Start of a Brand New Chapter

So my holidays are gone. The semester break I had last month was the last break I'm going to have in my whole entire life!! That's because, this semester will be the last semester of my formal education life. Its my last university life. After which, its all applying what I learned in school, college and university. It has been 16 years since Standard One to Third year of a degree.

This thought struck me when I was boarding the plane back to Brisbane from Melbourne. When my aunt dropped me to the Tullamarine Airport in Melbourne, the sudden feel of missing the embience started to set in. Well, this is part and parcel of life, I guess. Old things pass, new things come. Old things don't pass, how new things come?

When I arrived at Brisbane International Airport, Ian and Avene my cousins picked me up. Lucky me. Of not, I have to drag a 20kg suitcase, 10kg backpack and a 4kg lappie from the terminal to Skybus train, then switch at Central to Indooroopilly, and walk 1km from Indooroopilly to my house.

Guess what, I got my Birthday Present!! Happy 22nd Birthday, Daniel!! This is what they got me.

Birthday goody bag

Inside the bag, it contained...

Durian Spongecake. (sorry la, it looked so delicious that I had to steal 2 bites before taking a picture)

A second cake. Banana Spongecake.

Golden Casket game cards. Its sorta like scratch and win kinda thing. However, I didn't win anything even though I had 2 cards.







Last but not least, Magazines!! Guess I don't need to explain what are those!!


Now, "I got a feeling..that tonight's gonna be a good night..that tonight's gonna be a good good night..."...........and that's how I start kick start my final semester!! gambateh, guys!!

Yours Lovely...
-dannyboy-

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

This is Sovereign Hill, Ballarat. In the olden days, this is where Victoria, Melbourne got their riches from. This is a real place in Melbourne where the people use to mine for gold. Now, after centuries, the gold has all been mined and they convert it to a tourist place.

Front Entrance

Gold Museum

As they say, whenever there is gold, there is Chinese. So they build a temple before anything.

The children playing around the gold mine

Some shops

Fire Station

Posing with a guard

Fire wood to generate the steam machine

First time I'm seeing a real peacock!! Beautiful.

Coffee terrace in the mining field.

Mining Machine

Posing with horssie..

Trying to dig gold!

Warming myself outside a hotel

This is the real gigantic drilling mine machine

News agency

On the Main Street

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat

Ballarat Sanctuary

Melbourne-Three and a Half Days

So it has been two and a half days since I arrive Melbourne. Just 2.5 days, I was already tortured with food! As usual, being a Malaysian, my aunt brought me around Melbourne trying different Malaysian and Chinese cuisine. So its a nice experience to taste what is Malaysia outside Malaysia.

Frankly, the taste is more or less the same. (sorry, forgot to bring camera that day, so no pics), I was at a restaurant called Petaling Street on the day of arrival. I had 炸肉干捞面，and my aunt had鱼头米. I also had the best crab noodles in town the night after. I doubt there is such 姜葱蟹炒生面 back in KL. So first few days is all about food and after that, its all about adventure.

So tomorrow I will be embarking on an adventurous journey on my own. The itinerary is as below (do Google if there are some place you are not familiar with).

(1) Monday 19/7/2010- Great Ocean Road
(2) Tuesday 20/7/2010- Sanctuary Hills, Balarat
(3) Wednesday 21/7/2010- Phillip Island.

These are important things I brought before I do a solo travel.



And my ever reliable hiking bag. A typical solo traveler will always have these 10 items with him.





The items above are
1. my red Uni jumper
2. blue parker
3. maroon sweater
4. black beanie
5. gray neck warmer
6. blue gloves
7. Tasco binoculars.
8. red water bottle
9. most important of all!! Camera Tripod!





Walking shoes. Its really really really important to have a pair of good shoes. That is because adventure is all about walking. If you're lost, you must be prepared to walk. Guess what, this 'sophisticated' shoes, a.k.a 'My Hiking Shoes' cost me RMB70/RM35/AUD10. That's dirt cheap considering it has served me in China, Uni and Oz.


So guys, there will be heaps of photographs to be uploaded here in the next few days. If I slack a little, please don't blame me la. Really tired after each trips and will need time to chill before I start to re-narrate again.

Till then, wish me good luck and see you all soon.

Melbourne Trip-First Day

As I am writing this blog, I’m currently 10.2km above sea level, on the way to Melbourne. This is the first time I am blogging on air!!

This morning, I woke up at 5.05am. took a shower, make a hot drink and started to pack last minute stuff. At 5.45am sharp, I made sure I off all electric appliances and locked up my house as instructed by Vivian, my housemate. I had to drag my 15kg luggage, pick-a-bag pack of 5kg and a laptop of 5kg and walk 1km to the train station. It was so tiring and first time in my Oz life, I was sweating like a pig at 6am in the morning.

By the time I arrive at the train station, I had to top up my go-card as I ran out of credit. With my heavy load, I walk the whole station trying to search for a ticket counter and after all the searching and walking, a fellow traveler told me that Indooroopilly Station has no ticket counter. CRAP!! So I had to take a train Central Station, walk downstairs to the ticket counter, top up my card and walk up again to platform 3 for the Airport Express.

This is the first time I’m traveling alone. Along the way, I notice many incident worth taking note of. On the train from Indooroopilly Station to Central, the train captain PERSONALLY came out from his cabin and asked me ‘are you going to the airport?’ I replied ‘yes’. He asked again ‘Do you know your way? You have to switch train at Central’. I replied again ‘Sure mate, thanx for your advice’. A train captain actually bothers about a customer. That is really commendable. Back in Malaysia, I doubt any train captain will give a @!#$ about where are you heading to!!

Upon arrival at Brisbane Domestic Airport, I was looking for Tiger Airlines check-in counter. After some searching, Tigers was actually behind all the big companies such as Qantas, Jetstar, Virgin Blue etc.. I was then greeted by a pretty lady. Tigers, being a budget airline, they are very very very strict of the luggage weight. That is how budget airlines make money. 100grams exceed the limit, u have to pay that excess right away. Guess what? My luggage weight is 15.0kg ON THE DOT. Not even slightly off the limit. Even the pretty lady was commenting on how well I packed. Awesome. Now I can happily put aside the heavy luggage that I had to drag for 2km (include ticket counter searching) that gave me some blisters on my palm and go and have my breakfast at Hungry Jacks. While I was eating by myself, I realize it’s so fun traveling alone. I don’t have to wait for people, don’t have to worry for those around me. Nice.

After waiting at the lounge I manage to board the plane at 8.30am.

An hour later, here I am, 33465feet above sea level, on my way to Melbourne. Trust that it will be a good experience. I should be landing in one and a half hours time. Melbourne is now 5 degrees celcius in the day and could reach negative at night. Not too sure how true is it, but I hope the winter clothing I have is sufficient.

Will continue my story later when I arrive in Melbourne

Cherio

Feeling the Feeling of Failing to Feel

9.30am
Today, my housemate, Vivian, flew off to Melbourne for holidays with her sister. In my heart, I was so happy because finally, I can have the whole house to myself. I can watch TV all I want, on all the lights, do everything and anything as if the whole world is mine. I have to admit, when she is around, I'm more conscious of myself. I try hard not to dirty the kitchen floor.

So today, since she is not around, I cooked the most messy dish anyone could cook-Chicken Curry. I dun have to worry of the splattering oil, oily stove etc and I can clean it whenever I want to. After that, I took out my laptop to the hall and occupy the sofa she used to occupy. Come at night, I watch 谈情说案on the sofa with a drink in front me. Wah!! Have not experienced this feeling for a very long time.

However, after everything, as I was laying down on the bed, some flashes came through my mind. I think back of the time I chat with her about Hong Kong dramas, she tells me what is life in Hong Kong, she shares with me what is the education like in Hong Kong etc. Recently, as I was hunting for a new place, we even talked more as we start comparing Oz with our respective countries. Then I start to feel, I really miss her. I feel so quiet now. I have to admit, I don't really talk spontaneously with her (just chat on some topics) but I miss her.

Then thinking of the time I have, she returns to Brisbane on the 15th of July. By then, I would be in Melbourne myself. If everything goes as planned, I will be shifting out from here to a new place next Monday. In other words, last night was my last time seeing her-forever!! This thought really struck me.

I now take this opportunity to show you all my current place before I move out. Sorry, I forgot to show this earlier on when I moved in from Sean's place.

The kitchen that needs cleaning. Vivian always clean it for me and I seriously feel very bad-Now.



This is the hall. The arch is where I stand and chat with her while she sits on the sofa and turn her head and talk to me.


The dining hall which is never used for dining. That pile of books is mine. Her sister occasionally comes and sit at the far end to do her work.


The hall. This the sofa she occupies all the time. That is how her laptop is positioned.



OK, please stop laughing....That is my room. I WAS ROBBED OK?? still under renovation...stop laughing..