One morning, i woke up to see a tanned young woman in my bathroom. For a moment, i thought i was in the wrong house. Or one of my housemates hired a maid. Wait till you see her name, you will know why i thought of that. "My...name....is....Maria...."

"I...am....xxx's friend." Ahhhh..my housemate's friend who stayed over the night. Initially, we all had our reservations about her. She came from China, just 4 days ago, did a home stay but apparently they treated her poorly. We asked her what race or nationality her home stay parents were, she gave a vague answer "i don't know, they look like me." Duh!

So she left and roamed the streets until she met my house mate! And a kind innocent soul she is, she brought her back into our house to live temporarily! She can even leave this stranger home alone in her room, with her possessions! Is this folly or pure goodness?

But so i started talking to this Maria, and she told me she's a Christain and showed me her Bible. I told her i could bring her to church this Sunday, and i even helped her find a house! I feel like a saint.

So, i feel a little sad that she's found a home and moving on now..the short 3 days she was here has kinda forged a tiny bond between me and her. I think its because of our common faith, she being a young believer, consulted me on a lot of things. From which home should she find, can she live with people of different religion etc. I am not exactly holy, so i answered best i could. Then it dawned upon me that i should just pray with her, so i don't have to stumble with answers! So i offered, and she took.

She still is kind of a country bumpkin i think. Her fashion made me snicker. Her name, initially too. Ok, fine, i admit, till now too. (She actually helped us clean our bathrooms!) The innocence just melts my hear, i suppose. She says she hope she can make us like her better by cleaning our bathrooms. Who says we don't like you, Maria?

And so she left, with a little present for us each.

A green apple.

Can you guess?

I won't be racist here, but can you guess the nationality i hate most serving? They are just OH SO RUDE. Majority of the rude customers are of a certain race, but then again of course its not generalised because there are some nice ones too. There was one that was SO rude, when i took his food to the back i was oh so tempted to spit in his food. I admit, the thought did cross my mind! But of course, i couldn't bring myself to do it. I may look mean but actually a softie, you know.

That's why my colleague was saying she knows better than to be rude to the person who's handling her food. Hahahaha! So she knows.

I feel ashamed that i am taking less pride in my work now, simply because i am tired of serving people and 'seeing their colours'. That's why i won't go into a sales or customer service career.

But i still feel ashamed because i am quite a perfectionist.

I'm ALWAYS rostered to be in the kitchen at one of my jobs, i take it as a compliment because very few people can handle the kitchen. But nowadays i dread it, because being in the kitchen= to doing everything! From loading the dish-washer to putting back the plates (well, i can NOT care and leave it to the rest to do. But because the dish washer is in the kitchen, i get very irked when i see dishes piling up), to preparing orders to cleaning the kitchen (grill, microwave, floor), to doing the next day's preparation to THROWING THE RUBBISH too!!

And amazingly, the least paid job is the hardest work of all and the most paid job is the least work of all. Hahahaha, but i'm still not willing to quit any, yet.

So yes, i used to do everything while on the job (being a perfectionist) fast and good. Then i realised i'm being a little silly because i make myself so stressed on the job. So i produce sloppy work, and then i will get 'comments' from the supervisor. They were not being mean, but just you know asking me to redo because its not very well done etc. And i think how it's not fair, because how can i be perfect when there's so much for me to do while the rest have an easier station to look after?

Then again, a good worker is not complaining about anything. Its not as if the job is wanting an arm and leg.

Went to watch some Muay Thai match. Wasn't as adrenaline rushed as i thought it would be, but nonetheless gave us something to do on a Saturday night.


September the first is Father's Day here, so i made a card...only to know in Singapore, Father's Day is sometime in March. My father said in jest that he thought i've forgotten about him!

My mum still keeps the cards i make for her. Don't know about Dad though. Then again, like mum always nags, "Dad keeps EVERY scrap of paper."
But i realise i only get back to making cards here. In Singapore, there's just no time for card making :pAnyway, here's a day spa in my neighbourhood. And after months of deliberating, i decided to self indulge. After all, i work practically everyday (except weekends), and then do my school work at night. Quite a burn out, i reckon. Hahaha, but that's me. I like to pack every activity tightly.

And so, i booked in a facial and massage. To my surprise, their facials do not consist of extractions nor eyebrow trimming (unlike Singapore). So what do you do in a facial? Oh, we cleanse, exforliate, tone and moisturise. I was like, "oook...i can just do all these myself at home at the cost of nothing." Then they explain to me that extractions here is illegal, because it hurts the skin. Then where did the beauty therapists in Singapore get the idea of extraction?!

No wonder my ang moh guy friend who regularly goes for facials adores the regime. Because all i was thinking, facials hurt! It was never exactly an enjoyment, because the extraction of blackheads and pimples hurt very much. And guys normally have a lower threshold of pain. I thought that ang moh friend must be crazy to enjoy facials in Singapore! I guess the facials he go for are different from the ones i go in Singapore. His must be the blissful, no extraction ones.

And so, with no extractions done here, you feel abit 'not value for money'. However, after the treatment, got to say they deserve what they charge. Because without extractions, they mange to get out the pimples and blackheads. So yeah...i'm never going back for extractions in a facial. A dermatologist once actually tsk tsk me when i told him i go for facials.So where in the world did Singapore's therapists get the idea of extractions?! 2 different schools of thought, i suppose.

The spa is built quite like a home actually. Its a house on the outside,

and a living room with multiple treatment rooms inside! With an outdoor jacuzzi (located where the woman is standing). It costs an extra $65 to use that facility. That's absurd!

At the end of my treatment, i was given refreshments! Chocolates, tea and muesli with fruit and yogurt! This is, service. Made me feel so healthy that i went to get my own blend of muesli right after i stepped out of the place.

P.S my beauty therapist somehow reminds me of Luna Lovegood from Harry Potter.

Orange lemon fish

Trying out a new recipe tonight, they never turn out nice. Keeping my fingers crossed. Its steamed fish with the juices of oranges and lemons.

You know awhile back, i did a survey by a masters student (which i was paid $10 for filling the questionnaire out) which made me realize i do think quite badly of Asians in general. As in, i do not think they have affections, no empathy and selfish. It's just the culture i guess, we were brought up to be conservative (thus not usually affectionate), we are born in a competitive society (thus selfish) etc. But of course, there're qualities Asians have that Westerners do not have. Like hardworking, responsible etc.

I do not think the Westerners are any better than Asians, but i do think most of them are more big hearted in a way. Like at the supermarket, i was short of 50 cents. The old man in front of me paid that for me. He didn't need to do that, i could have put one item away. It wasn't a big sum, i know but this has never happened to me at home. I've seen people back home asking for change to make a phone call, and passer-bys can tell him "don't have".

Makes me think about myself as well, i ought to be more big hearted. Hopefully when i start, others will catch on.

Then again, is it because of my gender that's why i get special treatment?

Twice in a row! Is this a sign?

Not sure what this means, but in the middle of the night , here we are out in the cold, trying to pry the boyfriend's car door open. Because , it's his turn now to leave his car keys inside the car with the door locked. This time, it wasn't the wind. It was pure folly. I think this shows we are both very stressed you know, alot of things on our minds. Ha ha!

One broken tong, one bended clothes hanger, lots of sticky tape (my ideas) later, we gave up. So we're calling in someone to break open his room door back at home, to get his spare car key inside. He's luckier in that sense, that will cause him lesser than a RAC membership. I had a spare car key, but it was also locked inside my car as it was chained with my house keys which were inside too.

Anyway, my friend brought back mooncakes from Singapore. No egg yolk :( and no durian. Freeze some for me, Mummy!


I brought mandarins. Haha, Chinese New Year meets Mooncake Fest. You know how we always have riddle guessing in church during the festival? We had that too. My friend asked us one her ten year old cousin came up with, " What's the rudest part of the computer?"

the cursor (pronounced as cruse her)


That, was the $30 Guess skirt i wanted to get for mum as well. Mum, do you want this? I can send it back to you firs to wear. I've too many clothes here anyway ;p But, its an XS.

I temped as the receptionist again today. Was occupied with taking pictures of recipes in this cookbook found there ;p

Have you ever had a very bad day?

The wind blew and shut my car door as i was standing behind the car, locking ME out, with keys and everything else IN. Very smart, Christine. It was the stupidest thing i've ever done, ok maybe there're even stupider things that i just have forgotten about.

The result...i had to pay $180 for RAC membership. That's like vehicle breakdown insurance. I had no other options. I called campus security, they tried to help but couldn't. They recently turned in their tools for breaking into cars because there were complains when they damaged the car while trying to help. Ungrateful bugger.

My school staff were all very nice, one lady even lent me her mobile and allowed me to walk away with it to make the necessary calls (i had to go out of her office to see my license plate you see).

What drama!

After my classes and day in school, as i head back to my car..guess what other surprise i got!

Nearly had a heart attack lah! Thought it was a parking fine. Double whammy!!


But then realise...it was JUST a note.

Ok, the door bell just rang...and a bouquet of flowers is here for me. No, i don't think its frpm the guy in school. He doesn't know where i live and he can't be THAT quick.

Today is a bizzare, and it's NATIONAL DAY!

Candy House

It was a lonely night for my house mates when their respective boyfriends went to work on a Saturday night. So, i pulled them in to tag along on my date. For a very adventurous hunt to the restaurant which serves a platter of Australian tastes.

It wasn't that easy to find it, but we managed to. The outside looked rather seedy. Nearby was a brothel. It was the first i've seen here so far, and i was rather amused. Instead of the eerie red light these places usually use, its covered in bright colourful lights. Like a candy house. It even tells us there's an ATM inside. No hookers standing outside though, maybe it's too cold.

I've never been inside one, and i am curious. I told my friends, maybe i can pop in and pretend that i'm homosexual seeking a girl. Perhaps i can see what's it like inside then. My australian housemate laughed and ask why don't i say i am looking for a job instead. Less chance of being beaten up.

In my amusement, I forgot to take a picture of the outside!

That's a platter of Australian platter. It was $13.80 per person to taste. It's more of an entree. The main courses were like $27 and above. So we only came to taste, and then went off to somewhere else cheaper for dinner. The outside looks dodgy, but the inside interior was rather romantic. Candlelight, wine glasses and all. This place only opens Friday and Saturday nights anyway, funny how businesses here ever make money.

And so, on the platter we have crocodile meat (i like!), emu (taste like beef), kangaroo (like VERY STINKY lamb), smoke chicken from some where, marron (like cray fish except australian), rustic bread called Damper (like scone, i like!), and a variety of dips, chutney and jam from around australia. Some of these jams tastes ok, but they stink. With various fetta and olives on the side.

The highlight of the day, of course is this Withiery Grub! We sliced it in four bits, so each can take one. As i sliced it up, you could see the strings of nerves squishing about. Ooooo.....interestingly, it doesnt taste bad. It tastes like mushy crab.

My australian housemate couldn't stomach it. She says she has seen the live one before in the countryside, so she just couldn't. So we made her 'ta pau' back home and give her boyfriend (who's malaysian born here). He couldn't eat it either, i told him "maybe it'll taste better if we microwave it for you? Hot."

Only true blue asians can ever stomach such stuff.

Oh, and i was telling my australian housemate i got to reconsider PR here because there is high incidence of skin cancer here. She said "that's the funniest thing i've ever heard. In that case, i should move out of this country."

Ka-poot!

So much for wanting to say i've almost earned back my holiday expenditure.

My two left tyres went burst on the way to work this morning. I managed to get it to the petrol station nearby to get some help. The nice Caltex guy tried, but failed.

So i had to roll it down the hill to the BP mechanic, only to find it closed. It was rattling so badly, i was terrified its going to explode with me in it.

It all sounds exciting...

I was just browsing through this online job search website in Australia and all the marketing jobs in mainly Sydney and Melbourne all sounds very exciting. Major cosmetic brands, hotel chains, banks, fashion labels....i could just almost fantasize me being part of them, going to all those glamorous events. Not that Singapore can't have, but its just not the same you know. Everyone wears a dress here. You can have flowy, to satin, to bare backs. As far as you can get in Singapore, its just erm, a sun dress perhaps?

Ok, but as a Christain, i shouldn't be marketing a casino right? Because the famous Crown in Melbourne is hiring.

I am actually sick of shopping.

oh,i haven't really shown you what Melbourne streets are like. They're very Victorian. Reminds me of France, actually.

Interestingly though, they've all been spent. Haha, where did all the money go! I guess i now have only enough for school fees (i've locked that away in an account, so it will never 'disappear'), and enough to last me till end of year. I should start saving, so that i can convert and bring back some cash! Exchange rate is good, on the OZ side.

So yes, let me show you my shopping buys.

My favourite lamp! Brought from the Victoria markets. I first saw this back in Singapore at Times Bookstore. It actually costs $79 there. Guess how much i bought this for? $30. I haven't even opened my mouth to ask for a discount, the Indian reduced it from $40. As i brought it to another store to test it out, the Italian owner was "your life is now more interesting eh?"

Its a switch there, in case you haven't figured out.

Very retro but risque postcards, found from St Kildas, a boho area.

This alarm clock is nothing special, but you know why i got it? Because it has the exact alarm tune that my spoilt Power Puff clock used to have! I had tried searching for it again, from Toa Payoh to China Town. Even sent mum and Weibin to help find it for me, to no avail. Don't know why, when i saw this from a mile away, i knew that song must be in this clock! So i had to get it.

It sings Under the Sea, and when you press the button down, it greets you Good Morning! Loud and clear.

There was this leather bag i wanted to get from the Bondi markets. It was one of the kind, very very unique. And it costs $89. So i didn't get, but i kind of regretted not getting. One of the kind leh! So i settled for this. Picture doesn't look as nice, but trust my taste. Good bargain too, like $20.

I was telling my friend, how i wish i have a man who will pay for all my shopping, regardless of price. Then i stopped and went...wait a minute, ibelieve i will be capable enough myself in future to pay for my own shopping! Why do i need a man?

Here's the shark tooth.
Very very cool mints. One in a coffin that says "death mints", to cure deathly breaths. And Super strong manly mints, that is not for the girly type. From St Kilda's as well.

This is the first time i've bought so many jewelery. How can you not when earrings are $1, necklaces from $4. I got an anklet too, because the boyfriend finds it sexy. I thought its for babies.

This is HILARIOUS! Its a magnet, and its on my bed post now. Hahaha..

Do you know i collect plasters? My singapore bathroom wall should have an assortment of plasters now. That is, if they are left untouched after i left. They're actually used ones. hahahhaa...talk about sick. But i can't bear to throw them away mah.

This, i don't think i will ever use. Its way too cool. The bandages are in the shapes of sunny side ups and bacon. How sweet is that!

Fortune teller fish..you place them on your hand and according to its movements, it tells if you're jealous, angry etc. Mine always says passionate. I think it works on heat.

I wear socks to bed, keeps me really warm. Can't resist the shorts too when Peter Alexander is on a 25% discount.

Had to get the old school tees as well.

These 3 are from GUESS, which was a major major major sale. Its only $20 each. An maroon off shoulder top, a flowy turqoise skirt (i actually wanted to get the same one , different size for mum. because i will not allow her to wear mine (mine's XS and i'm afraid it will stretch), and i know she definitely will like it) BUT...i wasn't sure if she'd be an S or an M. And denim shorts, of course.

Nothing spectacular on these ones, just well yeah..another sale. haha!

Just some satin pieces to wear out. My friends call it the Ali Baba pants.
And of course, i bought alot of nice underwear too, which i am not going to display on the world wide web. And a cocktail dress!

Very cool gums. With very cool injstructions on how you should eat them.
I like the "don't have ugly children" box and the "supermodel" meal in a box one.
Eventually, eventually i will give them away as gifts *fingers crossed*
I like them too much!

And i sent this gum back home. They can offer to those people they feel should shut up. Hah!

A GUESS tee for Ivan, finger pointing saying Blame underneath. I think he has a blue one with the finger pointing that says I'm with Stupid too.

"Mom" from Guess as well for big brother. He is the one who likes to wear funny tees. Ivan doesn't like. And thus Ivan gets less shirts from me. Because he is so fussy. I saw the Superman buckle from the markets. And oh, the Transformer one! It was SO COOL. I thought of big brother..then i realised he's 24!! Will he want a Transformer logo at his waist? Ivan will suit a power ranger one. The pink ranger. Haha!

I dig this wallet! It says sugar daddy, and its genuine leather.Its branded and at a superbly good price! Like er, $10? Happy Father's Day!

P.S i am not cheapo, i am good at hunting great deals.

Ivan actually asked if i had another one. Why will Ivan want sugar daddy on his wallet?

For Shaun, obviously. I actually called him, asking for his size. And he insisted he can fit the smaller one.

For Shaun again, i think i love my elder brother most. Hahahaa...

My friend said this one is so uncle. But my father is an uncle already what! Then they said, ok..but uncle can wear Guess not bad already.

I am very fussy with wallets. So its another steal with this JAG one i got for myself.

This is for the boyfriend.

I am not a very shoe person, no matter what my father says. And i bought 5 pairs on this trip! The blue ones are suede, the pink and white ones were $10, and KEDS for $30! I chose the watermelon ones.

The luggage limit was 20kg, i passed with 19.5kg. Hahahahaha!

This was Ivan's customised one. With a reflector, so people can see him at night. Or rather, his bag.

And of course, mummy dearest gets some jewelery from Melbourne as well. Glad to hear she loves it! I remember her seeing a similar one at Isetan but it was too expensive to buy. So i found a similar one at the fraction of the department's price.



Look what we found! Tao Ghei specialist!


Huge cock Bread..whatever that means..we didn't try.



i wonder why must they use trams. It ain't any faster than buses really.