Christmas Krispy Kremes!

After waiting for 30 mins for the Agnes b VIP staff sale with Dida, got to the door and she said "opps, i think i left the second half of the ticket in my other bag"
We asked the ladies at the door if we could go in without the other half of the ticket,but we couldn't buy, so whats the point? We turned around and left. It was pretty embarressing and the people that were lining up behind us looked at us with questioning looks.."why are these 2 girls leaving after lining up for so long?"
Anyways.. we decided to hit CWB, window shop and perhaps start buying some xmas pressies!

Stopped by Krispy Kremes...I haven't had them for soo long. They were yummy!

Disneyland Hotel - HK

A collegues wedding at Disneyland Hotel. Feels like i've left Hong Kong and gone to another country. The air was so crisp and fresh.

A special dinner

I finally found a place in Hong Kong that does mussells. Frites in Central. Mussell pots very similar to the ones at Belgium Beer Cafe at the Rocks. They don't have as much variety (only 4 choices), and they don't have blue cheese, but it definitely satisfies my mussell fix.

This is lime, lemongrass, coconut and chilli mussells

This is a fantastic deep fried Camembert cheese. Absolutely yummy!! It's a must try!

And having it with a special friend, over laughter, chats and white wine just topped it off!

Christmas decorations at TST

Being my first Christmas in Hong Kong, it's pretty obvious i'm going to snap away and capture the lovely pretty Christmas decorations everywhere I go!! =)

Here are a few to share with the guys that arn't here.

Life is so precious

I cannot stress how precious life is. I feel a knife stab into my heart when I hear stories about people committing suicide. Why do people not appreciate life. There are so many people in this world, who would do anything to keep their lives, but can't because of certain accidents & illnesses.

I have heard yesterday, one of my brothers high school friends committed suicide. He is only 21 years old. He was good friends with my brother and was in both English and Maths class together. He left on the gas fumes in the car, closed all the windows and died in the car. His funeral is tomorrow. It's indeed very sad, I don't understand why people can think so negatively and do something like this to end their life in this world. Of course, nothing is perfect. It's what you make of it. There's no 100% happiness in life. If there's no ups and downs, how do you know what's good compared to the bad?

I just wish that people think very carefully before making decisions like this. It hurts your family and friends and other people that know you.

Counting down

5 more weeks till Christmas. 7 more weeks till Jan 2008.
It's the time of the year again where I sit down and reflect what I have accomplished and what I have done this "fast going by" year.

- Got a new job, promotion and relocated to Hong Kong
- After many questions I posed to our "non chinese" clients who some are over 50 years old and have lived in HK for 20+ years, and have raised their childrens in HK, who can't speak, read or write chinese, if they can do, why can't I ?
- Learned to be more independent, did things I've never had to do, eg. change the toilet seat, buy my own furniture (only to realise the importance of measuring before buying), change the shower hose and build my own kiddy stools from Ikea (which turned out unsuccessful anyways!!)
- Lived on my own for the first time in...xx years!
- Had my patience level for rude and arrogant people tested many many times
- Learnt to look, ignore, forget and move on (esp at people who go "AH HEM" and spit..gross!)
- Met many new friends, but have also realised even more how precious my existing friends are and super grateful for their continuous support throughout this year
- Have a gorgeous god daughter who is absolutely adorable
- Bought a Japanese Spitz - his name is "big white" now - translated to chinese
- Learnt not to trust people so easily. People are not as nice as they may come across
- Realised how materialistic and fake Hong Kong people can be
- Living in HK compared to Sydney is so much cheaper, eating-wise, transport-wise and perhaps shopping wise! hehehe =)
- Became very appreciative of MSN, email and Facebook!

Approaching winter

It's starting to get cold in HK now. I love the smell of freshly dried stir fried chestnuts and hot sweet potato every morning.

So many nice boots and jackets out there ~ WAY tooooo much shopping... =)

Q-Pot 07 Winter Collection

more info: http://hk.myblog.yahoo.com/tee_blog

Eason Concert !!

My first concert in HK!! YAYA !!! Eason was soooo GOOOOD !!! Despite thinking about the exam I have 2 days later, I had a fantastic time!!!

Another friend visit

Girly chats can never be too much. It does not end in simply a couple of hours. Especially when it's a close great friend that you haven't seen for what seems a very long time! MSN is just not the same. You can never fill each other in on as much detail as when you chat face to face.

One of my dear friends Jen came to Hong Kong from Sydney and yesterday I spent a day of eating and shopping with her. 10 hours of chatting, filling each other on each others lives. It seems like we have been through so much together in the last 8 years. Uni & shopping days, our graduation, families and relationships. We know each other quite well. We know when the other person is on a topic, on the verge of tears & know when to stop. We know each other so well that we know whatever we say, is the best for each other.

We didn't get to chat as much as we did yesterday when I went back to Sydney. I'm so glad that she will be here in HK for a month. Friends here are not the same as friends back in Sydney. There's just simply no comparison.

my adorable Latte

Funny enough, i realised my dog has MANY names. On his microchip, he was named Little White - for those who are chinese, please translate that to chinese. My brother named him that as he refused to call him Latte. As for my mum, i am not quite sure what she calls him. I just realised he has another name Timtim?
I've decided i'm going to call him what I wanted to call him in the beginning - Latte. I wonder if he will come to me if I call him that when I go home. The poor dog.. he must be very confused =(

Anything BUT...

Can I please please please do anything BUT study...
I am very tired....
I am very unmotivated...
very very very......

My first hairy crab meal

I've always heard about how great hairy crabs are. From my mum, my brother & friends. I've never been fortunate enough to be in Hong Kong during hairy crab season. Apparently only from October to the first 2 weeks of November when they are in season. Obviously, this year i'm here for it!!

Hairy Crabs posing for my pic!

Cooked..

And this is my crab!! Thank goodness Vicky was there to each me how to open it up and telling me what parts I can and can't eat! Suprisingly, it was not as messy as I expected. It was YUMMMMM !!!

Our set dinner table with other yummy dishes!!

My cousin Vicky who joined us =)

Thank you to Kali who organised a hairy crab eating gathering. It was so yummy and thank you for booking the clubhouse so we can all fit & all cook together.

Heartless Hong Kong people

I've thought about this for a long time and now I've decided is the time to put my feelings to words.

Seeing rude chinese people drive me insane. I whince when I think of them. I get angry and fustrated. Stepping on people without apologising. Pushing right in front of you when you are waiting for the MTR when clearly, you are standing so close to the door that unless you are "pushed" other people cannot get any closer than you. Picking their nose right in front of you and holding onto the MTR pole.

Once in a blue moon, I'll feel someone push me or step on me and say "sorry" but when I look to see who this polite person it, it's definitely no a local chinese person.

Yesterday, I was utterly surpised to see a scene that I often see on TV. Someone from their house, some high levels up poured some dirty water down the street. One poor girl was walking past, with her handbag, shopping bag, got soaked with dirty water. What kind of horrible person will do that? Can they not pour the dirty water in the toilet or down the drain? Why do they need to pour it down the street? This is totally ridiculous. Makes me wonder what goes through peoples mind when they do things like that.

Yes, I am chinese. No I am not racist, however, I'm proud NOT be a local HK'er.
Hong Kong will "never" be called my home. I will always just be a visitor, a working visitor getting mad at the heartless things that HK people do.

I am not labelling. I'm sure there are people with heart in HK and DO NOT do things like that.

Catch up session

Another friend from Sydney is here in Hong Kong for good. I've lost count now of how many friends have come by to HK. And more that is coming back. Jen will be here next week and Alice will be here sooooon too !!

I remember sitting and chatting and having similar conversations that I had today with J but with my gf's in Feb 07. He's still adapting and getting use to the HK environment. Being in HK for 2 weeks, still dividing everything by an exchange rate of 6.9 (now 7!!!), and I still do that now! Just laughing and talking about how cheap a milk tea and "afternoon tea" was and how cheap a taxi rides are and just general living in HK. We both agreed that we HAVE TO stop this "conversion thinking". We're earning honkie dollars now... no longer earning aussie dollars!

We started off shopping in Causeway Bay, cheese shopping at City Super and then heading to LKF for drinks. Having a D & M chat for 5 hours non-stop over white wine was something I haven't done in HK in a very a long time =)

LKF was packed, even when we got there at 6pm. They had a Californian Carnival. It was sooo crowded. I can imagine it just being like this on Christmas Eve or New Years Eve!!!

My lovely family ~

A very nice Aunty facebooked this pic to me just to make me really really jealous!!!



How I wish I was in that photo toooooo ~

Life Complications

As we get older, our lives seem to get more complicated. We have alot more issues to consider such as our families, friends, careers, money and relationships. Things are not as simple as they were when we were still running around in the playground and playing on the see-saw. I wish things could be written out, things could be simple.

I've learnt that there really is only so much you can consider. I've learnt that we need to live life freely and to be as happy as possible. But how can I be happy when I am thinking of you and wishing that you are by my side, watching, supporting me and correcting my decisions. Friends opinions are never ever as valuable as yours. There are so many things that you have once said to me that I realised you are right. You have always thought of the best for me and tried to guide me in the right direction. My stubborness has taken me the opposite direction.

Experiencing and seeing what I have seen in the last 4 years tells me you are right. Your feelings towards certain people, your judgements, your opinons and your reasonings. They are all right. How is wish you were here, right this minute to guide me again.

Lust.Caution

This is a brilliant movie. For someone who can't stand listening to mandarin, which 99% of this movie is spoken in mandarin, for 2.5 hours, it's brilliant. Go to see see la ~

Rarest of the rare!

I have many Leo friends who's birthday surround mine.

I have people whom I know that share the same birthday as me, such as my direct cousin and my best friends baby.

I have not yet met anyone who shares the same DAY, MONTH & YEAR as me.

Yesterday I have. This is Peter!! Finally got to meet him - actually this is the second time I've met him. (I didn't know he was the one last time I met him)

Born on the same DAY, MONTH, YEAR as me, born in Hong Kong too!!



Many many thanks for Kali for introducing us!!

www.mysweetheartfood.com

Steam egg pudding with Spirulina - apparently really nice for the skin and makes you look years younger!

Mango Pancake

Ice cream with dumplings with black sesame inside

This is a very yummy Ferrero Rocher Souffle - highly recommended!!

The 2 black banana's are BBQ banana's.. very yummy with the ice cream.


Please note: I did not eat all these on my own! hehehe =)

Interested ? go to www.sweetheartfood.com

More memories

I can't believe that we are already nearing the end of September. Time is going by so quickly and it's reaching 7 months that I've been in HK. I can no longer call myself a newbie. I have to be honest. I am adjusting. I am starting to enjoy it just a little more than I did before.

Seeing the new winter fashions of nice long coats and the sexy winter boots make me feel very excited. I often wonder whether HK will be that cold that I'll need to wear those mega wolley jackets. I was told HK wasn't even cold enough to wear a leather jacket. This will be my first Autumn, winter in HK. I've managed to get through my first summer in HK. I have to say - it's not too bad.

This year will be my first mid-autumn festival in HK. Seeing people at work start buying lanterns for their little kids, lights and decorations on the streets, the colourful butterflies, the beautiful flowers and the traditional big lanterns.

My memories of playing with lanterns lie back home in Sydney 1990. I remember choosing a bright pink butterfly lantern, my brother, a blue car lantern. On a full moon night glowing into our backyard in Haberfield, my dad placed candles inside our lanterns and we played for hours, listening to stories about the rabbit in the moon.

I walked past the markets in Central today, seeing the lanterns for sale and realised that now they have the ones that have lights in them. I wasn't suprised. There was a clitch on the handle to turn the light on and off. There's no need to worry about the weather on the night, no need to worry about whether it was raining or too windy and no need to take 5 second steps to ensure the candle doesn't blow out. I still like the candle lanterns though. It brings me back memories of the days that Dad, Mum, Mike and I were sitting in the backyard, under the moonlight, the four of us happy & smiling and telling stories.

Black Sheep Exhibition

Carrie Chau website: www.wunyingcollection.com

a belated b'day presssieeeee...

Can you notice the STRAWBERRIES, MANGOES, MARSHMELLOW & CUPCAKE ?? It's HANDMADE by DeeDeeeee.

Thanks Deeeee =) Love it sooo much !!!! xxoo

A belated New Year resolution

Since 2003, one of my New Years Resolution which is always top on my list is to do a Detox for 15 days. This year, because of my move from Sydney to HK, it's been delayed. I'm finally doing it. Today, I went to get my de-caf coffees, soy milk, cereal, brown rice and veges ready for my 15 days of not being able to drink my normal milo breakfast, my daily intake of choc and junk foods, my wonton noodles & BBQ pork rice lunches.. and the list goes on...



To be prepared of not being able to eat my favourite foods for the next 15 days, my cousin and I rewarded ourselves with this little pink piggy - note the date!! hehehe

Procrastinating again...

I've been back in HK and back to work for 4 days. Getting back into my old routine and "attempting" & "trying" to study for my exam next Tuesday. My first FP licence exam in HK. I've been procrastinating. I only have 4 more days to study and MC's are my weakness. Starting to feel the pressure now...

My Sydney Trip 23/8 to 2/9 - 2007

Unfortunately back home, I couldn't logon to blogger to update my blog.
However, I've finally managed to post pics up on my MSN SPACE & Facebook.

Overall, I had a fantastic time back home. I caught up with as many friends as I could. I do apologise for those who I didn't have time to see. My schedule was so tight and 9 days back in Sydney is definitely not enough.

This is what happened in the 9 days back home (cut short):

1. Had my fav Banana bread @ Gloria Jeans x 3
2. Had my fav carrot cake from Muffin Break x 2
3. Thanks to Brian who organised a very welcoming steamboat@his house! Thanks Alice, Alice Jai, Jon, Polly & Andrew for all helping out and making the night so much fun and memoriable! Pictionary was so much fun!
4. Had a delicious dinner at Westin Hotel, Martin Place with W.
5. Had many mother-daughter shopping, yumcha, coffee, dinner and chats! This is something I miss ever so much!
6. Spent time with my 7 week old pup - Fluffy. I gave him his first bath and now he's toilet trained!!!
7. Spent time with K and Penny x 5. Was so happy to be able to be part of Penny's 1 month birthday dinner and catching up with K and learning the life of motherhood.
8. Had my favourite baked pork chop with corn and cheese sauce in Chatswood x 3 - Bumped into some unexpected friends there too!
9. Went to Cha for Tea for drinks with Elaine & Alex
10. Had a nice sister - brother lunch at Makoto with Mike.
11. Had 2 x 4 hour session chats with S. Can't believe how long we chatted for. The only place we could find open at 11pm that wasn't too far for both of us was North Ryde RSL, which closed at 2am. Then we felt hungry and made our way to Harry's for after mid - night snack! Didn't get to Harry's till 2.30am - had a cheese dog with mash and peas and gravy.. mm... unforgettable!
12. Another night - had a sudden Macca's craving at 2am at home. Managed to convince Mike to go drive thru. Only to realise that the drive thru was closed - so wearing our PJ's, we hurried in and out of Pennant Hill Macccas. Lucky I didn't bump into anyone.. hehee
I had 5 nuggets, half a packet of large fries and an apple pie and Mike had a large McChicken Meal and 5 nuggets! Arn't we pigs?? hehehee =)
13. More lunch visiting people @ work and more dinners & drinks.
14. Third last night dinner with Brian & crew @ Amo Ramo at The Rocks followed by dessert at Harbourside Kitchen@Park Hyatt where I had a yummy sticky date pudding with fudge ice cream.
15. Second last day - went yumcha with my mum at Eastwood, then did some shopping at CBD, went to the Cupcake shop @ Pitt Street to bring some over to K's place for afternoon tea & dinner at Crowsnest with Uncle & Aunty Wong.
16. ... waking up at 4.30am to get to the airport with my lovely mum & bro to send me off.

As you can see, my whole trip consisted of eating, drinks, eating, more drinks and more drinks after! It was great catching up with everyone and coming back home after being away for so long. It was soo warm. It felt so much like home. Even though it was FREEZING COLD!! Getting back into my car felt abit weird at first, but it definitely didn't take me long to adjust.

I enjoyed sitting at home on my lounge, just staring into space and loving how spacious my house was. How big my kitchen is. My bedroom. My bathroom. Being away makes me realise even more how much I appreciate my home, my family and my dear friends.

No.. I didn't want to come back. Yes, I am homesick. Sydney will always be home.

But hopefully it won't be long till i'm back again!

CLICK HERE TO VIEW MY PICS

6 months in HK already

Time has gone by so quickly and I've already been in Hong Kong for 6 months. It seriously doesn't feel like 6 months - actually yes it does. Sometimes it feels like i've been here a long time and i'm dying for the day that I can come back to sydney, and sometimes it feels like yesterday when I was saying goodbye to my family and closest friends.

In another week - YES!! Offically one week from today, I'll be flying back to Sydney, for 9 days!

Am I excited? Of cos i'm excited.

Am I stressed? Of cos i'm stressed. My workload has just hit rocket roof - I had my first time OT - staying till 7.55pm last night.

I feel so tired.
I feel so exhausted.
I feel I need a break.

I'm really looking forward to meeting my family & friends and my new little addition to the family - Milky!!

My new puppy!!!

@ Cherrybrook!!!

Pup number 2 is MINE!!!

Isn't he just adorable?

Wish I can hurry back to see my new puppy!

Food Party

Went to Kwai Hing yesterday for the first time and spent the day/night at my friends house. We had a food party at her house.

This is a fried "lam yu" chicken

Crab & scallaps

This is a yummy homemade fish and papaya soup!! It was soooo creamy white and soo sweet.

And this yummy ice cream pizza is a belated birthday cake for the 3 LEO's that were there! =)

My first TYPHOON 8 experience in HK

At around lunchtime, typhoon signal 3 was hoisted. By 2pm - signal 8 was hoisted.
Pack our bags and home time!!! YAY! NOT !!

Can you imagine the number of people in the MTRs? All offices in central shut down. All employees rushing to go home at the same time. Mega rush hour traffic jams! and with big winds, rain, people holding umbrella's poking each other, not a great experience.

MTR stations only limiting 20 people in at a time - people lining up for trams and buses. Squished and wet.

Tropical Cyclone Warning Bulletin Issued at 15:45 HKT
TC Warning TC Position & Track TC Warning for Shipping
TROPICAL CYCLONE BULLETIN
HERE IS THE LATEST TROPICAL CYCLONE WARNING ISSUED BY THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY.

THE NO. 8 SOUTHWEST GALE OR STORM SIGNAL IS IN FORCE.

THIS MEANS THAT WINDS WITH MEAN SPEEDS OF 63 KILOMETRES PER HOUR OR MORE ARE EXPECTED FROM THE SOUTHWEST QUARTER.

AT 4 P.M., TROPICAL STORM PABUK WAS CENTRED ABOUT 30 KILOMETRES WEST-NORTHWEST OF THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY (NEAR 22.4 DEGREES NORTH 113.9 DEGREES EAST) AND IS FORECAST TO MOVE NORTHEAST AT ABOUT 8 KILOMETRES PER HOUR ACROSS THE WESTERN PART OF HONG KONG.

TROPICAL STORM PABUK IS CROSSING THE WESTERN PART OF THE TERRITORY. THE ASSOCIATED RAINBANDS CONTINUE TO BRING HEAVY RAIN AND SQUALLS TO MANY PART OF THE TERRITORIES.

(PRECAUTIONARY ANNOUNCEMENTS WITH NO. 8 SIGNAL)

(1) COMPLETE ALL PRECAUTIONS IN YOUR HOME. LOCK ALL WINDOWS AND DOORS, FIT BARS INTO POSITION AND INSERT REINFORCED SHUTTERS AND GATES IF THEY ARE AVAILABLE. ADHESIVE TAPE FIXED TO LARGE WINDOW-PANES IN EXPOSED POSITIONS WILL REDUCE DAMAGE BY BROKEN GLASS. STORM WATER DRAINS SHOULD BE CLEARED OF LEAVES AND RUBBISH.

(2) PARK YOUR CAR WHERE IT IS LEAST LIKELY TO BE DAMAGED.

(3) DO NOT STAND NEAR WINDOWS ON THE EXPOSED SIDE OF YOUR HOME. MOVE ALL FURNITURE AND VALUABLES AWAY FROM THESE AREAS. MAKE SURE YOU HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO SHELTER, SHOULD WINDOWS BE BROKEN.

(4) SINCE SEAS ARE VERY ROUGH, YOU ARE ADVISED TO STAY AWAY FROM THE SHORELINE AND NOT TO ENGAGE IN WATER SPORTS.

(5) PLEASE LISTEN TO YOUR RADIO OR WATCH YOUR TV FOR THE LATEST WEATHER INFORMATION BROADCAST AT THE 15TH, 30TH, 45TH AND 58TH MINUTE OF EACH HOUR. YOU CAN ALSO BROWSE THE HONG KONG OBSERVATORY'S WEB SITE FOR THE INFORMATION.

The good thing is - Had to wake up at 5am to go to the airport and then head in to work. Now I am home, I can take an arvo nap!!!

More rain to come... more info on the cyclone visit the Hong Kong Observatory website.

Piggy baby year!

Speaking to my cousin in London yesterday, he shared the news that his wife was 20 weeks pregnant. I'm so happy for them!! Since their last visit in Sydney, I've always felt it was time for them to have a baby. The sad thing is - they are planning to give birth and stay in London. They always told me if they ever decide to have a baby, they will go back to Sydney. Circumstances have changed. After going to my other cousins baby's 1 month dinner, and the birth of baby Penelope, and some other friends with their second child to come, it seems very obvious that this must be a great year or a popular year for babies. Or must it be, I am at the age where all my friends are just having babies! heheheeee

All you girls out there,so so happy seeing lots of Golden Piggies! hehehe =)