Friday 30 January 2009

RanDUMB conversations:

1. While waiting for Phil to finish enrolment at TAFE:
Dane: I still haven't been paid for work yet.
Ryc: Yeh?
Dane: Uhuh, Maccas.
Ryc: How come?
Dane: I have no idea...
Ryc: Maybe you should call 'em and ask why you're not getting paid?
Dane: OH THAT'S RIGHT, I BETTER DO THAT NOW...

2. In the car:
Phil: Look at that Asian kid! He's sprinting!
Ryc: I wonder why.
Ryc: Oh look there's a kid chasing him!!!
Phil: *cheers boys on*
Ryc: OH maybe they stole something from the supermarket across the road!!!
Phil: What supermarket?
Ryc: That one, where it says Used Car Supermarket!!!
Phil: That's a used car shop...
Ryc: Yeah, but it still has the Used Car Supermarket!!!
Phil: HAHAHAHA
Ryc: OH OK I GET IT IT'S A SUPERMARKET FOR CARS!!!

3. At the TAFE office:
Phil: *signals me to come over*
Ryc: What's going on cuz
Phil: What's my car number?
Ryc: What do you mean?
Phil: The number of the plate of my car.
Ryc: Which car?
Phil: The green one
Ryc: Oh, the Lexus. No I dont. How am I supposed to know?
Phil: I dunno.
*Phil does the exact thing to Dane. Our mutual reaction: WTF WAS HE THINKING??? HAHAHA*

more ranDUMB conversations to come. For now, it's tie-break time for Nadal&Verdasco.

x
Ryc

Wednesday 28 January 2009

Oh, goodness me.

I've been here in Oz for a week already, and it was composed of many firsts too. I got my first bank account (Commonwealth Annandale FTW!), and I am currently waiting for my keycard (what would better be known in Phils as an ATM card haha). It was a smooth transaction, thank you to wonderful Ali who didn't really ask for so much details and gave me a good interest rate.

I also got my new phone, thanks to the very very accommodating Drew at Three right across the Myer food court in the city (sorry I didn't look at what it's called). I got a U990 that came free with my $29 cap and I reckon it is a great deal :-D At first I tried to get it from that loser (!!!) at Three in Broadway but he was being a dickhead lawl. Anyhow it's all good now. I've also had it set up to be able to call anywhere in the world & for the bill to be automatically debited to my CommBank account.

On to more interesting things, yesterday, I went to the Post Office where I attempted to send mail for the first time (!!!) and it was more or less a fail/success. First I created my own queue and had to be sent back to the far end of the real queue. LAWL. Then, when it was finally my turn, I was able to buy a stamp for $2.20 (my mail was being sent to my good friend EM in Mississauga, Ontario). That was a good one. After sticking the stamp to the envelope, I went outside Norton Plaza where the post boxes are. As soon as I got there, I saw 2 boxes, one red, one yellow. The red one had 2 slots and the yellow had one. I was sure not to chuck my mail in the yellow canister as it was the express one, meaning I would have had to pay more. The red one was the box of choice, but I didn't know which slot. To make the long story short, I reckon I chucked my 1 month late Christmas card in the local box. Hah. I'm sucha freshie.

Oh and the other day my mum and I took the 440 bus to Town Hall to meet my Aunty so we could head out to Rooty Hill together. I was sitting there, waiting for the closest stop to Town Hall and when I saw it I pressed the stop button. I thought of course that it would stop. BUT IT DIDN'T. So I went to the bus driver and said, "Hi, isn't this the stop to Town Hall?" He goes, "Well I can't really drop you off here cos it's not a stop." I was so embarrased cos the bus was fucking full. HAHAHAHA. But nothing to worry about, we were dropped off at Queen Victoria Building where I ended up combing through Coach, Ferragammo, Oroton and Marcs. LOL. However, tomorrow's a different story. I've got to get the stop right because I have to arrive early at Uni. Lol.

Today, of course I had another chance to embarrass myself and show everyone what a FOB I am... Haha. I went to Bankstown where my Uni's at (UWS Bankstown Campus) with my Mum & Uncle. As soon as we got off the train, we went to the bus stands. I knew we had to get either a 900 or a 922 bus to get to Uni. My uncle being the great person that he is, thought he saw a 922 bus and jumped right in saying "3 adults to UWS please". Turns out it was a 925 bus going to the East Hills. HAHAHA. Okay it was prolly my uncle who got embarrassed but I was the first one kicked out of the bus. LOL.

No worries, today's turning out to be pretty great. Went to George Street after a very filling Portuguese lunch at Nando's. I was able to get myself new thongs (i.e., flip-flops!), and a few tops for a total of $65. Thank God for End of Season sales!!! Technically I got everything for $45 cos I got a gift certificate of $20 to spend in February for spending over $50 :-D Haha. YAY ME.

So yeah. Tomorrow's another day for mishaps, and I'm sure there'll be good stories to tell as it will be my first time to travel alone to Rooty Hill. KEEP 'EM FINGERS CROSSED!!!

Tuesday 27 January 2009

Aussie aussie aussie

Oi oi oi!!!

Today I experienced Australia Day for the first time and it was great! I really felt the Oz spirit despite the terrible weather. I didn't really celebrate it the Aussie way (i.e., getting pissed drunk on the long weekend) but I did go places.

Saturday we went to the city for OzTrek in Centerpoint, and walked around the city the whole day (imagine, it was around 35-40 degrees celcius!!!). It was really hot and exhausting but come late afternoon, a storm came. We went to Watson's Bay but there was a sandstorm going on. It cooled down some more when we got to Bondi - 19 degrees!

It was perfect but the problem was the wind. We couldn't get out otherwise we'd be blind from the sand. Oh well. We went to Deli's Thai at Glebe later on for dinner and it was lovely, as always. I had Seafood Pad Thai & Money Bags!

Totally off topic, but I'm still trying to get oriented to the whole 8pm sunset thing. See, it's awkward to have dinner at 7 with the sun still mighty high. LAWL.

Early on Sunday, we headed out for Blue Mountains and it was a bit chilly. I was very pleased with the weather as it was the perfect kind of windy and it wasn't cloudy as well. There were so many people at the mountains and the tourists flocked the area, too. I went on the now made safer Scenic Railway which is the steepest ride in the world, being at an angle of 52 degrees! I first went on this one when I was 5 and if you fall you die. :O

We also went on the Sceniscender and did the Scenic Walk where we walked through the rainforest. Pretty awesome stuff!

Well today, we celebrated Australia Day by going to the city. The fireworks were amazing. It started at 840 and ended somewhere around 915 in the evening! It was fun although the weather was the gloomiest I've ever seen. Now, for the more exciting part: photos of everything I've been talking about!

The harbour bridge in all its 6pm beauty hahaha

Watsons Bay, just before the storm

Bondi beach, during the storm (photo from inside the car!)

Me, at Echo Point, Blue Mountains

REALLY COOL DIGIERIDOO MAN high 5ing a little girl. LAWL

Mad Scenic Railway!!!

The famous 3 sisters :D

Mad fireworks at the Darling Harbour

Well, that's it for now, I'm off to the post office! (PS- I fell asleep writing this blog last night, finished up today, 27. Januar 2009)

x
Ryç

Monday 26 January 2009

I wish

you all a HAPPY HAPPY HAPPY

More stories with photos (!) later! :-D

Saturday 24 January 2009

First class all the way

But not really. Hah, I must say, I enjoyed flying business with Philippine Airlines, that’s all I can say. It was a smooth flight, and most importantly, I was pampered. I felt sick throughout the eight hours and got meds and 3 hot cups of tea. But of course it wasn’t the only perk. Hah, sorry I’m amazed. I’ve always flown coach as it is the practical choice. I’m not shy to say I’m ignoramus when it comes to flying business because I never have until my flight to Syd.

It was so enjoyable to eat really nice appetizers - tiny bread filled with some sort of paté, a 2-cheese & fruit & nut bowl (wine included!) and fresh fruit. The main course was delectable as well; we were served with either fish, pork or beef (i chose beef). I got a massive slice of beef tenderloin in glazed onions with steamed zucchini & carrots on the side. To top it all off, we were served watermelon & melon (lawl) alongside with a cup of mocha/chocolate mousse.

More than that, the seats were nice and spacious. :-D I was able to sleep nicely for half of the flight, and the rest of the time I just enjoyed the luxury of a smoother, less noisy ride. Overall, I can say I had a good flight to Oz, discounting the fact that we left late (due to airplane traffic, lol). We arrived on time anyhow.

Moving on.

I arrived on the 21st as well at around 8.15 in the evening, Oz time, and we went to Leichhardt straight away. I’m staying there at the moment as Phil’s (my habib haha) has Canadian occupants (our aunty&uncle!). It’s a quaint flat and there are 12 tenants. It’s also just about 15 minutes away from the city which is pretty good.

So yeah that was Sydney on the first day, and I was surprised by almost unbearable 35-degree heat. :c

x
Ryc

Thursday 22 January 2009

And so it begins!

7.09am in sunny Manila and I am waiting for my 9.00am flight to heatwave Sydney. I'm at Philippine Airlines' Mabuhay Lounge and it smells of Chinese. I have no idea why but there's only old people here it's not even funny. UGH, what a way to start the morning. And you call it a lounge? Haha. I can't complain, there's free internet.

I didn't sleep the entire night obviously, due to excitement and an attempt to hold back all tears. Emotional as it sounds, I find that I will miss Manila - the traffic (but not really) and the hustlin' and bustlin' of everyday. I'm being contemplative and reminiscent of all the good things the Philippines has to offer while getting myself hyped for all the new experiences I'm about to have in Oz. Most of all, I'm thinking about the people I'm leaving behind and I'm sure as much as they're all sad about our parting ways they're as excited as I am. Meanwhile, my mother is busy getting her roaming service to work.

My eyes are starting to hurt from the sun and it sucks. I think I need sleep but I'll stay up until I get into the plane. Not to brag (this is really more like an exciting moment for me that I just want to share), but Mum and I got business class seats! :-D We didn't really purchase it (duh), but we just got it off our Miles thing. I'm so excited. Recaro reclinable almost bed seats and L'Occitane toiletries! :-D

In 8 hours (+3 due to timezone differences) I will be arriving at the Sydney airport. It's my 3rd time in Australia and this time I'm staying for the long haul. That is the basic reason why I'm starting this blog, just to keep everyone posted and stuff. It's all so exciting for me and I'm sure I'm gonna have such a mad time.

I'll finish uni there but for now ('til late Feb) I'll just be on holidays/bumming around. Being a bum has been my job for the last maybe 6 months and I'm used to it. In a week's time I should be able to get around the community on my own and head to the uni for some important, dorky, academic stuff.

LAWL.

Now, since I'm still pretty new (but a bit familiar) with Oz, I need to get used to the slang and find some things to get busy with. What do you guys suggest I do for the next month? Give me some ideas and I'll probably do them anyway, just as long as I won't die of some weird totally hilarious accident. God forbid.

Well I begin this blog in Manila, just as I'm about to depart to a new land of great opportunities and a wild ride. You'll hear from me as soon as I arrive Down Under. Should be fun aye? :-D

x
Ryc