I LOVE KL

Sorry Melbourne but I think KL will be my new shopping destiation, flights are cheaper, shopping and food is cheaper and shopping is different, so many cool shops here. I love tangs Dept store too, totally rocks over Myers and DJ.

I feel like I’ve been here longer than a week, we have done so much stuff and now I can walk the streets like a local, don’t even need the map. OK so what have we done, or should that be what haven’t we done:
Sunday – arrived late arvo, dumped our bags went to Pavillion food hall for late lunch, early night.
Monday – Buffet breakfast in hotel rocks! (Staying at awesome Prince Hotel!!!). Took monorail to Tourist office. Gals went shopping and I went on hop on hop off bus, just to do something chilling and in air cond. Was good, but lots of traffic! I got off at the Petronas Towers for a few photos and a walk through the shops. Ended up being adventurous and using my map and walking back to hotel, without getting lost A shame can’t go up the towers, closed til Xmas for maintennance, next time! Met gals on level 10 for a swim, pool is lovely. Cocktails all roound. Dinner was at a place recommended to Carol and the food was awesome, Hakka! Chinese like food, ended up being $16 a head and there were 8 dishes which we shared, food was delicious!
Tuesday – Buffet to start the day. Susan, Pat, Sarah and myself went on a City Tour today in a mini van, with others, was a fun day. A few rain showers here and there but otherwise a great tour, our tour guide was lovely. We went to the National Palace, a Chinese temple, National Monument, Independece Square, Batik craft place and then the Twin Towers where it decided to bucket down! Great 3 hour trip. In arvo we had lunch at Shaghai teaplace had a few dumplings and some yummy tea. Sarah and I went for a wander through “Pav” and that was my first introduction to TANGS Didn’t buy anything but knew I’d be coming back! We ended up doing our own little walking tour and walked the whole of Bintang Walk to the end checking out the place. We are so close walking wise to all major shopping plazas – great thing! Came home and freshened up. I went to Happy Hour alone and wrote in my journal, very relaxing. In evening we took a taxi to CHinaTown and did the markets. Met back in Susan’s room to talk about our ChinaTown experiences
Wed – Buffet. Today was Sarah and Michelle’s Shopping Adventure – we walked to Times Square, massive 10 level shopping plaza. Started at top and worked our way down, even contains a theme park inside, but we didn’t go there. Bought some bargains. Had a great day, must have walked about 8 kms I reckon. In arvo we all met in the Bar Lounge and celebrated Carol’s birthday. How cool is the hotel, they gave her a small choc cake. Susan had bought some cheese cake tartlets – so good. Were supposed to be having tea, but Sarah and I had already ordered 2 Moscow Mules – mmmmm, went down a treat after our shopping trip. So it was cocktails all round! Did some more chilling. Susan and pat went for a maasage. In the evening all but Carol took taxi to Sky Bar at trader’s Hotel. One of the places I had wanteds to go. The view was amazing, but the customer service was beyond a joke. I don’t think we were “posh” enough for them. But was good to see. We had free cocktails, but not sure if they actually contained any booze, but the food snacks we had did the trick Another awesome day and night in KL
Thursday – Buffett. Today i was having a day to myself, as were a few of the the others. I went to “Pav”, 1st stop my fav jewellery shop Accessorize, bought 2 pieces there and then went to TANGS, spent at elast an hour in there. Came out with a skirt for work, but most importantly a WICKED cocktail dress for my wedding reception. In my fav colour of course, it is eprfect exactly what I wanted!!! Can’t wait to wear it Walked around more in Pav, bought a couple of tops. Dropped shopping off and then took monorail to Hard Rock cafe where I met Pat and Susan. Susan has never been to HR, so pat and I had to take her there. We had the best time, had a little snack each, I got my signature disck of chicken wings we all had a cocktail, the girls in a keepsake glass. I bought a t-shirt, my usual purchase, cheapest HR clothing ever Took monorail back to hotel, chilled out!!!! Had a quick swim before I went off for my awesome hawaiin massage, which included a foot spa, full body scrub, hot stones and oil on your back, legs and then an awesome massage, 2 hour session for $80, in the hotel! Bargain man!. Just what I needed! Dinner was across the road at this awesome traditional Malay place, buffet with traditional dancers, then Bailey’s night cap in Pat’s room – perfect!
Friday – Up early, buffet, Susan and I took taxi to the gardens area. Spent 3 amazing hours in the Bird park, the world’s largest bird aviary, where the birds roam free, well most birds. Some are naughty and try and escape, like this cute hornbill we met. But it was so awesome, we got some gerat pics. I nearly collided with a flying falmingo, it just came out of nowhere, it was hilarions. Susan said that would have been a great photo! We had a great time here. Getting hotter as time progressed. had a quick walk through the orchid garden and then over to the butterfly park. So hard to take pics of butterflys! We were dripping by this time and thought rain is coming! As we got in taxi it bucketed down, we had planned the morning’s events so well. taxi ride home was so nice and cool! Best morning. Got back to hotel, chilled, went for a swim, the pool was so very warm, just perfect! Showered and then Sarah and I went to Happy Hour for last time. Others went to Times Square for dinner. Sarah and I had fun chatting over our drinks, it was a really good chill out session. The rain thankfully had stopped so we walked to Pav and had yummy dinner at Island Resourt, a place attached to Tangs, hahahaha. Food was great and I had a mojito too, my 1st on this trip. Baileys night cap at our place as we had the best view of the Twin Towers. Today we had the King and his family at the hotel so we had security everywhere, plus the King’s 2 blue and white rolls royces – we feel very high and mighty sharing our hotel with his family packed ready for last shopping tomorrow.
Sat – Im writing this on our last day, was awake so early, off to our alst buffet, lots of lasts today, but I’m sure I’ll be back in KL one day soon, want to bring Rod back here, he would love it, maybe not the shopping, but lots of other things. I’ve had the best week with the ladies, its been the best reward present after our amazing conference!

Travel and stuff

So last month I had my birthday and I had the best time. We had drinks at the Sail and Anchor and Rosies in Freo. Lots of dancing and catching up with great friends.
I spent good money on getting my hair styled, bought a new dress for the ocassion too. No one recognised me. At Rosie’s the band got me on stage and sang happy birthday – it was such a fun night. I felt so special Thanks to everyone for coming along, thanks to all the good wishes and the presents. On my acutal birthday I went to my first ever Library Technician’s Day breakfast – that was a great start to my birthday, seeing my library mates. Spent the day with Rod playing Supa Golf and then dinner with family.

Rod and I booked our hotel in NY – I love it. I found it on Wotif – that is the best site. We just need to get something for Washington and then that’s the US done. Spending lots of time reading up what we want to see and do in the USA and UK Lonely Planet – I love those books. Started planning our road trip for the UK too, a first for both of us, gonna be so much fun.

Goals for 2010

I want to keep doing tennis lessons and play Social Tennis. I’ve started gym classes at UWA and love combat. I want to go every Tuesday. I want to keep doing Aqua on Weds. I want to ride my bike. I want to stay healthy and fit & stay on the Healthy Eating CSIRO diet.

I want to be more crafty this year. I want to scrap book my 2008 trip photos & 2009 South African/ Mauritius trip. I want to start a visual journal from 2007. I want to create a visual journal, 5 – 10 lines of each journal of my life starting when I was 15 until now. I want to keep up with my Blog.

I want to travel. We plan to travel to the USA and UK this year to see friends & family. I can’t wait to see Vanessa/Dan in Houston and take Rod to the US for his 1st time. I want to see friends over East. I want to go camping more in WA. I want to experience new things in my home city.

I want to learn something new in my job at UWA. I want to put my heart and soul into organsing the 2011 LT conference to be held in Perth. I want to get colleagues at UWA Library to join in and encourage them to submit a paper/talk.

Of course I have lots more I want to do this year but these are the main goals. I want to keep in touch with family and friends in Perth too.

I love Adelaide!!!

It’s gone so fast, can’t believe it’s all over. Have had the best 10 days here, but really looking forward to coming home. Awaiting my flight @ airport now doing this blogging. Haven’t had a chance really to blog much, so will only give a quick summary of what I’ve been up to this past 10 days.

Last weekend Rod and I had a wonderful time hanging out with Vicky, we walked a lot, went to the German village Hahndorf, took tram down to the beach at Glenelg – very blowy, but got to see a wonderful sunset. We played Getaway game lots of fun! I want it at home. You can go on holiday without spending any $$$$. It was so HOT last weekend, I loved it, so good to be away from Perth’s rain!!!

Then I said goodbye to both and checked in on Monday evening. We had a fun night at the factory @ BreakFree, creating our Perth showbags for the stall at the conference. We had dinner at the awesome Indian place down below at our apartments, great food, better price.

Tuesday was the first unofficial day of the confernece, what I love the most – Library Tours. I went on the conservation tour and we visited the Artlab and the State Library of SA. Artlab was so interesting, basically the building is split into 5 or so labs, each doing something different – textiles, objects, paper, projects, so on…… check out their website…. I really enjoyed this tour. Then on to state library, not bad, but Artlab was my fav! I chilled out over lunch and organised my talk one last time. We registered, set up the Perth stall and then had opening drinks, was great to see some old faces again and promote our stall. Went to a pub on Hindley for dinner, The Woolshed, that was pretty good….. Again late to bed as we tended to stay up late talking about the days events, seemed to be a common pattern over the whole week.

Wednesday was opening day for the actual conference, we made sure we were on time for keynote talks. I really wasn’t paying much attenting that morning, psyching myself up for my talk. I didn’t eat much in the breaks, running around, making sure things were done (hey what’s new!!!) My friend Sarah helped me set up the room with minties and fantails and all was ready. It seemed to go so fast the whole thing, I really did enjoy it though and I am pretty proud of myself. I was able to answer questions and it felt so good!!!! The rest of the day was great……. In the evening we went to Boho Pub (awesome reccommendation!!!) It was a little quiet but perfect for our group of 20…. Food was amazing and so cheap. I had a yummy After Dinner Mint cocktail to celebrate my talk being over. Brilliant night, everyone loved the circus theme.

Thursday was another day of papers and workshops, lots of inspiring and passionate LTs!!!!  We had the conference dinner in the evening at the National Wine Centre. Fantastic night, the band was awesome!!! We danced so much to 60s, 70s, 80s and 90s music, before and after main course, it was so much fun. LTs know how to have a gerat time that is for sure!!!! Was so good to have a good dance!!!

Friday we were all a little weary, with going to bed quite late, our “fab four” in my apartment stayed up late again great to talk so much but tiring the next day (hahaha). Lucky we started a little later….. Day went pretty fast. We presented, “Come to Perth” slide show and talk. Went really well. Whole committee’s organising for this really paid off! We had closing drins, always sad to say goodbye to fellow national LTs, but lots have said we’ll see you in Perth (and may even write a paper) so that is all very promising, can’t wait. All the showbags went…… The stall was packed up and some of us headed out for late night shopping. That was fun, with dinner down in East Rundell Street. Supposedly an earlier night, but our last with the “Fab Four”.

Saturday was an awesome day!! Our whole day winery tour of the Barossa Valley. A great way to unwind after an exhausting week. About 12 people from WA and a few other LTs joined a grayline bus tour and headed out to the Barossa. Beautiful sunny day for tasting wine. We visited a couple of boutique family owned wineries, had lunch at Kaesler  (bought some lovely white port). We finished off the day by eating again at the yummy Indian place, so close to home Perfect, yummy food yet again!! Lots of goodbyes said and we had a pretty early night. I even managed to catch the last of the footy final – feel like I’ve been away from civilisation the whole week with no footy news, I can’t wait for the GF, the 2 teams I wanted to be there have made it!

Sunday I visited the State Library of SA – the Mortlock wing is absolutely beautiful…. Took a few photos and wandered through the exhibitions, even saw Bradman’s bat. Spent rest of time shopping and checking out the markets and chilling out!!! So needed it.

It’s been a fantastic 10 days in this beautiful city, I can’t wait to come back when its warmer and go swimming at their beautiful beaches. There is so much to see and do here. Would love more time at the Barossa Valley, there are some lovely cute towns set out amongst the valley.

I have heard some fantastic and interesting papers and attended some great workshops. I really enjoyed visiting ArtLab. Networking with LTs across Australia has been great too. Have met some wonderful people and I hope they come to Perth 2011.

Small selection of photos added:  See the section, “Past Trips” from this amazing 10 day trip to Adealaide.

Told you this would be short (NOT)

LT Committee 2011 are a success!!!!

How I could I forget this!  Something so important to myself and 15 other great people from WA…. 16 Library Technicians formed a committee to write and submit a proposal to have the 2011 Library Technician conference here in Perth. We submitted our proposal in April and we were all told a few weeks back that we were SUCCESSFUL!!!! Hooray for us

I am so thrilled we get to go to the next step and organise and present the next LT conference here in good old Perth in September 2011. It’s going to be a very busy couple of years, but we can do it. We have a great team of passionate LT’s who lover their career and are hard workers and we’ll have fun at the same time!

This year the conference is in Adelaide. So far there are about 10 of us going to the conference, from the committee which is great!

I am speaking at this conference, a 15 min talk on my chosen topic. It’s only my 2nd conference and my first as a presenter. I am nervous and excited at the same time. I will have my WA LT’s there for support so it should be fine!

Go Team!!!!