OPAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!

Let me share with you all some of my favourite pics in Aust.

"Caught a big one in Philip Island!..but it got away..."

"You have to be there for your breath to be taken away"

"See the birds, fly in the sky. I remember we learnt a song by those words in school!"

"Mining for gold in Ballarat. Yup, I knew that there wouldn't be any. So just for photo sake."

"With Malaysian badminton legend Cheah Soon Kit, Sairul Ayob and Lee Tsuen Seng in Ballarat...need to go all the way to Australia to meet them...hehehe"

"In Mt Buller with some really nice friends"


"Trying to free my foot in Canberra!"

"War Memorial Canberra. Hair's grown long and it's longer now! Tummy's gone too! No need to zoom in to check laaaaa"


"Zee Art of Flag balancing in Canberra"

"Little tiny teenie weenie itsy bitsy teapots in Mount Dandenong"

Well, first things first. Selamat Hari Raya Aidifitri to all my Muslim brothers and sisters. Whereever you are and whatever you are doing! In English it's called Eid ul-Fitr or something like that. Sorry that this is really really really late, but better late than never! Syawal is for one month right?! I did make some calls back, sent sms and e mails to those who are really close to me. And Happy Deepavali or Diwali to all my Hindu brothers and sisters! Would really love to be celebrating Deepavali back in Penang. Imagine how Little India would be lighted up and all the ...FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!!! Wah, that night I actually had a dream. I was having Nasi Kandar at my favourite place. And I had plate after plate after plate and I could almost taste it...just...so...close....And the waiter even said, "Ini mesti dari oversea punya...then...I cant remember. But...just so close! Anyhow, the one good thing about being here, far away from all my delicious food is that...drum rolls....and rolls...and rolls....is that I've been able to lose weight through all the healthy eating. Let's see, I have these weird stages or cravings. For example when I just arrived, I love having full cream milk plus chocolate chips cookies (ok not so healthy for a while). Then it changed to Vegemite (Australia's Marmite and Bovril) as a drink and on toast. Yummy. Then it changed to having cereals, the type with all sorts of nuts and fruits and whatsoever with milk. Then now it's Milo in the morning with either some toast of "roti kaya KAHWIN dengan roti marjarin". So, I'm no longer 5 months pregnant! Seriously, I've shed off my belly which was made from laziness to all the yummy food to all the alcohol. So no more belly for now! Yay! And my clothes don't fit me anymore...no la, just that I was able to buy some new pants and was so delighted that my waist size is now 31 inches! Ok, so that's not too small. I'm a guy la. I don't need a 24 or 27 inch waist! Well, that's actually quite a big drop for me for I've lost X inches from the figure of XX! Censored! Of course I've not gone to the gym to workout and neither have I gone back to my training. So, don't really have the bodybuilding body for now, but I think I am pretty in shape with some pretty light training. I'd dare to say that I've never felt this healthy in almost 10 years! Hehehe...Also, I've been having some difficulties trying to actually piece together a complete sentence these few weeks. Maybe it's all the thesis writing that's "draining" out all my thoughts already! Caution...another long blog!

Hahahaha...I've watched a pretty nice film this week. One which I had actually discovered by accident. It's called "My Wife is a Gangster" and tells the tale of a female gangster boss who has to get married and have kids to fulfill her dying sister's wish. Well I know, the feminists must be screaming and searching for this show already. Calm down calm down. It wasn't all that bad. In fact in many ways it did reflect rather positively on the lady boss as a rather "STRONG" figure. See I've even put the word in capital and bolded it some more. Hehehe. However, I guess it was really hilarious in many ways for the film was trying to transform this, well I wouldn't call her a butch, she did look rather beautiful (oh no the feminists are screaming again!) and feminine. But as a gangster head, you've just got to be tough. YES, I've been constantly told that the Singapore version is more hilarious, but I've not watched that yet, so this Korean version is still the best for me!

A few scenes which really tickled me silly were scenes where they were trying to "feminise" the boss. Especially when they had brought in one of her right hand man's (sexy?hot?weird?depends on how you see her) girlfriend to teach her all there is in the seduction of men! Well, that's what OPAAAA is all about! Picture this scenario, the (sexy?hot?weird) girlfriend was teaching the lady boss how to say "OPAAAA (honey I think)" to the lover in a voice through the nostrils while "enhancing" one's "assets"! Get it?! Sorry la, too many feminists out there! I know of someone who gets a real kick when imitate that to her. Hehehe. But of cos this tough lady does it rather in the opposite, what's the opposite for seducing? Turn off? And she just couldn't get it, BUT one of her male gangsters could do it rather...uh....well. Hehehe.

Then, the other scene which was really funny was when one of her gangsters "poisoned" their rival gang's boss's cat by killing it when the cat smelt his socks! And how they were trying to give a cat CPR. A must watch for all ages, but do "beware" of certain sexual scene! Seduction ma!!! Also, I watched "You do not mess with the Zohan", if that's the title, sigh...ok la, this one I think Cicakman pun better la...but all in all it has been a pretty impressive journey for me these 3 months. I've been watching a whole HUGE stack of DVDs (Malaysian films, excuse me...what were you thinking? rated U(mum) or G(eneral) hehe) and I dare say that some of the films are of rather good quality lately. Ok, I won't want to say which or which films for fear that this might turn into a forum like how my facebook has become! But in the end, I still really enjoy P. Ramlee's films the most! Yeah, I know, I know, he's been gone for like 30 years, but then again, find me a better movie director (I know Aina's jumping up and down saying either Hussein Haniff or Shuhaimi Baba) which could make you laugh at not only the things he say, but the way he does it too. I am really into the "Indonesian" slang. I kinda find it rather sexy! I dunno why, but I've always found myself attracted to that slang. And the word Abaaaaaang comes out like a gazillion times in his films as well! I do remember when I was 11 and we had this badminton coach/teacher named Stephen Soo. I guess some people still do fear him. But he was a nice guy on the overall. I do remember his calling a certain friend, Abbaaaaaaaaang...I wonder what's happened to Stephen Soo now.

Had a nice dinner last week. Gosh, how time has flown by. Yeah, I know I've said it in my last blog as well. But also at times, I do find that time does move rather slowly. Maybe it's cos I don't go out that much, and I do mean, NOT MUCH! I'm hearing the words, as time, goes by, so slowly, and time can do soooooooo much...if I'm not mistaken the title is Unchained Melody sung by...dunno la, let me google and see. hmmm...Al Hibbler? Sorry but this is one name I've never heard of, but whose song is constantly a haunt in our heads. It's always played in movie, weddings (I think) and maybe some dinners as well while we're waiting for the bride and groom to make their appearance, especially at Chinese weddings. Hahaha...I remember once we even made a bet, my cousins and I as to what time the dinner would start during one of our cousin's wedding. Ah..Chinese, the gambling...and eating!

So last weekend I had gone to TGIF for dinner and had one of those 3 course meals. It was pretty filling. I do enjoy TGIF more than I do at Chilli's. I dunno why. I just feel that TGIF has more of a 'relaxed' atmosphere as compared to Chilli's which I always see as being very corporate. Of course that's just my personal view of it la. I still havent gotten the chance to try the babyback ribs yet in either places, but I still remember the ribs we had bbq'd at my farewell party. mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm! I'm not sure if Michael Scott from the office constantly patrons TGIF or Chilli's but there was one funny episode where he had really in many ways showed us how to actually table a deal, as human beings! Ah yes, it did feel a bit weird though for the shopping mall was closed at about 5pm. Yup, we walked through the mall, all the retail shops were closed! Businesses here mostly close at about 5pm. Seriously. It's like walking through the shopping mall and all the shops are close. The only places opened were the cinema and TGI. So, it did seem pretty different for as compared to back home, we'd have the shops close at 10pm? And people still complain that they close TOO early.

Hmmm...so how bout the trip to Canberra...Hmmmmm...can't really remember much though! I've posted most of the pics I've taken in Australia on my facebook website. Well, the trip to Canberra was a good one but pretty exhausting. The drive up and down took about 7-8 hours each way. That's like pretty much longer than Penang to Seremban. The War Memorial was a really cool place, where I had seen the Nazi SS uniform, those bikes with the car at the side, a table used by the Japanese surrender in Malaya..hmmmm how did it end up in Australia? a whole plane and a submarine and some other really cool stuff I've always seen in movies only. I am a big fan of either war or gangster films. Still love Band of Brothers and The Godfather. I've watched the Godfather countless times and every single time, I just wished they hadn't shot Sonny at the causeway. Every single time! That's just how much I love tat film. But it's just painful how we know of the sufferings of the humans during the war. Of course, in the end, all the Big Guns and Fat Cats get away with everything and the everyday people like us suffer. SAY NO TO WAR!

A few weekends ago, I went out with my unc TC to look for a cooking stove. Hehehe...he said, I dont think anyone will take us seriously cause we're 2 men! It was like when I went to buy a house, and I asked a very beautiful woman to join me, pretended to be husband and wife! Hahaha. Well, of course with her hot voice and charms (YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!) hehehe, the developers were extra nice (they were already very nice). It's the couple thingy la. Well of course she's just a very close friend and very nice one to boot! And in the end I am stuck with a house while I am a few thousand miles away from home. Hehehe.

Well, while we were stove shopping, my uncle said to go back to this one place where there's a Malaysian guy working there, for he had given my uncle an "automatic" discount without even asking! So typical rite? RIGHT. And of course when I was there, I saw a brochure that said, If you were to buy this and that and this plus that, you will get an "automatic" discount. See! Then we went on to ask the salesman and it went like this:

Salesman: If I recommend this to you, surely it's good one la!

Unc: Eh, don't say that, the last time you recommened that XXX brand (sorry la, cant mention the brand. Defamation/sedition/whatever act afterwards la), and you said it was good. But it started to leak la!

Salesman: How can?

Me: (In my head: Of course cannot one la!!!)

Salesman: Aiyah, it's the plumbing la, the plumBING is not good. The plumBER la...

Me: (Who else's fault is it then? Of course it isn't your's, how can it be your's!)

Unc: No...it's not the plumbing, it's the pipe inside the machine that's leaking. Not the outside.

Salesman: (starting to want to walk away d, turning his body) Aiyah, who asked you to buy the middle range products?

Uncle and I: (huh?!)

Salesman: You want good quality one, you must buy the expensive one la! Like this other brand...surely no pohblem wan...

Me: (HUHHH?!!!)

Unc: But you recommended that brand what, now you're telling me that I should've bought the other brand?!!!

Salesman: Aiyah, ACTUALLY AH? (sebenarnya, usually heard rite?) I'm not expert in dishwashers or stove tops la...You can't ask me one la...

Me: (Of course you aren't, you're an expert in the art of twisting and turning and bullshitting!)

Salesman: You go and get the warranty and all that la. I'm not expert in this one la...You want to know more about the stove you go online and see la. Here got the wepside one...

Me: (Wah..Suka IT, guna IT...IT!!!)

Salesman: I'm not expert in (noticed how many times he used the word "expert"?!!!) these products one la, I'm expert in fridge and other things la. Not dishwashers or stoves.

Me: (But it gave you a nice fatty commission right?!)

Salesman: Shouldn't ask me laaaa...I won't know la...

Me: (Well, just type in your resignation letter and leave la)

And...as my uncle was about to ask more questions, he started to walk off and was "saved" by another couple who went, eh, you're XXX rite? My sister asked me to look for you la...BIG SMILE FLASHED ON HIS FACE! Another big commission. Typical rite? Hehehe. Well, if I being the representative of the company, should at least dig into the problem, what went wrong, when, how, why? Then ask if I could help in any way to fix the problem. This guy...haiyoh...

I had another interesting conversation last week with a stranger in the city. As I was walking, he came up to me...

Stranger: Excuse me, do you have a minute, can I ask you a question?

Me: (Feeling a bit suspicious, but then again this is Melbourne, one of the safest cities in the world) Yeah, ok sure...

Stranger: Tell me, how could you support a club like THAT? (Pointing to my Manchester United jersey, championship winning one some more) They suck!

MU FAN: (Wah this is war!) How can I not? So what club do you support?

Stranger: I support Chelsea, the greatest football club in the world.

MU FAN: WHAT?! Chelsea SUCKS!!! BOOOOOOOO!!! (Walking away) MANCHESTER UNITED IS THE GREATEST FOOTBALL CLUB IN THE WORLD!

Passers-by: Taken aback at the loud voice and actually standing a few steps backwards!

chelsea fan: INAUDIBLE AUDIO

MU FAN: (Walking away showing the thumbs down!)

Hahaha...well I thought that I'd only get this if I were in England or back in Malaysia. Who would've known that Chelsea had fans in Melbourne as well?! Hehehe...Well, they are doing pretty well so far...NOTE...SO FAR. Then I had gone to meet Audrey, she said that she was happy with the work I had given to her. Wahhhhh....really relieved. I even had her repeat saying, this work is good! I was expecting more of a..Adrian...I'm sure you can give me better work, but she was on the overall rather happy...so once again...wahhhhh...lega.....but that's only the beginning of the beginning! See how far it goes?! Well, to be rather honest, the PhD is one tough process, BUT it's definitely doable, I hope!

So after a nice spot of lunch with a friend from Taiwan, I took the tram and on the way, heard 5 girls talking bout...well I wasn't eavesdropping, or curi dengar or purposely listened in. They were talking so loud...let me exaggerate here...that you could still hear their conversation while wearing ur MP3 earphones listening to Cradle of Filth (IT Crowd..hehehe) Well, yeah I had exaggerated but they were LOUD! And what were they talking about? Comparing their bra sizes and breast sizes and their friends and...OK enough...Then I made the trip home and went for my first game of GOLF! Hehehe..yeah, trying to learn to be a gentleman by playing the gentleman's game. Well, so far I've only learned how to "not miss the ball" and gosh it is indeed harder than it seems! But I've only gone for 1 lesson so far. Oh well, I hope that it does help me to release stress rather than to give me MORE stress! WHY CAN'T I HIT THAT TINY BALL?!!!