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.

Let the Celebrations Begin!!

It is now my birthday week. Tmrw, well actually in less than 2hrs i will leave this house for my 7:35am flight to Sydney. I cannot sleep and I will not. Ive got big plans for Sydney, nothing specific. Just to have fun, however that may be we will just see. Nai zi said

'the only thing you should remember is that you had fun,

nothing else'

i kinda like that. haha. thanks nai zi. but i would like to remember the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb and visits to the Sydney Wildlife Centre.

A 3.5hr climb of the iconic Sydney Harbour Bridge,

Hows THAT for 21.

I am 21 on the 4th of august. its a big thing, im not a kid anymore. im going to print out a list of all the things ive accomplished in my 21 years of life. im old and i have to settle on my direction on life. time to plan how to bring in the big bucks.

Hey Lover!

LADIES LOVE COOL JAMES

its 4:27am, i should be asleep. either that or working on my motorsporting branding but I DONT WANNA. im fighting my tiredness by trying to be hyperactive. im happy because i went shopping at highpoint. i am on a mission to buy cheap, good looking and warm coats/jackets for the winter cold in melbourne AND paris and london. soon all the jackets will be gone from melbourne shops as spring is near. then i wont find any jackets! but my bro raised a good point that towards the end of winter, shit will be on sale. i should visit my old work for some massive discounted stock.

today i bought a military style knitted cardi. it was a navy blue in medium, i wanted a small in black but seeing that they were only $15!!! there werent many available. it is long, (nearly to my knee) with white lines across the front, round neck, white buttons. its slimming, but it only looks good buttoned up. if i dont, i look like a tent/triangle.

the other was a RED COAT. ive wanted a good quality red quote since i saw Tracy Hong's photos in new york. she looked adorable in one, now i wanna look adorable in one >=[ the one i found is long also, hooded, medium in warmth with toggles down the front and two front pockets. it was $55 which is a considerable price when compared to the rip off's at dangerfield and such. its a nice deep blood red. very pretty.

i want tomorrow morning to come already so i can wear my new military cardi. ive already planned my outfit. opaque black stockings, black over the knee boots, long top to over my bum + military jacket, ill need to use my trusty black CKM coat for extra warm.. hurry up!! i wanna wear it!

group meeting at 10am tmrw. boooooooo. last day of winter term YEAAAAHHH!!!

then fly to sydney on friday, come back for a 1 week holiday of NO SCHOOL and then family party for my bday on the 7th of August. With lichon, coffee/choco cake and my fav philo foods. im gonna make everyone play minute to win it games. hahah. excite me =]

pictures of my jacket/cardi coming soon!!!

The World is Slowly Changing

This Sunday will be my last shift at Femme. Its always sad to leave your comfort zone behind and sometimes daunting to look into your uncertain future. i try to see it as a good thing and mutter the words repeatedly in my head 'change is good, change is good, change is good'. and in most cases it is since everything single fucking thing you go through is a learning experience. and experience is what most people yearn for, whether they want a new job, travel the world, move out on their own, change their room layout, watch a new movie, go on a tour, everything!

ive got bar work tmrw which i find very interesting at the moment. i always know what time i start but never exactly when i finish, i hate taking trains late at night. especially after seeing a Crime Stoppers notice titled

'RAPE AT MELBOURNE CENTRAL STATION'

and some photograph of an ordinary asian man. fucking scary, out of ALL the stations i pass on the sydenham line, melbourne central is percieved to be the safest considering all the security cameras, guards, and the fact that the station is enclosed within a major city shopping centre.

fucking animals.

another fucking animal is the bitch who spat a large amount of phlegm all over the front of a jacket she tried on at Femme. why the fuck would any sane, normal, civilised, educated person do that? she cannot obviously be described by the words above. i wish i had the chance to tie her naked to a chair, hands and ankles bound by electrical tape and spit on her face with my gooey phlegm. id get the top she spat on and use it to wipe it all over her face and make her swallow what she got in her mouth. give you a taste of your own medicine.

Zombie

I've just had a quick squiz at my older posts and realised how much more visual i was back then. sometimes the images i post with my posts aren't even vaguely related but perhaps in some subconcious way they are. its fucking freezing. my computer is far from my cozy toasty room and moving it takes about 2trips since the computer is quiet heavy for my thin arms. i must learn how to grow gripping muscles on my hands to open bottles of drinks at work, i cannot always ask the customers to do it for me. i feel i would appear a tad unprofessional. stupid lady who pointed me out as a newbie. whatever.

sydney tickets are booked again. it will be the 3rd time im flying out of melbourne since january 28th this year. how exciting, im sure wasting my money on these interstate holiday. this time its for a good reason, my 21st. it will be celebrated in sydney from july 30 to august 2nd. i shall do the 3.5hr climb on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and i shall shit myself when i look down at the water below and remind myself i cannot swim to save my drowning soul. i have jokingly said i would push vman off the bridge but there will be no jokes once we're up there. it'll be a 21st to remember.

im gonna save lotsa money to get trashed at the expensive sydney clubs. corona's go up from $5 a bottle to $9 over night at the same club and entry fees can go up to $30. thats 6 corona bottles at $5 each. THATS A 6PACK! unbelievable what they get away with. but you gotta pay for the experience. i must remind myself to not wear high heels that night or i will surely tumble over and break my ankle. perhaps a pair of boots.

Those babies in the top picture will cost me about $150 since they are ginuine leather.

I have gone 4months without them since seeing them 1st in sydney.

90's

feeling strangely positive today. its all in the music. (its probably got something to do with the sunshine too). lately ive been downloading 90's r&b and hip hop mixes including gold tracks like :

• Zhane - Hey Mr. DJ
• TLC - Creep
• The Fugees - Fu-Ge-La
• Nappy Roots - Po' Folks
• Notorious B.I.G - Mo' Money Mo' Problems
• Lauren Hill - Doo Wop That Thing

The list will continue as I continue downloading.

Just finished work. Working two jobs + uni is difficult. Money is a distraction. Plus working is more fun, i dont have to stress to meet deadlines, when i clock off, i clock off. in less than 1 month i have to do a 3 double page spread programme guide, a3 event poster and flyer for the Australian Opera, plus a 1500 word rationale, work book and model for Packaging Design. so behind. plus i have a marketing exam on the 10th of june. i am so not thinking about that. i am a couple chapters and lectures behind.

i made a new drink today. the original fruit punch mocktail + a 30ml shot of Baileys. to me it turned out alright, fruity until the end when u get the milky hit. i like it but maybe others wouldn't, too bad no one was around to critic it. most of my time was spent cleaning and organising the food in the kitchen area. grouping foods together and the most used items in more accessible places. looks and feels much better than beforer.

bought hanaichi twice today, and maccas once. 1 large big mac meal, i needed it to measure the burger and chips since im re-designing the takeaway packaging. its even better that i got to eat it after. infact it was killing me that i had to measure it before i could eat it.

2days ago i booked tickets to sydney. $38 each way, so $76 for a return flight. tickets are booked for my birthday so i can climb the Harbour Bridge which is on my to-do list. It's a tad bit early to book hotel rooms and the climb so i must remember to do it closer to the date. theres a nice hotel in darling harbour for only $95 a night.

the days are getting shorter and nights are colder. i type this while a heater warms my legs, unfortunately its not doing a fast enough job.

7am start tmrw, but i think ill make it a 10am. class from 12:30pm - 2:30pm then work from 3pm - 7pm. the next day is even longer. here we go.

An Accidental Coffee Stain

Marketing.

Sunny, 27degrees, light breeze was the weather today. got up quite early (9:15am) to catch the 10:09am train from watergardens. travelled to Glenferrie for my marketing lecture and class. got back my mid semester test results and found out i did really bad, and so did the rest of the class. yay. i got 18/30 thats 60% thats about a pass or credit.

the subject of marketing is annoying, there are so many terms with the most simplist definitions, it defeats the purpose of having terms! for example

Target Marketing Selection : process of choosing a market to target

Marketing Strategy Development : developing strategy

Marketing Intelligence : any everyday info about the marketing environment

Marketing Information System (MIS) : process used to gather information

it makes everything difficult to understand.

I applied for a bartending position. its gona be a very cool job, IF i get accepted. I handed my resume and personalised cover letter to this nice man named James, shooked his hand and everything. I hope it was a good impression, i told him it took me two days to write the cover letter. i told him not to forget me. tmrw ive gotta go to femme and notify kirra of my application and my intent to leave once i get accepted. i hate quitting, i cant find the right words to say, especially to kirra =(

Central Station, Sydney City

Tis My 3rd Year at Swinny

I am OVERjoyed that i received a Distinction for my Communicating Practice summer subject, when all i was expecting was a Credit. PHEW this is a good sign guys. Definitely (Y) It was my first day of 3rd year uni today. I had a 3 hour session at the Hawthorn campus studying The Marketing Concept. Its quite interesting, maybe when i finish studying Design, visual merchandising, makeup, bartending, fashion, psychology, sociology and linguistics i will study Marketing. this is what the definition of marketing is:

targeting the objectives of an organisisation

Pretty broad right? Most people think marketing is about making money, but not all organisation objectives involve money e.g. charities and blood bank. Some people think that marketing is about selling a product, or manipulating people into buying something.. that would be more advertising. Another definition of marketing is

Keeping the client and the customer satisfied in an 'exchange',

so this exchange benefits both people and

Managing demands of clients

We learnt about Manageial Philosophies

1. The Production Concept
2. The Product Concept
3. The Selling Concept
4. The Marketing Concept
5. The Societal Marketing Concept

which are ways to achieve an organisations objectives in terms of selling something. Its' very interesting because it really is a whole bunch of common sense and logic. Common sense and logic that i need to go to university to learn about! how ironic. i wonder what else i should know, that i cant figure out for myself?

Reach for the Sky!

(your best option is in a Ferris Wheel this big)

My Savers Hit

Finally went to Savers in Footscray. Spent about 1hour browsing through the store and scored myself some bargins. I really shouldnt be spending my money, i aim to save at least half of my weekly wage and spend on the rest. seems fair, seems like a reachable goal. but its not when you see many pretty things for a cheap price. The black mini Kookai dress is spotted with white, light brown and dark brown silk circles. I purchased it for $7.99 It's beautiful and i love it already. the only problem is the silk circles are beginning to fray and that cant be helped. The Pentax old school SLR camera cost me $7.99 whether it works or not is another question. Vman said he could fix what was broken. Before i gave it a quick wipe with alcohol and a brief clean with a cotton bud. The camera doesn't look like it has been taken care off. The lenses are dirty inside with dust and small specks and what looks like water dried up. there is no cover for the lenses and whenever you rewind the film it feels like there is sand inside the camera.

The picture frame features egyptian mummy art. it cost me $4.99 I have already hung it up on my bedroom wall. There are now 3 pieces of art ihave bought from savers that are hanging on my wall. I do expect to find more.

The pink heels are the only thing in the picture that i didnt buy at savers. It cost me $20 at globalise, its similar to the green pair of heels i bought at sydney (pictured below). I love the shoes already, even though i know some of my heels i havent worn more than once. They are the 1st sling back heels i have bought, and the 2nd pair that i bought for $20. cant go wrong. maybe a lil big but i slipped some party feet in them to make them more comfy.

These are the green heels i was talking about. they cost me $50 at General Pants & Co in Sydney. where they had a buy one sale item, get the next sale item for free. omgosh, i was in heaven! with these green shoes i got a One teaspoon top for free. I also bought a pair of ankle high converse shoes for 70$ and got an orange tshirt dress for free. The other shoes featured in this photo i bought from a shop on George Street called Raben Shoes. They cost me $50 which i think is a fair price. At the time i was so confident with wat id wear it with but now im unsure.

its more fun when ur in another city, u can be whoever you wanna be, and dress how u wanna dress. no one there that you care about is gonna judge you.

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.

Waste not, Want not

I'm trying to do something productive everyday so my life isn't wasted. I write myself a to-do list the night before so it gives me some incentive to wake up (preferably early). Today I have done: - vacuumed my room - sewed the fraying ends of my scarf - sewed the holes in my jacket pocket - transfered my design folios for this semester into adequate storage means - cleaned up my digital photos on the old computer and burned them to CD - charged and updated the photos on my digital key ring for Vman - hang out the wet clothes - folded the dry ones I did that in four hours. Pretty crappy. I have work in 2hours, I gotta get ready soon. My scarf. It took me two days to sew on the gold studs and today to sew up the fraying edges. My holiday to Sydney and Queensland is planned for January 29. 5Days in Sydney and 4days in Queensland. We're only going to two theme parks in the Gold Coast, Movie World and Wet 'n' Wild = my favourites! Return flights, accomodation, transfers and theme park entry is gonna cost about $900 per person which I think is a great deal. It cost $303 for all the flights! $303 are two pairs of sneakers for me, and to think $303 could pay for the flights? Crazy. I'm gonna book the tickets prolly this weekend, then all I'd have to do is tell mum.