somewhere over the rainbow

pictures from the sweet november trip - see previously related post here. 

of emperors,leibovitz and cheap eats

This was the first time my best friends, A & M, and I travelled together so there was much anticipation for a weekend getaway from tirelessly working over the summer.

It was after all a disguised foodie’s pilgrimage to:

                             Zumbo’s Pâtisserie :: for macarons, 
                             Musashi :: for green tea crème brûlée, 
                             Guzman Y Gomez :: for spicy chicken guerrero, 
                             Chat Thai :: for sweet & savoury asian delights, 
Fish Market :: for our seafood cravings
Chinatown :: for Emperor’s Puffs and
                             Hurricane’s :: for grilled pork ribs.

1/ The Romanesque QVB. The intricate tiled floors, glorious stained glass windows and old cage elevators transports you back into the early 20th century where I wished I was dressed like Miss Delysia Lafosse.

2/ The subway just brought back fond memories of the London tube - the colour scheme, underground breeze and the large gap between the train and platform. Yes, London beckons!

This stop was where we got off and split both ways. I willingly went alone to the Annie Leibovitz: A Photographer’s Life 1990-2005 exhibition whilst A & M went to see the Terracotta Army. Naturally, my affinity to gelatin silver prints & matted paper far outweigh my observing concrete soldiers and horses.

My personal favourites from the exhibition were the black & white portraits of Al Pacino & Robert De Niro taken in her West 26th studio and those of her daughters. Her celebrity photoshoots for Vanity Fair always leave me swooning.

3/ 4PM “lunch” at Chat Thai was also the idea of the 45 already eating patrons, to my astonishment. We ate to our heart’s delight despite A’s disappointment in her 5th attempt to try their infamous sweet potato balls that were already sold out since early morning :(

4/ My very first Hillsong experience, all inclusive of their own shuttle bus to the city campus. I must say their Vision 2011 book blew me away with the design and prints. Their creativity was as inspiring as the authenticity in the way their songs are written. You must get your hands on their latest album, aftermath [‘aftər,maθ]! 

5/ A trip to the Harbour City is never complete without putting on large white bibs and gnawing on pork ribs at Hurricane’s. Oui, c’est la vie pour nous femmes! 

/ˈɪndiə/

Yesterday while driving to work I passed by one of those old VW hippie vans named “Shanti-Van” - The Happy Wanderer. It was light, rose pink in colour with a beaded necklace hanging from the rear view mirror.

And then just two minutes later, I drove past another van with a sticker on the back window which says I ❤ Punani.

I chuckled to myself and pondered on the oddity of my 9 am encounter, recalling that I have been thinking of going to India after having recent conversations with a friend who will be going there on a missions trip.

This could be a sign.

Time will tell.

(photos by: thunderedcat)

across the universe

The perfect getaway gift to the Prom Country with one of my best friends, Valerie. (thank you!!) Sharing the same perspectives and desires in travel, I couldn’t have enjoyed the trip more. I love how we marvel at each other’s idiosyncrasies; our itch to get to know the locals, and the spontaneity of it all. 

                                  A Fresian wedding and Dutch cake,

                                             Joyce Meyer on God.TV,

                                               Moonlight Jacuzzi,

                                         Flying Cow & Fish Tales, 

                                                Squeaky Beach,

                                  Mushroom risotto & Chilled lasagna,

                                              Foster Curry Puffs,

                                          Korrumburra General Store, 

                                                Hard Loch Cafe.

 Inverloch - Fish Creek - Wilson’s Prom - Foster - Korrumburra - Loch. 

I decided to go analogue, pushing boundaries by experimenting with a fisheye and Holga, while Val sticks with the digital (backup plan, really). So relieved and ecstatic that the film turned out absolutely divine! (Fisheye posts to follow when I develop them)

More adventures to follow, my dear button.

across the bass strait

the natural state - tasmania.