Leaving Melbourne... Hello sunshine!

We had to wake up around 5ish to catch the 7.30 am flight last week, to the Hamilton Island, Queensland. Hamilton Island is part of the Whitsunday Islands, part of the Great Barrier Reef...

It was a very rushed morning for us, because Jon had set the alarm, but forgot to turn it on... so we ended up waking up late!! AND to make things worse, I had no time to blow dry my hair.... AND forgot to bring my hairbrush~!! 

What a morning indeed! I don't wanna have to relive my family's drama of literally "chasing the flight" last year. Hehehe. 

Jonny boy onboard the airbus. 

What an eventful morning indeed! But we made it onto the plane anyways :D with some time to spare after checking in~! I managed to snag a muffin from Gloria Jeans before boarding, cause I know I won't be getting brekkie on the plane...

Mei, excited to reach the destination... "Are we there yet?" 

The flight was rather long... Took 3 hours! With no in-flight entertainment... because we flew direct to Hamilton Island via Jetstar. Thank God for my Ipod and crappy magazines they provided in the plane to get me through... The good thing was, we had 3 seats between the 2 of us, so I could stretch out a little, and caught a short cat nap before arriving in Queensland. 

We arrived wayyy early before the check-in time, and gained an hour as well, because of daylight saving time :) So, we decided to drop our luggage... stored away our stuff... and headed down to the beach to soak up some sun!

Jon and Mei @ Catseye Beach, Hamilton Island...

The weather was great! Warm and sunny, with clear blue skies.... and the sea breeze :) We got tanned by just sitting under the shade, and resting for a short while... It's no wonder everyone here is golden bronzed!!

The beautiful Catseye Beach

And there were heaps of people swimming, and paddling... There were also a few windsurfers, trying to catch some wind...

We got hungry after awhile, so we decided to go get something to eat and drink. What could be better than freshly cooked fish and chips?!! YUMmmoooo!!! Then we proceeded to have a cocktail and ice-cream by the pool...

Ahhh... how relaxing indeed. Thisss.... is the life. 

Taking a dip by the pool, on a sunny afternoon :D 

Happified faces, trying to get a tan :P 

Where's my cocktail??? *mocktail more like it* 

It's great being in the island, because it's self sufficient, away from all the hustle and bustle of the big smoke, where's there are no traffic lights, definitely no traffic jams... Everyone travels on a buggy (the main mode of transportation on the island). The only down side is, everything here is expensive. A packet on chips cost more than 6 dollars, instead of the usual 3. Everything is almost double priced. :( sobsss...

We took a stroll down at the marina, after going to the store to get some snacks... checking out the place a little. Basically, just relaxing and taking things slow, at our own pace. It's soooo different from being in the "4 seasons in a day, Melbourne". 

Jon @ the marina. 

Dreaming that we could own any one of these babies...

The abundant picnic tables along the harbour... 

Beautiful beaches.... 

I feel like I'm in Florida / California... tee hee hee...

Perfect weather for sailing..... 

This place is just... paradise :) More pics to come on our week long holiday... I hope everyone else had a good long Australia Day weekend too! 

Sunburnt...

I went golfing with Jon yesterday. It was sorta a spur of the moment kinda decision. The weather was nice, so we decided to head out and do something... 

As we arrived at the local golf course, there were 2 other elderly men about to start their game, so the guy got us to join them... After taking a few holes to warm up to them, we started chatting about everything... He asked us about our jobs etc. And I found out that we were indeed walking on the golf course with 2 very renowned people in the medical world! They were the pioneers of Monash IVF~! 

John and Mack's golf games were not very impressive, but I'm sure their CV's are~! He was naming names... and we were talking about people we know in common... and my mentors, were once his residents! So, just imagine how senior they are~! I felt so inferior, when they started asking me what I wanna do with my future... etc. :P 

But oh well, we had a very enjoyable afternoon, soaking up the sun, and chatting away with them. Under normal circumstances, I wouldn't have the opportunity to play a golf game with these prominent people in the society :P I guess... it's called fate huh? :) 

I told them that I'm doing a 6 months rotation in O&G, hoping to sit for my DipObs at the end of it, but I wasn't sure if that was a good decision.... but I guess, only time will tell huh?? And perhaps, me meeting them on this sunny Tuesday afternoon, is God's way of giving me a clue?? 

And oh, I got burnt :( I'm not even in Hamilton Island yet, and I'm already sunburnt! Hahahaha... How ironic is that? Well, we're leaving tomorrow morning for a week of relaxation and pure bliss... Just one more sleep baybeh!

Jon tied a ribbon on his head. It was from a box of chocolates that I wrapped for Christmas...

Remy, be good at grandma and grandpa's ok? XOXO

We're missing you heaps already, you adorable doggie...

Lotsa love till the next time I blog... 

You B*stards!

Some stray doggie came into dad's garage a couple of days ago. Daddy and Funny saw this poor little thing in such bad condition, and decided to give him some water, food... and shelter for the night. It gobbled up the left over dinner they had that night... slurped on the water... and went to bed in the garage that night. 

The next morning, it started following dad when he came out of the house. It seems like he was grateful for the life-saving deed, and has grown quite attached to daddy. Dad felt like the right thing to do was to take him to the vet. But due to his busy work schedule this week, he decided that he'll keep the doggie for the next few days, till the weekend... before he brings him... 

Meanwhile, he went to buy doggie food and treats for this poor little soul. He even rang me to ask what do doggies like to eat, what should he do with it etc. I mean, if someone who's not even the owner can do this simple little deed, just WHY would something so cruel happen to the doggie?

I'm sure this doggie HAD a home, because he has lacerations, skin tears, and bruises all over his body... including his neck, where his collar was. It's as if his ex-owner strangled him or something?? And what's up with the tail? Did something happen to this poor little doggie, or did his tail get chopped off?? And look at his poor skinny legs and hairless paws... 

Most prominent, is the bald patch on his back... Did his ex-owner mistreat him? Abused him? Is this poor thing scalded or something?? Or does he have some weird skin condition, some sorta disease or allergy?? 

I felt really sad when I saw the pictures. I couldn't help but teared a little. And then the sadness became anger!! Just who in the sick mind would do such a thing?? Would you have done it if it was your kid?? Maybe you would, you sick b*stard, but... maybe you wouldn't? Because it's your child, your own flesh and blood. 

Whoever did this to him, if his condition is inflicted upon him... deserves to be punished! Deserves to die, and go to H*ll (with a capital H)!! And your death should be painful... just as painful as his doggie's if not more!

But what exactly happened?

Nobody knows the answer... For now, daddy and Funny are just doing what they can to keep him alive, and maybe a little bit stronger, and they'll bring him to the vet come weekend. 

I hope it's something curable. I hope they will give some sound advice, and not decide to put him down, because I'm sure he's capable of becoming a good, loyal company... and potential to be quite a cute one too. 

----------------------------------------

On a separate note, although still about doggies... 

Remy got desexed 2 days ago, and is now a cone head!! tee hee hee...

Look at his saddd little face...

It's to prevent him from licking and taking the sutures out from him wound. He was really groggy when I went to get him, and had to carry him into the car. He couldn't even walk straight to greet his daddy when he came home from work. He staggered like a drunk doggie. It was pretty cute! **although I shouldn't be laughing at him**

He doesn't like the cone very much *durrr, obviously!* He makes sad noises, comes to me, and looks me in the eye, with that sad little puppy face... So, I decided to take it off and watch him during the day. 

He still wears the cone to bed at night, cause we don't wanna risk him pulling his sutures off, or do anything that will possibly make the wound infected. 

But he's pretty much back to normal now. Uncle Peter, Aunty Eng, Amira and Tish came over to see him yesterday... and he was already running around, jumping up to them, trying to get thtem to play with him etc. :) 

So yeah, he's all good now... for those who were wondering how the surgery went :) Thanks for your concern...

Miss Louise :)

My dear gorgeous Louise is back in town... but not for too long though :( In fact, she leaves today, back to Malaysia to catch Wyn before he goes off to the Philippines... What tough luck girl, you both with timing... hehehe

John, Louise, Mei & Leonard

Anyways, we met up for lunch and shopping in the city on Tuesday. We decided to eat at Stalactites at the corner of Russell and Lonsdale Streets, because Leonard insisted that we find a place that's not crowded, has quick service, ample parking spaces, and air conditioning of course.... Geez...

Leonard left after lunch to get back to work, while the girls proceeded to do some shopping... :P 

After hours of walking around the city, we decided that our feet couldn't handle it anymore, and sat down for coffee @ GPO. 

AhhHhhh.... RESTTTTT. :)

Louise & Mei @ Ca de Vin, GPO. 

After recharging, we did more shopping... well actually, SHE did more shopping. I just kept encouraging her to buy stuff that she can't get in Malaysia :P Her brother, John... gave up after awhile and headed home first. *chuckles*

It was good seeing you again, babe, and catching up after all these years! Come to think of it, I think I haven't seen you for 2-3 years? Wow, that's a longg time! Well, now that you'll be working in KL, I shall catch up with you again when I get back to KL for holidays! 

Have a safe flight, gorgeous! See you soon! XOXO

The "Freaky" Remote Controlled Car

Jon was trying to scare Remy with his remote control car...



Obviously, the car is something foreign to my boy... hehehehe...

Do you like it longer, or shorter?

I got myself a haircut over the weekend... I couldn't put up with my hair any longer. The ends were getting kinda dried, and they look like they're almost going to split... So, I decided to *snippety snip snip* them all off! 

And since it's summer... oh well :) Even better! 

I wanted to have fringe, but the hairdresser decided against. She said it was something about the way my hair grows... If she cuts the fringe too short, my hair will stand, and stick out. :( :( That's why I haven't had bangs in agessss... I think the last time I had them was like... when I was 15! And yes, they did kinda stick out then too...

Happified Mei with so much less length... Save on the shampoo, babeh! 

Some random shot... I look like I still have long hair huh? :P 

As my hair gets shorter... my little boy's hair is getting longer!! YAY!!! He doesn't look so much like a poodle anymore. And not so skinny too!

I feel so contented... I have my hair back! No more shearing, mommy!!

Isn't he just adorable??? 

Since he's been quite a good boy recently, mommy and daddy decided to bring him out for a walk in the park...

One fine evening, we took Remy out for a little drive, followed by a walk in the park. 

Little Remy just lurvesssss going out!!

Our little boy loves "guiding" the way, pulling us as he goes along... as if he's saying "Hurry up! You slomo's!!" heheheheh... 

And he has this habit of stopping by every tree / bush...

Sniffing it out, and then peeing on it, to mark his territory! 

Is it just me, or is Remy the cutest doggie ever? hehehehe... Oh well, must be just me! 

He's been a happy boy recently.. I've been driving him to Jon's mom and dad's... He's grown quite attached to Uncle Peter... follows him around, and jumps up on them when they're watching tv on the couch. 

I'm trying to get him used to being there, so he won't feel so strange / different when we leave for Hamilton Island end of Jan... 

And yeah, Internship is officially over!!! Mei is on hols now :D WHEEE!!!

Woof woof!!

I did not go to work today because I woke up with a massive headache. 

Not because I slept late or anything, but rather because Remy's been barking non-stop the whole night, waking the both of us up. We didn't get no sleep throughout the night...

We even tried to calm him down by putting up in bed with us, and cuddling him, giving him tummy rubs... but it just didn't work. 

Anyone knows how to stop a doggie from barking? I don't wanna do anything too extreme that he wouldn't bark anymore... Just want him to bark a little less, especially at night. He seems to "guard" the house and only barks at night... 

Tomorrow's gonna be one helluva stinking hot day. Hopefully, this stupid headache's not gonna recur. I seem to be getting them rather frequently nowadays... and it's NOT FUN.

Last week of internship :) Soldier on!!

A Good Weekend...

I didn't have to work yesterday, so I have a 3 days weekend this week! Yahoo!!! :) My weekend's been good so far... This year's been good so far. 

I went down to the city by train (haven't taken the train in ages!!) cause it's a weekday, and I didn't wanna pay shitloads for parking in the city. Ran some errands, did my health check... and then met up with Daniel for lunch... a longgg lunch! Apparently, he tells me that he takes long lunches everyday. SLACKA!!! 

After lunch, I was supposed to meet up with Ming Yen, so I rang him, assuming that he was in the city... cause he's always only in the city... 

But to my surprise, he was actually in Glen Waverley!! Oh man, I came all the way to the city, and he was 10 minutes away from my house! NOT ON (O.o). Anyways, he told me that he was going to Chaddy, so I met up with him there instead. 

Had coffee and caught up for abit, before he came home to play Wii and to see Remy!

Ming Yen, Mei & Remy - at my place... 

Come on Remy, look at the camera... Remy poo, Remy!! Say hello to Daddy... (Jon was snapping the pic)

No, mommy! I don't like the camera... No, No, No. *struggles*

We had to have three go's to get a pic right... and even then, without Remy (O.o) 

We then dropped Ming Yen back, headed towards Chaddy again to get my helmet for my new bike.... so I could go riding in summer! :) WHEE!!! 

Do you like my new Specialized women's helmet and my new Giant bike? :) They're both baby blue in colour... tee hee hee... 

Jon bought me a bike for Christmas so we could go riding together... but I haven't had a chance to really ride my bike cause I didn't have a helmet, and didn't dare to ride far, in case I got fined... 

Yes, you saw that right. This is Mei, on a bike :) Notice my bright yellow top?? - so I can be seen on the road. 

We went riding this morning on the bike path near home... and rode all the way to Holmesglen Tafe, near Chadstone Shopping Complex... **bigggg smile** Quite proud of myself, considering I haven't been on a bike for like... a decade?? The last time I rode a bike was when I was in school, on my red Avanti... hehehe... 

But, the ride back wasn't as enjoyable! There were lotsa uphill climbs... and the weather was starting to heat up, which really zapped my energy! It was NOT fun!! I was really trailing far behind Jon. He had to stop to wait for me multiple times and kept saying 

"Come on, on your bike!" - the John So way.... 

Hahahaha... with much difficulty, I made it home anyways.... :) Breathless, hot and grumpy... 

Geez, I really need to buck up! Build up stamina! 

I.AM.SO.UNFIT!

The weather should be alot better tomorrow! Maybe we'll go riding again... tee hee hee :P 

Stay tuned! 

NYE 07/ 08

I feel like I've mellowed down over the years... Usually, we'd have some massive funky celebration planned for new year's eve, to usher in the new year. But over the past few years, it's always been something quiet, like hanging out at a friend's, or having a small barbeque etc. 

This year, we didn't do much either. Jon and I were thinking of heading into the city to catch the fireworks... but I managed to make dinner reservations for us in the city *surprise!*. Well, sheer luck I guess. It was actually fully booked, and I was in the waiting list, but the manager called me around 3.30 in the arvo, and told me they have a table for me! :) 

I was working till 6.00 in the evening on new year's eve... not quite fun! So I was pretty tired by the time I got home. And for some silly reason, Jon was cranky cause he didn't have enough sleep the night before, coupled with the stinking hot 42 degrees that day... we started arguing! Sheesh!!! And believe me, it was over something rather silly...

I started crying and didn't wanna head out to dinner anymore... then he came to me, and realised how silly the argument was... and we decided that we should go out and have a good time after all. I had to change my dinner reservation from 8pm to 8.30 pm, cause there was no way we could have made it in time otherwise... 

We went to this contemporary chinese cuisine place, called BokChoy Tang - @ Federation Square. 

And, I forgot to bring my camera out that night! I couldn't believe myself... I know this picture is quite dark.... so...

I stole this from their website for a better view. Tee hee hee. 

The view from the restaurant was perfect, cause we caught the 9.30pm fireworks from the restaurant itself. No standing outside in the heat, with thousands others! :P hehehe... 

The sweet boy, after he realised how grumpy and unreasonable he's been :P Blehhh! 

"Don't you reckon I look like a model" Jon. Yesh, I have to put up with this everyday, well... almost... Every other day :P 

They were serving a set menu that night, and free flow alco, oops. i meant drinks... for 3 hours. 

Scallops with XO sauce, and salads on the side. 

I forgot to snap a picture of our first dish... the peking duck! YUMMO....

Then came the crispy barramundi in honey lemon sauce. 

BokChoy with mushrooms... The arrangement was pretty nice, but it still tastes like normal bokchoy! Hahahaha...

Scampi's :) Yum... 

No pictures for desserts and fruits... cause we scoffed them down. Nah, not really... I just forgot. I even forgot to take a pic of myself. hehehee... How unusual is that? :P 

We finished dinner around 11.30, and Federation Square was already packed with people... Coupled with the super hot weather that night, it was really NOT that pleasant... :( Stinky sweaty people.... EeWwwWw... 

Needless to say, I didn't manage to capture any good photos of the fireworks from my phone. 

We took the train home that night... AND got the whole carriage to ourselves *well, almost* I don't think we've been sooo comfortable in the train before. The airconditioning was just AaHhhhh, NICE!

And it was quiet. We both held hands, I rested on his shoulder, and we fell asleep in the train. It was a good way to usher in the new year, after all the preceeding drama.

To be in the arms of the person you love, the people that matter. Different, but good. No massive party, but rather... just the two of us. And of course, we went home to be greeted by little excited Remy :) 

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! May this leap year, be a good one for all :)

Short Lived...

Li Ling and Yow's family came to visit Yow's brother in Melbourne for about a week sometime last month, just before Christmas... 

The trip wasn't TOO short, but I reckon they couldn't do much cause they pretty much brought the rain with them, from the monsoon. Hahaaha... 

The day they arrived, it was all rain and thunderstorm! And the weather didn't really get better for them, well... until they were on the way to the airport... :( 

Li Ling, Mei & Yow 

Anyhoo, we managed to catch up for a brief moment :P I was working night shifts then, so it was kinda difficult to meet up with them, since they're no morning people.... and uurrr, I would be sleeping in the arvo. :( Night shifts just kills your social life, yknow?? 

Clockwise: Mei, Jon, Yow & LiLing

We went to Seoul, a korean restaurant in the city for dinner. And Ling finally met Jon, after hearing so much about him... (both good and bad :P ) hehehehhee.... And I finally get to meet Yow again after like... years? Geez. Time flies! Oh well, you still look the same! 

Oh babe, I would love to have brought you around and stuff, see my place, my Remy, go shopping... have coffee's etc. But the weather was just too crap, and working nights really just screws me up. Besides, Yow's family was here as well, so you gotta spend time with them. So, another time perhaps.... 

I'll catcha again sometime soon, when I head back to KL :) 

It was nice seeing you in Melbourne, although it was only a week before, that I saw you back in Malaysia. Hahahah.