A Day in Adelaide

1. Yesterday, I started my day with a run through the "linear parks" of Adelaide, eventually making my way to the South Park Lands. (top left picture in the collage.). This is what happens when a hill-trained runner finds herself on flat land: FASTEST 10K EVER!

2. It was a rainy Saturday in Adelaide, so Steven and I took our tourist-ing indoors to the famous St. Peter's Cathedral in North Adelaide. We did a self-guided walking tour. Isn't it amazing what people have built without modern cranes and technology? It's a beautiful, friendly spot for a wander on a rainy day. (bottom left of collage)

3. (Centre picture) We had lunch at E for Ethel, a North Adelaide locally-run gift and coffee shop. We weren't too impressed with the food--it felt very homemade and simple, stuff we could make at home! But the atmosphere was wonderful, coffee was good, and all the trinkets and giftware on the shelves around the cafe were definitely worth the visit.

4. (top right) As it was rainy, rainy, rainy (like I haven't mentioned it 2000 times before), Steven and I took the party indoors to the cinema. We saw Wolverine. Without getting into any spoilers, it was AWESOME but only because I have a huge crush on Hugh Jackman (and I think Steven has a crush on him too...Sorry to expose you, babe, but it's true). The plot was cliche, corny, and I'm sorry to say, badly scripted.

5. The "Canadian Candy Now Available" sign was spotted at a local confectionary chain. We had to see what "Canadian Candy" was, and at what price. It turns out Caramilk, Mr Big, and Big Turk are all Canada-only, and terribly overpriced. I was tempted to get a Mr Big, but I couldn't find it in this particular location. It's probably for the best, as Mr Big retails something like $1.25 back home and something like $3.00 here.

V-day in the Haus

So it turns out my boyfriend doesn't just sit around, eat fried chicken, and scratch his armpit hairs, eh? 

Because isn't that what men do on Valentine's Day?

Not mine! He got me a bag of coffee.

A pack of Caramel Tim Tams (by far the best version).

And a scrunched up face of joy.

The best part may have been the water bottle EXACTLY LIKE THE ONE I LEFT IN CANADA.

No wait, the best part may have been this:

Unfortunately, these turned out nowhere as good as Prairie Girl Bakery back in Toronto. Why is it so hard to find really good fresh cupcakes in Sydney? And can someone ship me a Prairie Girl to bake me some awesomely soft and fresh red velvet with cream cheese frosting please? Or ship me this girl. That's cool too.

Anyway, I got Steven a couple of ties because all the moving had ruined one of his nicer ones.

Not sure if he likes them...seeing as how they're kind of hard to match with shirts. Who knew that ties would be that hard to buy?

Steven wrote me a wonderful card: 

"Dearest Sandy, 

Roses are red & violets are blue

These are the givens that we take to be true

But not our relationship,that I don't take for granted

Just like a strong tree, it's not enough to be planted

It must be cared for and nourished and given plenty of food

So on this Valentine's,

If you're keen we'll go for some curry, possibly green

Be my date and you'll be in for a treat

Desserts are a-plenty if they survive this heat."

And then we went out for curry. 

And it was green.

How was your Valentine's Day?

A bad food day and Ashtanga

Yesterday was a bad food day for me.

I overloaded on a heavy Taiwanese bento (mm, deep fried king oyster mushrooms I heart you).

And then we went home, took a nap (I heart naps), and went back out for a coffee.

And yes, coffees now always come with a piece of heavy chocolate cake and whipped cream (I heart chocolate frosting).

Later, Steven and I watched the Australian Open men's final and I ate a bag of chips (Doritos, I heart you).

By now you're wondering what I don't heart (or you want to punch me).

I don't like this hurricane-y weather we've been having (though the view is really nice).

This is basically my view every day for my morning Ashtanga. That's Central station in Sydney.

Speaking of which, it was painful and stiff today, like I had been running a 10K or something (which I haven't, really!).

My knees both popped, my left wrist lost feeling for a moment, my hips felt like they were pummeled. I even stopped before drop backs to check if today was a moon day and I should stop this madness immediately (it isn't...sigh).

I think diet affects us more than we realize, especially when each morning demands that your body bend (forward and back), twist (Marichiasana D, I do NOT heart you), and hold (friggin Navasana impossible lift ups).

Something as simple as Doritos, chocolate cake, and oversleeping can really mess you up.

Well, tomorrow's a big day for me. My first day of work, a trial yoga class at a new studio, and everything in between! I'm going to eat right today and get my energy up for tomorrow.

What foods make you feel like a 92-year-old hobo that just woke up from a night on a park bench?

Safely in Hong Kong

Not much to report.

We landed into the Hong Kong International Airport (might be my favorite airport ever) just an hour ago. I'm having a coffee now and reading my favorite blogs.

As for the first 14-hr-leg of our journey, I popped Gravol and slept through most of the flight.

Being a vegetarian is awesome. I get served my food first, and I always get a great selection. For instance, I had pancakes this morning. WAHAHAH! Veggie FTW.

I'll probably pop another Gravol before the next flight so that I can pass out again. It's another 8 hours before Sydney.