Good bye, 2009... You will NOT be missed!!!

A year is coming to an end, with today being the last day of 2009. Not a lot had happened since the year had been spent in Melbourne struggling with my studies. Will just do a summary of the major happenings of 2009.

Celebrated my birthday and our first Valentine's Day with my Darling. Absolutely memorable experience!

My first birthday with my Darling!

My first Valentine's gift!

Travelled to Melbourne for the commencement of my third year of studies in Bachelor of Science (Biochemistry and Molecular Biology). Stayed with ZQ for the entire 2 semesters. First semester was spent in Unilodge, which was a disaster. Our neighbors were Koreans and I highly suspected that they are from North Korean due to their unfriendliness. They slammed the door on us in the kitchen and blasted girlie Korean pop music in the early hours of weekends. Next was my laboratory mate, Flavia. I don't know how someone like her can graduate from Unimelb. A total disgrace for this institution. Her classics? She asked me how I know the volume in a pipette is 12 uL when it has been set to pick up 12 uL of liquid. She also asked me whether it was substrate or enzyme that got degraded in a substrate-enzyme reaction. Third year student... Good griefs...

My first Australian sunrise.

My first lunch done up by ZQ.

Second semester, ZQ and I moved into a 2-bedroom apartment. We rented one room to a China boy. Mistake. Out of the 4 months together, he only went to the market twice with us. Other times, his excuses were that he's got soccer matches or project discussions with his project mates. His classics. 1) 政权，面包没了。2) He can come into the kitchen without offering help to prepare diner. Then he can have the cheek to come in again and say he's hungry. And yet again, he can have the cheek to say to me to add more water to the rice because the rice is a bit dry. 3) He simmered or soaked chicken in UNDILUTED dark soy sauce and upon serving it, he said he forgot to add salt.

My new bedroom!

红烧鸡肉. Which is basically chicken in dark soy sauce. This is after 20 minutes of simmering, so you can imagine how much soy sauce went in at the start.

Got my Honours project with Dr. Danny Hatters doing Huntington disease, looking at protein aggregation and trafficking. Commencement date is Feb 2010. Hope to get that done as soon as possible as I totally dreaded Melbourne lifestyle.

Celebrated our 1 year anniversary. No fancy arrangement, just quality time with each other. Next up, 2010 Valentine's Day!

My Darling with her Limited Edition Diana F+ Moma.

~~~ X'mas Fun 2009 ~~~

Rushed back for Elaine's wedding. Haven't seen her since July, so this is a great way to see Elaine in her most beautiful fashion.

X'mas outing with Melbourne gang. Although many people weren't around (even though they indicated their attendance on the event page), there were still plenty of fun and laughter! Lunch at Shin Kushiya. The food was great! I love my beef set! Tender and juicy beef slices! Went to the arcade after our lunch to have endless fun with World Combat and other games!

Had a cinema marathon with my darling and her buddies! "Alvin & the Chipmunks" and "Sherlock Holmes". The former movie was so-so, expected of the chipmunks. But the latter movie kept me awake throughout the entire duration! It was GOOD! The plot is excellently paced to keep you intrigued and captivated. There will be a sequel, so I am definitely looking forward to it! There were a few trailers of upcoming movies and a few looked nice. So hopefully I can get to catch them before I leave for Melbourne.

The nice neon effect brought about by condensation on my lens after we came out from Vivocity.

Hosted a X'mas gathering for my buddies. Definitely had a great time with them, despite the short amount of time I spent with each of them. But I guess quality beats quantity. And I am glad they are able to turn up despite their busy schedule. I can see they are really happy during this gathering, having endless fun with Guitar Hero: World Tour. It was overall a warm and precious gathering for me, meeting up with my good friends.

The Cannot-Make-It band with me (left), Choon Leng (centre) and GD (right).

The girls' band with Melissa (left) as drummer, Pauline (centre) as guitarist and Swee Yee as bassist.

Going to embark on my "personal project" soon, after I have gotten my materials. Hope to finish my project before I leave for Melbourne. Will keep this CONFIDENTIAL until completion. So stay tuned!

BACK HOME~~~

Feels good to be back home! So many things to do, but I tend to try to do too many things at the same time. Therefore, there are many things that will slip my mind.

First morning of my return, I went for a hair cut. Before the hair salon opens, I used the time to go buy some 4-D numbers. Also went to have my favourite wanton noodle! Hahaha! SHIOK~~~

So many things have changed. Orchard Road is never the same, despite me having returned in July. Things really changed fast in Singapore. Cannot imagine those who are really away from Singapore for almost a year.

Went with my mum to 313 and ION Orchard for a walk. It's really nice shopping with my mum. Window shopping and then diner with Swee Yee and my sister at Crystal Jade Korean Ginseng Chicken Restaurant. The homely feel of diner with your loved ones is indescribable. Just so lovely...

Can't wait for more times with my loved ones...

School's out FOREVER!

FINALLY! I have completed my degree! Did my final paper yesterday! The paper wasn't too easy, but the only thing I am concerned about is that I am finally through with my degree! YEAH~ Hopefully it will be the last of having exams. I hate exams and the impossible amount of content we have to memorize for a 2-3 hour paper. It is crazy! Still have my Honours year next year, so hopefully no exams for me...

Time to recharge and to start packing for my Tasmania trip! Time to sleep until my natural wake up timing and also to cook nice food. Once the exam period concurs, I have been eating simple food just to save time and effort. So now, it is the time to start using my heart to cook. Yes, cooking requires the right mind and heart to produce delicious food, even if the ingredients are just plain and normal. Maybe it is also time to indulge a bit in restaurants and café. YEAH~

Desperate Times Call For Desperate Measures During Recession

Maybe I should make a cover out of cardboard for my iPod Touch like the one above. My current one is deteriorating...

One Final Hurdle

Three down. One more to go on next Tuesday. Can't wait. The anxiety for the last paper is always the most intense. Moreover, the last paper is Microbial Cells and Genomes. The subject with useless notes and boring lectures. Hopefully I can pull through for this paper.

6 MORE DAYS!!!

Can't wait for the days for me to do my packing, ready to explore the beautiful and legendary Tasmania!

Countdown

2 more papers to go !

11 more days to my resurrection !

16 more days to Tasmania !

25 more days to return HOME !!!

Resurrection II

Exam period now. Just finished my Developmental Biology paper this afternoon. Not confident of my H1. If a miracle happens, I can have a H2A. Praying hard.

Tomorrow will be my Reproduction paper. Hopefully the paper can assist in me securing my H1 since my non-exam component takes up 60% and I think I have secured around 50% of the total score for the subject.

12 more days to my resurrection! Can't wait to get my life back. My camera needs some shots. My legs need some walk. My eyes need some rest. My brain needs to think less.

29 November 2009

Melbourne -> Hobart, Tasmania

30 November 2009

Hobart: Mount Wellington

1 December 2009

Hobart: Port Arthur

2 December 2009

Hobart -> Launceston

Launceston: Cataract Gorge

3 December 2009

Launceston: Tamar Valley, Beauty Point

4 December 2009

Launceston -> Hobart

5 December 2009

Hobart -> Melbourne

8 December 2009

Melbourne -> !!! HOME !!!

Expensive Hair Cut

Had the most expensive hair cut of my life on Wednesday, 30 Sep 2009. AUD$30!!!

OK, it may not sound it is a lot, but for a man who usually had his hair cut for S$12, AUD$30 allows me to have 3 hair cuts in Singapore! I could have opted for the AUD$9.95 budget hair cut. But the one I had in April that costed me AUD$9.95 is a total disaster. My fringe was flat like a bang. I didn't realize my flat fringe until I went home because the hairdresser gel my hair after the cut. So I vow never to step into that hair salon again! ZQ went to that same salon yesterday and he saw the same hairdresser that did my hair cut. He was praying so hard not to have that hairdresser and lucky he, he managed to save himself.

So this time around, I braved myself to go to this hair salon just across the street where I stay and try it out since I always see tai-tais who came in Mercedez, BMW and other expensive cars. So before I commit suicide, I went in and asked the price. AUD$30 for a cut and wash. Although I find it expensive, I thought I should give it a try since so many tai-tais frequent this salon. Boy, I was pleased with the result although my Singapore hairdresser could do the same for S$12. But being here, I cannot complain much. Just have to live with it.

Before

After

But one thing I have to mention, is my anxiety during my hair cut. Back in Singapore, I can allow my hairdresser total freedom to do what she thinks is best for me. I can even doze off during the hair cut! But here, although I know I am in better hands than the budget hairdresser, I still can't help but feel uptight by the entire experience. I was stiffening myself up unknowingly. As much as I would like to relax, I just can't seem to have the same comfortable feeling of my Singapore hairdresser. I guess all of us are used to our own hairdresser...

Normality

What is normality? It is defined as "conforming to the standard or the common type; usual; not abnormal; regular; natural." So what is the standard? How do you define the "standard of life"?

I chat up with a friend of mine recently. Found out that she doesn't want to lead a normal life, or rather, doesn't want to conform to the normality of society. What is the normality of society? She defines it as getting a qualification, having a job, getting married, bearing kids, watching them grow up, developing wrinkles and lastly, dying out. All these are normal to her.

I have a good friend who told me the exact same things few moons back. He doesn't want to follow the normality of the society. He questioned, "Why do we have to conform to the normal life? Why can't we go out, be wild and be who you are?" That is why he makes frequent trips overseas to a certain place to drink, smoke, party, have fun. His frequent trips used to be once a month. It "upgraded" to about twice a month. It even "escalated" to him faking medical certificates to just get away to his "paradise".

What I am saying here, is not condemning their actions or mentalities. What I am trying to question here, is "What is normality?" If normality means following what the others are doing, then probably they are better off walking on their hands. I agree with what my two friends have said about having fun, being yourself and letting yourself loose.

But we humans are social animals. We live in a society. We have families and friends. We are ultimately responsible to our family and friends. You are not alone. We are all interconnected. What you do now is going to be something that will come back to haunt you in the future. You have to be responsible for your own actions.

So it sets back the scene on "normality". Are they really out of the "cage of normality"? Or are we judging them based on the "normality" of the society? It is becoming like a "chicken or egg first" question.

I shall leave it as it is. Perhaps the stress of university life is putting a toil on me and I feel the need to just pull myself out from the tons of assignment. Perhaps, just back into the comfort of the "normality" of life...

The above article is written by the author with no particular person in target, unless your name is stated. Written in the context of an Asian mind.

做人要懂得自动

Living together with my China housemate has proven one thing. China people are most likely the same, no matter if they are from Guangzhou or Shanghai. Getting really fed up with China attitude. They care only for themselves and are selfish. I have Don from Unilodge and now Du Fei here to reinforce my stand.

Du Fei likes to leave the used rice cooker unwashed in the kitchen. He doesn't help to clear the rubbish. He doesn't help to do the cooking. When the bread has finished, he simply tells ZQ, "政权，面包没有了。" When the hazelnut spread is finishing, "政权，这个吃完后，买些果酱吧。" For someone who doesn't help out in the kitchen for meals, he will tell me, "Kevin，这个饭有点干。下次放多点水。" For someone who doesn't help in cooking meals, he has the cheek to come into the kitchen and say, "饭还没煮好？我肚子饿了。"

All these are getting on my nerves. I am not blaming ZQ for selecting this housemate. No one knows the habit of a person just by looking at his face. Just lamenting our bad luck to have to have a China man to stay together with us. Luckily we are only going to stay here until end of November. 

I will be returning home on 8 December. I will probably travel to Tasmania or Gold Coast before I head home. I want to travel around. Don't want to tell people I haven't been to anywhere in Australia except Melbourne city. Disgrace. 

Neglected...

My camera has been neglected. I haven't had the time to really go photo shooting. I really want to go photo shooting, but upcoming tests and assignments are killing me! Sometimes, I really have the urge to just sell away my camera and gears so that I won't have this feeling of neglecting my camera and hobby. But at times, I also have the urge to upgrade my current lens (EF-S 17-85mm F4-5.6 IS USM) to a better quality lens, the EF-S 17-55mm F2.8 IS USM. 

Still in a dilemma... 

Beer

Maybe getting myself drunk with beer can make me sleep better... I am tired, but I can't sleep... Tired of everything... But I really want some sleep... 

Brighton Beach, Melbourne

Went visiting Brighton Beach on Saturday with ZQ, Jing Kai, Yiu Yiu, Pream and Lisa. The weather was good. No rainy clouds, but the temperature is still cold. Coupled with the cold wind from the ocean, the temperature drops even lower. ZQ and I braved the weather and wore bermudas because jeans are just not meant for the beach...

Nothing much at Brighton Beach. The only attraction is the coloured huts on the beach. Totaling 70+ of such huts, they are the iconic symbol of Brighton Beach. 

Went to Footscray after Brighton Beach. Total contrast between these 2 places. Brighton Beach is a place for the rich, with very luxurious bungalow just a street away from the beach. Posh cars such as Maserati, Aston Martin and Porsche are common cars you see at Brighton. On the other hand, Footscray is full of beggars, mentally-retarded people and intimidating men. The place is filthy and looks like a crime is going to happen anytime. This is the first time in my life that I actually fear for my own safety. I was worried about people snatching my bag or camera. I was worried someone might come poking a knife at me to ask me for money. This is the kind of intimidation I am talking about. I really don't feel safe in Footscray, even with my friends are around.

Weird kids asking me to take pictures of them...

Started to look around for Honours project. Talked to Terry Mulhern about his projects. Had an enjoyable chat with him. Meeting up Danny Hatters this coming Wednesday. Going to WEHI on 31 August to see if I can get myself a project from this prestigious institution. Wish me luck!

Fatigue+Lack of SLeep+Nightmare

Too tired recently... Way too tired... Rushing practical logbooks, trying to finish up assignments... But things just keep on piling up... I haven't even got time to revise anything. 

I just want peaceful, quiet sleep. But I keep having nightmares and bad nights' sleep. I really need a miracle... 

Proud of Myself!

Out of nowhere, I decided to PP a picture that I like to be the image of my blog. Decided on the image and went on to do some PP on Photoshop. I know my skills are still very amateurish, but the outcome of it had me being proud of myself. Yes, I know many people master Photoshop on their own. But for me to do such a feat in a matter of an hour, I must say I am very happy with myself. I guess this image will remain here for many months to come until I have another nicer picture. Credit to my darling for taking this picture! Thanks!!!

Suffering...

Back to Melbourne is the start of my suffering again... Now is the end of Week 1, and I felt that I have not learned anything at all... All the subjects are so abstract to me. Protein Structure and Function, Developmental Biology, Microbial Cells and Genomes, Reproduction... Hate it when I felt lost... Tons of assignments for this semester. I really don't know how I am going to die.

I hope I can find the energy to carry on every day... I'm tired...

Time Flies...

I hate to be back in Melbourne, but I just have to. I hate the expensive and inefficient internet here. I hate the expensive lifestyle here. I hate being away from my family and Swee Yee. I can't wait for December to come quick. 

Time flies by when I am back home. One moment a month ago, I was bemoaning that time is too slow. Now, I am bemoaning that time flies by too quickly. I haven't even had enough time with my family, Swee Yee and friends. And now, I have to be back in Melbourne to continue my torture. 

I hope my next 4 months here in Melbourne will fly by quickly.

Coming Home!

The long awaited torture of coming home is killing me... Time seems to slow down when you are waiting for something. I wish the same could happen when I'm back.

I guess I am not suitable to stay in Melbourne. This city is too boring for my liking. Boring in the sense that shops close at 6pm on weekdays. Boring in the sense that there are no major shopping malls to browse around. Boring in the sense that night activities are restricted to pubs and clubs. Boring in the sense that there are no entertainment after school. It's always study, study and study. I want to come back to have my own life. Go home after knock off to home cook food. Watch some TV shows or play some games. Surf the internet without having to worry about download quota. My Bitorrent is always on to download movies and songs. Having stayed in Melbourne for the last 4 months has shown me how difficult it is to stay in Melbourne. The internet alone is enough to kill me, not to mention the hectic school work and constant worry about how much money I am spending.

I also dread putting my bag into the huge container before the exams because it takes ages to retrieve your bag when your paper is done.

Although it's nice to have really blue sky with fluffy clouds, the weather is insane in Melbourne. I cannot complain enough about the weather.

IT'S FINALLY OVER!!!!!

My first semester at University of Melbourne is finally OVER!!! I've completed my final examination today!!! Although I am not very confident about this paper, I am still delighted that I survived through my first semester. 

This semester has taught me to be constantly updated about my lectures. I was lost in Biochemistry of Metabolism and Nutrition early in the course and I didn't have the time to clarify all my doubts until examination period. I realized I was confused about what was being taught towards the end and it certainly didn't do my revision any good. I have way too much doubts in my mind. Looking back, I should have used the iLectures more frequently. I will definitely keep myself on track, on par with whatever is being taught. 

Nonetheless, it is such a huge relief to be free and alive again. I have been having nightmares and insomnia for the past few weeks. The worst nightmare was one when I dreamt that I was going to this HDB flat. I said I wanted to stay there for one night, but the lady owner of the flat refused to let me. I insisted and when I was sleeping, I felt this burning sensation throughout my body. I thought that dreams aren't supposed to feel pain or sensation. But this nightmare did. I was afraid, so I started chanting Amitābha. The burning sensation gradually subsided, but I woke up feeling really scared, thinking it was something real. It really felt real... Talk about stress-induced nightmare. This is definitely one... Now, I sleep with an amulet just to keep myself safe. I know it is very "uncle-ish"... But who cares when I feel safe about myself. 

Can't wait to get back to Singapore for my loved ones, food and unlimited internet!!! 

Resurrection

23rd June 2009.

12.30p.m. 

Royal Exhibition Building (Rathdown).

Seat Number 2284.

Resurrection will begin.

I can't wait for 23rd June to come by. I can't wait to finish the most dreaded paper of all my subjects. Biochemistry of Metabolism and Nutrition. Chemical pathways and pathways and pathways... My brain cells are dying every second I read the notes. I just can't wait to be alive again! 

Once that's over, I will be sleeping in to recover my lost sleep for the past month. Been very hectic. Moving places. Preparing for tests and exams. Looking for housemate. Worrying about meals and internet connection. All these have been weighing me down for some time... I need a well deserved rest. 

2nd July. I will be back in the warmth of my loved ones in Singapore. Really looking forward to going back to eat my mum's home cook food. Although I can cook, but nothing beats mum's cooking. Also, I am going back to make rice dumplings! My mum said she will leave some ingredients for me to make my own. Hehehe~

Off to study now... 4 more days!!!

回來新加坡必吃的美食！

Roti Prata

炒粿條

水粿

菜头粿

沙嗲

肉搓面

羊肉湯

Katong Laksa

Eunos釀豆腐

辣椒螃蟹

云吞面

粿汁

魚片米粉

叉燒燒肉飯

鴨肉飯

豆花／豆花水

油條

最重要的是要吃媽媽煮的家常菜！

2 Months' Update

I have been very busy after the Easter break to be seriously updating my blog. Many things have happened, good and bad. I'll try to summarize them so that I can get back to studying for my exams.

Goods

1. My darling came over for a short stay (14-18 May 2009) and we definitely enjoyed each other's warm hands and love. 

2. Moved out of Unilodge and no longer have to see the NKB's sickening faces.

3. Managed to clear most of my assignments, presentations and tests with relatively satisfactory grades. 

4. Moved into a 2-bedroom apartment and I now have a queen size bed to myself.

5. Finally going back to Singapore in 3 weeks' time (2 July 2009)! I miss my family, my own bed, my unlimited, high speed internet usage and Singapore food!

6. Got myself a Sennheiser HD218 headphone!

Bads

1. Still looking for a housemate to occupy our apartment so that we all can split our rents.

2. Swine flu is causing such a havoc here. 

3. Still looking for a cheap bicycle to travel to school daily. Normal bicycles here cost at least $300. Insane.

4. Still trying to get used to living in a winter country. Mornings are extremely difficult to get up due to the cold. 

5. Broadband internet in our apartment is still not up. I am waiting for the landlord to come back and transfer her phone line to us so we can transfer it to Telstra and start using TPG broadband internet once it is set up. Complicated, I know... I am relying on mobile broadband which cost $70 and is only limited to 8GB (4pm-12midnight) and 16GB of uploads and downloads! Hopefully by the time I come back to Melbourne, ZQ would have set up the internet...

6. Hope to maintain my weight as it is now, 62kg. This means I have lost 7kg since Feb when I came here. 4 months, 7kg. 

Easter Break

People are rushing to the airports, jamming the trams and flooding the Customs to go off somewhere to spend their Easter break. Easter eggs, chocolates and gifts are being prepared for the Easter holiday. Joyous feelings, excited anticipations and wonderful memories await those going to have a good time during this holiday period. Great Ocean Road, Adelaide, New South Wales, Jakarta, New Zealand and many more places are destinations for most of my friends next week.

Not the same case for me. I have a laboratory report, a presentation and a paper review due 2 weeks from now. Not to mention the revision I have to do to catch up on lectures which I have totally no idea what was going on, especially Biochemistry of Metabolism & Nutrition. Luckily, my darling will be back this Saturday. So next week, I can have her on Skype as a motivation for me to do all my work. This week was spent in Hell without her. Torturous period for me as I have to constantly find things to do to keep my mind occupied. 

Going to give myself a break tomorrow to watch some movies on my laptop. I think I need this break to recharge myself for the busy week ahead... Can't wait for Saturday!!!

Laboratory Practical Session

I am a hands-on person. I like laboratory practical sessions because I can relax my brains a little and get down to use my hands to conjure up an experiment. At the end, the results revealing part will be the most exciting and most unpredictable.

 

To truly enjoy a laboratory practical session, your laboratory partner is very important. Take Kah Wai and I for example. He's the best laboratory partner I've ever had. The synergy, the understanding, the chemistry and the support. I am not sure if I am the best laboratory partner he's had, but I sure enjoy working together with him. Without any communication, our telepathy allows us to know what each of us are supposed to do for the experiment. We know what we should do and how to complement it to the other partner. Synergy level is always 100%. It is a great pleasure to work with him in a laboratory.

 

Now, my laboratory partner, a Singaporean girl, has proven to me the importance of a good laboratory mate. Not that she is equally good like Kah Wai. She is the opposite. A nightmare for anyone working in a laboratory. Once, I saw her pipetting up and down a fixed volume of water. Out of concern, I asked her if she was OK. She mumbled to herself ,"What is wrong with me today? How come I cannot pipette 12 uL of water?" She then turned to me with the pipette and asked me to show her how to do it. I turned the pipette to 12 uL, pipette up the water and showed it to her. Her reaction ,"How do you know it is 12 uL?"

 

For those non-scientists, a pipette is an instrument to draw the preset amount of liquid. If you set it to 10 uL, the volume it draws up will be 10 uL. Simple.

 

So I was totally puzzled by her question. She then took the pipette back and continued with her stuff. Stunned. Shocked. Puzzled. How can a scientist (especially one in her final year in Bachelor of Science) asked such a question. I was dumbfounded. Speechless. Never thought I would be asked this question. 

 

After this episode, she sent me this email:

 

As advised by my daily horoscope: "Censoring your feelings, though, is not an option, for the more you hold back, the stronger the life quake will be felt. Expressing yourself as if you are free can be the most exhilarating thing in the world."  

Haha maybe it's just me being inefficient or something, but I do appreciate the little gestures like helping me to collect my samples when you collect yours! It's.. not too hard right? We are lab partners and we are supposed to work with each other, just like the other lab partners in the lab! Right?  

Haha my bf says I should not be emailing this but I think it's worse if I dont say it out?  Feel free to share ur thoughts too :) I know I have room to improve too.  See u next week!  

xxx  

p/s: #ABC btw. can pop by to say hi if u want. 

p/p/s: yes i searched for your email address. 

p/p/p/s: add me on  if u haven't wanted to kill me after reading to the end of this email

 

So now it is my fault? Let me explain myself. The reason for not taking her samples out from the incubator was because my samples went in earlier than hers. If I had taken hers out, her incubation timing would be screwed. Doesn't she know that? Gosh... And instead of thanking me for showing her how to use a pipette, I am being accused here for not helping her to collect her samples? Clever...

 

I totally dreaded going to this practical session now. The thought of having to work with her is putting me off. Even when I have had only 2 hours of sleep within a day, I can understand and think better during a practical session than her. She questions almost my every action and I'm pissed by that. Whenever she has a question for me, I provided her with whatever I know. Not satisfied, she still has to go consult the demonstrator. So why ask me in the first place?! 

 

Can't wait for this semester to end so I don't have to see her anymore. She's weird beyond words. 

Melbourne F1 Grand Prix

Courtesy of my buddy, CCL, I was able to attend the Melbourne F1 Grand Prix warm up race yesterday at Albert Park. 

Thanks to him, I was also able to get my textbook and some clothing from my Mum and also some food premix from my Darling. Yeah~ 

The F1 event was huge, with warm up race for the F1 racers. On top of that, there were also fighter jet flight exhibition and parachuters making their way to the event. I guess this will be my first and last F1 event because of the noise pollution. I don't understand why people can pay hundreds of bucks to go and have their ear drums damaged. I am lucky to have my in-ear earphones with me so I can minimize the damage. A Caucasian beside me recorded the noise pollution as 106 decibels! Insane!!! Moreover, the noise pollution was causing me a headache after just 20-30 minutes watching the race cars zoom by. 

Nonetheless, this is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and I will make sure it remains as once in a lifetime. =)

8.5 more months to go!!!

It's been exactly a month since I came to Melbourne. Time flies and I hope it can be faster... All in all, I am adapting well. Only thing I am still trying to adapt to is the erratic weather. It can be super cold like 13-15 degree Celsius in the morning, but can jump to 25-28 degree Celsius in the afternoon. 

Lessons are progressing pretty fast, but I guess I am getting the hang of things. Just need to read up and read up prior to the lectures. Still trying to arrange time for rest and relax. This Sunday will be spent going to Camberwell Photography Market to see what they have for sale, followed by IKEA trip to see what else we need for our room. 

To everyone who is concerned, please do not spread rumours of me trying to commit suicide, or sinking into depression to my family. I admit there is a bit of adapting when I came here, but it is not as extreme as you think that will drive me to the brink of suicide. I have too many things left undone in life to die right now. So please, don't spread any rumours. I am doing well here...

Thanks!

I Want My Rainbow!

I was a bit emo yesterday. I don’t know why. The actions of going to school in the morning, attending classes until lunchtime, going back to my room and studying until late night just make me feel so... depressing. I really don’t know what was going on in my head. Just felt a mixture array of feelings. Depressed, lonely, sad, helpless, uncertain, uptight, frustrated and many more… 

Maybe I’m not used to studying every minute and second. Here, I study every minute and second I have other than school, bathing, jogging and cooking time. Seriously, it IS every minute and second. ZQ and I don’t have any entertainment. No video game console, no handheld games, no TV, no radio, no newspaper. We have only our laptops, jogging shoes and cooking utensils. Lectures are difficult enough. Couple lectures with assignments and paper reviews. Hell…

 

We didn’t even have the time to go explore around Melbourne. The only places we have been are IKEA, Docklands and the city area. Considering the fact that I am here for almost a month, it is a shame I haven’t been out exploring. But with the heavy study load we have, we have no time to lose. We are being forced by circumstances to study every minute and second.

The only consolation I have from yesterday is the double rainbow I saw from the kitchen after the rain. I do hope I will get to see my own rainbow soon…

Moomba Waterfest

Went to the Moomba Waterfest on Sunday. Fotoholics are supposed to meet at 8.30pm at Federation Square to take pictures of the fireworks. But ZQ (my room mate), Eric (Taiwanese friend) and I decided to go early to take a look at what's happening at the waterfest. 

The first sight that greeted us were these huge makeshift amusement rides. The reverse bungee ride, though makeshift, was taller than that of what Singapore has. At AUD$30 per reverse bungee ride, it is so much cheaper here. I've done the actual bungee jump, so no need for this one. Hahaha~ The waterfest already had a makeshift water stretch for wakeboarders to do their stunts. Here's a picture of one on the go~

The city of Melbourne resembles that of Raffles Place from a distance. Maybe that is why I don't really feel foreign here. The waterfest had many mini-game booths for kids and adults to try their hands on it. 

Here are some pictures of the fireworks. Not very spectacular as I'd expected. But since it's free, I can't complain much. Moreover, I have had space to stand around with my tripod and take such pictures, so I count myself lucky. In Singapore, whenever there's such an event, forget about the tripod because there will be no space for you to mount your tripod. People will be stampeding you over. Ok, enough of the crapping. Enjoy the pictures!