Just if I could

Nothing has been going right ever since Friday.

Things can really go from wrong to wrong - bad to worse - even on the sunniest weekend.

When ladders trip over you after a toolbox before that and a hammer before that and yet another black cat before that, what can you do?

Go from strong to strong.

Get back on your feet, curse your wheels of fortune (for the day) and stomp away in the most flashy way. For you know, you will never end up at the end of that pile of ladder, toolbox, hammer and black cat again!

Whenever things go bad and emotions take over my sanity - I long to find an old tree, see a lollypop-coloured spiral at its bark and jump in.

Hopefully, I'll travel through something akin the tube of a toothpaste and finally plop onto a soft mass of purple coloured moss.

I'll be brave and curious enough wander off on my own and along the way meet with various funny characters.

Maybe a smiling dog with shiny eyes and a long striped bushy tail.

Perhaps a joke-cracking sunflower that falls asleep every 2 minutes.

Or fishes wearing reflective construction worker uniforms guiding the traffic.

Oh and beautiful little fairies the size of earrings sitting on my ear whispering sweet nothings into my ear.

I would be so happy cause I would forget about reality.

This world I am in

I just came back from the movie AVATAR and now I want to be a Na'vi (the blue aliens on planet Pandora).

Like most of you know, I have a thing for:

~ beautiful, out-of-this-world (literally) mythical landscape like Macalania in Final Fantasy X. (Vid 1)
~ monsters and fairies as friends like Moogles, Chocobos, Chopper!
~ stories about bonds and trust so strong that it overtook a doomed situation, like the countless tear-jerking victories in One Piece.(Vid 2)
~ heroism not in the form of muscles only but faith in friends and belief in oneself, oh and maybe magic powers and crazy skill, like Lionheart, anyone?(Vid 3)







Again, like most of you know, I can get really into the 'world':

~ Almost at the end of Crisis Core, I did not want to finish it up for I know Zack will . . . and then Aerith will. . . . and Cloud will. . . . (Vid 4)
~ I get the urge to take up sword-fighting everytime I watch the Kenshin OVAs.
~ I went out of the cinema just now telling Ray to walk further away cause I hated humans and claimed myself to be a Na'vi.



There was this phrase which Jack Sully (the lead character in Avatar) said which went along the line of, "It is like I wake up from that dream into reality but after a while, I don't know which is the reality for me anymore".

Funny enough, without the hi-tech machines or any enabling technologies right now, I can relate to what he is talking about.

Maybe I am a bit of a cuckoo or just too imaginative. In simple terms, maybe my head is always just up there in the clouds where castles are built on clouds.

Some morning I wake up feeling like laughing the whole day and calling up my nakama (Luffy-Day).

Some nights I turn up my music and sing like I am onstage with 200000 screaming fans below me (Teru Day).

Sometimes before I fall asleep, I imagine being swooped off the ground and hearing words of confession (of love) (Peter Petrelli Day).

Some showers sessions, I imagine myself being revived by the running water much like the scene in Macalania (Tidus & Yuna Day).

The latest example?

That very last 39C day (hot day), I bought the brightest coloured chilled juice from Coles Express and halfway through drinking it, I realised - hey, this is like drinking potion!*Ding* (Final Fantasy Day)

Ahh, I love this brain of mine.

My period love to travel

I am Loretta's Period.

Being a big part of Loretta's life, we are like soul sisters, BFFs since her awkward puberty years. You know what I love doing most with Loretta?

:-) Travelling with her.

To see new places. To experience new culture :-)

Our first travel experience together was to the Sports Centre of Sandakan. Not exactly travel, you said? Well, what if I tell you that it was her first time there? See, first time for the both of us. A very important memory.

Then there was this time she left for KL and I almost did not make it. But, with my determination, I managed to arrive just to 'meet' her at the airport and join in for the rest of the family holiday. It feels good to be partof the family.

Call me whatever you like but I had never been overseas before, so when Loretta was going to Japan and Korea years ago, I went berserk. This was a tricky one. The itinerary was to fly from Sandakan to KK (1 night) before flying from KK to KL then to Seoul, Korea (3 nights) and finally from Seoul, Korea to Japan (5 nights). Gosh. I can only be present for almost 5 days and I wanted to see all these places. Loretta must have been dismayed when I did not greet her at Sandakan Airport. Little did she know that, her dear ol' friend Me was going to appear with a statement in her hotel in KK, thus successfully seeing both Korea and Japan with her.

(Taken from www.travel-destination-pictures.com)

But of course there are downs as well, due to Mother Nature's miscalculation or my own impatience sometimes. I so wanted to see Bangkok with her but I must have messed up the dates and ended up lazing with her right at home the few days before she left for Bangkok. In the end, due to again my perseverence, I was able to see the airport in Bangkok. But I could have gone swimming with the dolphins with her, you know! Isn't that a miss? They say that is one of the things you have to do before you die, or menopause for my case!

I love how Loretta goes around Aussie so often - the road trips, the interstate trips - I have been and loved all of them!

Hey but don't see me as a mere leecher, I go through tough times with her too. The intense exam periods, stressful events like proms and her L'Oreal Competition, exhausting marathons. And I know she appreciates me being there. Yes, I do.

Oh, wait. The reason I decided to for the first time talk to all of you through Loretta's blog is: I just arrived today and I am so excited. Loretta is going to Tokyo, Japan next month and on the 23rd of November she will be going to the hot springs. *Beams* Guess what is the date for today!!!

Guys, I have a strong feeling I am going to the hot springs next month. Another item crossed out from my list of things to do before menopause.

XOXO

The Travelling Period

Bizarre Canberra Trip

I went to Canberra to have my passport renewed on Thursday. Cause I rejoiced over my tickets to Japan only to find out that my passport was gonna expire in 5 months' time.

What I expected to be a boring long day trip to Canberra turned out to be a strangely whimsical ride.

Train to Southern Cross Station. Last thing I saw was Hughesdale Station and the next blink it was Southern Cross Station.

Skybus to the airport. Again, I was nodding to sleep, memory of the ride similar to the flickers of old films played.

Airplane to Canberra. My body defied all the usual spoilt demands for food, water or entertainment opting to sleep all the way. The flight was a bit turbulent. At one point, it seemed like the whole airplane was engulfed into a grey blob of angry clouds. But I was too tired to panic.

Taxi to the High Commission of Malaysia. It was freaking expensive for a 15 minute ride. Went into the office in a daze. The office was filled with Malaysian chatter. Nasi lemak, lah's, mah's, walau's, uncles in golf pants. It felt in a way familiar. Submitted my application. Took a set of passport pictures with me looking like a candidate in amaid agency. Was told to pick up at 3pm.

It was only 10.40 am. 4 hours of boredom and possible death from boredom?

Is there anything else interesting around this place, I asked. No, they replied.
Are there any places to eat around here, I asked. No, they replied.
How is the weather like out there, I asked. Rain, they replied.

Do you want to go to the city for lunch with me,a lady asked. Yes please yes, I replied.

BMW ride. Yes, in a turn of luck, I got to ride around town in a BMW 530i. Catching not only lunch, but coffee and great company. Befriended some Malaysian Melburnians and back to the office to collect our passports. All of us looked ugly in the shots, apparently although no one was willing to share.

Walked around the city looking for a cab while talking about property investment, family and career. Everyone is having a 2009 filled with change and surprises, it seemed.

Taxi to Canberra airport. Flight at 7.20 pm but it was only 4 pm and no I was not allowed to catch the earlier flight. Why oh why did I purchase the cheap tickets which did not allow me that flexibility? *Pretty obvious why huh?*

Read in the book shop, sudoku-ed, read some magazines, listened to my MP3 player. Finally it was time for boarding.

Airplane back to Melbourne. Another lapse of sleep. Not much memory here.

Skybus back to Southern Cross Station. Woke up in time to hear the driver saying . . "This used to be called Spencer Street Station. . " before sleeping off again.

Train back to Huntingdale Station with WenJi. Talked about life, girls, family until we were forced to come down at Caulfield Station to take some service bus back to Oakleigh Station. The horde of people from the train into one tiny bus?

Bus 900 back to Huntingdale. Took almost 30 minutes plus almost missing out stop thinking someone else must have rang the bell.

Back home and showered.

Woke up with a ringing headache the next day and fever in the afternoon. What an adventure. I feel like Alice, in the Wonderland. Oh make it Alice in Resident Evil. Umm mm.

Shiro shrinks!

The core of every human is 'evil'. Why?

Almost 70% of my friends said Shiro was uber-cute the first time they saw him. And it was always followed up by, "I wonder what it will look like when it is wet!"

Does seeing fluffy-cute Shiro shrink into a skinny hot-dog make you that happy????

Well then your wish is granted!

We gave Shiro his first shower last Sunday.

It started out with some wholesome love (petting and brushing) and games (tickling).

Then Shiro was introduced to more games, Water Games. It eagerly followed Ray into the laundry room where the sink became his private bathtub.

One last look of 'Uh-oh I'm in trouble'.

One very last look of 'Save me'.

Now are you ready to see the REAL Shiro????

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Ta-da! Wishes granted?

Evilness.

Luckily Shiro has angels as owners *ahem* (Although I did say, "Dai sei. Not cute anymore, don't want you anymore."), so we started drying him up asap. . . .

. . . and laughed at his 'wet' look a bit.

This was lovingly brought to you by, Shiro.

Well to tell you the truth, we took a video. Erm, actually WenJi took a video of me and Ray drying Shiro with a hair dryer. But it is a super-fail video. Instead of a Shiro video, it became a Loretta-Ray-WenJi's-reflection-on-the-mirror video. And it was taken upside-down.

Bah!

The BIG BANG Theory

Some clips from my current favourite show hee haha.

My computer

Today marks the revival of my laptop and the day I start taking care of it with nothing but good old wholesome love.

Computers are likes century old mysteries to me.

What is going through their minds? Well, electricity.
What is in its body? Well, all sorts of electrical components.
What is it doing? Well, doing whatever I want it to do.

Put them together.

How do I make a computer do whatever I want it to with mere electricity running through some funny electrical components?

Magic. It is like I control electricity, making it do miracles.

Like, publishing this post.

*click and voila*

Nuffnang Coles Group & Myer: How Do You Turn $10 into $100?

When I saw that Nuffnang was having a shopping competition, I was instantly attracted.

When I saw that the competition was associated with The Coles Group & Myer, I immediately joined.

When I saw the $10 Gift Card in my mailbox a few days later, I was suddenly . . . at Chadstone Shopping Center. Strange.

I am talking about the Nuffnang Coles Group and Myer: How do you turn $10 into $100 competition. There are two challenges in this competition:

1: To spend the money most creatively

2: To spend the money most frugally

Not very hard tasks considering both Coles and Myer are always crazy on quality, value and selection. In more specific terms, surprising sale prices, endless varieties of brands and satisfied customers.

After thinking for some time I decided to spend this $10 on someone else - to put a smile someone's face.

With my family being back in Malaysia, I owe a lot of people birthday presents. Seeing how this list just keeps on growing and tired of empty promises like "Your birthday present will be sent to you soon!" to cousins as young as 2 years old, I was convinced this competition was a wake-up call for me to start shopping for people other than myself.

Determined and motivated, I started looking at my shopping list:

1) Shiro's birthday

Shiro, my Japanese Spitz, turned 1 year old (in dog years) last Friday. Instead of 'Happy Birthday Shiro', the day started with "No pee-pee on floor Shirooooo!". Instead of a happy trip to the pet store, Shiro was traumatised by a giant Alaskan Malamute. Poor birthday boy.

Given the "No pee-pee on floor Shiroooo!" incident in the morning, this was hugely tempting.

Or maybe I should buy 5 cans of this tough-looking dog food and turn Shiro into the next giant Alaskan Malamute!

2) Grandma's birthday

Grandma is a chocoholic. Trust me, for someone who always complains about not being able to see well, the last time she visited me in Melbourne, she said, "Is that the Cadbury building oooooooover there?" when the building was as big as a grain of rice and "Wow, that building looks like a huge chunk of chocolate in a gold wrapper" at the sight of Eureka Tower.



Go for variety?

Go for her favourite?


Go for her good ol' friend Cadbury since it is on sale . . .


. . . oh gosh, Cadbury's brothers are all on sale. Decisions decisions.

I decided to stroll to Myer for a brainstorm before making my final decision. Many people assume that Myer offers only expensive items given the presentation of their stores, the poshly dressed mannequins and the sparkling cosmetic parlours. But let me in on a secret, I once bought Mother's Day presents for my Mum and two aunties of mine at the expenditure of less than $27. To me, shopping in Myer is like a treasure hunt. There are surprising deals everywhere.

3) Sister's birthday

My sister is becoming a fashionista. She even started a blogshop with some friends two weeks ago. My sister is also very demanding. She loves attention from me and would sulk whenever I give her presents like say, an eraser. I never liked how her wardrobe is always dominated by black. So I found a perfect top for her . . .


. . . at the perfect price for me!

4) Aunt Fun's birthday

It has been ages since I have met her. She is a woman of huge earrings, chunky necklaces and animal prints. She also cooks the meanest Chinese dishes and brings out the glutton in me, every single time. As I am typing this post, I am thinking of her Deep Fried Prawns mmmm.


An amazing Miss Shop bag with snake print which looks $100.

5) Cousin Ivy

This cousin of mine loves everything shiny, sparkly and glittery. She even called herself 'Bling Bling Ivy' at one point. She just turned 17 two weeks ago (it means that I just used another
"Your birthday present will be sent to you soon!" two weeks ago!). The last time she visited me in Melbourne, she wanted to get a new pencil case. A pencil case or a cosmetic case, since someone's definitely growing into a fine young lady.


Look at the happy price :-)

6) Iris's birthday present

Iris is a childhood friend of mine. The nicest and girly-est girl ever. It was her birthday two weeks ago and I was not able to be there to celebrate with her sigh. I saw the prettiest necklace ever which made me immediately think, "Iris" :-)



7) Mum's present

Mum has gone through trauma after trauma lately. Being not an animal person, she was surprised with my "I just got a puppy over here in Melbourne, Mum!" and later further surprised with Dad and my sister's "We just got a puppy at our home, Mum!". She deserves a present. Being a pyjama person, she will be delighted if she sees this. I'll attach a card saying, "The material is as soft as Shiro".




8) Dad's present

My Dad loves wearing shorts at home as he hates feeling hot and sweats like there is no tomorrow. The weather in Malaysia is torturing him, apparently. What is more perfect than a matching pair of pyjama shorts for him? Yeah yeah, I know I got it from the ladies department but hey, with the right size and in a cool shade of black, who care if it was in polka dots. My Dad can be cute too!



9) Raymond's present

As a thank you to the man who has stuck with me through thick and thin (my thighs), the bad economy, disastrous hairstyles, frustration-laden days and everything in life. As a thank you to the man with visible signs of dryness around his lips.

This is perfect as it doesn't look like a lipstick (nothing threatening his image) and it has a fruity taste (subdues his craving for sweet stuffs).

10) YiMa's (Aunt) birthday

My YiMa is an advocate of beauty. She can sit in front of her vanity dresser for an hour-long of toning, moisturising ang massaging. She loves cosmetics, skincare, aromatherapy . . . anything nicely packaged and smells nice and promises results for her skin. I found the perfect gift for her. Despite having about 3 different kinds of shower gels and exfoliating creams, she has never had anything as fun as Butter Bath Fizzers!

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Look at all the amazing under $10 deals I found in Myer and Coles. Ah, isn't life amazing?

Look at the important decision of who to spend it on I have to make. Oh, no.

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In the end, I went back home with the Disposable Mats, a pack of Chicken Mini Treats and a can of Real Chicken - all for Shiro! Well well well, the Disposable Mats were a necessity to properly toilet train Shiro. Oh, the treats are necessary to help Shiro learn new tricks so that I can post more videos here. And and and. . . Shiro is just so-o-o-o-o cute.

But believe me, it was a very close call as everyone is equally. Really.

It would be great to win that $100 from this competition so that I can make every single one of you on my list happy and me less guilty for this TOUGH decision I had no choice but to make. And publish here.

Should any of you still feel unhappy with my decision, please:

1) Pray that I win the $100. (Yay!)

2) Stare at this adorable picture of Shiro learning to walk on a leash with the help of the treats I bought!

The CORE of 2009

Ah, spring is coming and summer is next. Time for my annual resolution to go into motion again; if not in action/ outcome, let it be in the mind/ imagination.

I want to develop my abs and strengthen my core!

(If you trace back to my posts around this time for the past few years, chances are you are going to see this statement everywhere.)

The very first time I realised the existence of flabbiness/tummy-ness was during Primary 5/6. I was undressing to shower when I suddenly felt all heavy and weird around my waist. One look to the mirror, the thought dawned upon me for the first time, "Wah, I have a tou-lam."

This thought used to be very-much foreign to me before that historical moment, ya know. I used to be extremely skinny. I did not like sharks fin soup, egg yolks, duck, lamb, chocolates, onions, spring onions, water chestnuts, pizza toppings, etc. So, my Mum, outta wits, resorted to a Chinese-herbal supplement which made me - hungry, drowsy, hungry, drowsy, hungry, drowsy. And finally FAT.

And ever since this angelic deed of my beloved Mum, I have never had a living moment without a flabby tummy (living moment since on several occasions I have seen myself with washboard abs, surfing, in my dreams). So much so that I began to think it was abnormal to have flat abs.

Until the time I attended the Army Camp during From 5 (I think??) and roomed with 6 other girls my age. Wah, everyone had such tiny waists and flat tummies. And I remember one of the girls saying (I was never close to her lor), "Wah, Ah Lo, you are quite fat around your waist!" I was embarassed but so what, I laughed ah.

Then several years went by when I began to convince myself again that flat abs are abnormal. Especially having gone through the horrid winter weight gain during my first year in Australia and feeling absolutely fine or unaware about that!

And so I met Glyniss, Jing, Chloe, Donna and Siau Man for our L'Oreal Cash Your Dreams Project. They looked really fit and it was not a surprise - when we met up to talk at One Utama. They has flat abs and it was a shock to my system - when they heated up the runway during the finals night.

Shit, flat abs really does exist. Living, breathing, toned and sexy just inches away from me.

Miss Lo, pushing 23. Must. Get. Flat. Abs. 2009.

The reason why I never achieve the abs of fortune?

I suck at core exercise. Instead of my abs, my lower back hurts. I bend my neck and strain my back instead. My mind wander off to the warmth of sunshine and hot surfer dudes . . . and a Me with washboard abs in a tropical bikini.

Snap. Then back to reality. Aiyak. Back pain. Sleep. Start again tomorrow.

Snap. Eh Summer is here ady!?

Snap. Winter ending again la. Mmmm, time for my resolution again.

Ok, wipe away all that. This 2009, I am determined! Any good exercise suggestions for the weak-backed that is me?

Possums yuk

The wind is soooooooooooooooooooooooo freaking scary out there!

We saw a possum around the fence. I wonder if it feels cold. Poor thing.

My first encounter with a possum was back in year 2006, my first year here in Australia. Before that, I had no idea possums existed. Or did I? Actually I did, just that I thought they were called 'possimps'. Bad childhood education pfffft.

For the benefit of those of you who have never seen a possum before, here is a picture of it:

I remember being really AWARE of its existence around the Halls of Residence in Monash, my place of residence back then, only when a possum entered and got trapped in one of the hallways. Everyone was really excited and I was too! Until I saw it. Omg, a large 'rat'.

Ever since then, I have avoided all chances of encountering possums. I don't hate them. I just try ..to...avoid.

Chitra was telling me that when she stayed in the Halls, she would open the window to see a possum, which she even named, looking back at her. I cannot imagine having to live through that fear. Er, I mean fear of intrusion of privacy ahem.

I have been told that possums are notorious like underland gangs! They approach and follow you. They can get aggressive.

More importantly, they look like rats! Shit, I can't imagine I posted that picture up. That is the closest anything on my blog can look in comparison to a rat I promise! I yelp at the thought of not only rats, the mere conjunction of its image sends 10000 volt shivers down my spine!

There was this one time when I visited Glyniss's blog, happily since it was new year, to see the picture of a big black rat! . . . . It was to welcome the Rat Year apparently. You are supposed to put cuter and cartoonish images of rats!! Okay, I don't like the word 'rat', I mean 'mice'!!!

Despite possums looking like the giant-version of rats, it seems like my fear towards the puny little rats are still bigger.

Just like an elephant, being afraid of mice. I need to lose some weight T.T

Aging through my Life Plan

Has your age been bugging you lately?

I was reading an article forecasting that by year 2015, the market for biomarkers would prosper. This led me to think that, "2015 is so near!" in an excited way. Which in turn, led me to realize that, "Shit, 2015 sees me turning 29!" in a horrified-excited way.

Then I was looking at pictures of my youngest cousin whom I have met once right after her birth early 2008. By the time she finishes high school at age 17, I will be 39. Holy moly.

And of course this reminded me of the request my little cousin, Keely, has for me in the middle of a buffet dinner during the last Chinese New Year, "Jie, when are you going to give birth to a baby girl for me to play with?". What?

Finally, what came out of my own mouth the other day," . . . I am already 23 now . . . what? I am just 22, ain't I?!". I am not keeping tab of my own age anymore! Crap!

Everything seems like concrete evidence pointing towads the fact that age is catching up on me.

Never have the words "I AM AGING" been that bright-neon-ly shown in my inner self. *chill, zen zen. . . "

Being a biology student, I perfectly know about the aging process even to the cellular level. But now that I am the observational subject: it is fuiyoh-not-so-funny anymore.

Wrinkles. Age related illnesses. White hair. Slow metabolism. Saggy boobs. Aunty-fashion. Grandma hairstyle. Bad eyesight. No fried or oily food. Medical check-ups.

Actually what is worth more to think about is not what is inevitable in the future, but in fact - what I am right now.

I used to have this timeline for my own life, which I clearly remember telling Iris during a sleepoever at my place when we were both happy high-schoolers.

• Age 17: Complete high school. (Check!)
• Age 21: Complete tertiary studies. (Check!)
• Age 22: Get a job. (Boo!)
• Age 23: Get a boyfriend [deadline]. (Double check!)
• Age 26: Ready to get married [after at least 5 years in a relationship].
• Age30: Have kids [deadline].

Phew. Simple as that.

Back then, of course. Life can never be as simplified as that. Let's review the points:

The Point at Age 17 and Age 21 are realistic, well actually foolproof. After all, everyone graduates high school by 17 (provided you weren't dropped out) and tertiary studies are on average 4 years long (provided you did not fail one too many subjects).

The Point at Age 22, to get a job, is more complicated. My definition of a 'job' back then was a visual image of me at an office desk with another group of female colleagues, getting a paycheck every month for the rest of my life. Now, I would like to amend this point.

Age 22: To start my career. Having gone through university, found something I am passionate about and faced the harsh economy of today, a 'career' is definitely what I want. Instead of a mere visual image, I know what I want to do and I know it is hard to break through the walls. Nevertheless, it is worth chasing a dream if I only live once. And I am working hard at it now, hopefully I get to tick this before I turn 23 sigh.

The Point at Age 23. The so-called deadline to get a boyfriend. Well, this was very necessary last time as I was a hybrid of nerd+geek+antisocial+hermit. (Not that this is not very necessary right now, but I landed a lottery so it is a Double Check!)

The Point at Age 26 serves as a tentative date. Again, back then, back then! After I was told that my Mum got married at age 26, I thought that would be the perfect standard for me as well. Why? Cause my Mum managed to pop out two beautiful daughters by age 30 which leads to . . .

The Point at Age 30! See the beauty of my old plan?

*Ahem* Again, back then. The Point at Age 26 is now a Point at Age 27 (I think, more like I feel, haha). I must say I am influenced by Amy's Perfect 27 Theory. According to this theory, she envisions herself achieving her set of goals and living independently by age 27. Hence the Perfect 27. Say, if your dream is to have 7 kids then your Perfect 27 would see you having 7 kids! Simple as that.

Phew. Life.

But like I said, things never really go according to plan, do they?

Or am I the only one here with a freaky plan like that?

Look look, I cut my hair!

I made this silly resolution way back in February as soon as I touched down in Melbourne: "I will not cut my hair until I land a stable job."


6 months on, after the rollercoaster ride that is life, here I am feeling . . .

. . . liberated.

Yes, . . . I chopped off all my locks . . .

. . . . tinted it red. . .

. . . ruffled and messed it up. . .

. . I feel like a Rock Star now! XD

P/S: I did not go through any major trauma causing me to do this. Just felt like I was in a slump for a while and it was time for some rejuvenation?

P/P/S: I thought I might regret not having hair to play with but honestly, I love this style to bits now and can't stop messing around with it!

P/P/P/S: Changes always excite me!

An invitation to Lindt Cafe

Dear readers,

I have just relived the most chocolicious moment of my life. Never have I imagined that the choco-dream I had in Sydney last year would come all the way to Melbourne, and soon enough to Chadstone.

This love affair started since November 2008. While on Sydney soil, we were pushed relentlessly by Miss Glyniss to visit this little cafe no matter how impossibly busy or short our trip was. Being a good friend, of course, I agreed to do so. Being the ever glutton, of course, Mr Tan agreed to do so as well. (Over Hurricane ribs, mind you)

Hence, the fateful meeting with Lindt Cafe.

And the strong bond of 'happiness' (read my T-shirt) between Lindt, Me and Mr Tan.

The Saturday two weeks ago, Mr Tan suggested for all of us to go pay a respectful visit to the Lindt Cafe here in Melbourne. It did not take much persuading or spreading of the news. For some reasons, everyone as excited. The Chocoholics, the non-Chocoholics.

Lindt Cafe here is situated at 271 Collins Street, right next to Tiffany&Co. Chocolates and diamonds are a girl's best friends, mm-mm.

All choco-goodness has a price (in addition to the literal price), so we waited in line for a good 30+ minutes before being seated. Mostly, due to our large group of 7. But we were given free Lindt chocolate squares while waiting in line!

The setting of Lindt Cafe is amazing. Bright white walls. Extensive glass panels. A mini library when you look up. Chandeliers. Did I mention Tiffany&Co being next door?

Let me introduce the stars of the day:

The cakes were impeccable. To a certified-Chocoholic like me, the burst of chocolate-yness, the richness of the accompaniments like caramel and cheese, and the layers of different texture or colour in the cake - made my day a smiley happy lucky day.

But, my all time favourite - one which made me a picky Chocolate-drinker - is: The Iced Dark Chocolate.

The first sip I took, I thought, "I missed you." With a tear in my left eye.

It is great when you go with friends cause you can order more and try more of the variety they have there.

Better still, if they are girlfriends, whom you can spend the time gossipping with.

Given the beautiful setting, one could almost always snap a magazine-cover worthy picture there. As seen below.

When the truth is, there were cakes and drinks and choco-crazy customers all around you!

A date with Lindt Cafe, a date with great company and beautiful chocolates.

So excited and crazy am I over this little gem of a store that (I mean Lindt, not Tiffany&Co with no intentions of hinting whatsoever cough cough) I think everyone should go in for a slice of chocolate heaven.

So to any readers out there who:

Are in Melbourne and need some chocolatey-company;
Will be visiting Melbourne and need some chocolatey-memory;
Just wants to be chocolatey-crazy;

You know who to call. I am absolutely happy to.

Sincerely,
Loretta

You have to love DigiCams.

I think Digital Cameras may be one of the best inventions ever this century.



All the shots below would be in the "Waste 'fui-lim' (film)" category should digital cameras not exist. [Exact words are quoted from my Sibuga Grandma in hakka: Sai 'fui-lim'!]





Camwhoring would be impossible without wasting 80% of the fui-lim.

Photos with no faces would be a waste of fui-lim! And don't even start on photos of food!

Pictures of socks, is more waste fui-lim than photos of food.

Upside down photos of 'toothless' moments are not fui-lim worthy.

Two big, squashed faces - fui-lim expensive okay?

Photos with your idol - in the cardboard form - will not be allowed.

Random moments of explosive laughter would normally be passed just in case it turns out bad or blurry or pointless - most importantly, waste of fui-lim.

Picture of your Grandma transforming into a super dumpling with half of your aunt will be given the same 'fui-lim' sentence.

Photos without a visible face even if it was a work of nature will make you a 'fui-lim' criminal as well.

No one would want to take pictures like this, what more print out and save up 4 versions of it.

Precious moments will be harder to capture with the "Did I get it?","Stop her from moving!" and "Don't waste fui-lim!" struggles!

Monkeying around with cameras will be frowned upon ("Waste money waste fui-lim!") rather than snickered upon ("So funny, here also wanna take picture").

A picture of stopping other from taking your picture will not be funny ("Look at your face, it is so cute!") but be expensive ("You wasted one picture, pay the fui-lim cost please").

There will be less pictures showing your real-connection with friends as the days of fui-lims have always seen them used for group pictures where everyone wore their Colgate smile and stood straight.

Pictures like this will be inserted into the family photo album with reluctance ("What were you doing? Fui-lim no need money?") instead of being saved into the computer and published on a blog with joy("Damn Godzilla you").

Pictures which continues to mean nothing would not be stored in my computer for more than 3 years!

Magic moments like this will be so hard to capture or you will not know about it until you get the pictures printed or you will not be able to laugh about it until you get it printed and shared with everyone!

Sleeping pictures, with thumbs in it somemore, will be the highest 'fui-lim' crime!

Close up pictures, especially with 'weird' expressions, will draw instant frowns and then, cold hard stares from others.

Pictures where there is an imbalance of readiness will generate mixed feelings of gladness ("I look prettier than her, yes!!") and annoyance ("Waste my fui-lim only, can't she just stop eating for like 2 seconds?"). When digital, you can either request it to be deleted or chances are, you are so used to this pictures you laugh as soon as you see it.

Pictures of irrelevant objects like cardboards in a foreign country will be a big, big mistake. After all fui-lims are limited and should be used wisely. Reasons like 'the girl in the cardboard in Bangkok looking 100% like your sister' will not help.

Funny pictures of people stoning or unready will not be so funny if they were the ones who bought the fui-lim.

Artistic pictures will be extremely limited no matter how much you want to emulate Jay Chou.

The ones being pictured hold a responsibility too! You don't want to spoil a picture and waste some fui-lim by doing something stupid ON YOUR OWN. Unless it is a group thing!

Random hair moments will have to be memorized instead of immortalized in pictures. One, the person might react fast enough to stop you (not really applicable here, as you see, the person in this picture was basking in the limelight). Two, it is a waste of fui-lim.

And picture like this will be - a death sentence. Funny, but deadly.

Let us all scream this now:

Thanks for all the stupid memories - Digicams! Muaks.