Feb 2008 ~ Mar 2008

City Baby again!!

Officially moved in to Kensington, I feel at home straightaway! Tram & train stops are just less than a minute's walk away. Its great to be able to get home in 20mins, and having an extra half hour sleep every morning! Awesome. This also means I can go back to cooking, which I have, and whipping up stuffs as I go along...not too shabby seeing the boys haven't complained yet (or rather I think they just keep their mouth shuts so that they won't need to do the cooking...kekeke). And yes, I know I know....I've been really slack in updating my blog. So here's 2 months worth of stuffs...

10 years worth of junk...
Was quite amazed at how much rubbish I have....

13/02/2008: Daryl's Birthday at my place

Meanwhile, Frank (a friend from work), got himself into a motorcycle accident and broke his 'little pinky', and needed pins stuck into them to hold it straight....and a million stitches to hold it together..., ugghhhh....

Leanna in Melbourne again!!! Yay!! She was here towards the end of Feb, and had kept me busy for the whole weekend. Had also organised a rock climbing session with workmates that weekend. Fun fun fun! Unfortunately, did not bring my camera with me. Oh, And the BIGGEST joke of all, we wanted to go to a rave, and neither one of us knew where to go since its been such a long while that I've gone out. So we thought maybe Bass Station down on Chapel would still be a rave club on Fridays. When we got there, while paying the entrance fee, we thought the music sounded kinda funny...little did we know...it was an r&b asian night thingy (something I've avoided as much as I can since a long time back...totally over it)!!! GOSH!!! We were like staring at each other for a full 10 seconds, wondering what the hell we got ourselves into!!! MUAhahahahah......anyways, I ended up sticking to beer (makes me happy regardless of where I am) while she was off her head....farnee....

3 Mar 2008 ~ NO RESPECT 4

Mike Zambidis in action!!! One of the better kickboxers around, this guy is amazing! For those of you who've seen him on youtube, if not you should totally check him out. Puny little guy, but his punches are total Knock Outs!! Held at the Vodafone Arena, his match was at the end being the highlight of the night, the crowd went totally wild when he came out, match vs Daniel Dawson of Australia. Too bad it wasn't a knock out round, although it was a good fight since Dawson is a pretty good opponent. Talk about adrenalin rush!!

Next to the heavyweight champion, makes Mike look like a kid!

That weekend, I had dinner with Wah Kei, Lucy, Ray and Tommy at Movida (1 Hosier La, between Swanston & Russell off Flinders St), my all time favourite Spanish Tapas restaurant...OMG....totally mouth watering and scrumptious, and delicious...after organising so many dinners with Ray (who has real high expectations when it comes to food), finally able to please him 100% with Movida. I had to make the booking a month ahead!! That's how good they are!! yummmoooooo........

14-16 Mar 2008 ~ Kickboxing Camp @ Mount Eliza, VIC

Totally cool!! My kickboxing school organised a training camp at Mt Eliza, about an hour and half's drive out of Melbourne. Tommy totally regretted getting himself into it!!! kekekeke.... Woke up at 6am, started training immediately running the field, then some basic training before breakfast. Then it was more training again. After lunch, we headed down to the beach to train in the shallow waters. Was totally awesome, and blardee tiring!!! I basically paid to get myself thrashed!

Kickboxing team

Tommy in action. We had a mock sumo wresting match on the beach.
Needless to say, I was out on the first round as I was unfortunately paired with one of the trainers, skinny tho as she may be, she has the strength of a buffalo!!!

19th Mar 2008 ~ My Burthday!!!

At work, my whole dest was filled with streamers and balloons...felt good to me a kid again :) But just a quiet one at home with Tommy & Tay, didn't exactly felt like celebrating this year. Check out my birthday cake, TOBLERONE CHEESECAKE from David Jones, the purest form of sinful indulgence.....mmmmmmmmmmmm

People please, don't drool all over your pc...it ain't waterproof...

21st Mar 2008 ~ Good Friday BBQ at my place

I had been hanging out for a BBQ all summer, finally had the chance! Had Ray & Lucy over with Jan, and some of Tommy's classmates as well as Tay's friends. Poor Tay had a toothache and could only watch us eat all the yummy foods. Lamb, beef, wings, mushrooms, eggplant, with spinach dip compliments of Rebecca....yummmoo....

22nd Mar 2008 ~ The Grampians with Tommy, Terri, Angeline & Imelda

Made a day trip out to the northern side of the Grampians with frenz from Papa Gino's.

Attempt to eat the world's largest mushroom...please do not try this at home

Me & Terri

Imelda & I

MOVING...!

uuugghhhh....have to start packing up! I'll be moving in with Tommy in a week's time to Tay's place in Kensington. Can't be bothered packing up... :( Lazy....but hey...really looking forward to moving there because it will cut my travel time by half as it is much closer to the city!!! Hurray!!! So much more convenient. Will definitely miss the guys here on Hotham St, so I guess this will now go back to being my weekend refugee camp....hehehhe. Gonna be really busy over the next two weeks shifting and unpacking all my shit!! I think I will need to have a garage sale...seeing that I have so many things that I don't use anymore. Going through all my stuff yesterday, I found alot of things that I have bought and never used. Looking at them, I'm like sheeesh...what was I thinking when I bought that ugly thing? Obviously I wasn't....kekekeke. Quite a nostalgic trip for me too.... Anyways, once I setup myself in the new place I will be looking forward to having a bbq!! Haven't had a proper one all summer!! Dying for one. Bbq lamb racks...yummm....and grilled calamari....**drool**.....grilled eggplant and zuchini......grrrrr.....and the list goes on....

Ready...Set...ACTION!!!

So yes, it has been great and I'm proud to report that I have been keeping up with my kickboxing sessions!!! Signed myself up for a whole year (so that there's no escaping), and have been going at least twice a week, three times if I have the time. Fun all the way....! I'm hooked! Went to check out rock climbing as well, not gonna be a regular thing seeing its pretty expensive each session, but it was totally awesome!! Quite surprised at myself, I thought I wouldn't make it, hahahaha...seeing the terrible fitness condition I'm in.

http://www.hardrock.com.au/

New Year's at Linh's place

Me & Linh

23 Jan '08 ~ Australian Open

Went to the tennis with a colleague after work. Didn't manage to ge center court tickets as they were all sold out, bummer, so we had to make do with ground passes that allows us to watch smaller games in outer courts. Managed to catch a game of women's doubles, and a mixed doubles.

26 Jan '08 ~ Baby Simone's Full Moon

Vunita, has finally given birth to a beautiful baby girl, and had her full moon luncheon at home. She was telling me all about the labour process....omg....really really scare me off having kids! It was horribly painful, but yet so emotional and beautiful and wonderful all at the same time....just amazing!!

Vunita & baby Simone

Isn't she cute...??

Dec '07

7 Dec 07 Team early Christmas Dinner at the Spencer Hotel

Pub food and beers!!!! Cheers!



8 Dec 07 Cherry Picking at Cherry Haven

Awesome!! Summer time, with cherries to go with it!! Absolutely love those things!!! Delicious!!!



Pou & Janet's Birthday Karoake night

More beers & tequilas & scotch...god save us!!

Pou, Janet & Choi

Lucy, Choi, Yvonne & Jason

October 2007

7th Oct 2007 ~ Jacky Cheung in Concert

Since he's retiring soon, I thought we should go watch him in action. He was really good live and was really generous at the end when everyone encored and belted an extra dozen songs! Although would have loved for him to have more dancers and flamboyance, he was still really good.




14th Oct 2007 ~ MotoGP, Phillip Island

Totally awesome!!! Have always wanted to go see the GP but never had the chance. This time around, went with Wil on his bike (omg...sore arse to the max having to ride for 2 and a half hours on it to Phillip Island!!!). Being a huge fan of Valentino, I bought his t-shirt and cap to fully support him. Although its quite a disappointing year for him, but he's still THE BEST!!! Love him to death! And also, have never seen so many mortorbikes on the road at the same time!! Can't say enough...the atmosphere, the people, and just the sound of the bikes makes my hair stand!

2008 in Motion

Happy 2008 to all!!! Had a really great time at Linh's place and countdown was watching fireworks at an open car park down the road from her place. Couldn't have asked for more, I had 2 of my favourite peoples with me, Linh (this amazing chick that does kick-ass tiramisu and Vietnamese soul food) & Tommy (although if only Sen Hon was here!!! I cannot remember the last time we celebrated christmas & new year's together!! Miss you very muchly!!!).

Looking back on 2007, I have no regrets, and have loved every minute of it (even the times when I have my blues, and as Sen Hon says, "If I can make money out of my mood swings, I'd be a millionaire..." kekekeke). Maximising my time was my goal at the beginning of 2007, and I think I've done just that (although I feel I may have done more but hey, I shouldn't squeeze the life outa myself...damn it, I'm doing it again). I have also made my trip to Cambodia, travel plans that I have been dying to do for a while now. So yes, it was a good year, no...sorry, it was FANtastic.

I have a good buzz about 2008, and am really really looking forward to some changes, personal & career wise. After learning maximisation, I think now I will learn to optimise. You must be thinking...geez, what's wrong with this girl?? Too serious now, she's not fun anymore. No, don't worry peoples, just one of my passing 2 minute musings, I'm still me ok!! Seriously cannot wait for things to unfold, 2008 is gonna be even awesomer!!! Have got kickboxing sessions and rock climbling sessions lined up on my plate to kickstart the year....this is gonna be fun! (we'll see how long I last...or if its just one my passing interests....hahaha)

Alrighty, thanks for listening to my ramblings...may your 2008 be full of wonderful & pleasant surprises. Oh and by the way, Tommy got me a Nintendo DS for Christmas...boy am I hooked!!!

June - August 2007

29 June 07: Team dinner at the Steakout Restaurant, Crown Casino

Rating: 5.5/10
Very ordinary steaks and ribs...

30 June 07
Super spicy hotpot in Boxhill with the housemates and Vunita (far right)
Don't remember the name, but the sauces that came with was yummm...

14 July 07: Lucy's birthday dinner at Tao's Restaurant, Bulleen
For the price we were paying, AUD 48 p.p. for a seven course meal, it wasnt' too shabby. The atmosphere was good, and it was something a little different where you can choose what you like for each course and still end up paying the same set price.
Rating: 7/10

5 July 07: Lisa's Birthday!!
Lunch date with my Aussie mom at Laurent on Lt Collins St
MMMmmmm....the chocolate doughnuts there are just irresistable.
Can't get over them!!!

ME Awards Night :) ~ Melbourne Aquarium 19/07/2007

Yessss....!!! I got nominated for the Special Mention Award July 2006. Thanks John (my team leader)!! MembersEquity has this half yearly award thingy where every team nominates 2 people, one for the Special Recognition ($50 cash award + a bottle of wine), and the Special Mention Award ($100 cash + a bottle wine). Its a good feeling to be recognised for your efforts and to know that you have made a contribution at work. Personally, it gives me more reason to strive harder. Special Recognition was snatched up by Carmina, this Phillipino girl who sits next to me who well and truly deserves it...(she always squeals with enthusiasm when she gets something done...I should know cos i sit next to her...cute...kkekeke). Anyways, we all got call to a short presentation in the afternoon, and then invited to a function at the Melbourne Aquarium after work. Finger foods, and little bowls of entree gnocchi and lamb racks...yummy. And free flow drinks of course...wine, bubbly, beer (my choice naturally), and juice/soft drinks. We were taken on a short tour of the aquarium, then given a short introduction to local mangrove fishies by this cute guy. Anyways, got to meet ppl from other teams, and it was a good night overall.

3 Aug 07: St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs

My first ever footy game!! I can now officially call myself an Aussie!!! Ended up a tie game, which is supposed to be very rare. It was a team outing, and although I had no idea what was going on (except that if the ball went through the sides, the score is 1, and if its in the middle then its 6), it was really fun. Just getting absorbed into the atmosphere and the crowd was really exciting. So yes, reaction from me was a few seconds late as I had to keep asking my colleagues what the hell was going on....hahahha. And I was barracking for St Kilda that night, don't ask me why, maybe I like their colours better :)

28 Apr 07 Cirque Du Soleil - Varekai

http://www.cirquedusoleil.com/CirqueDuSoleil/en/showstickets/varekai/intro/intro.htm

This is the first time I've been for a Cirque du Soleil, and I must say it is worth going. If I were to give points, technical difficulty wouldn't have scored too high, I'd give a 6.5 tops. But in terms of choreography and creativity, I would have to say its got my highest scores. The costumes and settings were just so beautiful & colourful, and if you're a person into mystical fantasies like me, you'll definitely love this. And not forgetting the theme songs as well, really good overall.

Take a look at these chinese boys, they're around 10 of age I think, one of my favourite parts of the show.

Adventures in CAMBODIA

Day 1 ~ 5th April 2007

Siem Reap

Touchdown at Siem Reap International airport.


We immediately hired motorbike drivers to take us into town. That's Sokhan, my driver. We agreed to use them throughout our stay in Siem Reap, depending on how far our daily travels were, the fee was between USD10-20 a day. We were taken to the 'King Angkor Hotel' (a guest house really), costing USD15 a night. The hotel wasn't too bad, clean and friendly crew.


We then wasted no time, taking a quick lunch and decided to go to the Floating Village on the Tonle Sap lake, the largest lake in South East Asia, measuring 2000 sq. km., adjoining the Mekong river. As it was the dry season, the river was shallow, and the lake only measured 1 meter deep, and can rise up to over 10m during the rainy seasons. Along the way to the river, there were rows and rows of attap village houses, which probably only measured around 12 by 12 feet, housing entire families with only hammocks and floor mats as beds, with no rooms. Really poor living conditions, and no electricity. When we got there, we hired a boat to take us to the lake, and we could see kids (who were more like little fishes) jumping into the river and splashing around while the adults were wading in the river trying to haul in the day's catch.

How cool is that, kids on buffaloes, a sight we never get to see in the city...priceless

Life on the floating village, fishing the only means of income

Little fishes...

Guess what this is???
Its a Floating primary school!!! Check out the basketball court on top!

Peddlars on sampans, spotted us from far away and rowing their lives away to reach our boat to try and sell us drinks and bananas. There were quite a few, and had all tried to see who reached us first. The only other kind of livelihood other than fishing.

After the fishing village, we had a little time to kill before sunset, so Sokhan suggested we chilled out one of the hammock huts. These are sheds with hammocks from end to end, facing paddy fields where locals go to escape the afternoon heat, have a siesta and chill out to the afternoon breeze. Wish we had these in the cities! After that, we went to visit the Bakheng temple, which was situated on top of the hill not too far away from the Angkor ruins for a view of the sunset over the Tonle Sap lake. Absolutely beautiful. It was a fair hike to get up there, but most worth it!
The Bakeng Temple

Once upon a time, some doorway/corridor of the temple...

Sunset over the Tonle Sap

After that, was just a quiet night. Cambodian beef noodle soup for dinner at some local stall, and then we hit some local bars. Beer Lao, a local brew, really not bad at all. I'm impressed!

Day 2 ~ 6th April 2007

10am To the Shooting Range

Jen the Communist: AK 47
Tommy the American: Carbine

30 Rounds each, awesome. Killed a few cows along the way and blasted some buffaloes.....go sick!!! No...kidding, haha.
12.30 pm The Banteay Srei

One of the most intricate and well preserved temples, designed by women using pink sandstone. Srei meaning woman. Small and neat, arguably one of the most beautiful of the temples, purely dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva.

Cambodian Laksa for lunch. Meatless, in a light coconut gravy with cucumber and peanut sauce. Not too bad, although some chicken would have been better (you know me...can't live without my meat).

2.15 pm Pre Rup
Meaning Temple of 'Transformation', and could've been an early royal crematorium.


The rest of the afternoon, we visited Ta Phrom, featured in Tomb Raider One of my favourite temples, built by the King Jayavarman VII for his mother. Bummer, cos my camera batteries went flat, so couldn't take any photos. Then to The Bayon - the main temple, had 54 towers representing each province (being a cheapskate, I sat around some tour group that had a guide explaining the story behind the temples, really interesting). Since I really loved these 2 temples and would absolutely kill myself if I didn't have any photos of them, we decided we'd come back the next day so with my battery fully charged. Lesson of the day: ALWAYS bring a spare battery regardless!!!

That night, after our showers and rest, there was a power failure throughout the town, so we had candlelight hawker food...could be romantic, if constant sweating teamed with mosquito buzz for background music is your thing.

Day 3 ~ 7th April 2007

One of the best highlights of this trip, a 5am wake to catch the sunrise at Angkor Wat. Yawning all the way there on Sokhan's bike, we got there at abot 6am. The temple took 37 years to complete. The sun peeked from behind the eastern side of the Angkor, illuminating the sky with a pinkish orangey hue, taking about an hour for the full sunrise. The view was absolutely breathtaking. Losing a few hours sleep for this was most worth it!!! There was a pond in the front courtyard, which produced a mirror image of the Angkor under the sun.

One of the Angkor towers, glowing in the morning sunshine

The we headed to Angkor Thom to explore the Royal Palace and back to visit Ta Phrom, and the Bayon.

The Bayon, with 54 towers, absolutely massive temple

Along a doorway in the Bayon

Amok with fish/chicken/beef, another Cambodian laksa accompanied by rice for lunch. Not bad at all, traces of fish sauce and chopped peanuts.

Ta Phrom

My favouritest spot in Ta Phrom, you would've seen this in Tomb Raider. Just totally amazing, overgrown trees, many many centuries old. This temple was completely enveloped by the forest when it was first discovered, and had undergone much restoration and is still in progress.

That's me with Sokhan, & Tommy with Da (pronounced Ya)

The nightspots in Siem Reap town. Check out the line up of tuk tuks, competing with each other to eke out a living, ushering tourists to get on their ride...