Not my time yet

There are three conversations I would like to include into this entry. Then I will explain why!!!

First Conversation
Over MSN Messenger with Jonie. I think this conversation was about 1 months old... But I constantly get the same questions over and over again, by some other people I mean.

Jonie says: Hey lex, can you help me out with my microbiology assignments?

Lex says : Yeah why not.

*blah
blah
blah....*

Jonie says: when are you coming back?

Lex says: I had no idea. Maybe June, maybe November, or maybe December.

Jonie says: Yeah so you will be back for my Bday?

Lex says: we'll see!!!!Hahhaha

*blah blah blah*

Second Conversation
When I was on the phone wishing Bon-voyage to Jocelyn (Joce). She went back to Malaysia like 2 months ago. She was sleeping in Sydney Airport; sleep, bath, eat etc etc. cause no accomodation in Sydney that day.....

Joce said: Hello

Lex said: Yello, ooi Bon-voyage ah! (most Malaysian English has either 'ah' or 'lah' or 'mah' in their conversation)

Joce said: Thanks

*blah blah blah* (I don't mind cause I got free calls from Optus network to Optus users)

Joce said: hey, how come you idiot don't wanna go back? There are cheap flight to Singapore what.....

Lex said: Nah, not this time around. Anyway good luck and have fun in Penang. BON VOYAGE

Third Conversation
When I was using my soon-expire-IDD-card to call my best buddy Reuben (Ah Ben) on his birthday.
PS: This conversation was in Hokkien, dialect which all Penangites speak. As I am from English Ed., I had no idea how to write Hokkien in Mandarin, so I guess I will write in English then.

Lex said: Oii Ah Ben. Wa si Lex ah.
(Hey 'Ben, This is Lex speaking)

Ah Ben said: Hm? Chuchui?
(Hmm? Who?, he don't use my English name....)

Lex said: after being force to tell him my Chinese name..
: Wa si Ee Xiang ah.....
(I am 'chinese name')

Ah Ben said: Ooh. Ooi, hoh seh boh
(Ooh, hey how are you)

Lex said: Hoh seh, wa pah lai sii ai ka lu kong Happy Birthday eh
(Fine, I called to wish you Happy Birthday)

Ah Ben said: Ah than'que than'que. Oii Kwui see tuei lai?
(Ah, thanks. When are you coming back?)

Lex said: Hmm wa hm chai oh. Chap It guet?
(Hmm, I don't know. November?)

*blah blah for awhile and hang up cost too expensive.*

If you had read all the three conversations, you might see some common questions. If you had been skipping all those conversations, I got nothing to say....Wasted my time typing that interesting conversations that I hand picked out....

There is always 'When are you coming back?' 'Come backlah', 'Kwui see tuei lai?' etc etc. The problem is that I am not sure. And I don't think this is my time yet. Not my time to go back yet. I still got so many things to see and explore in Australia, and to learn as well. Hehehe.

Although I missed heaps of people from Malaysia, both Penang and KL, I dont reckon it is time for me to come back yet. Although I missed and drooled for Penang's foods, I don't reckon it is time yet.

PS: Millions thanks to those who concern about me! I will be back sooner or later, for awhile. Hahaha

Ta (Thanks) Fat Aunt

Well, what can I say about this blog? Hmmmmm. Okay Okay, those of you who knows me ( from Malaysia, Penang, or Australia) and to those who just bump into my blog, I am going to tell you people a story. Hmmmm, I can hear the idiots cried out loud, " Not Another Story!!!!! " ..... I don't care, this is my blog, I can say what ever I like!

First and foremost, if you people know I went to Australia to end my Science degree in Monash Gippy, you might thought, " This bloke is bloody rich, to come/went to Aus when he can finish the degree in Tanah Melayu (Malaysia) ". But I am actually not! You might heard it from directly from me, or from other people talking behind my back, or from some people's mouth; that I can come over here is because of my AUNT. YES!!!! You are correct, but no price for that. Hehehe

Well you see, my aunt has been living in Aus since I was born! I still remember, when I was still a kid, she will come back every 2 years. I only recalled when my cousin came back with her. We, one bunch of kids, tagged along with her to everywhere! She is like our candy lady. Hahaha. Still remember the place I like to go was the '15 Miles' ( 15 公里). How come we called the river that name? Let me explain more detail; 15 Miles means 15 miles from the Teluk Bahang Dam. Make sense? You can't swim in the Dam, that is where people get their water, idiot! Moreover the water was cleaner! If to those who never been to 15Miles or up to 18Miles, don't waste your time. It has been deteriorated by those Malays.

When we were over there, we played until the sun goes down. If not, my sister and I won't want to leave. Blah blah blah. Oh back to my aunt, we call her Fat Aunt. She use to be quite plump and thus this is how the name came about. We are Chinese, no way we can call her name just by that! Anyway she loved us very much, regard us as her sons and daughters, even she had one!

As my parent is not rich people, not roadside dirt poor either. Hmm... Maybe by referring to the Steak cooking methods; there is Blue, followed by Raw, and then Half cooked, and Fully cooked. We are in the Raw category! Not Blue and not yet Half cooked. There is no way I can come to down under to study... But my aunt willing to pay/ loan me for my tuition fees in Aus. How cool and good is that! Half of my friends are green with envy, because I got such good aunt! Ta her everyday for everything she did to me! Of course I do thanks my parent everyday, they did so much for me as well.

Well, better have my brunch. Woke up so long, still haven't had my brekkie....

Australia Day

Since today is Australia Day, and everyone is having holiday in Australia (Aussie have very little holidays as compared to Msians, although it is called a Multicultural society), I might as well write an entry!

Aussie have only public holiday for Australian Day, Queen's Birthday, ANZAC day, some Easter days, and Christmas holidays. I was talking with my cousin about this, and we were saying that if Aus is to have holiday for every culture, EVERYDAY WILL BE A HOLIDAY!!!!!
Well you see, you start with English New Year, then it will be some other culture new year, Seol (Korean's New Year), then Pongol ( Indian's festival), so on and so forth.

Oh, so talking about Australia Day, it is the day where the European settlement first step on this unknown land called Australia/ Australasia. This the when the all hell broke loose for the Aboriginals Australian as their land had been seize by the European settlement who are said to be the descendant of convicts... Then it was the Lost Generation, where Aboriginals' kids are being taken by the Caucasians and being bred as an European...Okay enough of history.

This year is the first year I am over here for Australian Day. Nothing special. Aussie will go for Big Day Out, where you party all day ( lucky today's temperature is not 39 scorching hot) and drink beer all night. Asian will just sit at home and some will just play computer games all day and night.

Then there is this advertisement from this guy called Sam Kekovich where he URGE Aussie true blue not to be influenced by outside society in to become un-Australianism. Hehehe. Here he quoted, "The desecration of the Australian flag was bad enough. Imagine if people started burning lamb chops as well. And unAustralianism played a role in the greatest disaster to befall our nation since TOFU...."

He then further said, "I have a dream - that by Australia Day 2007 no Australian child will be living without a nice juicy lamb chop. And I have a dream that on Australia Day mung beans and lamb chops can sit together, side by side on the same plate, as long as it’s not mine. And I have a dream that lamb can unite Australians of all colours and creeds - even hairy legged sandal-wearing lentil eaters.” (hairy legged sandal-wearing lentil eaters meant Indians...Hahaha)

Damn funny, looking how serious he said during that advertisement, like he is running for Aussie Prime Minister! I don't mind agree with him that! Because I don't eat beef, hence the red meat that I eat are Lamb and Pork! So I voted for Lamb!
This is the idiot who vote Lamb

And how do I vote for lamb? Look at the picture below! 4 juicy yummy lamb loins with little veggie. Of course I did eat one honey dew after that. One Honey Dew, not one slice. Hahaha. Aus mutton is very different from other place. This might be due to the fat on the meat. Yummy, they do melt in your mouth!

If you people are eager to see the advertisement, go to this website: http://www.votelamb.com.au/! Will end this entry with my own Grilled Lamb Loin!

My Grilled Lamb Loin with Mustard for Brunch!

No Idea what to put as title...

January is a really slow and boring month for me to begin with... Worse when you are in Churchill and in Australia, where everyone just woke up from the beautiful eating of Xmas! January is just too boring for me... Just finished my research project experimentally and need to write up a 8,000 words report in a month time. No big deal? Nah, still procrastinating heaps... Final Presentation in 2 more weeks? Nah, still procrastinating heaps heaps....

These days spend most of the time reading and catching up with my Naruto manga, and occasionally chat with similar person. Vivz thanks for the time! Muak Heaps! Play some computer games, temperature too high for me this cold-blooded lizard to move about and do some sports. How do those Indians from West23 do sports everyday? ( Well trained from the Bollywood's movie!) Although now is already cooled down to about 20 something, I am still unproductive in sports...

Ta to my high metabolistic body, I manage to keep that beer belly low while I sat there and laugh at Homer Simpsons doing the episode where he travelled with this bunch of Rockers and perform human-beerbelly-cannonball-blocking-act! Long eh? Don't know any other flowery English to explain this. By the way, with Homer why do I need good English? DOPE!

Next semester is coming soon. This means my holiday will be ending soon... Where is my holiday gone? Give me back my holiday!

Wait. I still have 8,000 words report to hand up on 22nd of Feb. Dope!

Next semester should be interesting. You know why? Most of my friends, which I took 1 short semester to 'generate?' is gone. Is it how you call it? Hmmm......Anyway, ahahha ( too lazy to check dictionary, bare with my bad English for an entry please?), they were either going back to their hometown for good, graduated, or just being stupid and being kicked back to their hometown.

Why in the first place I write this entry? No idea as well.... Boring with this entry now
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Btw. thank again to those who ease my boringness once awhile by either chatting, Vivz; playing pool, Wayne; and asking me favour with their blog html, Ammie.

I Want I Want I Want.....

Before I begin my entry for today, please do leave a message (comment, ANYthing!) so that I know that my blog is actually being read beside me, myself and I... I did tried using the Counters, but....

Okay back to my entry!

Well after reading one of my reader's blog, I realised that I should write an entry related to the place I want to travel! Okay okay, here is the list!

1. First and foremost, Japan. Of course it has be to Japan! I am a Japan maniac and was a Japan wannabe. Mind the tense 'was'. Nowadays I am not so J-wannabe, but well, I still want to go Japan (Full Stop). Which part of Japan? Erm.......Everyparts? If I have enough money. Hahaha....
2. Second place which I am dying to go is Great Barrier Reef. Swimming with the fishes ( I am not dead yet, and I don't want to die over there, mind you); look at the reefs which is about to extinct....Sad...
3. Third place will be New Zealand. Although it will be more woop woop than Australia, I guess I just love the environment in New Zealand.
4. Polynesia. Any nice islands around the Pacific. Maybe Marshall Island will be good!. A narrow island with reefs at both sides!
5. Moving up to the equatorial, I will like to go either Bali. Although it had been bombed for quite a number of times....
6. Or Singapore! To tell you the truth, I never been to Singapore for more than 18 years.... Long eh! Guess because I am a Penangite, and travelling from Penang to Singapore is just too far!
7. Wanted to go Maldives. Another island similar to the Polynesian islands. Then I might go to Madagascar! Boogey with the lemur king! I like to move it move it, I like to move it move, I like to move it move it, You like to, Move it
8. Next should be Tibet. Hmmm, guess Tibet should be after New Zealand. Wanted to experience the high altitude and the land which was not open to outsiders for century. While I am over Tibet, I might as well go to Bhutan and Nepal! Not that I am going for Everest.... No such ambition
9. After that, it has to be Italy! No idea why, maybe just their romantic atmosphere that I like?
10. Scandinavian countries will be fine as well!
11. New York/ America is another place I wanted to travel. Not particularly like America, Sorry Americans. But that place might be just too far for me to consider... Hahaha.

Well guess I almost cover the whole globe. If those countries are not inside this list, I might be just forgetful. Hahaha......

Addictions

Although I am not a junkies, not a pot smokers, not a smoker as well (mind you), I had heaps of other addictions...I am still a TV addict, I am a slave for tv (from the Britney Spear's song), slightly yuppie addict, my parent won't like this... Now I realised that I wasted most of my time facing the lappie for MSN Messenger.

I might be one of the MSN messenger addict. My MSN will always be signed in, even when I am out. First thing I look at in my lappie is MSN Messenger. Start chatting nonsense with people, although sometime being the completely fool, by ask "How Are You", when the opposition don't even care whether I am dead or not....You say 'I am a Caring', I agreed with you, but some people just don't give a damn, so why should I care?.

Okay, a new year a new life! I am going to tried to get rid of the MSN addiction! Sorry for those who wait for me to come and say 'hello', I am trying not to care anymore. This new year, I am going to channel my interest to other more useful things. I AM GOING TO HAVE A LIFE!

Being taking up the pool again. I really sucked the first time, after 2 bloody year of not touching the pool cue. Anyway now that my residential halls have pool tables, I can restart my pool! I am going to start reading books, and try to improve my bloody bad English. I am going to play more games, both computer games and sport games. As next year is my final semester for my Science degree, I just want to be all rounder. Won't waste my last semester with just chatting on MSN messenger.

I sometime wanted to thank my aunt who sent me to Australia. Opening my eyes, that I had no life, and I really need to change this no life habit. Although I said I am getting rid of the MSN addiction, I will still sign into MSN messenger in blue moon!

Dreams 夢 (Yume)

After a long talk with my mom back in Malaysia, she told me about my long lost childhood friend, Wei Chee. During we were young, about high school period, both of us have the same dream. Both of us wanted to go Japan so damn hard, that everything around us evolve just for it. Both of us wanted to study, work and live in Japan. I still have no idea why I think Japan is the ideal country for me... Do tell me, if you know of anything. Haha

It was about that time that both of us lost contacts, until A-Level Year12, if I recalled correctly. Both of us are in the same High Intermediate Japanese class in Penang Japanese Language Society. Whether I followed his dream or he followed mine, I don't really know and care. I was a Japan freak/ Japanese wannabe/ anything Japan guy. If you are in the same high school as I did, you sure know that.

After A-Level, I left Penang and went to Kuala Lumpur to start my Science degree, at the same time, bowed down to the idea of me going to Japan to study. Just bloody expensive. There is no way my parent will support my this dream. After departing, I did not get his mobile number and he did not call me either. Once again our contacts are lost. What I've heard from my mother, through his mother, was that he went to Singapore to work. If not mistaken as a waiter.

Years gone past and it was already second year of my Science degree. I am happy with what I have achieved. I still attend Japanese class in KL. 日本語は私の生命...
Just before I was about to take off to The Down Under, I heard that he went Japan with his own hard earned money. He will be starting his new life in The Land of the Rising Sun, while I will be in the Down Under. His is a long time dream, but mine is just follow what faith brought me.

He made me really think hard. Am I not work hard enough for that dream? My dream will always be a mere dream, but his, his dream turns reality.

あなたの夢のために一生懸命働けば, 夢が本当になるよ
Anata no yume no tame-ni isshyokenme hatarakeba, yume ga honto ni naru yo

しかし, 私の夢はただの夢
shikashi, watashi no yume wa tada no yume (desu)

Today with no Tomorrows

These few days, I was very bored and turn on the telly for more news than before. What I've noticed these days is that global warming is really kicking in. Crazy weather all around this rubbish globe. Warm winter in the Northern Hemisphere and cold summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It was hailing during Christmas in Melbourne 2006 and just raining for London...

Recent news was saying about Extinction of Polar Bear. Apparently they are dying because the iceberg they are standing are ceasing away. Since I am very small kid, I love animals. I had heaps of animals catalogues, pictorial books of animals. I've had countless hamsters, chucks, ducks, dogs, birds, fishes, etc. Chucks and ducks always end up in my granny's stomachs and I have no idea why I didn't have cats; not that I hate them... I had dreamt of becoming the Conservationist during adolescence, but I guess I am not in that ambition anymore. Not that I hated them now, I still love them, just that I love urban and a good home as well.

Speaking of extinctions, these days, more animals are on the wall than walking in their habitat. People think that having such animals on their walls are a pride. But they are damn wrong; hope that one day their own head are on their son wall. Cute little animals; Tigers, Rhinos, Sharks, Manatees, etc. got caught in the Extinction Marathon. Nevertheless, the fierce huge animals such as the red panda, bats, seahorses, wallabies are also losing. How cute are these little creatures!

Although they are frightening, they are cute as well.

Who is the winner in the end? Human races. But sooner or later, human races will be taken over by the Chuck race. Once the chucks start to cooperate with each other, they will come out with the best solution to kill us, the human race, who think they are so damn smart, when chucks are the mastermind of all evils. Chucks are involved in James Bond's missions as well as the Bush's decision on sending more troops to Iraq.

They might looked innocent, delicious creatures....But they are not! Beware Human Race

Culture Shock!

Culture Shock is a massive personal contradiction which might occur to some human beings which are away from home. Those who never leave home could have culture shock as well! Especially when your parent has different thinking as yours...Oh wait, that is Generation Gaps...Anywho, you can say it is Culture Shock when you are staying with your in-laws. They definitely have different culture than yours! Nadia from American Pie 1 and 2 definitely have no such culture shock. Maybe she ease her way into the American society of stripping naked in front of everyone as all Brazilian do. Did she said she is a Brazilian? Oh well, she is definitely from somewhere else besides Canada.

Okay for those foreigner who happen to be living in a different culture, there are some examples of events which could cause culture shock (Caution those below 15 need some parent guidance in reading the rest) :

1. Waking up with different gal every morning could be a bloody real Culture Shock! To make matter worse, if you wake up in different bed is even more shocking! Monday could be Jessica, and Tuesday could be Mary. The next day could be another Jessica and the following days you have already lost count and confuse each of the gals names. When you wake up with gal that you have not meet and totally won't turn you on (looked like a hyena) that is when it shocks the shit out of you.
2. Your friends are mostly doofus and who are mostly blond. This could be the real blond or the Caucasian wannabe.
3. You still believe strongly in HIV transmission is through liquids from your body, regardless they are sweat, saliva or semen. Then the most shocking is when you saw two individuals, either same sex or opposite sex, are exchanging saliva in the public and God knows what kind of Judo techniques their tongue are using. Some people might actually smelled like a sewage rat and still put on countless spray of Eau De Toilette ( Toilet water) then it bloody shocks you.
4. When there is no Ah-Sum/Ah Chim/Maria to help you wash your dishes and your bloody smelly clothes. Shock huh? To know how well your clothes can smell and your dishes that you innocently neglected for one month!
5. There is no familiar foods such as your favorite Home-Cook-Meals. All they have in the "Chinese" Restaurants are ChupSui and Sweet and Sour thingy. Oh, don't look bad on these restaurants, they have a variety of foods there, besides your home cooked meals. They have Beef ChupSui, Chicken ChupSui, Pork ChupSui, Veggie ChupSui for the vegetarian who has no idea what wok they are using. Nevertheless they have Sweet and Sour Pork (which is the most favourite), Sweet and Sour Chicken, Sweet and Sour Beef, Lemon Chicken, Lemon Pork, Lemon Beef; AND AND another favourite dishes: Black Bean Chicken, Black Bean Pork and Black Been Beef!
6. For those poor soul who has a car and currently staying in a "wrong direction driving", there is a real culture shock. When you are English and are staying in France, those f**king garlic bread bastard can't seem to drive in the correct direction and those bloody sign saying You ARE in the WRONG WAY are totally a prank made by some 12 years old kids. Everyone should be driving in the RIGHT because that is THE right way. Well that is a shock some people might have!
7. If you are an Asian and you living in a Westerner country, where they have too much LIFE and no money by closing their Department stores at 5pm or 7pm... They really have life by closing that early and all the customers might as well stay at home and get some undone business in bed.

But to those who has such problems, not to worry. There are some solutions!

1. Instead of waking up with different gal every morning, tried your best to wake up with 2 to 3 different gal every morning. Still not even enough? Then tried waking up with someone from same sex and a opposite sex partner every morning! That is a bloody even number!Find those with the same first name, like John and Joan! Different bed don't really matter, as long as you are still around your area and you have your clothes with you!
2. Have some Emo friends (those who is only wear clothes that are black, and dye their hair black) if you are Asian. Or upgrade yourself and have some Asian wannabes! Teach them to speak 'Ni Hau Mah' englishly. Asian gals ditch that!
3. HIV through saliva? Crikey! Go bloody educate yourself with a Year10 textbook, piece of shit.
4. No maid in your place now? Go hire one. They are called Wife! Maid in the morning to arvo and maiden at night! Guys pretty sure what I mean! Even better are those do not need paycheck every month. Stay at home and cook until the whole face turns yellow and do some ugly, fat belly dance for you. Don't expect anything good if you don't pay. Even pole dancer cost you $100 per dance and you can't even touch them...
5. No home cooked meal? Cook yourselves. Just that hope your kitchen has insurance covered. If you burned your kitchen, there is another solution. Bring your mother over or bring Maria over! Still can't work? Then follow the step above!
6. Hate to follow the rules, then drive your own rules! Drive which way as you like, Left Right Center, or even in the bush line. You might as well kill some wildlife and make those for tea!
7. Work as a Department Store Guard if you are complaining about the early hour closing. The you can shop as much as you can! But before you shop, make sure you close the CCTV first and in the morning just blame the black-out or another guard that is after your shift.

There you go, if you people still have this disease with the above symptoms, do call Nadia from American Pie.

PS. People below 15, please have parent guidance while reading this

Ushering the New Year 2007

The day started with me waking up super duper early in the morning (7am) to start travelling back to Melbourne. I don’t really mind because I want to make it on time for my New Year Celebration. After 8 hours of travelling from Hahndorf, South Australia, to Melbourne, I was bloody energetic. Not knackered at all, I wonder why? Anyway right after my dinner, I head to the train station. I was lucky to get the train, hope next year will have the same kind of luck.

In the train, there were heaps of people and the smell of the odour wasn’t pleasant. Too bad I did not take the picture and no point because it won’t come out good. When I reached Flinders Street Station, there were already about 40 thousands people in the street and over the Federation Square. 40 THOUSANDS PEOPLE, luckily I can contact my friends and informed them where I will be standing and waiting. After I met up with Wayne and Ammie, we made our way to the bridge to see the ‘Family Fire Display’ at 9.15pm. These fireworks are for the families which have kids and they need to sleep early. First round of fireworks were superb. We stood over the bridge and finished watching it. The bridge was divided into two sides, and the crowd are directed to walk like the way cars will drive. At the end of the firework display, as we need to go back to the Federation Square, we need to take a U-ie at the other end of the bridge. We basically walked like cows and sheep walking to be de-furred. Some said we walked like Fairy Penguins walking toward the beaches.

Ludwina called us and called us to find her in Subway. When we reached Subway, we were direct to Mackas. When we tried our way to Mackas, she call us to wait for her in Hungry Jack instead…

Plan wasn’t going well, so we go ahead with our pub hunting. We tried looking at Lt Collins St and Lt Bourke St and still no luck. Guess this year will be the most awake New Year. Anyway we hurried back to the Yarra River and forced our way to the riverbank. The fireworks are from the Yarra River and if we sit in the riverbank, we will have spectacles view of the fireworks. At that time, Ammie and I were already tired, but the fireworks brought us to life! For total of 15minutes, and 5 spots around that area, the companies who sponsor these definitely lose quite a bit of dough.

After the display, we went to Starbucks. This is my first year with present of caffeine in my blood, instead of alcohol. It was already 2pm when I managed to track my cousin and aunt down. Although Ludwina did call us to go pub, Lounge, I could not take it anymore. If I were to wake up at 12pm that morning, maybe I will go. But today was just too much. Non stop travelling in the car and today was 8 hours straight.

This is also my first year in somewhere nicer, in Melbourne! Well even though now is quite late, I still want to wish you all a Happy New Year and all the best in this year ahead!


All you see are heads.....

Wayne, Ammie and me over the Yarra riverbank

Adelaide, The Capital of Food and Wine

Day 1, 26th December 2006
My trip to The Food and Wine Capital, Adelaide, started in wee hour. 8am in the morning and we started travelling. Totally knackered; basically I’ve dragged myself up the car and was asleep halfway through. We reached the Twelve Apostles to see the rocks again. Looking at the rocks for the second time, yet I still liked that. After that we started heading to the Shipwreck Coast. Along the coast of Victoria, between Twelve Apostles and Warrnambool, there were massive shipwrecks over the centuries and rocks formation from those massive waves. Those were beautiful, especially the Grotto and Blow Hole. We spent the whole day going from one spot to another. You will not know how many was there. Thought of calling Jonie and wish her happy birthday, her birthday is tomorrow and better remember that. When we reached Mount Gambier, it was already 7pm. We quickly had our dinner over the pub and all of us went to sleep super duper early.

Blue Lake, Mt Gambier

Day 2, 27th December 2006
The day began with having brunch in a brekkie place. Then we began touring around the Blue Lake. That lake was so blue that you may think there was a layer of blue sheet at the bottom; it doesn’t get it name from nothing. This dark blue will actually changes colour to greyish in March. Amazing huh!

After the amazing Blue Lake we went to the Tower, which was the highest point around that area. Although it looked very low, it was the highest point because surrounding that area were plains. Right after the tiring hill climbing, we went to visit all the sinkholes. In Mt Gambier, not only it has magnificent lake, it has underground caves and sinkholes from those caves. We started with Cave Garden which was the beautiful sinkhole situated right in the town; a sinkhole with beautiful plants surrounding it. Then we went Engelbrecht Cave which introduced us about the Cave Diving. No way I m going to dive into such small place that might collapse anytime (so I thought). That Engelbrecht Cave is situated right below the town as well, (the town might collapse anytime?)

At night, we went to another sinkhole, a bigger one with name of Umpherston Sinkhole, in the night the possums which are the sinkhole tenants will come out and feed. That is my first time looking at a possum. Although there were heaps of those in my aunt house, I could only hear them running around on our roof, not insight. When I m feeding the possums with bread, this China guy was feeding them with banana. BANANAs! How expensive is banana, even up until today. Last few month banana can go up to AUD19 per kg. Now even though it has gone down, it was AUD6 per kg. After all the sinkholes and caves, it was time for me to sleep. Totally forgotten about calling Jonie until today (1st of January 2007)

Day 3, 28th December 2006
This was another travelling day. We started off with travelling from Mt Gambier to Naracoorte (pronounced as Na-ra-cot). In Naracoorte, there were heaps of caves again. This time we went for a cave which has heap of fossils. Fossils of extinct species; I wondered was there any human fossils? After the Fossils Cave, we continued our travelling to Adelaide. Finally reached Adelaide at around 5pm and we spend most of our time hunting for parking space. Adelaide’s Central Business District (CBD) was 3 times bigger than Melbourne’s and the roads were bigger as well. This might due to them need more space for buses in Adelaide, whereas in Melbourne they have tram as public transport. Dinner in Adelaide Chinatown, roasted duck, roasted pork and fried pork rice; missed them so much.

Mt Gambier

Fossils Caves

Day 4, 29th December 2006
We were supposed to go to Kangaroo Island, but uncle did not book it earlier and the tours for that place were fully booked. So we took our day off by travelling around Adelaide. We went for free bus around the CBD tour before going to Haigh’s Chocolate Factory. Haigh’s Chocolate is the first selling chocolate in Australia (not even Cadbury can beat that). I brought some chocolate truffles with different alcohol concentrations. Then we went to have our lunch in a china restaurant, the spicy Dan Dan Noodle, was so spicy I could not finish it. Then we went for siesta and headed to Garden Island. That place was bloodly wrack up. Garden Island has no garden at all.

Day 5, 30th December 2006
Today was another relaxing day for us. We start our day with going to Glenelg which was something like (Gurney Drive). However that place was more beautiful than Gurney Drive which was covered with mud. We were planning to travel back to city using the only tram Adelaide got (Adelaide to and fro Glenelg), but we had no idea whether was that free or not.
Anyway we started going to the Adelaide Hills and have had the whole Adelaide lookout. Then we went to Hahndorf (a German town 1 hour away from Adelaide). Over there we had the best pork lock with mustard and the biggest beer ever! Walked about the cowboy town and went back to our hotel because the weather was too hot. Then before going for dinner, I went for spa Jacuzzi. The spa was totally relaxing!

Glenelg beach, Adelaide

Me with this German accordion player

Day 6, 31st December 2006
The day began with waking up super early again, because it takes 9 hours to travel from Adelaide to Melbourne by car. I m rushing back to celebrate my New Year with my friend!

Xmas in Australia

This is the first year I celebrated my Christmas in Australia. Most of the time, I will go to a pub earlier and sat there until the countdown. But this time is different. This year I celebrated a proper Christmas. The day before Christmas Eve, I started seasoning my shiraz chicken wing (because there is a Bring A Plate Party on Xmas Eve in Ammie’s house). Xmas Eve started with waking up late in the arvo and have had my chicken wings baked. While baking the chicken wings, I went to Altona Gate to buy liquor; a bottle of wine for Mel and a bottle of Smirnoff Triple Distilled Vodka. At about 4’oclock in the arvo, I started travelling to Ammie house.

Reached Clayton and was tricked by Ammie who was too lazy to come to the train station to fetch me. I was given a brief direction instead. When I reached her house, she still hasn’t finished cooking the main dishes. Sat there and watch Beautiful Cooking. Oh, I missed that Hong Kong show. Wayne and Ludwina still haven’t come…

When everyone was here, and Ammie finished cooking her foods, we began our fest. The only meat we had were chicken wings. Shiraz chicken wings, Organo chicken wings, Sambal chicken wings, etc. This is my first quiet Xmas Eve. Even outside was very quiet. Everyone went back to their family for Xmas, something like Chinese New Year in Malaysia.

But of course, we still drink a lot of liquor! After white wine, we started with vodka. When we were too drunk to do anything, we just head to the beds! Hehehe.

The next morning, I was woken up by Mel. Too blur to remember what she was saying. Something like the train to her house was 2.30pm. Mel, my Aussie ex-housemate, invited me to her family Xmas party! It was hailing and raining that day, and they said this Xmas was the coldest Xmas in record; with highest temperature at 19 degree centigrade. Mel’s house party was cool; Ammie, Wayne and I are the only people who are not her relatives. Foods were awesome and the champagne was unbelievable. As much as I liked there, I need to go back to my aunt house at 5pm… Nevertheless, Mel’s mom managed to give me some lobster which I guess is their entrée.

I reached home just in time for my aunt big fest. Once again there were awesome foods and liquor. Well, this Xmas is my most stomach-filling’s Xmas. Better start exercising when I go back Churchill. But tomorrow, which was the Boxing Day, I need to start travelling to Adelaide.

PS: Pictures were not taken because we were too busy eating!