Sydney Travel Diary || Day Two || Taronga Zoo

So where I left off in my previous post (which feels like ten thousand years ago) is the bunch of us catching a cable car up and into Taronga Zoo. Honestly this is probably the best start to anyone's visit to a zoo, especially with such a beautiful view right in front of us.

Actually I just a tiny bit bad because everyone was obediently standing in the queue to get onto a cable car - there was quite a fair bit of people there despite how early it was. Then there was the bunch of us just casually strolling by everyone and successfully cutting through the entire line to go right up to the front. And we had to walk pass everyone that just looked at us weirdly, they were probably thinking 'what the heck'.

But secretly I also felt quite smug about it. A small moment of pride right there - so worth all the nasty looks thrown our way for a split second. Gotta thank the super awesome best friend for such special VIP treatment throughout the entire trip in Sydney.

The cable car ride up was amazing. I cannot explain just how, you have to be there to experience it especially sitting facing the harbour like I was. Don't forget to look around you too!

We were right above the elephant's enclosure and saw them clearly. I don't know why but seeing them made my inner child go slightly crazy. And that wasn't all because the best was yet to come! Once we got off the cable car, the guide led us through some gates and walked straight out into the sun to...

Meet a very special lady.

We were given the opportunity to get super close to a kangaroo, feed and also pet her. On top of taking many photos at the same time. Let's just say it was a secret goal of mine to achieve at some point and that day, I did. This was something that I could happily tick off my bucket-list for sure.

Pic credit: Emily :)

Just the best friend and I, plus a kangaroo. Friendship goals achieved right there for sure. Can you tell from my expression that I was quite happy to be there in that moment? Even though I was wearing sport shoes which is such a non-ideal footwear outside of the gym - at least in my opinion.

It is so NIAAP....!

Super cute cause it had this blissfully happy face as it nibbled on the treats that we were given to feed her. Plus the kangaroo is super smart because apparently only the red flowers are yummy so she was just munching on those and ignored the leafy greens.

As you can imagine, I was pretty damn excited to finally be able to see the Quokkas. I'm sure you've seen all the pictures taken with these super smiley ball of fluff on the internet and dubbed the happiest animal on earth.

And I was all ready to take happy selfies with these ball of fluffs except.... They were sleeping and remained that way throughout our entire five minutes of staring at them. These Quokkas really just can't be bothered with us so that means no selfie for me. Why you so rude to me, I just wanted a picture of you being all cute and smiley next to me. ;-;

But at least I got a picture of this cute wallaby that was quite uninterested in the leaves because her kangaroo companion ate all the best parts which are the red flowers. Super smart right? Though she, if I remember the gender correctly, was very curious about us humans.

OH HALLO PORCUPINE.
YOU SHOULD GIVE SOMEONE I HATE KNOW A GOOD HUG. 

Then came the best part of our visit. We got to meet another staple Australian animal up-close and personal. Care to take a guess or is this too obvious already? :3

Yes, I got to pet a koala bear. That's another thing I can tick off my to-do list and/or bucket list.

This was another animal at the zoo that completely cannot be bothered with us humans as we continued pestering it. All it did throughout our visit was nibble on the leaves like we weren't there at all. So rude, please. We came all the way from Malaysia to see you (not really haha) but at least acknowledge us a bit.

Whatever. I still happily took a picture with the koala in the background, just doing what it normally would at all hours of the day. Apparently all they do is sleep for about 60% of the time and when they aren't asleep, they are eating.

That totally sounds like a pretty nice life goal in my opinion.

Then it was time to explore the rest of the zoo while enjoying the nice weather. Although the sun was shining quite brightly but the air was cool so it didn't feel hot at all. I can walk all day with this weather.

And we spotted a super chubs wallaby along the way.

Of course, we had to walk by the reptiles enclosure because.. Well snakes are creepily cool. The entire time inside the dark building, it was like we were all playing a game of 'spot the animal' since most of them are hiding in some corner.

But clearly the python was right out there for everyone to see and it was just flipping huge so there really isn't much areas for it to hide. Personally I don't think it gives a fuck. HEHE.

This was the sight that greeted us when we stepped out of the super dark and gloomy enclosure. Before, I cannot remember when cause I have the memory capacity of a goldfish, our tour guide told us that Taronga in the aboriginal language means 'a beautiful view'. Standing right here, I can totally see why, because right there is the city and the well known Sydney bridge.

Since the people at the zoo knows that many people will want to get a picture of this, they had made this so much easier by putting a mark on the ground where you'd get the best shot if you stand right there. I like that cause you won't have to spend ten minutes just getting a good picture with many other people around you. And we all know how some photographers are just completely hopeless at taking scenery photos with you in it.

It's quite embarrassing to go and stand in the middle of many people to get a photo. I mean unless you are super buaypaiseh or thick skinned then it's fine.

Thank for the picture Emily!

Clearly I was feeling more than a little buaypaiseh cause I went ahead and posed for a picture anyway. I mean, we were already there so it'll be so wasted to not get a good picture which I can. 

So, here's a damn poser shot of me with the million dollar view in the background. But just focus on me being pretentiously touristy. Thanks. ;)

You'll never guess but out of all the other animals in the zoo, the giraffes have the best view. What the crap. Not even the lion get it and they're supposed to be the King of the Jungle.

There was this little bit of information thing by the enclosure which I happily went and stood next to. I thought it was funny. And it was in a very pathetic kind of way as I laugh at my own stunted growth.

I mean.. Even a freaking newborn giraffe is much taller than I am. Which isn't quite surprising considering that many people are easily taller than me that's standing at no more than 156cm. But quite sad to have #shortpeopleproblems at times.

So we've explored most of the land animals, it is time to move on to the sea creatures which are my favourite. Cause I still dream of mermaids and sirens being real ohkay. Don't judge.

Since we were taking our time wandering around the zoo, we missed the Seal show. But we did see it just casually swimming about in it's tank that was surprisingly blue. It had it's eyes closed the entire five minutes we sat there watching it and kept going round & round in the same pace. You living the life there, buddy?

Just a happily floating sea lion. :3

ROMANCE CORNER!

So yeah, in my previous post I named this bit of the harbour the 'romance corner' because of what Dug told us.

Apparently there's a service where you can rent a boat/yacht (whatever you can afford. Maybe got sampan also if you poor hahah) for maybe two or three days. Then it will bring you about the coast line and then drop you off in the evening at some 'beach' area which is quite secluded where there's like a romantic dinner set up. Remember to special request tons of tealight candles & rose petals to be strewn around so its super feeling.

I was giggling to myself because it's always been sort of a secret fantasy dream to have a getaway with future boyfriend/lover/husband on a yacht. Actually there was a whole imaginary proposal that involved a dinner by the beach followed by eloping on a yacht. And then I hear that there is this service available which was a bit surprising but also good news to me so...

*hints strongly at future husband wherever in the world he is. Probably wrong dimension also. Eff mine and his life.*

This is actually the main entrance to the zoo if you didn't come from the harbour instead. Unfortunately there isn't a cable car ride waiting, though it's quite special since it's almost a 100 years old. Or maybe even more than if I remember properly. I might be wrong considering how terrible my memory has gotten recently.

There was actually a whole lot more to the zoo that we did not get to see. It is actually really big till we were honestly too lazy to continue exploring some more. Plus most of us were already super ready for lunch. *cough* Elizabeth *cough* And when your stomach is demanding for food, everything else doesn't matter anymore. Not even cute animals that are in cages and enclosures.

So we left this part of our adventure and went searching for food before continuing on the rest of our day. Which will be continued in the next post cause this alone took up a big chunk just with photos. And there's lots more to cover just for my second day in Sydney - imagine that.

Stay tuned for the other parts of my Sydney trip and trust me, there is a whole lot more to be shared. (; Until next time!

      

Officially 23! | Circa May 2016

I can't believe another year flew by just like that and I am now another year older. Although I don't necessarily feel any wiser than I did a few days ago or the week before, probably won't be making any smarter decisions too.

Just the other day I was reminded by TimeHop about that time that I went ahead and did something completely bizarre near my birthday. It was quite a YOLO moment which made me wonder what had possessed me into being so brave that day.

Tattoo number 2 done at Borneo Ink in circa May 2015

I remember wanting a second tattoo for the longest time but have been too chicken to go do it on my own. Plus I was taking ten thousand years just trying to come up with the correct one to get and procrastinating every day. Anything to delay the process out of fear because I'm lame like that.

Though the weekend before my birthday, I just decided to be brave and just went for it. With the design that I wanted, I drove to Borneo Ink after my chiro appointment and Simon did my tattoo in no more than 10 minutes.

In the end, I super love the tattoo I got which was exactly what I've been wanting for the longest time. Everyday I look at it on my wrist and I don't regret it one bit.

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Since I did something a little out there last year.... I thought why not make it a tradition to do that every year on my birthday. Even if there is no over-the-top birthday celebration, at least there's this.

In keeping with tradition, I decided to go a little crazy by dyeing my hair. I was super into the Harley Quinn (Suicide Squad ark) look which was what I wanted since I've never tried it before. Plus there's nothing to not love about the crazy and adorable DC character. Actually I had the thought to do this for quite a while but never had the guts to do it quite yet.

So I asked the best friend where she got her hair colour done & she recommended The Scissors Palace in Hartamas. If you've seen her hair then you'll know why I immediately disregarded other salons which I've enquired before and went there on Saturday without a second thought.

Trust me when I say that I was super excited (also quite scared cause what if I don't look good. then super FML cause I can't change it unless I chop all my hair off which is a big NO) for what was about to happen. I was going to get rid of my boring brown hair colour and turning myself into a 'Unicorn' as Davis Wong puts it.

And the first step to getting the hairstyle I wanted was to strip my current colour from my hair. This is JD, who was my designated stylist for the day, just layering the bleaching solution to my hair for the first time. There goes my hair's 'bleach virginity'.

Oh and say hello to Tortilla - the best friend's new hamster. She left him at the salon to keep me company when she went for lunch. This little ball of fluff is seriously quite crazy but super entertaining to watch whenever it caught my attention.

First it was gnawing at the cage doors, just the doors and not other bars because it knows that that is the way out. Wtf, super smart. Then it was climbing the walls and ceiling, becoming a spider-hamster just because and it's weird in a very entertaining way.

It was a long process to strip the previous colour I had on before. Please take my word for it and do not ever dye your hair red because it is the hardest colour to bleach out - not even black could compete with it.

Though, it is the strongest shade and will stay the longest out of every other possible colour you can dye your hair. But still not worth having it in hindsight because to transition from red to something else is damn tedious. Something I didn't know before and also, I mistakenly got the wrong shade

Feeling like a martian.

I honestly do not know what this infrared machine is supposed to do other than make you feel super hot. As in temperature, not looks cause that's virtually impossible. But I assume that it helps the bleach work faster or something like that?

Like I was complaining earlier about regretting dyeing my hair red. Well there's a big reason to that after hearing about the drawbacks of doing so from JD and also Davis. Since they are both exceptionally good hair stylists they do know their stuff which is why their advice is highly appreciated.

Even after bleaching my hair twice, it still isn't white like I thought. Instead it's a hella ugly copper/orange/yellow shade that makes me look like some anime-character-wannabe. And that's as far as they can go with bleaching without my hair breaking because it's brittle as hell from the long process.

Pink & Blue

And now it's time to layer on the colours which means I have to wait for another 30 - 45 minutes again. That's another thing that kind of bugs me about getting your hair done; its basically a big waiting game. All for the price of beauty.

Final product!

After ten thousand years just sitting in that chair - jokes, it only took me about three hours - I'm officially part of the unicorn family. All thanks to colour extraordinaire Davis Wong & The Scissors Palace!

Here's the thing, the end result didn't exactly turn out like I had initially pictured. I mean the pink was spot on to the Harley Quinn hairstyle that I wanted. But the blue didn't turn out as sharp as I was hoping for. No thanks to the ugly copper-yellow colour my bleached hair had become because of my previous dye-job. So this means when layering on the blue dye, it turned green instead with a minimal tinge of blue instead.

Honestly, I was just a tad bit disappointed. But after getting it curled nicely and stared at it longer in the huge mirror in front of me for a bit more; I definitely grew to love my hair more. Seriously this brings out a whole new vainer side of me.

Matching 'out to steal yo man' outfit.

In the end, I even took my hair out for the night because I see no reason not to, especially after having it styled so perfectly well for me. Well technically the best friend brought my lazy butt out for a night of partying to ring in my 23rd year in the only way she knew how - lots of champagne while we hid behind the DJ console. 

Thank you beb, for spending my birthday with me every year since you've been back in KL despite your busy schedule at times. Maximum love. Can't wait for our regular steamboat dates. :)

Got my Harley Quinn on, Bitches.

Actually, I can't be any happier with the end results even if the blue did not turn out as I had initially pictured. But Davis did an incredible job despite the setback and gave me a whole new look - will probably never go back to single shade hair colour anymore.

See you next time, puddings! (;