C'est LA viE

Yes, finally, the first long weekend after I started my job! I was so looking forward for this labour weekend because is our first flatmate trip, and we are going to Hamilton to meet up Jessie!

The plan was decided since August, after Jessie got her contract in Tatua, and I was so excited to plan the trip and also meet up Jessie. I missed her so much, the flat is just very empty and weird without her.

So on Friday night (21^st), we (me, Qing, Geng and weilin) took intercity bus at nearly 10pm to Hamilton. We had to choose the overnight bus in order to save time and money.

It was my first overnight bus, and also first double-decker bus!! (Oh actually is the second time, was last week when I back from Welly, but I sat at the lower deck and arrive Palmy before 10pm.

I am so excited, I always want to ride in a double-decker bus and Intercity did not have this type of bus in South Island. SO I was so happy, and this time I got the chance to sit on the top deck. However, the bus was really crowded, we dint really have chance to choose a seat, and I just realized it was not really fun to sit on the top deck at night, I barely saw the view (just darkness), and it was so dizzy, as the top deck was not stable, seems like “swinging”.

And my problem remained – I am not able to sleep very well in public transport, actually I really hate transport, I always sleepy when I was in car/bus, but I never get to sleep very well. (Not mention plane, I just awake the whole trip!)

So I was like on and off, opened my eyes and checked the time and places....It was really not fun to ride in a bus for nearly 7 hours!

Finally, at 5am, (yes, in the morning), we arrived Hamilton~! Is the first time for everyone, well I passed by before when I went to Auckland, but not really come to this 4^th biggest city in NZ.

We waited for Jessie at Burger King nearby, and had some breakfast, Jessie was surprisingly early to pick us up, thought she might drag a bit. Then we just back her flat, and weilin just went for a nap.

Me and Jessie were staying awake and chatted, it’s just amazing when we saw each other again, and we had so many topics to chat =D

And around 9am, Jessie and me made some breakfast (very oily breakfast I would say =P), and after breakfast, time to explore Hamilton garden!!

This garden was just beside Jessie’s flat, and was so beautiful!!

It has different themes, and is huge! I would suggest married couple to take their marriage photography here!

even the entrance is amazing!

the italian theme garden

Haka?? Yes, is the maori theme~

Qing actually is a humour guy =)

the japanese theme!! But actually was very small, just have a lake, and some decoration....

The england theme! The pigeon is so huge!!

and of cz the chinese theme~

and the american theme....modern??

and the last theme: the indian theme....

and beside the turtle lake...

We spent like the entire morning here, and went to city in the afternoon.

Hamilton was quite big, and it was like the second time for Jessie to come to city centre ==

We were picky about food, we walked like about 1 hr to find an ideal restaurant, and failed, finally just went to Daikoku for teppan-yaki.

Well, i was not satisfied for lunch (yes, i am the unique one who most picky about food), the portion size was small, and just not satisfying my gut. And it had not much option, is just teppan-yaki with different meat....Come on! I would appreciate other varieties, but as long as we had some food, and I really starving...

We walked around Lake Rotoroa after lunch, it was a relaxing afternoon. Then, we went to Pak n Save to buy some groceries for dinner. We were going to celebrate Geng’s 33^rd and Qing’s 27^th Birthday! Wahaha, both guys are old now. XD

cooking cooking.....

yum~

Jessie had made her first cheese cake, with 3 layers....and she was decorating in the morning after we arrived. Everyone had contributed their skills and an effort to the dinner, weilin’s fish dish was amazing, made me homesick TT

weilin's fish~

The birthday cake, ignore our clumsy decoration =P (but with full of love~)

We chatted a lot that night, and back to my backpacker around 11pm, was really tiring as I had not rest since the overnight bus.....And to be honest, i did not sleep well that night due to the really loud snores from Uncle Geng and the uncomfortable environment in the room.

It was a backpacker which actually changed in last minute, I was supposed to sleep in YHA motel, with only 3 of us, but due to convenience, we changed to the backpacker which was 5 mins from Jessie’s flat and finally got one German guy who is a completely stranger to sleep with us.

I was really feeling uncomfortable and regret with the decision of changing backpackers, it was really annoying, and somehow I was not very happy with it. Oh well, what to do, sleep and be happy for the rest of the trip I guest.

Today is kerianne's birthday, and we did some decorations and Sergey also brought Keri a very lovely gift!

The flowers were all from Sergey's garden, so lovely! And can u see, there's an orange! haha LOL

Yes I have work to do today, can’t believe I am getting so busy....TT

So I went to office this morning, took the earliest bus on Sunday, arrived office at half pass 9.

I was wondering if I could open the door using my security card, as I had never done this since I left from the TIF in March. Then I tried and tried, I failed to open the door....GOSH, in my mind: No way, I woke up so early, and I must finish my spreadsheet today!!

When I was kinda giving up, I recalled some scene, how I tried to work out the door last time when I come back office at out-of-office time...then, tada~ I just made it happen! See how strongly engaged I am!! =P (note: one of the quotes/rules in Fonterra is: make it happen!)

Thought I would meet someone, but, out of my surprise, it was so empty and dark....there were no one! I thought Alastair would come, but nope....hmmm, I am hardworking aye?

No, haha, actually I was just too relaxed before when Aaron and Sergey gone to Europe for conference =P. And now, kaka, I had to just picked up some extra time to get all work done...Hmmm, Vivian, not good, not good....Well, luckily I still on the path, and not much work left.

I got a bit fed up until 12 something, realized that is not ideal for me to work at the office, so i decided to bring work back home. Yes, and the leftover sandwich from yesterday (which supposed to be eaten during the Kapiti trip) was gross, so I threw it away and walked back home with empty gut and mind. ...and in the rain....><.....(the bus schedule on weekend just annoying, luckily I used to walk a lot..)

Then I bought some Asian snack at Jia Le on the way back home, yeah, I just couldn’t resist Asian snack, couldn’t deny how Asian I am (mentally/physically)

Then I get to finish and tidy up my spreadsheet before dinner time! Woah, yes, I actually already finished them, is just some parts which need to be modified.

So that’s my effective Sunday! =D

Well the disappointment was not because of Kapiti, was because of the lack of organizing of the trip

because eventually I did not step at Kapiti, as I missed the only ferry to the island!!

WHo to be blamed? Well, at this stage, I would say: everyone....

Blame the Kapiti boating club cancelled their 2nd ferry trip at last minute and told us to arrive 30min earlier rather than told us that it was cancelled

Blame Sophie did not understand what the boating club told her and did not ask the reason to arrive 30min earlier...

Blame Sara took the advise of arriving the jetti earlier easy and kinda ignore it...

Blame me did not get myself involved in understanding the plan, and relied on Sophie and Sara too much....

*SIGH*

SO eventually, we missed the boat, and that's it!

Wat to do? Yes, we went to welly suburb at the end, to see seal colonies....AND??

I see nothing! There were no seals, ok, there were 3? 2?

oh well, it was so far, and I saw nothing! So I was mad, and I am still mad!

But what to do? Learn! Lesson! Is over anyway, just felt abit annoyed, and regret, I should have done something useful I guest?

Oh well, life is not always smooth, and is not always what we expected right?

Just some photos of today tramping....

The lesson I learnt: Don't rely on other if I really want to make it happen!

Note: Sara and Sophie still get to go to Kapiti tomorrow, and I did not join, instead, I took the night bus back to palmy. Why? I dont want party in welly thank you very much. And I have many things to do tomorrow, see you tomorrow, office~ =S

  So after the long night, I woke up with excitement today! Yes, we are going to the Sunday market at water front! =)

and I am so looking forward for the "most delicious" macaroon as described by nicole~

haha =D

There are 2 markets at the water front, or may be I should say 3??

1 is the city market in the building near the water front, another 2 are the fresh market and the food market

Food sold in the city market can be described as more "high classed", such as macaroon, special wine, french cheese, and other food spices....

The fresh market just like other fresh local vege market, selling cheap fresh produce

and food market really opened my eye! There are like nearly 12 stalls I think, selling different countries's local delicious food

I had so much food today, and paya and me just sat at the water front, chatting, and enjoying our food and also the awesome view and the relaxing morning~

see what I had, haha, is french pastry!! One is almond roll, and another one...I forgot the name, and actually I also bought one huge chocolate bun, but I had eaten it =P

and the delicious macaroon!! yum!! ^^ Is really good a gift =)

There are 8 flavours, and I am lucky enough, the new flavor - salt caramel is newly made this week!! Nice!! <3

All flavors were so distinct and unique, Nikki van de Laar, who baked them really friendly and talented, I love this version so much!! Yes, I tried every version of macaroon if I found any new one (I mean different shops)....Although I still couldn't forget the first macaroon I tried in Dizengoff cafe in Auckland, Yes I must revisit!!

Haha, ignore the raspberry macaroon, is hard for me to bring back from welly to palmy, so unfortunately I broke one of it =P...The flavour I love the most is the pistascio (the green one) and the sea salt caramel (the orangish yellow one on the right of raspberry (pink).

Ok, the food I had eaten at water front were char sew pork bun and dumplings from the chinese stall....I missed out the photo....oopsy...

Then paya bought some grocerries, then we walked down to the other fan zone at water front, and we only found out there was a south african event there! Yes, today is the next quater-final: South Africa vs. Aussie!! Go SOuth Africa!!

Yes, to support South Africa, we spent abit of time for the event~

You can see South African fans everywhere! And at first I thought was not that many people, then.....

wow!!! There were live band, music, different food stalls....and Paya bought some fries with South African special sauce, and I also bought a fruity gelato!! Is good for summer!!

Then finally Paya brought me to a korean stores, and I bought some kimchi and chilli paste, yes finally I can cook korean food!! =D

I missed my own kimchi stew, japchae, rice cakes...=P

Then I also finally caught up with Teresita and Tania!!! It had been so long I dint meet them, it was so good to see them again, they were both fine, and I am glad and thankful we can meet up in welly!!

Although it was just like a 2 hr catch up, but I am glad that finally at least I knew the condition of them. I actually felt myself really lucky, I am the only one who stay in the nutrition field between 3 of us. Teresita's career was still unstable and she might leave nz for good end of this year. Tania is studying public health, another drift.....sigh, so 3 of us who studied nutrition together, now, I am the remained who got the opportunity to work in this field.

Teresita was so passionate to know more about the advanced nutrition knowledge, and Tania was so desperate about her current study on nutrition and public health...And me, I felt abit guilty, as I sometimes still think that this is not my ideal job, and research is just boring....

I guest I should learn to be more thankful to what I had, and cherish and learn to love my job.

note: I was so panic that I might miss my bus, until I forgot my handbag in the cafe!! And I run back to the cafe, and nearly lost, u know, there are so many cafes in wellington, and all road just looked the same! Luckily I still manage to find the cafe, and no one stole my bag....gosh!! I am so clumsy!! Need to be careful all the time, keep in mind.....