In the wilds of Tasmania now.

Uncontactible. But I’ll be back.

:)

In front of the Parliament House, Spring St

I feel that I can truly say that now that I’ve safely landed upon Aussie shores. I can’t believe that I’m finally here. Yeeeee haaaah!!!!

It’s humid, raining and hot here. It’s like I never left Malaysia.

Still, it’s always good to see familiar sights, places and faces.

Lots to do. We are three whole hours ahead of Malaysia! The day is half gone!

Hope to be able to blog regularly over here and keep you guys posted with some pics.

Till then, take care & be good.

;)

3 friends reunited on the streets of Melbourne!!!

Coffee tastes great here!

My body is here but my heart is somewhere else already. My boss is trying his best to make me feel guilty for leaving on such a long break – without much success, I must say.

“Did you know, I chopped off all the long leaves of the other heads of department except yours?” he told me today.

And also, “Don’t worry, I shall discuss the other project with your assistant in your absence.” But his twinkling eyes held hope that I would feel guilty for extricating myself from work responsibilities during my two-week break.

Fat hopes indeed :P

The nearer the date of departure creeps, the memories of Australia – so long ago and almost forgotten – starts resurfacing. I loved living in Melbourne during my year of study there. I even had plans to settle down there for good. There, people understand and wouldn’t look down on me for not being able to speak in Mandarin or Cantonese.

I loved experiencing the four seasons there and the long, long walks I used to take in seasons other than summer. Here, I avoid walking in the humid and hot sun as much as possible and duck into air-conditioned places whenever I can. I loved the tea and scones at Cuckoo Restaurant, Mount Dandenong. The authentic Hong Kong dimsum and Italian foodies. The efficient public transport system that truly does arrive and leave on the dot! That’s a major culture shock for any Malaysian, let me tell you that.

Aaah, Melbourne. I can’t wait to see thee and traipse upon thy streets again.

Remember the Half A Woman blog entry? As of today, here’s the status of Project Bring Out the Woman in me:

… I’ve been to the spa – Check
… I last did and plan girly things with bezzie – Check – gonna shop and travel with her in Aussieland!
… spent an extended amount of time in total female company- Check
… painted my nails- Check

… did something to my hair- Check!!!
… bought makeup – Check
… read a woman’s magazine – Check
… tote a big pink handbag around – no wor :( Still paranoid about snatch thieves.
… had a glam photo taken of me – Check

… wore a lovely dress because it makes it impossible for me to bend and crawl all over in order to take pictures – Check

9 out of 10 – that’s not bad at all. I’m glad to report that I feel all woman now.

are made when you are doing projects together.

I took a look at my closest circle of friends and realised that most of these friendships came about when we are involved in doing a task together. It would seem that the more stressful the project is, the higher chances of a close friendship evolving at the end of it all.

So there I was loafing around with my kindred spirit after a nice long day at Elijah House. We were sprawled on the floor of her room, talking about nothing and everything. Sniffing at my curls and noting how wonderful it smelled. I’ll have you know that there are no more icky salon smells on my curls. Yaay!

We met each other slightly more than a year ago when we were both helping out at a Christian band’s concert. Subsequently, we met up when we were involved in a few other projects. But we only really got to know each other better during a highly challenging personal project which I undertook. I knew I didn’t have the resources to do it alone. God dropped her name in my heart, I contacted her, she said yes and the rest was history.

It was a very challenging project to the both of us because it was the first time ever we did anything like it of this scale. Plus, we were not exactly experts in that field. But through that time, we drove many miles and spent many hours together planning, shopping and putting everything in place. We made a great team and the outcome of the project turned out pretty well.

We discovered that hey, we enjoyed each other’s company so much that it hardly seems like work! Also, we are of the similar type of personality with similar interests and values in the things that matter. No wonder we like being with each other, it just shows that we love ourselves a lot!

It’s amazing how God brought this about at a time when I missed bezzie now that she’s gone to Aussieland. Besides a few close buddies, He unexpectedly provided this newfound kindred spirit. Truly He took note of every single tear and prayer I made and provided what I needed when I most needed it.

At least I can laugh now when I think of the miserable me not too long ago. I thought that it would take a long while before I could find someone whom I would be able to relate in a deep and comfortable manner – similar to the way I’m used to relating with bezzie. Someone whom you can spend all day with and still not run out of things to say. Someone you can just unwind with and be refreshed everytime you meet. Someone who actually gets your jokes and tosses it back with extra punch. Heh heh.

Both of us know how difficult it is to find someone you can relate to really, really well and who enjoys being with you just as much as you enjoy spending time with them.

I’m not sure how long is the season that we are meant to be in each others’ lives. But I’ve learned to savour every moment of life as it comes. And for this present time, I’m very very blessed by the precious gift of friendship that God has given me in the form of this amazing sister.

:)

SMS snippets

Me to family member: What’s your identity card number? I need it in order to nominate you as my travel insurance beneficiary.

Family member to me: [IC Number]. Hope I don’t get anything out of it.

Isn’t it true and strangely ironic that the people you want to bequeath your possessions to are the ones that prefer to have you still with them than all the money in the world?

After 14 days of nail biting, gnashing teeth and sleepless nights, my leave is finally approved!!!

A lot of people prayed for me. And I mean a LOT. Thanks for all your prayers, support and concern. It really made a difference.

It was a weird time, making travel plans and booking hotels and stuff and having the ‘Leave Not Approved’ message blaring at the back of my mind. I’m grateful for MF and bezzie who planned everything to a T and kept the momentum going. They never did entertain the thought of me not being able to go although I was quite close to thinking so.

If anything, going through this has taught me (yet again!) of not taking things for granted. And that nothing good comes easy.

Been tagged by Rapunzel. To my surprise, some of the songs are actually quite apt.

Soundtrack of Your Life – If your life was to be made into a movie, what would the soundtrack be? (Or something to that effect.)

So, here’s how it works:

1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, iPod, etc)
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question, type the song that’s playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the next button.
6. Don’t lie

Opening Credits:
Barenaked Ladies – Sound of Your Voice
(Ok, not a bad start)

Waking Up:
Liz Phair – Count on My Love
(Hmmmm…)

First Day At School:
Star Wars IV – Forest Battle
(Tell me about it.)

Falling In Love:
Star Wars I – Anakin’s Theme
(Oh deary me. Destined to doom before it even began)

Fight song:
Liz Phair – Somebody’s Miracle
(I really have no comments for this)

Breaking Up:
Star Wars V – Hans Solo and Princess Leia
(Huh?? This must be the part where he got frozen by Jabba the Hut.)

Prom:
Barenaked Ladies – Maybe You Are Right
(Right about what? Wait a minute. Does it even matter as long as you. are. right?)

Life’s OK:
Star Wars IV – The Throne Room Finale
(Ummmm ok. It DOES make sense if you look at it from this perspective – Everyone who’s been to the resident throne room (toilet) can safely say that life’s ok if your bowel movements are in tip-top condition).

Mental breakdown:
Star Wars V – The Imperial March
(Darth Vader’s theme song – imagine him breathing down your neck. That will make anyone’s nerves fried. )

Driving:
Liz Phair – Got My Own Thing
(Oh ya baby, I got my own wheels, my own ride, my own thing. Uh huh…)

Flashback:
Barenaked Ladies – Beautiful
(Yep, mom did say that I was born beautiful. And that I am beautiful. I hope to grow old as beautiful as her.)

Getting Back Together:
Star Wars IV – Princess Leia
(Ya mar, she got separated when Hans Solo was frozen. So when he was defrosted (or de-metal-ed), they were reunited lor)

Wedding:
Taylor Swift – Mary’s Song
(Wow… how very very appropriate! Childhood sweethearts falling in love, got married and growing old with each other.)

Birth of Child:
Liz Phair – Closer To You
(Oso appropriate. A child does bring parents closer to each other)

Final Battle:
Star Wars 1 – Duel of the Fates
(Wah, so ngam wan!)

Death Scene:
Star Wars 1 – The Flag Parade
(Ok. If you are a dignitary or in the army and you die, what gets draped on your coffin? Exactly. Would be nice to have one of those on mine :P)

Funeral Song:
Heartland – I Loved Her First
(Adoi, supposed to be the song a father sings to his daughter at her wedding, not funeral. But in the spirit of all things appropriate, it’s a father’s love song about letting go of his daughter to a new chapter of her life. In this case, it’s death.)

End Credits:
Taylor Swift – Stay Beautiful
(What a nice ending to this list!)

I tag my beloved cell members both near and far! :D

Was at the airport to send Amanda off. The airport is a bittersweet place. A trip there could signify new beginnings. As with all new beginnings, it comes hand in hand with the closing of the old chapter of one’s life.

Her parents fought very hard to keep their tears in check. As did her pesky younger brother. He kept yelling, “With you gone, I’ll be the king of the house! Hurray! I’m going to terrorise your room!” But his eyes reddened occasionally and he quietly dabbed away a few tears when he thought no one was looking.

The family has sacrificed a lot for the sake of their only daughter and were jubilant that she’s now been given a golden opportunity to further her studies overseas. Still, saying goodbye is never easy.

As I watched Amanda waving at us before walking away confidently from us, I remembered how happy I was to leave everything I know behind to embrace the exciting chapter of studying in Australia. Nary a tear was in my eyes. My parents would be heaving sighs of relief with me gone, I was sure. Little did I know that my mom and two siblings cried after I disappeared happily from their sight.

And now I wonder how it would be to be on the other side of the story. Growing up, I kept telling my folks to chill and to let us be free to go and make our own choices in life. Would I be able to let go of my own offspring easily when they are ready to spread their wings and fly?

Looking at Amanda’s parents’ red eyes, I have a sneaky suspicion that when my turn comes, it wouldn’t be as easy as I once thought it would be.

O loaded curls, release your store
Of warmth and scent, as once before
The tingling hair did, lights and darks
Outbreaking into fairy sparks…

~ Robert Browning

Image credits: J