Do take note

I just updated the zoo entry today, but it appeared below the entry that i blogged yesterday. i guess it's because of the date thing, so if you want to read about my zoo experience, scroll down to the entry after Esaius's Birthday.

Anyway i finished with a presentation today, so that made me have the mood to blog. This was my first "formal presentation" here in Melbourne. I guess it didn't go too bad, but it could have been better. The nerves got me, and i guess all of you know when i get nervous, i talk damn pretty fast haha. So like a bullet train, i rattled everything out. I kept telling myself not to do that, but i just couldn't help it. I got a 10/15; not too good, but i won't say bad either. First thing i passed in this stupid english sub!!! Thank God for that, got the 40% report coming up, and that's what i am really worried about.

When i was fretting about the presentation yesterday, a song suddenly came into my mind, it goes:

I cast all my cares upon you
I lay all of my burden, down at your feet
And everytime, i don't know what to do
I just cast all my cares upon you

I really hope i can happily sing this song after handing up my assignmnet. Like what my mommy told me, do it and just leave it in the hands of God, and accept whatever outcome it may be. How tough that can be huh? But if i am really willing to leave my burdens with God, i am sure i will feel much "lighter". May he give me strength to do so, Amen.

Esaius's Birthday

I wanted to blog about the going to the zoo, but i got lazy halfway updating the pictures. Besides, the internet here is quite slow, and i got quite a few pictures to upload so wait till i am a little more free ok? After Monday i should be quite free, because that is the day i will be done with the English assng! Gosh this assng has been giving me lots of problem, doing but failing all the time. Is my grammar really that bad?? Oh well, i really hope God will carry me through. Anyways i will be blogging about my dearest didi's birthday. Even though i was not there for the celebration, i feel so happy just by looking the photos. I spoke to him on the phone on his bday, and i totally had no idea what he was talking about. Think its been too long since i last saw him, I miss you didi!

His celebration at swensens

Celebration at home

The birthday boy

My other two sweethearts, so cute!

Looking forward to the day that i can be back with you guys again!

We're going to the zoo zoo zoo!

Finally finished updating the zoo entry! Sorry for taking so long guys.

We settled on meeting at Melbourne Central station to catch the train to Werribee, bought some breakfast as it was going to be quite a long ride, took at least 1 hour i think.

While waiting for our train

Huey's and my breakfast: Chicken Teriyakki with sweet onion sauce, my favourite!

And we arrive at the station. Pretty quiet and isolated place, and the stupid shuttle to the zoo like comes every 1 over hour or so, and we just missed the bus when we arrived. So the other alternative was to cab there, the zoo was pretty nearby anyway, and that was what we did.

We finally reached the Open Range Werribee Zoo

Settling our tickets

This zoo is different from the common ones we usually go to. They have more of a safari theme; something like a improvised version of Africa, so Sin and I went crazy exclaiming at every hut, signage or bridge that we saw. Haha sound so sua ku, but it's definitely a different experience.

Cute little hut houses where you can have a mini picnic

We were surrounded by grasses like these when we walked the trails, and chickens were roaming around freely. And as you could have guess, that made yoke huey very irritated, which made me feel very happy!!! Haha. She hates chickens because she thinks they are very dirty, and there were chicken shit all over also.

The pretty looking signage

There are supposed to be monkeys behind, but i don't know why you can't see them hmm.

Into the grasslands i go!


Man made attractions


Campfire place





Inside the tourist center. Sin now its my turn to look pregnant here haha


The cute Meerkats we saw along the way


The lion enclosure with no lions in the pic haha; and sin your turn to look pregnant!


row row row your boat...


Obstacle bridges


The very beauty of nature...

We didn't really get to see the hippos in action. They were all sleeping and lazing around, none were swimming or moving, so i guess we just had to make do with the fake one.

This little one was playing around that particular hippo when we wanted to take the picture. His parents told him to move away, but you know being a kid and all, he couldn't take instructions well. So our dear Sin just opened her arms (you know the come give me a hug action), and he went happily right into it and posed for the pic! What a friendly kid = )

After finishing the first trail, Sin got bit hungry, so we went to the cafe for brunch. Hmmm but only she ate, so not we but she haha.

Happy with her pie and LOADS of ketchup

Me trying not to fall asleep

Next on, we went to explore the second trail. Its somewhat like a open park where the animals are allowed to roam about freely. However, we were advised to stay on the paths only, so of course we can't go chasing the animals. Anyway there were only emus, bandicoots(which we didn't see at all), wallabies and kangeroos.

Entering the unknown zone....

I told the two that since they had a gate like that, i am sure there must be some kind of animal roaming freely inside. And of course they felt vulnerable haha, so i walked first. I was constantly turning back to talk to them, and i didn't notice what was right in front of my footpath...

A huge emu!

ok, that did shock me. Thank goodness Sin screamed when she saw it, or i would have blindly crashed into it. And who knows, it may not like me and start pecking on me haha. There were plenty of them walking about, but they don't attack you. Just basically minding their own business. One of the park rangers said they love humans? Cause they basically grew up in this enclosure.

Yoke Huey and Sin

I wanted to go closer to it for a photo shot, but it started walking halfway through.Damn.

A random pic along the way

After all these walking, we were all prepped up for or vehicle tour. I think this will be the closest i will ever get to Africa. We booked for the private tour, which means less people and a personal guide. The guide would also drive of the pathways (which the general tour guide won't), and try to bring us as close to the animals as possible. Our safety was the top priority, so she would move the vehicle away asap when she senses an attack.

Our vehicle

In the vehicle

The bulls, they looked quite ugly anyway haha. And not forgetting, they were like shitting and pee-ing like non stop, didn't smell too good for sure.

Eh huey, you can camouflage in with the bulls, same colour!

The cute camel: doesn't it give you the kind of awe.... feeling?

The two of them

We saw some other animals along the way like wild horses, cows, antelopes, but i don't think i will put all of them up here. I would want to put up pics of the giraffes though, but the pics are in another camera so too bad. They were really sweet, when they saw our vehicle approaching, they actually walked up to the vehicle, and one of them like knew how to walk around the vehicle so that everyone could have a good look at them and take pictures of them. So clever! Unlike the stupid cows that wanted to charge at us, but we got away in time thanks to the fast reflexes of the guide.

We then proceeded to for mini picnic at a nice cool area. Free hot drinks and peach muffins, yum yum.

Everyone helping themselves

This was our beautiful and friendly tour guide. I think she looks like Renne Zellweger, you reckon? Anyways, after our picnic we went back to the vehicle to look at more animals but no pics of that with me now. Left the zoo and met up with PY for dinner at Richmond. Both our camera's batt was flat by then so no pictures as well.

I enjoyed myself that day quite a bit, and the experience was definitely refreshing. Don't think i will go back a second time though, it's like worth it for a one-time experience, after that nah. Going to look for some food now, hungry.

Visitors from Singapore

On sunday night, me, Vince and Yee Lin had some special visitors from Singapore! Our church friends came to Melbourne for a visit and we met up for dinner. They came as a whole family actually, but they are all my church friends, you know what i mean? Something like two of my church friends got married, and the other guy is the brother of the guy that got married?Haha nevermind, i think i am confusing you even more. Anyways we brought them to Lygon Street, they wanted Fish and Chips, but we didn't know where to find that.

The girls at Papa Gino's

and of course the guys...

The famous food here would have to be the pizzas. They are freshly made on the spot and you can have two different flavours in one pizza.

For example, we had half mushroom and half aussie pizza. Looks so good...

It was a very simple dinner with just some catching up. Didn't stay there for too long because they needed to fly the next morning, and the kids were waiting for mummy at home too = ) Such a pity i didn't get to see them this time round.

We paid the bill (actually they paid the bill haha, it was a treat from them, so nice!!!), and took our final group photo before leaving the place.

Thank you all so much for this wonderful night and of course the wonderful meal. See you guys in Singapore!

I kept to my promise...

Ok, so after going missing for about a week, what have i been up to? Hee, yes more eating and eating and eating. Sorry Huixian, haha its really turning into a food blog! Ok, let me start with desserts with huey on Friday. That woman lost to me on a bet, thats why she had to treat me to Max Brenners haha. Eh but i insisted on paying her half, but she refused, she said i will cook her Aglio Olio in return, so my dear housemate, don't said i cheat you ok!



The Melbourne Central branch


This time sitting outside...



While waiting for our food and drinks...


Her hot chocolate came first, not fair! Haha she paid an extra $1.20 for that whipped cream.



The Belgian Waffle again!

This time round i tried their ice blended drink. Yellow granita, which is blended with lemon and mint leaves, nice and refreshing!



<3


Moving on to Saturday. We had plans to go to the open range Werribee Zoo, but i only realised the caption "Bookings are essential" on the website just one day before. When i called, they were closed already, so i thought its ok, i will call early in the morn to check again. Forced myself to wake up at 9 am to call, and the stupid pre-recorded hotline just goes..."Thank you for using voicemail", and then my phone line gets cut. How irritating. Besides, it was pouring outside, freezing like mad. It didn't rain the whole week, and when we decided to go to the zoo, it must rain, so it got cancelled. We are going to try again next week, hopefully it doesn't pour again.

Nevertheless, we did have other plans. Went down to Camberwell's Sophia to have dinner. This place is well known for serving super large portions with a low price. The restaurant was darn spacious and the portions were really large too.

Went with the sisters as usual

Waiting....

We had Calamari as starters and they were delicious! Unlike those we always eat, you know where the squid is super skinny, and most of the time you are eating flour? This is not the case here, the squid is fat and juicy, and you can't taste the flour. We also ordered this pasta trio thing where we can choose 3 flavours of pasta in one plate, and gosh its huge.

See what i mean by large??

Hmm...do you think i can hide behind it?

Huey and me wanted to bet with the sisters that we could still order another pizza and finish it, but...we were terribly wrong. Thank goodness we didn't haha, because we couldn't even finish our pasta!

Leftovers..enough for one more person?

Random Pic

See where the leftovers went...One full box of takeaway, should be enough for 2, not just 1.

This did not stop us from having desserts, but of course we shared. Decided to go for the gelato which has lots of flavours and again, huge in size haha. The service there is darn good man, waiters were fast, friendly, and helpful!

The waiter that only allowed me to take a pic of him unless i be in the pic as well

A tower of gelato!

The yummy cakes

PeiYi wanted to take a picture with the cakes as well, but when i was going to take for her, the manager waved his hand and we thought we were not allowed to take pictures of their cakes. He proceeded to open the fridge and took a whole cake out, and told PeiYi to pose with the cake, how sweet!

The people there are all so lovely

Leaving the place.

We were looking for people to help us take this group photo, and there were 3 guys smoking outside, and they were asians. When i approached them, i don't know why my first instinct was to speak to them in Chinese (I guess my brain must have assumed they were from China), i went "qing wen ni ke bu ke yi..." then i went oh sorry, i meant could you take a picture for us please. I felt so embarassed! Haha and they were from indonesia la! Blur me.

Next stop, Golden Monkey. Huey has been raving to me how nice this place would be and i will like it. I wasn't too convinced by her, but whoa! I really liked that place so much! But i hated her reason, she said because that place has very "China designs" so she thinks i will like it. Stupid woman, and is there anything wrong with satin material clothes? She says i am like a China woman because i like satin, crazy right she? See Yoke Huey, you are crazy haha. I do like the place because of the Oriental design, but not because it has "China designs" ok.

They are two seperate areas, see the white line?

The bar top

Looks like someone's living room right?

Our cozy corner, so private! Looks a bit like a K box room, but its not.

Me and darling Sin...

Me and NOT-darling Yoke huey hahahahaha, see the 60s pictures behind?

Our drinks: The Once Again Virgin, Butterfly Claw, Virgin Sacrifice

Interesting names huh? I had a mocktail this time round, didn't feel like having something alcoholic. Mine was the Once Again Virgin and is the nicest out of the 3! Haha huey went for the reccommended one, Butterfly Claw, which had alcohol, but it tasted...well not so appealing.

Sin, you look like a Koala bear, and huey you are the tree branch! Haha

As usual, self portrait

Wanted to try some back to the 60s thing, you know how they don't really smile in the pictures, but the both of us look like we are in some horror show's poster.

A happier black and white picture to end of with.

I really like this place a lot, better than Jwow. Next time we go back again ok Huey?