msqq with love

What is Your Biggest Regret?

2021-09-14T14:05:00.002+08:00

‘Regrets, I have a few, but then again, too few to mention. I did what I had to do, and saw it through without exemption.…more, much more than this, I did it my way’ —My way by Frank Sinatra

This is a song I came to know when I was 18 years old. It was played loud during an English lesson by a Malay lecturer, with the class sitting in the computer room, and the lecturer reckoned it is her favourite song. I instantly fell in love with the song.

Only few knows I like the song. A vast majority living in this contemporary, most prefer modern piece, such revelation may invite some teases. An old soul they would say.

A late night chatting with a friend, out of the blue, we talked about regrets. Prior to that, I was a little bit offended by him commenting on my dad’s hospitalisation and the choices I made to keep him in the private hospital, enduring hefty hospital bill. My friend is a clear thinker, I always turn to him when I am lost for his good advice. When he told me not to have conflict with the doctor, the hyper-vigilant instantly jumped to protect myself and I retorted in frantic text messages that he did not understand my situation.

I am certainly upset because I thought he would take my side but he didn’t. And so him being an introspective and introverted friend, took a step back and said he should give no more comments because he obviously did not understand the condition well enough.

I instantly regretted, but words cannot be taken back. It was quite a tense text exchanges. But I decided to clear things up by telling him I really appreciate his advice, and I noted his good intention of willing to speak of the truth.

And there goes our own regrets.

He revealed that he has had a lot of regrets. I thought for a second, I had only one (till date), and i wish no more.

I was 15 years old, preparing to sit for an important exam. I was raised by my grandparents up until 7 years old. There was a period of time that we drifted apart when I returned home to my mum. At the age of 14 or so, the family started to have this arrangement that my grandpa would come over to fetch us for school. I was previously sent by my friend’s mum who stayed nearby, but my sister is now a big girl and she needs a ride too.

And there on, he appeared every morning, punctual and early, drove from his home to us and become our regular chauffeur, then he would off to work in my uncle’s pet shop. He was always on time. He drove us back from school to home as well. Wait for us. Then sent us off to tuition and everything else. For him, I was almost never being picked up late as opposed to previous.

In contrary, my dad was always the late-comer. Always disappointing late, not exaggerating, me and my siblings were almost always the last one to go home, be it the school or tuition. There were times we had to walk ourselves home because we had been forgotten. And almost always, half way through it, someone we know would pick us up or he would look for us along the route to home and gave us a honk. That was a time where kids have no cellphone.

On the side note, there was a top-achiever girl who always dressed nicely who came to same tuition center as me. Her dad was always on time and she would gracefully made her way into the backseat of the car, leaving the front passenger seat empty. Seeing that, the ignorant-me have learned the same way. Sitting at the back, I could gaze my grandpa’s occasional silver hair in the midst of his dyed-black hair. We seldom talked. After all, with a huge age gap, the quiet air seemed to be just reasonable. Until one day, he commented that me sitting at the backseat have made him felt like a driver.

There came a day that he fell sick. As usual, he picked us up on time and announced that he’s not feeling well. The usual him would read newspaper while waiting for us, but that particular day, he lied down on the couch, looking really ill. I can still vividly pictured this.

Oblivious-teenage-me paid no good attention to it. That night itself, he got admitted and my parents asked if i wanted to come with them to pay him a visit. There’s an important exam around the corner, I was holding a book sitting on the couch reading it. I turned them down and continue burying myself in the academic books, as if there’s no other things more pressing than this.

I was wrong.

In the classroom, I was called out and sent home early by my form teacher for the first time. When I got into the car, my sister was already in it. What struck us the next, my dad revealed the passing of my grandfather and he’s here to send us to hospital to bid our last goodbye. I could no longer remember the following conversation, all i remembered were endless tears rolling down my cheeks, we cried all the way to the hospital, mourning over the departure of one of the man I loved the most in this world to the what the adult said ‘the better place’.

We were not allowed to see him in the hospital. My grandmother came to to the lobby where we waited, I could still remember she said ‘You were late, he was still mumbling about picking y’all from school at his last hour..’

Yes. I was late. And now I have no way to reverse the remorse.

And that pained me a lot until today.

Flashing back the day, when he drove me up the slope of his old house, ‘I will teach you to drive one day.’ He could no longer grow old enough to see me grown into the 17-years-old young lady whom he can give her a driving lesson legally as he promised. A promise that he can no longer deliver.

The last ever thing I can hold onto is the neat handwritten timetable with our school and tuition schedule crafted carefully in dark black ink by him.

Back to my friend. I told him sometimes holding back things are good to avoid conflict, but I tend to let my thoughts said and conveyed because those words not said may be things we regretted the most.

Do not let important words unsaid.

He said well, that made you who you are. It seems to him that that explained everything about my hypervigilance, the part of me that wanting to keep things in order and control and over-worried that things might go wrong if I hadn’t make necessary intervention at the right time.

My grandfather holds the greatest regret of mine.

I have regretted for not sitting in the front passenger seat, for not able to learn driving from him as he had promised, not making the time to visit him in the hospital, for not being able to do much for him, and for not expressing my love for him while he’s around. I missed the chance of saying a proper goodbye even.

He left without notice.

You often thought there will be next time but came to realise there is no next time.

What formed us today is largely the experiences, hurdles and regrets we all once had. We are the by-product of our past.

If there’s something important you haven’t say, say it.

If there’s someone you love, tell them.

Finding Joy in Pain

2021-09-11T14:38:00.003+08:00

2 text messages came through my phone screen.

‘What pain do i want in life?’

‘What am i willing to struggle for?’

Well. From a friend. He said he has no answer.

‘The pain of missing out most family time, the loneliness as an expat, the wait for the right person, the muscle soreness to stay healthy, the time devoted to keep abreast of knowledge , the delayed gratification to financial freedom.’

He immediately retorted, ‘you found the right person long ago.’

‘This is the answer for you.’

‘Sounds legit.’

‘Of course. I think of it from your perspective.’

Most of the above resonate well with me in fact.

The good thing is pain can be addictive and rewarding, see how far we can go to devour spiciness ‘level 10’ ramen, the extra Chili flakes on pizza, the muscle fibers breakdown form a marathon, a seemingly horrible cupping session or Thai massage but yet we enjoyed every bit of these tortures.

In a life context, small pain now in exchange for big pain in the future is probably the right way to think. Hence making the small pain now not too much of a pain.

If each of us has to endure a certain level of pain and struggles, wouldn’t it be better if you suffer 1% of pain each day for a better tomorrow. Learning to take in bite-sized pain gracefully, you stand a chance in mitigating big pain in the future.

How about you be more mindful in your meal and fight off your cravings—cutting down junk food, sweet food and beverages instead of needing to worry what slimming pill to swallow?

How about you turn down a drinking session, save up more and live below your means in exchange for a good compounded investment to fund your retirement instead of working your ass off in your 70s to pay for mortgage?

How about you exercise once a week to keep your muscle flexible and mind fresh in exchange for a stronger body instead of getting a stiffened vessel in your carotid artery and get a stroke?

Isn’t that sounds more feasible? Who wants a huge lump-sum pay off of pain.

But the secret sauce is that we must learn to find joy in pain. Joy will burn out the pain.

Joy in eating expiring fruits for example is in finding Cara Cara Orange.

Joy in waking up in the morning to run is in finding a fragrant mango and bring it home.

Joy in working 12 hours a day is in finding your patient well and getting better.

Simple as that.

Yes. No one wants pain and struggles but most will overlook the readiness and their abilities to find joy within pain. Only if they realise, that it is not that hard actually.. that unexpected good stuffs can be (or may be) found in the process, diverting you to happy surprise amidst pain.

Pain is not a limiting factor hence. We as the smartest earthlings so far are smart enough to take on the right amount of pain we can endure.

Was talking to a friend lately and he told me he has finally resigned from his 8-5 government job. He worked in Sarawak, a rural area, away from family, a lot of struggles; not an ideal job but he has endured for few years. Most would want to continue staying in the government, in the comfort zone, but he took a leap of faith of quitting anyway. I am happy for him. I encouraged him to join the Sg workforce and gave him a few good reasons. He hesitated a lot— for the pain and struggles he imagined and the future he envisioned (he would eventually return to home country one day he said). Sometimes the biggest pain in life is not to a take on a risk. However, we must also look within to check on our value system and to carefully weight if the pain we are going to take is aligned with our goals. Pain worthy for me might not be worthy for my friend.

You may bite off more than you can chew, but most people certainly wouldn’t choke themselves to death. Accident is an exception anyway.

Pick the pain of your choice, buckle up and look for joy from within. You will be surprised that it may not be that hard at all. The keyword is, anyway, the pain that ‘you want’ and ‘you’re willing to take on’. Does it worth the pain?

Of fear

2021-08-14T09:32:00.005+08:00

I have learned that even a very wise person can be fearful when faced with uncertainities and difficulties.

One may look calm and peaceful on the outside but fear inside, like how calm swans keep themselves afloat gracefully but if you look closer, they paddle frantically beneath.

'Isn’t it odd. It can only see our outsides, but nearly everything happens on the inside.'-the boy, the mole, the fox and the horse.

It is the inside that should be well taken care of.

But it is the inside that we avoid showing the world. It is the inside the world refuse to see.

Is a pat to the inner you suffice?

Probably a hug or more.

I guess.

Or just hanging around, being there.

I choose to be quiet.

Probably saying 'do not fear' is not the most helpful way.

Probably a hug or more will affirm one further.

I ponder.

Maybe just hanging around, being there.

Just be there.

We are truly dependent on one another.

Sometimes we cross paths, sometimes we drift apart.

But in all those days we are together, being there is the best ever gift.

Everyone is a bit scared, but we are less scared together.

Of sickness

2021-08-13T15:13:00.023+08:00

Meningoencephalitis or on the paper of discharge summary— Encephalitis and encephalopathy.It's not until someone you love has gotten it you start realising how dreadful it can be.

Fear filled every inch of my skin. I had never seen a so-frail dad. He might not be the stoutest, strongest, most muscular dad in the world, but he has always been a father figure, the one who will be hustling to take care of the family if anyone is down. Whenever any of the family member fell sick, he would be the watchdog, making sure things are going okay. But this time it was him himself.

I got very frightened when I noticed something’s off over the phone. I remember crying over the phone, feeling helpless, yelling for help. I begged the sister to page a doctor and order a CT brain. He was not himself, he has got altered mental status. In delirium, he told me that he’s in a hotel instead of hospital.

It was my Birthday. Day 3 of my residency programme.

I managed to pick myself up and continued whatever I ought to do that day. I finished work at 7.45pm following a discussion in CC regarding my research.

The next few days, he has been progressing fast. He has tremors to the extent he cannot feed himself, unsteady gait hence they labelled him as high fall risk and intractable hiccups which means something is going very wrong in the brain. I called to check on him every morning and tracked on his mental status. My heart skipped a beat every time there’s an update from the doctor (or feeling worse if they never give me any update). I can feel my body trembled, feeling paralysed and I was not in the capacity of doing my work.

I feel helpless for the first time. Despite me seeing countless of patients day in and day out in the hospital. How naive was I to tell some anxious patients not to worry too much or wait for an update from doctor without really putting myself in their shoes?

I could not physically be there for my own father. I was worried the doctor might miss things amidst his acute condition despite wanting them to treat him properly—is the diagnosis correct, is the investigation sufficient, is the drug being optimised, is his kidney function okay? On the side note, I knew that there is minimal role for me to intervene. I wanted the best for him, I asked a lot of questions.

On Day 4 5/8/21, I decided I need to return home. It was purely intuitive to do so. They need me.

On the same day of flying home, he was started on IVIG, an expensive medicine that often used as a last resort or salvage in severe sepsis in the ICU or for autoimmune disease. The doctors had no clue what is happening to him yet. The CSF panel showed raised in WBC and protein with PCR E. coli positive, with predominantly lymphocytes but all the other inflammatory markers were negative. CSF culture negative, blood culture negative. The investigation was just not very conclusive.

I have so many questions that I have no answer. And no one can provide one.

He is now back at home, discharged. But i am still very worried. 10 days of effective antibiotics for a real E.coli meningitis poses risk of reinfection. The doctor was telling me that it could be a false positive, that he has been adequately treated from their point of views.

I remain skeptical on the decision, but I know that I cannot force things through. All I can do is hope for the best and pray for his speedy recovery.

My thoughts:

1. The world does not always go as you wish. Things weren’t necessary laid out as it suppose to be. You don’t always get a definite answer. That can be nerve wracking. That may seem unacceptable. There’s a fine line between making things in order tactfully vs. pushing too hard to tense everyone up. There’s a part of you fearing things will go wrong but there’s another part of you who just innocently praying things to be okay. Learning to strike a good balance between staying calm and still in the midst of chaos while keep things under controlled is really hard. Keeping yourself sane and thinking clear is even harder.

2. We should always plan ahead and get the umbrella ready for rainy days. Don’t be like me. Thoughts of whether the insurance coverage is sufficient crosses my head multiple times, I raised the topics before but was oblivious to ask in-depth (because I assume…).Oh well, once they fall sick, the insurance often will come with some exclusion criteria. Getting yourself a good insurance is not good enough, making sure your loved one have good coverage gives you peace of mind.

3. Family is the most important thing in life. For years, this component has been well taken care of and i am really grateful for that.I can now understand how hard it is for a family to go through hardships like sickness. We have to help each other, give the weak one affirmation and give the sick one encouragement. All i hope is that everyone is in the pink of health from now on.

4. We are all dependent of one another. I have received a lot of care and help from my dearest friends. Some called in, some texted. Each of them has given me their love and time to listen to my problem and some have given me very good advices. I couldn’t be more grateful for that. I would be the same for them whenever they need me.

5.For the longest time ever, I am a ‘rabbit’ who has only learnt how to run fast to get to the finishing line. I have my goals, my own agenda and things i wanted to achieve in life. I guess I am lucky enough to be ‘budged and reminded’ constantly by someone who is older and wiser than me. And I am thankful for that.

‘Within each of us there is an Owl, a Rabbit, an Eeyore and a Pooh. For too long, we have chosen the way of Owl and Rabbit. Now, like Eeyore, we complain without results. But that accomplishes nothing. If we are smart, we will choose the way of Pooh’.

6. From the original simplicity comes the ability to enjoy the simple and quiet, the natural and plain and I hope I will always remember this—be it today, the near or the far future.

8. Last by not least, my dear God has never forgotten me in the day of trouble despite me being oblivious all the time! All glory to Him.

Look again what’s important in life. Slow down and look carefully because what is important is often invisible.

Aoran

Searching for the inner child

2021-07-18T01:27:00.013+08:00

A day out with the girls who shared similar background, upbringing and values soothed me a lot today.

These days i am growing to be more anxious about the future— a dreadful programme is starting soon next week. I am taking a break from work since last Thursday to steer clear of my anxiety. I have had tightness on the chest and a garbage of destructive thoughts inside of tiny pea sized brain.

It’s not until i signed up for it and then subsequently was accepted into it (pretty easily which took me my surprise), that I started to get to know loads of horror stories from the programme. About people dropping out, about people failing the programme; someone changed their personalities entirely because of this ( I wouldn’t want this!) and the numerous criticism echoing on this training programme.

I thought about my childhood a lot recently and contemplated a lot on things I could have done better. Self reflection is such an ugly mirror, i still have turbulence inside me.

I began to admire the little me in my childhood time. The little girl with zero fear, i was fearless to almost absolutely nothing; always so confident of myself. I recalled a memory of the 12-year-old me and my mum having breakfast in a noodle shop on the day of an important exam. My rivals, a little chubby boy who used to adore me, was holding book in his hand while having breakfast, frantically reading it. My thought at that particular instance? I could still remember it quite clearly. ‘Too much nervous do you no good. I shall not be pressured. I will be doing ok. Better than him i suppose.’

The little girl who had never afraid of criticism, who stood in the classroom and started on debates with the boys, who didn’t care about the view of others has now grown up to be the opposite. I hope you’ll be back in no time.

Right? Ain’t nobody got time for me? I knew it, but i just can’t help myself feeling inferior, feeling not good enough. :(

As I greatly doubt myself, Yc’s recommendation on this book called ‘Stillness is the key’ seems to be a lifebuoy in the ocean. I’ve started reading it (last part to finish tomorrow). It has got so much wisdom in it. It’s a book that helped him a lot in his downtime. Maybe for me too? I wonder if he was lucky to have a good mentor in his life, like how he is guiding me. Aha, he might not know that he is inspiring, maybe i should let him know one day.

The book suggested journalism. i thought this would be a good idea to restart this. :) May this give me some comfort and support throughout.

Be still.

Jolly Folly Major Update :)

2021-02-21T10:40:00.037+08:00

I am reading ‘7 Habits of Highly Effective People’ today. I realised I haven’t been writing for a really long time. Things happened, a lot has changed. There were times among my busy schedule when I read back on this blog, always with a sense of proudness of myself for keeping the old times memory here. They are real old gems.. and today, I am thinking why not keep this going and just document about life. I would now call it ‘Daily Private Victory’.

In recent years, the world has changed so fast, and I have been pushing myself to keep up with it. I came to believe that if you stop pushing yourself, the world will then push you around.

Major throwback to 2019

I started to work in Singapore about a year ago in November 2019. I could still remember the thrill when I received the offer letter from HR; tears of joy streamed down my cheek while I was driving home on a long high way after a long day at work. It was definitely more than a sob, I was crying like a baby, ?quite hysterically in the car. I wasn’t even trying to exaggerate. Ever read ‘The Pearl’?

‘It is not good to want a thing too much. It sometimes drives the luck away. You must want it just enough, and you must be very tactful with Gods or the gods.’-John Steinbeck, The Pearl

That’s me. I feel so touched by God. After years of struggles, it came true, my once elusive goal that I have left behind. It was awaken by one phone call, by then my spirit was high, but dare not to give it too much of a hope given the number of times the disappointment hit me. When the time is right, things fall into its place. This is also why both me and xt put on the cross necklace. Amen!

Ox-picious year 2020 (Niu Year)

A new year has begun and we are still long way out of the pandemic. A global pandemic Covid 19 originated from WuHan China has hit us, the cleverest top-of-the-food-chain homosapiens; started around Dec 2019, the same year I started working in Singapore. It is not ending yet. Msia is now having high number of cases up to 2000-3000 new patients per day, and the first ever not ending lock-down of Singapore-Malaysia borders in history has been ongoing since around March 2020. I have only been home once since I relocated, which was last year Chinese New Year. Terrifying pandemic, first of its kind, we were all grounded. I miss HOME.

The pandemic has forced changes to our daily life. No travel (my greatest passion :/ ), no school, no work for non-essential workers (aha, so now you know who are essential lol?) , no eating out, safe distancing, safe entry scan almost everywhere, then Zoom Classes/Zoom meeting. In my case, our work team splits into Team A and B, whereby people from different team are not supposed to meet or eat together. In Singapore, we have now evolved from movement restriction to no more than gathering of 4 pax then to no more than 8 pax. Staying at home is the new norm.

The pandemic has made us all slowed down in a way. No more rushing in and out of the custom for me, that’s mean no more going home for all Malaysians working in this foreign land that oversees our home country. The rampaging infection is alarming and worrying, but yet it looks almost like a reminder sent by our Lord to wake up his earthlings. Perhaps this is what we called the balance of nature.Mother Earth has reportedly becomes cleaner in a lot of tourist hotspots like Bali, Thailand where travellers used to litter a lot. The water bodies become cleaner and the air quality improves. More people is working from home now, spending more time with the family.

Business are either forced to go online or go bankruptcy, even big department store like Robinsons closed down. Online businesses on the other hand flourish. I am very glad that my dad’s pet shop and my cousin uncle’s Chinese herbal and stuffs shop are both doing well. My dad said his business is now at its peak with the efforts of my brother pushing it online. I had a look at my family business’s page in Shopee (owned by my company $SeaLimited), the comments and all looked really great. Ahh..my little brother haha, i am starting to be proud of him. I hope he keeps up his passion and his good work.

I have been reading frantically recently on financial stuff and my usual favourite non-fiction kind of books. To name a few: Finding Chika by Mitch Albom, Warren buffet way, Atomic habits, Subtle Art of Not Giving A F*ck and more.. In solitude, I think I find peace with myself in reading, playing keyboard (yes, don’t judge, i pick up piano again haha, sorry dude!) and exploring more of the world. I have learnt a lot more about myself in this year. Ohh, hot news, I have started investing in the US Market too.

I started investing in the Malaysia market 2-3 years ago under the influence CH, O and W. All of them were my colleagues back in M’sia who are good at managing their finance.Just like others, of course, I paid to the market to learn about a thing or two. :(

It was only after meeting Y that I started to change my investment mindset. I had never dreamt of Financial Independence and did not know that there’s a way of doing it, and of course, skepticism about my ability of realising it is another big hurdle. Yet, he makes things obvious, easy, attractive and satisfying.

One day while talking to Xt about people inspiring us in life, I looked back my own and realised there really are people inspiring me along the way. Xt said he has none. I was surprised. Hmm, because if you do not have one, probably that’s because you haven’t been really looking into finding one.? My first boss aka mentor, Mr Choong LD, he inspired me to be a good pharmacist when i was still a student. I work part time in the pharmacy store and he was always good and patient to teach me and other colleagues. I was such a young chick who don’t even know DM can cause optic neuropathy that pt can go blind and obviously do not know the active ingredients in Colodium (antidiarrheals med) is Loperamide. I told Mr Choong I wanted to be someone like him, be a pharmacist who is able to remember all generic names of the medicines. I achieved that today.

The second person of whom I believe inspired me while conning (fun harmless little lies though don’t worry) me at the same time was a young guy called YH I met in the Sydney International Airport. I was back from my Working Holiday in Woolgooga and was munching my left-overnight Korean chicken from yesterday dinner in the airport. Yes, I kept it in the bag and took it out to eat while waiting for a flight. How peculiar is this girl?! This young man approached me and we gone into a 8-hour-conversation (Sydney-KL route). LOL.At the end of the conversation, I decided to need to see NZ for myself, then the next year I was on a voyage to NZ ! I realised i achieved that too.

You can only realise great things happening around you if you have the right amount of self-awareness within yourself. I am so grateful and lucky to have people teaching me and encouraging me to learn more, travel more and invest more.

Everyone should invest I believe. I have changed my mindset totally because of a great life mentor. While i am trying to zoom out myself and look at the bigger picture, I realised this could me a game-changing shift of paradigm. 🔥 Today, my portfolio records a gain of 16-20% 4 months into my US market adventure.

In the coming days and years, I hope I can inspire more people around me to invest too. I hope that everyone would achieve that ultimate goal in life, to be financially independent, do what they love and love what they do.

Reminder to self

Never go for empty victories, it is not worth it if the successes come at the expense of things we suddenly realise were far more valuable to us.

2017 update

2017-06-04T22:48:00.001+08:00

Nahhh I'm still alive.

Just a very brief update on what I've been up to.

1. I move to a new city.
Gosh up to 23 years of my entire life, the south-most city I've been to in Malaysia is Tangkak but I've that bold,courageous heart of relocating to JB.

Now I'm just 10 minutes away from SG-Malaysia Checkpoint. God bless me for leaving the city with abundance of food to set my foot on this land which is 565km away from home; with people I barely know and oohh a place whereby I have ZERO idea about its road maps. I know, it absolutely sound ~~alright~~ NOT right.

I'm adapting to every inches of it. So far so good.

2.Finally, after the long haul, I started my PRP training.
And it's 60% in progress? Woohoo. Can't wait for it to end and pack my bags to off for a holiday! Seriously 1 year of dormant period without travelling is totally unbearable. It's killing me mentally and physically.

And hence, 2 years of training-ship (one unofficial, one official) had already depleted lots my of energy. Replenishment is needed seriously.6 more months to go. I will hang in thereeee.

3. The adulthood.
The necessities. Money. Purchases. Insurance? I've joined the grown-ups club reluctantly. A lot to care for and it's not fun, this is for sure. And I've just got myself a new phone today T.T coz the old one is no longer functioning.

Still looking for stuffs/ activities which I can afford to devote to. Ideas??

=D This will be all for this time.

Osaka-Kyoto-Shirakawago Trip Vlog

2017-04-15T21:46:00.002+08:00

November 2016. Goal accomplished. Few years after HK Trip, me and my parents together with xt were off to Japan (this time without my sis).

To me and Xt, Japan is total new adventure. For my dad and mum, it was a trip walking down their memory lanes; they worked in Japan when they're young! *phew just like me and xt, we love to talk and reminisce our days in NZ; while my lovey dovey parents always talk about their old sweet time (though my dad always complained about the hard labors） in Japan.

Osaka, Kyoto and Shirakawago were our chosen destination this time! Hmm, what about Tokyo? Tokyo is not my cup of tea hermmm, for this moment i guess. I am not particular hype about skyscrapers, modern buildings and shopping malls but more of a heritage fans =P (declaration: might change my minds in near future who knows?)

9 Days 8 Nights Autumn Folliage Itinerary (29th October- 6th November)

Day 1: Arriving in Kansai Airport Osaka-Train to Kyoto (HARUKA)-Kyoto Ramen Koji京都拉面小路
Day 2: Kyoto Arashiyama -Inari Shrine (Kyoto One day Pass 750 yen ）
Day 3:清水寺,三十三間堂、東福寺，八坂神社，祇園(Kyoto Bus one day pass)
Day 4 :Kyoto-Kanazawa (Takayama-Hokuriku Pass) 3hours &30 minutes
Acommodation: APA Hotel Kanazawa-Katamachi
Attractios: kenroku-en, Motenashi Dome
Day 5 :Kanazawa-Shirakawago (Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)
Must call and book in advance (preferably one month before) and call again prior depart to confirm the booking.

Day 6 : Shirakawago-Osaka -Namba千日前(Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)

Day 7 :Osaka-心斋桥-Kuromon Maret--Dotonburi道顿掘(Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)-Dinner: Ichiran Ramen

Day 8 : Osaka-Nara(Kintetsu Railway)-Dotonburi道顿掘(Takayama-Hokuriku Pass)

Day 9 :Kansai-KLIA2(Haruka &ICOCA)

*Takayama Hokuriku pass coverage:

1.JR Train (limited express Haruka) btw Osaka & Kansai Airport

2.JR Train within Osaka city (via Hokuriku/Kosei/Tokaido)

3.JR train between Nagoya-Toyama (via Tokaido/Takayama line)

4.JR Train (limited express Thunderbird ) between Osaka/Kyoto-Kanazawa

5.Hokuriku Sinkansen between Totama & Kanazawa (via Shin-Takaoka)

6.Nohi bus between Takayama & Kanazawa via Shirakawago

7. Kaetsuno bus between Shirakawago & Shin-takaoka

* This deal includes 1500 ICOCA e-money and one way/round trip to Osaka, Kyoto, Nara or Kobe. You cannot use this deal to Himeji, Wakayama and other than Osaka, Kyoto, Nara and Kobe.

The highlight of this trip was to Shirakawago. After contemplating for long, this would be the most ideal way to save money while being able to explore this beautiful village.

My Japan Vlog =)

Arrowtown--Queenstown--Glenorchy #WHPOST8

2016-03-27T20:51:00.000+08:00

Post written on October.
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It's almost the end of the October. Time flies Gosh. I will definitely miss these carefree days.

This Thursday we were up in Arrowtown---a small town renowned for its beautiful scenery during autumn. But the way, autumn had long passed so we shall see it for spring.

Surprise me coz everything looks kinda SPRING. Even the residential area looks pretty cool, with trees stood green along both sides of the street and colourful flowers matching the view. Arrowtown ain't a boring city, it has got interesting shop in township and we spent longer than planned in this small town.

The first agenda of the day has to be breakfast. I was told to go for Arrowtown bakery and cafe and the servings didn't let me down. Had a decent nice breakfast and a cup of hot chocolate.

You can easily tell that Halloween is approaching merely looking at these decoration set up by the shop..

Next agenda--to visit Arrow River. This is where one of the scene of Lord of The Ring (LOTR) was taken. As a fan, there's no way to miss it.

I know right, no where near LOTR..Luckily, our brain is able to do wonderful job by taking you on an imagination flight.

Saw someone carrying a gold pan. What? Can pan for some gold leaves? xD This is totally my thing.. FYI, Arrowtown used to be gold mining area, this place is so rich at gold that you can actually pan for your own gold. Well, only valid if the luck is at your side.

Immediately me and Xt went back into the street and without hesitation, we rent a gold pan and a shovel at $3.

Well, everything is exciting when you first started it. Gold panning is no easy task. Mechanical agitation is tiring, and immersing hand is icy cold water is definitely not a fun thing to do.

Ended up ..we pan nothing but some little golden stone I assume they are gold. Well, that's alright to spend $3 for a lifetime experience don't we?

Off to Glenorchy---The Gateway to Paradise. Glenorchy, 45 minutes from Queenstown is famous for its spectacular landscape; and it has become one of the prime location in NZ for film scouts. Many scene from LOTR were filmed here, as well as Narnia movie xD

Enjoy its breathtaking beauty Woohoo!

One of the famous activity in Glenorchy is horse trekking. I really wanted to do that but.... it was way too expensive for us (some package was $100 and above, the cheapest we got from bookme was $79) .So, we decided not to go for it.

Despite our failing anticipation towards riding, we were so lucky to spot some horses and they came close to us xD Tried to lure them with some banana.

Let's the pictures do the talking.

How i wish we stay in this paradise forever.

Travelling to North Vlog #WHPost9

2016-03-27T20:50:00.002+08:00

You possibly can't imagine how happy I was when I successfully secured a place in NZ Working Holiday Scheme. I almost jumped and screamed. Logged on to NZ immigration website at 4am in the morning and finally submitted my application around 7am. Approximately 10 minutes after I logged off, all 1150 places allocated for 2015 were full.

I was on cloud nine when I departed. And I am really grateful that I was granted such an opportunity to see the world, what's more to this extremely beautiful land.

I don't think I'll be given a second chance in life to go on an adventure like this anymore.But I've learned a lot throughout the journey.

Well, let's this Vlog summarizes my final part of the journey! Travelling to North Island xD

Franz Josef Glacier #WHPost6

2015-10-14T15:27:00.000+08:00

I didn't expect it to happen so soon---a journey to glacier. NZ's Southern Alps have a number of glacier, the largest being Tasman Glacier (not accessible but can only view by taking a short walk in Mount Cook Village). The most famous glacier, namely Fox Glacier and its twin, Franz Josef Glacier sprawl along South Island West Coast; and it's 5 hours drive from Cromwell.

A big shout out to everyone considering this trip, it worth every penny you spent!

Another big money I've spent other than skydiving xD. One day when I browsed through bookme.co.nz to look up for some promo activity, I found this stunning activity and randomly asked Xt if he interested in joining.

A BIG YES. And so, we went on to book Ice Explorer which costs half a week of our wages $329. What comforting us is it comes along with free hot pools entry.

A 5 hour drive is totally exhausting. What pissed us off is there's no petrol station along the way to Franz Josef. Fuel a full tank before departing is definitely a wise idea.

What a stupid decision we made not to fuel in Cromwell, ended up we paid extra $20 atop of the fuels as service charge to reopen one of the tank. Also, petrol in Franz Josef priced 233.9cents/L which is skyhigh compared to other town.... Fox Glacier on the other hand 220+ *feel like banging wall

Arrived in Franz Josef Montrose (a clean and neat backpacker) at 11pm, definitely recommend this stay which costs us only $55/room.

We've joined the earliest tour at 8.45am. Upon checked in, we were equipped with free hat,waterproof over-trousers, gloves, socks and sturdy leather boots and crampons.

What to bring? Sunglasses, light snack, bottle (to fill up so glacier water) and sunsreen.

1.All ready to set off.

2.7 minutes walk to Heli Pad =D

3.There we were heli transferred to the glacier.

4.Approximately 4 minutes heli flight xD A bird eye's view of the glacier

5.Landed on glacier for the first time. We were guided to put on crampons on our boots.

6.Start our hiking. Unbelievably magnificent and stunning! Due to climate changes, the glacier retreats and reduces in level which is a worrisome issue.

7.Mason, our glacier guide explained that the glacier retreat is because the ice melts faster than it formed. Therefore, since 2014, the glacier is no longer accessible (not safe enough to walk) through walking up the valley. That's why today we need helicopter to transfer and land us onto the glacier face; and it's not cheap.

8.He also explained that the dropped glacier level means it is no longer pressing against the cliffs, leading to a lot of rockfalls.

7. I really like spectacular natural attraction

.Marvel at the beauty of Mother Earth!

8. Blue Ice Arches. We climbed through the cave and it's exhilarating! =D

9. Pretty turquoise ice!

10.The ice appeared to be blue because it is really dense and consolidated that bubble cannot interfere the passage of light. The ice on the glacier has been there for a long time that it's so compact that it is dense enough to absorb every colour except blue.

11. The glacier glistens in turquoise.

12. The brilliant blue crevasse inspire us with awe.=D

13. Glacier water. Quite refreshing but I'm presumptive about the purity of the water.

14.Squeeze through narrow ice tunnels. Fun yea!

15.Bumped into another glacier guide.

16. Awe-inspiring landscape.

17. Do you know 75% of fresh water on Earth comes from glacier?

18. Global warming has posed a hazardous effect on glacier. Previously, glacier retreats and recovers; finger cross that it is going to recover!

19. Mason and me.

20. The whole trip lasted for 4 hours, with 3 hours of ice time =D

Simply Stunning! ...=DFranz Josef Glacier

Oamaru #WHPost5

2015-10-04T16:52:00.001+08:00

Belated post of 19 September..

The most anticipating day of the week has to be Thursday--our day off. I have come up with a list of to-go-places which they are basically all scheduled up to be done.

Last week was Oamaru. Well, not just Oamaru, but it comes in a package--Oamaru Town, Bushy Beach, Moeraki Boulders and Katiki Point.

The highlight of the whole short trip goes to penguin and seal. I got a thing for wildlife and so do Xt.

The decision was made ad hoc that we booked a cabin at the last minute before departing. Oamaru is 227.4km from Cromwell, a 2.45 hours journey. We departed late after work at 6.15pm and arrived in Oamaru Blue Penguin Colony at Waterfront Road.

These pictures will do the talking,

1. We decided not to spend a penny on penguin sightseeing. So that's what we do....we went straight to 'ambush' penguins at Waterfront Road. Blue-eyed penguin (little blue) nests along coastline of Oamaru. It is the smallest penguin of its kinds. To catch a penguin in sight is totally by luck.

By the time we arrived, there was no one there, no nothing. We walked along the sea to see a small harbour and came to ' Blue Penguin Colony' building that was already closed.

Best time to view penguins is just before dark (5.30pm in winter and 9.30pm in summer). So, if according to the guide, we got no chance for penguins.

Just as we wandered back to the harbour, we heard some 'dog-barking' noise, it is hard to tell if that was from a bird or a dog. Xt being a great observant, discovers the first penguin then more to go.

Due to low light it's quite hard to shoot on animal but this one just stays still like a BOSS! Little Blue, the World's smallest penguin.

2.Our cabin in Waitaki Water Holiday Park, $50/night for 2 persons. It was a starry night and Waitaki Water Holiday Park was deemed a good place for stargazing or star shooting. We made a few shoots despite the chilly weather.

3.Woke up in the morning to sunshine. Good weather day. I'm not a weather person in Malaysia coz I tend for indoor activity thank to toxic sun and hot weather; in NZ everyone talks about today's weather and good weather renders beautiful photosss!

Here's a few shoots.

Right beside our little cabin.

Waitaki Water Holiday Park

nearby beach

4. Our first stop , Oamaru Town. Walked around and saw a super vintage steam train in front of Steampunk HQ. The Steampunk museum features steam-powered technology but we didn't pay a visit (entrance fee $10).

There'll be 30 minutes rail journey tour on every Sunday but this is impossible for us coz we never have day off on Sunday.

5.A lot of vintage shops and cafe around the town.

live the life you dream

6. Church--the attraction

7.2nd stop--Bushy Beach. On penguin searching expedition hehe. No penguin was seen but successfully spotted a seal, opps, TWO (one distant, another was just 1m away)! Just way too cute with its eyes closed, but scare the shit out of me when it made even mildest movement!

LOL! like deadfish

Btw, Bushy Beach is quite spectacular so totally worth stopping by!

8.Moraeki Boulders --- the next stop. Quite a popular attraction (bumped into at least 50 visitors...). Famous for its dinosaur's ball (not the real one lah) which originally form in the sea sediment some 60 million years ago.

According to reference, a total of 50 large spherical rocks lied along Otago Coastline with the largest of them having a diameter of 2m.

Cracked from my egg shell.

9. The last stop --- Katiki Point. What for? Yellow-eyed penguins of course. By chance you see a peguin, by luck you have them in front of you less than 1metre away.

The journey started with a lazy looking penguin sunbathing itself, suppose the one that did not go fishing..a day off? a sick leave?...We have no idea but it totally made my day thank you xD

Hives of seals around. LOL. So blessed to have my long lens so that I can have a nice closed up 'Portraits' of them

cute horr?

this one very fat...

Aloha!

like a mermaid lol

Very excited when we found out more and more penguins around 3pm (spring time). From what I read, penguins returned to their nest 1-2 hours before sun sets. It seemed they were coming back early!

More penguins? YESSSSS

My favourite shot

Quarreling?

This vlog pretty sums up our penguins' expedition xD

Till next time.....

Skydiving #YOLO #WHPost4

2015-09-24T18:52:00.000+08:00

It's just amazing!

I'm crossing out another 'MUST-DO' from my long to-do-list. Skydive checked.Hehe. Another expensive experience wtf. But since it's a #YOLO kind of thing so don't care lol.

12,000 feet man! Why choose 12,000 over 9000 or 15,000 ft? Main factor goes to price, 15,000 costs $439 while 12,000 costs $339, hundred dollar cheaper. 9000 ft is not in consideration at all due to its height.

Btw, we booked through JJ House Limited and got $17 discount each pax. That's $322.This is certainly a good way to save.We checked in half an hour earlier in NZone Queenstown at 8am coz we were in the first session 8.30am! Apparently we planned to book for 930am but it's fully booked =(

Nzone skydive really 'laku' (means fast-selling) even on weekdays.

Basically they made everything speedy to make sure no delay.

Checked in. Bus departed on time to NZone Dropzone which is 20 mins from Queenstown. Double confirmed our booking and photo request. Have us put on the gown. Short briefing about correct posture to jump--BANANA shape. Quick video shooting.One time no NG. Next thing is board.

Introducing my coach...

We somehow requested to have a marker man so that we could write some words on our hand. One of the staff helpfully helped us with that. But the whole thing had been quite pushy as Xt got to write his properly while me was just left with a pen.

So I did my left hand using my right. But it's impossible to do my right with left hand. So I asked my photographer but he said he got to do the video shooting thingy so he got no hand to help. Then I shyly asked my coach while the plane precipitously accelerated to 12,000 ft.

Me:'Can you please write #YOLO on my hand?'

Him: 'What does that means?'

I tried to explain but I think it's way too noisy that he probably didn't hear me.

So #YOLO is Asian kind of thing?

Btw, back to the dive.

To be frank, I neither in too much excitement nor fear, not until 2 minutes before getting out the plane.

Coach:'we are now 2 minutes from the dive.' There's where I feel the rush of my adrenaline but not too much though. One thing I keep reminded myself-- Don't scream; keep smiling to keep the photo nice. (failed it though, I will tell you why later, but at least I put in effort to try looking good )

There I realized we (me and coach) are the first to jump. Being the last in the plane means the nearest to the plane door and the first to go.

I basically tightly connected to the coach. So wherever he goes, I follow. What he did was to push me through the plane door. I was not given another second to hesitate. The next second I was out of the plane falling into middle of nothing.Nothing, I was floating in the air.

12,000 ft was promised to 45 seconds of free fall. (1 minute for 15,000ft)

Just embrace the fear. Well, there's nothing much to fear. Becoz......I was multitasking up there in the sky. I don't have a second free to fear, to be frank.

That's a super panorama view, giving a full gaze of Queenstown and snow mountains.One good thing to skydive before the weather gets too warm is you got snow mountains in the photo!!

Don't have much time admiring the view though. The next second my photographer glided towards us and gestured me to pose.

So I try to smile and pose. Remember the principle? To look good that's all matter. Btw...such a failure my cheek got too much of flesh and they all got blew up and left distorted despite my big grinned smile.

15 seconds or probably 10 seconds later I say goodbye to my photographer. He will be in the dropzone waiting for us to land. This left me and my coach.

My perception was that we were gliding gracefully left and right above the horizon. Haha.True or not I'm not sure.

Coach: 'I will let you take control.'

So I was then holding a loop yellow in color. Two hands up--Full speed, that's what they call while flying. Pull down one side, either left or right will lead to accelerating spins.

Coach: 'Do you have motion sickness?'

Me, bravely answered:' No.'

The answer NO was leading to a few more spinning. Left and right. Right and Right. It was fun in the beginning but I started feeling a bit nauseous later. Though it's still bearable.

From jumping to landing probably only lasts for 2-3 minutes I supposed.

Surprisingly Xt's coach didn't let him in charge of the parachute.

That's it! I DID IT. Life is too short to wait. xD

This video basically recorded everything from the beginning to the end.

#YOLO

Cardrona Ski Day #WHPost3

2015-09-15T18:58:00.003+08:00

5 weeks after my first ever skiing experience, I was back to ski field once again, this time Cardrona. Partly because Xt has finally arrived in NZ that he anticipated snow long before his arrival; and a part of me have been wanting a snowman so badly but I had not have adequate time to build one properly.

We are acting quick just in case spring gets too warm to melt away the snows.

FYI, there are quite a few of ski field in the region, namely Cardrona, Treble Cone, The Remarkable, Coronet Peak, Ohau and probably more?

My kiwi colleague raised in the region has recommended Cardrona for new learner like us.

This time I'm going to be Xt's teacher and pass down what I've learned from few weeks ago. Just the easy peasy basics, how to move and stop. Don't expect much of a 2nd time skier.

Our plan of taking shuttle bus from Cromwell to Cardrona was called off due to unscheduled trips, we made a few phone calls to other shuttles in Wanaka but we just couldn't be in time for any of them so we decided to drive up the ski field ourselves.

'Human can only plan, God will do the judgement.' Soooo true man.

Weather was good in the morning that snow chain is not needed. But then it snowed heavily at 1pm that we need to fix a snow chain to get down from the hill.

Let's the video do the talking.

Ohaiyo!

Coz you only live once

Start to roll

Our end product! Mr.Impassive

Till next time.

What's up in Queenstown? #WHPost2

2015-08-30T18:21:00.002+08:00

Queenstown is a scenic town in NZ South Island, well known for its spectacular view. What's on Queenstown?

My first time driving to Queenstown was adventurous and my boss reminded me (again and again) for not departing too early in the morning as the road is going to be very frosty before the sun shines. It's just a 45-50 minutes drive from Cromwell to Queenstown. Apparently, I am managed to do this and keep myself all safe ;)

1. Gondola and Luge
Gondola is the easiest mean to get you up the hill for amazing Queenstown view, effortlessly, just pay for the uphill cable car ride and up you go.

Luge on the other hand can be thrilling for the very first time haha, Then the second time the excitement subsides a little bit and get too predictable the third time. The fourth time is going to bored you up so I guess 3 Luges ride + Gondola is optimum for $48. (That's what I got for myself, later on I figured out Singapore has this similar Luge as well, but okay lah, YOLO)

The snowfall was a flurry one, not really obvious to be noticed but beautiful enough to be seen with naked eyes... soooooooo romantic..

The view is sort of obstructed by trees and the building itself to be frank, which is why I prefer doing no.2 (scroll down please,,,,LOL)

Look at the overcast sky, Queenstown is looking all dull and gloomy without sunshine; but I'm still happy to be compensated by the snow flurry

They are the reason I'm in Queenstown for the first time !

To get on the Luge track ;)

2. Queenstown Hill Walk
'Breath-taking' walk (take my breathe away literally） but the hiking totally worth the efforts as the scenery from Queenstown hill was simply too magnificent to be described, not to mentioned about the unexpected stacked rocks and a small hillside lake. We happened to bump into a herd of wild goats as well.

This track grades a medium as in difficulty- the path is quite steep and demand a lot of energy. I've met a lady who accidentally sprained her ankle while heading downhill but we couldn't really offer a hand to her. Takkan want me carry her on my back....

Queenstown Hill lookout offered a wider angle panorama than Gondola and I seriously feel that this should be the way to overlook splendid view of Queenstown and Lake Wakatipu, with Mountain Remarkable on our left.Gorgeous day indeed!

There were few times Jay said we should stop climbing up (b'coz I'm dragging my body slow behind him) but I insisted that we should made our way to the summit. No work should be done halfway but to complete the task was the ultimate goal, otherwise all our efforts would be wasted!

p/s This is the first and last time i'm doing this.

Look at the view!

3. Lake Wakatipu
Lake Wakatipu is one of the indispensable element adds up to splendid view of Queenstown. Just stop at any spot along the roadside near YHA Queenstown Lakeside will lead you to this beautiful tranquilizing lake.

Sit back and watch seabirds flying around and waves splattering to the shore like you're looking out at the ocean is one of the most relaxing and thrifty activities one could ever do in Queenstown.

The snow mountain ranges definitely add some marks to this scenic place. I wonder how would Queenstown look like after all its 'icing sugar' melts off, it would look all bald and sandy? That's not very interesting....

Seabirds come into picture as well. I wonder why lake got seabirds huh

The lake is in breathtaking aquamarine.

The lake's vastness and its waves seem an ocean to me.

4. Ferg Burger

Forever long queue, forthever crowded with people, this best described Ferg Burger. You'll be astonished by the crowds regardless what timeyou pass by Ferg Burger in the day , as if the people in the town are forever hungry.

Some rated Ferg Burger as the best burger in the world, it's time for us to explore whether it's true!

To avoid waiting long, we decided to go for an early lunch. Spot the menu below, it comes in a range of burger from chicken, beef, lamb, fish, venison to even tofu!

I'm attracted to Southern Swine (don't be deceived by the name, not anywhere close to pork) at the first sight, it comes WITHOUT cheese, If it isn't for me, then who else? LOL. It comes with beef, bacon, lettuce, tomato, avacado, onion and aioli sauce. ;)

A big smile before I gave it a big bite.

Such a big one that I couldn't finish it on my own. The leftover was just good for tomorrow's lunch.

Jay's Sweet Bambi, which is highly recommended by a lot of bloggers. Not really my cup of tea, not to him, either HAHA.

p/s: Chips come so good with the aioli sauce.Yum Yum

To be frank, I personally think that this might be the best burger in Queenstown, but definitely Malaysia's burger is still the best I've came across. While I'm typing, Penang Spade's Burger, Mugshot Cafe's Bagel and Dayumm's Burger were popping up in my head one by one...Gosh, they are so mouthwateringly delicious!

HOMESICK lol

5.Patagonia Chocolates Ice Cream

Patagonia Ice Cream is one of the must-try in Queenstown and I'm very much into their pistachio & figs flavor.

My favorite flavor

Jay was having Dark chocolate with macadamia which is very yummy as well!

Pistachio & figs + Strawberry & Cream

That's pretty much sums up my footstep in Queenstown, not to forget Kosco, the Asian Market in Queenstown ;) Till next time

#WHpost1

2015-08-29T17:44:00.002+08:00

Aloha, it had been a while since the last post. /.\ And yoohoo, I'm now on working holiday in New Zealand (my all time favourite dreamland).

It's my 2nd month + 1 week in NZ. Well so, just a brief post about what I've been up to....

1. I've got a job, opps, TWO.

Ever since I decided to depart in winter time, I've came across with a lot of blogpost / people telling me off not to go at this time----the scariest sentence ever 'You will never get a job during winter' , 'I spent 1 month to look for a job'.

I started to work on my 3rd day of arrival in a lily bulb factory. But there's trick behind this, I went to Canstaff (this factory recruited through workforce agent,Canstaff) almost every day after I arrived in Ashburton and talked to their supervisor, just to make sure they remember my name. And the key is I emailed them long before the job started in March!

Basically, my job is to separate the lily bulbs so that they can be processed by the machine. Ultimate goal: Make sure the machine works smoothly.

Basically we just stand there from 8am-6pm doing the same repetitive gesture---my hand got swollen and sore eventually. I'm such a diligent and self dedicated worker, phew.

This job only lasted for 3 days that I decided to leave. It was a lightning-fast decision. I tried to email my current employer again (I had been emailing them for quite a while), expressing my interest and decided to give them a call.

Apparently they were in need of manpower, I packed all my stuffs in hurry that night and boarded on a bus to Cromwell for an unknown future--an interview. And then I was hired!

I couldn't see all of these coming in fact. I just keep trying and trying.

p/s: Later when I talk to other backpackers, I learned that all seasonal job can be unstable ._____. Haha.

2. For 23 years of living my life, I've came to see the most spectacular and magnificent view

And I've got the chance to travel with my roommates, Amy and Wen Hui to Lake Tekapo, Lake Pukaki and Mount Cook on 28/6.

Living in a tropical country on the equator, my first time seeing snow was exhilarating and seeing all these places covered with snowy white snow was just like a movie scene. I felt like walking/ driving into a painting, everything was so beautiful to an extent I couldn't believe they were being real!

Gosh, they were just soooo breathtaking.

Lake Pukaki shimmers in milky blue colour; the glacier flour (grounded rock particles from glacier) gives colour to the lake. to Its's one of the filming location of Lord of the Rings.

Big Smile. Cheese :D

I love places that make you feel so tiny. We are just stardust so care less!

YOLO

Loveliest place I've ever been!

Church of Shepherd.

Guess it's enough for photobombing >.<

Not to forget about the milky way! I'm definitely not good at shooting stars but I was managed to capture this...... o.o

The first day I arrived in Ashburton on 23/6, managed to capture aurora at Lake Hood. Lucky girl.

3. I bought a car, settled down in a homestay and work in a fruitstall

Sometimes when you're sailing in the sea of life, you will realize that you actually are capable of something you believe you don't.

I never think of buying a car, living alone in an unfamiliar place, travel so far across the Earth to an obscure area where no one knows me and I know no one, clueless about the next city i'm driving to and whom to meet the next...Two months ago, I was still the girl who was freaking nervous about driving from Ipoh to Penang. LOL.

The truth is when you have no one else, growing up happens precipitously on you...Well, it has to be this way.

I like my current job though. It's different from lily bulbs, not boring at all but full of fun. I meet people from all over the world and enjoy talking to them; I enjoy surprising them by speaking the languages they speak and I enjoy telling them off I am Malaysian who can speak Malay, English, Indonesian, Mandarin and Cantonese.

I learn about different types of apples, pears, kiwifruits and others I've never seen before tangelo, tamarillo, nectarines etc. LOL, And I enjoy making not-good-looking icecream after all. Hehe.

4. Ski? Checked.

Clearly stated on the board, LOL, beginner.

Ski was in my must-do checklist for long, I used to look up Korea Ski Tours in the newspaper and felt excited for just checking them up and comparing the price. And yeah, my dream came true. :D

It was in Treble Cone Ski Field, the largest ski field in South Island. It was renowned for its beautiful lake views from the Ski field. Tham, Yi (my ex-colleagues) and me signed up for the first time beginner lesson for $99, this included the ski boots, equipment and 2 hours ski lesson.

But me, being the tai tao ha (big headed prawn) forgot to bring my ski jacket to Wanaka so I have to rent the jacket as well. That made up to $119. Add together the shuttle bus ticket $35, this made ski quite an expensive sport wtf.

FYI, you will need a pair of waterproof pants and gloves, goggles or sunglasses (to protect your eyes from noxious sunlight traveled through the broken ozone layer at south pole wtf? ) , helmet (optional) and ski jacket.

Well, all equipped and ready to go.

Being the first time skier was awkward though, coz most of the people here ski like a BOSS. It was so easy to tell if someone is a regular skier and who's not--we were squirming most of the time and had a hard time dragging our body with a kinda bulky ski boots on our feet and bloody heavy equipment.

I thought it would be freezing up the mountain so I put on a total of 6 layers (3 thermal wear Gosh！）. Never do that coz you're going to regret it! As soon as I started to move around with the ski board on, I got really warm. I hesitated for a while but later I dashed back into the office and put off 4 layers, leaving just 2 layers.

To stop, form a triangle. if fall down, keep the skiboard parallel. To turn right, bend towards left and vice versa. It's considered a vigorous exercise and be prepared to expend tremendous energy!

It's highly recommended for people like us--first time skier to go for a beginner lesson coz without a proper guide you might not know how to get on/ off from the lift, what to do when you fall, what to do to get yourself up and even what to do to your ski boards!

It's so difficult to get off a lift chair properly. I've tripped up a few times before I got it right but as soon as I thought I had a safe landing, I slid down the slope uncontrollably and then the whole line stopped coz of me! Oops, i am so sorry, just bear with first time skier.

Though there's awkward moment when you stumbled uncontrollably after getting off from the pass but overall we had a lot of fun!

We came merely for the view.

Picturesque

Nice view huh!

Spotted a Kea. The world's only alpine parrot. (Spoke to a colleague about Kea and I said it looks pretty much like a parrot, then she replied 'It's a parrot!' No wonder lah, wtf.)

My phonecase matched perfectly with the turquoise skies!

LOVE life.

4. Finally, I'm glad I'm here for winter
NZ totally fits in the picture that I envisioned I'd travel during childhood time-especially snow mountain, snowy white landscape, bald trees, gracefully falling snows and snowman building. It would all been a dream if I never take a move and make it real!

Winter could be all dull, boring and freezing cold for others, but for first timer like me, it just brighten up my day whenever it snows! Haha.

p/s: Winter is almost over. Spring is coming in 2 days time!

p/s: Would like to update more often but chilly weather made people really lazy ,dizzy and succumb to bed wtf. Maybe Spring's not?

2015-04-02T00:56:00.001+08:00

It's a good day with hospital clerkship With each visit,I appreciate this life given to me more. I hope this feelings will continue to grow and don't go away. I am afraid that one day I might become numb of it coz it doesnt sound human to me when you get used to disabled/sick people around you. But I've seen it enough.

When the crowds around you start doing the same,you will go with the flow. They think it's the norm ,it's okay to ignore. Those with disabilities, those lying on bed, those who wheeled themselves painfully with only hands coz their legs are disabled and more---I've seen a lot.

Imagine that's you. Desperately making his way through the corridor with everyone else taller than you dashing in and out off the pavement,but nobody got a minute to stare at you. If only we can do and care more by giving a helping hand,their life can be easier.

If a choice is given, I presume no one choose a tough life over the easy one?

It's all worth it to spend a few minutes to think and care ...

#justmythought

Words and thoughts

2015-03-30T12:19:00.001+08:00

I dunno where to start and how to put these into words. But i guess to write it down is the best way to remind myself of what knocks me hard and my thoughts about it and how a today-me deal with it. Or perhaps I might have a brand new perspective after growing up (btw now i'm a grown up slap), so when i wander too far, i can come down back to the originals.

1.To keep one's word
No, don't look at me like that. I'm not saying that i never fong fei geh. But whenever i do, i do it for a good reason. Like having urgency, when my family/ important friends need me, white lie to reject someone i really wouldn't go out with or when i'm overwhelmed with busy stuffs so i might forget what i promise.

But generally, I do as I said. So I hate it when people ask me to turn someone down, hello, that's a promise between us. I don't think you have the right to tell us what to do. You can have your choice but let me decide mine.

2. To speak what you think
I found it often difficult to lie/ flatter, coz i'm never the kind of person who sweet talks others fml. And I'm guilty about that. So when i said: you're beautiful. I'm 99% true down in my heart, I found i have OCD on this context, coz i always want my words and thoughts to be in accord. When the condition allows, I speak my mind but when it don't I keep silence. I wonder how others deal with this?

3. Do not let the sentence hangs in the middle
Words are like sword and normally we hurt or get hurt by words easily. Did you really say what i think i heard? That's the part we often missed. I have got stabbing pain for letting my sentence die off in the middle and people misunderstood me.

And there's no way you can clarify yourself, if you do, they will judge you as your Daddy's little princess/ KiaSu/ Stubborn/ Ostentatious/ Name-it-all-you-can-think. So you just go to your little corner and mourn at your stupidity. So you might as well let your whole idea get presented coz it may just cost you another 2 seconds.

4. To keep words direct and straight to the point
Xt just told me about the movie ' Imitation Game'. I haven't watch it yet but it sounds like a good movie. You encode and i decode that's the fundamental of communication. But not everyone decodes the same as you did.

Say for example, you said: 'Hey, we are going for dinner tonight.' What pop up in my mind is: Okie.So...? And I replied: 'Where are y'all going?' out of courtesy.

How on earth can I know that you've hidden meaning of invitation in that sentence. Just say 'Let's go for dinner tonight!' Would it be better?

......Is this only happen to me?

2015 first post

2015-03-25T14:42:00.001+08:00

First post in 2015!

My lucky day today. Everything goes smooth and nice. A contented day.

Done a pediatric case presentation and learnt a lot from it.Well said the idioms stay hungry stay foolish. Gathered my guts and called my ex-boss and he agreed to do me a favor. God knows I spent so long to press the dial button. Silly me.

This year is all planned. I have a really long to-do-list to fill up my post graduation gap! a handful of stuffs. And I dunno where to start first.

But as mortal we can only plan,while God will do the judgement. There are two ways now which both look equally appealing to me. Time to make decision. Just like my favorite poem 'the road not taken'. I attempt to travel the road less taken but not sure if the road want to let me travel or not. LOL. Migraine.

One way leads to another. I dunno where is it going to lead me but let's hope for the best!

Oops,I'm now in 4th year 2nd semester. Time flies....it flies indeed.

December post

2014-11-20T00:46:00.001+08:00

Late night and there's a lot of thoughts running through my head.

I've attached to hospital recently (starting from this semester) and was sent to TDM (therapeutic drug monitoring) department one week ago. It was my first time to be so near to a patient, read his medical history up, figured out what he's going on , treatment given to him, problem encountered and he was considered as my first ever hospital admitted patient.

CAPD patient with PUV disease ( trust me, Idk about this disease at all before this) , who had undergone multiple minor and major surgeries.It took me a night to figure out what's going on with him, with each disheartening event of progression, my heart was stabbed a little bit deeper. And when I finally finished study the case,I deliberately feel sad for him and I couldn't tell you how grateful am I to be alive till date without any major medical problem. Start from day 1 of his life he suffered, but he optimistically live his life on for 13 years.

And there's more and more sad cases happening around. I surprised for it's still occurring in our so called modern, new era. Bedridden patient turns into tissue necrosis and gangrene but was not send to hospital coz her family thinks she's already dying and they have no time for it. Coz she has live enough life of 90 years so she doesn't deserve a cure?

So ridiculous. So helpless. And I literally do nothing but just to pray for her?

And the fact was that even hospital don't want to get her in coz she's too old and fragile.

This grandma struggled and took her last breathe 2 days ago. I'm literally happy for her coz she finally ended her suffer and gone for a better place. And soon I reliased, if God is being lenient to you,he is going to spare your suffer.

So c'mon,be grateful and stay strong no matter how hard life had struck on you. There were tonnes of people pitier and poorer, some even can't eat,walk ,talk,pee or poo.

Live your life out. Do all you can for a healthier and stronger body coz you know right, health is wealth.

and I smell Christmas !!

It's October

2014-10-08T10:55:00.001+08:00

Dear bloggie,

It's a long night. Mum waked me up by shouting my name violently outside my room,coz she thought I was still awake. Can't get back to sleep anyhow. So....

What am I up to recently?

#Fact1: New semester started AGAIN. Moved into a new room M04-04-04 that I can no longer admire street lights and penang bridge.

#Fact 2: I'm still not getting over my working holidays--the berries,natures,weather,food and friends.

#Fact 3: despite realizing the fact that I have to be more passionate to my academics, I'm still lazing around. Somebody kicks my ass please thank you.

#Fact 4: I'm going to be a real pharmacist in practice next year though I think I'm still not qualified. But thank God my passion and flare for my career never extinguish.

#Fact 5: I cooked a lot recently. Enjoy trying out new recipes!

Dumplings! Must know how to make dumplings coz we are Chinese hoho!

I'm craving for dumpling since last taste 'em at woolgooga. Auntie at cake shop sells the wrong flour to jing and I end up wrestling with the dough for more than 1 hour but still not success.

'Why the dough so white? Looking weird.' I kept asking jing and she decided to take flour of other varieties from her home.

Then we succeed. Wt....now my wrist was still in pain coz I doubled my work and wasted a lot of energy on a flour that never bind TT

Stir fried dumplings @ aoran&jing production.

Two girls's lunch. End up cannot finish as expected.

One random lunch coz I'm all alone. Chicken chop marinated with herb spices bought in Aus. Also broccoli and lady's finger coz Lady needs iron and collagen ma.

Birthday cake for xt! In fact it's my first time baking such sophisticated cake. Gonna blog about this and his bday celebration later.

Very nicely baked by chance haha! God knows I'm baking birthday cake and So I was gifted with luck and strength xoxo

Also cooked this spicy seafood Aglio olio with chicken steak for him coz it's his birthday soon!

First try braised yam and pork! Some of bigger pieces were not soft enough.

Simple dishes before leaving home.

#Fact 6: got to touch up with friends!

Love both of them!

Belle shared astonishing stories I yet to know after I left Woolgooga! Feel so good to talk to you like an old friend after one whole month.

Met Kok Ming senior as well! Small gathering is my favorite coz everyone pays more attention to one another

Met SS people randomly at mid autumn festival in usm. What a coincidence. I don't even know some of you lol

BBQ and stay at batu ferringi with coursemate. Girls power yea

#Fact 7: growing more nutritious, traditional and healthy diet focus.

Soy bean and apples for breakfast.

There was a similar blender owned by Abbie in woolgooga motel and I feel that it's super convenient coz we can blend all kind of fruits with this. But back in malaysia can't find one with good price coz Abbie only selling it at $10. Hahaha

Then Xt got me one. Lol

Berries.....i miss you😘

Bought this coz a Leo printed on it and I want to make some herbal tea with it.

#Fact 8:cut my fringe coz I'm bored with long fringe. Say hi to secondary school look.

I'm done.

Goodnight

我的悉尼游记2014

2014-09-10T20:43:00.000+08:00

我们以旅游的形式结束2个月打工度假。

离开Woolgooga的前一晚，才仓促地订了Maze Backpacker。特价，5晚$145/pax,二人房。（第一次对旅程不紧张，之前都会小心翼翼严格筛选）原本是要住在King Cross的,但被人阻止了，说是Sydney的红灯区，危险。

从Coffs Harbour到Sydney只花了短短45分钟。飞机离开Coffs Harbour时，心里想着可能几十年后才会再回来吧？不断地俯瞰地上的农场，希望看到刚下班的朋友们。4.00pm的那辆划过天空的飞机正是我们。那天的云海特别特别漂亮，像棉花糖做成的城堡。

有些风景要亲眼看见才会哗然

拖着笨重的行李，我们来到接驳车Shuttle bus的集合点，上了公车，缓缓驶向Central。悉尼的繁华，高楼大厦耀眼夺目；却一丁点也比不上星空闪烁，安静的Woolgooga。打开Maze Backpacker的57号房门，我们立马就想要回去Woolgooga。原来住了两个月的豪华motel?!离开后才知道之前住得多好。

房间小得可怜。放了我们两个大大的行李箱，就没有位置了。根本不是可以容纳2个人的空间。我....那一刻想要回家。

无论飞得多高多远，还是家最好。

于是室友Robert当了我们在悉尼的导游。那一晚我们去吃Kimama Kitchen，在唐人街的Market City Food Court, $8的Mayonnaise Terriyaki， Spicy Terriyaki 都很好吃，而且非常大份（有免费加饭和汤）。然后逛逛星期五的唐人街市集。

Food Court里有一个摊位是卖Ramen的，Hakata-Maru Ramen,汤非常非常浓郁！也算是悉尼里面便宜的食物~

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隔天早上，到Fish Market吃海鲜。买了海鲜坐在户外吃才算是正宗吃法。因为会有海鸟跟你抢食物，是一种犯贱的乐趣。也有看到有人才刚坐下，就被海鸟叼走一大块鱼肉。不过我们保护周全，所以食物一块都没有落到海鸟嘴里。

Oyster，Sashimi，Seafood Platter。配Tartar Sauce真好吃（Tartar sauce要额外买）

Fish Market里有超大的螃蟹和龙虾。见有不少旅客很豪气地说要3只什么的，1kg $300，是真正有钱的菜吃得起。

后来我们到QVB血拼，逛了好多店。 T2 的茶很香，Chili Chocolate的口味我现在都还很留恋。

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隔天我们到Bondi Beach。那天早上细雨蒙蒙，非常不澳洲，天空很灰很灰。在Bondi Beach吹着冷冷的海风，心里想着乌云赶快走。溜达了一阵子，决定先吃lunch。省钱一族找到了Fish Mongers @ Hall Street, 这家在网上还蛮多人推荐，也不知道为什么整家店面只有我们2个人。

点了NZ Hoki Fillet with Green Salads, Pesto and Corn。其实味道真的很不错，只是两人又再做了傻事。

点餐时：
我：要选哪一个？
Jo：第一个
我：配什么？有饭，chips..
Jo: Pasta。（坚决的眼神）

然后2人一直在找Pasta,但是只是找到芽菜。看看menu,原来是pesto,不是Pasta。晕

Jo: 你做么刚才不阻止我。

Salad吃不饱....可是鱼是真的很好吃。

吃饱后，我们去找市集，因为刚好是星期六。可能因为下雨，市集并没有出现。

天终于放晴了，我们再次奔向沙滩。这一次Bondi Beach变得漂亮（但没有比Gold Coast漂亮)。
很多人开始带着狗儿，冲浪板；原本寥寥无几的沙滩很快地堆满了人。大海没有蓝天的衬托真的什么都不是。

走到Iceberg看这个建在海边的Swimming Pool。很酷。海浪会溅进泳池，我也很想去玩水，只

是实在太冷了。我们看着其他人戏水，也观察他们冲浪。呆呆地看了很久。也忘了是冲浪太好看，还是因为眼前风景美呆了。

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

逃离悉尼的繁华，人来人往的街道，我们要到Blue Mountain蓝山。很多旅行社有蓝山一日游，可是我们坚持自己去，用最节俭的方式。从Sydney Central到Katoomba的火车每小时一趟，8.18am（超准时的，我们就miss了）。8.18am开始就是off peak fares,$11.80来回票（如果是尖峰时段是$17.20)。两个小时的车程就抵达Katoomba。

在Katoomba可以选择Explorer Bus, Trolley Bus或普通公车。Explorer Bus的Trip有点小贵，所以我们搭普通公车，686号，$2.30一趟，每半小时一趟到Echo Point和Scenic World。

天气实在太冷。买热巧克力取暖。

我们现在Echo Point 下车。在这里看蓝山三姐妹Three Sister是最漂亮的。其实当天因为下雨非常大雾，我们都心想应该什么也看不到。

幸运的我们，Three Sister依然壮丽地耸在我们面前。一定要多拍一点。

1点半我们才来到Scenic World，买了Discovery Pass $35。无限乘搭Cableway, Skyway 和Railway。Railway是当中最刺激的，55度倾斜。我们共乘了3次。为了坐在第一排我们提前进去等。从Railway我们走到Bush walking走30分钟到Cableway，搭缆车回到原点。

午餐是贴心的Robert带来的午餐。

晚餐在Yok Yor Thai Food Factory @ Haymarket解决。如果要省旅费又想吃到美食就应该来这里。一碗面（小的）才$4.5。(已经可以让我吃饱饱了）

软壳蟹

Satay

虽然很饱，还是决定去喝杯饮料。来到Chanoma Cafe @ George Street喝Matcha和红豆。Matcha很好喝！

饮料和我们的衣服颜色很配！

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最后一天留在悉尼。之前已经把悉尼四周都好好逛过了，所以决定来一个Food Trip。第一站是New Town的Black Star Pastry。这里以玫瑰西瓜草莓蛋糕闻名，蛋糕上层和里头的Cream都有淡淡的玫瑰香味。一块$7.5。贪吃的我们叫一整个蛋糕,$26。另外也吃了网上推荐的Lamb Shank Pie羊肉派。

来悉尼的一整个星期都下雨。我们就躲进了New Town里一间间充满文青气息的小店。店里都是些有特色，别致的摆设或家庭用品。真想要把全部都买下来，哈～

接下来我们决定要把隐藏在New Town的Campo's Cafe @Missenden Road 找出来。据说是第一家Campo's。来到小店前，发现店里挤满要外带咖啡的当地人，看起来真的很不错。走进店里，才发现这里的咖啡真的太好闻了，每一寸空气都是浓郁芳香的咖啡味。不能够一直呆在这里，要不然真的会爱上咖啡。

点了一杯Iced Mocha和Affogato．我．．．没有在夸张，是我喝过最好喝的咖啡，味道浓郁之余又多层次。而外表讨喜的Affogato（原本以为是Avacado juice)，是像天堂般的甜品，超级好吃。其实Affogato就是在ice cream上淋上Expresso,有甘苦交集的感觉。现在依然很想念．．．

当然不能错过Adriano Zumbo Patissier@ The Star的马卡龙，据说是澳洲排名第一的。马卡龙一颗＄2.5。很可爱。

我觉得粉红白的最好吃！

然后也顺道去The Star Casino晃晃。到处都是亚洲人，有点讽刺。＃第一次进赌场

向悉尼道别的晚餐我们来到Arisun Korean Restaurant @Dixon Street吃一餐比较丰盛的。点了Kimchi hotpot和炸鸡！

还有两家我觉得便宜又好吃的是
1.Hana Hana @Thomas Street

小碗才$5.20

大碗的$10.60

2.第二家是Kura @Haymarket

很小的店面，但是ramen好好吃

Pork Kakuni Ramen $11.90

Steamed chicken udon $9.50

56天旅程结束了，对我来说百分百的旅程。

自恋照一张，离开Woolgooga的前一晚拍的。再会了澳洲！很想要记得现在这个感觉，这一份冲劲。献给以后的自己。

#致青春

22岁圆梦之澳洲打工度假

2014-08-22T17:16:00.000+08:00

22岁之前，决定做一件不一样的事，去打工旅游。5月中，我做了生平最勇敢的决定。这是我一直以来都向往的梦想，然而梦想，如果不去实现，将永远成为梦。出发前的犹豫，担心和别人的否定甚至不舍都让我不断思考自己的选择。

我说，路是自己走出来的，自己选择的路错不了。不怕做错选择，一旦决定出发，就比没有勇气出发来得对。

出走是一种选择，不是因为厌倦了一成不变的生活和城市，而是想要跳出框框，跳出自己的comfort zone，让自己回家时变得更‘佳’。出走也是对生活体现的一种热忱。看过许多风景，人和事后，人好像也变得豁达，让自己有更多的可能。

才短短的两个月，我不能说我成长很多，但对生活的一些小领悟和对事情的看法，是一定有所改变。

我和Jo两人6月26出发，抵达KLIA2,两个人懵懵懂懂，带着离开家的心情踏上一段未知的旅程。身上只带着$800。对旅程没有太大期待，并没有特别雀跃；没有非去不可的景点，也没有非吃不可的食物。这是我第一次对旅程没有期望和局限。然后我发现，没有规划没有时间线，悠闲自在的旅途才是我最喜欢的。走到喜欢的地方，可以多逗留几小时，就只为呆呆看着那片海，没有人说话，只用心欣赏；到街口的咖啡店，买一杯咖啡取暖，然后惊叹咖啡怎么那么香；下雨阴天也不影响自己的心情，悠悠地走着，带上自己的太阳和笑声依然可以发现沿路风景很漂亮。

很多事情原来不强求，才有突如其来的快乐。

当然也干了许多傻事。登陆Sydney机场，因为隔天早上要转机，所以我们决定在Domestic Airport睡一晚。买了张$5单程票，才发现原来Domestic airport不许过夜，只好再买票回去International Airport。最后花了$15（总共马币45）在那短短几分钟的车程。好无言。

更扯的是...第二天要转机到Coffs Harbour时机场竟然没有电。最后宣布取消班机。然后我们俩傻傻在机场愣了好久。然后我们才感叹自己是幸运的孩子，出发前一晚还犹豫要不要买的保险就这样‘保’了我们。

在没有任何准备之下，我们要到悉尼玩两天。上网随便查了Sydney Central YHA，我们就茫然来到。要刷卡付钱，却又刷不到，因为我的刷卡限额只有RM500。两个人快要变成穷光蛋，吃最便宜的食物，用最省钱的方式在Sydney待了两晚。其实塞翁失马，焉知非福，细细欣赏了Opera House，也看了Darling Harbour的烟火，后来在悉尼的行程也可以更加悠闲，加上原来蓝莓场3延迟到30号才开工，根本是天助我们也。

我们比预期计划迟了2天来到Coffs Harbour。6月29号。工头在机场接我们到离Coffs Harbour 30分钟的小镇Woolgooga。然后我们住进了Roseburne Garden Motel温馨的12号房。Motel根本就是度假的地方，设备超齐全还有暖炉。原本我想象的是:超旧火车屋，人挤人，只有一个活动范围，天寒地冷地，每天辛苦工作吃得像只兔子般的生活。

所以说不抱任何希望是正确的。后来我们住得安逸，带去的睡袋一次也没用；越吃越好，大家相处也非常融洽。早上工作，下午在厨房准备晚餐，晚上吃饭聊天，下雨天休假，成了生活里最大的乐趣。

第一次的采购。才买了$30。如果是自己下厨真的可以很省钱。

幸运的我们30号（抵达隔天）就开工了，据悉有的人等了整整1-2个月。第一次採蓝莓觉得新鲜好玩，因为果量很少，整个礼拜都计时（$13/hour)。工作时数5.5-7小时。开始的时候採得慢，农场的妈妈好像蛮喜欢马来西亚人，待我们不错。后来有到别的农场工作才发现原来我们採的农场很严苛。

採蓝莓指南100条~：
1.速度要快，不快或者速度不稳定就会被警告唠叨。
2.採全蓝的（问题时有些半红半蓝）。
3.不可以剥掉皮，可是要快。
4.不可以流手汗。
5.不可以在摘採过程弄掉还未成熟的青果和红果。
6.如果青果掉了一串，非常严重，不可以让人知道。（解决方法:要立刻收起来，丢掉或者藏起来。）
7.不可以有漏果。
8.手的动作不可以太慢或停留一棵树太久，会被说偷懒。
9.不可以太用力採。
10.不可以弄掉蓝色果粉。
11.要抱着桶子走，不然会被说弄掉果粉。
12.不可以聊天。=.=（照样聊）
13.桶子里要干净，不能有梗和树叶。
14.拔果时要顺便把梗拔掉，漏2条梗就被说很多梗了
15.不可以採太小的果，可是同样的size的果可能在下一次被说为什么没有採
16.戴手套需要把前3只手指剪掉，手套不能太脏。
17.不可以怕毛毛虫，蜜蜂，蜘蛛和小青蛙。（毛毛虫和青蛙实在没有办法）
16.无论採多快，还是会被说不够快，不必太在意。

在地狱式的训练下，我们成了农场妈妈喜爱的蓝莓快手。我们走之前他还说:'come next year!'若干年后，我应该会把这些规矩统统忘了吧。我把这一生该吃的蓝莓quota在短短2个月吃光了。p/s:蓝莓是上等的水果，在澳洲30粒就卖$4.98 (而且都是小小粒的）。我大概吃了几百块 ~哈。

第一天工作

生活不可能全是甜的，当然也会遇到些让人懊恼的事。工作4天后，因为果量太少的关系，我们足足休息了1个星期。狂烧钱。而且因为薪水被压2个星期，根本没有入账，休息也只能到附近海边看鲸鱼，吹海风，掘鲍鱼仔和玩游戏。还试过因为山穷水尽去帮房东housekeeping,只为了扣点房租（所谓马死落地行，路是人走出来的。）。后来也面对拖薪长达3个星期的问题，当然后来都在大家团结一致下解决了。当初就应该趁着假期去别的地方玩才对..! 无论怎样，这些历历在目的回忆现在想起来都好甜。

很漂亮的Woolgooga Headland。可以看到鲸鱼！

这段路是永远的回忆。

在澳洲过了我的22岁生日。原本我已经打算今年不庆祝的，没想到在澳洲还有人帮我庆生。感动！

我超水肿的脸。

也很幸运在day off时去了一次黄金海岸。看到长长的海岸线，心中无比兴奋。

旅程上遇见的你们。

三姐妹之跳跃。

叛逆5人组+中立的蔡成

去Springbrook National Park看蓝光虫。

从来不寄望来到澳洲会认识到一班志同道合的好友。无奈不小心用情太深，我们几个人的情谊就在厨房慢慢地煮‘熟’了。有事没事就狂笑，大家一起下厨，一起偷吃，一起去吃免费餐却没吃成，一起看电影看得所有人安静流泪，一起做些有的没的‘敲白痴’的事，还做了超大下雨娃娃挂在门前求雨。12号成了聚点的日子好难忘。

不知不觉竟然到了离开的日子。随着离开日子越来越靠近，就越来越不舍。原来我也会有不想回家的时候。离开前的那一天，我们放肆地请了一天假（拜托工头好久才答应的），把Coffs Harbour还被浏览过的地方去了一遍。

地标Big Banana。谢谢大家的真心付出。你们成了我来澳洲最大的收获。

Muttonbird Island。

roomie~

Seaview Tavern。Woolgooga 星期四的$8餐。之前大家都不外出吃饭的，为了替我们饯行第一次去了。

饯行第二次。

然后晚上的感受大会大家都哽咽。我会很想你们，真的。

出走，让自己更懂得自己需要的是什么，也知道自己能够做什么。出走后，发现其实世界很矛盾，很大又很小。旅途中遇见的人，都教会了我一些些事。

真心欣赏勇敢出走的人，天不知道需要多大勇气才能下这样的决定。很高兴我踏上这无悔的旅程，无边的海水，蔚蓝的天空，可爱的人儿。

何不....让自己脱轨一下，趁着年轻出走，好好体验生活...再继续下一段人生旅程。#活得像所有人一样实在无聊

最后送上农场工作服之大婶look一张。

“人生路上我们有一次又一次的邂逅，但最美的，是邂逅最真的自己。

最真的自己，就是最好的自己。”

《打工度假感想浓缩版》毕

2014-05-21T10:30:00.001+08:00

有时候真的特别感恩

身边朋友虽然不多

可是有随传随到的

受了委屈伤心可以跟她们说不怕被笑的

说走就走的超随性的

高层次心灵沟通的

很久没聚一聚在一起还是很熟聊不完的

默默关心的

千里之外但时不时会来嘘寒问暖的

一约绝不说不的

有事可以看门见山不要脸要求帮忙的

虽然不说但互相有着满满回忆的

时间真的过得很快

珍贵的日子都在飞逝

大家都要过得不错

不管走了多远都不会忘记的

2014-05-16T14:13:00.001+08:00

多数人都只说不做

多数人都只是假装关心

多数人都敷衍回答

多数人都假装在意

累

就是老爱逞强这个性就是一辈子跟着我

改也改不了

还好我又回家了😁😁