Night Before Results

T'was the night before results,
And all through Penang,
PMR students
Lie in their beds.
While results were sent to schools by JPN,
Or at least I think so, I really don't care.

The students were nestled,
All snug in their beds,
While visions of straight As,
Danced in their heads.
Dreams and nightmares
Attacked our heads,
One after another woke up drenched in cold sweat.

All over Penang, even teacher's weren't spared,
Dreams of 'Purata 2.0' gave them quite a scare,
Away to the kitchen, for some strong herbal tea,
Given on Christmas by Aunt McBee.
Fine, I'm kidding, I tend to exaggerate,
Please don't hit me, I tend to bruise real quick.
The syllables in this song are getting really wild,
It's not sounding like The Night Before Christmas anymore.

Right I better get right back on the track,
10 am tomorrow, we will gather.
Some will shout and squeal in delight,
While others will moan all through the night.
How was BM, and English and also Science and Maths?
How bout KH, and Geo and Sejarah and Islam?
From 300 word essays to 60 objective questions,
Now hurry up, hurry up, we can't wait no more.

3 am past, and an hour more,
We still lie awake, partly cos' our sisters snore.
Where did the blissful month go,
When we 'holidayed' our life away, it seemed barely a mo',
Now one week remains, and back into school,
That is if we're still alive,
Once our parents are done with us.

This is turning to be one really long song,
And I have to get going for a haircut now,
So I'll cut this short just like my hair,
And wish everyone all the luck I can spare.
See you tomorrow, early and bright,
May we all hopefully be screaming to our hearts delight.
Merry Christmas,
And good night.

*Ahem*
Yeah, someone had nothing better to do... =p
Good luck and best wishes to all, anyway. :-)

Happy Holidays

Am I not spending enough time on TV or are they not showing this on Astro?

Watch out for Carmine's snort... -falls over laughing-

Travel Ramblings of a Mentos Addict, Part 5

Ok, I better just post this up quick before Jessica gives me the silent treatment. Heh, which is the latest fad nowadays when you think about it. (Like I said, 'Teacher, we can't help you with the SPBT books anymore. We're not talking to each other due to Kitaro and casinos and wineries...')

Final day in Australia. The week flew by. This last day is going to be spent on Great Ocean Road, which has the greatest collection of natural rock formations I've ever seen. I'll even say that even if they weren't the only rock formations I've ever seen...

Once again, we rise early in the morning and climbed onboard the bus for another long journey across the great lands of Australia. Remember our Form 2 Geography book that says Australia is a country that is 'kurang penduduk'? Darn right. Maybe the sheep and cows actually outnumber the humans...

After a long while, we arrived for a fish and chip lunch (western food! Finally!) and a shop in a small town. The lady in charge sure got up on the wrong side of bed that day... :-p.

Then, Great Ocean Road, where each formation is more amazing than the next.

As you stand there, at the top of the cliffs, and look down at the furious waves, slamming against the rocks, and feel the cold ocean breeze... (and swat at a bunch of flies) then you realize how the little things seem just that. Little.
And forgive me for saying but I'd like to give a few grumbling people onboard the bus a big telling off for thinking all this scenery isn't worth their time climbing down from the bus to see. (Shopping, I ask you! Why buy pleasures when you can witness all these beauty for free??) But hey, that's just me.

First stop was the 12 Apostles (the way our tour leader pronounced it... I could've choked... 'apotions'). These '12' limestone rocks were previously known as the Sow and Piglets. Apparently the name wasn't glamorous enough so they changed the name to the 12 Apostles. Now, don't bother counting. These are limestone rocks, and as we learn in Geography, hakisan ombak is at work. There are only 7 or so left.
The Twelve Apostles

One of the lookout points

Next, was the Loch Ard Gorge. This one was named after a ship, Loch Ard, (Duh... :-P) carrying 54 people aboard on a journey from England to Melbourne. But the ship capsized and 52 of the passengers died. Only two 18-year-olds survived and found shelter in a cave. Very Robinson Crusoe...

Lastly, was the London Arc. Previously known as the London Bridge, looking like it's namesake in London, one of the arcs broke off and collapsed back in 1990, (leaving a couple of tourists stuck on the remaining arc... they had to be saved by helicoptor later... XD) and so it was renamed London Arc.London Arc... imagine being stuck on that remaining piece for hours...

Our tour leader told us to keep the pictures safe, as word is this remaining arc might be falling apart soon, so we could get a lot of money from the original picture. Heh.

Long drive back to town to a souvenier shop where everyone spent a small fortune. And then to dinner, at the Crown Casino. Another buffet meal where more than one stomach (and filled wallet) was needed. The place was packed. Again, very Vegas-like, filled with slot machines for lucky people to win money, only to spend it all away on the designer brand shops lined up on the ground floor.

After that, time to bid Melbourne farewell and off we go to the airport for the late night flight back to Singapore, then home sweet home, where I slept most of the weekend away. :-)

Gotta love the holidays.

Note: Thanks Jess, for helping me upload the photos... bwahahahahahahahahah!

Travel Ramblings of a Mentos Addict, Part 4

Day Four

Whoops... took me a long while to get this up... heh. But hey, it’s up now.

So, first day in Melbourne, where the weather was thankfully tons cooler, but that does not deter the flies... obviously...

Our first stop was Victoria Market, where they sold everything from fruits to T-shirts. Just when you thought there were plenty of nice souvenirs to take home, you flip that key chain over and lo and behold, Made in China. But still, there were plenty of fascinating things to see.

After an hour there, which sadly wasn’t enough for many, (that’s the Malaysian shopping spirit!) we headed for the Melbourne Aquarium, which wasn’t really all that cool. Kind of over rated. The Penang one had tons more fish. But, yes, Jess... plenty of sharks in captivity. J

Then, onwards in the City Tour to the likes of the Parliament House, St Patrick Cathedral, Art Museums and a really nice park (Melbourne is called the Garden City as there are really a lot of gardens and parks...) where Captain Cook’s parent’s cottage was located.

Toilet break for all as we’ll be journeying on yet another long road trip towards Phillip Island. By now, highways are fairly predictable... cows... fields... horses... fields... more cows... more fields... and bundles upon bundles of rolled up hay.

After plenty of snoozing and developing stiff necks, we stopped at a winery for a wine tasting session. I can’t say ‘yum’ cos’ it wasn’t to me. I think Phaik Chern would have enjoyed it though... heheh.

Everyone climbed back onto the bus a short while later, some more tipsy than others, and after an hour or so, we stopped for dinner at a restaurant just outside the bridge towards Phillip Island. Lobster baybeh! Ok, fine... half-a-lobster-each baybeh!

Finally, we arrived at our destination. Just in time to watch the Penguin Parade. In fact, more than in time. We were a good hour ahead of them. A good freezing cold hour.

The penguins here are the tiny types. No more than a foot high. What happens is mummy and daddy take turns going out at day break, hunting for fish. They return at sundown (hence, Penguin Parade) to the sight of hundreds of excited tourists staring and pointing at them, and return to their burrows.

One wonders, as one stands with jacket fully zipped up and hands stuck in pockets in the make-shift stadium-like area where everyone sits to watch the penguins come home, just how much money these people were making off these innocent penguins.

One wonders, why so many people would come all the way from Melbourne (3 and a half hours away) and wait out in the cold for hours just to watch 5 minutes of tiny creatures waddling up the beach.

One wonders whether ones hands have frozen in ones pockets yet.

And then, when the penguins come up, and one gets so close to them that one could touch them, ones heart simply melts into pure mush. And it’s all worth it. It’s really all one can do to restrain from catching one and stuffing it under ones jacket and take it all the way home to Malaysia. Heh.

Promo pic I found online... but nothing beats seeing them in person... uh... penguin... whatever...

Sadly, I couldn’t take any pictures. Cameras and hand phones weren’t allowed as the people in charge are afraid the fame and glory of getting their pictures taken so often will make the penguins conceited and demand a share of profits.

Ok, just kidding, it’s because of the flash from the camera that could frighten or blind the penguins.

Good ol' Tony... "Heheh... better check, Nick, or else... Vroom... Creaaakkkeeee!!!"

Ok.. hands up, who winced?? I did.

Another long journey back home in the dark of the night, where we placed all our faith in our bus driver, (Nick) to get us back to our warm hotel beds safe and sound.

Next: Last day, mounds of rocks.