My closest Malaysian friend in Brisbane is heading back today! Cat, Cat.....I got to know her as the noisy Malaysian girl when I first came here. But it was not until during the recent holidays that we got to know each other and have been hanging out quite a lot! Holidays would not have been the same with her bubbly, crazeeee and cute remarks! However, the time has come for her to go back and start working.....hehe! Can't imagine tho....Cat, in working clothes???? Well, though we had a really short time together, I'm glad I met her.....she makes Brissy so much merrier!

Here are some 'Momoirs of Cat & I'.....

As some of you might already know, I live in this place called Taringa in Brisbane. I often wonder what it meant with all these funny funny names they come up with here. So, I looked up the web and found the meaning of TARINGA.

The name Taringa is made up of two Aboriginal words: tarau (stones) and nga (made up of). Together, they mean "place of stones".

Then, I thought "Wow"....how meaningful it will be for me to mark the events about what God has done in my life.....especially eversince I came here. I'm beginning to see the significant things He has done and marking them down as a memorial like what Joshua did in Joshua 4:4-7.

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, "Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever."

So, may Taringa be a place filled with wonderful memories for me!

Last weekend, I was at my friend's place at Mooloolaba, Sunshine Coast. It was a real holiday home....beside a canal!!! I began my excursion from Brisbane-Sunshine Coast by train on my own. Was trying to find my way to the BIG PINEAPPLE when I met a bunch of friends who were also going there. Coincidence???? Nah, it was God's plan...haha! So, I hitched a ride with them. Then, they left and I was alone at the plantation waiting for my friend. SO, I decided to explore on my own and went on a little tour around the plantation and to feed some farm animals. They kept me company for the time being! and of course....it was a day with the LORD!



The following day, I was at the Eumundi Market. It was like a big 'pasar malam' but held during the day with different handycrafts, food stuff, and home made products. Then the whole afternoon was spent at the beach! Good exercise for the day....walking along the beach to the river mouth and over to the Underwater World. It was all within walking distance from her house...so pretty cool eh....hehe!

At the end of the day, we were pretty tired and settled for some movies at home instead. Then, had to leave early the following day as I had to go to Gold Coast church to play for their worship session. They just started a service there and a team of us from HOPE Brisbane went over to help out. So, was at Sunshine Coast in the morning, back to Brissy and down to Gold Coast on the same day!

Savouring the "picnic moment" with friends from Japan, Spore, HK & Msia :)


Just the other day my friend asked, "Wanna go for a picnic?" I thought for awhile.....man, when was the last time I've ever heard that phrase??? Well, back home we hardly ever thought of having a picnic...except for having seen people picnicking along the highway with 'nasi lemak', 'karipap', and 'air bandung'....hehe!

But actually, picnic....can be defined simply as a pleasure excursion at which a meal is eaten outdoors, ideally, taking place in a beautiful landscape. Formerly, picnic meant a potluck, an entertainment at which each person contributed some dish to a common table for all to share. The first usage of the word was traced to a 16th century French text, describing a group of people dining in a restaurant who brought their own wine. A theory has it that the word picnic is based on the verb piquer which means 'pick' or 'peck' with the rhyming nique perhaps meaning trifle. Interesting eh?

So, inline with the defination and the origin of the word picnic, we each brought a dish.......we had Rach & Kim's Super Sandwiches, Winnie's Peach Crumble, Claire's Salad & Cheryl's Curry Puffs! We picnicked at the beautiful Botanical Gardens with lotsa green.....So, it was a relaxing afternoon just rekindling the 'picnic moment' which we hardly do back home on a bright & sunny afternoon, with cool breeze.....aaaahhhh.....that's what picnic is all about.

This past week had been a busy week for me. Think it was the busiest since I came to Brisbane. Had the job training teaching group music classes. It was full on!!! We had to listen to lecture, prepare lessons, present, act like kids, handle different kids' and parents' case scenarios. Each of us had to present like how we were going to teach the lesson and were evaluated. Man, it was nerve wrecking at first....being the only 'new asian'.....Haha! But after having to do it everyday....I was more relaxed. But through it all, "God is the strength of my heart" (Ps. 73:26). If this is really for me, He will see me through....and it paid off when I got the Level 1 training cert and started work yesterday. WooHoo....!!!! Don't be surprised if you see me like one of the 'Wriggles' one of these days.....;) Muaahaha!

Another answered prayer was that I'll be going to the Royal Children's Hospital for my next practical placement. I'm really looking forward to that......as a lot of us applied to that hospital but I'm one of those blessed few who got it! PTL!

Now, time to continue enjoying my remaining holidays!

Past week has been a time of feasting for me! But my friend whom I met at airport said I lost weight wor....hehe! Maybe good so I can eat some more! It all started at a Mexican restaurant with my housemates on my Birthday! The nachos were neatly arranged cheesy and yummy!

Substitute for cake!

Household picture!

Then, I was at a friend's place for an Asian BBQ with pork that tasted like 'char siew', 'assam' fish and yummy curry. The gals didn't have to prepare anything.......yeah....one of those rare ocassions! It was fun! we ate, talked, ate, played cards, ate, watched TV, ate and slept!!!! so....ya that was practically it!

One BIG happy family :)

Few days later, we went for 'yam char'. It is actually 'dim sum' but people here call it 'yam char'. We were too excited and forgot to take picture with the food.....anyway....here it is!

My angelic friend & I

Next, feast was at a Korean restaurant. We shared a 'HOT POT'. It was quite nice, except that it was like 'maggi' noodles with added ingredients. Haha! Yes, I miss curry 'Maggi Mi'....the Malaysian one!

Korean Hot Pot!

So, after eating this, we thought we should have our very on Steamboat Party!!!. We had a 'tom yam' steamboat just a few days ago at my cozy little house here....not bad for 1st timers! Too bad for those who are away back in their hometowns! We had fun!!! We were like professionals!!!

Tom Yam Steamboat!

Team effort, lovely food presentation skills!

And....to top it all of, we had yummy peach crumble, with ice-cream, strawberry and chocolate....oooh....thanks to Winnie!