Rachael in Melbourne

So, a few weeks after my Easter break, Rachael came over to Melbourne. So happy to finally see her. Those college days were crazy I missed every single bit of it. Went for Korean BBQ at ChangGo, then headed to Freddos for our gelato on the second night she was here. Then, headed for Manchester Press the next day before I attended class. 3rd day, we tried a new place in Collingwood called Proud Mary. FREAKING YUMS! Must try, Melbournians. And finally, the last day she was here, we had breakfast with her before she flew off at some place along Little Collins St. And of course, when girls get together, it's picture time

 Freddos

 Manchester Press

 Proud Mary, potato hash with bacon, spinach and poached eggs

La Belle Miette

The Last Few Weeks in Melbourne

I think I would fail as a blogger, seriously. My last post was in March, whut. So, my second year first semester went by like a breeze. I have to say, second year is shit. I never felt so tired and exhausted studying for exams. But I wasn't well prepared for finals, to be honest. For one of the subjects, I actually went into the hall without reading 3 lecture notes. I don't think I've been that under-prepared before. 

Well, I didn't have a good time towards the end of the semester because my grades were dropping. I still pass, just not what I expected to score. When my seniors warned me about this particular lecturer saying her unit always had the highest failure rate, I didn't actually believe that the unit is that hard. Well, I've to say after going through one semester of it, it sucks. My internal was shit, scoring only a mere 20.8/30. It's a credit I know but I've always been aiming to achieve something better, like a distinction at least but obviously, ain't gona happen. I started to feel very very demotivated. I cried so much that my parents thought I was going through depression but I knew I wasn't. It's that feeling where 'I studied so much, yet I can't score' which I really hate. I had to talk to my parents, my close friends and of course the one person who would listen to me. My mum even asked if I would like to transfer back to Malaysia to continue my studies. Yes, it was that bad. But I know one thing, I will definitely regret if I were to transfer back because the university experience I gain there is still better than it is here. So, I started to let go after a while, started to look forward in life. 

I realise that the past is the past no matter how much I dwell on it, there's no time machine to bring the time back for me to correct my mistake that I once made. So in week 12, my last week of the semester, I studied and pushed myself to do well for the 2 tests I had in that week and well, I scored quite well for the unit that I almost gave up on. Finals came and go, I dreaded to wake up each day during swot vac. My mood swings were crazy. One day I can feel super motivated to study, the next day I feel like shit again. But eventually, I got over it and I've to say I'm proud of myself to have not given up on any subjects and yet still pushed myself to achieve what I can in the end. For now, I'll just wait for my results to see what my efforts are worth. But, I've to say, its the toughest semester I've been through

A Month in Melbourne

It's been more than a month since I flew back to Melbourne to start my second year in uni. 4 weeks of classes have passed and I must say it's really hectic this time. I've got way longer hours compared to last year and I really dislike my 3-hours practicals and workshops. It really drains me out. After each of that 3 hour prac/workshop, I'll be so exhausted I wont be able to concentrate on my work at night. And now that I'm on my Easter break, I can breathe though I have 2 assignments to hand in. One during the holidays itself, sigh. So, on the day I arrived in Melbourne, I started shifting my stuff from Rach's place and it was done so fast thanks to Ade, Ken, Joshua and CK. Especially Joshua and CK who followed me around to shift stuff and even helped me with my household stuff. I really appreciate it guys. Ever since I came back to Melbourne I've been doing a lot of catching up and I made new friends too! Quite glad actually.

Went to Suzuki Night Market or I call it Melbourne's pasar malam. It's really hugs but things there were quite pricey to be honest, considering the portion and it's not served properly but nevertheless, taste awesome. Me, Rach, Ade and Ken ordered a few and shared. So we got the seafood paela, Korean potato twist, takoyaki and ice blended lemon or similar.

 seafood paela 

 takoyaki

Korean potato twist

Also went to Conservatory at Crown for buffet lunch just cause I made a promise to Giselle last year. Other than that it was just meeting up with my kindergarten  friend, Lin Lei at Twenty and Six and brunch with my girls at Auction Rooms. I loved the ambience at Conservatory but I felt that it wasn't worth it as there weren't much variety but the oysters and salmon were SO FRESH! And I broke my oyster virginity. Yes, I never ate oysters in the last 19 years of my life. But now, I love them! Auction Rooms' food was good! I recommend it to Melbourne peeps. I ordered the pork belly and it's damn delicious!! SLURP

 With Lin Lei

Conservatory 

 Pork belly

Hanged out with Rach, Elly, Bern and our new friends at Moomba festival. The fireworks were amazing. I would go back every year just to watch the fireworks. Beats all Malaysia's fireworks, hands down. For those of you who have no idea what Moomba Festival is about, it's basically a yearly carnival that goes on for 3 days (if i'm not mistaken). There're rides, game booths, everything a carnival would have plus a 10 minute fireworks by the Yarra River.

Ellya and Josie

Lastly, I had a surprise belated birthday dinner from Rach and Ade at +39 Pizzeria. Service sucks though. I'm really happy for what their thought and especially Rach who hand knitted a pair of hand mittens for me. Thank you so much, I almost teared. Don't know what I did to deserve such amazing friends but I love you guys! All of you back home too. 

That's all for this round. xoxo

Chinese New Year 2013

Chinese New Year is one of my favourite time of the year, the other being Christmas. I love CNY because it's a gathering of my family from all over Malaysia and of course the yummy food my aunt cooks! This year was no different from any other years with reunion dinners, late night movie with the cousins, gambling and having fun with the kiddos. I had so much fun I didn't even notice the time and 4 days just passed by like that. We watched Hotel Deluxe, a cantonese comedy. It's a freaking hilarious movie I can't even explain how funny it is. Just imagine me laughing throughout the movie till I had stomach cramps! I would recommend it if it's still in cinemas but I doubt it is. 

Reunion dinners are always my favourite! My aunt cooks such good dishes I never fail to get a second bowl of rice. We has fish, duck, chicken, sea cucmber, abalone, roast pork etc and everything tastes so good! If I ever were to miss CNY because of uni or placement, I would miss this the most!

So much yumness!

And of course, camwhore with my nephews and nieces. I'm gona miss each and everyone of them :( They brought me so much joy during the 4 days I was in Melaka.

 Winson. He loves eating sweets, which explains his missing teeth 

Baby Zhi Xin, a new family member!

 Fionne

 Baby Harry, can't get over how cute he is. 

 LOOK AT HIM! Don't you feel like pinching those cheeks?

 Nawwwww :')

On the last day I was in Melaka, we went to Jonker 88 to have breakfast and the queue was madness! My mum lined up for 30 mins just to get the food and it's self service, not the order kinda restaurant. The laksa was delicious! I loved it. I didnt really eat a whole bowl of cendol because my dad ate mine :(

He ordered 3 bowls. One was durian, another is nutmeg and a normal one. I hate durian and nutmeg just tastes weird and my dad ate up the normal one so I got to try only a bit of the nutmeg one. Definitely going back there for more food next round!

I had the high school bunch over at my place for a small gathering or open house whatever you call it on Friday, the 6th day of CNY. This was also the last gathering for everyone since Pui Li won't be here on the weekend we're all leaving and not knowing if we're coming back in June, I just decided why not have a gathering? After spending 5 hours or so at my place, we had this impromptu decision to have steamboat dinner together. Sometimes our decisions are so spontaneous I wonder how everyone can come for it haha! 

One happy family (:

Before that, I went shopping with Pui Li before collecting the pizzas from Taman Tun and we had this funny encounter that I stil laugh whenever I think of it. We went into Forever 21 and split up to choose our own clothes. Before I went into the fitting room, I called her but she didnt pick up so I just thought, okay, I"ll try on first. And I got a call from her saying she's coming into the fitting room now. So I tried on a flowery top and I needed someone to button up for me so I knocked on her door and when she opened her door, she was dressed in the exact same top as me and both of us were like WOW! And we laughed like wtf? Such a coincidence and of course, we snapped a picture.