C'est LA viE

Not sleeping very well last night, too many ppl in the room (Yes, all 10 beds were occupied later after I back) and they were having early schedule.

So many ppl awake and left in the early morning, but i still sleep until around 9am. =P

I gone to the Re:start mall, which is currently the highlight of the recovering city.

I really love colorful thing and artistic design, that's why i really like how they rebuild the city.

Container! Sound environmental friendly and down to earth.

there's also a small garden, decorated in green, giving the public more positive message...

this special wall was kinda contributed by a Taiwanese backpacker who travelled to NZ. He did this project called 'smile for Christchurch' by capturing photos showing all the ppl who are giving Christchurch a smile, a positive energy!

Indeed to recover, is start from a smile!

I was too early, most of the shops still closed, and i went to the Hummingbird cafe for my breakie.

Though they took a very long time to prepare my omelette, i am forgiving them because i really feel sorry for the ppl at chch.

Then i started to visit the shops, there's mainly souvenir and gift shops.

But i like most of the shops because they sold good quality gift and daily living goods. I kept on thinking how if I continued staying NZ and i will buy this and that....

oh well, be realistic viv! And there is no regret and turning back, keep life optimistic.

Still I bought this:

Something for me to remember NZ.

Though the icon is small,but there are icon represent NZ, such as kea, fantail bird, koru (NZ fern) etc.

I was asking the seller if this sort of chain is getting popular around the world because i saw heaps in Dunedin, but seems like it just happened in NZ =S

Oh well, i still like it =)

Then, I gone to the gap filler - where Mr. Osaka food truck is located atm.

Mr.Osaka is my favourite Japanese restaurant in Chch, it used to be located in a shop in city centre, but the shop was damaged in the earthquake.

Since then, no one knows where Mr. Osaka gone and if the restaurant will be reopened...

and I found it was reopened via a small food truck at Gap filler yesterday on my way to YMCA! Awesome.

Just like many other restaurants in chch which got damaged from the quake, they continued their business using a small and cheaper food truck rather than renting new shops in other 'safer' area.

I bought a cup of takoyaki balls, though the taste not like very good, but is still yummy=)

Gap Filler is also another spot at the city gathered these similar food stalls/trucks.

They used wood to stack up the place, turning it to a hawker stall area (just there are not many stalls), very recycling principal.

carried on my way to find the greatest macaron in Chch and saw this special outdoor cafe

'the things which have seen now can see no more' - so true and just accurately applied for this quake city. So appreciate and enjoy every single moment. =)

i walked to the Colombo Mall which located in quite a far distance as I was told the macaron shop which i wanna go since long time ago - J'aime les Macarons is located in the mall.

My first ever macarons were from their shop, but i tried them at a cafe at Ponsonby, Auckland which they sold J'aime les macarons but not the official shop.

Well, their business was not that big yet back to that time, and they dont really own a shop at else where.

But see how they emerged now!

The macarons are so attractive, and they got many varieties and unique combination of flavor in one small macaron

too bad i was full from breakfast and lunch, i couldnt eat much.

But i still ordered a big one! It's just super yummy!!

ALso takeaway another 3: pistachios, rose and a combination of apple, berry and rhubbarb....i was so full after that.

Besides this, i also noticed that Samurai Bowl, another good japanese restaurant at chch had been reopened and relocated too!!

I had dinner at here with Josephine, who i also had not seeing each other for almost 3yrs.

Samurai bowl stil serve good and cheap food, i ordered a spicy miso ramen along with a plum wine.

it was a good night to catch up with Jo at Samurai bowl, and this also marked my last night at Chch, alright cant wait for one of the greatest train trip in the world tomorrow! =)