Dig gin Gold

Under the Hot sun. Everybody keep busy 'dig gin gold'. Thought it only for fun. But actually you could find traces of gold if your are patient enough. I did get some. :-)

Visit to Ballarat, VIctoria

Sunday Morning, Zul, Huzaizi, Zainah came and fetch me from my place at 8.00 am and we were going to Ballarat.

Purposely travel early in the morning so we could stop by some other places instead of just going to Sovereign Hill. At 9.10 am we reached Kryal Castle. We were early and the first to arrived to the castle. The Castle just open and had a short peak in the Castle.

Then we move on to The Eureka Centre. The place is a remembrance of were the battle during the gold rush era in 1850's

At 10.10 am. Arrived at Sovereign hill. We spent quite sometimes here. Had picnic at Sovereign Hill and even Me and Zul dig gin gold. To our surprise we were lucky to get some traces of gold. :-)

For more than 6 hours at Sovereign Hill then we move on to our last destination, Ballarat Botanical Garden.

Have a nice rest and relaxing moment in the garden while Zainah children enjoying themselves playing at the play ground. At 7.00 pm we finally go back to Melbourne. Nice outing.

Sovereign Hill, Ballarat, VIctoria

Welcome to SOVEREIGN HILL.
It was my second visit to Sovereign Hill. My first visit was in October 2007 with Dr Yusnizar and her friends.

This time round went here with Zul, Zainah and her family. For Zainah and her husband this was their first visit but not for their childrens.

Once we entered Sovereign hill, We were welcome by the two Sovereign Hills girls....

The Victoria's 1850s gold rush heritage is alive, the area has been recreated for experiencing the era of gold rush.

It is sort of a live museum, where the environment and how's people doing their daily activity as it was in 1850's.

Sovereign Hill's Main Street is busy with people in colourful costumes and horse-drawn vehicles. Craftsmen are at work throughout the township, with a variety of shops and businesses open to purchase goods - grocers, candle maker, blacksmith and jewellers to name a few

It remind me all those cowboy movies

Demonstration of all sort of items from Brass.

School during 1850's

Demonstration of how they pour the gold. The was burn in a temperature of 1200 Celsius.

3 kg bar of Gold after the gold pouring process. It been highly protected.

Area where everybody could dig gin' gold.

Boxing Day - Shoping Spree

Boxing day where you can get what ever they sell in the store and get discount as high as 70% depends on the item.

Never missed to do shopping during this time. You will definitely get good bargain and much much cheaper even after conversion to Malaysian Ringgit.

Me, Zul, Zainah and her family we went to Essendon DFO. When we arrived the crown already developed and the parking space was almost full but we still able to get a place to park the car.

Initially it never caught my attention to buy branded cookware, then suddenly i became interested when I saw this branded cookware VISIONS. I still can remember when I was in my early teenagers my mom bought this brand and till to date it's still in a good shape.

When I entered the cookware shop, it suddenly caught my eyes when so many buyers rushing to buy VISIONS and the shop owner had to take out all the stocks he had and after that no more left. Even some bought more that 3 sets.
I called somebody from home, Dr. Shariff to find out the price in Malaysia. He told me, recently he and his wife bought VISIONS set of 6 piece and cost them more than 400 Malaysian ringgit which is to my surprised the same model cost much much cheaper here even after conversion. Zul even agreed it is much cheaper here especially during boxing day.

I was in doubt to buy it at first but then I have made up my mind and decided to buy for myself and I could bring it back later to Malaysia.

I bought 1 set of 6 pieces consists of 1 Liter, 1.5 Liter and 2.5 liter set. Also the 5.0 liter set. Total I bought it for 120 Australian dollar after 40% discount. Even after conversion the price is half compared to a set of 6 pieces if you buy in KL or in Langkawi. (Kak ram jangan marah ekk ..hehe..)

I think from now on i will start collecting branded cookware for myself to bring back to Malaysia.

Picnic at Yarra River on Christmas Day

Christmas Day, while the rest celebrating Christmas. Me, Zul, Huzaizi, Zainah and their children decided to have a picnic at Yarra River near Swan Bridge. Nice location and nice view of the sea.

Beautiful day , beautiful weather. We came early since this is a very nice spot of all the places along Yarra River for picnic and BBQ.

I arrived at 9.00 worried if the place is going to be fully occupied. Fortunately only one place had been taken. Find another seating and BBQ area and occupied the place for ourselves.

The location near to botanical garden. Ironically while everybody exercising we were eating fatty food. ha ha...

The nice thing about BBQ at Yarra River other than nice location and view, you don't have to pay when using the BBQ stove which is free.

Compared to our previous BBQ outing at Yarra River too at different location, we brought our food just nice and enough for us. There was no left over. Other important issue was we were on time.

Zainah made the fried noodle (Mee hoon goreng), some cakes and Drinks

While Zul brought Lamb cutlet and chicken and I brought prawn, vegetables, snacks and soft drinks.

Ashraf always get the attention from us. Always excited.

True enough. After we had finished using the BBQ stove and while enjoying our meal, a lot of groups came and 'fighting' for place. he he. Most of them came at about 11.00 am. We purposely stayed there until 12.00 noon till our food finished.

Once we moved, then other people running and went to over take the place. :-)

Brighton Beach, Middle Brighton

After our BBQ picnic at Yarra River, we went to Brighton Beach at Middle Brighton. Been here many times. Me and Zul want to show Zainah and her family since they had never been here before.

Nice weather and nice crowd.

Even though it hot but the sea water was freezing.

Walking along the beach

You could see Melbourne CBD not far from the Brighton beach.

Christmas luncheon

I was invited to come along for Cardiology Research Department Christmas luncheon on Wednesday. The head of department whom also my PhD Co-Supervisor lead the team. We went to The Old England Hotel at Heidelberg which is not far from hospital. The hotel has a nice Bistro, and just received an award from Victorian Hotel Association as the Best Bistro in Victoria for 2008.

The luncheon started at 12.15pm. It was a busy day for me and as soon as I finish my blood Lab work, I rushed and meet everybody in the department.

Deidre had inform me earlier, that the lunch event is her Christmas treat to me. Meaning she will paying all the meal and drink which I am going to have. So nice of her.

I ordered fizzy Lemoned.

and Thai fish and prawn curry with parata and coconut rice. The curry taste yummy.

PORTARLINGTON, VICTORIA

Portarlington Victoria is a small seaside resort on the northern tip of the Bellarine Peninsula. This low-key Australian resort town has long been a favourite holiday destination for Melburnians.

We stop at Portarlington on our way back to Melbourne. It's about 20 km from Queenscliff.

Thought of buying fresh fish and some other seafood at the jetty. We were a little bit too late. They already packed and get ready to go back.

The sandy beach was full with lots of people lying under the sun. :-)

QUEENSCLIFF, VICTORIA

Welcome to Queenscliff, The Jewel of the Bellarine Peninsula and forms one side of Port Phillip Heads - opposite Point Nepean in the Mornington Peninsula. It is surrounded by Bass Strait, Port Phillip Bay and Swan Bay on three sides.
It is about 107 km from Melbourne.

We (me, Zul, Zainah and her husband) suddenly decided to go for a trip for the weekend. Zainah and Huzaizi bought a 7 seater car for their family recently. Since it is a 7 seater car, me and Zul will definitely fit in.

We started early, Huzaizi drove the car from Dandenong and fetch Zul at High Street then Zul drove the car to my place. The travelling took about 1 hour and 44 minutes. Really it was a nice weather on Sunday as expected.

Reached Queenscliff just quater to 11 am. We stop at the information center, then walk around the town center of Queenscliff. Nice small town.

Then quarter to 12.00 noon, we look for a place to have our lunch before start exploring Queenscliff. We found a nice spot. Still not many people around, considering we were early. As usual Zainah always prepared all the foods. Nasi goreng, Nasi putih, beef rendang, Chicken fried with honey, sausages while Zul made sambal tumis telur goreng. Yumm and me hehe I did bought anything just my empty tummy.... hahaha...

We had a nice lunch picnic in the park under the shade of tall old trees with cooling sea breeze. So cooling and refreshing. Feels like to lie down after having a big meal. :-)

Then we started to stroll along the beaches. Ashraf was excited while on the beach.

Seems like Ashraf like to pose

Family photo. Zainah , Huzaizi and the rest of their family.

It was getting warmer. Should have brought my 3/4 pants and sandals.

The Old jetty.

It was quite a long walk and stop at each interesting spot or when we spotted some interesting items on the beach. Shells, star fish etc.....

Then we passes by the famous cliff and also once upon a time an old fortresses.

We identified colorful shells.

Fishing. Most Australian favorite passed time.

Almost more than an hour we strolled along the beach, then we climb up the cliff and started walking back to our initial spot. In between we stop at the Fort of Queenscliff.

Supposedly you could go inside the fortress and have guided tour.

One of the two light house. Only could be seen from outside the fence.

View of Queenscliff beach and jetty from the cliff.

We were a little bit exhausted after the long walk, had few minutes break and lie down on the grass while at the same time having a nice ice cream.

Before we started our journey back to Melbourne we stop at an old railway station of Queenscliff.

An old locomotive at the railway station.