Lost in the realities of life

It has been an eventful week...

First, the display on my laptop went kookoo, and I whinged about it to all my friends over the Internet. I also whined about it to family and friends. Then, I split green tea on my laptop, and caused it to crashed. I could only whine about this to my family and flatmates, because obviously, I had no internet access then.

The moral of the story is that Man is greedy. When my display crashed, I didn't count my blessings. Was it really surprising that my laptop should just crash? Arrogance does indeed, come before a fall.


But none, I have been greatly blessed, and I have my laptop back in one piece without having to pay a hefty price. I have been humbled, and taught a lesson in patience.

Should I become proud and arrogant again, let this post remind me of the inevitable lesson that will befall me.

Over the weekend

I have Friday's off every week, due to a miraculous timetable, but last Friday was especially welcome, because it signified the end of a particularly hectice week.

So, on my free day, I ran errands and did housework, and welcomed Fiona finally to the apartment. It's great now that I have a roomie together with me, and the big room doesn't seem too cold anymore. It would be nice to be able to have a room all to myself , with the freedom to blast the music and stay in bed all day, but, it's also nice to know that there's somebody near by whom you can wake if you happen to hear a bump in the dark.

On Saturday, I went to the amusement park, in North Sydney. Luna Park is a really old style amusement park, with none of the high tech rides you see nowadays in all other theme parks. They had a rickety old Ferris wheel, a traditional carousel, a very noisy rollarcoaster, the normal kiddie rides, and all the traditional sideshow games! The rides were very limited, but because it was in the old timer style, I was very much taken by it.

Even though the rides were in the old style, it was still very much adrenaline pumping. That's true especially for the stalls in the Coney Island attraction. Look at the slides in one of the photos... I actually slid down 2 out of the 3 slides, and before you dare say how easy it looks, consider the height and the steepness of these slides. And if you still disagree with me on the excitement to be had from riding these slopes, I most heartily dare you to try the slides before you say anything else.

Running through the hamster wheel was hysterical, with everyone waving their arms any way trying to keep from falling. One uncle who went before me couldn't cope with the speed of the wheels, and tumbled to the floor and couldn't get up for quite a while! The operator had to slow the hammie wheel before you could recover his balance. It was good fun and laughter all around. Of course the kids did this the best, they never fear and have a wonderful sense of balance.

Pictures of me running through the hammie wheel is with Jane, and I really am too lazy to download them to my computer from my email now, but I shall post them some day. In the meantime, here are more photos of Luna park, Milson's point, and more harbour bridge scenary shot from either Milson's point or from the Ferris wheel.

The slide photos aren't too clear... but I suppose you'll find some way of enhancing the images! :D

Places seen!

In a month since I've touched down, I've been to:

1. Fish market in Pyrmont
2. Rozelle bay

3. Anzac bridge

4. Haymarket (aka dearly beloved china town)

5. Darling Harbour

6. CBD area

7. Parammatta and westfields

8. Lidcombe

9. Burwood

10. Milson's Point
11. Glebe's market

12. DFO in Strathfield

13. Museum of contemporary art

But I realize I haven't taken photos of these places at all, except for maybe Rozelle Bay and the Anzac Bridge. Alright! I'll bring my camera around when I get out this weekend and start snapping photos like a (heavens forbid!) tourist.

For all the other photos.... look below! :D (PS: these ones are the same as the one on facebook, so for those reading double... you can skip this portion!)

Photos taken in Merryland's Central Park, with Jane's rellies when we went out for a BBQ one fine sunday. A very aussie thing to do. :D

Pictures of the harbour bridge, opera house and cadman's cottage. There are some wonderful pubs and a met museum which I should go and take photos of. Coming soon.

Random pictures of Glebe and from my stay in Alishan' Guesthouse

Pictures of me n Jane on Anzac bridge

Pictures taken at the airport. Sorry friends, your pic got hid behind me mom n dad.

My room in Glebe and the view from my window. I'll take more pics of its exterior and surroundings soon.

That's it for now folks! Will post more. And I'll have to see about getting a chatbox.

National Day (and some space at last!)

The first post on a new blog, and it's all about National Day!

Tonight, on the 9th of August 2007, there was a Singaporean gathering at Lidecombe. We made noise, food and had laughter galore. I met new Singaporeans, got to know some new friends better, and talked to many people whose name I didn't ask (they didn't ask for mine either). I don't have the gift of making small talk, but everytime I meet people, I'm slowly honing that skill. :D Yes, I'm making some progress towards being a social human being.

Living in Sydney is gradually becoming second nature. Sometimes, I catch myself thinking "hey, walking down this street no longer feels alien!" as I walk the streets of Glebe. Then I just feel happy and sad in that same instant. Happy that I'm settling down, sad that I'm not missing Singapore (enough) and sad that this new experience no longer feels new.

Of all things, I don't want to waste this Australian experience. It's a rare thing to be sponsored to go overseas to study. I should make full use of this opportunity and not let days slip by like in Singapore.

Go out, talk to people, do things.... It's becoming a mantra to follow from today.

As Singapore celebrates her birthday and look to the future, so too should I. Coming back to Singapore is not unthinkable. There won't be another place that I can so comfortably call home.