Chap Goh Mei & Bye Bye London

Its the last day of Chinese New Year. But to me, it felt like Chinese New Year never happened at all this year. And that is why, I vow to NEVERRR (yes, capital lettrs with 3 Rs.wtf.) travel again during festive seasons like this.

I felt like I was missing out on so much!! When everyone back home is busy gambling, stuffing their faces with CNY cookies, shamelessly asking for ang pows, etc... I was in Europe freezing my you-know-where off.

Nevertheless, happy Chap Goh Mei to all. Here's a fact. I'm sure everyone knows that during this day of the new year, women will go to the ponds/lakes/rivers to throw mandaring oranges, right? And they'll have to write their names and phone numbers on it as well, correct?

Now.... did you know... whilst women have to throw oranges, the men have to throw BANANAS!! ..... *cough* I wonder why. Sucha mystery.

But honestly, I think it's quite a cute idea... putting aside the embarassment of a women having to cast a net to bring in a banana. I think it sounds very obscene on too many levels. Hohoho.

I was plannig on going to partake in this tradition tonight at the lake near Amcorp mall............. with my mum and her tai-tai friends. And also, just to see if I've got any luck to land myself a good-looking, RICH banana. But well, plans got canceled because the rest of them chickened out of the idea.

But the day was spent well though. Had brunch at grandma's with all the other relatives. We had our home-made steamboat, gambled a lil, wrap Chinese herbs (weird I know, but my grandma's a chinese medicine sensei. Don't playplay.), had so much Chrysanthemum tea that my pee smells a lil fragrant. All in all, it was a good end to the new year. Every year, I learn to treasure family ties and family closeness more than ever. I think we all need to be reminded of that, amidst our hectic city lives.

So now, for some final pictures of London before I talk about Edinburgh in the coming posts. Enjoy :)

Fat Hao is one of my forte. Unfortunately.



At Richmond, where we stayed. And that silver, millenium, astronaut-like jacket is one of my favorite from Naf Naf :D !!



I look like a boi. @#$@^. I miss my long hair :(




The unmistakable Trafalgar Square.

That'll be all. The rest of the pictures are too commonplace.

Argh. Back to work tmrw.

I chao first,
Ah Moi

London in February

Hola,

There were some surprisingly sunny days in London when I was there. I think its common knowledge that the weather in London is as gloomy as a constipated me. So its a pleasant surprise to be getting some sun, especially this winter which happens to be so damn draggy.

Perfect picture opportunities :)

Here's a view of London Eye on the River Thames. Needless to say la. Who doesn't know London Eye, right?

I remember chatting with a friend once and discussing why they called it London Eye & not London Nose, London Mouth, London Nen Nen, etc.


Took a nice stroll from Leicester Square to the Houses of Parliament...


I love the trees in winter. I think its the only dry, dead-looking thing in the world that I can call beautiful and that makes me happy just looking at them. Although I gotta admit when my fighting fish died few years back, I was pretty happy cuz I found it a burden to take care of after some time :D. Call me cruel, but I reckon heaven's a better place than his unwashed-for-few-weeks fish bowl.


Look at the blue sky... Pretty no? But do not be fooled, it was still damn effing cold despite the sun... -___-





Here's a shadow picture. The short, weird-looking stature is the Mum... and ppl ask me from whom did I inherit this unfortunate recessive gene called Gila-ism.


Here's Portobello Road where we did NO shopping, surprise surprise!


The infamous Portobello Road sign... where virtually EVERY tourist will stop to take a picture................. I see no significance... but oh well, peer pressure got the better of me. So here's one...



Btw, I DID buy an awesome pair of boots just outside of Portobello in one of their boutique-ish shops. Pretty cheap too!!!! Only 20Pounds *loves*


So anyway, more to come... these are just preliminary ones. Sorry I can't afford to be too witty/chatty this time around as I'm in the middle of video-calling someone all the way from Australia :)

Since its still Chinese New Year, it's never too late to make a shoutout...

"May the year of the Tiger (or according to the ANG MOHs, the year of the Dragon -___-) brings you health, wealth and happiness. Sang Yi Heng Loong. Nin Nin Yao Yu. Cheong Meng Pak Sui. Ching Chun Mei Lei. Gong Xi Fa Chai!!!"

I chao first,
Ah Moi

A new beginning

Hola,

Finally, a new beginning. I enjoyed the misadventures I went through, documented in my old blog. But I figured, it's time to put the past behind me, and look forward to what's ahead.

So enjoy reading, feel free to drop comments. I only welcome good ones :D.

I chao first,
Ah Moi.