Winter in Summer

I know it sounds like some Korean soap opera/drama, but that basically sums up the weather in Melbourne. It is said that you can experience 4 seasons in one day, which is, it's freezing in the morning (winter), around 10 degrees, then in the afternoon it's 35 degrees (summer), then it suddenly rains in the evening (spring) and then the weather cools down at night (autumn). Hmmmm...a few days ago we had a top of 35 or was it 38, then the next day there was hail! And the weather went down to around 20 the next day. I do love it when the temp is around 20 degrees. Perfect.

Oh yeah, yesterday, I managed to survive playing basketball, THEN playing street soccer, both in the same day! Hahahaha...it's the first of many more to come! First it was 3 on 3 basketball, which of course I have no idea how to play, just pass the ball to secret basketball player Bernice and she will score a point. Hahahaha. All I did was just apply pressure on the other players, to "throw them off focus". Hehehe. Then, we decided to play a little 3 a side. My goodness, I still can run wei! Hahahahahaha. Miraculously I didn't have a heart attack, but after not playing for years, I could still run! Woooohoooo! Hehehehe...ok la, just wanted to brag a bit. I miss playing FOOTBALL so much. I don't like saying soccer. It's football laaaaaaaaa!

I still remember playing since I was 7 or 8, and got hooked on it eversince. Of course the best footballing days were when I was still in school. Where we could play in our school uniform for hours under the scorching sun, just fold up our pants and we're ready to go. Most of us wore 'Pallas Jazz' shoes, whether it was white or black. It seemed to be the 'officially cool' school shoes back then. And perfect for football too! And there'll be that one hole where we'd use the shoe to kick the ball! We also always wore an extra t-shirt inside, JUST IN CASE, we had a free period. And when there's a free period, please look for us in the field! I can imagine how smelly we were then! And we'll all crowd under the fan to cool down, with shirts buttoned down to the belly. Hahahahha. Then, continue with our classes. No showers in between! Oh man, I'm really missing those days. And that was like, yeaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarsss ago! And I still remember it as if it was just yesterday. Best were those, unofficial friendly matches of class vs class, or form vs form. Oh man, I miss them so much!

Gosh, I don't miss school, but I miss my friends from school so much. Being far hasn't really helped, but I really loved it when they came over to visit. Man, I'd love to have a pint with anyone from school right now! I can go on for hours and pages and pages, just talking bout memories from playing football itself! I wonder if my son will take after me? Hehehehe...But it's nice having friends from back home. It's strange though that I have 2 ex students here in OZ. But it's really nice having them around. I have Chef Paul Liew in Sydney and Cik Datin Forever 21 here in Melbourne with me. Hehehehe.

Anyway, I saw something comical in the city yesterday. There's this thing called a "hook turn", whereby cars, bikes and trucks need to stop at the left side of the road and wait, before turning to the right, to avoid blocking the trams. So normally, I'll see cars, bikes and trucks la, the usual. Yesterday, I saw a horse carriage doing a hook turn. Hahahahahha. That was funny! Kereta kuda pun kena!

This week, I had this for dinner. It started on Sunday, then carried on the entire week!

Sunday - Steak
Monday - Steak
Tuesday - Steak
Wednesday - Steak
Thursday - Steak
Friday - Steak
Saturday - Steak

Hahahha. Official steak week. Today no more la. Since I was in charge of making dinner today, and the menu was already fixed, so I just cooked whatever there was la. I dont know if I could've survived another day of steak, but to me I don't mind! I love meat! I love beef! I love steak! Hehehehe...Well, just in case there's nothing for dinner, I have a t shirt, that says Beer, that's what's for dinner! I don't mind, not at all. Hehehehe.

From the left: The one formerly known as 'sir' with Cik Datin Forever 21 during her birthday celebrations!

Rusty Cage

So rusty. Feeling so rusty. After weeks of holidaying (with some work shoved in between) I am back to my research again! Well, everyone needs a break. That's what being in Australia is all about. Take it easy mate! I've learnt so much about life since being here. To stand up for your rights. How taking a break is so important sometimes. The need to travel. To love food. I've always loved eating. Heard of the double chin? I think I've got the triple chin! Hahahahah. Anthony Bourdain has also taught me how to love food. I KNOW, some people get annoyed when I to go, THIS IS SO GOOD, like Bourdain. But then, praise is given when praise is due right? And why not enjoy the food? Take your time to eat a dish. Savour it. Taste every flavour there is. Instead of gulping down everything in one go! I love praising other people's cooking. But somehow, I always feel my cooking is never good, dunno why! Even when people go this is delicious plus the usual, you should become a chef la, open your own restaurant etc, I still feel, nah not that nice also! Hehehe.

OK, so I think one of my new year's resolution is to love life. And to love life, I need to take it easy. And to take it easy I need to control my thoughts, temper etc. Sometimes somethings are not worth getting upset over. Sometimes some fights are just not worth fighting. Sometimes we just gotta know when to take one step back. In the end, life is so short la right? In the end, it's God we should fear. I love Yasmin Ahmad's quote. "I fear no one but God." I'm sticking by that' It's such a bold and brave statement, yet so full of truth. If only more of us will think that way. It seems surreal reading back on her e mail and also seeing her e mail address. Reminds me on how fragile life is. One minute you can be the most powerful person in the world, the next minute, you can be gone! I am sure you are in a better place. Always praying for you Yasmin! You're always in my prayers! So, let's love life!

Secondly, I wanna make sure that I take more pics, edit them and post them within the same day, or within the same week! That explains the tonnes of pics I have uploaded on FB! I have lost tonnes of pics when I had reformatted my laptop, stupid virus. I thought I had transferred out the pics but apparently I didnt. Hence I also bought a 1TB HDD to save my pics already. Hehehe.

Thirdly, laugh more, smile more, be happy more! Most importantly, do it sincerely and with humility! Less worries! Sometimes, worry for what?! No worries mate! Be yourself and enjoy life!

Alright, so here's cheers to the 5th successful day of 2010! Here are some dishes I had whipped out for my cousin's bday a few days ago. Labour of love man. Hours in the kitchen over the hot stove. In a summer afternoon!

1st in line, my fried rice. With lap cheong, peas and eggs. OK LA, nothing fancy la. Hehehehe.

2nd in line. Fried bihun, Again, nothing fancy la. Hehehe.


3rd in line was a crowd pleaser. Tom Yam bihun. I didnt get to taste it though, But I was told it's nice and was asked for the recipe. Hehehe. Oh and it was topped with red chillis later. Hehehe.


4th in line. My maggi goreng. I saw someone ta pao it home. Enough said. hehehehe. And yes I noticed all the same garnish! Hahahahahaha!


OK. There's supposed to be a 5th dish. My mun yee mee. Which was what I described as my star dish. BUT, amatuer photographer I am, the pic didnt come out in focus. But you can see it here, as I humbly sit with my food. Heheheh. Its the middle dish, with a lot of dark sauce and topped with spring onions. Star dish la, so had to sit in the centre. Hehehe. I love cooking hawker dishes. Hokkien Noodles, Char Hor Fun, Mun Yee Mee, Fishball Noodles. Next I'm experimenting with KFC's chicken! Will let you know!


My 6th Uncle trying to steal my thunder/bask in my glory/share my limelight. No la just kidding. He did help too! We went grocery shopping together. Only the freshest ingredients!


This yam/taro rice I made for NYE's potluck. Topped with fried shallots, spring onions and deep fried shrimps. Oh, there were bits of chicken inside too. Hehehe.


Now this delicioiusly looking and tasting bakuteh was fortunately not made by me but by Bernice. It was really good! Lotsa garlic. Well done! I'm posting it since the rice had to go with a partner ma! Hehehe

Happy 2010

Technically it's still 1st January 2010 in Malaysia. So I can still send out a New Year's wish to all! I'm so tired. So many potlucks this time. Just came home from cooking a feast for my cousin's belated birthday. Too tired to write much anyway. Technically, I had already lost 1 day of 2010. I thought today is Saturday, and was prepared to wake up early to go for Sunday mass! Hahahahha....it's only Friday! I've really lost track of time since going to Lakes Entrance. That means it was a good holiday, since I've managed to leave all the cares of the world behind! So, leave all the unhappiness, sadness, grief, mistakes, negativity, hatred etc in 2009 and look forward to a better and blessed year ahead!

Sooooooooooooo.......(sorry I can't think of anything to say from 10, so let's just start the countdown from 6! Hahahahaha)......

6 hours preparation and cooking time (to cook)
5 dishes for my cousin's birthday dinner (after only having)
4 hours of sleep (cos we were too busy counting down the night before and not worrying about the final)
3 chapters to complete in my PhD (while)
2 years passed in 2 days and
1 happy happy happy birthday girl celebrated her birthday on this New Year's Day...

HAPPY

In case you didnt notice, we're putting the hand signals to symbolise 2010...Hahahaha...OK, I'm having a severe lack of sleep. Almost 5 hours in 24 hours daily in 7 days! Good night, have a happy and blessed 2010 and God Bless!

Merry FATT CHAI!

I know it's already really late and there's only 46 mins left for Xmas. Still, it's still 46 mins left of Xmas goodness! Today, Mass was really good. Really transnational. For a while, I just wonder where I really was! A choir sung by Sudanese in Sudanese, a Catholic priest from Vietnam, Fr Thinh, I read the first reading (haven't spoken in front of so many ppl for such a long time...brrrrrr) and then Matthew read the Second, he's from NZ and born in HK. And we were all in a church in Melbourne! I do believe that we also had Fr Kim, whom I believe by name is from Korea. And this message will be read by so many people from so many different countries! Last nite, at Xmas eve dinner, I had peking duck, pohpia and friend bihun, prawn crackers, A&W rootbeer and YEE SANG!

Today, for Xmas lunch, we had a lot of Vietnamese food, and all sorts of delicious cakes and desserts from all over. And for dinner, I had curry laksa and steamboat! Seemed very much like Chinese New Year as compared to Xmas! But, the presents were all truly special these year! So truly, multi-culturally, Melbourne is soooooo diverse!

It's strange how Xmas has become all so commercialised. We hear of people not liking Christians and condemming Christ, but then when it comes to Xmas everyone shouts out Merry Xmas like there's no tmrw. Well, a simple Xmas prayer from me wouldn't be about having world peace. Rather, I feel that we should pray for the forgiveness of sins and repentance from sins. Also, we always say, let's think of the less fortunate. Well, today I believe I want to remember all who are not with us anymore. I believe that we should pray for them every mass that we attend to. I do have a list of those I pray for, my paternal great grandfather, paternal great grandmother, paternal grandfather, maternal grandfather, Clementine Sta Maria, Yasmin Ahmad, Jules' dad and Gary's dad.

So, wishing you all a Happy Christmas and a Blessed New Year.

At my Uncle Tai Chye's and A. Lily's place. With Andrew, champion Wii player and Kitty, Alice and Anita. Beautiful Xmas tree. Check out my Xmas-mafia wars-the untouchables-Vito Corleone-Michael Corleone-gangster-pimp daddy-Justin T hat!

Celebrity Lookalikes

Once upon a time, I was once told that I looked like this guy from F4. OK before you go belching away, again, SOMEONE ELSE SAID IT. It was not like I looked into the mirror and went, oh I look like him! I have no idea who he is, where he is from, what he does or even what F4 is! Me thinks and me just knows it's some sort of Asian boy band (either Korean or Taiwan, or is it Japanese?) Hehehehe. I think his name is Vaness (male version of Vanessa?).

OK, please stop the protesting already. Hehehe. I think it was when I had the same hair length as he did once upon a time, so OK, maybe we had the same hairstyle! And never in a billion years will I ever pose for a photograph like that, nothing wrong with it, just not my style! OK, this one I too agree, is not my celebrity lookalike.

Then most recently I was told that I was once resembling this guy. I have no idea who he is, where he is from, what he does or even what Dawson's Creek is, or is it Orange County? Me thinks and me just knows it's some sort of teen drama series. Hehehe. Well, I'm more of the 24, Prison Break kinda guy...get the hint? Apanama...oh Joshua Jackson!

Resemblance? Hmmmmmmm....firstly I don't have cup like that...THE WHITE MUG! Then I don't have the stubs on his chin. Hairstyle also different. AGAIN, someone said it, not I!

OK, going down the years, this is my most recent celebirty lookalike. Jason Segel. This guy I KNOW and at times I do think that we are pretty similar in terms of size (someone said you're just as wide as him...HELLO! I'm not a door! hehehe), then in terms of character and attitude and how he portrays himself in films, very especially in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Oh, sorry, PhD thesis says movie titles must be in italics, let me fix that...Forgetting Sarah Marshall. That's better. Hehehe. Well, of cos, I don't have the John Rambo/Capt Ben Willard war face paint and combat knife. Hehehehe.

So, I was told most recently, that I have "lost my charms, looks, cuteness etc"...as I age from teenage boy to (no not uncle yet, not even middle aged la!) ok, to put it gently, adulthood. But it really doesn't matter because I am not judged according to how I look, how much I weigh, how much I've got in my bank account, what car I drive, whether I've got a house or not whether I've got 3 legs or 4 hands (OK, let's hope that doesn't happen!) cos I know she loves me for who I am. Doesn't matter if I look like Vaness or Joshua Jackson or Jason Segel or if I've lost all charms or cuteness or stuff. That is because, I know that she loves me so and I know that she loves me for who I am. I am happily and very much loving you too. I am extremely blessed to have found someone like you and I am loving every moment of it. I love you.

My Honey Bunny Vonni and I

Now I hear there's some famous guy named Wang Lee Hom....HEHEHEHHE...

Room 617

Oh no la, the number isn't about some ghost film or ghost story or anything la. Hehehehe. More of that in a while. Firstly, something really funny I received via e mail. Don't know the source though, but it got me laughing. Read this with visualisations! No la, it's a CLEAN JOKE! Hehehehe...

A burglar broke into a house one night. He shined his flashlight around, looking for valuables when a voice in the dark said,

'Jesus knows you're here.'

He nearly jumped out of his skin, clicked his flashlight off, and froze.

When he heard nothing more , after a bit, he shook his head and continued.

Just as he pulled the stereo out so he could disconnect the wires, clear as a bell he heard

'Jesus is watching you.'

Freaked out, he shined his light around frantically, looking for the source of the voice.

Finally, in the corner of the room, his flashlight beam came to rest on a parrot.

'Did you say that?' he hissed at the parrot.

'Yep', the parrot confessed, then squawked, 'I'm just trying to warn you that Jesus is watching you.'

The burglar relaxed. 'Warn me, huh? Who in the world are you?'

'Moses,' replied the bird.

'Moses?' the burglar laughed. 'What kind of people would name a bird Moses?'

'The same people who named their Rottweiler Jesus.'

Ok, hope that wasn't some form of Blasphemy! Hehehe.

Well, I finally got an office in uni. Yup, hence the number 617! Well, to a certain extent, it's a pretty old school office. One desk that seriously looks older than I am and shelves which go way back too I believe. It's nice to try and think of the people who have sat in this chair before and how much they've achived and where they are now...yawn....hehehehe

Yeah, I'm also yawning because I've just had a bit too much too drink. 6 drinks and I'm still standing. Of course since it's only 3 beers, 1 glass of champange and 2 fruit juices! Hehehe. There's a BBQ organised by the SCC, still is going on actually and I can hear the music really blasting away. Hehehe. Oh well, thought I'd prefer to come back to the office and blog. Hehehe. Plus it's really cold outside. Dunno la, summer and its still freezing! Well better than being soooooooooooo hot la.

OK la, let the pictures explain itself la! Hehehe...Oh yeah, before I forget, I saw something really cool today while I was walking to Uni. Check it out!

There's this place called Hard Rock which is a place for wall climbing. Now, the cool thing bout this pic is that if you look closely enough at the building behind, you can see a few men actually cleaning the windows of the building! Now, no lifts and just harnesses! How cool is that? And, right smack on top of the wall climbing place some more!

Here's a closer look! In this pic, cant see the wires somemore! Damn terror man! Hehehe...NO LA, I didnt edit out the wires la!

OK, after the opening ceremony of my office, with a lion dance and suckling piglet (sorry Elaine!) heheheh...it was ceremoniously officiated at around, damn I forgot to see the time la! Hahahaha. Lai det fooong sui no goot d! Hahahaha. Luckily today isn't Friday the 13th anyway! Hehehe. So, welcome to Room 617, West Tower, John Medly Building, Melbourne University!

Best thing was, I thought it was room 607. So of course this PhD "genius" went to 607, put in the key and turned. Luckily I didnt kick the door out of frustration. THEN REALISED, oh 617 laaaa!

Yup, the first thing you would see is my table! OK LA! and chair and a small table lamp and an extension cord....:P Most of the stuff don't belong to me, but to Tom, my office mate who I

OK, I'll try to turn on this air conditioning unit, check out the sophisticated buttons and diagrams! Hahahah...seriously, I was like lost for a while. Aiyah, I'm not an engineer ma! Hehehe

So this is how the "naked" table looks like. My old office table in Han Chiang was as naked as this when I first started work. Wonder what it'll look like in 20 months time? Hehehe. If you can see, the table is "terkepited" already to the side of the wall. And the "guest" chair is also stuck inside there! So...what's it trying to say?! Hehehehe

Hmmmmmmmm...what's this behind the door?! Just in case la, still somehow room 617 is not listed there! Hahahahah...where to run where to run?!!

Aiyah have a seat la. No need to be so hak hei one. Hehehehehehe. Check it out! I even have a phone! Although I doubt if I'll even once use it!

Itchy fingers dying to test if this works?! Hehehehehe

Self-explanatory! Although I have no idea what the blue thingy is! hahahaha....There's even a radiator at the side if you can see it! No idea if it works or how it works! Now if you'll kindly stand up and look out the window...

Best view of the uni! Money can't buy...ok la. A bit too exaggerated la! Hehehe. But still a really nice view! That's the south lawn and clock tower.

OKLA, I'm really "busy" laaaaaaaaaa....

And trying very hard to look intellectual in this pic! Hehehehe...

The Secret Recipe

By far, one of the most daring attempts I have made. One of the difficult things I have attempted to do. I did it. Hahahaha...Being a food critic, I love my food. I mean, who really doesn't? Now being a food critic doesn't necessarily add up to being a fussy eater. I am actually, quite 'cincai' when it comes to eating. (OK, I can hear some people going, REALLY?! :P) Just that I love to select the food that I love, doesn't mean that I'm fussy. For example, I love eating rice with just gravy, otherwise known as CHAP in hokkien. Yup, just some gravy from let's say, some chicken dish. No problemo. And also, the love to eat, doesn't necessarily add up to being a fussy eater. For example, I love hokkien noodles. Now, being the food lover, I'd just normally go to the outlets which sells the best hokkien noodles whether I'm in Seremban, KL, PJ, Penang or maybe even Melbourne. Which comes to me saying that, it's hard to find Hokkien Noodles in Melb. Well, not hard actually, just that I don't feel that what I have tasted so far is up to my liking. I love Hokkien Noodles/Mee which is firstly, cooked in lard (yessssssssss, i know, not healthy) and has to be black enough. So just 2 simple prerequisites of how it should taste like. So, since I can't or haven't found one nice enough to my liking, I just choose not to eat it at all. Being fussy?! Hehehehe.

So, I finally attempted to cook my favourite dish. Now this is my favourite dish and I am one of the biggest critics of Hokkien Mee! I never did try to cook it before, because I remember when I was working in the kitchen, one of the cooks told me that he's never dared to cook it, cos it's quite difficult to get it right. But I thought, let's try la. So, I just scoured the fridge and saw, well, one packet of uncooked Yellow Noodles, some cabbage and some leftover Malaikai/ Kampung Chicken/ Choy Yuen Kai. So I thought, ah what the heck. Let's try la. Now, my uncle cooks really good noodles too. Of course, his has a copyright and trademark. His is nice as well. So what's the secret recipe? The secret it, I had no recipe! I just saw those lying there so I thought, oh well. Let's try! So I attempted, put a little bit of this, a little bit of that, some this and some dark, extra dark sauce, simmer simmer simmer simmer...and of course I didn't have MSG and pork lard to spare....and....simmer and simmer and voila!

"I'm not sure why the top few strands look a bit reddish! But it was ultra-black, just the way I love it. Did manage to splash some dark sauce one my shirt while cooking though. Hehehe,"

I'd actually have to say that it was actually rather DELICIOUS! hahahaha. but seriously, it was pretty nice though. hehehe. OK la, i will stop blowing my own trumpet. and i'd really say that it is nicer than many many many many places I have tried and i do mean many many many many places. It's my favourite dish! So, according to legend, hahaha..."too much of how i met your mother"...Hokkien Mee cannot/should not be eaten piping hot. When the dish is served and its all hot, wait for it, wait for it, wait for it...to cool down, and then you whack it, all slimey! That's the best part. True story. Learned it from my grandfather and my aunt and my mom. I guess I do love cooking as much as I do love eating. Have always attempted to cook up all sorts of dishes, from hawker food to soups to Italian to Chinese food etc. My favourite is still of course, sharks fins soup and I once even made fishball noodles! hehehe. Of course I did have a lot of guinea pigs oh i mean, people who did share my love of eating as well! hehehe. Just kidding. Next time, I shall attempt it with some pork lard, prawns, squid and fishcakes. See how it turns out. Well, although I do seemed kinda bummed with sooooooooooooo many issues at the moment, I do take this small occasion and 'achievement', to wash down this nice plate of hokkien mee, with a nice hot glass of Pu Er tea...