply to the sender but to other random people! Its bad - and embarrassing - and theres no way to stop it!!
Wednesday 14 December:
Uni grad celebrations - congratulations Sue!! You've made it!
Discover I have this gray grease stuff on my WHITE skirt!! Spray heaps of white king on it and leave to soak...don't even THINK about not coming out in the wash!!
Annoyed with Myer - after psyching myself up the WHOLE day about buying my keds, they don't have sizes - the smallest they have is a size 8 - in all 3 colours...OMG...worst!! And to top it all off...diaries on sunday had 25% and I thought I'd wait until this new week to buy one just in case they had more discount on them...but NOOOO...low and behold - they're back to FULL PRICE!! How does that work?! NOT IMPRESSED!! Actually, kinda DE-PRESSED!!
Surprise Surprise - get a call from G Man - whos sick and has been going to the toilet over 10 times a day!! hehe
Thursday 1 December:
Shopping and self-control - IMPOSSIBLE!! Saw this really cool bag diesel bag I could easily lug around New York with me...sigh...but restrained myself!! Pity its the only thing I can think of now!! Why are all the shops having sales now?! Stop tempting me!!
Massage at Geisha...went WAY too quickly...but was absolutely fantastic!! Came out feeling like a million bucks!! So totally relaxed and pampered...if only I felt like this 24/7!!
Streetlife - great workout lugging the bags of bread up and down the stairs...!! Then cleaning my fingerprints off Steve's car!! hehe sorry dude...but at least I got rid of most of them!! Even the ones that weren't mine!!
Conversation topic: can you say no if someone asks you to be their bridesmaid?
Friday 2 December:
Gym membership expires - I calculated that it would have been cheaper for me to pay everytime I used it rather than signing a membership...sigh...oh well - its the thought that counts!!
Dinner with Ann at Papa Ginos!! Then starbucks - babe remember you want to get your hot chocolate WITH cream - it tastes better!! A flurry of chatter, sharing, scheming plans, laughter - scheduling our next "double date + 1"!! hehe..."just wait 'til you see his opera thing!!"
Saturday 3 December:
Shopping on chapel - sorry Ben but I used your oxford card! - then revived the body by stuffing my face at yum cha with the parents!! Followed by more shopping - finally bought all my winter stuff to take over to New York, my camping gear and a whole lot of other random useless stuff like locks, chargers, drink bottles!! Ben stop laughing - its really not that funny - we're gonna FREEZE!!
Sunday 4 December:
BBQ at Yoj's - with the flies!! hmmm...I wonder where they go in winter?!!
Monday 5 December:
G man turns 20!! Larry and I plan the PERFECT surprise...only for it to have a "not-so-perfect" outcome!! hehe but fun all the same - family pack at nandos and TWO heavenly cakes from crown!! Who's complaining?!!
Tuesday 6 December:
SLEEP!!
Wednesday 7 December:
Work christmas luncheon - sooo sooo full!! Buffets and me just don't go well together!!
Then a long-awaited KK exchange and drinks at Cookie!! Very cool!!
Thursday 8 December:
My cousin's ballet concert - one cousin up on stage, another lying on my shoulder fast asleep and me stuffing my face with caramello koalas and mentos!! What a site!!
Friday 9 December:
Aaron the "high-flyer" shouts dinner at Sarti then gets us a table at Florentinos for dessert!! Sticky date pudding to die for!!
Saturday 10 December:
Gave my body a good work out today - got a phone call from my bro telling me his eye was bleeding...shock horror - heart palpitations!! Then its my fingers smsing continually...followed by my brain being racked of what to do next. My mouth talking a hundred words a minute...my legs running up and down the stairs...my mind in a frenzy...
At night its publicity + drinks = Justin and Sylvia...Alex and some chick with curls, Jesse, Joy, Michelle and me!!
Sunday 11 December:
Turns out my 20 minute powernap turned into a 6 hour sleep!! Wake up at 9pm, DVD fest with my cousins, then back to bed...oh what a feeling...!! Recommend watching monster-in-law!! Larry you still owe me - I still have all those DVD's from Sungei Wang you know!! haha no escaping!
Monday 12 December:
Sinking in very quickly that I'm running out of time!! Heading to USA in less than 2 weeks and I haven't planned ANYTHING except my flight there and back...I think I'm dead!! I KNOW I'm dead!!
Tuesday 13 December:
VCE results celebrations - toasts to my cousin, the braniac! This guy scored a big fat 99.95 even though he spent the last few weeks before exams in and out of hospital with a broken arm and attending surgery after surgery!! He even had to TYPE his exams since he couldn't write!!
Also get a call from the infamous Joh telling me shes on her way to the airport - 10 DAYS EARLY!! You suck!!
Realise I've been sending emails to the wrong people!! For some reason when I press reply I don't reply to the sender but to other random people! Its bad - and embarrassing - and theres no way to stop it!!
Wednesday 14 December:
Uni grad celebrations - congratulations Sue!! You've made it!
Discover I have this gray grease stuff on my WHITE skirt!! Spray heaps of white king on it and leave to soak...don't even THINK about not coming out in the wash!!
Annoyed with Myer - after psyching myself up the WHOLE day about buying my keds, they don't have sizes - the smallest they have is a size 8 - in all 3 colours...OMG...worst!! And to top it all off...diaries on sunday had 25% and I thought I'd wait until this new week to buy one just in case they had more discount on them...but NOOOO...low and behold - they're back to FULL PRICE!! How does that work?! NOT IMPRESSED!! Actually, kinda DE-PRESSED!!
Surprise Surprise - get a call from G Man - whos sick and has been going to the toilet over 10 times a day!! hehe
Thursday, December 01, 2005
Food glorious food!!
I am so full...full to overflowing...so full I feel like I'm about to burst...and thats really saying something!!
Been eating so much its just incredible...kinda disgusting when I think about it...but how can you resist? I think its the whole asian mentality thing to "get your money's worth" whenever you go to a buffet...so when we went to Melba Brasserie in Southbank on Sunday night, everyone fulfilled and lived up to the "asian" inside - except for me!!
I wasn't really in the mood after stuffing my face at Sarah's surprise birthday party...but it totally wasn't my fault...
Larry, Vince and Steve were taking SO long to decide what they wanted to do that in the end, I just kept eating..and eating...and eating...which kinda worked out really well because in the end they decided NOT to go for lunch and to go SHOPPING instead...not that I was complaining...
Its a rare occasion when guys wanna go shopping...so I was pretty impressed that there was no whinging (except for Steve complaining that his feet were hurting even though he was wearing "flats"...Steve seriously - think about the pain that us girls go through!) and that we pretty much saw all that we wanted to...
However...first let down...Kathmandu's sale only started THIS friday...so we didn't get to buy what we wanted...gotta wait a WHOLE WEEK!!
Second let down...no sizes left on sale items at mountain designs...
Third let down...no sale on items WITH sizes at mountain designs...
sigh...
Anyway - so back to the eating...7 of us went for the buffet and totally pigged out...like no joke...pigged out big time...then we had a "couch" session...moved to the bar/lounge area and had a time of "letting it all out"...everything that had been kept hidden for the last 7 years...yep - thats right...the last SEVEN YEARS!! Was pretty funny - hearing about all the "lightbulb" and "third wheel" people...or "facilitators" as we chose to call them...
Hearing about all the "prayers" that were answered - or NOT answered...and the "sacrificing" of bus tickets during holidays so that certain people could be together...and so others DIDN'T have to be together...
all in all it was a real eye-opener...nothing was left unmentioned...it was great - I mean, at least it was great for me coz I wasn't involved...I just sat there and listened...and laughed...hmmm...!! But yeah...its great now...7 years later...but we all know that 7 years ago it was far from that!!
Anyway...back to the food...
So tonight, again...went for the buffet...totally stuffed...can't move...had to change outta my jeans as soon as I walked through the front door...I feel uncomfortable...I wonder if theres any quick remedy...somebody help me!! Not good...I definitely made up for sunday's lack of action...probably shouldn't have....totally regretting it now - but its too late...oh well...passionfruit cheesecake...chocolate mousse...creme brulee...creme caramel...panna cotta...the list goes on and on...
Was so totally engrossed in the food that I forgot to take photos of the it...so heres whats left...but trust me...it looked better before I started!!
I have NO idea what Daniel was doing to this cantelope - something about coating it in sugar...??!!
Chris and Yuli before...
And after... (yep thats right...stretch it out!)
Its all grins before...
But not after...
Anyway...you get the point...eat in moderation...as much as possible - New Year's resolution number 1!!
Been eating so much its just incredible...kinda disgusting when I think about it...but how can you resist? I think its the whole asian mentality thing to "get your money's worth" whenever you go to a buffet...so when we went to Melba Brasserie in Southbank on Sunday night, everyone fulfilled and lived up to the "asian" inside - except for me!!
I wasn't really in the mood after stuffing my face at Sarah's surprise birthday party...but it totally wasn't my fault...
Larry, Vince and Steve were taking SO long to decide what they wanted to do that in the end, I just kept eating..and eating...and eating...which kinda worked out really well because in the end they decided NOT to go for lunch and to go SHOPPING instead...not that I was complaining...
Its a rare occasion when guys wanna go shopping...so I was pretty impressed that there was no whinging (except for Steve complaining that his feet were hurting even though he was wearing "flats"...Steve seriously - think about the pain that us girls go through!) and that we pretty much saw all that we wanted to...
However...first let down...Kathmandu's sale only started THIS friday...so we didn't get to buy what we wanted...gotta wait a WHOLE WEEK!!
Second let down...no sizes left on sale items at mountain designs...
Third let down...no sale on items WITH sizes at mountain designs...
sigh...
Anyway - so back to the eating...7 of us went for the buffet and totally pigged out...like no joke...pigged out big time...then we had a "couch" session...moved to the bar/lounge area and had a time of "letting it all out"...everything that had been kept hidden for the last 7 years...yep - thats right...the last SEVEN YEARS!! Was pretty funny - hearing about all the "lightbulb" and "third wheel" people...or "facilitators" as we chose to call them...
Hearing about all the "prayers" that were answered - or NOT answered...and the "sacrificing" of bus tickets during holidays so that certain people could be together...and so others DIDN'T have to be together...
all in all it was a real eye-opener...nothing was left unmentioned...it was great - I mean, at least it was great for me coz I wasn't involved...I just sat there and listened...and laughed...hmmm...!! But yeah...its great now...7 years later...but we all know that 7 years ago it was far from that!!
Anyway...back to the food...
So tonight, again...went for the buffet...totally stuffed...can't move...had to change outta my jeans as soon as I walked through the front door...I feel uncomfortable...I wonder if theres any quick remedy...somebody help me!! Not good...I definitely made up for sunday's lack of action...probably shouldn't have....totally regretting it now - but its too late...oh well...passionfruit cheesecake...chocolate mousse...creme brulee...creme caramel...panna cotta...the list goes on and on...
Was so totally engrossed in the food that I forgot to take photos of the it...so heres whats left...but trust me...it looked better before I started!!
I have NO idea what Daniel was doing to this cantelope - something about coating it in sugar...??!!
Chris and Yuli before...
And after... (yep thats right...stretch it out!)
Its all grins before...
But not after...
Anyway...you get the point...eat in moderation...as much as possible - New Year's resolution number 1!!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
