2010 in retrospect

ferrero on vday; baby xiaoxiao in february; bali during end of february; our first time at zoo negara in march; early 21st birthday present in the form of a golden key honours society membership invite; my very first camera on my 21st in april; annual vay-k with the gang in june; last monash ball in september; xiaoxiao all gorwn up in october; grandpa's water lilies in full bloom; rita's birthday end of october; taiwan and hongkong family trip in december; xiaoxiao frolicking here and there despite being blind in one eye; a pretty face at one of our favourite tomyam noodles joint.

looking back at 2010, honestly there are things still on the resolutions list that have not been crossed out -- like getting a job for summer. but at least i lived the year with no regrets, saved xiaoxiao from drowning in a drain, achieved the results that i aimed for, attained membership in golden key, and am learning to take more beautiful pictures as well as loving and cherishing my loved ones.

au revoir 2010, bonjour 2011

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

pet.portrait.

xiaoxiao trying out the new toys we bought for her from taiwan while we try out dad's new d7000 (on her). the "pet portrait" mode was superb! so much so that even her damaged eye looked cutely normal :3

in the meantime, sorting out a combination of almost 6000 photos of our taiwan and hongkong trip from 2 cameras. so do expect heap lotsa vacation-related posts!

live from hk

the spectacular hongkong skyline and laser lights show

reporting from the novotel hotel lobby in hongkong, eavesdropping on the basketball coaches from india and united states talking about the games and the lakers and whatnots. (i dont understand why the photo with my sister's face refuses to rotate!) left taiwan for hongkong yesterday morning, witnessed hongkong's crazily congested mtr stations, learnt about their freakingly high cost-of-living, but am amazed by the cars people drive here. convertibles -- mini coopers especially!

oh and it's hui's 18th birthday today! so nice to be celebrating it in hongkong! she made a wish without candles, and with fruit tarts and assorted cakes in the hotel room. HAPPY BIRTHDAY HUIIIIII :3

i miss you

retreat; therainneedstostop

in jiu fen, staying the night and tomorrow at this quaint little inn, with all the units having its own distinct themes. soft toys and cozy couches, beautiful lamps and paintings provided us with an indoor activity shielded from the prolonging rain -- chilling out and taking photos! the first step into the room was like arriving in heaven after carrying our luggages up flights of stairs in the pouring rain towards the inn atop a steep hill.

the rain's picking up speed outside; it's probably time for a warm bath.

from taiwan with love

behold, a map of taipei. catching cabs to go around the city is so convenient, cuz almost everywhere u turn u can see a little yellow car.

touched down last night at 10.40pm, and arrived at our little hotel 50minutes later. no sign of winter here yet, at 20 degrees we still see girls in mini skirts and furry boots -- bare legs! skinnies tucked in boots were slightly unnecessary.

went up to the taipei 101, had lunch and walked around xi men ding for a few hours. loots included snacks and 3 very cute hand-sewn owls. lunch was satisfying, sushi and garlic bread and bean curd with red bean. yums! shall take a rest and try our luck at shih lin night market later. *waves*

feather in a whirlwind

"why are you, peasant boy, here in this magnificent city? throughout my childhood i had always dreamed of coming here. i had always believed i never would. yet now i was here, among fifteen million people. i felt like a feather swept up in a whirlwind. i was only eleven years old. nothing could have prepared me for this."

-- "Mao's Last Dancer"

only 140 pages into this book and i'm deeply engrossed in Li Cunxin's world.

cat diaries

1. while playing, lying low focusing on my feet preparing to pounce on me
2. looking regally beautiful, with her only eye
3,4. taking catnaps, on flat ground, and in grandpa's gigantic plant pot well shaded from the sun