A Fantabulous Christmas

For the first time in such a long time I get to have 3 consecutive days off... It was heaven... And I had so much fun over the Christmas period too~ No words could describe the dread and unwillingness to work when I get back just now for dinner shift (on Monday night). I heard it wasn't busy on Christmas eve and Christmas day itself. The restaurant really should've closed and let everyone have a rest.....

On Christmas Eve at around 4pm I set off to the city with Yongshan and Shu Yea (who were both waiting for me at Ripponlea station) and went over to their place, where I'll be staying over for 2 nights. I helped to decorate their house whilst the sisters cooked dinner. Mainly it was Shu Yea's fantastic culinary skills who has made butter garlic prawns, marinated chicken and a very very delicious kueh ketaya. Yongshan made potato salad. Oh, and also steamed vegetables with oyster sauce. Dinner was fabulous~ There was also kueh ketaya, which was grated coconut and brown sugar wrapped in a piece of pandan skin. That was absolutely delicious!! Shu Yea is definitely a great cook, and she has spent 4 hours making about 20 of the kueh ketayas. Very patient of her... I wouldn't have any patience to stay in the kitchen for more than half an hour, least to say, 4 hours!

Kueh ketaya... My favorite dessert as of now~

Afterwards, we took turns to have our shower, and by the time I'm finished it was already past midnight. Exchanged our presents and opened them up. The sisters have given me a little "Mr. Men Little Miss" car filled with marshmellows, and a very delicate tea set with the word 'Shopaholic' and little CZ diamonds set on it. Love my presents!

The Law sisters and I with our presents, and our reindeer hats.

On Christmas day, we woke up at around 7am, and got ready by 8.15am. Caught the tram to the city and then the train to Werribee. No where was open in the city since it was Christmas, and I was desperate for a coffee (as always). Luckily Hungry Jacks was open, so we got some breakfast and a coffee for me. The ride from the city to Werribee wasn't as long as I've imagined cuz we were chatting non-stop on the train. Took bus 439 to Werribee Open Range Zoo, and from there we commenced on our journey. Took a tour with the safari tour bus which is included in the entrance fee. Saw heaps of animals - giraffe, zebras, kudu, emu, ostrich, kangaroo, deer, rhino, hippo (though none of them surfaced during the ride), camels and lots more... After the tour, we had a lunch picnic at one of the benches in the zoo. Shu Yea made hot dogs and onions the night before, and we ate that together with sandwiches. We also brought Pringles chips and some grapes. Very sumptuous lunch indeed! 

Just right at the entrance of Werribee Open Range Zoo

Afterwards we continued our tour by ourselves. Met the meerkats, African wild dogs, lions, velvet monkeys, leopard and many more... What left me the biggest impression in the zoo has to be the giraffe (always my favorite of all mammals in the zoo) and the hippopotamus (saw their feeding time). I swear one of the giraffes was intending to wink at me when I waved goodbye at him (they were all males) cuz his eyelid was literally twitching with every wave. I love him~~~~~

This Mr. Giraffe winked at me!

Feeding time of the hippos

We left the zoo at about 5pm and caught the bus back to Werribee station, and then the train back into the city. Went back to the sisters' home and had a brief rest, before heading out for dinner afterwards. Some places in Chinatown are open even during Christmas, so we headed there and dived into Kaneda (Japanese restaurant, Hongkie owned) to have our bento box dinner. Afterwards we went to EZ-Cafe for bubble tea, and took some photos on Bourke Street before heading back again for some rest. 

3 of us in the heart of the city

Boxing Day was just like the year before. Supposedly to wake up at 8.15am so that we can head out earlier, however, I couldn't even get myself to wake up any earlier cuz I was so tired. In the end woke up at 9.30am and we headed out at about 10.30am. First stop was to shop for my UGG boots. Went into UGG in Melbourne Central, but there were many people, and the sales person there didn't appear very enthusiastic to serve me. Furthermore, the discounts there were pathetic~ Left without getting anything. However, I stumped onto a black UGG that I like for $171 (usual price $228) at a authorised seller in Chinatown and went ahead to get it. Even though I've burnt a big hole in my pocket I was happy I got them... Now I don't have to worry about footwear when I get to cold cold Korea in February then!

I wanted something plain, and a colour that is easy to match. This UGG fits what I want perfectly :) 

Lunch was at Singapore Chom Chom, our old workplace. All new faces, except for Adrian and Sunny. Saw Steven, the owner too. And some of the chefs there were old faces as well. I had Hainanese chicken rice with spicy eggplant on the side. Adrian made us an ice kachang and it tasted really good~ After lunch, we headed to Disney Exhibition @ Federation Square. Just like Tim Burton's exhibition previously, I was separated with the sisters because I actually look into every single detail of the exhibition, therefore I take a much longer time. Disney's was really good.... though it lacked the precise and vividness as compared to Tim Burton's. Some of the classics were not in the exhibit, but the existing ones were up to standard. I loved "The Little Mermaid" and "Beauty and the Beast". I still got their songs stuck in my head til now~ "Tale as old as time, Song as old as Rhyme... Beauty and the Beast...."

Dreams Come True - Disney exhibit

Outside of Fed Square

Continued with shopping after the exhibit. Boxing Day sales everywhere, and even though the after-discount prices are not exactly considered 'cheap', however, as compared to the usual price, they are actually much cheaper than before. I got 2 tops at Myer and another top from Cotton On. Spent about $280 altogether. Yikes!

Dinner was at Nando's. After dinner we shopped a tad more before returning to the sisters' place, where I quickly did some packing and headed home. 

It was a very fun-filled Christmas holidays~ I look forward for some more fun in store for me for New Year's.... 

Honestly, it sucked to get back to work on Monday. Monday was supposedly a replacement public holiday since Christmas falls on a Saturday, but I got to get back to work. SIGH~

2010 has passed us by so quickly~! But I must say I did enjoy the year because I think I have grown a lot wiser and have learnt many things. 2010 was filled with adventures - from my solo traveling to HK, Korea and then back to Singapore; and also my trip to Qatar - first time to the Middle East. I've worked very hard to earn a living, even though I do regret not having found a full-time job. I think I did pretty well with what I was doing and got a pay rise twice this year. Plus, I've managed to make myself eligible for PR application, and have successfully submitted my application. I've also worked hard and played hard. I didn't waste my life doing unnecessary things. I was happier than I was in 2009.

2011 is the year I will continue with my adventure to Korea and Japan. I will be living out of a suitcase for 7 weeks. When I get back, I will have to seriously hunt for a full-time job, and fingers crossed it will not be too much of an excruciating process... I will try to get to get back to Singapore probably November/December next year if I can. And if by then I haven't got a full-time, I will extend my trip to the Middle East again. I was just talking to Ryo last night about my wish to live in Korea for 1-2 years and then back to Melbourne for 1-2 years, before going to another country to live again. It is my ultimate dream to stay in first, Korea, then other parts of the world for the rest of my life. Ryo supports my way of thinking because he feels that there is no age limit to do whatever you want to do. And even if I am  going to be traveling around penniless, I will still find a way to survive because I have a very strong character and good survival skills. I am glad at least someone thinks I am not perpectually insane or something...

And even though this is gonna be quite difficult, I DO hope that my PR will be granted by next year too... At least it ewill be a lot easier to get a job, or leave the place for Korea...

In any case I did not blog til after the new year, I wanna wish all my readers (if any) a HAPPY NEW YEAR 2011!!! Hopefully this year will be a fruitful one for you..... And smiles always! :)