hey 007, frost yourself.

that was a cleverly themed party. james bond, 007. now i feel like throwing a posh little party myself. anyway, i thought this ginormous martini glass filled with "diamonds" was a fun little table decor. some of the ladies at the party remembered that phrase from "how to lose a guy in 10 days" movie, "frost yourselves," or at least something along those lines. good laughs that night. i remember my cheeks hurting rather than my feet. (i was quite excited to wear heels, since i hadn't had a reason to the past eight months! felt kinda weird.)

journey series: season deux.

Jeanette capturing gorgeous Sydney at the Sydney Eye Tower

I had the most "romantical"-week-sans-males the week after the most massive week of my Aussie college life. (( Hillsong Conference!! )) (( K-I-D-S-O-N-G!! )) My friend Jeanette came to visit me from Los Angeles, and it was just absolutely amazing. We explored Australialand, well the general Sydney area together and had breathtaking and hilarious moments as well. We did tons of walking around the city, went up to the mountains, down to Bondi, played with roos and koalas, and indulged ourselves with T2!

Watching the sunset from the Sydney Eye Tower.

to melbourne and back - in may.

life in lists (because i'm too lazy to write life out in detail.)

may madness.
crazy intensive classes...
before my week break...
took off to melbourne for the weekend.
my first oz roadtrip.
photo above is a quick shot before leaving for sydney again.

just a general note.

i figured i hadn't written a "meaty" post lately, so i'm sharing my thoughts on life thus far...
it is about 10:44 p.m. and i'm simmering down, my friend and i were on an emotional roller coaster all day-- (i think it might have been my fault, seriously being like a girl's girl at the moment, might've just rubbed off on her...) and basically, it's been craycray. i'm not really sure what i want to hash out of my heart--

i guess one thing is that, i'm so glad to wake up knowing i'm still in sydney. i will seriously cry an enormous amount of tears had i to leave australia.

this has been a huge dream of mine since twenty-oh-nine.
i can't believe i'm actually here, living life here. in sydney. (although i honestly thought i'd be in melbourne, but God has other plans!)
i mean, wow, time goes so unbelievably fast. twenty-twelve.

twelve years ago, i was twelve, (and here we go again,... ) i have no clue why my age this year is fascinating me so much. plus, it's the year of the dragon. #justsayin'
(and it's a leap year!)

anyway, it's so weird to look back and think about ALL that time that's passed. i definitely am not where i imagined myself to be, and i'm glad my plans didn't fall through, otherwise i'd be more screwed than i think myself to be. (GAAH, college loans! -- driving me insane lately! IN JESUS NAME, I will overcome!) i mean, who knows what i'll be doing in a year's time. i honestly haven't thought much about it, i had some things in mind, but i'm still weighing my options.

at the turn of the year, i felt like everything i struggled to build for myself, and all the walls i've put up for myself started to crumble down. it is the beginning of a new era for me. like the slate's been clean, and fear and failures are wiped off, and i get to start all over again. i'm excited and scared like crap. no maps, and hands off the wheel this time. yea, riding at the backseat with Jesus at the wheel.

classes are at it's final leg, and we're a stretch to the july conference, which means the end of the first semester in HILC. i'll move on to the next season, and expect much for the one to follow.

life never felt so right. so good.

{adventures on instagr.am} // {04.14}

here's a set of photos i took during an afternoon break in sydney.
{adventures on instagr.am}

baby bimpy.

made of Lego.

Westin Sydney

Macarons from Lindt Cafe

#nofilter skies and clock tower.

journey series: four months in--

So I'm supposed to be doing my assessments for class-- kinda feels like finals season, but I'm sure we've only just begun college. Can't believe it's May!

Last week felt like holiday week-- It was the last week for my public transport pass and I wanted to use it as much as I could. It worked out perfectly because my friend's parents came from Indonesia and we acted as the amateur tour guides and found ourselves here:

Gorgeous photos from The Blue Mountains - Three Sisters.
(FYI, it was freaking windy and the cold was literally piercing through my clothes, it was fun nonetheless. )

can't believe how clear the skies were that day, sun was AWESOME.

just gorgeous.

Oh, and I just found out that a friend of mine's coming to visit in July! I AM SOOOOOO EXCITED! It's gonna be so much fun!!

journey series: autumn in march.

AUTUMN IN MARCH! on the opposite end of the world, so hey.

if i had a timeline, this would be my cover photo. i love it. (yes those are my legs and shoes)

i've been on the go....! the past weeks have been so good though. i'll put it a good story sometime next week, for now, here are some quick updates...

i moved to a new place that's across the street from church and school. thank you Jesus!
colour conference one in the sydney entertainment center was amazing.
hillsong kids team is the team to serve with. so much fun.
i am suffering from a cold, which will see its end tomoz!

journey series: life updates, and seizing the day.

now i understand it's been a while.... february just zipped past my eyes. i can't believe its already march!
well here are some quick updates from my adventures in the land down under....

i'm moving from my current housing situation to shared housing that's closer to school. it was a really good deal, and decided to grab it right away. i actually just moved most of my stuff this morning, and i'm gonna be moving in officially on tuesday. new space, new environment. what a gypsy!

i think i'm learning a lot about decision making.
sometimes, we can't linger. sometimes, we have to decide right away.

and other times, we have to come to an abrupt stop.



because, otherwise, skipping breathers will make you feel all wound up, and next thing you know you'll feel like your life is caving in on you.

right now, i'm just about ready to tackle on anything that comes my way because opportunities like "australia" doesn't come in neatly wrapped packages for most of us. i made a choice and i'm determined to make the most of my time here.

colour conference is around the corner, just days away, and i'm pumped to be in the midst of all of this. it's a privilege to be in an event dedicated to encouraging and empowering women from all over the world. some of those who are coming from the other end of the world may be at the verge of jumping into an adventure and journey just like mine, and i want to be able to tell her to go for it, and that she's got an army behind her, and the path before her has already been carefully planned and all she's gotta do is seize it.

i'm so glad to be where i'm at. i'm moving to my first rental (even if it's shared, it's still a milestone!), i'm attending colour, classes are going great, and the best part about it is that i'm really able to assess where i stand in my faith and relationship with God, and i get to work on it every single day.

it's already march, next thing you know it'll be july, and then it'll be the end of the year. until the next day rolls on around, i'm gonna be living each day ... enjoying the journey.

journey series: away we go, again.

i'm going to the city tomorrow to film with some friends for another friend's project. i reckon it'll be fun (and extremely hilarious!) more photos when i get back i guess :)

journey series: ONE album.

SO... I got an amazing opportunity to take part in an album recording for a charitable cause. Local artists and musicians in Sydney are taking their talents and using it to raise funds to help Sendong (Typhoon Washi) victims in Mindanao, Philippines. I actually just met the masterminds of the album/event and they were kind enough to invite me to join and sing for the album. I had never ever done anything of the sort, recording at least... and it was such a blast to have been part of this amazing cause. I didn't get to take photos while recording, I completely forgot-- but I'll try to take photos of future events like the album launch! (I have to say, having a bit of the design flair in me, I wish I could've done this poster... it's bugging me quite a bit. HEHEHE!)

For now, check out the album page on Facebook: ONE Charity Album to see if you can grab a copy of the CD somehow through the internet or whatnot, if not, I'll try my best to get it out for anyone interested.

journey series: stop over numero uno

morning i arrived from LA flight. i think it took about 15 hours to get there including the refueling in guam! 

stop over number one is at it's last leg. i always wish at the last minute that i don't have to leave...
three days left 'til australia, hope i can leave monday night!

(more updates coming, just taking a while to load photos, and... still no charger!)

journey series: on the road.

and we're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz.

strange words, but completely applies.
and i just suddenly thought of lawrence fishburne saying to keanu reeves: "do you take the red pill? or the blue pill?", fave!

connecting the dots in my head (even though it'll be completely off to most, if not, --all!)

follow the white rabbit down the rabbit hole, much like alice, and much like dorothy down to.. well, Oz.

how proper.

i'd say there was no better day to leave. nothing could've prepared me for this journey, not a year, not two, or any amount of time would do. but to leave the first of the new year, was a very bittersweet goodbye.

at LAX, don't judge, it was a long day full of packing, tears, and bittersweet goodbyes!

signing out 'til my next post :)
good morning from Manila!

journey series: a few days to go!

both to the new year, and the new beginning.

i've definitely been feeling a whole lot more different with the moving situation, etc. well, for one, i'm honestly getting a bit more emotional, but i don't like to admit that most cases, but i thought writing it out would help me in future instances.

then, second, i know people ultimately think that i'm never returning to LA, but cases are i still am-- one way or another. to collect the rest of my belongings to move to Oz, or to come back home...

i used to really dread the latter idea, but right now, things are all up in the air! so, who knows what could happen in a year. i wouldn't want to screw-up God's plans for me, and so i'm leaving that part open. there are still dreams that are down the list, and now that i'm nearing this next official step, i'm getting a boost of courage. getting reminded when all this was seeded and how i thought and believed that anything IS possible with God. i see it again. HE IS SO FAITHFUL.

despite the fact that i did get winded down by other things floating around the air, and the thought of "impossible" crept up every corner, and "worry" too!

and now, frankly, all i've left to worry about is whether i will get this packing done. i have three days left in LA. i never thought it'd pain me to say that. but for now, we'll say that i am simply going on a year long or so trip, and LA will surely see my ambivalent heart again.

i've still no camera, --feels a little liberating, and i wish i can say the same for the rest of my baggage! (pun INTENDED)

packing progress: 67% i'd say...

thanks for tuning in for this end of the journey. 'til 2012! hurrah for new chapters!

oh, and p.s. next year is a leap year!

the itenerary.

i'm excited.

in about a month:

manila for 5 days or so.
melbourne for a week and a few days.
then off to sydney.

deep breath.

(i'm not sure if i'll have a camera. but it'll be fun if i get to post pictures.)

you're almost there.

i wanna do something significant, doesn't necessarily have to be large in magnitude, nor does it have to be popular, just worth something good for someone else. and if i fail at this, i want my life to be explosive anyway; in failures.

whatever you're doing. whoever you are. keep on keeping on. there are late bloomers.
but don't worry...

you're. almost. there.

Midnight Mishaps.

So, my hands are shaking both because the windows are open and there's a chilly breeze blowin' through, and it's the middle of the night, AND... I just happened to receive a package from Burberry worth $2010 freaking simoleons, NO, ACTUALLY, I MEAN REAL DOLLARS.

**(post is published late... received package Wednesday night)

WHAT THE HUBALAHEY! (I need that money actually... !!)

So, how many times do you get something so freaking expensive in the mail?
All I ordered was an eyeliner my gift card could afford, it was that or a votive candle (which would cost me extra for shipping!?!)... and I get an extra box of "goodies".

I kinda thought it was Christmas, or an early bday gift, or even, that I won a secret Burberry contest... but it happens to be, ... A NO. Just an ultimate shipping mistake. What a joke to play warehouse folks. Hmph! (Yes, it is boxed up again for return.)

Well, here's photos of MY purchase, I did get an extra vial of perfume! (FANCY gift, unlike the uber tiny testers you get from MACYs or any other chain department stores...) and all the other little tidbits like the gift bag, receipt envelope (I know... it has an envelope) and the tissue were nice touches. Hey, if you know me, I do like paper and packaging and all those little details... so... without further ado. My $39 order.

Same print embossed on both paper bag and envelope. (Ah, it felt so fancy!!)

My eyeliner and small gift from purchase!
(I've used "fancy" way too much in this post, but I'm gonna use it again!) FANCY!

journey series: the next few steps.

this was sydney in july 2010. i can't believe i'm gonna call you home for 2012.
i still can't get a grip on my emotions and reality. i know it'll all hit me soon enough.
but i do have to scale up my own bridge, and i know once i get going it won't look so scary after all.

today we start: the journey series

i'm not really sure how to start, like most cases, but as the title implies, today.. we start. whatever it is that is needed to be done. today's the day to do it. today's the day to start.
i thought about making a record of my simple thoughts to map out an experience. last night, i thought, "maybe if i write them down, it'll all make sense."

'cause, about half-way through, i think i lost sense of it all. and finding it all back, ...reason, passion, sanity, and the cause, is all part of the ride. i hope, in all that i relay, if someone comes across it, that they'll take something from it, and go. 'coz let me tell you, it sucks being afraid all the time.

the year is closing, and i'm here, mid-journey, writing everything from the beginning.
recording, ..the possibilities of a new life.

a new beginning.

in sydney? in sydney... . . in sydney.

 Adam Crews Photography

there is no certainty for me, and honestly, no rest, until i step aboard the aircraft that takes me across the pacific.

for now, i'll take myself to painstaking periods of 2010, muster up the courage to write the next post, and live the next day.

shutterbug.

celebrated a friends' wedding on 9-11. it was beautiful. i think it's the best wedding i've attended. it was really something. all the detail, and the WEATHER.

i think none of us brought a camera, either they forgot or whatnot, but, i, purposely left it. i think i savored the event more that way.

photocube got a good deal of business from us though.

on my bucket list.

ice hotel in sweden. very interesting.