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!

As promised in this post, it's to the city again I go!

It's a voyage I've always looked forward to. Adjourning from the suburbs in Camberwell via Metlink Train.

Can't help that this city girl is always waiting to burst out into the urbans!

I raced the train to capture it passing by!! 🙂

Anyway, excitement over. Let's rewind. First I had to walk to the nearest train station, which was about 15 minutes away by foot. *pants*  So I started walking…

Sucha sunny day today, ain't it?

… and walking  

… and walking

I loved how the insane weather held up just for me 😛  

At least I'd like to think so hehe  

…..and walking  

… and walking! Good thing I put on some real good & comfy kicks.  

So yes, I finally reached the railway tracks half an hour later LOL.   That's due to all the shooting, taking in the perfect view of mother nature and stopping to smell the flowers.

Yeah, literally, I did stoop down to pick up daisies, how ladylike of me *coughs*  

Oh look! I'm standing in the middle of the tracks.  

Let's just hope a train doesn't come by while I work the camera 😛  

Standing right in the middle of the railway 😛  

Okay, enough fooling around 😀  So I finally arrived the train station, Hartwell Station, along the Alamein line  

Bought my Metcard and hey ho, let's go!  

Train was very efficient, it came right on the dot according to the board which displays each train's estimated time of arrival.

So I got in and it was kinda empty, but it'll eventually fill up with people as it gets closer to the city 🙂  

After less than half an hour, hello again city!! 🙂

I can finally breathe some air into my "metropolitan" lungs

Aaaahhhhh *inhales and exhales*

Shot this from the inside of Flinders Street Station

It's one of those beauuuuutiful train stations that never fail to capture the interest of tourists.

In the short moment that I was there, I've already spotted 10 odd foreigners snapping away!

The breathtaking urban life before me

Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Melbourne city 😀

Can't helping taking a shot WITH it too 😛

Similarly to Bukit Bintang or KLCC area back home in Malaysia and Orchard Road in Singapore, Flinders Street and Swanston Street here in Melbourne are pretty much always abuzz with a myriad of people… anytime of the day!

Swarming with people at most pedestrian crossings

When I got to the other side, I wanted to take a touristy ride all around the city on a free service called the City Circle Tram. It's a brown tram which circles the main zones of the city.

So hop on with me!

Here I am waiting right opposite Flinders Street Train station at one of the tram stops.

It comes every 5 minutes or so, very efficient!

You can see many other tourists (and some locals) waiting for it too.

I can't wait to see what's in store for me in the city. Elizabeth Street, Swanston Street, Queen Victoria Street Market, Burke Street, the State Library of Victoria, Southbank and so many others!

Walking along Elizabeth Street!

Was too excited touring the city! Sucks that I got hungry at 3pm-ish

Because at that time, most of the yummy food court shops at the Queen Victoria market had all shut 🙁

And if you didn't know, all the malls in Melbourne closes at 5pm.

YES FIVE O' CLOCK IN THE !@#$%^&*( EVENING.

I miss hanging out/shopping in malls till 10.30pm back in Malaysia!

Wonder what do Australians do after 5pm? Dinner and then go home?

Anyway, speaking of my lunch, I was too late! The only stuff available were Subway, Maccas (Yes, that is what they call McDonalds in Australia), Hungry Jacks and all the other fast food stuff. Bummer 🙁 🙁

I ended up with Subway and omg the Subway there has SO MUCH MORE CHOICES compared to the one back in Malaysia.

Okay, nevermind the fact that we don't/can't have pork nor bacon, but I'm also talking about the variety of sauces/bread/condiments!

Disappointed! 🙁

I didn't come all the way to the city to eat fast food nnoooooo

Issokay. There's always another day!

Besides, I headed up to Lygon Street for their Italian food with a good friend of mine, Alexis.

Went to one of the chocolate lounges with buddy Violet and her boyf James

Greek food for dinner with fellow Malaysian pal Rebecca 😀

Now, those were yum! (and a dent in my pocket yeee-ouucchh)

Back in Flinders Street Station the next day to do more exploring!

Where did I go and what did I do on both these days?

That's for another story, ye? Wait for it, dear readers, you'll see pretty damn soon, you bet 😉

Okie since today is the 14th day of Chinese New Year (we have altogether 15 days!), I reckon it's still somewhat relevant to share some more piccies of my CNY celebrations with thefockers and some homies whom I caught up with before my departure to Melbourne.

Happy Year of the Rabbit 2011 again to the fellow celebrators of CNY!
 

I hope you fellow Chinese folks enjoy tomorrow, which is 'Chap Goh Meh'  (15th and final day of the Lunar New Year). Legend has it that if young, unmarried ladies throw tangerines into the sea, their future spouse will be the one who pick it up. LOL

Perfect excuse to throw 'em oranges at people ey 😛 Whooops!
 

Taken with a plushie of 'Choy Sun Ye' (God of Prosperity)

Unbelievable as it may sound, one of the many  things I miss about Malaysia is our constant (but absurdly hot) sunny weather. We can head out from home wearing anything we want without a care in the world.
 

But ever since I've been here for the past 5 days, it's been freezing cold for half a day, freakishly hot for the next few hours with torrid sunlight and cool for the rest of the day.

Now I've no choice but to bring at least a jacket or cardigan – if not my coat – out with me

Yup, the weather here IS indeed as unpredictable as they say and as weird as it may sound, the question, "How's the weather today?" is actually something substantial to talk about.

Unlike back home in Malaysia, it is practically a joke if someone actually asks you that -__-"

I miss putting on my sunnies throughout the whole day and wearing a sundress out in Malaysia

Thankfully, I bought a long coat here to keep me warm already. It's made of cashmere & wool and I actually look very different in it! I like it very much as I somehow imagine myself as a Gossip Girl character trudging down the streets of Manhattan in the cold when I put it on 😛 😛

Okay, time to burst my bubble of fiction. Will show you piccies of it soon, ye?

P/S : shopping is lovely here!!!!

So yes, apart from missing the insanely tropical weather in Malaysia, I miss the food too.
 

No way in hell imma spend AUD $18.90 (RM57.60) on a plate of Wan Tan Mee, Nasi Lemak or Char Koay Teow! The prices of food is so hefty that I had to bleed from my nose paying for it

aaahhh. Malaysian Chinese food. Never thought I'd miss them all
 

Some of the Chinese New Year food I ate early this month!
 

Louuuuuuu Saaaaang!!

Steamed white pomphret fish and demonic-looking roasted piglet below
 

"U will have no sweet dreams if you eat me"
 

Which is why I usually cook my own simple meals now, microwave certain food, drink soup or eat a sandwich instead, healthier and more affordable! (here's to hoping it helps in my diet har har har 😛 :P)
 

So when in Ozzieland, I totally subscribe to my new-found principle:

"Eat like a pauper, shop like a Queen & party lika rockstaaar!"

But I love the fact that I'm brisk-walking more than usual now.

The nearest tram stop is about 8 minutes away from my doorstep and the closest railway which is the Hartwell train station, is 15 minutes away. Gone are the days where I can just hop into my car and speed off to where ever I intended to go, back in Malaysia.
 

Everything is different now.

But that's what adapting is all about.

Here are some more of the things I miss back in Malaysia, it is impossible to name all!
 

I miss…. my family
 

 whooops I think I just slayed my mom with fire

cousin Maddy 😀

camwhoring at the table with mom in the background
 

Mom joins! 🙂

Some of thefockers 🙂
 

More of thefockers
 

Even more of thefockers!
 

Happy birthday granny!!
 

 70 years old tomorrow 🙂 and she's having fun in Genting Highlands as we speak! $$$$
 

I miss…. home
 

In one of the busy but small town of Penang island… is where I call home!
 

I miss… my friends
 

Some of the homies!
 

On the way to Belissa Row to meet the rest of them

I miss… my dogs
 

Penny the silky terrier and Rocky the labrador-retriever

*tickles Penny*

 

Although I'm living with Ruffey, a Japanese Chin and occasionally Kiko, the pug mix (pics of them soon!) now, nothing compares to Penny and Rocky whom I've come home to for many years.
 

Everything's still abuzz… likened to a bright colourful whirlwind of excitement.

What can I say? It has only been 5 days.
 

I guess the dust hasn't settled yet when I'm out and about; bounding the city and the suburbs all the time.

And when it does, it's time to go home. 5 months will go by in a blink… I'm certain
 

Sorry I haven't been updating in almost a week!   Been so busy packing my jumbo-sized luggage ! 

I had 1 check-in 30kg luggage, 1 cabin 12kg luggage and a 5kg backpack to stress upon these few days.

What to bring? How many of this to pack? Is that necessary to bring along?

And this? What about that? Yadda yadda.. Decisions!

So much to carry, so little space 🙁
 

Thankfully, I maxed out my luggage and exceeded the 30kg limit by 1.2kg only phew! But my cabin bag exceeded a whole lot more than it should 😛 😛 Not to mention that my Deuter backpack was murdering my shoulders by the second 🙁

Most importantly, I survived the check-in and customs sans the penalty. woots!
 

I was so glad I arrived 3 hours before time. When I was just sitting down chilling with thefockers, loved ones and friends, the queue for Air Asia's 11PM flight to Melbourne went all the way out until the entrance of the airport!

By golly! It's a freakin' full flight yo
 

Words can't express how touched I am by the influx of people sending me their best of wishes and luck through calls, SMS, BBMs, Whatsapps, emails, Twitter and Facebook. I hope I managed to reply to ALL of you personally 😉

But nothing compared to the people who took their time to send me off at the airport in person. Thank you thank you so very much! You know who yall are!
 

Boarded the plane on time and here I am at 10.45pm camwhoring

Was bored! I decided to kill time by llistening to my trusty ol' iPod and making friends on the plane. Grace and I got along very well; the topics of interest between us ranged widely from temperamental climates, Long Distance Relationships to dead grandfathers.

Oh and, the seats were far more comfy than I expected it to be 😛 Guess it's time to catch some zzz before I arrive the next morning!
 

I cuddled Beary tightly and tried to sleep.

It was a surprise gift for me in the airport!

Initially, I was kinda worried that I was unable to stuff another item into my luggage but who cares? I hand-carried it around anyway. It's my only form of comfort lest I turn emo on one of those rainy, lonely nights in a foreign country far from my loved ones
 

I swear I tried to sleep but my mind was still unweaving and going about in circles. God knows what's on my mind, really. In the end, I didn't even manage to catch a wink of sleep so I stayed up all the way and waited for the sun to rise.
 

I feel the sun creeping up like tick tock~
 

Okay, the sun has already risen and I'm *still* not asleep yet. What on earth is this. -__-"

Every time I tried shutting my eyes, I eventually open it to either that inconsiderate fool kicking my seat from behind, to someone going to the toilet or to a random person coughing.

I need my sleep. It's way past sunrise now.

P/S : the pink you see is not my bra

Needless to say, I gave up trying to sleep.

Looks like my body is all geared up with the mightiest adrenalin rush you can ever think of and hence processed that sleep < Australia. Fine. I took sunrise pictures instead of snoozing like everybody else.

It was beautiful beyond words!

The golden rays of the sun seeping through the clouds!

For a second there I felt like I was in heaven

The cloud formation was beautiful this morning too.

It reminded me of the tides of the ocean waves
 

The pilot gave a short announcement about the wind speed and temperature. He also reminded everyone to change their timezones to GMT+11 instead of our usual GMT+8 of Daylight Saving time.

Ohmy. I still cannot get around the fact that I will be landing in Tullamarine airport in Victoria under 15 minutes. Excited? Sorry, that's an understatement of the day 😉

Shot at 0945HRS | Sydney, Melbourne & Canberra timezone 😀

And we landed safely! Thanks everyone for all your wishes

I was then officially brimming with energy at the point of touchdown despite not having any sleep LOL
 

I sure hope I will
 

Drove past the central city, Elizabeth St., Bridge St., Richmond St. and a few other suburbs before I finally arrived at Camberwell, Melbourne – where I'm staying for the time being.

As of now, it is 18 degrees celcius and I'm freezing my toes off. Someone touch my fingers now please, they are no different from ice cubes! Looks like I've got a lot to get used to 🙁

I was told by my Australian friends that Melbourne has the most insane weather of all. One can experience the 4 seasons in ONE day! Talk about temperament, sigh!
 

One minute I was wearing a tank top & shorts and the next I'll be clad in thick layers of clothing & gloves.

Bade farewell to the humidity of Malaysia… hello Melbourne!

Signing off now @ 11.43PM Ozzie time. Goodnight