We had to find some place to parade my new rain boots from Target, and it was decided the best place for that would be Newtown (again). Remembering how good the complimentary starter drink that was a concoction of spicy chilli, tequila and we-know-not-what-else-is-in-it served in a shot glass at the modern Mexicana restaurant Newtons Cocina, Mr KT and I decided to pay them a visit again, this time with the Hokkien Aeroplane Housemate (HAH).
It was too dark in the restaurant for us to take any decent photos of the deco and food that we can show to the world, hence the lack of droolicious pics. For the entrees, we had nachos with guacamole, salsa Mexicana and chicken. The corn chips became too soggy towards the bottom of the pile and it became quite revolting. For the mains, we had the chargrilled beef fajitas which we didn't quite like as the meat was too tough (they were a lot better the last time we went though), and the quesadillas with smoked salmon, pickled jalapenos and red onion - this was the best dish of the night! I've only ever had chicken or beef quesadillas, and this is my first time coming across one with fish or seafood.
And the highlight of the meal was the drinks. As mentioned, we liked the complimentary shots so much that we shamelessly asked for second and third rounds which the server obliged after we expressed our extreme disappointment that they don't serve these on the menu - we would have gladly paid for a bottle of that. I also had a Frozen Strawberry Daiquiri I liked a lot despite it being a sweet gu-niang cocktail. I stopped at that because I was the designated driver for the night. Mr KT had a classic Margarita and HAH had a Midori Margarita and they both didn't quite like their drinks. They then got adventurous and proceeded to sample the imported tequila selection in various interesting shooter styles. HAH had a Jose Cuervo Especial in the Mexican Flag style while Mr KT had two doses of Jose Cuervo Clasico in first the Mexican Flag shooter style followed by the Orange and Cinnamon style. All of the shooters were bloody good!
Next stop, Urban Bites Cafe where HAH had some tea and did some reading, I had a decaf cinnamon mugaccino and we both did some silly camwhoring. This cafe has become a favourite haunt of mine as it opens til late, serves great coffee and food, and is in close proximity to a newly discovered gem of a used book store.
Gould's Book Arcade has been around in various locations in Sydney for over 35 years. This store was set up in King St, Newtown in 1988. It opens til midnight 7 days a week but Bob Gould da man in charge will sometimes call it a night earlier at 11pm when business is slow.
Oh, the treasures you'll find in this double storey mess of a bookstore, I can't even begin to list them. This place definitely deserves more than a visit or two.
And that concludes our wet Friday night out. How did you spend yours?
newtons cocina, urbanbites & gould's
we went a puddle-chasin' again
Just as I was lamenting how dear the Plueys rain boots are (60USD + 30USD shipping for the Tokyo Rain), I saw a pair of Argyle Crush lookalike at Target going for only 16.99AUD. And I got a chance to bring them out to play on yet another stormy Friday evening right after the purchase. This time I had the Hokkien Aeroplane Housemate (HAH) take some nice shots of me in my funky gear before we went out together to play.
I also had on me some other great buys I got in the last one week:
- Light Blue Jeans Cap from Country Road for 19.99AUD
- Scarf from JayJays for $19.99AUD
- White Cardigan from Target for $17AUD
- Whispering Autumn Bracelet from Beakee for 58USD
I wonder if I can wear my rain boots to the office on a rainy workday...
let's celebrate the rain
Last Friday was a wet and stormy one. Having had a very long and tiring work week with intensive meetings lasting til 2 to 3 in the morning for a few consecutive nights, the moment I was informed I wasn't required for any meeting on Friday evening, I decided I would go let loose some hell regardless of the weather.
It could have been the caffeine overdose that evening, or the extended period of deprivation of playtime, or both, I found this unstoppable impulse within me to go kick some ass in the puddles amid the raging storm. All I needed was an appropriate outfit that could minimise the water damage to the body - I certainly didn't want to catch a chill in this very busy work period.
So I dug out this pair of very loud flamboyant purple floral gumboots that had been sitting in a box hidden under an entire column of my other 1,394 shoe boxes for the longest time. These boots were left behind by an intern who put up at my apartment for a short few weeks because she had to shed some weight off her excess baggage when she left Sydney. I had meant to return them to her but always forgot to pack them into the suitcase when I went back to SG the last few times. So then why waste the boots when they can be put to better use right? I am sure my pretty intern will understand.
And ta-da! Here was the funky outfit I put together in a mere 10 minute timeframe! You can see I was all wrapped up because it was sooooooo butt-freezin' cold.
You would never have caught me in such an outfit back in SG, besides the weather factor, there's also the style and colour combination - it's just too bold and makes me stand out like a sore thumb when I just want to fade into the background most of the time. One thing good about living and working in a foreign country is that you really don't bother if people around you find your dressing weird. Here in Sydney, most people respect the individual's different fashion style as his/her form of expression and will not stop to give you rude stares because you dress differently from them unless you appear like a monster from out of this world. And so I brought my funky little self to the funky little suburb of Newtown and hey! I felt like I was one of the Newtownians! And yes, there were lots of dashing around and puddle-hoppings. It was so much fun! The week-long work blues melted away in less than like 3.279 seconds.
This little adventure prompted me to embark on a search for the perfect pair of cheerful gumboots so that I may enjoy the rainy season more. I googled the words gumboots and wellingtons and wellies etc to death and finally came across the Plueys boots below that made me go all gaga and lala over.
Lotsa Dots
Tokyo Rain
Argyle Crush (left) and Matchpoint (right)
I really really want to buy a pair of funky gumboots!!!
silver grey drops
I've been looking for a pair of simple, elegant yet affordable pearl earrings for the longest time. I came very close to getting a pair several times but always stopped myself at the very last minute because there somehow was just something lacking although I couldn't quite pinpoint exactly what.
Then as I was browsing through Beakee's etsy shop after purchasing the very beautiful Whispering Autumn bracelet, I came across these:
From left to right:
1. Gleam Earrings - classic white freshwater pearls on 24K gold vermeil
This pair was very recently listed for sale in Beakee's shop and is still available now (21 May, 6pm Sydney time) if you will like to purchase it. I love the simplicity of this pair of freshwater pearl drops but gold just doesn't work for me. I also find the double twisted earwire a bit too thick for me as my piercings seem to have shrunk due to long periods of excessive laziness and not bothering to at least put on some simple studs to preserve the size of the pierced earholes. Lastly, I much prefer grey pearls to white ones.
I then started poring through Beakee's sold items to see what other pearl earrings she's created before and saw two pairs that I really like:
2. Alpine Mist - white Swarovski crystal pearls topped with wavy, brushed sterling silver discs
I so love the wavy disc and pearl combination in this pair! However, I didn't quite fancy the elongated earwires, but would have sent a request to Beakee for a custom made pair with shorter earwires until I came across this third pair below shortly afterwards.
3. Silver Shade - light Grey Swarovski crystal pearls topped with wavy, brushed sterling silver discs
I finally found the perfect pair of pearl earrings I've been looking for and immediately sent Beakee a private plurk to check if she still has the raw materials to make another pair. Alas, she's out of the wavy discs... but she could customise a pair for me without the discs. So, she took in all my comments (which were like all over the place - I was overly excited and didn't care to sort out my thoughts) and made me a special pair of Silver Grey Drops:
"These earrings have been specially created and reserved for MonkeyCrab. Please do not purchase if this is not you. Thank you :)
The classic pearl drop Gleam Earrings in a shiny silver-grey incarnation - 8mm Swarovski crystal pearls with bright sterling silver accents on hand-forged twisted sterling silver earwires. Your go-with-everything earrings."
The Silver Grey Drops will be posted out tomorrow together with the Whispering Autumn and should arrive in Sydney in 7 - 10 days. *excited*
I'm not trying to promote Beakee's products (etsy shop here and shop tellurus here) just because she's my Fav Tudi's best friend. She really makes such very beautiful jewellery that it's only right I share their existence with everyone. You can even feel the amount of love and TLC that went into each and every piece she so meticulously creates. For someone who doesn't accessorise much on a daily basis, I do have a rather sizeable collection of her handcrafted earrings and bracelets - some purchased and some were gifts from dear friends who know I love Beakee's stuff, and am coveting for more. I just need to find opportunities to wear them out more often to do these pretty jewellery some justice. In case you're thinking of getting something for me on my birthday in July, I really don't mind you picking something from some of my below favourites. ;p
Necklaces:
1. Graffiti Necklace - tourmalinated quartz and oxidised sterling silver
2. Bellissima - pink Peruvian opal and pearl cluster toggle necklace
3. Primavera - prehnite and hammered hoop long necklace
Earrings:
1. Muscat Earrings - green aventurine clusters on natural brass
2. Eden Hoops - floral embellished brass hoop earrings
3. Lisse Hoops - hammered satin finish sterling silver with rhodochrosite charms
Bangles and Bracelets:
1. The Orchidee Bangle - keishi pearl and rhodolite clusters
2. Pinot Noir - lush grapevine cluster bracelet
3. Summer Sorbet - a bracelet bursting with citrus charm
Aren't they pretty? We is heart Beakee's jewellery lots!
whispering autumn
(Picture pinched from Beakee's etsy shop)
It was love at first sight for me when I came across it here. Then when the item was eventually listed for sale, I grabbed it without much hesitation.
Autumn has a very special place in my heart, mainly due to the unforgettable one I had last year - the beautiful memories are still as vivid in my mind as if the events took place just a second ago. Even blogthings.com confirmed that I belong in Fall.
Reading about the Whispering Autumn where Beakee describes the soft palette of falling leaves on her etsy site:
"Autumn themes are usually expressed in terms of blazing reds, oranges and yellows. Beautiful in a distinctly fiery way, entirely befitting the end of a glorious summer season, of course. But to me, autumn heralds the arrival of cosiness, cooler days and upcoming holidays, so I personally prefer a more muted palette.";
I just have to have the Whispering Autumn on me for whatever remaining cool Autumn days this season has to give and for the many more beautiful ones to come. It should be on a jet plane to Sydney very soon and I can't wait.
these are what friends are for!
You will know who your true friends are when they start sharing new life experiences with you. Friends contribute to your enrichment of knowledge and enhancement of lifestyle!
The below Plurk discussion cracked me up so badly and brightened an otherwise dreadful evening that I feel compelled to share here.
Bamboohorse says oh my, today I just learnt to swing my hands when walking. It helps you balance. Everyone should try it.
Beakee says hey... the other day I washed 4 spoons together leh!!!
Bamboohorse is ROFLMAO!!!
Bamboohorse says pray, record a tutorial of it on video. I want to learn!
Monkeycrab says I can wash 5 pairs of chopsticks at one go!
Bamboohorse says oh my oh my! So many new things to learn!
Beakee says stress!!!
Monkeycrab says I am amazed to learn from Bamboohorse on enhancing the art of walking by swinging the hands! definitely gotta try it tomoro!
Bamboohorse will attempt washing 1 spoon and 1 fork at the same time tonight.
GoldenAbacus says ehh.. I manage to wash all my 10 fingers together.
Monkeycrab can wash all 10 fingers and 10 toes at the same time.
GoldenAbacus says teach teach!!!.. I stand can't do that in the sink.
Monkeycrab says do it in the shower la! squat down, put all your toes and fingers together, aim the shower at them, and wash!
Bamboohorse says then your fingers will smell of your feet?
Monkeycrab thinks the feet will smell nice nice like the fingers.
GoldenAbacus says or the finger smell like feet and feet smell like finger.. then u have to wash again to reverse it.
And we wonder where Tudi was the entire time.
i hope my thoughts are appreciated
I never believed in hunting for gifts for a particular occasion because I mostly end up buying something for the sake of getting something due to the time constraints or limited purchase options. I much prefer getting something that's meaningful or useful to the recipient. If I see something that reminds me of someone I miss or something that I know will be appreciated by a dear someone, I'll get it regardless of whether there is an occasion for a gift. Several of you out there in various locations around the globe may have gotten something in the mail from me in the past months/years - see, I haven't forgotten about you. Those who have not received anything (yet), it's mostly because I have not come across anything special that I think you'll like. (I'm trying not to say it out loud that there's a possibility you could be on my hate list, but don't worry, you'll probably already have known if you are ;p)
So anyways, I was accompanying a colleague to the Post Office and randomly came across these cute children's books that instantly reminded me of little Ryan who loves anything related to aeroplanes, trains and buses:
Without any hesitation, I bought both the above books for him. I tried to find one on buses too without any luck.
Look at how cool the books are! There are simple short descriptions on the first plane ever invented, to propeller fighter planes, to jet planes, with the various parts of a plane labelled.
As I flipped through the colourfully illustrated book on trains, I discovered how ignorant I have been on the evolution of trains and the different parts of the train that make it work. I have to admit this isn't a very easy book to read at all, but it's meant to be for 3 year old kids?! Being the very smart boy that he is, I'm sure little Ryan would have everything in his head in no time at all.
Feedback from Daddy IT: Ryan likes his new books from Jiejie Jacqueline so much that he refuses to go anywhere without them!
So, do you also like the little gifts I got for you?
on a book spree
This weekend was intended to be one for shopping, specifically for winter clothing seeing how it's already colder than last winter even though we're still only in autumn. Rarely needing to put on extra layers even in the depth of winter (as I've experienced in the last few seasons - that's how I earned the title of being cold-blooded), I now find myself reaching for the few scarves I have in my winter clothing box sealed and kept away in the far corners of my huge wardrobe, and shivering even when decked out in multi layers, tights, boots, scarves and all.
Well, the weekend is almost over and I find myself with six more books to read and nil new clothing.
I know you can tell from the pic what books I bought but I get a kick out of listing them all down so here goes, starting from top left and going clockwise:
1. Helen of Troy by Margaret George
2. Ferney by James Long
3. Procession of the Dead by D.B. Shan
4. Promise of the Wolves by Dorothy Hearst
5. The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis
6. The Golden Nineties by Lisa Mason
The original intention was to get only one book - Ferney by James Long. I had made a mental note to myself to get this book after reading a review by Beakee in early March. I am not very into the romance genre for books (but for movies, yes!) but Beakee's short description of this particular book kinda sounded like it's a story I'll enjoy reading. I'm now two chapters into it and loving it.
And quite unknowingly, I had grabbed five other books to the cashier... mainly because 1) they're so cheap, like two for $15. Fyi, they're brand new books except for Ferney and The Golden Nineties. You must go take a look inside Chapters Bookstore at Bondi Junction (not inside the mall, it's situated on the shopping streets outside) if you are in that area. And 2) most are books I've had my eyes on and wanting to buy for a long time now especially The Chronicles of Narnia.
This spree lifted me considerably out of my unexpectedly prolonged depression due to sickness, PMS and work stress.
jac's pizzeria has expanded
At level 18 now, my little pizzeria has expanded quite a bit since my last update and I am able to design a more structured layout for the interior. Looking good now!
Staff strength has also grown. I have 4 chefs now including myself.
3 waiters and a cleaner.
save the world
It could have been the flu bug that has been invading the office for over two weeks now; the excessive pancakes I had for late night dessert yesterday; the recent addiction to establishing a fine pizzeria and increasing my karma for dancing banana emoticons; or the 'Tuts My Barreh' video that completely blew my mind. Whatever the reason, I had the most exhausting dream ever that left me feeling like I never slept a wink the entire night.
My Tudi and I were not human beings, but were mini cartoon characters in the dream. I remember feeling that looking at the world around us from a cartoon character's perspective was very enriching indeed - I felt lightheaded most of the time as I couldn't believe what I was seeing and preferred to just faint but the dream wouldn't let me.
And guess what? Tudi and I were travelling on my Plurk timeline, ie. my Plurk page was the universe and each Plurk update was like a landmark or place of interest and each comment within the Plurk update was like an incident that took place. Yeah can you imagine how confused I must have been in the dream?
So anyways that wasn't the end of it. Tudi and I discovered some evil conspiracy going on that threatened to destroy the universe (ie. Plurk) and decided to do all we could to save the world.
And so I spent the rest of the night flying from one end to the other end of the Plurk timeline, shooting evil Plurkers, executing ninja moves, carrying the injured to safer Plurks and so on. Even as I woke, I told myself "Noooooooo... I need to save the world!".
tuts my barreh
Okay. I have managed to stop myself for a day now, but I can't resist any longer. This was shared by my Tudi yesterday and I just can't have enough of it.
This second clip is very entertaining too.
i've got $$$
The Australian Government announced an economic stimulus plan in which you get:
- $900 if your 2007–08 taxable income is up to and including $80,000
- $600 if your 2007–08 taxable income is between $80,001 and $90,000
- $250 if your 2007–08 taxable income is between $90,001 and $100,000
As with all the benefits we 457 employment visa holders are not entitled to, I naturally assumed I am not eligible for the stimulus package and have not bothered to find out more about it. So imagine my surprise when I saw the extra $900 in my bank account when I logged in to TT some money back to SG. Woohoo! So I'm now $900 richer!
Thinking the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) made a mistake, I went and read up more on this stimulus package and its qualifying criteria.
"Temporary residents and Australians living overseas:
If you were an Australian resident for tax purposes for the 2007–08 financial year, and you meet all the other eligibility criteria, you will receive the tax bonus payment. This applies even if you were here on a temporary resident visa."
I think they are being fair to us who despite not having citizenship / permanent residency status, have been contributing equal amounts of tax to the Australian system as a citizen / permanent resident.
Just a few days ago, I was sorting out my finances (this is a fortnightly routine for me - I have like a power spreadsheet detailing every single incoming and outgoing cent complete with trend charts and all) and feeling extremely down. I was discouraged by the lack of savings that I have been trying very hard to build up. Every time I see the golden eggs start to fill up my nest, things like these will happen and I find myself back at ground zero. The last fortnight also saw some additional lifestyle expenses like the monthly gym membership fee and spikes in the household expenses in the form of advance rental and miscellaneous payments due to transferring the apartment lease from under the Company's name to mine (and the housemate's) and these upset me. All these on top of the bills I still have to pay for in SG. It can get quite demoralising.
It's not like I am in such bad financial shape that I can't even afford to feed myself or purchase the occasional luxury (like my fiery red baby) but having grown up with the Asian teaching "未雨绸缪 - You've always got to save up for a rainy day" ingrained into me, I feel like it's the end of the world and I am going to die a penniless miserable death when I don't get greeted by a huge multi-multi digit figure when I log in to my bank account.
It's hard for me to adopt the carefree-can't-be-bothered-live-hand-to-mouth-everyday mentality like so many Aussies here do. It's a totally different culture we are talking about just like how we have the Asian parents-take-care-of-you-til-you're-married/independent-so-you've-gotta-take-care-of-your-aging-parents-future versus the Western once-you-are-old-enough-earn-your-own-pocket-$-please-move-out-and-don't-come-bother-the-parents-anymore-cos-they-wanna-have-their-own-romantic-retirement-lives culture. (Of course I am making very general statements here, but you get the idea) Can't really say which is the right thing to do because both cultures have their own merits.
Enough of digressing. So. I was going to say, the unexpected $900 bonus put a smile back onto my face. At least I can go shopping for some new funky winter wear this weekend and not hole myself up at home wallowing in my misery. Oh, and I'd be doing a good deed to society too cos I'll be doing my part, no matter how small, to help lift the fallen economy.
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