From Picasso and His Collection to Vegemite for breakfast (powerful stuff...yuck!) :P

This long weekend flew by so quickly! I managed to keep myself very occupied all right this weekend-grocery shopping, Picasso and His collection seeing and Thai dinner cooking.

On Sunday, after a long morning walk in the neighborhood, I went grocery shopping. It took me literally 2-3 hours. In making sure that I really got the best products and the best prices, I visited several stores in three different places which are in the same area near where I stay-Woolworths at Robertson Park, Coles at Robertson Plaza and a couple Chinese stores at Market Square.I just LOVE grocery shopping. Anyway, I came home and did some catching up on the news and the weather forecast.

On the next day,which was a public holiday, Judy and her family picked me up around 10 am. to head to the city center to an exhibition of Picasso and His Collection at Gallery of Modern Art. They said that it's the first time that Picasso's paintings and his collection are revealed out side of Europe. Brisbane is honored to be the first city to home the works of art. I have to say that his paintings are different from his collection of other artists such as Georges Braque, Paul Cezanne, Henri Matisse, Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Henri Rousseau. I liked the uniqueness of his works which reflect his life, techniques, ideas, moods and themes. Juxtaposed his own work to others,I think I preferred others. After the exhibition, we went for lunch nearby the museum and I had this wonderful crape and a great coffee which were just what the doctor ordered on the chilly rainy day like this! I have set my goal on tasting different coffee shops while I am here. They said that coffees here are very good. By the way, coffees first arrived and became popular in Brisbane around 1988 when they hosted Expo.

In the evening, we had Green Curry and Fried Rice and ended up with Taro and Pumpkin in Coconut milk for dessert. Judy and her family really enjoyed my Thai cooking big time. After two years of home cooking in Philly and an on and off cooking in Thailand, my cooking still remains...wonderful :)

From the powerful works of art of Picasso from the day before to the POWERFUL VEGEMITE I tried for breakfast, I thought I was to be envied! Well, for us Thais, let me warn you about the Vegemite! I will certainly miss Australia big time, but the Vegemite! I am just kidding....I had a great start of the day with lots of food for breakfast provided by my dear coordinator and friend, Judy. Off we went to Nathan Campus to a meeting with Margarette, the Director of GELI. We talked for a bit and I had a chance to express my deepest gratification to be hosted by GELI. Then, I met with Patricia, a DEP (Direct Entry Program) teacher, and went with her to her class to learn the management of the program. In the afternoon, I went into Annette's EAP class and then looked for materials to co-write a book and a research paper. I ended up my day with a great activity--grocery shopping to make a dish to bring to a surprise party throwing for a teacher at work! I do like dynamic they have around here at work!