Old friends.

Oh, let the good times roll. It's always nice to look back at pictures from the past, not only does it allow memories to flow back into your mind, but they also remind you of how much you have grown. Today, i was looking at some facebook profiles, and i found a really old photo of my friends. The photo must have been taken almost ten years ago, when we were still in secondary school.

 

This made me dig through the photos folder on my computer, where i found a group shot that was taken a couple of years back. Comparing the two photos, many of us have truly changed a lot. A couple are not in Singapore anymore, personalities have changed, the size of the group has increased, most significantly we look slightly different now. All of us have embarked on our individual paths, but we do make time for each other occasionally, be it drinks at some bar, casual dinner, and birthday celebrations. Once in awhile, we will try to gather everyone on big occasions such as Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year.

 

The young ones, 1999.

 

Not so young anymore.

This year is actually the 10th year anniversary of the group. It's interesting how we all got to know each other from the beginning. The boys knew each other from the same class through the 4 years in an all-boys school. We spent a lot of time with each other, even after school, where we will usually go to the McDonalds' in King Albert Park. The girls also formed their own little group in their all-girls sch, and hung out at the McDonalds' at times. One day, one of the guys approached the girls to make friends, and that was how everything began. Looking back, it was all in the name of innocent fun that we became friends, and that friendship has lasted 10 years, and counting.

 

In December 2006, 6 of us went on a weekend trip to Langkawi. It was quite a momentus trip, as this was the first time we are travelling overseas with each other, as a group. More were supposed to join, but some of them pulled out due to other commitments. We stayed at a hotel that was within walking distance from the airport, and rented a jeep to travel around the island.

 

The ladies' room.

 

Jeep and us.

On the second day, we explored the island, walking around, going to the beach, and playing go-cart.

 

Come, who wants to be tied up?

 

Getting cosy with a yellow thing.

 

Where is my coconut!

 

I scream ice cream!

 

The go-cart track.

 

Humongous fried rice.

On the third day, we went to sit the cable car, which brought us all the way up a mountain. The scenery from there was rather breathtaking, made me feel like i am on top of the world. Afterwhich we drove around to find some obscure waterfall, and played around in the water.

 

On top of the world!

 

Water rushing into ass crack.

 

Watch that stick!

On the third day night, we took the plane home. A couple of months later, i was off to the Gold Coast to begin my studies. How time flies.

 

Oh, those were happy times. =)

Friends

Kira

A friend is like a flower,
a rose to be exact.
Or maybe like a brand new gate
that never comes unlatched.
A friend is like an owl,
both beautiful and wise.
Or perhaps a friend is like a ghost,
whose spirit never dies.
A friend is like a heart
that goes strong until the end.
Where would we be in this world
if we didn't have a friend.

I have an examination!

And so the story goes, i had a rather close shave today. See, i had already skipped 3 weeks of school due to the situation with my mum. On week 4 of the semester, i was feeling lazy on a Friday morning, so i slept through this class called "Risk, Crisis and Disaster Management". Last week, due to the Gold Coast Show holiday, Friday lessons were cancelled. So i went 5 weeks without knowing what was going on about this course, it didn't help that notes were only given out during the lectures, not posted online.

 

Yesterday, my housemate informed me that the carpet cleaner was going to come at about 9am, thus i had to get out of bed and let the carpet cleaner do his mojo. Still in my morning daze, i got my laptop out onto the dining table, decided to check my school email. Horror or horrors, my tutor sent out a mail, reminding us that the mid-semester case study examination is tomorrow (Friday) morning. How ironic the course is about managing disasters and crises, and this is a mini crisis in itself!

 

Thankfully she also added that she uploaded a copy of the case study online, in case some of us misplaced it, or in my case, have not been attending classes. Therefore, armed with the case study, and the textbook (thank God i got it in Singapore), i went back to sleep after the carpet cleaner had done his job. Haha. I got up in the late afternoon, and began to get myself into focus. In the end, i managed to complete the chapters i was supposed to study, think i did okay for the essay.

 

First things first, i want to thank God for looking after me, again. If i did not have to get up in the morning, i would not have checked my email and learn that there will be an exam the next day. Also, my tutor was kind enough to upload a case study onto the web (another blessing). It is all these chain of coincidences that make me feel that i am truly looked after. Thank you, and thank you. 

 

Let this be a timely lesson for me to take my classes more seriously from now. Also, give me the focus to complete all my course work well, and give me the concentration to remember what i have studied. I love you.

 

You Raise Me Up

You raise me up, so I can stand on mountains;

You raise me up, to walk on stormy seas;

I am strong, when I am on your shoulders;

You raise me up, to more than i can be

-Josh Groban- 

I have a flashback. Part 3

This is the third part of "reminiscing my time in Australia". Yes, unlike Days of our Lives, my life is a bit more happening than the daytime soap opera, Hell Yeah!

 

My third semester was from March to June 2008. This time, i moved out of the student accommodation, and looked for a place to stay myself. After searching some websites and forums, i found a house that was putting up a room for rent, which was reasonably near to school. The house is located in a new and quiet suburb, most of the houses there are new, and the area is rather safe too.

 

Decently spacious room, with comfy bed.

 

Nice big wardrobe to hang my clothes too.

After i moved into the house, the landlord told me that they are actually a gay couple (Aussie and PRC) who have been together for about 6 years. They moved to the Gold Coast a year back, and are renting the two other rooms out to students. My other housemate is a Taiwanese girl.

 

One afternoon, i invited my friends over for lunch. Since the weather was good too, they decided to bring along additional clothes, so we can have some pool fun.

 

Lunch by the pool.

 

Nice and wet.

 

Playing "Hantam Bolla".

 

I'm wet.

 

She was having her period, so she couldn't join in the pool fun.

 

Trying to fix the creepy crawler back into the filtering machine.

Over the semester, even though im not staying with my friends, we still meet up quite often, twice or trice a week for simple meals, shopping, watching soccer, or mahjong. This semester, we tried to lessen our beer intake significantly, as compared to last year, where we were literally drinking cartons every week. When the Easter weekend came along, we organized a gathering at a friend's place, with an Easter Egg Hunt thrown in for fun.

 

Baking fun.

 

Playing whilst the cookies bake.

 

Egg hunting.

 

Shiny balls of delight.

 

There's a few under the table!

 

Feeling tired after hunting.

This semester was also characterised by some friends coming over from Singapore for a visit. A good friend, whom i have known since secondary 1, and his girlfriend were touring Australia as part of their graduation trip. I opened up my place for them to stay for a few days.

 

Making a mess of my bed.

 

My "bed" for a few days.

As my car was still able to move then, i brought them out to have a meal with my friends on their first day. Subsequently, i also brought them to see the sights and sounds of the Gold Coast, Brisbane and Byron Bay (yes, again).

 

First dinner at the Gold Coast.

 

This Korean restaurant is called Yummy.

 

Walking along Surfers Paradise.

We went to eat the best fish and chips on the Gold Coast (in my opinion), and walked around the marina and beach after that.

 

Fish and chips.

 

Got some oysters too.

 

The sign actually says "no fishing", but that's exactly what the dude is doing.

 

Expensive yachtes.

 

Sand surfing anyone?

We also went to eat the Suki Yaki buffet that my friends wanted to go a few days ago. It really is good stuff!

 

Freeflow of thinly sliced beef.

 

One table got Suki Yaki, the other got Shabu Shabu.

To drive up to Brisbane and Byron Bay, we rented a car. This was the car that my friend got into an accident in, when going to Dreamworld to pick my friends up. But thank God they are alright, only a little shocked from the accident.

 

Dodge.

 

Not so sweet looking interior.

 

Best friends forever.

 

Group shot.

 

Look behind them, spectacular!

 

Walking around Brisbane.

 

Chinatown.

Towards the end of the semester, another friend came over for a visit. We got to know each other over the Internet, and subsequently liased from there. He was going to Brisbane to visit his friend, and both of them came down for a couple of days.

 

Grilled pork and fried chicken.

 

In front of house.

 

Thanks for visiting.

Overall, it has been a rather short semester. I was only around for a short 15 weeks, after which i went back to Singapore to escape winter again. I learnt a lot about myself this semester, and i am also grateful to be surrounded by many understanding and caring friends. May God bless them all!

I have bedminton.

This evening, i went to play badminton! The bedminton sessions are orgynised by the university's bedminton club, and are held every Tuesday evenings. As our uni doesn't have an indoor hall (unbelievable, i know), the sessions are held at Southport State High School's multi-purpose hall.

 

Indoor hall.

 

Is that the way you should hold your cock?

 

No cocks? Go find one!

 

Sandwiched between the couple.

 

Jump higher!

We didn't play for long though, roughly about an hour, as another friend finishes work at 10pm. We decided to go pick him and then eat supper. Supper was at this chinese restaurant called Ming Palace. It is the only establishment on the Gold Coast that serves dim sum til 2am in the morning, everyday of the year. Their dim sum is fresh, and the food is rather good too, but quite pricey. Every item on the dim sum list costs AU$4.20, while the main dishes range from $12 to $20.

 

Ming Palace.

 

Crispy noodle with sliced pork, prawn dumpling.

Ahbaobao, glutinous rice dumplings.

Why soooo serioooussss.

He's hungry, the look says it all.

Their prawn dumpling and fried glutinuous rice dumpling are really nice. I've been here multiple times with my friends, and every single time we will order those two. Haha. Somebody should open another late night Yum Cha place to give Ming Palace some competition. =)

Simple Truths

I just finished reading a book, titled Simple Truths, written by Kent Nerburn. After reading the book, i felt that it talks about life issues in a simple, concise, and straight to the point manner. There were many times when i felt that what the author said resonated my own beliefs and values on how life should be. Let me share some paragraphs from the book;

 

On Love

Remember this and keep it in your heart, You don't choose love. Love chooses you. All you can really do is accept it for all it's mystery when it comes into your life. Feel the way it fills you to overflowing, then reach out and give it away. Give it back to the person who brought it to you. Give it to others who seem poor in spirit. Give it to the world around around you in any way you can.

Love has its own time, its own season, and its own reasons for coming and going. You cannot bribe it or coerce it or reason it into staying. If it chooses to leave from your heart or from the heart of your lover, there is nothing you can do and nothing you should do. Be glad that it came to live for a moment in your life. If you keep your heart open, it will surely come again.

 

On Strength

True strength does not magnify others' weaknesses. It makes others stronger. If someone's strength makes other feel weaker, it is merely domination, and that is no strength at all.

Take care to find your own true strength. Nurture it. Develop it. Share it with those around you. Let it become a light for those who are living in darkness.

 

On Tragedy and Suffering

How you respond to tragedy and suffering is one true measure of your strength. You need to see those moments and moments of growth. You need to look upon them as gifts to help you reclaim what is important in your life.

 

On Loneliness and Solitude

Most people fear being alone because they understand only loneliness. Their understanding begins at the self, and they are comfortable only as long as they are at the center of their understanding. Solitude is about getting the "I" out of the center of our thoughts so that other parts of life can be experienced in their fullness. It is about abandoning the self as the focus of understanding, and giving ourselves over to the great flowing fabric of the universe.

 

and finally, On Giving

If you perform these simple acts, little by little you will start to understand the miracles of giving. You will begin to see the unprotected human heart and the honest smiles of human happiness. You will start to feel what is common among us, not what separates and differentiates us.

Before long you will discover that you have the power to create joy and happiness by your simplest gestures of caring and compassion. You will see that you have the power to unlock the goodness in other people's hearts by sharing the goodness in yours.

 

Book cover.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book. It has been a wonderful journey. =)