Admit it - it Helps

When I called him, he almost immediately said, "You sound kind of down today. Is anything wrong?"

I was taken aback. Now why was that?

Was it because he was right (he was) & had invaded some private territory of feeling that I wanted to keep to myself?

Was it because I was ashamed to be feeling a little down?

Probably both.

There is something in our society that teaches people that it is wrong to ever be anything but happy. If you feel gloomy, dejected, downcast, or discouraged, don't let anyone know. It's almost as if it's is some unspeakable disease.

Well, it isn't. We all feel it. & we get over it a lot quicker if we admit it & talk it out with those who care.

You were right, you know. I have been upset. I'm glad that you care, that you want to know about it & cheer me up if you can... Know that I will do the same for you :)

Hello spring!!

Looking at all the flowers blooming just makes me happy. Spring has got to be the prettiest season! First signs of spring

I can't wait for the Jacarandas to bloom! But that would also mean finals are coming :(

Here's something I found from Wikipedia:

"The city of Brisbane in Australia has a local reputation of having a significant population of Jacaranda trees. The University of Queensland in the city's inner west has a very high concentration of the tree, and due to the impressive display of purple flowers in mid-Spring, which wind up littering vast sections of the suburbs, local folklore claims that "one won't start studying for exams until the jacarandas have molted". This has led to the slang name "exam tree" being attached to the plant. At the University of Queensland students even maintain a joke superstition that if a Jacaranda bloom falls on their head during exam time, they will fail an exam. The bad luck can be broken by catching another bloom before it hits the ground."

You can read the whole article & check out those pretty Jacaranda pictures here

I'll make sure I take a picture of myself with those purple Jacarandas!

Mid-Autumn Festival

We bought mooncakes! Ok I only fancy certain mooncakes, particularly those green ones with lotus paste, with NO eggs... Hehe... But this time I just ate it to commemorate the Mooncake/Lantern Festival. It reminds me of home :)It actually tastes pretty good!
The moon from Brisbane. Lol

Ooh... Last week we had dinner at this Korean Restaurant... Yummy!! I seldom eat beef because I'm really picky & I don't like the meat to be tough. But the beef here is really good & tender! I know Chin Tuck will love it!

We had lunch at PhoB, a Vietnamese Restaurant. I ordered BEEF! & again, it's tender! Really good... Whee!!! My stomach is happy. Phuong was happy too! I could see he was excited coz he borrowed my camera & started taking pictures of the food, the menu, himself......... LOL! & he explained to us the difference between Northern & Southern Vietnamese dishes. I must say it's interesting to learn about different cultures!

Hmm... I just realised this whole post is about food. I actually intended it to be about the Mid-Autumn Festival. -_-"

Never mind then. Anyway, it's actually the beginning of spring in Brisbane now. The weather here is totally opposite from the rest of the world.

Happy Mooncake Festival peeps!

Happy (insert number)th birthday mummy dearest!

Happy birthday mummy!! You haven't aged a bit!

Ok I admit I'm not exactly the easiest daughter to handle, & I sometimes drive you up the wall (& vice versa :P)... But if God gave me a chance to go back in time & choose my mummy, I'd pick you! Here's to a long, happy, "muscleache-free" life!

I love u mummy... *muax*
ps: Just remember that your age is only a number. & in your case, a rather LARGE one! :D

My 21st

This is my first time celebrating my birthday away from home. No wait, there was no celebration, no cake, no birthday song, nothing. It doesn't matter, really. All these stuff never mattered.

I read this quote somewhere. "True friendship isn't being inseparable, it's being separated & nothing changes." How true. I'm very thankful for friends who care...... It's nice to know that you matter to them as much as they matter to you. This birthday has made me realised that it really is the thought that counts. Here's to friends that turn into family!

__________________________________________________

On a lighter note, I woke up that day, & this is what I found on my door.

Terence made this envelope from someone's auditing notes. LOL
& inside the envelope, was my "birthday card". (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Where else can I find such crazy housemates?!!? Hehe... Thanks guys!

Riverfestival

I got to watch fireworks on the day before my birthday. That's normal if I'm in Malaysia, since there's always fireworks to watch on Merdeka eve. This year, I get to watch it here in Brisbane too! It's this celebration thingy called Riverfestival. No Josh, it's not a ritual where people dance around a fire & worship the river. Lol.

Nice ferris wheel. My photo-taking skills are improving. :P Or maybe it's just my camera

While waiting for the fireworks, Hwai Li & I camwhored.

I like this picture for some odd reason

One of the many photos I took of the fireworks

The beautiful Brisbane river. The colourful (purplish) building is the famous casino

*gasp* I just realised that I can gamble legally now! I bet they'll ask for my ID if I try to go into the casino.

My housemates

After the fireworks show, we had dinner at this place called "Little Singapore". & they serve Malaysian food......... -_-" I find it insulting! Why can't they just name it "Little Malaysia"?? Eesh... It's misleading anyway... What the heck is Singaporean food huh??

All in all, it was an enjoyable night. This is the second time that I get to watch fireworks since I came here. First EKKA, then Riverfest. It's a good time to be in Brisbane!

We All Have To Choose

There is a line from a poem by Robert Frost. He tells of coming to a fork in the road, a place to decide where his life is going, & he says that he is "sorry I cannot travel both roads & be one traveller".

He was sorry. I'm sorry. We're all sorry about that one.

But one person can never travel two roads. We all have to choose.

It would help if the decisions were more clear-cut, if one road guaranteed success & happiness & the other was posted "Dead End". But, almost always, at the fork, the choices look about the same, equally inviting.

Sometimes I wonder about the road not taken. Did I do the right thing? Maybe I'll never know. I seem to keep taking the road less travelled by & that has made all the difference. I think, for the better.

But to travel both roads & see where they lead... wouldn't it be nice.

Making It Through Another Day

*phew* Everything's happening so fast I don't have time to breathe! I have to study for quiz, mid-sem exam, another mid-sem exam, and another mid-sem exam, quiz, another quiz, work on my assignment, sit for another quiz... & by the time all this is over, finals is here! Gosh, I don't know how I'll survive this.

Anyway, I went to EKKA last week, & it was fun! For those that don't know what EKKA is, u can check it out here. hehe.. I hate uploading photos here, because it's so freakin' slow! You guys can check out my Facebook account though, I've uploaded photos & videos there. :)

There were exhibitions, stalls where you can win soft toys, stalls where you can buy soft toys (if you're really bad & can't win the soft toys. lol). I even saw a dog competition, & at night there were performances & fireworks! Oh, & over here, cotton candy is called fairy floss. Hehe.. Really fancy name.

Phuong, Hwai Li & I sat on the ferris wheel & took lots of lovely pictures on it! The view was nice, the sun was bright & the sky was blue.. :))) I also had the nicest mango yoghurt in my life! It's much nicer than the one Chin Tuck tries to feed me back home. =P

Phuong bought this inflattable hammer with Simpsons all over it, & it squeeks when you hit it on something! Really cute! & I bought a halo! Was thinking of buying the angel's wings too, but settled for just the halo. Then Hwai Li felt like she needed to buy something also, & she bought herself a puppy soft toy (because she doesn't think that she can win it by playing the games. =P).

By that time it was already evening & we waited outdoors to watch the fireworks, on a winter night. There were lots of performances, like this monster truck running over some cars. I usually get to see this on tv only! Just go see the pictures on facebook la. hehe.. Then finally, the fireworks. I'm so proud of my camera. It exceeded my expectations. :)

I should really do something more productive with my time, like study. *sigh*

Rainbow After the Rain

Have you ever felt that you wanted something so badly, but no matter how hard you try, it just seems to get further away from your grasp? I have. For the past week or so I've been struggling with these thoughts in my head. That I'm not good enough. I don't think I can make it. It was frustrating.

I was angry at myself & it came to a point that I was disappointed with God. I've found that the Bible includes detailed accounts of people sorely disappointed with God. Job & Moses had it out with God, as did Habakkuk, Jeremiah, & many of the unnamed psalmists. The psalmists do not rationalize anger or give abstract advice about pain; rather they express emotions vividly & loudly, directing their feelings primarily at God. The anguished conclusion of Psalm 88 provides ample evidence. From them I learn to bring to God whatever I feel about Him. I need not paper over my failures; it's far better to bring my weaknesses to Him, who alone has the power to heal.

I've always wondered, why do people cry when they win? Watch any contest, Miss Universe, American Idol, etc... It's just silly to cry. Shouldn't they be happy that they won? Today I experienced it for the first time, tears of joy. I just sat there & cried. Thinking of everything I went through. Remembering that He was there, carrying me through my darkest hour. I just felt so relieved & thankful. The journey hasn't ended just yet, there's still a long way to go. But I know He'll be there, holding my hand. I worship a God of miracles!

Times like this

A smile... A hug... Encouraging words... I'm sorry for your loss. & I'll be here if you ever need a friend that'll just sit in silence & listen. Yes, in times like this, we all try to do the best we can, knowing it won't be enough.