Blabbers From the Squished Brains: July 2009

This post is to update friends whom I have not met over the past year... (Thanks David for reminding me to constantly update this blog - Will promise to keep going when I get to the UK)

I've got gold fish memory. 3 seconds. Gone. So the following is what I remember of my last 10 months. Using my facebook uploads as a basis... so here's a little more words and a few random pictures. For more pictures, check my FB pictures. If you are not on facebook... then JOIN!

Oh... for those who I have lost touch for a loooong time, I will be leaving Dubai this September (on the 30th) and up to UK... So if anyone is stopping by London, or visiting Cambridge... drop me a note!!

JUL 09
I reckon, it's one of the best month of my working life. 1 whole month of holiday!! Whee... But it never seems long enough. Currently in Melbourne writing this, but I reckon by the time I click on "Publish Post", I'd be back in Singapore... or even back in Dubai

Over the last 3 days, I was down in Tassie with my 2 cousins and housemate. The 3 days felt sooo long. Took another visit to see Dave & Jackie's home and 3 dogs - Brooke, Bella & Piper... Ooo, love it there! (and Dave, if you are reading this, remind Jackie I'm coming back for the book classes!).

Also visited Tim and Lauren at Otago. Home with an extremely nice night view... The picture below is of Mt Wellington from Otago. Twas freezing up at Mt Wellington. Blizzard. But we still made it.

Within the 3 days and with only 9 hours of daylight (sun sets at 4:30pm, complete darkness by 5-ish)... and dinners at 6pm, pubs shutting at 8pm... all we could do was the Freycinet National Park - Wineglass Bay and its surrounds.

Earlier in the month, my cousin Rachel got married.. This world is too small. Her husband's cousin happens to be a classmate from Trinity College in Melbourne... and another cousin is Jeremy's best friend. It was a simple and elaborate wedding. Nice.

Jun 09

One of my worst nightmare months... It was days and nights of stressful packing to get out of the apartment.... and selling the car.

Yes I will be in Dubai till end September, but my lease on the apartment was up, and the landlord wasn't willing to extend it for another 3 months. He said I should renew my lease for a year and break the lease... Hence the early move. As for the toyota... annual registration and insurance was coming up. Did the sums, didn't seem quite right. So I sold it, and renting till I leave.

May 09

May was a quiet month... except for a short 5 day trip to Maldives... and down to one of the island called Maalhos. Went there with a few friends for some English lesson teaching - something which I don't think I'm good at!! Living on the island was quite an adventure... with the cockroaches, crabs, and mosquitoes.

Apr 09
This was another month of long-ish holiday... Was back in Singapore (no not specifically for my bday - though Yujun always seems to think so). Did the usual celebration with the girls - Cheryl & Jun. And also had a surprise (too much of a surprise) from the Melbourne gang. Thanks!

Travelled up to Siem Reap with the family. Short holiday, and another chance for me to play with my new toy - the 10-22mm wide angle lens! Did the whole Angkor Wat thing... Tonle Sap and the surrounds.

Jan - Mar 09
No recollection of what happened. I guess I was stuck in Dubai... doing the routine thing. Work, Eat and Sleep... and the occassional picnic in the park...

Dec 08
Was in Melbourne. Didn't do much except for entertaining some of dad and mum's friends. Oh yes, it was my little brother's graduation (a graduation i missed - just by 2 days... at least we did take some family photos!). Finally... after 3 long years.

I did get some nice shots of Melbourne whilst playing with the 450D. Was experimenting with my new (at that time) camera.

North Bank, Melbourne (Opposite Southbank - duh)

Federation Square, Melbourne

Flinders Street Station

Miss Marples, Dandenong

Oh, and I couldn't resist uploading this picture. Liming has got a hungry hippo site... so I shall not compete with her. Below: Ibuki @ East Bentleigh. They're opening a legal one along Lonsdale St. So this illegal join will shut for a while.

Nov 08
Hiaks, could not remember much... except that I went to New York and Boston. Caught up with Joy, EeMing and her friend in New York... and the three of us trotted together on Jet Blue to Boston. Man, there were airport dramas. We nearly missed our Super Shuttle bus to JFK. Why? All because we were busily admiring Grand Central Station... What fun. Literally had to run after the van to stop it from leaving. Like olympic sprint... RUN! (Actually, it's probably one of the first time I see Joy running).

New York - Love it each time i go there. Can't remember how many times... but it's never enough.

From Empire State - Twas freezing....

Times Sq

Central Park

Boston - Oooo I love this city. It's like the Melbourne of Australia. No offense to New York.

Joy and her "hate Yale" T-Shite

Seriously, there is a starbucks at every corner - AND... it's not even good coffee

In Boston, Joy and I went to some super atas (meaning really high-class, up market - you get the gist) high tea. Pay peanuts, get monkeys... so we decided to fish out our Macadamia nuts, so this was what we got... Not bad... not my cup of tea.