Counting down to the next trip

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Coming soon: 1 May 2009

^_^

Can't help it... FUCK*@$#^$%%&*@&^#&$^

FUCK FUCK FUCK SPIDER...

The couple at my workplace sucks.. real big time... The stupid director and his dog, or rather, the bitch... I think they must have fucked each other.. that's why he is siding with that bitch.. everything she says count.. and he is fucking useless... he agrees whatever she says.. and she is free to throw her tantrums and show her anger everywhere in the office, even in formal meetings when that useless director is present.. and he fucking stupid, cannot control her, or rather, don't wish to control her... anywhere, they are in cahoots and they are a fucking couple..

Perth April 2009

Hey guys, I am back! Determined not to neglect my blog, I will write something about this trip and will also include some pix :)

Imagine a tour without rollar coaster rides, a hot and sunny autumn day and a cloudless sky.. this is the feeling I got from my revisit trip to Perth this year...

Nonetheless, I love the familiar streets, the soothing coastal drive and the relaxing lifestyle the Aussies are leading...

But a not-so-good planning this time round.. the 6 days trip was short, after including a packed 2-day down south countryside trip.. also, having booked our air tickets and not realising that this is the Good-Friday-cum-Easter-Sunday-and-Monday super duper long weekend, the streets are all empty and everyone drives either up North or down South for their relaxing holiday...

Day 1: Perth City, Northbridge, Harbour Town
We reached Perth on Wed afternoon after a 5-hour flight on Qantas.. the service was so much better as compared to Northwest!!! Food wasnt great though, well, which airline food is good, tell me..??! The Aussies knocked off at 5pm, so we had to rush to do last min shopping before they close for the day.. we spent the rest of the evening in Northbridge, having my delicious Viet Beef noodles for dinner... yummy yummy... Had a really early night rest, as was so tired from the flight and work the previous day..

This was taken somewhere near UWA, I know, its very dark but its supposed to show the colourful sky.. I am just a decoration..

Day 2: Perth City, Canning, Nedlands
Had breakfast early in the morning at Fast Eddy's, the wonderful pancake place... with ice cream and fried bananas on top.. sounds delicious, isnt it..??! Next, we went to ANZ for banking matters and spent a whole lot of time at Bankwest, where the service was oh-so slow... and I had to top up our parking ticket 4 times..!!! This is the typical Aussie service level.. slow and relaxed... aiyo... so unlike Singapore.. time is money kind of attitude.. slow only complain complain complain.. over here in Aus, you really can't complain much, cuz everywhere is the same! Next, we head to the City Centre at Murray Street for shopping... I am glad I bought a down jacket for under 100! I really dunno when am I heading to cold countries again, but I think it is a nice buy and certainly an asset if I were to travel to Japan/Korea again! I also bought CrabTree and LOcitane at a nice price (having exchanged my AU$ when it was quite low).. Ended the day shopping at Westfield Carousel, where it is suburb night and the shops closed at 9pm.. We had mandarin duck buffet for dinner.. $10.50 per plate and you can stack as much as you want/can! We also drove to Nedlands for Broadway pizza.. the BBQ chicken is the BEST... must try!!

Fast Eddy's

This is the so-called busy city centre, as busy as Orchard Rd..?? Nah...

Day 3: Bunbury, DonnyBrook, Manjimup, Walpole
We woke up early to start our journey down south. At 8am, we were already on the road.. We reached Bunbury after a 2-hour non-stop journey... switched driver and carried on to DonnyBrook where we stopped at a fruit barn and bought some sweet nectarines... Next, we headed to Manjimup for lunch.. the sandwich is really cool.. the weather is still very hot.. After lunch, we drove 2 more hours and finally reached Walpole, our residence for the night... Checked into Comfort Inn - Tree Top Walk Motel and headed off to Valley of the Giant for the real deal: Tree Top Walk.. The path was shaky, stupid ang mohs... Nonetheless, I enjoyed the sights and cool night weather Walpole has to offer.. The town is really small and uninteresting.. The biggest tourist attraction is none other than the Tree Top Walk.. other than that, there is not much to do at Walpole.. We had sandwich and pizza (again) for dinner.. but this will be the last pizza day before we get sick from too much pizza...

The Tree Top Walk

I like this pic.. seems like I am a giant with a huge butt... keke

Day 4: Pemberton, Margaret River, Yallingup, Bunker Bay
Another early morning we set off to Pemberton and reached by 10am... Such a beautiful place - Lavendar and Berry Farm, and we also tasted their famous berry pancake with ice cream... yummy... Imagine every morning you wake up and there is a lake just before your eyes, quiet and peaceful with fresh air and rise to eat berry pancake every day... wow...
With so little time, we had to make our way to Margaret River so we had to give other attractions a miss.. trust me, if you ever drive down south in Perth, please stay overnight in Pemberton.. it is such a beautiful place!! We visited the wineries, chocolate factories, nuts factories in Margaret River and then we head off to Bunker Bay for our overnight stay in the biggest hotel room I had ever stayed in my entire life... the room itself is bigger than Oriental Singapore hotel suite.. The toilet is the interesting part.. imagine after you peed, you have to walk at least 5 steps to reach the wash basin.. there is still a shower space and bath tub.. the toilet is so big that you can convert it to become a bedroom instead... wow... Within the bedroom, there is also a living space and mini kitchenette.. wow wow wow... I love this hotel but didnt get to spend much time here as we also set off early the next morning :(

The most beautiful place - Lavendar and Berry Farm

The famous pancakes with berry sauce

Bunker Bay

The biggest hotel toilet

Day 5: Busselton, Fremantle, Chinese Food
After packing our bags and left Bunker Bay, we set off to Busselton. It is about an hour's drive away and shortly after, we reached. First, we had Jester Pie for breakfast, next, we went to the visitor's centre for some info. After grabbing a map, we headed to the Busselton jetty, unfortunately, it was closed for maintenance.. crap, i think the Aussies close it for Easter Sunday, cuz they are all lazy bums... Nothing else to do and the weather is super duper hot, we hit the road again and reached Bunbury in another hour or so.. Worse, Bunbury has even nothing much to offer... Only the Dolphin cruise is interesting.. we reached the Harbour for the cruise, yet, decided not to take the cruise due to the hot weather.. actually, I am not so keen either.. cuz this isnt the season and we might not see any Dolphins.. furthermore, there are many tourists waiting to go diving and the place is super crowded due to the holiday season... Nevermind, we drove another hour to Fremantle instead.. We gave the famous Fish&Chips a miss as we are really full and wanted to leave our stomach for a sumptuous dinner instead... We went to the Fremantle market which was closed the previous time I was there.. I bought a pair of sandles.. its quite fun and interesting at Fremantle.. But that day, the weather was the worse of all in my 6-day trip... very very hot..!!! I can't even open my eyes even with my shades on... Next, we checked into our residence for the night, thereafter, went to Northbridge for dinner.. we went to this one of our favourite places - HK roasted place.. the hot and sour soup is really delicious.. I had this again as I really love it from the previous trip... After dinner, we head to Burswood Casino.. I didnt play any, just standing around and watching others play.. I am not really interested in gambling anyway.. its a nice Casino since it is smoke free.. unlike those in Las Vegas, very stinko... Last night in Perth, and we are going home the next day...

Day 6: Easter Monday, Home sweet home
Not knowing it is Easter Monday, we woke up early and wanted to have breakfast at Corica.. But its closed, poor hubby, he didnt get to eat his favourite Apple Strudel.. the normal opening hours at Perth City on a Monday is 8.30am.. I wanted to do last min shopping yet only found out that all the shops are closed due to Easter Monday holiday... crap.. we walked around the empty streets instead while waiting for the time to go airport.. only the convenience stores are open, so I bought a magazine.. With my hubby's dilly dally nature, we were almost late at the airport, only arrive less than an hour before flight departure and checked in at the last min... fortunately, we still have alittle time to shop at dutyfree as there are so many people on the flight and they were queuing to get into the place.. After 5.5hrs, Home Sweet Home..

The 2 drivers cleaning our horse carriage on the last day

The empty streets at Perth City

Buy my swimwear?

Cheap Airfare.. Plan early

For those planning on a not-so-year-end holiday, do check out Tiger Airways lastest Promo, till 8/Apr or till seats sold out...

Airfare to Perth for 2 can be as cheap as S$380 inclusive of all taxes. Macau is just S$360 for 2 as well... Hurry!! while seats last... ^_^

I will be

I am so brain locked into this version by Avril.. Added a bittersweet touch as compared to the version by Leona Lewis.. Check it out :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EchTxGYqLS8

Confessions of a Shopaholic

I just watched this movie.. its quite funny, really.. But it sets me thinking back of my old days as a mild shopaholic... Haha.. that happened since 2004 and lasted for about 2.5yrs... I remembered I wasn't really a shopaholic pre-2004.. that year, it just happened when I was so pressured with life.. cuz that was a really bad year for me.. having been studying so hard, working so hard, with that heartbreak thingy and all things just came crashing down.. Hence, I used shopping as a form of releasing all those stress... somehow it helped, though it doesn't help in building my financial security.. I remembered I just buy and buy... impulse purchase, etc etc.. whenever I go out, I must buy something.. there must be a shopping bag or whatever when I get home.. Clothes, bags, shoes, lingerie, presents for others, etc etc.. you name it, I buy it.. the situation was worse during Christmas season with all those sales going on... I just know that I have to spent that money... in order to be happy...

Then for a while, I got addicted to online shopping... I could spent 700 bucks on VS shopping without realising it, until I total up all the different transactions.. I also spent quite a sum on ebay and other online stores... Also for a period of time, I was so into fancl.. I could spent 300+ per visit and I found myself going back and pay my monthly dues, just like paying utilities...

My wardrobe exploded and all the flea markets I had could not get rid of all the sprees, impulse purchases and excess.. Its almost red alert until out of a sudden, one fine day, I just wake up realising that spending $$ is no longer fun.. Surprisingly, I stopped VS, ebay buying and fancl.. I start to feel that walking out of stores empty handed is so much more satisfactory than spending senselessly.. I start to sell my stuff thru ebay which could fetch a better price than flea market, even though it takes more time.. my stuff are slowing disappearing and I feel much better.. I managed to save quite a bit for the past few yrs..

However, I got addicted to another expensive hobby: Travelling... so that makes me a travelholic now.. KEKE... I have spent a huge part of my past year's savings in travelling.. Since Mar last year, I have been to Korea, US and Japan.. and I am going to Perth next week and KL in May.. haha.. But I promise that I will save after the KL trip.. And my goal is to save for another house.. haha.. Now, my satisfaction is the more I save, the happier I am :)