Went for a drive to drop off some papers and test Andrew newly installed engine (don't ask)... the furkids came - this is a photo of them patiently waiting in the car while we bought dinner (noodles).
Oh and I got a new phone - the cheapest prepay phone that the three shop had. I am a bit impressed with it though.
I don't deserve a blog - too slack... maybe I will try and make an effort.
And last but not least Jess-ka is a wonderful role-model / older-fur-sister ...
Yeh like the title says, I got a new camera - been eye-ing em up for a while so it wasn't really an impulse picture....
So it's back to the tried and tested Canon Ixus Family an 80 IS to be exact - Cameras are cheaps as chips these days!
All the better to photograph you with!!
Long time (again) no blogg... I am really cranky at the moment, haven't been feeling very well... In other news, an assignment due tomorrow, a brother's wedding, the prospect of becoming an aunt in September, exams, a puppy adoption, and more study.
Could life get any better? So what else is news?
ummm nothing much, same shit different day!
Hey tonight we went to see the smashing pumpkins as part of the celebration that is/was Andrew's birthday. Overall it was an OK concert, but it was dampened by the vibe given out by the lead singer (who are the other people in the band???) who seemed to be very cranky - and had a few snide remarks for the crowd in general.
A bit too complicated for my needs - I just wanted to see an old fav band pull out some chart topping tunes .. but this was not to be... there was a few I will give you that - but a tad too much "filler" which included extended guitar jams, random playing, covers of songs including Britney's "You want a piece of me", also "My Blue Heaven" and another song which I can't place. It was very bizarre.
Anyway cranky, tired and have a cat operation ahead of me tomorrow.... A cocktail of emotions and feelings. ciao 4 now.
This month is not going to be a good one for me - me thinks. I am not going to go on about money or the lack of it, but lets just say that I haven't recovered from Dec / January and now I have car insurance, a car that has just come out of the panel beaters, subsequent hire car costs, 2 smashing pumpkins tix for Monday night, a $200 trip to the vet today (whoops wasn't going to actually mention money - but I do have two cats and most of the costs were for a lil box of flea stuff) and a sheep dog program up the sleeve.
And then there is Bella. Princess of Purr-sia. My lil grey kitty. Well she has to have an ENDOSCOPY on her nose and throat cavity because of her lymph nodes are inflamed, the Vet is leaning towards an infection from a foreign body in her i don't know what or some sort of polyp(s) which may need to be removed and / or biopsied. So yeah feeling great right now.... it's not even about the money really it's just that I am REALLY worried about her and concerned that it might be something more serious. If it we get past Tuesday - they find and remove what ever is causing it (and it's not something that might return or get worse) I will be happy. A course of antibiotics and we are on the MEND! Fingers crossed.
Oh yeah I don't even have the energy to rant about my car hire experiences! Anyways short story is they gave me a brand new EPICA and hopefully shoved the GETZ somewhere where the sun don't shine! Loved the epica - thanks Avis.
Went to Milton on the recommendation of a few randoms on the net (i.e. googled “best steak +Brisbane” and looked at some random rants) of which the Embers Restaurant (http://www.embers.com.au) was recommended.
So I made a booking for 3 (really shouldn’t have). The interior was not really what I was expecting for a steak restaurant. A bit pretentious with fancy wooden chairs with arms. It had a strangely up-market feel which I did not really expect for a steak and grill place. But it had no ambience about it, being pretty empty it was like a hospital cafeteria feel, but as it filled up it just got noisier.
Service: About 60 seconds after being seated we were asked if we wanted a drink – hmmm how about you let us look at the drinks menu first??? Thanks Waitress # 1.
And then shortly after this we were served (?? More like just approached) by waiter # 2, which when IP asked if there were any special tonight we were told that everything was special, and then that specials are only for when the chef wants to get rid of something that is getting a bit past special. Hmmm.. ok ..RUDE!!!! When Waitress # 1 came back she balls it up not writing down our order properly so had to come back and confirm. I would like to say that the one saving grace was the waitress # 3 who served our meals, cleaned up and settled the bill - she was "nice" and helpful.
Food: I have to say that I had no complaints about the food. I ordered the rib on the bone and I absolutely loved it - a perfect medium rare, tasty AND tender. It's good when a steak is cooked as ordered (rare but required).
I also eyed up my brother’s rump (well his steak to be specific) and it was thick and looked very tasty.
IP ordered pork ribs (swear he is obsessed with ribs at the moment – this is the third time in a week), they didn’t look like anything to write home about! And can I add that the waitress asked "how would you like them cooked?" (ummm cooked please? geez it's not a steak!!)
Overall I think that they may have the best steak in Brisbane. The salads that we ordered, also were tasty and more importantly fresh!
Overall: I was going to give them a solid 8 out of 10 (one point off for the lack of ambience and the weird ass service) although after getting the bill, I am giving them a 7.5 because the steaks were expensive enough with out having to shell out another ten bucks for sauce and salad (side salad $6.50 and sauce $3.50) Damn you embers for charging me to have more than just a steak and a potato!
RATING GUIDE - 10: perfect; 9: excellent; 8: very good; 7: good; 6: passable; 5: disappointing; 1-4: woeful.
Well last night started off well .. we (Yvonne, Sean, her brother and me) scootered off to a nice Japanese establishment called Kawata Yakiniku where you actually cook (BBQ) your own food - WAGYU steak, pork, chicken, bacon wrapped asparagus, prawns, japanese fish, scallops and squid. We then went and saw enchanted, which was a very light hearted and sweet movie.
We then went to the local pool hall and the boys had a couple of games of 9-ball and then a few of 8-ball.
We got home and I went to bed at about 3am. Shortly after this, some got violently unwell and proceeded to up-chuck the contents of their meal and the rest of their stomach contents. So between that and my snoring not much sleep was had.
Today we did absolutely NOTHING! Bit of a downer for our last day and we are not looking forward to the flight home either.
Bring on Brisvegas! ciao for now.
Waking up relatively early considering our 3am bedtime, we were picked up by Jacob & Vicky and escorted to the local computer area of Taichung. Sean was looking for a laser mouse for his new hot computer systen which his mate is building for him. No luck - as the prices are comparable to Australia. I managed to get a great deal on a 9 inch digital photo-frame, which will have pride of place on our new (yet to be bought) ikea buffet (to match the dining table), to display the memories of this GREAT trip. They also threw in a free (stuffed) giraffe!
After this we went to the restaurant from where it is reputed that pearl milk tea orginated (the previous nights was better) and also filled up on Taiwanese snacks including noodles, spicy stirfried mushrooms and dumplings.
Jacob and Vicky then dropped us in a youth area (as they had afternoon commitements) where were browsed the markets.
We then decided to head home - the transport option of choice for this trip was high speed rail. Due to the heighten use of this service we had the option of waiting one hour - or going first class. I don't know if it was worth the double price fee, although it was definately an experience. It did not feel like we were travelling at a highspeed. First class involved a bigger seat and free tea & coffee (also nuts and bottled water).
Now home in Jhongli - only one sleep and an overnight flight between me and Australia. Can't wait to get home to the boy and the girls. Wish I didn't have to return to work.
Yesterday we went to Elaine's hometown, to meet up with her. Drove around in her little Nissan March (equivalent of a MICRA in Australia). This would have been excitement enough, but we had the complications of Elaine's CRAZY driving and the fact that we started the day on EMPTY! It was a fun day - as all adventures with Elaine have been.
We first went toa disused train station in the mountains which is now a bit of a tourist destination. Ate some traditional Hakka food. This consisted of what looked like a fern salad, stirfry Pork, and a noodle dish that was very delicious.
After eating, and walking the street area, we ventured on to pick strawberries. This was a soggy experience which was very muddy (not a good idea in brand new WHITE shoes). I utlised the gum boots which were on offer.
We finally caught the train down to Taichung to meet with Scott & Hyatt. We also met with a couple who were their close friends - Jacob & Vicky. Together, we enjoyed a hot-pot, with WAY (way way) too much food. I don't know how we fit in the peark milk tea later - maybe it was the stop-off at the sportswear store which worked up a further appetite.
After all this, (at midnight) we started the look for a place to stay for the night. This turned out to be quite a mission as the only hotels which were on offer were "love motels" or similar. In our quest we had a look at some - they were really unsuitable as they only had one bed (couples really do not require more) and no doors to bathroom areas. This was also complicated by the fact that it is CNY meaning expensive season. Some of the rooms we looked at had interesting chair like contraptions in them which were a bit shocking.
After a through search we finally found a room for a reasonable price and bedded down for the remaining hours of the night.
Today is the new years eve in Chinese tradition. We had a pretty quiet day as the family were up early going to traditional hometown temples. Which meant sleeping was done this afternoon.
I hope to get back up to the roof later tonight, but it is VERY cold up there ... Maybe it will be going off at midnight. When I went up before, I did not realise that my camera did not have the memory card in it, so only got 30 mg of recording.
Today was a bit of a non-event. I slept in until noon, and then we went downtown to the SOGO (posh department store) had some snacks (Sashimi) at a Japanese Restaurant and then came home in time for a huge Taiwanese hotpot. Need to make these at home!!
After dinner we watched "Memiors of a Geisha" to make up for not seeing any in Japan.
After that the family disappeared to begine CNY celebrations which prayer and now chinese firecrackers can be heard throughour the streets.
I should be in bed, but am strangely wide awake.... I want a Canon Camera - or a panasonic FX-33 - can't decide. Last time I went out on a limb with a digital camera purchase I got stuck with the damn Olympus. Four more sleeps (and an overnight plane trip) before I am home. If only I didn't have to go back to work on Monday ...
Have been having some Japanese medicine (tastes like cinamon but disgusting) which seems to have helped my cold - YAY!
Today Yvonne & Sean went to Taipei via the train and I stayed home to give myself an oportunity to get better. It's still cold here and I thought a day in bed would be more helpful than one spent in the cold wind. Instead I decided to upload my photos onto my website - instead I lost them ALL! Good job Leigh!
When they got back at about 4pm, Yvonne and I went into her city to buya replacementUSB reader, SD card and a certain person a DualShock3 controller. That done we came back to have dinner with the family which included turnip & mushroom soup, pork in soy sauce, chilli stirfry pig's snout (It was yum I promise) and chinese cabbage with tiny shrimp. Very tasty!
After dinner we decided to go and catch that movie. So we saw "Cloverfield" it was ok. But I wouldn't reccomend, Blairwitch style camera work with a monster in Manhatten. One highlight was the chocolate popcorm. yum yum double yum.
On the way home we went through the night markets and one thing that we saw at the markets that we also saw at the other night markets, which we found amusing is the sudden packing up of stalls with notification that the police were on the way through the market! Aparently it is people who are selling pirated goods and those who are avoiding paying tax on their sales.
Now home chilling out in front of the TV. Tomorrow looks like a trip to the local SOGO.
The wind-down weekend begins as we have returned to Taiwan. Back at Yvonne's family home to share in the preparation and experience Chinese New Year (CNY).
Today we went into the centre of the town, to look at the computer shops and a general browse, with the intention of finally getting to the cinema to watch a movie. When we almost got to the cinema we were invited to go to the supermarket with Yvonne's parents to do shopping for the CNY. One of traditions when visiting friends and family is to take a gift, so the store was rife with cakes, biscuits and candies prettily packaged - and they were flying off the shelves ... We also bought a lot of snacks and candies for our own consumption, from what I understand, CNY is a time of family and friends coming together, prayer, eating and playing Mahjong.
I absolutely love going to supermakrkets (the bigger the better) in foreign countries as it really gives you a snapshot of how the household functions by the different offerings available and it is also interesting to see things that you don't see in Australia.
After all this excitement we decied not to see a movie and went home instead. Tried to get an early night in to try and get over this cold.
I was awoken this morning with the decision that we would not be staying in Tokyo for the additional night so instead we packed up & checked out - ready for the journey back to Taiwan.
Before leaving Sean and I utilised the last hours revisiting Akibara on what I can only label "The Knife Run". Following the sucess of our inital run, we went back to pick up additional supplies for those that had indicated their interest in such knives. I also tried to find a watch (as the $4 cheapy had died in the night before and I wanted something nice like that to take home). I also purchased some SONY headphones which I am very happy with great sound quality AND they fit in my ears (i.e. don't fall out).
We finally made it back to the rendevue point to begin the journey to the airport. The flight again, I was impressed with, China Airlines is up there for me with cabin service and quality of food. The fact that there was a TV in the back of the seat gave definate brownie points also. I watched this weird movie about this guy who has this "real doll" which he is deluded into thinking is a real person, it was called "Lars and the real girl" and then got through most of "Good Luck Chuck". I hate not seeing the end of a movie... will have to wait for DVD now....
Before boarding the plane I found the perfect watch - it is DKNY and I love it.
Oh well back in Jhongli with Yvonne's family and I do have a headcold. Lost 3 train tickets in the past 2 days - definately not with it!
An early start today as we trekked off to the vibrant (??) and very busy Tsukiji FISH market. What a sight! I saw lots of "things" which I never seen before and doubt (hope) to never see again!
It was very interesting and this was something that I had mentioned wanting to go to...
It's just that I walked away feel a bit sad for all the dead fish, and moreover, concerned about the state of the oceans, if this is indicative of we are ganking from the waters on a daily basis. Sorry for sound a bit "conservationist" there! I mustn't have felt that bad (or got over it very quickly) as we then went to a sushi bar onsite, and chowed down on a selection of what essentially was raw fish (also prawn, squid & cooked eel) on RICE! This was not a cheap one at 3500 Yen a serve.
Walking away very full and a lighter hip pocket, we wandered down the main street of nearby Ginza, which is full of Luxury goods (i.e. Gucci, BVLGARI, etc) which were not on the shopping list. Very interesting though.
Next was HARAJUKU station, which is well known for it's eccentricly dressed youth, they didn't fail us today either - would love to be able to go on a Sunday when apparently it is TEEMING with such specimen.
Harajuku also is the location of a shrine called the Meiji Jingu Shrine. This was built in honor of Emperor Meiji. Very beautiful!
After a quick look at SNOOPY TOWN, we proceeded onwards to close-by Shibuya. We ate lunch at a Japanese BBQ restaurant, which was very yum!
The reason we went here is so that Sean could find a tackle store and it was finally located - after some time walking the cold streets. :) While we was busy in the store, I filled up on Japanese cosmetic items, at a local pharmacy.
With very sore feet we proceeded home, to find out that our great idea to change our return date was not suitable with the hotel as they are fully booked tomorrow night. I think we have found another one though, fingers crossed, or we will be sleeping in the subway station tomorrow.
I think I am coming down with a cold.
The day started with a traditional Japanese breakfast (read rice ball & miso soup). We then ventured to Akihabara on the kind recommendation to purchase some ceramic knives. I also bought a vegetable / Mandoline slicer which I have been craving since Andrew's Xmas Party. After stocking up - we were dangerous - we had lunch at Yoshinoya, I don't know what it was called, but it was yummy and definitely an experience - the guy serving was funny to watch - he wouldn't sit still!! This meal only cost 380 yen. Bargain!!
After eating this meal, we went to Tokyo Bay utlising a monorail type service called Yurikamome. The area is on an artificial island, called Odaiba.
The excitement of going over the rainbow bridge quickly abaited.
We were finally at our destination, Venus Fort (a really interesting shopping center) which is decked out inside like a european street and full of very expensive stores. The fountain in the middle and the casino in the bottom were also interesting quirks.
We then went to Toyota Mega Web - which was like a theme park crossed with a showroom. I "drove" (more like rode in) a self driven car, we played this racing car driver game which they use to practice their response times, we looked at some strange cars which I doubt wil ever come to Australia and Sean played GT4 in a fully function VR device.
After all of this fun we went to a copy of the statue of liberty and then browsed the shops in Aquacity Odaiba. Our tummies were rumblings so we then quickly found a restaurant (many to choose from) in the centre, which was very tasty - Sean and I both chose the teriyaki chicken which came with rice, veges and miso soup.
After all this excitement and with sore feet we trundles home to a hot shower and a Bailey's on ice (yum - only $15 AU for a bottle).
Tomorrow Disney Land ... or Sea - not 100% sure yet.
The eagerly awaited day had finally arrived - woo hoo Japan!!! The early start was a bit depressing, as it was a rainy & cold exit from Taipei. We seem to have brought the wet weather with us to Tokyo as it is a bit dismal (and a might cold) over here.
After an early start, waiting for and then the two and half hour flight, an over an hour long train trip to metro Tokyo, and a slight misadventure (got on the right train, but in the wrong direction), we finally caught the right subway train to our stop. We then were assisted by a friendly Japanese woman who even called our hotel to find out the location, and then a short walk from the station we were not too eagerly welcomed by the front desk staff / woman. Asking for twin beds turned out to be OVERLY difficult to communicate to the silly woman who obiosuly did not have ANY English (not that I expect this but a bit of patience and personality goes a long way). The funny thing was when we realised that she was actually speaking japanese at us even though we had no understanding, we were expected to understand what she was demanding. Anyway end of rant. Once we were in (our thankfully TWIN room - I wasn't paying money to share a double with my brother) our room. The exploration of the quirks was amusing, such as the heated toilet seat withh front & back bum washing capabilities, the bizarre stove stop (1 cup only) jug and dubbed spiderman movie - to count a few. Jut wondering how I can fit the heated toilet seat into my suitcase.
Then as we were a bit hungry, we went for a stroll to the centre of Akusaka, where there is a temple and a maze of stalls selling lots of bits & pieces. Having browsed the stalls, we went to a Japanese (surprise suprise) Restaurant where we sampled the fare. I was going to have a nigiri platter as I have been craving it for a few days although decided to get Sashimi, which is some thing slightly different which had the similar meats as would be included on a nigiri platter - without the rice. It included pickled radish, a bowl of (hot) rice, and some miso soup. Not bad for the price, especially when compared to the nigiri platter which Sean ordered.
The Temple was then visited and some more borowsing of shops. Sean had a go at the Pachinko machines which is the Japanese eqivalent of a "pokie" machine - ike a mix between a pinball machine and a pokie machine, served up in a amusement parlor setting. A bit boring in my books, but then again I am not a gambler. I don't think Sean was impressed either.
After a bit more shopping, a trip to the local supermarket (love visiting supermarkets in foreign cities) we meandered home for an early night as we have a big day planned for tomorrow (not sure exactly what - but I am sure it will all be revealed in time) ...
Today was a relatively short one, as we slept in at Elaine's place. We finally caught the MRT to the rendevou point, meeting Hyatt & Christine at Noon.
We then went to a place to have lunch - we ended up choosing to eat at "Italian" place. I had lasagne.
We were picked up early from Elaine and Allen's place by their good friend Bruce. We were driven in his Toyota Camry to the Shihsanhang Museum of Archaeology, which is located near the mouth of the Danshui River in Bali.
None of the Taiwanese boys knew how to fix, so Sean was our hero and replaced the tyre, much to the admiration of all. We were back on the road again with the spacesaver tyre!!
