Home is Where I Can Look Like A Bum & Not Be A Bum

Check out mine and vince's tom yum hot pot.

Tom YUM!

14hour shift last night with no proper break. are you fucking crazy? rachel zoe says

UGH!

you could say im desparately looking for another job. need more money. gotta pay for things that im not used to e.g. bills, food, BUS MONEY and my fucking Metro fine for travelling on a concession card without having a valid concession card - it was expired exactly 17 days before my fine and i was in the literal process of getting it renewed! Swinburne stamped my application form on the 16th, i got fined on the 17th and i fully processed my card on the 18th. UGH! such fucking luck. i love swearing. today i woke up in pain and frustration. I finished work at 5am, slept at 6am and woke up at 2:30pm. i told bentot my tummy was rumbling. he asked me what my tummy was saying. i told him my tummy was saying

crispy skin chicken and tomato rice and taro ice blend

bentot said he would get ready and take me :) AW! he so sweet to me. last night, when me, helen and cheese were so obviously dead tired from work, vince came in and helped. he took the broom off me, and swept the floor. i started mopping. when he finished sweeping, he came over and took the mop off me. aw. both me and helen tried to fight for the mop, with all the energy left in our small and hungry bodies, but vman was still persistent. we just left him to it. closing last night wasn't so bad. mainly because everyone fucked off and we closed 30 minutes early. we dedicated our $10 each tip money to buy 2 large pizzas and garlic bread - delivered. we rounded up the customers, locked jwow and waited outside for our pizza - cleaning can be done after. we kicked back on the state library bench for ages and it was the 1st bit of fresh air i had in 12 hours. it was also my first proper break. i immediately felt better. Ty, our friendly and best DJ has some pretty cool friends. Mebz, my 2nd favourite customer works at an African Resto on Brunswick street called Nyala. I really hope i go and check it out this Wednesday since i didnt go last week.. i did have this annoying customer though. she was nice and friendly at first. then she came up with a chewy on her pants.she said the chewy was under her table and when she crossed her legs it got stuck on her knee. she said

i at least want the dry cleaning paid for

i told her to fuck off. nah not really. i told her

we cant control people who put chewy under our tables. we obviously dont WANT people to put chewy under our tables. a customer has never come up, demanding to have their dry cleaning paid for because they sat on some chewy.

her come back was

well it was within your establishment and these are a very expensive pair of pants

what..? those velvet things? ugh. fuck off. she pissed me off the whole night. really. i wish i didnt have to be surrounded by such fake, pretentious, upperclass, materialistic, demanding, illogical, superficial kunts. everyone is happier being kick back. John Travolta says

Be cool.

Vince and his mum picked me up and we went off to St. Albans to carry out the orders of my tummy. Vince's mum needed medicine so we waited in the parked car behind Safeway. We witnessed a drug deal. Facebook status that shit. I had my crispy chicken hit, i also had a strong ass iced coffee vietnamei style. then we started shopping for ingredients for our Hot Pot tmrw. As I walked down st. albans I realised how relaxed and at home I feel. I know where everything is, I know the old men will stare but I still feel comfortable walking past, I know those gangsta looking asians arent so intimidating because judging by their hair, they're only in high school. So So St. Albans

1. Chewing gum on the pavement
2. Vietnamese resto's and asian groceries selling the same shit for pretty much the same price
3. Unhygienic food practices, potential food poisoning and the occasional cockroach in your Pho
4. Identifying Asian grocery stores not by their names but where their register is located
5. Shoppers in pajama clothes and horribly mismatching colours and high heels (women of course)
6. The vietnamese language being shouted across the store and in your ear
7. Broken-english speaking people (which I am now accustomed too)
8. People shouting take away orders from the restuarant door
9. Asian 'gangsters' with tips, fringes, spikey hair and low riding carribee bags
10. The sqaure bus top, buses and their stoned drivers
11. Double parked cars
12. Stationary cars with their indicators going right you don't know if you have to wait or over take them
13. Tiny asian mums driving chunky ass four wheeled drives, squinting and leaning over the stirring wheel
14. Failed parallel parks and almost no reversed parks
15. Driving hell around the Alfreda Street parking patch
16. Gangstas outside the charcoal chicken shop
17. The '20cent' guy
18. The 'cowboy' guy
19. Old Vietnamese men who sit at the resto's before the library and so very obviously stare as you walk past
20. Angry customers walking out of hair salons
21. Notorious St. Albans Train Station crossing
22. Commuters running for the train and missing it (HAHA!)
23. Machette's, stabbings and assults
24. Fireworks for sale
25. Akira Lanning Centre
26. Stinky alleyway behind the Alreda Street restos and people going through the rubbish (true story)

KFL Supermarket

Graffiti: Kealba!

I love St. Albans because it is my home. It's where I grew up and I compare the rest of the world to it. I have so many memories here. I had no make up and wore my PJ pants today. I didn't feel self conscious at all. Then it hit me, home is not where you grew up, but a state of mind. Home is where you feel comfortable just being you. Love. After i got home I had to get ready to head out into the city. I lay in bed for 20 precious minutes because my body still hurt from last night. I didnt think I'd wear my heels because my calves were mattered. but i did, It helped a little that I stretched. I whipped up something in 10 minutes and surprised myself with the final result. vman's waiting outside OFF WE GO! i reached jwow. I drank me 2 glasses of sangria. i was lonely because I was by myself. I was waiting for cheese and helen. I spoke to Joey, our father-figure security guard. he was watching his car because he parked in a disabled spot and didnt wanna get fined! JOEY! I told him to move it, he said he was waiting for someone on Lt. Lonsdale to move their car. as we were complaining about paying fines, some guys right infront of us started up their car! joey, without warning, cut our convo/stopped his job and held his hand out to the guys in a 'stop' motion. he asked the guys to not move yet, joey didnt wanna loose the park to someone else. The guys started up their cars when joey was ready to park. I helped him parallel park. Joey, from the drivers seat looked and said to me with the biggest smile:

Lucky

haha! he made me laugh. he was so proud. he told me he does that every week! hahaha. aww joey. people like him make me think there is more good in this world. seeing people like him break my heart when i see them mistreated by the bad guys. I want to be surrounded by good people. always. helen and steve came. a large group of us did rum, contrieu, chambord and lime shots which was quiet strong. it was cheese's birthday. one more drink and we had to catch the 10:30pm Hall Pass movie session at the Coburg Drive Ins. It took me a while to order 2 vodka lime and sodas, one in a short glass and one in a tall glass for Princess Hwi. He was so happy when I presented him with it at the DJ booth. You could see it in his eyes. A drink well needed. Perhaps. I downed that drink in a record 3 minutes and took my 3rd piss of the day. The Coburg drive in's are haunted. I did not want to go to the toilet there. I did a quick, hug, kiss good bye to everyone and left the back way to buy some chips and drinkies at safeway. drive ins were fun. the movie wasnt. it was american. sexist. predicatable. corny. but good times. I sat in the back seat of Dave's very pretty car and was careful not to mark the leather seats, or wipe my hands on it. Dave kindly escorted me to the toilets when i cudnt hold it in. Dave also kindly drove me home. i felt so bad because i was very much out of the way. he wudnt accept the $5 i gave him for petrol money. so he left it in my mailbox according to his facebook post. ugh! todays rating: 8/10 Have I mentioned this song before? Flight Facilities ft. Giselle - Crave You

I Heart Sydney

Friday July 30

Day 1:

Maccas at Melbourne Aiport for Breakfast

Chamberlain Hotel for Drinks, Phuong and Josh surprise

Chinese lunch at Dixon Street

Darling Harbour

Paddy's Market

Eating frenzy at Dixon Street Festival

Meet with Nadya and Jonah for Dinner at Dixons Street

Drinks at 3 Monkey's Pub and

R&B Club at Pavilion Hotel

Saturday July 31

Day 2:

Japanese food for breakfast at Ajisen

Sydney Wildlife World

Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb

Korean food for dinner at Milliore

Claw machine and sticker pics at Capitol Square Arcade

Fish balls and midnight walks around Chinatown

Late night snacks at Coles

Sunday August 1

Day 3:

Rydges Buffet Breakfast

Sydney Aquarium

Shopping at Harbourside Shopping Centre

Meet with Nadya and Jonah for Pancakes on the Rocks, The Rocks

Bondi Beach

Meet with Richard and Janet for Dinner at Yumsei (?)

Drinks at Haymarket Hotel and

Mr. B's

Monday August 2

Day 4:

Rydges Buffet breakfast

Elizabeth Book Store

Shopping at Harbourside Shopping Centre and

Market City

Lunch at Korean resturant

The massive highlight of the trip was the surprise I got at Chamberlain Hotel. We had just touched down in Sydney and me and vman were having morning drinks. Vman told me he was meeting up with his cousin, whom he's never met before and he was quite nervous. I fully believed him as he has mentioned this cousin before. I felt his nervousness and we were both anxiously waiting and expecting everytime the pub door opened.

When it did, Phuong and Josh walked in! I was so shocked, she told me months ago that she wouldn't be coming due to uni and expenses. This sydney holiday was months in planning and I was so gutted when she announced the bad news. I was very disappointed. So you could imagine how shocked i was to see her walk through the doors of a sydney pub!

i remember my exact thoughts, my facial expression, my feelings and 1st words. this was what went through my head when i saw her:

'this girl looks like phuong, i think it is - she's smiling at me.

but it can't be phuong, she's in sydney. am i back in melbourne??

no i am in sydney, she's got luggage with her, she must've flown here

this is a surprise, a set up! this was planned!!'

My face was just a stare of disbelief, i frowned with confusion and my jaw dropped with shock. after re-affirming myself that yes, i was indeed in sydney and yes, that is indeed phuong, my words were:

'What are you doing here???'

repeated several times since she didnt answer me. we embraced in a hug and that is when i truly knew this was real ;')

it was a lovely surprise. apparently no one on facebook was allowed to post anything about sydney to me, and phuong died inside as she kept this secret from me. i know it wud've been hard. vman was in it too, his whole cousin story was bullshit. i realised he had tricked me!! i was annoyed that i didnt catch it out! hahha i congratulate everyone on their efforts, especially phuong and vman, surprising me would be difficult.

Maccas Breakfast Feast, Melbourne Airport

Phuong and I, Dixon Street Restaurant

Vman, Josh, Phuong and I, Dixon Street Restaurant

Phuong writing on the table cloth

Free bags from Paddy's Market

What a thrill!

Walking down Hay Street, Sydney

phuong and josh also bought me and vman annual passes for Sydney museums, another reason to return when the flights are cheap. I recieved mint and green tea cupcakes as well =]

Choc Mint and Green Tea Cupcakes from Pitt Street, Sydney

Kids at Sydney Aquarium

A dugong and I, Sydney Aquarium

Day 1 was a beautiful day. the fog that delayed and diverted planes (including ours) had cleared, so had the rain which fell everyday of the week. it was a sunny, hot 21degree day. the weather was happy with us.

I believe exploration and discovery cannot happen if you stick to your comfort zones. I like to try new things and walk alternative routes for example. me and vman made an agreement to not eat at the same place twice. But buffet breakfast at Rydges was so good we had to have it again. It was $15 pp as we were Rydges Priority Guests. Buffet included, but wasn't limited to:

• Crunchy hashbrowns
• sausages
• scrambled eggs
• fried tomatoes
• bacon
• bread, toast of all sorts (pumpkin seeds, wholemeal, white, raisin)
• warm krousoints and pastery desserts
• fresh sliced fruits like watermelon, rock melon and honey due
• oats with nuts and dried fruits
• coffee, tea, fruit juice
• cerals

so good, the harshbrowns killed it.

Ajisen for Breakfast, Gyoza Noodle Soup

Something different, Sapporo Japanese Beer

At Milliore, the waitress recommended

Seol Joong Mae - Plum Liqueur

Korean Beef and Veggie Hot Pot

Chocolate and Cherry Pancakes, Pancakes on the Rocks

Darling Harbour

We climbed the Sydney Harbour Bridge, one of the main reasons we came to Sydney. We had a 4:15pm Night climb. It took about 30minutes for preparation for the climb. we had to dress in special uniform, get strapped up in harnesses, practice on a mock ladder, sign some forms and perform a breath test. We commenced our climb just before the sun set, so we got to experience the Bridge during daylight, sun set and night time. deciding to climb on Saturday the 31st of August at 4:15pm was a very good decision as even the weather was perfect!

I thought i wud faint of tiredness and fear of heights. The previous night i didnt sleep for more than 37 hours. My mind was active but my legs trembled on the ladders that were almost a complete vertical angle. I hated when the flooring was a metal mesh because i could see how high we were off the ground. one of the guys who scheduled a climb, cancelled as he was so scared. i made sure vman was behind me so he'd encourage me if i got scared or caught me if i fell =] literally.

our climb leader was friendly and knowledgable. they hooked up everyone with ear pieces so we cud hear her commentary while we climbed. here are some things we learnt:

1. The Sydney harbour bridge opened in 1932 by the Jack Lang, Premier of NSW
2. Was planned with the estimated growth of the city, the bridge didnt need to be as big as it is now back in 1932
3. is a tollway bridge, tolls are used to pay off Sydney construction debts
4. built for 8 traffic lanes, trains and trams to cross
5. 134m from sea level
6. 16 people died in construction of the bridge, although only 6 people fell to their deaths
7. a worker fell 55m of the bridge, but with skydiving as a hobby of his, he knew exactly how to fall. he was lucky enough to fall into water deep enough and in the correct position, feet first, knees slightly bent. he was taken to hospital with a few broken bones. As the bridge was built during the Great Depression and finding jobs was difficult, he returned to work 2 weeks later. He's bosses recognised this commitment and presented him with a watch, inscripted with a congraluation for surviving death.
8. the large blocks making the pillars of the bridge needed to be imported from overseas. As they are put together like a jigsaw puzzle, they are numbered on the inside for convenience. a small one weighs about 700kg

before the sun set, the sky was a gradient from a pink to a light blue. The sydney opera house looked its best. Then the pink turned into a pale orange, the opera house now turned on its exterior lights. Then the sky was a gradient of dark orange and black, until it was finally black. it became cold, we needed to put on the extra jackets they packed for us. it was so windy that our eyes were drying up.

the highlight was standing at the summit of the bridge and watching the massive austrailian flag fly in the wind. it was beautiful, sydney was beautiful. call me a patriot, it made me smile.

from the summit we saw a 360degree night time view of sydney city. from the centre of the bridge i could look down, past my feet, where i saw the busy saturday night traffic gush through. it was scary, but i dared to look. all that kept be between them was a plank of metal. when a train passed it wud vibrate the flooring and railing. i tried not to shit my pants.

After the climb we were presented with a free group photo on top of the bridge and a certificate of congratulations.

3 Cumberland Street, The Rocks, Sydney, NSW

Vman and I with the rest of the Climbers

We wasted more than $30 cash at Capitol Square Aracade. The most wasted parts were spend on rigged claw machines with tempting prizes. They were all some cute asian stuffed toys, like square marshmallows with faces and red bow ties. Or oversized mushrooms with smiley faces on them. Once we've got the claws straddling the sides of the toy, it wud bring it up and DROP IT. The abrupt and suddenness of the movement was enough to drop the toy, it was torture to watch but addictive too. I found comfort in the fact that I 'almost had it'.

Sticker Pics at Capitol Square

Sticker Pics at Capitol Square

There has long since been a massive debate as to which city is better, Melbourne or Sydney. Idf you have read my previous blogs, you would know i am passionately in love with Melbourne City, so much so that it would be natural for someone to assume I hate sydney. However, I recognise the obvious differences between the two cities that make them unique.

1. Life in sydney is experienced at a much faster pace
2. From my experience, Melbourne people have the time to stop, chat or assist you.
3. Sydnisiders are more extroverted and outgoing, Melbournians keep more to themselves
4. Melbournians are usually dressed in black/grey and in my opinion, look more sophisticated
5. As the sydney city is indeed a historical and ancient one, compared to melbourne, the urban layout is seemingly confusing with one way streets and triangular blocks. Melbourne's urban layout takes the form of the famous 'grid'.
6. As sydney is structed around harbours, it makes for a more naturally beautiful city
7. Melbourne public transport is definitely more orgainsed, cheaper and works in collaboration with trams, buses and trains.
8. Living expenses are higher in Sydney city, even their cheap asian food is more expensive and lacking in quality
9. The shopping in sydney is a plus, with unique and cheap items at markets like Paddy's, Rock's and Bondi. Even their large national stores like Rubi are cheaper there.
10. Of the 4 times i've been to Sydney it is always overcast, with a white glaring light from the sun. it is usually humid during summer.

Me at the famous Bondi Beach

3 Monkey's Pub, George Street

Typography in Sydney

I also did my fair share of shopping and was disappointed to find out how much i got ripped off with my Red Hooded coat that i recently bought (previous posts). I paid $55 in highpoint and in Sydney it was $30, I could have almost bought 2! i was frustrated and decided to buy things to make up for it. Sydney shopping is the best. Things are cheap but stylish and one off. Chinatown, Paddy's Market and Market City are my favourites. I can always find things here. This is what I bought.

Canvas Lace-up Boots, Rubi Shoes for $39.99

White Cropped Knit Hooded Cardi,

$10 at Market City

Military Style Shirt

$35 at Market City

Assorted Tights, $5 each at Rubi Shoes

I bought 6 in total.

Law Abiding Citizen

It was cheap movie tuesday yesterday, tickets were $10.50 but back 5 years ago cheap tuesdays meant $5 a ticket. Anyway, I watched a movie that could almost be compared to Shawshank Redemption. The movie's main issues concern itself with the faults of the justice system. A guilty man can walk free with persuasive words backed up with laws and deals can be made with murders. It's the best movie i have watched in the cinema since Avatar in 3D. Vman taught me how to drive (or start up and reverse) a manual car! I feel so good that I have learnt something new, i havent learnt something new in so long. Clutch + brake, turn on engine, let go of hand brake, Gear 1, let go brake, (now the tricky part) GENTLY let go the clutch AS you GENTLY press the accelerator. Thats wat i need to get the hang off since i tend to press the accelerator harder than i let the clutch go. Let go of clutch, continue applying pressure on accelerator, clutch, Gear 2 to go faster. I enjoyed driving manual. i find it similar to maths, theres theory behind ' i have to do this because the car is doing this'. It makes me think and forces me to figure out what's i have to do inorder to dorp my speed and stop at this stop sign. Toady i FINALLY WENT SALSA LESSONS. oh it was fun! it was FREE too, every wednesday and thursday from 5:30pm at Syn Bar on Russell Street. It's actually quite easy to get that hang off. Vman wont let me forget the counting 1, 2, 3, pause, 5, 6, 7. He ended up having fun too, he got off to a nervous start but when theres so many people, you feel no one really cares if you fuck up. The lady taught us a Basic Step, a Step that started with a C, and a Spot Step. She says you need to know how to do these steps and that social Salsa dancing was mostly improvised. Thats the reason why its so fun, the guy is the one who leads. Michael Jackson painted on garden crickets photographed at the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum in Gold Coast

Ears

This time last year. i havent been on the internet for over 2weeks now, since my wireless connection wasn't connecting! and i couldnt be bothered fixing it because i didnt have an administration password on my downstairs computer. dont worry, its still not fixed. today we booked the tickets to SYDNEY and QUEENSLAND. 10days and 9 nights in total, first jetting off to Sydney, staying on George Street. I LOOOVE sydney and i cant wait to get back there. It's gonna be everything I know it will be, exciting, adrenaline-rushing, bright-lights and activities. We plan to climb the harbour bridge, speed boat around darling harbour, take a double decker train, monorail, visit the little chinese garden and the powerhouse museum and SHOPPING. after 5nights we jet off to the Goldcoast where we will visit MovieWorld and Wet 'n' Wild. and thats about it. I dont really know what to expect in QLD but we shall see in time. We leave january 29th and come back Feb 6th. ill miss two days of summer classes hopefully i can catchup before hand. My earlobes are red and sore from my unbelievably heavy earrings that I bought from Diva for $5. poor little holes, how u suffer for beauty.