It's 5 minutes to midnight, the last night in 2007. Soon the countdown will begin to usher in the new year. Thousands of people are at Northbridge tonight, some are at the beach and many more in pubs, all eager to welcome the new year. Tomorrow we enter into 2008.

A year has come and gone and it is a good time to reflect back on what I have accomplished in 2007, the good times and the bad, the laughter, the friends, the hugs and the kisses. I have survived yet another year in this stranger land. I have experienced the 4 seasons, the hot and the cold. A friend said tomorrow we will be a year older, a year wiser. I suppose we will never be wiser.. haha... just more aware of what is happening around us.

May 2008 brings us more laughter, more friends, love and hopefully wealth.. and less stress :-) Thanks to all my friends who have made this year a memorable one. For all our new year resolution left unfulfilled, may 2008 brings us new resolution, to fulfill the old one :-) Cheers everyone!!

Christmas is always a special time, a time spend with family, friends and loved one. This Christmas was spent with friends from home - Lily, Helen, Anda - at Anda's home in Boyanup, a small town down South, about 17 km from Bunbury. Lily, Helen and I took the Australind down to Bunbury after work. The journey took 2.5hrs but it was a pleasant one. Sat next to Emily, a young girl from Bunbury who was on her way home to celebrate Christmas with her family.Had an interesting conversation with her - whole trip too! Anyway, left Perth station at 5.55pm and reached Bunbury at 8.20pm and thanks to daylight savings, it was still light when we reached there. Anda came to pick us up and that is where the Christmas adventure started.

We had Christmas lunch with the Suttons - Aileen, Robert and little Alby.Robert brought a ham and a pavlova (an Aussie desert) and we had a good lunch. Later we went to visit Theresa who lives in Eaton. Theresa is also from Sarawak, but have been here for many years now.

Boxing day was hot day indeed and guess where we went? The beach! Forrest Beach I think the name is. Robert put up a tent so that we could protect our skin from the hot sun. But before that we had a little gift opening session, and look at the happy faces receiving the gift they wanted :-)

Nicolas, Anda's hubby came home from work the next day so that means more places to visit :-)

Went down to Bunbury for post Christmas shopping, had a drive down Ocean drive and then had dinner at One Thai Restaurant, reported to be the best Thai restaurant in Bunbury. Next day we drove down to Harvey and had lunch there before coming home to have dinner with the Suttons, our last dinner at Boyanup.

All in all it was a great Christmas. Lily and Helen went back to Malaysia on Saturday and I sure miss them. I miss the conversation, the company and most of all the laughter. Not only did I spend the most festive season of the year with good friends, I also got to made new friends.

An interesting article from The Star today..

Brain Drain is Colour Blind

It echoes the thoughts of millions who have left their homeland to seek a new life in a stranger land, like moi :-) Does it make us less Malaysian? Does it mean that we do not love our country any longer? I believe that once you are a Malaysian, you are always a Malaysian and by leaving the country to seek the greener pasture elsewhere doesn't change who you are, just where you are. It is what they call , 'a matter of locality' :-)

I have been here a year now and I have learnt that while it is not easy living and earning a living in other people's country, it certainly has brought some 'plus' into my life. Here I learned to be independent, to be brave, to be thrifty, to be flexible and adapt to my surroundings. And oh, I get to things I wouldn't do at home too.. now, now, good things... ;-) ...I have made good friends and though I do miss home, especially during this festive season of Christmas, I am glad I have friends to spend it with here as well. The joy of being away from home is the time when I board that plane to go home, to visit family and friends, to do the things I like to do back home and to eat the food that I miss eating here. And counting down to that day feels like a bonus at the end of rainbow, you know you just need to 'survive' each day ( it's really not that bad.. heheh..)till that day comes. Being away makes me more appreciative of family and friends and I treasure them now more than ever knowing that I don't get to spend time with them that often but they are still dear to me. Maybe that's what all of us need to do, to get away more often so that we do not take our loved ones for granted.

Distance makes the heart grow fonder, I can say now that it is really true. Merry Christmas everyone, may this Christmas bring you joy and happiness... and of course lots of pressies too!!!! :-)

Christmas lunch..

yesterday at Adelphi Steakhouse. 9 of us and we had fun. These faces are of people I work with everyday, and they are a nice bunch of people. Some of them are old too.. haha... and yes, they have been at the Registry like forever!! Come to think of it, yesterday was my 1st anniversary working for the Registry! How time flies. Anyway, we had the secret Santa and everyone had a gift, just look at the happy faces receiving their gift - felt like I was a kid again. Christmas is the best season of the year, tis the season to be happy.

Lets see if I last another year .. hehe... oppps... :-)

Christmas is ....

just around the corner :-) Seems like it was just yesterday that I spent Christmas here in Perth. My 2nd Christmas, and this year I will be celebrating it with some friends from Sabah..oooo.. nice :-)

Anyway, last Saturday Valerie and I went to watch the annual RAC Channel Seven Christmas pageant. Last Christmas we said we were not going to come to this year's pageant and guess what?? We were there again.. hahaha.. People starting camping along the road where the pageant will pass through as early as 4.30 pm and the whole affair didn't start until 8.30pm! Mommies, daddies,grandparents, kids and even babies as old as a few weeks old all came out. They brought mats, picnic chairs, food and drinks, and St George's Tce, William St, Wellington St and Barrack St (the route of the parade) turned into a big picnic ground. It was very cold too and we had to go and get ourselves a jumper, luckily there were sales on. The parade sponsored by Channel 7 and RAC was officiated by the Lady Mayor. There were floats, multi-cultural groups, camels, dogs, dancers, clowns, fairies, samba bands and drum bands as well as the display of luxury cars. It started with the City of Perth band and ended with Father Christmas and Reindeer. Didn't get home until after 10pm.

Here are some pics I captured but they are not very clear as you can see..hehe.. my camera is not equip to take night shots! Bugger!!

Oh another breakthrough in technology - paying with your mobile phone! It currently on trial here in Oz and is expected to be a hit! You can pay anything you buy below $35.00 :-) Wow!!

The latest breakthrough in technology - paying your purchases using your fingerprint! How cool is that? You do not need to carry any cash or card; when it comes to paying for anything you buy be it grocery or food, just present your finger. This is the latest in Germany :-) Now pickpockets can't pick your wallet anymore and you will not be concerned about losing your wallet, after all it is all on your finger!! What will they think of next? :-)

Ever notice that we always walk on the left side of any walkway? Whether it is towards or from, we always keep to the left, just like when we are driving! :-)

I received this today and thought that it is worth sharing and worth reading. It is also good to think about what's written :-) So read on..

A young woman went to her mother and told her about her life and how things were so hard for her. She did not know how she was going to make it and wanted to give up. She was tired of fighting and struggling. It seemed as though just as one problem was solved, a new one arose.

Her mother took her to the kitchen. She filled three pots with water and placed each on a high fire. Soon the pots came to a boil. In the first,she placed carrots, in the second she placed eggs, and in the last she placed ground coffee beans. She let them sit and boil, without saying a word.

In about twenty minutes she turned off the burners.

She fished the carrots out and placed them in a bowl.She pulled the eggs out and placed them in a bowl. Then she ladled the coffee out and placed it in a bowl. Turning to her daughter, she asked, "Tell me what you see."

"Carrots, eggs, and coffee," she replied.

Her mother brought her closer and asked her to feel the carrots. She did, and noted that they were soft.

The mother then asked the daughter to take an egg and break it. After pulling off the shell, she observed the hard boiled egg.

Finally, the mother asked the daughter to sip the coffee. The daughter smiled as she tasted its rich aroma. The daughter then asked, "What does it mean, mother?"

Her mother explained that each of these objects had faced the same adversity: boiling water. Each reacted differently.

The carrot went in strong, hard, and unrelenting. However,after being subjected to the boiling water, it softened and became weak.

The egg had been fragile. Its thin outer shell had protected its liquid interior, but after sitting through the boiling water, its inside became hardened.

The ground coffee beans were unique, however. After they were in the boiling water, they had changed the water.

Which are you?" she asked her daughter. "When adversity knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?"

Think of this: Which am I?

Am I the carrot that seems strong, but with pain and adversity do I wilt and become soft and lose my strength?

Am I the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but changes with the heat? Did I have a fluid spirit, but after a death, a breakup, a financial hardship or some other trial, have I become hardened and stiff? Does my shell look the same, but on the inside am I bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and a hardened heart?

Or am I like the coffee bean? The bean actually changes the hot water,the very circumstance that brings the pain. When the water gets hot, it releases the fragrance and flavor. If you are like the bean, when things are at their worst, you get better and change the situation around you.

When the hour is the darkest and trials are their greatest, do you elevate yourself to another level?

How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

The happiest of people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the most of everything that comes along their way.

The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can't go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

When you were born, you were crying and everyone around you was smiling. Live your life so at the end, you're the one who is smiling and everyone around you is crying.

It's easier to build a child than to repair an adult...

This is so true - May we all be COFFEE.

This is a classic :-)

I could stay awake just to hear you breathing
Watch you smile while you are sleeping
While you're far away dreaming
I could spend my life in this sweet surrender
I could stay lost in this moment forever
Every moment spent with you is a moment I treasure

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

Lying close to you feeling your heart beating
And Im wondering what you're dreaming
Wondering if it's me you're seeing
Then I kiss your eyes
And thank God were together
I just want to stay with you in this moment forever
Forever and ever

Don't want to close my eyes
I don't want to fall asleep
Cause I'd miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing
Cause even when I dream of you
The sweetest dream will never do
I'd still miss you baby
And I don't want to miss a thing

I don't want to miss one smile
I don't want to miss one kiss
I just want to be with you
Right here with you, just like this
I just want to hold you close
Feel your heart so close to mine
And just stay here in this moment
For all the rest of time

Melbourne Cup ...

The race that stops the nation. This afternoon the whole nation stopped for a brief few minutes on Australia's greatest day - to watch the race! And if you were like me, a newbie, it is indeed amazing to see that people actually stop working to watch the race! Purple Moon, Master O'Reilly and Mahler were the favourites but it was Efficient that ran his best and won the race. And it also won me my bet! :-) So exciting... never won anything before so it was indeed a very pleasant surprise!

Last Saturday my itchy feet took me to Fremantle. And who can blame me (or me feet!!) when it was a beautiful day! Just look at the pic of the sky below, not even a drop of cloud anywhere. Have you ever seen a sky that blue and clear?? (errr... for those who are not in Oz that is.. hehe) Weather was nice, temperature was warm enough and after 3 months of winter weather this was indeed very welcoming :-) It's been some time since I hopped on the bus and went places, and it felt good to be out again.



Here are some pics of Fremantle, which I am sure you have seen me posted before (same scenery of course!! but pics are new) but still they are nice. There is also a new building, near the Fremantle market.



The star buy - wall clock for $5!!


the new building .. hmmm.. didn't manage to get the name..



A performance outside Fremantle market and a view inside. The man was actually standing on top of a suitcase balance on another suitcase. He was preparing to do his act, juggling a few balls and an apple. He was wearing this thin overall and when he was on top of the suitcase it was actually see through!! hahah.. and someone was shouting out about it too!! Fremantle market is like the Filipino market back home. There are small stalls selling a million things. From fruits, food to handicraft.



The day ended with dinner at riverfront, Kailis brothers, one of the best fish and chips restaurant in Perth. Pic above shows the menu and a bowl of Seafood Chowder (mmmm.. delicious :-) ) And while sitting at the deck enjoying the food, you are entertain with the beautiful scenery too!

Just look at the amount of people outside the bar! And it was only 7pm.. haha..

All in all it was a good day :-)