Melbourne Trip (2 ~ 8 July) Day 2

On 3 July...

Today is a long day, since we have to visit quite a lot of places. First, we went back to Federation Square, but this time we charged straight to the visitor information centre to ask about the daily tours. The officer there is quite nice, and we pay (sob sob, precious $450, stab my heart) for 3 daily trips to Great Ocean Road, Mount Buller and Philip Island. We were so glad to hear that we can have a free half day tour to Dandenongs, wow!!

Flinders Street Station, what a beauty...

Nice building but forgot what it is..

Carriage by horse in the middle of Melbourne City (appreciate this pic, actually i stand on a middle of a busy road to take it, phew...)

After that we went to Immigration Museum, a museum that tell us more about the historical backgrounds of immigrants of Australia. It was quite a nice museum since it was really informative, plus it was free!! We had a look there for around one hour, then leaved.

Posing in front of the museum

Ok, then it was lunch time. We couldnt find any better place to have lunch other than Chinatown. Chinatown in Melbourne is quite similar to the one in Sydney, and of course a lot of things to eat. It was hard to choose from so many stalls, but luckily we chose one that is cheap and delicious. Huhu lunch time!!

Chinatown, a must-go

Me and Jason with a statue

After having lunch, we went to Victoria State Library. I was so surprised that it looked similar to the NSW Art Gallery, with the Parthenon-like design and various statues. We actually planned to have a look inside but since the guard was so unfriendly (i guess he is a bit racist), plus we need to put our bags in locker (need money), so we just took some photos outside. More than enough.

I am handsomer than the statue right? Keke

What? The library collapses behind us?!!

Without wasting time, we went straight to Old Melbourne Gaol, an old jail. Only a portion of the building left there. However, there is something interesting. If you pay like $26 (if not wrong), you can have the experience of being a prisoner!! You will be handcuffed into the cells (very scary right?) We decided not to enter, and have some photos instead...

Prisoner waiting to be prosecuted...

Remaining wall of cells

Next, we went to Yarra River and had a cruise! Due to the bad weather the cruise only half of the river. Another new experience for me, I have not had a cruise on river before, and certainly it was different than the sea cruise in Sydney. River cruise is more relaxing with gentle breeze, and we crossed quite a lot of bridges. Of course, I have some nice coffee on board, and some nice photos for sure.

What attracts Pizza so much wor?

Stadium where Australian Tennis Open (First Grand Slam of the year) is held

'1, 2, 3 Cheese--' said Captain (I pity him coz he multitasked - manouvre the boat, introducing places, washing cups and take photos, sad)

The cruise lasted one hour ++, and we then went to New Quay. Not really in our schedule, just went there for fun. I could say it is a smaller version of Circular Quay in Sydney, but the air is freezing. Not much to do, and to make it worse, it rained. We hopped on a free tram and leaved.

Me and Pizza in front of New Quay

New Quay

Ok, last destination of the day, Eureka Skydeck! This is indeed the focus of the day, i guess. Eureka Skydeck is the tallest tower in the Southern hemisphere, and has the highest viewing platform as well. It was a bit crowded up there, but really the view is awesome!!! We still decided to challenge the Edge (glass viewing platform stretching 3 m out of the building). It was not that scary, but i could say it was fun and a new experience for me that have not even been to KL Tower. Ok camera time...

Night view of Melbourne city, wow!!

Eureka Skydeck Tower

Three people in the Edge (This costs $15, sob, but nice!!)

Long Day huh? Next - Great Ocean Road

Melbourne Trip (2 ~ 8 July) Day 1

2 July, afternoon and evening in Melbourne,

Nothing much today, we boarded the plane at Sydney Domestic Airport, and arrive at Melbourne at around 5 pm. Melbourne is a bit colder than Sydney and again i wore shorts (sob sob...)

Me inside a tram, main transport system in Melbourne City

We basically found it quite difficult to get to College Square, but 'thanks' to Jason who asked us to walk for 2 km and then take a tram, we arrived at College Square safely. Yuen was there waiting for us, and brought us out for dinner. We had our first dinner in Melbourne at Lazat Restaurant (or whatever), very authentic Malay dishes but my fried chicken wing is extremely small (sob...).

We then walk take a tram to Federation Square, a building that commemorates the 100 years of federation of various states in Australia (correct me if I am wrong, melbourne guys). Not very impressive compared to Sydney Opera House, but the architecture of the building looks a bit like 'the bird nest' in Beijing. We spent some time there taking photos, then walked along the Yarra River. I could say Melbourne is similar to Brisbane, that the city it along the river, not like Sydney which is a port itself. A serene night view, good.

Federation Square and surroundings

Part of Yarra River

Night view of Melbourne city along Yarra River, nice huh?

Me and Pizza and behind is a dunno-what tower

Behind me is the river and the city

Three guys haha!!!

Thats all for the day we reached Melbourne, more on next day!!

Dear Friends

明天就要开学了，百般无奈。过了一个月的冬假，平日的上课生活又得继续了。我时常在想，如果没被JPA选中的话，我现在的生活会怎样？会不会好象现在一样，放假后又开学，开学后又放假？在这里求学真的那么好吗，真的是我想要的吗？我知道如果其他看到我这篇文章，一定会骂我，说我身在福中不知福。

我时常在想，如果十年前的我没有跳班，我现在的命运会如何？会一样吗？我会认识中学那班朋友吗？虽然我认识的朋友不多，但是我知道哪些是我人生中最好的朋友，永远都都没有其他人能够取代。中学时代虽然我还不太懂事，时常会跟他们吵架，但是过了一会儿，又变回最要好的朋友。

现在呢？他们去了哪里？过得怎样？我一无所知。联络吗？有限，只不过是片面的电邮。还会有聚在一起谈心的机会吗？我不敢奢望。回去碰面时，还会像以前一样，无所不谈吗？还是我太天真呢？大家的命运都不一样，见面的机会都未必有呢。

是我想太多吗？或许回去时，大家还是会说欢迎，或许还会问我近况如何，或许会叫我分享经验。但是在他们心目中，我会不会只是一个出了国回来的陌生人？他们都会认为我变了，骄傲了，飞出国了，瞧不起人了。但是我自己认为呢？还是我自己想得太完美了，认为自己不会变，认为自己还会是中学时的自己。

人生真的有那么多事需要抉择吗？但是为什么每次都是我孤身作战呢？十年前，两年前，为什么只有我被选中？要说幸运还是不幸呢？为什么每次都要离别我的朋友呢？感情刚变好，为什么就要分开？是我太自私吗？或是我太失败，什么事都要靠朋友？但是朋友啊，你知不知道，游子一个人在外的感受如何？当朋友的定义变成只是见面时的一句哈罗，或是一个点头，那还算朋友吗？你可否知道，没有人分享你的喜怒哀乐的感受？就像现在。是哭是笑，谁会想知道？人说天蝎座的认识神秘又孤单，但如果让我在选一次，我不会想要天蝎座。

朋友啊，或许我现在身在远方，或许再也不能碰面，但是，中学朋友永远都会在我心中。这首‘Dear Friends’ 是送给我亲爱的朋友的，期望他日再见。

Sydney Tour (26 June ~ 2 July) Day 6 and half of Day 7

1 July...

We woke up really late today, actually lazy to move already. We went to Bondi Junction, and here we had some nice bargain and of course bought something cheap. I was not amazed by the shopping centre itself, but the shops outside that offer reasonable prices.

Me in front of some shops in Bondi Junction

Ok, we went back after that, and discover that Jason's heater has got problems, so we went to GoLo to fix it. Huh, it closed already by the time we reached, so we went to have some night view at Coogee Beach. Phew~

Night view of Coogee~

2 July until noon...

This is the last day of my Sydney Trip, and of course it had to be ended with something marvellous, University of Sydney!! This time I was so 'lucky' to have Pizza as my tour guide. Hoohooh, what a big uni!! I especially like the Quadrangle, and the buildings.... (something we dont have in UQ, sorry UQ guys...). I was also so lucky to have something extra - an exhibition about ancient civilization going on at the uni, hehe... Tired, so just have a look at the photos in case you have not been there before...

Me at one of the entrance of UniSyd

School of Pharmacy!!

Me in front of graffiti (Pizza said famous)

The exhibition, mummy~~

A real mummy, arent you scared?

Quadrangle!!!

Of course I want to have photo with it~~

After that we went back to Pizza's house, and wow, it was such a big double storey house with only 3 ppl living in. Haiz, Pizza's room is double the size of my room, isk isk... I was also so 'fortunate' to have Pizza cooking pasta for me, hehe, thanks Pizza!!

The end of Sydney trip, stay tuned for melbourne, ta!

Sydney Tour (26 June ~ 2 July) Day 5

30 June...

This was quite a relaxing day, coz we were so tired that we dont have energy to walk anymore. So, first we went to the Powerhouse Museum, quite a modern museum I would say. There are different sections there such as art, locomotion, space, cyber and chemistry. It is a modern museum that does not only exhibit, but also allows interaction with the displayed object so people can learn more. I especially like the section with tonnes of little experiment that I can play, haha. $6 was worth it. I am tired also, these are some photos...

Powerhouse Museum, obviously

In front of the entrance

Behind me is a locomotion dated back to who-know-when

My hand is controlling the magic ball, hehe!!

Next, we went to Chinatown. Not very big but still full of chinese stores, particularly of food and souvenirs. We walked around to find a place to eat our lunch, and oops, Jason suggested we eat dim sum. Haiz, that 'lunch' costs us $37, with one plate of dim sum around $5, hmm i swear never eat dim sum again in Australia. After that we browsed the shops again, and bought dumpling, char siew pau and some souvenirs. Haha, quite nice but I missed the Paddy's Market (like Petaling Street). Haiz, who to blame?

Chinatown

黑店!!!

Me waiting for the dim sum to come, ish...

Thats all for today, relaxing huh? Stay tuned for more... we were near to Melbourne already!!