PocketsofPerth
Sunday, August 2, 2009
I Can Breathe the Airs of SpringThe blazing sun with a hint of the cool breeze.
Trees are shedding, paving ways for new lives.
Sounds like spring, smells like spring!
Rightfully though we're all still stuck in dreary Winter here in the southern hemisphere, but nonetheless, I still demand that it's spring! September's only a month away, in any case.
I'm right into my third week of uni as of tomorrow, Monday the 3rd. Thus far, it's been pretty easygoing. Actually, I kinda feel like I'm still on holiday! That doesn't sound right, does it? Maybe it's just me and my relatively laidback timetable (school starts at 10 and ends by 2). Maybe it's the units I'm taking this sem: 2 Ling, 1 Comm Studies, 1 Anthrop - Anthrop has the most amt of readings in my opinion, and I haven't really started on them. I'm really liking Ling1102, Language as a Cognitive System, as well as Comm Studies. My lecturers are usually American since I share the same lecturer for both Ling units, and my tutors are all approachable and interactive. So yes, that's uni life in academia but the social scene is still bland for now. I'm getting there, I hope.
I haven't been doing much here in Perth cause I get really lazy to lift myself off the warm support of the couches and bed! But, I'd have to say the past few days have been rather eventful.
First off, on
Friday,
Kristal and I headed down to the City after school. We had planned on going for the Freshies BBQ organised by the Singapore Students' Society (SSS) at Matilda Bay which is just across our apartment, but abandoned the idea because it was too awkward. We did bump into Ophe and Feng Xian en route our escape though. Kristal got her necessities and we had bubbletea! Pretty much combed the city as usual; saw some stuff I liked but I'm getting a little broke because August is a wonderful month (haha). Friday spells late night shopping so yes, that was what we basically did. Spent the last few minutes at Mango where Kristal got pretty good deals, and where I acted as her personal shopper. Hahah, I was really actioning can. Just grabbed, grabbed whatever I thought was 'right' for her. Of course she didn't get all that I'd offered, but still, I hope she's glad for her buys! We haven't had dinner, but the bubble tea kept us satiated. I really wanted her to try Macs fries dipped in hot fudge sundae though (a tradition from more than a decade ago). Stepped into the 24h Macs, highly patronized by Australian youths. It was pretty scary for us, because well, the people there were seemingly rowdy and gangsta. Of course, I deduced this only based upon their mannerisms and attire. Not sure if it's accurate, but you'd know what I mean when you see them. A group of boys were sitting on the counters of the McCafe and it made the manager on shift pretty furious! Kristal said they reminded her of the mats back home. I said I think the mats aren't as bad (and threatening) in comparison.
This was after our meal (which consisted of an apple pie, a hot fudge sundae, large fries, and a filet-O-fish)
Argh! Why did it come out like this? Anyway, we had half an hour to kill before the bus is scheduled to send us back home. FAT FACE!
So on
Saturday, we had a mission! To get to a contempo cafe nestled in the North of Perth, in a town called Vincent! MILKD. You can check out their website! It's a pretty small dining area, inc. al fresco setting, and they serve all day breakfast here (as with most Australian cafes. Haha.) but Kristal and I only had a good mug of flat white (for her) and a cup of sweet hot chocolate! It was good. To me. Inevitably filled up our stomachs, with all the milk (and the calories) but ah, it's all in the name of good fun, yes?
A graffiti-ish mural on the wall where we sat.
The cafe from Kristal's pov. Lighting wasn't good where we sat. And my camera not as pro as someone's. Haha.
After completing our mission, we set foot for Winifred and Bance, a vintage shop in Inglewood. We knew what buses would bring us there, but because we weren't familiar with North Perth, we had trouble finding the bus stops that would provide us with the appropriate buses. So we walked over to the petrol station, and got directions. Turns out, we had to walk over a km to get to that suburb. So we walked. And walked. It was actually a pretty long walk, but it didn't feel like it. Perhaps it was the weather. The weather made it really bearable. I didn't time how long it had taken us to travel from North Perth to Inglewood by foot, but when we got there, we managed to find the right bus stand almost right away. So the bus came, and we weren't sure of the exact address of the bus stand. When I boarded the bus and tapped my SmartRider (Perth's ezlink), I approached the driver and enquired:
Hannah : Hi, does this bus go to Bunnings?
Driver: What?
Hannah: Bunnings, you know the big shop?
Driver: Well do you know where it is??
Hannah: I think it's along Beaufort Street.
Driver: Well then, just press the bell! What do you think the bells are there for!?!?
Hannah: (puzzled and annoyed all at once) Oh, ok. Thanks.
Awful service.
We succesfully spotted Bunnings (more like Kristal). I was expecting a big building with an apparent display of 'B-U-N-N-I-N-G-S' in white against green wall, but nope! this Bunnings (I think it's like Courts) was a little hidden. We crossed over to W & B, and scanned the whole shop first, and then began to surreptitiously find for treasures. Haha! Kristal has been looking for bags, and we saw a few ridiculously vintage (not sure if they function well but it could serve as a chest display or smth) luggages, priced at $45! In fact, W & B is very affordable, bearing in mind that these are vintage goods (most are I believe, 20 years or more). A clear contrast from Singapore's usually overpriced vintage stores. I finally got a $10 black coat with grey fur (very drama, huh. but $10 only la. got a hole in a pocket though) after much deliberation. Also got a tweed pink blazer from another recycling shop from across W & B. They have quite good finds too! Really nice bagsss. But a little pricey for our liking.
This one's my fault. I didn't rotate the picture. But the prev one's just plain, faulty. Kristal with her new found glory!
I'm so sorry. I think iphoto is facing some probs at the moment. So anyway, this is Winifred & Bance, the vintage store!
Momo's. The other shop I went to.
Sunday.
We had plans to go catch My Sister's Keeper at the nearest theatre, which can be found in a neighbouring (not so neighbour, there's still a 20 min bus ride) suburb called Subiaco. I kept insisting we purchase the tickets first, since we were there abt 45 mins early. But Kristal laughed and told me, here, 10 people in a movie theatre is considered full house already. Haha. The disparaging differences. The movie was really, really good by the way. At least for me. I read the novel of the same name by Jodi Picoult 3 years back, so I can't remember details and the ending even. Just the plot, I can recall, along with the fact that it was a novel that made me cry hard at the end of it. I still remember the day I finished the book! My maid had brought my sis down for a swim and I had stayed home cause I planned to read my book. I plopped myself down on the couch and started reading. I cried, with mucus flowing and all (so gross, but I like the feeling when I'm really sad and not to wipe it off! hahahahah.) and then I got to the ending, and just cried. Like a baby. Like waa! waa! that kind. Okay la, not as whiny, but you get the picture. So, I heard the movie's ending had a twist, and honestly, I can't tell cause I really can't remember the ending for the novel, but the movie was a definite, definite tearjerker. I had read a review of it by the NY Times a few weeks ago when I was back home in Sg, and it mentioned that the theatre was sobbing and stuff. It's true! The people around me were all sniffing, and resisting the tears. The works. The girl in front of me was trying so hard not to cry, she kept fanning herself, in the manner where you really want to cry but you don't want to cause it'll ruin your makeup or something, ala beauty pageant queens.
Oh, and we had BASKIN ROBBINS too, since it can be conveniently found opposite the theatre. I tried a sample of the Green Tea and Shafiqah!! It's almost as good as the Jap one just ard the corner! Really. It's like the Green Tea frap! I had my usual Mint, and Kristal had Buttery Almond! We headed to the market after the movie, got our dinner, and scurried to purchase a bag of fruit to keep healthy (haha) hoping we'll make it in time for the bus back home. We were 5 mins early, so we decided to walk further up to the next bus stop. The bus didn't come after 30 mins. I rang the infoline. I was told because there was an AFL (Australian Football League) at the Subiaco Stadium (or whatever it's called), the bus service is delayed. So much for the delay. The bus never came at all! I got super mad. Because it got really cold. We thought of taking the cab but that's a little out of our budget, and cabs are elusive in Perth! Most of the time. And I didn't want to call for one, cause that'll mean more money spent! So we had to walk out of the suburb, and towards Shenton Park to get a bus back home. Thank goodness we didn't miss that one. Otherwise, Cranky Me will come haunt.
I told Kristal to take this cause it feels so American Suburb. Haha. Commercialisation.
Kristal says they look like they're friends.
Angry. Cold. And Waiting. RAWWRRRRR!!
OK. BED BECKONS, BACK'S HURTING TOO.
I CAN'T WAIT FOR WEDNESDAY TO COME! :D