this coming chinese new year...

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I’ll be back!

busy in the lab. busy updating lab book. busy reading journals. tired from the gym workouts.

will be back blogging in 4 weeks.

Gym-ed

yesterday was the first time back at the gym after a 3 month hiatus. my dignity was insulted from all the mocking by the weights. seems like after so long, not working out at the gym has taken a toll on me. weights that i used to be able to handle were too heavy, muscles ache under the slightest stress, body was sore after working out and my legs went jelly. gosh… one of the most embarrassing days ever. but nevertheless, from today onwards, i’ll make it a point to hit the gym and whack the weights, and to get back to the level of fitness i used to have.

Program (in order of workout):

Deadlift: 15kg per side+20kg olympic bar. 4 sets of 10.
Flat Bench Press: 10kg per side. 4 sets of 12 reps.
Dumbbell Pec Fly: 7kg per side. 4 sets of 12 reps.
Inclined Dumbbell Press: 10kg per side. 4 sets of 12 reps.
Swiss ball Crunch: 4 sets of 20 reps.
Swiss ball push-up: 3 sets of 10 reps.
Triceps extension: start 22kg, with increments after each set. 4 sets of 12 reps.


oh... and i took my weight, 62kg.

whisky and wine

my Black Label ran dry on me just days before Christmas and not wanting to die from thirst, i went to 1st choice liquor store, recommended by a friend, to do my alcohol shopping. after much choosing, debating with myself and conquering all the dilemmas, i managed to buy the following few.


first, i decided to switch from Scotch to an Irish, not because the all the other Scotch were not good or didn't catch my attention. but long ago when i was in Singapore, i heard and read about Tullamore Dew, and have vowed to try it. i couldn't find it in DFS at the airport and it was not sold at the few supermarts that had liquors. but when i came to Brisbane, they sell it just off the shelf at all good liquor stores, like they were selling bottled water! how can i not love to stay in such a country?

ok, enough talk. let's go straight to some history and introduction.

Tullamore Dew was first distilled in 1829 in the small town of Tullamore in County Offaly in the heart of Ireland. Irish whiskies are typically fragrant, with a roundness of body. Unlike Scotch, the malted barley used in Ireland is dried over coal fires rather than with peat smoke, maintaining the natural flavour of the barley as one of the defining characteristics of Irish whiskey.

to cut short all the technical terms and jargon, it simply means that there is a difference in all the whiskies around the world due to the source of ingredients and the process they distill their whisky.


Tullamore Dew is the original blend known the world over for its smooth and gentle flavour. now, for the experience with our senses.

Colour: Pale amber with an orange tinge.

Nose: A mild blend of spicy, lemony and malty notes with charred wood undertones.

Body: Soft, buttery, rounded.

Palate: Warming, sweetish spices, pleasant maltiness with toasted wood hints.

Finish: Smooth and gentle, the complex flavours lingering.

when i tried it, it was really... smooth, with the buttery taste. the malt surrounds your tongue and you really taste the wood notes and spice after a while. very different from Black Label, very unique. and to prove that it is a really, really good whisky, surely it has won a few awards like the following:

2008		Double Gold Medal: World Spirits Competition
2007		Gold Medal: International Spirits Challenge
2006		Gold Medal: World Spirits Competition
2006		Gold Medal: International Spirits Challenge
2005		Trophy: International Spirits Challenge
2003		Gold Medal: International Spirits Challenge

next up, is this red from Maison Champy, France.



the reason i bought this, is because i wanted to act high class and can tell people that i have tasted wine from France, that's all. this is simply Bourgogne Pinot Noir, vintage 2007.

also, pinot noir because wines from this grape contains the highest amount of antioxidants. more than any other red wine by all other grapes.



and finally, i'm sure everyone is familiar with the popular Jacob's Creek, homegrown Australian brand.



i bought this because it was too cheap, about Aud$6+. but surprisingly, it was very very nice. i didn't buy the bottle empty. it is so nice and easy to drink, that i'm into the second bottle already.



because it was nice, and it was my first time trying a Jacob's Creek, i went onto their website for a look. was i surprised when i saw that this very bottle of classic shiraz, is the winner of 43 gold, silver and bronze awards of many competitions all over the world in 2004-06.

i think they're being humble. 43 awards couldn't have fitted the bottle.

what i've learned

after all these years..... having been through school, living with my family, knowing friends, meeting people at work, experienced army, had relationships and lived alone.


I’ve learned that infatuation is a feeling,
is just a love of emotion and is basically selfish.
Real love is a commitment, is love of devotion. is selfless.

I've learned that you cannot make someone love you.
All you can do is be someone who can be loved;
the rest is up to them.

I've learned that just because
someone doesn't love you the way you want them to
doesn't mean they don't love you with all they have.

I've learned that no matter how much you care;
there are some people who just don't care.
And it's not the end of the world.

I've learned that you should
always leave loved ones with loving words.
It may be the last time you see them.

I've learned that it takes years to build up trust,
and only seconds to destroy it.

I've learned that it's not what you have in your life,
but who you have in your life that counts.

I've learned that there are people who love you dearly,
but just don't know how to show it.

I've learned that true friendship
continues to grow even over the longest distance.
Same goes for true love.

I’ve learned that when you really love someone,
you don’t know the reason why
but you just do.

I've learned that just because two people argue,
it doesn't mean that they don't love each other.
And just because they don't argue,
it doesn't mean they do.

I've learned that no matter how good a friend is,
they're going to hurt you every once in a while
and you must forgive them for that.

I've learned that
it isn't always enough to be forgiven by others.
Sometimes you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I've learned that no matter how bad your heart is broken,
the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I’ve learned that it’s all right to just cry.

I've learned that you
shouldn't compare yourself to the best others can do,
but to the best you can do.

I've learned that it's not what happens to people,
it's what they do about it.

I've learned that no matter how thin you slice it,
there are always two sides.

I've learned that you can keep going,
long after you think you can't.

I've learned that heroes
are the people who do what has to be done
when it needs to be done;
regardless of the consequences.

I've learned that you can
get by on charm for about fifteen minutes.
After that, you'd better know something.

I've learned that sometimes when I'm angry,
I have the right to be angry;
but that doesn't give me the right to be cruel.

I've learned that our background and circumstances
may have influenced who we are,
but we are responsible for who we become.

I've learned that sometimes
you have to put the individual
ahead of their actions.

I've learned that no matter the consequences,
those who are honest with themselves get farther in life.

I've learned that two people
can look at the exact same thing
and see something totally different.

I've learned that your life
can be changed in a matter of hours
by people who don't even know you.

I've learned that even when
you think you have no more to give,
when a friend cries out to you,
you will find the strength to help.

I've learned that writing,
as well as talking,
can ease emotional pains.

I've learned that the people you care most about in life
are taken from you too soon.

I've learned that it's hard
to determine where to draw the line between being nice
and not hurting people's feelings
and standing up for what you believe.

I've learned to love
and be loved.

and then move on.

1st day of 2009

i went girl hunting at a girl's school on new years day. what did you do??




ok i was just kidding. actually i planned to go somewhere, but what seemed to be a shortcut got me stranded at the wrong train station on a public holiday. what's worst was that the next train had to arrive in 40mins!! i come from a city where the average waiting time for a train was 4mins; and here, 10 times the wait. thank goodness i'm a patient man.

anyway, i managed to appreciate the quietness and beauty of the place and took some decent pics. don't let the sunny day fool you, the weather was at a burning 34 degrees, felt like i could melt anytime.


Corinda station





after a few change of trains and about an hour and a half later, i'm almost reaching my destination.


yeap. here it is.


Australia's most popular theme park, Dreamworld, is located in South East Queensland at the northern end of the Gold Coast, on the Pacific Highway (M1) at Coomera, 17kms (20mins) north of Surfers Paradise and 48kms (40mins) south of Brisbane.





let the fun begin!



first up was the Thunder River Rapids Ride. amidst all the buzz and long queue when i was there, it was just a less-than-thrilling family ride. it's for those who'd like to experience the feeling of white water rafting and some 'turbulent' rapids. for thrill seekers, i'd recommend to skip this ride.




act like it's very thrilling










the first real thrill ride would be the Giant Drop. you go up, you come down. simple.
this is the tallest, free-falling ride in the world, according to the Guinness Book of World records. the only way down is a jaw dropping 120m plummet at extreme speed. Free fall time is 5 seconds, but i assure you that once you're up there coming down, it feels like 2.








as we venture on, we come to the Rocky Hollow Log Ride. another family ride with moderate thrill, you can see why from the picture. it traverses a watercourse, climbs an aqueduct and then you plunge down the ramp at 50 km/h, splashing down at the Rocky Hollow aboard hollowed-out logs.




i took the last seat at the back of the log to prevent myself from getting wet. and in the end...



we move on to the Australian Wildlife Experience. it is a large native wildlife park with native animals including the second largest koala population in the world. you can cuddle a koala, wander with the wombats, roam with the roos, feed the birds, get up close to the big crocs and maybe even shear a sheep. It’s a very good chance to see all the native animals, all in one great location.



Dingoes



Emu


the very moment i saw this, i thought that 郭靖，黄蓉 donated their 雕(condor) to this place.


he is just a very large eagle





this is the Kakadu Wetlands, where they have saltwater crocs in captivity.

crocs in captivity



we managed to catch Goliath and Matilda for lunch presentation at 1.30pm daily.


crocodiles can really jump for a bite

your ass is not safe. even up the tree.







one of the most relaxed animals i've ever come across


down to the Koala Country



you might be thinking, 'oh, so adorable!'


you might be thinking, 'oh, so lovely!'


you might be thinking, 'oh, so furry and cute!'


right there and then i was thinking, 'oh my goodness, so damn smelly!'

this is the Sadako enclosure






apart from the wildlife experience, they have a separate Tiger Island where you can watch tiger shows. no no, nothing like the 'tiger shows' in Bangkok.

Tiger Island is a world where white and gold Bengal Sumatran tigers play, wrestle and swim with their handlers everyday. Well, not exactly everyday...



i was helping her take a picture, and then i saw...


celebrity. or maybe celebrity lookalike.

anyway, back to the tiger show where everyone was waiting for something to happen.










and then they also brought the tiger cub along. so poor thing. imagine being chained up, paraded and molested. everyday.

not everyday you have tiger balls up your hand




i must say they have really cute soft toys


rows and rows of them


the tigers didn't really put up much of a show. so we made a move on for more rides and ended up at the Nickelodeon Central, kids world.


the over-grown kid




dickhead


one shelf of dickhead



this is an interesting one, called the Vortex. basically it is like a huge human centrifuge.

before it starts, you stand.


it starts to spin


and everyone goes...


now i know how the centrifuge tubes feel when i always centrifuge them in the lab...




this ride may look harmless, but it was the worst i ever took. it's not like a Ferris wheel, where you go for a round up the wheel. you practically sit in the cars and then it starts to spin, initially horizontally and then they will ramp it up until you are spinning vertically. the most nauseating ride ever. almost puked when i got off.


ah beng favourite car



this, is the Wipeout.

walking on the death row


either i'm tired or just praying very hard i don't puke on everyone





The Claw is a new, interesting and thrilling ride for me. the first of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere, the Claw is the most powerful pendulum on the planet. super big pendulum. it swings you up 9 storeys into the air, at speeds of up to 75 km/hr! what's more! It also spins 360 degrees. Dare yourself.



after the swing, someone gave the shagged face and needs to eat ice cream



while i happily walk around take pictures





we went for the last ride of the day. the Cyclone. it's a roller coaster that extends into White Water World next door.



saw some cool surfer dudes on my way out



well, that ends our episode at Dreamworld. the place closes at 5pm.


BUT..... this is only the first half of the day. the fun never ends!!!


we hopped onto the bus and headed for our next destination. make a guess where...




nope, not Florida.

nope, not Las Vegas.


last hint...


Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast.




clear blue sky. open sea. all the way across the horizon.


and then i saw... gold digger?! what does he think this place is?? literally GOLD Coast???


his version of gold coast


very first thing to do is to challenge the waves

oh no... oh no no no no....

OMG!!!

ok, take my words back...

i ended up with a souvenir







it was super windy, very good place to fly kite (no zoom)


10X zoom






purposely took this picture blur, because there are times where a lil mystery is beautiful.



and because i've learnt that, it's not always good when things are too clear


i've also learnt that 远看一幅画。。。


近看炸猪扒。and he's waaaaaaay too near.


we have real hunks...


and also hunk wannabes.








i've included this short clip of the beach.



finally at about 640pm, the coast guard drove around and announced that the beach is closed for the day


and soon nightfall...


across the street


while we were walking along the streets, a group of girls approached us and asked if they could take a picture with singyan. why not me!!! life is so unfair.


but nevertheless, i can always do this....



i finally found Jessica Alba's workplace...



we actually wanted to have our dinner at Hard Rock cafe. but the queue was simply too long, and we were too hungry to wait.



so we ended up eating here. it's something like Cafe Cartel, but the menu is not as elaborate.



singyan's order, some grilled chicken and bacon sandwich with fries.


my BBQ pork ribs, half slab, with garden salad and wedges.


totally delicious...

i went to buy half a pizza from an Italian restaurant after this





those of you who have the time and money...