The joys and woes of public transportation

Public transport here plays such an integral part in my everyday life here in Melbourne. And coming from back home, the system here so efficient. Trains, Trams, Buses. All with a timetable, all arrives either on time or just a few minutes off. You can view it’s network to work out how to get from A to B. Why in fact, on it’s website, there’s a journey planner! Simply type in where you want to go , like you address, a landmark, a town. And walla, the entire thing planned out with step by step details and a choice of times as well!

I pay $110 for my monthly ticket that lets me ride any mode of public transportation for as many times I need throughout the entire month. You might think that cost a lot but my recent trip to kl begs to differ!

Now If I were to work say in KL, KL. The golden triangle. Now I would need either to drive to Bangsar station or to be drop off. If I did drive, I would have to pay RM5 to park the car there.

Then it cost me RM2 one way to get to KLCC station using the LRT. SO RM4 two ways.

On a normal working day that will cost:
RM5 + RM4 times 20 working days is already RM180.

Lets not put exchange rate into account. That already $70 difference and my tickets takes me ALL transportation for the ENTIRE month.

Say, If I felt like going to Sungai Wang for Lunch, I would have to take the Bukit Nanas monorail. Pay another I think it was $1.50 ONE WAY. So that day itself with my car parking, it would have cost me RM12!

No wonder everyone drives to work. Might as well keep monthly parking somewhere that might be in the circa of RM100-RM150 a month.

But boy driving to KL is another madness by itself. Done it for over two years. And my jobs at that time was not even a 8:30 to 5! With my flexible/alternative hours, I still grumbled.

Still, here in Melbourne, the transportation does not comes with it’s crazy moments. I will tell those stories another day

Another concert in the line

I’m so excited! Yes another live concert event is going to be held. Even better it’s for the Bush Fire Relief in Victoria as well for the Queensland Flood. Yes folks, there’s a FIRE disaster in one state and a FLOOD turmoil in another. This country is huge!

Anyways look at the lineup! And for $75 bucks and 100% goes into this fund, what more can you ask for!!

Augie March
Bliss N Eso with Paris Wells
Gabriella Cilmi
Hunters & Collectors
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson with Troy Cassar-Daley
Jack Johnson
Jet
Kings Of Leon
Liam Finn
Midnight Oil
Paul Kelly
Split Enz
Wolfmother

“ The Music Community Unite for Two Very Special Benefit Concerts”

The devastation of the current Victorian bushfires has left few unaffected. In response to our nations’ greatest ever natural disaster Australia’s music community have banded together for two stadium benefit concerts scheduked to run simultaneously in both Melbourne and Sydney on Saturday, March 14, 2009 under the unified banner of SOUND RELIEF

I can’t wait!!!

Jason Mraz live Yaaay!

I got my ticket to Jason Mraz, lalala
I got my ticket to Jason Mraz lalala

It’s not only you all back in kl!

So that’s concert #2 for the year.
In July I have P!nk. Jason Mraz is on April the 20th!

I got my ticket to Jason Mraz, lalala

Cool, my first official tag for concerts!

Another Club pulak...

Ooo this is like high school all over again. Joining this and that. Being active in this and that. And now I have to do my own cooking, cleaning and washing!! Where do I find the time?

The Toastmaster International has always been something I am interested in. I did go for a few meetings back in KL in the petronas twin towers with some friends. My mom was active in it while working.

So when my office started one and my boss is part of it to. I jump for it.

Quite excited gaks looking through new materials, reading through “”Tips for Adding Strength and Authority in your Voice” and “How to Become Skilled in Nonverbal Communication”.

I know you guys out there going “Apalah Nadia, corny nyer”

Shadap you.

First meeting TODAY!

Which also means my Tuesday running session has be replace with Monday morning session.

At god freaking 6 AM in the morning.


Tsk Tsk tsk….

Of New Year’s Resolution after a month..

So is anyone on track with theirs? Did anyone even bother this year to make one?

Believe it or not, I do! I happily (and anally) do up my goals for the year and categories it as such:

1. Health Goals
2. Holiday Goals
3. Finance Goals
4. Career Goals
5. Relationship Goals

I jot down a few under each category then put a timeline at the end. Timeline are important if you want to see each of these goals met.

To date- yet to even run a STRONG 5 K let alone preparing myself for Health Goal #1- To run a half marathon (that 21.2K!) by July

Holiday Goals Well my plans to go to Singapore for a beastie birthday and balik for Raya in September has been started with checking out prices of flights. So far so good. Nak mintak leave ni tricky sikit hmmmm

Luke & I are planning a trip to New Zealand but yes the tricky part, getting leave yet again…

Finance Goal has been put on hold till hopefully this month as I am clearing out my credit card by this month pay day. Yay! People listen up never pay interest!

Career Goals Well I have received my textbooks for this semesters' CPA paper. And because I ni naak sangat impress my new boss, I am attempting the ever so hard TAX paper. The folder look damn thick. Yet to open it.

Relationship Goals however has been going on real well. Really really in a very very happy happy time. Now a step up and hinting to him I am not getting any younger!

Let me in your progress of your goals for the year!

The joys of running...

I have started the running club and boy was I in for a shock! For those who I have not been babbling about my new found love of running.. I was able to run a 10K charity run last year on 31st August 2008 in 1 hour and 4 minutes!

Now lari 2 minute cam nak mati.

So determine to meet my goal of a half marathon (21.2K) by mid year, I entered a running club

Had three sessions with consist of 2 x 1 hour running session and 1 x ½ hour 1 to one 1 session with the trainer.

From my once a week, weak attempt to run to torture week. So far the trainer made us:

• Run 2 laps of the Caulfield park which is 2.182 K one round. Manage to push myself to a mere 30 minutes for the time trial.


• Do a squizillion lunges and made my things so sore


• Did Abs work- the right way. So I’m feeling it till today


• Did intervals running, 5 minutes run and 3 minutes walk. Did that 5 times.

This morning, I literally could not get up. LITERALLY. I had to shuffle my whole body to the edge of the bed in order to get up. Groaaan

Next session this Saturday at 9:30am, I wanna cry….

At the same time I am psych because I know on my own I wouldn’t put this much effort. And having someone teaching you the correct technique as well as having fun in a group.

Tomorrow’s V Day. What on everyone’s agenda? Giving it the miss? V day for losers? SO have it all planned out, the works: Dinner, Movie, Flowers, Choccy, Gifts, then something something hahaha

Animals have it tough too

The firebush tragedy has been playing on all media across Australia. The death toll number is rising. I know this is all depressing news but I myself am shocked such thing is happening so near where I am right now.


This picture came out in the media recently and I thought it was a sweet image among all other images I have put myself through viewing. I just can't help myself...

Can't People Bloody Make up their minds?

Sigh, penat tau when you work so hard doing something. And then people turn around and say No, I need this this and this pulak.

Especially if you have been working on the same bloody excel spreadsheet for the past 4 months.

I actually burst kat (sikit jer) today at work kat my boss. Who did understand my frustration tapi still doesnt help the fact I dah penaaaaaaaat la! Penat tengok bende samer jer.

Baru kul 3:51 I dah mati otak ak keje ari ni.

Looking forward to my running club today!

The Scorching Heat

Yes, that’s how hot it was last Saturday. I didn’t want to believe it will happen seeing that Friday was only in the 20’s.

Come Saturday morning, 9:15am and I could feel the stinking hot air. With one broken glass panel on my door, I had to glad wrap it to prevent hot air rushing in.

Monday arrives, everyone is asking how’s the weekend and all. The heat was the last thing on everyone’s mind

People were just grateful they had still had their homes intact and the loved ones alive.

Black Friday, the worse bushfire in Australia history hit Victoria with such devastating consequences.

It was worse than anyone dared imagine. A hellish vision of nature at its cruellest has emerged, of a conspiracy of drought, heat and winds.
It is the tale of the Perfect Fire Storm. Something like 26 fires would blaze through Victoria on Saturday.

From the Herald Sun

To date 108 people have died and 750 homes licked by the fire. 6 towns has been burned to the ground. Kinglake, Marrysville, all gone.

Adults and children were being burned alive in their homes and even in the cars they were trying to flee with.

The worse ever thing that this fire might be the cause of an arsonist. From a flick of a still burning cigarette butt. With the drought and the dryness of the surroundings and close to 100 K/H winds blowing, It doesn’t take much for the fire to go strongly.

If anyone wants to view the aftermath of this tragedy feel free to browse through News.com galleryThere an interactive map that show the exact point of fire if anyone wants to take a look.

Silly Me!

Laaaaa rupanyer my post comment was not working hence i was wondering why la no one leave comment. Kecik hati tau! (hint besar nih..)

This saturday...

Forecast for Saturday

A windy day with a late cool change. Becoming cloudy. Areas of raised dust in the afternoon and evening. Isolated light showers after the change. Winds north to northeasterly averaging up to 40 km/h tending northwesterly 35 to 50 km/h during the morning.

City
Windy. Late cool change.
Min 24
Max 44
Maximum Fire Danger: Extreme
UV Alert from 9:40 am to 5:20 pm, UV Index predicted to reach 10 [Very High]

I think I will spend the entire day in the shower. That 47 in red is NSW.

Reads: Weather extremes: NSW melts, Victoria burns, Queensland sinks

The 'club'

Guess what?! Guess what I just joined. No.. no.. No.. nothing kinky or exotic or that wow of a factor.

I’ve joined a running club in my gym! What’s a running club? Imagine a bunch of people gathering together either morning before work (6am-7am) or after work (7pm to 8pm) and run together! Weeeee how exciting. Hahaha I bet you lot out there are going WTF! (People who hopefully are out there reading but not commenting =( Commentlah!)

And the ouch factor here is not the time commitment. It’s the cost. AUD80 per week for 3x1 hour group run plus 1x1/2 hour one-to-one training. Apart from encouragement, commitment, motivation, there also VIP night to visit a podiatrist to analysis our running patterns, a one hour complimentary Advance Stretching & Myofascial Release Class. And a chiropractor will come by to look at our posture and our spine alignment. So all in all it’s not bad of programme.

Oh did I mention it’s a 12 week programme. Yup. 12 weeks contract

And we are working toward the Mother’s day Classic Fun run that will be held on 10th of May (Any guess why that date is also very SIGNIFICANT for me?).

There a 4 K or a 8 k. Last year I did the 4K so naturally I will aim for the 8K.

And to make it more concrete this goal of mine… I AIM TO COMPLETE THE 8 K IN 45 MINUTES.

I too just realize after I go home and chatted happily my new found motivation to my man when it dawn upon me.

Shhiiiiit my exams are on the 7th! I’m not sure if I’m more frighten that I have only 12 weeks to study this godforsaken subject on TAXATION or that I got two huge goals to meet in this short period of time.

Mati wooooo.

Keeping Cool

Remember my earlier post regarding the heatwave?

Now we have many means to try to keep the temperature down.. Drink a cool ice drink, take cold showers (althought I can never do that, I still need a warmish one, stay over at mates house that has aircond…

We never stop and think about the wild life. The poor plants, crops and especially the poor poor animals.

This has been circulating around my officeand it even made the news. I thought of sharing it with you lot.

In Victoria the temperature has been above 44 degrees for more than one week and
more 40+ temperatures have been forecast. Electricity supplies are failing,
trains have stopped running because tracks are buckling under the heat. It’s
just scorching. And it seems that the people are not the only ones suffering.
Check these photos of a little koala which just walked onto a home's back
verandah looking for a bit of heat relief. The woman filled up a bucket of water
for it and this is what happened ....

Comel nak mati!

And for the weather updates: we are expecting a 43.5 degrees heat this Saturday. Boooo

Hey Big Spender

That's the Rudd Government for you! Australia. It's been announce that Mr Kevin Rudd is forking out $42 billion job stimulus package. All designed to keep recession at bay. ALMOST 12 million Australians will received some of the cash benefit. Wonder if this applies to me? After all I am a taxpayer here.

Under this new stimulus package:

LOW and middle-income families who received Family Tax Benefit A will next month get a "back to School" $950 bonus for each school-aged child.

FAMILIES with one main income earners receiving family Tax Benefit B will get $950.

WORKERS earning up to $80,000 will get a $950 tax bonus in April <-- That's will be me! Will let you know if I do indeed receive such a thing

THOSE on $80,000-$90,000 will received $650

THOSE on $90,000-$1000,000 will received $300

STUDENTS and apprentices on Youth Allowance, Austudy,Abstudy and Education Entry Payment will received $950.

On top of all this, The Reserve Bank has slashed interest rates to a 45-year low.

All this is done to encourage the consumer to spend spend spend. Don't keep money in your savings or pay your mortgage! Go buy a Prada Bag!

As much as it's good that the government is helping out the nation as w hole, personally I think this will make the society believe that we are indeed approaching dooms day hence be more cautious with our spending. No one in the right mind is going to spurge on silly stuff. In fact, I, myself am going to stuff this extra money (IF i get any) into my high interest (quite rubbish) and see if I can afford to buy a house.

It's not really a long term benefit if there's going to be a huge deficit in the Federal Budget.

SO what will you do with the extra money? (IF you get it!)

Of getting back into work

Ooo I’m on a roll. Two days in a row! And also I’ve been looking at Excel Macro codes the entire day, my head is spinning.

I bravely invite friends to read about my daily musings. Silly me forgot to supply the darn URL. Sorry girls! Atleast it gives me a chance to tweak around with the template. What do you guys think?

Been back in Melbourne (after 3 weeks in KL) for only just over two weeks. It seems like months with the things that’s been happening.

Short Recaps:

Australian Open.

If you are a fan of Federre, you would have been bitterly disappointed and if you were a Rafa fan, well good on you! Well deserved win! Poor Federre was too choked up to even speak when he was presented the runners up plate. And Serena Williams with her 10th Grand Slam

The Mad Heat Wave

With the tennis going on, the crazy heat wave came as well.

Monday	25.5	Kinda chilly
Tuesday	36.4	Phew I was sweating
Wednesday	43.4	My Aircond kong out and we had a black out at night, I wanted to die
Thursday	44.3	The trains got delayed and canceled during after work rush hour. What usually take me 10 mins to get home, took me 1.5 hours. I wanted to cry.
Friday	45.1	For some reason I manage to miss all the chaos of the trains fiasco.

And thanks to my dear friend Ngokngek, I got a the pleasure of staying over her fancy-modern-pricey(!) apartments that had central aircond. Blisssssss

Today is only max of 31 degrees and it rained! For like 5 seconds. My poor overgrown garden is now a garden of dead plants and even weeds!

Ahh Melbourne and it’s funny weather. Constance entertainment and amusement to me.

Note: I have been playing around with the HTML codes. It's driving me crazy hence why this image is not turning up and a huge space in between. sigggh

It's the New Year!

February 1st 2009, the 32nd day in the year. 333 more days to the end of this year. What does it hold for me?

Yes unlike the usual clique of people starting something new in January, I thought it's seem right to start it today. Also I've been umm-inng and ahh-inng whether I should start writing again. That's procrastinating for you.

And I've been actively blog hopping and realise how much I missed writing. How I love reading other's writings especially friends. It kinds of make me feel closer to them regardless of me being so far away. And when the time comes for me to fly back home, It's like these days aparts never happened.

So here it is, the start (once again) and hopefully the continuance of my ramblings...

Note: I'm a bit sad I couldn't take up zest4life URL as it has been taken but yet to be updated since December 2004! Anyone knows how to delete other people dusty accounts!