Pram on a Tram

Yesterday I met Hailey. Yesterday for a short moment I felt young again. Meeting her had made me feel all so young again. I met her on the tram on my way to the city. She was the most gorgeous, beautiful, adorable looking girl. There she sat, a few steps away from me. So I told her, "You are way too gorgeous", and she smiled, she laughed, she giggled, and stared blankly into space. What's on her mind, I wondered. The journey was made better with her in the tram. The long dreaded journey that I usually wish were to end soon, I wish would never come to an end. I wished it would not end today. Nothing could spoil my day I thought. And nothing could. And then I met her mom. She made my day even better. In fact, her mom made me feel even younger..Hahahahaha....OK, before this goes too deep, Hailey is a 3 year old little girl sitting in a pram, on a tram la. Hahahaha. By the way, Pei Joo is here in Melbourne with her friend Diane. SO, we were on the tram playing with little baby Hailey. We were teasing her and all la. AND, I helped her mom carry the pram up and down the tram. Then her mom said, Hailey, say goodbye to KOR KOR...(YES! KOR KOR, not UNCLE! Yea, we were also pretty shocked her mom said KOR KOR, cos she was an Aussie. Well, muticultural Melbourne!). Thus, yesterday, I am young once more! Hahahahaha. So, tell me, what was REALLY on your mind eh?! Got mom somemore! See the title laaaaaaaa...Hahahaha

"Anyway, I don't have a picture of baby Hailey, so in the spirit of feeling young again, this is one of the rides in the Moomba I had attended on Monday. NOTTHATHIGHANYWAY! Hahahahaha"

The Acrophobic

Yes that's me. No, it's not some pervertic condition or anything. Hahahaha. Acrophobia, or simply, having a fear of heights or high places. Yes, I do admit that I have an extreme fear of heights. I remember being at Lakes Entrance, and was standing on the pier, and I went, GUYS WHY IS THE PIER MOVING?! And someone replied, aiyah, even if you were to drop down, it's only until your waist la. BUT STILL?!! So I had to sit down. Another time I was in Penang Hill. AND, of course, there had to be a suspension bridge in the middle of nowhere. And of course, I had to pass it. Hahaha. So, to make matters worse, this bridge has 4 levels, as in you have to pass through 4 bridges to reach the end. Nevermind, it only falls down into a jungle. Somehow I think the branches MIGHT break my fall, OR I break some trees on the way down. AND, to make matters even worse, there were these (OK, I still remember this is a clean blog with no vulgrarity) HANTUS, hahahahah...who were not only shaking the bloody thing, but hopping and jumping on it as well! Aiyoh, never again man! Last I heard, they had closed the bridge. Hmmmm....BUT, I love flying! I guess having the fear of heights and having a fear of flying are 2 different things, but can sometimes can come in a combo of having fear of heights, space and flying. Well, somehow, I just have one la. So that's fear number 1. Fear number 2 is of course a fear of girls la. Hahahahaha, if such a condition does exist! So, I'm so afraid of heights, when I drive up the ledges of Genting Highlands or even Balik Pulau, I'm like "DONTLOOKDOWNDONTLOOKDOWNDONTLOOKDOWN".

What's more I used to live in apartments for the better part of my days while I was working in Penang. Oh, the horror of looking down the balcony. That's why my units were never above ten floors. I think the highest one I had was on the elevent floor. But I did enjoy hanging out by the balcony over the weekends because the balcony overlooked the pool and on weekends the pool was always filled with....uh.....water(?)(!) Hahahaha...Hmmmmmm....SO anyway, I having an advanced condition of incurable and chronic acrophobia had the ingenius idea of climbing up (not literally la, there was a lift) 88 floors or 300 metres or 984 ft above sea level of the Eureka Tower.

"So there it is. Towering in the Southern Hemisphere. Scared? Who? Me?! Hahahahaha...So far away la, no worries la!"


"OK, you have to admit that this looks intimidating right?! RIGHT?!"


"What are they smiling about?! 88 FLOORS you know?! So here, my steps became smaller steps, and my steps became slower steps....HOPING, that when we try to buy tickets, the girl at the counter goes, SORRY, WE'RE CLOSED =p"

SO! What happened next?! Did I pass out from fear? Did I chicken out?! Did my legs turn jello?! YES ALL OF THE ABOVE! Hahahaha...no la, I didn't faint la. I did of course feel a little afraid, eh 2 feet high pier also gives me the chills d, what more NINEHUNDREDEIGHTYFOUR feet! Hahaha...OK, so at the side of the counter was written, NOT SUITABLE FOR THOSE WITH FEAR OF HEIGHTS. I wished they could've issued me a with a ban or something. So what was I so afraid of? It's just gonna be in a building 88 floors high right? NO! I had the other ingenius plan of stepping onto this thing called "The Edge", whereby it's a glass platform that protrudes out from the building, hence, The Edge. RIGHT. And I wonder why humans actually pay good money to scare themselves.

"Yes, I survived! I guess a picture paints a thousand words! So I didn't chicken out after all. Just don't look down la!"

Best thing was the experience. YES, I admit I was soooooooo scared inside that 'thing'. Hahahahaha...but since I deserve the right to brag....Hahahaha...OK la I won't la. I'm pretty sure Grace, who was with me could see how terrified I was and also Missy E who was on the phone with me. I think she must've thought that I was having a panic attack or something! But in her words, I was "Funny and Entertaining". Hmmmmmm....HMMMMMMMMMMMMM! Hahahaha. And there was this little girl that was walking here and there, as if she was having an afternoon stroll in the park! No la, I wasn't hallucinating la. She's just not in the picture la!

So, below are just some of the other pics I had taken from the highest point in the city. I must apologise for these pictures are a bit blurry...The conditions were really bad for photography, strong winds kept shaking my camera even though I had it on tripod. Plus there was a metal fencing that made it difficult to take the pics. OK la, enough of excuses la. Amateur! Hehehe. So, I decided not to edit these pics so that they can be seen in their original 'glory'.

"The Melbourne Cricket Ground or MCG closer up"


"Melbourne Park and MCG"


"Kala Malam Bulan Mengambang!"


"The Central Business District"


"The CBD closer up"


"The Yarra River"


"I don't remember where this is, but I think it was towards Port Melbourne?"


"The intersections of Flinders St. and Swanton St."


"The corner of "The Edge" on the right hand corner. Somewhat I had forgotten to take a picture of it coming out"


"Somewhere in Melbourne"


"The Arts Centre"


"The Arts Centre, a little more upclose"


" I dunno where this is...some curvey freeways?"


"More curvey freeways"


"This picture is dedicated to Nicholas Chong. Hahahahaha. Taken from behind a glass window, so there's a little glare"


"Somewhere else in Melbourne. I think also taken from behind the glass window"


"Crown Casino. Also with the glare"

I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey I, oh, I'm still alive
Hey I, but, I'm still alive
Yeah I, ooh, I'm still alive
Yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah

"Alive" - Pearl Jam

Let's love life! Let's live to love - Adrian Lee! Hahahaha..Copyright, ahem.

The Sound of Red Silence

Well well well...the silence that befalls my ears is just too deafening. Hahahaha. OK, I'm not going to taunt the Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal fans about MU winning the Carling Cup aka League Cup, as it was known to those born of my generation. Of course, I'm pretty sure that these opposing supporters will be flooding Facebook and whereever else they can, writing about MU's defeat in the finals, should MU have lost. NO HOLDS BARRED. NO PUNCHES HELD. Straight taunting. They will go all out.

But, in the style of Adrian Lee, I shall just simply wear my MU jersey out to the city today, proudly. No matter what, whether they win or lose, I'll still wear it out. And, unofficially, it draws for interesting confrontations. Many times, when crossing the street, someone will come up to me and ask "So did they win last night?!" and I'd be surprised there are many Australian Manchester United supporters! Or, suddenly people will start cheering when I walk pass! Hahahaha. Actually, they're cheering at the jersey that I'm wearing la, of course! AND, when MU lost to Everton last week, I had to walk face on with someone wearing wearing an Everton jersey. I could see his face wanting to taunt, but then I think he couldn't think of anything to say! Hahahaha...but I did once have a funny argument with this Chelsea supporter some time back right in Swanston Street.

Hahahaha. I'm actually trying to collect all the MU jerseys from the 90s till today, irregardless if they're brand new or used. Yalar, being the poor kid I was, I could never afford one of those RM200 jerseys then. Still am poor though....and ironically still a student! Hehehehe. So, I'm trying to track down as many as I can for my own personal collection, to relive the glorious days of Eric Cantona, Peter Schmeichel (my personal boyhood hero!), Ryan Giggs (still going stronger than ever), Gary and Phillip Neville, David Beckham, Andy Cole, (let me see how many I can recall), Andrei Kanchelskis, Nicky Butt, Jaap Stam, Dwight Yorke, Steve Bruce, Gary Pallister, Bryan Robson, Lee Sharpe, Ole Gunnar Solksjaer, Teddy Sheringham, Ronnie Johnsen and who can ever forget, Mr. Reliable, Denis Irwin! OHHHHH...the 'guvner' Paul Ince! Hahaha. Mark Hughes, and I loved to watch Keith Gillespie. Just too bad he was at MU for a short period. The night/morning of the Champions League Finals when they won the treble is so fresh, in my mind it was as if it happened this morning! I was uhhh...17 then? I still remember staying up the late nights, or early mornings. Surprisingly, we never woke the neighbours...I think...well we never saw any cop cars coming up to our houses! Hehehe

OK, so the laughters are back. I hope that they last. Well, as I've mentioned last, it's a roller coaster. Up and down, up and down. So when it goes up, it will go down, and when it goes down, it will go up! It was a pretty good weekend, now made better with this victory. Anyhow, I was once asked, why are we on earth? What is the purpose of us being on earth? And not from a religious perspective...So the only answer I can think of is that, we're all part of a network of people, no la not the Matrix la. So, we're all one part of one big network, and we all support one another through life. Yeah, the week was indeed very difficult last week. But, many people were there to support me. And, I must say that I do owe a very big thanks to a certain friend for helping me get through my difficult times! Of course, this person admitted to not reading my blog, so I'll have to thank the person personally! Hehehe.

So, here's to a great week ahead! Now, I'm fully refreshed and fully geared for the week! Now for the fight to retain the Premier League! And as always, Glory Glory Man United!

"Uhhhh...who are these again ah?! Christiano who?! Carlos who?! There's only one Ronaldo, and he's from Brazil! And they said we will not win anything without them...Then I wonder...


"What they're celebrating about then? Hehehehe"

Rewind, restart, reset

If only things in life were that simple. We don't like something, rewind. We go through a bad phase, restart. Well, technically, yes it does work as such, but does it really? The lack of blog entries recently indicates the lack of interesting events in my life, or was it? Today, I begin working once again after taking a bit of a break, or was it? Am still currently down with a bad cough and flu, or am I still? Hahahaha...Ok, I'm going to stop questioning myself. I guess it's still not too late for a wish of Happy CNY to all out there. I'm not sure which Chor it is today? I believe, maybe Chor 11 la. I've stopped counting since the 2nd day already! Anyhow, with the new year comes a new beginning, new hopes, new happiness, new purpose, new directions, new clothes, new this and new that. So, basically, being a Chinese means we celebrate the new year twice, one on the 1st of Jan and the other, whenever the Chinese New Year is. So, do we make CNY resolutions as well? Hehehe. Speaking of those, I seem to be unable to keep to one, that is trying to be happy all the time. No worries mentality and attitude. I guess life is as such, one big roller coaster ride. As of now, I'm not too sure if I'm on the high end or the low end of it. Hmmmmmmmm...oh well, at least I am sticking to my one resolution of snapping pictures, editing them and posting them within 1 week!

The year of the tiger is supposedly a good year for me. But, things don't seem to be looking upwards for me. Anyway, before I start adding in a dash of emotions, a pinch of sadness and a trickle of frustrations, sadly, I've experienced the worst CNY this year. Well, while trying to be an optimist, there still are 4 remaining days for the CNY, hoping that things might turn around. Anyhow, I don't want to sound like a teenage boy throwing tantrums by writing emotionally online. I'm not going to write what I'm actually going through at the moment, I don't want to seem emotionally unstable nor offend anyone with what I might write. Plus, I don't really have the mood to write nor do I have any ideas on what to write. Well, there's always a first time. A first time a cheong hei writer suddenly has nothing to write at all. The easiest way of summing up the past few weeks of my life is "everything is out the window". Is there a reset button I can press? However, it is somewhat good to be picked up by friends who try to encourage you to move on. So, Happy and Blessed Gong Xi Fatt Chai to all out there!

Dont really wanna post a pic of myself. So here's an angpow for everyone...

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!