Try, Try Again

Try, try again applies to two things I have done in the past 24 hours: yum cha and Mt Lofty. I mentioned last week that yum cha wasn't overwhelmingly good to me, but I went along with the group yesterday and gave it another go. 

Some of the food was similar to last week, but we got a lot more steamed plates this time. I decided that my favorite dish was the fried calamari. I KNOW I said that I didn't want the fried food, but I really do love it. 

Besides that, there were a lot of steamed dumplings with prawns (the prawn and chive dumplings dipped in soy sauce were my favorite) and some delicious scallop-noodle roll thing that I could not possibly begin to describe. I should have taken a photo. 

Instead of fried ice cream this time, I ordered lotus seed buns with most of the group. They are little doughy balls that look like they haven't been cooked, although they have. They are super soft and filled with lotus seed paste. The best I can describe the taste of the paste is like a sweet peanut butter. Honestly, I love these things. They are light and fluffy, and I really can't see them being loaded with calories. All in all, I really can't see the lunch as a whole being loaded with calories. Of course, the fried food is an exception. 

That's the lotus seed paste in the middle. Don't diss it until you try it. My coworker who brought us all to yum cha said that she hated them until she tried it for her third time. Now, she's hooked. I liked it the first time I tried it! A few of us felt the same way. 

City Zen, the restaurant we went to, has some great decor. You will never doubt that you are in a Chinese restaurant. One thing I  have to say, though, is that you can't go there expecting good service. Both times, they messed up our orders and took a long time to bring us things that we asked for. Go for the food and ambiance; don't go for the service. 

So what's the verdict on yum cha? I liked it a lot. It's fun to go with a group of people, and you can leave feeling like you had a pleasantly healthy meal (just stick to the steamed stuff!). I was also in a better mood this time. I'm glad that I gave it another chance. 

My coworker Manish was playing around with my camera when I got back, and he got a photo of me at my desk. That's me at work! My desk gets messy during the day, but I always organize it before I leave. Also, do you see that little white ball next to me?

It's a lotus seed bun. It was left over at the end of the meal, and I couldn't let this cute little dough ball sit there and watch all of his friends get eaten just so that he can get thrown out. So, I took him with me. He still sitting in my fridge! I wonder how it will taste if I microwave and then eat it....

After work, Al and I went straight to his parents' house for dinner. His brother Nick joined us. We ordered pizza, and then Penny put out a wonderful dessert spread. We left the house with a few mini Toblerones, half a wedge of brie and three pieces of home made fudge. 

Saturday

Remember what I said about try, try again? We gave Mt Lofty another try today. It didn't (completely)kill us last week, but I did tell you guys that I was super sore for a few days after! Regardless, we went this morning. 

We parked right outside of the Waterfall Gully car park. You can see the waterfall as soon as you walk in. It's so pretty! Actually, everything is pretty over there. The changing leaves are quite the eye candy. 

We did it! Honestly, it wasn't even that bad going up this time. It was still hard, but we powered straight through (minus one little stretching break). It went by so much faster than last week. I was surprised when we suddenly turned the corner and saw the side of the cafe on the top of the hill. I was sure that we had longer to go! Including our break, we made it up there in 48 minutes. 

Today was my third time walking from Waterfall Gully to the top of Mt Lofty. Here was last week:

This was my first time climbing to the top. It was May 2009. I had just moved to Australia. I really struggled up that time!

When we got home, I iced my legs since I got a painful shin splint on my left leg walking/running down. I then heated up my veggie chili from Thursday night. It tasted even better this time, because all of the flavors soaked in. 

I also had a piece of Penny's fudge. I had to restrain myself from eating more. 

Now, I have to clean up. This is our clean laundry hanging up to dry.

And these are all of the clean clothes that need to be put away. My GOSH!!! I think my grandma Arlene would have a heart attack if she saw this. 

I still have to shower (I know, I'm gross) and then eventually get ready for a birthday celebration tonight. There will be a lot of people I don't know, so I need to put on my friendly face (and try not to be socially awkward). 

School Update

I got admitted to Flinders University in Adelaide! That means that I can take a chemistry course there. Although this is very exciting that everything is working out so far, I have a lot of thinking to do. As an international student (I have a partner visa but still am not a permanent resident), the fees are ridic! One class costs me as much as it would cost me at a private university in the US (and the US dollar is now WEAKER than Australia's!!). Plus, I'd have to find a part-time job so that I can help Al pay the bills. I'd be struggling a lot more with money. Unfortunately, my only other option is to go home and live with my parents. It would be fine, and it would save me a lot of moola. I just have to decide between struggling financially or being away from my fiance for a year. NO BIG DEAL!!!! 

Well, we'll figure it out. Feel free to give me a shout-out if you have any advice or inspirational quotes or funny websites. All are appreciated.