My Melbourne Getaway Trip 21/11/2009 to 30/11/2009

My Melbourne Getaway Trip 21/11/2009 to 30/11/2009

I took 5 days off from work on starting from 23 November 2009 to 30 November 2009 to travel to Melbourne for holiday. My flight was around 9:00 am in the morning on the 21 November 2009 (ie. Saturday). The flight took around 7 hours and I was wide awake all the way through.

I arrived at Melbourne around 8:00 pm (Melbourne time) and was only able to get out of the airport around 9:30 pm. My sister and her boyfriend drove me to my friend's place where I stayed for the next 10 days.

I didn't not expect this trip to be particularly enjoyable as I didn't have a plan on what to do during my tenure over there. Fortunately, I was blessed with good friends and was able to enjoy the entire holiday there.

Here are some of the photos taken in Melbourne:

1. Me having a Mocha drink in the new cafe

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

2. A nice white chocolate cake I had

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

3. Me standing in front of the counter where they sell chocolate cakes, biscuits and etc.

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

4. An authentic Italian pizza on Lygon Street

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

5. Garlic foccacia (didn't really enjoy this though)

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

6. Vanilla custard dessert, tasted really good, melt in my mouth with a hint of jam.

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

7. A regular pizza with me

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

8. Me standing somewhere in Docklands, Melbourne

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

9. Me standing at the 2nd floor shopping area (similar to the Curve in Malaysia)

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

10. A large Christmas tree in the middle of the shopping area

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

11. Unfortunately, the touch screen map had a breakdown (sort of)

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

Here are some photos of the buildings and landscape in Melbourne which I have taken just for fun:

1. Christmas decorations on Bourke Street

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

2. Alternate view of the Christmas decorations on Bourke Street

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

3. Tram stop at North Melbourne

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

4. Victoria Market

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

5. My favourite donut shop in Victoria Market

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

6. Myer's slideshow for Christmas Part 1

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

7. Myer's slideshow for Christmas Part 2

From My Melbourne Getaway Trip 2009

By 30 November 2009 early morning around 12:54 am, the time of my holiday ended. I wish it could be longer as I really enjoyed this trip and was glad to finally get some time off from work. I arrived in Malaysia around 6:00 am (Malaysian time). Fortunately, I slept through the entire flight from Melbourne, Australia to Malaysia.

Chinese New Year Celebration 26/01/2009 to 28/01/2009

Chinese New Year Celebration 26/01/2009 to 27/01/2009

Me and my entire family went back to Muar on Monday dated 26/01/2009 and came back the day after on Tuesday dated 27/01/2009. Muar is both my father and mother's home town. This is the time in the year where all Chinese families gather and celebrate the festival together.

Of course, with my new digital camera, I have been taking some photos of the celebration. I am pleased to present herewith the photos:

1. Little Foot eagerly waiting in the car.


2. Bamboo plants just outside my grandmother's place.


3. Grandmother and me in the living room.


4. Me and Chinese New Year decorations.


5. Me and Wei Kiat who goes to gym quite often as well.


6. Ee Chain taking an Ang Pow while Ee Chin is dishing out some this year.


7. Jian, me and Ee Chain posing just outside the living room.


8. Wei Kiat holding up a mahjong piece.


9. A nicely arranged mahjong set.


10. This is what the Chinese meant by "Dry swimming"


11. Ah Fang and his child outside my grandmother's house.


I visited my father's side of the family on that day as well. Fortunately, both mum and dad side of the family is less than 10 minutes drive away which make it very convenient to go back once each year.

1. Home made Lou Sang by Auntie Lucy.


2. Auntie Lucy's cooking in her shophouse.


3. First Uncle's apartment in Muar.


4. Lotsa people from my father's side in my uncle's apartment.


This year's celebration was almost the same like the year before. However, there was not that much fireworks or firecrackers lit that night. Hence, I can conclude that the recession has been hitting everyone significantly. Hopefully the economy would recover by early next year that is 2010.

Pre Chinese New Year Celebration 24/01/2009

Pre Chinese New Year Celebration 24/01/2009

My friend Jeff came back from Dubai to visit us just before Chinese New Year. I had some cakes with him in Secret Recipe located in Section 14. He bought a 640gb hard drive from Digimall that day and I was just there for the window shopping.

Here are some photos of him and me:

1. Jeff playing with his mobile phone


2. Me taking self portrait for no reason


After he left, me and my family decided that we would head to Chili's for dinner. As such, me and my family celebrated our Pre Chinese New Year dinner in Chilli's Bar located in Bangsar shopping complex. Here are some photos of the event:

1. Chili restaurant


2. Me and Little Foot before heading to Chili


3. Chili menu cover


4. My favourite section of Chili menu


5. Me and my mum after the dinner


Post dinner, I went out with my friends for drinks in Ming Tien hawkers area. I had to pick Sheau Yih up for that event. We were chatting and having fun for that night. Here are some photos of that event:

1. Ming Tien's signboard


2. Meng Chun and Sheau Yih discussing something funny


3. Joon Shiong is back from the US, Hsu Kim who wasn't busy that day and Koon Ming from Penang


That's all for the Pre Chinese New Year celebration, I will upload the photos and blog about my actual Chinese New Year celebration shortly.