Category: photologs
Queensland: The Sunshine State
Adelaide: The Good Life
Because my time there was limited, there’s only so much we can see. My intention of this short trip was mainly to catch up with Jun, and then do some sightseeing. I’d say it’s a pretty successful trip given that we had so much time to catch up – over meals, while walking the dog to the dog park, the drive to the little quaint German town called Hahndorf, the time spent at Glenelg beach. Come to think of it, this is the longest amount of time we’ve spent with each other since we graduated from high school! And so, when we weren’t busy catching up, eating or drinking hot chocolate (or having ice cream lol), below are some pics we took over the 3 days that I was there.
At The Loose Caboose where it’s a restored railway station-turned-cafe that serves good breakfast/brunch and coffee.
I don’t remember what this is called, but it’s delish!
This, I think is called the caboose cakes- potato croquettes with some mayonnaise drizzles and cabbage on top. It’s really good too, but I’d prefer it without the mayo.
Somewhere in Hahndorf the German town there were two little cute bears having their tea, oblivious to the world around them. That’s just awesome.
It’s a beautiful day out- perfect for Birkenstock clogs shopping and fudge-shopping. π
Had a craving for ice cream there, but managed to suppress it. Win. Yes.
Glenelg beach, which reminded me of my days in Santa Monica, LA.
All smiles, because it’s good to be alive and have great friends.
Same time, same place as the pic above, but a different view.
This was the real reason we were all smiles earlier- the anticipation of hot choc and ice cream!
Lol jk. We are grateful for being alive.
And yes I gave in to my cravings after all. No regrets though.
Had dessert before dinner. That’s the right way to do it people.
This girl played so beautifully I couldn’t resist but sat there the whole time until she’s done.
Location- The Malls Balls at Rundle Street.
This is NiΓ±o saying bye to me, and vice versa.
Melbourne – Part 4
This pic is way better than the pic I took of the dome in Melbourne Central.
Bestie has a good eye for photography. π
Last winter market at Vic Market.
Enough chilli chicken to feed a village in Africa.
We live in a world of (over)abundance, don’t you think. I do hope they finished selling every bit of it, or it’s going to waste. While other people are starving and dying of hunger elsewhere…
This one’s pretty! Looked tasty too, but I’ve had my share of food, and on the 5th day of my vacation I know better than to overeat. π
Baby octopi (or octopuses?)! One of my many favs π
I’d come back to try more of their food too, at Hardware Societe.
The portion is a little too huge for my liking, but it’s scrumpilicious! :))
On one of the nights bestie and I went for a live jazz performance at The Commune Cafe.
Fem Belling was the vocalist, together with the band called John Montesante Quintet (JMQ).
Awesome performance, great food and wine too. Definitely worth the trip- we got all wet on our way there due to the heavy rain and strong winds that evening. But it’s okay because even my soaked cold feet enjoyed every bit of the night. Easily the best night of my time there. :))
St Kilda beach. Couldn’t take my eyes off the people kitesurfing there.
All I could think of was “I wanna do that too… someday”.
Probably the best pizza I’ve ever had in my life.. so far. π My last night in Melbourne and bestie brought me to this Papa Gino’s, a family-owned Italian restaurant they’ve been going for a long time now. Everything I tried there was delicious, I can see why my friends keep going back there. π
Melbourne – Part 3
Melbourne – Part 2
As someone who grew up in a city, I feel at ease with huge crowd around me. I like being surrounded by the hustle and bustle (most of the time, with exceptions), but only just enough so I can get lost in the city and wrap myself up in my own thoughts, and not too much that it might overwhelm me. The lights, the trams’ bells, the street performances, the quirky fashion, the cafes sprinkled all over the city. They stimulate my senses, in a good way. Here I spent my time walking around, stopping to breathe and feel the drizzle on my cheek; I’d let all of me soak in everything that I see, feel, hear, smell, touch. The city’s tempo is fast, you can tell by the average speed of people walking on the streets, but it’s not as fast as those in New York City. You won’t get the irritated grunts whenever you slow down. People are very expressive too. Every day that I was there I saw people with Gothic makeup and eccentric clothes, which initially led me to think that there was some theme party or festival that I didn’t read about in the visitor’s guide, but later on I realized it’s just who they are. In my wildly imaginative mind though, I was almost convinced that there’s a whole group of them, part of Addam’s family or something, that congregates every evening at some secret place, and we’re just not privy to it. Boohoo. Not invited cuz we’re not cool enough. >.< At one point I was so curious I almost went up to them, oh I don’t know, for a picture maybe? Or a casual chat, and maybe get an invitation to the secret party. But I was too timid for my own liking, and they just walked on by. I was left alone with my own thoughts. Gah.
One of the things I really enjoyed while I was there was visiting museums. The picture above is of the National Gallery of Victoria- NGV International (they have another one called NGV Australia). I wanted to go back there to check out the exhibition of Catherine The Great’s private collection, but never got the time to do so. As it is, there’s already so much to see in the free sections. It’s a pity I missed it. Ever since we learned about her during one history class I’ve held this fascination about her, wondering what her life was like back in the old Russian days before communism. Must’ve been a heck of a woman to lead the country back when women were expected to just take care of the family and do nothing else. Ah well. Perhaps another day, in another city.
Fed Square seems to be where all the school kids hang out during their lunch break. Either the schools are all very close by, or they have very long breaks. So nice to be students there. They get to go for excursions every day it seems. One day to NGV, another day to ACMI (Australian Centre for the Moving Image), and another to Queen Victoria Markets. Seeing them having so much fun made me slightly envious of their school days.
To be continued…
Melbourne – Part 1
Melbourne, or Australia in general, has always been on my list of places to visit. But I was never really serious about making my way there, mainly because I have friends and relatives there whom I know will always be there so I can go anytime I want and there’ll still be people I know to show me the place they call home. There’s always the next year. Then one day when I found out that my best friend was going to move to Japan, I have this sense of urgency to visit, before she leaves. It’s not that I can’t go when she’s not around, it’s just that to me Melbourne is her place, her territory, and it’d mean so much more to see how this place has shaped her, and what this place means to her. Also, I haven’t really spent more than a few hours each time I see her for the past decade or so, and that too I only get to see her once a year- if I’m lucky. So this trip would be a great time to just catch up and hang out. Thus began my journey to the Land Down Under. π
I spent about a week in Melbourne, of which two days were spent in the country. On our way there we stopped at Mornington Peninsula for lunch at a winery, then headed for Sandy Point for the night. The next morning we went to Wilsons Promontory National Park for a walk/hike, before heading to Philip Island to see the penguins, and back to the city. Some pics below that highlight the best of the two days.
Temples, Shopping and Bonding
November, November
Time freakin’ flies. 2012 swooshed past so quickly I didn’t even realize it’s the beginning of my favorite month tomorrow.
How many new year resolutions have you accomplished as of now?
How many times have you told yourself you’re going to do certain things but never got to it until you eventually forgot about it?
How many times have you been touched by other people’s kindness?
How many times have you touched others by a small act of kindness?
How have you lived your year (life) so far?
A little too early for year-end reflection, but November is a good time to think about it, because you still have time to make up for what you haven’t done.
Pictures of some happenings in November worth remembering-
For Fun
HB to Myself
Labor Day Weekend in Baltimore
ask me now and i’ll tell you i seriously have no recall of how my July and August passed by. the conscious mind of course will tell you it was all work work work. FDA audit at work gave all of us loads of stress but we couldn’t really do “real” work. after the audit is when the real suffering began- we had to catch up with clients’ orders; all the testings were backlogged and everyone worked over time for as much as we’re allowed to. even now, and we’re still sort of behind. not as bad, but still. that is my official excuse of not blogging for the past few months hahaha. but no, really, it was a lot of work, and when i had free time, all i want to do is just sleep. or hang out with friends.
so on labor day weekend, first weekend of September, S invited me to her sis’ house in the east coast and i took it without much thought. i decided i deserved a break from this hectic work-life. it was well worth the trip, for i met the cutest little princess with almond eyes and am forever smitten by her. :))