March 2008 Archives

I absolutely love this picture. Okok, this is probably the lousiest opening of any entries and I apologise. But I really like this picture, it is probably the best jumping picture I have ever attempted, and lo and behold - thanks to Julian (who took the picture) as well I was able to capture this somewhere near the top of the cliffs of Coogee beach just on the Coastal Walk.

Anyways to start from the beginning, the weekend started with drinks at Slip Inn (again opposite the road) with the colleagues after work on Friday night, and I have no idea what in the world I was drinking but I got pretty tipsy after this shot they got me somewhere in between my second and third beer.

Here are some of my colleageus.

Time surely flies. Before I knew it - there I was in Melbourne again. I took the 6 am Qantas flight from Sydney to Melbourne, and I arrived at around 7:45am.

Before I left Melbourne at the end of July last year, I told my friends I won't be seeing them for a long time to come, possibly a few years at least. Well it's just past seven months and here I am again arriving in Tullamarine airport.

Sydney the last few days had been pretty warm (around 24 degrees average) and I was really looking forward to some chilly Melbourne weather. I was quite relieved to feel the chilly 15 degree Melbourne winds when I walked out of the airport I had to admit. Now I finally get to put on my autumn jackets.

Ben and Horng Shii were very nice to come pick me up at 7:45 in the morning. I was going to stay with them over the Easter weekend, and again I really have to thank all 3 of them - Ben, Adeline and Horng Shii for their hospitality.

Anyways, I was really there to chill out, so during the day we really didn't do much apart from having a late lunch (yup I slept for a while) at Clayton, and then dropping by Andrew and Suyi's newly bought place which I haven't seen.

At night we went to Toodori, a Korean restaurant opposite the Victoria market for some authentic Korean BBQ. I had last visited this restaurant almost 4 years ago if I remember correctly. Ah... memories.

After that - we wanted to head over to Koko Black over at Lygon Street for dessert, but alas Easter Friday here means most places are closed so we went to Max Brenner, but it was also closed.

So we settled for Mcdonalds's McCafe for some cheesecake and coffee. Yup count on Macca's to be open even on public holidays. Mental note to self here - never ever ever ever order the Vienna coffee again. It's absolutely terrible.

We decided to have a breakfast the next day at about 9 am over at St Kilda beach.

Well - it's been a few days now since I arrived back in Australia for work. The working life in Sydney is really not that much different compared to Melbourne.

The guys here have been treating me pretty good as well, which is great and I really appreciate their hospitality. I have realised that I have also forgotten how big the portions of food here are.

Not that I'm complaining.

Yummy fish and bean curd with rice from Chinatown. What will I do without Chinese food.

Anyways I brought some autumn wear along but the weather here really feels more like summer than anything else. My first weekend here arrived with a Friday of after work drinks that pretty much lasted until 10 pm with work colleagues at the Slip Inn (Australians know this place as the infamous bar that the Danish prince met his Aussie wife, now Princess Mary).

Barely 8 months after arriving back in Malaysia for good - I've been ordered to go to Sydney for the next 4 weeks for work.

To be honest I'm not a fan of living in Sydney, but rather than complaining I think I'll make the most out of the trip and even make a short trip back to Melbourne during Easter while I'm back there.

This is one of my favourite pictures of Sydney - which I took just last year.

Anyways, I hope there's internet connection where I'm living so hopefully I'll be able to continue blogging!

Yesterday was finally the day obviously a lot of Malaysians have been waiting for. The official voting day had finally come. I flew back from KL early in the morning just to join the crowd - to cast my vote for what was hopefully a better change for our beloved country that we have all grown up in.

Now, to be honest, I had no idea who was actually standing in my area - who it was didn't really matter, as I was already confident which party I would be voting for.

After a hearty breakfast, I went along with my parents to our designated polling station to cast our votes.

At the entrance to the school we were of course greeted by volunteers and workers from the Election Commission, which directed us to the classrooms to cast our votes.

I proceeded to the classroom that my name had corresponded to in their system. The policeman on duty there obviously didn't like having his picture taken. I was really glad he allowed me to take pictures anyway so I wasn't really complaining.

I've really got no interest in reading the local papers nowadays.

With the election voting date inching closer and closer ever so quickly, you can really tell how ridiculously bias our local newspapers are. Everything seems to be about how good Barisan Nasional government is.

Stability, racial harmony and growth are among the apparently good things the government has brought over the years. Sure - stability I can agree with. Racial harmony? Let's not kid ourselves here. Everyone's living in peace - and nobody has any problems with anyone - especially when it has anything to do with one's racial background. But whoa, apart from that - it seems that racial discrimination is everywhere in this country.

And lastly, growth - are these people really that arrogant that they are sniffing their own asses? Malaysia has lost its competitive edge in South East Asia. Many of our neighbours who were once behind us when we're talking about development and growth has now overtaken us... and as the locals here would say - we can't even smell the smoke they're leaving behind!

So how anyone can believe the bullshit that is in the papers is really beyond me.

Really tells you what sort of press freedom we have here in Bolehland aye?

What I think though is this - BN is now nervous. They have now realised how much they've been assholes over the last 4 years of rule under our infamous Pak Lah. OK - maybe I'm giving them too much credit there. I should probably say - they've come to realise that the people are beginning to figure out how much they've been conning and walking over their heads... and shitting over it.