29.09.07: BBQ session cum CT9 class gathering

The idea of BBq-ing just came to my mind one fine day, and I suggested to my group of sisters who readily agreed. It later become a class gathering of the ex-CT9 classmates as we had one BBQ many many years ago, and remembered we had lotsa fun...

Our class had 24 students, we managed to get only half of the total no. (12) for the BBQ, in the end, less than 10 turned up (8 in fact)... hmm... so actually we were only 1/3 successful in this BBQ session. BUT, we still have to thank Suling for her well-coordination and planning, beginning from getting contacts, sending sms confirmations, and ordering the food from ezyb (www.ezyb.com.sg), and even contributed in starting the fire!! (Hello, where are the guys???!!!)

Initially when its only the 3 of us - Tanlin, Suling & me, at the BBQ pit, we looked so pathetic lor.. while the group beside our pit is so re nao...sigh.. one by one turned up at 7tish, 8tish, 9tish... In the end, I can still say, I enjoy the session we had...

Thanks everybody for turning up at the BBQ... (Dun think we will have anymore in the future..haha)

The Yam's Journey in Australia - Chapter 6

~Day 1: Sydney - The Bustling City of Australia

Today is the day where we depart Melbourne (sob sob) and travel to Sydney (Yeh yeh), via Qantas Domestic flight. Din know they have auto-check in for domestic flights and its really convenient! We even got snacks on the plane during the 2 hours journey. Dear definitely prefer International Airlines compared to Budget Airlines cuz' the latter dun provide food!! Hahaha... Greedy man...

To me, I prefer Melbourne to Sydney cuz Sydney seems like a busier and bustling city, full of cars, and high-rise buildings. Not as beautiful as Melbourne.. Today is F&E afternoon so we stroll around the CBD area, with the main shopping malls and kept walking and walking till we reached the Circular Quay. From there, we can clearly see the Sydney Opera House and Sydney Harbour Bridge whereby they are must-see attractions in Sydney! Only at there, I got to see the beautiful side of Sydney... Then we took the double-decker train back to the CBD area, and went to Chinatown for dinner. We went to the BBQ King - recommended by Lonely Planet. The restaurant looks quite oldish and not that clean.. Only when we sat down, looked at the menu then realised "Huh! A place of roasted meat rice costs more than AUD 12!!" I can get from anywhere in S'pore at a much cheaper price! Sigh, bobian..sat down liao lor, so tried and see how was it.. Ok la, normal lor..nothing that FANTASTIC..just a bigger plate only lor... Along the streets, we saw quite a few Adult Shops at the 2nd level.. Quite curious but dun dare to go up and take a look.. Guess they are more liberal and open than S'pore is...

Alright, end of our 1st day in Sydney and tomorrow is the Blue Mountain Trip.

The Yam's Journey in Australia - Chapter 5

~Day 5: Skiing @ Mount Buller!~

Today is my very first - First time seeing REAL snowflakes falling from the skies (and hitting my face!). FIRST time learning how to ski on a snow mountain. These are the reasons why Dear wan to bring me to Mount Buller.. To experience all these that I've never experienced before...

What I saw in front of my eyes are snowy mountains, hazy weather, showers and snow mixing with one another... Very very cold... It was 2 Degree Celcius and we were all wrapped up in many many layers... Felt "sick" after the winding trip up the mountain...Took a brief break inside the cafe, drinking hot Chocolate before we walked around the Mount Buller's Alpine Village. Booked the Learner's Course for the day, and rented the necessary equipments before we went up to the restaurant for lunch.

One very important thing to note when skiing: Make sure you have enought energy inside your body, so remember to eat!
Another important thing is: To Keep Fit... Oh no... Think its too late for us to "keep fit" liao... In the end, it turned out the skiing is such a tough exercise that got us perspiring while out in the snow, our arm and leg muscle started aching..Argh....

Initially we only started learning the basics - Walking, Moving on the snow, Skiing on a very short and gentle slope, by going round and round... Hans, our ski instructor is a very humorous and nice guy.. He could sensed that I am the kind of student "who needs plenty of help!" Hahaha...
The Moment came...when we need to go to a higher point and ski down... We went up the travellator and one by one, Hans led the students down the slope... I was unsure of what was going to happen next... And suddenly I was "Ah.......... Boohoohoo...." all the way down... Eh, I was safe and sound in the end... But had made an embarassement out of myself... Even the kids there dun cry lor... What a useless person I am... (But I was really terrified what...) Dear was very worried for me and wanted to came over to me to reassure me... But we can't get too close as it will make me even more unbalanced... So I asked him to stay away... Sorry Dear.. I don't mean it.. But I scared I will fall down mah... At the second time, I really fell down on the slope lor.. and duno how to get up on my feet.. So I kept sittin there while Dear struggled to walk up the slope to save me.. In the end, he can't get me up as well, and have to wait till Hans came n save me... Oh, so paisheh...

Anyway, time passed very fast and it was time for us to leave Mt Buller to catch the bus back to the city... After all the scares, then I felt relieved and happy for what I've learnt and went through... starting to feel light-hearted, and throwing snowballs at Dear, taking pictures everywhere....
Poor Dear x 2nd time. As I had difficulty walking with the ski boots, Dear practically had to lug 2 pairs of the ski poles and up and down the slope (back to the rental place)... He was aching all over that nite itself.. hee... sorry dear... I am really a lousy woman... Thanks for taking care of me...

By the time we reached our hotel, its dinner time and our stomach was growling...Decided to try the Greek Restaurant near our hotel. The seafood is so big! (See picture of the Sotong)..Can't imagine that! Not sure if we were over-sensitive, we somehow heard some negative remaks about "Chinese" in the restaurant, by one the ang-moh guests next to us... We were the only Chinese in the restaurant..so were they referring to us? I really don't like the discriminating attitude that they showed... I have never felt like this in my whole life!! I am proud to be Singaporean Chinese! Hmmp!

Anyway, the snowy experience we had is truly memorable...

The Yam's Journey in Australia - Chapter 4

~Day 4: Free & Easy @ Queen Victoria's Market~

Finally...finally we no need to wake up at 6a.m. for day tours liao.. finally we can sleep longer and go for our F&E trip today! Our itinerary for the day is - Queen Victoria Market.

Breakfast is Pancakes+Egg+Bacon->for me, Hawaiian Crep->for Dear, from the foodcourt. Simply delicious...And we had Juice Boosters to boost our immune system..hee.. Had an offer 1-for-1 that day oh! We took the free City Shuttle Bus to QVM. QVM is just like a bigger pasar malam, that sells Australia's souvenirs, winter clothings, household appliances, creative art pieces, aboriginal musical instruments, and also for the "wet" section are the fruits, veggies, meat, sausages, cheese, wine, sweets etc. Although its the "wet" section, basically they are very neat, dry and clean. So Dear and I was remarking that, if our markets are that clean and dry (+cool weather), we would frequent markets more often!!!

A very hilarious incident happened at the QVM - When we were buying some nuts and prunes from a Chinese vendor, Dear was trying his luck on "Singaporean-style price bargaining":

Dear: "Total how much?"

Aunty: "$32."

Dear (in soft and unconvincing tone): " $30 can?"

Aunty (in very stern voice, replied almost instantaneously): "NO!"

Dear (in even softer voice..): "i m only trying...."

!!!! Muhahahah..... Simply hilarious and ridiculous!!! Where got ppl who try to bargain becomes such a meek lamb?? Well, can't blame him also la, both of us not that thick-skinned in negotiating prices one, and that Chinese Aunty so fierce! (I think most Chinese vendors are more giam? So no room for negotiation? Hee...) Feel so sorry for my poor Dear....

Next stop, we took a train to the DFO (Direct Factory Outlets) walk walk..Something infuriating happened at the MRT station control. Dear was buying the tickets from a machine and inserted a $10 note for a $6.30 ticket. Instead of getting $3.70 change, he only got back $2.70. So we went to the Control Station personnel to explain and hope there will be a refund. The staff said that we have to fill up a form, so thinking that could be the natural procedures, we did accordingly. After filling up and returning to the staff, then we know that we have to mail it to the address as shown, and wait for our $1 to be returned to us!! Unbelievably ridiculous right? They thought that we are try to cheat them of $1 meh! We are so unlucky!!! Its our last day in Melbourne, and who would want to do all these just for $1! Forget it, just my luck - that's wat Dear threw to the Indian female staff there before going off. They are simply so inflexible. Argh!

At the DFO, there's nothing much to buy..all out of my budget, dun suit my taste, so din buy anything at all. Walked all the way back to our hotel while sight-seeing a bit here and there. At the time, most of the shops are closing or already closed..So nothing much to shop around.

We went to Crown Casino to settle our dinner, as we saw there's this buffet dinner only at $17.90/pax. Being a cheapo, we thought that would be a good deal. Regretful to say, its very very disappointing. Firstly, the variety of food sucks. Secondly, the quality and appetizing portion of the food sucks double times! Probably the soup and keropok are still ok? Simply unappetizing at all! Totally wasted our money... 真是便宜没好货!

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The Yam's Journey in Australia - Chapter 3

~Day 3: Great Ocean Road & Twelve Apostles~

We first stopped at a small town Torquay for Devonshire Tea and warm scones (again) for breakfast stop before we stopped at the famous Bells Beach to take some photos. Then off we proceed with our Great Ocean Road journey... What's so special & Great about the Great Ocean Road? Its just road mah... I have taken a photo of the "road" for you all to see.. haha.. I think what is Great about the road is the golden sandy beaches, sheer cliffs and amazing rock formation along the road. But the road makes me feel so giddy, with its twists and turns.. *Sick*

One of the very famous rock formation is the Twelve Apostles that we visited after our Fish & Chips lunch at Apollo Bay. Very magnificent works of nature. Took some funnie photos of us with the rocks..hee.. Then we also visited the London Bridge and Loch Ard Gorge. This "London" Bridge is not that bridge in London, but why is it named as the London Bridge leh? Its because it (the rock formation) broke into half on one fine (terrible) day ages ago. And it so happened that on that unfateful day, there was this man and woman who was having their "date" there. When it broke into half, both of them were stranded on the outer part of the rock, leaving them stranded, helpless. There was a big chaos over the rescuing operations and somehow this matter was being used to "promote" how good their rescue teams are. So, with the news team coming along to film the unfortunate incident while both of them were screaming frantically for help.. It turned out that, both of them were married..but...not to each other. Really unfortunate right? Sneaked out for a date yet kena exposed by the filming team, and its the 9p.m. news somemore lor!!! Great audience ratings one... The tour guide jokingly remarked, wondering what happened to both of them now, whether are they married to each other instead? hahah... Interesting story behind the "London Bridge" right?

It was very tiring walking along those slopes leading to peak view of the magnificent view of the rock formations... Dear even wanted to take the 72*2=144 flight of stairs (up & down) to the bottom of the Loch Ard Gorge lor! But don't think he can manage... we saw one young couple walking up huffin' and puffin' away..Muhahah.... think we sama sama lah...

Had craving for Jap food that night, so with our growling stomachs, we went to one of the Jap restaurant near Yarra river and that looks expensive.. I chose one Bento set that has a variety of food at an 'ok' price, and poor Dear had to suffer by eating a plate of Seafood fried rice cuz' he dun wan to burn my pocket since I am paying for the meal.

The nightview at Yarra River is simply irresistible.. can't resist taking a walk along the river despite the cold winds blowin, and can't resist taking more pictures of this night scene for memory keepsake's. Popped by the Crown Casino to take a look, and surprisingly they dun check my passport leh. Hahaha.. I guo guan liao!!! Maybe its not sth to cheer about? :P Dear's luck not good, followed whoever just won, then he will lose... haha.. in the end, spent $50 on onli a few games and gone liao..Should have used that money to eat good food or buy more things. hee...but nvm la, play play have fun lor. But definitely we don't like gambling (mahjong excluded :P )

The Yam's Journey in Australia - Chapter 2

~Day 2: Tour in the Heart of the Melbourne City~

Hopped on the tour bus for a 1/2 day tour in the Melbourne City, visited places such as the Fitzroy Gardens where we saw many blooming flowers in various colors and patterns, Captain Cook's Cottage and the Shrine of Remembrance where we chanced upon a ceremony going on (by coincidental). Can't help dozin off on the bus where we passed by several famous buildings, great sporting centres and universities, so all the city sights are taken by Dear! Haha.. I totally wasted the money spent on this tour thou' its FOC lah..

Loved the other 1/2 day whereby its F&E! From Swanston Walk, we took a walk around the city, had chinese food lunch at Chinatown (satisfying!), into the shopping malls, going around with a map on our hand, deciding where to go from one stop to another, eating warm sticky dates pudding (as recommended by friend), taking photos as we walked about, drank Koko Black iced and hot chocolate + bought some choc souvenirs for friends. We even went to their supermarket as we always loved grocery shopping! Hahaha...Just to see how different is theirs from ours lah... Noticed that in their shopping malls, there are many comfortable couches available for people to rest their tired feet, and we often "fully-utilised" them as we get tired from the walking about. Simply relaxed when slumped on the couch..But didn't wanted to waste too much time resting as their shops closed quite early, so we "forced" ourselves to move on from one place to another.

It's only during F&E time where you can truly enjoy the lifestyle of the Melbournians - eat the food they eat, walk the way they walk, shop the way they shop, breathe the air they breathe. I loved F&E time especially its our own private time...No time schedules to keep..Just walk where you feel like going, eat as and when you feel like.. very unrestrained.

As we didn't buy any food back for dinner, we decided to order pizza delivery to our hotel (menu service provided in our hotel). It was baked too "crispy" so it tasted abit hard..Thumbs down... Irks...Made me sick of pizza for quite a while...