It's an early day for me... I am off to interview a political aspirant contesting to be Brisbane's Lord Mayor. He's gonna be at some seniors' club for some talk (& of coz a PR stint!)
Very diversified character - an ex-cricketer and lawyer with a particular interest to solve Brisbane's water crisis. Hopefully he hasn't mastered the art of evasion and actually will answer questions!
Tuesday, 28 August 2007
My Footy Match Debut
SUNCORP STADIUM --- Home of the Broncos & venue for my first footy live match! It was the last game for the Broncos this season & the stadium was filled, mostly with Broncos' maroon team colour of coz! Broncos was playing Raiders from Canberra. They say no Aussie experience is complete without having watched a live match - so this is induction to be Aussie-sized!
My secondary sch class used to watch the Malaysia Cup at National Stadium, except this is a different ball game altogether. Plus no large triangular large curry puffs & nasi lemak. It's beer, chips & massive burgers here!
I came to the match without knowing how the rules work... they have two different leagues here - the NRL (National Rugby League) and AFL (Australian Football League).
I only know NRL players are bigger sized and the touchdown gets you 4 points. AFL players are smaller built and they score by kicking through the 2 standing poles. That's about all I know and need to know to skim through this Broncos game.:)
The atmosphere was darn cool - check out the blimp! They had the thingy circulating round the stadium before the game started.And to get me a little more involved emotionally in the game, I placed a teeny weeny "hope" for the Broncos to win and hopefully to pay for my dinner. Thank goodness they won and I got my dinner expenses covered... :D
Oh did I forget to mention they provided free shuttle buses from the city to the stadium, includes the return trip as well?! Final Score: Broncos 30 bt Raiders 19
No. of pax in stadium: 31,000
Monday, 27 August 2007
The Great Climate Debate
The week went by in a whizz. I can't quite recall what exactly happened in the week or what I was busy with. I suppose it was just down to lessons and work?
The weekend was good though. I finally got to play overnight mahjong again on Friday... and we had "supper" at 5am at the casino cafe. There isn't really much to choose from in peaceful Brissy.
Sunday was eventful for me. There was a public debate to attend and then a footy match in the afternoon... I wanted to start the day by having breakfast at Southbank. It didn't go smoothly. My chicken and vege pie was attacked by an ibis, this preying bird who hopped onto my table and took my pie away. Just like that!! Brekkie was back to just a cup of latte for me. Damn the bird!
After that, my friend and I attended a public debate "The Great Climate Change Debate" between Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Garrett (Minister for Environment and Shadow Minister for Environment). The debate was absolutely brilliant! I never did have to struggle at all to keep awake... both speakers were eloquent and needless to say, extremely politically correct.
The audience had no qualms about interupting the speakers by shouting out loud objections like "that's not true!" & "answer the question!!" even though the person speaking is a Minister. Now, this is freedom of speech!
Never will you get this brand of open communication back in my home country without getting into trouble...
The public packed the Griffith Uni Conservatorium which held about 600 pax... the free event was booked out! I was one of the lucky ones (and one of the two non-Aussies) who got the ticket.
Demographics of the crowd clocked the entire range, from young school kids 10 years of age to the seniors. It was very inspiring and heartening to see this natural response (no mobilisation needed to bus people down). These people were genuinely keen to do their part for the climate and to represent the community voice in government.
Point of similarity nonetheless which probably cuts across politicians of the world united: They NEVER answer the question... and have pretty much mastered the art of evasion.
The weekend was good though. I finally got to play overnight mahjong again on Friday... and we had "supper" at 5am at the casino cafe. There isn't really much to choose from in peaceful Brissy.
Sunday was eventful for me. There was a public debate to attend and then a footy match in the afternoon... I wanted to start the day by having breakfast at Southbank. It didn't go smoothly. My chicken and vege pie was attacked by an ibis, this preying bird who hopped onto my table and took my pie away. Just like that!! Brekkie was back to just a cup of latte for me. Damn the bird!
After that, my friend and I attended a public debate "The Great Climate Change Debate" between Malcolm Turnbull and Peter Garrett (Minister for Environment and Shadow Minister for Environment). The debate was absolutely brilliant! I never did have to struggle at all to keep awake... both speakers were eloquent and needless to say, extremely politically correct.The audience had no qualms about interupting the speakers by shouting out loud objections like "that's not true!" & "answer the question!!" even though the person speaking is a Minister. Now, this is freedom of speech!
Never will you get this brand of open communication back in my home country without getting into trouble...
The public packed the Griffith Uni Conservatorium which held about 600 pax... the free event was booked out! I was one of the lucky ones (and one of the two non-Aussies) who got the ticket. Demographics of the crowd clocked the entire range, from young school kids 10 years of age to the seniors. It was very inspiring and heartening to see this natural response (no mobilisation needed to bus people down). These people were genuinely keen to do their part for the climate and to represent the community voice in government.
Point of similarity nonetheless which probably cuts across politicians of the world united: They NEVER answer the question... and have pretty much mastered the art of evasion.
Saturday, 18 August 2007
Words of Wisdom
They say perseverance pays off... But I suppose not all the time?
So how do you know when to stop?
Where is the line to draw to differentiate pure silly and perseverance?
What's the difference between pushing yourself to achieve higher limits and pushing yourself knowing very well your limitations? Is the latter admirable though ultimately it may not attain the desired effect?
Be braver and stronger...
So how do you know when to stop?
Where is the line to draw to differentiate pure silly and perseverance?
What's the difference between pushing yourself to achieve higher limits and pushing yourself knowing very well your limitations? Is the latter admirable though ultimately it may not attain the desired effect?
Be braver and stronger...
Friday, 17 August 2007
Ekka Eureka!
And so it's true HUGE soft toys are given away as prizes at fairs like this... I always saw this on Ang Moh TV but the scams at the Singapore funfairs eroded my outlook in life about this. I went to the annual Queensland state fair (aka Ekka), played some silly games and won these 2 huge stuff for a total investment of AUD35! Not too bad a deal ya? Erm, just one slight problem though - how am I going to bring these two huge thingies back home? 
Ekka was an experience... All things fun, festive, foodie and "farmed" gathered. There were thrill rides (I didn't dare try them - they look very hiong! Didn't want to puke my guts out!), loads of game stalls, a hall filled with all kind of foods, an area with stalls selling showbags (with multiple goodies in them), "farm" areas with sheeps, cows, piglets, birds, dogs, horses... It was a conglomeration of stuff! There was also a 10 minute display of fireworks which was not fantastic but alright. I only wish Singapore could figure out something of this scale too, it'll be awesome!! Then we are talking culture and tourism...
I went with 2 classmates from Journalism studies... Jerry (on the right) is from Nanjing, China and Candy is from Taiwan. Their level of Mandarin is superb and there's no way I can match up with theirs with my meagre knowledge of 4-word phrases! And even speaking Hokkien to Candy was a challenge too! Her Hokkien is the real authentic stuff... I was rather amused and amazed at the same time when I first heard it. Thank goodness she was not offended... haha! Anyway she had a good time laughing at my Mandarin too, so it's pretty fair! 
This is us at the enclosed farm animals area... we went crazy about the cute little furry things walking just right next to us! But this shot is the glamourous one - I fed a goat and it was licking my hand all over... absolutely grossly dripping wet! YEEKS! I still find the meh mehs cute though :P
Now I am just waiting eagerly for Riverfestival, yet another local festival and they say it features a spectacular display of fireworks. Looking forward to that! :D
Ekka was an experience... All things fun, festive, foodie and "farmed" gathered. There were thrill rides (I didn't dare try them - they look very hiong! Didn't want to puke my guts out!), loads of game stalls, a hall filled with all kind of foods, an area with stalls selling showbags (with multiple goodies in them), "farm" areas with sheeps, cows, piglets, birds, dogs, horses... It was a conglomeration of stuff! There was also a 10 minute display of fireworks which was not fantastic but alright. I only wish Singapore could figure out something of this scale too, it'll be awesome!! Then we are talking culture and tourism...
I went with 2 classmates from Journalism studies... Jerry (on the right) is from Nanjing, China and Candy is from Taiwan. Their level of Mandarin is superb and there's no way I can match up with theirs with my meagre knowledge of 4-word phrases! And even speaking Hokkien to Candy was a challenge too! Her Hokkien is the real authentic stuff... I was rather amused and amazed at the same time when I first heard it. Thank goodness she was not offended... haha! Anyway she had a good time laughing at my Mandarin too, so it's pretty fair! 
This is us at the enclosed farm animals area... we went crazy about the cute little furry things walking just right next to us! But this shot is the glamourous one - I fed a goat and it was licking my hand all over... absolutely grossly dripping wet! YEEKS! I still find the meh mehs cute though :PNow I am just waiting eagerly for Riverfestival, yet another local festival and they say it features a spectacular display of fireworks. Looking forward to that! :D
Thursday, 16 August 2007
Semester Two looks daunting...
This semester seems tougher than the first, although I am supposedly to have warmed up already. The assignments look more daunting than ever before... How am I to do a political, medical and education story all due in a few weeks' time?
Will stay in this weekend to mug after major out-of-pocket expenditure at Gold Coast yesterday! Enjoyment ceases this weekend...!
Will stay in this weekend to mug after major out-of-pocket expenditure at Gold Coast yesterday! Enjoyment ceases this weekend...!
Monday, 13 August 2007
On the other side of the law
Protest rallies aren't quite a common sight in Singapore so I made an additional effort to wake up earlier last Sunday morning to catch a protest rally in the city. This one's particularly interesting because it was staged by the Queensland Police!
*IF things get ugly, who steps in to control the chaos if the police themselves are involved...???*
The rally meant to fight for fairer wages and treatment of the cops by the state government. Not sure if the men&women-in-uniforms got their desired outcome...
My housemate pointed something interesting - the rally time is probably the peak hour for crimes to happen... didn't hear of any sudden rise in crime rates though :)
Took a couple of shots particularly liked this one of a patriotic dog who donned an OZ flag plus the dog is so darn cute!
There were also scores of people who lined the pathways to applaud the police. There was also a bagpipe squad who lead the rally, and their somewhat celtic music had a certain effect on me. I actually felt my patriotic switch turned on!
*IF things get ugly, who steps in to control the chaos if the police themselves are involved...???*
The rally meant to fight for fairer wages and treatment of the cops by the state government. Not sure if the men&women-in-uniforms got their desired outcome...
My housemate pointed something interesting - the rally time is probably the peak hour for crimes to happen... didn't hear of any sudden rise in crime rates though :)
Took a couple of shots particularly liked this one of a patriotic dog who donned an OZ flag plus the dog is so darn cute! There were also scores of people who lined the pathways to applaud the police. There was also a bagpipe squad who lead the rally, and their somewhat celtic music had a certain effect on me. I actually felt my patriotic switch turned on!
Words of Wisdom
Do not belittle cheap thrills - it keeps the adrenalin going!
Muahaha...
Expensive thrills - keeps the adrenalin going too, and the heart pumping much faster than usual!
Take your pick!
And Hey, share your cheap thrills too! :D
Muahaha...
Expensive thrills - keeps the adrenalin going too, and the heart pumping much faster than usual!
Take your pick!
And Hey, share your cheap thrills too! :D
God Save the Queen
I went for my first court hearing today, to listen in and to get material to write a court story due next Friday.
It was an experience yet again becoz I have never been inside a court room, let alone actually sit for 2 hours and listen intently and scribbling all at the same time.
Queensland runs on a jury system like some major powers in the world. I got to witness the jury selection process and the oath swearing process which ends with "God Save the Queen"
I spoke to a friend studying law in the state of Victoria and apparently they don't say that anymore. Hmmm... someone enlighten me on the legal system in Singapore. *just briefly pls... no blabber blabber :P*
I did manage to get what I want so it's just down to the writing bit *AARGGHH + whinge*
It's just a great pity there is no similarity at all to The Practice and Ally McBeal... which is way too frivolous a representation of reality. *I hear nuanda nodding and screaming "I told you so!!!"*
The sentence is not passed yet... so I am liable to stay mum about the case details.
God Save the Queen...
It was an experience yet again becoz I have never been inside a court room, let alone actually sit for 2 hours and listen intently and scribbling all at the same time.
Queensland runs on a jury system like some major powers in the world. I got to witness the jury selection process and the oath swearing process which ends with "God Save the Queen"
I spoke to a friend studying law in the state of Victoria and apparently they don't say that anymore. Hmmm... someone enlighten me on the legal system in Singapore. *just briefly pls... no blabber blabber :P*
I did manage to get what I want so it's just down to the writing bit *AARGGHH + whinge*
It's just a great pity there is no similarity at all to The Practice and Ally McBeal... which is way too frivolous a representation of reality. *I hear nuanda nodding and screaming "I told you so!!!"*
The sentence is not passed yet... so I am liable to stay mum about the case details.
God Save the Queen...
Sunday, 12 August 2007
National Day Parade - I got to watch a little too!
I was supposed to put this up 2 days ago but my lack of technical inclination failed me badly. I am hopeless at Photoshop! So no collages for now... just the photos straight up!Moving right on... I got to watch NDP 2007 away from home! The students' association here organised a gathering for some Singaporean fare (Beehoon and Chix wing) and a live webcast of the parade. I had no idea there are over 200 students in Brisbane! That's quite a crowd... AND they are all young little things (which is terribly disturbing to me being a member of the Trio Club)
I didn't stay long, just enough to watch the politicians take their seats. To me, that has always been the best bit coz it's interesting to see the seating arrangements of the politicians. Plus it's a mini test for me to see if I know "Who's Who"...
It is a strange feeling though to watch the NDP from a foreign land. I bet over 60% of the crowd at that gathering never really gave a damn about the parade back home in Singapore.
Kudos to the NDP stage set at The Esplanade Bay - it looks fantastic!
Words of Wisdom
Lead your time the way YOU want it to be... maybe not exactly but close enough :P
Do not base your worth on what others think, only care and account to those who matter to you and worth the matter...
Do not base your worth on what others think, only care and account to those who matter to you and worth the matter...
New stuff!
This is probably quite an impossible thing to happen to me... but I splurged on 2 new MP3 players. It was on 20% discount and comes up to a really good deal.
I couldn't resist and so had to cash out on them.
Here they are... I only bought 2 - the 3rd one, which is the black Samsung K3 is my housemate's as seen in his very hands. Aren't they beautiful things? It's just tough having to set up the technical bits to get the music going though... am getting there!
I couldn't resist and so had to cash out on them.
Here they are... I only bought 2 - the 3rd one, which is the black Samsung K3 is my housemate's as seen in his very hands. Aren't they beautiful things? It's just tough having to set up the technical bits to get the music going though... am getting there!
Thursday, 9 August 2007
Discovery
Skinny Weak Latte - Awesome! *Slurp*
And Happy National Day SINGAPORE! Will be watching NDP'07 tonight at a Singapore gathering here in Brisbane via webcast... cheers!
And Happy National Day SINGAPORE! Will be watching NDP'07 tonight at a Singapore gathering here in Brisbane via webcast... cheers!
Wednesday, 8 August 2007
Real Life Imagery
This is an entirely different frame of mind from the afternoon where chocolate proved to be effective therapy and sleep-buster.
I haven't quite blogged about my Journo studies here... Now that Semester 2 has started I suppose there isn't much point to writing much about what happened in Sem 1. But very briefly, some of the highlights were
1) Interviewing people for radio news packages
2) Reading the news on radio (All the radio stuff do go on air!)
3) TV practicals which allowed me to do a PTC (piece to camera). This is the part that you watch reporters on TV on actual location and telling news as it is.
4) Interviewing and squeezing in a question to the DPM about the Aussie budget... they must be thinking why the heck do I bother about the budget being someone from overseas!
I thought I would enjoy TV journalism. Furthermore, the radio journalism in Singapore seemed contained in Caldecott Hill - nothing much really!
I changed my mind.
Radio news allowed me autonomy over my reporting and scripting. I selected the news angle I wanted to focus on, rather than the TV producers deciding what was newsworthy.
That was how Semester 1 went.
I am hoping to get experience in print journalism this Semester 2. After all, back home, print journalism is THE thing. At least that was what I thought when I was doing corporate communications.
I was just looking at a website for photojournalism www.worldpressphoto.org
It was startling to realise the award winning entries seemed to gear towards war, death, poverty and the likes... I never had a chance, or rather, never had exposure to these issues back home. Viewing the photos, I now do realise that we are indeed all but a dot on the world map...
I haven't quite blogged about my Journo studies here... Now that Semester 2 has started I suppose there isn't much point to writing much about what happened in Sem 1. But very briefly, some of the highlights were
1) Interviewing people for radio news packages
2) Reading the news on radio (All the radio stuff do go on air!)
3) TV practicals which allowed me to do a PTC (piece to camera). This is the part that you watch reporters on TV on actual location and telling news as it is.
4) Interviewing and squeezing in a question to the DPM about the Aussie budget... they must be thinking why the heck do I bother about the budget being someone from overseas!
I thought I would enjoy TV journalism. Furthermore, the radio journalism in Singapore seemed contained in Caldecott Hill - nothing much really!
I changed my mind.
Radio news allowed me autonomy over my reporting and scripting. I selected the news angle I wanted to focus on, rather than the TV producers deciding what was newsworthy.
That was how Semester 1 went.
I am hoping to get experience in print journalism this Semester 2. After all, back home, print journalism is THE thing. At least that was what I thought when I was doing corporate communications.
I was just looking at a website for photojournalism www.worldpressphoto.org
It was startling to realise the award winning entries seemed to gear towards war, death, poverty and the likes... I never had a chance, or rather, never had exposure to these issues back home. Viewing the photos, I now do realise that we are indeed all but a dot on the world map...
Tuesday, 7 August 2007
Choc Therapy
Nothing beats chocolate at holistic healing! Wasn't feeling fantastic even after satisfying my lunch pangs with pasta and so...... treated myself to 2 fingers of Kit Kat Chocolate Overload!You can never overload chocolate - right now, it just loads me full to the brim with satisfaction and happiness! :)
Chocolate therapy recommended for those having a sucky day! :D
Just ranting on...
Weekends should be longer leh, don't you think?
They just go in a breeze... I hardly did anything constructive on the weekend except a little bit of shopping. I just need a little bit more time leh :(
They just go in a breeze... I hardly did anything constructive on the weekend except a little bit of shopping. I just need a little bit more time leh :(
Friday, 3 August 2007
Gold Coast, Seaworld
After 5 months here, I finally had a chance to visit one of the worlds, which are supposedly major tourist attractions. We figured that our ages combined will not endure plunging and heartstopping rides and settled for Seaworld!
Well, they had rides there too! Jas and CG made SF and I go on The Corkscrew
... we survived that! It was over in a minute... the last time I went on this kind of rides was about 5 years ago!
I don't know how you guys out there cope with heart plunging thrill rides like these. I had to scream every second of the ride - didn't quite hear the rest coz I only heard myself :O
The Viking was stressful - these pictures aren't very flattering for me but it was amazing how the photo can be taken when the ride was in motion! SF and I were so positive and glam - BEFORE the ride. The expression on my face during the ordeal tells everything...
Well, they had rides there too! Jas and CG made SF and I go on The Corkscrew ... we survived that! It was over in a minute... the last time I went on this kind of rides was about 5 years ago!
I don't know how you guys out there cope with heart plunging thrill rides like these. I had to scream every second of the ride - didn't quite hear the rest coz I only heard myself :O
The Viking was stressful - these pictures aren't very flattering for me but it was amazing how the photo can be taken when the ride was in motion! SF and I were so positive and glam - BEFORE the ride. The expression on my face during the ordeal tells everything...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
