Touchdown!

Touchdown in Australia.. finally!

While on the plane over Australia,
saw the most wonderful sunrise ever;
with rainbow colours rising on the horizon..
was almost a perfect picture..
I was seated in the middle of the center aisle, so that made photo taking extremely inconvenient, among other things like going to pee.

Was only missing her to make it perfect..
Oh.. the agony.. hehe..
Someday my dear.. We will never have to say goodbye again..
We will enjoy all this together.

After clearing the detailed customs check..
finally stepped out into the cool crisp Australian spring air.

It was amazing! 16 degrees.. I've never felt anything like it before.

And I found myself totally lost!
Where was I supposed to go?
And how was I going to go to wherever I was supposed to go?

Luckily I stumbled on a special bus service, took me to the city for 5 bucks.
The driver, Brandon was very nice.. he couldn't take me to my exact location, but he did drive me around the city to show me all the major landmarks.

Finally dropped me in the city in front of a major police station..
I think it took me about an hour to hail a cab to drive me to my hostel.

Cost me almost 10 dollars for that short drive.

I'll never complain about taxi prices in Singapore again after this.
And especially after the Tokyo trip.

I'm Leaving on a Jet Plane

Leaving on a Jet Plane - John Denver

All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go
I'm standin' here outside your door
I hate to wake you up to say goodbye
But the dawn is breakin'
Its early morn
The taxis waitin'
Hes blowin' his horn
Already I'm so lonesome
I could die

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Theres so many times Ive let you down
So many times Ive played around
I tell you now, they don't mean a thing
Every place I go, Ill think of you
Every song I sing, Ill sing for you
When I come back, Ill bring your wedding ring

So kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Now the time has come to leave you
One more time
Let me kiss you
Then close your eyes
Ill be on my way
Dream about the days to come
When I wont have to leave alone
About the times, I wont have to say

Oh, kiss me and smile for me
Tell me that you'll wait for me
Hold me like you'll never let me go
cause I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

But, I'm leavin' on a jet plane
Don't know when Ill be back again
Oh babe, I hate to go

Wait for me my dearest!
Haven't left.. Already missing you so much..

Leaving Singapore

So it's confirmed..

In exactly 2 weeks, I'm leaving for Adelaide, South Australia.

My student visa and accommodations have all been approved.

I'm leaving on 26th September 2006 at 10.15pm.

Taking Marine Biology at Flinders U, 3 to 4 years,
depending on whether i get into Honours year.


Although I've been yakking about
leaving Sillypore for the longest time,
and now that's it's a done deal, can't help but feel a bit sad..
recent vehicle accident notwithstanding.

I will miss..
(in no particular order of importance)
Food, friends, family and familiarity of country..
(notice i never mentioned 'my country' heh heh)
and of course, my various collections at home..

I will not miss the crazy taxi drivers that are Uniquely Singapore.

Serenity on September 11th

September 11th..

5 years ago on this day, the world was changed forever.

(I do not need to go into the details of what happened that day.
Unless you happen to be living in a cave the past 5 years.
(Actually, I am pretty sure that those living in caves
have a pretty good idea what happened exactly.))


How fitting then that we chose this day to reflect on the vicissitudes of life.

Decided to go for breakfast with my dearest at the famous prata place in Casurina;
while driving along Old Mandai Road, I stopped by the little villaesque area..

The peace and quiet found here is quite unlike any other..
even driving down the old road brings you to another time and place..
somewhat like renaissance Europe.

While soaking up some of the serenity, I brought out my camera,
took some photos of the area..


























































And here, in the peacefulness of the environment,
we see a taichi master going through his paces.