Christmas Eve Dinner

Maureen and Me at the Christmas eve dinner
Me and Mellishia
My wonderful housemates!
The FOOOOOOOOOODDDDD!!!
The entire gang - both seniors and juniors

Memoirs Of The Year 2005

Its almost the end of the year 2005. Another year has flown past with the blink of an eye.For everybody the year 2005 just like the other years will hold special memories. My aunt once told me that once one turns 21, time will tend to pass at a quicker rate. I have to agree with her. It feels like just yesterday where i celebrated my 21st birthday but now i am 22 years and 4mth old. How have a spent the 22 years + of my life? Well i can say that i spent those years trying to earn myself a good education. At this point i would like to quote Will Rogers 'Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save'. People often say that the childhood and teenage years are often the best years of our life but are they truly? We spend those essential years of our lives mugging away and burning the midnight oil. During this process, we tend to develop our character. The more sociable we are, the more people we mix with and thus the more we learn.


The negative aspect of a person also tends to build up during this period of time. People tend to be more selfish and self - centered. Everything tends to revolve around them. The world consists of me, me and ME. You may not agree with this point of view but just take a look around you. How many people are so giving? In this world where skills take a backseat and a certificate takes the driver seat, selfishness is visible everywhere. I will quote Anne Frank at this point of time 'Parents can only give good advie or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person's character lies in their own hands'. The rush to obtain a certificate has created a bunch of ego centric people. I am not saying education should be eradicated or wrong. Education does give us a sense of achievement and accomplishment. I know i am contradicting myself here but there is more to life than education. One should not be judged by their grades or level of education. We tend to do so. Lets take a look around this us. We have come up with ITS THE END for ITE! Helllllloooooooooooooooo.. I will end with another quote from Tuchman ' Learning from experience is a faculty almost never practised'


This is the part where i recap the significant events of my life as i walk down memory lane. I will try to recall as much as i can.


January
I started off the year with a wedding. My cousin finally tied the knot with his girlfriend of nine years. I wore a saree for the first time in my life thanks to poly mates (thank you guys!).Its been five long years since my chacha passed away. MISS YOU LOTS CHA! The second death anniversary of my aunt's husband.

A brief candle, both ends burning

An endless mile,a bus wheel turning

A friend to share lonesome times

A handshake and a sip of wine

So say it loud and let it ring

We are all part of everything

The future, present and the past

Fly on proud bird

You are free at last

Charlie Daniels

February

Celebrated our first Valentine's Day with kelvin.

March

Worked hard for the final year project. Had a semestral break.

April

Vesakhi was not much of a celebration as i had to prepare for the final smestral examinations for the final lap of my polytechnic life.We had our final year project presentation which was a blast ( Way to go gals!). Celebrated the first anniversary of our courtship with kelvin. Finished the semestral exams and i was finally FREE (till it lasts).

May

My holidays had begun. My partying had started. I could finally be free and not worry about exams and practicals till i started university. My cousin Tasvin from canada gave us a surprise visit. She came in time to celebrate her parent's 25th wedding anniversary.

June

Started shopping for my year stint in Australia. Spent many happy memories with kelvin. Had more coffee outings with Sofia and June.

July

Had to work with NCC for three weeks since we were 'free'. Got my tickets and visa ready for the trip. Had my final farewell dinner with the entire gang on the eve of my departure. They made me a CD where Raihan took time out to actually video shoot my friends and family (Thank you Madh). I cried..haha. On the morning of my departure my best friend came over and we had out last lunch together. She helped make sure my bags were organised. We hugged and cried in the room for a long time. On the night of July 19th i begun my voyage to Australia. Looked for a house to call home for a year. Made new friends.

August

I started the semester in Australia. Celebrated my birthday which was the first birthday in Australia for my friends. Had my first practical in Westmead Hospital.

September

I sat for my first test in Australia.

October

Nothing significant..

November

Exams and exams. My best friend sofia made her way down to sydney. My first Diwali in Sydney.

December

Holidays!! Racial riots in sydney. Trip to Gold Coast had been called off due to unforseen circumstances. Made my way up to blue mountains. My first Christmas in Australia. Oh ya! my parents 25th wedding anniversary ( to be celebrated when i go back).

Blue Mountains - The Official Itenary

We were picked up from the Oz Experience office in the city at about 10 to eight in the morning. The bus ride to the mountains was just slightly over an hour. We practically slept through the journey there due to the late night and early morning the night before.


The first activity on the list for the day was - wildlife viewing. We went to the Euroka Clearing ( a wildlife national park) to see kangaroos in the native bush habitat. I have put up pictures of the kangaroos. Just scroll down and you will see them. The kangaroos were much smaller than expected. They looked better hopping than when they tried to make an effort to walk.


We then went on to the Grand Canyon Loop Walk which gave us an overview of the blue mountain environment. We walked for about three hours from the top of the cliff down into the canyon through claves, under rock ledges, past waterfalls and temperate rainforest.


Lunch was provided by the company. It comprised of a sandwich, salad, pasta, fruits and Uncle Toby's healthy bar.


The next activity on the list was the Grose Valley. We took in the views of Grose Valley and cliff tops.


We walked down the historic Furber Stairs into the Jamison Valley through the lush rainforest, past the pistoresque Katoomba Falls and viewed the three sisters rock formation. The legend behind the three sisters is as follows. There was this Aborigin medicine man and his three daughters wholived up the mountains. He had warned his daughters against coming down to the valley as there was a monster living up there. But as usual curiosity kills the cat and the daughters decided to be adventurous one day and throw caution to the wind. But of course they were chased by the monster. The father saw the scene and pointed a magic wand to the monster to stop it from chasing his daughters but the monster was too strong and resisted the 'powers'. The old man had a choice - he could just watch his beautiful daughters being eaten up by the monster or could do something to his daughters. He turned them to stone. Thus you have the three sisters rock formation.


Last but not least we sat on the world's steepes railway. We took it from the bottom of the Jamison Valley and rode it up the valley rim. It was really really nerve wrecking but the view was specatacular.


Overall i had a thoroughly enjoyable day with the entire gang. We were back in Sydney at about seven but my housemates and i headed down for a movie. We watched the Harry Potter movie. I must say its better than the third show. This is the only Harry Potter movie i thoroughly enjoyed.Well that was my eventful day. I woke up this morning at noon so you can imagine how exhausted i was! I have to start packing today so i shall end this entry off now!

Blue Mountains II

A breathtaking view from the top
The water looks so fresh right?
The THREE SISTERS Rock Formation
Paradise
I don't know what to say

Blue Mountains I

My Long Lost Relative Found Up In The Mountains
More of them
Picture of the year 2005
Me and Mela- Very tired
Bernice, me and mela - still looking fresh

A New Day

The sun had begun to set and i hung up the smile i have worn the whole day. Though i will make sure that it is the first thing i put on in the morning just in case it is 'that day'. I want her to see me in my very best.


I do the normal routine - eat dinner, clean the house, write (the usual stuff).


And i lay down, hoping to fall asleep quickly so that my new day will arrive quickly. A new day with a brand new sun.


But as i lay there and wait for the worlt to turn half way around, i think about her. And sometimes i smile, the smile will turn into a snicker and often the snicker will result in a burst of laughter.


And there are times where i get that lump in my throat and the tight feeling in my chest and sometimes that feeling overwhelms me and begins to turn into a tear and often the tear multiplies itself and i end up fighting a losing battle.


Then somehow either through joy or sadness, i drift and find myself asleep. Then the dreams begin and keep me company till the new day arrives.


When i awake it is with such excitement! Because i tell myself it could be the day that every other day has led up to and the first day of the rest of my life. I quickly dawn my smile, because i do want her to see my at my very best. Then i look out of the window even though i know its dawn but i still have to confirm that i have been given a chance to find her.


And there it is...THE SUN! Even when it is cloudy, i can somehow see it. It smiles at me and says 'thank you' and i smile back.


Then i ask myself 'is this the day?'. And the excitement rushes over me again. Then i ask myself 'where is it going to be?'.


Maybe it'll be at the water fountain and unexpectedly there i will find her and much more than my thirst will be quenched.


Maybe it will be at the grocery store while i am picking out fruit where she will show me the difference between fresh and spoilt. Then from that moment, nothing i eat will taste the same as before. Because she will bring out the simplest beauty in everything i taste, smell, touch, hear or feel.


Or maybe today will be the day where my angel brings an item to the cash register without its price tag. And as i wait behind the angel ahead of all the frsutrated people who are in such a hurry about their busy lives, I will find myself blessed with extra time. Just enough time to start a conversation with the beautiful person behind me that i might otherwise not have noticed. But i found her because of a 'price check on register 5'.


So will today be the day i say 'thank you god'? Thank you for the sun, which began my new day. Thank you for granting me faith when i arose this morning that i would find her in this new day. But most of all, thank you for not having me to wait to see another sunrise. Because whenever i want to see it, i will look at her and there she shall always be, in her eyes, she will forever hold it for me.


She is my sunrise, my dawn and my new day.



This entry is specially dedicated to you kelvin.

Flemington and Auburn

Yo peeps! The above picture is the result of my outing today. Its nice right??? But trust me, it looks MUCH MUCH better when its on me!

Shopping and KrispyKreme Doughnuts!

So what do a bunch of girls who are bored stiff at home do?Well they leave the house to do some shopping and eating!! And thats precisely what me and my housemates did yesterday!


We went down to our backyard (not in the literal sense). The sports shops were situated behind the station which is about a thirty minute walk from my place. But the walk was worth every minute!!!!! I bought an addidas and puma top for myself. Bought for other tops but they were not for me! Hehehe.. They were for the people back home. I think i have done more than enough shopping this year. I need to stay at home man! But nevertheless i am flying back next weekend so can tahan till then.


In between the shops, my stomach started rumbling ver badly. I realised too that i can;t take hunger very well. And thats very bad!! So i had to stop by subway to grab a cookie. As we walked on we saw the KrispyKreme doughnuts cafe and sat down while enjoying the doughnuts and air con. It was not too hot yesterday but i guess the air con did serve as a temporaty relief from the sun.


We wanted to have indian food for dinner but on all days the guy had to close his shop yesterday!!!!!!!!!!! Can you believe it???? So there went my 'masala thosai'!!!!!!


We had McDonalds in the end. It was satisfying since i have not eaten McDonalds for a super long time. We headed back home after that. But that was not the end.We dumped our shopping bags at home and headed down to Berala which is the next town and is withing walking distance. We picked up a few groceries and 15 dvds to keep us occupied during the nights.


Today we are just too tired after all the walkingyesterday to do anything else. I did my laundry though. I washed my new tops..hehehe


So now i am gonna watch a movie. So till the next entry.You guys take care and see you people soon!!!

Gold Coast NO More...

Ok i am still in Sydney. Was SUPPOSED to be off to Gold Coast but NO!!!! There are some riots taking place in the the famous beach resorts of Sydney so the plan has been cancelled due to the fear that the riots might spread. Oh well! Another plan has back fired on me unfortunately

Oh well i just guess i am fated to remain in Sydney! So anyways....

I headed down to Parammata yesterday to do some last minute shopping. Bought gifts for my family back home. Have settled everything. Now i am wondering if i should buy something for myself since i have bought nothing for myself. Hmmmm..That is VERY tempting.

So i have spent the day unpacking. That was the most eventful part of the day. Right now i am rotting in front of the laptop filling you guys in.

Well nothing much is happening on my side. Just planning how to kill time tomorrow. Might head for a movie tomorrow. My friends are keen about the Harry Potter show so will probably head tho the cinemas tomorrow.

So till the next entry folks....G'Day Mate!

You have got to discover you, what you do and trust it.

Barbra Steirsand

I have got a new blogskin!!!

You must have realised that i have changed my blogskin. I decided that its time for a change. Unlike my previous blogskin, the current blogskin is a contrast to it. I kinda like the picture that is at the side. It has a rather soothing effect don't you think?

Sorry Peeps...But Its More Pictures!!!

The wind at Bondi Beach was one of a kind
At the Opera House
Busy replying to a SMS
Planning the next day's outing
At starbucks after a long and exhausting day!

More Pictures...

The minah and i looking fresh before heading out to the City
Minah and i again in the train before heading to Circular Quay for the Habour Bridge and Opera House
Me..At Bondi Beac h
Me again after a long, long day..What can be more relaxing than starbucks?
Us AGAIN! In front of the Harbour Bridge

Its Summer...

Its summer (duhh! i mentioned it in the title). So anyway.. Sofia has gone back and is safe and sound in Singapore. It did take me a while to get adjusted to the house being so quiet but then i know i am heading back so thats keeping me going. But alas! I have something to look forward to before heading back. I am heading down to Gold Coast on monday afternoon.


So thats kinda exciting! Gonna head out to settle the tickets and stuff. We have booked ourselves a week stay in Sleeping Inn Backpackers. I am looking forward to the trip but after that my bank balance is going to hit rock bottom. Haha .. But i might as well go now if not to make another trip i will have to pay for the flight and blah blah.. Who knows i may never get a chance to holiday again. So i am going!

The weather has been really really warm. The sky is cloudless. I am wishing for the rain to cool the ground down abit. The weather is such a deterant to going out. But i have to settlethings for the trip if not... haha. and i need to get my parents something as well. I still have no idea wht to get for my dad!! Oh well! i will just see when i get to the city.

Ok i shall end here. I have no idea when i will write again but just keep checking..

Bondi To Bronte Beach

Was hoping to catch the wave roll in...and i did!!!
Thats me trying to squint to avoid the sun rays
A touch of my photographic skills there
The sun, the sea and the babes & dudes
A view from Bronte Beach

Junting's Birthday

A shot of three of us - Me, Jeannie, Junting
The not too healthy but great tasting desserts
Jeannie and I
Me and Junting