Going back Down Under

12 February 2009. 1st year at the University of Melbourne.

Boarded the plane...feeling (rather) homesick - a semester lasts about 4 months, and that means 4 months away from mum, dad and bro, 4 months away from Singapore, 4 months away from usual hangout places, 4 months away from mates......the list is (almost) endless. Yet feeling extremely excited about beginning a brand-new life Down Under, meeting new friends, studying piano, studying psychology (and hopefully not becoming psychotic), taking even more pictures...yet again, the list is (almost) endless.

Although it didn't start off as ideally as I believed it should - because of subject clashes, fee problems and confusion, it eventually kicked off fine...

...Despite the frequent homesickness episodes and intense cravings for local food. Believe me - I had to go through cold turkey to curb my Hokkien Mee addiction. There were also many first times - first time falling extremely sick while overseas, first time performing in front of a large audience, first time experiencing gloomy Melbourne winter, and first time watching a sunset for an assignment. And yes, as I said, this list is also endless.

Year 2 was a blast. The fun and excitement escalated as I knew people better, and psychology got more and more fun. There was one point where psychology threatened to turn against me though, but eventually it all turned out well. As for piano - it's always fun, and will always be. Played in piano class for the first time too! Went to Sidney Myer for the first time. Did something unimaginable - went on reverse bungee during the annual Moomba Festival. Went for Piano Landmarks. Went for more trips out of Melbourne, including one to Lilydale for theTesselaar Tulip Fest (getting lost in Dennis in the process and meeting a friendly kitty), and made multiple trips to Warragul of course! And yes, the awesome trip to Lakes Entrance! Arrggh there're so many things to list! Oh oh oh...and I started photo-blogging properly too!

23 February 2011 - almost exactly 2 years later.

I'm flying off in about 2 days' time, to begin my senior year (year 3) at uni, and I'll be graduating at the end of this year. I'm having mixed feelings as usual - and somehow there's this familiar feeling of deja vu:

I will inevitably go through cold turkey again (from the Hokkien Mee - yes, my addiction is back!, and Singaporean food), I will inevitably feel pangs of homesickness every now and then again. I will inevitably call home and talk incessantly to mum, dad and bro. I will look at pictures of home every now and then and imagine myself there. I will imagine myself playing on precious Sojin - my piano. I will imagine how it's like at home - where tropical weather reigns supreme and where there's no need for trench-coats, boots, furry scarfs and woolen sweaters.

But this time, instead of feeling apprehensive, I'm feeling more confident, despite the deja vu.

I'm now used to commuting to and fro - between Singapore and Melbourne, at least twice a year. I know that I'll go home once semester ends, and I have something to look forward too. I know that I have to work hard in order to reward myself with an enjoyable trip back home. And I trust telecommunication systems - the world is shrinking indeed - and Singapore won't seem as far as I thought (psychologically, of course). I'm also used to being away from home - studying abroad has definitely made me more independent and restored my confidence.

Well, I guess it's back to uni, back to piano lessons, back to assignments, back to seeing good old Aggie again...

Goodbye holidays! And hello to uni!

Chinese New Year Exhibition and Festival

This post will mainly focus on the Chinese New Year River Show exhibition and festival.

I made a trip back to the YOG Park and DNA bridge on one random Sunday, to take more pictures of course - and happened to notice the floats and decorations behind some barriers. The Chinese New Year River Show is actually a major event that happens every year, during the Chinese New Year period. And roads are cordoned off specially for this.

The gates weren't opened yet, so we could only take pictures from the outside.

Rabbit-themed float in gold. The words are 捞, 兔, 眉 and 气.

Another rabbit decoration on top of the tent.

Lots and lots of colourful lanterns were also hung around the area. There were also some cherry blossoms made of fabric.

And of course, stallholders busy preparing the food and products for the exhibition, which will open at 12pm.

Hung around the DNA bridge area for a while before the gates to the exhibition opened...

And on the DNA bridge, they had rabbit decorations, which were supposed to be lit at night. Since I went in the day, they didn't stand out as much, so I ended up taking the silhouette of the decorations.

And finally, at 12pm, the gates to the festival opened and we could enter the area.

More pictures of the decorations in the area.

And of course, the 12-zodiac animals were featured. Mouse, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig. :)

People were also posing with their zodiacs...including some really interesting ones...like the dude with the sunglasses...

Not too far away, there was a stamp collection exhibition. Bought a stamp collectors' book as well...

And some other stuff like a miniature of the biggest temple in Singapore...

Chinese New Year ornaments and decorations on sale in front of one of the stalls.

The stretch of stalls along the side of the carnival.

And below the sheltered area, there were some amusement stalls for children.

Well I had to leave shortly after that, and when I was walking out of the area, I saw this halo in the sky. :)

Right I guess that's about it for now! I think I'll post pictures from the flower shows soon!

Esplanade Park

Right...I think I've only got half an hour before having to set off for guitar lessons, so I'd just write an entry before leaving.

I've been to the Esplanade music library and rooftop countless times, but I seldom venture out to the Esplanade park, where Victoria Concert Hall is situated. In fact, the last time I went to Victoria Concert Hall for a concert was in 2006 or so. Anyway Victoria Concert Hall is now being upgraded.

Right, this was one of the many trips I took before the Chinese New Year weekend, and that was around late January. They were also setting up the stage for Chingay. It was a pretty short visit to the park itself though.

On the way to Esplanade Park - I've seen many photographers take pictures like this too:

Oh yes, and on the other side, there were lots and lots of tourists crowding around the Merlion. This was taken through a gap in the bridge above.

And now we finally reach the Esplanade Park!

Bumboat bringing tourists along the river.

This was pretty near Fullerton Hotel. Can't really recall what it's called though.

There were around 2 or 3 ice-cream vendors hanging around the area, and one of them decided to have some hunger satisfactions before continuing his business...

Cavanagh Bridge - next to the one that I mentioned earlier. Engineers: P & W Magellan, 1868, Glasgow.

Some posts at a memorial, just next to Victoria Concert Hall and the statue of Sir Stamford Raffles.

Oh yes, and there were quite a number of sculptures.

Coolies:

19th century businessmen (the woman on the sculpture just happened to be posing for the camera and was pretty fascinated by the sculpture):

And my favourite one: the 2 kittens and mother cat by the river! Love the way the kittens were portrayed, and the protective mother.

Fullerton Hotel. I've never been in there, but I heard there's this chocolate buffet or something - must try it out someday.

Headed back to Centrepoint soon after and managed to catch a glimpse of a lion-dance performance.

Oh yes, and on the day I went to Pan Pacific Hotel, the decorations outside the Paragon were complete, and there were fresh flowers growing around them. Like a miniature flower show or something.

Reckon there were 3 or 4 types though, mainly chrysanthemum.

Ok and that is about it for now! Gotta run!