Big Momma on a Big Bike

This is my new transportation. 2003 Suzuki Burgman. I call it my "mini burger" (since they call 650 cc= the Burger King)
I'm still 'feeling' my way with it. It has lotsof cool safety features and lotsof compartments. Storage under the seat is very generous (can fit two full helmets in it). But as cargo concerned, I prefer me old bike (I mean scooter). It has a top box and underseat AND the hook in legroom. At the moment I am not fuss about getting a top box.


Feel a bit "fragile" on it. The seats is lower than my yellow bug. and the pillion rider seat.. very cushy!
My colleagues are trying the mini burger.

Now imagine me in 'baju kurung' and on this mini burger!

Melbourne Images

This post is dedicated to those who used to call Melbourne "home". You guys should recognise some of the pictures.



Sydney Road - looking towards CBD


This is the tram stop (Burke St + Elizabeth St). I wish I have more time to do some window shopping in the CBD but believe it or not - I feel kinda 'intimidated' with the large crowd!? [country syndrome or what?]. I noticed the price tags here are much better and the choice! WOW.. lotsof 'my' kind of clothing for example... but to be honest -- I am glad to be back in 'untrendy' Lonnie. The only thing I did enjoy was the multiculturalism of Melbourne City.

Southern Cross Bus/train station

Buildings in Melbourne are very close together and very tall. Walking around the city- you will always be walking in 'shadows'. (Don't have to worry about sun-block')

I hope one day I can take the kids and Hisham touring Melbourne (zoo, botanic gardens, art centres and galleries, theaters, etc)

But for now - I am done with it

Horrifying twilight zone

The moment I saw the stairs that lead to the toilet - I had a bad feeling about it.

and when I saw the entrance... I knew it!

It had 3 toilets - this was worst.. the one that not so bad - when I closed the door - the door was smeared by shit! [literally]

So Intan if you ever want to come to this area - plan your toilet as well. Make sure you don't end up at these toilets...

Brunswick

The last time I was 'tourist' in Melbourne, I went to Victoria Market (or Vicky Market as locals call it). This time I want to get some halal 'processed' meat. So Brunswick (Sydney Road) is the place. Aladdin wanted some sucuk(sujuk) and Orion wanted some pepperoni. (They knew about pepperoni because in Malaysia, that was their favourite pizza)

The street feel very middle eastern, lotsof women wearing khammarah like me. I felt at home straight away - well.. not quite but you know what I meant.. It is very easy to pick a Malaysian.. so I don't have to worry about getting information from i. It was very pleasant experience..... until I need to use the toilet! (next entry!)

This is definitely not a classy ecpensive area..

Fruit and veges are a lot cheaper sompare to Tassie (even thought Tassie is the vegetable producer of Australia!)

Scarfs shop at Turkish Bazaar

I even found halal kangaroo meat hear!

I bought some sujuk, peperoni, salami, kangaroo meat and some lebanese sweets [mini baklava type of sweets]. The bag was pretty heavy and the smell! - aiyyo I felt really self-concious carrying a 'garlic-ky' stunk bag!

Back home - sadly kids don't really like their halal 'processed meat'. I must admit I don't like them either... (salami + pepperoni) but everybody loves sujuk. Next time I know what not to buy.

Geelong, Victoria

Geelong is the second largest city in Victoria (after Melbourne). It is bigger than Launceston (for sure) and slightly smaller than Hobart (in populations). I can't say I know Geelong really well. I arrived very late. It is about 1.15 hrs from Melbourne Airport through Gull bus service.

I arrived on Thursday nite about 11 pm and went straight to bed. The 'motel' is a bit 'jing jang joe' type of motel. Pretty comfortable so that why (I guess) it's called:

It's OK for $90 a night. It is supposed to be a non-smoking room but I can smell the cigarette the first time I enter the room!

Good thing about it: Awesome Thai Restaurant beside it, and it's only two blocks away from the Hospital.

The training in Geelong was good. Some tutorials and some practicals. I met many physicist in the same situation as me [ie working towards their accreditation]. Some of them even had a PhDs or just submitted their PhD. (aiyyo -- felt really small !!). Most of them are pretty young too!

After the day I don't feel like going around Geelong city for night life. It was quite cloudy and it rained a bit. So I just pack some 'somtam' and seafood thai stirfry and have a night in whilst watching "Nanny Diary" (Don't you just love S Johansson!)
Next day I thought I MUST go and see at least Geelong waterfront. It is not very far from the motel. It was still heavy clouds but no rain.

Geelong waterfront is pretty cool. They even have the pool in the sea... Good place to exercise. Pools, jogging tracks, kids playground, etc.

On the way back to the motel (inn --- whatever), I saw this sign! Penang Pl. I wonder how it got it's name there??

On the way to train station I saw this halal indian restaurant [BYO?!] - I bet only 'halal' alcohol are allowed in there!

I got to take this picture don't I?

Walking towards the train station.. I thought to myself - hmmm Geelong is a not bad city to live... that is until I came across two rude teenagers on the bus!.. hmmmm

Melbourne

Was good... but I am glad to be back in peaceful Tassie

Just to add to my stress..

I am not managing my stress very well lately. My job stress suddenly went up exponentially! Days of 'makan gaji buta' is over!
So it's good right?

Suddenly I have trainings left right and center! This Friday I have to be at Geelong Hospital from 10 am to 4:30 pm. It is do-able to get there on a morning flight (to Melbourne) and back by on the same day on the last flight [which is at 7 pm] but it will cost me $625

I don't know if I can get funding for 'personal development' training as yet. Working for government here, funding means so many red tapes and it's rather short notice and we get limited funding per year, so I would rather spend my funding on a more expensive trainings (or conference)

Cheapest option for me is to fly Thursday evening and back Saturday evening (flight = $165, Hotel = $200). I don't have to worry about rushing to the hospital in Melbourne traffic and back to catch the flight in a hurry. If the weather is fine - I have the whole Saturday to do touristing in Melbourne! (I like to 'experience' Brunswick - Sydney Road)

not to mention a good break from The Boys (sorry dahlings)


This is my humble bumble bee since 18 months ago. I loved it but lately I have some sort of love-hate relationship with it. It is great scoot to zip around town... but it needs servicing every 2000 kms.
or every three months (more or less) -- not to mention some warranty issues I have been having and the lack of support from the mechanics (he has three places to be and quite often I had to wait and use their pink scooter). So I am ditching it... The question is which scoot should I get?

I want something more reliable and can do speed limit, and not require service too often. A 250 cc engine sounds fair. Even if they are more expensive to register, less trip to mechanics could mean cheaper option in the long run.

This is Suzuki Burgman 250 that I had a look last weekend. 2003 model and it only done 8300 kms... in absolutely mint condition. The owner wants $3900 and I don't even want to haggle with him.

But I will look ridiculous on a big bike like that!

To buy or not to buy... that is a question.. (but I really loikkkkeeee)
Maybe can do solitary trip around Tassie with it
sorry dahlings............ wakakaakakakaka

Oyster

Never knew I like oysters! First few tries (years ago) .. I don't like it nor do I 'don't like' it. But never thought yummm... oysters. My neighbour in Lauderdale used to call it 'salty snort' - that kinda put me off a bit.

Earlier this year my neighbour Theresa, gave me a bucket load of oysters. She picked them herself of the east coast of Tasmania. Huge ones - that sort of kill my interest in oysters. Yikes

But recently I revisited my palate. This oyster is not big - cute and sweet. I actually tried both grilled and raw.. To my surprise... I actually like the raw ones better (with some lemon juice offcourse). They were sweet and not yucky at all.

So yesterday I bought a dozen.. yum yum. It is always 'easy' when it comes to oyster for Hisham.. NO THANKS...

I got Orion to try it - he managed a couple. From his expression he's not overly like it but he likes the lemon juice.

Rohan was asleep so he missed out.

Aladdin? - he took a tiny bite and 2 minutes after that rushed to toilet!

"Don't ever give me scallops! it make me sick'! complained the boy...

well I put him off oyster and I think I put him off scallops too! ow well.. sorry dahling --- but it is not my fault that you don't have a sophisticated palate :-)

Intan - I hope you like oysters!

Those easy peasy days are gone

No more blogging at work.. lunch time is getting shorter!
We just recruited a new physicist who is burning with enthusiasm fires... he is young and everything is going for him.
I kinda have to pull my socks up! [serve me right]
all these years I have been hiding behind my bosses' shadows

We don't want to teach bad example do we?

It's bother... bother .. bother for me...

don't you know that I am allergic to "working hard"- muahahahahahaaha