| Feb 7, 2010 |
| i will pack my life with great memories. |
Wharf 3. Manly. The Corso. Coles.
Reunited.
Falling at my knees.
Daytrippers.
Circular Quay. Homebase.
Bliss Collision semi-reunion.
Tim Tam’s.
Lemon Lime & Bitters. Pimms & Ginger Ale. Ginn Garden.
Grey Goose shaken over ice with lime and sugar.
I hate you, Debbie.
Mercy fights. You will always win. SON OF A B**CH, SON OF A B**CH.
The Argyll.
In 5, 6, 7, 8...
Cristina…let me LEAD!
“Irisss?….” No.
How do they dance in Riyadh?
So…do you have boyfriends? Jesus Alex.
Hungry Jacks with my boos. There’s ice cream on your faces.
Crowne Plaza Surfer(s) Paradise. The perfect view.
Head massage + planning = I am so happy right now.
Inside voices.
Broadbeach.
Reminds me of South Beach.
Excuse me, can you please take our picture? (that’s how CP does it)
Byron Bay. Jetboat. Snorkelling. Open Waters. Kiwi & German.
Backward wetsuits.
Swimming with the turtles!
Driving/navigating from the left.
Omg…we’re going to watch RF!!!!!
Bed jumps.
Wingman nights. Surf’s up, nerves up, stood up! Amazing feeling.
Tennis in scorching sun, tennis in the storm.
Australian Open. William Sisters. RF. Go Red and White!
Markymoo is not embarrassed at ALL.
Academy award winning performances…on the train.
Melbourne nights. Supper club. Alice in Wonderland bar. New friends. Baraki. More Hungry Jacks. Epic.
Alexes, Nicks, and Matts.
Dim sum. Learning Australian lingo. Wheelies at the Docklands.
Pop quiz / Q&A period.
F**k, Kill, Marry.
Grafitti alley.
Slapping Bart’s ass.
Modern art in the shape of fire extinguishers.
Musical chairs in the red room.
Sushi in suits. Or is that suits having sushi?
Chips that taste like poultry.
I’m a cat, you’re a cat. Let’s be cats together. Damn cats.
I’m going to be so devo because I’ll be povo after this trip.
Perni. Mork. Dialated.
Iris, thank you for my pillow.
The shitty beach. Chapel Street.
Uggs mission.
Singkil rehearsal.
AO finals. Mmmm-hmmm. Socks with open toed shoes.
Body pump.
Ring of Fire. Possoms. New experiences.
Late night crashing waves.
Tosca. Sydney Opera House. Double fisting. Where are our dates?
Wedges with Sour Cream and Sweet Chili.
Darling Harbour. Star City. Like Vegas, but not.
Why are you singing that song?
Whatever Wednesday.
Breakfast buffet. Egg and fruit stash.
Harbour Bridge walk.
Dinner on Etihad. Amani. The Ivy. Pool Bar. Isabella and Lola.
Mojos with the Australipinos.
The closest I’ll get to Saudi.
Broken luggage.
Dinner with the parents. She just wants my egg.
Apritada, Mami, Rice….BETTER than home!
Electrical storms.
Thank you for the epic memories.
I saw this on the luggage tag from our hotel in Melbourne, called the Mantra on Little Bourke. "I WILL PACK MY LIFE WITH GREAT MEMORIES." That will be MY mantra.Labels: me, travel |
| posted by cristina @ 12:27 AM |
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| Jan 18, 2010 |
| down under |
T minus 24 hours and I will be on a plane from SFO to Australia!!! This has been one of those trips I’ve dreamt of for a long time…and I’m so excited it’s finally becoming a reality! When I went to Europe in the summer I planned EVERYTHING…that’s me. A planner. It was an adventurous trip, lots to see and do. Almost too much. Tiring at times, both mentally and physically. But this time’s been different. I didn’t plan much. I know where we’re flying to and when, and where we’re going to sleep at night. I know when we’re going to the Australian Open. But other than that, my attitude towards this trip has been ‘whatever’ – take things as they come. Very unlike me, but there is an excitement (or is that anxiety?) that is in the air and I can’t wait! RELAXATION. That will be my theme.
Of course, despite not 'planning', there are a few things on my list of things I would love to do:
- Snorkel with a sea turtle
- Surf (or attempt to surf) for the first time and hopefully not get my ass kicked TOO badly
- Kiss an Australian boy (or two...lol!)
- See a kangaroo. Hug a koala.
- Watch an Australian sunrise (after all…it’s the first place in the world the day begins)
Five things. That’s doable, right? The rest...we will take as they come. Most of all, I’m just looking forward to experience this all with my NSG. It’s gonna be a topsy turvy time down under, and I can’t wait to soak it all in (and out).Labels: travel |
| posted by cristina @ 9:44 PM |
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| Aug 12, 2009 |
| Endless Summer |
It truly feels like this summer has gone on forever….and I love it! Summer thus far has included a season ending KP performance, a trip of a lifetime with my NSG, seeing Coldplay live for the first time, appreciating the beach life at Spanish Banks (several times), trying new restaurants with new friends, an Italian Garden Party at Deer Lake, Point Roberts boating and bonfires, appreciating time with old friends, Vegas with both my Vancity and T.O. girls, Mo’s Vancity visit, Ziptrekking in Whistler….
And there is still a month to go with so many things to look forward to!Labels: summer, travel |
| posted by cristina @ 10:05 PM |
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| Jun 25, 2009 |
| 23,040 Minutes |
Everytime you come back from holidays, it’s like emptying a sponge full of water. You try and squeeze as much out as you can, and just when you think you’ve squeezed out the last drop, you’ll find some more. I’ve talked out this trip TO DEATH with coworkers, family, friends, etc. but every time I find something new to mention that I forgot. Uploading pictures has been quite the daunting task as well….how do you sort through 2000+ snapshots and bring those down to a couple hundred, when every memory is one you want to share with the world?
Good thing I chronicled everything on facebook. I think what I'll do is just import those posts to here to remember the memories.
Where to begin? So many unforgettable memories of this trip….I don’t want the memories to end, but reality is calling my name. But I’m going to take my time adjusting back. I’m going to bask in the memories, share the stories, laugh out loud (to myself), not cry because it’s over, but smile because it happened. =)
I remember telling Eye, at the end of this trip, that on every vacation, I learn something new – about life, the person I’m travelling with, and most importantly about myself. Some of the most important lessons I learned on this trip:
Life isn’t just black, white, or grey…but lilac, burnt orange, royal blue, teal, polka dot, and hot pink. Life also doesn’t always need a map and street signs. You don’t always have to go in straight lines, turn left, or turn right…It’s ok to go in circles until you eventually find your way.
If you’re going to snooze, you have to do it at least 4 times for it to be worth it.
There isn’t a hat in the world that will look bad on Iris Miranda.
I can be a beach person.
Real friends share kleenex.
I don’t need to have all the answers, all the time. But this still freaks me out a little.
I can’t fix everything, all the time. (but this still freaks me out a little)
I’m into slow sultry kisses.
As it turns out…I’m not too into red wine. Which is fine because red wine doesn’t care for me either.
Music has a healing and calming power like no other. Of all people, how did I allow myself to forget this?
So does alcohol. It also makes you semi-fluent in many languages.
People can grow separately without growing apart.
I used to HATE uncooked tomatoes. Now…they’re tolerable.
Things I tried for the first time in Europe: espresso, green olives, balsamic vinegar & ice cream. Not carrying my phone or wearing a watch.
What you see isn’t as important as who you see it with.
(side note: To follow up on my previous posts - no, I didn't meet my dream man at the Pantheon (but not for lack of trying), and Eye is still one of my favorite people in the world, more today than yesterday. =) ) Next stop…..Vegas? oh damn... Labels: ch, friends, me, travel |
| posted by cristina @ 10:44 AM |
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| May 23, 2009 |
| in a rush |
So I am officially excited about my European adventure!! 9 more sleeps!
Over the past month, people have been saying "you must be so excited for your trip!"/"aren't you excited??"/"how many more sleeps?" - and yes, I've been excited....after all I pretty much planned this trip from day 1 to 16 - what can I say, project management gives me a rush. From the months of Nov-Feb/March I was pretty much playing amateur travel consultant, sitting on the computer for hours with booking.com, tripadvisor, and hotel websites all running simultaneously.
But the rush of planning died down, and I was back to just waiting. Iris has planned a trip back to Vancity for this week to spend time with her RF, so she was rightfully excited about that trip and even though we had spurts of exciting discussions over the past few months, it never really hit me it was coming up.
Then yesterday, Eye and I had breakfast and were talking about our trip NEXT WEEK. Talking about what we would do, coordinating what shoes we were each going to pack (thank God we're the same size!), teaching her the Italian I learned in class:
"Mi dispiace....ha uno ragazzo"- Sorry she has a boyfriend
"Scusi....ce un bar qui vicino?" - Excuse me, is there a bar nearby?
"Un bottiglia di vino, per favore!" - A bottle of wine, please!
(and my favorite)
"Bachiame" - kiss me :)
And right there, over waffles at White Spot, I felt it......a RUSH.....heart beating faster, wide-eyed....all of a sudden, I was officially EXCITED....omg in 10 days, I will be on this trip of a lifetime, with one of my most favorite people in the world (for now....who knows after the tirp, haha). Today, I watched Angels & Demons and seeing all the spots in Rome gave me that same rush!
I'll be trying to update my blog while there (our hotels all have wireless and our hotel in Paris even has a Mac in the room), because this will definitely be an adventure. Justin and Scott - you have nothing on us, and after seeing our video footage OLN will be wanting to follow US on our travels! haha.
It's official - I'm excited.Labels: travel |
| posted by cristina @ 12:17 AM |
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| May 20, 2009 |
| i dreamed a dream |
I dreamt last night that I was dating a guy….we were on the bed, mostly PG stuff, but having a good time. At some point we ‘stopped’ – because I remembered that I had to go pick up my mom soon and didn’t want to start anything we couldn’t finish (yes, I remember saying that), so we just lied there in each others arms, fully clothed, and talked. I don’t remember much of the conversation, except a part where we were looking at this mural on the ceiling. It was a mural of animals (like a cartoon), and we were trying to pick names for them. He picked the sheep and said “we should name him ‘Shep’” and we had a good laugh over that. Then all of a sudden he got up and was like “shoot, I got a pimple!” and I laughed and said that it didn’t matter to me that he was only 99% sexy now (yes, I remember saying that too). I remember thinking to myself how comfortable I was with this guy and how happy I was.
I had to leave to pick up my mom, so I said he could wait for me or I’ll just call him later. He said he would wait. I went to pick up my mom and on the way I ran into another friend – who happened to be Lacey Schwimmer – and told her I was dating this guy, and she told me to be careful. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but just thought whatever I’m just living in the moment and I’m happy. Next thing I knew I went and made my pick up, but it wasn’t my mom, it was Iris. We were in Rome and I was picking her up to go back to our hotel. We got back to the hotel and all I kept thinking was how I couldn’t wait to see the guy again and hoped he was still there and I was excited that Iris would get to meet him too.
We got back to the hotel and he was still there, and I couldn’t stop smiling and gave him a big hug and even forgot to introduce him to her because I was so happy to see him. He was looking out the window and said “hey check this out!” and it was the Pantheon (in Rome).
And then I woke up.
Sure I can dissect this piece by piece, and I know why I was dreaming about certain parts, but the first thought I had when I woke up was – this guy made me so happy. I remember feeling so at home with him, so comfortable, and so completely into him. But I don’t know his name, or what he looked like, except that he was pretty cute….and….WHITE! Haha, go figure. Hmmm...
I was so happy in my dream.Labels: dreams, love, travel |
| posted by cristina @ 9:56 AM |
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| Worth Reminiscing |
| Royalties |
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