A place of my own with my hammies...

It's been long...

2011-06-22T11:17:00.000-07:00

It's been so long since I last wrote on my blog. Just that now I feel like saying so much stuff and blasting on the FB wall doesn't seem like a good idea. I have just watched 2 episodes of Secret Garden and realized that it would truly be wonderful if what happened in the drama could become reality. Not that I'm greedy or what but when I saw how the main guy cared so much for the main gal, how I wish that there is someone in the world who would care for me. Someone who would occasionally ask me how my foot was. Someone who would think of me every now and then. Someone who wouldn't raise his voice at me. He doesn't have to be the CEO of a department store - just that he has the loving and caring heart is sufficient. I know that I shouldn't compare but many a times I wonder about this relationship that I am in and I do wonder whether I should continue with it. At times I don't feel the love and it makes me wonder whether this love has become habitual instead. Perhaps I need to expose myself to more people, getting to widen my social circle. It's not true love if there's no trust and hesitation. I'm not greedy - I just want someone to love and care for me.

Beauty is only skin deep...

2009-11-18T07:38:00.000-08:00

I wasn't exactly someone who is interested in plastic surgery but that didn't deterred me from wanting to attend this seminar with some maxillofacial surgeons to find out more about this phenomenom that is becoming more common nowadays.

I got to learn more about how we can age gracefully with the help of aesthetic treatments. Photos were shown on slides to better illustrate the wonders of such treatments, showing the vast differences between one who uses such treatments and one who doesn't. Women especially can easily seek such treatments nowadays; they can even do it during their lunchtimes and go back to work as per normal. It has almost become a part of their daily lives, processes to change their natural looks.

We were given the exclusive chance to visit the Sloane clinic and understand how things work. There was even a first time patient who was already sitting there ready to be the 'guinea pig' for the show. Dr Low demonstrated to us how she injected collagen to specific parts on the face to lift up and give life to it. An assistant was using a pack (of peas?) to cool the injected areas. Halfway through the demonstration, I felt extremely nauseous and actually felt like fainting! With the help of my boyfriend, I left the room and was accompanied to the washroom by a helper. It seemed that it is common for some people to feel this way but they can still seek such treatments. How? They have to be "put to sleep" first!

It was truly an eye-opening session, especially for those who have always wanted to know what happened behind closed doors in such clinics. Those who are too young or who may be allergic to some of the chemicals should not try aesthetics treatments. As for me, I'll definitely stay away from needles and try to age gracefully by myself.

It's Coraline, not Caroline!

2009-10-24T12:39:00.000-07:00

It was an exciting treat to be able to catch this new animation on 3D…for free! (thanks to omy). Based on the synopsis, this movie seemed to be very enchanting (I usually watch action flicks and romantic comedies) so I was really anticipating for 20th Oct preview of Coraline.

I feel that this show has an interesting way of telling people that “the grass may not be greener on the other side”. Like any other child, Coraline was trying very hard to adapt to her new home and demanded extra attention from her parents who were not giving her any. While in the midst of finding out more about her new home, she discovered a tiny door and that’s when her life was about to take on an adventurous twist.

The tiny door led Coraline into a magical world where everything seemed too perfect, like her mother was finally cooking dinner and her father was paying attention to her instead of his computer. Here comes the BUT part: Every living creature in this world had buttons for their eyes instead. Initially, Caroline was unfazed by it and anticipated nighttime to come everyday so that she could visit this wonderful side of her life. However, sometimes things might be too good to be true and she only realized it when her other mother showed her the pair of customizable buttons that would replace her eyes if she wanted to stay in this world for the rest of her life.

At this point of time, people will usually finally learn their lessons and learn how to fight back. Even though she was just a child, she was really brave enough to return to the nightmarish world where she had just escaped from, knowing very well that she might be walking into a trap. Together with a cat which Coraline initially despised in the normal world and a new eccentric friend, she had to use her wits and quick thinking strategies to battle against the monster in order to save the other children and her real parents.

It was a really interesting experience to watch the show through this way (even though the 3D glasses were not really comfortable to wear for a long duration). At times, things seemed to be flying straight at me right out of the movie screen; everything seemed so surreal. They thoroughly enhanced the process of watching the effects and I was quickly absorbed into the pace of the show. Overall, it was a truly memorable experience and I totally enjoyed it :)

A trip down memory lane...

2008-10-06T07:48:00.000-07:00

In the past, museums were where I usually went for school excursions.
Places with lots of exhibits and not much action.
Walking through various halls with no increased interest.
Instead of asking more questions at the end, I would head to the school bus first.

Ten years down the road and everything has changed.
The National Museum of Singapore has become more exciting and almost nothing remains the same.
93 Stamford Road is where it is located.
From the outside, it looks so serene, so sophisticated.

The majestic white exterior seems to promise an inviting grand tour.
Whenever I walk pass, something about it allures me, I’m very sure.
So giving in to temptation and curiosity, I decided to pay it a visit.
And was greeted by an array of displays I would not want to miss.

Like a pendulum, beautiful lights swung in a rhythmical motion above me,
As a form of warm welcome while I walked towards the living gallery.
I smiled as I saw a couple taking wedding photographs,
In a gorgeous building rich in history, the loving duo just laughs.

Clothes from different eras looked pretty in the glass cases.
Standing in front of them, I was tempted to mimic different faces.
I was amazed by the different materials used for the different costumes
Pretty outfits for different races which people wore beside jewellery and perfume.

It was interesting to see things from the past.
A wonder that the admission ticket or gramophone can still last.
Watching an old film sure made the visit nice,
As I appreciate the technology of the modern world but also envy the simplicity of the past life.

After this trip to the museum, I have become more knowledgeable and wise.
Seeing so many interesting things has sure opened my eyes.
The National Museum of Singapore is a valuable learning place,
Where I can learn the different aspects of “now and then” at my own pace.

My food haven – Block 85 Fengshan Food Centre

2008-09-21T09:11:00.000-07:00

Quiet in the day, active at night,
Being crowded on weekends is always a common sight.
Even though it is non-air conditioned,
And cockroaches run around occasionally like nobody’s business,
People from all walks of life always gather here,
To chat over a drink or just have a meal.

Smoke, chatters and laughter fill the air.
It can be hard to get a seat, with practically none to spare.
Most prefer to sit outside in the open,
While others sit inside, hoping to get their food faster, which is seldom.
Waiting for half an hour for my food is common,
Especially for those popular stalls, long queues are pretty normal.

Hot BBQ chicken wings always keep me company,
While I wait hungrily for the delicious minced pork mee.
A seafood lover, I’ll definitely not miss the award-winning stingray.
Not forgetting the mouth-watering satay,
Plus that simply irresistible fried oyster omelette.
To end off, an ice kachang with brown sugar if it’s not too late.

A cup of sugarcane juice is needed at times to quench my thirst.
Ordering so much food yet my wallet still doesn’t burst.
Memories often fail the stall helpers as they look around helplessly,
Forgetting customers’ table numbers and wondering around with the food aimlessly.
And when the poor uncle or auntie makes the usual round of selling tissue,
Helping them by buying a few packets is never an issue.

This popular makan place holds a special place in my heart.
This is where I grew up, where every little thing played a part.
Where I learnt to eat spicy food and supper was a must every night.
Policemen could be seen frequently, no, it isn’t because of any fight.
The Bedok Police Headquarter is located just next to it.
With wonderful smell of the food floating pass them, who can resist?

Those were the days when I would hang out with my neighbors till wee hours.
Bonding and making new friends, all was sweet and not at all sour.
Picking up a cooking tip or two from the hokkien mee uncle,
Or simply helping the cleaning auntie wiped a table till it sparkled.
A place where sweet memories of my childhood could be relieved.
Where delicious food and friendly people can coexist, I truly believe.

Even though I’ve moved house to Pasir Ris,
An occasional meal at Block 85 Fengshan Food Centre is not to be missed.
It’s a food paradise for everyone, from tourists to families.
Time flies pass quickly as I chat and eat happily.
Having a wonderful time under the beautiful night sky,
This is where I feel right at home; this is always a part of my life.

Warning: Spooky story ahead...written by me!

2008-09-08T08:34:00.000-07:00

No turning back

His footsteps sounded like thunder on such a quiet, cool night. Beads of sweat rolled down profusely and he wiped them away clumsily, cursing under his breath as he nearly tripped over a step. At that moment, the horrible image flashed in front of him and he felt that he was back at that scene once again, arriving just in time to see her jump out of their kitchen window and then lie in a pool of blood at the bottom of the flat. Her beautiful long hair, usually tied behind neatly in a ponytail, looked so messy and dirty strewn across her motionless body.

He could not move at all, as if his feet were suddenly made of rock. It was like witnessing a horrible incident unfolded slowly in front of him and all he could do was to watch helplessly. After a while, someone called out his name and tapped him on the shoulder. This made him snap out of his trance and he ran in the opposite direction instead, away from the horrible scene, away from his dead fiancée.

He remained motionless on the path, staring at the stupid rock which he had tripped over while he was recalling the incident and that had brought him back to reality. He did not feel any pain; instead, all the feelings he had for her flooded him suddenly and he started to sob like a child who had lost his favorite toy. He was too overwhelmed with sorrow to notice a presence approaching slowly from behind until he smelt something familiar. All of a sudden, he realized that his surroundings were eerily quiet with no living soul around except himself. Knowing that there was no escape for him, he slowly turned around to face her.

Surprisingly, she looked beautiful, just the way it was when he first saw her at a friend’s party. She was smiling at him, gesturing for him to come towards her like what she always did whenever she had planned a bedroom surprise for him. Mesmerized by her beautiful smile and the sweet scent she was wearing, which was his favorite, he stood up and started to walk towards her when he saw that she was actually floating in mid-air. He immediately moved back in fear, realizing that she was now a ghost and tried to increase the distance between them as she started to advance towards him.

Her pleading eyes made him weaker every passing moment and it did not helped that she called out his name using that sweet voice which he fell in love with. He could not take it anymore and kneeled down in front of her. She was shocked by the sudden action and stopped in her tracks. “Let me go. I know I’ve done you wrong. Please forgive me.” he pleaded in a soft voice, not daring to look into the eyes of the woman whom he had betrayed for a short fling with her best friend.

She started to cry and he realized how foolish he was to give up such a beautiful relationship for some lust which did not last even for a week. He felt so ashamed of himself when the news had reached her even before he could beg for her forgiveness and prevent this mishap from happening. Now, he had lost his only true love because of a stupid mistake and he would have to live in regret for the rest of his life, provided that she could spare him.

“It’s not only me whom you betray; there’s our child too.” It was only when he heard her whisper this then he lifted his head and looked at her in shock as she sadly stroked her flat belly. “I was going to tell you but then...” she paused. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed and her face was contorted with so much hatred that he started to shiver and wet his pants. “You! You cheated on me and caused my death. Our child died because of you! You shall perish with us!” she spat and advanced towards him. He tried to stand up and run away but his legs had become wobbly so all he could do was to watch and scream in fear as she moved nearer and nearer towards him…

Since that night, nobody had ever seen him again and some rumored that he was the cause of his fiancée’s death and had run away with his newfound lover. Others thought that he felt guilty and thus, went into hiding. However, nobody knew the real reason, like how nobody could explain the reason why they could hear a baby’s cries and a man weeping sorrowfully in the couple’s empty flat every night.

What does the Singapore Spirit mean to you?

2008-06-07T11:56:00.000-07:00

This tiny little island is bursting with human activities. Developments and projects are proceeding underway to make Singapore a more happening and exciting place to visit. With the recent opening of the Singapore Flyer plus the upcoming F1 Formula Night Race and Integrated Resorts, it’s no wonder that this place is becoming more popular with tourists.

However, if the economy of the country is unstable and the people are not living in harmony with one another, even with such hot and coming attractions, tourists will not flock over here that often (or maybe even not visit us) as I myself will not visit a country which is experiencing riots or unrest. We are lucky that Singapore is a stable and harmonious multi-racial country where it’s safe to walk on the streets late at night. Racial harmony is strong within all races as we laugh and hang out with our neighbours at the nearby kopitiam.

Standing together in unity in times of trouble, keeping a lookout for one another when a wanted man is on the loose, helping those in need generously, even though they may be complete strangers as reflected in the recent cases of generous donations to those disaster-hit countries or as early as the murder case of the China girl, Huang Na. Cheering together as a nation during our annual National Day Celebration or when we were announced as the host city for the Youth Olympics. As a nation, we are binded together with the true Singapore Spirit – United we stand, in times of trouble, despair and happiness. Nothing can bring us down!

Doing my first TVC

2008-05-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

It started with a call and I was told to go down for a rehearsal for a TVC. I found it weird though as I didn't send for any casting or go down for audititons recently. Well, the rest was history and I was in for my first TVC (and thank goodness, I was not an extra!) Couldn't believe that my 'competitor' was actually my ex-church classmate though.

It was a fun experience though it did require acting and stuff. Every little detail was important (I was told to do a manicure for this...something which I have never done before though I'm supposed to be a gal..haha) It was tiring as I had to reach Vivo as early as 8am and it ended around 5pm plus. Gosh..and all the passer bys staring at us as we did our scenes..quite used to this by now..For once I was not one of those seated behind and I was really thankful for that coz I could finally be considered the main cast...after acting as extra for so long..=)

For someone who is not used to seeing herself on TV, I don't think I can see myself on the big screen in cinemas (gonna be aired together with the opening of Indiana Jones...haha) coz my face will look so super huge but honestly speaking, I dun mind watching either! Got to know some fun people like Nicholas during this production too so despite the fact that I'd to spend about nearly an hour and half to travel to Bukit Timah, it was truly a fruitful and interesting production. =)

Day 10 – Going home to my hammies but I’m missing here already…

2008-04-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

20th April

All good things must come to an end, as the phrase goes. So no matter how much fun I had during the last 9 days, I had to go home today. After making sure that everything was packed and nothing was left behind, I went up to have my breakfast for the last time (who knew when I would be coming back?) and the sumptuous corncakes with bacon did not help to lift my spirit. After breakfast, Amy helped us to carry the luggage out (goodbye, my Islington room!) and into the van waiting outside. We thanked her for the past few days and off we went, bringing the beautiful memories we had in this hotel with us.

Our next stop was the Henry Jones Hotel where the guys were also checking out. It was obvious that we had to wait for a while so we went to Jam Packed to buy some more stuff (Juliet bought a few more chocolates while I bought another pack of licorice). After everyone and everything were in the van, we stopped Barilla Bay Oysters which is one of the largest Tasmanian producers of Pacific oysters and it’s near the airport. We mainly looked around for a while and didn’t buy anything. And then it was time to head to the airport.

There was a problem during check in, apparently due to excess baggage. The person should be more flexible with it since the crew had a long travel period and they would have a lot of stuff plus the equipment as well. Finally it was solved and we moved on to the boarding gate. I looked around longingly for the last time before I boarded the plane. I’m so glad that I have chosen you as my preferred destination. Goodbye Tasmania!

We reached Melbourne in about an hour’s time. The check in was a little long and there was even a problem with my name or something. Everything was resolved soon and we headed for our lunch at Hungry’s Jack (which is something very similar to Burger King). Joyce wouldn’t be going back with us as she still had something to attend to so we bided our farewells before we went into the transit area.

We still had quite some time before boarding so we did some window-shopping and took some more pictures. It was really goodbye as I boarded the plane. I looked out of the window, feeling so emotional all of the sudden as I recalled the good and wonderful times I had in this beautiful place for the past few days. Before the plane even took off, I was already missing Australia, Melbourne and especially Tasmania. Even if I were to ever come back again, the feeling would not be the same again (I would never be able to have the same funky travel companions!) and those experiences as well…I would definitely come back again someday. Australia is a place everyone must definitely visit, coz it’s where you’ll definitely have an unexpected adventure!

Day 9 – Flying off Mount Wellington

2008-04-28T10:16:00.001-07:00

19th April

Today would be another active day coz we would be doing a 3 hour Mount Wellington Descent tour! I couldn’t believe that I would be cycling down that beautiful magnificent mountain which I could see clearly from my room. We would be doing some shopping first at Salamanca Market, which happens every Saturday at the Salamanca Place. The guys must had partied till quite late the previous night coz they were not ready when we picked them up at 9.30am so Cheryl brought us to the market first.

It was quite amazing how within one night, this place was transformed into a busy market place with endless number of stalls selling so many different colourful things. From fresh vegetables to hotdogs, honey to clothes and so much more , I don’t think I could finish seeing everything within the time frame I was given, which was about 2 ½ hrs coz there was really too much to see!! We started walking towards one end and soon, we were spending about ½ hour at a stall which was having a clearance sale. Ended up buying a few stuff before moving off again. It was really awesome how people could really make stuff themselves and sell them here (I could make cookies and sell them here!)

After buying a few more things, we saw Uncle Jimmy and together, we walked towards the other side of the market. It was about 12pm, which was the time that we were told to gather at Zum, where we would be having our lunch so we started to make our way there. We had ordered what we wanted the day before (I ordered squid!) so lunch was served rather fast. Next I had honeycomb cheesecake for dessert (Would be doing hard work later so gotta eat a lot!) Cheryl, Juliet and I quickly made our way back to the hotel where her car was parked, thinking that the rest of the guys were already there but instead we were there first!

After everyone had gathered (Uncle Jimmy won’t be joining us for the bicycle ride), we headed to the summit of Mount Wellington. The journey up the mountain was rather long (it’s over 1270m!) so I ended up falling asleep. The view at the top of the mountain was so amazing and everything looked so tiny down underneath my feet! And of course, the temperature was even colder! It was essential to choose the right bike coz it would be riding down a mountain, never know what could happen! After listening to further instructions, putting on the essential equipment and taking a funky group photo, we were finally ready to descend the mountain! The guys moved off first and soon, they disappeared from sight. I waited for Juliet who seemed to be having some difficulties in riding the bicycle at the start and she told me to move on once she was on the track.

I felt like flying as the bicycle seemed to have a life of its own and my surroundings zoomed past me. My hands were placed steadily and firmly on the brakes and I would use them frequently especially at corners. The cold air rushed straight into my eyes and they became very dry soon. However, I liked the cooling air on my face as cars drove past me and I felt so free! Soon, I caught up with the guys while Audrey and Juliet slowly appeared behind, followed by Cheryl and the rest who were in a van plus other vehicles who were trailing behind. The next hour was really fun, cycling down the mountain surrounded by nature. I had to constantly stop to check on Juliet, who was lagging behind but couldn’t stop very long as there would be cars coming up from behind. Throughout the journey, I did not need to pedal at all; just had to occasionally brake when rounding a corner or when the bicycle was going to fast. I’ll never look at cycling the same way again!

Soon we had to turn and head down a steep slope into a park where the guys were already there having a break. The path was really steep and Audrey, who was in front of me at that time crashed into the fence, instead of the poles (thank goodness!). I managed to go down the slope smoothly, but not my sis who, after seeing what happened to Audrey, immediately stopped in her track and asked for help. In the end, she got down her bike and pushed it down the slope. We had a short break with yummy cookies and refreshing juices before continuing on the main road. Audrey and Juliet did not join us so I was the only gal who joined the big guys.

It was rather scary riding on the road as we had to cross lanes at times. Also, there would be slopes going upward so I would have difficulties controlling the bike (I didn’t really understand how to use the gear thingy…a bit embarrassed) However, it was nice to see Hobart this way, those beautiful neighborhoods and other interesting stuff along the way. The cycle tour soon came to an end and I was tired but very happy and excited. They had even printed out the photo that we took earlier on the summit and gave me a copy for remembrance. I’ll never forget this ride of my life!

Dinner was at a Chinese restaurant called Me Wah Restaurant. I suddenly felt at home as I entered this lavish restaurant, coz it was so Chinese! It was really a different feel from the previous restaurants that I’d visited, including the food which was yummy. As it would be the last night in Tasmania, Australia and having dinner with this group of fun people, I couldn’t help but felt sad that we would be departing tomorrow. And speaking of which, I had not even packed my luggage yet! Juliet and I were enjoying the last few moments watching the sunset against Mount Wellington from the garden outside our room, enjoying a cup of delicious hot tea when we returned from our cycle trip so we had not really packed yet. So partying with the guys after dinner would be out. Well, it would be nice to spend a few more moments inside our beautiful room before we check out...hopefully with some sweet dreams to fondly remember this place!

Day 8 – The day I met and fell in love with an Aussie guy!

2008-04-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

18th April

I woke up feeling fresh and all set for my kayaking adventure (thank goodness, my headache was gone!) Breakfast was eggs with salmon…very yummy and there was no way it would be leaving my stomach today! We headed straight for our paddle tour after picking up the guys from Henry Jones. Simon, who was our guide, told us to put on the different layers necessary to keep us safe and dry and I ended up looking a bit puffed up (which was good coz it kept me warm too =)) It gotta be a guy-gal partner so I went with Rod while Juliet went with the expert.

After listening to further instructions, we were ready to go! My initial fear was that the kayak would capsize and even though I had the life jacket on, it would not be nice to be out floating in the middle of the sea, in the cold. However, I totally forgotten about this fear as I started out on my first kayaking journey and even though it was rather tiring, I enjoyed every second of paddling, while Rod who was sitting behind guided me along. The houses along the shore were very beautiful (some even had docks with their own boats!) and I could just imagine how perfect life would be, to wake up every morning and face the calm sea, breathing in the fresh air and enjoying breakfast. Man! How I wished I could do just that everyday.

We moved around Salamanca and the docks and Simon briefly described the place to us. There was this huge cruise ship which was called the Sapphire Princess right in front of us which looked so magnificent. There was even a security boat to prevent any vessel from going too near to it. Rod and I were a little more competitive and tried to be ahead of everyone else. Once, we even hit a wharf! We spotted oysters on the pillars of the wharf and Rod was even thinking of getting some! After hanging out for another few minutes, it was time to head back to shore (time really flew when I was enjoying myself) The water was really so damn clear and I could see starfish and the seabed when I was reaching the shore (so unlike S’pore) It was really an enriching experience to see Hobart from another angle. Awesome!

We dropped by Henry Jones hotel for a quick change of clothes (need to change into some dry pants and wash our feet as they were covered with sand). Juliet and I used Pree’s room and also made use of this opportunity to explore the hotel. I must say that the room was really unique (of course not as pretty as compared to our Islington room!) and I could see that beneath those splendid décor was the hotel’s history…a jam factory! A few minutes to change turned into several minutes as I managed to find some time to visit Jam Packed which is a store in the hotel that sells a lot of sweet and munchy stuff and bought a pack of strawberry licorice, which should be some hard gummy made in Australia. Then it was time to set sail on the Peppermint Bay Cruise!

Ok, gotta admit that I was a bit afraid that something similar might happen since the cruise would also be bobbing up and down (but not really that extreme lar). But it turned out to be rather smooth-sailing and I was starting to enjoy the ride (unlike Juliet, who was feeling rather queasy) I even went out to the deck to take photos of the gorgeous cliffs and scenery. Couldn’t really stand being outside for too long coz it was very cold and windy so I went in after a while. It should be now that I started to notice this really cute guy, Brodie who was one of the friendly crew around. He looked a bit like the actor, John Cusack (but of course he’s younger and cuter!) I stopped eyeing on him when the ship stopped for too long, probably there was a problem. It seemed that there was a passenger who was not feeling well so we had to stop by for a while so that an ambulance could pick her up before we proceeded with our journey…to lunch!

Our stopover for lunch was at this really cool-looking Peppermint Bay restaurant which had a nice view of the sea. While waiting for the food to arrive, we went out and took pictures. Both my scallops and fish were mouth-watering (and dessert which was organic Tasmanian ice-cream served by Brodie later couldn’t be any better!) We visited a little shop which sold really cute but expensive items after our sumptuous meal before hurrying back to the cruise which would be leaving soon.

Not long after the ship started sailing, ice-cream was served by Brodie. Gosh! The smile on his face could easily melt anyone’s heart! It was raspberry ice-cream and it tasted real good! Very original, unlike those selling in supermarkets which used artificial flavorings. It was really, really good but due to the filling lunch earlier on, I couldn’t finish it. I was waiting for Brodie to drop by and clear the unfinished cup of ice-cream coz there was the only time I could interact with him! Well, actually he just asked me whether I had finished eating and I just said ‘Ya’…that’s all (so exciting)

Next, we were introduced to the sea life via underwater cameras. It was really cool to see the seabed, with those aquatic marine lives swimming pass the cameras as a female crew shared with us some information while Brodie was operating the camera. We also stopped by a salmon farm and every now and then, we could see salmon leaping out of the water! It seemed that they were exercising. I also learnt a bit about the Hobart bridge, how there used to be an accident that involved several casualties. And finally, we hit shore. Knowing that this might be the last time I saw him, I took a picture with Brodie, who seemed rather surprised by the request. At least I had something to remember this trip!

We did our broadcasting tonight, since we missed it yesterday and had quite some fun coz we were joking about Brodie (and his boss was around somemore!) Then it was off to Smolt (which was rather a distance from the cruise at the Salamanca Square and we actually walked there!) for our dinner. It seemed like a nice place to hang out after work. As usual, I couldn’t really finish my medium rare fillet (it was really delicious) and thus, I couldn’t finish the dessert either. We slowly made our way back to the cruise and were shocked to see captain Richard locking up the place. It seemed that Cheryl had brought the crew back to the hotel and had not come back. Luckily, Richard was kind enough to stay with us till Cheryl go back…with the crew. It seemed that they were heading to some place for a drink and they even invited Richard to join in.

This would be my first time going to a pub for the sake of partying and in a foreign one too. After ordering our drinks (we had lemon, lime and bitters coz we had wine earlier and don’t think we could handle too much alcohol), we started grooving on the dance floor. The DJs were really enjoying themselves as this would be the last night they were doing the broadcasting and they stayed on till quite late when Uncle Jimmy (the poor man looked tired), Juliet and I left at about 1am. After sending Uncle Jimmy back to his hotel, we headed straight to ours. I tried to update my blog coz it was rather behind time but was too tired to do so. So off I went to my dreamland…with Brodie!

Day 7 - I became Merlion in Hobart!

2008-04-28T09:26:00.000-07:00

17th April

Today was supposed to be an exciting day coz we were going to experience the Tasair flight to Tasmania’s spectacular south west World Heritage Area! (we missed the Melbourne seaplane so I was quite looking forward to this) Breakfast was extremely yummy with banana pancakes. I’m not exactly a fan of banana but the combination with pancakes just tasted heavenly. After picking up the rest of the crew from their hotel, off we went to our wine & wilderness experience.

Andre, Audrey and Pree would be joining us while the rest would be doing some other fun activities like visiting Mt Field National Park and Something Wild (the latter sounded fun coz it is a wildlife park which nurtures injured wildlife so animals like Tasmanian devils and possums can be spotted) Initially, I didn’t mind doing the park visits but I was told that the flight would be nicer so I went for it. We were told to take our weights and for that moment, I was 53kg! (with my jeans, clothes and bag…what a bummer!)

This would be my first time flying on such a light aircraft so I listened rather attentively to Captain Ian as he explained about the safety procedures (which I hoped that I would never have to use!) Then it was squeezing into the tiny aircraft and putting on the headset, which seemed awfully heavy on my head. I tried my best to be in a comfortable position while the plane was getting ready for the takeoff. And then we were off the land and into the sky!

Everything looked so amazing! Perhaps the fact was that every time I was on an aeroplane, my view would be blocked by the wing. However, I could see everything below clearly from where I was sitting and immediately, I took out my camera to record the beautiful views below. Everything seemed fine in the first place but when the plane started to get rather bumpy, going up & down and left to right, I knew that sooner or later, the wonderful banana pancake which was seated nicely in my stomach at the moment would come out…from my mouth. Before I could control, I started puking and thankfully, I managed to grab hold of a plastic bag from my bag before anything came out. I couldn’t really warn anyone about it coz firstly, the headset was getting on my nerves as the volume was rather loud and it was rather heavy and secondly, I was so afraid that everything would just come out once I opened my mouth. Anyway, it was over soon and everyone on board knew about it =(

We reached our first destination rather soon. It was really extremely cold but the place was serene and gorgeous, with the mountains and greeneries. We came to a bird observation deck to have morning tea. I couldn’t drink anything and wanted desperately to get rid of the bag but to my horror, I realized that there was no rubbish collection here so I had to carry my puke bag to the next destination! (oh shit!) Couldn’t remember much details as I was very sick and stuff but I did remember that we passed by this house which used to be occupied by a man who stayed there to look after the nature but he had passed away. That was really sad and I thought that was rather caring and courageous of him. We took a few more photos of this gorgeous location before heading back to the plane and well, I thought every bit of my delicious breakfast was out already so the trip to Meadowbank Wines would be a clean and nice one. I forgot about the tasty orange juice and tea.

With a stomach that was completely empty, I reached Meadowbank Wines and was greeted by two lovable Labradors, Chewy and her son, Henry James. I’m someone who is extremely afraid of dogs so initially when they came running to the cars (which we took to reach the place), I tried my best to dodge them. However, they were too friendly and adorable to avoid and before I knew, I was hugging and playing with them. Gerald, who was the host had prepared a simple yet wonderful feast (there was salmon!!) but after what happened earlier on and knowing that I would be taking the same plane back, I did not dare to eat anything. It was only when Gerald told me that wine would be good for the stomach then I dared to take a few slices of salmon and some yummy mushrooms (which went well with the wine!) And then it was playtime with Chewy and HJ (plus many photo-taking of the gorgeous scenery) They really took my mind off the facts that I went really sick just now and that I had a phobia for dogs (especially big ones!)

It was really true, that when one is having fun, time flies pass real fast. We had to go and I couldn’t bear to leave Chewy (spent most of the time with her coz HJ was always sleeping!) Gerald was kind enough to ask his daughter whether she would be going to Hobart so that she could give me a lift. I was a little disappointed when she said no but thanked him for the kind offer anyway. After bidding farewell to my loveable companions, we headed back to the plane where I prayed that what Gerald said was true and that the delicious lunch that I just had would not come out the wrong way.

The flight was about 25minutes but to me, it seemed like eternity. Way before the plane even took off, I already held a puke bag in my hand. Andre told me to look at a far distance and I ate some sour gummies while my mind was on Chewy and HJ. I held my breath as I finally saw Hobart and sighed with relief when we finally landed. My legs were rather wobbly and my head heavy so I decided to rest for a while first at the office while the rest of the crew headed back to prepare for their broadcast.

We took a cab back and dinner would be at 7.30pm at this restaurant called T42 Café Restaurant. Cheryl brought us to the Peppermint Bay Cruise for broadcast first. Even though it was my first time on board the cruise, I couldn’t really admire my surroundings coz I was still feeling sick and the fact that the ship was bobbing up and down did not really help. Thus, it was decided that we would do the broadcast the following day and we would go for dinner.

Actually, I wanted to go back to the hotel to rest so that I would be ready for the activities the next day but Juliet hoped to eat at the restaurant so reluctantly, I followed. The food on the menu was really simple and I ordered calamari (even though I didn’t feel like eating anything) I only touched the fries so I guessed dessert was out (they had cheesecake...oh man!) They had a cute way of displaying their desserts – no dessert menu but their list of desserts was written on a board which was carried from table to table. It was really innovative! In the end, I asked the waiter to pack my remaining food (hopefully, I would get hungry later and munch on the calamari?) and we headed back to the cruise where Cheryl drove us back to the hotel.

Once I reached my room, I quickly went for a bath and headed straight to bed, without touching the calamari at all. I wished and prayed that my stupid headache would be gone soon so that I would be all ready to do the kayaking activity tomorrow…

Day 6 – Goodbye Melbourne and Hello Tasmania!

2008-04-23T11:48:00.000-07:00

16th April

Well, today was the start of another new adventurous journey coz we were going to Tasmania! We checked out early in the morning after breakfast and headed straight to Melbourne Airport. There was a slight problem with the baggage but it was solved after a while. While waiting to board at Gate 22, I realized that I was missing Melbourne already. The great seafood, the wonderful activities, the cute old guys (Tony the host and Tony the driver!)…Well, a new adventure was waiting for me!

It took about an hour plus to reach Hobart Airport. The security had a cute dog which was in charge of sniffing passengers’ bag (I thought that they always used those rather fierce-looking ones). A lady’s bag caught its attention and she was asked to stop for a check. We then waited for quite some time for our luggage and our host for Tasmania, Cheryl appeared (She looked like a sweet lady, like Tony minus the tummy!) It seemed that she would be the driver too. Without a guy to lug our luggage up and down the car, we tried to do it ourselves (Gosh, I couldn’t even carry my luggage!) We were given a brief intro about Tasmania and even got a shopping bag with a thumb drive! Our first stop was our luxurious hotel, the Islington Hotel which would be our accommodation for the next 4 days. (the rest of the crew was drooling with jealousy…haha)

The hotel was located in the midst of private housing and my oh my! It looked drop-dead gorgeous just on the exterior. Amy, who was the owner welcomed us and Kelly, her assistant brought us to our room first to put our luggage while the rest went on a tour around. If it looked drop-dead gorgeous on the outside, then I would use “heavenly” to describe the room. It was very spacious and with a garden where I could see Mount Wellington and breathed in the world’s freshest air, I was in heaven! After a while, the rest of the guys came into our room (the envy on their faces was funny!) and went “wow” .We bided farewell to them before they went to their accommodation, which was the Henry Jones Art Hotel (it used to be a jam factory, cool!)

As usual, my sis who loved taking videos, did one with me as the host and I introduced our beautiful room, the pretty garden and the gorgeous hotel and ended with Amy! After taking some pictures, we got ready for lunch at Fish Frenzy which was located at Elizabeth St Pier. I ordered Fish Frenzy, which I guessed should be the signature dish of the restaurant (I meant, the names were the same right?)They had an interesting way of displaying their food in brown paper cones and we would need to pour them out into our plates. While helping my sis to figure out how to get the ketchup out of the package, Rod accidentally got tomato sauce on his t-shirt! It was rather hilarious and I couldn’t imagine if he had placed it near his face! (I was really, really bad. Sorry)

After such a sumptuous meal (I was rather sorry about the plate of untouched chips but was too embarrassed to suggest ta pau), we went on a tour around Hobart…on Cheryl’s car. Maybe it was due to the lunch I had earlier on or perhaps Cheryl’s describing Hobart sounded like lullaby, I couldn’t help but slowly drifted into my dreamland…and only woke up when we reached Henry Jones. The DJs and crew needed to prepare for their broadcasting later (they were gonna do it on the Peppermint Bay Cruise. Sweet!)

Dinner was at Marque IV, which was also located in Elizabeth St Pier (guessed that was where the restaurants from which we would be having our meals were located) It was such a classy restaurant (I felt a bit underdressed in my jeans and top) with a very nice ambience. The waiter who attended to us was so tall (he was 1.98m!!!!), I felt like a dwarf. He recommended us a Krelinger Vintage 2001 sparkling wine which was marvelous and I had sashimi (my favourite) and Juliet had mushroom soup for appetizer. Entrée was crab soufflé for me and coriander bisque for Juliet (soup again). For main, I decided to have duck meat for a change. I had a feeling that they had forgotten about our order coz we waited for quite a looong time before the main courses arrived. Was trying real hard to save enough space for my yummy chocolate tart with muscatel ice-cream and could only squeeze in the latter…geez. We took a photo with the extremely tall waiter (oops! Didn’t get his name) before leaving. My mind was on the delicious dinner and that wasted tart as Cheryl drove us back to the wonderful hotel with that fluffy bed waiting for me…=)

Day 5 – A day of royalty and winery

2008-04-23T11:47:00.001-07:00

15th April

Due to the cancellation of the seaplane flight in the morning, we were only required to meet at 9.30am for the Rolls Royce ride. John would be driving us to Yarra Valley and Rod and Andre would be joining us on the ride. The car looked really vintage and cool and I felt like some kind of royalty cruising down the streets (it was really nice that the part of the roof could open and close and I could feel the wind right from where I was sitting but the car was kinda of short so my head would hit the roof whenever I sat up straight) The journey was very smooth and even though I was sitting in the middle between Juliet and Andre (and the middle seat was usually a bit uncomfortable), I fell asleep!

When we reached Domaine Chandon, which was our first stop, Pree did a video of us coming out of the Rolls Royce like some big shots and then we proceeded to our guided wine tour. It was amazing how the factory, where wine was made, was opened to visitors so that they could understand better what they were drinking. Got to know what they did to the harvest during the 4 seasons, how the bottles (after 2nd fermentation) were placed in wooden holders in a room and were tilted at intervals to allow the yeast formed to settle near the neck of the bottles for easier removal. After hearing these, I got to know wine better (though I am still not a wine lover..gee) We got to taste 5 different types of wine in the Green Point room, which provided a scenic view of the vineyards. The red sparkling wine was very special coz I thought sparkling wines were always white. After the wonderful wine-tasting session, I proceeded to take some great photos of the scenery while Juliet bought a bottle of the red sparkling wine for her friends.

I was a little red from the wine tasting session (it’s a rather embarrassing thingy that always happen when I have wine) and Rod & Andre were making fun but that didn’t deterred me from proceeding to our next wine tasting session (plus lunch!) at De Bortoli Winery and Restaurant which was located on the top of the hill. Brett, who was our host brought us to the trophy room which was where we had our wine-tasting session. He had a unique way of teaching us to taste wine, like gurgle the wine in our mouth so as to let all sides of our mouth get the taste of the wine. Women like Angelina Jolie and Audrey Hepburn were linked to the wines, just like how words like gorgeous, sexy could be used to describe the taste. We tried 5 different types of wines also and I liked the last one (Noble One – Sweet Botrytis Semillon) coz it was a dessert wine and it was very sweet!

Next was lunch at the award-winning restaurant, which was a simple yet beautiful restaurant. I didn’t know that we got to choose either beef or fish for main so I was a bit shocked when the waitress got me beef (which looked delicious and also very huge at the same time) and I didn’t think that I could finish it. Luckily, Brett who was sitting just next to me offered his fish and I gladly accepted it. It was sword fish and man! The meat practically melted in my mouth and it was awesome. And how we could miss out the great wine? After the wonderful lunch, Brett offered to show us around. It was rather cute to have the name “De Bortoli” placed on the greenery like how they put the word “Hollywood” but the former was laid down flat. We took some beautiful pictures of the place before heading back to Melbourne in the cool Rolls Royce.

We reached our hotel at around 4.45pm and as there was some time before we needed to do the broadcast (at around 8pm), we decided to do some more shopping in Melbourne since today would be the last night. Pree joined us and we decided to go back to the arcades which we went to during the Hidden Secrets tour. Well, I thought I could remember how to walk back based on my memory of how we got back the other night but perhaps in the midst, we missed a street or turn so in the end, we were lost and had to ask around for help. We tried following the directions given by people but to no avail. When I saw a visitor help booth, I thought that someone reliable could finally help us but it turned out to be some maps. I was so dismayed and disappointed and didn’t realize that Alix was just next to us. Just in time! And to our embarrassment, the Royal Arcade (which was our destination) was just a few steps away! As it was getting late (actually it was going to be 6pm), we hurriedly grabbed some more stuff and also explored some other shops.

At 7.45pm, Tony picked us up and we proceeded to the Eureka Skydeck for the broadcast. Before heading back to the hotel, I managed to snap a picture of the gold bumblebees on the building coz I really thought that they were really special and unique (couldn’t find such stuff in S’pore). I was rather sad when I bided farewell to Tony coz this might be the last time I saw him and he had been a very nice and gracious host. Well, I guessed I would have a lot to miss in Melbourne but what awaited me at Tasmania would also be exciting and perhaps even better for I was on an unexpected adventure! =)

Day 4 – Watching in envy and dining in romance

2008-04-15T08:41:00.000-07:00

14th April

I was hoping so much that my health would get better (especially after taking the expensive medication) so that I could surf but darn! It was still the same so feeling extremely disappointed, I informed Joyce about it. Juliet was also not feeling well so she skipped it. We were a bit late so we hurriedly grabbed some bites for breakfast at the restaurant (Man! The food looked so yummy and it was only breakfast. Too bad we couldn’t really enjoy it =( )

We headed to this outlet, Go Ride A Wave where the 4 DJs met with their instructor and changed into their wetsuits. After that, we drove to the seaside (Uncle Jimmy also did not join in the fun) while they carried their surf boards and walked there. Watching them having so much fun with the waves, I was really envious and regretted for not joining them. However, the wind along the sea was rather cold and I couldn’t take it already with what I was wearing, moreover it was a wetsuit and I was hoping that my illness would get better soon so I could enjoy the rest of the trip better. (trying to console myself ya!)

We took photos of the beautiful scenery and then proceeded to the bus to wait for them. I took photos with Tony, our bus driver who commented that I was very skinny (looking at the gals in Melbourne, I thought I would look like a stick as compared to them…so sad) After hearing that, I could hardly wait for lunch. We went back the store again where the dudes and babes changed into dry clothes and then headed to Geelong for out yummy lunch. (Geelong sounded very Chinese rite? That made it easier for me to remember)

It was seafood again (I was not complaining!) at Fisherman’s Pier which had an awesome view of the sea. There was an helicopter flight booth outside and it was so cool to see it take off and disappeared into the blue sky. I actually wanted to have the creamy seafood chowder for entrée but since Juliet was taking that, I ordered calamari instead and I was so shocked…by how tasty and delicious and yummy it was!!!I loved it immediately and the soup was also marvelous. I was shocked again by the size of the seafood platter we would be sharing. It looked so delicious, with fresh fruits (oranges, mangoes, kiwis, avocados and many more) together with prawns, mussels, crab, oysters and many more all placed nicely on a dish.

I tried to take as much fruits as possible, hoping that my illness would be better. The prawns were huge, about 5 times the size of the prawns back home. And they were succulent too. I was rather hungry so I ate quite a bit, despite the fact that Rod was sharing some gruesome stories about eating cockroaches and other disgusting stuff. We left with still a lot of stuff on the dish (I did not want to waste…but no more space mah) This restaurant totally rocked (I’m in love with the canalari) and I would definitely come back if I visit Melbourne the next time.

We were given some time to take photos (How could we not take? It was beautiful! And it was an excellent excuse to get off the bus coz the fart smell was back. Guess who was the culprit?) before heading to Oaks on Market to check in. We reached there at around 4.45pm and had to rush upstairs to get ready for the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant at 5.15pm (Didn’t we had lunch like only a couple of hours back? Man, I was well fed over here!) This was one of the highlights for me coz I thought it was very cool to dine in a tramcar, what’s more, it was Melbourne’s oldest tramcar and the world’s first tramcar restaurant. How cool.

Tony, our bus driver picked us up at 5.15pm and we reached there at about 5.25pm as it was rather near and the traffic was not congested. We did not have any ticket with us so Tony was sweet enough to help us check with the person and confirmed our attendance. While waiting for the tram to arrive at 5.45pm (btw, we were in tram no.2), we took photos with Tony as it would be the last time we would be seeing him (he was such a sweet man and he said he was coming to Singapore with his family! Leave the coats and bring on the singlet and shorts man!) The tram finally arrived and we shot to the front (with the help of Tony) Our seat was the second from the right of the entrance. The interior décor was so classy, warm and soothing. After everyone had settled down, we were ready to go! (bye Tony!)

I had prime eye fillet of beef served on creamy mashed potato with seasonal greens, sautéed mushrooms and shallots for my main course while Juliet had char grilled breast of chicken. I was so amazed that the chef and the servers could work so efficiently while the tram was moving smoothly around Victoria. The meat was huge and looked yummy and the meal was accompanied by chardonnay. At times, Jo who was the singing waiter entertained us with his powerful vocals and everyone else would join in with the singing (pai sei but I dun really know the songs. I did clapped though =)) Going down the streets and enjoying the view with a dessert as sweet as warm stick date pudding topped with butterscotch sauce served with cream was just so out of the world. It was so cute when the birthday song was being played and a pudding with a candle on top was presented to a lady beside me and lit. Jo started singing the birthday song and everyone just joined in. Plus, the people around me were so friendly and nice, the atmosphere in the tram was so romantic and soothing. (it was such a great place to pop the question to one’s other half…perhaps in the future for me?...heehee) It was truly a great place to celebrate or commemorate the special days in everyone’s life.

I was sad when it was 7.15pm and we had to get down the beautiful tram. It had been a fun and out-of-the world kind of experience for me coz where else could I experience such style of dining? Great people, great food = great memories, great experience. I thought that it was really cool to include this part inside the itinerary coz it was a great way to see Victoria in another way. On our way back to the hotel, Tony told us a very bad news: the seaplane trip would be cancelled due to bad weather conditions (Oh darn! That was also one of my highlights for the trip. We got to sit in the Rolls Royce instead, (which sounded nice but still…) Well, in a place like Australia which experienced 4 seasons, this should be expected. I just couldn’t help but felt disappointed =(

Third day with steaming hot babes and a shopping paradise

2008-04-15T08:02:00.000-07:00

13th April

Hot! Hot! Hot! We were soooo hot today coz our first stop after breakfast was the Peninsula Hot Springs. After bidding farewell to the wonderful room at Peppers Moonah Link Resort, we headed to the hot springs which were rather near. Changed into our swim wear with bathrobes wrapped around, we followed the gentleman who described to us the future plans for the spa (they were even gonna built hot springs for babies. So cute right!) in a very nice room with cozy settings. We then proceeded to the relaxation room where we sipped the pot of Seven Angels hot tea and waited for the lady to bring us to the private bath. Ohhhh! I could hardly wait coz this was my first time doing this and back home, we did not had hot springs at all.

After a while, we were brought to our private bath and I was like “Wow!” when I saw the hot spring with huge amount of steam coming out of it. This 38 degree Celsius pool seemed sizzling hot and I was so right. The minute I put in my foot, I thought it would be cooked immediately. It was so freakingly hot! However, standing in the cool wind in my bikini was not making the matter better so eventually, I slowly edged my way to the other side of the pool and soaked my entire body into it. It did felt nice and comfortable after a while. Juliet was rather stiff like a robot and I guessed she couldn’t get used to it yet. Eventually, she did and the 4 of us just soaked ourselves in this mineral pool and chit-chatted (the 3 did all the talking) We did step out of the pool, sat on the side and drank some cold water occasionally when it started to feel too hot. One very interesting thing was that whenever we stepped out of the pool to cool ourselves a bit, steam would be coming out of our body and we looked just sizzling hot!

45 minutes passed by quickly and soon we gotta left the private bath. We hung out at one of the public baths where the temperature of the water was about 42 degree Celsius! It was even hotter than the one we did privately but surprisingly, the water felt ok and comforting. Guess my body was already used to the heat already. It was time to go (this place rocked and everyone should visit it. It was hot!) and we proceeded to our showers before leaving this wonderful and calming place and picked up the dudes who were teeing off. We went to a chemist (back at home it was pharmist..Haha) and got some medicine for me plus a scarf(to wrap round my neck). The prices of the medicine and lozenges were rather expensive. But hey! What’s more important was their efficiency right? We then proceeded straight for lunch at this place called The Baths in Sorrento.

This place had a wonderful sea view and of course, I should order seafood to suit the atmosphere right? (like the other time at The Rocks) I wanted to try the fish and chips but due to the loss of my voice, I was encouraged to have something that was not too heaty so in the end I ordered risotto primavera, fresh summer vegetable with a tomato base. We also ordered some entrees and what happened next was really funny. One of the dishes which we thought was an entrée was actually the main course of Tony, our cute bus driver (I was one of the guilty ones who ate just 1 piece)We realized the mistake after all of our main courses were served and had a good laugh about it. As we had to go to Sorrento Pier to board the Peninsula Searoad Transport ferry to Queenscliff at 3pm, we had hurried a bit so that we wouldn’t miss it.

It was so cool that the bus could board the ferry too! After alighting, Juliet and I proceeded upstairs and after realizing that standing outside the deck was really very cold, we decided to go inside and sit by the window instead (though I really wanted to stand outdoors! =( ) The journey was supposedly about 45minutes and I purposely chose a window seat so that I could see the view during the journey. However, it was rather relaxing sitting inside and I was tired so before I knew it, I dozed off and the next moment, I was awakened by Juliet coz we had reached Queenscliff.

From there, we proceeded to Torquay, which was Victoria’s surfing capital. They even had some of the biggest names in surfwear and stuff like Billabong, Ripcurl, Roxy and more. We stopped by these stores and were given about ½ hour to shop (gosh…so many tempting stores, so little time) The prices were amazing low and I was so tempted to buy every little this and that. I bought a pretty white Billabong wallet for myself at only $15 (which was abt $19.20 in SGD). We hurried through other stores, looking out for great discounts and nice souvenirs to buy home. The people at Roxy were really nice coz we didn’t buy anything from them and yet they gave us a watterbottle each! Later, we were informed by Tony that there were factory outlets selling such stuff but they were closing soon (the shops around closed at 5pm or 5.30pm the latest…still not used to this fact) so we hurried and indeed, the prices were even lower.

After some quick buys, we headed to Crowne Plaza Torquay which would be our accommodation for that night. I believed that this was the same company which had opened a hotel at Changi Airport T3. It was rather funny that our bus couldn’t enter the hotel lobby due to the height clearance so we gotta alight outside instead. My room number was 222 and I couldn’t wait to see how this room would look like. It was a long journey from the lift to the room and when we finally got there, my hand was aching from carrying my heavy bag and extremely heavy laptop bag. Juliet and I jumped into the oh-so comfortable bed as we were both feeling tired. Before realizing anything, we fell asleep and it was until Joyce called then we shot up (meeting time: 7.30) and just hurriedly prepared ourselves before going downstairs to meet them for dinner.

Dinner was at a simple place called Front Beach Café that was about a few minutes drive from the hotel. Both Audrey and Pree didn’t join us coz they had stuff to do. It was a nice and cozy café which served tasty food, like the spaghetti marinara with prawns, scallops, salmon, squids and mussels with garlic and lemon sauce that I ordered and shared with Juliet (coz we were still full from the delicious lunch earlier on). Plus the sweet white hot chocolate that came with 2 pieces of marshmallows just made the whole meal sweeter. Rod and Andre cracked nonsensical jokes and made all of us laugh while we ate fruit and cheese platters. They were really humorous and could liven up the atmosphere.

What a shock I got when I stepped out of the cafe coz the weather was really extremely cold (even the bus felt like the interior of a refrigerator). I guess it was because we were nearer to the sea and it was nighttime. We were freezing cold as we headed back to the hotel. After exchanging good nights, we went back to our respective rooms where I repacked my luggage to squeeze in my buys and then proceeded to bath before doing my blogging. I truly dun mind doing this: carrying my heavy laptop plus huge luggage and travel around on an all-expense paid trip and just shared my experiences with everyone out there. Really hoped that my health would get better soon coz the food was so superb and I really hoped to enjoy them and experience the remaining journey with a good health…and a voice.=)~

Second day in an awesome place

2008-04-13T07:28:00.000-07:00

12th April

The start of day 2 was another exciting one as there was a movie shoot going on outside our hotel. They even sealed the surrounding roads for it! (I never saw such big fuss happening back at home!) There were a lot of huge vehicles and equipment and extras were dressed in smart business wear. I didn’t spot the leading man, Nicholas Cage who was supposed to be in this movie. Guess it’ll be an interesting to be in part of a Hollywood production, even if it was to be just an extra!

After we had our delicious breakfast at Alexis Market, we checked out of the hotel and prepared our journey to Mornington Peninsula where we would be picking fresh strawberries at Sunny Ridge! The journey was about one & half hour so luckily, I had my iPod to entertain me (it was so interesting that both our guide and driver were called Tony and they were both cute round humorous men=) When we finally reached there, I was rather eager to use the toilet. It was so sunny yet the wind was so cold that I was shivering( it was my own fault coz I was wearing shorts mah) The field was filled with rows and rows of glistening strawberries which were waiting for us to pluck! After listening to the person-in-charge and getting our plastic container, I eagerly ran to the nearest row and plucked my first strawberry! It was just so amazing that I could just pluck the strawberries and pop them into my mouth right there (coz they were not sprayed with pesticides). I was not bullshitting but the strawberries just tasted sweeter, juicier and nicer when one plucked them and immediately ate them on the spot.

I gotta said that Juliet was rather kiasu coz she could not close her box (she loved strawberries so couldn’t really blame her right?gee…) What followed next was even more exciting coz we were gonna have the award-winning strawberry sundae. It truly deserved the award coz the strawberry tasted really sweet and nice (unlike those sold in supermarkets which tasted rather fake, I must say) and the strawberry serving was really generous. We could shop for a while before leaving the place and I got a strawberry jam and honey for my family while some strawberry magnets for friends. And then reluctantly, I left another exciting place that I discovered in Melbourne.

Next, we headed to Montalto Vineyard and Olive Grove to have wine-tasting and a picnic (yummy food again!). John, the owner of the place welcomed us and we were being shown around the place and given a brief introduction. There were some interesting sculptures around the whole place and it seemed that their origins were from many countries around the world like Hong Kong, Canada, Ireland and many more and their purpose there was to be part of sculpture exhibitions. We took photos of some of them before proceeding to our wine-tasting session. Justin showed us several wines, some which were award winning and after tasting all the wines, I gotta said that I liked the last one (2008 Verj) better coz it was non-alcoholic and it tasted really sweet.

And here came the part that I looked forward to….the picnic! We even had John sent us to our picnic spot (there were 4 of them) in a very vintage Morris red car. We passed by the vineyards and several sculptures before reaching there. In the midst of the journey, we even tasted the resins straight from the vineyards. It seemed that birds would eat the resins so nets were needed to cover the vineyards to protect them. When I reached the picnic spot, I was once again so surprised by how sweet the whole setting fit so well into the nature. And yes, the amount and type of food were amazing. Plus we had fabulous wines as complements. We had some fun time eating and chatting right there in nature with cold wind blowing by every now and then. I would remember this scene forever (people held their weddings and performed plays here too…wasn’t is amazing?

We had to leave the place ( I was really, really reluctant)in order to proceed to our next destination and after bidding farewell to John, we hopped on the bus and headed to Gordon Studio Glassblowers which was just about 10minutes drive (luckily it was only a short journey coz it was either Rod or Andre who farted and the bus stank!!!) The products looked really beautiful, and the prices too. Of course, as it seemed that a lot of hard work was needed to just make one. And I was really amazed by how they could stand the heat. It was really interesting to observe the process of shaping the mould. I was truly tempted to buy one, just one little thing that could let me share this very interesting art with my friends back home but the price just held me back (well, there would always be photos too right?)

We checked into our next accommodation, Peppers Moonah Links Resort which was for the really rich and sophisticated ones who played golf (wow, so for one night, we fell into that category though I did not know how to play golf) It seemed that one had to take a coach or transport from their own suite to the reception area. I was staying in suite 69 and the interior was really nice and spacious with a balcony overlooking the golf course. And the bathroom looked fabulous (could hardly wait to use the bathtub!) The whole décor really blend in well with the course (green and brown matched right?) We were given one hour before heading to our dinner location (luckily by then, almost ¾ of my lunch had supposedly digested)

It was called The Rocks and the place totally rocked man! Too bad it was too dark coz it would be wonderful to dine with the beautiful sea view as a complement. Never mind, I loved to sit inside and absorb the lively atmosphere with the rest of the diners! =) They had interesting boards which would have information on the specialties of the day (really cool seafood available…the crab was available in Singapore-style!) I ordered the whole n.z flounder with lemon sauce an garlic butter (it sounded so delicious rite?) The entrees were yummy with mussels, oysters, scallop and many more that already took up more than half of my stomach. So my eyes were pretty goona fell out when I saw how big my fish was (I couldn't finish my fish back home, how could I if this thing was about 5 times bigger?) But I gotta admit that it tasted fabulous with sauce. And how could I, Ms Sweet Tooth missed out on dessert. It was caramelised mango cheek, mango mint soup, passion fruit mousse. Yummy, yummy!

I could hardly believe that today was only the 2nd day and I'm was really in love with this place (gotta learn how to love the weather, coz I'm someone who rather sweat than freeze to death yah!). The resort I was staying in was so fabulous that I really dun want to leave the next day. But I thought that it was cool to experience the different accomodations in Melbourne and they rocked man! Well, gotta enjoyed the few hours of the rich and sophisticated lifestyle before checking out tomorrow. =)

The start of my Melbourne journey

2008-04-13T07:21:00.000-07:00

11th April

I guess I was too excited to sleep and woke up way before my alarm rang. We would be meeting the rest of the guys (the Djs, Joyce from Tourism Australia and Tony Poletto from Tourism Victoria) at 12 for lunch at this exciting place called Taxi Dining Room at Federation Square. I was wowed by the interior of the restaurant coz the ambience was really nice and soothing (plus there were cute waiters to look out for! =). The food was fabulous too. I had the specialties for entrée and main course, crayfish salad with mango puree and beef respectively. The crayfish tasted so fresh and yummy while the beef was oozing with juice. Plus, a great drink called lemon lime and bitters(?) as recommended by the DJs was a great companion with the food. Gosh…my first day in Melbourne and I was falling in love with her food already.

With such delicious entrée and main, I could guess that the dessert would amaze me further ( and I purposely saved some space in my stomach for it coz I just loved sweet stuff!) And I was not disappointed at all. I ordered my favourite cheesecake (it was cheesecake with almond crumble and strawberry 2 ways) and it totally swept me off my feet. We gotta rushed as we still needed to do the Hidden Secrets tour and the DJs had to do their broadcasting. I still managed to scrape clean the dessert dish (and didn’t mind another one actually) before we left. It was a pity that Rod, one of the DJs with us had to leave earlier for a bicycle tour coz he had just missed out on such wonderful dessert!

We met our tour leader, Alix, a pretty young lady and went on our next adventure. She brought us to several lanes like Collin Street and Manchester Lane where there were different shopping arcades that sold unique items with a taste of Melbourne’s unique factor. Shops like Kinki Gerlinki, Body and Shag amazed me with their range of items in the shops. And I must said that the décors of the shops were also unique and attractive. I realized that the shops closed rather early, like around 5pm to 6pm (not really for a late night creature like me who become more alive at night..haha). After the tour, we stopped by KoKo Black Chocolate for a drink. The iced chocolate mocha was really nice, with the yummy KoKo chocolate and vanilla ice-creams…I just loved it!

After a while, the rest of the crew needed to leave first to prepare for the broadcasting later, so Juliet and I hanged around for a while more before we explored around and tried to find some souvenirs. We stopped by a shop, Westmister which sold some really cute stuff and I bought an adorable toy while Juliet bought some crystal butterflies for her friends. After that, we were in need for a washroom. I realized that the lady had actually overcharged me as the toy was supposed to cost $7.95 after a discount from $14.95 but she charged me at the original price so I quickly went back. Luckily the lady apologized and returned me the extra $7. I noticed that there was a cute sweet shop just next to it so I popped in. This shop, Suga had cute lollipops and candies and I believed I had read about this shop somewhere. I bought 2 bottles for my friends and myself while Juliet bought lollipops for her friends. We headed back to the hotel after that as we would be picked up by Tony and he would bring us to Eureka Skydeck 88, where the Djs were doing their broadcasting. We got a bit lost, rather embarrassed to say even though the streets were arranged in a grid pattern (cute right?) and managed to find our way with the help of some friendly Australians. After putting down our stuff and freshening up ourselves, we went downstairs to meet Tony.

Eureka Skydeck 88 was the tallest residential building in Melbourne and the Southern Hemisphere. And the view was simply spectacular. Everything seemed so tiny all of the sudden. While waiting for our turn to do the broadcasting, we explored around. There was this helpful lady, Tina who brought us around introduced us to The Edge, which was this interesting cubicle which could hold about 12 people (approx 2.5 tonnes?) that would move out of the building and the people on board would be in mid-air inside this glass container. Even the bottom was glass so we were required to put disposable blue caps over our footwear to prevent any scratches on the glass.

I felt like I was in a huge magician box as the cubicle slowly edged out of the building and we could not see our surroundings. Then at once, the glasses were cleared (like those magicians who unveiled their magic box at once) and we could see the spectacular view in front and below us. For someone who was rather afraid of heights, surprisingly, I did not feel any fear at that moment as standing right there, right at that moment with such an amazing bird view of Melbourne, one could only feel like in heaven. We even posed for pictures which we later got 2 copies as souvenirs (a really great thanks to the people from Eureka Skydeck!). After that interesting moment, we went for the broadcast with the Djs and had a fun time with naughty conversations exchanged. Juliet and I continued exploring the deck and confirmed that Melbourne was truly a beautiful city with so many interesting stuff for us first-timers to discover.

After bidding farewells to the wonderful people, Tony dropped us back at the hotel. Even though it was late night shopping on Fridays, it was already 8plus when we left the building so I doubted that we could shop for long, plus I was really tired as I only slept 3 hours the night before. I spent the rest of the night doing write-ups for my blog. And when I weighed myself, I was really freaked out. Coz after such a sumptuous and beautiful lunch (I was rather full from it and did not eat dinner) and I did grab some small bites during broadcast, I could not believe when I stepped onto the weighing machine and it showed 46kg!! I even lost 2kg!! (what the?!?!)I was getting further away from my dream weight of 55kg (it’s for real). Gosh…where had all the wonderful food that I consumed for the day disappeared to? And I thought I could gain some weight from this trip to save myself from my mum’s nagging for being too skinny. Shit…

The day has finally arrived!

2008-04-13T06:51:00.000-07:00

10th APRIL

The day had finally arrived…my sis and I were finally going to Australia!! (Melbourne & Tasmania to be exact). I was very excited and also very sad coz I would miss all my babies…(sob sob, how I wished that I could stuff them in my pocket and bring them along…dun think they could tahan the pressure onboard though). I guess the reluctance and the numerous last-minute packing and checking of stuff resulted in us heading to the airport 1 hour later than the time we were supposed to leave in order to check in on time. Luckily, we were not that late and could still take some photos (Mum went to the airport to send us off…so sweet…sob sob...gonna missed her) with her and Alan.

After going through customs and stuff, we realized that our gate (C25) was closing so we ran like madwomen (and I was carrying my laptop which weighed like 10kg at that moment) towards the gate. And once again, we were lucky that passengers had not boarded the plane. We made our final calls (I called Mum and Sis called her dear Alan) before boarding the plane. Gee, our seats were 52B & 52C, near the window but not exactly near lar. The guy beside my sis was Jeffrey and he was going back to his hometown. I gotta say that there were more than 95% Caucasians than Asians (well…the destination was Australia afterall right?) I was so excited (and extremely sad ) when the plane finally took off (and I was so far from my hammies…bye babies!

I was having a bad headache (due to the lack of sleep on the previous night), starting to get sick and my head and ears hurt like hell when the plane took off. And getting hungry every second didn’t help too much. Could hardly wait for the food to come. Dinner was a choice between lemon fish and malay beef (As usual, we ordered diff stuff so that we could exchange). Mine was better as it came with rice so it was more filling. Had ice-cream as dessert! Yummy! And we got entertainment onboard! (sound rather sua ku aka mountain turtle but this was the first time I was onboard on Economy class and my second time onboard an aeroplane so I got excited easily =) We watched Mr Woodcock which was hilarious and before I knew it, they were serving breakfast. Time really flew past when you’re doing something exciting huh. Bad timing coz m tummy was feeling rather funny then but I still managed to squeeze in breakfast (couldn’t waste the yummy food in front of me right?)

We watched 27 Dresses after that and before we knew it, we were in Australia (just abt 30 minutes from Melbourne) At this moment, the toilets were occupied for the longest time. We gotta put on our seatbelts, my headache was building up and the plane was landing soon and puak! We were in Melbourne, on land! Getting our luggage was no easy feat (coz the people were crowding around the baggage area like as if they were waiting for gold). After passing through the custom, we had to find our driver. At last we found him, standing in the middle with a bunch of guys who were wearing exactly the same outfits but was holding a piece of paper with our names spelt “Joane and Julie” (gosh…from calling my name Jo-an to spelling it some other way, gotta get used to it).

Frankly speaking, we felt like some kind of celebrities, those types that got chauffeured around. I realized that certain parts of the highways do not have street lamps (guess it’s a good way to save energy. It was rather a long distance from the airport and I was so glad when we finally reached (could hardly wait to plonk on the bed and Zzzzz) Gee…there was no slope in front of Oaks on Market so the chauffeur should had the decency to help us ladies carried the luggage up the stairs (coz they were so heavy and mine didn’t have a handle)Instead he just dropped our luggage on the walkway and left us carrying something that were nearly half of our weight up that flight of stairs (luckily, no one was around to witness the ugly scene of us huffing and puffing up the stairs).

The room was big and beautiful, with a spacious ‘living room’ next to a small kitchen. And the bed was wonderful (heavenly, especially after the flight)I could immediately fall asleep but gotta bath first. After a rather short shower (coz I was dead beat) and getting ready my stuff for the following day, I finally fell asleep, with my dear rabbit, Bombi in my arms, my hammies in my mind and the exciting stuff we would be doing. My unexpected adventure was gonna began soon...

My first theatre play!

2008-04-05T12:36:00.000-07:00

It's not going to happen!

So excited..so much to look forward to

2008-04-05T10:43:00.000-07:00

I was already filled with so much excitement about the trip before attending the briefing at Tourism Australia..however, after looking through the itinery and hearing what Joyce and Serene (the very nice ladies from Tourism Australia) described about some of the exciting places we would be visiting, I must say that I'm bursting with excitment!

Gosh, I was already imagining (I've a very imaginative imagination!) how these interesting places looked like in my mind as we proceeded with the briefing. I could hardly wait for the 10th April!! (and we are going there by ourselves!! isn't that cool! make us like grown-ups huh!) I really hope that we wouldn't be baked there (seems like the sun's strong over that side) and the thought of experiencing 4 seasons within a day (in Melbourne, Victoria) sounds so cool. I mean,we only get to experience like really hot or really wet weather in Singapore. Just pray that it will not be freezing cold that coz I'm someone who cannot really stand cold, cold weather (I'll rather die from sweating than freezing! haha)

I must said that I'm amazed by what I saw in the websites of those wonderful places I'll be visiting. Perhaps it's the nature part which I can't get to see in Singapore that sweeps me off my feet. Having grow up in an urbanised country, it'll truly be a memorable experience to have a good time in the nature and countryside. The beautiful pictures really amaze me so much and Australia is indeed a beautiful place to visit by everyone.

The only things (living things) I'm going to really miss for these 10 days are my mimis!! I'm going to miss seeing their cute faces and their squeaking noises. Miss watching them playing around, running in their wheel or just nibbling on sunflower seeds. Gosh, they are the ones making me rather reluctant to leave Singapore (how I wish I can hide one in my pocket and bring with me to Australia!)

Still looking for caring and committed buyers who can buy and take care of these adorable baby hamsters. Do drop me an email at twinkbi@gmail.com if interested. =)

My first blog

2008-03-30T10:59:00.000-07:00

Gosh...I must really be a mountain turtle to just start a blog now..ha. I'm not really someone who like to broadcast and express my feelings and thoughts out loud, but there is always a first time for everything rite?

Well, it has been a long time (or should I say that it is my first time winning something so big) - I won a trip to Australia!!! Tasmania and Melbourne to be exact. And with the coolest dudes from the Married Men show from 91.3Fm (I must be one lucky woman huh..plus my sis coz she's going on the trip with me!). My efforts do pay off. I thought of the whole idea, prepared the props,danced around and nearly came face to face with poo!. Edited the whole night (didn't catch a wink at all and the next day still got a shoot) and end up couldn't submit online! That must be the worst nightmare!

Luckily (Thank God) that there were some very helpful people in Asiaone who helped me and ta-da, I was one of the 7 finalists. And after being thick skin and got the details of all those who I knoew (incl those who I hadn't contact for decades)..I'm one of the 3 lucky winners. And I knew the result during the Kids Central shoot. Gosh, I was so extremely happy and every happy feeling.

I would be the last one to go (departing on 1oth apr and returning on 20th apr). gosh..such beautiful places with such exciting people..what more can I ask? Life's beautiful.....but wait..I gotta find some very good committed owners for my hammies first before I leave. Too many babies (both male & female of breeds Winter White and Sapphire from 1 month old onward) are ready for sale and it will be best to find themsome good homes beofre I leave. Will be selling 1 for $8 so anyone who is interested to care for an adorable hamster for its life span, do drop me an email at twinkbi@gmail.com.

Hope to hear from some pet lovers soon!