Oh Dear Santa

This month we over-used our internet quota, too much porn, youtube and download (more porns). So everytime I wanted to check the map with GoogleMap, it tends to hang on me. I hate this...... Another 5 days, and then I get to use the internet in a good condition. More porn!!!!!!

Come to think of it, it is another 1 month before Xmas. Means it is time to buy more clothes and having slimmer chance of getting a job? I don't know. I just came back from the interview, it sounded positive. So I am quite keen about tomorrow, they said they will reply to me tomorrow.

Anyway this is the list of the stuffs I HOPE I will get from Santa (which is me) this year! Last year I got an IPod Classic and some clothes as present. This year I hope to get fully clothes!!!!!! Okay okay this is my short list!

• Windsor Smith/Lacoste/Shubar walking shoe (first in the list)
• Industrie/Stussy shorts
• Levi Jeans (skinny)
• Stussy/David & Goliath/Quicksilver tees
• wide range of Everlast sportwear, from singlets to gym shorts
• Sexist/Calvin Klein/Aussie Bum undies
• Aussie Bum/Speedo swimming trunk

If possible, I would love to have this

• hat
• D&G sunglass
• swimming goggle

Okay, it is not very long right. I am being practical here! hehehehehe. If anyone would love to give any of them as a present, I am more than happy to accept. Oh since you guys are eager to give me presents, why not something like:

• IPhone
• Car (the one that I can drive)
• Apartment? or the first deposit for an Apartment?
• Plasma TV? I really need one to watch my porn movies
• Money?

So any of the presents will be kindly accepted personally or by mail. Send your present to Lex to the address below, and attach your name, address and relationship to Lex, and you will be expected to get a Thank You Letter in 10 working days. Thank you to those who are kind, others please remind yourself how unfortunate other homosapien are and that you are not doing anything to help these homo.

72 Truman Street,
South Kingsville, VIC 3015

How to keep me smiling?

Be aware. Be very aware. Cause this guy is going to rant on rubbish and pessimistic stuffs again..... Well, you guys should be well warned by the title itself!









I don't think I should stay at home at any given day. First, I tend to become very desperate over the job hunting thingy and start thinking pessimistically (which is not good). Second, I will probably be sitting at home, in front of the computer, either cracking my head to write a "perfect" cover letter, later to beat myself up because they want me to use Flash Player to complete the application, which I don't know why my computer won't run it after I had downloaded the latest version (result: Arghhhhhhhh........, you probably won't know what I was talking about). Thirdly, needless for me to elaborate any longer?

Back to the first reason. I will become desperate even I had an interview with the employer, which I think I fit perfectly with them. But then this pessimistic bug that is sucking my optimism dry is not helping. I was told I will be given a response after a certain day. And with that bug and my lack of patience in everything, I just felt the urge to say " This is the knife, and this is my heard, take that and JUST STAB on it", as quoted by Karen from Will and Grace.

But when I was out, I will start to worry, thinking how much time I have missed out writing resume. And what if the employer called when I was pumping my muscle and stress out of me in the gym or in the shower with few hot blokes? I know I know, I am pathetic......... But I can't stop thinking.

I have a terrible life, and I hope there will be some light. It is so bleak (not the room I am sitting in) and I just can't seems to get out of this bleak place. I was watching Step Brothers. Gosh, they extremely hilarious yet wrong. How wrong? Two 40 years old BLOKES, acted as if they are 12 years old....... And I shan't spoil your excitement if you have not watch that. If not, you know my pains (not that I am acting like a kid, I am trying to get myself out of this shithole).

It always end with a Fat Lady singing

I was extremely excited the past three days! Saturday was the Hair-Cut day which I have longed for awhile, and I was thinking that it could be my shopping day (after 2 months of no-shopping rules became effective). Sunday was Ammie's (my beloved Mother who give birth to me when she is only 1 years old) birthday outing and Today is my interview, which I was hoping to get through! Okay I am not going to tell you guys what happened over those three days, I am just writing this because I was excited.

As I was saying, when I was out Saturday there was actually the Christmas Parade going on along Bourke Street Mall. I wasn't very keen to look at people dress-up like clowns and bears waving at us with kids at every corner shrieking for them and begging their mom for them to hug those ugly-looking-bear-people..... The whole street was chock-a-block with peoples and crying babies...... I will never stand there any longer than 10 minutes. But then, it is when it hits me. Christmas (or Xmas, as we called it here, cause none of us really care it is a birth of JC, so maybe it is the birth of X!) is just around the corner. One year have passed so quickly and 2008 will be gone by the time I post this entry. So not true!

Since I am not a Christian/Catholic, Xmas doesn't really matters to me. For your information, people from Western countries don't celebrate Xmas like Asian do. No late night party during Xmas Eve or morning shopping on Xmas. Just to make this clear, cause every friend of mine will always say that it is so nice to spend Xmas in Melbourne. So not true. People just bloody go back to their home and eat dinner. It is bloody summer over here as well..... 45 degree days, so not prepared for that......

Here comes my main proposition. After Xmas? BOXING DAY!!!!!! Yes, it is not the day people box each other, but it is time for people like us to SHOP. OMG, I wonder whether someone will get an shopping orgasm from this? It is when price is Cut Cut Cut, clothes were Cheap Cheap Cheap, and, boys and girls are Hot Hot Hot!

Upon saying these few words, I really need to get a job. So I can Shop Shop Shop! Ending my long shopping hiatus....... This year I really need to improve my skills and start the celebration as early as possible. Though, I won't be there standing next to a triple size lady in front of the Myers Supermarket. No, neither will I be seen sleeping in front of that door the day before.

Besides, I am desperate to move out of my aunt's place. Alright, before people start shooting me saying it is Free Accommodation and Free Meals, I am someone who liked his Freedom A LOT. So I need money (that's the conclusion). And the solution? I need to get a job, OR, start working as a Rent Boy. I am not sure I can break through into that market, since every gay guys are hotter than I am........ And to become as hot as them, I need modal which I am currently short of........

Feeling a bit chatty tonight. No idea why......

Openness

I reckon, eventually people will abandon their blog or their blog writing. Why so? Well, when one started working, there is less amount of time for you to relax, let alone write blog. Even when you have the time to write this, it is hard, cause you will be so knackered, the last thing you wanted to do is to write about your boring, lifeless life. But I suppose girls will have the ability to complain still, even when they are damn buggered with work.

I am not saying this because I got a job. I am still looking for one....... But there will be a few Q/A procedure coming soon, so I am not complaining. Yes, although blog is a good place for someone to release their stress, but some people just don't like to tell any particular, intimate complains that they have. But this doesn't mean they are not open enough to discuss this matters to everyone. He/she/I might not think it is appropriate to shout out and be gay about it. But that doesn't mean I am conservative and have not accepted that.

For the past 1 week, I was in the stage of self-realisation and self-acceptance. I actually need to thank this phase of life, where I finally get to know myself more and realise my true identity.

This is not the end of my route. It is just the beginning of my new identity. Eventually, when the time is right! If you are curious, ask me personally what the heck I am talking about. Other than that, I would leave it here.

Rollercoaster

I have been neglecting this blog again. I am just not in the mood to write anything, well I have complain enough. I should just stop penning them down and do something else. Besides when my parents were here, I was freaking busy chauffeuring them around Melbourne and Victoria. It was a very tired 2 weeks, but all is good! Cause I know when I started working, I definitely won't have the time to bring them around like now. So I should be grateful as well. Hahaha.

My mood these days are crazy. Probably because I was tired and jobless. Hahaha. Yup, but it is not like it is bad all the time. It fluctuates like Melbourne's weather. That could be another reason my mood is so bad. Hahaha. When I got connected to some other people through some stranger I barely know, she is one of the employer who rejected me, but showed me a possible way to break into the working doorstep. I believe that sometimes there will be a slight opening in the job hunting atmosphere, you just need to squeeze your finger to pried open that opening (Gosh sounded so wrong, pun indeed!).

And with more and more bad news, my mood tends to slumber back to the negativity. I hope I can set myself free from this. Just booked myself with the Victorian driving test. I hope that will be good, for your information, driving in Australia is very strict, so you can imagine what the test will be like..... Okay, back to more resume writing and studying for the stupid Learner Driving test.

Somewhere woop woop

(Woop Woop is an invented name for an unimportant town, from the moview Welcome to Woop Woop ,1997)

I reckon you guys might be a bit bored with my complains. Besides, to blame it all to my internet connection, it is really really bad... So I couldn't upload any pictures, even if I wanted to.....

Okay, just on a happy side, less rambles about unemployment and psychological behavior observatory studies, I went to Mount Dandenong last weekend with my usual bunch of mates. Hey, I do go out every weekend, I just don't see the point to take heaps of picture in Melbourne CBD, since I basically go to the CBD every other day. I do have a life, which I enjoy my days with mates......

Anyway back to Mount Dandenong. We planned to go there to celebrate one of my mates' mother birthday. Well, it might sound weird, but I don't mind joining and bring myself to the place where Scones and pancakes are to die for. For anyone who came from Victoria, they might tell you that Miss Marples's scones are the best. I couldn't not assure their statements because I have not tasted their scones......

Okay, this is how it goes, Miss Marples's tea room do not receive phone booking, and since we storm the lovely quiet town with 8 people, we are not sure how well can we get a bloody seat. So we went to another more presentable yet less populated and accept booking restaurant called Fortnum. But because of unforseen circumstances, we were terribly late, and were too full to have any of their scones.
This is the menu. I went with the "Today's special" instead.
Which is Cheesy potato pancakes with smoked salmon and capers. The pancakes weren't that good, compared to those in Lake Entrance floating restaurant, and it is way too creamy.... Oh and did I mention it is way too small and expensive for someone like me? A bloody $19.00 which I reckon I paied through the nose for that....
This is the lovely restaurant.
Then because we had too much foods, we went for a walk around the place, Sassafras.
Although it smells very nice, I just can't put them into it, cause I had the birthday cake.
That's Miss Marples, I will try to eat over there next time.
Okay, I will try to finish this entry with a very cute sign I saw when waiting for them to buy gelati. Dogs? no, HOT DOGS! hahaha.

driven to desperation?

Sometimes, I just have this feeling that I really want to go back to the outback. But now I am feeling I really want to stay in the metropolitan again. I don't know what I want now. Having headache, not because of this, but a real one.....

So does this behaviour of running away from the metropolitan to somewhere quieter and starry night means I am subconsciously driven to desperation? Am I that desperate to get a job, that I will just go after any jobs that come out offer? I know this come back to the debate saying "Beggars can't be choosers". So I did, I applied for any job that I think I am fit for the company, and any jobs that is offered in regional Victoria or Tassie.

If you are reading it right now, you might be saying this out loud" Blueh, you completed your Honours with a good grade, you have good contacts with the people outside, you have the experiences in that particular field, what more are you asking for?". I guess I should put it in the fish terminology. A fish might has a beautiful fin features, very nice scales, but it tends to sink to the bottom (no good resume), it will only be a small fry in the deep ocean with plenty more fishes. I realised that, and trying to swim up shore now!

Then, it just came to me. Am I also ready to live my life from the metropolitan? No good Asian foods or groceries, not much entertainment and not many gym options, not even a group of friends I can hang out with. I was telling myself it will be alright, cause I have stayed in Churchill before, for two freaking years, and I loved that outback. But what I has come to realise, after my aunt reminded me, that I have always go back to the metropolitan every month, to have my city-life fix. Will I be able to withstand this temptation, and will I die of boredom because I won't be able to go back to the metropolitan so often.

But when it comes to the end, the level of desperation is set by oneself, because the line of normal and desperation is so vague. If he/she thinks that by going with that particular option is up to the highest level of desperation, he/she probably might be. Or otherwise.

Bury the Pharaoh in his pyramid

My student visa finally expires today. So what am I suppose to do? Get kicked out from Australia? or hide in the bushing, living in a constant fear that the cops or worse rangers will come and track me down? Well, I will opt for the third choice, which allows me to stay in this beautiful place permanently! Yeah, permanent visa. DUH...... I am not a PR yet, I am holding a bridging visa for that!!!!! So I hope my bloody visa condition will change over the internet.

I guess I will always start something about myself before jumping into the pool of randomness. You might think that after such a hiatus, I might get a bloody job by now. However, the answer is the opposite. I am still writing my resumes, but I did not fish every single opportunity I can get. I am screening for jobs that I felt I am 'fit' to apply. No point to apply for jobs that they need any particular work experience which I do not have. Bad Idea? I don't know and don't care. Like I said before (if I am not mistaken), heaps of people have been telling me that I should do this and not that, while others went against that idea and suggesting the otherwise. I am just going to go my way. You don't like it? Too bad.

I just realised that I, being a normal human being, do have something that is regarded as bad, EGO. Everyone, especially the kings or pharaohs, has ego. Maybe the buddhist monk do not have, or they are not suppose to have. Don't tell me " I am a very innocent girl, that do not wish to have a lot of ego like what men do....". Bullshit! Even a girl have their own feminine ego. Ego is something dark, inaccessible part of our personal emotion, that we know very little off. Girls want to have all the branded stuffs because this makes them slightly feel better. In some sense, this can be regarded as ego.

I felt that I have ego because I was desperate to get a job, before I need to go back Malaysia to face a hordes of questioning-paracheets during my sister's wedding. I know for sure, Every Single Laughing Kookaburra Person will ask whether I have landed myself a job or not. The most common conversation will go like this:

Kookaburra A: Ah xiang ah. You have grown up so much. The last time I have seen you are when you were just a baby/little boy loh.
Mom: (She will definitely continue the conversation with something nice, while I just cant be bothered)
Kookaburra A: So what are you doing now ah? Studying university ah? Working ah?
Me: I just finished my degree from Australia.
Kookaburra B: Wah, so clever (ah, it is a must). So now working in Australia lah?

Yep, this is what I imagine what it is going to be....... So it is better to end the conversation by saying, "I am currently working in this or this place". That's why I hate going back to Malaysia. People keep on asking what are you currently doing, and amazed with just a tiny little thing that I felt normal. Of course, I like my hometown. But to go back to repeat myself about myself for hundred times is just not the top of my to-do-list.

So this is my little humble ego. What's yours? It is better to understand yourself and realise it, then you might live your life better than others who just lived their life in denial.

It is not an abandon puppy

I am suppose to write my cover letter for a job application to a research centre in Tasmania. I guess it will have to wait for awhile, after I finished writing this entry. Am I always nagging about job scouting these days? I think I better stop.....

I went back Gippsland last weekend with my few best friends, to meet up with a few more besties. That trip was the most relaxing and carefree trip I have ever done for the past few months. Yeah yeah, I just came back from my food-gorging trip from Penang, I shouldn't complain too much. But the thing about the food gorging trip is stressful in it own way. Stopping myself from devouring all the foods I can is very hard and stressful. Yes, I am bullshitting here!

Where was I? Oh, the trip back to Churchill. The weather was beautiful when we went back. Beautiful to some people, but way too hot for me.... I was down with weather-induced fever at the end of the day. Anyway, it was relaxing and all of us agreed that it felt like going back hometown for Chinese New Year. It was sunny and cloudless, just like the Malaysian weather during CNY. We had our doona and pillows at the back seat, something like most people will do when they went to visit their relatives for CNY, not me, but I can feel it.

But when we were back there, all we did most of the time was gossip, chat nonsense (which I played a big part) and watch PAID TV!!!! How much I missed cable/paid TV. For the first week of my new life without cable, I was pretty much stranded. Cause I do not have internet connection and paid Tv then, now it is getting better. I am going to fast-forward all the fun bits. Why? You probably won't be bothered to listen every single bit that we did over there. So no point for me to write them up.

When the day is about to end, we (the close one) sat together or standing in front of the toilet, chatting away on what are friends for. It was a long debate. People agreeing and disagreeing on certain aspect of true meaning of friends. I guess they are the best companions anyone can get, PROVIDED:

1. They do not judge you as a human being or a dog. Hey I am not saying anything over there. Who type that for me? I might have binomial disorder. Joking!
2. They understand what you are going through. No point telling them what turmoils you are facing through if they are well known for their blockhead-ness.
3. They do not think you belonged to them and solely them.
   
4. I think that's about it. No?
   

So other than that, man's best friends come into the picture perfectly! They enlighten your day easily unless they poo everywhere in the house, they listen and do not judge you. And you do not belong to them. They belong to you! How perfect can that be?

Disclaimer: The author was not paid by any parties (not even RSPCA) to advertise on canine and potentially igniting your urge to buy any canine.

A Bucket of Cold Water

Life in this phase of life is harsh.

You might be sad for a moment
Crushed for a moment
Lost for awhile
Happy and jumping the next.

I have been having nightmares these few days, some were terrific that I woke myself shouting, others were just too blue that I was crying in my dream. This is bad... Really bad.....

Maybe I should give myself a rest, someplace where I am not looking at the job advertisement website. Someplace where I can escape from all these mess. But I don't have money..... Where can I go to?

I just got an appointment for another interview today. This time is with the recruitment agency. My aunt was happy at first. But later on, when I wasn't noticing, she said something negative and somehow hurtful and something that reduced my confident tremendously. I don't understand why she wants to do that, some of the words she said were teachings but others were just a bucket of cold water.

Sometimes I wish I am staying on my own. Then I do not need to face these things all the time. But like I said, I do not have the money. I am totally down and not in the mood to apply for any jobs now. What is the use? I may ask. I need a change of luck.

I reckon I am no longer the happy self I once used to be. I need to find me back. The one who is happy not the stress-out guy who is typing this entry.

PS: Don't get me wrong. After what my aunt said, I will still go there and try to impress them so that they will give me a job even if they don't have one for me.

Reflex

Have you ever bid goodbye to someone but have some slightly more meaningful quotes like "Have a nice day" or "I hope you'll get well soon", something like that?

I can never do that or answer any of these questions. I am very bad with quick responses during conversation. I should say my responses are shocking. When I chat with some people who are kinda rushing to someplace or vise versa, I tend to blah out nonsense..... Instead of saying Sorry, I could say Thank You, or instead of saying You're alright, I could say I am sorry.

I think my brain is slightly slow in reaction for any of these quick activities. I can never think of anything good to say (sometimes), and when people wish me something well in the end, I will just throw in a worst ending phrase.

I just came out of the restaurant with my relatives, my uncle's cousin and the cousin's partner. We were all saying something in between and we bid each other farewell. Just before we went our own ways, this is what my uncle's cousin said to me.

S: I hope to see you next time, and hope that your PR application goes well.

What did I reply? I was slightly blurred for a second, and that's what I replied

Me: Will do.

Yes, this is all I replied. WILL DO? This is how well I react to quick conversation. I can never say anything good.

Of course when I banged to someone, I will know how to say sorry. Back to the conversation above, I was actually reacting to the first part of the conversation "Hope to see you next time", not the "PR application goes well". But I am sure I spoke loud enough for him to hear only "Will do". Then there are some things that I learned. I have a few tricks on my sleeve. Like "Sorry" and "It's alright" sounded almost the same if you speak in a very quick way.

So every time I banged to someone I will say "ssoh-rrai-". When people banged me, I will say "iss-soh-rait". Sounded almost the same huh?

From Scientist to Scientology

Finally I have all the time on my sleeve to play with my blog layout. I did not revamp the whole layout, just the front banner. Maybe I will change the banner again when I got the pictures of St. Kilda from Jocelyn. Yes, St. Kilda is my most favorite place to go. Well, I brought all my friends to that suburb and introduce them to the restaurant that I dear so much.

Back to my entry topic. Scientist and religion. Do they click together? Being a researcher myself, sometimes I wonder whether do God exist? Or they are just a mere figure of purity by mankind to fulfill their curiosity in all that seems dim to them?

The more I ventured into research, the more skeptical I am, maybe because I am curious most of the time. Don't get me wrong, I still believe in God. However being a Buddhist, I believe God is in everyone. To reach Buddhahood, one needs to follow what the script said, yada yada yada ( I am not preaching over here). There is once I heard the funniest conversation I ever heard, and I sure to God (If there is any), I really looked down on that person after that. This is how it goes:

A: Do you know why there is global warming?
B: No
A: There is Global Warming because "GOD" is testing us human.
B: Really?
A: Yes of course. God is testing the will of human and our faith in him.

Okay, I can't remember how it ends. But I was neither A or B. I was a mere lister and I was laughing my heart out (quietly, didn't want to offend A). How can God "torture" humanity with global warming? From science, it is HUMAN who made this mess, not God....... Please don't be offended if you see "GOD", the first thing you think is Jesus Christ. It is not, so you guys can stop writing on the comment firing offensive remarks on me.

I think I used to think there is a God, someone who looked after you when you sleep? Now? I don't really think so. I don't even know where is Heaven (almost all religions have a Heaven and Hell). Above the clouds are some layers of nothing but charges. Below the ground that you and me are standing are a few layers or thick rocks and magma.

But of course every religions are teaching us to be good and pure. Where is a religion that say hurting others are good? War is the way to reach purity? This is why I still believe in my religion. Of course I won't further believe that someone will be waken from dead or someone who can elevate yourself from ground. Give me a true documentary or I will have to see it in my own eyes to believe that these are true. Like I said, scientist and research are all based on facts, not sentences from any old book or conversation from someone.

Speaking of skeptical, I am very skeptic with the Church of Scientology. How can some none scientist come up with this hullabaloo teachings? Believing in alien exist in some form and have something to do with existance of human..... I wonder are there any scientist who is a follower of Scientology.

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disclaimer: This controversy entry is a two cent worth from the author. It is not trying to penalise or impose something unpleasent to any parties.

From Beggars to Choosers

Everyone will experience this phase of life. Where sometimes you feel like you are lost, could not find a way out in a crowded room or train carriages. You felt like you have lost the purpose of your life. But those who dwelt long enough in this realm, will soon realise it and start to accept it.

Yup, I am speaking of unemployment. This terminology is very misleading. So to be clear, the unemployment I said meant anyone who is no longer under the shadow of an university and those who has no permanent job. Yes, those who is under casual work and is currently looking for something better is also regarded as "unemployed". But of course those who are happily working casually or working casually because of the family purposes are not included.

Like I said, this phase is very stressful, even more so than when you are employed. People constantly asking you, scrutinizing you, on matters about jobs and employment. I reckon it is easier over here, where people are more understanding. I am not so sure when you are in countries like Malaysia, where people's wages are what set them apart from one another. Sometimes when you are that stressed out, one will turn against another cause lack of understanding. Thank god I have friends who understands and who were in this situation before/still. Yes, sadly most of my friends are in this situation like me.

Rejections after another, this is not depressing enough? But as quoted by someone, "sooner or later, you will be so thick-skinned that you won't give a damn on it anymore". "No more feeling!". I just came back from an interview for a part time job, somewhere in Mitcham. If I do get the job, it won't be something I will bounce like a monkey, doing monkey dance (if there is any). Cause first of all, it is 1 and half hour travel from my home to Mitcham. Secondly it is into strategic analysing and researching. Something that I am not particularly intrested in, although I have enough experiences. However, I will still take up the job. A job is still a job after all.

Then there is this phone call from a recruitment agency. Asking about my qualifications and experiences. All sounded very promising, but I am not very sure how still the pond water can be. There might be a croc hiding underneath. Why so? Storys about their arrangements and actions may not be that pleasant to hear. Suddenly I am no longer a begger? I started to choose. My aunt said I can be chooser because I have God with me, but, do I? (I will speak more about this the next entry). But am I a chooser after all? Of course, everyone will like to be a chooser than beggars, but how long can we choose before we need to beg?

How long do we need to hunt for this whitehorse before we could sit on its saddle comfortably? How long do we need to stand aimlessly in the hordes of people buzzing around Flinders Street Station? How long do we need to sit in front of our laptop, refreshing Seek.com.au for the immediate job vacancies? How long I wonder.

Mixed Feelings

In 48 hours, I had the almost all the feeling you can describe. 48 hours ago, I woke up with a terrible headache. Yep, not enough sleep. Funny huh? Being an unemployed self-employed person, how can he be possible lack of sleep. He can just sleep all he wants and never wake up I want to do that as well. I am trying to regulate my sleep pattern, so that when I really do have a job, then I will probably tune into it better. I practically had some insomnia I guess. Besides I needed to do some of my permanent residency application stuffs.

Okay, besides having headache, I was hungry. I went to gym without lunch. Very Clever! I walked out of the gym and still don't feel anything. Once I have down with my protein shakes, something kick in. The stomachache was so bad that I need to find toilet ASAP. Underground public toilet along Collins Street is a no go (no tissue paper....., but looks clean. No point, no tissue paper means no go). I walked up another bloody block in the CBD and into one of the toilet tucked away in some of the alley. Thank god there was toilet paper. If not I would have be in deep shit.

So right after the run, I feel the urge to eat. I was superbly hungry and need to find foods ASAP. It was already half past three before I have anything to eat. Now my stomach is the one facing the music. It has been pretty bad the whole day today.....

Today I decided to stay back, cause Ammie and Wei Chao decided to hibernate for the spring. So I was pretty bored the whole day. Applied for some jobs, and watch a few TV series that my sister download from Malaysia. But just when I was bored, I was reading the Microbiology Australia Magazine. It is a free magazine for members of The Australian Society for Microbiology (basically means almost every microbiologist in Australia). I happened to be one of the members and I gave a presentation in that conference (refer to the previous entry). Now my name was out in one of their segments! I was thrilled!!! Although it was only one line, saying what I presented, I felt rather honoured to have my name there!!!

Okay here are some of the rants and ramblings. You think I am going to celebrate Malaysian Independent Day? NO. This is how I celebrate independent day, by ranting and rambling.

Path to Gluttony

I don't know what had happened to me. Two entries in 1 day. Anyway what I wanna say is gone is the day where you were happily jumping on the trampoline that you felt like a feather.

After high school, most of us have grown so much. Both in mentally and waist. Some cognitions were still the same, but the waist definitely have grown to a size of 38 ( I am not talking about me). Eight out of ten of my friends were in the same boat, maybe I can be regarded as one of them. As you grow older, your height stop growing, but not your weight. It is growing like a tropical tree fighting to get space. But we have all the space we want, gaining the horizontal size is not good for anyone.

Some of my friends even lost their bird eyes view on their down under, if you know what I meant. But some of them were trying to re-encouraging themselves by saying " I don't need the bird eyes view, all I need is my girlfriend to "view" the bird". That's a very tacky yet sad quote that got me laughing till my stomach hurts.

With this new trend of men, who pays more attention on their appearances, it is not a shock to see more men are in hitting hard in the gym. "You will have to lose of some of the extras" has been hitting hard into the brain of subconscious men. Gone were the days when fat men were viewed as prosperous. Fat men might as well regarded as uncontrolled food consumption or having some sort of depression.

After coming back from Penang, I have this urge to eat good fatty foods like coconut milk related stuffs, and all those chips that I managed to break free from. I am pretty disappointed with myself for letting those sinful foods into my stomach and into my spare compartment, but it is once awhile, so I guess I shouldn't complain so much. Now I should stop walking on the path to gluttony and into a healthier choice. Wish me luck!

Tao - A Japanese Feast

Like I said, I will post about the restaurant that I went with my family during my Penang trip. I think I should call that a Penang trip cause I was in Penang 90% of the time. I missed Penang foods a lot you know.....

Anyway the restaurants I went were all very classy this time around. No longer squatting at the road side while eating a bowl of wan tan mee. I never do that anyway. But Penang has developed so much that I was ooh-aah-ing for the first few days, and my friend got annoyed by that.
The restaurant Tao is located in E-Gate, don't really know how to describe it cause I was there only a few times.

It is a Japanese buffet and the best thing is they serve you per order, and drinks are included! These means they only cook the foods per order and drinks are mostly juices and japanese tea! I think you'll have to look on your own and compare it to the rest of the fishes in the sea. The front banner.
I think this running water have something to do with fengshui..... But it does looks like the person from the other side of the wall was peeing over the wall into the vase?
Very zen style. All the wall was decorated with bamboo.
Scallops! Yummy, but not as fresh and big as those from Aus
Sashimi!!!! My fav!!!! They are very good actually. Ordered heaps of them
Can't remember what is that. Could be Salmon Teriyaki
Prawn Tempura
Grilled Eel. The waiter was very friendly and help us heaps. We were suppose to finish the rice, but being a clever and calculative Chinese, we don't want to eat the rice and reduce the stomach space for other good foods. Although they weren't allow to take the dishes if we havent finish ALL the foods, one of them just quietly sneak that away!
Some tofu dishes, can't remember what it is called, something start with "A"
Tempura prawn sushi!
Something pipi. Can't remember, it has been awhile and my memory is as bad as the next goldfish
Some fried udon. I don't really like them cause I was bloated by then.
Deep fried mantis prawn. Likie!
Lamb Chop. That's very yummy. Only my dad and I ate them, cause others don't like the taste. And how my dad and I enjoyed that!

I think we ordered almost all the dishes that they can offer from Tao. Okay, except all the sushi. We are not suppose to eat rice in these restaurants. You might wonder how much this restaurant costed?

RM49 per person. How cheap!!!!!! I gained 1 extra kg after that night...... But I would love to go back to this restaurant next time when I am in Penang. Maybe this time I will go to the one in mainland Penang cause they said the mainland branch have better foods and decoration. I am not sure.

Whales in Paradise

I am pretty tired now, so I am going to put up the magnificent whales that I watched from Surfer Paradise last month! It was taken with my mobile, pretty good for a mobile! Check them out!!!!

I am trying to go on diet, cause I had been eating too much back in Malaysia. Time to get some fat out of my tummy and it is about time now. What have I been doing? Exercise, and eating less at night. That's my diet plan. I know I can't go with those diets like Atkin and others, so I will just less fat induced foods and more veggie and fruits! Besides I am just looking to reduce a few kg, not until 10kg.

Wish me luck!

Taste of Belachan

Just a short entry to tell you my whereabouts. It has been awhile since I bloggged. I was pretty buggered from my trip back to Aus and I was busy with getting all the documents together for my permanent residency application.

I actually travelled for 24 hours from Malaysia to Melbourne. That's crazy hour of travelling, it sounded like I am staying in UK, where travelling for such amount of time is considered to be normal. How can I go from 8 hours of flight to 24 hours? Okay, let make them into a list!

2.00 pm (Malaysian time) - Reach Penang Airport
3.00 pm - Flight took off from Penang
4.00 pm - Reach LCCT Airport in KL
10.00 pm - Fly back to Aus (after 6 hours of transit)
5.00 am - Reached Gold Coast (7 am Aussie time)
1.00 pm - Fly back to Melb (after 6 hours of transit)
3.00 pm - Reach Melbourne (pretty buggered, and doped)

There you go, 24 hours. When I touch down Melbourne, it was pretty dark already. Thank god my uncle came and fetch me. I actually slept in Coolangatta Airport, on the benches and hugging all my luggages. I might be sleeping with a big mouth opened, and if there were flies, I could have shallowed heaps of them!

Now I am working my ass of to get all the documents ready. Body check, academic transcript, completion letter, etc etc. Thank to my cousin who fixed the internet connection, so now I can use the internet from my computer!

I guess I should stop ranting about what happened. Now that I am back in Melbourne, with coldness surrounding me, I should be please and be grateful.

When I was in Penang, I also had a lot of belachan foods!!!! Belachan Water Spinach, Belachan Chicken and Belachan Mantis Prawn!!!! So below is the picture of Belachan Chicken. The picture did not do its justice, of course the taste and smell are way better than what its appearance over here. I took it from my home, after my dad brought them back from the hawker stall. Oh btw, I will be writing about another good restaurant that I had back in Penang. It is called Tao, at somewhere I can't remember. It is a Japanese restaurant, although it has a so called Chinese name. I will talk about it soon!
Till then!

-lex-

Seafoods at Teluk Kumbar

I probably should say that I could not live up to my promise... I did say that I will not over-indulge when I am back in Penang. But I did. Now I am an all-rounded person, with a big round tummy, all thanks to the foods in Penang and a hyper persuasive mother.

Once they heard of what I wanted to eat, there we go, our next destination. I have been eating all those good foods and I should say I am indulging every single bit of it! Oh well, since I will only be in Penang for 3 months, and next Monday I will be flying back to Melbourne. So it is understandable that people will try to shove as much foods as possible into a tiny opening at the front of my face called mouth.

I did not go anywhere other than mainland Penang. I don't need to, cause this trip is suppose to be my Makan Trip, and my Home Trip. Most of the day it was so hot, I was scared of going out during day time! So I normally go out for dinner, and sometime being cheated to attend a Drink-All-You-Want feast with my friends....

Anyway, talking about the seafoods restaurant, it is a beach front restaurant. Once I said beach front restaurant, you might think it will be very classy and all those expensive stuffs. As a matter of fact, it is not classy and not at all expensive. I think for 5 persons, it only costed us about RM50. Which is about rm10 per person, with the seafoods, it is Al-CHEAPO!

Normally we get to sit on the beach and eat our seafoods, but since that day it was a raining day, all of us have to squat below a shelter. I did check whether the shop is still open, thinking it might be washed away by tsunami in 2004. After making sure the shop is still there, we hopped onto my brother in law's car and off we went!

The restaurant was behind an abandoned building, and it is very easy to miss that place. We missed that before and had to make a U-ie and drive superbly slow, making a row of cars driving slowly behind us, just to get into the driveway into the restaurant.

This is the front of the restaurant, it is a very small house aka restaurant with tables and chair all around the beach. The blue boxes are where they keep the seafoods, not in a very classy aquarium for the fishes. Remember, this is not a classy restaurant, but their foods are way better than those that charged us through our nose.

This is Sambal Kangkung aka Water spinach with sambal belacan sauce. My favorite!!!! Yummy.

Deep fried sotong, or squid!

This is Salad He-Koh, or Mantis Prawn Salad. Although it is very yummy, other people were saying it was a bit small.

Some kind of cockles. Can't remember the name of the cockles, but the sauce was very very good!

This is the last dishes, the CRAB!!!!!

Oh wait, I've forgotten to take the Satay's picture. That satay is very different from other satay, cause the satay was grilled with the spicy sauce! So yummy I could not remember to take it's picture.

Penang Foods - Bak Kut Teh

You guys might wonder why is this heck keep on writing on his blog when he suppose to be outside enjoying the every bit of Penang.
Reason: The Malaysian weather is just too crazy for me. So hot, I can melt once I step out of the house..... So most of you guys can see me hanging around my house most of the day, waiting for the sun to set. Yep, I am the next Dracula!!!!! Bwahahahahaha.

Okay, this time I am introducing you one of my favourites! Bak Kut Teh. Pork Bone Teh if I were to direct translate that. Basically it is a soupy dish that contained all kind of pork meats, pork bones, Chinese mushrooms, bean curd, and something I missed the most, deep fried dough! Back in Aus, I can still cook this dish whenever I like. But, I can never find good and fresh deep-fried dough.....

Yeah, I think once you guys hear about the word soupy, you might think that the heat had gone up to my head..... Normally after eating this dish, I will sweat like a pig. So normally I will eat that for tea, not lunch. Okay enough of crapping. The place that I went was located at Macalister Road, opposite to a hotel named Red Rock Hotel. Yep, once again, I did not take the name of the place down. Besides, the foods that I devoured were mostly from hawker centres, which mostly has no name...... So if you guys want to try this place out, make sure you pay attention when you drive from the city and reached the hawker centre called Hong Kong Dim Sum.
They have this traditional way of cleaning your cutlery. Hmm, not cutlery, maybe your chopsticks and spoons. The traditional way is by cleaning your "cutlery" with a bowl of hot water. Super hot, you will get burn if you are not well trained. Maybe if you go for dimsum anywhere you will still see this, but outside the dimsum restaurant you hardly see this way anymore.

The sumptuous feast. Maybe not sumptuous, but definitely mouthwatering one! The plate of yellow-ish cubes are the deep-fried dough I was talking about. You dip them into the soup and eat it when they are soaking wet with the soup! Very flavoursome.

Tada! This is the Bak Kut Teh! Filled with meats and a bit of veggie. But the soup is very herby, unlike the Singaporean style, which is mostly pepper...... That night we had 3 refills of the soup and we can still finished the whole claypot. I drank at least 2 bowls of the soup!

Next time maybe later today or tomorrow I will post more foods up. Maybe I will do the seafoods from Teluk Kumbar!