We will travel for approx. 219 km in total from Melbourne City to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula, and then travel across the Port Phillip Bay on Queenscliff-Sorrento Searoad ferry to Sorrento and go back to Melbourne via Mornington Peninsula.
We will explore the historical twin towns which are developed to protect Melbourne City during WWI and WWII. The highlight of the trip for me is the searoad ferry because if we are lucky we may be able to spot dolphins, seals, and even whales^^ I don't know if this is the right season for whale to swim by here LOL.
If nothing happens during the cruise, then the next highlight would be the Point Nepean National Park. I like everything about Point Nepean, from its historical values, aborigine site, mystery (one of the former Australian Prime Minister lost (while still in office) when swimming at one of the beaches there), and of course the marvelous scenery:
(丌▽丌)
I want to stand on the tip of Point Nepean!
3-day tour, here I come!
The symphony of the last day performance is Brahms and opera The Valkyrie: Wotan's farewell, see this page.
Never expect to get a seat so up front!^^ It's on the left side of the stage so I can't see what is at the back or on the right (LOL)
The conductor is the uber famous Otaka Tadaaki 尾高 忠明.
The one standing next to conductor and was flashing in white because of my stupid camera is the famous bass-baritone (equivalent of soprano for female?) John Wegner.
Because of him, I would love to watch at least one opera in Europe one day! His eager eyes are scary and intimidating while plying the role of Wotan. But some part of it is quite sad esp when Wotan is biding farewell to his daughter whom he condemned to be sealed in the Ring of Fire until a hero who is not afraid of the Ring of Fire to come and save her. This is Act III from the whole act of Die Walküre (The Valkyrie).
I accidentally turned on the flash while taking this photo -_-"
Luckily no one came to me and blame me or something LOL
The Concertmaster or Konzertmeister (or leader in UK) on the right, I can only see his back^^ He is brilliant, though I know little about music. I observed all violinists and there are differences in unison.
The orchestra will play some tune on their music instruments before each performance starts :)
Almost full house in Hamer Hall of Melbourne Arts Centre.
With nearly 80 years experience of playing in the MSO between them, Principal Second Violin Rudolf Osadnik and Double Bassist, Anthony Smith are set to retire in December after long and distinguished careers with the Orchestra.
I was wondering when i noticed all music notes stands have some colourful ribbons hiding underneath. It happens to be their end-show tossing at the retiring musicians :)
This is the last show for Melbourne International Arts festival and also the last performance from the orchestra with their best musicians :)
My love and knowledge for classical music increased after reading Nodame Cantabile :) The power of manga yay! But following the author's sickness Carpal Tunnel Syndrome made known that put the series on a hiatus, I am wary of my own working habit in front of PC/laptop too o.O
OMG I just found out that one of my favourite Vocaloid songs of all time is actually a traditional Finnish song!
All these while I thought it is "Levan polkka", but it is actually "Ievan polkka" that means "Eva's polka" XD Polka is a traditional dance in Central Europe that is spread to the whole Europe and also to other continents ^^
The original Finnish lyrics provided by one of the Finnish youtube commentator:
Rätsätsää ja ribidabi dilla
Beritstan dillan dillan doo,
A baribbattaa baribariiba
Dibi dibidibi disten dillan doo
Ja barilla stillan deijadoo
A daba daba daba daba daba dybjabuu,
Baristal dillan stillan duubadäg
Dägädägä duu duu deijadoo
I also like Kaito (male vocaloid)'s version of Ievan Polkka:
For English translation of the song, view this video's info on the right side panel. This video also casts the Finnish singers (real human beings XD) version of the song^^
The band is Loituma and comprised of 4 singers. And the Loituma girl, who spins the leek (Welsh onion) to the tune of Ievan Polkka, is not made famous by Hatsune Miku but Inoue Orihime 井上 織姫 from 死神 Bleach! What a surprise!
Everyone, let's sing to the tune:
Rätsätsää ja ribidabi dilla
Beritstan dillan dillan doo...
It's been a very long time since I last checked my horoscope, and today when I checked it at noon, I had my childhood feeling back: "OMG, that is so true!" (I was very into horoscope from Primary 5 until Form 1) LOL
There may be important news about your home or the place where you live today, Virgo. What's even more exciting is that there may be important news about work, like being called into action. Today is one of those on which your greatest advantage will come from paying attention, and by being ready to seize the opportunity when it presents itself. Not moving fast enough could cost you today: it's one of those "early bird catches the worm" kind of moments. Be careful not to blurt out your opinions too soon, too loudly or too strongly.
Today I have a very very important news about my "work" a.k.a. fieldwork, I am indeed "being call into action".
I tried my best to "move fast enough", sending the necessary emails, planning for tomorrow's to-do-list.
I hope I can be the early bird that is able to catch the worm!
Btw I really like this calligraphy-styled zodiac sign while searching for the image for this post :)
I am rubbing my temples, though may not as graceful as Anna Jinshikaya.
I hope the light bulb can come to me when I need it. I need to write as much as I can, NOW.
At the same time I wish I can live my life to the fullest, not missing any moments of it. And not sitting in front of the PC or laptop staring at the blank Microsoft Word document with only 2 or 3 lines. And not checking FB and emails like an OCD.
The weather is so hot, I don't want to walk under the scorching sun any more, my arms and my face are already tanned, in 3 days. But I need my soy milk.
Just stop ranting and continue to write something academic dammit.
I can still remember very well a Japanese says she cannot resist trying out whale meat when the restaurant offers it on the menu.
And also the local's effort to promote whale meats to school children and the children say the whale meat is delicious and they like it----an attempt from the supporters of "Don't let the whale-eating tradition die out".
But heck I hate to read and understand CSS. Plan to start another blog with password protection feature but to understand the CSS in order to edit the template and customize the site is a pain in the ass for me.
One of the song posted in his second post which is a sequel to his first post. Must read his first post!
It's about "How to let the world knows Dokdo belongs to Korean".
This guy is a foreigner who used to teach English in Korea. And he loves Korea in many ways, including dedicating this blog "Dokdo is Ours".
Personally I think all three language in Korean, Mandarin and Japanese mean almost the same thing.
Dokdo or 독도in Korean is originated from the Hanja (Chinese character in Korean language) is 獨島. While in Mandarin, it is the same words 獨島in traditional Chinese and 独岛 in simplified Chinese, all pronounced as Du2 Dao3. In both Chinese and Korean Hanja, it means Single or Unique Island. In Japanese, it used the Kanji (Chinese character in Japanese language) 竹岛and its pronunciation or in Hiragana is たけしま or Takeshima; in Chinese character or its Kanji, it means the Bamboo Island (pronounced as Zhu2 Dao3 in Mandarin).
I highlight Hanja and Kanji in orange because both of them means 汉字----Chinese characters or the writings of Han 汉 people. So just stop fighting for the tiny island (it is actually like how Malaysia and Singapore fight over Pulau Batu Putih (Malaysian, means the White Rock Island) or Pedra Branca (Singaporean, means the White Rock in Portugese: Pedra is rock and Branca is white). You see, all means the same thing. Btw, in the end the ICJ judged it is Pedra Branca so it belongs to Singapore, but a pile of smaller rocks "Middle Rocks" belongs to Malaysia. I can still remember on the "judgement day" (LOL) all lecturers in UKM watching TV awaiting for the result (because UKM Historians and academicians including from my department involved in presenting evidence and facts etc).
brought 3 packs of tissue, used half pack only. OK lah.
Well, I learned not to have high hope to go to any movies that are adapted from books. Like Harry Potter, like many others, lots of should-be-in-the-scenes stories are not included in the movie.
Nonetheless it is a nice one, especially for those who don't read books or yet to read the book.
I was brought to tears in 2 scenes. 2 scenes only. I expect more but... nah. Partly also I don't want the other cinema goers saw my pig face so I actually held myself together during some scenes that reminds me of some sad or touching descriptions in the book. And funnily, when it is supposed to dig into that deeper feeling or some further details in the book, the movie stopped right there and switched to something else. Which made my tear held half way and kena telan balik LOL. Now that's funny^^
I would say the first half of the movie is very well-executed although not all details from the book are included. The second half.... erm, like, I don't know how to put this: too fast? skipping too many things? I don't mind if they will make this a 3-hour movie, I rather watch this for 3-hour and get back-ache rather than the 3-hour King Kong that really gave me not only a back-ache but also headache -_-"
Some interesting facts on the actors: http://www.licunxin.com/film.htm They are all related to Li Cunxin himself in real life! I love the cast and the actors :)
I like the review written by Jim from The Age. I agree with him on almost all points :)
Confucius is born 2559 years ago, happy birthday 孔夫子!
*Western Georgian calender is 28 September; Chinese Lunar calender is 27th day of 8th lunar month, which falls on 15 October this year 2009)*
Am posting this because in Mainland China they are celebrating the teacher's day in conjunction with Confucius birthday today.
Some well known Confucian quotes:
"When you have faults, do not fear to abandon them."
知錯能改，善莫大焉。(Lit: To know your faults and be able to change is the greatest virtue.)
"What you do not wish for yourself, do not do to others"
己所不欲，勿施於人。
"With coarse rice to eat, with water to drink, and my crooked arm for a pillow - is not joy to be found therein? Riches and honors acquired through unrighteousness are to me as the floating clouds"
疏食飲水，曲肱而枕，樂在其中矣。不義而富貴，于我如浮雲。
"To understand nothing is to understand everything."
知錯大 能改，善樂在其莫焉。
I disagree with the translation for the last quote. It should mean something like "know your wrong deeds and willing to correct them, there is joy in doing so". I am not sure of the meaning of the second verse though .but the first verse is definitely about "to realize what is wrong and attempt to correct it". We learn this in the shortened form: 知過能改，善莫大焉 during primary school. I don't think I am mistaken about this, but... who knows the larger meaning of it is "to understand nothing is to understand everything"?
Argh, unacceptable. That English translation is deviated too far away from its true meaning!
When I googled and apparently lots of Chinese site take this translation and circulate it as the correct translation for the proverb. Oh please Wikipedia, that is wrong!
Saya akan timbang diri sendiri sama ada pada hari Rabu atau Jummat ini, kemudian buat pelan detox dan jadual masa gym serta renang. Sekian.
I have lots of pimples now and my stomach is bloating almost all the time. Urgently need to detox myself not only from the oil and charcoal food but also from lack of sleep. Will start to adjust my lifestyle back to normal. An email from my student that titled (translated from Mandarin): "Irregular sleeps equals to commit suicide---for people who don't sleep at night", somewhat rings an alarm to me and I suppose I should live a healthier lifestyle.
I will force myself to go to campus everyday and do my work in the office as much as I can. And this, will require me to wake up early and my room will be the place for leisure and rest only. Making the bedroom as my workplace is probably the factor that contributes to my on-and-off insomnia. But to tell the truth, I love to do work in my room. Hmph.
Need to build up my stamina at the gym, I lost to a nanny in swimming on the last Thursday and I am ashamed of myself^^
Lately it's cold again and I don't sweat much. No detox activity at all. No good^^
Raya Open House of Desa Bundoora at Reservoir Civic Centre
Lots of things on my mind that I wish to say here but my brain is too tired to function. I think the most important thing is gratitute and appreciation during Raya. We hope people are REALLY forgiving each other and appreciate the bonds we bind either from Malaysia and also in Melbourne. You girls are the precious Elixirs that I found in the PhD journey and I thank GOD for that.
Fresh orange juice and fresh vege with strawberries salad. I love organic food but I have to travel to fresh markets to buy them at cheaper price^^
Don't skip breakfast. Even if you wake up late. No matter what, even if you're going to be late for something, grab something to eat, don't skip!
Don't take bath right after you eat a meal. So the best way is to bath first, before taking any meal. Taking a bath right after you eat is the cause of your tummy/small belly! Or, rest at least 1 hour after taking a meal before taking a bath.
Take the stairs instead of lift. Walk more can tone your legs. Though there are myths saying do more legs exercise would make your legs more muscular, but hey, that is really not the case. Look at the models on the runway and imagine how many miles or kilometers they walk in 1 day (including training and all). Yet they also work out in the gym (on the treadmills some more!). So the muscular thingy is just another reason to be lazy.
Think positively. Be happy!
Don't go to sleep straight away right after having a meal.
So far these are the things that I can think of, they are additional notes to my detox plan. These are some very simple things to do but apparently nobody is willing to do it. Sigh.
Avocado blended with soy milk and topping with blueberries
It sounds simple and what you need to do within these 3 days are: Detox for 2 days, eat fruits only for 1 day (on the first day), and 1 hour workout at gym for 2 days-----my total weight loss is 3 Kg. Cool!
Alternate Plan A
My detox plan used to be very simple: drink 2 litres of water in the morning for 1 week. And then you eat normal lunch, tea break and dinner or even supper for the rest of the day. I did this during primary school and secondary school when I felt there is too many toxin in my body LOL. Sounds good? Not everyone can drink 2 litres of plain water in the morning.
My first try (primary 5 I think) I could only drink 800 ml. But I manage to swallow down 1.5 litre the next morning and on the third morning I can drink 2 litres without feeling want to puke.
I repeated my water detox plan later in university not because I were gaining weight but because I ate nasi lemak nasi goreng and all the unhealthy devilish yummy Malaysian food everyday but still remain slim. I thought there must be something wrong with me (ada ulat dalam perut?) so decided to wash myself clean by drinking lotsa water.
And I can tell you that for my 3 years of Bachelor study, almost everyday I peed oily urine and also oily faeces. What to do, we were not allowed to cook on campus (no kitchen at all by the way) and I stayed on-campus for 3 full years, so I ate out EVERY SINGLE DAY and the food are damn oily.
Kiwis and fresh blueberries
Alternate Plan B (which I was adopting now)
But here in Oz the food are fatty in terms of margarine fat and yeast fat and I don't really fancy salad without salad dressing. Hence on Day 1 I try to use fruit detox: Avocado soy drink with blueberries and 2 kiwis for brunch on the first day of detox. That's all.
When feeling hungry just drink lots of water. When you go to pee you will see oily substance in your urine! That means the detox plan is success! I also did an one hour workout at the gym in the evening: burn 100 calories on treadmill, another 100 on the peddler, and another 100 on cycling. I did some weighing too on my legs and arms. And of course don't forget a must do routine: pilates. Go to sleep early if you are very hungry.
On Day 2, if you cannot stand drinking plain water only in the morning you can choose to make yourself some tea. Some people prefer green tea but for me OoLong tea is the best. For the differences and benefits read this, and this.
I love Oolong tea since I'm young, before I read about these articles, mohoho. I ate 2 kiwis for lunch. But in the evening I felt very hungry so I decided to eat very little rice with lots of carrots, 100g of baked beans and very little tuna. And then rest for at least half an hour before you drink water or tea (if you drink right after eating it won't help digestion).
On Day 3, repeat Day 1's routine: water or tea in the morning, avocado drink for brunch, workout at the gym for one hour. It was at the gym that I weighed myself and found out I lost 3 Kg. So I happily went back and make myself Day 2's dinner with more rice, more carrots, more tuna, and more baked beans LOL. Topping with cheese some more^^
And with this detox + exercise plan I manage to fit into super skinny jeans in the shortest timeframe possible, yay! Which means I lose 1 to 2 size perhaps?
I've just finished watching the finalist of BMW Short Film Competition. I Love to watch the finalists and so far I've watched ASTRO Kirana Short Film Award and London's Bob Award's participating films, all in 2009. I guess I am only able to be so active watching short film now because Malaysian internet connection sucks. Period.
Anyway, I enjoy watching short films by the finalists and I vote for them :)
In BMW Shorties there are 9 finalists, and I will comment according to the order presented in the website here.
The director use the first person's view to film the whole story. At first I was not fascinated by this technique due to the shortcoming of using such way to film the story. But as the story proceeds, it starts to get interesting and I have to say I love it.
I vote for this :)
At first the loud and noisy opening of Ma Chai irritated me, but as it proceeds it is so funny and interesting to watch, that it became one of my top favourites :)
I can't stop laughing watching it and it's sooo Malaysian^^ (with heavy Indian style of course).
Seriously, I am very sure and certain that Afiq Deen's short films are better than this one (sorry Chow!).
Make sure you manage to enter the next BMW Shorties Afiq :)
I kinda expected what is the end of the story when Tok Imam talked to the troubled guy. And little bit of Final Destination feeling. Hmmm, makes me wonder about some values and thinking related to Islam but I'm not going to talk about them here.
This director has a funny nickname "Katak Chua". Though the story is soooo ordinary that it would touch everyone's heart, somehow there is something missing. What is missing I don't know, you have to watch it yourself.
But I have to say out of the 9 films, this one gives the strongest impression on BMW car XD
I have to say the plot surprised me a little bit. I thought this would be like Yasmin Ahmad's "Chocolate" where the parent's face would not be shown throughout the film, only at the end the audience realied why it is the case. The actors speak Hakka, reminds me of my next door neighbour in my hometown :)
The second strongest impression on BMW----> the car key XD
I am very much annoyed by this film. May be I just dislike loud speeches, that's all. Er, may be it is also because I don't like Cantonese, remind some of the lousy Hong Kong TV shows. In my opinion, though dogs pay attention to their breeders but it does not mean they would focus on their owner's face for THAT long. If you ever tried to talk to a dog (of yours), you would know what I mean :p
By the title of the film I thought there would be a conversation between the two (either people to people or people to animal, it does not matter), but from what I see it is only one-sided story-telling. Misleading betulpunya title lah Mr. Bernard Loh.
I am surprised that a short animation is included. I have no faith in Malaysian 3D or CG animation making but I would say this one is not bad. The Boutique's owner reminds me of the old man in Pixar's "Up".
A very french-themed animation. Guess the production unit loves French culture very much. I would suggest the title be changed to "Les Mannequins". There are 2 mannequins there people. LOL.
*Mannequin is pronounced as mah-ni-kan (short n) in French*
Finally, a short film about suicide message. I have many dissatisfaction regarding this film. Minus the personal fact that I dislike the narrator's low-tone voice, I would like to question that would you read a boring creepy suicide notes falls out of no where until the end of the letter and just threw it on the street (no civil responsibility as well)? And many more regarding the points made in the suicide note and the method of suicide but I need to rest LOL.
Just checked the news about the winners from NST. And I become a fan of Parakash's Flashes on Facebook.
Hmmmm, seems like my predictions are not much differ from the outcomes but I am very surprised about the Conversation with the Mad Man :(
Because I sit down for 12 hours per day everyday, now my butt is obviously gaining lots of fats on it, plus a potato chip diet non-stop for weeks, I hereby officially declare that I need to resume my exercise routines!
I especially like the shoulder bridge routines, which is also part of my favourite pilates moves.
Don't forget to stretch before your gym routines especially if you are doing some intense running on the threadmill.
I love pilates and the routines are easy to perform. They are effective in toning your abs, muscles, and keep fit.
Below is the pilates routine performed by a Ford Model Lorie Baker which I practiced since half year ago (but stopped after indulging in my reading and writing T_T):
After you can do the pilates routines on a regular basis and is comfortable with it, try to increase the difficulty level of pilates moves. This is the 'high level' pilates which I found difficult to do but really effective:
I cannot make my legs straight and thus I cannot perform the routines which require a total straight strectched leg but I do them anyway with a little bent on my knees. To correct this I actually need to practice yoga but I fail miserably with even the simplest yoga moves. Period.
And of course, if the butt is getting bigger, it also means the belly is popping out too! I have been losing my flat stomach every now and then since I hit 25 years old. I guess women start aging at that age is not a myth T_T
These are some 'easy' steps to flat abs and I particluarly love the step number 4 and 5. Practice that way if you are in your room. Taking a weight ball (I use 1 kg) if you are at a gym, make sure your feet don't touch the ground and switching side for a set of 8-15 reps. After you get used to this exercise, try to do it slower, like from left to right or right to left using 12 to 13 seconds. Make sure your muscles are shaking and your feet are not touching the ground during that 12 seconds. I love it, huhu.
And also, for office ladies and students, these are great flat-belly exercises on the chair because we sit on the chair all the time (so there is no reason to say "no time for gym"!). And trust me, they are not easy as how they look, so it's definitely a must do when you decide to move your eyes away from the screen or books :)
These won't help you Lose 2 Inches in 2 Weeks unless you couple it with food diet. But these are great exercises (I am very bad at sit-ups or push-ups type of routines >_<) to keep yourself in check. And if you own a dumbbell or two, there is no reason not to do these. They are so damn easy so just do it if you want to fit in your smaller dress size.
To summarise what I do in order to slim down:
Don't skip breakfast. I eat 2 half-boiled eggs.
Do pilates 3 times per week.
If you don't want to forget or procrastinate, do them everyday!
Eat little for dinner.
Detox---no meats, only fruits and vegetables and tuna or salmon to fulfil your craving for meat.
What's the fuss for me to write this post?
drum rolls..................
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I cannot fit in my skinny jeans!!! Argghhhhhhhhhhh!!!
We will travel for approx. 219 km in total from Melbourne City to Queenscliff on the Bellarine Peninsula, and then travel across the Port Phillip Bay on Queenscliff-Sorrento Searoad ferry to Sorrento and go back to Melbourne via Mornington Peninsula.
We will explore the historical twin towns which are developed to protect Melbourne City during WWI and WWII. The highlight of the trip for me is the searoad ferry because if we are lucky we may be able to spot dolphins, seals, and even whales^^ I don't know if this is the right season for whale to swim by here LOL.
(丌▽丌)
