I must admit that when I first arrived in Melbourne, I had a pretty hard time adapting to the weather.

It was temperamental and yet excruciatingly cold when the sun sets!

 

They say its very likely to experience 4 seasons in ONE DAY. That's how unpredictable it is.

 

The sun shines brightly during the day but the cold wind is enough to give you chills anytime

 

And you call that Summer? Yeah, I arrived in mid February – when it was in the middle of Summer.

I'm sorry, if ya think Australian Summer this year is anything remotely close to any other day in Malaysia, you're terribly wrong.

 

You would never want to be caught dead outdoors in the early mornings

it's FREEEEEEZING!

 

As mentioned, it's not too bad during the day but being typical Malaysian, I'm so used to wearing very

little clothes that I actually forget about how cold it is outside

 

A random mini green pinecone we found.

Whose palm is that btw?

 

 I spend the days indoors with my housies in the West

 

And my mates from the house next door!

 

Always up for a drink or two!

 

As fun as it is in the West, I spend more of my time in South now

I'm glad to have made an awesome bunch of friends there. Love them much!

 

The route between West rez & South rez

 

Sunny days for the Summer, but it never gets anything close to 25 degrees celcius

 

Chilling by South 9's porch

 

At the uni lounge deck with some of my mates!

From L-R : Levan, Todd, Devin and Deanna

 

Without realizing it, the days of Summer are over and we are now in the midst of Autumn.

 

The leaves on the trees has turned yellow in preparation to fall

 

Bright yellow, vermilion orange and deep, scarlet reds beautifully scattered on the ground

 

Different trees shed their leaves at different times.

This tree, for example, was a tad late in joining the rest of his kind, but boasts a beautiful, burgundy hue.

 

Walking by this tree after classes, I can't help but to stop in my tracks

and admire Mother Nature's wonder

 

One morning, as the sunlight peeped through my window and in the near distance, I spotted a tree with bright red leaves.

Seeing that red is my favorite colour and the fact that I never once noticed this tree just outside my rez, I whipped out my camera and bolted through the door in my pyjamas.

 

Excuse the straight-out-of-bed face and hair!

I just had to take a picture with it immediately

 

Here it is again. The rare, bright red ones standing out from the crowd.

Be inspired. I know I am.

 

As of now, it is nearing towards the end of Autumn and we are expecting Winter to arrive soon.

The days are even colder than before and the nights bring frost to the grass and mist to our mouths.

 

Every night hits below 5 degrees celcius and I spend all my time right in front of the heater now.

The roaring warmth helps to keep me from freezing my arse off.

 

 

Branches are left bare and empty for Winter

 

No wonder it's so cold. You can actually feel the chill in the air. I soon found out that it was already snowing at Bendigo, some 4 hours away.

I can't wait for my snowboarding, skiing and tobogganing trip up Mount Baw Baw with my mates in late June when the blanket of snow are inches and inches thick!

 

Here's to hoping it will snow in Melbourne city or Gippsland too!

Not that I intend to freeze or frostbite myself to death, but simply because I've never seen snow before in my entire life!

 

Now that my assignment marathon is over, it's time to clear up the rising hill of clean laundry on my bed.

Yes, as I mentioned here, my bed hasn't been slept in for a week; my room is tantamount to a touch-and go-hotel room, where I'd just come in, change my clothes, freshen up and head right off either to uni or south rez.

 

Anyway! I've got some time to chillax before diving headfirst into the next round of assignments again.

Mother Nature celebrated with me today – with such a lovely weather

 

Altocumulus clouds! I've never seen quite like it before.

 

It's all white and fluffy! Arranged so haphazardly against the azure canvas, I couldn't help but to stop in my tracks and watch it with admiration.

I mean, sure, I've seen lotsa clouds before but these little specks are really cute as!

 

I

Here I am on my way back from grocery shopping at Woolworths

Bought lotsa stuff for my dessert baking session for 1 birthday party and 1 BBQ party this week

 

If you noticed in the background, yeah there are construction going on around Churchill at the mo.

They're prolly trying to upgrade the skatepark or to quote my mates, they might be "building a rape dungeon" -__-"

 

Right.

 

Oh and, as I was walking over to South rez after shopping, I came across these lovelies snugly rooted amidst the grassy field.

 

It's an Agaricus Bisporus!

Yup, White Mushroom is its common name

I wonder if I could just pluck it off and cook it ala Portobello mushrooms? haha

It's nice spacing out one day from the busy city life to actually breathe and give nature a chance to take the front seat

 

Have you explored your neighbourhood lately? Or even your backyard?

You totally should, you'd be surprised what you might find there!

 

 

 

I'm hooomeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

Check out all the pretty photos that my Shutter Sidekick produced below!

 

Touching down my hometown with the iconic Penang Bridge in sight and taking in the reminiscence of my childhood memories has never been better! ahh.. there's no place like home. 

 

 

Shot with Art Filters : Pinhole Mode

My cosy living room

Uber miss it to the max

 

 

There's also nothing like seeing the shocked expressions plastered on my Godmom, Popoh, Mom, Dad & Kakak's faces the moment I magically appeared before their eyes without prior notice! But heck, I knew they were very pleasantly surprised. I've never heard my name being called out so many times before in a single sentence in extreme high pitches!

 

 

Mom & I. I surprised her at the office after surprising Godmom & Popoh at home

Kakak & dad were next

 

 

And may I add that they were all staring at me as though I've resurrected from the dead or just grew an antenna on my head -_____-

 

 

YES IT'S MEEEEE.

AND I'M HOME.

SURRRRRPRISSSSSSSEEEE!

 

 

Ooookayy fer those of you fellas/old friends/buddies in Penang, don't skin me alive for not telling yall earlier! It was kinda like a haphazard last minute decision to surprise my folks! Though it was a loooong gruelling roadtrip driving back to Penang with a good friend Nadia, it was worth it all seeing the family's excited and emotionally moved faces

 

So what did I do next?

 

 

Taa-daa!

Guess where I am now?

 

 

 

What about mom?

Looks like a forest-nature retreat aye?

 

 

 

 

 

This very pretty and serene place is located within the hidden depths of Tanjung Bungah. It's somewhere opposite the Tanjung Bungah Beach Hotel I absolutely loved the tranquility here. It's how all Spas should be! Who wants to go to a spa in the middle of a busy town, right? Haha I'd choose this anytime.

 

 

What a breathtaking interior for a cosy lil Spa like this!

Feels just like a villa

 

 

 

Here's the reception counter as I was signing my name. So traditional right? Love the sculpture though.. aesthetic art should always be adored! Fresh ginger tea was served too.

 

 

 

 

Here's how it looked like inside. I remember my last session here – it was a very nice manicure and pedicure by them too! And beneath the Siamese umbrella was where I sat previously. The furniture and wooden-framed interior was just perfect for a girly evening out with Mom.

Uber love

 

 

 

 

Okay, as you might've already guessed… yup, we were in a Spa. After all the drama, tears of joy and jubilant moments at home (dad couldn't stop repeating, "My daughter is back home!), I brought Mom to Danai Spa in Tanjung Bungah for their Signature 60 minute Full Body Massage with Essential Oils.

 

 

Here's a treat for one of the most important ladies in my life!

Her royal highness, my rockin' cool momma

 

 

Mom was laughing through the beginning of the session -____-" as she says it was very ticklish LOL. But being me, I fell fast asleep after those immensely good pressure points and massages that really got me at all the right places! Perfect remedy for all the stress of work and varsity life

 

 

 

The relaxing & aromatherapic experience is courtesy of Danai Spa themselves

Your masseurs were fabulous. Thanks for the session!

 

 

 

On our way out after everything was over, I couldn't help but to snap another piccie with the Olympus PEN E-PL1! Such a picturesque photo opportunity shouldn't be missed! So I whipped out my shutter sidekick and switched it to the settings of my choice :

 

 

Shot with Art Filters : Diodrama mode

 

 

 

Just had home cooked dinner with ze family. When you're hungry, everything tastes good! Spent some time with them watching American Idol too. Gosh, been a long time since I actually watched the idiot box! Ever since I moved to KL, I hardly touched the telly

 

 

Shot with Art Filters : Pinhole Mode

 

 

Ookay, it's 2AM now. Gotta hit the sack! Pleasant dreams to all of you while I lie asleep in my very own bedroom at home too

So much plans with Mom tomorrow. Buffet lunch at Flamingo Hotel and Gurney Plaza for some shopping!

 

 

 

Who would've thought I would agree to waking up at an unearthly hour at 6.30AM to defy gravity by swinging from tree to tree? How about walking in a zig-zag position on nothing but strips of wooden planks suspended more than 70metres in the air?

 

Don't look down, Jess. Don't look down.

 

Yup, I chose to have that moment of exhilaration over my beauty sleep. It better be worth it! For my long-time readers out there, yall would know that I completely detest mornings.. make that VERY EARLY MORNINGS. I would yank the covers over my head and bury my head under the pillow if I didn't see a dire need to wake up early.

 

But how my mind categorized a Skytrex Adventure as a 'dire need' was beyond me

 

So by invitation courtesy of Visiber, off I went up the hill in Shah Alam to put my Sky Trekking skills, stamina and durability to test Thanks guys! Hopefully I won't break a bone or come crashing down to the ground 70 feet below. That's what safety nets are for by the way

 

Okay.. now for the gloves…

 

Johnson, meme & Chris

 

Upon choosing the Big Thrill Adventure (there was a Little Adventure and an Extreme Challenge Adventure), we were briefed by the instructors about what to expect and got our *stinky* gloves from the deck Okay lah, it wasn't stinky. If you didn't buy a new pair at RM5, then you'll get the stinky ones Hint : BRING YOUR OWN

 

 

I did the Big Thrill challenge okay! Don't play play

 

 

Was initially confident that it was gonna be easy peasy lemon squeezy since I used to be an athlete back in high school AND go to the gym often. But when I saw this…..

 

My jaw dropped

 

Am i supposed to climb that thing with my bare hands? Where's Tarzan and his vines?

 

So I brushed that thought aside, and headed off to the Gear-Up deck with Fong Mei to get our harnesses, hook & pulleys, carabineer and V Landyard. Yeah, it's prolly jargon to you as it was to me on that very morning but hey, didn't you just learn something new?

 

This is a carabineer!

If you don't have this you won't be able to swing from tree to tree!

 

 

Getting harnessed up with the equipments hanging around me

 

It was good to know that the peeps at Skytrex-Adventure were really well trained. Safety first! They made sure our harnesses were well fastened and even let us go on a dry run before the real deal

 

Yeah, so just in case you fall down down down down downnnn~

You'd just bump your head and not break your ribs

 

 

 

 So after I passed the "test", it was time to face the trees. I did lots and lots of warming up – lest I get a leg cramp right up there and no one can save me even if I screamed my lungs out or made smoke signals! Okay, time to proceed the beginning stage of our adventure!

 

*gulps*

 

The participant would have to be able to climb that tree to get to the top of where the challenge begins. But it was pretty tiring before it began! I had to stop twice in the midst of climbing it because it was one hell of a loooooooong way up, trust me.

 

When I *finally* reached the top, there was a net which I had to cross next! As I was walking across the net, the net kept wobbling & swaying left and right. Gosh! It was pretty freaky but glad that the net was really sturdy. I bet it can withstand the weight of 3 elephants too

 

Shot when I finally reached the other side

 

 

There were a few other challenges we were supposed to be up against, before it became repetitive with different difficulty levels. There was this part where I had to 'walk the plank'! Can't believe there was no support except the suspended planks and well, the strength of your arms!

 

Focus now.. focus. Don't miss a step!

 

 

Once that was done, I was excited to know what lies ahead!

 

oh.my.god

 

I was terrified! My voice quavered with fear when I yelled "WHAT NOW?? HOW?" Like seriously, I didn't know how I could finish walking that without having my heartbeat thump right outta my rib cage. But I managed – finally.

 

BUT THAT WAS NOT ALL!

There was round two. This time, MUCH HIGHER!

 

Noooooooooooooo

 

But the worst was yet to come. You wonder how circus acts do their thang on the tight rope? Well, stop wondering and try it for yourself. No joke! Take a look -

 

HOW TO WALK LIDDAT!!!

but in the end everyone managed to Isn't that always the case?

 

 

Okay here's something you should know actually. You ain't supposed to bring anything up except yourself and your water bottle. But being me, I obviously didn't give two hoots and brought my DSLR climbing with me all the way up anyway. Yes, you read right. I lugged my DSLR from tree to tree.

IF NOT HOW TO TAKE PICTURES AND BLOG FOR YALL TO SEE?

heeeeee

 

 

Shit shit shit shit

 

We had to cross to the other tree on top of those slippery rubber tubes! Each time you step on one, the whole thing will shake vigorously! Hmm.. I guess they didn't set the maximum weight at 100KG for nothing. LOL But I hated this part the most! You're so frightened yet you can't close your eyes entirely

 

Are we done yet? Can I peek now?

 

Okay if you didn't already know, I didn't exactly put the challenges in order. I saved the best for last! The ultimate flying fox! If I'm not mistaken, I did the flying fox at least 5 times. There were 5 plusminus altogether but with different heights and different distances.

 

Sometimes I wonder what would happen if someone were to be stuck in the middle while flying fox

There's no way up nor a way down. Ya just gotta do the Na'vi call for the bird

if Tarzan's quick enough, he'd prolly get to you first

 

 

So hold on tight, shut your eyes, let yourself accelerate and  free fall diagonally downnnnnnnnnnnnn!

 

Repeat this a few times and there was one that lasted for a whole 30 seconds!

How far is that! Woots!

 

 

When it was all over, I was exhausted! The shots that you see in this post is prolly only a quarter of what you're gonna expect in the Big Thrill adventure! There was so much more climbing, swinging, balancing and gliding throughout the entire track. I was parched because I chose to bring my DSLR instead of a good bottle of water.

*facepalm*

 

But so what! I gulped down gallons and gallons when we got down to the party deck!

 

Oh and it's my first time sitting on a hammock btw

You don't see that very often!

 

So.. ready to defy gravity for yourselves now?