I'm back and sassier than evah!

Hello my blog friends! Sorry for the long hiatus but I enjoyed my break too much that even when I went back to work, I honestly felt like I was still on holiday! It's already the second week of the first month of the new year and we are yet to get back to normal working pace.

It's been a blast this past Christmas and New Year. I don't want to bore you guys with the details but it basically involved:

1. Shopping
2. Lots of alcohol
3. Lots of late nights
4. Lots of yummy food
5. Lots of cuddling with the hubby
6. Days and days of not logging into the net

I am now getting back to my gym routine and try to work off all those cheeses (blame Arnie's sister) and wine (can't blame anyone but myself) I gorged myself in.

I am also going to stop with the shopping. All these after Christmas sales is driving me mad and makes me reach for my already empty wallet over and over again! Damn these capitalist maniacs!

How about you people? How was the holidays for you?

Till next time!

Over and out...

I'll be away for a few days. Not going anywhere special, mind you, it's just going to be a rather busy Christmas and New Year for me is all. I'm afraid I won't be able to update for awhile.

Here's just a brief look at what's currently in my social calender:

1. Complete furnishings at house
2. Go to Sassafras
3. Christmas Party at Mum's place
4. Boxing Day party at friends' place
5. Arnie's sister coming down from New South Wales - staying at our place
6. Accompany said sister shopping for probably 3 days
7. New Year's Eve party at my place
8. New Year's day party at my place

This is just a tentative list which I am quite sure I'll add on later during the week.

I'll be taking the whole week off from work and will be back on the 2nd of January wherein a ton of work will be waiting. I have just received my targets and it is rather challenging. I will definitely try and meet it. After all, the monetary incentive is quite promising!

Just in case I don't "see" you guys, thanks for your continued support, for reading and taking an interest in my ho-hum life.

Have a safe Christmas and fantastic New Year!

Relaxing weekend

This past weekend has been very relaxing. Arnie and I went away to a town called Warburton which is along the Yarra Ranges close to best wineries in the state.

We checked into a self-contained cottage called The River Cottage.







The cottage was absolutely beatiful. It was a home away from home. Very inviting with a fire place, a double oval spa, and a kitchen with a well-stocked fridge!


The inviting double spa which Arnie and I thoroughly enjoyed and relaxed in


On the decking


Such a cozy cottage!

I just loved the whole atmosphere. We were surrounded by the beauty of nature and relished our stay.

For afternoon tea, we went to a place called the Patchwork Teahouse. I am a big lover of Devonshire Tea. Arnie and I enjoyed each other's company over a nice cup of tea (him, Earl Grey, and I, English breakfast) and freshly baked scones.


Outside the Teahouse. Friendly atmosphere and friendly staff. Yummy scones too :)

Dinner was a quiet affair. I prepared fresh natural oysters for our entree and Salmon steaks with zucchini for our mains. Arnie and I also shared a nice bottle of Brown Brothers Muscato. It went perfectly well with the fish!



Preparing dinner :)


Cheers!

It was a lovely way to celebrate our anniversary. I hope to do something like this again with the man I love.

It's been a fantastic six years and I am looking forward to spending more beautiful years with him.

Mum on a holiday...

Mum is leaving tonight for a two-week short holiday in Manila. Lucky!

I won't be going. With school and my new job, I just can't find the time to go. It's a pity really, considering I haven't been back for 4 years. Arnie and I were actually thinking about spending Christmas there this year so that he can finally meet my family but no cigar. He started a new job and won't be able to take any leave until after 12 months! It sucks!

Aside from family and friends whom I really want to see and spend time with, there is one other thing that I really, really miss in the Philippines...

FOOD!

As much as the food here in Oz is nothing to sneeze at and the variety is rather extensive, there are specific delicacies and specialties that you can find only in the PI. Here's a list of things I want to pig out on:

Maki. Chinese dish that I always ate in Ongpin. My mum can make it but for some reason cannot completely copy the way this dish is cooked in that small hole in the wall restaurant. The thickness of the soup and the tenderness of the pork is heaven!

Machang. Another Chinese dish from the same Ongpin resto. They do sell something similar here in Melbourne, specifically in Box Hill Centro, but it's not the same. Sticky brown rice with tender pork and chicken, smothered in Chinese hot sauce. Yummy!

Ensaymada. Super melt to be precise! Damn! Why can't Australia allow products with dairy into the country? Argh! Will probably convince mum to stuff a couple into her bra... hahahahaha!

Red Ribbon Brownies. I've already asked my mum to buy me a box! Hehehehe!

Tulya. The most simple of dishes. Pour boiling water on it, let the shells open, drain out the water, drizzle some fish sauce and heaps of calamansi juice. Heaven!

Lansones. Just so happens that my mum is going back in time for the season. Lucky!

Tikoy. Okay, so my Chinese side is screaming. There is tikoy here, but not in the same way the PI sell it. Big, chunky, and cheap! I'll try and get mum to buy me a box... hehehe!

My Lola's fried chicken and Kare-kare. Nothing beats my lola's home cooking. Nothing at all.

Luk Yuen's Halo-Halo Congee. My God, just thinking about this dish is making me very hungry!

Jolibee Palabok and Spaghetti. Hahaha! Miss ko na yung Filipino-style spag :)

Hen Lin's siomai and Samurai balls. Halata bang maller back home akish? :p

Anything Icebergs. Halo-Halo, Parfait, Banana Split, Mais Con Yelo... the memories of people I went with to that little nook in Greenhills is enough to make me smile.

The little Taco stand in Greehills Shopping Center. I don't know if this place still exists, but when I was a young high school student in OBMC my friends and I used to visit this place and pay a measly P15 for a yummy taco treat! I liked mine with heaps of cheese and hot sauce and then guzzle down a large glass of chinese gulaman juice from one of the many stalls that sell it in the center. Yum!

That little carinderia next to DLSU Gokongwei building. Fellow LaSallians, you probably remember their Sisig? OMG! Sarap!

Saisaki. Probably not the best Japanese restaurant around, but where else can you get eat-all-you-can buffet including California Maki for a measly $10? And instead of putting Avocado like how they serve it in Oz, it's PI Mangoes! Yum!

Auntie Anne's. Bakit wala nito sa Oz? Isn't this an International Franchise? I miss their pretzels!

Balut and Taho. Being sold in the streets, sometimes directly to your home. Yummy!

It's a wonder I'm not terribly obese considering how much I love my food.

Oh well mum, i-kain mo na lang ako.

Ingats sa biyahe.

PS. Pardon the "taglish" delivery of my post. Considering I am not a big fan of this method, I really shouldn't use it. I do not plan to make a habit of this, it's just that I'm feeling rather lazy today. Have a great weekend!

My Gold Coast holiday part 3

The last day of my holiday was by far the most exciting and the most fun I have had. Arnie and I started the day off again with a hearty breakfast. This time, he was the only one who went for a swim before breakfast since I wanted to sleep in a bit.

We dressed quite lightly. I had my bathers underneath my clothes while Arnie brought his in a light carry bag. We were both quite looking forward to swimming later in the afternoon. So, off we went on the bus and headed off to Seaworld.

It was surprisingly close to Surfers Paradise. It was right along the water, next to the famed Palazzo Versace, close to the Mirage Marina, and the famous Sea World Nara Resort.

Check out the pictures below and enjoy.


Outside Seaworld


Checking out the penguins


A real life "Sirenia" otherwise known as a Dugong


At Shark Bay


Arnie at awe with the huge Bull Shark


Cool but icky looking Manta Rays lazing about under the sun


Cute polar bear enjoying some chicken


Outside Dolphin Cove


Arnie and I waiting for the Dolphin show to start


Cutie!


"We're flippin' little dolphins!"


Taken at the seal show titled "Quest for the Golden Seal"


Cute and smart creatures, seals...


After all the attractions, it's time to cool off :)


Fell in love with the Dugong that I had to get me one of these :)

The whole trip was fun. Arnie and I enjoyed it so much. We can't wait to go back. As a matter of fact, we have plans of going back for our 6th year anniversary in September! Can't wait!

Next: back to our regular programme...

My Gold Coast holiday part 2

February 8, 2006

Woke up from a rather non-relaxing sleep. My head was still bothering me from the flight the day before (I know, pathetic to have jetlag considering it was only about a 2 hour flight) and it was so humid.

Arnie was already up and about by 7:00. The curtains didn't block out the sunlight much. I woke up to the smell of bacon, toast, eggs, and English Breakfast tea (my fave).


Still wanted to sleep, but Arnie kept on bugging me to get up!


I don't have a habit of eating breakfast, unless someone else cooked it :p

The day was still hot, but much more tolerable. The sky was nice and blue compared to the day before. After breakfast, we headed to the pool and spa for a quick dip.


Nice sunny day.


Nice bubbles!

Arnie and I had a very busy itinerary for the day. After cleaning up, showering, and changing to decent clothes, we took a bus and headed to Dreamworld. We spent close to 5 hours in the place and had an absolute blast. We went to the rides, took heaps of pictures, played with some of the animals, and checked out Nickelodeon town as well (the child in me was just screaming). Here are some pictures.


Outside Dreamworld.


Heading off to the Big Brother house.


Outside Miner Ride.


Wanted for being a Horse Thief!


Strapped for being too cute :p


Furry, cuddly, and cute! (not Arnie :p)


Can't get enough of this cutie!!!


Check out the white Bengal Tiger!


First time I have ever touched a kangaroo!


Sponge Bob! Sponge Bob! Squarepants!!!

It was a fantastic yet tiring trip. We went back to our apartment around 3 pm and headed off to the supermarket to shop for dinner. We ended up having steak, salad, and potato wedges. After resting and watching the news, I talked Arnie into taking me to this place that we spotted the night before and have been dying to go since I first laid my eyes on it.


Whoever thought the Restaurant at the End of the Universe was just a short plane trip away from home?


In front of the teleportation pad that will take us to the Restaurant.


The most famous drink in the universe. The Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster!

Arnie and I didn't try the drink. For one thing, the mix was feral - it is a three layer drink composing of Ouzo, Southern Comfort, Contreau, and other things. I wasn't feeling particularly keen to get plastered on alcohol. The Restaurant's theme was, obviously, space. It adjoins a space themed attraction Spacewalker. There were humanoid aliens (hah!), entertaining us with their scripted lines when they serve us like referring to the drink menu as "human re-hydration menus". It was a corker. Arnie and I ended up ordering coffee - too be specific, I had a Meteor Mocha and Arnie had a Lunar Latte. We also shared a Delta Wing Cruiser Crepe. Arnie and I made a mental note that we will have a full meal there and visit Spacewalker next time we're in town.

Next: Seaworld!

My Gold Coast holiday part 1

It has been 5 years since I was last strolling along the malls and the beaches of the Gold Coast, Queensland. Back then, I have just arrived in the country - barely 3 months - and tried to look for a job that had something to do with my Japanese language credentials. That whole month ended up like a holiday for me since I didn't find anything, work wise, but I did do a lot exploring and of course, shopping!

So, when Arnie and I planned our holiday back in October right after our engagement party, I was very excited. I was actually going with someone this time. What also makes this extra special is the fact that this is our first holiday together. We booked our flights with Virgin Blue, a cheaper alternative to Qantas but with excellent service. It only cost us $222.00 per person instead of what Qantas was asking for which was $410 per person. I first booked a hotel room at the Islander Resort Hotel for a measly $90.00 a night, but changed my mind only a couple of weeks before our flight. I found a self-contained apartment for $92.00 a night at the Cosmopolitan Apartments which is situated right in the heart of Surfers Paradise, one of the more popular destinations within the Gold Coast.

February 7, Tuesday

We were on our merry way. The flight was only an hour and 50 minutes long, and Queensland was not on daylight savings time so we virtually gained an extra hour when we got there around 12:40 pm. The flight was uneventful to say the least, except for my usual motion sickness. I had to purchase some anti-nausea tablets the day before! I have booked our airport transfer shuttle bus in advance ($54 return) and we arrived at our apartment around 1:30 pm. This annoyed me a bit since Surfers Paradise is only 20 kilometers from Coolangatta airport but since we had to drop every Tom, Dick, and Harry in front of their hotels, it took much longer than expected.

We finally got to our apartment, all hot, sweaty, and hungry - bad combination. As soon as we landed in the airport and stepped out into the tarmac, Arnie and I felt the huge difference weather-wise. It was so humid and muggy in Queensland. We were both not happy with the weather (reminded us very much of Manila) and we both hoped that it wouldn't be the same the next day when we go to Dreamworld, one of the few theme parks situated in the Gold Coast.

Before heading off to grab some eats, we took a few photos of the view out in the balcony of the apartment. We were pretty lucky to get an apartment on the 10th floor, with ocean viewws, and airconditioning. Apparently only half of the apartments in the building have airconditioning, which is a total disaster if it gets too hot!



Out in the balcony of our apartment before heading off to grab some eats and explore



The view outside our apartment. It just rained so it was cloudy and humid.


Our apartment is right across from the Hard Rock Cafe. I have hunted down a few vouchers available on the internet which entitled us to a free main meal for every one purchased. We rushed down, crossed the street, and was welcomed by the cool interior of Hard Rock cafe.



Taken from our balcony - "Love All Serve All"



Pigging out on burgers, onion rings, and chips. Yummy, greasy food!


After our very late lunch, the shops beckoned (of course, it's not a holiday without shopping!) and we went to the shops along Caville, Orchid, and Elkhorn Avenue.



Welcome to Surfers Paradise! Along the beach.



Surfers at night.



So many shops, so little time!


The great thing about staying in a self-contained apartment is that we had the freedom ofshopping for food we wanted to cook and eat and not limit ourselves to the not-so-great restaurants surrounding Surfers Paradise. Unfortunately, most of the good restaurants are situated in other suburbs and since we didn't hire a car we were stuck. So anyway, we went to the local supermarket (Woolworths) and shopped for breakfast items, sandwiches, meat, and Baskin Robbins Macadamia nut ice cream. Summer just isn't complete if one is not pigging out on a tub of scrumptious ice cream.



Ice cream, you scream, we all scream... Agrh!!!



View at night. Just beautiful!


Thus ends our first day in the coast. What fun!

Next: Our visit to Dreamworld.