Royal Melbourne Show + Tesselar Tulip Festival

GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!! I have been abandoning my blog for months!!!!!!!! I can walk in the hall of shame right about now!!!

Okokok, I admit that I am getting a bit of slack for couple of months ....
Getting a bit down and thinking whether I should be blogging anymore or not..
This thought came into my mind after not seeing my blog improving much :(( (I know it is because of the lack of effort I put in writing my blog entries) but after a while of not logging in and update my blog..I still amazingly have visitors!!!!!!! Woooohooooo!!!! That's how I got my motivation to update it right NOW!!!!

Ok, it has been a lot of stuffs going on lately...So many competitions going on in Nuffnang that I have not had time to join and missed out the big event of blog awards at Singapore!!! I shall say Uniquely Singapore~~~

Anyway, having exam soon, working everyday, just got a Christmas casual job for 2 months...I am gonna be freaking busy in couple of weeks time!!!!!!!

Ok, stop all the yapping!!

Recently, I have again experience two events in Melbourne..
1. The annual Royal Melbourne Show.
2. Tesselar Tulip Festival that only opens to public every year during spring season.

Start with the first one...
I guess about one month ago, I decided to visit Royal Melbourne Show...Wondering what is it about, what is it to be seen there and just flowing with the fun..BUT!!!!! Unfortunately, not the best time to go...or I was simply not lucky enough :(( because it was rainy, windy, freaking cold, cloudy, all the bad weathers you name them!!!

Starting with sun on top of my head..



On my way to Southern Cross station to catch a special service to Showground where the show is located!!! Got a jacket in my back to prepare for the shocking Melbourne weather...but who knows what could have happened to me :((

Got our ticket to go in...



Student concession $14.00 not cheap huh??? otherwise it would have been $18!!!! Be a student forever!!!! :)))

I did not expect the weather would have gone out to be like this......



First impression, it is a Theme Park...Lots of rides, food booths, souvenir booths, some outlets like clothing, croc shoes, etc.. Nothing very special ...but the atmosphere was there regardless of the weather that yet to get worse...

Afterwards, I insisted by boyfriend that I wanted to ride this...



While queuing for the ride, it rained!!!! Heavily!!! We had to try to squeeze ourselves under people's umbrellas whom they kindly shared with us ( which I forgot to say thank you)!!! :(( We have bought the ticket. So couldn't seem to let go the $8 to cancel the ride =D

I love cable cars..love rain, just a very perfect combination..Loves...



Trying to be melancholy.... hahahaha!!!!



From the highest point (Couldn't remember how high it is)



After coming down from the ride, all soaked and wet by the rain, the rain finally slowed down to only some drizzles...So, we ran to the public toilets and try to dry ourselves with the "hand-dryer" machine!!!!!! Couldn't be bothered to be seen by people as some weirdos anymore...

When we were walking our ways to food courts where it is fulled of crowds seeking some warmth place, starving people, smoke puffing from food stalls and people were actually sitting on the carpets because it was too crowded that there was no seats left!!!!

We tried out a gourmet sausage that is bloodily spicy but had a great taste indeed!!!

Saw this cute painted cow...



We saw so many people were walking around with free raincoats printed "Royal Melbourne Show" at the back and wondering where these people got it from???

After minutes of trying to find a RAINCOAT, we finally located an information booth where there were "NON FREE" raincoats that you have to pay $2 ea!!! We bought it anyway...once in a YEAR!!! Wouldn't hurt...



Didn't realize it was already evening!!! The reason why we stayed that late was because we wanted to see fireworks but because of the stupid weather, the firework show was canceled...
However, seeing the light up decoration around the rides was mesmerizing...I always love theme park..I remember I go theme park a lot when I was young...Always has been a fun place to go to release stress!!! :))



See what I meant??? :))

I received a bounce back vouchers (FREE) to go back to RMS before the show ended in one week time..

So we went back...Why??? I went back because I have not seen the farm exhibition and dog competitions and many more!!! It was a BIG showground and it is hard to visit everything in one day!!! Mission impossible!!!

So, we went back after I finished my work and made a special visit to the farm exhibition..You know what?? I have never touched a farm animal before!!! Never ever...I grew up in a city and obviously never seen a real farm before, what more to play with the animals?? I was always wondering how is the feeling to touch a sheep??? They obviously look really adorable...
My boyfriend would say, "Oh, you would not want to touch once you see, they are dirty" Well, that seems to be true for the wild sheep in a farm..but not in the show.

They allow the farm animals to wonder around humans (Of course they have cages and all that) but kids were allowed to go in and play with them!!! They were even given antiseptic liquid each time people leave the yard (Thumbs up)!!!

Saw this cure little duck and they sold for $5 ea..



I touched a real life goat for the first time of my entire 21 years of life!!!!



They look absolutely human-friendly and calm...and look how friendly they are with the chicken!!!!



This particular sheep is not as dirty as I thought... :)))

See how the kids were allowed to play with the animals safely...



Other interesting animals I saw would be this gigantic rabbit!!! This poor guy did not have enough space in his or her cage ..Why don't they make it bigger????



and then, we saw a cavy competition!!! A cavy equals to guinea pig....I have always wanted to have one but I can't even take care of myself what more to take care of this guy who needs extra care to make sure it is neat and clean all the time???

and the winner is....

Look at the hair!!!! So cute!!!! Moreover, it is so still that it hardly moves!!! (Bad sign for obesity though) :))

A closer look...



We say this animal called alpaca that looks like sharing some features with close relative, sheep.. but with a long neck...These guys were also joining competitions with little scientist kids each assigned to take care of them.. This animal is unique in Australia and I definitely never seen them before..in real life...



Didn't they look like they were smiling to the cam?????

Not only human feels cold...even when you have such a thick wool covering your naked skin..



There was a dog competition that I didn't take the picture of because it was raining..but the competition examined the dog's ability to follow instruction from their master to complete a task ..the dog joined the competition in pairs and absolutely smart..The competition measured the time taken by the dogs to finish the task and whichever pair finished in the shortest time won the competition. The size of the dog started from the most petite type to the most Hercules type...Definitely cute and cool!!!! I would want one when I have a family one day!!! :))

Update on Tesselar Tulip Festival is on its way..Gotta go now for dinner :))

Please feel free to leave a comment...bad and good ones will help me improve my blog..and excuse my grammatical error... :))

FIN~

Pub Bistro at Crown, Southbank

OMGGGGGGGGGGGG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I haven't been blogging like.........FOREVER!!!! When was the last time I blogged?? Barely can remember!!! Before starting new sem?? Now, it has been like almost 2 months since my new semester started!!! GOSH....Time passes too fast..Though I am more than desperate to get rid of this semester as soon as possible.. It seems like I am experiencing burn out!!!

Has been working like mad people, not to include my hectic uni schedule!!!
I have had final project to complete by end of this year and piles of assignments!!!! I have been soooooooooooooooooooo lazy ...Though I only have 'literally' 2 days classes, but I go to uni like..5 days a week!!!!! On last week Friday, I went to uni from 10 in the morning til 6 in the evening!!!

What the hell???? It feels like this semester is y busiest semester ever.ever.ever!!!! FIUHHHH
Enough of the complaints...

Though I have hectic schedules ahead of me, I still try to spare my time every week to go somewhere with my babe... :))

Just last Saturday, I went to see Dali's exhibition and it was fantastic..but guess we went at the wrong day of the week...Since it is a worldwide-ly known artist, people would have gone there when they are FREE a.ka not working day, which is WEEKENDS!!!

As dumb as we were, we went on Saturday and as a result, flocks of people queuing to buy the ticket, queued to store their cloaks and umbrellas (not allowed in the gallery), and what more???
QUEUED TO VIEW A PIECE OF ART!!!

Since my boyfriend and I have never entered a gallery before, as a first timer, we went in and perplexed by the queued of people INSIDE the actual exhibition..(not to queue for ticket). So, we were thinking, what are these people queuing for????

We found out that you don't need to queue..but because some pieces of arts are way too small, so if you feel the urge to see it, since you have paid 20 or 30 dollar, by all means do it!!!

Both of us tried to walk around and looked at the other arts before we go back and had a look after people have gone somewhere else..

The first couple of pieces, were Dali's first works where he still started his career and tried finding his own originality...but after that, we started to see a pattern in his drawing until the latest piece themed liquid desire. Unlike many abstract drawings, Dali's works are easy to understand and interpret.. You don't need to be a genius to understand his arts..They were pretty much straightforward..

I am not an art appreciator type of person..If I can understand, I will appreciate and enjoy..otherwise....BAH.....At first, I doubted whether I wanted to give it a try, but I was too tempted since EVERYONE I know has gone there..I thought I might have to see it myself otherwise, I might not be able to join into "Dali's conversation" with my friends...but I don't regret it at all..It was fun, calming, unique experience..Dali is not only famous in his paintings, but also he designed jewellery, created film, and involved in Disney work...You can even find it in YouTube..



At the background is one of my favorite pieces. We were not allowed to use camera inside the gallery but totally understandable...The souvenirs are too expensive..I wanted to buy one of the pendants that was carved a piece of Dali's art, very nice and simple but $160!!! :((

Dali's exhibition is still on in National Gallery of Victoria until early October (If I am not mistaken , 4th of October??) Anyway, just check on NGV website at www.ngv.com.au

Next story,

What did I do yesterday Friday night????
Went to Crown for dinner!!!! What did I have?? STEAK!!!! yay!!!
Haven't had steak since I came to Australia I think..............(Can't remember)
Anyway, we were searching for lots of restaurant and I was so tempted to eat the cake in one of the cakehouse..(can't remember the name, actually....didn't pay attention to the name). Sadly, dinner is more important than dessert...and I was STARVING...

After not managing to find a buffet restaurant, we went for steak..thought of waterfront restaurant, but a little bit too pricey and unsure about the price..

So, we stopped by at the Pub Bistro....It was quite a cozy restaurant, good interior, not too formal not too casual..and I think we were desperate to settle down and feed our rebellion stomach..

So, after a period of confusion in what to order, I decided on Rib Eye Steak with red wine and rosemary sauce, while my boyfriend chose veal schnitzel...




Rib Eye Steak with Redwine and Rosemary



Veal Schnitzel..

I would say the Rib Eye Steak was moderate..not really satisfying but not that bad either..However, I was quite disappointed with the veal Schnitzel because it didn't even reach an acceptable level... :(( The meat itself is not smooth and maybe the choice of sauce is not compatible with the meat..Well, I am not a food expert but why don't go try it out and tell me what you think instead??

The whole dining experience with drinks cost us about $50 ...So, not bad huh???

Maybe next time I will go to waterfront.. :)) We wanted to stop by the cake house..but..as you can see in the picture...there is quite much to fill your stomach..So, maybe next time??

After that, we just hung around Southbank, enjoying the breeze of river wind combined with 'still-winter' weather and walking besides someone you care the most is all that matters :))



Loving Crown :))

~FIN~

Melbourne International Film Festival

Just 2 days ago, my boyfriend bought a ticket for me to watch a Korean movie together with his colleague and his boss (all Koreans) at Greater Union Cinema at 131 Russell St. Well, having a Korean boyfriend, I somehow develop a liking towards Korean movie, drama or anything related to Korean culture. I am interested (maybe because my boyfriend is a Korean) but I realised I have liked Korean drama/movie ever since I was in high school (haven't even met my boyfriend yet). Anyways, there has been a big event coming up in Melbourne (such a MAJOR one). I didn't even know it is such a BIG issue here..


It is the Melbourne International Film Festival!!!!!!!!!!!!

You can watch basically any movie from anywhere around the world!!!! How BIG is that????

Ranging from American, European, African, South-east Asian, Oceania etc!!! (Are there more??) Thought there are only 5 continents.... ??

Anyway, I went to watch a movie titled Mother 마더 . The casts are: Kim Hye Ja as the main character in the movie, which is the Mother ..



Her character is very strong and standout in the movie. Like any other mothers in the world. She is just an ordinary mother who tries to protect her son with all means and within her power limit from anyone who tries to harm his son..

The 'son' character is nonetheless played by WonBin..Well well, who doesn't know this charming actor Won Bin??? My first time to watch his drama was in 'Endless Love' years ago..Couln't even remember anymore..



The character name is Do-Joon. Do-Joon looks like what you think an ordinary son would portray. He loves his mother and will always stay by her side. However, Do-Joon doesn't seem to be quite normal despite his behavior that seems 'normal'. He somehow was born with sort of memory problem and so, sometimes he couldn't remember lots of things. It could bring troubles sometimes....

Do-Joon has a 'close friend' or the only friend that cares about him though he doesn't exactly fit a description of what a friend would do for another friend...His name is Jin-Tae, which is played by Jin Goo



The poster



The story goes like this:

Hye Ja and Do Joon live in a very small town where everyone knows each other very well and crime rate is very low, especially homicide. Hye Ja has worked very hard in order to feed his son, Do-Joon who has memory problem and has lived with it for life. She opened some traditional medicine shop that doesn't really earn much profit and her son doesn't work. She even has to operate an illegal acupuncture service for her close friends/ customers in order to earn more money and that is something she enjoys doing anyway..

Do-Joon close friend, Jin Tae is the only friend that he always hangs around with despite Jin-Tae is a trouble-maker. Do-Joon often gets into trouble because of Jin-Tae. However, Jin-Tae always spares good attention to Do-Joon and helps him and his mother (despite of being materialism).

The town was shocked by sudden discovery or rather, EXPOSURE of a dead body of a school girl on top of a abandoned building and the whole town started getting nervous. Who killed the girl??

They found a golf ball belonged to Do-Joon (he collected golf balls and even wrote his name on it)
and started accusing him of the wrong-doing. On top of the misfortune, he couldn't remember whether he did it or not. To worsen the situation, he even admitted to the polic and signed the statement of wrong-doing despite he didn't remember anything.

Naturally, his mom was in great shock and tried to find a lawyer to bail him out. However, with the advice from jin-Tae, her mom should find the killer by herself because he told her that she shouldn't trust anyone in the town despite herself and no-one could help her or trust her. With this, she started her own investigation by interogating students in the victim's school.

Would she be able to find the killer???

I would not give out the full synopsis of this movie as I don't want to be a spoiler. I have to encourage people to watch this movie. The twist is very surprisingly surprising!!! I didn't expect that 'he/she' is the killer...Now, don't guess because I can assure you that your guess is wrong!!!

This movie has a very unique taste of humour on top of the seriousness. The morale of this movie attaches to me even after 2 days of watching it. It is a movie that reflects reality, that it can happen to any mother in the world and that it teaches us to appreciate our parents more. They don't necessarily tell you or explain anything based on what they do but believe me. It is for your own good and you might not even notice what your parents have done for you or what they sacrifice in order to give you the best they could....


This is a MUST watch movie for a single parent as well...This movie has received great deal of enthusiasm from everyone who gathered that day to watch and by watching, you are also supporting the festival so that it will be on-going to serve the purpose of getting more Southeast Asian movie to be recognized around the globe!!


There were heaps of local Aussie and Europeans who watched the movie and I was truly surprised by the enthusiasm. It was great and as an Asian. I felt proud!! This movie directed by famous Bong Joon Ho is also participated in the competition for the film award later on in November which is going to be held in Gold Coast. So, go grab your ticket today!!!! If I am not mistaken, there is another screening next week.. Check out more at

http://www.melbournefilmfestival.com.au/content/1/index.html


Enjoy your movie and keep supporting the MIFF!!!

P.S: Credits for all picture attached goes to Google images.

FIN

Sovereign Hill

I had been waiting so looong~~ waiting so long~~ like the new song of Jessica Mauboy, been waiting. What I ve been waiting???

Last week, my boyfriend and I planned for a day trip over the weekend and because I have to work on Sunday and he is still working til Friday, so we decided only day trip so that I can work the next day..Where???? He he he he *evil laugh*

We were browsing the other day, and I had been wanting to visit a place since I first came to Australia. Not quite an amazingly amazing place, not extraordinarily special either..however, I still want to go there....





BALLARAT!!!!!! Maybe because I applied for UB (University of Ballarat) before, so probably I was curious to know how it looks like to live there...and since it plays a very important part in constructing Australia history.

'Gold Rush' was found in Ballarat mining point and to make it short. After "Black Thursday", a sudden gold rush was found concentrated on some regions in Victoria and Ballarat was one of it.

What else is famous in Ballarat??? Sovereign Hill of course!!!!

Sovereign Hill is a small re-made town where first generation of Europeans used to live and gold-digging area. The gold found was also processed in a factory in Sovereign Hill (but now it only operates for purpose of tourism interest). Everything in Sovereign Hill is like back in time..Hundred of years ago and looked like frozen in time...

Anyway, so I went to buy two return tickets to Ballarat first and I was informed there will be free bus to Sovereign Hill..Two adult tickets without concession $41.60



Next day, I woke my boyfriend up at 07:00 a.m !!! LOL I was so excited with the trip that I couldn't really sleep myself. It has been long since the time I woke up early with the purpose of NOT going to work or study but to enjoy myself with a trip!!!!

I also planned to go early because I wanted to explore Ballarat. Since I will visit only once (I suppose???) So, we should definitely hang around a bit.. :))

We were almost late to catch the 08:08 a.m V/Line train...2 minutes left from elevator and run to the train....because of waiting for coffee... :))

Though I was so sleepy but I wanted to enjoy my journey in the train... So I force myself to be alert, kept talking to my boyfriend...Looking at the goats, horses, and sheeps in many farms ... =.= I am happy to see a wild life view though ..rather than always being trapped in busy Melbourne CBD..

Me in the train...


You can see that I am deadly sleepy..and don't be fooled by my big eyes...

The weather was nice...so I was meant to make the trip today... :))))

Other than that, Australia is pretty much flat..everywhere is farms..and sometimes you will see small hills... Much like my hometown..but my hometown still has tall trees...LOL



After one and a half hour train journey, finally we reached!!! Ballarat town is quite big compared to other small towns that we passed by during train journey, such as Melton, etc...

The train station located in the heart of Ballarat CBD and we can take free shuttle bus with our ticket to Sovereign Hill and back to train station...




My first impression with Ballarat city is that....the atmosphere is very oldies..The buildings are mostly hundred years old and preserved really well..Not that it is old and ruined..instead, it is old but refreshing. Standing in the city, my mind went back to the time where Australia was just 'discovered'. It was an amazing feeling :))

The post booth is very cute indeed...




We went straight to Sovereign Hill first...Hailed the bus, got on, let's go BABEH!!!!!




We almost missed the stop to Sovereign Hill because the end route of the bus doesn't just stop in Sovereign Hill...STOP PLEASE.....The bus driver is very kind though, he let us know..besides..

We saw this GIGANTIC sign ....



There is ice sculpture exhibition at the same time..but believe me...it is NOT very much mesmerizing... (I mean the exhibition)...

Entrance fee is $31.60 with student card per person..quite costly huh!?? The ticket was accompanied by a piece of Sovereign Hill-guide-yourself-map....



Upon entering, there are so many old shops..and I realized it was the re-made town. Very small indeed...but quite impressive...everything is old fashion style..

First shop I visited was this iron shop which also sold old shoes for $2 ??? Maybe hundred years ago??









Another shop impressed me is this 'convenient' shop, where it sells candies, lollies, poppy seeds, dolls, and kitchen utensils!!!




The dolls are really cute, but frankly said, I don't like this kind of dolls, maybe watch horror movie too much but since I was young, I don't like it already.. LOL




Nonetheless, it still looks delicate :)))

Where am I going??



Upon visiting a kiosk to rest and eat, we found the place where the ice sculpture held place. It was quite....................Small.....Not quite met my expectation...Inside???



Beware!!!! It is -10 degree..



Yes, it is only that short....Hmmmmmm~~~

We went out and warm ourselves up with a "manual heater" in the kiosk and had some food ...The food is CRAZILY EXPENSIVE!!! 1 potato cake is $1.10??? 1 Dim Sum is $1.10??? Only 1 small piece!!!!!!




The old bank of Australia..Never knew Australia was known as Australasia...???

The Colonial Bank of Australasia....




The bar......




Clothing shop??? There is one..that sells old British-Victorian style...Titanic style...LOL



This lady is the shopkeeper for a candle shop...well, not only candle..they sell anything made of cooper...very much traditional type..I like the way they made the candle stand completed with a match that can be easily slid in and changed...




The candle stand..

Gingerbread!!!!

It even provides a recipe on how to make one.. :))

Afterwards, I headed to the gold panning where people like me can try to dig some gold (if you are lucky), since there is no more gold left to dig I suppose...???

People gathered with shovel provided and started digging...with the hope to find gold nuggets??? LOL



Many years ago, the gold found used to be brought to the boiling room where the gold is melted and processed into a bar..



This is the boiling room...Well of course it is not really operated anymore I guess..They are still well maintained though....

and you know what surprised me???

People discovered bowling looooooooooong ago..wanna know how they play????




The bowling lane is very loooooooooooong and made up of wood....and surprisingly, the land used for the ball is kind of shallow U-shaped so that the ball doesn't fall to the aisle!!! How smart????

Afterwards, went to visit the museum of first white settlers in Australia, the location of gold mines all across Australia, etc...The atmosphere in the museum is perfected with several wax mannequines including part of the ships/boats where first generation of Europeans rode to reach Australia...

Resembling life in boats on journey....


Don't know who he is.....??????

Walking downwards, you could see Chinese camps..where all the first generation of Chinese migrants stayed...very few and a projector was used inside the camp to show visitors how Chinese used to live in the camps and their difficulties in this foreign country...




Traditional Chinese medicine shop...(pharmacy)




and how they cook or I should say where.....




End of the tour inside Sovereign Hill...There are lots other things you can do in Sovereign Hill..If you are thinking to stay overnight, you can usually stay (book first) in their lodges..Stay overnight to watch Eureka hotel fire and light show bringing you back to the ancient time of "Southern Cross history". I would like to stay overnight but I had to work...*sob sob*

Upon getting out, you can use the same entrance ticket to Sovereign Hill to enter the Gold Museum, which is just located accross the entrance of Sovereign Hill though you have to walk a bit..There are lots of gold exhibition, such as gold nuggets, coloring stones, souvenir stand that sells real 24 carat gold souvenirs...

Can you imagine this thing worth half a million??? Believe me, it is.....

Smaller nuggets but still worth a lot!!!!!!!!!!!!

Are you willing to go to jail to get your hands on these????? LOL


We hang around briefly inside the museum and bought a souvenir from the gold shop..hihihi..


I didn't want to go home too early because it is not that I can come to Ballarat anytime I want..Since the train ticket itself is quite pricey...Therefore, we decided to head back to the train station and got ourselves a map and help ourselves around the city!!!

We visited an art gallery of Ballarat city with loads of famous painting and really huge!!! Any types of paintings, abstract, natural, portraits, etc...




Ajax and Cassandra by Solomon 1886


I am not very art person ..especially when it comes to abstract paintings..I prefer this type of painting..like the one shown above where I can interpret and there is a story, myth, or whatsoever...

Later on, we went on visited some shopping centers, University of Ballarat and a lake!!!

But you know what??? Walking almost one hour to find the lake, we reached with the hope that it is worthed it..but what I saw was a half-drained lake!!!!! WHAT?????

It is supposed to be beautiful if it is full!!!! Forgot to take the picture..Maybe I was too disappointed at that moment..So we walked back and since it was almost 5 p.m. We thought it might be time to go back to Melbourne..We took the free shuttle to go back to train station and caught 5 p.m train..What a long journey after all..however, I didn't regret any single bit and enjoyed my trip very very much :)))


Ballarat is a very calm and peaceful city with very warm weather and yet cold wind...I like it a lot there but I still feel more homey in Melbourne...

Nevertheless, travelling to Ballarat is easy, direct transport access and not too much far away.

I would recommend it for those who seek weekend getaway to somewhere simple yet beautiful and most importantly...not costly :)))


End of my longest post with most pictures...lolz


FIN