Thursday, November 26

杜兰的一天

Woke up early in the morning, plan to go for swim after breakfast. Planned to do a swim workout, tire myself out, have a satisfying lunch then day-dream in the afternoon lesson...Packed my stuffs, feeling excited like a little boy going to the beach - looked out of the windows, the weather was superbly sunny~

Sibeh heng, bus came the moment I reached the bus-stop. Alighted and walked briskly down the long road to the swimming pool...Weather was still sunny and I was thinking today gonna be a good suntan day! Reached the gate and it was...... freaking closed!!! [o.o]

Closed for freaking construction works!!! Arghhhhhhhhhh!!

You know how it feel? A boy was so eager to go to beach and have a jolly good fun at the sea, then when the boy reached the beach, only to find out that the sea was out of freaking bounds!

瓦德法!

"Nothing's gonna stop me from swimming!"

Walked out to the main road and took a bus out of the institution to the nearby public pool. Eventually after 45mins, I reached a pool, paid the freaking $1.50 for the entrance fee and another 40¢ for the locker...

FINALLY! I got to freaking SWIM!

真的是。。。


杜兰的一天!

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Friday, November 13

fugging trend...

$%^&*#@%$!&^

A FOUR-ROOM Queenstown HDB flat has sold for $653,000, setting a new record for price per sq ft (psf), amid continuing red-hot demand for resale flats.

SOME RECORD FLAT PRICES
FOUR ROOMS: November 2009 - $653,000 ($674 psf), Strathmore Avenue
Previous record: January 2008 - $590,000 ($609 psf), Jalan Membina


The buyers, a male Indonesian permanent resident and a Singaporean woman, could have bought a condominium unit in an outlying area for the price.
But they were won over by the location, just five minutes walk from Queenstown MRT station, and on the top, 40th floor of the block, with unblocked views of greenery from all windows.

The four-year-old 969sqft unit at Forfar Heights, Strathmore Avenue, sold for $68,000 above valuation - a level determined by an independent valuer.

This works out to $674 psf, smashing the previous record of $609 psf, achieved in January last year, by about 10 per cent.

This may be an unusually high price but resale prices have been moving up.
Source





song boh?

:(

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Friday, October 23

yes..kiwi fruits are good!

According to a study by LaChance(1), Kiwifruit was ranked #1 amongst a list of 27 popular fruits in terms of nutrient density. That means that for children especially, every mouthful of kiwifruit carries more nutritional value than if he was eating other fruits.


Read more here.

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Tuesday, October 13

知足最好

錢多錢少,夠吃就好。

人醜人美,順眼就好。
人老人少,健康就好。
家窮家富,和氣就好。
老公晚歸,有回就好。
老婆嘮叨,顧家就好。
孩子從小,就要教好。

博士也好,賣菜也好,
長大以後,乖乖就好。

房屋大小,能住就好。
名不名牌,能穿就好。
兩輪四輪,能駕就好。
老闆不好,要忍就好。

一切煩惱,能解就好。
堅持執著,放下最好。
人的一生,平安就好。
不是有錢,一定會好。
心好行好,命能改好。
誰是誰非,天知就好。
修福修慧,來世更好。
天地萬物,隨緣就好。
很多事情,看開就好。
說這麼多,明白就好。
人人都好,日日都好。

你好我好,世界更好。

總而言之,知足最好。

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Thursday, August 13

being Ugly...

Everyone in the apartment complex I lived in knew who Ugly was. Ugly was the resident tomcat.

Ugly loved three things in this world: fighting, eating garbage, and shall we say, love. The combination of these things combined with a life spent outside had their effect on Ugly.

To start with, he had only one eye, and where the other should have been was a gaping hole. He was also missing his ear on the same side, his left foot has appeared to have been badly broken at one time, and had healed at an unnatural angle, making him look like he was always turning the corner. His tail has long since been lost, leaving only the smallest stub, which he would constantly jerk and twitch. Ugly would have been a dark gray tabby striped-type, except for the sores covering his head, neck, even his shoulders with thick, yellowing scabs.

Every time someone saw Ugly there was the same reaction. "That's one UGLY cat!!"

All the children were warned not to touch him, the adults threw rocks at him, hosed him down, squirted him when he tried to come in their homes, or shut his paws in the door when he would not leave.

Ugly always had the same reaction. If you turned the hose on him, he would stand there, getting soaked until you gave up and quit. If you threw things at him, he would curl his lanky body around feet in forgiveness. Whenever he spied children, he would come running meowing frantically and bump his head against their hands, begging for their love. If you ever picked him up he would immediately begin suckling on your shirt, earrings, whatever he could find.

One day Ugly shared his love with the neighbors huskies. They did not respond kindly, and Ugly was badly mauled. From my apartment I could hear his screams, and I tried to rush to his aid. By the time I got to where he was laying, it was apparent Ugly's sad life was almost at an end.

Ugly lay in a wet circle, his back legs and lower back twisted grossly out of shape, a gaping tear in the white strip of fur that ran down his front. As I picked him up and tried to carry him home I could hear him wheezing and gasping, and could feel him struggling. I must be hurting him terribly I thought.

Then I felt a familiar tugging, sucking sensation on my ear - Ugly, in so much pain, suffering and obviously dying was trying to suckle my ear. I pulled him closer to me, and he bumped the palm of my hand with his head, then he turned his one golden eye towards me, and I could hear the distinct sound of purring. Even in the greatest pain, that ugly battled-scarred cat was asking only for a little affection, perhaps some compassion.

At that moment I thought Ugly was the most beautiful, loving creature I had ever seen. Never once did he try to bite or scratch me, or even try to get away from me, or struggle in any way. Ugly just looked up at me completely trusting in me to relieve his pain.

Ugly died in my arms before I could get inside, but I sat and held him for a long time afterwards, thinking about how one scarred, deformed little stray could so alter my opinion about what it means to have true pureness of spirit, to love so totally and truly. Ugly taught me more about giving and compassion than a thousand books, lectures, or talk show specials ever could, and for that I will always be thankful. He had been scarred on the outside, but I was scarred on the inside, and it was time for me to move on and learn to love truly and deeply. To give my total to those I cared for.

Many people want to be richer, more successful, well liked, beautiful, but for me, I will always try to be Ugly.

Tuesday, July 28

fwd: 要溝通無礙 千萬不要跟你所愛的人嘔氣太久...

definitely worth reading...

(use google translate!)

千萬不要跟你所愛的人~嘔氣太久,尤其現在的男女很愛嘔氣
請疼惜您身邊所擁有的珍藏,追尋您一生所期盼的夢想----- 這是個真實的故事(蘆荻
口述 連淑香整理)




一個個無情的誤解﹐紛亂了幸福的腳步。
當命運的死結終於用代價打開﹐一切都為時已晚﹐

接婆婆來家安度晚年﹐結果卻背離我們的初衷﹐
結婚二年後﹐先生跟我商量把婆婆從鄉下接來安度晚年。
先生很小時父親就過世了﹐他是婆婆唯一的寄託﹐

婆婆一個人扶養他長大﹐供他讀完大學。
“含辛茹苦”這四個字用在婆婆的身上﹐絕對不為過!
我連連說好﹐馬上給婆婆收拾出一間南向帶陽台的房間﹐
可以曬太陽﹐養花草什麼的。
先生站在陽光充足的房間﹐一句話沒說﹐卻突然舉起我在房間裡轉圈﹐
在我張牙舞爪地求饒時﹐先生說﹕“接咱媽去。”
先生身材高大﹐我喜歡貼著他的胸口﹐

感覺嬌小的身體隨時可被他抓起來塞進口袋。
當我和先生發生爭執而又不肯屈服時﹐先生就把我舉起來﹐
在腦袋上方搖搖晃晃﹐
一直到我嚇得求饒。
這種驚恐的快樂讓我迷戀。
婆婆在鄉下的習慣一時改不掉。

我習慣買束鮮花擺在客廳裡﹐婆婆後來實在忍不住﹕
“你們娃娃不知道過日子﹐買花幹什麼?又不能當飯吃!”
我笑著說﹕“媽﹐家裡有鮮花盛開﹐人的心情會好。”
婆婆低著頭嘟噥﹐先生就笑﹕
“媽﹐這是城裡人的習慣﹐慢慢的﹐你就習慣了。”
婆婆不再說什麼﹐但每次見我買了鮮花回來﹐依舊忍不住問花了多少錢﹐我說了﹐他就
“嘖嘖”咂嘴。
有時﹐見我買大包小包的東西回家﹐她就問這個多少錢那個多少錢﹐我─如實回答﹐她
的嘴就咂的更響了
先生擰著我的鼻子說﹕“小傻瓜你別告訴她真實價錢不就行了嗎?”快樂的生活漸漸有
了不和諧音。婆婆最看不慣我先生起來做早餐。在她看來﹐大男人給老婆燒飯﹐哪有這
個道理?
早餐桌上﹐婆婆的臉經常陰著﹐我裝做看不見。

婆婆便把筷子弄得叮噹亂響﹐這是她無聲的抗議。
我在少年宮做舞蹈老師﹐跳來跳去已夠累的了﹐
早晨暖洋洋的被窩﹐我不想扔掉這惟一的享受﹐
於是﹐我對婆婆的抗議裝聾作啞。婆婆偶樂幫我做一些家務﹐她一做我就更忙了。
比如﹐她把垃圾袋通通收集起來﹐說等攢夠了賣廢塑料﹐
搞得家裡到處都是廢塑料袋;
她捨不得用洗潔精洗碗﹐為了不傷她的自尊﹐我只好偷偷再洗一遍。
一次﹐我晚上偷偷洗碗被婆婆看見了﹐

她“啪”的一聲摔上門﹐趴在自己的房間裡放聲大哭。
先生左右為難﹐事後﹐先生一晚上沒跟我說話﹐
我撒嬌﹐耍賴﹐他也不理我。
我火了﹐ 問他﹕“我究竟哪裡做錯了?”
先生瞪著我說﹕“你就不能遷就一下﹐碗再不乾淨也吃不死人吧?”
後來﹐好長一段時間﹐婆婆不跟我說話﹐

家裡的氣氛開始逐漸尷尬。
那段日子﹐先生活得很累﹐不知道要先逗誰開心好。
婆婆為了不讓兒子做早餐﹐義無反顧地承擔起燒早飯的“重任”。
婆婆看著先生吃得快樂﹐再看看我﹐用眼神譴責我沒有盡到做妻子的責任。
為了逃避尷尬﹐我只好在上班的路上買包奶打發自己。
睡覺時﹐先生有點生氣地問我﹕

“蘆荻﹐是不是嫌棄我媽做飯不乾淨才不在家吃?”
翻了一個身﹐他扔給我冷冷的脊背任憑我委屈的流淚。
最後﹐先生嘆氣﹕
“蘆荻﹐就當是為了我﹐你在家吃早餐行不行?”我只好回到尷尬的早餐桌上。
那天早晨﹐我喝著婆婆燒的稀飯﹐忽然一陣反胃﹐

肚子裡所有的東西都搶著嚮外奔跑﹐我拼命地壓製著不讓它們往上涌﹐
但還是沒壓住﹐我扔下碗﹐衝進衛生間﹐吐得稀裡嘩啦。
當我喘息著平定下來時﹐見婆婆夾雜著家鄉話的抱怨和哭聲﹐
先生站在衛生間門口憤怒地望著我﹐
我幹張著嘴巴說不出話﹐我真的不是故意的。
我和先生開始了第一次激烈的爭吵﹐婆婆先是瞪著眼看我們﹐
然後起身﹐蹣跚著出門去了。
先生恨恨地瞅了我一眼﹐下樓追婆婆去了。
意外迎來新生命﹐卻突然葬送了婆婆的性命!
整整三天﹐先生沒有回家﹐連電話都沒有。

我正氣著﹐想想自從婆婆來後﹐我夠委屈自己了﹐還要我怎麼樣?
莫明其妙的﹐我總想嘔吐﹐吃什麼都沒有胃口﹐
加上亂七八糟的家事﹐心情差到了極點。
後來﹐還是同事說﹕“蘆荻﹐你臉色很差﹐還是去醫院看看吧。”
醫院檢查的結果是我懷孕了。

我明白了那天早晨我為什麼突然嘔吐﹐幸福中夾著一絲幽怨﹕
先生和作為過來人的婆婆﹐他們怎麼就絲毫沒有想到這呢?
在醫院門口﹐我看見了先生。僅僅三天沒見﹐他憔悴了許多。
我本想轉身就走﹐但他的模樣讓我心疼﹐沒忍住﹐我喊了他。
先生循著聲音看見了我﹐卻好像不認識了﹐

眼神裡有一絲藏不住院的厭惡﹐它們冰冷地刺傷了我。
我跟自己說不要看他不要看他﹐伸手攔了一輛出租車。
那時﹐我多想向先生大喊一聲﹕
“親愛的我要給你生寶貝了!”然後被他舉起來﹐幸福地旋轉。
我希望的沒有發生。在出租車裡﹐我的眼淚才遲遲地落下來。
為什麼一場爭吵就讓愛情糟糕到這樣的程度?
回家後﹐我躺在床上想先生﹐想他滿眼的厭惡。我握著被子的一角哭了。夜裡﹐家裡有
翻抽屜的聲音。
打開燈﹐我看見先生淚流滿面的臉。他正在拿錢。
我冷冷地看著他﹐一聲不響。他對我視若不見﹐拿著存折和錢匆匆離開。或許先生是打
算徹底離開我了。
真是理智的男人﹐情與錢分得如此清楚。
我冷笑了幾下﹐眼淚“嘩啦嘩啦
”的流下來。
第二天﹐我沒去上班。想徹底清 理一下自己的思緒﹐找先生好好談一次。找到先生的公
司﹐秘書有點奇怪地看著我說﹕
“陳總的母親出了車禍﹐正在醫院裡呢。”我瞠目結舌。
飛奔到醫院﹐找到先生時﹐婆婆已經去了。先生一直不看我﹐一臉僵硬。我望著婆婆幹
瘦蒼白的臉﹐眼淚止不住﹕天哪!怎麼會是這樣?
直到安葬了婆婆﹐先生也沒跟我說一句話﹐

甚至看我一眼都帶著深深的厭惡。
關於車禍﹐我還是從別人嘴裡了解到大概﹐婆婆出門後迷迷糊糊地向車站走﹐
她想回老家﹐先生越追她走得越快﹐穿過馬路時﹐一輛公交車迎面撞過來……我終於明
白了先生的厭惡﹐如果那天早晨我沒有嘔吐﹐
如果我們沒有爭吵﹐如果……在他的心昊﹐我是間接殺死他母親的罪人。先生默不作聲
搬進了婆婆的房間﹐每晚回來都滿聲酒氣。
而我一直被愧疚和可憐的自尊壓得喘不過氣來﹐
想跟他解釋﹐想跟他說我們快有孩子了﹐
但看著他冰冷的眼神﹐又把所有的話都咽了回去。
我寧願先生打我一頓或者罵我一頓﹐雖然這一切事故都不是我的故意。日子一天一天地
窒息著重覆下去﹐先生回家的時間越來越晚。
我們僵持著﹐比陌路人還要尷尬。我是繫在他心上的 死結。
一次﹐我路過一家西餐廳﹐穿過透明的落地窗﹐

我看見先生和一個年輕女孩面對面坐著﹐
他輕輕地為女孩攏了攏頭髮﹐我就明白了一切。
先是呆﹐然後我進了西餐廳﹐站在先生面前﹐死死盯著他看﹐眼裡沒有一滴淚。
我什麼也不想說﹐也無話可說。
女孩看看我﹐看看我先生﹐站起來想走﹐我先生伸手按住她﹐
然後﹐同樣死死地﹐絕不示弱地看著我。
我只能聽見自己緩慢的心跳﹐一下一下跳動在瀕臨死亡般的蒼白邊緣。輸了的是我﹐如
果再站下去﹐我會和肚子裡的孩子一起倒下。
那一夜﹐先生沒回家﹐他用這樣的方式讓我明白﹕

隨著婆婆的去世﹐我們的愛情也死了。
先生再也沒有回來。有時﹐我下班回來﹐看見衣櫥被動過了──先生回來拿一點自己的
東西。我不想給他打電話﹐原先還有試圖向他解釋一番的念頭﹐
一切都徹底失去了。我一個人生活﹐一個人去醫院體檢﹐
每每看見有男人小心地扶著妻子去做體檢﹐我的心便碎提不像樣子。
同事隱約勸我打掉算了﹐我豎決說不﹐
我發瘋了一樣要生下這個孩子﹐也算對婆婆的死的補償吧。我下班回來﹐先生坐在客廳
裡﹐滿屋子煙霧彌漫﹐茶幾上擺著一張紙。沒必要看﹐我知道上面是什麼內容。先生不
在家的二個多月﹐我逐漸學會了平靜。
我看著他﹐摘下帽子﹐說﹕“你等一下﹐我簽字。”先生看著我﹐眼神複雜﹐和我一
樣。我一邊解大衣扣子一邊在心裡對自己說﹕“不 哭不哭……”眼睛很疼﹐
但我不讓它們流出眼淚。掛好大衣﹐先生的眼睛死死盯在我已
隆 起的肚子上。
我笑笑﹐走過去﹐拖過那張紙﹐看也不看﹐簽上自己的名字﹐推給他。
“蘆荻﹐你懷孕了?”自從婆婆出事後﹐這是先生第一次跟我說話。我再也管不住眼
睛﹐眼淚“嘩啦”地流下來。我說﹕“是啊﹐不過沒事﹐你可以走了。”先生沒走﹐黑
暗裡﹐我們對望著。先生慢慢趴在我身上﹐眼淚滲透了被子。
而在我心裡﹐很多東西已經很遠了﹐遠到即使我奔跑都拿不到了。不記得先生跟我說過
多少遍“對不起”了﹐
我也曾經以為自己會原諒﹐卻不能﹐在西餐廳先生當著那個女孩的面﹐
他看我的冰冷的眼神﹐這輩子﹐我忘記不了。我們在彼此心上劃下了深深的傷痕。我的
﹐是無意的;他的﹐是刻意的。
期待冰釋前嫌﹐但過去的已無法重來!
除了想起肚子裡的孩子時心裡是暖的﹐而對先生﹐我心冷如霜﹐
不吃他買的任何東西﹐不要他的任何禮物﹐不跟他說話。
從在那張 紙上簽字起﹐婚姻以及愛情統統在我的心裡消亡。
有時先生試圖回臥室﹐他來﹐我就去客廳﹐先生只好睡回婆婆的房間。
夜裡﹐從先生的房間有時會傳來輕微的呻吟﹐我一聲不響。
這是他習慣玩的伎倆﹐以前只要我不理他了﹐他就裝病﹐
我就會乖乖投降﹐關心他怎麼了﹐他就一把抓住我哈哈大笑。
他忘記了﹐那時﹐我會心疼是因為有愛情﹐現在﹐我們還有什麼?
先生用呻吟斷斷續續待續到孩子出生。

他幾乎每天都在給孩子買東西﹐嬰兒用品﹐兒童用品﹐
以及孩子喜歡的書﹐一包包的﹐快把他的房間堆滿了。
我知道他是用這樣的方式感動我﹐而我已經不為所動。
他只好關在房間裡﹐用電腦“□哩啪啦”敲字﹐
或許他正網戀﹐但對我已經是無所謂的事了。
轉年春未的一個深夜﹐劇烈的腹痛讓我大喊一聲﹐

先生一個箭步衝進來﹐好像他根本就沒脫衣服睡覺﹐
為的就是等這個時刻的到來。
先生背起我就往樓下跑﹐攔車﹐一路上緊緊地攥著我的手﹐不停地給我擦掉額上的汗。
到了醫院﹐背起我就往產科跑。趴在他幹瘦而溫暖的背上﹐一個念頭忽然闖進習裡﹕
這一生﹐誰還會像他這樣疼愛我?
先生扶著產房的門﹐看著我進去﹐
眼神暖融融的我忍著陣痛對他笑了一下。從產房出來﹐先生望著我和兒子﹐眼睛濕濕地
笑啊笑啊的。我摸了一下他的手。先生望著我﹐微笑﹐然後﹐緩慢而疲憊地軟塌塌倒下
去。
我痛喊他的名字……
先生笑著﹐沒睜開疲憊的眼睛……我以為再也不會為先生流一滴淚﹐
事實卻是﹐從沒有過如此劇烈的疼撕扯著我的身體。
醫生說﹐我先生的肝癌發現時已是晚期﹐他能堅持這 麼久是絕對的奇蹟。我問醫生什麼
時候發現的?
醫生說五個月前﹐然後安慰我﹕“準備後事吧。”
我不顧護士的阻攔﹐回家﹐衝進先生的房間打開電腦﹐
心一下子被疼窒息了。
先生的肝癌在五個月前就已發現﹐他的呻吟是真的﹐
我居然還以為……電腦上的20萬字﹐是先生寫給兒子的留言﹕

孩子﹐為了你﹐我一直在堅持﹐等看你一眼再倒下﹐
是我現在最大的願望……
我知道﹐你的一生會有很多快樂或者遇到挫折﹐如果我能夠陪你經歷這個成長歷程﹐該
是多麼快樂﹐
但爸爸沒有這個機會了。

爸爸在電腦上﹐把你一生可能遇到的問題一一地寫下來﹐
等你遇到這些問題時﹐可以參考爸爸的意見…………
孩子﹐寫完這20多萬字﹐我感覺像陪你經歷了整個成長過程。

真的﹐爸爸很快樂。
好好愛你的媽媽﹐她很辛苦﹐是最愛你的人﹐也是我最愛的人……
從兒子去幼兒園到讀小學﹐讀中學﹐大學﹐到工作以及愛情遙方方面面﹐事無巨細都寫
到了。
先生也給我寫了信﹕

親愛的﹐娶了你是我一輩子最大的幸福﹐
原諒我對你的傷害﹐原諒我隱瞞了病情﹐
因為我想讓你有個好的心情等待孩子的出生……
親愛的﹐如果你哭了﹐說明你已經原諒我了﹐我就笑了﹐謝謝你一直愛我……
這些禮物﹐我擔心沒有機會親自送給孩子了﹐
麻煩你每年替我送他幾份禮物﹐包裝盒子上都寫著送禮物的日期……
回到醫院﹐先生依舊在昏迷中。我把兒子抱過來﹐放在他身邊﹐我說﹕
“你睜開眼笑一下﹐我要讓兒子記住他在你懷抱裡的溫暖……”
先生艱難地睜開眼﹐微微地笑了一下。兒子偎依在他懷裡﹐舞動粉色的小手。我“喀嚓
喀嚓”按快門﹐淚水在臉上恣意地流……
親愛的朋友們 :

轉傳一篇感人的文章與你們分享,在你看完了故事,並哭紅了你的雙眼時,
記得這個故事警惕我們,有話要講出來,不要憋在心裡,導致更大的誤會更不要跟你所
愛的人嘔氣太久,
或是做出讓彼此無法挽回的錯誤,誰知道,明天會怎樣呢,你說是不是 ?

曾看過一句話,非常受用 :

如果發現明天就是世界末日了,對你現在所說所做的事情會不會後悔?
行動說話之前想一想,不要造成永遠無法彌補的遺憾]
這個故事是否告訴我們,

婆婆因為堅持著自己莫須有的原則,
而在無意中成為扼殺小夫妻幸福婚姻的殺手呢???
各位為人夫君或可能成為別人婆婆的好友們,可得引以為鑑哦...

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Friday, July 10

"wayyyyy too cool!" - Michael Jackson Tribute

WOAH!



WOAH!

*inspired by the T-mobile ad?*

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Thursday, July 9

Melbourne Day 04- OZ trip 2009 Part 1 of 3

*previously...Day 03*

Melbourne City Tour!

Returned the car early in the morning back to Budget - we didn't wanna get charged for an extra hour! But sadly, the driver with poor topography skills spent quite some time just to navigate back to the garage and ended up with a slightly less than full tank.

They didn't care and they charged you!

:(

Walked back to our hostel to put back our stuffs...

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passed by Crown Entertainment Centre...

and ready to explore around the City Centre!

YHA Melbourne Central
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outside of the hostel...

Flinders Street Station

Took the free City Circle Tram, located just infront of the main door, down to Flinders St. Station.

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Wordings that you must take a photo with when you are there :(

Federation Square

Beside the train station is the Fed. Sq., place you will see some pretty nice infrastructures around.

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是帅的~

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Common sight seen around in Aussie, these birdies are forever hungry and ready to pounce onto your food if you are not careful...

A cooling weather, not too cold like the past few days, with the morning sunlight shone on us - it was perfect for a walk around the area...

passed by Yarra River/ Bridge Rd.,

Lunch break!

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Tokyo House

Not surprising, chef was an Asian, probably a Korean, Auntie - serving both Japanese & Korean food. Tasted really good and at an affordable price. One of the eatery outlets along Bridge Rd. that have the most customers...

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niceeeeeee~

Carried on with our walk down to Chapel St...

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Took a tram to Lygon St... and finally back to, Swanston St. Few shopping malls to check out but nothing really fanciful. Saw a BreadTalk-lookalike with the same concept bakery inside that named itself BreadTop...hmmm~

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ok, this is so random~

Dinner @Mekong Vietnam

Went to one of the recommended restaurant along the street,

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Former president Bill Clinton once tried the food here as well~

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From the crowded scene inside, you know the quality of the food wouldn't go wrong. Even AngMohs like it, how can Asian don't like it??

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final shot...

Tiring day for our feets after so much walking, went back early to rest...and an unexpected drama on the very next morning as we prepared to go Tasmania!

*on the next episode...Day 05 @Tasmania!*

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Tuesday, July 7

Melbourne Day 03 - OZ trip 2009 Part 1 of 3

*previously...Day 02*

1.5hrs drive away from Melb City...

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the destination is on the other end of the bridge!

Phillip Island Tour!

Upon entering the island after the bridge, we headed to the Visitor's Info Centre. To get a map of the island, some brochures on the attractions and asked the friendly staff to plan the programmes for the day :x

It was where we purchased the 3-Parks Pass(AUD$35/pax) too, discounted entrance fees to 3 main attractions - Churchill Island, Koala Conservation Centre & Penguin Parade + a free bowl of soup at The Noobies Centre (we missed it thou 'cuz we were late...)

Right across the Info Centre was the first attraction we went...

Panny's Chocolate Factory

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impt thing to note: FREE Samples

Inside the factory, there is a exhibition hall showcasing the making of chocolates, some interesting stuffs made up of choc., videos and games that one can play. Entrance fee per pax will be AUD$12 but...! You will get 10% discount if you show your expired student matri. card. That's why you need to bring!

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made up of mini choc. balls!
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machine which you can customise your own chocolate bar with a fee of $2

Bought a few goodies from the shop outside and of course getting a cup of hot chocolate for a cold day before we left~

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woooooo!

before going in further to the mainland attractions, we tracked back a bit and went to another island...

Churchill Island

linked up to Phillip Island by a narrow bridge which allows only one car to pass through. This island is a huge farm and garden~

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Walked around, admired the big patch of green field, hearing the sounds of waves beside us, appreciated the stuffs used in an ancient cottage, teasing at the farm animals etc...

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it was way too close!

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love the view~

Koala Conservation Centre

Onwards to the next attraction, time to see Koala bears!

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not worthwhile at all as most of them were sleeping or hiding somewhere! Spotted afew of them high up nia...quite a waste of time :(

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their excuse...

Cowes

Took a break, went to the end of the island, Cowes and walked around...

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Time for lunch break~

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seafood platter for 2~

Phillip Island Wildlife Park

If you really wanna check out Koala bears, this is the place~you will see much more than in KCC and be able to get closer to them!

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Plus, you get to see other animals, including reptiles. Entrance fee~ AUD$15/pax with a free packet of foodie to feed the wallabies and kangaroos.

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must be brave enough to let them come close to you...

Left the place and quickly went down to The Noobies Centre...

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stop by awhile as we spotted a place good for photo-taking...

Enjoyed the sea breeze (very cold thou) and coastal scenery at the Noobies Centre and then to Penguin Parade to witness the little birdies swam up the shore and wobbled back to their nests.

+Tip: With the 3-Parks Pass, the entrance is free even though you have the option to upgrade to Penguin Plus where you get to watch these penguins even closer. Not necessary to buy/upgrade as you will still be able to see them at other parts of the park - you can't take videos/photos anyway.

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turkish? dinner of the day - 3 types of curry with a pan of garlic pizza

Went back to Cowes for dinner and check in to the nearby accommodation we had booked in advance - Chillout House.

+Tip: Able to drive back to Mel. City (1.5hrs drive only) as the night was still early. But we had booked this accommodation earlier and the driver was too timid to drive back at night :(

*on the next episode...Day 04*

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Monday, July 6

Melbourne Day 02 - OZ trip 2009 Part 1 of 3

*previously...Day 01*

Woke up early for the day. Made our own breakfast using the strawberries we bought from QVM previously together with cereals & milk bought at a nearby convenience store yesterday night...

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healthy, nutritious and cheap breakfast! :)

Left the hotel at 8am as we going to spend a long day ahead on the road. A long long journey~

Walked down to nearby Car Rental Companies, only 2 in fact: Europcar & Budget. Checked out the price for 'compact, automatic car' and decided to rent the cheapest offer by Budget: Hyundai Getz 3Door ~$40/day with some hidden costs...

:(

+Tip: Plan ahead and book the car online in advance. It will be cheap, much cheaper than you book from the counter directly. Sometimes they may give you free upgrade, extra 1 day of rental etc.

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long long way down to GOR!

Great Ocean Road

it was a ~1hr drive down to Geelong where we came across the first Information Counter. Stopped to check our bearings and buy a snack-mashed potato- from KFC beside it, before we carried on to our first stop along GOR...

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Bells Beach

A beautiful place with a clear wide view of the ocean ahead. A famous destination for hardcore surfers as well. It was winter time and blardy cold as usual but we still managed to spot 2 heroes surfing and more to come at a later time.

Probably we were early, but the beach was empty and you will start to take sillyfunny shots, something like this:
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supposed to be a star-jump :x

enough of the shootings we went to the next stop ~30mins away. Time taken to travel from point to point may be long but the scenery along the GOR is something that you can admire during the trip. New experience!

Split Point Lighthouse

Hmmm, a lighthouse with some history behind it but we didnt really bother to find out more :x Just walked up, view the majestic tall lighthouse and its surroundings. Took a few shots and off we went...

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continued our road trip down the GOR...and passed by this trademark signboard, of course must stop and park your car. Take a shot and tell fellow friends...

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"hey, i was here!"

another 3~hrs drive to our next stop for lunch...

Apollo Bay

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quiet town with a few seafood restaurant...

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we ordered: fried dory (very 'big!') and a chicken fillet burger. Sat by the garden facing the ocean and had our warm lunch...shiok!

Time was getting late and I meant that the daytime going to end soon (usually around 4+pm) hurrily we proceeded to the next stop which would take another ~2hrs. Yeah, it was long and we were sleepy. Quite dangerous and it was drizzling plus there were alot of bends to turn...

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buey tahan, took a break halfway...freshen myself abit~

12 Apostles

Finally! We reached here safe and sound!

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Must take photos!

:x

"12 Apostles (huge tall limestones) captivate everyone who visits, especially at sunrise and sunset when their artistic poses are silhouetted to striking effect"

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hmmm...I can't remember if I was captivated by them thou it was close to sunset by the time we reached. Well, at least something we wouldn't be able to see in Singapore or Asia? Nice~

Alright, the horrible part - back to melbourne city! All the way!

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have some snack 'Banana Sponge Cake', bought @Apollo Bay to fill our stomachs abit...

whollyholly ~5hrs drive back to Melbourne City!!! No street lights most of the time and not forgetting the bends and curves to negotiate and the light rain going on...come to think of it, I was really glad nothing bad happen (tyres punctured, engine stalled etc.) arboh i also don't know what to do. Also, we were vv sleepy - hey the view infront of you is pitch black and motivating you to sleep

:(

+Tip: I sang most of the time while She slept (i wonder how) and kept eating sweets to keep myself awake. If possible, have a toilet break when you pass by petrol stations.

Managed to find our way back to our Hostel and a free parking lot just outside. Put back our stuffs and went nearby to buy our dinner...

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quick dinner of the day

Tiring day...for both the driver and Her, being a vehicle commander who slept most of the time :x

end of day 02...


*on the next episode...Day 03*

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