In life, we can be hit by rocks so huge that leave us bruises and scars so deep that one can barely get up. With every hit, one always falls. However god never fails to catch us. He pulls those rocks off us and walks hand in hand with us guiding us through each step.
Life can be filled with tests and hardships. I call these storms. Storms that consume so much of our being, storms that leave us holding on with all our might, struggling not to let go, struggling to survive.
Some of us get tested harder than others. But the stronger ones that live through the storms are the ones who come out victorious. There is an amazing feeling that comes with the victory of strength, perserverance, determination and most of all loyalty to god. With each fall and hit, a lesson is learnt. With each lesson comes growth. With growth comes maturity. We learn not to regret the hardship but be thankful for it. For without it, we will not improve or be a better person.
We must not look back at our past mistakes.We have to take those mistakes as part of our journey towards a better and brighter future. We must embrace those experiences and allow them to mold us into the best we can be. No one knows what tomorrow will bring. Each day will come with its own challenges but we must be strong and believe in ourselves.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Back To Uni...
My summer vacation is officially over in about 47 minutes time. 
Thats not very good. No more waking up at one in the afternoon, lazing over brunch and deciding what DVD to watch.
So i spent the entire weekend out. I just wanted to spend my last few days of freedom well...haha
On friday, i had dinner with Aunt amarjit, Melishia and her uncle at this restaurant called Billu's eatery. The food was delicious and he just does not have the north indian cuisine, he has turkish food as well. We had sheesh kebab for starters, nasi briyani, naan and mutton kurma as the main course. Having a sweet tooth, mellishia and i shared a kulfi (ooooooohhhhhhh). As we were exiting out, we decided to have an indian sweetmeat each..pig right?Oh well once in a while treats la ah. The sweetmeat i bought was so melt in the mouth. I decided to get a box for my grandmother before i head home. We had two bottle of vodka melon each during dinner.So i guess that made digestion better.
I spent saturday morning unpacking. Cleaning my room.I met up with mellishia in chastwood for a prayer session. We headed down to the city for dinner. We ended up having Mcdonalds. We then went on to Darling Habour to just take in the evening's air. We ended up in starbucks having coffee and CHEESECAKE!! The evening went well. We did spend alot of time catching up.
I spent sunday morning lazing around and just lounging. I went down to the factory outlets in the afternoon. I wanted to get a jacket but there were not many jackets out so i came back empty handed. I met my housemates in Auburn to get some groceries. Wer met up with the other household (mela and company). We had dinner at Apporto's. It was a rather relaxing evening but not quite when we had to lug the heavy bags back!
Now i am waiting to go shower and just decided to drop in an entry. So me going now....
Thats not very good. No more waking up at one in the afternoon, lazing over brunch and deciding what DVD to watch.
So i spent the entire weekend out. I just wanted to spend my last few days of freedom well...haha
On friday, i had dinner with Aunt amarjit, Melishia and her uncle at this restaurant called Billu's eatery. The food was delicious and he just does not have the north indian cuisine, he has turkish food as well. We had sheesh kebab for starters, nasi briyani, naan and mutton kurma as the main course. Having a sweet tooth, mellishia and i shared a kulfi (ooooooohhhhhhh). As we were exiting out, we decided to have an indian sweetmeat each..pig right?Oh well once in a while treats la ah. The sweetmeat i bought was so melt in the mouth. I decided to get a box for my grandmother before i head home. We had two bottle of vodka melon each during dinner.So i guess that made digestion better.
I spent saturday morning unpacking. Cleaning my room.I met up with mellishia in chastwood for a prayer session. We headed down to the city for dinner. We ended up having Mcdonalds. We then went on to Darling Habour to just take in the evening's air. We ended up in starbucks having coffee and CHEESECAKE!! The evening went well. We did spend alot of time catching up.
I spent sunday morning lazing around and just lounging. I went down to the factory outlets in the afternoon. I wanted to get a jacket but there were not many jackets out so i came back empty handed. I met my housemates in Auburn to get some groceries. Wer met up with the other household (mela and company). We had dinner at Apporto's. It was a rather relaxing evening but not quite when we had to lug the heavy bags back!
Now i am waiting to go shower and just decided to drop in an entry. So me going now....
Back From Newcastle...
Three weeks have gone by and i am back in good old Sydney. Overall, i enjoyed my clinical bloack very much. The hospital i worked at dedicated alot of time teaching me. We even had refresher tutorials before we entered each room which made learning more pleasant but most importantly they spoke ENGLISH! I enjoyed communicating with them. I learnt a new line...What do ya reckon..haha..I looked forward to heading to work every morning because the staff made it so enjoyable. My clinical supervisor took extremely good care of us.She was a very approachable person being a university lecturer herself. I am missing you already Sharon. The teaching style is also rather different (in a GOOD way) and as i mentioned earlier they spoke in a language i could understand. Back home, they would be discussing cases in Mandarin. I told them so many times to get some English subtitles but they would be at it for a while and head back to their normal self. How often can you remind such thick headed people? One of the dreadful things i would have to face when i head back. Sigh! Overall i learnt alot from the centre.
Newcastle had alot of sights to offer. The Newcastle city reaches out to the sea on a Peninsula at the mouth of a river known as the Hunter River. This distinctive geography creates the only Australian City with a CBD simulatneously on the beach and habour front. I enjoyed sitting at the lovely beaches and just oogling at the water. I tried Greeek food for the first time in my life. I had Italian food in a restaurant for the first time as well. I had the best tasting samosa in Australia there. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm...Anyways i shall give you a short description of the places i visited.
City Centre
I found the place dissapointing. There were only a handful of shops which contradicts with my perception of a city centre. But i guess the main attraction was the beach which sits in front of the shops. There were so many restaurants, cafes and pubs selling so many varieties of mouth watering food but unfortunately each time i went there, it was so packed i could not even find a seat.
Honeysuckle and the habour
The habour is home to Honeysuckle (a major waterfront rejuvenation project transforming Newcastle). I had Greek food at the Honeysuckle Market. They even had Punjabi Cha in their menu. I decided to order it but the tea was milky. I decided that it was to leave the punjabis to make cha..haha
The Junction
It is a shopping village by the sea. Why the name 'The Junction'? It was originally the junction point for trains converging on the way to the port from the outlaying coalmines. Today, this area is a junction of designer labels, fascinating jewellry and hip home wares.
Hamilton
I was living a street away from the happening suburb. I could walk there. The cosmopolitan heart of Newcastle is in Beaumont Street (which is in Hamilton). This place was first home to the first Greek and Italian arrivals. This is where i had my first Italian restaurant dinner. There is still a strong Mediterranean focus here with the delicatessens and restaurants offering a veriety of international delicacies. Beaumont Street is a street with many sidewalk cafes and a thriving pub scene. On the 19th March, i had the oppurtunity to attend the food,wine and music festival held in that street. I had fun tasting wine from all sorts. They were not allowed to sell any bottle. They could only allow people to taste (A pity actually). Oh ya! The best tasting Samosa is also found here in a shop called 'Raj's Corner'!!!!
Cooks Hill (Darby Street)
I did not really enjoy this place much. It is famous for its arts galleries and i am not a very arty person so it was a ......YAWN!
Beaches (Thats what Newcastle is about)
Newcastle prides itself on its magnificant coastline. It has proved to be a successful breeding ground for great surfers (Not Bondi as i orinally thought). Here comes the list of beaches : Stockton Beach, Nobbys Beach (this is the one with the walkway which stretches to the middle of the sea..a MAGNIFICANT sight and chance to be up close and personal with the strong waves), Newcastke Ocean Baths, Newcastle Beach, Bar Beach, Dixon Park Beach, Merewether Beach and Merewether Ocean Baths.
Shopping
There were a number of Westfiels shopping centres. But i did not get anything for myself. I got alot of things for my friends and family though...hahha
It was extremely warm during my first two weeks there. I grew more and more tan as each day passed by. I am so tanned that there is a skin tone difference between the part of my wrist covered by my watch and the exposed arm. Sigh! Overall i really really enjoyed my stay in Newcastle. If you guys are thinking of coming to Sydney be sure to pop by Newcastle which can be assesed via train from Sydney for less than $20 (one way).
Newcastle had alot of sights to offer. The Newcastle city reaches out to the sea on a Peninsula at the mouth of a river known as the Hunter River. This distinctive geography creates the only Australian City with a CBD simulatneously on the beach and habour front. I enjoyed sitting at the lovely beaches and just oogling at the water. I tried Greeek food for the first time in my life. I had Italian food in a restaurant for the first time as well. I had the best tasting samosa in Australia there. Yummmmmmmmmmmmm...Anyways i shall give you a short description of the places i visited.
City Centre
I found the place dissapointing. There were only a handful of shops which contradicts with my perception of a city centre. But i guess the main attraction was the beach which sits in front of the shops. There were so many restaurants, cafes and pubs selling so many varieties of mouth watering food but unfortunately each time i went there, it was so packed i could not even find a seat.
Honeysuckle and the habour
The habour is home to Honeysuckle (a major waterfront rejuvenation project transforming Newcastle). I had Greek food at the Honeysuckle Market. They even had Punjabi Cha in their menu. I decided to order it but the tea was milky. I decided that it was to leave the punjabis to make cha..haha
The Junction
It is a shopping village by the sea. Why the name 'The Junction'? It was originally the junction point for trains converging on the way to the port from the outlaying coalmines. Today, this area is a junction of designer labels, fascinating jewellry and hip home wares.
Hamilton
I was living a street away from the happening suburb. I could walk there. The cosmopolitan heart of Newcastle is in Beaumont Street (which is in Hamilton). This place was first home to the first Greek and Italian arrivals. This is where i had my first Italian restaurant dinner. There is still a strong Mediterranean focus here with the delicatessens and restaurants offering a veriety of international delicacies. Beaumont Street is a street with many sidewalk cafes and a thriving pub scene. On the 19th March, i had the oppurtunity to attend the food,wine and music festival held in that street. I had fun tasting wine from all sorts. They were not allowed to sell any bottle. They could only allow people to taste (A pity actually). Oh ya! The best tasting Samosa is also found here in a shop called 'Raj's Corner'!!!!
Cooks Hill (Darby Street)
I did not really enjoy this place much. It is famous for its arts galleries and i am not a very arty person so it was a ......YAWN!
Beaches (Thats what Newcastle is about)
Newcastle prides itself on its magnificant coastline. It has proved to be a successful breeding ground for great surfers (Not Bondi as i orinally thought). Here comes the list of beaches : Stockton Beach, Nobbys Beach (this is the one with the walkway which stretches to the middle of the sea..a MAGNIFICANT sight and chance to be up close and personal with the strong waves), Newcastke Ocean Baths, Newcastle Beach, Bar Beach, Dixon Park Beach, Merewether Beach and Merewether Ocean Baths.
Shopping
There were a number of Westfiels shopping centres. But i did not get anything for myself. I got alot of things for my friends and family though...hahha
It was extremely warm during my first two weeks there. I grew more and more tan as each day passed by. I am so tanned that there is a skin tone difference between the part of my wrist covered by my watch and the exposed arm. Sigh! Overall i really really enjoyed my stay in Newcastle. If you guys are thinking of coming to Sydney be sure to pop by Newcastle which can be assesed via train from Sydney for less than $20 (one way).
Pictures From Newcastle...
A walkway which stretched to the middle of the sea
A few naked men standing in the middle of the street
A bird's eye view of the beach
The lighthouse that was used by the people who first discovered Newcastle
I was amazed at the clarity of the waterFriday, March 03, 2006
Leaving For My First Clinical Placement...
Its the end of the week. The last of week of my summer holiday has flown by. Its already autumn here now. I had a briefing regarding my clinical attachment this morning. I will be heading down to Newcastle for my first clinical block.
We have got our accomocation booked. Its a service apartment!!! Hahah...no housework....yay!!!
(Hope i am not counting my chickens before they hatch). We are even getting picked up from the train station so that will save us the trouble of having to looking for the place once we are in newcastle.
We have got our accomocation booked. Its a service apartment!!! Hahah...no housework....yay!!!
(Hope i am not counting my chickens before they hatch). We are even getting picked up from the train station so that will save us the trouble of having to looking for the place once we are in newcastle.I have no idea if i would be able to get an internet cnnection over there. If i do, i can at least update you on my life. If not i guess we have to wait till i get back.
Beside the excitement of being able to see a new place, there is a down side to this whole thing and thats the workload. We have reports and a reflective essay to ccomplete. 
But i guess thats all part and parcel of a student's life!!!
I had a pretty good lunch. I had some Korean food from this restaurant in Strathfield. It really serves the best Korean food.
Thats it for now. I hope to keep you guys posted once i am in Newcastle otherwise you guys take care and i should be back to the blogging world soon enough!
Wednesday, March 01, 2006
After Saying Goodbye...
Its been two days since i have arrived in Sydney. I felt terrible on the first day of my arrival. I just cried everywhere. I decided not to stay home yesterday as i really had nothing to do and i did not want to depress myself further. I headed to the city at about three and reached about 3.50pm. The train ride did make me smile. It felt good looking at all the scenic views along the railway track. It had a calming effect on me and i did feel much much better.
The aim of my trip to the city was to look around for a pair of navy blue pants. i need them for my attachment. I saw many designs around. But i did not puchase any yesterday. Haha.. I was not in the mood to buy something yesterday. I was more content with window shopping. Thats what i did. I was so tempted to have bubble tea that i gave in to the cravings once the shops were closing at about five. Yes! i had Taro milk tea and it was satisfying...hehe..No regrets!
I had dinner with my house mate Jia Lei at this bistro. I had grilled chicken with salad and mashed potatos and not forgetting a glass of orange juice. I borrowed a DVD to keep me company during the night.
While walking around in the city, i realised that i could not just call anyone now. I used to call my friends and they would be there almost instantly. All those in prompt to coffee gatherings at starbucks. Things i am gonna miss most. At times i wonder if i made the correct decision going home. I have to go through the whole process of missing home again. But as my best friend Sofia mentioned 'You'll be busy soon'. So i think she is right...
The aim of my trip to the city was to look around for a pair of navy blue pants. i need them for my attachment. I saw many designs around. But i did not puchase any yesterday. Haha.. I was not in the mood to buy something yesterday. I was more content with window shopping. Thats what i did. I was so tempted to have bubble tea that i gave in to the cravings once the shops were closing at about five. Yes! i had Taro milk tea and it was satisfying...hehe..No regrets!
I had dinner with my house mate Jia Lei at this bistro. I had grilled chicken with salad and mashed potatos and not forgetting a glass of orange juice. I borrowed a DVD to keep me company during the night.
While walking around in the city, i realised that i could not just call anyone now. I used to call my friends and they would be there almost instantly. All those in prompt to coffee gatherings at starbucks. Things i am gonna miss most. At times i wonder if i made the correct decision going home. I have to go through the whole process of missing home again. But as my best friend Sofia mentioned 'You'll be busy soon'. So i think she is right...
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