CNY in Perth

This is my third time in Perth! But this time round its special because...
1. I am spending my Chinese New Year here
2. I am spending it with my dear husband!

Stayed in this holiday house (named Roo's Retreat by its owner) in Bullsbrook for 3nights. Extremely convenient for me because its just a few minutes drive from the air base where Ah C is.

Roo's Retreat is huge.. with 4 bedrooms and able to accomodate up to 10people.
I like the country concept in australian houses where everything is wood and brown..

the kitchen is very well equipped: fridge, stove, oven, dishwasher, coffee maker, all sorts of pots and pans, utensils and cultery (enough for >10 people).

Overall view of living room/dining area


The master bedroom which we slept in.. very spacious!

Lounge area

Exterior verandah (with BBQ facilities)

Wild kangaroos always come into our front yard in the evenings (which is why the place is called Roo's Retreat i think)

On 1st day of CNY we prepared steamboat for his whole course of about 14 people. Went to Northbridge to get all teh necessary ingredients then headed to Corica to buy their famous apple strudel. No pictures were taken by us cos we were too busy with the preparation!

On the 2nd day we headed to his Commanding Officer's home for CNY celebration!

Our first CNY together after 4 years physically apart =)

They even had lion dance!

Sunset in the evening at his CO's house

Other then CNY celebrations, we did a couple of fun things over the next few days too!

Tried horseriding for the first time and enjoyed it! I wanna do it again!


This horse is 35 years old (apparently considered v old) but still strong!

On the 3rd day we went for Supa Golf and Go-Karting.

Supa Golf , in terms of scale and difficulty, is more than mini golf but less than regular golf. The course is smaller, the golf balls and holes are bigger, and the contact area of the clubs with the balls are bigger than regular golf.


The last day was a slow one. We went to the town of Joondalup to return our rental car, had brunch and walked around the mall. His coursemates then came to pick us up and we headed to his air base (he got permission for me to enter) as I was taking a late night flight. That pretty much sums up the trip and I was sad to leave.

Though its my third trip to Perth and a lot of people thinks that Perth is boring, I still think Perth is fun and I am so looking forward to my next trip already! Yes, it may not be a shopping paradise like Hong Kong/Bangkok/US, does not have yummy food like Japan/Taiwan or no (good) musuems to visit like in Europe. But it does have plenty of natural attractions and sports to do.. i think its just my kind of holiday. Next up (probably in coming April. Yay!) I wanna do all of these..........................

Sandboarding in Lancelin!

See the Pinnacles during Sunset!
(Picture from http://www.australiantoursrus.com/)

Go cycle/snorkel etc etc on Rottnest Island!

( Picture from http://www.theage.com.au)

(Picture from http://www.2pi.info/travel/perth/index.html)

2 more months!

Eighth year of Christmas

2002 - with my NJ class, at Qianli's house
2003 - we were wrapping hampers for $$!
2004 - staycation at Ritz Carlton
2005 - Tokyo
2006 - Hong Kong
2007 - with my NJ class, at my house
2008 - with my NJ class, at East Coast Sunkist chalet
2009 - staycation at St Regis

2010...... I realised this is the first Christmas not spent with you....
May this be the first and the last time.
Nevertheless, the coming Chinese New Year will be my first Chinese New Year with you in 5 years!
For now, hope you have a great time in Perth dear!

2010 - Places Revisited

I realised I haven't documented on any of my trips for 2010.. omg, pure laziness or what. Here's a summary!

April - Beijing and Dandong China

Beijing's Niao Cao (Bird's nest)


Climbed the Great Wall - Wo shi tiao hao han!

Dandong - that near to North Korea, we were.

May - Colorado, Las Vegas and Los Angeles, USA

Ah C graduated! Finally!

Garden of Gods

3rd Disneyland (Los Angeles)! - 1st Tokyo Japan, 2nd Florida USA



1st limo ride~
luggage overload. HAHAHAHA

View of the fountain from our room at Bellagio, Las Vegas

Nov - Bali Indonesia
(lost my camera on the last day of the trips so not much photos :[ )

Where we stayed: Komaneka villa @ Bisma (picture "koped" from website :D)


Poan cooking class (photo sent to us by fellow traveller in cooking class - only pic we have from the trip! :S)

November - Perth (Melly Cat's wedding!!!) & Sydney, Australia
Cape leewin lighthouse - 2nd time there! (last visit June 2008)

Jump shot! (there is no one photo joyce jumped at the same time as us.. lousy~)


Siao zar bos.... the wind is not that strong.

Lisa's favourite look.

Melly's dinner reception @ Saracen Estate winery


Playful bride

Love this pic.. macham posing for some calendar! haha.

Escape Incognito, Margaret River -the groom and bride's house for 3 nights (bbq party!)



Tea reception @ The Goose, Busselton

Beach @ Bunker's Bay, Dunsborough

Spent my first day (a Sunday) in Sydney lying in Ning's bed cos I had food poisoning... but next few days were fun!
Sydney Harbour by night




Lunch@ Firestick cafe, Hunter Valley... Yummy!!


My dear Ning ning~~ (Lunch @ Flat White)

Ended off Sydney with a trip to Sydney Fish Market (and was almost late for my flight back to Perth)

Travelled for work.
Travelled with Ah C.
Travelled with family.
Travelled with friends.
Travelled on my own.
Looking forward to trips in 2011!

The beginning of umemployment

I officially mark today as the 7th day of my unemployment. Haha! So how have my days been? Here's a summary:

7th Oct - detox day:survived on fruits alone and nua-ed at the home the entire day (figured i will not have energy to do anything with only fruits in my stomach)

8th Oct - Facial in the morning (after 6 months) and went to take a look at Coach+Kate Spade handbags sale at Suntec Convention Centre, which was boring - nothing beats factor outlets in the States! Went for Jap make up class for three hours till 9.30pm and then joined Ah c and his course mates at this German bar at Millenia Walk for Oktoberfest(stayed till 12am without wanting to fall asleep! Can feel my energy picking up... hehe).

Weekends - usual

11th and 12 Oct - Stayed home: Went to the gym, watched TV/DVD, helped in (a bit) of housework, picked Ah C's sis up from school and helped with her upcoming exams, did and revised Jap.

Anyway, yesterday was me and Ah C's 8th year anniversary! We went for a dinner date (he requested to book out from camp). He drove so we went to Michelangelo's at Chip Bee Gardens followed by 2am Dessert Bar at Holland village. Seems like we haven't really been on a date for some time - you know, not going somewhere to eat just because we are hungry and need to eat.. but more of picking a nice place and spending time together? =) Looking forward to more days like this.

Last night's dinner also gave me a new perception. In the past three years, sure I have been going to some of the highly rated places (which are normally quite expensive as well), but i have never enjoyed dinner as much as last night. When I was working, I went to expensive places because I felt that I had to treat myself better for working so hard. Hence, i was ready to pay higher prices for "good" food. However, I learnt yesterday that a good meal is not just about the food itself, but also about the person u are eating with, the mood you are in, and the memories that the place could create for you. We can go to a 'nice" place and say "oh I have been there before" and "ya, the food is not bad" and then probably try something new next time (new restaurants pop up every other day). But there are places where we will want to go again and again simply because they are meaningful.

i am enjoying my days now.. not bored yet. But I already know I am not the kind to stay at home and do nothing in the future. I am still deciding what to do.. will update again when I have more concrete plans!

Think positive, always.

In no way is it the end of the world.
Light is always at the end of the tunnel.
It is up to us whether we want to walk till the end.
Drag ur feet if u must.
Stop for a rest if you have to.
But never say you cannot do it without trying.

Obstacles in life are meant for us to overcome and become stronger,
and not cry that its the end of the world.

Utilise our energy in celebration and not in despair =)