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Combination Day – 2 of my Loves

20 May

So you all know I am an Avgeek. I freely admit it these days. I don’t care what others think, its who I am. Since the whole weight loss started, I enjoy running. How can I combine these 2 loves… what do I do??

how about that! That my friends is Paine Field in Everett Washington. The home of Boeing’s big boy factory. Where they make the wide bodies. The 747-8, 777, 787 and 767. This morning I ran 5K on their runway (well next to it anyway). I had an amazing morning, the run went really well, made 2 mins under the time I was aiming for. I had told myself under 30 mins was what I needed to do, under 29 will be happier, under 28 minutes and I get a double treat this week. (Pancakes after the run, Teriyaki for dinner).

In the end my time (as you can see above) was dead on 28 mins! Hello double treat! I had the best time as well during the run. I tried to not get distracted to much. At one point since the runway was still open, as I was running along, 6 aircraft came in for a formation landing. All lined up in a Line Abreast Formation, they flew over me, a fitting tribute if I ever do say. Then as they passed me and went behind me they broke their formation perfectly for a peal off and break for landing. Damn them!!

It was a fantastic finish as well, finishing the race alongside a parked Air Austral 777-200LR and trying NOT to get that distracted was tough, but a fantastic reward!! After the race I scrambled back to the hotel for a shower and breakfast and check out before heading back over to where I was, and then I could catch up with some fellow Avgeeks for a morning of being a local Avgeek. Fantastic morning and saw my first ever 747-8 takeoff (Cargolux 747-8F and i have a PERFECT) photo to!

After having to run off from Paine I hit the road, in hunt of my truck. I have to return the rental on Friday. Which means I need to get my butt in gear to get sorted. So I drove a lot today, back and forth between lots of different dealerships, even all the way to the middle of no where, thinking they would have lots of different new trucks but they were all used.

But now I have a very good idea on what I want, hell I may even have the truck picked out as well. Its been an eventful day. Totally beat and for the first time in 2.5 years i missed lunch, but only cause I was so busy!! Pretty sure the Teriyaki makes up for that loss though. More on Toshi’s maybe next time!

Lots more photos added:

Expat Life
 
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Posted in Adventures, Avgeek/Spotting, ExPat, Life, Losing It

 

Reality…

17 May

Well reality sure has set in today. Today is the first real time I have thought to myself, “What did I get myself into?”

Pretty much today was a madhouse at work and it was one of those days when you get frustrated for no real reason (well I have lots of reasons but nothing that is life threatening etc, nothing that I can control) and you get all down. Now normally back home, I would have some form of support network. My friends, my family. But over here, I am a little bit on my own.

This is good usually, but on days like today, I just need a good hug, some kind words and just to be there for you. So it kind of adds to the lonelyness a bit. I don’t want to hassle my new co workers to much and I can’t really chat to anyone at home all to often due to the time differences. So things can be a little tough. I need to get my US support network up and running and there is always one place I can go to at any time of the day for something nice to say. May sound silly but there is always someone around on twitter for me to have a quick message or two from.

I guess having access to twitter means that I have friends all over the world who are just as kind and as caring as my friends back home and over here. Even though they aren’t physically able to give me a hug right now or anything like that, I know they mean it and they want to help.

News from over here though is that things are progressing. I am adjusting, I have kind of found one area that I am liking. At the moment I am staying in Renton with a co worker, she has offered to let me stay here with her and her husband for a week or so (although due to last minute plans may need to adjust that by a day or so). I like Renton. More on that soon though. Maybe tomorrow night, if the weather is good. Till then I will find my solice in a tub of diet jelly…. Lemon flavour i think tonight!

 
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Posted in Adventures, ExPat, Life

 

Book Review: Medium Raw

15 May

I had intended to finish this book on my flight from LA up to Seattle, that didn’t happen as I lapsed in an out of conciousness after being awake for what felt like forever:

Medium Raw

The book is Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain. Yep that is right my last and the latest of Bourdain’s books. If you read my last review you will see me talk about Bourdain so I won’t say to much about that.

What I will say is that this book is more akin to Kitchen Confidential. This is the book I had hoped he would write. It is more about how his life has changed, his musings on food, travel, people, eating etc

There is some fantastic ranting and raving in this book, so many funny moments, he targets a few different things compared to Kitchen Confidential. Either way this was a thoroughly enjoyed this book. I could not recommend it more! I was so happy to be reading this book. It showed exactly how much he had changed between writing Kitchen Confidential and now.

Definately a good read! Especially if your a foodie, a wanna be foodie or just love cooking shows!

 
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Posted in Books, Movies, Music & TV

 

Trying to Understand an Obsession

13 May

I managed to make it through my first week at work, and did it with ease. I am settling in well. The desk is almost set up, but something just feels not right, I will work that out in the next few weeks I am sure.

One thing that has puzzled me since I got here to Seattle and I noticed it a little bit back in October as well (never on the last two times before that for some reason) is that Seattle is obsessed with Teriyaki. Now don’t expect me to turn this into a blog that goes out to find the best Teriyaki. To be honest, I don’t really LOVE teriyaki. Its good, I do enjoy it, but I don’t think I live Seattle style.

I have had it a few times over here now, at 3 different places now. The first one was at Rikki Rikki, its always good there. But not as cheap. Then I found a place at Issaquah at the Fred Meyers out there and it was pretty good to, and cheap! But I was so puzzled everywhere I looked it was Teriyaki here, there, everywhere. They have a few different chain type places but it is mainly little mom and pop joints.

So I looked into it. Why is a city obsessed with Teriyaki. Apparently stems back to Japanese immigrants modifying a Yakitori sauce to the american tastes. Either way, Seattle’s dish is now Teriyaki. It is usually pretty cheap, served with rice (white or brown) and a kind of like coleslaw salad thing as well. Pretty good value for around the average of $6-7 and probably better for you than maccas etc

So I was thinking… if Seattle loves Teriyaki so much, where is the best place to eat it??? So I did what I usually do when I need resaurant recommendations here. I tweeted @SeattleMaven. She works for Seattle Tourism and is prolific on Twitter and her recommendations have NOT failed me… EVER! She wasn’t sure so she put it out to twitter. Responses came back.. Teriyaki & Wok on Capitol Hill was the answer. So I figured… why the hell not review it! Well Kinda..

So today I decided to head up to Capitol Hill for my weekly treat, It was gonna be Chicken Teriyaki and then a short drive over to Bluebird Microcreamery (but thats a whole other story). Being Capitol Hill it was either going to be somewhere dumpish or somewhere slick and modern looking. Capitol Hill is kind of like the Valley back home. Hipster central, but also a lot of places that have not seen the best of times. What I found though was more of like a Drive through looking place.

From Expat Life

Walked in, fairly empty (but it was Saturday around 2:30pm as I was having a late lunch). Menu was HUGE!! lots of Different options but I stuck to the simple “Teriyaki Chicken Bowl” rather than the expected plate and also ordered a Side of Vegies (I love my vegies). Service was quick and I didn’t wait long at all.

From Expat Life
From Expat Life

The Chicken Came out first before the Vegies (no picture of the vegies sorry). The chicken looked good and a decent serving for $6.29 (plus tax). It also came with a Squeeze bottle of Sauce as well for anyone wanting extra (ahhh what the hell! I gotta try the sauce for the review right?) Lots of Chicken and plenty of Brown rice (that makes it healthier right?). It was about the right temperature to my liking as well but the rice wasn’t as sticky as I prefer for something like this.

From Expat Life

The sauce was pretty good. Very thin compared to what we would get back home, however I think thats more the style over here. A little bit sweet like Teriyaki should be but not overly so. If it had of been thicker I don’t think i would of needed to add extra. It was a little bit lighter so maybe that goes with the thin sauce?

From Expat Life

To be honest, It was good. For a good, cheap, honest, filling meal that is slightly more healthy than your normal Deep Fried fast food (I am sure there is a boat load of sugar in that sauce) its a good option. Teriyaki & Wok was damn good if your up in the Area. One of the better Teriyaki’s I have had (not that I have had many here in Seattle yet) but if I was hungry, in the area and up for something tasty.. I would go back…

I would give it a 4.5 out of 5 on Mal’s scale of Seattle Teriyaki (yep making it up), the best time to go though it seem’s would be during lunch Monday to Friday as they have quite a number of Bowls for cheap.. Wonder what Teriyaki Tofu tastes like.

From Expat Life

Would I drive 20 mins across town to get it… maybe.. Choosing it as a treat.. yeah it was a good option when followed by this ;)

From Expat Life
 
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Posted in Adventures, ExPat, Food & Drink, Life

 

A Week has passed

11 May

Well it has been 7 days as a resident over here and things are going well. I am settling into work pretty easily (been only a few days) and I am slowly fitting in (hell it’s only been 3 days so far at work these things take time).

But the thing that has been the most fun I would say for a foodie like me (well for the kind of person like me that is) is adjusting to all the new foods. You may think “what the hell is he talking about” Well you have to remember the way things are in aus is totally different to over here. To give an example, I was trying to buy a loaf of bread. Now back home there are heaps to choose from in a good healthy grain/rye bread and some really yum brands (like Helga’s, Lawsons). These kinds of breads just don’t exist. Sure there are wholewheat or some basic grains but just not the same kind :( What I did find though was a Russian Dark Rye, this made me happy :D I loves me some dark rye!

The thing that has had a bit of an impact though is the snacks. I usually eat 2 or 3 snacks a day in the 400KJ (100 Calorie) range. Back home this was really tough to manage as just about all the snacks were well over this and it was tough to find anything that was even remotely tasty, so it was always the same things over and over. Boring.

Not over here. they have what is called 100 Calorie packs. In just about every good yummy treat you could think of. Hell I went a little bit crazy. Managed to get some crazy Yoplait yoghurts with flavours like Key Lime Pie, Boston Cream Pie or Strawberry Shortcake. 10 packs for $6 DEAL! Then after I bought it I remembered I was house sitting so have to eat them all BEFORE I leave. woops! Then there are the museli bars. Back home there is like 1 brand (Uncle Tobys Crunchy) that I can eat. Not over here, there are thousands. I picked up some Peanut Butter & Chocolate Museli bars with 100 Calorie bars. These are great with a coffee ;)

Don’t even get me started on the choices for treats, god damn this is going to be tough! But I am up for the challenge, this week the treat is going to be some fantastic ice cream, and a blog post about something that I didn’t really know about before I came to Seattle last time.

 
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Posted in Adventures, ExPat, Food & Drink, Life

 

First Few Days…

05 May

Ok So I am here, I am alive. You may all now breath easily. It has been a pretty full on few days. The flight over was extremely full. But thankfully I had exit row, and a middle seat free. So yes I wasn’t in Business or Premium Econ, but I had space, I had relative comfort (apart from the freezing cold) so I can not complain!

The flight on Alaskan was pretty damn good, can NOT complain about a flight that was pretty much the same as any back home for a short 2 hour domestic hop. I flicked in and out of conciousness for most of the flight. I had been trying to finish off my 2nd book and had I been awake I may have been able to. But not now (expect a Review up tonight).

At the moment I am house sitting in Kirkland, Washington. Right on Lake Washington. The view from this place is amazing!!! In the first afternoon I managed to knock off all my essential paperwork (Social Security, Bank, Phone) in a matter of hours thanks to arriving around mid day. I then topped off my journey with a dinner at Rikki Rikki, a japanese place that Kirk and Anna (the bosses at my new work) got me hooked on last time and a couple of scoops of ice cream on the walk back to the apartment.

Yesterday I had been planning on doing a bit of shopping but that got put to the wayside when I got a last minute tweet from a friend from Twitter who was going to be in town. I dropped everything and went in to see her (and managed to forget her present in the mean time). Damn! But otherwise I have just been organising stuff, getting things sorted on this end, today I am off to do some of that shopping for stuff that I need to get to make my life a bit easier.

Some comments, yesterday it rained. Yes I need to get used to it, Just wish it would rain AFTER I go for a run, or at least it can rain lightly like yesterday when its not so cold! It was roughly 45F for most of yesterday which is NOT a good temperature in my opinion.

Anyway time for breakfast, and then its off to pick up my rental car that I have for a couple of weeks.

 
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Posted in ExPat, Life

 

Book Review: No Reservations

04 May

Something to get the travel lover going:

C360_2012-05-04-21-18-57

The book is No Reservations by Anthony Bourdain. More of a coffee table book than a guide book or a novel, this is something that I enjoyed even if not what I thought it would be.

Managed to read this I’m just over 2 hours on my flight to LA, this was a fantastic way to just get deep into two things I love. Food and Travel. For those that know who Bourdain is, he is an ex chef and host of the hit show No Reservations. A no holds barred, tell it like it is kind of person/show that is one of my favourites to watch.

This book looks at the places he has visited in the show, is full of photos taken by the crew in off times or during familiar stories from the show. A fantastic insight to the person who loves to travel, to eat or just enjoys the show.

So many of the photos or short stories they went with it made me think, I so want to visit there, I wish I had gone there or even, I am going to visit that place sometime in the future.

What more can a lover of travel want. A book filled with what is purely like porn to the food or travel bug among us, something that whets the appetite for either of these things, that entices us to do these things, to travel, to eat, to experience.

Loved it! Just wish it was longer!

 
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Posted in Books, Movies, Music & TV

 

A New Journey Always begins with just one step

02 May

Well today is the big day. I write this to you whilst sitting in the lounge at Brisbane Airport (Ahh the benefits of being an airline elite flyer) contemplating what I am doing, if it’s the right decision, is it the smartest thing?

I guess I can look back two and a half years ago. Back to a decision I made, not of the same magnitude but one that would in the end change my life for the better. This crazy decision back then to commit myself to such a huge task does give me a bit of hindsight.

I know i have the resolve to do just about anything. Someone said to me yesterday, that I have proven I have the resolve to achieve things I set out to. Thing is, I just have to stop doubting myself. I need to look at this move not as a leap of faith but more of a first step in a new journey, a new challenge to sink my teeth into.

I guess for now I can reflect on the last few days. The fun times, those last few happy moments like a final coffee with friends, a run through the streets around my neighbourhood or a final meal with the family. I am pretty sure I have said it before, but it is the little moments that make this all special. Life is an ever changing thing and these little moments just make it all the more special.

As I sit here in the lounge getting one last vegemite hit, I try not to think about all the things I will miss. If I sat here and listed them I’d probably make myself feel worse, so with that I leave you all. I will catch you on the flip side!

Current Location: Air New Zealand Koru Club, Brisbane International Airport

 
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Posted in Adventures, ExPat, Life, Rants, Travelling

 

Final Days

29 Apr

Well the last of my days in Brisbane are coming fast. The last week though was pretty full on with the trip to Sydney and the final few days at work.

Was so happy with how the last few days went. I didn’t want a big deal made of things, it’s just not who I am anymore. I would rather slip away, quietly, with as little fuss as possible. This is what happened so that made me happy. I left a number of things at work, donated you could say, to the team. An old stereo, my old cheap coffee machine, my old disgustingly dirty keyboard. These things will be better used there than me carting over the other side of the world.

One thing that did annoy me was that it was super busy last night and since I was expected to work till the very last minute of my shift, didn’t give me much chance to say farewell to some people, ah the joys of working in a call centre.

Today though, Brisbane really turned on the weather for my going away :/ Thanks so much Brisbane! Guess you’ve decided to prep me for the time ahead. Didn’t bother me all to much though because my going away was indoors at the London Club in Teneriffe. It was great to get a final catch up with so many people and I am going to enjoy my next few days off. Got a few catch ups with people and no work till I begin my first day at the new job on the 7th.

4 sleeps till the big day.. Am I excited? Heck yes. Am I scared? Hell yes! This is a big move but I am up for it. A new challenge, a new life, a new adventure. Bring it on!

 
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Posted in Adventures, ExPat, Life, Work

 

Book Review: My Mercedes is for Sale

28 Apr

Ok first person to tell me I read to much gets a smack on the butt (but it is true), I blame travelling and the size of these books.

C360_2012-04-25-18-51-58

This book is “My Mercedes is Not For Sale” by Jeron Van Bergeijk. I picked this book up at a $5 sale once figuring it looked good and would make for a perfect travel read (small, not to small print and interesting enough to keep you distracted).

I was right. The book is nothing over the top but to be honest was perfect for what I wanted. It is about a Dutchman (not sure if he is a reporter or a writer you never really find out) who takes it upon himself to buy an old Mercedes and drive it from Holland to Africa and sell it at a profit all while having one of those once in a lifetime exploring adventures in the Saharan desert.

There isn’t really much to the issue of cars in the desert or of the actual driving but more about the people he encounters along the way (especially other Europeans doing the same thing or adventuring to Africa). If you like to travel it is an interesting read as it gives a tiny glimpse into the life of Africa and the little discussed sides of being a native African.

This is a book you can read quickly, easily, and more than anything keep you distracted long enough for the 200ish pages so it goes into my “Good Plane Books” pile. By no means perfect, it was a good read and if you find it cheap, you could do worse.

Truth be told it sounds like a pretty cool thing to do. Buy a car that you couldn’t give away in the Western world then drive it overland to Africa all the while exploring what the real Africa is about.

Apparently mercs are very popular in Africa and even beat up ones can fetch a good price.

 
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Posted in Books, Movies, Music & TV

 
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