2008

As I am getting older and older, I started to realise how fast time flies. It is now the end of 2008 and 2009 is coming.

During this year, I learned and experienced lots of things:

Going Australia is a wonderful and eye-opening experience. I learned about the aussie's culture, some interesting way of thinking (or maybe the more sensible way of thinking) of them and the amazing technology of this big country. Melbourne city also amazed me a lot. I experienced a very different weather too. From summer to autumn, from winter to spring. However, the 4 seasons in australia is different from those in europe and america.


This year, I also learned quite some new activities. I learned dancing, playing table tennis and volleyball. Besides, i tried skiing which caused my leg ache a lot. I found it quite fun in the end. Besides, i tried some cooking recipe. Cooking is fun sometimes.


Going around australia is the starting point for me to go around the world. Ayers Rock and Great Barrier Reef are some well known natural wonders that i seen. Hope that I have chances to walk around the world.

Studies is still the same. Just that this year, i mostly depend on myself. Study more independantly.

This year, I also get to know a lot of new friends. This is something i gained and will appreciate always. Keep in touch always.

I will never forger 2008. So many things had happened. Hope that my 2009 is as fun as 2008. Hope that I will be a better man. :)

Photo Memory

2008 is going to end. This year is quite a happening year. A lot of first time happened. Luckily I have a camera with me to capture all my happy moment.

From 1 Jan 2008, my friends and I countdown at Sunway Pyramid. First time having so much beer in a day.

During Chinese New Year, first time went to a teacher's place for CNY. He didn't teach me for log and might not even remember me. :p Angpoh's power. By the way, actually I was following Pei Wen and Wei Wen.

First time leaving my own country to a foreign country alone. That time, don't know what will happen to me. However, I was an unforgettable memory. By the way, it is also my first time on a plane. Never sit on a plane before that. However, later throughout the year, i sat for 6 times.
When reached Australia, kind of excited. Luckily my friends with me, not that lonely. First time leave home for so long and this is the furthest distance from home so far. I knew a lot from friends from different country.

First time clubbing which my friends back JB can't imagine i actually did that. I have to joke with them that i actually have honey in club instead of liquor.

First time explore a very big city, Melbourne City. I was very amazed by the buildings, shops and people around the city. Even until now.

First time sharing my cooking with friends. Mamak Night is some brilliant idea that one can think of in Aussie Land for Malaysian. I cooked nasi lemak that night. Luckily no one food poison. Haha

First time miss home food. Luckily there is somewhere called Kota Raya around the school that serves nice food. Just like those you found in Malaysia. But the price is not cheap. So ironic.

Sorrento Trip is the first MRS trip. It has a maze made from maize. It was interesting.

This is my most enjoyable karaoke moment. Although i didn't sing much cause is all English songs which i wasn't that familiar, but i enjoyed listening to others. Singstar is such an awesome Wii game.

First time have my birthday outside my country. Some more is my 21st birthday. I am officially a legal adult in Malaysia. I am old now. Haiz...

First time went to a beach in Australia. It is a very cold and windy. Besides, this is the first time i see sunset. It is so nice and unforgettable.

First time look at Melbourne city from the bird-eye's view. Australia wide flat land was so amazing. Eureka tower is so tall!!

Red Centre Tour is a nice tour. Or maybe called it an adventure which is more suitable. The adventure triggered me to travel around the world so eagerly. Hope that I have the chance to go around the world. Mother Nature is so awesome. Hope that my eyes can capture all the good view in the world. As long as I can walk, I would like to walk around big land for my adventure. Ayers Rock is nice and it is one of the world nature wonder that you shouldn't miss. This is the first time i stepped foot on a desert.

For the first time, i went skiing. Besides, it was the first time i see real snow with my eyes, touch with my hands and feel with my skin. I enjoyed those moment, but serious speaking, i hate snow. I had cold!!

For the first time, i went for a ball, MRS ball. The below one is Richo ball which is the 2nd ball. I like the photo below very much. I don't really like balls as like what Titus said, it is just wear nicely and go somewhere to eat. But, it is nice to have accompany around, taking nice photos.

This is the first time, i experienced spring. After winter which is cold and chill, spring which is warmer and lively is so nice. Flower blooms everywhere even beside road. In Malaysia, you can only see nice green grass only if you are lucky enough that no one through rubbish. Tulip is so beautiful.

This is the first time I enjoyed a play so much. Support my friend, Evone since she took part in performance.

This is a self-organised tour. It was exciting. Ocean is so mysterious and cool. Remember those landscape we learned in Geography in Form 3? Those gua, gubang and batu-batu? They are so beautiful. Again, Mother Nature always amazed me.

First time have Mooncake festival outside my country. Luckily can find mooncakes in Aussie which are imported from Hong Kong and Malaysia. HK mooncakes are nicer.

After final exam, went to Tasmania. It is a nice state of Australia full of scenic view. The first time I see waterfall and it was very beautiful. Of course, I ate some seafood (ex: oyster and muscles) there which i didn't eat before. Luckily i didn't have an upset tummy.

First time stayed on a ship for so long. Three days two nights. Too bad i got nausea easily. It is also the first time i went for scuba diving and came so near to the coral. I even swim so near a turtle and tailed a couple of sharks. The Great Barrier Reef in Cairns is one of the 7 Nature Wonders in the world as you can see it on space!!

Last but not least, this is the first time i go to my "hometown" with my friends. It is fun. Thanks Pei Wen and Woan Lin (or maybe Doi) for not letting my last school holiday that boring.

2008 is so much fun, exciting and interesting. Hope my 2009 will be the same. Fat hope!!

Boxing Day

Just listen to the news and remembered that today is Boxing Day.

"Boxing day is the day after Christmas where u just box anyone you see."

OK., the above fact is not totally wrong. It is an after-Christmas holiday where shopping malls and shops open at 5am just to let people to shop. The discount given is so attractive even during economic crisis like current time. Thus, we can conclude that human likes shop a lot. This is so obvious to see from a bunch of friends that went KL to shop during Christmas without telling me. No lah, just kidding. Just that i don't like shopping.

Human will feel happy when they own something. These is what we call 占有欲 (sorry, dunno how to say in English). It is because of this thing that created many incidents in the past and we called History. In 31 August 1957, ....

Back to boxing day...

I dunno why it is called boxing day. My friend told me it is celebrated in Australia only as Aussie's famous animal is kangaroo which has the image of boxer in many cartoons that we watch. however, seems that boxing day is celebrated in other country as well...

I think is because when u want to buy ur stuff during boxing day, u may need some boxing skills to fight for the stuff u want.

That seems more logic to me.

Note: The author has NO intention to promote violence.

Kukup

I am half a Kukupian because my dad is one. When I was young, every Chinese new year I will go back to this fishing town to see my grandparents. But ever since both passed away, I seldom go to kukup. The last time i went is when i just finish my Form 5 SPM with my family too. This time, i went with my friends, organized by very-free-de pei wen. Woan lin help to settle the accomodation. It is a holiday inn. It was fun and money worth.

5 beauties

3 beasts

We spent most of our time playing mahjong and sing K. And some card games too. Since i am a newbie when comes to playing mahjong, I paid for the "tuition fee"

Play until sien, we walked around the inn

During evening, we walked around the fishing village which is quite small. We manage to catch the sunset. After watching so many sunsets in Australia, this is the first time i watched sunset in my own country. Show you some photos provided by mei yuan which are well taken.

Truely speaking, the above four photos are really well taken. Can't believe that it is Kukup. Any really can't believe that she is using the same camera model as me. But the photos taken are so much difference. Perhaps, i need to polish my photo taking skill.

Group photo (Before leaving the inn)

On a boat

In front of the national park which is a mangrove forest (hutan paya bakau)

On a kelong. This is an eye opening trip cause i learned quite a lot about fish. Besides, i saw a jellyfish bigger than the size of a basketball. Really scare me

Looking forward to the next trip. Perhaps, when dann is back from germany or tze yong back from russia. But that time, they organise one, k?? Haha...

One month had gone

It had been a month since Iwas back home. Remember the day I set foot from the halls, my heart was sobbing, but u see no tears on me. I understand that 天下无不散之宴席 but I strongly believe that we will meet again in life some time later. Besides, internet is so convinient.

As i always promote in my blog, it is less exciting to stay in my country which I called HOME than in KANGAROO land...

Yesterday back from Kukup trip with 7 other friends. It is a very excited trip. Like I said, it is not where you go for a trip to be fun, but it depends on who you go with for a trip to be fun. Although we spend most of our time indoor playing mahjong, singing K and card games (thanks to Pei Wen who is a puteri ice cream). But towards the end of the trip, we finally go outdoor (yes, i like hiking and walking around under sun), we have fun in kelong and the entrance of the protected mangrove forest.

Along the trip, found that everyone had become mature. However, I am still like a kid, as childish as always. The only thing that I grow is my tummy or maybe the flesh on my cheek. Haiz, i still got a lot to catch up with everyone.

Will upload some pictures later. Just hope that my working days faster over. However, that means I am graduating soon, but i am still not ready for the social university. Jian Wei, u must grow up edy~~

Smile in my heart

It is the third day of my work and i started to feel bored.

Most of my collegues are malay and i have problems to communicate with them. Mainly beacuse too long i didn't speak malay that often. In sunway i seldom speak, let alone in australia (except time where we try not to let our international friends to know what are we talking about).

Due to lack of computers in the company, i was allowed to bring my laptop to work. OMG, even in school i also don't bring my laptop along that often. means that i will start to spend more time with my lappy. I was required to learn AutoCAD in a few hours. Shit, what a challenge. Stuff learned in power (yeah, from brandon and DGHolmes) are seen again.

Those who seen my laptop before know that my desktop background is normally blank (ie, blue color) or maybe jay chou's poster. But due to sien-ness and loneliness, I changed my desktop background to the follow photo:

Too bad still lack of some image of some friends. Everytime, when i feel bored, i just look into my desktop background. Smile in my heart when i manage to see everyone smilling happily in the picture. Recall how much fun we have there. That makes my day... at least i don't feel lonely.

Faster finish holiday and hope to see you guys soon...

But first, i also looking for my Kukup trip next week with some of my friends. Maybe by that time, i will change my desktop background again.

Updates again

It had been around one week since i updated my blog. To describe my passed week: rotten luck.

Had a great fell on Thursday and both my palm are injuries. Can't do much stuff except sit in front of the comp, moving the mouse or use the keyboard. But know, is is not much deal except for the scar.

Lost my keys for my locker as well and found a locksmith to change the lock for me. Haiz, so bad memorisation.

Tomorrow starting my work. Wonder what am i expect to do. Hope is something trivial but interesting. Besides, hope my supervisor don't have high expectation to me as I am really dumb when come to practical. Slowly and nice to me, don't ill treat me, let me apply as many leaves as i want. And no work on Saturdays and Sundays please. Shit, i started to complain... hoho. Hope will be a nice working environment.

Updates

It had been a week since i came back from kangaroo land. the only complain that i want to say is: ME SWEAT A LOT, haha.

busy finding intern for the passed week and was lucky enought to find one. Hope they don't call me and claimed that it was a mistake and i was not taken. Pray so...

results realised on the passed thursday and I was very happy with my results. Friends and coursemate did well too as most of them pass. Happy for everyone.

Guess will see my friends in 3 months time. Most are having intern as well. My holiday had just passed a month. It is the longest holiday ever that i had. Haha, don't jealous as this might be the last school holiday for me. I will not have such a long holiday in the future when i started to work. Haiz... Feel that I am getting older and older...

Back Home

Back in Malaysia now and now try to adapt the living here.

The weather is hot and i can't stop sweating. The air is humid that i found it difficult to breath. Besides, the time difference i need to readjust my clock.

Food is still the best here. No doubt.

Hope to find something todo during holiday. But first, need to readapt the living here.

The Conclusion

(This is a long one)


Tomorrow, I am flying back to M'sia. My flight is at 5pm of aussie time and 9:35pm of Singapore time. It will be a 7 hours 35 minutes flight. Go and do the maths, shoo...

I reached here at 11 Feb 2008. Almost 10 months I am here. During this year, i found that I am much more stronger than I am. I manage to solve my problem myself, I manage to create problem at the same time, and also manage to solve the problem i created some of the time. Lolz

FRIENDS
During this year, i knew more friends. This had widen my international network. I have friends from many countries around the world. So happy that I got to new them.

Of course i knew a gang of richos. Who are so sweet that we always give surprise during someone's birthday. All the water balloons, cakes, pies, fries and photos. All the presents, drinks and greetings. Make the birthday boy/girl feel special and sweet.

We have outings together. Each so nice and so fun. Going out in a big gang is fun. Especially when we organised the Great Ocean Road Trip. So nice to have friends around. Common room is another place. Where we normally like to chat at when finish out dinner. Jun wei is always the centre of topic. If not because of him, i guess this year will be much quiet. Thanks to him for bring us laughter.

My coursemate that i normally hang out with are Khong, Justin, Khailik and Jun Wei. Thanks for bearing with me. I knew my temper is very bad. Thanks u guys for your consideration and thought.

ADVENTURE

This year, i travelled around more than i used to have. Malaysia scenic view is nothing compare to those i see with my eyes. Mountains, ocean, sea, river and desert, all so adventurous and eye opening. Went to

red -> the centre of australia
blue -> the road beside the ocean which is great
green -> the place where u find tassie devils
dark blue -> cairns where i found cute turtle
white -> the peak of the mountain which is cold and snowing


This year is so adventurous. Full oif excitedment and fun.

FOOD
The food here is much more expensive compare to Malaysia. However, this does not stop use much from testing the food around our place.

Pasta, pizza and fish and chips, I eat until quite sick.
Pies, fries and ice cream,I loves it until I get fat.
Chocolate, milk and sweets, now i prefer more than used to be.
All malaysian food is the best, when i go back i must eat as much as i can.



STUDIES
ok, this is a boring part. Just skip if you want.


Learn quite a lot of programming this year. Instead saying learn, it is more like polished up my programming skills. Design project make me stressed, but luckily is over. Hope so is true.


Exam result out on 28 Nov. Heart pumping fast.



SPORTS

This year, less swimming, but more playing ping pong, volleyball and tennis. My skills for both are still S-U-C-K-S. Besides, went to gym for the first semester only. No determination, i guess. :p



This year is such a happening year. My best Monash year so far, and I believe will be a good and memorable year.

Cairns Trip

During 11 Nov to 16 Nov, my friends and I went to Cairns, which is situated in Queensland. This place has the climate as Malaysia: humid and hot. Initially, I can't really adapt to the weather, but after sometimes, slowly get to use to it.

With the average temperature around 30 something using the day and 28 something at night, it makes the weather very alike to Malaysia. Here, finally i can wear baju traditional Malaysia, T-shirt, shorts and slippers.

Location of Cairns

Cairns is famous for it Great Barrier Reef. It is labelled by CNN as one of the 7 natural wonders of the world. It is a state icon of Queensland.

The Great Barrier Reef is clearly visible from plane flying over (adapt from wiki)

Thus, my friends and I grabbed this opportunity and went snorkeling on a cruise for 3 days 2 nights. Tiring indeed.

My friends and I

Ok, just one photo of us. If i uploaded too many, people will rate my blog as 18SX. As u can see, I am a bit fleshy now, but i lost 1kg of weight. I got tanned a bit too.

Snorkeling in the sea, we saw lots of sea creatures. I saw sharks swimming underneath us, a jellyfish underneath my private part, colorful fishes swimming on the reef, stingray which might be the one that kill the croc hunter and of course my favourite turtle which swim so slow that we keep on following it. Lolz...

From the ship, we can see the horizon of the sea and the sky. It is nice to see sunset, sunrise, moonset and moonrise there. Nice looking view, if only .... So romantic :_(

Come to Cairns, there is other extreme activities to do. My friends went skydiving, but due to budget, i skipped that. One day, i shall try, no worries.

However, one affordable one is white water rafting. Now, let u see the place where we rafted.

River for white water rafting

Ok, there is no photo of my on the boat, is with my friends. I will post it on facebook when i get it :p.

Cairns is a nice place, but i don't think i will come here twice.

Feeling...

Today is quite a moody day. Certainly not because of my exam. After hearing some advice from friends, only i realised that all this while, i am a big stupid.

I am sad that I am leaving Australia...
Sad, but not very sad,
Cause I know I will be back.

I am pity that I will not see some of my friends...
Pity, but not very pity,
Cause internet is so convienent.

I am tired with over free time...
Tired, but not very tired,
Cause is always nice to be free.

I am very lazy to do something...
Very lazy, but not lazy,
Cause I did nothing at all.

I am very anti-social to mix with people...
Very anti-social, but not anti-social,
Cause no one chat with me and ask me out.

I am very dissapointed with my friend (note: no 's')...
Very dissapointed, but not dissapointed
Cause what i did is not what i get in return.

Feel like finding someone to talk with. However, the hall is cold. As cold as the public refrigerator used by everyone in my stairway...

Tasmania Trip

From 6 Nov to 11 Nov 2008, My friends and I went to one of the state in Australia, Tasmania.

Tasmania is located at the south east of Australia. It is a small island full of scenic view and flora and fauna. The state and largest city is Horbart where is located south east of the island.

Location of Tasmania

After an one-hour-plus flight, finally we reach Horbart. We went to a backpacker's accomadation to spend our night. It is named as Pickled Frog which is a funny name to me.

Horbart is a quiet city espacially at night. It is near the pier and it is famous for its seafood. We tried Mures where the 1st time i ate fresh oyster and some raw seafood. It is disgusting to me but the taste is great. Besides, there is a famous fish and chips shop which is my favourite. We missed the Salamanca Market which only operates on Saturday, but we didn't missed the 24 hours bakery at Salamanca Square where award winning meat pies are served. Yum, yum...

Horbart Pier

We joined some tour which bring us around the west side of Tasmania. We went into forest and see lots of nice viewing waterfall. We did some hiking job in the rain too.

Rainforest

Mount Field National Park - Russells Fall (the best waterfall i ever seen so far)

Mount Cradle with its love story.

This photo is from internet as the sky is unclear during my visit

Franklin River

Clean water source where we just drink the water from the river

South Ocean, One of the 5 Ocean in the world

From Mt Wellington, 360 degree from the mountain. Cold and windy but nice.

Spirit if Tasmania. Connect Tasmania with Melbourne


The tour group in front of a lighthouse

We also visited some interesting town around Tasmania

Railton


My favourite mural

So many sheep, the 1st time i saw that many running on the road