Rationalisation

The irrational reason for the accomodation option with lesser sleep ^_^

Over at the garlic-y dinner, the friends couldnt fully comprehend the real reason for my option. I had more reasons for them. But they were academically trained in exactly the same way to know what is self-supporting bias. Haha!

I admit. I am a sucker for aesthetically pleasing views like that. 

(picture unedited and taken with Iphone)

Early morning back in Singapore.  

Pleasurable sights make you jubilant in dressing! Purple!

Pictures make great memories! Oh boy, the impromptu fun!

The overpowering garlic-y dinner we did that was so strong, it lasted till the following day. The garlic effects, that is. ewwww.. Pizza is to-die-for, really.

Garlic rice a bit too salty, but very very fragrant!

And because the stomach hasnt been tuned back to the Singaporean size, and I was earlier than the dates....GASP IN HORROR!

My MALE Australian collic told me I do soooo much better than most Asians in terms of food intake! O_O" **reminds self gown selection is in 2 months' time and photoshoot in another 2 months. And up till yesterday, I was still thinking of ways to trick the boyfriend into not hitting the gym** ;p

Our Parking Adventure in Melbourne

1P starts from 730am - 630pm on Sunday. So Cherrie said it was ok to park the car over the night till Sunday morning. Problem was, paid parking starts from freaking early 730am. The girl had a long work week. So I jumped up at 730am while she was snoozing and attempted to shift the car/settle the parking...

When I reached....all other cars that were parked around us were gone! Being brought up in our local culture, I automatically rationalised that to the fact that parking wardens must have either made their rounds during the nights or expected to come by soon.

And sending a noob who didnt understand a single parking terminology doesnt help. Being so early in the morning, there also wasnt a single soul around for me to ask...so I resorted to waking Cher up from her slumber *sheesh*

The coupla peekas below were snapped and whatsapped to her for directions on what I was supposed to do next.. O_o" (isnt technology wonderful??) 

Showed her the parking sign again..

this means 1 hour of parking only from 730am-630pm. But there was no parking machines nearby for me to pay..

I looked around and saw that parking lots in the middle lane each had one machine. So the instruction was to shift the car to one of those lots. But the machines werent the SAM machine looking kind that allows payment with credit cards..

*gulps*

"Cherrie, they look like this! How to operate? There is no button to press! And doesnt indicate HOW MUCH!"

The next instruction was to snap her the parking instruction for those lots.

This reads:

730am-730pm (Mon to Sat) - 1 hour parking chargeable by meter (the machines)

730am - 630pm (Sun) - 1 hour parking. Since there was no mention of the meter, it means parking is FREE! but for an hour only. It is really a more liberal kinda rule enforcement practised there :) 

So there I was. Decided to shifted our red hot Lancer to the middle lane since parking is explicitly mentioned FREE for 1 hour. And then someone else came by and parked beside me. He told me Sunday's free! ;p

We got back to check on the car at in the next hour to make sure it was alright. I ll just say the chargeable hour hasnt started...So we ll shall leave it as that.. ;p

The Great Ocean Drive

The only time when you truely get to know yourself, recognise your abilities, appreciate your independence and how much your other half has positively influenced you is when you really soar alone.

Concurring The Great Ocean drive with just another girlfriend. All the road safety trainings, smooth lane changing and bends navigating that he has put me through. And how many times I whined for him to take over a parallel parking back in Singapore and he did. I couldnt whine to Cherrie, could I? ;p

 Driving is easy. Driving smoothly is not.

I was bad at navigating the super sharp bends that appear 3 metres from each other though. It made the wheels return sharp. I will work on that ;) meanwhile, the 5 hour long drive, has made me very very satisfied. Being on holiday without your other half gives you nobody to fall back on. You tend to take things in your own hands and become an independent soul on your own.

So on to our little unplanned adventure. There's nothing much to plan except for checking out the weather - everyday (weather forecasts change), scrolling though the web for the sights that you want to see - for us, that was mainly The Twelve Apostles. And unless you wanted to book an accom in the mountains, then you book early. Get water, mints and snacks for the drive. Pack sandwiches too if you must, to do picnic!

Maps will be available at the airport or along visitor's stops along the Great Ocean Road. The only navigation you need is from the airport (car pickup) to Geelong. Simple as that. From Geelong, there will be signs that guide you to The Great Ocean Road. For sea views, take the route that brings you to Torquay, Anglesea, Lorne, Apollo Bay. Thereafter you can choose to stop at any of the many scenic stops along the way.

A map I just got from Google images

Car rentals are available across the airport terminal. There are 4-5 rental companies. It gets cheaper down the row. So check out different rates and their car models available. If you like to plan and book in advance, you could too. We are just impromptu and not many people can take to that ;) BUT BUT BUT sometimes it is good to plan wayyy in advance because there are special promotions for big rides like Audi, beemer convertible at really special rates! We missed our chance. But luckily though, cos the wind blows so strongly, we wouldnt have opened the roof at all ^_^

GPS is optional. We paid AUD 13 each day for that. It is redundant though. Iphone google maps are more reliable, and free. Optus prepaid cards at AUD 29.95 gives you free 500mb surfing plus sms and calls! Just remember to bring along a car charger for the Iphone, fill it up with songs and you are good to rock the mountains!

Our Lancer ride, with full tank

Check for scratches before you ride it off! Additional scratches are chargeable! And nope! we didnt have any! ;p;p

Fill up your own tank - There is a mackers right outside the airport. So we took a brekkie. This limited edition wrap is yumtums! Has got bacon, eggs and hashbrown inside!

From there, navigate to Geelong.

There was a Surf City selling all surf brands. We had a stopover. You could do your last minute shopping of wetsuits and surfboards here if you intend to surf at the beaches along the GOR!

We arrived at Bell Beach. Surfers were having a ball of a time! But it was freaking cold at 21 degree celsius and strong winds blowing at 25km/hr?!?! We stayed all wrapped in the comfort of our warm fabrics.

Lookout point

And here's a view of the long road ahead

Next stop - hunger brings you to stop. I think this was at Anglesea, a minitown along the GOR. There are many mini towns along the way that you can stopover to visit the toilets, stock up on foods and drinks. Lunch was done by the car! Loves rustic experiences like these! Im sucha sucker for cheap thrills! Super yummy chicken strips!

And the toilet here is made for women's excuses!

Hey! We were dressed in theme!

Along the drive, expect to hit your brakes for horses crossing the road...

Pulled another stopover to read the history of this post-war time structure..

And lem over the mountain houses...I wonder who lives here...

The road is not as freaky as it seems..there are barricades to ease those psychological tensions built from driving along the cliff!

But the bends were sharp.like.this!

You will need to have a trusty driving buddy! (who concentrates on the road when you are camwhoring around in the car!) There is another set of pictures of us in swopped positions in the dark. Cher has it. And I was focusing on the road too!

Reached The Twelve (breathtaking) Apostles!!!!

You can pay for a helicopter ride to see the magnificent view... or you could, like us, view it from the viewing point at zero cost....

(pictures taken with 2 iphones 3GS and 4GS)

It was so beautiful, so accomplished, we had to camwhore before we hit back to the City and attempted to meet Laney.

Parking ordeals up next :)

Down Under Updates

Much was spent on the adminstrations to getting our keys before the trip. READ: complain. It worked. So we have something to smile about 2 days before my adventure Down Under. That brings something to celebrate for me during tonight's celeb dinner for a promotion for one, and engagement for another. :) Took a last minute half day on Fri to settle the admin - to be backed by evidence of my presence there so I do not have to deduct my leave! YAY! to my HR! :) Family planning and commitments come FIRST in here and I am glad for that :)

Many first times this trip round. I felt like I was on a HOLIDAY!

Firstly, the accomodation! The view is TO. DIE. FOR! I let go of a hotel stay nearer work place (hence, less zzzz time) for a view like this. Twas well worth it!

Touched down on Sunday afternoon and the weather was beautiful. I was waiting for Cher to come home from office :X She made it back. And we had some daylight left to enjoy the rooftop view.

(pictures are all from Iphone 3gs and non edited. What you see is what you get)

This is where people pay to see fireworks on NYE! Tenants get 6 tics admission!

We had a chillout cum life catchup at the balcony with a cuppa, some Ben&Jerrys and with some rockin' Ipod music blasting off the phone..

SCREAM AWESOME already!!

And wake up to THIS VIEW!! Right from where I was snuggling.

awwwwweeesome much

Hence, I decided to take up her accom offer for the rest of the week and took the train to work instead. Hotel's already been paid for. No refunds. Scrimping on my transport would be the least I could do to atone for my last minute selfish decision to indulge in the greatest pleasure of a stay! heh. So, no taxis. But it was really great to be able to commute to work the normal australian way :) heh

Did a Chinese dinner...

Still cant let go of chinese roots la... ;) But you tiao there tastes a tad bit weird..

Drove for the first time in foreign land! Read: 5 HOURS straight, nonstop drive down the Great Ocean (super windy - in both aspects) Road to the city. In the pitch dark mountain roads! Cher did the uphill and we caught the sunset at The Twelve Apostles. Felt verrrrry accomplished.

Twas also a last minute decision to do the Great Ocean Drive cos I wasnt so sure about staying behind the wheels in a foreign land, some more up the mountains. And it would be physically and mentally tiring for Cher to do 5 + 5 hours on the road. *faints* But all the picturesque photos I saw on the internet got a bit tempting, and I caved in. Verdict: No pain, no gain.

Did parallel parking along the busy streets too, aka main roads! Not personal carpark spaces where u do it you own sweet time k! There were oncoming traffics! No big deal to some, but was my first at parallel, anyway. And it was a difficult parallel! So let me bask in my own prideful glory!

*beems*

This me with our super awesome ride that vibrated at 120km/hr. -_-" We travelled 900km with it! within the 2 days!

Dinner with a long lost mate and his cute brother!

So I learnt how to eat CLAMS *cringe nose*

My first lemon lime BITTER. Wonder how it tastes like?

Not as weird as it sounds! Its real yummeh! Go try it! :)

Oh! And I did my first dragon boat paddling too! :)

Many first attempts, and some are here to stay.
For one, I will never push another clam away!