Today is September 11th, 2012. No one in this world could ever forget the events of that dreadful day in New York. My heart goes out to all those families who lost their loved ones. I could never imagine how that moment must have felt. To all those reading my blog, please never take anyone for granted.
Summer is almost over and I can honestly say that it has been a very memorable year for me. My biggest adventure was placing my footprints in the country of France and Germany. Both countries were so breathtaking in their own ways. Je t'aime Paris. Merci beaucoup for allowing me to see what beauty really is. Danke Germany for reminding me how simplicity is more than enough to be happy.
A few highlights of Paris:
- Eiffel tower, Louvre, Mona Lisa, Musee d'Orsay, the Seine River, surrounding architectures, the metro, the journey to Versailles (we took the wrong train and didn't realize it until 1.5 hours later), Cafe Constant (the yummy foie gras, seafood tartar and cheap beer!), butter croissants and fresh baguettes, LOUIS VUITTON (waiting in line with many asians folks), Laduree, Sacre Coeur, creme brulee inside the Musee D'Orsay, the cheap fried rice from the chinese restaurant beside the apartment we were staying, the miniature sink in our tiny bathroom, free WIFI (pronouced weefee), cheap beer and wine, smokers, our sore legs and feet, my best buds Shuh and Loong putting up with me, and our extremely exhausted nights.
A few highlights of Germany:
- the train ride from Paris to Wittlich (rushing to make sure we didn't miss our connecting train), seeing Simon and Marta at the train station (seeing familiar faces in Germany), castles, the hike to the castles, spaetzle (German pasta), quaint buildings, wineries, riesling, our spacious apartment despite not having wifi, Edeka, sausages, Marta's mom home cooking, watching Italy vs Germany in the World Cup Soccer, Jade Chinese restaurant (the best Chinese food in Kues), city of Trier, and the most unforgettable wedding in the wine museum.
Other memorable moments this year for me are the weddings I attended. I have a total of 5 weddings this year and I have taken part in 4 already. I had so much fun at the weddings and I will confess that I was indeed drunk. Being drunk and having fun is great but being drunk and feeling sick is not. I shall have more self control. Maybe. :)
In August, I ventured to Portland again. It was another fun trip that involved a lot of eating and drinking. Happy hour in Portland is the best! For those who have yet to visit Portland or for those who plan to visit soon, make sure try as many restaurants offering happy hour. They have the cheapest drinks and appies!! I'm in love with OYSTERS! Delicious!
I'm been quite active this year. I have been consistently going to the gym at least 3-4 times a week. I think my cardiovascular health is superb but my fat skinfolds are still not where I want it to be. I am devoted to the gym but also devoted to eating my carbs! Aiya!!
So what are my plans for the rest of 2012? Well, my birthday is coming up in November and I would like to travel one more time. No plans yet as to where I'm going but I have discovered last year that venturing away from the gloomy Vancouver weather is undoubtedly the best way to celebrate my birthday. Any suggestions for a quick and cheap getaway? (No Las Vegas please. Been there, done that.)
My friends: live, laugh and just have fun! Life is too short.
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
April 2012
Howdy! I apologize for my long absence from the site. What's new with me? Well, those close to me should message me and ask! I look forward to many more new and exciting adventures... I am definitely going to make the best out of 2012. A lot has been going on recently... things that have brought me both joy and stress!! I guess that's life, right? So what's ahead for me this year:
1) Continue with my gym routine and stay fit. I'm addicted to the gym but have developed a bad habit of pigging out after my workout. My friend once told me that eating a massive meal after the gym is like rolling in dirt after taking a shower. I have to have more self-control!!! ahhhhh!!!
2) Read more often. I've never been an avid reader. I am usually someone who starts a book off diligently but never finishes it. Why is that? Is it a boring book? Or is it that I'm just lazy. I think it's the latter.
3) Save, save and save. I recently made a big purchase so I need to watch my spending and budget wisely. Or maybe I need to look for a new job? Anyone hiring?
4) Socialize. I am a pretty social person or at least I think I am but I want to make sure that I put aside some time for some old friends who I haven't seen for a long time... oh, and, time to develop some new friendships! ;)
5) Be confident. Be happy. Be wise. Be sexy!!! hahaha
So who's still reading my blog? :P
1) Continue with my gym routine and stay fit. I'm addicted to the gym but have developed a bad habit of pigging out after my workout. My friend once told me that eating a massive meal after the gym is like rolling in dirt after taking a shower. I have to have more self-control!!! ahhhhh!!!
2) Read more often. I've never been an avid reader. I am usually someone who starts a book off diligently but never finishes it. Why is that? Is it a boring book? Or is it that I'm just lazy. I think it's the latter.
3) Save, save and save. I recently made a big purchase so I need to watch my spending and budget wisely. Or maybe I need to look for a new job? Anyone hiring?
4) Socialize. I am a pretty social person or at least I think I am but I want to make sure that I put aside some time for some old friends who I haven't seen for a long time... oh, and, time to develop some new friendships! ;)
5) Be confident. Be happy. Be wise. Be sexy!!! hahaha
So who's still reading my blog? :P
Happy Easter Everyone!!!
I'm baack!!! Happy Easter everyone! It's Easter Monday today and I hope you all have a fantastic weekend. I had a great 4 day break and I hope you did too! Let's hope the sun stays!!!
Sunday, October 23, 2011
2011
I'm currently living my life the way I want to live it and not how others want me to live it.
It's been a pretty busy year for me. I've traveled to 3 different cities in the USA this year and will be on my 4th at the end of November. All for pleasure. All for the sake of sanity. Traveling allows you to escape reality for a short period time; it allows to you focus on yourself. Well, that is the purpose of my travels. My November escape will be to one of my favorite destinations.... it is a place that is peaceful and serene. I'm hoping for a great end to 2011 and better beginnings to 2012.
It's been a pretty busy year for me. I've traveled to 3 different cities in the USA this year and will be on my 4th at the end of November. All for pleasure. All for the sake of sanity. Traveling allows you to escape reality for a short period time; it allows to you focus on yourself. Well, that is the purpose of my travels. My November escape will be to one of my favorite destinations.... it is a place that is peaceful and serene. I'm hoping for a great end to 2011 and better beginnings to 2012.
Friday, August 19, 2011
My Portland Adventure
So what do I have to say about my 5 day trip to Portland? A LOT! I had a great time with my friends. We devoured scrumptious food, hydrated ourselves with addictive drinks and bathed in the Portland heat!
Day 1: On route to PDX
We started our drive down to the famous Seattle Premium Outlet. I made a few stops at some of my favorite stores and had my favorite almond flavored Auntie Anne's pretzel. Yummy! Have you ever tried them? I almost always have one when I'm there. It's one thing that I cannot resist!
5PM - HELLO PORTLAND!! We finally made our way to Portland and checked into our hotel: the Portland Marriott City Center. We were lucky to get 2 double beds since there were 3 of us. What a relief! We were a bit concerned that they were going to only give us a king size bed since we used Priceline to purchase the room. We settled down for a bit and decided to roam around the neighborhood. Along our walk we stumbled upon Jake's Seafood Restaurant. It seemed to be quite busy so we walked in not knowing it was HAPPY HOUR!! Cheap drinks and delicious appies! woooohooo. My favorite food there was the Oyster Shooter which consisted of a raw, plump, juicy oyster with some horseradish and cocktail sauce. I never knew it could taste that good!! What else did we have? Ahi tuna roll, calamari, bruschetta, thai curry steamed mussels, fish tacos. 2 Thumbs Up!! Kudos to Jake's. I will definitely visit you again!! It was a great start to our trip!
We then decided to go for stroll downtown to explore and walk off a bit of the calories we took in. Along the way, we discovered the location for the Bite of Oregon. What is the Bite of Oregon you ask? In simple terms, it's a festival of eating, eating, drinking and eating!! You name it, they got it! Food and drink vendors galore! Wine tasting, sake tasting, ice wine, desserts and more desserts, food, really good food. :) I would definitely consider coming again next year. Check it out at www.biteoforegon.com.
Day 2: Let the fun begin.
Breakfast at the Stepping Stone Cafe. They have pancakes that are named "mancakes". You can imagine what they mean by that name. The pancakes are gigantic! Imagine a dinner plate... the pancake covered the entire surface area of the plate. So crazy but so good! We once again stuffed our faces! *burp* This restaurant was showcased on an episode of man vs food. Of course, there was a lineup to get in. www.steppingstonecafe.com
After breakfast, we headed to the Woodburn outlet for some tax-free shopping. The ride was about 45mins which was a bit longer than I had expected but it was worth it. Who doesn't like outlet shopping?? I picked up a few items and felt really awkward when the bill came out to be the exact amount on the price tag. Love tax-free shopping!
We became a tourist and ventured on a Shanghai Tunnel tour. The Shanghai Tunnel tour (aka Portland underground) are a group of passages running underneath Chinatown. They were used to kidnap or "shanghai" laborers and sell them as slaves to waiting ships at the waterfront. A cool part of history that was indeed interesting.
Hello again Bite of Oregon. We bought a weekend pass for the Bite of Oregon so we thought it'd be a good idea to make a trip back out there and have dinner. I again enjoyed some mojito saketinis. That was my favorite drink!!! Let me think about what I had that night: Bratwurst dog, crab cake, bbq ribs, chicken liver, beef slider, and beer steamed mussels. So full. :)
Day 3: More eating and more drinking
The day started off at Bijou Cafe. I tasted my first ever oyster omelette. Oyster Omelette: Where do I find you in Vancouver??? I'm salivating right now as I type this. Another good spot for brunch! After brunch we roamed towards the Pearl district of Portland... comparable to Vancouver's yaletown.
Then our venture of the night began....our pre-drinking started off at the VAULT MARTINI. A hip pub that specializes in martinis. We shared a few sips of our martinis and one that I could not forget and must mention is the Habanero Martini. The ingredient: House infused pineapple-habanero vodka with fresh lemon. What more do I need to say about this drink? It blew me away!! I can feel the tingling sensation on my tongue right now. www.vault-martini.com
Time for dinner at Andina Restaurant - a Peruvian cuisine. This was without a doubt the highlight of my trip. I don't want to describe this experience inaccurately so I will let them tell you what exactly it is that they serve.
"Andina's kitchen creates a rich fusion of tastes and aromas, selecting and preparing only the freshest, with the most authentic ingredients available. Our goal is not only to serve delicious food in a comfortable setting, but also to offer a genuine taste of Peruvian culture as it revolves around and, is transmitted through our cuisine."
I have never tasted Peruvian food and I must admit my palate was stimulated in a positive way. The owner of the restaurant came over and chatted with us. She said her culture is all about the food. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor; they always eat like millionaires. Their food was so fine, so damn good that I'll never forget it. Check it out if you ever make your way to Portland. www.andinarestaurant.com
Off to Arcade Kontrol - the kid in me is out! When was the last time I played an arcade game?!?! Gosh that was many, many moons ago. haha... so fun!
Day 4: Last full day
Finally a resting day (kind of). We walked around downtown again and had a quick bite then took the free streetcar to Lloyd Center which is the largest shopping mall in Oregon. I guess this mall is similar to any other mall but the only difference is that it had an indoor ice rink. I thought that was pretty cool.
Happy Hour at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!! Ahi tuna, fried lobster bites, prime burger and slider, beef tenderloin. Another great meal!
Movie time! Since this was our last full day in Oregon, we thought we would just relax and catch a movie. We saw the Rise of the Planet of the Apes...and stuffed our face with popcorn and ice cream. haha. Loved it!
Day 5: Goodbye Portland - thanks for the good times!
We weren't ready to say goodbye until we had some VOODOO Donuts!!!! We passed by the store the other days and the lineup was always so long that we had to just walk away in disappointment. Surprisingly on our last day, we walked over there to find that there was no line up!! wooohooo... a dozen donuts here please!!!
All in all, my Portland adventure was indeed superb and fantastic! Yes, my waistline had grown and my wallet shrunk a bit but it was all worth it. I would go back again in a heartbeat. I experienced some of the most amazing food and drinks with a couple of my super fun friends who love to enjoy life. I'm so glad I went on this trip and can't wait to visit again in the new year! :)
Day 1: On route to PDX
We started our drive down to the famous Seattle Premium Outlet. I made a few stops at some of my favorite stores and had my favorite almond flavored Auntie Anne's pretzel. Yummy! Have you ever tried them? I almost always have one when I'm there. It's one thing that I cannot resist!
5PM - HELLO PORTLAND!! We finally made our way to Portland and checked into our hotel: the Portland Marriott City Center. We were lucky to get 2 double beds since there were 3 of us. What a relief! We were a bit concerned that they were going to only give us a king size bed since we used Priceline to purchase the room. We settled down for a bit and decided to roam around the neighborhood. Along our walk we stumbled upon Jake's Seafood Restaurant. It seemed to be quite busy so we walked in not knowing it was HAPPY HOUR!! Cheap drinks and delicious appies! woooohooo. My favorite food there was the Oyster Shooter which consisted of a raw, plump, juicy oyster with some horseradish and cocktail sauce. I never knew it could taste that good!! What else did we have? Ahi tuna roll, calamari, bruschetta, thai curry steamed mussels, fish tacos. 2 Thumbs Up!! Kudos to Jake's. I will definitely visit you again!! It was a great start to our trip!
We then decided to go for stroll downtown to explore and walk off a bit of the calories we took in. Along the way, we discovered the location for the Bite of Oregon. What is the Bite of Oregon you ask? In simple terms, it's a festival of eating, eating, drinking and eating!! You name it, they got it! Food and drink vendors galore! Wine tasting, sake tasting, ice wine, desserts and more desserts, food, really good food. :) I would definitely consider coming again next year. Check it out at www.biteoforegon.com.
Day 2: Let the fun begin.
Breakfast at the Stepping Stone Cafe. They have pancakes that are named "mancakes". You can imagine what they mean by that name. The pancakes are gigantic! Imagine a dinner plate... the pancake covered the entire surface area of the plate. So crazy but so good! We once again stuffed our faces! *burp* This restaurant was showcased on an episode of man vs food. Of course, there was a lineup to get in. www.steppingstonecafe.com
After breakfast, we headed to the Woodburn outlet for some tax-free shopping. The ride was about 45mins which was a bit longer than I had expected but it was worth it. Who doesn't like outlet shopping?? I picked up a few items and felt really awkward when the bill came out to be the exact amount on the price tag. Love tax-free shopping!
We became a tourist and ventured on a Shanghai Tunnel tour. The Shanghai Tunnel tour (aka Portland underground) are a group of passages running underneath Chinatown. They were used to kidnap or "shanghai" laborers and sell them as slaves to waiting ships at the waterfront. A cool part of history that was indeed interesting.
Hello again Bite of Oregon. We bought a weekend pass for the Bite of Oregon so we thought it'd be a good idea to make a trip back out there and have dinner. I again enjoyed some mojito saketinis. That was my favorite drink!!! Let me think about what I had that night: Bratwurst dog, crab cake, bbq ribs, chicken liver, beef slider, and beer steamed mussels. So full. :)
Day 3: More eating and more drinking
The day started off at Bijou Cafe. I tasted my first ever oyster omelette. Oyster Omelette: Where do I find you in Vancouver??? I'm salivating right now as I type this. Another good spot for brunch! After brunch we roamed towards the Pearl district of Portland... comparable to Vancouver's yaletown.
Then our venture of the night began....our pre-drinking started off at the VAULT MARTINI. A hip pub that specializes in martinis. We shared a few sips of our martinis and one that I could not forget and must mention is the Habanero Martini. The ingredient: House infused pineapple-habanero vodka with fresh lemon. What more do I need to say about this drink? It blew me away!! I can feel the tingling sensation on my tongue right now. www.vault-martini.com
Time for dinner at Andina Restaurant - a Peruvian cuisine. This was without a doubt the highlight of my trip. I don't want to describe this experience inaccurately so I will let them tell you what exactly it is that they serve.
"Andina's kitchen creates a rich fusion of tastes and aromas, selecting and preparing only the freshest, with the most authentic ingredients available. Our goal is not only to serve delicious food in a comfortable setting, but also to offer a genuine taste of Peruvian culture as it revolves around and, is transmitted through our cuisine."
I have never tasted Peruvian food and I must admit my palate was stimulated in a positive way. The owner of the restaurant came over and chatted with us. She said her culture is all about the food. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor; they always eat like millionaires. Their food was so fine, so damn good that I'll never forget it. Check it out if you ever make your way to Portland. www.andinarestaurant.com
Off to Arcade Kontrol - the kid in me is out! When was the last time I played an arcade game?!?! Gosh that was many, many moons ago. haha... so fun!
Day 4: Last full day
Finally a resting day (kind of). We walked around downtown again and had a quick bite then took the free streetcar to Lloyd Center which is the largest shopping mall in Oregon. I guess this mall is similar to any other mall but the only difference is that it had an indoor ice rink. I thought that was pretty cool.
Happy Hour at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse!! Ahi tuna, fried lobster bites, prime burger and slider, beef tenderloin. Another great meal!
Movie time! Since this was our last full day in Oregon, we thought we would just relax and catch a movie. We saw the Rise of the Planet of the Apes...and stuffed our face with popcorn and ice cream. haha. Loved it!
Day 5: Goodbye Portland - thanks for the good times!
We weren't ready to say goodbye until we had some VOODOO Donuts!!!! We passed by the store the other days and the lineup was always so long that we had to just walk away in disappointment. Surprisingly on our last day, we walked over there to find that there was no line up!! wooohooo... a dozen donuts here please!!!
All in all, my Portland adventure was indeed superb and fantastic! Yes, my waistline had grown and my wallet shrunk a bit but it was all worth it. I would go back again in a heartbeat. I experienced some of the most amazing food and drinks with a couple of my super fun friends who love to enjoy life. I'm so glad I went on this trip and can't wait to visit again in the new year! :)
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Hindsight
Have you ever wondered why everything seems so much clearer in hindsight? Why is are we so blinded in those moments when we make a decision? Why don't we see the consequences of our decisions until further down the road? I don't know the answer. If I knew the answer, I think my life would be so different right now. I guess our decisions and choices are what makes us unique. We all have to live with our decisions whether we like it or not. Never regret. Always learn. We are who we are. Cheers. Smile. Live on. :)
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Haha!
Thank you Shuh for also being a fan of my site! :) I feel so special to know that my words provide some sort of entertainment. I shall continue my blog! Check back to view my new posts. I will post again soon!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Blogging continues....
First off, I must thank my most devoted fan. The one person I know who continues to visit my blog regardless of how boring or meaningless my words can be. Thank you Loong! :) You have given me a reason to continue blogging!
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
Miss you...
I miss New York. I miss being there.
I miss Disneyland. I miss all the smiles and cuteness.
I miss staring out into the beautiful clear blue sky resting and relaxing peacefully.
I miss all the things that once made me happy.
I miss all the fun and the laughter. I miss those special moments that made my heart flutter.
Recently, I miss lot of things. Don't know why, I just do. Maybe it's the weather?
I miss Disneyland. I miss all the smiles and cuteness.
I miss staring out into the beautiful clear blue sky resting and relaxing peacefully.
I miss all the things that once made me happy.
I miss all the fun and the laughter. I miss those special moments that made my heart flutter.
Recently, I miss lot of things. Don't know why, I just do. Maybe it's the weather?
Sunday, May 29, 2011
Sunshine!!! Please stick around!
Hey everyone,
I'm back to write a quick post. Gonna keep this one short.
1) Disneyland was fantastic! One of the best trips ever! I laughed hard, screamed hard and made sure I came back to Vancouver with a smile on my face! :)
2) Joined a softball league with some friends. Quite enjoying it even though we have yet to win our first game. Good laughs, good fun and good beer! :)
3) Walking home from work one day a week is one way to stay active this summer. It takes me around 1hr and 15 mins to get home. It's a great way to catch up with my friend Marta and shed some calories!
4) Gym routine - still going strong but definitely feel like I need to change up my exercises a bit. Any suggestions for building leg strength?
I'm hoping to get back into a few things this summer like swimming and guitar. I haven't been to the pool for a long time now and feel that I've lost some of my abilities. Sigh. My guitar is collecting dust in my room. I should get back into it soon. I promise.
Of course I must mention the Canucks. I can't believe we made it to the Stanley cup finals. I can't wait to see them win the cup! hehehe... it's been an amazing run and hope they can bring the cup home!!! Go Canucks!!!
I'm back to write a quick post. Gonna keep this one short.
1) Disneyland was fantastic! One of the best trips ever! I laughed hard, screamed hard and made sure I came back to Vancouver with a smile on my face! :)
2) Joined a softball league with some friends. Quite enjoying it even though we have yet to win our first game. Good laughs, good fun and good beer! :)
3) Walking home from work one day a week is one way to stay active this summer. It takes me around 1hr and 15 mins to get home. It's a great way to catch up with my friend Marta and shed some calories!
4) Gym routine - still going strong but definitely feel like I need to change up my exercises a bit. Any suggestions for building leg strength?
I'm hoping to get back into a few things this summer like swimming and guitar. I haven't been to the pool for a long time now and feel that I've lost some of my abilities. Sigh. My guitar is collecting dust in my room. I should get back into it soon. I promise.
Of course I must mention the Canucks. I can't believe we made it to the Stanley cup finals. I can't wait to see them win the cup! hehehe... it's been an amazing run and hope they can bring the cup home!!! Go Canucks!!!
Monday, April 4, 2011
8 more days left until...
Disneyland and Los Angeles!!
Finally, my long awaited mini vacation is only a few days away.... I'm ready, excited and just can't wait to get some much needed sunshine! My original vacation plan to Japan had to be canceled so California is the replacement destination.
I just want to relax, get away from all the stresses, have fun and just hug Mickey! :) It's been a long time since I last visited the state of Cali. I'll be taking lots of pictures... I'm sure I'll come back with a tan! yippeee!!!
Finally, my long awaited mini vacation is only a few days away.... I'm ready, excited and just can't wait to get some much needed sunshine! My original vacation plan to Japan had to be canceled so California is the replacement destination.
I just want to relax, get away from all the stresses, have fun and just hug Mickey! :) It's been a long time since I last visited the state of Cali. I'll be taking lots of pictures... I'm sure I'll come back with a tan! yippeee!!!
Monday, March 7, 2011
Can't believe...
it's March already! You know this year will just fly by in an instant... I wish and hope that time will tick a bit slower. I want to be able to enjoy and cherish all the days of this year.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Words from Letters to Juliet...
I just finished watching Letters to Juliet... and yes, I admit I quite enjoy sappy love stories that are never ever close to being realistic. But I am a romantic and wish parts of these movies can be true... Here are some words from this movie that touched my heart:
"What" and "if" are two words as non threatening as words can be but put them together side by side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life. What if. What if. I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love then it's never too late. If it was true then why wouldn't it be true now. You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feel like... love to leave loved ones for... love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I were to ever feel it that I'd have the courage to seize it. If you didn't, i hope one day that you will.
"What" and "if" are two words as non threatening as words can be but put them together side by side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life. What if. What if. I don't know how your story ended but if what you felt then was true love then it's never too late. If it was true then why wouldn't it be true now. You need only the courage to follow your heart. I don't know what a love like Juliet's feel like... love to leave loved ones for... love to cross oceans for but I'd like to believe if I were to ever feel it that I'd have the courage to seize it. If you didn't, i hope one day that you will.
Monday, February 21, 2011
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