PATRIOTISM

Each time August 31 comes around, the tendency to look back to where Malayasia was in the 1950s and at where it is today. Of course there is a lot of difference....Instead of improoving the situation of 'nationality' and 'blah, blah, blah,' the children of Malaysia are more conscious of their 'race' than before ! Cos most of them are being brought up to "accept" the fact that because they are not MALAYS ("bumiputras " included --look at the BUMIS of Sabah!!) they will be treated differently....(acceptance into LOCAL UNI....OR into Civil Service ... OR Promotions in Civil Service ect ect ect)
Anyway, mumsie's church each year will try to "rouse up our patriotism" and remind its parishioners to continue to "pray for freedom of worship!!" So the church will hold a special service for this...
And this year our Archbishop Murphy Pakiam's speech delivered on Merdeka Day was read out in Church . According to his speech....discrimination in areas such as conversion, court jurisdiction, property, and inheritance under Malaysia's dual legal system has led religious minorities to become increasingly resentful towards the Muslim majority. To avoid religious conflict, the Archhishop called on Christians to play a positive role in Malaysia society and back the administration of the newly-pointed Prime Minister. ........
And to set the "atmosphere" the church was covered with Malaysian flags...

See the flags at the altar???

More flags outside the church....
and more flags at the parking areas....

The rakyat were reminded to fly the flags...in business premesis....as well as in their homes..so mumsie took a walk around mumsie's neighbourhood...
Look at our guard-house...behind the guard-house the committee had built them a toilet...with proper flush sytem too!!!
And our guard proudly stands here with his flags for this photo-shoot...
Mumsie's neighbourhood is not bad... quite a few of our neighbours hang out their flags..
The other guard - house at the other end of the road
Another flag here
Our "datuk" 's flag..( at our right) This year our the datuk (at our left) did not put up any flag....(must have lost his flag)...cos every year he is the first to hang out his .

Since mumsie was out taking photos...of our neighbour hood....took this photo of dadda on the tread-mill machine outside our bedroom...
And mumsie took some photos of our neighbour's trees...
This type of tree is fairly popular
Now entering into our road is "barred" with one manual bar and an automatic bar...(all the residents were given remote controls to open our own bar...during the day....at night...manual and auto bars are down...so the gurad gotta work harder)
The neighbour's "golden retriever" is still around..

The maids taking the dogs out for "walkie walkie and shi-shi, shi-shi" in the evening...look this guy is wearing shoes...!!!

DANNY BOY'S B'DAY

Well dadda was able to persuade Daniel to come home last week-end so that we can celebrate his birthday with him!! And we got Yati to bake 24 banana, chocolate chip and nutty muffins...and arranged them with candles.....
Then we lighted it.....
And we sang the 'Birthday Song' & "May the Good Lord Bless Him Song" (wonder if Muachi knows what is it all about????)
Here Dadda with his musical hands....(the clappings)

Here he is trying to blow out the candles with one breath...!!!!

Happy happy Happy Birthday Danny Boy...We still couldn't decide what to give him for his Birthday....As usual if the gift (idea) was to come from Dadda it will take some time to "materialise"...cos he got full of "fantastic ideas" but he can never got down to the acutal buying (only talk talk talk...mumsie gotta to do the "walk walk walk)... Well you will definitely get it but gotta wait a bit....

MELBOURNE

From Horbart we flew back to Melbourne and was met by Cat at the airport who took us to town.Melbourne, Australia's second largest city (the last time mumsie came here was to visit Danny Boy and also to 'baby-sit' him whilst he sat for his exams) is regarded as the cultural and
fashion capital of Australia and renowned for its fine restaurants...(mumsie and dadda was looking forward to taste all the 'fine dining' restaurants with the girls!!) It is a true multicultural city....and mumsie was told that more than one quarter of Melbourne's inhabitants was born overover seas!!!


Here we are at the "bubble exhibition" .. Melbourne International Design Festival at the Melbourne Convention Centre. And here we are surrounded by "bubbles".. This was an exhibit of innovative design...by INDEX at the Federation Square with lots of mysterious spherical showcases popping up everywhere. The effect of thses oversized clear bubbles is truly breathtaking. " Design to improve Life" is the focus fo the show, and designers all over the world are represented.

Mumsie learnt that INDEX is dedicated to change global mindset by exploring and showing how design can improve life for people


'Tour de France Ad... mumsie actually thought this advertising was quite clever. Just outside the "bubble" square we saw this guy on this "stationary bicycle" cycling nonstop ...And then mumsie realised this guy was probably getting paid bucket loads to sit and ride a bike all day here!'

Then we were taken to this place in ?Collin Street for 'brunch' Small place crowded with people....forget the name of the resturant
Dadda's sandwich


Jie-jie's eggs
Food was not bad.....
This guy's "make-up" is good..wonder how much he makes per day standing in this corner???
Mumsie and dadda stayed in one of these building
Langham Hotel across this Yarra River...

This is at the entrance of the Royal Women's Hospital, Australia's largest specialist women's hospital, offering a full range of services in maternity, gynaecology, neonatal care and women's health. Well this is where one of mumsie's "little ones' work....(proud mamma!!!!) Well mumsie's main aim in coming to Melbourne is to "check on" mumsie's girls.....(had to admit that all of them passed mumsie's expectations!!!!)
Statues infront of the hospital

Then we walked from the Women's hospital to Linny's uni..and

Dadda met this guy on the way...

.

At the entrance of Melbourne Uni
Part of Melbourne U The we visited College Square where Linny stays This is the entrance to her hostel....
Bedroom a bit tiny but it is considered to be 'Luxious' an apartment with her own bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, sitting room....
TV area..
Study area...mumsie like what she sees...This place is 'conducive' for Linny's studies...

For tea we were taken to Max Brenner Chocolate Bar...where they serve irresistable chocolate dishes and drinks
"Chocolate Lovers' Paradise"
Have you ever wondered why chocolate makes you feel so darn good? Why you feel sinfully delighted or so "unbelievable satisfied after a big dose of hot chocolate?? Well, it comes down to science. Chocolate contains a natural 'love drug' known as tryptophan, a chemical that the brain uses to make a neurotransmitter called serotonin, which in turn produces feelings of elation...Viola!!! THAT'S EXCUSE enough for all of us...(Now mumsie knows why dadda must have his hot chocolate drink before he sleeps!!!)
The decor in this place appeals to youngsters like her....(despite of the price per cuppa)
Steaming hot chocolates served in oddly shaped cups for hugging with both hands..
Dadda and mumsie approvingly sample the sensous pleasure of this steaming hot chocolates.."lip licking good" (mumsie add on about 3 kg after her Melbourne trip!!)

Then we met up with our ???"future -in-laws!

Joel and Joanne's fiance..
We had dinner with Joanne in this restaurant... FOOD IS GOOD
The happy happy crowd...

Well nite-nite Mumsie shall continue her Melbourne trip ......later...

TASMANIA - MORE PICS

Mumsie likes the following photos taken around Tasmania....

The Gray Line Tour also include Cadbury Tour..."the sweetest tour in Australia" We visit Cadbury's Chocolate Factory and gain an insight into chocolate.... there's free samples and time to purchase discount chocolates - a chocoholics dream !

Here we learn about Cadbury history and chocolate manufacturing processes


The City tour include a Visit to the Maritime Museum and we gotta view marvellous collections of historic items, paintings and ships models...Here mumsie had a photo with this diving suit....
This is supposed to be a "light-house's light"

??Captain of the Ship???

I supposed winter is not the right time to visit this place cos most of the plants are 'sleeping' anyway it was included in the tour...Anyway we visited the Japananese Garden, Conservatory -was closed and the Restaurant

And we had lunch at the Royal Tasmania Botanical Gardens

Salad was not bad
Bacon sandwich
Mumsie had this...not bad forgot its name...
The restaurant
This is the building which houses the restaurant

Mumsie likes the orchid .....behind mumsie
The cactus are giganto


This is 'Pete's Vegie Patch' made famous by Peter Cundall of a TV's Gardening Show.

Look at this Lime tree...if only mumsie's lime tree is this big...good for Chinese New Year...
Mumsie has this in her garden but never know

it's name ....now I know

We were taken a tour round the City
We cross this bridge (Tasman Bridge) over the Derwent River
This was our coach

We saw beautiful houses...
of different syles ect ect

This is our coach driver cum Tour guide

See those houses on the foot of the hill...????

Nice photo
Another picture like 'out of the calender'
Moving nearer to those houses at the foot of the hill.............
Another 'sample' of those houses...if only we can get invited in...

We visited Rosny Hill too

TASMANIA

Mumsie and Dadda arrived in Melbourne airport, met up with Linny, then flew to Tasmania for 2 days (Joel came to the airport to relief us of some of our luggages)
At Melbourne airport just as we were waiting for our luggage, 2 ladies appeared with their
"sniffer dog" (dunno what that dog doesn't like cos once he smelt something he will not leave till the bags are opened up !!) Mumsie was lucky, the sniffer dog just ran past and did not make a fuss of mumsie's luggage.
The sniffer dog seemed to like this lady's luggage
Linny came to the airport to join us to Tasmania and we had our breakfast at McDonald's
And there is sushi shushi too! No Chinese "take-aways"
After breakfast and whilst waiting for the next
flight to Tasmania... this is more than 40 winks...gotta recharge for our next destination ie. Tasmania Here we come.....
Here we are at Hobart...
Just opposite our hotel is the water front..with its beautiful sceneries...
Photo taken by mumsie....just like a picutre out of the calender
Sun is about to set...
This is our hotel...mumsie thinks this is one of the best in Hobart...The Grand Chancellor...booked by Joel...From our room window we had
beautiful harbour views!!!! as the hotel is situated across the road form the Waterfront .A premier 4 1/2 star hotel, easy walking distance to the city.

.Mumsie caught the sunset with her camera!!





Across the street we found this sea-food restaurant....Mures...(later we realised that this is one of the restuarants recommended by "THE LONELY PLANET") The restaurant claims to use the freshest product And we had our lunch here.
Dadda and Linny looking at its menu before we enter the restaurant...which is divided into 2 parts...the lower deck -self service seafood bistro and the Upper Deck a la carte restaurant...

Look at their display of fish!!!!!

With so much to choose from it really is difficult!!
Mussels !!!
Fresh oysters!!! This guy is bz opening and washing them!
And this is what we had!!! Oysters Salad Fisherman's basket and fish and chips....Mumsie likes all of it..."not bad for the money" ..don't mind returning to there for another meal...some day!!!
Prawns and shell fish

THE NEXT DAY
We were supposed to rent a car and drive our selves around...The great joke was when we were about to pay they asked us to produce our driving licence...and none of us brought one... so gotta to fall back on guided tour which we all agreed that it was a "blessing in disguise" cos if we were to drive ourselves around we might not be able to see so much in one day!!! So we booked our
selves with "Gray Line" day tour...City Tour, Mt Wellington Summit, Cadbury's Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate (Ausie $122/ per peson)
Once you've reached the top of the mountain, the view is amazing. You can see see almost the whole of Southern Tasmania, (information gathered from the tour-guide) It was a pity that we couldn't see much that day cos it was very very foggy. Mumsie got this photo on the way down the mountain....
And at the summit of Mt Wellington (1270 meters above sea level) the temperature was -8 SNOW every where!!
We were told that it is frequently snow covered, sometimes even in summer...well now is winter so it is realllllly ICY COLD .

"VERY VERY VERY COLD"

Well mumsie gotta go...so will continue her Tasmania blog ...sooooon