Another Year

A significant milestone today. Quarter life crisis has set in. (Well, i think i hit my quarter life crisis a while ago).

Today, I didn't do much. Dropped Jeremy off for his spear fishing adventures - a new and expensive sport he picked up. He dragged Dad along. At the end of the day, they got a leatherjacket that weighed about 3kg and 7 Abalones! Too bad he didn't catch a Stingray this round. Last time, the sambal stingray was just awesome!

The GIANT Leatherjacket

Anyway, I've been glued to the TV over the last few months. I did manage to catch 6 episodes of my TCS drama series "Holland V" in a day. It's some Singapore series.

Had a big dinner at Pacific House. Lobster, Oysters, etc etc. I feel like throwing up. Too much rich food. Eewk. To end it all off... was a nice little cheese cake.

My Cake

Turning older - It's my party and I cry if I want to... but I didn't feel like it.

Easter Holidays

Happy Easter. Hope we all found those hidden easter eggys.

Took a drive down to the Great Ocean Road on Friday with Dad, Mum, Boy - Jeremy, 2 cousins - Sue & Joy, Jess, and Joy's friends - KJ, Jaclyn & SS. Haven't had a road trip in a long long time.

Got to see the 12 Apostles - Actually, there were only 7??? or maybe 8??? It's my 2nd time down the Great Ocean Road over my 8 years plus in Melbourne.

Housemates Shot

Cousin Shot

Family Shot - Take 10

My Lil Brother

Spent the night at a little motel in Warrnambool - Riverside Motor Inn - quite cozy - and cheap too! It was one of the few places that didn't have the Easter weekend "must stay min. 3 nights" clause.

MacDonalds breakfast is a must at every road trip. The usualy sausage & egg mcmuffin. Felt so full and fat. Fish and Chips, Pasta, Maccers... what's next? Need some excercise.

We were down at the beach at Warrnambool. Took some "Jetstar" ad-type shots. I think Jetstar should hire us to do their ads. Agreee????

WHEEEE.... I can FLY! - Fly Jetstar?!?

Family Shot Take 20

Cheeseworld @ Allenford. Check out the giant cheese!

That's the Good Friday and Easter Saturday that just passed... It was a good break, good holiday. Feeling sad that I'm leaving soon... =(

Misc & Random Events

To those who did email me, thank you for all those suggestions on Tassie.

just to keep the mouth watering, i've taken a few pictures of our big dinners over the last few months. our household tries to have a big dinner once a week. a big dinner is defined as cooking many many dishes (anything more than just fried rice is considered a big dinner). as usual, we have our frequent flyer joining us... Mr David Tan. we all figured that since we are all "tan"s, he is allowed in the house for dinner.

In no particular order, here are some pictures of our dinner. This is to prove... MUM, I'm EATING WELL!

Dinner 1: Baked Fish with Onions, Mushroom and Carrots + Mash Potato (yum my favourite) + Fried chicken + Salad

Dinner 2: Baked Chicken & Cheese rice - Jeremy's speciality + Baked fish (again) + Rack of Lamb (courteousy of David Tan) + Steam Vegs

Dinner 3: BBQ Stingray + Egg - done the Japanese way + Minced beef + Asparagus + Soup + chewy beef +???

Dinner 4: Nasi Lemak - The usual Coconut Rice, BBQ sting ray with a lot of sambal chilli, Luncheon Meat, Egg, Ikan Bilis & Peanut + KaiLan

Well well... that's our once a week attempt since January. It was more like one of our new years resolution to eat together more often.

Anyway, since this is so random, here's a picture of Joy and her dead plant.

Question: How long does it take for Joy to kill a Basil plant. Answer: 5 mins! - Just after it got back from the Market

Randomness again... this is at the belgian beer garden. The pipis was soooo good.

And this is what happens after a friday night overdose of alcohol. - since then... I've reformed. No more drinks on a Friday night. (for a while at least)

Tassie Ideas?

I have my Travel Tassie all organised and planned. Just waiting confirmation if all is good. If anyone has an suggestions about what to do, or what NOT to do (or not worth doing), please send me an email!

Well, the places of interest are:

• Duck Reach Power Station - That's not because I'm an engineer
• National Automobile Museum of Tasmania (no... it's not my thing)
• Meander Falls
• Liffey Falls
• St Helen's Point
• Bicheno
• Frecinet National Park
• Mt Amos
• Wineglass Bay
• Swansea
• Richmond
• Mt Wellington
• Mt Field
• Hobart
• the Office + David's farm
• Port Arthur
• Queenstown
• Cradle Mountain'
• Burnie??

Yes, all these places in 8-9 days. It should be more than enough. What else have we missed? Suggestions? Anyone?

No no, the overland trail shall be saved for a future trip. That would be too much for this trip.

trouble and more trouble

After more than a month of confirmation of my transfer, my boss finally found out that I'm leaving. He found out that his boss and his boss' boss have been organising my transfer. Well, basically, from now to the time I leave Melbourne, I'm not going to have a good time at work. Maybe I should hide in Dubai and minimise my time in Melbourne. But the melb office is paying my wages from now till then. how am i going to justify this... i'll find a way

It's really hard trying to dodge your boss in the corridor, pretending to read some papers whilst walking along the corridor, trying to dodge the awkardness at the lift lobby etc. He hates me. I bet he does.

I can't wait till I leave. Taking the month of April off from work... not the whole month, but almost. Heading back to Tassie again for a little bushwalking, sightseeing etc. March is going to be a long long month. I am just looking forward to April. That would be great. Can't wait. Over stressed now... ;(

Tassie

First destination after Tasmania was the office. It was a nice place. David had to go in to sort somethings out for Dubai office. Hence the destination. After all, we are located at a pretty good spot.

Stayed with David at his house. He's a WWOOF host. So I met a German wwoofer when she was staying at his place. Svenja is her name.

Salamanca Place was the first official - non-work related venue! Took a walk down the saturday market. There was quite a bit of things to see... but just not too interested. I did enjoy a Bratwhust though.

Richmond was the next destination. This place has a long history, and has this ancient charm attached to it... including the old gaol, the many heritage listed stone buildings etc. Of course being humans, it has been commercialised and there's been a few morden touches added to it.

Good old-new Richmond

The oldest bridge in Australia (or so they say).

Apparently, Richmond is quite haunted. Story goes like this. The convicts built this buidge many many years ago. At that time, the guard that was in charge was a total arse. So the prisoners killed him. So he's the headless ghost (this i made up) that roams the house adjacent to the bridge (this i did not make up... but it is so they say) - story courtesy of Jackie.

A reception by the river. Such a pretty setting!

A church on the hill - St. John's - The oldest Roman Catholic Church in Australia

View from Mt Wellington - the must-go place in tasmania when you visit. View of the whole of Hobart from one point.

At Mt Wellington

Jackie with the dogs Brooke, Bella and Piper

Dinner at the Swann's

At the fish farm.

That's Svenja

That is a large tree trunk

Up on the way to Mount Field, drove past the farms that grew hops for the beer industry. It's one of Tassie's dominant industry where they sell the hops to the international market too. That explains the vast field of hops. Apparently they take only about a year to grow UP.

Headed off to Mt Field for a bush walk. I must say, Jackie is a real environmentalist. She knows about everything from trees to roots to birds to wildlife etc. The list never ends.

A lunch break before our long walk

At Russell Falls

That's a larger tree trunk

Small little people in a large forest

Hide and seeeeek

With our host David and Jackie

Little Wallabie / Bettung?? I have no idea which is which.

At the Swann's residence...

Everything in the house is hand made by both David and Jackie. including doors, cabinets, kitchen, light fitting, car garage. It's all wood!

My favourite Light fitting - made of Deer's antlers.

DID YOU KNOW... that deers drop their antlers every year?

home sweeeeeet home

After being away for work... it feels so good to be back home again!!!

I am wondering when this flying in and out and up and down will stop.

The permanent offer is coming.... BUT!!!!

I think i need a change of environment.

What say you?

The Asian Culture?!?

A very interesting comment someone made (you-know-who-you-are). Is it an Asian thing that we gather in really big groups and share our food?

I suddenly thought of that comment because I was at ChongFoo's house for dinner with 16 other people just earlier in the evening. We had a feast. Big feast. Our great chef cleaned, scaled and cooked the fish - all in three different styles. I love the assam curry one. Perfect.

Back to my point... yes we asians do share our food, but that's because it's so much easier cooking in a whole pot/pan rather than individually! We're just working the best way around doing things the quickests.

As for gathering in big groups.... I don't know... Anyone has an answer to that?!?

You-Know-Who-You-Are... this post is for you to answer your queries!