So today my elder cousin, Linh, came back from Texas. He lives up there because of work and made a trip down to visit during his break. I felt so lucky to be able to see him, yet at first I didn't know what to expect. Why? Because the last time I saw him I was still young. So after my cousin came back from picking him up we got ready to head out to Santa Monica.
The trip to Santa Monica was to visit my relatives, after having a short catch up with them. We went around Santa Monica, but first was lunch. And of course we had Pho because my cousin, Linh, was craving it. After lunch we went around 3rd street of Santa Monica where all the main shops were and where it was the most lively atmosphere. However we didn't have enough time to go to the beach pier because we had to drive back to pick up the rental car that we hired for our trip to Los Vagas for tomorrow.
By the time we came home we were getting ready for a BBQ with more relatives, cousins from my uncle's side. It was like a massive feast, the yummiest meat I've head since I was in America. I love my aunties cooking. Home made food is always the best :)
"Happiness is having a large, loving, caring, close-knit family in another city." George Burns
xoxo bmnt
Thursday, January 10, 2013
Day 25 - Thursday 20th December 2012
So today in the afternoon I managed to persade my aunty to go shopping at Cerrtios Shopping Mall. First thing to do was to get my boots from Sears, after 30 mins I finally found a pair that I was satisfied with. Afterwards we headed to Macy's but along the way we stopped at Yogurtland to get frozen yoghurt. I can never miss an opportunity of eating frozen yogurt :) So we continued to Macy's to find some Levis Jeans for my sister. After waiting so long for her to try on all these different style jeans, we went out to meet up with my cousin who just finished work. My cousin took us around to the Burlington Coat Factory, Ross and Nordstorm Rack. We spent about an hour at Nordstorm Rack because it closed at 10.00pm. Afterwards we headed to Forever 21 after finding out that it was opened till midnight everyday up until Christmas. It was like I was in shopping heaven, I wonder why Australian stores aren't open till late. Because Forever 21 closed so late, me and my cousin went crazy just going through the sale racks. We were literally the last customers there, still can't tell that was a bad thing or not. But when we went to the cashier the guy serving us was so nice. So that brings the end of a crazy shopping day.
"Shopping is really complicated if you are a girl." Helen Salter
xoxo bmnt
"Shopping is really complicated if you are a girl." Helen Salter
xoxo bmnt
Day 24 - Wednesday 19th December 2012
So today i was feeling down because of everything that was happening. Even though I'm on the other side of the world, why do I still get affected by you. You destroyed my life and me as a person, why can't you just leave me alone. On top of that it's like my brain doesn't want to stop thinking, it's a endless train of thought. The worst part is I don't have anyone to talk to about this, wish the Biffle was here :( Even my Biffle has seemed to disappeared for a few days.
So I turned to my tv shows to pre occupy myself and keep my thoughts out. I literally spent all day just in bed watching my tv shows. Luckily, after my cousin came back from work, decided to take me and my sister out to Downtown Disney. There was so much there, it was basically just like a shopping mall. Surrounded with interesting restaurants and novelty stores. Walking around was really interesting to see the different types of merchandise that they sold.
That was the end of the night. Not very eventful.
"You know that place between sleeping and awake, that place where you an still remember dreaming> That's where I'll always think of you." J.M Barrie
xoxo bmnt
So I turned to my tv shows to pre occupy myself and keep my thoughts out. I literally spent all day just in bed watching my tv shows. Luckily, after my cousin came back from work, decided to take me and my sister out to Downtown Disney. There was so much there, it was basically just like a shopping mall. Surrounded with interesting restaurants and novelty stores. Walking around was really interesting to see the different types of merchandise that they sold.
That was the end of the night. Not very eventful.
"You know that place between sleeping and awake, that place where you an still remember dreaming> That's where I'll always think of you." J.M Barrie
xoxo bmnt
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Day 23 - Tuesday 18th December 2012
So today was a busy day with an agenda. For once we actually have an agenda to a day. So anyways me and my sister headed out to Little Saigon with my aunty. We went around and around trying to find parking. It was hard because they didn't have a parking structure like in Cabramatta. So we finally found a parking spot in front of a Vietnamese restaurant and decided to go inside to eat. The menu was different because they were from Hue, so I decided to order a noodle dish called Mi Quang. It tasted so weird, I guess I wasn't use to that type of food.
So next thing on the agenda was to go around local shops to find a karaoke box for my parents. Yet again I don't understand the reason for buying another karaoke box when we have one at home that works perfectly. I admit it might not have any recent songs but it still in perfect condition. So anyways we went around looking and looking. Talking to the sales representatives about the karaoke boxes and the prices.
After walking around to most of the places that sold karaoke sets, we went to the main big Vietnamese shopping centre and wondered around. The shops were spacious and the centre was quite big. We eventually found a bakery and went inside to purchase some pastries and cakes for snacks, in case we got hungry. We then made our way down to the food court where there were stores set up in the middle. We walked around and around till we found a store that sold milk tea. However instead of getting milk tea, my sister ended up getting a Green Tea Smoothie and I ended up getting Thai Desert.
We then continued to drive around just looking at the area and decided to visit a beauty supply store. I was like in heaven, with all the nail polish and supplies surrounding me. We were inside for quite a while just looking at the different things that were offered and the prices. That is a must go before I leave, I need to get some things from there. Build up my nail polish collection...
We then drove to a french patisserie called the Corner Bakery and ordered a fruit tart cake. We had to wait a few minutes because the cake was freshly made. During the time we were waiting I took a look around the store. It was a very small store but had that warm atmosphere to it. They sold a variety of different cakes and pastries. In a short period of time our cake came out and I even got to see the patisserie chef write words onto the cake using a gel piping bag. His hand skills were incredible, the way he wrote the words so neatly and quickly. The cake looked absolutely delicious, I couldn't wait to taste it in my mouth. YUMMM.
Next thing on the list was to visit my some what uncle. However getting to his house was tricky because it was on a busy road due to it being near a freeway exit. The first time we drove there we accidentally missed his house and had to continue on and find another way. So we ended up going in a massive circle, I think we might have even gotten lost a few times along the way. I wish I was more help to my aunty driving. I didn't really know much about the roads of America and I couldn't use a GPS as well. We finally arrived at his house and had the most awkward hour of conversations whilst being there.
Next stop was to a family party with all the children of the uncle I just visited. I didn't know what to expect when arriving there. In addition, I haven't met any of them prior to that day. So at first it was really awkward, just standing around clueless after introducing myself to a few people that were there already. And then my sister, cousin and I decided to help out by decorating their christmas tree since it was not yet decorated and here I thought that we were delayed with christmas decorations. Soon after almost everyone was present and started to eat dinner. Just an average asian dinner main dish was Bun Bo Hue along side a salad with pan fried beef as an appetiser. That dinner was one of the longest dinners I have ever eaten. Talking to my some what cousins was just the most entertaining dinners I can remember. They all have such a sense of humour and openness. I felt quite at ease during the time of the discussions. They were even making jokes about match making the piano tutor with me or one of the other somewhat cousins. All fun and games I suppose, this was then followed by the all time favourite Karaoke. I was even pushed to singing a song, however it was so hard cause it was a duet and I had to sing alone cause one microphone wasn't working apparently. By the end of the song I couldn't wait to catch my breath again. After staying for hours we finally had dessert and helped to clean up what was left over and then said our good byes.
By the time we came home it was almost midnight, and my poor uncle was still up waiting for us to come home. Dawww, how cute of him. He didn't go because he was tired after coming home from work. So that was the end of a very long and busy day.
Nothing is as strong as family bonds
xoxo bmnt
So next thing on the agenda was to go around local shops to find a karaoke box for my parents. Yet again I don't understand the reason for buying another karaoke box when we have one at home that works perfectly. I admit it might not have any recent songs but it still in perfect condition. So anyways we went around looking and looking. Talking to the sales representatives about the karaoke boxes and the prices.
After walking around to most of the places that sold karaoke sets, we went to the main big Vietnamese shopping centre and wondered around. The shops were spacious and the centre was quite big. We eventually found a bakery and went inside to purchase some pastries and cakes for snacks, in case we got hungry. We then made our way down to the food court where there were stores set up in the middle. We walked around and around till we found a store that sold milk tea. However instead of getting milk tea, my sister ended up getting a Green Tea Smoothie and I ended up getting Thai Desert.
We then continued to drive around just looking at the area and decided to visit a beauty supply store. I was like in heaven, with all the nail polish and supplies surrounding me. We were inside for quite a while just looking at the different things that were offered and the prices. That is a must go before I leave, I need to get some things from there. Build up my nail polish collection...
We then drove to a french patisserie called the Corner Bakery and ordered a fruit tart cake. We had to wait a few minutes because the cake was freshly made. During the time we were waiting I took a look around the store. It was a very small store but had that warm atmosphere to it. They sold a variety of different cakes and pastries. In a short period of time our cake came out and I even got to see the patisserie chef write words onto the cake using a gel piping bag. His hand skills were incredible, the way he wrote the words so neatly and quickly. The cake looked absolutely delicious, I couldn't wait to taste it in my mouth. YUMMM.
Next thing on the list was to visit my some what uncle. However getting to his house was tricky because it was on a busy road due to it being near a freeway exit. The first time we drove there we accidentally missed his house and had to continue on and find another way. So we ended up going in a massive circle, I think we might have even gotten lost a few times along the way. I wish I was more help to my aunty driving. I didn't really know much about the roads of America and I couldn't use a GPS as well. We finally arrived at his house and had the most awkward hour of conversations whilst being there.
Next stop was to a family party with all the children of the uncle I just visited. I didn't know what to expect when arriving there. In addition, I haven't met any of them prior to that day. So at first it was really awkward, just standing around clueless after introducing myself to a few people that were there already. And then my sister, cousin and I decided to help out by decorating their christmas tree since it was not yet decorated and here I thought that we were delayed with christmas decorations. Soon after almost everyone was present and started to eat dinner. Just an average asian dinner main dish was Bun Bo Hue along side a salad with pan fried beef as an appetiser. That dinner was one of the longest dinners I have ever eaten. Talking to my some what cousins was just the most entertaining dinners I can remember. They all have such a sense of humour and openness. I felt quite at ease during the time of the discussions. They were even making jokes about match making the piano tutor with me or one of the other somewhat cousins. All fun and games I suppose, this was then followed by the all time favourite Karaoke. I was even pushed to singing a song, however it was so hard cause it was a duet and I had to sing alone cause one microphone wasn't working apparently. By the end of the song I couldn't wait to catch my breath again. After staying for hours we finally had dessert and helped to clean up what was left over and then said our good byes.
By the time we came home it was almost midnight, and my poor uncle was still up waiting for us to come home. Dawww, how cute of him. He didn't go because he was tired after coming home from work. So that was the end of a very long and busy day.
Nothing is as strong as family bonds
xoxo bmnt
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Day 22 - Monday 17th December 2012
Today was a resting day, why wouldn't it be after an exhausting weekend. Slept in till the afternoon and unpacked the luggage. It's always a lazy day on mondays, sleep in and not do much. Just stayed in our room doing our own thing. So I caught up on the latest episodes of tv shows that I follow.
The past seems to always come back to haunt me
xoxo bmnt
The past seems to always come back to haunt me
xoxo bmnt
Friday, December 28, 2012
Day 21 - Sunday 16th December 2012
So last night was another restless night. In the morning we all got ready to leave San Franscio. However we headed out to see the San Fransico bridge since we were able to do so last night. So when we finally got to the bridge, we drove all the way across it and down to the port. It was the perfect view of the bridge. However because it was so cold we only took a couple of photos and made our way back up. We then went on the long drive home only to be stuck in traffic on the way home which made us come back even more later.
Only when im sleeping is when all my thoughts and pain goes away
xoxo bmnt
Only when im sleeping is when all my thoughts and pain goes away
xoxo bmnt
Day 20 - Saturday 15th December 2012
Another night and I yet agin couldn't sleep and so I ended up staying up all night. We headed out on a car trip to San Fransico at around 3.00 am. The car trip took at least 7 hours not including the stops made on the way. By the time we arrived to the Inn it was about 10.30 am. We checked into our room and dropped off all our luggage and headed out to Chinatown, San Fransico. The day was looking dull, cold and slightly raining. When we got to Chinatown, it was a crazy mission to find parking. After finally finding parking we headed out to the streets of Chinatown. It was a different experience, just the environment and the structure of the streets were different. We walked around the streets of chinatown just trying to absorb the different atmosphere. As we were walking we saw several groups of people who were dressed up as Santa Clause, Mrs Clause, Elfs, etc. Apparently there was a celebration where there would be a massive groups of people dressed up would meet up. They were over taking the streets as well as the bars/pubs. We eventually found a decent place we could go eat Yum Cha but here in the US they call it Dim Sum. Same thing, I guess but I dont get why they call it that. Anyways after we finished eating, we ended up walking into several souvenir shops and I managed to purchase over $100 worth of souvenirs and managed to single handily get validation for our parking ticket. We then headed to our car, and drove around looking at the different buildings and sights. As we drove around I couldn't help but notice that all the pubs and bars were packed with the groups of people who were dressed up. They were packed inside and outside of these pubs and bars. It was an unusual sight, something I have not yet seen before. We continued to drive around San Fransico, however because the traffic was so terrible. We couldn't make it into Union Square, where they were holding a big celebration. Because of the bad traffic, we decided to head back to our room and end the long day we had. When we finally arrived at our room, we all took a rest and watched the movie, New Years Eve, that was playing on the television. And as my relatives slept me and my sister stayed up watching movies on our laptop however we did fall asleep eventually.
New places and experiences can never compare to back home
xoxo bmnt
New places and experiences can never compare to back home
xoxo bmnt
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