First day of School

Whee..first day of school! Haha. Just came back from my one and only lecture for the day: Scientific Skills and Tools. Not too bad, but the lecturer has that sorta voice that makes you want to go to sleep (which is not gd!) *Note to myself : Coffee before Monday lec. The class size is small..probs around 30 peeps tops and they are mostly international students. The BEST part of this course is...........it is NON-EXAMINABLE. I'm on cloud 9 :) It's based mainly on lab work, reports and assignments. I'm crossing my fingers for a HD!!! [HD=High Distinction, above 80 marks] That's my aim!

Right, as I mentioned in my last post with regards to the strategic positioning of my apartment, here's some visual backup:

From top left hand corner, we have Melbourne Central (brown building with a cone on top). This is directly opposite my apartment and is a really nice shopping + entertainment centre. It is a train station as well. Second pic is the busy junction that is a few steps further down my apartment street. One way crosses to Melbourne Central, the other crosses over to my school. Top right hand corner is the State Library! I love the architecture of the building. When it is nice and sunny, people will sit on the grass patch with their lunches and books and just laze the afternoon away. This was where Georgie took the scary pic of himself under the lights of the statue, remember guys(Fantastic four with the puny sidekick)?? Okies, coming to the middle row, the first pic with the not so tall but taller than the surroundings building is my apartment La Trobe House. Haha. Next 2 pics are of my school! It's a city campus so it doesn't really have a compound like NUS...it's more like SMU i guess. Row 3 pics are of the State Library, my school and my apartment again. So, that's basically my immediate neighbourhood. It's a nice neighbourhood if you don't mind the hustle and bustle of the city right at your doorstep. It can get a tad noisy with the trams and vehicles but I love the convenience. Reasonable trade off :)

Anyway, I have added one more friend to the small number I have in Melbourne cause my dear girlfriend has touched down on Melbourne soil on last Thursday! Yay! I got to know her during my stint in Pico and lo and behold, she studies in my school as well!! This is her last year here already. So we met up last Friday (sry for the topsy chronological order hee) and had a great day out!

There she is! Uber happy she is here :) And that is the place she is residing. She stays in a college (= hostel) so it's just a single room for her. Her room is alot bigger than mine though! Haha. Very nice bunch of neighbours she has also. They are all a whole lot younger though. I feel like an old fart :(

We went down to Melbourne Central for shopping & dessert at Max Brenner at night as well.

Inside of Melbourne Central. The first pic is the cone we see in the previous pic of the exterior. I had to get a pic of BOOST in as well cause I'm crazy about that place! :D I love their juice/smoothies etc etc. NICE. Max Brenner here has a selection of dessert that just makes you go awwwwwwwwwwwwww. I was too excited to start on my waffles that I forgot to take a pic of the place and food. Hee. Next time perhaps! It was a sugar and chocolate rush for me that night. Blissfully so :)

So, it has been 2 weeks down under for me already and I guess I have more or less settled in. Miss Singapore though. My mum was making my jealous when she started telling me about the gathering & FOOD they were having at my Uncle's place on Ren Ri. :( BUT it has been great so far over here..been to some really nice places and the desserts here (esp. chocolate) is heavenly. Pictures next time :)

BEST news for the day: Charles is coming to visit on 3rd March!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! My kooky buddy. How cool is that! Can't wait!!!! When are the rest of you guys coming?? :)

My Humble Lil' Pad

Alrighty, here's a tribute to a cozy little place I call home now. Crashed in here on the 10/02/07 with 2 huge ass luggages, 2 very heavy handcarrys and 1 very tired me. The apartment is smacked right in the middle of Melbourne City, and directly opposite my campus!! That only mean I get to sleep more and still get to class in time. AWESOME :) The apartment looks bare and ugly at first sight but with some effort (& moolah), my housemate and I managed to tranform it to quite a decent looking pad I would say!

This is our loungy living area. See the oranges? Got that specially for Chinese New Year haha. We wanted mandarin oranges but can't find any. Bathroom is at the entrance of the apartment and my room is next to that. So three rooms along the corridor, third being my housemate's of cause, before the corridor opens up to the living area and kitchenette.

My room!! :) Tiny but I like it nonetheless. Hee. The BIG wardrobe comes with full length mirror *nod with approval :) * The walls are not quite done yet though, been procrastinating with the painting. Will get that done soon! :)

School will be starting on Monday and I'm excited! My rusty brain needs some oiling. I see long hours poring over books in library. HAH. Get this, I actually have labs on Sunday!!! One whole day of lab. Fortunately, labs here are in blocks so that means it will only be for a couple of weeks. I was alot happier after knowing that :)

Will update more the next time round. Time for lunch!!! :)