iPhone food diary

To pass the time, and procrastinate, here are some pictures taken on my iPhone of things I've eaten lately.

It's been a tough day today, went out this morning to get groceries and it was FREEZING. I am now wearing leggings, jeans, uggs, thermals, jumper, coat, mickey mouse hat and gloves just to leave the house.

After the trauma that is supermarket shopping in Japan (soundtrack of cartoon singing, fear of buying cat food again) I came home and made a big plate of Pad See Ew. But no pictures of that. I then spent the rest of the day studying madly... only 25,000 ish words to go on the thesis. I don't know how I'm going to do it! I fear I've run out of material.

Anyway... food!


This is lasagna cooking in the microwave, because I haven't had an oven for nearly a year now. Microwaving lasagnas make me sad, but it's necessary.

How gross does it look? It wasn't though... this is with some pieces cut out and all the juices have oozed into the pan. It was a half bolognese, half veggie (zucchini, spinach, eggplant) lasagne with lots of bechamel. I make really good bechamel. How I miss the crusty brown glow of oven cooked food!

BAnana pancake from Australia day. Half eaten and smothered in syrup.

Reg lentil and split pea dahl and chicken tikka masala.

I had to seriiously think hard about what this was! It's hainan chicken rice, covered in spring onions, coriander and sesame oil. YUM. I want this now.

Chicken and corn soup ie. restorative cold medicine.

Spinach, orange, fetta and cashew salad.

A lot of people I know here eat out every day, but I can't help cooking. In the end it's cheaper and healthier, plus I like knowing what's in my food- that there isn't a heap of preservatives or crap. Plus cooking is relaxing... it makes me feel creative and productive.

I'm off to do one final burst of thesis attacking and then hitting bed with Gossip Girl.

Don't you hate it when...

somebody ruins your night with their drunken antics?

Stupid, vague friend of Glens met up with us last night, proceeded to get very drunk and ruin my karaoke experience by dancing on the tables and kicking all the drinks off the tables so that the glasses smashed and all my clothes (including shoes, tights, top and coat) were soaked in bourbon and coke. She wouldn't stop... even after I sat in a pile of smashed glass and saw her throwing a 5000 yen note across the room.

I'm all for having a good time, but why make everybody else miserable?

PHD blues

I have been studying for a VERY long time. I have been enrolled at university pretty much for the last 11 years, give or take a year or so of full time work and travelling. For the last 4 years I have been attempting a PHD. Most of this time was spent in the following ways:

1) reading
2) trying to decide on a topic
3) changing topics
4) travelling to conferences
5) daydreaming
6) shopping
7) forgetting I was supposed to be doing a PHD
8) panicking
9) moving to Bali to 'get some work done'
10) panicking
11) changing topics
12) rewriting the same chapter over and over and over
13) avoiding my supervisor
14) stalking my supervisor
15) still panicking

I am in the death throes of the degree now... only 7 weeks until submission. and guess what? I HAVEN'T FINISHED MY THESIS YET.

Not even close.

I'm terrified.

I have to work my ass off to even finish the damn thing, let alone make sure it's readable and submittable.

Why did I do this to myself?? Why did I waste so much time???

Tokyo pics

Ahhhh these are all out of order, but I can't assed fixing it. SORRY. These are some pictures from that week in Tokyo. Been back in Osaka for nearly a week now and it feels nice and normal. Thoroughly enjoying the massive bed (in TOkyo we slept in something horrendous called a 'semi-double'). Have had some friends visiting from Australia and enjoying showing them around town, karaoeking until 6am, eating lots of ramen, udon, sushi and shabu-shabu... now it's time to get back to work and back to thesis writing.


But Tokyo...


This is the Philippe Starke designed ASahi beer hall. Also known as the Golden Turd.


Mandatory Shibuya light craziness shot.

Plastic food! We spent aaaages in this shop. Everything was really expensive but so worth it- the detail was amazing.

Asimo the robot at the Science Museum. I think he's dancing. He's pretty short and speaks in a girls voice, but Glen thought he was the coolest thing EVA.

My NY wish posted to the temple gate.

Mandatory Shibuya crossing shot a la Lost in Translation.

Something called 'bread bowl gratin'- a heart attack mix of cheese sauce and prawns in a loaf of bread.


Lots of other wishes on the temple gate...

Trying to find a good spot to stick it- I wonder how long they stay up for. Yes I'm wearing Uggs- got them for Christmas and they are the warmest comfiest thing to wear on hangover days.

Most plastic food.
Only decent photo from New Years- still in the hotel and posing in front of the BEck print I won at Tower Records.

How yummy do these noodles look??? I really wanted one, but a bowl was about $40.

Some kind of unecessary flashing heart thing to pose in.

Aaaaand.... one last night time streetscape shop, featuring the glory of Forever 21.

Tokyo Disneyland

sooo... after Bali I flew into Osaka and jumped on the bullet train to Tokyo- a peaceful 2.5 hours trip that cost about as much as my haircuts used to in MElbourne (ie. expensive). I met Glen at Tokyo station and after a tearful reunion we made our way to our hotel (more tears). We stayed in Asakusa, a sleepy, temple-y area of town- not my choice, but since our friends from Melbourne had already booked their hotel we decided to stay nearby so we could meet up as easily as possible. We spent our first night in Tokyo partying hard- doing laundry and watching movies in bed.

The next day we discovered that Tokyo pretty much shuts down for the New Year holidays (I don't know why I hadn't thought of this). All museums, galleries, even zoos were closed. So we spent a couple of days shopping, wandering and eating. On Friday (the day before NYE) we went to Disneyland. BIG MISTAKE.

I love Disneyland but I don't love it enough to put up with Japanese national holiday crowds. It was MENTAL. There was a 2.5 hour wait for the big rides (Splash Mountain, Space Mountain etc). After some teacups and small world we decided that we just couldn't justify standing in line that long for a 2 minute spin so we resorted to the smaller, kid friendly (or lame) rides that had smaller lines.

It was a good plan and we ended up having an awesome day. What I love about Disneyland, more than the rides, is the atmosphere, the tiny details, the weird ambience that makes you feel like you're in a TV show. All that was achievable without waiting for 130 minutes for Rocky Mountain Railroad.

The only downside was that it was freezing. I had to buy an overpriced novelty hat to keep my head warm enough.



Look at all the strollers!

My first and probably last time driving Glen anywhere.


Instead of lining up for 2 hours, we got to see the ride from a boat instead.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! I'm writing from a tiny hotel room in Tokyo, eating some chocolate, watching weird Japanese TV and recovering from last night.

But first... a Bali Christmas! It was soooo nice to get off the plane, ditch all the Winter clothes and feel the rush of sticky humidity. It was even better to be in my 'home', eating spicy and flavoursome Indo food, swimming every day, speaking Indonesian and hanging out with my family.

I spent one night at the Semara Resort in Seminyak- I've never been here before and I was impressed. Right next to Potato Head, big beautiful rooms, nice pool.

Then we took the boat over to Nusa Lembongan and spent 4 nights at Playgrounds in a family bungalow. It was excellent- 2 bedrooms, three living areas, plunge pool, kitchen and slept about 8 people. It was perfect for a casual beachy Christmas holiday. Lembongan is a quiet island... we spent most of our time swimming, walking, eating and reading. We took a boat over to Penida where I lived for 3 months and visited some friends. It was SO amazing to see everyone again, eat fresh coconut on a deserted beach, snorkel... I had brought some stuff over for a picnic and the first thing our old houseboy asked was 'did you bring cheese?'

Christmas lunch was at the Sandy Bay Beachclub where we had roast turkey, ham, veggies and fruit mince pies. We also had some fantastic breakfasts at Deck Bar next door to Playgrounds (I haven't eaten bacon and eggs or any form of hollandaise since I moved to Japan) and we had a beautiful French meal at the restaurant at Indiana Kenanga resort.

After Lembongan there was a quick day trip in Bali- shopping, beach time and brunch at The St Regis Nusa Dua. I highly recommend this, for less than $50 we had a beautiful buffet of everything from sashimi to gelati and made to order lobster, foei gras and egg dishes. The St Regis is such a nice hotel and everything was done to perfection.

From Bali I took a night flight back to OSaka and then the bullet train up to Tokyo to meet Glen for NYE celebrations. NOW I AM EXHAUSTED.