I Miss Malaysian Foods

My friend, Ivy visited Sabah two weeks ago. She sent me all the lovely picture she took during her holiday. Of course, one of her main theme - Sabahan delicacies, for sure are captured as part of her collection. This really make me miss all the Malaysian foods so much. I really wish I can have a dish of laksa, kolok mee or lala ... now. I know I can find some of those Malaysian food here, however, it will be too costly for me.

BBQ Gathering

I attended a BBQ gathering hosted by a group of African. Of course, they are part of the Graduate School of Government students. But, they only need to attend a three-month short course and they are fully sponsored by the Australian Government. Indeed, they are staying in a very nice apartment located nearby the university. What did I learn from this gathering? I learn that the African men do not know how to cook. They told me that they never do any cooking before. Believe it or not, this was the first time they were trying to do BBQ dinner! The consequence was my friends and I became their chef of the BBQ gathering although the gathering was hosted by them.

See, I was behind doing the BBQ!

Night view at Darlington

Night life at Darlington is very quiet. No happening, just a quiet street with few pedestrians. Although I rarely go out during night time, I still think having few nice snapshots of night view at Darlington is a great idea.

I Miss My Family

My upbringing make me an independent lady. But, I do have sense of reliance on my family members, especially my mother. I have been away from home since March 2008 to pursue my postgraduate program in Sydney. Although I am studying, I'm also learning how to adjust my emotional feeling of being home sick. I know I look tough and optimistic, but I do miss my family and this feeling is hardly being put aside.

Broadway Shopping Complex

Broadway Shopping Complex is the primary place where I get most of my groceries. It is about 20 minutes walking distance from my house. It has three hype-market although it owned by the same company. I visit this shopping complex very often. And, it has became my habit to look for those weekly offer before deciding what food am I going to have for the following week. To put it in a nicer way, I'm now looking more on value for money -- getting all my necessity with cheaper price.

Oto-san and Oka-san

Yamashita family hosted me for few days when I was in Japan two years ago. I know their hobbies are numerous and wide ranging, from playing tennis, climbing mountain till volunteering work. Of course, travelling is always on top of their list too. They have visited Australia last year. They even travelled by train from Sydney to Perth via Adelaide, which I can't afford and dare to do it! For me, they are adventurous.

Chinese Style Pancake

I was desparately miss my mum's cooking especially plain flour cake. My housemate called it pancake. But, he told me that the taste was totally different from the pancake that he used to have. So, I've decided to call it "Chinese style pancake". I do not have the experience of making one but my desparation to have the taste of my mum's cooking forced me to try my luck. Of course, mixing the ingredients by using mimic memory from my mum's teaching was a great risk. Will the cake taste alike? Frying the cake was another risk that I need to consider. How can I make sure it is well cooked? Will it going to be round? So many questions were aroused in my mind. However, believe it or not, I have successfully get my mum's "Chinese Style Pancake" done!

Spring in University of Sydney

Spring in Sydney begin on September. However, I only manage to capture some of the blossoming flowers in the university during October. Most of the flowers, I think, I can't find them back in my hometown. Hopefully, I will be able to capture variety of flowers during spring as part of my photography collection from Sydney.

128, Darlington Terrace House

I moved to 128, Darlington Terrace House in July. It is a small terrace house with four bedrooms. It is a shared accomodation, which located in the vicinity of university. Darlington Centre (my classroom), library and the Broadway Shopping Complex are located at about 5 to 25 minutes walking distance from my house. Although I have been staying here for about 3 months, I still feel that I stayed in my room more often than other places else. I guess this is my studying life, learning how to struggle with essay writing.

Sunset at University of Sydney

I always wanted to take some photos with sunset view in the university. However, I seldom go out during evening. Yesterday, I went to my friend's house. On my way back, it was sunset. Although those photos taken almost at the same time from different angle, the colour of the sky was totally different. I know my photography technique isn't that good, but I still try to capture some of the sunset view. Perhaps next time I can capture a better one from different location in the university with different colour of the sky.

Graffiti Tunnel

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Graffiti Tunnel is located within the university. It is the shorter route to Forest Lodge, the place where my friend is staying. It looks like a "dangerous zone". Yet, it isn't. In fact, this tunnel is full of creative art. It is the sole location where painting and drawing are allowed within the university parameter. Perhaps this is one way to nurture creativity and a sense of art. Maybe, it is a good channel for those who wish to distress themselves as well as doing some advertising activities too!

Steam Eggplant Soup

Susana always wishes to have steam eggplant as one of our dinner dishes. So, she was trying her best to get steam eggplant done last night. However, the result wasn't as good as we can imagine. Instead of steam eggplant, it turned to be steam eggplant soup. She created a new recipe, which totally different from her father's recipe. The taste of the soup, I should say, not bad. Honestly, this was the first time I tasted steam eggplant soup.

Susana with her steam eggplant soup

Australian Style Breakfast

I never know how the taste of museli. I saw my housemate having museli as breakfast. For her, it was so delicious. So, I decided to have museli as my breakfast when I'm still in Sydney. I bought a package of museli week ago -- of course, the Coles brand (It's the cheapest museli) and yoghurt (with special price last night). I was excited to have my breakfast this morning -- the Australian style breakfast. However, after a few munch of museli + yoghurt, I began to dislike the taste. It tastes like chewing a cold and weird stuff in your mouth plus in the cold morning weather. I decided I won't have museli anymore if I am able to finish with this package. I felt regret to try out Australian style breakfast. However, if I never try, I never know I'm so much a real Asian -- a person that hardly change the food dietary habit even I have been in Sydney for more than six months.

Sunrise at Darlington

Before sunrise
During sunrise












I often woke up early. However, I spend most of my time in my room either crafting assignments or doing preparation for classes. One morning, I felt so sick staying at my room and I decided to take a break nearby the area I am staying. The early sun began to smile at me, penetrating the sky, suddenly brightening the day. I never expect that the sunrise in Darlington can turn to be a wonderful view.

Yoga at Gap Park

Xiaohua with her Yoga pose

I explored Watson Bay during one weekend with my two chinese friends. It was a sunny day. We went to Gap Park in the afternoon. Gap Park is located at Watson Bay. It has a great scenery. Xiaohua was excited and decided to show enda some yoga pose.


Gap Park


Xiaohua: Don't stop me! I want to jump down!
Enda: Let me help you!

"Gap Park is one of the famous commit suicide spot." Xiaohua told me. How truth is that statement, I don't know. But, Xiaohua showed her "intention" to commit suicide and I think Enda was lending a great helping hand (Enda, are you sure you were pulling Xiaohua? hehe).

Baking a cake

Banana Cake in bad shape ...

I am not the type of person that willing to bake a cake when I was at home. However, I started to enjoy baking cake when I am here. Banana cake is the third cake that I have baked since September. It doesn't look as great at all as compared to the other cake that I have made before. I guess I didn't follow the measurement of ingredients -- I accidently pour more than 250gram of water, which I think spoiled the texture of the cake. Although the cake was in a bad shape, it is still very tasty (I can assure you because I used the instant cake recipe, hehehe ...).