Its raining heavily!!! After so long Im seeing raindrops and I didn't realise that I miss the rain so much! Hahaha. We will be returning to Wollongong this Friday morning. From 30 degrees we will landing in 13 degrees,winter in Sydney.Then I will miss this sunny place maybe. Will I really miss Townsville? Maybe not. Its too hot. Krish can't wait to leave either as his working environment is not fantastic. Imagine its one of BHP plants but their safety rules really sucks. In fact no rules at all. You must exercise your own caution. If you see gases flowing out anywhere you must see the wind direction before you even move. Or you will get it in your system. One of the gases is ammonia. I always hated that gas from secondary chemistry labs. BHP! Disappointing. Glad that he has finished his tasking here.
Anyway we will be losing the internet usage for awhile now. So it will be awhile before I blog. Maybe only after arriving in Singapore. Yes. We are returning to Singapore, Apr end. Right now better chances have come up for us back home. Although we are sad to leave Australia, Im looking forward to see my family and catch up with my friends.
So will this be the end to my blogging? Maybe the end of this blog as I wanted something to track my life in Australia. But I will be back with another as Im quite addicted to blogging. Haha. Hopefully I can sustain this addiction back home.
Will we leave Spore again? Will I be able to touch the Pacific again from Australia's shores? I don't know. Life is always full of uncertainties. That's what makes life interesting though.
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Crystal Creek
Little Crystal Creek
Big Crystal Creek An aussie family- father and sons in the water
Sugar cane plantations....but no sugarcane juice anywhere....
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Its clouding over me
I feel very sad now. We are supposed to be going for a whole day trip to the Great Barrier Reef tomorrow. Krishna was really looking forward to it. You board the glass bottom cruiser and you will sail to the Magnetic Island where the boat stops and you can snorkel the whole day. Morning tea, seafood buffet and afternoon tea provided with the snorkel equipment. We even bought a cheap underwater camera.
Today we woke up early morning. Krish's colleague told him of a very nice freshwater creeks in the wild, Paluma Village which is 60km from here. Australia got alot of locally kept secrets of such places. We drove to there. As usual Krish enjoyed the drive. But I really liked it too. At the Little Crystals Creek, there was small waterfalls and the water was coming down from the mountains. And there was crystal clear water where u can swim. Very cooling to be there compared to being in Townsville on any average day. Colourful butterflies, beautiful birds, unique vegetation.
A bit more distance away is natural rockslides. We wanted to see that. When we walked back to the car after taking some pictures my right leg suddenly slipped off the road onto some gravel. I felt a very bad stabbing pain at my ankle. I stopped and hanged on to Krish for support. I really thought I broke my ankle. But soon I moved my leg to move and it was fine. I walked very slowly to car.
After some time the pain kept coming and going. We drove back home after buying some heat rub. I got home and after awhile of sitting down I stood and I could barely walk. The pain was killing me. It was all swollen around my right ankle. I staggered with the help of Krish to the bed. Krish now has gone to the pharmacy to buy painkiller and bandage.
Im so angry with myself. Why am I so fragile? I was just walking and I could hurt my ankle?! This is our last weekend in Townsville before we head back to Wollongong and the last chance to see the Great Barrier Reef. I felt so sad for Krish (even though I know hes very worried.)When we wanted to go several times before the winds were too strong. Im so sad! I hope for some miracle for my ankle to be fine by tom so that we can continue with our trip.
Today is also my dad's birthday and its his first birthday that I am away from my family. Sigh! Imgona lie down now and rest my ankle and heavy heart and head.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Drinking
Yes was watching a program and realise that this is very big problem among the young people here. They start drinking like Fri afternoon and mostly they are very high for all weekend. In fact some drink even in the uni campus.
The age limit is 18 but drinks are sold even to younger. Cos maybe they look matured compared to Asians. Getting yourself drunk is fine but beating up people is not. Mostly the damage is on the innocent. A teenager who had his whole life in front of him got all beaten up and he is gona be bed ridden, can't even speak and his mum is going to take care of him like a baby for the rest of her life. He happened to be passing by and was caught in midst when a fight broke out. I was very horrfied when they showed the video of him getting beaten up taken by a passer by. It was like hundreds of punches and kicks by 10 big buffaloes.
Others who are not fighting or beating up people are making a complete fool of themselves. They have a network on facebook which goes like this "reasons why a girl should call it a night". And most of the pictures are of girls who does embarrassing stuff after getting drunk. On top of this its being posted by the girls themselves.
Its been known now that in some countries employers are checking on future employees by online networks like facebook, friendster and so on. This gives them an idea of their lifestyle, habits and behaviour. And its been known that people reveal alot more on such networks than to parents, doctors, police or employers. Networking is a powerful tool but I guess some people are misusing it.
Well to deal with the drinking problem they are discussing on things like raising the age limit, punishing the parents for their children's wrongdoings and so on. It is quite hard to also implement rules here as everything is about human rights. Its good and bad I think. Also level of exposure is very important for children. It cannot be so restricted and cannot be too open.
Yesterday we went on another track on Castle Hill. It was steep. No huge rock steps but still it was very steep. I want to got for the walk in the mornings. But without transport you got to walk abit of distance and its too hot for me. The slope leading to our apartments is already very steep. And a 10 mins walk in the sun and I will perspiring non stop. Plus I get very bad headaches after the walk. I do drink loads of water, wear sun protection and sunglasses. No use. So I decided to go for it in the later afternoons.
Alright Imgona have my lunch now. I made some Spaghetti Bolognese with Chicken yesterday for dinner and made enough to have it for lunch today also. Tata!
Monday, April 7, 2008
Coffee
The ghost of coffee is hauting me! Yes I have been drinking coffee almost everyday and right now Im craving for one nice hot coffee with milk. I miss my mum's brewed cup of coffee too. Should I just give in and brew myself one? I think I might as well. Coffee here I come!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Stew away
I cooked up something on Monday which was received well by Krish that he insisted on having once more this week. Hungarian style veal and lentil stew. The only Hungarian about it was the Hungarian sweet paprika. I just browned the onions, veal and the paprika. Then the thyme, tomato paste, brown sugar, red lentils, stock, salt and pepper went in. I had it then cooking alternately on high and low heat over more than an hour. Just before serving stir in low fat natural yogurt. Goes well with pita bread or rice or on its own as the lentils will fill you up.
Yesterday we went on a sinful grocery shopping. Bought cadbury macadamia chocolate, chocolate chips muffins, BBQ hot chips and individually packed white chuck macadamia soft chewy Mrs Fields cookies. Don't judge me. Its all the work of the devil in Krish. Whats the point of exercising when you are surrounded by all these temptations. Well his general theory is to have a well balanced life! Hah!
