Of Daffodils and canolis

Discovered this whole new world that my Nokia phone produces fabulous photos, seriously. I’ve had it for a long while, and have never really taken it too seriously, right until today. Images were clear, except for those half hearted ones, for underestimation of its capabilities.

And those songs that I’ve been missing.

It’s been raining the whole day, hailing I reckon, the winds blowing against the door it’s horrendous. I’ve never taken to the weather, or appreciated its full effects, and then it’s Boston, with its so unpredictable Melbourne-like weather, and then Sydney trying very hard to break free from winter, alas, spring seems to have taken a backseat, hiding in a corner for its turn.

Daffodil day is today, bought a pen to support, flowers would brighten up the room, yup, that’s the next plan.

Italian forum seems so different from what I remembered 2 years ago, dinner was largely disappointing, or it’s the pressure in the presence of foodies. But Bar Italia was good, the canoli’s still sitting in my fridge, after the gelati and latte (oh now I know why I’m still wide awake), I just had to keep it til the next day.

Public Transport

Found this while reading a REIT Report.

They say that time changes things,

but you actually have to change

them yourself.”

Andy Warhol

On another random note, read that the M'sian PM took the public transport to test out the system. And today I was frustrated about the public transport and took the next bus to a main bus stand to improve chances. But let this not be an outlet for complaints.

Trip planners are really good, seen them in Boston and Sydney public transport websites, yet to feedle around with the S'pore / M'sian ones, although I must say that the S'pore MRT still top my rank of efficient public transportation system. No more being politically correct.

Economic decisions we make everyday.

theme for the blog

While reading the (sydney) magazine enroute home the 392, last page on the (sydney) grill where 15 questions were posed to James Valentine (whom I don't know), ABC radio host on all things (sydney), okay that's hell load of parenthesis in one sentence; the opinions page on SMH; and in between washing the dishes, my theme for the blog came up - I've decided to blog about good ideas, good food, and 'wow I didn't know thats (which is a lot)' that should be shared across countries, having travelled 5 countries (Thailand, m'sia - I lived there, so probably doesn't count, S'pore, US, Aust) in four months, recounting 4 time zones, carrying 5 currencies, speaking 6 accents (Hokkien, smattering of Cantonese, Manglish, Singlish, Aussie, and a terrible attempt at sounding vaguely loud (to my ears)) and being officially broke from all that...

it is all rather random, as usual. today's idea: recycling!

The uni at US had a damn good system: bring your own mug and it's 50 cents off coffee. coffee is 1.50 per cup in the US, and 2.80 per cup at a uni in sydney. what gives? although at off peak hours, the aussie bloke over the counter will happily stir in the 2 sugars into your cup (minus the coffee collar, which I am so in love with after the show 'maid of honor', because the guy, Patrick 'McDreamy' Dempsey became rich after inventing the coffee collar). but of course, i'd take coffee in australia anyday to starbucks (opps, might have offended a whole list of people), but i dare say it must be due to preferences more than anything else.

US made it so easy to recycle because there's a compost bin at the cafe (which I always had to refer to the idiot proof way of sticking samples up against the bin to show what you can throw into where), and recycling bins in campus buildings and I actually developed the habit of recycling, i.e. deliberating holding onto used papers and only throwing them into the bins that say 'paper only'.

Imagine the shock I found when, I couldn't find any recycling bin at uni here! okay, there is a set of dumpsters lining up the driveway at the house I'm staying - unfortunately, that's as close as i can get to recycling.

Sustainability = recycling = design for lazy people = make it convenient

hmphz, I'm suddenly a huge advocate for recycling and have 2 woolies, 1 coles, 1 borders, 1 API shopping bags all in 3 weeks. And woolies shopping bag tops as most practical.

oh no, i'm turning into some suburb mall hopping "fill in the blanks". i can't blog further.

SASHIMI!

Dinner changed from Peking Duck to Sashimi at Toraya in Chatswood. For a good 75 bucks, there's a brilliant serve of tuna, scallop, oysters, salmon and scampi. I absolutely loved it, and so did the four foodies on the table.

Super duper fulfilling...

I wonder if I came to sydney for studies or food.. it's been just days after days of good food, and yum cha three weeks in a row.

And of course, michael phelps won the unprecedented 8 olympic golds, not bad for a kid who was diagnosed with ADHD in his youth, goes to show how one just have to choose the right thing to focus on.

I have a tinkling feeling that this blog may very well turn into a food blog.

Rock on

The theme for the next 1.5 years is 'Rock on!'

Finally settled down in Sydney, found a place in the suburbs, bought a 75-pc kitchen starter set, bought a 3-in-one blender-toaster-kettle, and all I need is an oven plate and a bit of fitting out and i'm ready to cook.

A peep into my fridge:

Vegemite (yes I do love them), cream cheese (oh I miss those bagels), margarine (which was on super special), strawberries (they are in season!), cereals, apples, oranges, milk (spilled 1/4 from trying to push the trolley down the ramp over the handicapped road furniture which made the 3L bottle not worth it), soy and linseed bread.

I'm eating healthy full breakfast of milk+cereals+green apples, two toast of butter/vegemite, milk, water.

This is winter and I'm allowed to eat more, and well, i'm waking up without the alarm at a decent time, and I'm sleeping before midnight (okay, except for today). So everything happens for a reason.

Rock on!