Australia Trip Part 1

Finally I'm visiting Australia for the 2nd time, eva since I've visited here when I was in my primary school days. Though its different part of Aus, but nonetheless the environment there was as refreshing as eva. The most significant one was the wide and clear bluey skies.

On 31 Aug 07 at 6pm, we arrive at THE BUDGET TERMINAL, met up with all before we check in at the counter. Got a lift dere from Dad, could see that he was yearning to go with us so eagerly. We went in to the departure hall, took a small bite inside before boarding the plane, bcos in the 4+ hrs flight journey, there was no meals serve on board, cos food sold on board were alot more exp than those bought outside. Whilst we were walking towards the plane, took few pictures at the boarding gate, one unique thing takin budget airline was that there wasn't any aerobridges provided for the passengers, instead we had to climb up the stairs in order to reach the airplane. I manage to capture the plane before boarding, as no photo-taking were allowed. By the time we were on board the plane it was alreadi late evening. We slept in the plane for the whole journey, when we touch down on Darwin Int'l Airport it was around 2am in the morning, there wasn't much people inside the airport, the night outside was cold and quiet. We proceeded to the bus terminal outside and ask for directions to the lodge where we booked for our trip there. The bus trip from the airport to the lodge was about 30-45 mins, on the way there we passed by dark forests, after 20 mins drive, we finally saw houses along the streets, it looked so deserted, as thou it had been left empty for a few years. Finally the bus stop, we alighted at the junction of the street, looking forward was nothing except 2 stretches of houses on both sides. The quiet street was eerie, ocassionally there were stray dogs barking. This time we carried our backpack, slowly walk down the lane, finding for the lodge. We split into two groups, keeping close to each other. Tadaa ... Finally found the lodge, following the instructions on the email printed out. We open the gate of the lodge, went in, took the keys sealed inside an envelope hanging on the main door latch. The 1st time there wasn't any receptionist at the front desk for us to approach, it was juz an ordinary looking house, which runs lodging businesses to cater to tourists. We took the keys, opened the envelope, read the instructions. Went back out to the street, searched all around for the unit, it was directly opposite the house we went in. We open the wooden gate, went in to the lodge, in there were 7 rooms and 3 toilets at the 1st level, 3 rooms on the 2nd level with a kitchen, and several bathrooms. There was a backyard behind the house with tables and chairs, above was a vast sky with stars bright and big shining with glory. OMG its nice for that moment, i tot I've stepped into a paradise of another world, the surroundings were so quiet. We all slept for barely 5 hours, and we were up to prepare for a fresh day touring around Darwin City.

The next morning, after all had taken breakfast, we left our lodge, bought drinks from the convenient store across e road and walk towards the city. *Their city isn't very big - population of 115,000*. We walk along Mitchell Street, which links to the CBD of Darwin. As we walk along the streets we took some pics, went into their shopping centre {ps 4got e centre name}, but there is this supermart there name Coles. We went in bought last minute rations for our 5 days wilderness trip in the Northern Territory. After which we proceed to lunch at a Chinese restaurant, at a nearby village like shopping area. We were happy c-ing a Chinese restaurant, as we miss eating rice. After eating, we walk towards another side, this time we passed by a Chinese temple, there was a lion dance club in it *surprise - as e Chinese population there wasn't much*. We took a stroll to Stokes Hill Wharf, and had dinner there.


Picture Gala Time


Departing @ Budget Terminal

Departing Plane - TR 702


Arriving At Darwin Airport


Our Bunks in the lodge !!!

Another view of e room

Notice behind room doors ~~~


Lodge Safe Box !!!

Mailbox of their houses ~~~

Opp our lodge ~~~

My Supper at 3am ~~~

Next Mornin Enquiring @ Lodge

View of our lodge from e opp side !!!

Street Junction !!!


Restaurant for Lunch !!!

Cool Video Recorder !!!


Darwin City Map

Their Parking Meter


Unique Vehicle along e streets ~~~

On e way to Stokes Wharf !!!


Cruise passin by e Wharf ...


Sunset @ Stokes Wharf !!!


My Fish & Chips (Dory Fish) ~~~

21st B'dae Party @ Aloha Loyang ~~~

Today is a BIG DAY for me, or at least I shud sae for all teenagers who step into young adulthood. This is also a dae I regarded as the 1st important event in life. I am getting my first key to unlock my first phase of journey in my life. I was sort of persuaded/brainwashed by my mum & aunt to organize this b'dae bash party in a chalet, I only knew they buked e chalet when they told me to inform all my frens of e venue. Quite astonished cum piss off when I was only told like 2 weeks before the actual dae. Prepare my list of invitations and what food to order etc, during the wkdaes after work, imagine when u r home from work at 11pm, you still gotta plan e stuffs - arghh ~~~ .. Haha ... But nevertheless, I enjoyed the plan e set up.

Ok ... back to main point. We buked e chalet from 22nd - 24th Jun '07 at Aloha Loyang. First time organizing, so was sort of panick cum unfamiliar. I chose to held the bbq & b'dae party on the 23rd, as it was a Saturday, and was a better date to chose as most of my frens could make it, thou some didn't come. So on the late noon on the 22nd, my aunt, cousins (jacklyn, amos, angeline), sis & me checked in to e chalet. We unpacked all necessary stuffs and went out to Downtown East (nearest place) to buy our dinner. On the 23rd, we went for a swim at the chalet's pool, after 3 hours, went to prepare for the bbq at nite, while mum n sis went to collect e cake. As for my aunt & cussies, they went MIA for about 2 hours after the swim.

The evening skyline has turn dimmer, night has befall, smokes are seen almost from every nearby bbq pits. Such a coincindence tat my neighbour next door, was also throwing a b'dae bash party. Congrats to her. As the lil miniature host of e nite, I went out to downtown east and meet my frens before leading them into a dark alley which leads to e chalet. In total I've made about 5 trips in & out e dark alley ... haha ... unbelievable ...

Marisa, mei hsin, Kai Lin, Yiwoen, and Den-Den & Jun Yuan were busy playing with my lil cussies, nephew & neice with the bubble-blowing game. Thank gudness ... I was really at a lost at first, how shud I entertain my frens, as I was afraid they will be bored.

Around 8.30pm, when almost all my relatives and frens came, i cut e cake. Ohhh ... The 1st time life that I had cut a cake in presence of so many people {thou to some it may not be many, but to me is many !!}... This is e time when I've experience a variety of mixed feelings - nervous, shy, happy, excited, jovial. But all were not shown out, as I had to smile alwaes ... haha ... realli appreciate my frens came.

At about 12am almost all of them left, walk them out, and thank them again for coming, then drove kai lin, mei hsin and yiwoen home, as am afraid they mite not be able to catch e last bus, oso all stayed in tampines {sort of convenience} ...

Went back to the chalet to clear the mess ... haha ... Then took a rest before unwrapping all e pressies. My aunt & cussie gave me a box {one rim of box for A4 paper}, when I saw it I was like jaw dropping. As I slowly open the lil pressies inside e box, I was excited yet touched. Especially when I saw an album done by her, it was all my fotos since young till now {part & parcels of my life}, tears was already filling e bottom of my eyes. I was juz so touched that I cried out thanking her. As for all the other pressies, I love them, oh ya. Marisa, Hsin & Lin bought me a bouqet of flowers {thanx darlins} . Muackssss ....

Photos at Chalet ......


Sis & me !!!


Marisa, Me, Hsin, Lin ~~~ Pals 4ever ...


Bouqet of Flowers from them ~~~


Photo-takin with Lin !!!


Photo-takin with Hsin (Twins) !!!


Photo-takin with Hsin & Sis !!!


Photo-takin with Yiwoen, Lin, Hsin & Sa !!!
(All are young cum potential tigers ~~~)


Wif Mum & Sis !!!


Me & Hsin ~~~


Wif e pressie from pals !!!


Yummilicous food from e Buffet ~~~


Serving of food to one another !!!


My 21st B'dae Cake ~~~ Loves it ...


Cake & Pressies ...


Wif Family ...


Wif Frens ~~~


Wif Cousins {Gen Y} ~~~


Wif Aunts & Uncles ~~~

Botanic Garden ~~ Here We Come

Today is a public holiday, so together with both my family and relatives, we went to the Singapore Botanical Garden, it has been since a year or two since I lay my foot on this place. {Memories flipped through my mind like a whirlwind} The last time I was here was when I was here to performed a musical concert for the public on Labour's Day during my secondary school time.

The weather today was fine, cloudy and clear skies, best conditions for one to be strolling along then garden. We took a 30-min drive from our place down to the Botanical Garden, went in thru the main entrance, which was known as the "Central Core", as there are 3 different entrance/exits to this place, the other 2 sectors are "Tanglin Core" and "Bukit Timah Core". The garden was open to public for free daily. Cool, one could picnic here with their family or loved ones to enjoy a more relacing day, rather than to be cooped up in the offices/schools where stress are accumulated ^^*.

We took about a 5 mins stroll from the entrance to a medium-sized lake with lots of Japanese Kois in different sizes, swimming around. There was a man standing not far away from the lake selling plain bread, for interested visitors to purchase and feed the kois in the lake {that explains why these fishes are so well-fed}. My cousins bought about 3 to 4 pieces of breads, and were standing along the side of the lake shredding the breads into little bits to feed the fishes. When we were done with the feeding, we took some snaps of the scenery around the lake before we decided to move on.

Our next destination was the Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage. with a small lake surrounding the stage, Symphony Lake. This lake wasn't as nice as the one which we visited earlier. The water were quite stagant and dark . Over here there were no seats, instead there were small mounted hills for the public to rest on. Perharps this is the concept of them, for the audiences to rest on while enjoying the performance on e stage supposedly. While walking along the lake, we saw this cute lil European boi with his parents and their black dog. E boi was so cute wif his rounded-blue-ish eyes, OoO juz have a liking for Caucasian's babies, their features are different from Asians.

Walking for about 10 mins, we reached the "Singapore National Orchid Garden", today's admission was free, haha, so gud. We went into the orchid garden. We were first greeted by a 'Hall of Fames' which there were pcitures of orchids which were named under different well-known personels around the world, like Queen Elizabeth etc. next we proceed to a sheltered area with green nets to prevent the strong sun from damaging the orchids inside. The orchids here were very nice, their coulours are so bright, looking at it would brighten up one's day.

We were in the garden till around 6pm, which was its closing time, haha , got so worried that we will be locked in here. As we were the last few batch of people who were still inside the arena. We came out of the garden, and walked back to our car which was parked at the carpark at Nassim Gate. We then proceeded to Adam food Centre for our dinner for that day. The drive there was about 10-15 mins as it was nearby Cluny road. My sis and I ate one of the nasi lemak set from one of the famous store there, however the set which we wanted to order was sold out for the day, as the stall have only a few variety left. Just imagine how gud e business is, till even the dishes were not enuf {Jokin ...}.

Pictures Gala Time { Enjoy !!! }


My cousins & maid feedin e fishes !!!


It's ME !!! {Wanted to focus more on the scenery, but it came out like this}


e whole lot of Kois {Munching on e bread thrown}


My sis & me !!!


Symphony Stage !!!


Yanzi, Sis & Me !!!


Cousins Potrait !!!


e cute lil Eurasian Baby ~~~


e slantly-grown tree


Doggie drinkin water from plastic bag!!!


Outside "Ntl Orchid Gdn" ~~~


@ Entrance of Orchid Garden !!!


Sis & Me inside e Orchid Gdn


Colourful Orchid 1


Colourful Orchid 2


Mum wif her fav breed of orchids !!!


The set which I wanted to eat !!!


The set which I ate !!!