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This is what it's like...to be next to the habour bridge and the opera house hehe.

Crazy yet beautiful idea!

Ooh now that I have blogger on
my phone, hopefully I will blog more frequently!

Today I did something crazy... I walked from Town Hall to Wynyard to get my netball Id rego'ed...then I decided that it was a good idea to walk across the harbour bridge with my heavy laptop on my back and completely exhausted from work...and oh what a great idea it was! ^^

Sydney sure is beautiful hehe

Malaysia ~ food Food FOOD edition =)

During the Xmas/New Year office shut-down period (yes, the company makes the employees take 3 weeks annual leave at the end of the year, otherwise known as the 'office shut-down period'), I decided to use my hard-earned money to cross the sea for 10 days and place myself outside of Australia, as I have dreamt many times during 2011.  And wow, what a trip it was! Full of crazy, funny, adventurous, sometimes peaceful, tiring yet every bit worth it moments!

There's just so so so much I can share with you, but then your eyes will go googly from reading about all the yays and woes during the trip - all the places we went, the people we met and of course, it's Asia, all the food we ate!

So I'm gonna start off (and perhaps will continue in a series) with a post listing the most salivating-worthy moments of food, which at the thought of even now, make my tongue tinge a little hehe

From Kuala Lumpur

Noodles mixed with sauce at Imbi Market.  Oh and THAT tea was AMAZING!

A selection of goodies from some lovely people we met at the market ^^

My first soursop juice - so very very refreshing!

This mango sticky rice at Jalan Alor was seriously something!

Yummy AND super-cheap banana and cheese roti mmmm will never look at Mamak the same way again >.<

BIG celebration meal at Petaling Street in Chinatown!

The famous Buk Kut Teh - a herbal essence. I quite liked it, though wasn't to my friend's taste >.< Nonetheless, it's a specialty!

From Penang

This city is famous for its endless types of food, which are usually sold by a particular stall owner who specialise in a particular type of food (and that's all they make!).  There was SO much I wanted to try, but my stomach wouldn't allow it *sigh*

Tek Tarik! The guy (behind the counter) made it with amazing skills!!!! It was like watching a show! And of course, it brought such sweetness to one's senses mmmmmm

Roti Tisu, so interesting how the roti itself didn't really have taste, BUT they poured condense milk all over it and it was just right ^^

Seriously the BEST Cendol I've ever had in my life! The taste still lingers in my memory... the guy pours the different syrup into the bowl with amazing speed! Also, I really liked the feeling of holding the bowl and just eating there with the other locals/tourists ^^ It's somewhere along Jalan Penang towards the intersection where there's a bridge...you can't miss it because there's a huge line (or crowd) just by the stall!

A selection of food from the famous Gurney Drive, where tourists and locals (mainly tourists) gather to buy from each stall.  The Char Kway Teoh there is a MUST try =D

Seriously though, if you're in Penang and you don't have much time, I reckon you should ditch Gurney Drive and head straight to Jalan McAllister, where you're SPOILT for choice for food along the entire road! AND THIS is where the locals go, not Gurney Drive! Trust me, everytime we mentioned Gurney to a Taxi Driver, they kinda just laugh...and immediately point us to Jalan McAllister (also known as 'Wai Sek Gai' - Gluttony Street).  Well, my friend and I made the mistake of going to Gurney first... so we didn't have time nor the stomach space to try that much at Jalan McAllister >.< Below are the two delicious specialties that I did manage to try haha

 

Poh Peah is a mixture of different vegies and contents wrapped in pastry, it has a very special taste that I love and can't get enough of!

Ah Pong is a pancake kinda food with banana on the inside.  You also get to choose to have a pandan base...such a great nibbly or dessert for after meal =D

These are not even all that we were able to try, I've only picked and chose some out of my favourites to tickle your fancy! AND the experience of eating it there on the streets (although can be dangerously fatal if you have a weak stomach....) is just priceless! I guess having good food doesn't just involve the mouth and stomach hehe

Work Adventure? Grafton the city of Jacarandas~

  What my job sometimes does is send us off to places we've never ever dreamt of going to otherwise, because it's like some ridiculously small town that we would never give second thoughts to.  At first, the thought of going...actually to be more precise...FLYING to these places are a bit unbelievable! It was only in October this year did I first experience my first flight domestically, but I was still on a reasonable sized plane... it wasn't until this week did I see a plane so small I actually wondered how we were all going to fit into it! And you know how usually at the airport, you just go through this tunnel thingy and wah la, you're on the plane? Well, with the smaller domestic planes, you have to board an airport shuttle where it takes you to a totally different area where all the smaller planes are! I was so amused! AND to top it all off, I've never seen a pilot so young (who looked probably just in his early 20s) I couldn't believe I was putting my life in his hands hahaha

So, where was work sending me off to? Grafton.

You are probably thinking: come again? As this was most of my friends' reactions... and personally I didn't know where it was either and had to googlemap it haha  It's a town pretty much situated on the border of NSW and Queensland... it sounds really deserted and far away.  Far away, yes, but this little town somehow took my breath away!

The plane we were on! It's actually pretty cute hehe

Grafton airport! Nothing like the major city ones...so cosy and extra friendly!

  Anyway, not to bore anyone with the work details...and in fact, it's been a pretty tiring and tough week... but the town gave off this vibe that just calms your heart and mind... it makes you feel very...peaceful.  After work, my workmates and I always took walks near our motel, wanting to absorb the sun as much as possible! And oh man, were we glad we all took the effort to stroll away and explore Grafton with the few hours of daylight we were given!

Park nearby...wait till you see the view...

...so amazing!

You can go...or roll down the slope haha

You can take a stroll along the water... there are some really pretty lamps, I think it can get quite...romantic hehe

   In another part of town is this particularly road...and who would've thought even a road could be this amazing:

These were HUGE HUGE HUGE trees!

This was called The Fig Tree Avenue! It felt so incredible standing in the middle of the road in between these two rows of huge fig trees! It almost felt like something from the movie.  You know what, one moment you can see this magnificent view...and if you turn around, you are confronted with another breath-taking view:

Overlooking the bridge! Just imagine sitting on the grass on a nice sunny afternoon...pondering...or reading...or just breathing in the fresh air...*happysigh*

  The hero of Grafton though was not any of these, but a particular type of plant...that's right! Jacaranda trees! There were hundreds of them just on the side walk...and as you drive down long roads, they look so absolutely amazing and beautiful...and if you have your windows opened, the scent just waft through the air and into your nose...mmmm

Argh...I didn't quite capture it...but as you can see, the jacaranda trees just go on...so pretty ^^

  According to the client that we were working with, in November, they blossom to their fullest and the petals get blown off by the wind...so the roads can sometimes be filled with purple-ness...so want to see it >.<  In November, there is also a Jacaranda festival...and it's like the biggest thing in town where everyone celebrates (apparently everyone just gathers in the town centre on a Thursday - forgetting about work and just party away hehe Sounds good to me!)

  Being in Grafton made me realise how rushed I've been as a city slicker, how my life is often filled with all these stresses, pressures, thoughts... and I really just don't know how to rest and slow down.  Maybe because the pace of everything is slower, there's no traffic, air seems to be fresher and there's just all these nature around me...I felt really at peace and relaxed (despite the fact that work was somewhat toiling during the week).  I could feel my heart beat slowed to a steadier and calmer pace and was just...calm.  It made me think...perhaps all these pressures/stresses are what I induce on myself...when there's so much more to life.  It seems like nowadays, I'm always re-evaluating what's important *sigh*

  Hmmm might blog about all the yummy food we ate as well in another post...for now I'll leave you with this image and hope it brings you a sense of calmness =)

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Lime Street ~ a secret place ;)

  I work in a job where it requires me to travel, sometimes it requires me to travel to the middle of nowhere... but sometimes, it might just bring inspirations! Though that kind of thought is something I wasn't too optimistic about...until the weekend! Somehow, I woke up pretty early (well, 9:30am...that's REALLY early for me on the weekend!) and the sun was shining, really didn't want to waste the day since weekends are SO precious!  But where to go WHERE TO GO??? I was even talking to a friend on Facebook about this...and suddenly it dawned on me!

  At this point, I must give many props and honorable mention to my friend JT for taking me there one lunchtime and sharing with me his strolling experiences.  If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't have had the opportunity to experience what I'm about to tell you guys! So a big thank you, JT =)

  So what is this place? Well, before I headed down to this 'secret' (which won't be so secret any more...) place, there was a place I must absolutely go to and stock up first!

Uh huh! Erskine Street in Wynyard! 

  There are SO many goodies along this street! Here's a few snaps of them =)

Yummy restaurants! I totally recommend Laksa King! It gets really busy during lunchtime on weekdays!

A series of food choices on the other side!

   But pick of the day (any day really!) HAS to be this one:


Central Baking Depot has to be one of the best bakeries in Sydney!



A wide and unique selection of bread, pastries and just yummy goodness! My favourite so far has to be the Orange Chocolate Cheesecake Brownie... mmmmmmm salivating in my memory hehe

Love the handwritten looking chalkboard at the top, gives it a homely and personal feel =)





You get to watch them make the bread too!!!



Love the interior - love the wooden round tables, gives the cafe a rustic yet homely feel <3

  I really really love this bakery/cafe! Apparently it's the sister-cafe of this big one called Bourke St, I'm making a mental note for myself to try! Not only are their pastries good, their coffee is quite a gem as well! And so, with a large mocha in my hand...I headed down to this secret place for some me and reflection time!

Walking along further down Erskine...crossing the road... can you kind of see where this is heading??? hehe

At night, this place is filled with party-goers, lighted up with people and music and just joyful sounds of fun and friends!

  This is indeed King St Wharf! Now, I've seen this side of King St Wharf many times, especially at night! But never have I ventured further down until that one lunch time with JT and GL...

Down the steps, peering through the trees...along the wharf is where I wanna be!



  As soon as you turn at the bottom of the steps, it clears out into one long strip of water and sunshine!

Love watching the boats and people by the wharf...but this isn't even the best yet! As you walk further along...

The wharf completely opens up to this bay walk! Now here's a fantastic view of water and perfect spot to absorb the sun!

  What I love love love about this place is that there's not that many people around...but it's not completely isolated either! So you feel like you're in touch with the world, yet you feel a sense of peace and away from the bustles of city life.  This is such a wonderful place to bring your book or your notepad or whatever you want to do to just chill and reflect on life while absorbing the much awaited for Vitamin D during the week!
  Another plus for me about this place is that you get to watch families stroll by with their kids... and maybe because of the serenity of the place as well, there's definitely a more than heart-felt warmth surging through me when I observe them hehe (ok...it's not supposed to sound stalkerish)

  So, I marked down my territory

settled down and began to enjoy every moment of it:

  =)


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Oxford St ~ the side I've never seen

  After a hard week of work and the previous weekend putting my head down and frantically working on tax assignment (thank goodness that's over!!!), I've decided to give myself a study-free weekend and just chillax ^^ Originally, I wanted to watch Harry Potter 7 (and even now I still do!!!) with my work friends, but since most people weren't available, GT and I had a girly night out where she took me to this gem of a place I've never ever been to nor knew existed!!!

  So everyone knows that Oxford St is full of interesting and crazy things... for me, I've never really gone on the other side of Oxford St (past the hotel...which I can't remember the name of, but it's opposite the fountain/square at this set of huge traffic lights!?)...and hmmm I think I've been missing out!  Because along the other side of Oxford St lies many fancy yet cozy looking restaurants of all kinds... Italian, Thai, Teppanyaki...you name it! And many of these restaurants apparently have been raved on about in many food blogs!

Restaurants with attractive, stand-out signs to capture you!

  GT and I decided to go with Thai at Thai Nesia, can't go wrong with that!

Very nice interior...and it's red, which I love love love! <3

  A HUGE group of  asian kids came in and pretty much occupied the whole restuarant...! It was quite a scene...it was as though they were on excursion or something.  But on a Saturday night on Oxford St!?!?! Hmm... >.< GT made a comment that they seemed to all look alike...so maybe they are part of a big family!?!?! Not sure what the situation was, take your pick hehe

  Service was pretty good at this restuarant, we were tight on time so we requested them to hurry, requested take away boxes and in the end, I took lollies from the bowl at the counter too! And they faced all these actions from ours with big smiles...I like =)

  Yes, we were tight on time because GT decided to take me to this little cinema which I never knew existed (most of you have probably picked up the theme of 'I never knew blah blah existed' for this post now haha) to enjoy a nice evening over a romantic and comedic French film with our Thai take-away/left-overs!

Verona Bar & Cinema, it really is a combination of a bar and cinema, no kidding!!! *serious face*

The entrance itself definitely gives off a different feel to commercial cinemas! Feel so posh for some reason haha

There are two levels to this cinema, where the first level is the bar and the second level is the cinema itself (though I think there's also a smaller bar on the second level....).  On both levels, there are tables and chairs for people to sit, chat, read, do whatever you want  really...kinda like a cafe too! 

Bar time!!! (J/k, we were good and didn't drink hehe)

Stairwell upwards...!

Level 2! Hmmm...I've just realised that an elevator exists here as well...lol

 I really love the interior of this cinema, it's definitely out of the ordinary, creative and colourful! In a way, this is what I think an 'ideal' cinema should be like, as movies are made, although to entertain people, to inspire and cultivate creative juices in people's minds I believe! The structure of the cinema itself is part of that experience, right? =)

Oooohhh so what did we actually watch here you might ask? Some of you might be familiar with Audrey Tautou who was in Amelie? Well... here she is again!

Beautiful Lies - a funny, touching yet crazy film about how a daughter, a mother and a man who they both supposedly fell in love with haha

  I really enjoyed the film, although it was a bit messed up at times, it was really funny and part of the enjoyment came from watching the characters' reactions and wondering how the whole mess would unfold.  Plus I loved the cinematography of how somethings were portrayed...one particular scene was the filming of the mother's feet movement, that simple shot and sequence reflected the mother's thoughts and feelings really clearly!  Also... the whole time while I was watching the movie, I couldn't help but think how fascinating it is that sometimes, you might meet someone, at first he/she might not seem that special...but it only takes a moment of something from that person that really captures/inspires you for your heart to start beating crazily everytime he/she is around.

  Definitely watch this one if you like artsy indie films.  Also, I think there are other pretty good movies on, check them out: http://www.palacecinemas.com.au/

  Also, right opposite the cinema, there's this pretty neat looking bookshop that comes with a cafe on top...mmmm I think I have a destination for my next 'me' 'chill' time hehe

Love books! Really wish I had more time to read...=(

Of course, none of this would have been possible without GT, not only for bringing me here but for showing me all that's lovely through conversations and appreciating such movie experiences hehe


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