Not the best start to a blog post of exciting events but... I don't know if you all read or heard but a hot air balloon caught fire and there were 11 casualties :( My heart dropped and I felt an instant cold sweat. It was almost as if Matt and I cheated death and I had gruelling scenes of 'final destination' run through my head.
I told my mama about it and all she had to say to me over and over again the past few days was, "Please don't ever do anything like that ever again" Very sternly... and worriedly. I don't think I could ever put my parents through the worry. Even the night before the flight when we had our new year's phone call, I consciously made a point not to mention anything about the flight and to only let them know how it went when we landed... if we ever landed. They both weren't too keen about the idea in the first place to I'm happy Matt and I are both safe.
Anyways, back to happy thoughts :)
We were supposed to fly on the 17th of December but it got cancelled due to bad weather. I was very disappointed but better safe than an awful experience up in the air. It was midnight, New Year's Day and Matt was already sleepy. I convinced him to stay up with me to watch the New Year celebrations on tv... he did :) 3.30 a.m. and just as he was getting really sleepy I told him we had somewhere to leave for in half an hour! I'm not sure that was the best idea but it worked out alright I suppose :) Surprise!!!
How beautiful is that?
At this point I was nervous as hell but sooo excited at the same time.
Eek!
This is the only thing between me being alive and a 3000 feet drop down to my death.
How reassuring :/
Thank God we're back on land! If you are mildly afraid of heights like I am, it really isn't so bad. I did feel a bit queasy but otherwise, it wasn't too bad as long as my whole body was in the basket.
You know what the best part of it was? The preparation for it. Everyone worked together, watched the balloon spread on the open field, started with the fan thing and later the flames. Us later climbing into the basket and finally take off! Pretty cool :)
This view now, is from an entirely different place; 55 floors up at the corner of King and Collins Street. It looks like a pretty crappy view but with a bit more of the city on the right, it was actually quiet amazing. Really.
"Where would you like to have your birthday?"
"I don't know. Anywhere"
"Spice Temple?"
"Yeah, sounds good!" :)
So that was me suggesting Spice Temple at crown weeks before Matt's birthday. It's actually pretty good. Great food, dark and cosy, almost mysterious atmosphere. Matt and I went a few months ago and have been wanting to go back again for a while now; what better opportunity too we both thought. Or rather he thought and I implanted in his mind... inception! Anyways, so hooray we're going to Spice Temple la di da. On the 15th, the day of Matt's birthday we had agreed that I'll meet him at his work and we'll go to Crown together. Little did he know that in the 15th drawer of his advent calendar I had made for him, was a message saying to meet me at the corner of King and Collins street at 11.45 p.m. I had called an hour before our planned lunch 'diversion' to make sure he had checked his day's candy drawer :) So long story short, he knew at once we were going to Vue de Monde instead of Spice Temple for his birthday... and he was very surprised and excited! Yeay!
"Happy 30th Birthday Bao Bei!!!"
"Thank you!"
*and I present to him, his awesome present*
"Would you like to open this now or later?"
"Now!"
and this is what I finally decided to get for him...
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and he was genuinely surprised!
Mission accomplished! *upward air fist punch*
It looks much better in person I assure you!
I'm really happy with it. I really wanted something Matt can keep for a very very long time and the only lead I had was that he wanted a dark faced watch to add to his collection. After going through so many designs within my budget I felt this was it.
A week before his birthday, walking around Chadstone shopping centre I suggested he get his father a watch for Christmas just so I could maybe see if Matt liked the watch I had picked for him. And of all things do you know what he said to me??!! "There's nothing worse than buying an expensive watch for someone who might not like it". Was it a sign? I thought. Matt tends to be very particular so... I was a little worried and didn't go through with engraving... just in case! Besides, I didn't think Matt was the engraving type too :P No, I was not doubting my taste! Thank goodness Matt loves it and it was obvious from the many loving looks he gave his new watch already on his wrist throughout lunch. Phew*
After 4 hours of mind blowing degustation and at the physical brink of explosion, Matt was presented with a little birthday treat. I thought it was very sweet of them :)
I can't say the same for Jacques Reymond though. So... I took my parents, Matt, Tian and his girlfriend for a nice degustation dinner 2 nights before this lunch for my graduation, Tian's as well and Matt's birthday. It was my first big treat for my parents, first of the many to come of course.
Sad thing was, it was such an occasion and we were all very excited but the service was such a let down. Food was sublime. Service was absolutely shocking. Never again. Never. I'm hoping we just had a bad egg because it would be such a pity for others too if the experience and unworthy major dent in my bank account is the biggest impression left as opposed to the pretty amazing dishes.
The 17th came and instead of the prior planned hot air balloon ride that was cancelled, we just had a typical breakfast because you know, it's just another weekend.
Wrong! :)
This surprise was spoilt though :( Matt's dad called up to see what we were doing in the afternoon because the family came down from all around Victoria to Melbourne for Matt's birthday party later that evening. Just as Matt got off the phone with his dad he turned to me and said
"So is the day spa still on for today?"
Nooooo..... but on the bright side, Matt had his suspicions. So it wasn't completely his dad's fault.
Champagne and chocolates after our day spa. It was amaziiiing :)
We were both all relaxed and smelt nice from the oils. Oommm...
And finally here, is Matt's birthday cake. Anyone who knows him would know if had an item to represent him in his entirety, it would be coke. Well, maybe not his entirety but a pretty big portion of it! I took a risk and had this arranged with a company I googled up online but I was a little disappointed with it. Oh I don't know, I guess I was hoping it wouldn't come out looking as tacky as it did. But never mind, everyone found it very amusing and it was enough for all 40 of us with plenty left for us to bring home.
So there you have it, Matt's 30th birthday. Doesn't seem very exciting now that I think about it but it sure cost me a fortune! Phew* never in my life have I splashed so much money around! But Matt deserved every bit of it and I've made sure to tell him that it was a 30th bash and I wouldn't be spending near as much until his 50th birthday... just cause it's the sensible thing to do. Lol. Now we've got bigger fish to fry together. Ah, the exciting near future :)
Happy 30th Birthday Boo. I love you so very much ♡
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