Happy Halloween!!!

How did she do that?!?!?

Business Class Upgrade

During my trip from Singapore to Sydney, I was upgraded to Business Class...woohooo!!! Needless to say, I flew Singapore Airlines, which is already one of the best.

Sooo nice! I can fold my legs up the seat and my meal, created by Gordon Ramsey (I'm sure it wasn't exactly him who cooked it but the dish was created by him). But I had an older man seated next to me and was snoring loud. Fortunately, I can pull this divider between our seats so I can't hear him. Sigh!

WICKED - the musical

When I was in the US, everyone was talking about this musical.  I didn't get a chance to catch it in San Francisco.  So when I heard it was coming to Sydney, I was the first ones to buy the tickets.

The girls enjoyed a nice Sunday afternoon at Capitol Theatre (a couple of us almost missed the show...the doors were about to literally close on them).  

For Halloween, I dressed up as Dorothy.  One was a witch and another was the scarecrow.  One of our friends was wearing a leopard sexy dress...she could have been the lion (lol) and if our friend, Tim, had arrived, he could have been the TIM man!

Anyway, go and watch the show if you get a chance.

Mass without a priest???

I went to mass this morning and I was waiting and waiting for the priest to arrive but he was nowhere. This is the first mass I've been to where they read the gospel and I've taken the communion without a priest presiding. They had a leader that presided the whole thing...they had to mention about the body of Christ we are about to receive being consecrated from a previous mass. Something different for me.

Road Trip

Last leg of our trip...about an 8 hour drive back to Sydney...so we stopped and went along the way. Before leaving, we walked along Coffs Harbour's promenade (we forgot to bring our camera...but there wasn't much to report on that anyway).

On our drive back to Sydney, we passed by Sawtell town centre for a bit of a walk then checked out the beach. That's me on the left!

We had lunch at Kempsey.

Then drove to Nelson's Bay to see their lighthouse. Its not the typical lighthouse that I've featured on my blog. Its more modern, doesn't even look like a lighthouse. But we passed by a squadron of pelicans and they were huge!!! They look like they could gobble up a little baby!

And the end. That's our little road trip along the coast of NSW. Check off my list!

Byron Bay

We did the walk through Cape Byron Lighthouse and didn't realize this area is the most easterly point of mainland Australia...so it says on this picture.

The highlight of this walk was seeing some whales over the ocean. At this time of the year, they are migrating to Queensland where its warmer when they give birth.

After walking around the beach, we headed over to the "balcony" - bar and restaurant to pass the time before driving down to Coffs Harbour. We sat by the corner on the 2nd floor so we can see the roundabout and people passing by. Its such a beach town compared to Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. Between the three of these, I'd go back to Byron Bay.

Nimbin

Nimbin is already near the border of NSW and QLD. We drove up there to see what the hype is all about. Nimbin = Marijuana.

Before we entered the town, I saw a "Mardi Grass" sign event coming up. And just right after we got off the car, my friend was already asked if he'd like some weed. In less than 5 minutes, he's already been asked three times if he'd like to buy some weed.

We went to a coffee shop and I asked the barista what the deal is with marijuana. It is totally ILLEGAL but people come here thinking they can get them easily. Apparently not. There are cameras everywhere and if you're caught dealing or transacting, you're going straight to jail.

When we got to Byron Bay, I saw a tour bus from Nimbin called "grasshoppers". Funny!

Next stop: Lismore...but there's nothing worth to talk about there.

Big Banana - Coffs Harbour

The highlight at Coffs Harbour - the Big Banana! Because they have banana plantations everywhere. Its a Banana Republic.

This is the first big thing that was constructed in Australia. Soon, other cities followed by constructing their own big thing.

http://www.bigthings.com.au/

Smoky Cape Lighthouse

We continued our road trip up north to Southwest Rocks Lighthouse. Its a nice quiet place, far away from any town. If you want some quiet, alone time, check in at the bed and breakfast just below the lighthouse. Its got great views of the ocean. But you'll just have to hike up to get there.

After admiring the views from the top, we drove up a little further and saw these two bikers on the freeway. When we had lunch at a rest stop, their families were waiting for them there, too. These two french bikers (one bikes with only his arms) planned to bike all over Australia 100km every day for two months. Gosh! It will be hot for them soon. Their families are blogging about their whole trip. Check out their website: http://www.australia2009.net/

Two days later when we were heading back to Sydney, we saw the french bikers on the road again. Good on ya! Goodluck on your travels!!!

And by the way, today is September 9, 2009 (09/09/09).

Road Trip - Port Macquarie

Five hour road trip along the east coast to Port Macquarie. The highlight of this trip was not much of Port Macquarie (I didn't think there was much to see there) but the motel we stayed at Crescent Head (30 minutes north of Port Macquarie).

I did think the walk path along the water was nice. Next time you come to Port Macquarie, bring some paint and you can paint your own memories on one of those rocks.

Surfaris is a motel for surf campers. We met lots of people from all over the world coming to this place to learn how to surf. And the night we stayed there, we had a 2hr jazz concert. We even got to participate when they handed out different instruments for us to strum along. Audience participation.

Inglourious Basterds

I went to the premiere of the movie, "Inglourious Basterds". Unfortunately, Brad Pitt wasn't there. But I did get to see the director, Quentin Tarantino, Diane Kruger, and Christoph Waltz.

Quentin's movies are famous for its violence. I liked the "Death Proof" one (girl power!). I think his movies are cool that I've made a list of all his movies and decided to buy all of them:

1. Reservoir Dogs
2. Pulp Fiction
3. Jackie Brown
4. Kill Bill
5. Death Proof
6. Inglourious Basterds
7. Four Rooms
8. True Romance
   

Paper Planes

At the preschool the other day, some of the kids were making paper airplanes. I tried to do one but I totally forgot from when I was a kid. I had to ask one of the boys to show me how. Anyway, I tried making one today at home and it took me about 10 minutes to figure out how I used to make one.

Do you remember how to make a paper plane?

"Celestine and the Penguins"

I've been volunteering at a preschool since July now and today, the teacher read a book to the kids called, "Celestine and the Penguins". The only other book that I know of that is my namesake is the "Celestine Prophecy"...and I read that one coz I was curious what it was about.

Baklava Heaven

I have a weakness for baklava. I found heaven at this place in Granville, just by the train station:

Abla's Pastries
48-52 Railway Pde
Granville, NSW
Tel#02-9637-8092

If you happen to pass by there, PLEASE buy me some baklava!!!

Knitting

I've always wanted to learn how to knit. So when Customs House in Circular Quay availed free lessons, I immediately signed up for me and my cousin, Michelle. Two heads are better than one in case one of us forgets.

My first project is a scarf. Gosh does it take a long time to do this project. Winter will be over before I finish it. But its fun, very addictive. I want to do a blanket next time.

After taking the class, I've been noticing people on the bus with their knitting kits. Its kindda like when you bought your car, you start noticing people driving the same car as yours. Isn't it?

Michelle, my other friend (Sovanni) and I will make knitting a cool thing to do!

The Sydney Spanish Language Group

I signed up for meetup.com where you can add yourself in to an interest group (biking, foreign language group, guitar, etc). I joined the Spanish Language Group to continue practicing conversational spanish and to meet new people. I've actually become one of the assistants for this group, mainly to provide beginners English to the native-spanish speaking people. Its a good trade off.

I've signed up for the American Expat group in Sydney, watched a game of american football, and met a new friend from Dallas. Its a good network!

So check out www.meetup.com in your area. I've checked it back in the bay area while I was there. There's lots of groups to join in.

Guitar Lessons

My friend encouraged me to start learning to play the guitar. With the spare time I have these days, I cut my nails on the left hand and started to play. It takes time and patience and sore finger tips to learn. But I am glad I am doing it. My cousin also showed me some easy chords to play and make a tune out of it. I can impress some people with a sample tune but that's about it. Just don't ask me to play the whole song. He he!!!

"Bruno" Premiere

"Borat" is so 2006!


The last leg of the "Bruno" premiere was in Sydney and I got to see Bruno make another stunt act: coming out of a pink hummer limousine, disturbing the premiere (his own, in fact), and getting arrested by the police. Its what he does all the time!


I got so close up to him I got to touch his hand! Freaky! That man's got some nice and smooth facial skin and very toned, long legs!

My Adidas

I bought my first Adidas today!

I've been looking for the classic Samoa shoes (see right picture) for months now, going into stores, calling stores, internet search. I even called Adidas and they may have put me through to the warehouse and said, nope! We don't make them anymore. Huhu!!

But I finally found something similar to its style. Its called Beckenbauer All Round (see left picture). It looks nice. Yay!

P.S. In the Philippines, we call chicken feet (food-wise) Adidas!

Twitter

My former boss got me to sign up for Twitter. At first, I laughed. I hear about twitters telling their followers what they ate for breakfast or what they are checking online at that exact second. These people have too much time on their hands.

But I signed up anyway and started tweeting just before I left for the US. And yes, I did have a lot of time to spare. When I arrived back here in Sydney, I started following Twitters such as CNN, NBA, Time, EOnline, Aplusk (Ashton Kutcher), etc. Its actually a good way to get the news you want at the exact moment it happens.

You should sign up for it!

(oh yea, if you want to be my follower, my username is celestine28...not that I have anything interesting to say).