Having done our transport research online we asked for seats with the Hoang Long bus company for our trip from Haiphong to Ninh Binh. This got us a sleeper bus for 2 hours, which we thought would mean space and comfort for our (comparatively) short journey. Ha! Hahahahaha.

Shoes off on the bus and we discover our seat/beds are right down the back on the bottom row. Right down the back means 5 seats/beds lined up next to each other in a row like one big mattress which we all lie on like sardines. A cheeky Vietnamese guy had stolen my window seat and refused to move so Brend I are were squashed in the middle. NOT FUN. The cheeky Vietnamese guy practised his English for the trip, asking us about New Zealand, and then telling me about his life. He was currently having girl troubles as he was on the bus to go south for a month for work. His lady friend was not happy about this and was refusing to take his calls. He asked for advice and so I told him he just had to make sure she knows he loves her, and to not let the communication fall away. He was sweet. But still a seat stealer.

Before leaving for Ninh Binh we tried searching for a map online, but there were none to be found. A place not even searchable by google maps (it is now so it’s either been added since or was blocked in Vietnam). We clumsily got someone to understand our attempts at Vietnamese saying words like hotel and train station and got a finger pointing the general way, thankfully the right way. Wandering down an alley way we thought was the right place we were stopped by a guy on a moto. Moto guy was Mr Dai, the manager/trip organiser/receptionist of a hotel in the area. He handed us an exercise book full of recommendations written in English and French and other non Vietnamese languages from people who had stayed with him before. He seemed genuine, the price was right, and the room didn’t seem to have any bed bugs!

We settled, napped, organised a moto tour for the next day, and then bought train tickets for our trip to Hue. Mr Dai asked if we liked music and invited us to a bar that night. But when it came time to leave it was him and his friend, both tipsy, that were to be doing the driving. Being the sensible one in the group I flat out refused to drive with an even slightly drunk driver on the back of motorbike in Vietnam. So I made the boys walk with me to this bar which was apparently not too far away.

After a number of false starts and the eerie feeling of walking around streets when you stick out like a sore thumb, we found the place which turned out to be more of a karaoke bar. Mr Dai sang a few songs and then, in Vietnamese, introduced his friends from New Zealand to the whole place. We heard “New Zealand” and “guitar” and then felt the eyes of everyone in the room. Thankfully they were all on the boys who were apparently going to play guitar. Darian, the chicken, refused. Brend took one for the team though and they loved it despite it not at all resembling the going brand of Vietnamese pop love song.

—-

The real draw of Ninh Binh though was our moto tour. I was terrified to get on the back of the bike but once I did it was so much fun! They didn’t speed and the roads were good. We were dropped in Tam Coc, the touristy village, and given time to do the usual boat tour. We didn’t want to do the touristy thing though so we set off on foot.

Best. Decision. Ever.

We saw the mountains and rice paddies and at the end of a long winding road we found Thai Vy temple being kept by an old French speaking Vietnamese man and his wife. The man looks like a great old sage with a long long white beard.
He shows us how to pray correctly using incense, and gives us a history lesson in French about the Mongols invading Vietnam.

The sage shows us some of the traditional instruments he has and gives us some lessons, we buy some old postcards from his wife, and we’re off. Back to Tam Coc centre to have some of their famous goat meat for lunch.

Driving down back alleys on the way back to the hotel we stop at an area on the map called Mua Cave. The cave is accessed by boat but we’re here to climb the 500 steps to pagoda with an insane view of the landscape. Seeing the wind swirling through the rice paddies was awe inspiring.

There’s not long after our tour till we have to get on our overnight train to Hue. We have some iced tea and sandwiches and practise our squatting, something only Brend was able to fully master.

—-

On the train it was Darian’s turn to have his bed stolen. Which worked out ok as our cabin only had Brend and I in it so he joined us instead. We ate cookies, drank Wall Street whisky, played cards, and tried our hardest to sleep on wafer thin mattresses.

[Brend's account of Ninh Binh]
[Photos in the next post I promise]

1. Metropolis Cafe (Hamilton)



2. Coffee



3. Monterey (Newtown, Wellington)



4. Pies



5. Cambodian Seafood



6. Gin



7. Scones



8. Lasagne



9. Breakfast all the time

I’ve realised lately that I’m in a good space and working on what I actually want to do now. How do I know this?

I’m temping and getting on with it but my mind is full of jewellery ideas I’d like to work on, photos I want to be taking, and blog posts I want to be writing.

When people ask what I do I tell them I temp 6 months of the year, as well as all the other stuff. Because that’s true. I have officially gotten to a point in my life where I can live on half of my temping wage while I’m temping, and spend the other half of my wage during the 6 months of the year I’m not officially employed.

My birthday, an unusually beautiful and sunny one (spring time in Wellington = rain), was spent nursing a hangover of both the food and alcohol varieties, having high tea with some of my ladies, and working. I couldn’t wait to have a few hours to myself so I could edit some photos, write some words, and sketch some ideas.

The crazy giftmas season has kicked in and orders have shifted into high gear. It’s been quite overwhelming juggling 40 hours in the office, social engagements every night, blogging every day, and filling all the orders in time. But I’m still really happy, I want to give up less than ever. And it’s a really great space to be in.

Over the past few years I’ve struggled constantly with the idea that maybe I’m just doing the jewellery and blogging thing because I couldn’t think of anything else. But I’m pretty sure that as long as I’m crafting and sharing my thoughts I’m where I want to be.

Money or no.

[Title courtesy of Cartman]

Viognier with Vigor. Another of the many themed gatherings I’ve attended lately. Another one centered around booze. (hurrah!)

It was the first time I’d ever tried Viognier and I’m sad now that I’ve been missing out! We tried 5 or 6 last night and they were all quite different but lovely in their own ways. The bottle I found by Anchorage was very fruity smelling, like melons and apricots. An excellent cheap option, and vegan to boot.

The winners though were wines by Coopers Creek and Terrace Heights Estate (THE). And us, for giving ourselves the chance to try a whole range of this full bodied “white wine for red wine drinkers”. Extra points to Jo for the idea and hosting, and to Laura who bought her cranberry white chocolate ice cream along. SO GOOD.

Honestly. People who say they would get bored if they won lotto and quit their jobs? Get a hobby and/or some friends you losers.

Shop

In shop news, orders need to be in by the weekend for shipping overseas by xmas time! After this weekend there will be a 2 week make time on custom jewellery until the new year while Super Laser Cutter Guy moves cities. As always email me (kim at cupcakesandmace dot com) or send me a convo on Etsy with any questions.

The rain could not keep us from Carlucci Land for long.

Despite the biting wind and our hangering bellies (we went straight after work and stupidly neglected to bring snacks) we battled through 18 holes of mini golf on a crazy course covered in metal sculptures we were encouraged to interact with.

Sure it’s not a very manicured or maintained place: the greens have been reused from old tennis courts and are covered in bits of trees; there’s an angry rooster which was, thankfully, safely tucked away in the shed while we played; and the course is full of potentially unintentional sinkholes.

We had a great time though. It took six of us around two and a half hours so we didn’t finish till just before closing time. Probably because we spent so long on the shit talking aspect of the game.

There were mandatory scorecard nicknames (Sexy Jesus TYVM) and 66.6% of us got into the hole in one club!

Extra notes: Lots of interesting putting stances from Laura, brandishing of putters like croquet mallots and hockey sticks from Pia (and the penis statue she found in the bush), hip thrusting from me, backfiring of the shit talk for Brend, winning in a totally understated way by Fi, and Tim not losing despite every indication that he was going to.

• Louis vs Rick. CAPS LOCK IS HOW I FEEL INSIDE RICK.
• People say stupid things on twitter. The Oatmeal draws them. Best.
• Wow, I seriously love the way Melissa refashions clothes! This house-dress turned skirt is awesome.
• Still not sure who to vote for? This Guide to the Election might help. (unstoppable robot armies!)
• I love the gay lifestyle. Gay coffee and cereal for breakfast! Gay dog walking! Gay bowling!
• Brilliance emailed to me from Jason this week: Attractiveness of Harry Potter characters over time; And the angel said unto him.
• Artists re-imagine their childhood drawings in their current style.
• I’m slowly getting used to the Google Reader changes, but the insane amount of vertical space they’ve stolen is dumb. Jason created a script to reclaim some of the space.
• Who are these people on street fashion photography blogs?! It’s messing with Chelsea Fagan.
• I’m loving Natalies blog, Extra Large as Life. We have very similar tastes so all her finds make me add things to my wishlists and pinterest boards. Recently she posted photos of her awesome self in nothing more than a cropped tee and undies. Not an unusual thing to see on the internet right? Except it is when the person in the photos isn’t catwalk model sized. I’m thankful for people brave enough to put themselves out there in a quest to normalise bodies of every size!
• I’m kinda in love with Nicki Minaj and her crazy style. So discovering this video she did with other awesome people (John Waters and The Lonely Island) made me very happy. The Creep.
• All burgers must be cooked like this from now until forever.

Crafty Projects

• Whittled twig hairpin tutorial.
• DIY bow mary janes.
• Freezer paper t shirt stencils.
• Super easy (and soft) t shirt necklace.

Breaking news: Wellywood sign explosion.

It never ceases to amaze me that people can move this fluidly. <3

Joel McHale shows why he won the Sexiest Man Award. (wait for it…)

It was Brendan’s one request that while visiting Mum in Ngaruawahia we see the Hamilton Gardens. I hadn’t been for years but remembered them being quite spectacular and well themed.

The weather was awful but we were only in Hams for two days so we braved the rain with my friend Kezz to take a look. The rain really packed in by the end of our visit so we left soaked and hungry. Worth it.

Having been introduced to good whisky by Brend and his Dad I’ve come to enjoy it without a mixer, or even ice. The way it should be consumed when the bottle is single malt and well aged, but the way it’s hard to drink when it’s blended and cheap.

Our friends like a wee dram of the good stuff as well. And so the Whisky Club was born. Every so often the host of the next Whisky Club gathering will buy a bottle or two of nice whisky to share, we all contribute $10 to pay for a share of the bottle, we gather, and we drink it. There is no room for wine, beer, or cider in whisky club. Not before all the whisky is gone anyway.

Yesterday was supposed to be a triple header of fun times. Mini golf, followed by a visit to Denny’s (my first time!), and concluding with Whisky Club. Unfortunately Wellington’s weather had different plans, as it is wont to do, and we had to cancel on mini golfing. The Denny’s plan remained intact and we grabbed the biggest booth in the place and filled the table with burgers, fries, pancakes, margharitas, coke floats, cakes, and breakfasts.

I pwned Denny’s. Chilli cheese fries to share, a millenium burger (meat + meat + cheese + bun. Making Ron Swanson happy), a pomegranate margarita, and a small stack of pancakes to finish (had to make Leslie Knope happy too). I have serious doubts about how I would have managed to get home if Jo hadn’t been driving. Way too much food. Maybe it was Denny that pwned me.

An hours rest between Denny’s and whisky gave me just enough time to digest a little and make some room for alcohol. On the table was Jura, a whisky we had seen on a show only days earlier and ordered from Whisky and More (who are awesomely discounted and have super fast shipping).

Jura is the smoothest whisky I’ve ever tried. Let’s just say it didn’t take long to go through the bottle between 8 of us…so we had to bring out the personal whisky and rum stash.

Can’t wait to do it again soon.

In other fun gathering news, a couple of weeks ago Laura and Tim hosted a mid-week Simpsons party! We ate Ribwich, pizza, all you can eat seafood buffet, twinkies, pickles, cheese slices, floor pie, and donut cake. We drank skittlebrau (occasionally through red vine straws). It was great.

I found this in my drafts last night. A post I wrote in April 2010, and yet not much has changed. I lost a bit of interest in clothes but still dress pretty much the same. I wore the mentioned glasses with photochromic lenses all over Southeast Asia, but my newest pair were scored free from one of Clearly Contacts facebook deals.

30.04.10

If you started reading Cupcakes and Mace last year when I actually wrote you’d know I’m a t shirt fiend. Also a sneaker fiend. (I also love cake and movies but we’re talking about aesthetics right now ok.)

A while back it was suggested on twitter that I probably have about 45 black t shirts in my wardrobe and while I thought that was a bit hyperbolic I wasn’t sure what the real number was.

It currently sits around 25.

Note that that does not include t shirts of other colours, or black shirts in other styles. It is purely black t shirts with prints. The kind you get from Threadless and 1-day tee, and I have no intention of stopping. It’s a shame I don’t have more amazing skirts to wear them with, but that’s another value the tees add – a great excuse to buy skirts!

The sneaker collection has not grown much. I found a bright white pair of high tops with blue gingham around the top and yellow straps, they were on sale too! How could I resist. And my chucks are worn in enough now to wear regularly without needing plasters every time I put them on.

Add a new found addiction to buying glasses online, and a recent upsizing of my tunnels and you can see where all the money I don’t spend on food goes. Goggles 4U and Zenni Optical are online glasses retailers I can recommend first hand. Buying glasses in New Zealand is an expensive and slow business. Go to optometrist > pick glasses > pay around $600 for glasses > get glasses a few weeks later. If you have your prescription though, you can pick from hundreds of awesome frames, pay around $40 and have them delivered to your door in less than a week, even though they’re coming from somewhere like China or Pakistan. Carazy. Most recently I got this red amber pair from Zenni Optical which sit and fit perfectly.

And this grey pair with grey photochromic lenses (they get darker in bright light) which are winging their way to me now.

You can also see that I have turned into one of those stupid hipsters everyone hates. I have tattoos, 1/2″ ear lobes and big nerd glasses; I pair t shirts and pencil skirts with tights and high top sneakers; I act like an adolescent even though I’m in my mid twenties; I don’t have a real job and instead spend my time going for coffee and listening to pop music covered by metal bands.

I’m a walking cliche. And I’m awesome.