Altona Beach, Melbourne

I went to Altona Beach at about 4 pm. I have been passing by this area many time but don't have a chance to stop by and have a look

There is a nice walking track/trail : the foreshore trail. A nice jogging spot along the esplanade.

It was windy today.

Wilsons Promontory National Park

The southernmost point of the Australian mainland, Wilsons Promontory

The park contains the largest coastal wilderness area in Victoria.

Its 130 km coastline is framed by granite headlands, mountains, forests and fern gullies.

Travelling time from Melbourne, 3 hours and 28 minutes and about 230 km. It a long journey.

Minum Petang

Balik dari Uni singgah jap kat kedai, nampak lak biskut niii. Teringat lah pulak masa kecik kecik dulu makan biskut nii waktu minum petang kalau mak tak buat kuih tiap hujung minggu. Sedap gak makan biskut nich dengan cecah air teh atau kopi kampung. Mmmmm meleleh lak air liur hehe... Terus jerr beli dah lah tuu buatan Malaysia. Sampai jerr rumah terus buat santapan minum petang sambil tengok TV. :-)

The Tower in Melbourne Central

Botanical View

Nice weather with nice clear sky today. Went to meet Adam at Camera House. It has been a while I have not been to Camera House. Brought my camera along and had my camera sensor with the lenses clean by Adam. Planning to get new 'toys' this year. I told Adam about my plan. He promise to help me and give good bargain. Well, will see how it goes. It for my future investment too.

Then I went to botanical garden and did one lap of fast walk at noon. Completed one lap in 40 minutes with added some more 10 000 steps for today. Rest, enjoying the view and weather and did some reading while lying under the tree. It was absolutely wonderful.... Will do it again next week.

New Year Celebration

Happy New Year 2009....
Waited since 9.15pm. The Crowd developing much much more compared to initial show.

Everybody started counting....5,4,3,2,1.......Happy New Year and the firework blasted in the air.

Melbourne New Year's Eve Firework

Came as early as possible to find a nice spot. Met Zul at Flinders street station. Went to buy pizza first for dinner.

We decided to watch the firework from South gate.

So many people came to the city. An approximately half a million came, Melbourne was crowded.

The firework show not just here at Yarra River but also 2 other places, Waterfront and Harbour Town. It was spectacular show.

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.