What I did when my parents were away...
Wednesday
Weather: Sunny (26 degrees).
Top: Black Cue top bought in Sydney.
Bottom: Pencil Skirt bought in Syndey.
Shoes: Black peep toes, present from friends.
Bag: Gucci Jolicoeur.
Accessories: Wolford stay ups and Heart necklace.
I always enjoy a dressing up, so I jumped at the chance when I met up with my friends Cindy and Adam for dinner. They told me they were going after work so they would be in their suits, I almost convulsed with glee as I rarely ever have a chance to wear corporate gear, being a non-commerce student at all. So I raided my closet, but went a little bit overboard in the "secretary" look department. When I met up with my friends they glared at me weakly and said, "Mel you look like a PA."
That was totally not the look I was going for...
"No!!! I'm a divorce lawyer."
"No you're not. Divorce lawyers don't dress like that."
"How about a PR Exec then?"
"That might work."
"Yay!"
So in the end I was still happy with my new found role as a PR Exec. I think I've been watching too much Cashmere Mafia.
About a month or so ago my parents and sister went overseas on holiday for 5 weeks, leaving me to defend for myself (I had Uni so I wasn't allowed to tag along). It was hard considering the only competence I have in the kitchen includes boiling water, cooking instant noodles and working the buttons of a microwave. Oh, I also know how to freeze ice cubes.
So I ended up eating out a lot. So much so, I gained a kilo. Yuck.
I was also very lonely during that time as I would come back home to a dark empty house, and I had no one to talk to about all the interesting things that happened in my day (like my wonderful Japanese writing exam for example).
But there were good things that came out of the "alone for five weeks" experience. I managed to become more confident in my driving as I had no one else to drive me around. I also realized I can be resourceful, independent and reliable... at times. I'm certainly not domesticated enough though. My lack of cleaning and cooking skills reminds me that I have to work hard so I can afford a maid in the future... -_-;;
I did make the most of my five weeks though. I went out most of the time to avoid being home alone (I'm a person who needs regular human contact). I not only finished the entire series of Sex and the City for the second time around, I also finished reading the three Twilight books (a rave that I still haven't gone on yet), I went to the Easter Show (previous post), I went to coffee with my girlfriends every Thursday night, I studied with Crystal in Chatswood Library on Saturday's, I had a two night sleep over at my house with the girls, I watched 2 Girls 1 Cup *shudders*, I watched Kermit's reaction video to 2 Girls 1 Cup *haha*, I went to a work dinner at a vegan restaurant in Newtown (being the carnivore I am, I almost died)...
Dinner with my work friends.
I had a seven people study session at my house, but I have to say we didn't get that much work done (except for Dickie since he was in the computer room away from our gossip)...
Ken , Joycie, Crystal, Ann and Jess in the dining room, trying to look like they're reading, writing and typing.
Ken had just gotten back from Commerce camp and he had weird patches of leg hair waxed off... ewww...
We also managed to stuff our face with lots of cake while we "studied"...
Look at all that cake!!! For only 7 people!
I attempted to sell clothes I never wear at Kirribilli markets with my friends...
Looking as cool as I do in the last photo, I'm surprised we didn't sell all the clothes.
I was so sunburnt and dehydrated that day, I vowed that I would never ever try to sell anything outdoors again.
It was also extremely tiring, we probably had around 150kgs of clothes all up.
I went to Joycie and Stezzie's 20th Birthday party...
Ahaha, this doesn't even look like me. It's so cutesy... gah.
Tommy, Crystal and me.
Dickie and Joycie.
Being histrionic.
I don't know what Joycie and Stezzie were trying to do to me.
Jess, Joycie and me.
Joycie is once again pulling up another girl's skirt.
Joycie, me and Ann.
Tommy about to give Andrew a good time.
Chu ♥ MelLabels: Amusing, Going Out, Outfits, Parties, Work
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Sick of Presentations
Friday
Weather: Sunny (27 degrees).
Top: Uniqlo white shirt bought in Japan.
Bottom: Kookai denim shorts bought in Sydney.
Shoes: Chunky black heels bought in Beijing.
Bag: That Longchamp bag (Le Pliage) everyone is carrying.
Accessories: Brown belt and Tiffany & Co. Open Heart necklace.
I wore this for a friend's birthday dinner after spotting some model lounging around in a similar outfit in Harper's Bazaar. Of course copying a model probably does wonders for ones body image, but I was still relishing on the fact that I had lost 4 kilos while I was in China. My skinny friends are all dieting at the moment awaiting their trip to Japan. The skinniest one of them is on a Fruit Diet!!! I almost fainted when I heard that. It's almost as bad as when I go on detox (she can still eat carbs though). However, dieting isn't going well with one of them... she's constantly trying to persuade people to go eat Deep Fried Mars Bars with her... I don't even know what that is! I'm not detoxing or dieting at the moment... I'm trying to eat as much beef as I can before I leave to Tokyo, land of the beefless. However, I am planning to start jogging and do Bikram Yoga soon (that's Yoga in a 40.5°C room).
Exercise and diets aside, I'm currently working on a presentation about Expressions of Youth Deviance - Subculture, Fashion and Image in Japan. As I delve into the aspects of culture and subculture, and attempt to analyze the social and psychological reasons behind why Japanese kids dress the way they do, I realize I'm taking this way too seriously and would just really want to make a PowerPoint collage of lots of pretty pictures. But I figure the teacher won't give me an HD for doing that, so it's onto the analysis I go. I've done all my research, but now just comes the easy part of translating it all into Japanese *dies*
Another assignment that's giving me a headache is my presentation on the film In The Mood For Love by Wang Kar-wai. It's one of those wanky artsy films that is kind of boring you can write a lot about. I'm going to be focusing on the visual aspects and postmodern features of the film - "going" being the operative word as I haven't done much of it yet, despite my presentation date on Thursday.
Ahh... so I've finally resorted to blogging about Uni work. Well I guess you can see why I haven't been blogging very regularly lately. I did manage to go out a bit during the Easter Break though and I went to the Easter Show with Joycie, Ann, Crystal and Dickson. These photos are long overdue.
The girls trying to copy the Toyota Ad, with only me being successful.
Crystal, Joycie, Ann and me, after eating the most disgusting hamburger. It was a $6 hamburger too. I feel so ripped off.
I won a Care Bear from some water shooting game and two small Eeyore's from shooting hoops.
Dickie and Joycie acting as cows. Joyce is normally a cow anyway.
Me and Crystal copying what Joyce normally is.
A really pretty cupcake shop. Even the woman looks fake, but she is real.
See how pretty?
My future wedding cake.
I'm going to bed. GOODNIGHT!Chu ♥ MelLabels: Going Out, Outfits, University
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Girls Night Out
Monday
Weather: Sunny (25 degrees).
Top: Black tank racer back top bought in Sydney and brown button up top (came it a dress) bought in Japan.
Bottom: Gripp Skinny Leg Jeans bought in Sydney.
Shoes: Chunky black heels bought in Beijing.
Bag: Black netted bag, gift.
Accessories: D&G white belt bought in Beijing.
I have a problem with Jeans... Skinny Leg Jeans in particular. I think they look very very nice, on most people in fact, but they just don't look nice on me. I think it's the way my hips are shaped, my child bearing hips I like to say. Since I'd lost some weight from being in China for 6 weeks (I dislike Chinese food) I was finally able to squeeeeeze back into my only pair of Skinny Leg Jeans that I haven't been able to fit in since my fattening year in Japan. I really wanted to buy a blue pair of Skinny Legs when they did Evisu loves Puma collaboration circa 2006 but unfortunately that was during my Japan weight days and nothing would have fit me then. I now want to buy a pair that Skinny Legs that cuts off right at the ankle against my better judgment. I can't help but to love Skinny Leg Jeans... they look so good on other people.
I realized I had a few Beijing photos I forgot to post up.
1. The new CCTV building almost completely. My aunt told me it looked extremely strange a few weeks ago when the middle wasn't connected yet. It just looked like two buildings that leaned to it's side so much that it was about to fall.
2. The Lane Crawford in Season's Place in Beijing which arrived sometime last year. I was salivating over everything in Lane Crawford especially over a pair of Christian Louboutins but after my shopping trip in Shanghai I was unable to afford anything -_-;;
3. The new terminal in Beijing Airport. I was leaving Beijing the first day it opened so I got experience the shininess of it all.
At Xidan (one of the main shopping districts and the place where young people hang out in Beijing) after a shopping trip of 100RMB ($15AUD) shoes and 15RMB ($2) hair accessories. Some street style hunters from a Swedish magazine took a photo of my cousin and I, but I forgot what magazine it was :( If someone finds it can they please tell me if it was at least a half decent photo or not? LoL^^
I've been hanging a lot around with a few girlfriends recently, which is great since I rarely have a group of good girlfriends. It's often hard to find a group of girls you can really trust and talk about anything with without the fear of judgment and cattiness. I've only really had a few individual close girlfriends (with the exception of my high school group) but never a group of them. Guys on the other hand I've had an easier time with, maybe it has to do with the amount of testosterone in me... haha I always felt more at ease with a group of guy friends than with girls. But now I finally have a group of girlfriends I can be amazing stupid with. So Ann, Crystal, Jess (who will be leaving to Osaka soon to study and dance) and Joycie lots of hugs and kisses for all of you.
Ann, Crystal, Joycie and me on a Girls Night Out. I get really red even after one drink :(
Having too much fun with glasses. I think Jess (bottom right) looks the most like a sexy Private Boys School Deputy Headmistress.
Joycie and me.
Chu ♥ MelLabels: Clubbing, Outfits
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Beijing Baby!
Wow I know it's been about a zillion years since I last blogged but I've been so caught up with Uni, work and friends I've barely had time to sit down in front of my computer.
Loads have happened during the past month. I know I sounded like I was whining about going to Keio University instead of Peking University in my last post but now I'm extremely extremely happy that I'm going to Keio. It was such a challenge to get into (a Professor had to even vouch for me) and I definitely won't be taking this chance for granted. Having said that I also get to go to Beijing and study an intensive Chinese course at the Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) for 4 weeks right before I go to Japan for my 6 month exchange. So I kind of ended up with the best of both worlds.
The only thing is, some of my best girlfriends are leaving for Japan in the beginning of July for a 3 week holiday which means they miss my 21st birthday!!! Holy *a4i&*^% can you believe I'm turning 21?! I mean 17 years and 48 months?! I'm trying my best to actually go to Osaka with them first before going to Beijing, and then returning back to Japan. But that can only happen if I get my Certificate of Eligibility ASAP.
So all in all I'm very excited as I'll be travelling for next 9 months. YAY!!! Speaking of travelliing I'll post up the rest of my Beijing photos. I promise promise promise that I won't ever take this long to update again xoxoxo.
Just behind Tianmen and right outside of the Forbidden City where the soldiers were training. Mmm... men in uniform :P
Inside the Forbidden Palace. I've been to this place too many times. I always have to go when friends come to Beijing for the first time.
My cousin and I being incredibly stupid like we normally are at TianTan - Temple of Heaven.
An old grandpa writing calligraphy with water at TianTan.
I went to watch the raising of the flag at Tianmen Square for the first time. The raising of the flag happens every morning at the dawn of day. In our case it was around 7am which wasn't too bad but my grandparents said that we should probably get there around 6am so I had to wake up at 5:30 *cries* I thought there were only going to be a couple of hundred people considering the flag gets raised every single day, but the crowd turned out to be in the tens of thousands. It was really crazy. I used my superior pushing in skills (from surviving 6 years of my school bus days) to get a front seat performance as the soldiers walked out of Tianmen, blocked of ChangAn Jie (probably the most famous and important street in Beijing. The street is wide enough to land a Boeing 747) and walked onto the square and raised the flag while the National Anthem played 3 times. It was all very grand and exciting. I even felt patriotic despite the fact that I'm not an Chinese citizen, but I guess a part of me will always feel that Beijing is home.
The 2008 Olympic Stadium dubbed "Niao Chao" (Bird's Nest)... well I guess it's not hard to understand why it's called that. The area surrounding it is still under construction so this was the closest we could get. I hate the way the new swimming stadium looks though. It looks like a bunch of blue cells clumped together.
My two female cousins from my Mother's side of the family. They're both born and bred Beijing girls so they have the most awesome Beijing accents. Stacy (on the left) is somewhat of a genius and is on a scholarship at her Uni, while Xiao Xiao (middle) who is a few years older than us, is a flight attendant for a domestic airline (apparently she is too short to do the international routes... although she is 168cm. I think the airlines are very strict cause all the Northern Chinese girls are so tall). I have to say that I feel incredibly large when I'm around them both since they're both my height and weigh around 45kgs. It's beyond me, but since they're healthy I guess they got the skinny genes in the family.
And of course my favorite cousin Oli who I think looks incredibly like the lead singer of the Chinese band '花儿乐团' (Hua Er Yue Tuan).
And coincidently we actually caught Hua Er Yue Tuan performing one morning when we went to catch the subway. They were doing a charity performance for disadvantaged children in the LG Twins Towers (which is next to my home and on route to the subway station). I told Oli that all the fangirls would be all over him since he looks so much like the lead singer.
Then of course we went clubbing in Beijing... only twice though because Oli and his friend left after staying only a week or so. The first night I went to Club Coco Banana, I know the name sounds stupid but what an amazing club it was. The carpark was first of all filled with Lamborghini's, Ferrari's and Bentley's and the club itself had an awesome interior and the bar did shows every few hours or so. It was definitely the playground for all of Beijing's rich kids. The club played mostly house and electro music and the people in there were beautiful. It wasn't until after my cousin started talking to a girl sitting next to us that we found out the owner often scouts good looking boys and girls to come into the club and drink for free so other customers would be inclined to come as well. So there were many up and coming models and actors in there. I met one guy who was a finalist on the show 'Hao Nan Er' which is similar to 'Australian Idol' only they probably concentrate more on the idol factor (ie. looks, charms, personality) rather than if they are fantastic singers or not. I completely fell head over heels for this one guy who was possibly the hottest guy I've ever seen in real life (that means not on TV or in magazines). I later found out he was a 21 year old 191cm model... *drools* I got introduced to him from the girl my cousin was talking to and we danced all night. Woohoo!!! I was very happy haha. We also had a few drinks together but that's all it was cause I knew I would be leaving Beijing soon. If fate would have it I may see him again this time I go ;)
The second night we went to Club Mix which is one of the only RnB clubs in Beijing. I have to say it was very similar to the clubs in Sydney only with a lot more people. It was Sunday night and the placed was packed! It was definitely not as nice or swanky as Coco Banana but a lot of fun nonetheless. Unfortunately there were no gorgeous models in this club... only prepubescent high school looking boys and girls :(
Chu ♥ MelLabels: Boys, Going Out, Parties, Travelling
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Shanghai Baby!
I know I'm really late with my China posts but you have to realize I'm sloth lazy.
As you know I spent a few weeks in Suzhou just hanging out but since it was snowing so hard for the first time in like 85 years, I didn't get to go out as much as I would have liked. Besides there are only two relatively good malls in Suzhou: Taihua (which has almost completed the construction of Suzhou's first Louis Vuitton store) and the Matro shopping mall on Guan Qian Jie (the only shopping street in Suzhou).
The real shopping fun began when my cousin Oli, his best friend David and I headed for Shanghai (about an hour drive from Suzhou). We only spent a day there and let me tell you what an exhausting day it was. We managed to shop in over five malls and a mega Zara store and spent a combined total of 20000RMB ($3125AUD).
There are definitely some excellent malls and department stores in Shanghai, and since I'm terrible at remembering names I can't tell you what they were called but all you really have to do is walk down Huaihai Lu and Nanjing Xi Lu (the two most famous shopping streets in Shanghai).
1. On the way to Shanghai.
2. In one of the malls that contained an Anna Sui store and one of the many Marc by Marc Jacobs stores, also contained a Gundam. What else can a shopaholic anime geek ask for?!
3. In Plaza 66, one of my favorite places to window shop in. You'll find Dior, Dior Homme, Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Prada, Celine, Versace, Cartier, Mikimoto, Escada etcetc.... and that's just the ground floor.
1. The Cartier centerpiece display in Plaza 66.
2. David trying on a really really weird pair of jeans in the Levi's shop at some other department store.
3. I went a little crazy in Plaza 66 and spent all my Chinese New Year red pocket money (which was meant to be for my return tickets to Japan) on an Hermes bracelet. So I didn't end up going to Japan LoL... I wish I bought this in Hong Kong instead, it would have been quite a bit cheaper I think (you get heavily taxed on designer items in China).
A few days after my Shanghai trip I took an overnight train to Beijing. I barely slept, I spent the whole time playing Chess and Mario Party on my DS Lite. Two days after I arrived in Beijing, Oli and another one of his friends Roddick came over as well to visit.
Making the most stupid faces we can in their hotel room, before heading out for the day.
I'll update more Beijing photos in my next post. Happy Easter!!!
Oh I also need to have my little rant about sexy Gaspard Ulliel and sexy vampire Edward Cullen from the Twilight book series in my next post as well.
Chu ♥ MelLabels: Going Out, Travelling
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Sexy Scrabble
Thursday
Weather: Sunny (27 degrees).
Top: Red shirt (there are actually tiny black polka dots on the shirt but it's very hard to see) from my mother's old wardrobe.
Bottom: High waisted grey shorts from my dad's old wardrobe.
Shoes: Chunky black heels bought in Beijing.
Bag: Louis Vuitton Pochette.
Accessories: Bally black belt.
This is one of my few non-headless outfit photos. I just wanted to show off my 90RMB ($15AUD) clip in hair extensions. Who needs the Jessica Simpson ones when you can buy a similar one for one twentieth of the price.
While I was in Beijing I raided my mother and father's wardrobes in order to find some wearable "vintage" pieces. I found a few skirts and tops but my favorite has to be my dad's shorts. He was so skinny then! Normally I wouldn't even been able to fit into those shorts but I had lost about 5kgs in China (I don't like Chinese food haha).
I think I'm completely and utterly head-over-heels in love with Beijing at them moment. I can't stop thinking about that city! Mother says it's because all I did in Beijing was sleep, sight-see, shop, party and eat so only good memories linger. I don't think that's the only reason though, I've been to Beijing a dozen of times and it has never left an impression as deep as this one. I think I may have to go back there after I graduate and work for CCTV 9 (lol yeah, I wish).
Speaking of Uni, I found out I was accepted into Keio University in Tokyo to study for a semester. My first choice was Tokyo University (which I knew I wasn't going to get into as they required four HD's or something), my second choice was Keio and my third choice was Peking University in Beijing. The thing is, I kind of regret putting Peking University as my third choice, since now I'm longing to go to Beijing more than Tokyo. How weird is that... I love Tokyo. Why am I feeling this way? I feel like I'm having boy problems with cities!!! -_-;;
Anyway, before I scare people I'll talk about my clip in hair extensions. They are very cool. That's it, nothing more to add.
My cousin and I both got the same ones.
My cousin Stacy and I having afternoon tea in Pizza Hut after shopping all morning in Xi Dan.
More recently, my beautiful girl Joycie turned 20!!! I went over to her house to wish her a happy birthday, but we ended up playing a rather interesting game of Scrabble.
We called it "Sexy Scrabble."
Chu ♥ MelLabels: Family, Outfits, Travelling, University
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Ahhh!!!
Let me tell you I've been having the best time in Beijing at the moment. My cousin Oli and his friend also came over to visit for a few days which was excellent as it meant going out every night without my grandparents hassling me about how young girls shouldn't go out alone. At least they think I'm still young.
Ok I'll make this post real quick because I'm in Starbucks right now and I've got 12min left on my battery. I'm hating Dell laptops right now!!!
My youngest uncle (he's still cool) took me and all my cousins to have steak at Wang Ping a posh little restaurant in Suzhou. The desserts were amazing, especially my fruit punch with dry ice floating out from the bottom.
Oli and I being weird again.
In Club Scarlett, the only Club in Suzhou with that many young people.
When I have more battery power I'll tell you all about the clubs in Beijing. They are so good!
Labels: Clubbing, Travelling
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Wednesday
