Ode to a friend

Me:     You'll have my ears
     and I'll have your tears
     I can give you my hands ....


Marie: errr, but I actually want your brain (??)
*too funny LOL 

KK trip

Sometime back in July I chatted with Marie and found out that she was planning to fly back for Holiday to KK then continue with small trip to Melaka and Singapore. After a short chat I decided to make a short trip to her hometown, KK. So.. end of July I packed my brother's backpack and left Mr Chai behind just for four days.

I finally saw Marie's curly hair after around three hours flight with AirAsia - my very first time flying with AirAsia! Love their Asian fried rice and milk tea. We ta pao some satai and chicken wings for dinner from Tanjung Aru and exchange gifts before we sleep.

Note: thanks Rua for the peppermint peckers! Innocents and bastards now could be separated by this white candy...

Second day was kinda all-over-and-about- KK tour. Started with visiting the Tourism Centre, Marie and I took the map and start following the road to Jesselton Hotel, found weird mysterious fruit in Sunday Market, climbed up to see Atkinson Clock Tower, Passed the Australia Place, Sniffing the smell of Central Market and face to face with stuffed dead Frog in Pasar Filipino!
Then Tracy came to picked us up with her PeroDua Myvi car and we officially on wheel! Weeeeeeeeeee...

We drove to Tanjung Aru again and this time spent longer time enough for having ABC ice and Rojak. Having a great time in Heritage Village - jumping in one of the traditional house, visited Sabah Museum, made a quick around at Wisma Tun Mustapha, Had yummy lunch at Hongkong Recipe, Spent some time at Nexus Resort finally had little rest at Tracy's.
At that night I was busy ticking Have-to-see list.

The next day was filled with a long trip to Mount Kinabalu with a quick stop at Jambatan Tamparuli and the local handicraft shop. Too bad the weather was foggy so we fail to see the Mount Kinabalu peak. but still had fun doing the Squirrel path where we took picture with replica of Giant Raflesia and saw a real squirrel.
Visit to Kundasang War Memorial and Gardens gave me a deep feeling remembering not only Australian and British in Borneo but all the people around Asia who died during the Japanese attack in WW2.
We had all Seafood dinner with Tracy that night. She showed us around KK in night time and somehow managed to walk in to Shangrila hotel.

And finally my last day.. As promised Marie took me for some Laksa for Breakfast. That day was a bit like religious trip. We went to two Buddhist temples. In Puh Toh Tze Temple with huge tall Kwan Yin Statue at the main entrance, Marie showed me her grandma's small tomb. And at the second temple is a pagoda for Che Sui Khor Moral Uplifting Society. We climbed up to 7th floor (by stairs - yes! not elevator) to make a sincere pray and wish.
Because of the heavy rain unfortunately we had to cancel the trip to St Michael's Church in Penampang.

With the mysterious fruit in my backpack, Marie and her parents dropped me off at the Airport with wishes that someday they will give me a return visit somewhere in Indonesia.

*I like how blogger give us bigger pictures option like this... I can see the photos clearly now!

Fringe10 - parade night

Well, last day shouldn't be staying at home packing. We decided to end my last night in Adelaide with a bang - or something like that.

Thank God The Fringe Festival was officially opened today. We went to see the parade. To me, the parade was a kind of resume of every festivals and everything that happen in Adelaide. From the Indigenous, Enviro people (eat vegie y'all!), GLBT, youngsters, Emos, Dancers, Geeks, Disable peoples etc. Here are some highlights from the parade. Suprissingly, no Nayima Hassan!! ppffeeewwww....


and here are some photos of the lovely gurls....

Red Pinky day

It's a Confusing day.. Even my mobile screen-saver tend to choose Valentine's day than Chinese New Year. It has floating hearts since morning and no sign at all for fireworks. It needs to know that her owner prefer CNY than Valentine's.

Anyway, Marie+Neil and I went for lunch at House of Pearl. It's a new restaurant just opened a week ago in China Town. Food are alright, we all love Eggplant with garlic and chili! Battered small cubes of Eggplants deep-fried together with lots of minced garlic and chili. It's crunchy but soft inside. I think should be easy to cook this.


Then we went for a walk in the city, dropped by to Garden of Unearthly Delights. Remind me that I should see at least 1 performance before I fly back.

Gong Xi and Happy Valentine's day
XOXO

How to get your bond money back..

Marie tried to fool our landlord by re-painting the wall with poster paint.
Paint mixer: Me

We survived the terror of Adelaide Gaol!

Sometime it's fun to slide in some education into your weekend. Marie and I went to visit the famous Adelaide Gaol on Sunday morning after a bit doubt whether guided tours are still happening in today's 37degree heat.


Our tour guide was Lyn, a nice old lady although I can't stop thinking that she has a slight similarity to Quasimodo. She walked and showed us around the jail, of course told us some unique stories about the buildings, bricks, body waste (ewwww), famous inmates, officers, hangman, some ghosts here and there.

Interesting fact: the last hanged prisoners was Mah Poo, a chinese man who killed his chinese boss over some argument. Everyone gasped when Marie suddenly said 'Oh, he has same family name with me!'
Another interesting thing also happened when Marie bought a souvenir pin for her hat. She accidentally dropped her $2 coin then when she squatted down she found 2 $2 coins! I think our visit to the Gaol was absolutely about Marie!

Walk-ercise

Yes, I am really enjoying unemployed life in Adelaide. I know today is Saturday but it feel the same like any other day now.

Marie and I decided to have some girly-exercise, not shopping but similar... We walked for 2 hours along River Torrens linear park started from Frome road, stop somewhere in the middle for some Angry Angas and we made a turn back at St Peters crossing Crazy wobbly bridge! exactly like one of those scene in Shrek.. and when you think that is not comical enough, we saw 4 sailors and pirates rowing a tiny boat to UniAde...

Last dinner with Wright girls

After my 'Open room' sale today, all 4 of us (+Neil) went for last dinner coz Connie probably wont have time to see us anymore since she is really busy juggling with work, school and finding new place.

All dinner are on Marie! Rarely happen.. but i think she just miss the whole girl-bound-thingy. I know I'll miss them too. When I asked where they would be in a year time.
Connie said she will be in Adelaide just finishing her school and looking for job while waiting for her graduation ceremony.
Shaniece said she will be either in Adelaide or in Melbourne to continue her 2nd year college. Neil said.. where else he will be, Adelaide of course.
And for Marie she will be where Neil will be. so sweet....

Anyway, no time for mellow.. Dinner was at Bombay Bicycle club - Gungadins restaurant near our house. We've been planing to go there since 2 years ago. Exterior was nice, interior even better. But I found that only some areas in the restaurant have "that" atmosphere. I recommend to come here in a small group (2-3 people), then they will take you to smaller room where you can feel that warmth ambience. Big group wont have a nice place except if you book at the centre room in front of the bar.
Food were alright, but Jasmine might be better.

Ca$h converter fans

$30 from 12DVDs and 1 mini mouse! I love cash converter! We will come back next month to sell most of my useless stuff...

Australia Day

Weather was absolutely perfect! This time instead of typical BBQ lunch we went to Victor Harbour to celebrate Australian day. Well, actually not really celebrating, it was more about getting out from the heat at home.
We made some stops on the way. First stop was just a look out where we can see a nice warm golden yellow open field with sea on the back ground. So typical of Australian scenery.
Second stop was a breathtaking water dam. that's probably we were standing quite high above the water dam. I totally forgot the name.
Next was Selwyn's Rocks in Inman Valley. A small glazier rocks which prove that much of South Australian was covered by ice in Permian period. Don't expect a huge impressive rocks here.. it is actually just a small area, but Neil said in winter it was really beautiful. The water level will be a bit higher and all the trees are just lushly green. We had a quick lunch there. Marie's famous tandori chickens and some bread.
After that we reached Victor Harbour. We didn't go to Granite Island as usual but instead we went to the other side of Victor Harbour where we can see from distance a UniAde research boat was floating above the water, I hope they are working...
Neil took us to the end side of the Murray River. He usually come here to take some fishes for his research. It was a nice place, all open, wide quiet river with clear sky. Compare to where I work: small room facing red panel everyday with unpredictable AC above your head. Totally different world. Marie managed to do some yoga here but ended up doing that super hero pose.
On the way back to Adelaide, we passed a bunch of Angus cow. I just knew that these are the famous angry angus from Hungry Jack's. I always thought that Angus is someone's name..
I had a great time and look forward for the Great Ocean Road trip next month!

Joyeux Noel!!

OOhhh.. best lunch ever! Not just because everything was seafood, but lots of things! Xmas lunch this year hosted by Marie and Neil as the BBQ-chef. Start from Abalone soup, Garlic Prawns, Pickled Octopus, Stuffed Squid, BBQ Snapper, Yummy Oysters and Marie's delicious Mussles.

Some peoples are not in this photos but they surely came home with full stomach~~

We even had Tiger Moment! John T-16 months tot- taught us how to swing.

And of course Gift time!! from Rua, Ahmed and Yafa. (I didn't even gave them presents - shame on me!) All the things that I love - except the "very personal" one.. cant even mentioned it here, because it is too personal. Who's hair was that???!!! eeuuwwwwww
But Thank You So Much!!! I feel like I received xmas presents from the whole Adelaide!
Guess what! So coincidence that I have Camilla Morton's first book! Thanks for giving me her second book, I will read it through for year 2010.
Like people say... What has been started can not be stopped. I should go hunting her third book!
Now, I'm officially one of those Legally Blondes chick.. double Yay!! - err.. with dark hair who hates pink, totally blind about fashion brands and pretend that Victoria Beckham was her twin sister!

Freeconomic day - success!

Arrggghhhhhhhhhhh .. Raaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhh... with my hands above my head trying to jump on to Marie after we watched Where the Wild Things Are.. I luv all those furry animals and Max's bathrobe. Wondering if my mum can make one of that for me.

Anyway.. today suppose to be my Freeconomic day. There was a big doubt from myself clearly shown when I told Marie to time me after we get off from the bus. I actually gave myself about 15minutes knowing that we would pass Rundle mall with 25-30% off posters everywhere. But somehow I passed the first one hour by joining the kids to see Christmas Elves Light Display, browsing hat section in David Jones, following Marie looking for compact powder before using free tickets to watch WTWTA at Palace Cinema.

I strongly encourage everyone to do this freeconomic day once in a while.. see how it will bring difference in your life. And for me.. uhmm I think this will be my first and last freeconomic day, unless I life in somekind of "picturesque" village where the sky is always blue with the simpson's clouds, me talking with a cute blue birds on my hands wearing snow-white-like gown in my own mushroom field... yea.. go figure...

Bday dinner

Small but essential!! That's the words I would say about my Bday dinner this year. Only with my housemates and some closest friends.
Definitely crazy about the Bohemian style interior and ladies room of Boho bar. Fun and Fascinating! - even the juggler somehow hypnotized us to fall asleep looking at his magick balls
I think I will have 1 last high tea next year here..


Thanks guys for coming, although some of you were/are not feeling well. I'll make sure WengWeng settles in at his new home in Jakarta.

Lucky Beer hunting - completed...

My first b-day gift this year from Neil and Marie... I'm wondering why they gave me empty bottle? but datzokey!! I HAVE LUCKY BEER BOTTLE!!!!!! yay!!!

SARDI open day

A day full with Seafood!! Not really.. we went to SARDI Aquatic Centre Open Day. Mingle together with kids and their parents also friendly staff. We saw oyster larva under the microscope, different type of fish, lobster (yumm), touching starfish, staring at Abalones etc..
But at the end, I was more interested on the building. Simple and straightforward design of concrete, glass, metal and little bit timber. Still finding out the architect...

Yafa's 1st

Either she grows so fast or time fly so quickly.. from baby bump to tiny tot to cute curly hair girl. Yafa is turning 1 this week.

Great orange party eventho we had gloomy weather. Nice foods and lots of cakes!! Congratulations Ahmed+Rua.. cant believe it's been almost 2 years already since you guys said "we are quiting sushi for the baby". Now.. let's have some sushi next week!! LOL

And yea.. here are some photos of marie,neil and me eating mulberry waiting at wrong gazebo...

Pride March

SOOOO EXCITED to the max!!! Marie and I just joined the crowd in Pride March. Loving all those lovely people and cant wait to see one of their performance next week.
This was even better than Christmas pageant!!


And I just knew that in 2007 SA have new rights for same sex couple. Good on ya, SA!!

BBQ at Neil's

Ok, I think this is Marie's way to say "ok, we are officially official as a couple now..". Shaniece and I were invited to Neil's place for BBQ - of course indoor. too hot for outdoor BBQ.
We love the Lemon pepper fish!!

No photo of the host. camera shy...

Gov's open house

Hot hot hot and steamy hot. It was too hot for early summer in November. But that didn't stop us to have a peek to Governor House this afternoon.
What I like about it was all those nice antique style chairs and sofas. Nice soft coloured fabric - pastel, cream and light blue. Surprisingly most of the chairs were made in small size - I mean tiny and short. I can't imagine how those ladies with big gown dresses could stand up after sitting on that chairs.

RAS 2009

Amazingly I'm still here to see RAS 2009. i thought last year will be my last RAS.

So just to make the visit different with last year, today we came in the morning to see all indoor stuff. My fave is Jenny Gillies Wearable Blooms, too bad not allowed to take any pictures or movies. Oh well.. at least we still can see the pig racing and pig diving!!