Indulge in reminiscence: Easter break at Hamilton

(Written on 25th April 2011) It's Easter Monday and Anzac day today! Supposedly, it should be a public holiday but this does not apply to me who works in a pharmacy that opens 366 days a week. Nah, I actually had a day off on Easter Friday and since Thursday and Saturday are my non-working days, I swapped my sunday hour with Esther which gave me a total of 4 days worth of easter break. *weeeee* Therefore, I drove down to Hamilton on Thursday to pay my girlfriend a friendly visit. It was really a long long 5 hours drive because I was stuck in the traffic in Auckland. Yes! I need to pass by Auckland to get to Hamilton. With the help of my GPS, I reached Hamilton safe and sound even though the map is not updated. "Where on earth is this Crossby Road? GPS said turn right but there's no junction for me to turn" After spinning twice at the roundabout, I finally found the word CROSSBY. This happened in Auckland city too. *Whoops whoops*

The first expression I showed when walking into Jean's room was"Whoa! your room is so huge and what's more, you have a walk-in wardrobe!" Her house is really magnificent. Putting all my stuff down, she brought me to eat dinner at a Japanese restaurant. She asked me, "What cuisine would you like, Malaysian, English or Japanese?" Being indecisive, I couldn't choose (and also, I was hungry so don't mind any) but in the end I said, "Japanese!"

We need a ticket else we would get a ticket by Mr. misfortune

SOFT SHELL CRABS! I absolutely love this to the core! YumYum! Even Jeanne likes it after trying it for the very first time! Damn! I wish I have this right now in front of me at 1.15am at the moment

Some sort of Korean carbonated drink

Yakiniku beef with rice

Salmon sushi platter. No raw salmon for me so obviously this is Jean's

Isk Isk . . . the quality of the photo is quite bad. How I wish I have a micro four third or DSLR to capture the indoor restaurant nicely

You probably could tell that I looked tired from this photo. No?

Oh yea, this is the name of the Jap restaurant

Chocolates! I just brought fererro rocher and lindt's chocolates from whangarei for Jeanne and her family. Actually, I thought of some Asian food but too bad in Whangarei, there's nothing like this! Thanks to Jeanne for the easter choc!

Errr...I would not want to imagine what i may be like in the future. Since I look like this now, I'd really look like a fatso in reality if this happens

The only reason I would cosplay is for the photos, memories and the fun that it'd bring! :) Next time I would try other costumes if I visit Jean again. She is a true fan of Japanese anime!

Anyway, move on to next morning. I am just plainly in love with jeanne's grandma. While my stay there, she made fruit juices (a mixture of carrot, kiwi and 土豆) simply love it as I feel so healthy. Also, she is a really good cook. She made "fa gao" or "hua gao" and also pan fried healthy pancakes!
After breakfast, Jean brought me to THE BASE which is the biggest shopping area in NZ! She kept on asking me to drive her car but NO WAY! her car is too big! Well, she could not drive as she was still holding a learner licence at that time. (She got her restricted now! Congratulation!!)

Whoopsie! It's easter holiday! Meaning? shops were closed! OUCH!!! I wish that I could shop! It's fine! We shall just visit the well known botanical garden in Hamilton which is a must to go if you ever visit Hami.

I took quite a number of photos at this beautiful and inspiring garden! (Jean does not want to be in the photo *sigh*) I could just visit there all day and feeling uplifted and refreshed! The view is really amazing! This garden is divided into many different areas such as the English garden, the kitchen's, Japanese's, & so on and so forth.

Mouldy Big Pumpkins!

I think this is either Italian's or Indian's

What's your wish? I need my magic carpet and lamp in order to grant you 3 wishes. Yes! only 3! Don't be greedy!

The Mummy ?

The Japanese Garden's pathway

I felt the serenity

Inhale or exhale?

Am sure you know which garden this is

To be honest, Hamilton garden would be an ideal venue for a wedding or even to just take wedding photos :):)

We haven't finished the garden yet but the other part, I might just go during spring when the flowers are all blossoming fascinatingly.

*goob goob bloob bloob* tummies growling. Time to hunt for food

Back to town

Stop! The korean menu looks yum!

Our entree

Jap Chae

She actually ordered a small plate. Wonder what the big plate would look like - maybe more noodles on the plate

Bibimbap. I still prefer K-house's back in Dunedin!

At Jeanne's house - her grandma boiled some home-made dumplings! And the portion that she did was enough for 2 persons. I finished them all cos' Jeanne did not want it. We did tell her nainai that only cook for one person's share. Okay, I admit I am a BIG FAN of shui jiao!

I finished the whole thing! (Her grandma wanted to cook this the day before and even in the morning but we kindly rejected her offer so this time I just said okie. Thank you nainai! You are wonderful!

Feeling bloated

Her perfume collection

I have no idea how much she has spent on these figurines

Oh yeah baby! We went to Zirka circus at 7pm! It was my first time watching a circus. My jaw dropped *not literally* watching this brilliant show!