Damn I’m bored. Where did everyone go? Thought it would be more lifely back home in SG. Actually it is but been doing nothing much too lately. Just bummed at home. All my friends are busy with their projects. Our driver, Ashok is out of town. In Dublin, Ireland with his debating team and hence the lack of night rides. Hahhaha.. he’s always the one who drives us for supper. Oh well.. I’ll just wait for him to come back.

2005 is fast coming to an end. Can’t beleive how fast the year has gone by. Before you know it, its almost over. Have I regretted doing or not doing anything this year? I don’t think so. Pretty happy with 2005 on the overall. Maybe there are some major setbacks and disappointment but come to think of it, nothing that I can’t recover from. I do hope next year will be a better one for me, once I find a job.

Anyway my 2 cousin got married on xmas. Both sisters at the same time. Happy for them. Kak Siti married this really exotic Morrocan man who lives in Belgium. He just went back this morning at 3am and Kak Siti will be joining him there mid Jan next year. She’s going there for her PHD in some research medicine thinghy. Said she’s had enough of working with patients so wanted to do research and lab work instead. Like a scientist. Proud of her. Kak Ain married a malaysian. Not sure whats her plans now though. Compared to their achievements, mine seems so puny. Lol…

Still trying to think of something to do for new yrs eve. Most likely gonna hang out with Omkar. Wonder who’s still left behind. Nasir, Darwis and Razali are attached so I doubt they will be joining. Ashok will still be in Dublin. Gonna be a boring new yr eve.

I had a very special xmas with Veron. In the plane cos at 12 midnight, we were still on the way back to Singapore. Yes people. I’m already back home in Sg and this time around, its for good. Managed to get the 8.30pm tickets on the 24th of Dec and touched down at 1am. Glad to have Veron with me in the plane. Makes the ride back home more interesting. Having someone to talk to during a long flight is always nice.

Things didn’t really go all nice though. We had tons and tons of problems at the airport. Started with my dad calling me to inform me that my badminton racket can’t be hand carried into the plane so he’s gonna have to leave it at the airport reception for me. Was wondering then how am I gonna get it back since my luggage is all full.

Anyway, reached the airport 3 hrs before my flight, collected my racket and went to check in my luggage. Was then told that we were only allowed 50kg at most for luggage weight and the excess will have to be charged at $25/kg. Damn… daylight robbery.. Our total luggage weight was 75kg, excluding hand carry. 25kg extra would cost us $625. Crap!!!!

Even our hand luggage gave us problems. We were allowed only 3 hand carry each, weighing not more than 7kg in total, but thx to my laptop and all, it weighs 17kg. I was told that I had to check it in instead of carrying it by hand, meaning exceding the weight by an additional 10kg. CRAP!!! Tried to explain to the counter that its my laptop which cant be checked in and after a while, he said the laptop will not be included in the weight. That brought my hand carry weight to 9kg and I was allowed in.. Phew….

Veron took out one of his luggage and that reduced the check in weight by 20kg. The 55kg was allowed in w/o incurring any charges but Veron was now stuck with a huge 20kg luggage. Thats when the nightmare began. Initially thought of shipping it over but that service by the airport is closed since its Xmas eve. None of our friends are around in Melbourne to help us carry it back. There we were, with a huge luggage and no way at all to bring it with us. We sure panicked. Talked again to the service counter and finally, they gave in and said they can give us an extra 10kg. That means that we still have to pay for 10 extra kg. Still not cheap. Veron decided to dump away half of his luggage contents. Mainly clothes. Asked the staff where we can throw it and he said we are not allowed to throw anything from the luggage in the airport, so we had to go out of the airport to empty the luggage.

Outside, we stood in this corner and he started to unpack his luggage, dumping out most of his clothes. There was this couple sitting nearby, looking and laughing at us. It was damn embarassing but he managed to throw half his clothes away, thus reducing the weight by 10kg. It was finally allowed in and we did not have to pay any extra charges. Phew!!! Damn stressful period. And thx to Veron’s luggage now being half empty, my badminton racket can now fit in it. lol….

And finally now, I’m back in Sg. I kinda miss Melbourne. So much memories. Hope to be back there again some day. To all the friends I made, I hope to see you again someday.

Merry Xmas everyone and Happy New Year. And lastly, Goodbye U2 Vertigo World Tour 2005. Haiz…. anyone wanna buy the tickets from me?

Been living here in Australia for the last 1.5 yrs. How time flies. Everyone’s leaving for good and soon its going to be my turn. Made many great friends here and I’m so gonna miss everyone of them. I really hate to leave this place but thinking back again, its the best choice I have. My family and relatives are back home in Sg and like they say, blood is thicker than water.

Just got back from a farewell dinner with Palm, Dennis, Yenying, Joachim and Veron. Tom evening, Palm, Dennis and Joachim is going to leave for Sydney and in a few days time, Veron and I will leave for Singapore and in another 3 weeks, Yenying gonna leave for Brunei while Iwen gonna leave for Indonesia. Dzung will be leaving as well. Nelson and Matthew have already left. So have Gina and Fiona and Reza. I’m really gonna miss every one of them so much. During dinner just now, Palm gave me a small gift. A nice bar of chocolate to munch on in the plane, should I get cravings during the 8hrs flight back home to Singapore. So thoughtful of her. Thx Palm I’m really touched.

Went to sing karaoke after dinner. Not me though. I was basically just sitting there listening to them sing. Well I did sing a couple of songs. First time too and I thought it sounded horrible. Lol… Left at bout 2am after saying my last goodbye to everyone. Shook Dennis’s hand and gave Palm a big hug. Gonna miss the 2 of them. Joachim I will see back in Sg so its not too bad. Walked Yenying home and gave her a hug too. She’s been a great company, my chocolate kaki. Heheheh… anyway, we agreed to meet up one last time for Max Brenner on Friday.

Its really amazing how fast everything moves. Nelson, Palm, Dennis, Veron, Matthew, Reza, Iwen, Dzung, Gina and Yenying, I’m really gonna miss you all. Keep in touch yah. Do gimme a call when you drop by Singapore. You’re always welcome to stay with me.

Oh yah…. I’ll miss these too

Parents came down to Melbourne on the 13th. Just a day before my graduation ceremony. Met them for dinner and then went to do some shopping. By then it was pretty late. Bout 10pm. It was really nice to see my family again. Been months since I last saw them and am so glad they could come for my ceremony. It wasn’t cheap.

The following day, met up with them at my campus to take some photos with them. Hehehe.. more photos. Then it was off for lunch and then they went for more shopping while I met up with Veron and Matthew to go ger us a teddy bear each.. Hahhahaa the bears were so cute.. Went back with my parents after that to their apartment and started to get ready for my big day.

Telstra dome is really huge. Managed to take some photos outside. Got to meet up with some of my friends parents too. Nice bunch of people I must say although a bit quiet. Went in to register my name and started to mingle around with my other fellow graduants. So excited. That is, until they started all their long speeches. The first few were ok but I kinda fell asleep on the later ones. Just hope the camera didn’t pan to me while I was asleep.

The award presentation started and there were so many students graduating that I waited for bout 45 mins for my turn. During which I was on MSN chatting with Casey. Hahahhaa too bored. My turn finally came and I went up to get my cert. Muahhahhaa finally..

My family and I

Me and the graduation bear. Hehehee

It was a great night. Definately one to remember for a long long time. To all my fellow classmates who graduated together with me, congratulations.

Went around yesterday taking pictures in my graduation gown. Yea… I finally learned how to put on the damn thing. Met up with a few friends in the morning and we went to Bundoora campus first. Tram ride there took 45 mins. Nice place and we took lots of photo there. Then it was back to the city campus, Boewen St. Had lunch first before taking more pictures in the city. Last destination was the Victoria Gardens. Phew… so many places. Never knew I can get so tired just taking pictures. The weather was hot too and I felt like melting. Similar to Sg’s weather

My parents will be coming tom. Can’t wait to see them. Miss them so much. Anyway, here are some of the pictures I took. More will be up as soon as I upload the Torquy photo and my birthday celebrations photo.

In front of RMIT Bundoora

By the road at Bundoora campus

Myself and Palm at Boewen st in the city campus

My fellow classmates

Lol.. looks like Harry Porter characters..