It's one of my favourite festivities - the Chinese New Year. Something that is looked forward to as relatives from far and near meet and catch up. And it's always associated with food and, more food.
However, my automatic reaction when CNY arrived this year was that I became full. I wasn't really not having appetite but I knew I wasn't gonna pig my way in the dining room. Eating too much is really a sin for me - the process of getting rid of the blotiness really kills the fun of eating.
Dad and Tiong Hoe are greatly missed this year. They are in 福建晋江省东石镇as we speak. It's been one of Dad's must-do for quite some time already. After the three of us, Tiong Hoe was the last one to have not visited Dad's place of birth. After they reached there, sms-es were pouring in. They read: I'm dying here, please save me. That and other variations conveying the meaning that my youngest bro wasn't surviving the life there. It's quite understandable, Tiong Hoe didn't get to speak much in Hokkien (闽南) after he was borned, at least not as much as I. He wouldn't be able to understand much, if not at all, the words that are coming out from the locals' mouths. Furthermore their accent should be original hence a little heavier. Most importantly, he had no other choice but to go with my Dad. Coincidentally it's also a chance for him to learn of Dad's birthplace and the people who have contributed in Dad's life.
I'll be going back to Melb on Sat. I'm sure I'll cry when I hug Dad and Mom goodbye. I know how much I'll be missing home. As much as it's enough to make me cry when I think about home.
Tuesday, February 20, 2007
丁亥吉庆大肥年
Thursday, February 08, 2007
桃花依旧
Flew back to Bukit Tinggi with Mom on Monday. Grandma was actually thought to be dying so we rushed back to see her for one last time. I had actually not seen her for more than a couple of years, as far as I could recall.
As uncle's car approached the still very familiar and yet strange, because of time, village a lot of childhood memories came rushing back into my mind. I still remember how exciting it was to come back to Bukit Tinggi when I was still a toddler. It was like an annual thing to go back to grandma's place. It's a hilly hence chilly place, just a few kilometers away from Genting Highland.
I remembered the paths where I had run on together with my cousins, who I had not seen for ages too. I remembered the houses that were around grandma's house. They have changed a little - reconstructed, strengthened, repainted... Somehow everything seemed, smaller than what I used to remember.
Grandma looked so weak and petite lying in her bed, losing (or gaining, as we later learned) her consciousness. My cousins, who I had remembered to be bigger and taller than I was, also didn't seem to live up to my out-of-date expectation. I had become equal, if not bigger than they were.
I was telling my Mom about this. She didn't quite get it. I myself didn't understand what I was feeling myself. The houses in the village which I had once thought to be tall and big, all seemed to have shrunk.
It's time that I accepted the inevitable. Something that I realised from another angle - that I have to accept that I am no longer the skinny young boy everyone remembered.
As uncle's car approached the still very familiar and yet strange, because of time, village a lot of childhood memories came rushing back into my mind. I still remember how exciting it was to come back to Bukit Tinggi when I was still a toddler. It was like an annual thing to go back to grandma's place. It's a hilly hence chilly place, just a few kilometers away from Genting Highland.
I remembered the paths where I had run on together with my cousins, who I had not seen for ages too. I remembered the houses that were around grandma's house. They have changed a little - reconstructed, strengthened, repainted... Somehow everything seemed, smaller than what I used to remember.
Grandma looked so weak and petite lying in her bed, losing (or gaining, as we later learned) her consciousness. My cousins, who I had remembered to be bigger and taller than I was, also didn't seem to live up to my out-of-date expectation. I had become equal, if not bigger than they were.
I was telling my Mom about this. She didn't quite get it. I myself didn't understand what I was feeling myself. The houses in the village which I had once thought to be tall and big, all seemed to have shrunk.
It's time that I accepted the inevitable. Something that I realised from another angle - that I have to accept that I am no longer the skinny young boy everyone remembered.
Tuesday, February 06, 2007
If I had eyes at the back of my head (in addition to the front view)
(I haven't actually finished this post since the new year! But I'll just post it up first. Watch out for the ending.)
It's the 6th day of the new year. I have procrastinated on this post for some 5++ days now so I am gonna go back to the moment before the calendar year aged. Taking a deep breathe I open the door and step into the 2006-memories vault.
Going back to Melbourne in February wasn't something I had looked forward to. It was a total change of environment where I was going to Monash University. It was all new and I didn't know a single soul there. I was so used to doing uni with people that I was close with. I was used to people saving seats for me (or vice versa). I was used to going out with people that I knew. Familiarity was then a luxury I no longer had.
Also I was living with my sister again, after, what, 4 years? I appreciate that because we don't share surname for nothing do we? Cooking is easy because both of us can cook and we take turns. But, I am not gonna say who, someone could have taken more of a role in cleaning the carpet and toilet. Remember, I didn't name names...
Uni was a total mess as I didn't enjoy anything that I was studying in the first semester. Business Law, Managerial Accounting, Accounting Systems and Funds Management (worst subject ever) - which were all so darn boring. Going to Uni was dreadful and it made me miss all my ex-Uni mates. Consequently my grades sufferred too but...
Luckily a part-time job at OSHCworldcare came to rescue in April. It was the first time I was working in Aus and earning AUD. I still remember the euphoric moment when I first paid tax. The most memorable event was attending training at a 5-star hotel and we got room service! It was a good evening indeed.
It's the 6th day of the new year. I have procrastinated on this post for some 5++ days now so I am gonna go back to the moment before the calendar year aged. Taking a deep breathe I open the door and step into the 2006-memories vault.
Going back to Melbourne in February wasn't something I had looked forward to. It was a total change of environment where I was going to Monash University. It was all new and I didn't know a single soul there. I was so used to doing uni with people that I was close with. I was used to people saving seats for me (or vice versa). I was used to going out with people that I knew. Familiarity was then a luxury I no longer had.
Also I was living with my sister again, after, what, 4 years? I appreciate that because we don't share surname for nothing do we? Cooking is easy because both of us can cook and we take turns. But, I am not gonna say who, someone could have taken more of a role in cleaning the carpet and toilet. Remember, I didn't name names...
Uni was a total mess as I didn't enjoy anything that I was studying in the first semester. Business Law, Managerial Accounting, Accounting Systems and Funds Management (worst subject ever) - which were all so darn boring. Going to Uni was dreadful and it made me miss all my ex-Uni mates. Consequently my grades sufferred too but...
Luckily a part-time job at OSHCworldcare came to rescue in April. It was the first time I was working in Aus and earning AUD. I still remember the euphoric moment when I first paid tax. The most memorable event was attending training at a 5-star hotel and we got room service! It was a good evening indeed.
Friday, January 26, 2007
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Sabbatical comes true!
Lappy is now hospitalised therefore the blog's time-out might have to be extended to at least 2 more weeks. Posting is now done via bro's comp.
The condition of the monitor had gotten worse...more lines had appeared than ever. Since the other bro was going back to KL so I asked him to bring the laptop for repair. If everything goes well (read: a new monitor? Ohlala...no more angpow money lor...) I'd be getting it back around 19-21 Jan. Fingers crossed.
And Moon (I suspect she han't read my blog for many many moons already), happy birthday.
The condition of the monitor had gotten worse...more lines had appeared than ever. Since the other bro was going back to KL so I asked him to bring the laptop for repair. If everything goes well (read: a new monitor? Ohlala...no more angpow money lor...) I'd be getting it back around 19-21 Jan. Fingers crossed.
And Moon (I suspect she han't read my blog for many many moons already), happy birthday.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Tuesday, January 02, 2007
Sabbatical?
Blogging has come to a stop in the past two weeks, ever since I left Melbourne on 21 Dec 2006. So treat this as a late sabbatical announcement? Posting will be feather light until I return to Melb at the end of Feb 2007. There are only two definite posts that I now have on my mind. Maybe three after I go to KL mid-Jan. Who knows...
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Always on my mind (Sydney 2006 Part 4)
Maybe I didn't treat you Quite as good as I should have
Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have
I was on my own today. When I woke up Winnie had already gone for work. I had a feeling that it was gonna be a great day.
Walking down Pitt St (I think? No?) I got to Circular Quay. Hey the coffee was quite cheap. It was only $2.70 for a small. Remember what W & D had told me before, I realised that it was actually as easy as they had suggested, to walk around on my own.
After purchasing my day tripper (like a daily ticket in Melbourne/Vic), I seized the time to snap a few pics of the Opera House. Something so magnificient and so iconically Australian. And a few weeks ago the fourth Australian Idol, Damien Leith, had just been crowned at this very theatre.
Quite tight on time, I hurried up back to the Quay and hopped onto a ferry which would then get me to Manly Beach. While on the ferry bracing the wind & sun, I realised I hadn't put on sunblock on my pretty face. Oopsie. But wth. I totally dug Manly Beach big time. It may not be as hyped as Bondi, but the 2 hours that I was there felt so relaxing.
Maybe I didn't love you Quite as often as I could have
I was on my own today. When I woke up Winnie had already gone for work. I had a feeling that it was gonna be a great day.
Walking down Pitt St (I think? No?) I got to Circular Quay. Hey the coffee was quite cheap. It was only $2.70 for a small. Remember what W & D had told me before, I realised that it was actually as easy as they had suggested, to walk around on my own.
After purchasing my day tripper (like a daily ticket in Melbourne/Vic), I seized the time to snap a few pics of the Opera House. Something so magnificient and so iconically Australian. And a few weeks ago the fourth Australian Idol, Damien Leith, had just been crowned at this very theatre.
Quite tight on time, I hurried up back to the Quay and hopped onto a ferry which would then get me to Manly Beach. While on the ferry bracing the wind & sun, I realised I hadn't put on sunblock on my pretty face. Oopsie. But wth. I totally dug Manly Beach big time. It may not be as hyped as Bondi, but the 2 hours that I was there felt so relaxing.
After parting with Manly, I was back in the CBD for more. Oxford St here I come! I wish I had time to go to Paddington as well. I was quite stupid actually =) that I only walked half the stretch of Oxford Street. I really stopped and turned around at the end of the map as I thought "oh that must be the end of it because the map doesn't show anymore of it". It'd be great if I was more loaded in the bank account...Window shopping was kinda nice too. Wanted to buy a pair of swim trunks with "aussie boi" printed on the back but those wouldn't really suit me would they?
Talking about shopping - Edmund & Winnie you guys are right. Well I am just a kampungboi from small small Tanah Merah. I really loved everything on Market St to George St to Martin Place to QVB. Those shopping complexes are so unique and no matter where I turned there would be something unexpected for me to look at.
High tea @ the TeaRoom with Winnie was another great experience. The room was in the middle of the CBD and it could filter the filthiest soul (so to speak) to a peaceful one. I felt very Queen-ish with all the gold-foiled china and everything was just very proper.
Saying goodbye was not easy and luckily I didn't turn over as my eyes were moist and nose feeling all funny. All I can say is Thank You.
As you can see from my pics, as a result of my big fly-eye like sunnies, now my face is a black-&-white sheet. I think the tanline is still quite visible after a few days. I think it's a kool thing - I love being made-up without actual make-up.
Little things I should have said and done
I just never took the time
I will survive (Sydney 2006 Part 3)
First I was afraid I was petrified
I've got all my life to live I've got all my love to give and I'll survive I will survive
I love the nightlife (Sydney 2006 Part 2)
Please don't talk about love tonight
Please don't talk about sweet love
Please don't talk about being true
Waking up was quite a task as we only had 5-6 hours of shut eyes. First stop we went to Jamberoo to take a peek at the rain forest. It's an irony that despite being borned in Malaysia and rain forest would be so accessible, this was my first time going to a rainforest national park. I think Australia is good in this area where people don't have to drive half a day just to get away from the CBD.
After 上山 (going up mountains), we 下海 (going down to the sea). Next was Jervis Bay. Btw it was the first time where I came in touch with a GPS. It's so useful and smart. If not for the sometimes-not-so-up-to-date new routes which then gave us funny and going-in-a-loop directions, I'd say I fully embrace it. And thanks to it, I think my next trips going around Vic when my parents are here won't be too hard.
The most fascinating encounter - seeing dolphins swimming in the wild. I don't think I caught it on camera, but it was overwhelming when I was the baby dolphin swimming next to its Mom. Next time - WHALE!
Going back to city in a flash? We very well would love that. But as soon as we got back in the city, the traffic was just inching. We were just tortoising at 7.15pm. The Prisiclla musical was starting at 8pm and we were still no where near Star City and we hadn't had dinna yet. As the minutes passed, Winnie decided to go against the direction given by the GPS and we did get away from the traffic. Boi coming out from the crocodile's mouth we went straight into a tiger's den. There was no parking and we were desperate and hungry.
So this desperate boi was dropped off at Lyric Theatre to grab the tickets and Win-girl and Den-boy went looking for a place to park (which I later appreciated them running the whole nine yard in a matter of minutes). We were seated in a very good row where it's in the middle but it's only a short row. There wasn't any seat next to us too.
When Priscilla Queen of the Desert Musical started, I was sent waves and waves of excitement and dance beats. From What's love got to do with it to I love the nightlife to Always on my mind to I will survive. Everyone was cheering and clapping the whole show. Dennis said he heard me singing along too. I couldn't help it. They were all music to my dancing-queen heart. In addition to catchy tunes, first class drag queens and colourful outfit, there were scenes of love and family too. I loved the standing ovation - it was very very touching. The finale of the show was another touch-down. I can't what it is here in order not to spoil it. My eyes were wet watching it.
Throughout the whole day, I think we were also desperate for food. Starting from take-away McDonald to no-time-for-lunch-so-we-had-some-best-beef-&-mushroom-pies-in-the-middle-of-no-where to rushing to a chinese restaurant during intermission of the show. We managed to swallow a 烧肉饭 (Roast pork on rice), 云吞面 (Noodles with wonton) and 饺子 (dumplings) in less than 10 minutes. I'll definitely remember that, our WAD days.
I got to go where the people dance I want some action ... I want to live!
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