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One of the best day in 20 years

I went to the Blue Mountains with a charming stranger.

The day before we went to the Blue Mountains, we met at the rooftop of our hostel. After two rejections from two other tables, I met Ben. We talked till late. I asked him if he wanted to join me. He said "Why not?" I thought he was lying. Next morning, he met up with me, just like he said he would.

We were like "Fuck the tours, let's do this." A single trip was two hours, so we spent four hours in the train. That was four hours of realizing that we had the same taste in music, movies and how we hated to sit in the seats where it was opposite to the train's motion. I was magical. No, it was like I was in a movie. No, it was like a dream.

As if things were'nt strange enough, it was only during lunch with him, did I manage to eat Pavlova. Yes, I know how it's an Australian/New Zealand food, but it was almost impossible to find it. IMPOSSIBLE, but I managed to. & not only that, but to share it with an awesome hipster, how the fuck?

It was a chilly day.

If not for the photos, I would have never believed it. 

After Sydney, we didn't manage to stay in contact. However, the whole trip to Sydney and my adventures taught me something that was very important; that we can not be too greedy. Some people never get to live this experience, and I did, with one of the coolest person in the world, and we could have been super good friends, I was sure, but hey, I already did it. I managed to get what I was wishing for. 

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I lost count

Hyde park

Surry

Newtown

Urgh, how I just love love love

Did I mention the best fish & chips? @ Surry Hills.

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Before I went to Sydney, a friend asked if it would be sad if I went to Luna Park alone. It didn't faze me because I was so comfortable of being alone and going everywhere solo. While it would have been fun as well to be there une personne, I was glad I had two new friends to explore that quant little carnival with them. Luna park was small, but it was a very, very happy place to be at. It kinda reminds me of the amusement parks you see in horror flicks but the sight of parents having good times with their kids took away the erie feeling one would get from staring at killer clowns. 

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Breakfast for two

I had a million thoughts running through my mind while I was illustrating this breakfast set. I've never told anyone before, but I've always thought that one of the most romantic things a couple could do was to just sit down for breakfast and start a day together. Unlike dinner or lunch, breakfast is a beautiful, unscripted time when two people are almost grumpy and half asleep, wedging a croissant between their lips while they rub their eye free from fog. It is probably the idea of messy hair, crazy paintless face, stubby chin that makes it so unglam and unappealing yet comfortable and warm altogether because it just is.

Oh and scrambled eggs are my favorite.

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Sydney/ Day 4 & 5

Oh god I miss sydney so bad.

Quaint little flea under some random bridge.

Delicate charms crafted out of silver and sea glass.

Good bread.

 Best Gözleme 

This quirky ice-cream truck reminded me of days when I used to read archie comics and was so envious of the ice-cream truck culture in America. It's okay, we've got McDonald's soft serve so that's good too.

I really really fell in love with Sydney. The thing about me is that I never expect anything whenever I visit a country. I mean, I do my research to see what's what but I've never planned and strategize on how I should meet people or how I should spend my days. While some people might think that it's a waste of time, it's pretty amazing to wander about at a place and not feel like a tourist. It had been an exploration for me, but I feel that no place is a strange place because everywhere can be home as long as you let yourself go.

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Sydney/Day 3 : Contemporary Art museum/ The Rocks/ Glebe flea

Sydney Opera House

Our first stop was to the Contemporary museum. I was lucky to catch pieces from the Sydney 19th bienale. Housing delicious pieces of artworks, the contemporary museum was just the right kind of breakfast to kickstart our adventure.

The Rocks Weekend Market

THIS licorice stall sells one the best licorice that I've eaten. Ask anyone who stayed with me during my trip and they'll tell you about my crazy obsessive behavior w candy. I even had a nickname: Shandy Candy.

Le Royal Botanic Garden

Glebe flea

I had so much fun rummaging through stacks of preloved vintage pieces and managed to purchase a couple of leather bags that I love love love so much. 

If you believe, I would tell you that I didn't buy a lot of things during my trip in Australia but I had spent so much quality time there that every single second of non-shopping was compensated with love and warmth from the people around me. 

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Sydney/Day 2 : Bondi to Coogee walk

After an awesome swim, I spent the next two hours getting caressed by the sun while reading a book.

& yes I splurged on food because it was a lovely day.

It was funny because I headed home to get ready for my next adventure but returned to Coogee beach again in the afternoon because Stephanie, a girl from France, arrived and we decided that since it was a sunny day, we would do the Bondi to Coogee walk. 

Gordon's Bay

One of my favorite places in Sydney is the Gordon's bay. It's hard to describe the feelings I get whenever I'm at that place but it kinda felt like every bad vibe is being washed away by the salty waters. It was so calming and surreal and crazy magical. It was a solace. 

The breathtaking Waverly cemetary. It is sooo huge, I'm not even kidding.

We didn't finish the walk because it started to rain and stephanie had jet lag but I didn't regret walking that walk. It was refreshing and so peaceful.

At night, two very beautiful (but crazy) Swiss girls arrived and everyone bonded over chicken and truffles. & french. 

X

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Sydney/Day 1 : Surry Hills

For as long as I could remember, I've always had a strongest desire to leave my country for a bit, to travel, to explore and to meet new people. A few months back, I decided that it was time for me to do so. 

Devon Cafe @ Surry Hills

Bourke St Bakery

The ginger creme brulee tart. Gasps. Sigh. Yum. 

I couchsurfed (first time) with amazing people, toured around sydney with three fun girls, played cards, so much coffee, food, partied hard, drank goon (first time but yucks), drank good cider, made friends from around the world at the hostel (first time), had warm and lovely home-cooked dinner almost everyday, hung out with strangers at the park during the midnight, walked tons, and won $10 at the casino!!!

Oh, and did I mention that I saw a beautiful mountain(first time) with an incredibly intelligent and authentic hipster who happens to I have so much, and I mean so much, in common with. 

I made so many friends that I felt close to and it was crazy fun. So much so that the first few days back in Singapore felt like hell. I'm still fighting my post-traveling blues by the way.

One week ago, I was lazing on Matt's couch. 

Sigh.

x

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Tack-y tech-y day

I've been glued to my bed for days.

That's about all, really.

Oh, and some jewelry making.

All will be up post-AU trip.

See you!

x

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Off to Sydney on the 10th

Mixed emotions; happy, excited, scared, nervous, happy, excited

but it will be fun, because I want it to be and

hence it shall

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sleepy

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5 Thursday : Book club meeting this morning. Hopefully this time will prove more successful than the last, with the other members at least reading this month's choice. As the meeting was held at a maisonette, it seemed only fair to allow her to choose this time. She plumped for something called The 'Calmer Suitor.' At least , I think that’s what it was called. It’s awfully hard to hear in there, what with the wind chimes and 'Now That’s What I call Vuvuzelas' CD. She said it was a very enlightening book and reading it would benefit us all, particularly Stephen and myself. I’m not sure exactly what she meant by that. I do know it took me ages to find a copy in the online bookstore. For some reason it kept trying to correct me, insisting the spelling was Kama something

Excerpt from Mrs Fry's dairy - Edna Fry

I laughed so hard, I cried and almost tumbled out of bed.

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Our first date

My date with J started at a small coffeeshop.

Department of caffine @ Duxton

Food there was pretty neat, waffle was to-die-for. We had the rum and raisins+banana+vanilla ice cream waffleeeeeee. I liked how the waffle batter really tastes like rum and raisins.

& after, SAM museum

They were having some works by local artists. This exhibiton's emphasizes on global warming.

I apologize for not taking down the names of any artists. The heat had killed 90% of our braincells by the time we reached SAM.

Rubber seedlings

A wishing tree.

Belljars of animal skeletal sculptures made from artist's calluses. 

Hand-drawn map of the Singapore River

Enamel on repurposed accessories.

All artworks in this post do not belong to me and I do not take credit for any of them. 

I'm sleepy

Till then x

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Vance joy -  'Riptide'

I miss you so so so much

I'm going crazy

x

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Wild eyes.

I have always wanted to travel alone. I'm trying very hard not to sound like a stereotypical "wanderlust" kid in the world of tumblr. To be honest, the thought that I could be out there, and away, and really running, walking, laughing, crying in another country, sets my heart on fire. It's probably one of the things that has kept me this strong.

Oh, the desire and lust to travel and experience all of it all.