07.2.09

Last Saturday, the day after I came back from my Bike Camp, my neighbor, David, brought me, Kat and the other neighbor, Sonella, to the Healesville Sanctuary. Sonella is a student from German and she wanted to see more of Australia so David decided to bring her there and asked us whether we wanted to come along. I actually didn't want to go because I was tired from Bike Camp but in the end, because I'm so nice, I agreed to accompany KAT. Healesville Sanctuary is this famous zoo place where they showcase loads of Australia's wildlife. It is located in Yarra Valley, a place famous for its vineyard. This is already in the countryside, outside of Melbourne.

It was quite a nice trip. The zoo was quite cool but remember to BRING YOUR STUDENT CARD!! If, that is, you are indeed a student. Sonella and I didn't bring ours and so we had to pay the adult fare which is not that cheap (SIGH). The zoo was really good. I think the favorite thing I saw there was probably the pelicans. It was my first time seeing them in real life and I was absolutely shocked. They were so huge! Seriously. I didn't think, in my wildest imaginations (well.. not that I actually have had them in my mind-wanderings before.....), that they were that big. It was cool. =D We ate at the cafe there in the sanctuary. Then after that David brought us to Marysville. Marysville, one of the many places hit by the historical bush fire on the 7th of February this year. Black Saturday.

I've heard of Black Saturday before, about how the fires raged and were unstoppable, travelling at high speed, huge winds fanning the fires faster. I've heard of the destruction it caused, about how many thousands of people lost their homes, how towns were destroyed, how forests were burnt out.

But driving towards and into Marysville, only then did I fully realize the extent of destruction Black Saturday brought. The hills which were before covered with tall trees with thick foliage were now merely hills covered with tall, black trunks with comparatively little foliage. Driving on the road, all you could see were black tree trunks after black tree trunks, with strong leaves starting to grow again from the trunks. At first when I first saw all the black trees, I thought it must have been some kind of tree that I've never seen before, but I was wrong. Driving along at 80km/h, I only could imagine how fast the fire was travelling that day. Whenever we reached a clearing, I looked afar at other hills and could just see individual tree trunks standing, not a mass of green trees like before. It went on for miles and miles. So many hills, how many woods were burnt out? Those were the homes of so many animals.

When we arrived at Marysville, it was just so.. empty. Seriously. Apparently, the whole town was destroyed, there was nothing left except for a bakery. That was where we had a drink. David, who had been there before, told us of how the bakery used to be one of the many shops on that road, and now there were only two or three left. The town was in the process of rebuilding. There was a billboard just showing what land was for sale where. To think that before Black Saturday, this town was a home to about 550 people, now it was no more.

After a drink at the bakery, we drove back going through Warburton. We used a winding, small road to get there. When we started off at that winding road, it was all just the black tree trunks with little green on both sides of the road. Then we reached the part where the fire didn't reach and what a huge difference it was. For the woods in and around Marysville, it was mostly black with little green, and the floors of the woods were really empty and had lots of fallen timber amongst some green. But for the ones the fire didn't reach, it was full of greens, with so many ferns just covering the floor, it was brighter and was just so green and brown compared to what I saw before. What a huge difference.

I think the worst part that makes me so sad is that I can't think of how many thousands of people lost their homes and their loved ones. It's equal to losing their life. Their way of life, people they loved, it was all gone now. What is life without people you love?

According to ABC, the worst bush fire in the nation's history claimed 173 human lives, injured 5000 people, destroyed 2029 homes, killed countless animals and burnt through over 4555-square-kilometers of land. I'm so thankful that the fire did not strike where my sisters were. Speechless.

http://www.abc.net.au/innovation/blacksaturday/#/stories/mosaic On this webpage, you can read about the stories of people who were affected by Black Saturday. Here's something I got from the page, "We're not lucky to be alive, we're lucky to have survive. The things that made us alive were our home, our collections, our hobbies, our town, and most of all, our friends who had died."

From Wikipedia: The majority of the fires ignited and spread on a day of some of the worst bushfire-weather conditions ever recorded. Temperatures in the mid to high 40s (Celsius) and wind speeds in excess of 100 km/h, precipitated by an intense heat wave, fanned the fires over large distances and areas, creating several large firestorms and pyrocumulus clous, particularly north-east of Melbourne, where a single firestorm accounted for 120 of the 173 deaths. A cool change hit the state in the early evening, bringing with it gale-force south-westerly winds in excess of 120 kilometres per hour. This change in wind direction caused the long eastern flanks of the fires to become massive fire fronts that burned with incredible speed and ferocity towards towns that had earlier escaped the fires.

Today, NSW is dealing with bush fires as well, and I pray that it will not get any worse.

Classic 2!

My all-time, favorite song!
More Than Words- Extreme (covered by loads of other artists)

(1990) Extreme II: Pornograffiti

Saying "I love you"
Is not the words I want to hear from you
It's not that I want you
Not to say, but if you only knew how easy
It would be to show me how you feel

More than words
Is all you have to do to make it real
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me

'Cause I'd already know

What would you do if my heart was torn in two?
More than words to show you feel
That your love for me is real
What would you say if I took those words away?
Then you couldn't make things new
Just by saying "I love you"

More than words

Now that I've tried to talk to you
And make you understand
All you have to do is close your eyes
And just reach out your hands
And touch me
Hold me close, don't ever let me go
More than words
Is all I ever needed you to show
Then you wouldn't have to say that you love me
'Cause I'd already know

A Walk To Remember (2002)

Shane West, Mandy Moore

In Beaufort, North Carolina, a prank on a student goes terribly wrong and puts the student in the hospital. Landon Carter, a popular student with no defined plans for the future, is held responsible and forced to participate in after-school community service activities as punishment, which include starring as the lead in the school play. Also participating in these activities is Jamie Sullivan, the reverend's daughter who has great ambitions and nothing in common with Landon. When Landon decides he wants to take his activities seriously, he asks Jamie for help and begins to spend most of his time with her. But he starts to develop strong feelings for her, something he did not expect to do. The two start a relationship, much to the chagrin of Landon's old popular friends and Jamie's strict reverend father. But when a heart-breaking secret becomes known that puts their relationship to the test, it is then that Landon and Jamie realize the true meaning of love and fate.

Absolutely awesome movie! And it absolutely slipped my mind that this was a book! Seriously. And it was only today I found out that it was a Nicholas Spark book! Or maybe I knew a long time ago, just that at that time I was shallower than I am now (not by much) and didn't know who he was. Well.. now I know. To all who haven't seen the movie or read the book (including me), it is definitely a must!!! =D

The Phantom Tollbooth- Norton Juster (1961)

"It seems to me that almost everything is a waste of time," Milo laments. "There's nothing for me to do, nowhere I'd care to go, and hardly anything worth seeing." This bored, bored young protagonist who can't see the point to anything is knocked out of his glum humdrum by the sudden and curious appearance of a tollbooth in his bedroom. Since Milo has absolutely nothing better to do, he dusts off his toy car, pays the toll, and drives through. What ensues is a journey of mythic proportions, during which Milo encounters countless odd characters who are anything but dull.

This is an excellent book. Seriously. It is awesome. It makes you realize so many things and makes you think. It's wonderful, really. I read it a long time ago when I was young. This is book is witty and funny. It's amazing. I just suddenly thought of this book and I definitely want to read it again just thinking about it. This book is a children's book, but I think that adults today should really read this book, especially those who are so busy they don't even know what colour the sky is. Like I said, this book makes you realize things.. =D

It's a movie too! I found that out today. It was made long ago in 1970 and I want to watch it though I don't know how I'll get my hands on it. Hopefully someone will remake it? =D

The Faraway Tree Stories- Enid Blyton

Joe, Beth and Frannie (or Jo, Bessie and Fanny. The original names.) move to the country and find an Enchanted Wood right on their doorstep! And in the wood stands the magic Faraway Tree, an enormous tree whose branches seem to reach into the clouds, and in that tree live the magical characters that soon become their new friends - Moon-Face, Silky the fairy, and Saucepan Man. At the very top of the tree they discover a ladder which leads them to a magical land. This land is different on each visit, because each place "moves on" from the top of the tree to make way for a new land. Together they climb through the clouds to the top of the tree and have new, exciting adventures each time.

This book is a 3-in-1 edition which contains three stories in the Faraway Tree series: The Enchanted Wood (1939), The Magic Faraway Tree (1943), The Folk of the Faraway Tree (1951). I read this book a long time ago and it's so wonderful. It just immerses you into a different magical world and it's just so awesome. I still remember little bits and pieces of the stories and it's just really nice. I still remember some of the treats Moon-Face (or whoever) prepared for the children in the book and it just seemed so delicious. I so want to eat those treats. Sigh... Fiction.

15 December 2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! =D =D =D

You're 50 and still young, still healthy and still safe! (Thanks, God!!) I'm so happy to have you as a mum! If not, I wouldn't be the one who brings quiches, perfect chocolate cakes, lasagnas, spaghettis, paella, and so so so many other best food to school! I'm so happy to have you as a mum! If not, I wouldn't have so many Enid Blyton books you have to box up. I'm so happy to have you as a mum! If not, I wouldn't be handicapped (just kidding) and have thoracic scoliosis (Thanks, God! For it being moderate and not serious!).

I love you for everything you are! Thank you so, so much for everything.

Cherish everyday and live it to the fullest. Stay healthy! I love you!!! =D

(I don't own this!)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MUM!!!!!!!!!!!! =D You're the best! =D

2009- NO!!!

I've had this in my mind since last month.

It's December!!! The end of the year is almost here! I can still remember the beginning of school, the fears, the excitement of being in a new environment after 3 years of being in the same class. I can still remember the lousy sports day we had, but the memorable ending we always have, the feeling of sadness pulling at your chest as you watch everyone taking group photos, as you watch the S3s cheering as they run around the track with their house flags, as you watch houses dance their cheerdancing for the very last time. I can still remember the frustrations I had with the class choir, the dilemmas and troubles and sadness I had to face, the thick-skinned face I had to put on.

I can still remember so many things, even who I sat with on the very first day of school. Worst, I can still remember the resolutions I made on New Year's Day, the resolutions I followed for about a month, then didn't anymore.

So here I am, thinking of how inevitable the passing of time is, how it seems to get faster and faster the older we get, how it seems to fly by the more we waste it.

BUT. We still have about two weeks left until the year ends, until we welcome 2010, until we have to get used to writing 10 with our dates, and not 09, until we have to get used to writing the name of our new class. We still have about two weeks to get used to our 2009 resolutions, and not put it off to be 2010's.

So with this post, I'm URGING all of you to start recalling what resolutions you set during new year's, and actually put it into action. I've been doing so for quite some time, and I really hope I'll succeed.

I fear the future, I fear growing old, it's a blank, empty hole waiting to be jumped into head first. I don't know what it holds, I don't know what will happen, I just hope that year by year, I will grow wiser. *cross fingers, closes eyes, and breathes deeply* I really hope so.

Therefore, I hope that with this little time, I will be able to have my 2009 resolutions a part of my life.

Day by day, step by step. =D

Justifications/Excuses

I know this post is way overdue! That's bad because the feeling I had when I wanted to post this is now just a memory. But I'll try! =D

So, according to my reliable (questionable!!) memory, when I came home after taking Paper 2 of the Maths Methods exam, it was all just sighs when I thought about it. It was tough. It was much harder than the first paper, though probably only because of my limited maths skills. I was nervous doing the paper, and it was not smooth and easy so a headache was working its way up. My nerves messed with my collected-ness, so I skipped some questions and had to rush when they announced that it was 10 minutes left on the clock. That was bad. Anyway, all in all, I went home with my head hanging down.

I got my results the day after that exam I think. I got 83% for the first paper, and 66% for the second paper. I know, big difference, and a cringe when looking at the 66%. But I sort of felt relieved. I the first one was good, in my opinion. If I could do the Matrices, which is pretty easy (I learnt it for the Paper 2, but it didn't come out), I would have gotten those 5 marks and 88% is really not bad! As for the 66%, it was.. bearable I guess. So here, I come to the main point of this point (I know you guys are thinking, 'What?! Then what was all this blabber if it's not the main point?').

I think I didn't do too bad! The teacher said it was above average. I, myself, think that it is quite good actually. BECAUSE, I only had about less than two months to learn that whole text book, without going to regular classes, without doing all those exercises I would have done if I had time. Less than two months to understand, remember, and be able to master (haha! Not really, in my case) all of what others had a year to do. I had really less than a month to learn how to use the graphics calculator. That wasn't really hard to learn, but it was still quite bad because I didn't really know if I was right (Hah! What are the chances?). I think for the questions where we had to use the calculator to find the answer, I didn't get right. I just wasn't sure of what I was doing. So, I guess time really was a factor for this MM 1 and 2 exam. Time to prepare for it. BUT, I can't say I utilized the time I had fully, I still had time to watch dramas and things like that.

SO, am I justifying my lousy (not so much so to me) marks, or just finding excuses for myself?

Ninety Eight Point Three!

Hey! I'm back from Bike Camp! And once again, I've actually been back for a few days already. I left on Monday and came back on Friday. The Bike Camp was very good, a good experience, very enjoyable. Yes, it wasn't really a great time for me, but still.. good. Why not? It's because of *whispers* the friend factor. Sigh.. But oh well.

Ok. So here's a *cough* short (hopefully) run through about the Bike Camp I experienced. The first thing: The food. The food there was awesome. It was a whole new diet for me and you know, I could live on that diet! We mostly had Pita Pockets for that five days and we had things like canned mixed beans, canned peas, canned lentils, fresh tomatoes, cucumbers and ETC. Yes. That was what we had almost everyday. Of course there was normal bread if you wanted. For breakfast we had cereals and toast. Dinner was usually special. Sometimes it was the same Pita Pockets with additional stuff, like barbecued chicken or beef or sausages and stuff like that. On the rest day it was good. Everyone had a choice of either: 1. Fish (grilled or fried), chips or potato cakes (?), a steamed or fried dim sum (?!) OR 2. Pizza of your own topping. So that was good. Sometimes there was dessert like just ice cream, or pancakes (yum!) with ice cream and maple syrup and stuff. Apparently the people here eat their pancakes with squeezed lemon juice and sugar. Have yet to try that. Haha.

So anyway, we started out at Wangaratta. It was in the country side and apparently we weren't in Melbourne. We were north from Melbourne and would have reached Sydney if we didn't get off the train at Wangaratta. Well, technically we got off the train at Seymour because they were doing some track work, and we took the bus from there to Wangaratta. So from there, we cycled to Eldorado (26km) and camped there (Yes! With tents and all that!). That first day was really, really hot. You could feel the water just evaporating from your skin (haha). But yea, it was the only day I had to refill my water bottle. Then the next day we cycled to Beechworth (20km) but, the first part of the ride was on a seriously bumpy, unsealed road and the second part was up a huge hill which was about 6km, the last 3km ALL uphill. Crazy, huh? I didn't get to experience that because me and Sum Sum were cycling together. We didn't cycle for very long and the road was really bumpy and we were going downhill when Sum Sum fell. You know, *whispers* I think (or probably know) that this was probably my fault. I was in front of Sum Sum and going downhill, I didn't put on any brakes because I love the feeling of speeding downhill. I was looking at the road before to watch out of any bumps or rocks, which I always do. So I guess Sum Sum thought it was all good and she followed me going fast down that bumpy road. She fell, and it was quite a bad fall. Thankfully she didn't break anything (though the basket on her borrowed bike (courtesy of Ms Green and husband Mr Lee =D!) got a huge dent in it). Grazes covered her from her right shoulder to her leg (well.. almost) and she had quite a deep cut (in between scratch and gash) on her arm below her elbow. If it wasn't for that, we would have not gone to the hospital. But we did, because the teachers were worried it might need stitches. I went with her to the hospital and thankfully it didn't need any! So yea, that's why I didn't need to go up that huge hill (thank goodness?).

From that day on, me and Sum Sum didn't need to camp out because she had this HUGE bruise on her right thigh. It was awesome slash disgusting! Seriously. It was really swollen too. Her arm where the cut was was also quite swollen. Anyway. So the teachers all insisted she sleep in the cabin and I don't know.. I guess it was sort of unspoken that I would stick with her and so, I got to sleep in the cabin too. You know, *whispers!* I feel so bad because I felt like a total leech. I was just totally reaping the benefits of being her friend. But oh well. We were each other's (only? Nah.. not that bad) company. Which is sad. Sigh.

Anyway. So after that, because of Sum Sum's thigh, the doctor said not to cycle until it felt much better if not the bruise (internal bleeding) would get worse. So, moving on! From Beechworth, we cycled through Yackandandah to Myrtleford (63km!!!). We visited the bakeries at Beechworth and Yackandandah. Overrated, in my opinion, but not bad I guess. This ride was seriously tiring!! There were so many hills!!!! BUT, I DID IT! I survived and I'm so surprised too. Haha. I did it as in I didn't stop once (except for the drink stops) and didn't get off my bike to push it uphill once! I'm so proud in myself because never before have I done riding like that, and while I was puffing up a hill, thoughts about giving up kept floating to the front of my mind, but I didn't succumb to it, and I also did the whole ride at a nice, constant pace (a slow one)! Wow! Seriously surprised I could do it and totally patting myself on my back! =D Although I was really slow, slower than almost everyone (but NOT everyone), regardless of what other people say about my speed, I'm still very amazed that I pulled through. Haha. I arrived at the campsite at about.. 4pm? We started out at about 10am. So do the math yourself.

At Myrtleford, me and Sum Sum slept in a bunkhouse. It was just this empty 'house' with rooms of bunk beds. It was cool. (sigh.. reaping benefits!!!). The next day was the rest day. It was pretty boring because of the *cough* *whispers* friend factor. But it was good. Mainly because I'm the type of girl who doesn't mind just sitting at the back and watching everything go by.. observing. So yea. I was really tired from the ride the day before anyway.

The last day, we rode back to Wangaratta (52km). This ride was absolutely FLAT with only about two hills. I realized I preferred a ride with hills, because when there is an uphill, there usually is a downhill. And downhills are the only time when you can sort of rest your legs for a while, whereas if it's flat throughout, you just keep pedaling and it never stops. I think everyone was pretty nervous about this ride because we had a deadline to meet: we had to catch the bus to Seymour. We usually start riding at about 9.30am or 10am, but this time, we had to leave at about 8am. For the 'slow' group, we had to leave by 7.45am. So yea, I was really nervous I would be too slow or something. The teacher said 'ride with determination, not sight seeing'. At the start of the ride, it was really hard for me because it was so COLD. A few others including myself rode with out jackets on. It was so hard for me to warm up. My fingers were numb, my eyes were hurting because of the cold wind going against them. It was horrible. But after I got warmed up, I really started to 'ride with determination'. It was the first time I kept pushing myself to keep up that 'fast' pace. I'm so proud of myself about that ride too. It was the first time I arrived at a stop earlier than some people I never used to go ahead of before. Seriously. It was really tough though. It was also the first time where my thighs and butt were REALLY sore. We stopped at this place where we all of us were entitled to a free ice cream (paid after by teachers) at this shop (not soft ice cream, Magnum and stuff like that). I had a Magnum Sandwich. IT WAS AWESOME. I loved it. But yea, when we arrived there and I got off my bike, wow my legs felt numb like it couldn't hold my weight anymore. After that, we had about 16km to go and I willed myself to go with that 'fast' pace like before, but I guess my muscles were all used up. I went at a 'faster than my slow' pace, but it wasn't as fast as before. It was fun, pushing myself. =D So of course, everyone arrived in time for lunch, then we waited for the bus. So yea, that was the last day of the Bike Camp. Seriously tiring, but cool to see where your limits actually are, and seeing if you can push it further! =D

I think that was the best part of the bike camp. Never thought I would be able to cycle distances like that and get through hills with nothing but willpower. Oh and the view at the countryside was absolutely beautiful. You know how in Asia, the countrysides are usually filled with paddy fields and stuff like that? Here the countryside was just so hilly and plain. It was so empty and beautiful. Combine that hay-coloured hills with the blue, blue sky, it really was breathtaking. =D I'm going to miss that.

So yes, that is my 'brief' (sorry!!) account of the Bike Camp. Will I go next year? Undecided.

Anyway. I really miss the healthy food we ate at the camp, because since I came back, I've been eating so much. The Smiths Potato Chips, cookies Kat baked, cereal, bread, rice, snacks, snacks, snacks! Gah. Oh well. Self control!!!!! (not happening).

And as for the title of my post, I'm so PROUD of it!!!! It's not mine though, I just HOPE that I'll be able to work hard enough to get something close to that, that I'll be able to seriously put my head down to get something better than that. *cross fingers and slaps self hopefully into shape and takes deep breaths*

Hope.

Random Roars (?)

STEPH!!!! I watched Bring It On: Fight to the Finish already! Hahahaha. But actually, it's not a great movie. I think the ones before were all better. So yup, was kind of disappointed.

Yesterday night I was just thinking about the New Moon movie and I think the part where she got the paper cut was done quite well. I mean, except for the fact that there was probably too much blood for just a paper cut. But the way they wanted to emphasize that a lot of thoughts and words were running by in that second before that drop of blood hit the carpet. Kind of cool in my opinion! Haha. And I was actually shocked when he said 'Marry me' and the screen went blank. I was thinking 'Wait.. is that the end? Where's the fight with Victoria?'. I guess it was in the third book, huh? Haha. So confused. Been jumbling events between the whole series. Sigh.

Went out today with Kat to run a few errands. Went to check out the Charity Christmas Sale in Box Hill Town Hall which turned out to be just selling cards so we left. And then we went to Westfield. Most of the shops had sales because of Christmas. Kat chose two jeans for me in Myer and bought it. It was really cheap! Apparently today was 'My Secret Sale' in Myer. So the price of the jeans had already been shaved off and because of the 'Secret Sale', it was half price too! Wow! I really like the jeans! =D Thanks KAT!!! We went to Coles and managed to buy some cheap Christmas decorations for our small fake Christmas tree! They didn't have much variety so we only bought two boxes of the decorations and also Christmas Lights for the tree! =D This is the first time we're spending Christmas somewhere other than home (I think) and it's the first time we're using a fake tree. At home we always bring in the 'Christmas' tree from our garden into the house to be used as a Christmas tree. Oh well! It was a good day. When we were leaving the parking, Kat drove down the spiral slope thing (it wasn't really spiral, just sort of curved and it was a short one) and guess what? She went down the wrong one. When she turned into the slope I said 'I think we're supposed to use that one. See the sign there that says Keep Left?'. She said 'Oh well. It doesn't matter. What could happen?' And then I said 'Well.. Someone could come up using this lane. (!!!!!)' And there by that time we were almost at the foot of it and a car was jussst coming up. He was Asian too (haha) and backed up to left us through. Sigh. How ridiculously and embarrassingly funny. Haha. Luckily he wasn't driving too fast. It was all good! =D

Check this book out. I haven't read it but it looks good. And plus, it's the author of The Time Traveler's Wife. That should mean something! =D

Her Fearful Symmetry- Aubrey Niffenegger

When Elspeth Noblin dies of cancer, she leaves her London apartment to her twin nieces, Julia and Valentina. These two American girls never met their English aunt, only knew that their mother, too, was a twin, and Elspeth her sister. Julia and Valentina are semi-normal American teenagers -- with seemingly little interest in college, finding jobs, or anything outside their cozy home in the suburbs of Chicago, and with an abnormally intense attachment to one another.

The girls move to Elspeth's flat, which borders Highgate Cemetery in London. They come to know the building's other residents. There is Martin, a brilliant and charming crossword puzzle setter suffering from crippling Obsessive Compulsive Disorder; Marjike, Martin's devoted but trapped wife; and Robert, Elspeth's elusive lover, a scholar of the cemetery. As the girls become embroiled in the fraying lives of their aunt's neighbors, they also discover that much is still alive in Highgate, including -- perhaps -- their aunt, who can't seem to leave her old apartment and life behind.

Niffenegger weaves a captivating story in Her Fearful Symmetry about love and identity, about secrets and sisterhood, and about the tenacity of life -- even after death.