coffee break

last weekend, we went back looking for frodo. so when we found this sign,

we got really excited.

(more…)

wellington is cold. no surprise, it’s in the latitude of tasmania. i was kinda whacked to think that it’s somewhere near papua new guinea. stupid me brought summer clothes. the city is pretty, very cosmopolitan. kinda small, 2km square city center. but i think it’s charming that way, everything is a stone throw away in a sense. very european. like most cities away from home, everything closes early, like 6.00pm early. exactly 4.45pm, people are leaving the office leaving the expats (us) at the office to tidy things up. and i don’t mean clean and dust the desk, finish up work that needs to be finished. i think it’s an asian thing, working really hard. and the streets are deserted.

it’s a good timing being her; it’s the new zealand international arts festival. there’s an endless parade of plays, musicals, concerts and museum exhibits. we’re watching good morning, mr. gershwin at the st. james theater. and then a 3d movie on an adaptation of hans christian andersen’s ugly duckling on sunday. loving the culture rich city. looking forward on our saturday trip to martinborough. wine country and plenty of good food, way to live life.

as with the people i came here with, we use our nights to see the city. there’s a section of the city that really thrives at night that has all the dinner place and drinking pubs. similar to australia, they drink like a fish and rowdy as hell. my 10th day here, and i have to say i am enjoying the food. i’ve been having lamb and steak everyday, and really good ones! the dining here is so amazing, i haven’t had dinner in the same place twice. by way not cheap food, but not as expensive as i would expect. the venison in mushroom risotto with truffle jus is just nz$34. not bad. specially once you tasted how fabulous it is. 10 more days, more restaurants, and plenty more experiences.

i can feel it calling me.

fabulous weekend. stories later but for the mean time, i give you this…

though it wasn’t like one of those nights were i had meaningful relationships with every porcelain in sight, i had fun. people who stayed had fun. with the help from our leftover booze, the cocktails eased us to the beer and the vodka. the band made us belt our lungs out and made rockstars to those brave enough to pick up the mic. and the brownies that made us smile and laugh and be silly without a care in our hearts. thanks wuji for the pictures.

i’ve read somewhere that the best way to see a city is by commute. with the exception on new york, i’ve been commuting my way around the cities i visit. the bart and muni have been a joy and i think i get the hang of commuting here with the help of google transit. the bart is easier and more reliable since it’s a train but i have to give props to muni because it’s way cheaper, specially the transfer since i don’t have to pay again. in one of those joy rides i have, i discovered the 33. it goes south in potrero all the way north to presidio near the golden gate bridge. the good thing about this line is, it passes the castro via the 18th, goes to haight and stanyan, all in one ride. stanyan st borders the golden gate park, a huge park similar to central park in new york but smaller. haight is famous for being the hippy street filled with good shopping, small boutiques, hard to find items, and occasional high end shopping. 

so i decided to take that bus again. i started at the golden gate park in haight and stanyan. i saw beautiful old oak trees as tall as a 24 storey building. the breeze in the park was exceptionally cooler than the city which i credit to the abundance of trees and greens. after my park trolling, i hit haight with no idea whatsoever to buy. just boutique hopping. i manage to get some ‘interesting’ pieces, which i think you can’t find in the downtown area. after a long day of shopping at haight st. (janis joplin used to live here!), i treated myself with a nice dinner at castro and 18th st. it’s the busiest part of castro with good upscale restaurants and good clubs. harvey’s at the corner and edge at the other end of the block. i texted tita that i won’t be joining them for dinner. after dinner, i went around and tried the sex shops. it’s castro, what’s a visit without going into these shops? don’t ask if i got something because i won’t tell. when i got home, hello dessert!

i tihink mom told tita my weakness for haagen-dazs. what a nice way to cap dinner with a tub of dark chocolate ice cream. yum!

listening to:
Victor/Victoria Soundtrack – Julie Andrews : Crazy World