Snapshots

Here are some pictures from Instagram to give you a peek on what I've been up to recently. I caught up with both groups of friends from uni and highschool. Both lovely outings and it was really nice to find out what everyone has been up to. Also ate out lots, particularly Japanese and Mexican - I go through phases of obsessing over certain types of cuisines. There was one time when I had an unhealthy obsession over fish and chips for a month.

Last weekend, I met up with colleagues for afternoon tea in one of the most sophisticated places I've been to. A fancy place that made me feel under dressed in my summer-y dress. On Sunday, I went to watch Addams Family at Capitol Theatre. I have been dying to see it as the animated series is one of my childhood favourites. I adore Uncle Fester. Who is your favourite?

Okay. Now onto a big announcement. I will be setting out on what will undoubtedly be an exciting chapter in life. Something that has kept me pretty busy this past month or so. Insert *drum rolls* ........ I'm moving to Canberra, which some of you may not know is the Capital of Australia, for a new job.

Although I'm looking forward to embarking on new adventures in a city I've never lived before, I'm feeling sad and lonely as I will be leaving family and friends behind. The good thing is I will only be a 3-hours drive/coach ride away from Sydney, so I foresee impromptu weekend trips back home.

Wish me luck!

Snapshots #6

Hi all, I'm still alive! Just work and personal stuff taking over, hence it was difficult to find time to chill and blog. To make up for my hiatus, here are a few personal shots taken over the Jan-Feb period. Lately I have been obsessing over coconut water, pizzas with lots of 'real' ingredients and cider. I don't know if it's because of the warmer weather or the lingering holiday mood but I have consumed more food in the past month than I have ever had in the other 11 months. Well... stress may also be a contributing factor as I tend to binge on desserts to de-stress. With that note, Laduree has new flavours in store! Super excited. I'm in love with the rose and lime basil macarons - my new favourites.

Was swapping bags the other day and got a bit curious about the staple items in my bag. But really it was nothing special. iPod, headphones, wallet, Laura Mercia lipstick, papaw ointment, bb cream, keys, camera and a book. The big bunch of what looks to be a collection of little toys is actually my set of keys. When traveling overseas instead of collecting postcards or magnets as souvenirs, I prefer buying keychains. My friends think it's hilarious whenever I bring my keys out because, over the years, I have collected quite a few keychains so the bunch is now pretty huge and clunky. But I love it nevertheless.

Have a wonderful weekend. It looks like it will be a pretty wet one for Sydney.


Ps: Thanks guys for your book recommendations, there's a long list to read through over the coming months which I'm super happy about.

Sydney Festival : Waste Not by Song Dong

Two weekends ago, based on a friend's recommendation, I decided to pop by Carriageworks - an art centre situated in the old rail yards near Redfern Station. It has been housing a few exhibitions as part of the Sydney Festival, with one particular installation generating a bit of a buzz.

Chinese artist Song Dong's Waste Not project covers much of the open space of the art centre. It is a touching installation that came about following the death of his father. His mother as part of her mourning developed clinical hoarding to fill the void left by his father. Song Dong thought of another way to allow his mother sort through all her possessions whilst overcoming her grief. He told her of his plan to make "art" from her items, hence she became the artist and he, the assistant. This gave her a space to reminisce and put her memories in order, bringing her much happiness and a new start. Until her death in 2009, she would chat to visitors that came to see the project, answering their questions and telling them stories of her family.

Walking through the exhibition, I can imagine Song Dong and his mum sorting the items together and how glad Song Dong must have felt to be able to provide his mum with a purpose and outlet to share stories about her past and their family.

Waste Not will remain open to public until March 17. So if you have time to spare, do head to Carriageworks for a peek.

Travel Recaps: Buenos Aires

When I first planned my sojourn around the world, I wanted a stop in South America. Had to fight tooth and nail to put one of its cities on the map due to friends' opposition and concerns of our inability to speak Spanish. But I so glad I managed to pay Buenos Aires a visit. It is a charming and colourful city. I remember leaving Sydney at 11am on a Sunday and arriving at Buenos Aires at 10am on the same day. We were jet-lagged and tired having unable to sleep on the plane and once we got out of customs, we found ourselves in the midst of the crowds.  Before we could get our bearings straight, people were yelling Spanish at us and trying to get us to take one of their cars into town. We turned to look at each another and smiled. We were hyped for an adventure and boy did we get one.

Here are my top 5 things to do in Buenos Aires:

1. Visit Plaza de Mayo. Casa Rosa (red building on the pic), Metropolitan Cathedral and other historical buildings are all situated around the plaza and nearby. Also pay a visit to Avenida 9 de Julio, which is the widest street in Americas with its 22 lanes.

2. La Relecota Cemetery. Please put this on the top of your list. Magnificent, gorgeous cemetery. I bet you are thinking why would I visit a cemetery? You have to visit it to believe it (refer to the pics at the bottom). This large cemetery has around 4690 vaults which sit above the ground, containing past Argentinean presidents, prominent families, Eva Peron and others. The cemetery is laid out in blocks like a mini town with trees lining side by side the walkways. Eerily beautiful.

3. San Telmo.  The oldest neighbourhood of Buenos Aires. Beautiful old colonial buildings lined its streets. Cafes, small shops and grocers populate this cobble stoned area. The main attraction is its Sunday Market where locals and tourists come to visit stalls selling crafts, antiques, paintings etc. I bought most of my souvenirs here. If you are lucky, tango performances are also on show.

4. Eat meat. Yes. Eat lots of it. Argentina prides itself on its meat, specifically beef. Til this day, I still reminisce about the most delicious steak I have ever eaten in my life... so far. It is said that because their cows are raised on vast grasslands and hence grassfed - apparently uncommon elsewhere in the world, which makes their meat oh-so-good. Thinking about my meals in Buenos Aires is making me hungry.

5. Palermo. A trendy, quiet district. So if you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city, this is where I would recommend. Here you will find designer boutiques and trendy cafes/restaurants. It's also famous for its pretty parks.

Travel Recaps: Jiufen, Taiwan

Jiufen has to be my favourite place in Taiwan. It's a small, picturesque town situated up in the mountains and near the coast. Catch the 1062 bus from Zhongxiao Fuxing train station in Taipei (thank you bloggers) and you will pass through winding, hilly roads and witness a different side of Taiwan. Small shops and teahouses filled the intricate, narrow streets. Some offering stunning views of the Pacific Ocean. Thus it comes as no surprise that it is an extremely popular town. The locals and overseas visitors flock towards it in big tour buses. It's partially because of Studio Ghibli's award-winning animated movie, Sprited Away, which was said to have been based on the town. Having spent two nights there, I believe the best time to visit is in the evening when the crowds have dispersed and the lights gradually come on. Find yourself a good spot facing the ocean in one of the teahouses and watch the sun set. A perfect way to end your day.

Snapshots #5 - Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone had a great Christmas and to those who are having a break from work, have lots of fun on my behalf. It has been painful for me to wake up on the early morning of the 27th after two days of celebrations/partying with family and friends. I, unfortunately, had to go to work. It was extremely depressing but at least the trains were quiet.

As per tradition, we gather at home and had our little Christmas Eve celebration (if you count 9 people as a small party). After stuffing ourselves with food, we proceeded to spend the rest of the night playing board games. Who knew Harry Potter board games could cause such a ruckus on the living room floor? Before long, the clock struck 12 and its arrival saw the floor covered with torn wrapping paper and ribbons. Christmas day was basically the same. Just lots more food. As a result I'm still suffering from the after effects of overeating. I might have made a pact with mum to be a vegetarian for a month. But give me a week and I will miss meat again.

Do you celebrate Christmas? If so, do you have your own Christmas tradition?

Cooks River

Taken from my phone, therefore format & sizing is a bit funny.

With the scorching hot temperature announcing the arrival of Summer (although it has gotten a bit chilly today), it was the perfect time to re-start my exercise schedule. Winter has made me lazy and flabby. Last summer, I took swimming lessons which I enjoyed tremendously. I was planning to sign up for it again but sadly I forgot to enroll before the cut off date for the term. Hence I was tossing up between signing up for Pilates or joining the gym when my friend asked if I would like to join her for a jog at Cooks River. I thought why not. I'm glad I said yes. It's a beautiful park surrounded by native plants and green vegetation. Along the pathway surrounding the river, I saw kids running around. One adorable girl with balloons in her hand. Games of cricket being played. Dog walkers and joggers sharing the walkway. Toddlers feeding ducks. Couples playing tennis. It's easy to see why it's such a popular suburban park. My friend and I spent most of the time walking (and chatting) than we did jogging. To make up for our slacking off, we made plans to make this a weekly 'event'. So bye bye gym membership, I have found my perfect exercise regimen.

Travel Recaps: Washington

If you see a recurring motif of a beanie in the pics - that's yours truly.

Epic. That's how I would describe my trip to Washington last March. It was hectic, stressful but oh-so-exciting. We embarked on a road trip (more like a "coach" trip) through 5 state lines. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and Washington. All in one weekend. It was a mad idea but it turned out to be great decision.

Washington DC is a place I would love to revisit. We gasped at every turn. Looked at each other and screamed because it felt like we were in a movie set. Especially this friend who had just seen National Treasure on the previous flight - he re-watched it later that night. But what got me super excited was the visit to the Smithsonian National Air and Space museum. I was like a kid in a candy store, on the verge of hyperventilating because of the planes and models. I had to be dragged off after skipping National Museum of American History to spend the whole day in the air and space museum (Who cares about the most famous diamond in the world, Hope diamond? I prefer planes any day).

Do you like museums? Or find them boring?