thu-sun
last year when i was learning australian flora and fauna and heard about those kind of field work they do i thought how nice it would be to do that kind of work. however when the opportunity came, it wasn't as exciting as i thought it would be. maybe it is because i don't know anyone else there. maybe it is because i have other pressing deadlines right after the trip.
anyway, it's really good to know the people who are doing this subject too. before the trip, i didn't know a single person in the subject. the first person who talked to me was jordan (same name as jordan!haha those who know him will understand what i'm talking about)looks like he's from somewhere near jordan river(he's a melbournian), and he greeted me with 'ni2 hao3!', much to my astonishment. turned out he has learnt chinese for 7years, spent a year in china studying the language and his mandarin is better than mine! personality wise he's so much like bowen, but more mature. haha hopefully bowen will become like that 3 years later.
the next person i talked to and was closest to throughout the trip was su-ann,born in msia but grew up in melbourne.looks like shari, mannerisms and character like waiye. all these resemblances are quite interesting. i was in the same cabin as her, with 5 other people: andrew, sarah, rommel, marchin, cassey. really thankful for how the cabin arrangements worked out. the people in my cabin were generally more peaceful than the other cabin i was supposed to be in.
to summarise the things we did, on thursday and friday we went out to different sites to analyse the plant richness etc. the weather was awesome! it was really sunny on both days. on friday we had lunch at a picnic area and i climbed up a mountain and the view was so nice! by the end of the second day all the species names were starting to haunt me, which was not very useful since we were not going to do the same thing on saturday. it was frustrating at first when we could not recognise any of them, so it was rather rewarding when we finally learnt to identify them.
on saturday we were supposed to work on the allocasuarina species but they changed to hakeas in the end to my disappointment as i was all prepared to differentiate the two species they informed us about in the field guide. anyway, it was raining really heavily that day so we had to work in the rain. because of that they brought us back to our cabins for lunch and so we can dry and warm ourselves while they discuss what we should do considering the weather. all of us were sitting in front of the fire dreading the moment when we had to go back to work in the rain again. thankfully, they decided to shift sunday's plans forward, which is to bring us to halls gap information centre where we could get some useful information for our assignment. on sunday it was raining still so we did a bit more data collection in the field in the rain again before leaving completely. it started hailing right after we finished so the timing was good. for the rest of the day we went around sightseeing at various places and reached melbourne around 6pm.
we were supposed to bring our own food or share among cabin mates. think everyone brought too much food in the end. there were quite a lot thrown out on the last day. what a waste! i brought too much food too - was supposed to make 3 sandwiches for lunch but only made one in the end. and ate double the amount i usually eat in a day. on the trip back, some of them were trying desperately to finish all the snacks they bought and were stuffing themselves with timtams, cheese biscuits, skittles etc. too much food! ah all the fuss.
the facilities at the accommodation were a surprise too! all of us were expecting some shaggy rooms, really basic facilities and the cold. i thought our rooms would be like dorms, with toilets in a separate building and common area/kitchen in another place. in fact, we were separated into 6 cabins, each of them self-contained with a living area (with tv, sofa and fireplace), kitchen (with stovetop, kettle, microwave, big fridge, table, chairs, cutleries, crockery, cups, toaster etc.), toilet, 2 rooms (with too many blankets and too many pillows). the whole place was done up in some retro style and it was really homely and cosy. in fact, it was warmer than the winter camp at lyrebird park! guess it's because the weather is warmer now too. so the really thick sleeping bag was actually too hot. ah all the fuss.
when i first read the field guide i thought they were such slave-drivers - we had to work at night too, to sort out the data we collected in the day. in the end it's nothing much at all - it's just handing over the data sheets to the camp leaders. so we actually had a lot of free time. most of us had more sleep than we would have had on normal days. i watched more tv than i have done in the past year (excluding in sg) - watched shrek, spiderman, what women want, wipeout. also managed to finish a book i've started on a long time ago.
it's really funny also how it's always the girls who tend to the firewood and fireplace, and the guys who tend to dinner and the kitchen. the girls generally sleep earlier and wake up earlier too. the guys always think girls take a long time to get ready but are always the last out of the cabin. hahaa.
overall i think it's a really good trip. met new friends. learnt new information. was an eyeopener. managed to go sightseeing. managed to get much rest/relaxation. cuts didn't get infected - healed pretty fast actually! managed to see emus and wallabies.
but now back to the city. back to the deadlines. argh. no more watching the sunrise, listening to nature waking up, rummaging through the bushes, experiencing first-hand the prickly nature of australian bushes. no more dressing like crap and braving the weather. no more idle nights sitting around relaxing and having an early night. ahh
i travel light and i hog toilets. i can't find much things to talk to people about. i'm the kind of person some people just shun and some people don't mind. not the kind people would love to hang around. not the life of the party at all. but the problem is i don't mind being a loner. or is that a problem at all? ah wells. i like talking to other loners.
Sunday, August 31, 2008 @ field trip to grampians national park, mt zero
Friday, August 22, 2008 @ the sudden nostalgia
it's so weird to miss those seemingly boring and insignificant times. waiting for ma at customs. going dentist in jb. doing absolutely nothing at ahyi's place. sitting on the grand stand with ren just staring opposite the track and being slack. going to the dentist. having the really delicious meal before going for tooth extraction. spending a whole day at home just listening to the cuckoo announcing the time as it passes. sitting at home listening to the howling winds and rain outside.
yea, that's how walter richmond butler became more english the longer he stayed in australia. ironic.
the joy of restoration. the intimate sweetness of fellowship and rest. how could i have forsaken. how could i have forgotten. how my heart is wrenched at the thought of future straying. yet i know he is faithful. why put myself through this over and over again. so that i may realise again and again the truth i've already learnt? to stay forever this way. in this posture of reception. to be still in his presence. just the two of us. just you and me. alone yet not lonely.
yea, that's how walter richmond butler became more english the longer he stayed in australia. ironic.
the joy of restoration. the intimate sweetness of fellowship and rest. how could i have forsaken. how could i have forgotten. how my heart is wrenched at the thought of future straying. yet i know he is faithful. why put myself through this over and over again. so that i may realise again and again the truth i've already learnt? to stay forever this way. in this posture of reception. to be still in his presence. just the two of us. just you and me. alone yet not lonely.
Saturday, August 16, 2008 @ the green grass
the last time we went had working bee at church i drove the lawn mower!first time i drove something that isn't a toy. ok it's a bit like a toy, just a very efficient and useful toy :)
today i used the line cutter - the ones they use in singapore to cut grass. the 'blades' were actually just wires! in anticipation of not having to wear my nice thick jacket (i'll get dirty) and not having any windbreaker kind of jacket, i wore 4 layers of rubbishy clothings - a t-shirt and 2 long sleeve shirts and a thin pullover on top of that. but in the end i was given 2 pieces of garbage bag, one with 3 holes for my head and arms, one like a sarong for my lower body. furthermore i had to wear a head gear which has a net over the face and ear muffs (not the furry kind). i must have been quite a sight!
anyway i think all the equipment were designed for males. the headgear was too big, the strap was too long, and i could never start the motor (jiahui tried too! it's the kind you have to pull and it'll go vroom!!!). anw, jo the grass man taught me how to cut properly (he taught me for the lawn mower too) and off i went, along the perimeters of the compound, cutting where the other equipment cannot reach. in the process i cut several holes in the ground, fell on a slope, annoyed the dog behind the fence, cut my finger, refilled the petrol twice and finished the wire. so i learnt how to refill the petrol and wire too! despite the rain and sun that came and went, it was an adventurous experience altogether. we managed to leave just before it started to pour rather heavily.
i left the church with green shoes, grassed sleeves and pants and muscle aches. the grass bits were wet so it was hard to brush them off. i went grocery shopping at aldi looking like i just rolled on freshly cut grass, but it was good cos in the process the grass dried up and i could rub them off. when i got home i washed the clothes that had grass on it together with other clothes and bedsheets. the clothes didn't get much of the grass on it but i could see green dots spread on my bedsheets. ah wells. sleeping on grassy bedsheets would be a refreshing experience eh? haha.
now my hands couldn't stop shaking. whooo what an exhausting day!
today i used the line cutter - the ones they use in singapore to cut grass. the 'blades' were actually just wires! in anticipation of not having to wear my nice thick jacket (i'll get dirty) and not having any windbreaker kind of jacket, i wore 4 layers of rubbishy clothings - a t-shirt and 2 long sleeve shirts and a thin pullover on top of that. but in the end i was given 2 pieces of garbage bag, one with 3 holes for my head and arms, one like a sarong for my lower body. furthermore i had to wear a head gear which has a net over the face and ear muffs (not the furry kind). i must have been quite a sight!
anyway i think all the equipment were designed for males. the headgear was too big, the strap was too long, and i could never start the motor (jiahui tried too! it's the kind you have to pull and it'll go vroom!!!). anw, jo the grass man taught me how to cut properly (he taught me for the lawn mower too) and off i went, along the perimeters of the compound, cutting where the other equipment cannot reach. in the process i cut several holes in the ground, fell on a slope, annoyed the dog behind the fence, cut my finger, refilled the petrol twice and finished the wire. so i learnt how to refill the petrol and wire too! despite the rain and sun that came and went, it was an adventurous experience altogether. we managed to leave just before it started to pour rather heavily.
i left the church with green shoes, grassed sleeves and pants and muscle aches. the grass bits were wet so it was hard to brush them off. i went grocery shopping at aldi looking like i just rolled on freshly cut grass, but it was good cos in the process the grass dried up and i could rub them off. when i got home i washed the clothes that had grass on it together with other clothes and bedsheets. the clothes didn't get much of the grass on it but i could see green dots spread on my bedsheets. ah wells. sleeping on grassy bedsheets would be a refreshing experience eh? haha.
now my hands couldn't stop shaking. whooo what an exhausting day!
Friday, August 15, 2008 @ enjoyment
it's so dry i can't swallow it.can't keep up with it.like a stone forced down my mouth every week.
i took for granted the interest i had for my other subjects.the state of peril.
you must read the newspaper everyday and scrutinize every word.
you must search for any magazines you can find and scourge every article.
you must hound all the librarians for all the materials you can get.
you must spend all your time with the computer improving your relationship with it.
you must after that get on good terms with its friend, the printer/plotter; all these knowing that they hate you. they mock at your inability to talk in their language.
you must be able to look at a blank wall and dream beyond it.
i guess i should start with the brick wall right outside our window.
indeed, enjoyment is a gift.
all it takes is for a coffee to turn my day around. to spark that just-do-it punch back into my attitude. ah this is so bad. but i feel better now, though i can still feel like puking sometimes. haha this is all so ironic.
i took for granted the interest i had for my other subjects.the state of peril.
you must read the newspaper everyday and scrutinize every word.
you must search for any magazines you can find and scourge every article.
you must hound all the librarians for all the materials you can get.
you must spend all your time with the computer improving your relationship with it.
you must after that get on good terms with its friend, the printer/plotter; all these knowing that they hate you. they mock at your inability to talk in their language.
you must be able to look at a blank wall and dream beyond it.
i guess i should start with the brick wall right outside our window.
indeed, enjoyment is a gift.
all it takes is for a coffee to turn my day around. to spark that just-do-it punch back into my attitude. ah this is so bad. but i feel better now, though i can still feel like puking sometimes. haha this is all so ironic.
Thursday, August 14, 2008 @ get a grip
down the slippery slopes.the intensity scares me.scared by too many things.but doesn't perfect love cast out fear? i've been missing the mark,i've shifted my gaze away from what truly matters.the deceitfulness of sin.i feel it.hard as a rock.numbness.just don't want to move anymore.just want to sigh and sit in a corner and watch things pass.no longer attracted by the lovely things that intrigue me.what do i want? i don't know. wait, i know, my own way. but what is it? whatever it is don't let me have it.cos i can only self-destruct. to turn your mind back again. to be vigilant again. to rest upon him and be whole. the sweetness. i've lost it. why play the blame game. like a shell. marvellous on the outside, empty on the inside. i don't know what i'm rambling down here. there are just so many things that shouldn't be. everything is going wrong. ok, alright, i mean everything is not going my way, not my definition of how things are supposed to work. back to definitions, back to black white and grey. does it really exist? it scares me how it plays be about, keeps me twirling. round and round. inside out. upside down. leaves me exhausted. i have an i-problem. such irksome object. be merciful. to refine my senses again to your presence and touch and voice. i have an eye problem.
but it's wonderful to be able to see. it's wonderful to be able to create beautiful things. it's wonderful to have a sound mind, to be able to analyse, to think. it's wonderful to be able to talk, to communicate. it's wonderful to hear the birds chirping, to hear the rain pouring outside and to be safe and warm. it's wonderful to be able to eat, to taste good food. it is wonderful to be able to sing, to truly express the desires of your heart, and lift it up in music.
but it's wonderful to be able to see. it's wonderful to be able to create beautiful things. it's wonderful to have a sound mind, to be able to analyse, to think. it's wonderful to be able to talk, to communicate. it's wonderful to hear the birds chirping, to hear the rain pouring outside and to be safe and warm. it's wonderful to be able to eat, to taste good food. it is wonderful to be able to sing, to truly express the desires of your heart, and lift it up in music.
Monday, August 4, 2008 @ Forsake me not.
"Father, forsake not Thy child, lest he fall by the hand of the enemy.
“Shepherd, forsake not Thy lamb, lest he wander from the safety of the fold.
“Great Husbandman, forsake not Thy plant, lest it wither and die.
“Forsake me not, o Lord now; and forsake me not at any moment of my life.
“Forsake me not in my joys, lest they absorb my heart.
“Forsake me not in my sorrows, lest I murmur against Thee.
“Forsake me not in the day of my repentance, lest I lose the hope of pardon, and fall into despair;
and forsake me not in the day of my strongest faith, lest faith degenerate into presumption.
“Forsake me not, for without Thee I am weak, but with Thee I am strong.
“Forsake me not, for my path is dangerous, and full of snares, and I cannot do without Thy guidance. As the hen forsakes not her brood, do Thou then evermore cover me with Thy feathers, and permit me under Thy wings to find my refuge.
“Be not far from me, O Lord, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.'
"Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!"
“Shepherd, forsake not Thy lamb, lest he wander from the safety of the fold.
“Great Husbandman, forsake not Thy plant, lest it wither and die.
“Forsake me not, o Lord now; and forsake me not at any moment of my life.
“Forsake me not in my joys, lest they absorb my heart.
“Forsake me not in my sorrows, lest I murmur against Thee.
“Forsake me not in the day of my repentance, lest I lose the hope of pardon, and fall into despair;
and forsake me not in the day of my strongest faith, lest faith degenerate into presumption.
“Forsake me not, for without Thee I am weak, but with Thee I am strong.
“Forsake me not, for my path is dangerous, and full of snares, and I cannot do without Thy guidance. As the hen forsakes not her brood, do Thou then evermore cover me with Thy feathers, and permit me under Thy wings to find my refuge.
“Be not far from me, O Lord, for trouble is near, for there is none to help.'
"Leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation!"
Saturday, August 2, 2008 @ Gold Coast
this is the long awaited post on my trip to Gold Coast!i figured if i don't write this out soon i'll get too caught up in my semester to post this.
angeline and i reached gold coast on tuesday night and left on sunday evening.stayed with angeline's friend, josephine and her husband dave and their kid jonathan :)
day 1: seaworld!
this day didn't start off as well as i'd have liked it to.i forgot to put in my camera charger and forgot to bring my bottle (i cannot survive without my waterbottle).but it was cloudy and drizzling most of the day so i didn't want to take any photos anyway as they wouldn't be nice.dave drove us to the train station where we took the extremely long train and bus ride to seaworld.seaworld is mainly about shows and animals.we saw the waterski wipeout, aquarium, dugong, fish detectives sea lion show, a 4-D show about environmental sensitivity, polar bears, dolphin show, penguins, sharks, starfish, sea cucumber etc.angeline was practically going gaga over the dolphins.we took the pirate ship ride, which was more terrifying than we imagined.after that we took another ride that splashes.a few rides were closed and a few others we didn't dare to take.oh and it was freezing.so obviously it is not a good idea to immerse yourself in the watery atmosphere of seaworld.nevertheless, the shows were really good and the animals were quite interesting.quite fun seeing the starfish digesting its meal and playing with the very flabby sea cucumber, seeing the fishes of the same scales swim together in the gigantic tank, watching the kids interact with the dolphins.
day 2: shopping
the original plan was to go movie world on this day but we changed plans due to the weather. it was raining the whole day, and after being frosted the day before, it would be nice to stay warm and comfy indoors while it poured outside.it was a short day and we managed to get some deals especially from the slash sales in supre!hehe
day 3: movie world!
i'd say this is the most exciting day, especially the rides. the weather was clearing up already, that's why my photo album on the trip started from movieworld.haha
my favourite ride. the other fav is scooby doo ride which i didn't take a photo of.
to show you how scary/fun it was
another view
day 4: surfers' paradise!
angeline and i on the beach
crazy rickety amusement park across the road while we were waiting for a bus. someone was going to do a bungee jump.
angeline and i reached gold coast on tuesday night and left on sunday evening.stayed with angeline's friend, josephine and her husband dave and their kid jonathan :)
day 1: seaworld!
this day didn't start off as well as i'd have liked it to.i forgot to put in my camera charger and forgot to bring my bottle (i cannot survive without my waterbottle).but it was cloudy and drizzling most of the day so i didn't want to take any photos anyway as they wouldn't be nice.dave drove us to the train station where we took the extremely long train and bus ride to seaworld.seaworld is mainly about shows and animals.we saw the waterski wipeout, aquarium, dugong, fish detectives sea lion show, a 4-D show about environmental sensitivity, polar bears, dolphin show, penguins, sharks, starfish, sea cucumber etc.angeline was practically going gaga over the dolphins.we took the pirate ship ride, which was more terrifying than we imagined.after that we took another ride that splashes.a few rides were closed and a few others we didn't dare to take.oh and it was freezing.so obviously it is not a good idea to immerse yourself in the watery atmosphere of seaworld.nevertheless, the shows were really good and the animals were quite interesting.quite fun seeing the starfish digesting its meal and playing with the very flabby sea cucumber, seeing the fishes of the same scales swim together in the gigantic tank, watching the kids interact with the dolphins.
day 2: shopping
the original plan was to go movie world on this day but we changed plans due to the weather. it was raining the whole day, and after being frosted the day before, it would be nice to stay warm and comfy indoors while it poured outside.it was a short day and we managed to get some deals especially from the slash sales in supre!hehe
day 3: movie world!
i'd say this is the most exciting day, especially the rides. the weather was clearing up already, that's why my photo album on the trip started from movieworld.haha
my favourite ride. the other fav is scooby doo ride which i didn't take a photo of.
to show you how scary/fun it was
another view
day 4: surfers' paradise!
angeline and i on the beach
crazy rickety amusement park across the road while we were waiting for a bus. someone was going to do a bungee jump.