The day before the debate.

I find it harder to cope with problems these days. I ended up feeling very stress up, frustrated and I get tired of it very quickly. It could very well be signs of getting old. Or maybe perhaps it’s also the magnitude of these problems.

For example, yesterday I just had a call that the whole bunch of my debaters decided not to come to Australia for the tournament. I had to spent half a day to sort things out and finally found out the culprit who gave misleading information which lead to that trouble.

And the new ruling that we have to be quarantine if you come back from Aussie regardless of having symptoms or not, mean I will have to miss part of my internship. That`ll be quite a problem as I already don`t have any luxury of extending my intern. My classes would have start by then.

Those aside, I`m really beginning to enjoy the quiet life of staying at home. I wake up in the morning, cook lunch, walk around the neighborhood, play the piano, go online, read a good book and retire for the day. While most people been screaming, ALEX YOU`RE WASTING YOUR HOLIDAY, I felt that this was a good break from all the running/and travelling I`ve done. In fact, I think, I had enough of those and would really mine settling down for a while.

Tomorrow, the hectic schedule of a debater will kick in. 2 weeks of debate with three tournaments. Wish me good luck and the best of health J

Melbourne - Part 4

New Quay

The defining monument of New Quay is the giant ferries wheel. (Eye on Melbourne?) And like all giant ferries wheel, it`s expensive, empty and not functioning properly. This one been malfunctioning for half a year.

That said, the New Quay is a awesome place to go for a weekend family outing.

Plenty of nice shops with competitive price, even for Malaysians. But the biggest attraction was the homely feeling of people shopping with the rest of their family.
On the last day in Melbourne before I left for KL (the journey of a thousand horror) I visited Yarra Valley. The place where most wines were made.

So we took a tour to the wineries. We went to a total of 3 actually, and all of them offered different wines for tasting. I tasted a little more than 10 types of wine. Yay :)


We also saw the wine yard


and the breweries
but the best part was it, the scenery around this valley is stunning.


Imagine being drunk in this area. You`ll won`t be much mistaken to call this paradise. :)

Melbourne - Part 3

Hey guys. I`m ok. I`m so touch that many of you are concerned. The good news is, I`m cleared of my quarantine and I`m finally back at Sydney. I`ll continue to post what happen at Melbourne for now :)

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On day 4, I went out to the city alone to meet Ei Leen. I haven't her for more than a year now, and was looking forward to catch up with her. We met at Central before heading to Liagon St (the street for Italian food) for lunch.


On the menu was pizza and pasta. Its been a while since I had really good pizza and pasta so I was really happy. (and to be happy, just don`t bother convert that price to Malaysia. You`ll vomit all your food out of guilt).


We sat there for quite sometime. Talking about the good old days and conceeding we both are getting too old. 2 hours later, its getting too cold to just sit dowm, we decided to walk around the Yarra river.


The place gives you a pretty good view.



Ah, if only we had cooling weather and nice riverside in Malaysia. :)

Living a nightmare, part 2.

I think words can hardly describe how I feel right now.

To think that things can get any worse that now, after all the ordeals... I was told that the last person who contracted swine flu, was in my flight. According to the health policy, anyone 3 rows around that passenger will have to be home quarantine, for a week.

Her seat was in row 14, ours... row 17.

If tears haven`t flow out then, it certainly did now.

I had to forgo the tournament, and possibly my flight back to Sydney. Above all, you`ll have to bear the worse feeling in the world. The constant nudge of guilt. That you are potentially a carrier of a dangerous disease. You don`t dare to talk to people, or go near them. You basically become an outcast... by choice.

the only curse I can give is ' WHY HAVE I BOARD THAT DAMM FLIGHT BACK TO MALAYSIA'

I have no energy left to whine. Good night.

Living a nightmare.

Before I post Melbourne part 3, let me break it to you guys; I`m back in Malaysia!!!!!!!!!!

I know, I know. My mom got a shock of her life :P (as intended by that surprise). In fact, it was only the day before my flight back home that I decided to board on the plane. At 3pm, Tuesday, 9th July I have 2 flights waiting for me. One to Sydney, and the other back to Malaysia.

Couple of hours prior to that, I wasn`t sure which one to board.

My holiday was planned perfectly. Fly to Sydney, visit Nick, come back, go skiing with Ching Yee, attend 2 debate tournament, visit Phillip Island with Fiona and attend my last debate tournament. But in life, where everything is unpredictable, on Monday I received a call which bears unfortunate message. Nick`s grandma pass away, and his family is making an emergency trip back to Malaysia.

It was also the day where Melbourne is declared as the world`s swine flu capital. I shouldn`t stay there, I don`t wander around Sydney alone... I decided maybe I should come back. Of course, there are also many other factor that finally convinced me to make the decision to come home to Malaysia.

1) Its actually extremely thoughtless of me to have allowed my grandma to go home alone. With all the luggage and navigate through the fairly big KLIA, she could have easily gotten lost.

2) I can sort out all my unsettle internship matters.

3) Sent my damage passport for renewal. (if you have seen my passport, you`ll know why)

4) Spend some time with Nick who`s back in Malaysia as well.

5) Attend the ICRC debate tournament this weekend.

6) Escape the winter!!

7) and lastly, MAS is having a promotion, so I can fly back to Sydney with Nick next Monday. My one way ticket only cost RM 470.!!

Thought I really regretted the minute we landed. Malaysia was freaking hot. But the biggest nightmare came after I visited the immigration to renew my passport.It took a while to sink in, and tears nearly flow out.

It takes ONE MONTH to renew a damaged or lost passport.

I was devastated. With the advise of a security guard (who seems so much more knowledgeble than the idiotic officer), I rushed to the headquarters in Shah Alam. I spent the whole day there filling for an appeal. At the end of the yesterday, I was granted a chance to meet the Director today morning.

And fate decided to make things funnier when I was told this morning that the Director is on course for 1 week. Thankfully, the misfortune ends there, and the Deputy took in my case and ask me to come on Sunday to process my passport. (the immigration office there opens half day on weekends)

It has been 3 days of unexpected bad news. I hope things will turn better for now. Phewww

*results coming on in a few days time. Keeps fingers crossed.

Melbourne - Part 2

Location : Victoria State Library and Melbourne University
Day : 3

Grandma and I took a train from Sandringham station (the station nearest to my uncle`s place) to the city. From there, we traveled the city with trams. One of the place that I really found remarkable was the state library. I love the architecture.


and the interior is like whoa!!. Sarah, let`s study in this library next time. lol

My cousin brought me to her university. We manage to snapped a few pictures before it rains.



Guess what I found most interesting, the pigeons and seagulls that are all over the place.

I find them absolutely adorable :P

Melbourne - Part 1

Hello people. It has been a while. Those who are online would have probably heard that I spent like most of the time at home. Except for meal time, we rarely go anyway. Quite boring I know, but I guess I learn to make do with the time I have. Besides, the home is quite lovely.

The yard have cute little plants like lemon and chili and the house have a grand piano!!



Let me play a simple piece for you guys. It`s call Tidus and Yuna from Final Fantasy. Enjoy

I`m leaving to Melbourne!!!

This will be my last post before in Malaysia before I leave.



Take care guys. I won`t be seeing all of you for quite some time :( :( :( :(