a wonderful NYE :)

It required a little bit of a warm up. But I listened to my body. My body was tired from an impromptu 17km (split by an hour) jog yesterday. It needs rest, my joints are sore. So, instead of going out and partying, I decided to stay at home with my parents. Best. Decision. Ever. Who better to spend NYE with than those two who love me more than any words could describe! Their whole lives are based around me and my brothers. They have so much love to give! Of course, I get frustrated at many little things that they do, and I have the worst temper around them..but we found this lovely equilibrium between entertainment and bonding last night.

At first, the volume was a bit too loud on the telly, and mother simply wanted to watch Korean dramas. After I was a bit of a sook, they realised that my intention was to spend time with them and chat. We ended up YouTube-ing One Direction as Dad search for "best song". We watched Mr Bean which was wonderful because it brings back super memories of my childhood. We grew up on Mr Bean episodes. Learnt that there were actually 14 episodes made over a period of 7 years from 1989 until 1995 which is the year that I was born up until the year my youngest brother was born! Coincidence? :)

We looked through the http://www.gaginang.org/ website checking out some nursery rhymes, and reading up on some festivals. Learnt that Chaoshan encompasses a few areas including Chaozhou and Shantou. My maternal grandfather is therefore from Shantao (Puning), not Chaozhou as I have thought over the years. Most of the population of Chaoshan have a native dialect of Chaozhouhua, but a small proportion are Hakka. I'm not sure why my ancestry fascinates me so much, is it human nature to be interested in your own background? Where you come from? Is it a part of figuring out who you are?

My aunty, uncle, cousin, and middle brother ended up being home for the countdown. It was really lovely to be around such loving individuals who are so important in my life. It was a very relaxed atmosphere, and I feel it was quite profound even in it's simplicity. It just comes to show that my priorities have changed, as I am now much more focused on growing and cherishing my family relationships. There is too much love there to deny them the quality time and care, and I gain so much from being around them. There definitely is room for me to grow and mature as I learn to deal with the teenage angst that from time to time is triggered despite being 7 years adult now. But, I can't wait to see how far I will have come next new years!

It sort of resembles this, but it was just round, and full of Gu Chai. Mother and I ate some just as she was about to head off to bed...but her enjoyment from consuming this pink savoury snack that my aunty had made earlier, woke her up and she suggested we stay up for the midnight fireworks :)!

:)

last one for the year!

Part of growing up is making decisions. Learning how to make decisions. I feel as though I have become much more decisive, and now care about the more important things in life. I can almost say that I feel that I have matured greatly since 12 months ago. However, there is still plenty of room for growth.

The last week has been full of so much fun and goodness! Christmas Eve Party at one of my oldest friend's place was so lovely, meeting her family and learning about their lives. Watching my mother socialise with others; why is it so adorable? Helping out with the set up is always so much fun! Then Christmas Day, I was lucky to spend with so many people I love and care about. Had an adventurous trek out to Sydney Domestic Airport to meet a Dubbonian friend of mine, got stopped twice at the airport for carrying two knives..oops! A lovely girl downstairs was happy to hold onto it for me, so I gave her a packet of Rice Paper :).

Great conversations and activities, combined with plenty of laughter! I love watching my family laugh, it fills me with so much joy. We spoke about family dynamics, relaxing by doing things you're passionate about, interesting self help books, understanding the value of money, how to spend Christmas Day and caught up on each others' lives! I created a JibJab elf video that got my mum & cousin crying with laughter, my aunty lost her voice from laughing so much! Such amusement from placing photos of our heads onto the body of elves in a dance video! Getting my family to draw a name out of a hat and actually illustrate a portrait of that person was hilarious; very surprising results!

My brothers whipped up some super corn lunch, and my cousin & mumma whipped up some super dinner! 

Loving the silly season!

inspired!

So many ideas.

I was very fortunate to be surrounded by so many intermingling passionate brains over the past 4 days. These individuals really have a drive to make a difference, to better the health care of all Australians. It was refreshing to concentrate my thought processes in line with everyone else in formulating some solid plans for 2014.

While we are on the topic of planning...I have also been thinking about how to spend Christmas Day! I will firstly spend the morning with a lovely friend of mine at the airport for breakfast!

Then HOME time! I have decided to enforce upon my family that they must stay at home this Christmas. We have invited my brother's godmother, our grandmother, our cousin (almost sister) and her two children over.

My brothers will prepare lunch, whilst my cousin and I will prepare dinner. I have instructed mother to stay out of the kitchen (which will be very tough for her!), but it shall make for an interesting experience. We only once before forced her out of the kitchen when we went on a family beach house holiday to Currarong and that worked out splendidly (with a few kinks)!

The healthiness factor in these recipes inspire me:

Banana Oat Cookies - http://www.food.com/recipe/very-low-cal-banana-oat-cookies-229667

Poached Pear w/ Crunchy Oat Crumble - http://www.uncletobys.com.au/oats-recipe/crunchy-oat-crumble-with-poached-pears/

Blueberry Bran Muffins - http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Low_fat-Blueberry-Bran-Muffins-Allrecipes

Apple-Raisin Wheat Bran Muffins - http://www.foodnetwork.co.uk/recipes/super-low-fat-lower-carb-vegan-apple-raisin-wheat-bran-muffins-ru293033.html

Yep, I will be baking. The oven is so foreign to me, so wish me luck!! Other than that, I plan on making some Pumpkin Ginger soup :).

the flying snail

At the end of my dream, there was an amazing flying snail which slightly grossed me out, but at the same time was beautiful. It launched itself into the sky of my front garden, then got smacked down mercilessly by my mother with the aid of a red plastic fly swatter. Here is my attempt at depicting what it looked like...

And here are some interesting pictures that came up on a Google search for "flying snail":

This last one illustrates what I saw best in my dream, however the wings instead of being bird like, were monarch butterfly like.

Just thought this was worth sharing :).

lumpiang, pho, baby bottom tacos, and new joggers!!

An old friend of mine used to ask me regularly, back in the high school days, "..any new news?". If he had asked me that today, I would have been able to reply, "Yes! Exciting new food, and new shoes!"

Lumpiang Sariwa is a Fillipino dish that a dear Dubbonian friend of mine recommended for me to try at LaMesa last Friday night. It was pleasantly full of wonderful textures and flavours. Honestly was a bit of a mix of Chinese, Vietnamese, and Thai cusine. It is a vegetable fresh spring roll which had lovely aroma from the peanuts, refreshing juicy crunch from the water chestnuts, a mix of veggies, all tied together within a soft rice noodle like wrapping, doused in a sweet brown sauce. I recommend.

Oh, also had an interesting Calamansi Juice. Think limes, but orange on the inside! Here's a pic I found from someone else's blog:

Oh, FINALLY had my first go at the infamous Pho @ Pho An. I had the special with all the random bits and pieces..you know..tripe..and all :). It was surprisingly very strong in herbs, so I easily devoured the entire bowl and drank all that MSG-filled soup. Delish.

Tried out The Cuban Place on York St in Sydney CBD for a night out with the girl cousins! Had the softest taco skins ever! Honestly, just like a baby's bottom. Every single lamb dish was succulent, tender, and bursting with goodness too! They sure know how to create a great atmosphere.

Last, but not least. I finally got around to purchasing my new joggers! I'd always said that a new pair was warranted, especially after completing Spring 2013 Tough Mudder. I adore the colours of my new New Balance shoes. One pair of joggers, and one pair of cross-trainers. The joggers have more cushioning, while the cross-trainers have more overall support. I don't fall into the women's sizes, so children's it is for me! It was loooovvveeee <3 at first sight!

the endless choice for tucker in sydney

I have been so lucky to have had such a full week of glorious friends from such varied parts of my life, who all appreciate testing the waters in new Cafes and Restaurants for inspiring cuisine. In the past week or so...my life has been so full of Scrumptious goodness! This post will be mainly pictorial based. It has been the most rain I have experienced in the last two years, pitter patter-ing everyday this week...which only makes you even more thankful for the lovely sheltered areas for devouring food whilst catching up with friends!

My friend's gourmet home made breakfast. A delicious blend of fruits in the rainbow juice; who could have known a concoction so natural and healthy, could be so fluorescent in colour! Mmm, cherry tomatoes, goats cheese with poppy seed, peppermint, on some luscious sourdough pan-fried bread.

This was just perfect for a rainy Monday morning. Hidden away in a Sydney's Westfield in the middle of the CBD, was this peaceful Max Brenner's. I had my favourite peppermint tea <3 $4

Then a trip to Mr P's, hidden off the main strip (Burwood Rd) in my h'town of Burwood! The cutest little joint, very reasonable prices, and just a short stroll from home.

How adorable is that tiny little milk jar!

My delicious Brunch Plate, huge pieces of toast, lovely smoked salmon, poached egg, avacado, and ricotta cheese! Surprisingly healthy :) $12.50

How beautifully have they presented this Muesli! My photograph does not do it justice!

Visited the West African Festival with a colleague of mine to try some Kpoff Kpoff, African Cigars, and a Goat Burger! 

Kpoff Kpoff is apparently an African staple in every home. A sweet doughy bread deep fried, creating a lovely filling texture. $5 for 3

I was too busy devouring these delectable Sushi options in Kingsford that I only have one of these Tuna rolls to share with you! $4.50 for a plate of 4

A very interesting game of Caccasone to follow the Sushi :)

My Sweet Memory for a Matcha Latte or two! I couldn't quite work out what it was...an angel? A bird? A bird and a moon? $4.60 per cup

Yebisu Izakaya - $7.80 for Agadeshi Tofu!

We landed in Japan!

My favourite dish from Mappen Menya, along George St. Soymilk Chicken Soba (cold). Can't remember how much this was, altogether with Takoyaki, Fishcake, and Kimchi it probably came to approximately $12

The most beautiful looking juice you could buy; Blueberry, Lime & Honey!

LeMesa - the only Phillipino restaurant in Sydney CBD. LeMesa = The Table (in Spanish)

Trying out my very first Halo-Halo, which actually means MIX. It was a mix of different fruits, beans, jelly, egg custard, taro, coconut, and ice cream. Quite similar to the Malaysian ice-kachang, or Vietnamese mixed desserts, or Korean patbingsu.

And this ends my chronological photographic tour of my week's gastronomical adventure.

the gifted and talented class

Perhaps life has been less of that of an hermit than I have given it credit for! I'm not sure that sentence made sense.

My mind could benefit from "The Brain that Changes Itself". It has difficulty remaining Present, and tends to devote an unnecessary proportion of consciousness to unworthy tasks. I feel that this is all part of growing up, an finding myself. Developing methods to manage certain aspects of life. I am certain that this is a temporary phase.

Last night, I had the pleasure of being reunited with amazing women. My classmates from 5S (Mrs Sleap's class of 1999)! Bronwyn and her husband too, graced us with their presence! He too, spreads the JASON project which represents a massive proportion of my childhood memories.

How incredibly insightful it was to hear a behind the scenes perspective of why we were put in the special "Gifted and Talented" class. What makes us different, and how we require certain methods of teaching to thrive. Placed in the mainstream classes, it is likely that boredom will cause detriment.

The process that was required involved completing aptitude tests, and competency tests. However, Bronwyn ignored all competency test results, and focused on aptitude only. Girls of IQ 130-180 were placed in the classroom. Interestingly, this meant that the composition of the class was much different to that of an OC (opportunity class) which are mainly based on competency.

It is amazing how much each of us students can recall grade 5 and grade 6 being within the G&T class. Only now do we realise how privileged we were to have been part of a cohort that Bronwyn often reflects upon, and uses as an example in her current teaching of teachers.

Bronwyn now travels the world educating the educators of gifted children. What an absolute pleasure it was to enjoy dinner last night! I feel as though every classmate who was there, gained something valuable from the dinner. We each learnt a little something about ourselves, connected the dots about why we are a certain way, and rediscovered the joys of each others company.

Passion. Entrepreneurship. Gifted. Guard rails. Intuition. Resilience. Perseverance. Optimism. Empowerment. Freedom to be.

I feel so inspired. I have a bit of soul searching to do. But I do know that I have great potential mentors, and that I have incredible friends to rekindle relationships with!

the cruelty free festival

Will this be the start of regular blogging? Am I able to dedicate half an hour every week to share a few thoughts from my mind to the blog-o-sphere? I think so. Will I continue to do so? Only time will tell. Well here goes!

Today, I wanted to do something that I would not normally spend my time doing. Earlier in the week, whilst perusing the pages of the mX on a train home from Wynyard, I noticed a "Cruelty Free Festival" which intrigued me. things such as meditation, yoga, and being free of animal cruelty caught my attention. So, I rocked up today, pap malone, and meandered the aisles of vegan sweets, petitions against live exportation, natural self care products..and eventually made my way to a Yoga Class.

I learnt one way of meditation, where you inhale and say "Let" in your mind, then exhale and say "Go" in your mind, over and over, and over and over to replace the internal dialogue of you thinking about stressful things in your life.

I then met an interesting lady who is a Healer (http://www.embracehealing.com.au/), she went through a rough patch in her time back when she was 26, then decided to search for healing. Her mother and herself then became healers, and she has been running her own business in Coogee. For me, being an optometrist, it's easy for me to forget about all the other ways of living, so it was refreshing to meet somebody who's dedicated her life to healing others, in a very different and spiritual way, compared to how I help individuals with their eyes.

The walk through Belmore Park then led me to the "Bhagavad Gita", which is a book that the Monk I met began to speak about. The four principles of living in order to gain complete control over your mind are:

1. no eating meat, fish, or eggs
2. no gambling
3. no use of intoxicants (alcohol, drugs, tobacco, caffeine)
4. no illicit sex (sex outside of the purpose for procreation)

This provides you with higher taste, therefore elevating yourself to a superior platform. I was then asked to make a donation for this book. It was only $4, but I felt a bit scammed.

Interesting things, that I would never otherwise really contemplate. It's worthwhile taking a walk through the park :). Would you eat chicken? Knowing that they squash 20 chickens into one square metre? Would you eat caged eggs knowing that these chickens live in an area smaller than one A4 piece of paper? Did you know that producing meat contributes to more greenhouse gases compared to the gases produced by all households?

What are your thoughts?