the second month… and counting

August 1st 2005
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This is the second month I’ve been in Melbourne. I’ve sort of settled
down into a routine here, classes-supermarket-home, its getting
monotonous without broadband access (yes, I still don’t have it… I
hate Optus).

On an upbeat note, the weather has been behaving itself and the wind
is getting more bearable. We even had sunshine last Sunday. WOW! I’ve
also gotten smart and developed a habit of wearing three layers of
clothing (or more, depending on how cold I feel) to keep myself warm.
:p I do look very plump with all that clothing on, but then again,
I’d rather not trade comfort for fashion and freeze my arse off in
those mini skirts, black leggings and thigh high boots!

The greatest joy of my week is when I visit Vic Mart (Queen Victoria
Market) where I can buy all the freshest veggies and meat to my
heartís desire! I don’t believe I’d ever say this but I actually enjoy
going marketing! Well, the market here is so clean that it hardly
smells at all (except the fish section, which I’m naturally sensitive
to). I remembered going to the wet markets in Malaysia and trying so
hard not to breathe in the stench that I’d nearly faint dead away!
Here, it’s so clean there aren’t even any wet floors around, unless
when it rains and you get the occasional puddle here and there.
There’s even this cheap hot bread stuffed with spicy lamb and veggies
called “borek” if I remembered correctly, that costs only $2.50 each
(amazing since sandwiches cost approximately $6.00). There’s always a
crowd around that store with everyone waiting for the stuff. Fresh,
hot and delicious!

Another surprising thing I’ve found out about myself is my talent for
cooking. Only since I’ve started cooking everyday that I’ve gained the
confidence to try out new dishes besides the plain old spaghetti and
meat sauce I always do in Malaysia. I can now add to my repertoire a
mean butter chicken and a great stir fry! Thanks to my mum’s wonderful
recipe, I’ve even succeeded in marinating heavenly pork chops for my
friend Rayy’s barbeque party! I’ll be trying to bake later this month
once I get my sis to email me her muffin recipe. Muffins here are
expensive, costing anywhere from $1.50 to $3.00 each so I’m better off
making my own. (Gaawwwdd, I sound like a housewife! OMG OMG)

I think of Malaysia a lot. I still miss the food desperately. Oh yes,
Melbourne has curry noodles, hokkien mee, nasi lemak, nyonya kuih
even…whatever you can think of, but they aren’t as good as in
Malaysia, and they can get quite expensive – $7-$8 per portion. It
just isn’t worth it! For RM24 I can get a perfectly decent meal for
two at Little Penang in Midvalley. I really need to learn to cook
hokkien mee here. I’d get around to it soon enough!

I miss going for mamak at night, or going out to a fancy restaurant
with Davion for dinner and perhaps for drinks later. I miss Davion so
very much! *sob* and all those trips to the cinema whenever he’s back
in KL. I never appreciated how lucky I was to have the freedom of a
car and be able to drive wherever I chose to go. Here I need to walk,
or take the trains or trams… which can cost a hell of a lot (think
minimum $5.90 for a one-day pass). All the exploring I do is on foot,
and it limits you, coz you can’t go very far on foot. *sigh* I miss my
family very much too. Luckily, they call me everyday so at least I can
talk to them often and it isn’t quite that bad. But since I am sharing
an apartment with other people, I need to always be conscious of
others and not sing at the top of my lungs or hog the bathroom or
leave dirty dishes in the sink… u get the idea.

Right now I am thinking of new ideas for a motion graphic assignment
that’s due soon. I’m not too hot about After Effects but I understand
that it is the “in” thing, thus it is a necessary evil to master it.
We’ll see how it goes.

Thanks to everyone who has taken time out to email me. I am so
touched! *huggies to everyone* I’ll try and reply all of you as soon
as humanly possible. Take care!

Ciaoz.