New Years eve

Just before it hit nye, I ran in my pjs out into the street (LOTS OF SNOW) to my nearest Starbucks serving cafe to get a nice hot drink. What I didn't realise was that I still had my damp towel from my shower wrapped on my head.

Biggest lol moment of my life.

But anyway, I got my drink, my hair is almost dry, and I've got access to good wifi for my nightly dose of Pinterest and Facebook.

Happy New Year's Eve, friends. Party hard into 2013 :)

I'm supposed to celebrate with 2 friends finishing exchange, but I have an 8am bus ride back into NY on the same day. To suck it up or not? In ceebs mood :(


Ps. WHT: did the freedom trail today, but along the way, my boots were completely soaked through. Hopped into the nearest tj maxx and picked up a pair of GALOSHES! YAY FINALLY. Pretty much froze to death today- our activities were mostly outdoorsy ones.

New Year's Eve eve in boston

Hi guys, I'm in Boston!

Just a few days until the new year. Any time should be a good time to make a fresh start, but for some weird reason, it's easier to start afresh in the new year.

2012 was an interesting year for me. I had a fresh start at a new uni and achieved very little of what I thought I would. One of my resolutions was to eat vegan 2 days a week. That quickly changed to vegetarian, but I'm happy to say that lasted over 9 months.

I cooked more, ate more, but for some reason, stayed the same weight. I still have my gym membership and I have every intention of going in the first week of returning home (for now).

This year I learnt to share more of my life to the people that matter and in return I learned more about them - and this, I thought was the best thing that happened this year.

I think it helps me think more openly and makes me realise that whatever it is, is not as big a deal as I think it is. I'm going a little nuts overseas at the mo because I miss my friends. And no matter how convenient the net is for communicating, it just doesn't feel the same as chatting face to face.

And ugh, I now have to tell people I'm in my early twenties (wtf) but will be unable to explain why I still act like a child sometimes.

2012 will be missed, but I'm eager for 2013 to hit me in the face because I want to get a move a long. HURRY ALONG PEOPLE :)

2013's coming!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Ok this is late, but Merry Christmas guys. I've been swept off my feet this past week by New York. It's been incredibly busy!!

My foursquare feed shows a tonne of check ins at all these touristy places. I didn't realise so much could be achieved in that many days! It's been a good stay in New York. I love it here.

My Christmas Day was not spent with family, but with my friend's distant relos who live in Chinatown (serious, I come here every night, it's my home away from home). Had a delicious home cooked meal (my first one in a month!!) and listened in on lots of stories by grams and gramps. A very satisfying night in :)

It snowed last night, but not enough for the ground to be covered in white. So A brought along her canned snow and we made a little snow man in Central Park.

So much fun today. I'm way pooped out. But even so, I'm missing home very much, and I'm so glad to say that I will be back soon :)

Hope you are all enjoying your holidays!!

Food for thought

Would you ... wear red skinny jeans with animal print, as a guy?

Didn't expect the weather to be so good in Toronto.

We landed at 12.30 in the morning and got back to our accom at 1.30-2ish. There's a bit of a time difference so we were more than just a bit jetlagged in the morning. After breakfast we took a "quick nap" which went on for 3 hours =___=


Canadians are REALLY fashionable, and open (race/sexual preferences) compared to Australians. After living in this country for less than a week, my entire outlook on tolerance has changed. I normally tolerate people like Pauline Hanson and Alan Jones, and things they say because, hey it's a free country. But I get the impression that Canada embraces migrants more than Australia does. And then I realise what Alan Jones is really doing- stirring up hatred, causing crime and social unrest- I.e. being a fucking unethical public nuisance. And now I'm just mad because I'm overthinking political/historical/WAP stuff so much so that I can't sleep. Can't someone sack him already?!


Ugh. So grumpy.

Impulseeeeeee

It's three in the morning and I've just been youtubing/iTunes-ing Christmas songs for the past 2 hours. No one does it better than buble.

Seriously preparing for Christmas this year.

I am so cold right now.

After being bruised and bashed by the chilly wind and pelting rain outside, being indoors with wifi in one hand and a cup of hot chocolate in the other is simply heaven.

The good looking Canadian guys walking in back from lunch is an added bonus. Canadians > Americans foshobro.

Losing track of the days

... but I'm reminded everywhere that Christmas is coming!

Hello from Vancouver!

VANCOUVER IS COLD.

The moment I walked off the plane, I was hit with the most CHILLING gust d wind.

Leeching off airport wifi atm, not sure if ill have Internet tonight. Gonna be in can for just over a week, so I ceebs getting another sim.

Miss you guys and Sydney, but I feel like I'm in Sydney... sorta. There are lots of Asians here. So different from Portland.

Taxis here, layers d00ds

Making faces on the BART

Since I don't have any spectacular views to show you all, here's the next best thing.

On my way to the airport now.

Kinda bored, kinda sleepy, but I can't sleep because I'm scared I'll miss my stop.

Excited for the tax-less shopping in Portland because I need to get a sub-zero friendly coat and boots.

But I'm definitely sad to leave SF. I've eaten so well here, 7 egg tarts, 3 lobsters and 3 crabs all to myself. On the shopping front, I only got a pair I pants, a shirt and tanks. Frugal? Not really. Food > clothes. I might come to regret this later.

MISSING MY BED!! AND THE BEACH!!

Ps. That is my new accessory- my double chin. Lol jk, on the BART so I had to take this unflattering low angle shot from my lap.

Pps. My friends tell me that Portland is really hipster. I've done my best. Denim shirt, chunky knit, skinny black jeans and glasses. Now all I'm missing is a beanie.

Still alive and kicking.

My Internet reception here is TERRIBLE (damn it t-mobile). BUT HI EVERYONE!

Today was my last full day in San Fran and I'm headed to Portland tomozza. Heading up to van after a few days and my friend tells me it's FREEZING. So I need to do some intense shopping in Portland.

Tried shopping today but got distracted by the mirrors in shops. :P

FIRST CELEBRITY SIGHTING - PETER COYOTE

Wow. He totally stopped by to help us with directions (not that he helped much), but K and I couldn't figure out who he was until he was halfway down the street. The pastor dude from a walk to remember!! HOMG. In the seedier part of SF too!!

Sent from my iPhone

DAY 9 in SF - is it really day 9 already?

My pleas to the heavens must have been heard, because today, the SF weather was perfect. It was chilly, but super sunny and ALL the shops were open during the day (I went to Venice beach on a day when it was pouring - bad idea. None of the street stalls, buskers or muscles were there)!

Because my photo problem had not yet been resolved, I'm blogging from my phone tonight. Camera photos will come once I figure out what to do about picasa :(

1. IG shot showing the blue sky over sf.

2. The pier next to pier 45. Pier 45 has submarines at the dock and there's like a games/arcade games collection in the pier warehouse.

3. Sea lions at pier 39! They were really cute- especially the one that kept nuzzling all the others around it. But because their diet mainly consists of fish, they have the smelliest of breaths. Omg. When they were yelping... Talking (?) to each other, you could smell their breath from the pier. >_>

4. Candy by the barrel at candy baron on pier 39!!

5. Docked yachts and bay bridge. This is beautiful. The boats reminded me of the waterfront scene at Birkenhead point, and it made me miss Sydney a bit. Just a bit.

6. Every time I eat Chinese food in America, I get a fortune cookie. Today I bought a Jones soda, looked at the cap and saw this. I'm not really sure how the fortune cookies tradition came about, I always thought it was some kinda underground communication for Chinese rebels back in the ancient times. Who knows.

7,8&9. THE CRAB STATION! The lobster was a bit of a rip $34 I think. The crab was SO GOOD. $32 for two and I had one. I also had 2 clam chowders today, but I'll elaborate more. When the camera pics are up.

San Fran, my friends were right in saying that I would love you. Your shops have more stock, your city has less crazy people, and even though your traffic is a bit... congested at times, the views around town make it all worth sitting in the street car/ cable car.

Hope you all have been enjoying your holidays as much as me!!

Day 8 - Hello from San Francisco

So apparently I've surpassed my 1gb limit of photos on picasa and I can't upload any more onto my blog. I'm deciding whether I should pay to upgrade.

Got up this morning and caught a Go-To bus from Chinatown in LA to downtown San Fran. The ride was a good one - I was knocked out from pretty much the start of the ride.

We stopped for a break in Buttonwillow (cutest name for a town ever), passed Oakland, crossed a long bridge with beautiful views before reaching the hustle and bustle of union square. As soon as we got on the bridge, I saw the densely packed skyscrapers and the tail lights of the cars stuck in traffic. LOVE IT.

It's beautiful and relatively clean. Compared to where I was staying in LA, this place is a dream. I would be satisfied living in an apartment like this for the rest of my life. What's not to love about high ceilings (amirite?). It's also artsy and homg, so devo I only have 4 days left in this place.


:):):). If I'm not back by 9 jan, you know I've flown back here.

Hello from level 27 of City Hall LA

Trying hard to not look tired but failing. 7th day here and we're just exploring Downtown LA.

So rainy. If I don't get trench foot by the end of this trip, I'll be so surprised.

-BREAK-

Blogger is killing me.

Maybe it's time to get my own domain on wordpress.


I've tried uploading photos XXX times tonight. Not working :(

Retiring tonight.


QUICK RECAP:  Today was day 6 of my trip and we spent it at Venice Beach and The Grove.  If I've learned anything today, it's that Americans really do love Christmas and go ALL out on decorations, ESPECIALLY at shopping centres.

Today I also learned that people who work at A&F are extremely aesthetic.  The sales assistants could pass off as models. In fact, I would not be surprised if they modeled part time.

Venice Beach was AMAZING, and the pier was beautiful. I took over a hundred photos at the pier. Crazy, I know. So brace yourselves, guys, for the most beautiful cloudy photos of Venice beach.  There was like NO ONE there, so I got some good shots (ok, so not that good, but fantastic by my standards).

Also, I realised that my sister goes crazy at forever 21. She may not buy a lot but she definitely loves to spend lots of time there!

OKAY END RAMBLE. Hope you are all super duper, starting to miss my friends (esp when I see fb pics go up and I'm not in them boohoo). TAKE CARE Y'ALL, and enjoy baking in that summer heat :D

Day 3 in LA - Disneyland Park

Went to Disneyland a few days ago.  We got there at 9.35am in the morning from by the 640 bus in Downtown LA and was met with LINES. 

LINES

Those who know me, know I hate lining up for stuff.

But it's Disney.  And theme parks are ALL about lines.

It was hard to take photos without having other people accidentally chime. For example:

But that's cool. The more the merrier.

Having been to the Tokyo Disneyland before, this was a bit anti-climatic.  I didn't realise that all the Disneyland's would look the same, let alone have the same rides.  So yeah.  Best thing about this visit was that I got to ride on the Space Mountain roller coaster.  When I was in Japan, the ride was actually closed for maintenance. Super good ride - I loved it.

Castle moat

More moat

A few attractions they had were live talks or shows, and they ALWAYS had a shameless plug for Wreck-it Ralph.  It worked because I really want to watch it now.

HEY RALPH!

See that? Another splash ride!

Lunch time!

I haven't drunk so much soft drink in a long while.  During uni, I stuck with water and coffee and avoided sugary drinks like coke but I've had a regular coke (which is like freaking massive) pretty much everyday because it's been super hot in the afternoons.  However my skin started breaking out :'(  so I'm back to buying water. Boiled water tastes so strongly of chlorine.

BOOMBOOMBOOMBOOM FRIES!

I got the healthier option and my dad looked at me like I was crazy.

The healthier option - vego

Mark Twain cruise

Carved pumpkins are cute

Aftermath of the splash ride

a grumpy D

It's a small worrrrld. 

The small world castle looked super cool at night.  SEE BELOW (somewhere)

Toontown

AT NIGHT!

LIGHTS GALORE

But I liked the Disney Castle and Christmas tree better :)

Magical

Main street

Mandatory selfie with the tree 

Less than a month until Xmas

Hopefully I'll get round to posting up Day 2 stuff HAHA.  I went to Santa Monica Pier today and it was AMAZING.  Yesterday I said that I'd be happy to never come here again, but I think I'll be back just for the pier and the views. And the Promenade shopping strip. Holy crap, that place is beautiful.

I also had another run in with 2 abnormal people today on public transport.  Honestly, every day I spent in LA, I spend it half in awe and half in fear.

It's raining in LA. Hope the weather in Syd is looking up.

I don't miss home yet - but with this growing fear and insecurity, I think I will soon.


Fingers crossed that SF is much better. Much much better.