4 May 2004

Melbourne, Australia


Infront of the Market, Melbourne


Just finished our course on standardized tests in Sydney. Decided to go to Melbourne to visit Acom. Will be with her for a few days and then go back to KL.

Her house is pretty nice - its on a quiet street and is a single story detached. There are only three rooms though and I stayed in the guest room which is small but pretty and comfortable. That night we had dinner with the whole family - Paul came over but he had practically nothing to say to me. He didn't even ask any questions about Malaysia or about the course. Glenn of course did all the talking . Terry, Acom's husband was kind of quiet too but at least I know that he had always been the quiet kind. While there Acom took me to see her beach house which is about an hour's drive away. We brought along some sandwiches and cake and had tea there. Its a large house though there are only two rooms but I guess it suffices for a holiday home. The beach is nothing great - its not sandy like our beaches but its pretty enough. I even posed for some pictures with some divers I met at the pier! Imagine that. We also did some shopping , though not that much. I bought a handbag for Sara and Shasha. But shopping with Acom is not as nice as shopping with Pam. Pam just lets you buy whatever you want - but Acom will tell you that is too expensive etc etc. Anyway when I was with Pam I bought a whole set of Correlle dinner plates - lovely and simple green leaves. They were so cheap it would be a sin not to buy!! Ha ha. Spent 3 days in Melbourne and flew back to KL from there. Also met up with Rick while I was in there - took me out for a pizza dinner.




Melbourne is a really beautiful place, wish I can stay here longer. I love the greenness - large trees line up the roads and lots of flowers everywhere. The Fitzeroy Gardens was really a fantastic place - the colours and the variety of flowers are simply gorgeous.




They have roses everywhere - white roses lined the banks of so many roads - I've not seen that before, even in the UK.
Fitzroy Gardens, Melbourne

Melbourne



Just look at the roses in front of the church in Melbourne. Aren't they gorgeous?

Melbourne, Australia


After the course in Sydney I took a flight to Melbourne to see my aunt. Some aunt I'll say - she looked more like an older sister! She is so young looking and warm I felt immediately at home. Stayed at her place for 2 nights - on the third day she sent me back to the airport to go home to KL. Melbourne is really lovely - all gardens and so green everywhere. Acom took me to Fitzroy Gardens, a really beautiful park in Melbourne. The flowers are so gorgeous - just look at the pictures!

2 May 2004

Sydney, Australia

In Sydney for a short course on Standardised Testing. Was there with Hamidah and Shikin and while we were there met up with Pam and Aziz from Petronas days. It was lovely meeting Pam again. She's still as pretty as ever and her children are gorgeous. They invited us for dinner twice and Pam also took all of us for a shopping spree at the nearest mall. Enjoyed shopping here because they have lots of nice things. Pam also took us souvenir hunting at some place called Market street. Then during the weekend when we didnt have any class Midah, Shikin and I took a day tour of the Blue Mountains. That was a great time though slightly scary because the vehicle was an off road vehicle and we even forded a creek. The driver took us right to the edge of the escarpment where we could see the city of Sydney far away in the horizon. At one point of the trail we even had to walk along the path because it was too steep for the off roader to climb. It waited for us somewhere further down and we had to climb up and then down towards the path where it was waiting for us. On the walk down we saw the tea tree plant which is used to manufacture the tea tree oil. The plant grows wild in these parts and when I plucked a leaf and smelled it, it did smell of the tea tree oil, sweet and pungent at the same time.
We also went to a kangaroo sanctuary where the kangaroos roamed freely. In fact it was mating season and the guide told us not to wander off the path or stand too near the kangaroos for they can get nasty. They were hopping all over the place - very fast too and we had to quickly avoid them if we see a group jumping towards us. I saw a little joey , hardly more than a foot high, and it was so cute. But our guide told us not to touch it - the mother might not like it at all she said.
On the whole I feel it was well worth the money we paid for it - lunch and tea was provided and we saw a lot of rural Sydney which we otherwise wouldn't have seen. I hope one day I can take my children here for this trip. I'm sure they would love it.