Mardi Gras 2015.

I still remember watching my very first Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras at the tender age of nine, having barely any clue as to what the occasion was actually about but thoroughly enjoying the atmosphere and the crowd nonetheless, wide-eyed and mouth gaping.

Two decades later (outrageous! I know),  I decided that it was definitely time to leave my burrow and pay this Sydney tradition another long overdue visit, and yes, twenty years on, it is as if the party never really ended.

Now, for a girl who sticks to a regular daily routine and shuns the crowd, heading into the CBD at 8:30pm (simply to be amongst the crowd) was well, as rare as a blue moon. I was even more horrified when I stepped onto the bus FULL of people, most of them – young! I remember scanning their faces, their chatter a cacophony and thinking to myself "so this is how the young lives it up these days". *chuckles*

As I was waiting at the corner of Hyde Park for my 'bodyguard', I saw waves and waves of people descend from who knows where, in all states of undress and intoxication. I thought "perhaps leaving my burrow was not a great idea". Thankfully, with the arrival of my 'bodyguard', we were able to catch the latter half of the parade.

Colour, glitter, sequins and pure pandemonium.

I was like a child once more, wide-eyed as I struggle to catch a glimpse of the floats beyond a sea of onlookers. I was bedazzled. As my 'bodyguard' lifted me onto his shoulders so I could get an obstructed view, I felt I was truly a part of the crowd, a part of the celebration, cheering the parade on and the appearance of 'Kim Jong Un' (yes, at a gay and lesbian parade).

So now I somehow come to understand why people would gather in such large numbers for events, often braving the elements, the sweat, the traffic – atmosphere.

All in pink.

Last Saturday; a hot and humid summer evening, I attended yet another wedding. It is the last of many weddings which have dominated my social calender since the latter half of last year, so I was relieved that after this wedding I will not have to attend another in a very long time. But at the same time I was looking forward to soaking up some wedding cheer and start the year on a good note.

What sets this wedding apart from the others I've been was the medium by which the couple met; the internet or the maze that is online dating. Even though I myself have set foot into this maze (2015 – Just Do It!), I still question whether love can be found via clicks of a mouse button. Yet somehow, the newlyweds managed to beat the odds, proving to all that were present that love can indeed be found when one has patiently trolled through enough online dating profiles and been on many less that average first dates.

They are certainly one of the lucky few. ♥

6° of Separation
It is common to bump into familiar faces at a wedding, especially if you are from a Chinese background, well then that tightens the social circle even more. But never in my wildest dreams (apologies for the lack of a better cliché) did I think I would be sitting at the same table, right next to the very first guy who contacted me online!

This sounds almost good enough to be a rom-com moment. You meet your online dating match at a friend's wedding (a gorgeous Leehom Wang), at the end of the night you guys dance together to the serenade of all serenades "Can't Take My Eyes Off of You" and fall head over heels in love. But...in reality, there is nothing quite so awkward *cough cough* as meeting your online dating match at a friend's wedding. 

The awkwardness isn't so much in the what to say, but the fact that we were both harbouring the same little secret that cannot be disclosed to other guests at the table. I couldn't greet him like I knew him and say to the others "Meet my online dating match, what a small world", nor could I completely ignore his presence and put a sack over my head.  
Well, in the end, being myself was the best policy.

It is the theory that everyone and everything is six or fewer steps away, by way of introduction, from any other person in the world, so that a chain of 'a friend of a friend' statements can be made to connect any two people in a maximum of six steps. – Wikipedia

Bridesmaid dress.

Getting all done up.

The wedding dress.

Looking up at the canopy.

Charles Darwin Walk, as its name suggests is the track walked by naturalist Charles Darwin himself in 1836. It is nestled in the Blue Mountains National Park and is just a short distance from Wentworth Falls station, which makes it the perfect choice for those travelling by public transport and is looking for a relatively easy walk to kickstart their bushwalking experience. Yet one that is also packed with scenic views.


We started the trek quite early, the air was still crisp and only a few other walkers here and there. The trail itself follows the Jamison Creek as it cascades down several small waterfalls and hanging swamps on the hillside. As one meanders through the bushland over bridges and boardwalks, one can't help but wonder that this is the very scenery that Charles Darwin himself once laid eyes upon. 

Flowing stream.

As the day heated up, and the track slowly filled with families and couples young and old, the cool waters of the cascading pools certainly did offer some much needed relief; a place to rest our feet and take in the beauty of the bush and its local residents.

Local fauna.

The walk ended at Weeping Rock Waterfall, a popular spot for amateur photographers as they descended with their tripods and elaborate camera gear. Perhaps, I too will attempt my photography skills at the next walk, but somehow the idea of carrying a rather cumbersome camera bag doesn't sound too appealing (unless I can enlist a sidekick).

Weeping Rock Waterfall.

At a time where all my Saturdays seems to be dedicated to wedding practices (deserving a blog post of its own), this walk, on a bright sunny day was a much needed release and hopefully will ease my bridesmaid blues.

Til the next bushwalk.