Vienna

Day: Tuesday, 11 September 2007

Wellbeing: Good - better than the day before

Weather: Rain & rain

Highlights: Schonbrun Palace - Maria Theresia's Summer Palace, Concert at the Palais Autsburg (?)

Violinist made eyes with me - weird. Had a glass of Sekt (Austrian sparkling wine) which came with the ticket for the concert. They had a pair of Opera singers and ballet dancers. Mozart, interval and then Strauss.

Visited the Summer Palace. Walked inside and we weren't allowed to take photos because of the frescoes that are in preservation. The gardens are beautiful!!! Then we visited the Winter Palace, but we didnt go in, but walked around the outside. Bought postcards and bookmarks of both palaces.

I LOVE GARDENS!!!

Inside Schonbrun, we saw the late Baroque and early Rococo designs. Visited the Reception Room, Blue Chinese Room, Black Lacquer Room, the Indian Wood Room, Napoleon's Office, the Tapestry Room, the Servants quarter and the Chandeliers!

Beautiful paintings that used light and shadow!!!

I had a slice of Sacher Torte (Chocolate sponge with apricot jam) at the Rosenberger during lunch. Must have when you are in Vienna.

Schonbrun Palace - Summer Palace

Innsbruck & Vienna

Day: Monday, 10 September 2007
Wellbeing: Pretty good
Weather: Clear/fine
Highlights: Buying up big in terms of souvenirs for everyone...Mozart chocolate cream alcohol bombs, Mozart violin bottles of schnapps, yodelling beaver, and pillboxes.

Rushing around Salzburg and once again being awestrucked at the history and the architecture of the buildings and the garden in Salzburg. I just had to go into the McD when i saw the real "golden" arches for its signage. McD had to conform with the laws in Salzburg and make the signage look consistent with all the other signs in the town. In McD i was intrigued by the deep fried camembert with a berry preserve for dip. It was awesome!!!

After our hit of shopping at a rest stop of a store adjoined to a shell petrol pump, we went to Vienna. Got off the bus at Novotel in Wien West (Vienna West). Then we went to our room and then left to to go the Vienna Woods and had a really fun dinner, with really good Austrian food and unlimited white wine. Good fun and lots of laughs. Dancing and singing on the way home.

The Salzburg trip was for the Sound of Music enthusiasts. We saw the Pegasus fountain (Mirabell Garden), another fountain, the Lake Monsee (Austrian for half moon) as we drove by.

Golden Arches

Innsbruck

Day: Sunday, 9 September 2007
Wellbeing: Better than yesterday, but throat is drying up
Weather: Cloudy then fine
Highlights: Beautiful Innsbruck city centre, just walking around and then going into Swarovski.

Went into the Swarovski store and bought a bunch of pencils with crystal ends, and for that i got a free gift which was a solitaire brooch.

Seeing the yellow palace of Marie Antoinette's mother (Maria Theresa), the golden roof of Maximillion. Leo (Austrian born, from the tour) was set up to go into a local pub for a free beer!

[Suz, Leo's wife was keen to leave him at the pub so that she could go shopping at the Swarovski store...Leo was keen on having a beer, so when Marese went into the pub and said that she had a local with her that was returning from Australia, the owner of the pub told her to bring him in to catch up and have a beer. So, Leo stayed and Suz went shopping!]

Prior to Innsbruck, we stopped at Leichtenstein. I bought a silver coin purse at a flea market. The store lady wanted 27 Euros but i bargained it down to 25 Euros...not that i made a huge saving and i may have gotten it cheaper but i didnt want to bargain so early in the morning. It was barely 10am.

Went to a Baroque inspired cathedral with a Rococco interior which also took my breath away - again. Just like the Jesuit church in Lucerne. Beautiful!!!

Everything in Innsbruck takes my breath away!

Went on a horse and carriage ride in the valley and up the mountain for gluwein. It was beautifully peaceful and magical as there was snow on the Alps. Which shouldnt have occurred this time of the year, not yet! I felt like standing in the centre of the valley and just soaking it in. Doing a Maria style spin (Sound of Music).

Eaglehawk is cancelled tomorrow due to snow on the Alps.

Diana took photos with Mr January & Mr February. Marese is keeping her act of being the matchmaker.

Diana (pronounced as Deanna) is from South Africa, and looks a little like Angelina Jolie. Marese (tour guide) started this thing of making a calendar with the waiters/bartenders that we thought were worthy. Diana, being an avid photographer is always behind the camera was being forced to model with the chosen guys. So, began the hunt for 12 good looking men to be part of our calendar.

Krein and Lucerne

Day: 8 September 2007
Wellbeing: Sore throat/blocked & runny nose
Weather: Fine, 23 degrees
Highlights: Jesuit Church - breathtaking

Swiss Alps - Mount Pilatus - another breathtaking moment. We took a train (furnicular) up the mountain and for the decent, we took a big cable car and then a mini cable car. Caught some footage of some Ibex (type of wild mountain goat with large recurved horns that are transversely ridged in front) crossing my path to go higher up the Alps.

Back in the city I bought some chocs and a magnet for Mon. We had a folk show for lunch and the food was really good! Tracked down a pharmacist for some tissues. It was 2.80 Euros for a 12 pack - which i thought it was really cheap...i mean that would be about $5.00 AUD.

Sat down and did some people watching. Saw a really casually cool woman who looked effortlessly gorgeous. Wish I could be like that.

Soooo many beautiful women around here!!!
=(

At dinner Marese tried to matchmake Mary & Laz' friend David (7th Adventist Preacher?). There was a lot of talking and gossiping with Bev at the table...it was so funny!

Forcefully pushed my roomie to go to drinks with Lucy/Peter/Michelle/Michael/Pauline/Bev and Judy. They were trying to convince her to join, and only went when i gave her that extra nudge.

The Jesuit Church in Lucerne was built with beautiful Rococco interiors that was sooo exquisite, i stopped breathing and i tried to express how i was feeling verbally, but it was caught in my breath...no sound came out. Thats how glorious it is.

After seeing so many cathedrals and churches that were gothic inspired, it was unbelievable to find a church that is a sunny yellow on the outside and bright with white/pink/gold on the inside.

When people ask me which place i liked the most...? My response is a list of places, but Lucerne is definitely one of them. And the reason its one of the places I really liked is because of the Jesuit Church. I would revisit Lucerne simply because of that fact.

I don't know why i didnt mention it in my journal on the day, but we also had a cruise around Lake Lucerne and it was really relaxing and enjoyable and the views of everything was breathtaking...it was sunny with a really cool breeze...just perfect really.

Lake Lucerne & Krein

Day: 7 September 2007
Wellbeing: Blocked and running nose
Weather: Cloudy and drizzle
Highlights: Strasbourg - Church, design your own pasta, "Chloe" bracelet

I like Switzerland. Feels like its safe and that I have stepped back ino time. Old wooden bridges, that are the original, beautiful architecture, and then there is the "fast food" version of pasta.

Going between Germany and Switzerland border, i take a photo and only after do i get informed that its illegal to take photos at the border...fear of espionage or something.

While in Strasbourg, which is actually a part of France (and the people speak French) there were many French Patisseries. So, Lauren and I got choc eclairs and it was orgasmic. Soooooo...looking forward to Paris!
=)

Earlier in the day I decided to do all the options on the list Marese gave us...which ends up being 1343 Euros...OMG!!! But i know that i'll regret it if i dont go to everything...and it makes everything so darn easier.

Post 501...

I have stuffed my face with countless amounts of choc bullets and im contemplating about how wrong it would be to die by complete and sheer gluttony.

Why do weddings bring the worst out of me?

In this morbid, self loathing time of my life i see myself wearing a divine wedding dress, covered with all the jewels a girls heart can desire, with a fabulous pair of pumps and matching clutch...but im not at my wedding...no sir! Im just sitting at home, eating all the glorious food my heart desires and slowly die from utter indulgence...sitting in the most luxurious seat you can imagine...

Hey, i can think of many other ways to die that are less pleasant than the one i just described.

Sure I will die a fat pig...but think about it! If i die at an old and lonely age, who gives a fig as to what i look like...i'll just make sure there is enough in the will to supply enough attendants to carry my coffin to the grave. I mean, knowing my luck, all my friends and family would probably die before i do, just to make it more depressing for myself...and as i would be single, there are no kids to mention...my nieces will probably hate me so much that they wouldnt give a sh*t about their only spinster aunt...

If only I wasn't sitting next to my parents this evening, I could have polished the bottle of Verdi on my own...shame the Verdi is only 4.8% alcohol, it has no effect what so ever in numbing one self.

And what is it with the throwing of the bouquet that says that because you are single "you must" go up and stand and try to catch the friggin bouquet!!! I'm single, my prospects dont look good...if i catch a bouquet, it would just give me false hope, only to be dropped to the floor like a tonne of bricks when reality hits me. No thank you. I'll just keep my fat ass glued to my seat.

I went to the ladies and when i got out of my cubicle I got eyed hideously by a bunch of 20's and there was dead silence...it was like i just intruded on the cool kids circle and they were thinking WTF??? Since when was it okay for them to make me feel that sh*t when i obviously should have the upper hand!!! It was so SATC...uno the episode where Carrie and the crew were contemplating the whole 30-something vs 20-something?!?! Well, it was like these f#$%ing 20's thought that they were so "IT" and that i was so "NOT"...If i was a complete b*tch, i would have said "Dolls, i take it as a compliment that you appreciate my assets!"

They sooo don't know what will hit them after 25 and im sure i will be hit with more home truths when im 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, til forever...and you see, this is where i already have an advantage. I accept that i dont know everything...they are at the stage where they actually think that everything begins and ends with them! HA!

I told my Mum about the toilet incident and she said, "Well, they look like a bunch of b*tches!" Go Mum! *claws came out*

I'm getting really sh*tty with being the only competent person in the bridal party for K's wedding. I'm actually putting more time and effort in organising her Hen's party than my actual paid job!!! What's with that? Organising it has been stressing me out. I hate it when K calls and tells me about another incompetent thing the other bridesmaid has said or done. I was soo close to packing up shop the other day and turn around and just tell her that i dont want the honor any more. That it wasnt worth all the time i spent organising her Hen's Party...and basically being her wedding planner for the past 12+ months...

She constantly insists that i do the table decorations during the time in which we are supposed to be taking pictures. The first time she asked, i pointed out that i would be with her assisting in the photo shoot, or actually being in the photo shoot...what did she want me to do? Decorations or be with her during the photos. She says photos. But then a week later the table decorations get brought up yet again. I remind her, she wants the bridal party in some of the photos...i cant be at two places at once. I advise her to get her sisters, who arent doing anything to oversee the table decorations...she goes with the idea, but a week later we revisit the f#$%ing table decorations. This has been going on for a good 5 months now...

The wedding is a month and 6 days away...there is no itinerary...i ask her if i will need to take the Friday before her big day off, she tells me no. A week later she calls and tells me that the wedding coordinator at the gardens has told her that she will need to do a rehersal before the day. So, I might have to take the day off...which actually doesnt work well for my ride...one of the groomsmen as he can't really take the day off due to work commitments.

I ask her, isnt this your wedding? Shouldnt they accommodate you and your guests? So, shouldnt you be able to arrange the rehersal, say at 5pm on Friday instead of allowing the wedding coordinator to say when and your whole bridal party must jump to it???

Its f#$%ing really annoyig me. If it was my wedding, i would try to make it as hassle free for everyone...because i want everyone to be relaxed and enjoy the day/night with me and my imaginery man celebrating our love...tacky, i know...

It seems like she has adopted the "its my wedding, and im going to do whatever i like whenever i like - who gives a f#$% about the people who i invited to be in the bridal party..." type of mentality. Getting close to Bridezilla...

*sigh*

I should really go to bed and sleep all this negative energy off...as i do have a 1 year old's birthday to attend tomorrow...or should i say today. But i've just continued to stuff my face with more choc bullets...the sugar is giving me a buzz...even if its only temporary, its good while it lasts...

Koln (Cologne), Germany

Day: Thursday, 6 September 2007
Wellbeing: Sinus problems
Weather: Drizzle and grey
Highlights: Hot Choc from powder...

St Andrews Cathedral, which managed to survive WWII. Heaps of photos and then the cruise down the Rhine River, taking even more snaps of the castles that were everywhere.

Skipped lunch, but dinner made up for it at the Ramada, which is absolute bliss compared to the Amsterdam hotel. The further this trip progresses, the more i feel like tipping the tour guide less. The driver is another thing, he works really hard and puts up with a lot.

After dinner, which was buffet, I caught up with Lucy, Peter and was supposed to catch up with Asian Peter too for a drink. Lucy and i had a drink and thought we should go and find Asian Pete. Lucy thought he was in Room 34? So, we went around that side of the hotel and trying to suss out which room was his by the sounds coming from the door...very childish...but i had a huge laughing fit from it and these are things that makes memories, right?

It sooooo reminded me of high school camps...knock and run...

* Germany, unfortunately i have to admit are still a bunch of racist people...i was walking around St Andrews and a group of young skin heads called me a "Ching-chong"...I dont remember the last time someone called me by a racist name like that...that is how long ago its been...it really ruined the beauty of Koln.

Amsterdam

Day: Wednesday, 5 September 2007
Wellbeing: Okay
Weather: Rainy
Highlights: Clog maker William cracking some funnies while showing us how to make clogs...

Got a show of how to make cheese and clogs. Met William, the clog maker...one of the few left in Holland to do it the traditional way. Got ripped off buying souvenirs here though, could have bought the same things, but cheaper in Volendam (fishing village we visited after the clog making).

The stitching of my umbrella came undone while in Volendam...had to stitch it back up!

Visited a diamond place - Gassan's and saw a beautiful 2.22 carat diamond, D colour, i think VVS1 or 2, and the guy giving the presentation was extremely cute!!! His English was perfect with his accent...hehhe...

Did a canal cruise of Amsterdam through the city centre. Really odd, because if someone said "canal" i would think Venice...you dont associate it with Amsterdam...but it was amazing.

Walked around Amsterdam with Lauren to look for the Rembrandt museum but didnt find it. Found a shopping strip similar to our Pitt Street - very tempted to stop and buy shoes.

Lauren and i stopped for a hot chocolate at a cafe or is it coffee house? *LoL* It took us all day to figure out which was which. The hot chocolate we had was made from powder and we were getting ready to be disappointed, but it was actually really good.

After roaming around, we hopped onto the coach and was driven to the restaurant for our authentic Dutch dinner. I had a pea and sausage soup for entree, Hopsh Kosch (i think thats how you spell it) for main, and fruit salad with ice cream for dessert. Tried a berry gin...not for me.

After dinner, we did a tour of the Red Light District...a lot of girls were either busy or "busy" because the curtains were closed.

Early start tomorrow.

Tipping is required for local guid and driver, not sure how to give.

Unfortunately my overall impression of Amsterdam, city = sleazy...

Dover/Calais/Belgium/Holland

Day: Tuesday, 4 September 2007
Wellbeing: Tired from jetlag, otherwise fine
Weather: Fine, some rain
Highlight: Cruise from Dover to Calais

I'm over the idea of being excited about the trip and have decided on just taking things as they come. So tired though and sitting in a comfortable coach doesnt help me. I feel like sleeping every 30 minutes.

A lot of travelling, not much sight seeing today except via the coach looking at the country side which is green and lush. First sights of windmills was exciting but i was slow with taking my camera out of my bag, and didn't take a pic.

People on the tour are generally older...older retired or retiring couples...The singles are 30 and over...ranging from 30-39.

Food has been alright - filling at the least.

Doing an optional extra tomorrow night - a proper authentic Dutch dinner!
=)

My Travel Journal

I will be copying what i wrote in my travel journal straight to my blog and it will be in italics, if i do add any after thoughts, it will be in the usual text font.

You will notice that i had a tendency to write all the positive things down and omitted the negative. I basically erased the bad things as they happened, because i was unusually patient, tolerant and accepting on my holiday.

I was just riding with the wind...

Leaving Sydney...

The beginning of the trip that would change me...

Well, frankly, i thought everything else would change around me...it always seemed to, when i went away for 2-3 weeks with Mum, when i was younger. The world changed 3 times over and i felt like i had been left out. Which was what i had predicted this time, especially, since i was would be on my own for 4 weeks...wouldn't you think that the world would change without you???

I got on the plane bound for HK and my 5 hour transit, then a flight to LON and so thats how it started.

The flight was fine...the food was alright...i think i drank enough water...it was an extremely full flight...but i was alright. Overall, i think i had about 3-4 hours sleep, which is more than usual.

The transit in HK was okay, since i headed straight to the lounge for a shower and a meal, internet, and a head/neck/shoulder massage.

After that, i hopped on to the plane bound for Heathrow surrounded by Chinese school kids.
These kids with their phones dont seem to respect the fact that the Captain is advising the flight attendants to arm the doors and take their seats...and therefore they should get off their bloody F#$%ing PHONES!!! I had to tap a stoopid idiot as the plane was reversing and about to take off!

To make matters worse, the flight to Heathrow turned even more sour, because as i was watching "Becoming Jane", the inflight entertainment that is on queue just died on me!!! Well, it crashed for everyone.

Anyhoo...landed in London and got through customs pretty easy...

Walked through the exit gates expecting a man to be holding a card with my name on it to pick me up...but there was no one...too early it seems.

So, i go to the office and thats closed! I stand around for about 45 minutes and get told that i need to wait for my coach. Fine, i can do that...

It seems like a long wait...i make conversation with a man who is also waiting for the coach, but is going in a different direction to me because of the hotel he is staying at...he leaves before me and i end up standing around on my own...funny enough, it doesnt bother me. Maybe its the fact that i had only 3-4 hours of sleep over 24 hours, but i was actually holding up pretty well.

My coach arrives and i get escorted to it...and i notice - its sunny in London...whats going on?!
O_o

I was expecting doom and gloom...but its actually sunny.

Its another hour or so before i actually get to my hotel but i am enjoying the ride...just taking it all in.

I get off the coach and check in to the hotel and its pleasant. I was expecting a really dingy place...seeing that its situated between Kings Cross and Angel stations...but i'm happy.

I go into my room, take a shower and head off for my Big Bus Company Tour. I walk from my hotel to Fleet Street and hop onto the first bus that comes around and so starts my whirlwind sightseeing of London!

To be honest, it isnt hard to see the beauty of London - when its sunny. And i see how easy it is for people to relocate to London, (mind the rain).

Around every corner their is history...

I saw every sight, except Buckingham Palace, because i missed the walking tour at 10am...so i didnt bother and instead hopped off at Harrods to go shopping, and then realised that i couldnt afford anything except the chocolates...so i bought a couple of Belgian choccies and headed to Oxford Street to go shopping.

I had to rush from Oxford Street back to the Hotel to catch up with my ex-workmate who relocated to London, for dinner. When i got to the Hotel, i checked on whether the rep for my Tour had arrived with info, and it seems that they came and went.

I thought it was ridiculous that they give you a vague time like 1-3pm and expect you to wait in the lobby for their arrival...i'm sorry, but i'm not waiting for someone to tell me when to wake up to have brekky and join my tour for 2 hours on my one and only day in a new country!!!

I was told to go to my room and check if an envelope was left under my door.

I checked and there was nothing.

I panic...first moment of true panic...how can i check in...? They organised everything for me, how can they NOT know that i am here??? So, i call reception and throw a hissy fit, they give me a number and im thinking its 6pm...i'm going to miss them, they've gone home!!!

I call them anyway on my mobile (what a waste of my money, all to fix up their incompetence!!!) and the girl sounds Australian and patronises me by asking if i booked things separately or through Trafalgar...do i even have a booking reference?!?!?! I'm like YES!!! And give her a reference number and she's like "oh, okay, i dont know what went wrong?!"

So, she fixes things up and says that she will call me back to confirm that everything is okay.

I rush to meet Roh and im only 5 minutes later than when i should meet her, so i dont feel completely horrible. We rush to grab something to eat, because i hadnt eaten anything all day! How scary is that?! And i thought we could get some noodles...but this place was a buffet place and they had horrible Asian food! I now know what everyone is talking about! Its run by Asians...how could they get it so wrong?!

Its 9:00pm when we part ways...because Roh had to catch the train back to her apartment and there was currently a strike and only 3 lines were running out of the 30 or so lines...while i only had to walk around the corner.

I walk back and crash, my wake up call for brekky is at 4:30am.

Knowing what you are worth...

Before i left Sydney for my holiday, i was being headhunted, but i told them i was going overseas and would the recruiters mind contacting me in October.

Before i returned, i got phonecalls and emails from recruiters about opportunities that i would be suitable for.

My workmate left the company before my return. The Finance team and the Billing team all left and were replaced by newbies. My manager was pressured to do my work and basically got my workmate who was leaving to do the work...and basically things got royally f#$%ed up. Not her fault, it was actually all the newbies!

The first 3 days of my return to work was basically fixing up everything that was wrong. And everyone basically realised that im an intergral part of the company and that they can't afford to lose me.

I realised on my trip that i need to make more money. I cant afford to stay with my employer. It doesnt make sense that i can go to another company and basically make twice as much as i am now, if i was permanent. I can make 3 times as much if i was contracting. So, why am i staying with my employer who doesnt value my skills and knowledge?

I sat down with my line manager at the end of the week of my return to work and we discussed about my prospects.

Everyday since my return to Sydney i received a call from a recruiter. Each day a new and different prospect. I told him that this was happening...that i appreciate that we'd be doing our review at the end of the year, but i needed an indication that i was going to be promoted to a Jnr PM, if not a PM and be paid accordingly to reflect that. Market rate...that's all that i ask...

After that conversation...the next day i get a call from another recruiter and the opportunity is actually good. The company is one that is known for treating their employees well. Its a contract position that will end in August 08, which is perfect because i want to go to Europe and Mauritius in September 08.

I sent him what the recruiting company is offering, he said he would get back to me next week.

I'm having an interview next Wednesday. I hope it goes well.

I told my client about the situation, that i am being headhunted daily for different roles. He isnt surprised, he gave me 2 months from the return of my holiday to find something better. But he was offering to advise his manager that i'm worth too much to lose and they would try to match what the recruiter is offering. He asked me to advise him of what would make me happy to stay? How often does a manager ask an employee that? A contracting employee mind you.

I'm taking things in stride...i know this cant last for long...i just need to hear how far my current employer will stretch, if at all.

If that fails, then i will advise the client how much it will take to retain me.

If that doesn't work, i will take on the role being offered out there.

A year ago...i wouldnt have been comfortable with negotiating...

Now, its a different ball game. I tell the recruiters how much i want. They don't argue, they just try to convince their clients to pay up for me. I have reached that point where my skills and knowledge is valued.

Its no longer, will they like me? Its will i like them? I have something they want, can they afford me?

Damn...it sounds like im selling myself. I guess thats what it is at the end of the day.

I dont want to leave the client, because i think there is still a lot to learn from them. It will be a shame if i leave this year.

I just booked 2 tickets for KL & SG...

I decided that if i could pay off my CC after my Europe trip and still have some cash in the bank that i would definitely go to KL & SG for a shopping expedition with Mum.

So, i went to see my Travel Agent after work today and was hoping for tickets to KL/SG on Christmas Day as i did 2 years ago, but it seems everyone has caught on and i could only get tix for Mum and i on NYE. So, i reversed the trip and will be heading to KL first.

And after KL i will be heading to SG for Mum. She hasnt seen it for over 26 years, before i was born. She visited SG when she was migrating from Vietnam to get to Australia...so, I thought i would bring her back to see it while we had the chance.

I apparently still have 10 days of leave, which fits perfectly for my forced leave over the Christmas period. By Christmas, i will have 12+ days of leave...hehehe...

If you want to see photos from my Europe trip and you are not on facebook, please email me and i will send you a link to view it from.

Updates/recounts of the trip will be posted on Blogger, once i get the photos done...so i can actually recall the proper line of events!

Last moments in Paris...

I'm writing this, literally minutes before leaving the Paris apartment I have been staying at for the last 4 nights.

I truly wished that i could stay here for sooo much longer! It hit me last night as we walked to the Lourve for dinner at Le Cafe Marley. We strolled for over 20 minutes but in Paris, you don't notice the minutes passing because there is so much around you to absorb. I turned to my friend and said i will miss this city...that i wished i could stay...and since I won't be able to stay longer, i will be returning as soon as possible.

I don't know who warned me about the "difficult" French people, because I've only encountered lovely Parisians! And all the strangers on the Metro, well they are civilised and polite.

Heading to the Airport for an amazingly L-O-N-G flight home with unbelievably l......o......n......g transiting hours to pass.

Update, probably when i get to HK International for the leg to Sydney.

Au revoir Paris!