Back home for Chinese New Year...

So i got through another week of free flap frenzy...2 free flaps in one week...which was quite bearable since we've had 4 free flaps in a week previously...got off work a bit earlier on Thursday evening coz my train back to KL was at 7pm...showered, last minute packing and then found out my phone got cut (cos apparently our account has reached its credit limit)...good thing Karen came on time to pick me up...but there was this stupid jam on the way to the train station...so i fretted...coz i ain't gonna miss the train...i was getting the hell out of KB that night no matter what...thank God we made it in time...and the train was delayed anyway...

Boarded the train about 720pm...ate my dinner....and slept at 8pm plus...only got up to answer nature's calls...although i kept getting awakened whenever the train stopped...but still, at least i could sleep...reached KL Sentral about 9am Friday morning...by then my phone was back on...called mom and bro came with her to pick me up...got home to get Pei and we went to Puchong for dim sum...yummy! first porky meal of the new year...char siew pau never tasted so good...and i was craving for lau sa pau just a few days back and i got to eat it...ahhh, God is good...

Went for grocery shopping with mom, bro and Pei in the afternoon...bought some baby stuffs for Colleen's Olivia (need the parent's name for contrast since Ernest's daughter will be named Olivia as well)...went out to yum cha with Cam and Wei Yew at Chatime (Cam's favourite) at Sri Petaling after dinner...it was good to catch up...we stayed till about 1030pm...then i sent Cam home and went home...

Was reading some journal articles for my case report while waiting for Ah Lok to get home and call me...and was listening to this song by Joshua Radin called "The Fear You Won't Fall"...nice and mellow...and melancholic...Ah Lok said that song describes our situation perfectly...anyway, we chatted till about 330am...and i got awakened by a call from the stupid hospital at 930am...urgh!!!! like i thought they should know how to call the on call MO and i'm obviously not on call...idiots!

Been spending the whole day doing my case report...got the introduction and discussion done...hope it's adequate...part of the case report is done as well...just need to add the operative details when i get back to KB...need the patient's folder for that...that shouldn't take too long...need to hand it in soon...before the supervisor comes chasing for it again...sigh, despite the holiday, i still need to prepare my case report, presentations and study...Lord, help me to be discipline and finish my work and study...

England Part 2 - Day 8 (Fare thee well)

My last day in London...with a heavy heart i finished packing all my loots...We were meeting Siaw Lian for lunch at Chinatown before we go to Liverpool Street station to take my bus to Stanted...we ate at this restaurant called Four Seasons (incidentally there's a Four Seasons in KB too)...apparently they're famous for their duck dishes...and when in London, apparently one has to eat the duck dish in Chinatown to complete one's gourmet experience...so duck we ate...it was wonderful...and we also had eggplant and seafood tofu soup...the bill came up to 43.50 pounds...quite reasonable if you earn in pounds...

It was good meeting up with Siaw Lian again...actually, i haven't seen both Chiew Sinn and Siaw Lian since we graduated from uni 5 years ago...who would have thought we would have a small reunion in Chinatown London huh? and Siaw Lian was showing me pictures of when she went for some performance in Royal Albert Hall...now, wouldn't it be grand to have been able to watch the 25th anniversary of the Phantom of the Opera there? Alas! i was too late...that was a week before i came to London...i think...

After lunch we walked to Trafalgar Square where we were taking the bus to Liverpool Street Station...there was some event at the square...plenty of people...some rocker guy was performing on stage...found the bus stop and waited for the bus...said goodbye to Siaw Lian and Chiew Sinn and i boarded the bus when it came...Chiew Sinn accompanied me till where i was supposed to take the bus to Stanted...so we said our goodbyes...wondering when will we see each other next...

The bus took about an hour to reach Stanted...checked-in my luggage and headed for the departure...i was pretty surprised we didn't have to go through immigration again this time...a bit strange but i wasn't complaining...then checked out the duty free shop to see if i could manage to buy a bottle of absinthe for my bro...couldn't find it at the local Sainsbury...good thing i found a bottle...cost me 25.49 pounds (and my bro was complaining that the bottle looked to common)...then was waiting at the boarding gate...since there was no free wifi so i was reading Journey of Desire...

We boarded the plane a bit later than scheduled...i was hoping maybe the flight wouldn't be too full...unfortunately my seat was sandwiched between an American guy and a Latino looking guy...of course neither spoke to me or gave me a second glance...and i bloody forgot to take my air pillow out from my luggage bag before checking it in...thank God i had the thick windbreaker which i was wearing...used that as pillow...slept most of the flight...uncomfortably...only reached Malaysia the next day afternoon....

So that was my English holiday...i love holidays...who doesn't yea? but my friends do wonder why i love holidaying on my own...besides the fact that i don't have a ready partner to travel with me, i honestly do love travelling on my own...it's like my little adventure...my little glimpse of heaven...when you're on holidays...everything is beautiful...everything is possible (within your monetary means)...everything is awe-inspiring...but after reading Journey to Desire, i am afraid that i may be making holidays my addiction...but thus far, God has been with me throughout my travels...He has blessed me with so many wonderful experience...if He didn't want me to travel, i would have been checked-mate everytime i plan a holiday yea?

Well, looking forward to next month's trip to Vietnam...hehe...then it will be a long hiatus till God knows when...

England Part 2 - Day 7

I wished i have spent my last night in London watching another musical...it didn't happen of course...so i spent my day doing the tourist thing again...Chiew Sinn left her key card for me coz she was coming back late tonight...so i took my own sweet time getting out of bed and getting ready...first stop: The British Museum...loved the exterior architecture...the typical romanic (or is it grecian?) columns...entrance was free...and there were a lot of school kids running around, probably on their field trip...there were sections on ancient Assyria, Egypt, Greek, Roman and even Southeast Asia...and then there were sections on the modern Europe...i was very fascinated with the Assyrian sarcophagi, the Egyptian mummies and of course the Greek architecture...it kinda made up for not being able to go to Greece this September...

Stopped by at the Brunswick for lunch...there was a Coast shop there and everything in the shop is on sale...gosh, they have really lovely dresses in Coast...and some are quite expensive even by English standards...there were 2 one-shoulder dresses which i tried...one was tagged at 39 pounds and another 25 pounds...looked good in the more expensive one but 39 pounds were a bit off the budget for me...and i'd hardly have any occasion to wear it anyway...so next stop: Tower of London...

Took the tube from Russel Square station to Tower Hill station...walked about 10 minutes to the entrance of Tower of London...didn't enter though...walked to the Tower Bridge and took some photos...it did look quite impressive...and some Spanish girls asked me to help them take a photo with the Tower Bridge...it was the new Panasonic Lumix G...ahhh, my dream camera...then i hopped on the tube and went down to Westminster just to take a photo with Big Ben...

Next stop was Notting Hill Gate...i just felt like going to the place where Hugh Grant met and fell in love with Julia Roberts in 'Notting Hill'...and to think i've not actually watched the whole movie properly...shame...nothing much there except for the Portobello Market along the Portobello Road...while walking towards the market, i saw a shop which said, "everything for 5 pounds"...it was selling clothes...and bags and shoes...i was thinking, no...the shoes can't be 5 pounds...i asked the girl in the shop and she said yes, the shoes go for 5 pounds...saw this peep-toe ankle boots with heels which looked so good...didn't have it in my size so i decided to buy it for Pei...she loved it...though even for her it was a bit loose...

The market was closed/ closing by the time i reached the beginning of the road...but i decided to walk down the road anyhow...many antique shops...and it must have been a busy market fare during the day...i guess the English ppl are not familiar with the concept of night market...then again, it's too cold in the autumn to be walking about at a pasar malam with just your t-shirts and shorts...reached the end of the road and didn't feel like walking back to the initial underground station...went into this Spanish grocery store to asked for directions to the nearest underground station...the Spanish girl couldn't differentiate from left to right...no, she doesn't have left-right disorientation...it's just that her English had much room for improvement...but she showed me the way anyhow...

So i walked to Ladbroke Grove Station and took the tube back to King's Cross...walked a bit along the road and found a cafe selling fish and chips...apparently, when in London, you have to taste the fish and chips...so i did...and i must say i can get better fish and chips in KL...hehe...then i took the tube back to Manor House...i thought i'd reach back at the apartment before Chiew Sinn but the tube back to Manor House was delayed...so Chiew Sinn had to wait about 15 minutes for me...good thing there was a Chinese take out opposite the apartment which she went in to buy her dinner while waiting for me...

My last night in London...and i didn't spend it at some Ministry of Sound or some club partying all night long...i've always wondered how it would be like to party in a club which is not reeking with cigarette smoke...oh well, there are more things in life than wondering about that...

England Part 2 - Day 6 (Shopping spree at Oxford St)

So on Thursday i decided to have a shopping spree at Oxford St...since practically every shop is on sale...Chiew Sinn left earlier but i only got up about 930am...took a bus down to Angel and took the tube to Oxford Circus...Oxford Street must be one of the longest shopping street in the world...i spent some time in Debenham's since they were having their Blue Cross Sale...bought a white with black polka dot dress going for 12 pounds...and a green with while polka dot dress for 10 pounds...don't ask me what's the preoccupation with polka dots...i just happened to like the dresses and they are polka-dotted...

Had lunch at Subway...had a 3 pound 6-inch sandwich...dollar to dollar, eating in England is actually cheap...if only RM isn't so small...or better still, if only i'm earning in pounds...continued on with shopping at topshop...it was so crowded and everyone was grabbing at clothes as if they were for free...i didn't find much that i fancied and everything was pretty much in a mess...but i tried on a pair of shorts which was tagged at 7 pounds...and i thought it looked good on me...so i went to the cashier to pay...i was taking out my 10 pound note when the lady said, "3 pounds please"...i swallowed in amazement and took out a 5 pound note instead...i was thinking, "wah, means the other stuffs that are tagged at 10 or 15 pounds would be cheaper than that?" but i didn't want to risk it...hehe...

I was looking for the Primark at Oxford St and eventually found out that i had to go there from the Marble Arch station...so off i went...and i was amazed...pants, skirts, shirts retailing at 5 pounds...so i bought a pair of pants for 5 pounds, a shirt for 5 pounds, another pants for 10 pounds and a teddy suit for 4.50 pounds...the only minus point is that the queue for the changing room is just as long as the queue at the cashier...and they have almost 20 changing rooms...after that i went into this shop called Jane Norman and saw a long purple tie-dye dress going at 14.40 pounds...sold...also got a pair of white shorts for 10.50 pounds...

Met up with Chiew Sinn at King's Cross and went for dinner at a Vietnamese restaurant around there...there was a cute Portuguese server working there...anyway, we had some spicy Vietnamese noodles that tasted suspiciously like prawn mee...but the soup was pretty diluted...and the noodles were like laksa noodles...after dinner, we took the bus back to the apartment and i had to repack my bag to stuff in my loots...

England Part 2 - Day 5 (with Fantine & Elphaba)

I followed Chiew Sinn out in the morning...we took a bus to Angel of Islington...and changed another bus to go to King's Cross which is near her university...i continued on the bus till i reached near Chinatown... found my way to Leicester square where i continued my hunt for Les Miserable ticket...i noticed a few shops offering discounted ticket at Leicester Square the day before...so i randomly picked a shop and asked if they had discounted ticket for Les Miserable...and guess what? they did!!! it was a 65 pounds ticket which was going for 41.50 pounds...i thought that was quite a save...and the seat was a very very good seat (which i found out eventually although initially i was wary that the lady might be playing me on)...hunt over, i went on to do the touristy stuffs since i had about 3 hours to kill...

Chiew Sinn lent me her oyster card which i was using on a 'pay as you go' basis but which maximally deduct 6.60 pounds per day (as in the day pass)...so i thought, what the heck, just use the tube...took the tube to Waterloo station where the London Eye is just about 5 minutes walk away...didn't bother to go up the Eye...just took some photos...then walked along the Thame Banks...saw the Parliament house over the other side...saw the Westminster Bridge...and the real London Bridge...bought a toasted pita wrap and had my lunch by the riverside...novelty to me...but everyone's doing it in London...then it was time to find my way back to the Queen's Theatre to watch Les Miserable...

Thought i got lost for a while but managed to find my way back to the underground station and went back to Piccadilly Circus...then walked to Shaftebury Avenue...almost went into the wrong theatre...there was another theatre before Queen's...hehe...reached just in time to use the bathroom and find my seat...it was at the dress circle and right in the middle...the view was fantanstic...i'm not as familiar with Les Miserable as i am with the Phantom...only know the song sang by Fantine 'I dreamed a dream'...but a classic is always worth a watch...and i really enjoyed it...so many beautiful songs...and poignant moments...though i must comment on the way they made Javier jumped off the bridge...interestingly cheesy...with the slow-mo movements and all...but i guess that's theatre....

Post Le Mis, i contemplated between hanging out in Chinatown or walking towards Victoria...decided on walking my way to Victoria where i would be turning my younger sis green with envy coz i get to watch Wicked in London (oh well, she'll get to watch it in Singapore next Jan)...thank God for the google map saved in my ipad...so i could walk through the Buckingham Palace Gardens towards Victoria...met this chatty middle-aged English woman who exclaimed, "now that's a very smart thing" when she saw me navigating my way with the ipad...apparently she was heading towards Pimlico for a dinner function and she preferred to walk then taking the cab...she was definitely dressed for dinner...and she talked the whole way while i was frantically looking at the map hoping that i wasn't lost...finally i saw the Victoria underground station...and the Apollo Victoria Theatre was just opposite it...and i didn't realize this the day before when i was there...

Anyway, grabbed a burger at Burger King at the Victoria station before going to the theatre...it was quite packed..and the theatre was illuminated with green light...my seat was quite a good one...although it was at the stalls...it wasn't too near that i have to spend the whole night looking up at the stage but it was near enough to see the actors on stage...and i must say, Wicked is WICKED!!! i loved it!!! even if they changed part of the storyline and totally changed Fiyero's character (and robbed him off his blue diamond whole body tattoos and turned him into a scarecrow in the end)...but i just love the ending...i'm glad that the 'wicked' got their happy ending and the 'good' received their just reward...i love the scene when Elphaba was singing 'defying gravity'...i actually bought some Wicked paraphernalias (although they are damn expensive after conversion)...one of which was a 'defying gravity' t-shirt and an Elphaba necklace for Pei...i have a feeling Wicked will become the next classic...

After the show, i took the tube back to Manor House, which was the nearest tube station to Chiew Sinn's apartment...then took the 141 bus back to the apartment...had to call poor Chiew Sinn to brave the cold to open the gate for me...while waiting for her to come down, met a guy at the gate...he asked if i was waiting for my friend to open the door and if he/she was on the way down...i said yea...he told me he was visiting a sick friend (a she :(...) who's staying at the apartment as well...he asked me where i was from...i told him "Malaysia" and he had a blank look for a while...and i asked if he was from Austria...coz he was wearing a jacket which has Austria written on its sleeve...and he said "yea, good power of observation"....then Chiew Sinn arrived at the gate and let us in...and we stopped at 3rd floor while he continued up to 5th floor where his 'girlfriend' was staying...and that was the end of my cute Austrian guy encounter....

Quite an overwhelming day...really felt like watching more musicals...but Chiew Sinn was like, "Wei, you come to London to watch musicals only ah?"...honestly, that was the whole idea of my London trip...musicals and shopping...Mamma Mia was tempting...and then there was Crazy For You, a musical by Gershwin...i even saw a poster for The Marriage of Figaro...think that was ballet...gosh! London is theatre haven...not that i would love to live in London...too KL for my liking (in the sense of crowd and jam and air pollution)...but it would be nice living at the suburbs of London...the countryside even so that i can satisfy my theatre cravings...hehe....

England Part 2 - Day 4 (I have a date with Phantom)

Woke up about 7am Tuesday morning...had to follow Jie out when she sent Sylvia to school...then she dropped me off at TESCO where i was taking the bus to London...good thing Sylvia made it in time for school...and i still had time to grab a sandwich from TESCO before walking to the bus stop...the bus was late...it was scheduled at 925am but only came at almost 10am...saw 2 girls who were at church on Sunday...apparently they were going to London too...if only it was Takuya lookalike and his friend who were going to London too...then maybe it was meant to be...hahahaha...wishful thinking...

Slept in the bus till we almost reached London...took about 2 hours plus...and the bus ride cost only 5 pounds...it was bloody jammed in downtown London so we only reached the Victoria Coach Station at about 1230pm...then i went to the Victoria underground station (yes, lugging my huge luggage) to find my way to Her Majesty's Theatre...i had a date with the Phantom you see...at 230pm...bought a day pass and took the underground to Piccadilly Circus...then walked to Haymarket where Her Majesty's Theatre was...eagerly went to collect my ticket and then was quite at a lost at what to do before my date...so i ended up hunting for cheap ticket for Les Miserable...my 1st attempt failed miserably...

Went back to the theatre about 2pm...had to put my luggage in the cloakroom (and that cost me 1 pound)...then went to the toilet...and then went to take my seat at the royal circle...view wasn't too bad except that when they raised the chandelier up to the max i couldn't see it anymore...oh, but to be able to watch the Phantom of the Opera in West End...i actually cried at the opening when the old lantern was transformed and lit up and the stage was transformed into the Opera House (during its heyday)...it's like a dream come true...needless to say i was crying everytime the Phantom sang...such genius, such passion, such beautiful voice...yet marred by a disfigured face...

I envy the kids in London who get to watch musicals at West End on their field trips...there were plenty of school kids at the matinee show...i wished the show didn't have to end...i wished i could hear the Phantom sing on and on...but it had to end...and so it did...and we all had to leave...so i went to take my luggage and headed to Leicester Square underground station to get to King's Cross St Pancras station where i was meeting my friend Chiew Sinn...was bunking in with her while i'm in London...

We had to change two buses to get back to her room...living space in London is really costly...the apartment which she stays in consists of one unit of 4 rooms and a common kitchen...and she's paying 800 pounds per month for her room...which is quite small...practically all her scholarship money goes into room rent...but at least the place is new...and fully furnished...and warm...

Chiew Sinn cooked dinner for me...we had tomyam tanghun with portobello mushroom and celery...and fish fillet...at least groceries in London isn't so expensive...after all the adrenaline rush of watching the Phantom and lugging my luggage around whole day, i was ready for bed so that i would be fresh to continue my musical marathon the next day....didn't dream of the Phantom though...

England Part 1 - Day 3

Took the bus to Stratford-upon-Avon (the birthplace of Shakespeare) on Monday morning...passed by the Warwick Castle along the way...it looked so huge...wished i had time to visit it but i was already leaving for London the next day..seriously, Stratford's quite a small tourist town...so many shops selling Shakespearean souvenirs...and the town centre is only 2 to 3 roads combined...but i like the quaintness of it...saw the Shakespeare house...bought some souvenirs...and had lunch at a small cosy cafe which served scones with clotted cream and jam and a pot of tea...so nice and yummy...but the 2 big scones really stuffed me up...

Then Jeff and Jie came to pick me up in a Mercedes...Jeff sent his other car to fix coz some idiot ran into his car...so the workshop actually loaned him a Mercedes till the car is ready...how nice...they brought me to the University Hospital where Jeff is training and Jie works part time teaching anatomy...they have a cool anatomy lab and the guy who manages the lab was coming up with a 3D programme for their plastinated specimens...which i thought was quite cool...and definitely would be very helpful for my revision...if i can get a hand on that programme...

Also hung out at the library...they have all the plastic journals like BJPRS and JPRAS...so Jeff took some of them and took photos of me with the journals...he said i should show it to my bosses...that even on my holidays i still 'study'....hahahaha...like real...after that they dropped me off at Coventry town centre so that i could visit the bombed Coventry Cathedral...it was pretty amazing...just the shell of what must have been a massive cathedral...they built a new one just next to the old one...

Took a bus back to the University apartment...this time i knew my way back from the bus stop...my last night in Coventry...Jie cooked pasta for dinner...repacked my luggage and called an early night coz London is calling...hehe...

England Part 1 - Day 2

So i woke up on Sunday morning...to bathe and get ready for church....anyway, i've already detailed my chance encounter with the cute Jap-looking guy and the church service in my earlier post My 1st (and likely last) church service in England ...

After church i went to this place called Leamington Spa which was about 15 minutes bus ride from the University...Jie said there's more shopping to do there...and there's actually a spa there which the Queen has visited...they had an afternoon market along the main shopping road at Leamington Spa on Sunday...and i saw this stall that was selling pig roast...i vowed i would buy one to eat...after i finished shopping...saw a Whittard Chelsea shop at the beginning of the road and bought a few cans of hot chocolate and tea (a friend asked to buy some for her)...almost every shop was on sale...but didn't find much to my liking and those that caught my eyes were not that cheap (after being converted to RM)...ended up buying a blouse only...for 12 pounds...

Then i decided it was time for my pig roast...so bought a bread stuffed with stuffings and pig roast and sat at a bus stop and enjoyed my pig roast...but it had too much fat for my liking...so had to take out some of the fat part...after that went to look for the bus stop where i would take the no. 12 bus back to University...initially went to the wrong bus stop and almost got onto the wrong bus...then found the right bus stop but waited for almost an hour for the bus...i guess Malaysia isn't the only place where the buses are never on time...although in England they have schedules...

Finally got back to University and i didn't know which way to walk back to the apartment...hehe...so Jie sent Jeff to get me from the bus stop...they were at Sylvia's previous nursery...there was a birthday party for one of the kids...after the party, went back to the apartment to rest...nice and cosy...

England Part 1 - Day 0/1

So i thought i'd better post up my England trip before my degenerating neurons lose their retaining power...while i was in England i spent about 3 days in Coventry visiting my sister, her husband and their daughter...and then about another 5 days in London...too short an English holiday most will say, but i was desperate enough when i booked the tickets...and really thank God that He made it such a wonderful trip...everything went smoothly...and the timing was just right...

I boarded the AirAsia X flight to London Stanted at about 1500hrs on 14 October 2011 (Malaysian time)...suffered about 13 hours of being suspended in air while strapped to a seat which only allows 5 degrees of reclination...thank God for aisle seat...and toilet breaks...if not, might have developed massive DVT...and the food sucked...but at least i had a book to read and my new ipad to play music to me...

We landed at Stanted on time...2145hrs 14 October 2011 (English time)...and i thought the nightmare would have ended but no...had to suffer through another 2 hours of queueing up to get through immigration...i guess when it comes to immigration service, English efficiency leaves much to be desired...thank God Jeff came late to pick me up...so that by the time i managed to breathe in the cold English air (apparently it was 3 degrees celsius that night), it was almost 12am and he had only reached for about 15 minutes...and then we had to drive another 2 hours plus to get back to Coventry...stopped by at a rest place on the way back...well, apparently most of their rest stops are our equivalent of Sg Buloh/ Tapah rest stops...

We reached the apartment at about 2am plus...Sylvia was asleep...Jie was asleep too but got up and made sure i bathed and washed my hair before allowing me to sleep on her bed...i did sleep quite a bit on the flight, despite the discomfort...so i ended up sleeping at about 4am...but woke up at 9am plus..had yoghurt with huge strawberries, raspberries and blackberries for breakfast...then Jie and Sylvia brought me around the campus in the morning...then came back and had a picnic at the yard in front of the apartment with Sylvia's buddy, Luka and his parents...it felt so wonderful to be basking in the sun while the weather is cold...i wished i could do this everyday...

After lunch we went out walking around the campus again...this time they brought me to the Tocil Woods and Sylvia showed me 'The Land of Nothing'...it was an open landing with barren trees...and there was this place that i thought would be perfect for an English wedding...walking down the lush green aisle...how romantic...then we took a bus and headed for Kenilworth castle...Sylvia actually brought back her class teddy bear called Spencer and she was supposed to have a weekend adventure with Spencer...so obviously we brought Spencer bear along with us to explore the castle...we didn't get to go into the castle though coz everything closes at 5pm in England...Sylvia ended up playing at the playground at Abbeyfield...till it was almost dark...and the bus was late so we only got back to the apartment about 730pm...

We were supposed to meet up with some of Jeff's uni mates for steamboat dinner and karaoke at 7pm...celebrating some guy's birthday...by the time we reached the restaurant the party was in full swing...so attacked the buffet steamboat and picked our songs...managed to sing one or 2 Khalil's songs...we finished at about 10pm...then went home and i crashed...too tired to bathe...so i slept on the sofa...hehe...

My 1st (and likely last) church service in England...

I landed on English soil on Friday night...on Stanted airport to be exact...Jeff came to pick me up...he drove for 2 hours plus from Coventry to pick me up...thank God he left late coz I was stuck in the immigration for almost 2 hrs...definitely nowhere near Changi's efficiency...we drove back another 2 hrs plus and by the time we arrived at University of Warwick, it's half past 2am...after bathing and settling down, it was about 4am...tired...

Woke up by 8am plus...Jie took me and Sylvia for a walk around the university...it was really nice...has it's own theatre/ cinema...the buses go through the university...huge areas of land...the day was very sunny and quite warm...so we had a picnic at the apartment courtyard...it was so fun to be sitting outside and soaking in the sun...we took a bus to Kenilworth to visit the Kenilworth castle...but only manage to see the outside...coz Sylvia was getting tired...dinner was at this chinese restaurant at Coventry town centre...it was one of Jeff's coursemate's birthday...we had steamboat and karaoke...who would have thought huh? Get to sing karaoke in England...haven't been karaoke-ing since May this year...how I missed having private concerts with Elaine...

This morning I went to church with 2 of the guys from last night...one was the birthday boy and the other was a Singaporean...they went to church at Westwood church...it was a quaint little church...and I mean the stereotypical church building complete with stained-glass and altar and pews...my 1st (and likely last) church service in England was great...felt quite at home during worship coz the songs weren't foreign to me...the speaker spoke about discipleship...was a good sermon...oh, while I was waiting for the guys to pick me up at the bus stop, I saw this cute Japanese-looking guy walking pass with his friend...he looked cuter than Takuya Kimura (I love him)...and then saw him at the church...dang! If only I were 10 years younger (coz Takuya lookalike is most likely 10 years younger), and was studying in University of Warwick...unfortunately that's not meant to be...sigh...God, You're always good to me...but I don't need teasers like that...I need the real deal, hehe...

Tomorrow planning to visit Stratford...the place of Shakespeare...maybe I'll meet my Mr Darcy there...hehe...

I'm off to see the Phantom, the Wicked Witch of the West and Fantine....

So i've crossed the line and entered the realm of impulsive traveller...this England trip was planned at a time when i was feeling too stressed out and i just booked the flight tickets without thinking if i would be able to take leave to go...but thank God that as i'm typing this post, i'm back home in KL and am just another 6 hours away from my flight to England....

I've also finally received my ipad 2 which i bought like 2 months ago...it's a long story and i shall not venture into it...but my new toy will be my source of entertainment as i suffer through 13 hours of airasia flight to England...

I'll be in Warwick over the weekend to visit my sister...then i'll be going to London for my musical marathon at West End....woohoo!!! I booked my tickets for the Phantom of the Opera and WIcked...which has created a rather huge hole in my bank account...hoping to get cheap tickets for Les Miserable when i get to London....then maybe that would leave me some money for yet another musical...hehe...

My sister said that a lot of shops are on sale now...i do plan to do some shopping while i'm there...retail therapy should be good for stress...hehe...i do hope i don't get a full-blown flu coz my nose is running like it is preparing for a marathon...being sick on your holiday is really a bummer...but that's not gonna stop me from enjoying my holiday...

A post call Raya...

So i've survived by 3rd eod call...there was referral last night from district...30 year-old lady involved in an MVA...she was the front seat passenger and she wasn't wearing her seatbelt...the driver tried to avoid an oncoming lorry and swerved to the left and crashed into a retaining wall...the patient hit the dashboard and smashed the windscreen...thus sustaining bilateral corneal laceration and a huge forehead laceration wound....since eye team was going in for EUA and T & S, so our side would do the forehead T & S under GA as well after they've fixed the eyes....

Got a call from OT just before 6am saying the eye team was almost done so i went into OT straightaway....then the eye ppl told me they had to suture the left cornea as well coz there were some lacerations...so i waited (while sleeping uncomfortably in OT) for them to finish...but by the time they finished it was 8am...my call was over...so i had to passover to my colleague who was on call today to come into ot to start suturing the patient's forehead...i felt bad for passing over to him but we're both doing eod calls...so i think i need my rest so that i can be on call again tomorrow....

Came back and zonked out till almost 2pm...if it weren't for my mobile messages, i probably would have slept till later...that's how tired i was....thought wanna go out for dinner with some friends...but most of them are working today...bad timing...when i'm working they are not, and vice versa...oh well, it's not like i'm not used to having dinner on my own...gonna study till dinner then need to go hunt for food...i think most eateries would be closed due to raya...

Kokol Hill and Kiansom Waterfalls

Last Thursday and Friday i was on leave...been planning to drive up to Kokol Hill, which was just up the Crocker range from Menggatal...wasn't too sure if my car could take the mountaneous assault, so i sent my poor MyVi for a service...don't ask me how much i had to pay for the service...only know that they almost overhauled my car...the only thing they didn't change was perhaps the engine....but then post-service my car was good to go for an uphill adventure...

So after lunch, i went home and packed an overnight bag...and started my solo adventure...it started to rain as soon as i drove out...it seems like the rain likes me...it's ok rain (no, not the Korean singer/actor/dancer), i like you too...it's just that you're gonna ruin my beautiful sunset...it took me about 45 mins to reach Kasih Sayang Resort, which was just by the road...along the way there was a church which had a huge replica of Jesus on the cross....and it was quite amazing against the backdrop of cloudy sky and sea...

I checked in at the resort...cost me RM131 for a night...at least the room was decently clean...but the naphthalene smell was a bit overwhelming coz it seemed to have followed me all the way home on Friday...thank God i brought cup noodles that i could eat for dinner...coz the food was darn expensive...and they had AXN and HBO on TV...so i spent my time catching up with my novel...and also CSI...took some photos of the sunset from my room...though that was mostly obscured by the clouds...still, a sunset is a sunset...

It felt good to be not working and be somewhere else doing something else besides routine...and i could sleep in the next morning...well, still had to wake up by 9am for breakfast...since it was included...had 4 eggs for breakfast aside of 2 slices of toasts and baked beans...since i couldn't eat sausages at the moment, i asked them to substitute with eggs...after breakfast i went back to my room and lazed on the bed till about 1230pm...and then the reception called to ask me to check-out...hehe, i thought check-out time was at 1pm...apparently that was the check-in time and check-out time was 1130am...oh well, i hurriedly packed and returned the keys...

I drove down via the Kiansom way...which i thankfully didn't use on coming up....at least going downhill wasn't as taxing for my poor MyVi...stopped by at the Kiansom waterfalls...not many ppl were there...and i didn't play in the water since i was alone...i may be able to swim but one can never be too sure about waterfalls...as it is, i was crazy enough to try to hike up to the 1st tier of the falls...not an easy hike i assure you, especially if you're wearing slip-ons...and then there was the hazard of all hazards...LEECH!!! just as i was about to reach the 1st tier, i noticed a small black stringy thing on the dorsum of my right foot...initially i thought it was dirt so i tried to sweep it off but it was stucked onto my foot although it moved...and i launched into a panic attack...i was flicking it off and then it was on my forearm and i was flailing my arms to get rid of it...thankfully it flew off...

But i was hyperventilating and so tachycardic that i didn't think my heartbeat would slow down at all...i initially wanted to hike all the way up to the 2nd tier but i abandoned the idea...i didn't think i could survive another leech-induced panic attack...so i took some self-timed photos at the 1st tier...which turned out pretty good i must say...the scenery was great but the water was a bit murky...would have preferred a crystal clear kind of waterfalls...thankfully the hike down was uneventful...while climbing up i was actually wondering how i would ever make it back down...but it felt like i reached my starting point much faster than expected...

So i drove home...happy and contented...planning for more of my solo adventures...coz need to finish up my leave before i start my masters programme...coz i can only keep 14 days...and i still have some 30 over days...

Road to Kundasang...

Today was the first time i drove long distance in Sabah...drove my parents, aunty and Petrina to Kinabalu Park...by the time we got ready it was past 9am...then brought them to my favourite beef noodles stall for breakfast...unfortunately, Pa's got a case of dyspepsia so we had to hunt for Eno and i had to go back to the hospital to get some PCM and maxolon (in case he felt like puking on the trip)..

By the time we started our journey it was almost 11am...we stopped by a petrol station to fill up the tank and check my car...had to fill up the brake oil and battery water coz i haven't service my car for ages...so off we went on our journey...we reached Kinabalu Park about 120pm...weather was cooling...we drove up to Timpohon gate for photo session....then continued towards Poring Hot Springs...

Stopped by at Ranau for late lunch...had KFC...then we continued our journey...it started raining before we reached Poring...so didn't get to go to the Hot Springs...so we decided to drive back coz it was quite late already...it became misty as the sky darkened...and we were basically driving at a crawl coz of the low visibility...almost fell asleep a few times...finally made it back to flat roads...

Thought we'd make it back to KK about 730pm...but fate has it that i were to drive over a pothole and burst my left front tyre...crap!!! poor Pa...had to help me to change to my spare tyre in the rain... in the end, we only arrived at the hotel about 8pm plus...i went home to bathe...stopped by at SMC to get some medications...then ta pau-ed char kuey teow for the bunch of them...really had late dinner...

Gosh, my whole body is aching from sitting too long in the car...driving long distance is really not my thing....but i still hope to drive to Kudat to visit Simpang Mengayau one of these days...hopefully i can find someone to go with me...

NZ trip - day 11

So today was our last day in NZ...:(...so wished i could stay longer...the last 10 days have been quite an adventure...i hated the idea of going back to work where i knew hell was waiting...Cam and Jeanne woke up before 7am to move the car...this little pig continued to sleep until about 750am...got ready and did some last minute packing and put our luggage into the car...then we went to Victoria Park Market...well, this one was a far cry from Melbourne's Victoria Market...but we still managed to buy more souvenirs...hehe...

Next we went to Queen street where Cam's fridge magnet hunt continued...saw a dress in Cotton On selling at NZD15...bought it...found the dolphin nephrite pendant and chain that i liked in another souvenir shop... the owner was a Chinese...bargained and bought it for NZD45...still a bit more expensive than in Queenstown but i guess it was alright...then we dropped Jeanne off at the Britomart bus stop and bid her farewell...she was so sad that we were leaving...and Cam and i were even sadder that we were leaving...

So Cam and i headed for the airport...i drove this time...and if there was anyone else in the car, one would have noticed that Cam was extremely on the edge all the way....she was unusually quiet, sitting upright and kept looking at the Neverlost GPS and the road signs...i guess we were both afraid we'd lose our way and miss the check-in time...thank God we didn't miss any turning...and managed to reach the airport at 1110am...phew!!!

We parked the car at the car rental parking...Cam went to return the key and i went to queue for check-in...we left the GPS in the car coz the last time we did the same...but this stupid car rental insisted that Cam return the GPS at the counter and told her she needed to jot down the mileage... so poor Cam had to run to the car and grab the GPS...and i was getting worried all the while coz she was taking quite long...eventually Cam turned up just in time for check-in...phew!!!

After checking in, we went for a drink at Juice Booster...to cool down after such a rush...hehe...then Cam continued shopping in the airport...since we had leftover money...hehe..at the departure hall, Cam bought a NZD20 t-shirt while waiting for our flight...which was delayed...as usual...our flight was supposed to depart at 1250pm but only took off at 140pm...spent the whole flight doing a movie marathon....finished up Ip Man 2 which i didn't finish during the inbound flight...then continued with Karate Kid...and Prince of Persia - Sands of Time...and then watched Letters to Juliet...which made me felt like going to Italy again...sigh...then watched The Last Airbender....but only managed to watch halfway coz it was time to land...

So, that was our NZ adventure...no more out of country travel for this year...not becoz i don't want to...only becoz i have no time...and money...sigh...that aside, NZ is really a place worth visiting...and there're still so many places i didn't get to visit...perhaps next time...urgh...i need another break already....

NZ trip - Day 10

So today was our last day in South Island...time for us to fly back to North Island...we woke up about 7am...got ready and packed...after checking out, we dragged our more filled up luggage to the bus stop...Cam wanted to get McDonald's for breakfast but there was a long queue and our airport bus was leaving....our trip to the airport was free coz we got a complimentary connectabus ticket from the Remarkables trip...so we checked-in at the Queenstown airport and had breakfast there...i had a venison pie...our flight was delayed about 15 mins...i supposed that was not too bad for Jetstar...boarded the flight and slept through the whole 2 hours flight...when i woke up we were landing already...

We arrived at Auckland airport about 1150am...got our luggage and waited for Jeanne to pick us up...she was late...by the time she came it was 1230pm...she managed to rent a car from Hertz for NZD81 per day (including GPS)...it was a white hatchback Toyota Corolla....without wasting any time, we headed for Mission Bay...however, we kept losing our way with the GPS....and get this, the brand of the GPS was 'Neverlost'....hahaha...Cam said it should have been named "Alwayslost"...

Along the way, we stumbled upon Cornwall Park at One Tree Hill...but the GPS kept taking us to some residential dead-end roads instead of the main entrance to the park....urgh!!! so we were fed up and looked for it on our own....and what do you know...we found it...without the GPS...so we drove up to the summit where there was this thin pole-like monument at the peak...it was bloody windy that we had problem putting the camera on the ledge for self-timed photos...the camera kept toppling over...we had a really beautiful bird's eye view of Auckland city...then we went down to the park where the sheep are....Cam was so happy to be among flocks of sheep...we took quite a lot of photos with the sheep...though they kept running away from us...hehe...

Next, we drove on to Mission Bay...thank God we didn't get lost this time...we bought fish and chips and had our lunch at the park bench near the beach while watching some cute Spanish guys play soccer...ahhh....that's good life...then we went house-browsing at Mission Bay...the houses were amazing....so i asked Jeanne to pick her dream house...and just as soon as i finished my question, she exclaimed "that one"....and all of us were screaming in excitement...coz we saw this really cool house....(would love to show a pic of the house, but i can't seem to upload it on my blog...damn slow lah digi)...

After that, we went to Takapuna beach..it was quieter and we didn't stay too long there...coz we went to visit Massey University where Jeanne was working and studying...saw her office and lab...met her colleague, Scott...then we went to Pak & Save...bought 6 bottles of Schwarzkopf shampoo and conditioner coz they were selling for NZD2.99 per 250ml bottle...amazing...also bought chocolates and ice-cream...we were so engrossed in our shopping that we were late to meet Elena and her friend, Bea...

We drove as fast as we could (but everyone in NZ drove pretty much like they were in Gurney Drive) to Sky City where they were waiting for us....we were half an hour late...we picked them up and went back to Jeanne's place to drop off our groceries...then we went for dinner at the Occidental which was quite a classy pub...Elena and Bea decided to go for Burgerfuel instead (Elena wanted to try their kumara fries)...so Jeanne, Cam and I shared a pot of Mussels in spinach and blue cheese, a small seafood platter and a loaf of garlic bread....we were stuffed till the brim...after dinner, we met the Spanish girls at McDonald's to exchange photos of our trip...we chatted and saw the photos....then we went back to Jeanne's place....did some repacking coz now i had even more stuffs to bring home...talked a bit...showed Jeanne our photos...ate our ice-cream...then slept...been a long day...

NZ trip - Day 9

Today we woke up about 640am...Elena was leaving Queenstown for Auckland...she wanted to walk around the lake before taking the bus to the airport...as we were walking towards Queenstown Garden, we heard the blaring of siren...there were a lot of ppl walking out from the Nomad's Backpacker (looked like a really classy backpacker)...within minutes 2 firetrucks were parked in front of the backpacker...didn't see any smoke though...probably some idiot decided to smoke under the fire alarm and caused a false alarm...saw some cute guys in their t-shirts and boxers walking barefooted....what a sight to greet us on a lovely morning...:P

Anyway, we walked around the garden a bit...took some photos...and it was time for Elena to catch the bus...so we sent her off at the bus stop and Cam and I went back to the Alpine Lodge...had bread and kiwi for breakfast and met a Taiwanese girl, Kay who was sharing the dorm with us...there was another person who checked-in the night before and we found out that the person was a guy...Cam and I were pretty shocked coz we were changing in our room....thank God the guy was still sound asleep...else it would have been an awkward situation if he woke up while we were changing...

We checked out and put our bags at Absoloot...we paid for our room and headed for the Snow Centre where we got a return ticket to the Remarkables at NZD5...took a 45 mins bus ride up there, in which i was asleep most of the way...when we arrived, i was almost blinded by the whiteness of the snow...i've never seen so much snow in my life...it was everywhere....we took a travellator up to the guest service building....watched people ski and snowboard...even kids about 4-5 years old learn how to ski...but the beginner's class cost about NZD129 or so...we decided to just build a snowman...while we were hard at work, a guy (probably French due to his accent) came and chat with us...he told us we could actually walk up the ski slope to have a look up there...

So after we've completed Frosty and taken enough photos of it (there was one of me kissing Frosty), we stupidly followed the guy's suggestion and tried walking up the ski slope...Cam was slipping on the snow every 5 steps thanks to her shoes...but it was quite an adventure...Cam said she felt like she was on an Everest expedition...when we finally reached, a couple told us we could snowtube for NZD19 an hour....but we had to go back down to the guest service building to buy the ticket...dang!!! decided to just lie on the snow for a while and made my snow angel coz the prospect of walking down a ski slope wasn't exactly the most thrilling...

We decided to ask the guy at the chairlift if we could take the lift down....thank goodness for New Zealand kindness...unfortunately, while on the chairlift, i accidentally dropped the left side of my glove....another dang!!! so we went to the guest service and bought our chairlift passes and tickets...had hotdog for lunch and took the chairlift up the slope again...but i had to walk down the ski slope to retrieve my fallen glove...gosh!! that was quite an adventure...i kept slipping and sliding down....eventually i got my glove but somehow walking back up this time was far more difficult...i guess the slope near the chairlift was steeper...once i slipped and slid quite far down...thought i wouldn't be able to stop but somehow i managed...so finally made it back up the slope...

So we started our snow-tubing...sat on our tubes and this guy hooked our tubes onto the rotator belt which pulled us up the slope....then we slid down in whatever style we wanted to...sitting, lying prone, spinning (while sitting and lying prone)....WHHEEEE!!!! it was totally awesome!!! and Cam had an even better time thanks to the cute guy at the rotator belt...and the fact that it actually snowed while we were snow-tubing...this was Cam's first experience of falling snow...after an hour of snow-tubing, it was time to go as it was snowing heavier....so we took the bus down...

We shopped for souvenirs coz we did not have much time left in Queenstown...then we checked-in at Absoloot...there was another girl in the room and she had tons and tons of luggage...i guess Cam and i weren't the only ones who weren't really backpacking...then we continued shopping for souvenirs till almost dinner time...dinner was at Speight's Ale House where we had Porter Sausage with mash and Shearer's Shank...yummy!!! the ambience was great...and so was the food...i guess our little expedition up at the Remarkables helped with our appetite as well...

After that, we went up the Skyline Gondola...it cost NZD23 for return ticket...actually it would have been good to spend more time up there as there were many activities that can be done up there...but we went up for the night view of Queenstown...only the restaurant was still opened...the other attractions such as the Luge, Bungy etc were closed...so we amused ourselved by taking photos at the fireplace outside the restaurant...and at Cam's request, we took the gondola down and up and down again...to make our money worth...hehe...we initially wanted to get a drink before we called it a night...but we were both tired enough after our snow hike today so we decided to skip the drink and headed back to the backpacker....after a good warm bath, Cam was asleep in no time...after i wrote my travel log (and managed to say hi to the other girl who was sharing our dorm), i fell asleep too...

NZ trip - Day 8

So we woke up about 6am...got ready and rushed to the clock tower at Camp Street to wait for the bus which was leaving at 7am...we were booked on our Milford Sound tour with Kiwi Discovery... our bus departed about 710am...it was a cloudy and rainy day....there were mist covering most places along the way...we passed by Lake Wakatipu, which was South Island's 2nd largest lake...then we stopped at Lake Te Anau (NZ's 2nd largest lake) for breakfast...had steak and cheese pie and a hot chocolate with marshmallow...it was so bloody cold...i was wearing 4 layers and my breakfast barely warmed me up...bought some Wild Ferns product (one of NZ's skin care brand) thinking it was cheap...of course we were mistaken again...

Our next stop was at the MIrror Lakes....the lakes were pretty small but the water was so still that one can see clear images of the mountains on the lake...amazing!!! then we passed by more lakes and stopped at Monkey Creek...which was just before Homer Tunnel...there was a remnant of last year's avalanche...the snow was quite thick and my shoes got wet walking on the snow....we finally reached Milford Sound close to 1pm...it was raining and foggy....we boarded our cruise, the Milford Monarch, at 1pm....

We started our cruise in rain and fog...it really had the Middle Earth feel...even the cruise crew told us that it's the best weather to experience Milford Sound...the cruise lasted about 1 hour 45 mins...we headed out towards the Tasman Sea..although it was raining and freaking cold, we still went to the upper deck for photos...saw a couple (who looked and sounded like Singaporean) doing the Titanic scene on the deck...Cam was pretty envious...hehe...as we were on the way back, the sky cleared a bit and the fog lifted...so we managed to see the Mitre Peak, Mt Kimberley and more stuffs...we saw some seals on the rocks....the ship went very near the Stirling Falls and water was splashing onto us...but everyone was happily taking photos...

Then we saw some dolphins....i went to the toilet for a while and totally missed the blue penguins...when our cruise ended, it felt like we just returned from another world...Milford Sound is indeed a place worth visiting...would be nice if we could have spent more time there exploring the other places...then we got up our bus and headed back to Te Anau (which means the Lion in Maori)...we wanted to buy some fridge magnets but some girl on the bus told us the stuffs in Queenstown are a lot cheaper...on the bus, they were showing a movie called 'The World's Fastest Indian'...the view on the way back was better as the fog has lifted...but i felt a bit nauseated in the bus...finally we reached Queenstown at about 650pm...

Elena went back to the hostel to get the Wi-fi password while Cam and i checked out the price of souvenirs...the girl on the bus was right...stuffs in Queenstown were cheaper...then we went for dinner at PJ's fish and chips...Pia (a Chilean girl whom Elena met on the bus) joined us...the fish was good...after that, Elena went to get her hokey-pokey ice-cream and Pia dropped by at her backpacker...which was called Absoloot...Cam and I asked if there was vacancy as we only booked 2 nights at Alpine Lodge...Absoloot was a new joint...and they had vacancy for the 6-bedded dorm at NZD26 per night...and since Cam thought the receptionist Ryan, was cute...we booked our last night there...we met up with Juana & Alberto at Fergburger...then we headed for the World Bar where we got our IDs checked by the bouncer...it was happy hour when we were there...so the cocktails in teapots were half-priced at NZD8.50...so i had a pot of Smoochable (which i liked a lot coz it tasted like ice-cream soda)...Cam had Ruby Louby which i thought tasted a bit like medicine...Pia and Elena shared a pot of Tropicana which tasted like cough syrup...took us quite a while to finish a whole pot...

Then we got back to our hostel...and yes, i was still sober...but i felt itchy...and my whole body was red...perhaps i was allergic to alcohol after all...anyway, i bathed and took loratidine and the itch kinda subsided...at least i managed to sleep soundly...

NZ trip - Day 7

We woke at 8am to a clear blue sky...no mist covering the mountains and the sun was shining brightly...so the 4 of us had a light breakfast and headed towards Kea Point track...got a bit lost but managed to get up to the Hermitage Hotel where the track started...so we followed the signboard and walked for about 1 hour to Kea Point...we played with fallen snow along the way...after walking for a while, i felt quite hot so i took off my bulky jacket and was still sweating although i only had my long-sleeve t-shirt on...

At Kea Point, we had a clear and beautiful view of Mt Cook...there was also a glacier lake, the lateral Mueller morraines and Mt Sefton...heard a few avalanches while we were there...the rumbling was pretty loud...saw a small one but didn't manage to get it on camera...after taking enough photos, we headed back...halfway through, Elena called us to look back...so we turned around and lo! a huge avalanche on Mt Sefton...managed to get it on pic...ok, so it wasn't that huge that it almost got us...but it was still a sight to behold...

We stopped by to buy some souvenirs at the gift shop at Hermitage Hotel (only to find out later in Queenstown that we've overpaid for the stuffs)...oh well, should have known better...so we went back to the YHA and packed...had chips and chocolates for lunch...that was all that was left of our groceries...we waited for our bus to Queenstown which departed at 230pm..so we said goodbye to Anna who was continuing her stay at Mt Cook for a week (but she will be in Malaysia in October so we'll get to meet again)...the bus stopped at Omaraha for toilet break...then it stopped another time at Jone's fruit stall which was by the roadside...they were selling huge packets of apples for NZD10 per packet...but we only bought a box of mixture of plums, peach and nectarine for NZD6.50...we also feasted on the variety of dried fruits, nuts and nougats that were put out for sampling...liked the apricot nougat so bought some as well..

We reached Queenstown at 630pm...Elena met another Spanish lady while on the bus so we agreed to meet up for dinner at Fergburger at 730pm(apparently this was a must-go fastfood when you're in Queenstown)...so we went hunting for backpacker...we ended up at Gorge St and found the Alpine Lodge which still had vacancy...we got a 6-bedded dorm to ourselves for the night...cost NZD26 each...we put our stuffs and went to look for Starbucks (Elena was thermos-hunting but they didn't have the kind she wanted)...after that, we went to Fergburger...it was packed with people...had to queue up about 10 minutes before they took our orders...and another 20 minutes before my Southern Swine was ready...it cost ND11.50 and the burger was definitely worth the wait...it was probably as huge as Burger King's Whopper...and it tasted real good...

After dinner, we walked to the Lakeside and spent some time at a souvenir shop but didn't buy anything...then we went to the -5 degrees ice bar...but we only took pics from the outside coz entry cost NZD31 with cover drink...Elena, Cam and i went to the Buffalo Club instead...where they had a buy 1 drink free 1 shot or buy 1 beer and free another promotion...i had a glass of white wine for NZD5 and both of them had beer for NZD6.50...not much of a drinker but i think the price is quite cheap...our free shots were sambucca, which was too sweet for Cam and Elena's liking...i found it too sweet as well but for me, it's better sweet than bitter...my white wine wasn't too bad...and the beer wasn't bitter too...then we went back to the backpacker..and yes, i could still walk in a straight line...though i did feel pretty warm after the drinks...so we bathed and slept...would have had a really good night's sleep if it weren't for some idiots who were talking and laughing rather loudly at the lounge outside our room...

NZ trip - Day 6

We had to wake up earlier today...about 0640H coz our bus was leaving at 0740H...so we got ready, packed and checked-out....walked about 2 blocks lugging our luggage to the Intercity bus stop...we saw a shop that was exactly where the bus stop was...it had ads selling party pills etc etc...intrigued, but the shop was closed so didn't get to check it out...our bus left on time and so the 3 of us started our journey together....

The bus stopped at Geraldine for breakfast...i had a sweet chilli sandwich which was delicious...i think when you're cold and hungry, everything tastes good...our next stop was Lake Tekapo...which was a glacier lake...so the water was really a lovely shade of turquoise...there was a church there called the Church of the Good Shepherd...it's the most quaint church...and from the altar, you get the loveliest view of the lake...it started raining while we were there...and we saw a rainbow after that while we continued our journey...

I slept for a while in the bus...and the next thing i knew, we were stopping at Lake Pukaki...i think it's the 2nd largest lake in South Island or something like that...it was really huge...and it was dammed at a certain area...we finally reached Mt Cook Village YHA at about 1300H...there were only 3 accomodations there...it was either the YHA (for cheapos like us), a more expensive budget motel or the super-expensive hotel further up called The Hermitage..but we managed to get a 8-bedded dorm all to ourselves...and we paid NZD27 per night (coz we had the YHA card)...we met another lodger who also just reached the YHA the same day (but she came from Queenstown)...her name was Anna and she was from HK...she actually planned to stay in Mt Cook for a week...i guess you can afford that if you have time...

We had cheese sandwich for lunch at the pantry...from our grocery stock which was running low... then we bundled up and headed for Red Tarn Trail...it was raining and really cold...but the 4 crazy girls decided to go for a hike anyway....we were huffing and panting up the trail when about 1/3rd of the way, Elena met a Spanish couple who were on their way down the trail...we were told that apparently from where we were and from the peak, the view is pretty similar...so no point suffering another 2/3rd of the way yea? so we decided to turn back after taking enough photos...gosh! i'm really getting old...really not as fit as i used to be anymore...

We went to the visitor centre to escape the cold...and also to check out their display and exhibition... we were entertaining and amusing ourselves till about 5pm...then we went to the only restaurant there which was called the Old Mountaineer's Restaurant or something like that...we didn't bother checking out the one in the Hermitage Hotel...we ordered Margharita Pizza, Merino Pie and Spagetthi Napoli...the bill came up to NZD18.70 per person...we shared among 3 of us coz Elena was still persistent in trying to finish up her grocery stock...

After dinner, we went back to the hostel and bathed...ahhh..it was good to have a warm shower... then we hung out at the TV room and watched "The Talented Mr Ripley" on a VCR (i thought VCR was extinct) ...starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, Gwyneth Paltrow...Cam told us it was an interesting show and since none of us had watched it, we decided to try it out...so we snuggled up on the sofa, by the fireplace, eating chips and jellybeans...and chatted away...the movie started out interesting but it just got weirder and spookier...and i was really haunted by the ending...almost couldn't sleep that night...good thing i didn't have nightmare after that...