Saturday, December 31, 2011

The last day of 2011

Hey Chia!

Can you believe it? It is the end of 2011! I wonder where you will be for new years eve? Wherever you are, I hope you are having the time of your life! I can't wait to hear stories and see photos! =)

Back here I've been enjoying the break. Weather has turned from hot to humid, and we are all now waiting for the new year.

Today I am just tidying up my room, and the spare room, making way for Scott's return from the USA. He arrives at 6am tomorrow morning.

Anyways, I thought I'd give you a snap shot of my 2011:

Crabbing with Felicia and Kev in Mandurah (January)

Penguin Island (January)

Girly date! (January)

Kev's big shave (March)

Looking Good Kev

The Mez & Far East Movement Night (March/April)

Far East Movement at Metros (March/April)

Your farewell party! (April)
Completing my first trial (May)

Farewell dinner with Scott at Shillas (June)

Wicked the Musical (June)
 
Vietnam (June)

Hong Kong (July)

Macau (July)

My new iPad from Kev (July)


Indoor beach volleyball superleague grand finals (August)

Superleague grand final dinner (August)

Us in London (August)

Us in your apartment 'IN' London (August)

Us falling in love with the Spanish culture in Valencia, Spain (August)

Us taking on La Tomatina in Bunol, Spain (August)

Us party rocking in Ibiza, Spain (September)

Us exploring in Ibiza, Spain (September)

Us posing in Barcelona, Spain (September)

Meeting Kev in Geneva, Switzerland (September)

Checking out Zurich, Switzerland (September)

Trekking up to Jungfraujoch, Switzerland (September)


On the top of Jungfraujoch, Switzerland

Kev and I frolicking around in beautiful Salzburg, Austria (September)

Visiting Mozart in Salzburg, Austria (September)


Kev and I experiencing Oktoberfest with the help of our random Bavarian friends in Munich, Germany (September)

Kev and I getting into an Oktoberfest tent for the second time, with our new American friends Alyssa and Landon.

Alicia's hen's night (October)

Kings & Queens indoor beach volleyball competition (November)

Alicia & Michael's Wedding (November)

Crazy GNO starting at Shiro and ending at Utopia (November)

My Rottnest Island-underwater exploration-adventure-birthday surprise (December)

Our Christmas (December)
I can't believe how much I have done in one year!

I hope next year is just as eventful and fun filled!

Thursday, December 29, 2011

Xiao Long Baos

Hi Chia

I am sure you're having a ball in Austria! I can't wait to see the photos and hear from you!

Back here, summer has finally hit! Yet I haven't had the chance to go to the beach yet, as these holidays have been very busy!

As promised, here is a quick post with some pics of our xiao long bao session:

Xiao long bao filling
Benny showing us how to fold the dumplings


Rolling the dough
  


Men at work

Kev folding the dumpling

Xiao long bao!


YUM!
It took such a long time to prep! Thank you Benny for preparing the filling and the soup the night before we came over to make them! I think if I were to make them myself, I would have to set aside a whole day!

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

An Aussie Christmas

Merry Christmas Chia and HW!

Your photos look so fun! What is it about the dancing building that made it special? It looks pretty cool but is it a bank or something?

Aw! Shortbread and gingerbread for breakfast! YUM!

It still so hard to believe how different Christmas is over there in the Northern Hemisphere, compared to here in Australia. Things do seem magical over there with the winter and the snow, and the rugging up! I watched Michael Buble's Christmas special on TV, and all the songs really just work for a white Christmas with warm food, and warm family and friends.

Australia is just. Well... hahaha sunny! =D

I am so glad that this has been your year to celebrate Christmas! I absolutely love Christmas, and spending it with my family. I love setting up the Christmas tree, and I love watching the presents grow over the month of December.

Our Christmas Tree decorated by Kev and I.
Christmas Day


On Christmas day, I woke up slightly later than usual (5.50am) so I was super stressed when I saw the clock. I jumped out of bed and scooted to the fridge- I had to get that bird into the oven by 6.

I was able to get Otto into the oven on time! Fewf! (Kev named him Otto... and I only realised why he suggested the name, when we started eating him). This is how Otto looked after 10 minutes in the oven:


Browning Otto

I took Otto out after 10-15 minutes and then placed bacon on the top, to prevent burning, and to keep the moisture in:




While Otto was roasting, Kev arrived with Christmas cheer! Otto stayed in the oven for approximately 3 hours and 20 minutes and was basted every so often.


Otto ready to be taken out!

 When Otto was taken out, we started to make the gravy.

Kev carefully skimming off the fat of the Otto's juices  that were in the oven pan.

Cooking the vegetables that were stuffed into Otto

Hrmm... gravy mix.

We ended up having lunch around 11.30am, and the turkey was delicious! It had a fresh lemon flavour infused throughout the meat, and the apple cider and walnut gravy really set it off!

Our Christmas lunch.
Mom was amazing, and prepared all the accompanying dishes within 1 hour! It's astonishing what Moms can do with so little time!

Our lunch was finished off with Pavlova and mixed berries. I just loveeeeed this!!! It was so light and so refreshing! 


Oooooh yea...
Boxing Day


The next day, Kev and I went to Ben's new apartment for a Christmas party.  Here are some pics from the day:

Lena's hundreds and thousands ninja fairybread! I loved this sooo much! Hiiiiyaaah!

The Christmas group

Sword play was unavoidable

Our Secret Santa

It was a great relaxing day. I just ate, drank cider and chilled. Ended up taking a quick nap at around 8pm just before heading to the movies to watch Tin Tin! OH! You were so right! It was a great movie!

Anywho, I'm going to head off now. I am going to go learn how to make Xiao Long Bao! =D

Merry Christmas everyone! Hope you have a wonderful holiday and a fantastic new year!