'Weird' Pumpkins are so 'common'...(no pun intended);p

It's not difficult to come across weird-looking pumpkins:) lol
In the past 6 months, I have seen at least 10 unsual pumpkin shapes
These are some of the beauties...

It looks a bit like a teapot
of course, those of you who are mischievous enough might notice the phallic extension ;p

... and this looks like...(it won't be appropriate for me to mention it here)

Flower-shaped pumpkin

Beautiful Auckland skyline :)

Here's a pic overlooking the harbour taken at the ASB Tower on Wellesley Street :)
(where Delucas Cafe is)
The view from the offices at Lumley Centre is much better, of course...
but hey, this view's not bad too:)

Other places to see in Auckland :-
- Albert Park
- Parnell Village
- K-Road
- White House Entertainment Centre ;p hehe

Things to eat:-
- Gengis Khan Mongolian BBQ
- Istanbul Kebab & Pizza
- Restaurant & Sake Bar (Korean)

How do u say "Karangahape" Road? (New Zealand)

In Maori language, the vowel 'a' is pronounced as 'aa'
- just like in Malay & Indonesian languages


Karangahape Road - a famous street in Auckland, New Zealand - is often mistakenly pronounces as "Kay-rang-gay-happy"

Over the years, Karangahape Road acquired a shorter name - K Road

But still :) heritage/history is important
and it's good to know the original name of K-road
So, here's the story about the famous road in Auckland city :)...

From about 1900 to the early 1960s Karangahape Road was Auckland's busiest shopping street with many clothing shops large and small along with several Department Stores. Most retail chain stores had branches on K Road, often in preference to Queen Street. During the interwar period most of Auckland's main shops selling furniture, musical instruments, radios and other household appliances were located here.

After 1965 K Road lost most of its local customer base when construction of the inner-city motorway system resulted in over 50,000 people having to move out of the surrounding areas.

The downturn in trade led to many shops closing and the relocating of businesses to other areas of Auckland. This accelerated the decline, and by the early 1970s the low rents meant it had acquired a rather seedy reputation as Auckland's red light district.

Since the early 1990s there has been a move away from this image due to newly constructed apartment blocks attracting residents back to the area, as well as a general gentrification of close-by areas like Ponsonby.

Nowadays only very few enterprises are connected with the adult industry.However, the 'Las Vegas' is thought to be New Zealand's oldest established strip club, and its nude 'Vegas Girl' sign has become somewhat iconic.

(Image source: Wikipedia)

Alongside the few remaining shops and venues catering to the sex trade, K Road currently boasts an eclectic collection of shops, cafés and art galleries. At night its restaurants, bars and nightclubs make it a major part of Auckland's social scene.

Yummy Indian snacks at Rasui Restaurant

K Road has become a centre for much of Auckland's bohemian scene, with many venues for alternative music and fringe art as well as the LGBT community. It is also home to many trendy Op shops.

K Road in Pop Culture

The song Verona by New Zealand rock band Elemeno P, from their album Love & Disrespect, refers to the cafe/restaurant/bar of the same name at 169 Karangahape Road.

The current Verona building dates from 1923 and gets its name from the Victorian house that previously occupied the site; Mrs Bishop's "Verona" Boarding House

Fo more info: http://www.kroad.com/

Low-fat snacks @ Choice Bakery, Auckland

Ever wondered how Chinese girls manage to stay so slim (despite eating like horses)?

Well, they don't have super-high metabolic rates

The secret is in their choices of food..especially Taiwanese desserts, which are literally like 'diet food' - yummy, but almost fat-free

If you're in Auckland, good news:)

You can easily get those fat-free cakes at Choice Bakery outlets
The one that I normally go to is at Newmarket
The Japanese Cheese Cakes (no added butter)
are light, fluffy... :))
(ohh yumm, I'm in heaven - just thinking about it)

"Butter-less" cakes

Now, instead of having the usual pound cake, you eat 200-300 calories less per serving with these:-

These cakes have a higher protein content

(more egg whites used in the recipes, to compensate for the fat reduction)

Wife cakes aren't exactly my favourite...but I'm including the pics here just in case you might wanna see what they're like :)

and then tehre's something similar to the "wfie cake" except that there's "red bean paste" inside the pastry

not very healthy - it's just lots of sugar, oil, flour & boiled mashed red beans

Sahaa: best African restaurant in Aus & NZ:)

Tucked inconspicuously in a line-up of ethnic eateries near the busy intersection of Khyber Pass and Broadway (Auckland, New Zealand) , this superb little restaurant is a real off-the-beaten-track, local haunt.

You don’t often come across quality Algerian, Morrocan and Tunisian flavours in New Zealand.

In fact, Sahaa is the only one of its kind on the whole North Island, something that makes its menu shine even brighter.

Naturally, tagines are the specialty here and the setting is positively North African exotic with a private, traditional low-seating area, a family dining room complete with Moroccan fountain, colourful pottery on the walls and dainty glass cups from which to sip your mint tea.

Chef-owner Makhlouf (Marco) Benyettou cooks dishes from his native Algeria as well as Morocco and as well as Morocco and Tunisia.

Benyettou’s wife Dianna undertook the waiting duties by herself; ranging around providing efficient and knowledgeable service in a low-key dining room with lemon-yellow walls, Moorish pendant lamps and a smattering of rugs.

Tagine dishes symbolise North African cuisine, and here at Sahaa they are brought to the table piping hot and placed on a decorative tile in front of you. The conical lid is then removed so you can eat from the cooking platter.

The lamb, apple and prune stew ($26) - the large dices of lamb were very tender, and the fruit contributed a heady sweet-savoury character.

This dish was what good restaurant food should be: sublime in its simplicity, yet the sort of thing that would be difficult to recreate at home.

Sahaa's wine list was small, made up of good value Australian and New Zealand whites and reds, selected to match the food.

However, an evening at Sahaa does not require spectacular flourishes. The low-key service, calm atmosphere and satisfying food invite you to relax and enjoy your food, wine and company.

More info: http://www.viewauckland.co.nz/restaurants/sahaa-review-57866.html

Prices: Entrées $10 - $24, mains $20 - $26.

Contact:
475 Khyber Pass Road,
Newmarket,
Auckland
Tel: 09-523-4578
Fax: 09-523-4578
Email: sahaarestaurant@hotmail.com

Condom-like stationery called "Thimblette" ;p

Remember the cute condom-shaped thimblettes with ribs and dots?

Chanced upon the "improved versions" of the originals;p

Snapshots of Auckland is proud to present the

2009/2010 Winter Collection of condoms thimblettes, I mean

1) Light blue ribbed and dotted thimblette with holes

2) There are even some colourful breast pouches to go along with the condoms ;p

3) the transparent & ultra-thin versions...
Oh, they glow in the dark too ;) hehe

Bigger sizes

Errm... these ones look like they've been used before... :P

Thimblettes' other name - Finger Sack
(errm...can someone please come up with a better name? Finger Sack is sooo unromantic)

Where to get FREE INTERNET in Auckland City

In Auckland, free internet is non-existent.

Not even at Starbucks or McDonald's

At most, you can get 1-hour free wi-fi at Esquires Coffee outlets

But even then, it's not entirely free

You only get 1 hour internet usage with every purchase

So, I was really happy when I chanced upon a secret hideout that offers 15 minutes free internet ;)

(Well, 15 minutes is better than nothing, eh?)

It's a shop called "Queen's Digital World" - located on Queen Street, of course :)

Lot No. 25...

Dear Aucklanders, ...enjoy a bit of free web surfing while it lasts ;) hehe

What you'll get for taking photos of charred Starbucks scones;p

Remember the charred cheese bacon and herb scone? ;p

Well, Starbucks caught me making fun of the scone and ...err...sent me two coupons

- but it's gonna be really awkward for me to use them in the same outlet :p

really really awkward

Why?
Because the coupon has these wordings:
"We apologize that your Starbucks experience was anything but wonderful..."
Gosh...I wouldn't want the barista to know that I made fun of the blackened sandwich

Starbucks, couldn't you have sent me a gift card of some sort instead of a "complainant's coupon"?

Delucas Cafe, ASB Bank Tower, Albert St, Auckland City

Delucas Cafe is like a woman having her PMS ;p
- unpredictable
sometimes, the food portions are unbelievably huge,
sometimes, they are so tiny...
the prices remain the same - regardless of the portion
the food variety is impressive
but the QC (quality control) is... nada

Sometimes, the food is so good that every bite tastes heavenly

Sometimes, you pay a premium for soggy stuff that are left over from the previous days

The cheese scones on 19th Aug 2009 tasted pretty good

 

Skip the quiches and pies - too much pastry & too little fillings

 

The food always look good, though :)

**My sincere apology for the sexist interlude about PMS - in case any of you might have been hurt by the joke ;p

The purpose of this blog is to provide quick entertaining read for web users out there :)

Looks like shit,...but tastes like heaven :) (Spice of India, Atrium Food Court)

If you're looking for the challenge of eating Real authentic spicy food (and not the watered-down versions), look no further than Spice of India at the Atrium Food Court (located on Elliott St, near Smith and Caughey's).

I know it looks yuck

- like a bad case of diarrhoea

If you wonder why I'd even allow myself to go near that plate of gooey stuff, it's because the stall smelled really good - I could hardy resist the bewitching aroma of good Indian curry.

That's partly because Natasha tempted me with some chicken & dhal curry at lunch. The next day, I just had to have something spicy. When we have our next reunion, we'll probably coax our Wellingtonian wine connoisseur friend Michele into trying the vegetarian curries there. It will be fun to see her snort continuously...muahahahaha :)))

World's biggest breasts main attraction at "Boobs on Bikes 09" Parade, Queen St

Topless porn stars and strippers rode down Auckland's Queen Street on 23 Sept 2009 in the seventh annual Boobs on Bikes parade.

(Gosh, are these boobs real??)

Boobs on Bikes is a mostly annual parade of semi-nude pornstars riding on motorcycles through large New Zealand cities (in the past, Christchurch, Palmerston North and most prominently Auckland). It is organized by the somewhat locally famous pornographer Steve Crow, to advertise his activities and the Erotica Expo, an adults-only pornography trade exhibition.

Larger-than-life adult entertainer Chelsea Charms was one of the main attractions of the parade.
Ms Charms is reported to have the biggest breasts in the world. Her website says they are size 153XXX and collectively weigh just under 24kg.

(Source: 3news.co.nz, Wikipedia)

The beauty of female anatomy

Had a highly memorable after-work voyeuristic session at Showgirls ;p
and yes, Kiwi girls are much more beautiful than what I saw in photos :)

 (Image source: AllPosters)

Unfortunately, we're not allowed to take photos inside the strip club.
So, I can only describe this wonderful experience in words... ;)

Entrance is free for girls if you're there "early" - say, at about 9pm
The club is open at about 8/ 8.30pm.
You have to be aged 18 above to enter a strip club

Do EAT before you enter a strip club. They don't serve popcorns :(
No nachos, peanuts, potato crips, kebab, burgers or anything else to munch on. Just drinks...
The drinks are expensive too!
But it's a worthwhile experience:)
The dancers are absolutely beautiful:) - not all of them are Kiwi girls. Some are Europeans, some are Russians.

My favourites are the classic blonde/blue eye beauties...and yes, the girls do have nice, soft pink colour nipples ;) smooth cream-coloured skin.

& yes,... girls are allowed to touch the dancers;) hehe
but you have to tip them using special "Showgirls dollars" which you obtain from the bar.
I touched two girls, a Kiwi blondie (the  tanned, beach girl type with big boobs) and a dark-haired Hungarian beauty (Please don't tell my Dad;p)

I was sitting in the front row. The Hungarian girl danced seductively at the metal pole, and then came up to me took off her pink-colour fluorescent leotard.
I blushed ;p hehe

My co-workers were so mischievous. They made me put some "Showgirls Dollar" on the girl's boobs.

She squeezed her boobs, kissed me *blush blush blush* and said "thank you" coyly - in her exotic accent.
I was spellbound.
Before I knew it, I stammered and muttered something like, "You - I like you -.. is good - the dance" *blush*
(Ermm, don't ask me why I was nervous ;p... To be honest, I don't know why. After all, she's a girl, I'm a girl. She has boobs, I have boobs too. and I've done bra shopping with my friends so many times...it's not my first time seeing a girl naked, up-close)

I asked, 'Where are you from?"
She said, "Hungary"
I thought she's Egyptian - she looks a bit like the actress in Cleopatra (TV series) - Leonor Varela

 

Leonor Varela - actress

(Image source: SkyRock.net)

Nudity in documentary about Paganism ;) (yeah, it's shown on national tv)

The sight of naked women and men dancing around on national tv is something that's totally alien to me...

 

It's a highly "academic" and "educational" documentary about Paganism ;p

but I felt terribly unladylike watching it because it was quite akin to enjoying hardcore porn or visiting the White House 

You see, I grew up in Asia, where something innocent like this would be considered as being in the 18SX category:-

  

(Image source: http://www.redstaplerchronicles.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/02/baywatch.jpg)

I spent my teenage years hoping to see Pamela Anderson naked in the "censored-but-labelled-as-18-SX" Baywatch series (but my wish never came true...)

So, imagine my surprise seeing more than 6 naked men & women all at once! *gulp*

It was just too much for my faint heart

(Yeah, rite! You're just saying so cuz you know your Mum & Dad are reading your blog)

In some traditions of Wicca, rituals may be held in the nude, also referred to as "skyclad".

Being skyclad is not sexual in nature. Of those who practice skyclad, many say that it helps bring them closer to the Divine, because there is literally nothing between them and the Gods. In other traditions, a person may be skyclad only during certain ceremonies, such as an initiation rite.

Penis-shaped sanitary bin at Lumley Centre, 88 Shortland Street

Other articles: Condom-like stationery

Is the Lumley Centre owned by a Chinese Feng Shui enthusiast?
Not only is this funky office building located on 88 Lumley Street...
The sanitary bins also take on a very very very phallic representation ;p

Not sure if my wine connoisseur feminist friend Michele will approve of it ;p hehe

Why we suspect that Lumley Centre's owner is crazy about Feng Shui:-
1) 8 symbolizes "wealth" and "prosperity", according to the unscientific theories of Feng Shui

" 88 " is hence, a symbol of "double happiness", "double prosperity"

2) There are plants on every corner of the building.
It's almost like a mini jungle within a concrete structure