Thursday, May 29, 2008

Cold...

In Franklin Square


A view from John Fisher and Christ College.


haha...dat's been my tagline while I'm here in hobart - COLD.

Today, as I was walking to the court, the wind at Elizabeth Mall was SO strong and cold, it almost blew me off course and froze me... *Help*

Nothing special happened today. Almost fell asleep in court coz it's so warm and nice. Half the time I have absolutely no idea wat the heck they're talking about as when they mumble... that's it. God knows wat was it about...

Lunch this afternoon was cold. Was hiding in the bus stop (to no avail) from d chilling wind. The smell of hot coffee made me start imagining that I am back in Malaysia with a bowl of hot kuey teow soup.

Buying coffee here is like getting it from Starbucks for normal coffee. Imagine drinking Starbucks every day... Pokai abis-abis!

Franklin Square was really scenic. Manage to snap a few pictures before the bus came. I also got a picture of the view from the top of my hostel overlooking the sea and the wharf. Super beautiful.

I hope i'll be able to change my tagline tomorrow from COLD to COOL.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

I'm Here


I'm here in University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia. Yay!!


Long flight here. 7 hours to Sydney. Manage to get a quick tour of Sydney b4 cabut for connecting flight to here.


Can't really blog much as my internet access limited giler. I got this quota thingy and only limited to this for 4 weeks. So must save up and kiam siap a little.


It's really cold now over here, about 5 degrees at nite as winter came earlier than expected and it's raining. Luckily brought more sweaters than expected. i seriously didn't expect it to be this cold. Gonna kena frostbite dy...


The view here is really fantastic. From my hostel i can see the wharf with the mountains as background. Mmg like coming out of postcard.


Lots of Malaysians here and everyone's been so helpful to me and my friend here, looking blur and sesat all the time. The Aussies were really nice as well. So we're seriously lucky to get so many ppl to help us around. God really blessed me in this area.


Now hunting for the CF and church here and hope to have a place to stay for a week to wait for the conference.


Saw a few pockaroos and rabbits hopping around. Cute until i stepped into their poops littered all over the walkway. Cis~


alrite, gotta go... will try to blog soon.


Sunday, May 25, 2008

Anticipation

Well, in another 8 hours i'll be flying to Australia.

There's been a lot of anticipation, fear of the uncertainty, what's going to happen (e.g. how to get my laundry done...etc etc).

I was almost packed when my cousin, Jamie barged in telling me I can't have a hand luggage, my Reebok pack bag and my laptop bag together with me on the plane. So have to rearrange my whole bag again...

I've also been checking out hotspots to visit while I'm transiting in Sydney. I'm definitely gonna check out the famous Opera House, The Rocks, Darling Harbour and probably the Royal Botanical Gardens. Hahaha... Kill 2 birds with 1 stone~

Been checking out the weather and the temperature there as well and gosh! It's gonna be really cold!! It was 6 degrees celsius yesterday night in Hobart, Tasmania and it's gonna rain on Tuesday... lagi la merana and cold~ Thank goodness it's gonna be cool in Sydney... ala Genting or a lil' colder. Yay!!

This is gonna be my last entry for now. The next one will be from Australia, with love~

Adioz!!

Saturday, May 24, 2008

Last Minute...

Been doing a lot of last minute shopping and preparation before I fly off to Tasmania tomorrow.

Been eating all the yummy Malaysian food since I will be deprived of it for 2 months. Haha...everything! You name it!

Nasi lemak, Char Kuey Teow, Asam Laksa, Prawn Mee, Nasi Kerabu, Nasi Dagang, Bak Kut Teh....

Huhu...i'll definitely miss rice and curry. Trust me....

Nyways, been doing a lot of shopping as well, getting all the international plugs and padlocks (for my luggage, in case someone wanna use me as a drug mule...)

Tripod stand for my camera (i foresee there'll be many times where no one will wanna hold the camera for me...)

Change my money(!) - thank goodness d rates went down a lil'. Last week was 3.0, then 3 days ago 3.1!! but then when i went to change in Midvalley it was 3.08...boleh la...better than nothing.

Can't really sleep as well these few days as thoughts kept running through my mind, worrying what i'll forget to bring and what not!

Tomorrow I'll be going grocery shopping to get all the yummy Malaysian snacks there so that I don't miss home so much.

My aunty told me to get Maggie mee there but then that's the least that i'll miss...i think... Been surviving on Maggi for 2 years when I was staying in UKM hostel... I think some wax's still inside my belly... muahaha...

Alright then, I hope i'll get to blog 1 last time tomorrow before I board the plane.

Till then... adioz~

Thursday, May 22, 2008

Tsukareta!

I'm so exhausted!! Travelling is not fun at all especially the preparation part!!!

I was just staring at the suitcase and I was dumbstruck for a moment. I just have no idea on how to pack!! The amount of things to bring and how to get everything in... *Headache*

Ok. I give up....

I've also bought the newest Clay Aiken cd called "On My Way Here". Not bad... A very good listen after a day of stress. Lite & easy and probably not everybody's cup of tea. I like the title track which was written by Ryan Tedder (Yes, from 1 republic). Talks mostly about Clay's on life and what he expect in the future.

I also like "The Real Me" - talks about not looking to the superficial but the "inside" of the person. The character and personality of him/her, not the outward appearance only.

The bad news is.... I broke the cover!!! ARGHH!!! it's not even 3 days old!!!!! Aiyo.... nasib baik the cd still ok...the cover was in pieces dy coz it fell from the top of the cabinet... Adush!!!!

Ok. Fine. Nasi sudah jadi bubur.

Then today went to Midvalley to change money. Mana tau they don't sell traveller's cheque in that Maybank. Told me to go to KL Sentral.

Fine. Went over there. No traveller's cheque in AuD.

Fine. I'll take the USD.

Went back to Midvalley. Found out AuD went up again. Now it's 3.100. Pokai~ almost same with USD dy...

Well, at least I got some things done.

Flying off this Sunday! Yahoo!! Departure: 2200.

Will be transiting in Sydney for 7 hours (yay!! can go visit the Opera House!!). But will be arriving in Sydney at 0750.

Then next flight to Hobart at around 2pm.

Can't wait to get there!! Hurray!

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Clay Aiken - Measure of a Man

Measure of a Man

I am currently so in love with this song by Clay Aiken. It's weird coz you can apply this song in your relationship with Jesus Christ and also in your daily relationship with your dad/boyfriend/friend etc....

I just love the lyrics which talks about how you measure a man. Do you measure him by the amount of expensive "toys" he possesses or by his character?

Do enjoy the song.

Measure of A Man
If one day you discover him
Broken down he's lost everything
No cars, no fancy clothes to make him who he's not
The woman at his side is all that he has got
Why do you ask him move heaven and earth
To prove his love has worth
*Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you?
When it's down to the wire
Would he give his life up
To be all he can
Is that, is that, is that... how you measure a man
If by chance all he had to give you
Was three words wrapped around your finger
Would that be deep enough at the end of every day
And how will you ever know
If a man is what he says?
*repeat
He never gives up
Lets go of his dream
His world goes around for his one true belief
Is that how you know?
Is that what it means?
Would he walk on water?
Would he run through fire?
Would he stand before you?
Would he be your anchor when the dark unfolds?
Would he always love you the best that he knows?
Would he give his life up
To be all he can
Is that, is that, is that... how you measure a man

Thursday, May 15, 2008

I Will Be Here

A song dedicated to the Myanmar cyclone victims and the China earthquake victims.

I Will Be Here - Steven Curtis Chapman
Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the sun does not appear
I will be here
If in the dark, we lose sight of love
Hold my hand and have no fear
Cause I will be here
I will be here
When you feel like being quiet
When you need to speak your mind
I will listen
And I will be here
When the laughter turns to crying
Through the winning, losing and trying
We'll be together
I will be here
Tomorrow morning if you wake up
And the future is unclear
I will be here
Just as sure as the seasons were made for change
Our lifetimes are made for these years
So I will be here
I will be here
And you can cry on my shoulder
When the mirror tells us we're older
I will hold you
And I will be here
To watch you grow in beauty
And tell you all the things you are to me
I will be here
I will be true to the promise I have made
To You and to the One who gave you to me

I will be here - Steven Curtis Chapman

My Prayer

This is my prayer
For the people of Myanmar and China
In the midst of such disaster
No one asked for this to happen
And surely You, oh God, did not made it happened

The bread I ate this morning
Oh Jesus, I give you thanks
Knowing that while I'm eating here
The other side of the world has nothing to eat

Shivering in the cold from lack of shelter
Blistering under the heat of the day
Children running around
Lost, forlorn... with no clean food and water

Adults cry in desperation
Asking the "why" question
Begging for mercy

Let the authorities open up doors for help to enter
Help offered by fellow men in times of need
Let their hearts of stone be turn
Let them hear the cries of desperation
And the voice of God
Let them know that they are not alone
Let them know the sincerity of these men

Let their pride be humbled
Let their ears hear
Let their eyes see
Let them have faith in the people offering their help
Let them care for the victims calling out

I pray for mercy, Oh Lord
For your people whom you love
Surely you are weeping in heaven as well
Together with the heartbroken and the grieving
Together with the helpless
Just as Jesus wept
You, oh Father wept too for us

"Answer me when I call to you
O my righteous God
Give me relief from my distress
Be merciful to me and hear my prayer"
-Psalm 4:1-
Have mercy and grace upon the suffering now...
Hear our pleadings and cries, Lord
For You will never leave us nor forsake us.
This I believe with all my heart and soul.
I seal this prayer in Your name...
Amen.

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Interviews

I find these interviews are the most honest and vulnerable interview he ever gave. He was not even this honest in Larry King.

Enjoy~

p.s. Love his WWJD (What would Jesus do) bracelet. I didn't know...

Clay Aiken - Prime Time (Interview) Pt2

Clay Aiken - Prime Time (Interview) Pt1

Clay-nation?

I have no idea why I was suddenly so obsessed with Clay Aiken. Somehow I was googling on him to know more about his UNICEF role. Wasn't a fan of singing before this and the only thing I heard was "Invisible" and "The Way".

While browsing through youtube (haha...i seriously love youtube man!! you can search for any videos in it!! super), I was surprised to discover that Clay Aiken, besides being a man with big, powerful and beautiful voice, I'm also quite shocked to discover he's such a funny guy!!

He was super in all the talk shows in which he appeared as guest or co-host and boy~ he really had a wonderful sense of humour! You never thought he's such fun on shows! haha... check out youtube and search under Clay Aiken-Jimmy Kimmel and you'll know what I mean... He's such a natural (I'm not licking up to his boots but it's been a long time since I've seen such a natural, after the Drew Carey show... I kinda forgot the title of the show... it's not Drew Carey show but he's in it...)

He started off in American Idol in such a nerdy-dorky image and looking at how he evolved with time was also amazing. His best image would definitely be during his 2nd album "A Thousand Different Ways". He looked HOT in there, with darker, longer hair with bangs, as compared to the "durian" head...haha! But his current image... ermm.... I didn't liked it at all. He looks too... "girlish" if you know what I mean and he looked like a doll, all waxed up! In other words... he looked fake... Fire his stylist!

I am also very impressed with his dedication towards his work with children, especially children with disabilities through the Bubel-Aiken Foundation, and not forgetting him being an ambassador for UNICEF. I guessed it was because of his passion for teaching and children way before he started off with American Idol.

I really salute you, Clay for holding on to your words that you would use your influence and position into good use and for the children, which he did until today. *Applause*

Not many megastars out there would put their influence and fame into good use (i.e. Britney, Lindsay Lohan, Paris Hilton etc). If there were more Bonos and Aikens in this world, wow! You'll definitely see lotsa changes.

I was also watching the episode in which he appeared in "Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader". (It's like Who Wants to be a Millionaire but you challenge 10 yr old kids in 5th grade/Standard 4...)

Waliao... *speechless*

Clay Aiken definitely has brains.

He managed to reach the $300K with still 2 cheat options left, and not many people manage to do it. Actually, he could have continued to the $1 million but then I have no idea why he chose to "flunk" out of school. The $300K will be going to his foundation to fund summer camps for special children. *Aww shucks* How sweet....

Oi... lotsa questions I also dunno the answer wan k... it's like kacang for him. Maybe because he used to be a teacher, not to forget having a Ba Education (Special Education).

I also love the fact that embraces his personality and image as a dork/nerd with grace and the way he laughs it off. Not many people (in fact, i think about 90% of us) are comfortable with how they look like and readily embrace it, what more joke about it! To Aiken, it doesn't matter if you call him a dork, nerd or gay (yes, tons of controversies and rumours saying he's gay), but he is confident of who he is and he knows that his family will always love him and support him whatever he is, may it be a popstar or an average school teacher in a small town (he's from the South, hailing from Raleigh, North Carolina).

He still speaks with the Southern *twang* (he calls it the red-neck accent...hehe) and I love it!! Come on Malaysians! Be proud with our accents too and stop faking the Brits/Americans (I hate it more if they can't pull it off... Like what Simon Cowell will usually say... HORRIBLE).

His singing, well... His voice is phenomenal. After rewatching the 2nd season of AI, I felt the Top 3 were super, as compared to the rest, especially the current season. David Archuleta's nothing compared to Clay Aiken (I honestly think Clay Aiken outsang everyone else in AI, except Kelly Clarkson, of course...)

So, to conclude... this guy is a man with a big voice, with a even bigger heart and God bless him (he's religious...but I don't do religious as Christianity is not a religion, it's life! Hallelujah!). I will continue to keep myself updated on him, especially on his humanitarian works.

Way to go, Clay Aiken!

Clay Aiken A Thousand Days

Saturday, May 10, 2008

Home Sweet Home~

A day after exam...straight away "jetted" home (by bus, of coz!! haha) to Kuantan for Mother's Day and also to see everyone & my beloved hometown before jetting off (for real this time) to Hobart, Tasmania next Sunday.

Man!! I'm definitely gonna miss home, Malaysia, and the food!!!

Been shopping like mad for everything i need there. Really Pokai dy. And I dunno how am I gonna sumbat everything into the luggage and pray hard it won't exceed 20 kgs!! Worse still, how am I gonna come back w/o exceeding the weight limit with all the souvenirs and request??!!! Aiyo~

Hanging out in Starbucks, Mega with my bro now, sipping on latte and enjoying my music. Peace and quiet from the crazy life i have.

I know, i know... i'm supposed to be finishing my thesis rite?? Yes!! Rite away!! my have inspiration and now i kinda know what to write dy...hehehe....

Been to the new East Coast Mall, the new hip place in my hometown.

Not bad~ But the parking and toilet's HORRIBLE!! There were leftover cement everywhere, not to forget lotsa chipped parts off the wall... the parking area's flooded... still dusty with cement debris...

But on the positive note... Jeng Jeng Jeng!! We have:

(1) Sushi King!!! (wah~ so happy...went for dinner yesterday & lunck today...muahahaha)
(2) Padini Concept Store!! (Wow!! now at least when i'm back i got things to look at...)
(3) MNG's coming!! (another place to look at....)
(4) Big Apple (donut chain...nyways, i'm x a donut fan...doesn't matter to me...)
(5) Carrefour (almost 4got... hehehe... Nasib baik x in China...i can sense another anti-french protest...)

What else ah?? So basically, fellow Kuantanians who are so used to KL life, at least when you're back you'll still a lil' glimpse of KL life in the mall. Not too bad eh?

Haven't been to the beach yet. Lotsa to-do things in my list before i go off for my "holiday-cum-attachment". I wonder can i finish everything in time!! Help me, Lord Jesus!

But was so lonely before my bro came back.

Miss you, Phil Phil... Cle abandoned me...dun wanna "choi" me oso yesterday....huhu...

Nobody here in Kuantan. Sien~

Anyhow, i'll still love this place for what it is.

Hurray for Sushi King!!

Monday, May 5, 2008

Faster!!

I can't wait for exams to finish!!

Faster!!!

Going nuts dy....

Help!!!