it always comes back to this

HOLA~~!

:D We are officially back in business.

Today's the last day of the school term for now and I'm starting an extremely precious 2 week Christmas vacation that I'm determined to live, breath, CHERISH like nothing before. It's been an incredibly tiring 6 months of school. Can you believe we've had close to 30 weeks of school without a single break till now? I could cry.

But there are so many things to do now. :) First of, I thought of continuing where I left off from. Back in Seattle!

One fine morning, my lil' cuz Teagan, and I decided to go for a cycle. I don't even own a bicycle now so the only time I ever cycle would be the occasional trip to the park with my friends where we rent bicycles for 2 hours. I wish I had one though! It's so much fun though Singapore is definitely one of the most dangerous places to cycle in. Horrible weather, a severe dearth of bicycle lanes, the WORST bunch of angry drivers who don't even give way to other cars... Seattle is so much more fun. Neighbourhoods seem built for cycling around.

(That's my cousin and she's 7. I'm 21 and not much taller than her. HATE MY SHORTIE GENES!)

HERE'S MY VERY FIRST GIF! :DDD (It took me AGES to get this figured out but now I realize how it's actually really pretty simple. Silly noobie me.)

(and off we go!)

When I accompanied my cousins to their swim class and was freezing in the blustery weather (outdoor pools in cold weather = torture) while waiting for them, I decided to walk around and into the neighbouring park. Met the most adorable retriever there.

One of those days, my aunt, the cousins and I, went for a hike up the SNOW CAVES - so called because in the winter it's apparently covered in snow and there are little caves that can be explored. When we went it was late spring/early summer so there wasn't any snow but it was a pretty walk nonetheless. Though I do remember feeling ill then and after the hike I ended up getting a full blown flu that kept in the house for the next 3 days. In hindsight though, it's the good things that stay. :)

Who was the artist who left his mark here eh??

One night my aunt brought me for some Mexican food since that's one of the few cuisines I haven't tried very much before.

Nothing beats freshly baked tortilla chips...

and salsa!

This was some special Mexican drink which, for the life of me, I cannot recall. I think it was some rice drink? Or if anyone has drunk this before and would care to enlighten me on its name/origins, I would really appreciate it! :) It had a little bit of an eggnog taste to it...

THIS... WAS THE MOTHER OF ALL SALADS. I made the amateur/tourist mistake of ordering a "Mexican Salad" when I could've ordered something quintessentially Mexican like a BURRITO or something. So I ended up with the HUGEST salad I've seen in my entire life. It was literally three times the size of my face.

American food portions never cease to amaze me. ;p

Finally memory for tonight -- eating a pesto pasta and salad dinner out in the backyard with my aunt, uncle and cousins. :) It was one of the highlights of my trip really. I love spending time with them and the weather was PERFECT for an alfresco evening meal.

(Haiying with her annoying camel toy which she KNOWS I hate! Press it and it launches incessantly into a LOUD and annoying song in a weird language I can't even understand.)

They have a playground in their background. :) How perfect is that?

I keep posting photos of my travels (well, this blog is pretty much just all about stuff that's happening to me/things that I like) and I suppose to some people it may come across as self-indulgent or narcissistic? But blogging is, at its heart, an extension of the blogger's own self. Every word, picture, quote, song that's posted here has something to do with me that I'd like to share and connect with someone else who has an affinity to it too. I'll keep doing this, because at the end of the day, looking back and reflecting on things that mean something to me... sharing little frivolous things such as likes and dislikes in fashion/photography/food...these are all forms of expression that keep me happy. At the end of the day, perhaps that's all there is to it. :)

XX. More tomorrow! :) I daresay I'll be able to post twice a day now that it's the holidays. Can't wait to have the BEST NIGHT OF SLEEP i've had in a looong time tonight.