H0mE Dr|ve

Yesterday was my first time driving a longer distance in the 2-hour lesson and being the driver to home rather than the passenger. It was fun driving. Hopefully with my intensive learning, i can get my license before 30 Jun 2007.

Virgin Trip to Melbourne

For work purposes with Colin (CT), I was in Melbourne 15 Apr - 18 Apr 07. ooking forward to it @ Sofitel Melbourne. It was nice. 47th floor. corner King room . electronic controls. big LCD plasma . DVD player . Internet access . designers' toiletries . love it. Hyatt was jus a block down and Westin 2 blocks down.

On Sunday night, me and CT went to have Mekong - the famous Vietnamese shop boasting Jackie Chan and Hong Jin Bao. The soup beef noodles and spring rolls were tasty . It was cold and the steaming hot food worked wonders.

The next morning, we headed to the client's place. Cab drivers in Melbourne uses GPS alot. The city is much smaller but they seemed not to know the roads well. Anyway, we got there and had great rapport with the clients. It made my work easier and I managed to get 80% done on Monday itself.

Of course, CT and me, with breakfast and dinner provided for by the company, would lead a jetset lifestyle in Melbourne then. We had dinner at Cervo at Crown Casino. Al-fresco dining, starters, steak, dessert and pinot . I was fascinated by the fire holes . Those holes looked like the pencil holes outside Oriental in Singapore but those holes emitted fire instead of smoke. It was a sight. The constant high flying fireballs . And i think it is a everyday thing .

I suggested to have the buffet breakfast the following morning but CT was too full. Moreover, I woke up late and of course, we were rushing to the clients' place. Thus, we settled for takeaway toasts. But we agreed to have buffet breakfast the following morning.

I wasnt feeling well anyway on Tuesday. Since we finished our work by 12pm, we left the clients' place and the clients were pretty surprised at our effciency. After resting and watching Love guaranteed in hotel (hong kong drama), it is time for Room Service. I was so full. Look at wat I have gorged at, Alone - roasted potatoes, chicken and cheesecake.

It was satisfying . The next morning was full buffet breakfast which i loved too. It was the last day in Melbourne and we are heading back to Sydney in the evening. Since I finished my stuffs, I headed out for shopping. Bought a pair of boots. The most fruitful part was to find a Singaporean restaurant which sells authentic Singaporean foods. I had sliced fish meat meehoon soup and takeaway 2 iced cheng teng - a luxury that i would not find in Sydney city . CT was so satisfied with the cheng teng. He hasnt had it for years. The menu was incredible - chwee kuey, roti prata, nasi lemak, chicken rice, bak ku teh, etc . and the food really tasted good .

It was a nice end to my virgin trip to Melbourne. would visit it next year with my family . =) Takeaway: Authentic food I missed, a new good friend - CT, a pair of Esprit boots at a cheap px, enjoyment of luxurious living .

Gold Coast

Jason in Sydney from 22 feb ~ 18 Mar 07 (his 3rd month's visit). We went to Gold Coast. It was nearing end summer with rain in Sydney but the Sun in GC was bright and sunny (scorching most of the time).

GC is a good getaway place but i wouldnt say that it is fantastic. However, the trip was fun and interesting bacause it was another trip with my dear daRinG. I luv travelling with him.

Ref|ect|oN

Today marks 8 months' of work in EY Sydney office. It has been smooth for me since I embarked onto Australia on 24 Jul 2006.

~ Getting my apt in 2-3 days' time since i arrived
~ Having a great housemate, Joan
~ Meeting plenty of good frens
~ Having Jason here for almost half the time
~ Eating loads of stuffs in Winter and diet-controlling since Spring
~ Saving a tidy sum of AUD
~ Melting into the diversified cultures and people around me
~ Fighting with sleepiness to study, quizzes, projects, focus sessions, exams
~ Hearing that Ryan (my nephew) is getting bigger and fitter day by day
~ Knowing that Jason's and moi family doing well
~ Cooking lots of stuffs
~ Paddys Mkt every weekend, washing, vacumn, drying, cleaning, tidying
~ Blah, blah, blah

I m glad that I have made the decision to come here at this time. This aint a lucrative money-making job but I enjoy what I am learning and doing.

Probably I would be in NY or Ldn at the end of next year for a while when I become a qualified CA (*Fingers crossed* - it all depends on moi negotiating skills with Partners - it aint that hard after all, right? i really wish.)

Morgan Freeman Cab Driver

Having a lecture on Monday 9-5pm today. Shucks i woke up at 830am again . Got on a cab at 9am thinking that i can use my ATM card to pay . ya again, didnt bother to draw cash *I would say i think Australia is a place where ATM is not readily available in all places*.

Coincidentally, it was the cab driver who picked me up before and to my first MTA lecture 2 weeks ago. And goodness, i knew that his machine was spoilt only till i reached the school. I had not a penny on me. He was so kind to ask me to pay him the next time i get on his cab. So cool. He looks like Morgan Freeman in Bruce Almighty. haha. really. he saved my morning by not making me go somewhere to withdraw and pay him. kind soul.

A good start to my Monday and forgot to mention, I am on leave for the whole week!! Haha . so a good start to my week!