curryman

Well, my first ever trip in Sydney, and well it could have been better

The City of Sydney:

The City? Yes, this is THE city, not those wannabe cities that is basically a village with a few skyscrapers, this is the real deal.

Chinatown is like a minature Hong Kong, lot's of good quality stuff, and also cheap, not so good quality stuff. You can pretty much buy anything there, clothes from China, Australia, Japan, you name it, it's there. Electronics? Pfft MP4's with a minature video screen for $200, woo. Got and LED torch for a dollar.

The harbours? Aye, yes, REAL harbours, lots of people, lots of entertainment, lots of things to do.

The Sydney Harbour Bridge? Big, made of metal, kinda dull looking but tourists seem compelled to take pictures of it, even the structual bolts below the bridge

The famous Sydney Opera house... Yes it exists, although not as white as I imagined, I think concrete wash is starting to peel.

Public transport? didn't use it, but apparently it is very good

The Zoo? Never went, but apparently really good

Food? Nothing fantastic, lot more choices to choose from, but no significant quality differences

Prices? Expensive, 1.5 Million for a bottom range apartment in the CBD compared to half a mill for a high rise in Adelaide. Prices of goods like food and clothes do vary quite significantly, Chinatown has the best deals

The people? Aye, a lot of people, many enjoy jay walking. Some are friendly, others are not.

Interesting things that happened

I've met and befriended 3 people from my bus trips to and from work in Canberra, two of these people were on the same as me to Sydney

Two of my kung fu instructors were here too, said hi to them.

Learnt that money donor's will say ANYTHING to get your money "You're left handed, hell yeah! I love left handed people!"

Two people, recently came from China trying to convert me to Scientology, thought that Canberra was restaurant in Sydney*


Reason for travelling to Sydney

To meet a friend, from Singapore, who is down for a business meeting. Invited me to come down and have coffee, An expensive coffee considering I had to travel down from Canberra

Second reason, never been to Sydney, need to see what it was like

Outcome of the meeting

Didn't happen, got stood up. Have no idea what's going on in her head. Would like to know, but probably will never know. Had to explore the place my self. Very annoyed, but will get over it soon. Hopefully meet two of my other mates tomorrow

Verdict

Sydney is a good, real good, I applaud those who praise it. Definately need to travel with someone though, or else this place is kinda depressing. Kinda like having a fridge full of food but need someone to help you open it.

Will I come back again?

Sure, it has charm, but probably not for a while.


*Canberra is the capital city of Australia

Okay, I am not being unsympathetic, I understand that losing your son/husband is a tragic time and you they should be remembered for the good things they did. However, can someone please tell me WHY is Private Kovco being buried with full military honours?

The soldier (a weapon’s expert) allegedly shot himself in the head while cleaning his “loaded” weapon.
He was stationed in Iraq, they made a bungle in delivering the wrong body back to Australia, why should he be given full military honours?

I am not saying “take those honours away from him,” I just want to know why they are.

Back in Canberra, the land of politics.

Sister is causing high hell at home, helped a lot around the house, met some friends, but didn't get to do so many things.

In many ways, I wish I was back in Adelaide

In others, I am glad that I am back

Going back to Adelaide reminded me of who I was, something which I am never able to reclaim

Being back in Canberra, the healing process can begin, and I am able to start a new life.

Ya,

I crossed the line by telling someone to study more, even after so much.

I do voice my opinions quite strongly, but this time, I went too far

Nice work, man, nice.

I think I pushed myself too hard today.

After 150 punches, I felt dizzy, had trouble breathing and nearly collapsed.

Gah, knowing your limits is no fun, no fun at all

Okay I can understand why WoW is so popular, quite a socialable game,

but, I'll past, I can't afford the monthly payment. I need that money for food and going out.

Gah

Okay, due to immense coercion, I have decided to try out World of Warcraft.

After forking out an immense amount of funds for the trial version (Two dollars! No coffee for me today) I am currently sitting here watching patch after patch downloading just to get it up to scratch

My friend (not you funkybeatyo) is now giving me a lecture on classes in the game. I have decided to go as an Elven hunter.

This is the first proper video game I've played since last year. I wonder if I will still like it?

Kah

Which country should you REALLY be living in? Australia G'day bazza! You're a yokker. A true Aussie. You love the beach and barbies, as well as sport and sex. Life couldn't get any simpler, and thats the way it should be. C'mon Aussie, C'mon!

Click Here to Take This Quiz Brought to you by YouThink.com quizzes and personality tests.

Uh.. neat

I've tried and tried, yet I have been beaten down.

Everytime I overcome one obstacle, several takes it place.

It seems that no matter what I do, it is never enough

So tell me then, why do I feel so alive?

There is one thing I can promise you, no matter how hard it is I will not give up. Even if fate is against me, even if it seems hopeless. I will never give up

Just try and stop me

An anti spyware program automatically downloaded itself onto my computer without my permission

I was doing an excercise with my instructor today!

Being a new duckling to the whole martial art scenario (2 lessons woo!) all I can say is:

OW

We are suppose to strike each other with our arm, and the other person is suppose to block it with their arm, but taking into account posture, stance etc. This is suppose to build muscle strength in the arm so they block the strongest punches and blows.

Here's the thing, When I was doing this with the other students, arm strike? Child's play. I was blocking correctly so I didn't feel a thing.

When sparring with the instructor, I didn't get the memo that he has built his arms like a rock. I was striking his arms for only about 5 minutes and it is still sore (only a little) 10 hours later.

Is it normal to be in pain and at the same time be excited about what you will eventually achieve?

Going out to pub to drink and talk I am not.

This is my conclusion from my repeated attempts to blend into the so called Aussie culture.

Here is what I have concluded.

I really couldn't give a fuck about what a person did today or what they plan to do later to be honest. I mean how can people just stand there and just talk about their day? I don't get it, most people are really not that interesting. Sharemarket and finance? pfft screw that.

I need activities!! Something that all of us are doing, like sport or games or dance. Something that will prevent people from telling me about the glamours of yesterday's dinner or their forthcoming nail-biting experience at the supermarket tomorrow.

Here is the dilemma, people which I like are not going to go out, people I like are going to stay home.

...
...
...

HAHAHAHA

What an interesting development I have gone through

Writing to you from Canberra, in the National Library of Australia!

Trying to get the internet at home with my roomie David

I'm getting good money

My work is difficult, but at least interesting

People at work are nice

Shopping is reasonable

I have everything I need here

All I can say is.
...
...
...

I want to go home to Adelaide...

For the past 8 months, the honours economics room at Adelaide has been my second home

It is time for me to return the keys and leave this place once and for all,

HELLO CANBERRA! LET THIS BE MY NEW HOME!

The cause of my recurring pain in my right knee has been identified!

IT IS "NOCKED!" (Apologies for the spelling)

What that means essentially is that my right knee bends "inwards" slightly, which means that the tendon in the inner part of my leg is exposed to more pressure than the other tendons, this is further strained by bike riding (which I use to do every day), jump rope (which I did a lot of before) and hiking.

Doctor says "Kah, no more bike riding, do push ups, chin-ups and sit-ups instead"

The excercise bike I got just last year is going to go to waste...

Ah well, nevermind.

Got a place in Canberra!

A decent apartment $285 per week, Unit 28, Avalon Apartments, McMillan Crescent Kingston. Fairly close to the buses that go to my work after running through a labrinyth of side streets that will make a minotaur shat milk, It will however take about 20 minutes to go from my place to ABARE. It also goes straight through Manuka plaza, a decent shopping complex.

Anyway, for the first few months I have to rug it out, I'll have no bed so I'll be using my sleeping bag, I have NO chairs, so I have to eat standing up, I have a bench top, so I can do ironing, I have a fridge made in the biblical times, a washing machine, dryer and as of yet, no flatmate.

Once I can afford a bloody car, boom, I can buy a foton matress, some bamboo mats, and sleep on the floor, just like in traditional Japan

Now, I have to concentrate in kicking (or kissing :P) butt at work so I can rake in more moolies so I can start living the Canberra life.

If I stay in Canberra, I am going to need a car...

Stupid public transport system sucks worse than the worlds first vacuum cleaner made from tissue paper constructed by deaf Babylonian monks with a forte for Byzantinian hermaphrodite prostitutes with some sexually transmitted disease commonly found amongst overzealous Teutonic repitalian madmen

My first update outside of Adelaide! Yup, I am updating from Canberra, been here for less than 24 hours, but here are some things I have noticed

1) There is no China Town!
2) The place is really slow
3) The cars seem so swish
4) THERE IS NO CHINA TOWN!
5) Lots of Government departments
6) I saw NO buses after 8pm
7) THERE IS NO BLEEDING CHINA TOWN!
8) The roads are wide and sometimes confusing
9) Eating out isn't as expensive as some people made it out to be
10)Everything seems so advance, lots of nice looking buildings and stuff.


Well, can't stay long. using the pay internet at the motel I am staying for the week, looking for a permanent place to stay when I start work on the 14th.

Oh, for those coming to Canberra, let me tell you something.

THERE IS NO CHINA TOWN!!!!!! GAH!!!!

This Christmas...seems as if it hasn't been jolly for many people.

One friend is wallowing in depression

Another is sad that she's leaving for Singapore.

Another, vomitting.

Another, Alone.

Another lies ills and sick,

Another, thinks he's gay and confused and unhappy about it

Another, can't find work

Another, also can't find work

Another, in jail for possession of drugs in Indonesia (not for trafficking might I add)

Family Problems

Ze world, terrorist fear, people coming in to kill whales for "research," people dying from drink driving etc.

As for me? Gotta get ready to ship out to Canberra in 3 weeks, sad and joyous occasion, everything is moving so fast.

But! Ya Merry Christmas Y'all