Avengers: Infinity War

Thoughts on the movie down below. May contain spoilers.

Started the day trekking to the hospital to find out there were no patients. Since bus was in an hour back home cause #hillslyf hourly buses between 9-3, decided to finally try the new cake at Black Star Pastry.

The Dragon Cake: Scales of finely sliced dragon fruit on a delicate sponge. Pineapple vanilla cream with pomegranate jelly ripples on a biscuit crumb base-$9

I like their packaging, it's taller than the width, also in a way try to prevent it for moving too much

layers

top

side

It was a nice cake but not amazing and on the pricier side. The dragon fruit flavour wasn't as prominent, maybe cause it was too thinly sliced or not ripe enough or had gelatine on top. I liked the sweetness from the pineapples and the acidity from the pomegranate jelly. The sponge was light and the base wasn't too hard or butter. Got that in the morning so they were still cutting it from their massive cake which was like 80ish cmx 80cm. The cake didn't stick fully to the cake board so did move a bit when I got home.

Showground road has finally been upgraded/finished. The completion date was early 2018, and since I didn't go gym last week, I think they finished it end of April. Imo, early 2018 is Q1 (so Jan-March), so I think they were behind schedule, esp with all the rain etc, but now it's 2 lanes each way, plus one side has extra stop/parking lane. Don't know why for a section there's like bricks with plants though...maybe could've made a 3rd lane...I still remember when it was one way each way...The north wet is rapidly expanding, I so feel like even with the extra lane, there's still gonna be traffic. Reminds me of the M2 upgrade, traffic was ok for about a week, then it became a car park again during peak hour with the new additional lanes.

Father daughter movie time

Did you know, now when you book online, you can change seats or movie session times? That use to be impossible since once they get your money it's non exchangeable. I think they're doing it so more people will still come to the movies, since there's so many online options nowadays. Like I bet they always had the technology, just was holding it from customers.

I thought the movie had a pretty simple story line (until the ending), and loved the intensity/action. I don't read up on movies or the comics, so I did find it a bit anticlimactic that the villain won, it just seemed to easy for him. Usually the good guys win, but I guess that's why there's a part 2. Also loved the CGI. The credits had like heaps of people listed under special effects, and I feel like these movies are worth watching in the cinema, since the screen is bigger to see all those stuff. To me, it wasn't a sad movie, and I guess cause I expect most of the characters to somehow come back to life. Sort of like GoT where almost all the main characters die. 

I liked how Thor, Dr Strange, Iron Man was in it, since I think they're a bit more witty/cheeky/funny, and I like their powers more. I also like the real life actors, and the other movies/shows they play in. Funny how they combined Guardians of the Galaxy as well. Good sense of humour throughout. I think they still did a good job at investing into the feels of different characters, even though there were so many characters, but it wasn't hard to follow. I haven't seen Black Panther yet, so was confused as to what he's doing/hiding from the world, but it looks like it's got really good ratings, so watch that when I have time. Also haven't watched Thor: Ragnarok, and probably other ones as well...

I always feel guilty watching a movie when it's not holidays, but I really like Avengers, and wanted to watch it before I come across spoilers irl or on social media.  Castle Towers have changed heaps, didn't even realise they got rid of the yum cha place which the Putt Putt/bowling/games arcade overtook the medical centre and yum cha. All the restaurants in the Piazza are changing. I guess goodbye to Mad Mex, the thai place, GPK the pizza place, Baskin Robbins, Max Brenner and other restaurants...

This is here instead of the Coffee Club

Don't have to trek to the other side of Sydney to try this. I'm not a nutella fan, hence never made the trek down since I know these desserts would be overly sweet.

I'm already keeping a lookout on when it's opening for free burritos lol. 99% sure I'll be on placement or uni.

2018-Blackout

Another year of facing new challenges. I already know it's going to be a hectic year, I mean, it's already been a hectic week to begin with, since everyday I have had something on. Haven't even had time to blog about food places from last year, and uni is starting this week...back to 8/9ams. So week 1 life update-where to begin?

It's currently 3:30pm on a Sunday and I'm hot spotting from my phone to my laptop downstairs in my room because upstairs is too hot and I'm too cheap to turn on air con. This is actually a first, being at home at this time. Apart from Sundays I take off for holidays, the only Sundays I have off are Easter Sunday or if Christmas falls on a Sunday, other public holidays we still open at work.

Another reason to hate summer-blackouts, especially on 40+ degree days. I actually don't mind working on hot days cause free air con at work. Although I may complain I don't want to work and just want to be a couch potato at home, because I can (for now), I still am grateful for being able to work so close to home, and on Sundays I get my own parking spot, and pays better on Sunday. Well, the whole shopping centre went into a blackout just after 2 (luckily finished some big sales earlier in the morning).

It's funny how when you don't have something you realise how dependent you are on it. Every time there's a blackout, nothing can work. Retail literally dies. If you saw my snap, it literally looked like a ghost town since inside is all dark, with stores all shut and not many people. Ended up leaving an hour earlier than normal. I know Woolies have back up generators, so they have some more lights which switch on, and lights to power their computers and eftpos machines/barcode readers, just all the displays are on minimal brightness. All stores also have emergency back up lights which come on if the main power is switched off or during black outs.

I actually don't really get too sad over anything that often, but do you know what's really morbid? Putting plastic over the open fridges at Woolies to prevent the cold from escaping too much. It sort of reminded me when people put a piece of tarp over a dead body. All that food and money potentially wasted if things aren't stored at that certain temp. What a waste of the farmers effort/people who made that stuff and then of course store loss as well if stuff goes off. It was too sad to take a photo off it. Doesn't help that the dim lighting matched those weird feels when they put massive pieces of plastic to cover their fridges. Goodbye wasted milk and melted ice cream...Their back up generators aren't powerful enough to power the fridges/freezers. They had people outside telling them they can't sell cold stuff only non perishables, baked goods and some fruit. Too many people turning on their air cons and blackout in the area around the shops. Even the petrol station closed. 

My house is only going through brief periods of 1min black outs, not a long black out yet...But internet not working cause it's connected to some central place underground which is under a blackout. The shopping centre blackout ended up being fixed 2 hrs later (well after 4pm when most shops close). So I guess Woolies really needed to use plastic to retain the coolness from cold products for 2 hours. This happened last year on another 40+ degree day. On a hot day like this, I feel like a lot of stuff would go off, but maybe they have use some special cold insulating plastic...Hence another reason to not like summer because people overusing electricity→ blackouts→ no electricity→ fridges not working→ wasted meat/seafood/dairy products/food/melted ice cream→ wasting money and people's efforts.

Name me a job which doesn't require electricity. Retail literally dies. Like even if you're a farmer, you still need a phone or computer to keep track of stuff. Health related jobs still use computers to record stuff or equipment which needs to be charged. Toilets don't work, like at my local shops they have fancy Dyson taps and hand dryers, so water comes out using an electronic sensor. Luckily we have old school school/mechanical/normal taps at work so the optom had to go back to work to wash her hands. If you had an electric door at your house then you'll be locked out. Technology is good, but that depends on electricity. Everything depends on electricity in some way.

I love the week before Christmas, the week between Xmas and NYE, and week after new years. THE TRAFFIC IS SO GOOD. There are cars, but everything is moving and there's no traffic. The bus normally which is packed out is only less than a quarter full, buses arrive on time, less cars on the motorway, and where've I drive there is no traffic. Why can't everyone just continue going on holidays and kids not go to school? I think most people in corporate world would start work again this week if their companies have the whole forced leave thing. Back to uni this week and I know I'll definitely see the traffic literally build up.

The pre clinic quiz on Friday was pretty bad, but it's probably the first and last test you can fail without any 'life changing' consequences. Although I forgot to rebook it early and only 8am slots were left...

Ended up spending most of my last week of holidays not studying but going out or working. I am so, so rusty in all my techniques. This past month after research finished has gone by way too quickly. So much stuff to restudy or revise, and should stop being so yolo about it. Time to lug all my equipment to uni tmr.

Watched Coco the other day, and I love how it gives those nice happy feels at the end. Although it was more unpredictable for a Disney movie, but I like how their storylines are more complicated these days. They emailed saying there was a lecture after I booked movie tickets...so obviously wasn't going to waste money not watching a movie (but tickets for Coco are so cheap cause of school holidays!) Although I already feel behind on uni and it hasn't started...so many tabs within tabs, folders within folders of documents. I see what friends meant by something you write can be part of any of the three subjects...Maybe figure it out tmr morning on the bus.

Some food from the past week.

Home cooking from BW (greatly appreciated)

New Year lunch feast

Kit Kats! 

Over 5 years, I've had a lot of different flavoured Kit Kats from generous friends who are willing to share one, or relatives who over buy for me. First time having Azuki (red bean) sandwich kit kats! 

Japanese food

 I went Japan last year, but even I didn't buy this much stuff for myself 😂 Thanks BW!

Chai Latte and Honey-first outside home ice cream of the year

Mum bought some collectable mint coins because it's my year (no where near as much as UK lunar mint coins)

Passage today at church was quite interesting, about how a group of children/youths were mocking a priest cause he was bold, there were 42 bears who ate the children...Never came across that passage before. Long story short, the punishment for sin is death, but we have Jesus who already died for us/takes our punishment (this is a super brief sentence summary).

The fireworks were pretty good this year, and they didn't stuff up the countdown on the ABC broadcast. So many colours, and different shade of colours, with more saturation. More different patterns as well, and I liked how the bridge was lit with rainbow colours. I think it would've looked good live, but I feel too old trying to go through crowds or even wait all day. Although you can get ticketed vantage viewing points so you don't have to stick with crowds or wait the whole time, I feel like that defeats the purpose of free fireworks. Sydney does do a pretty good display of fireworks.

Yesterday I thought I was the last one home at around 12:30am, turns out I was the first one home. I thought it was strange all the lights were off, turns out no one was home. Bro came back at 1:30am, and parents at 1:45am...It's so rare my dad can join and have fancy drinks at other people's homes, so I'm glad he could before he starts work again.

Time to put away my 2017 diary. Here's to less than 7 hours of sleep on weekdays, and study on weekends, and being stuck on buses.

Star Wars: The Last Jedi

No spoilers here. Last time I watched a movie was back in July, so when I could tag along for a free movie, well why not? Not actually a Star Wars fan, and still haven't fully watched the first 6 movies...I have somehow watched Rogue One more than once, from on the plane, then on Netflix. This Star Wars plot was still decent and was followable for people who know nothing about Star Wars, but could have been more intense. As always, graphics were pretty good. 

Ben and Jerry's Frozen Flakes

Also decided to try the new cereal flavour, it sort of tastes like cereal but that sweet malty (?) version with some sweet milk. Reminds me of American cereal, not that I had any cereal in America.

Reclinable seats!

So this is why people go to Hoyts. Quick search shows most Hoyts cinemas have reclinable seats in all their cinemas, and their tickets are only $15 for adult or child. Event cinemas do still do student discounts (well not sure if they have got rid of their $8 student mondays yet...), but adults are $20+ and the seats are no where near as nice. These leather seats were quite clean and had a button on the side to adjust the height. If I sat down normally, my legs were dangling/ can't touch the ground since these seats are a lot higher. Feels so fancy like Gold Class (not that I know what Gold class feels like but one can imagine/look at photos lol)

Mad Mex chicken burrito

Not really in focus, but just a random snap because first time having a burrito from there. There's actually a lot of fast food in Aus I haven't had in a long time, but it's not like I'm in a hurry to try.

Hate how it gets so hot now. Can't study in this heat.

Stranger Things 2-First International Premiere

I was more excited about going inside the Opera House for free, than the actual first ep of season 2 of Stranger Things. First time going inside was just for Bennelong, so I don't think that really counts since it's not the actual Concert Hall. Today was another 'money can't buy' experience, so glad I came and sort of de stress from studying. 

They were doing the first international premiere in Sydney (i.e. before America for once), as part of some Sydney something initiative. I somehow was browsing and came across this event, and all you needed for 'pre sale' tickets was sign up to the newsletter. I am always up for signing up for stuff if it involves freebies. I'm also not a big fan of the show or the 80s, but just got there earlier to get tickets, and decided might as well wait in line to go in. Some fans even had the whole fairy lights thing/related merchandise...

tickets

 

they even gave out lanyards

fake sets ft children who sort of look like the actors

did they always have purple carpet??

 

found it super cool they hired these 1980s game arcade machines

 

pinball!

I think we all used to have a stage when we played pinball. I remember it was the first ever computer in our house, and don't think we had internet back then, well over 10 years ago. Pretty cool to see pinball irl. There were other arcade games which normally you'd pay a few dollars for at those game places (never paid cause waste of money), but they did a really good job at creating this 'immersive experience.'

80s music (what is even 80s music?)

they even have themed fences

 

Didn't get the chips with this burger, but actually for photo taking purposes, was probs the wiser choice. Food was average, it's more the novelty of having 'themed food' to match the experience.

 

ahh, love the architecture and the lighting from the sun through the windows

decorated themed bathrooms

Concert Hall!

all those lights

they even had an MC

The set up a temporary stage/screen in front of what I think is normally the stage, or where I imagine the orchestra would normally be. Cause of the blue lighting, you don't get the normal bright lighting you see in those typical photos. There's also pretty bad reception in here as well haha. 

The actual episode was pretty good for a first ep. Loved how they matched scenes/sounds with different coloured flashing lights since it helped emphasise the intenseness in the show.

Hopefully one day I can visit and experience more of the acoustics/grandness inside the Opera House under more brighter/normal lighting lol. I think it would be easier to appreciate the architecture with normal lighting.  I still think watching the ballet or listening to the opera is a rich people's thing, even though it probs cost the same as watching a musical (which I may have seen one too many).