heads down bottoms up
 
This new skin brings about a fresh new beginning, a change, reminding us the importance of looking at things from another perspective so that we may learn to understand and accept all that we see for not what they appear to be, but what they truly are.
Sunday
gigabytes
Technology has undeniably inbred itself cleverly into so many aspects of our lives today that it is hardly imaginable for us to survive a day without it. Consider the internet, a world wide publicly accessible network of networks that essentially allows the world to be interconnected. Twenty years ago, families who had this access to the net were considered lucky. Today, our mouths would drop if someone doesn't.

Over the last couple of decades, we have subconciously allowed the internet to become such an integral part of our lives. We rely on it for file exchange, production, sale and distribution of goods and services, ebay, media, chat rooms and low cost instantaneous messaging, collaboration of information, files, knowledge and ideas, research and even plagarism. The internet can even be in-built into mobiles, ipods, even fridges, so that an electronic device registers any missing grocery in the fridge and automatically orders it online from the supermarket, and without you even being aware of it, the items will be delivered to your doorstep. It is no wonder why us humans have become so lazy nowadays.

But perhaps such service is actually necessary in today's fast-paced world. People are constantly rushing around, racing against time to earn money and make a living, that they hardly have time to sit down and catch their breath back. Time is no longer a luxury people can afford. People don't have the time to go shopping, so why not rely on online ebay and supermarkets? People don't have the time to attend their local library and perform research projects, so why not just google it or use Dr wikipedia?

Now, imagine removing such luxury from our lives, forever. Companies will close down or resort to the ancient almost-forgotten paper and pen procedures, students will have to start using books for compilation of information for assignments in place of the much easier and lazy googling and copy-paste technique. Majority of communication overseas will come to a halt and world matters and news will seem more distant than ever.

What prompted me to write this? My computer broke down five days ago. In other words, i struggled to survive these five whole days without internet access. No reading the news, research, blogging and worst of all, i couldn't access my bank account for funds transfer, which means i was financially bound these few days during stocktake sale. For an impulse shopper like myself, this is likened to taking my soul *ugh*.

But thank goodness, my soul was returned to me today *smiles*




Moving on.

I stood by my words of my last post, and i took the stupid risk i said i was going to take. I must confess, it crossed my mind a few times that i'll just be a damn coward, zip the lip and refuse to allow the words to slip out. Chances come and chances go, and i remained silent, but in the end, i braved it. The result? Hardly what i wanted, but not beyond what i should have expected. Unfortunately. Sadly. The higher you climb with your expectations, the further you'll have to fall to the ground, and the harder and more painful it will be.

Failing at my attempt, i guess, is better than failing to attempt.

After a while
you learn the subtle differences
between hold a hand
and chaining a soul

And you learn
that love doesn't mean leaning and
company doesn't mean security,
and you begin to learn that
kisses aren't contracts
and presents aren't promises.

And you begin to accept you defeats with you head up
and your eyes open,
with the grace of an adult,
not the grief of a child,

And you learn
to build all your roads on today
because tomorrow's ground is uncertain for plans.

After a while
you learn that even sunshine burns
if you get too much.

So plant you own garden
and decorate your own soul,
instead of waiting for someone
to bring you flowers.

And you learn that you really can endure...
That you really are strong...
And you really do have worth.


I don't think i'm going to make a new year's resolution this year, simply because i've never been diligent with it in the past years. Why make one when your not going to follow through with it? I'll just do what i do every year. Live it and love it. Respect the freak in me, laugh, giggle and smile. Live the three hundred and sixty five days, and when the end approaches, know no regrets.


Fresh start.


A step into the unknown,
Into adventure,
Into surprising new worlds...



Happy New Year and best wishes to all of you.
posted by sciurine @ 5:37 PM   0 comments
Monday
xmas day
I thought this year's christmas day will be yet another boring repeat of last year's, and the year before that, and so on, but i was wronged.

Waken by the mum's voice, asking me whether i wanted to go to auntie's house for a chat. I don't want to seem antisocial or indifferent to the family get togethers, but i decided not to make an appearance. I could've easily dragged my way out of the bed, but honestly, i really didn't mind a day spent in the house by myself. Every year we see this auntie once, and everytime, david and i end up sitting on the couch with dad whilst mum talks to auntie in the kitchen. We merely even speak to her. The whole idea of the kids going is literaly to let auntie see us, and that's it. Then we spend the rest of the day sitting there drinking apparantly delicious vegetable blended juice auntie insists on making for us.

Normally when we go to auntie's, we spend the WHOLE day there. But surprisingly, mum, dad and david returned early, planning to go out for dinner. A plan i was only made aware of five minutes before the booking time; in other words, i had less than five minutes to change and drive there. Anywho, we went to this prestigious chinese restaurant in Springvale - asian territory.

Family dinners for us happen very rarely - particularly ones where my older bro decides to join in. Today, i was hoping that it would be a nice, quiet catch up on eachother's lives over dinner and our plans and all else for the coming year, but that was not the case. We spent almost two hours there, three-quarters of which was spent talking with relatives who just happened to be in the same restaurant, at the same time. Due to being in a rather secluded family, we hardly ever visit our relatives - long story - hence today, we were bombarded with questions about what we have been doing with ourselves over the last ten/fifteen years. We sat there watching the food grow cold, feeling the urge to eat but felt rude in doing so.

All up it was a good dinner. The best part of it was that, for a change, mum and dad didn't pay, John did.

Oh, and onto a completely different note, i cooked today! Lemon pudding. Regretfully, this is my first dessert that i've made that actually looks like the photo in the cook book, and tastes delicious. The first dessert that took less than a day to finish off. *proud smile*
posted by sciurine @ 9:30 PM   0 comments
Today's newpaper headline:
"Two bushfire-affected states experience a white Christmas, Queenslanders swelter in hot conditions, storms hit suburban Melbourne while drought-breaking rain falls in NSW." - ninemsn news

Sounds bizzare? Or is it just me?
posted by sciurine @ 9:28 PM   0 comments
Sunday
risk, we must
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool; To weep is to risk appearing sentimental;
To reach out for another is to risk involvement; To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas, your dreams before a crowd is to risk loss;
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying;
To hope is to risk despair;
To try at all is to risk failure.
But risk we must,
for the greatest hazard to life is to risk nothing.


I will be taking a risk. I've been patient and now my mind is as clear as crystal. Though i know it's a silly risk, a stupid risk, and possibly a disheartening risk, i will take it. Of course i fear. I fear failure, i fear loss, i fear rejection; but i'm terrified of regret.

"I have often regretted my speech, never my silence" - But i think i will regret my silence more than my speech - i hope.
posted by sciurine @ 10:03 PM   2 comments
cruel fate
Under the influence of a certain someone, i ended up staring at a 8cm X 8cm tiny screen for three continuous hours, watching a jap show. I've watched quite a few foreign language movies before, but this one is by far the most emotional and moving one i've seen. Yes, in other words, i shed a tear - or maybe a little bit more than that.

Based on a true story, the movie follows the journey of a brave young teenager, Aya, who is unfortunately affected by a rare illness; spinocerebellar atrophy. A recessive genetic incurable disease that causes the neurons in the cerebellum to die, disrupting the signalling to the body that allows smooth voluntary movement, ability to learn, speak, swallow and walk. Initially presenting without any noticiable symptoms, Aya experiences an occasional stumble, unsteadiness and falls. Attributing her clumsiness to tiredness and lack of sleep, she gets on with normal daily life. She performs exceptionally well at basketball at her new school and attracts the attention of the boy she likes. But the disease continues to take over her life, without her realising...

Fortunately for her, her mum, a health consultant, notices Aya's increased clumsiness, odd movement patterns, and takes her to a neurologist for an examination which reveals cerebellum atrophy. Gradually, her symptoms become more significant and her falls result in worse injuries where she can't voluntarily use her hands in a protecting reflex when she stumbles. At this stage, her mum kept Aya's disease as a secret, telling Aya that she is just going through a peculiar adolescent curable illness.

Aya eventually realises the implication and seriousness of her illness, that will eventually leave her bedridden without voluntary control over her body and partially dumb. Although appearing brave to her family, she struggles to accept the truth. The illness strips her of the crucial elements of a happy teenage life, leaving her hospitalised and longing for a bright future that she knows will never come. The guy she likes cancels their first date, unable to face the burden that Aya will become. Aya's left with no hope of recovery, no relationship, and waking up to each day only to find that there is one less thing she can manage on her own. Future looking as bleak as ever. She had nothing to look forward to. She's only 15.

"When I imagine into the future, tears start to drop."

My tears dropped also.
posted by sciurine @ 8:17 PM   0 comments
Friday
work as a receptionist
Today at work, everyone seemed a lot happier; patients, physio and receptionists. Perhaps the festive season not only brings forth food and pressies, but it magically brightens up everyone's mood. Patients were more pleasant to deal with, physios were slightly more talkative, as for me, i'm generally a happy one anywho.

I walked in today with a bottle of white shiraz and a bottle of browns brothers wine. However much i would have loved to keep them for myself, i decided to give them as a gift to my manager, Michael, and supervisor, Jacinta. With my current lack of income and over-expenditure, i couldn't quite afford purchasing everyone else a present. As i walked into the clinic, i was silently hoping that Richard would be in the treating rooms and Jacinta and Michael out at front desk. Simply to avoid awkwardness that may arise if i gave them two a present but not him. But again, Murphy's Law; Richard was sitting at his desk showing Jacinta his christmas presents. Great.

I guess there wasn't much to be afraid of; except if Richard decides to give me someting and i don't have anything for him. He's such a nice character that he wouldn't careless if he didn't receive anything. At the end of our shift, with a kind hug and kiss on the cheek, we departed the clinic. Speaking of which, i rejected one a couple of days ago - long, slightly frightening story.

Anywho, so far i've lasted a year and two months at the same workplace, with the same people. Somehow i find that really scary, seeing that i landed myself this job was an accident in the first place...

Over a year ago, still a young first year physio student only eighteen years of age, i ventured out into the CBD desperately searching for jobs that would free me of McDonald's. I was at the stage where i could no longer handle the Maccas' employees and managers, but needed to sustain myself financially at university. So i picked up tutoring year 12 maths and another medical centre receptionist job. City Baths had advertised for a receptionist willing to commit to 15-20hours of casual work; and time was not a luxury i had back then - nor now. But fortunately, curiosity befell and my inner desire to find out whether i could get that job made to drop off my resume to Jacinta. At that stage, i had already found a receptionist job at another medical clinic, thus i took this one more like a test for myself; hardly putting any effort into the interview, but destiny had it, they offered me a job and fewer hours to suit my uni workload. A year and a bit on, i'm still here - sitting, greeting patients, filing, answer phone calls, billing, talking and surfing the net. The most strenuous task i have ever had to do was probably pulling a heat pack out of a hydroculator with tongs, or maybe filling up small bottles with ultrasound gel. How can i not be happy with such a simple well paid casual job?
posted by sciurine @ 9:12 PM   0 comments
Sunday
christmas dinner
I went to my first work christmas dinner a couple of nights ago. I've worked at this clinic as a receptionist for over a year now, and i've missed pretty much every formal occasion. Last year's xmas dinner because i was down at Phillip Island tanning, a couple of farewell drinks throughout the year, and the most recent gathering in which i decided to miss for dinner and karaoke with a few friends. This time, i had to make an appearence despite having a fever and cold.

Initially i was semi nervous with the thought of dining with all mature-aged health professionals; i wouldn't know what to talk to them about, anxious if i landed myself in a seat next to physios from other clinics whom i didn't know, and slightly afraid of sitting next to my managers.

Walking into the semiformal occasion half drenched, i stood in front of my work colleagues for a few good moments scanning. I couldn't recognise them in the dim lighting without my glasses. Rather embrassed after a few seconds, i realised jacinta was staring at me ,confused as to why i just stood there. Wet and flustered, i waddled to a vacant seat next to her, amongst many unfamiliar faces. After a casual and effortless attempt at introducing me to the others, she received a phone call from our manager saying that he'll be late. Really late. Out of politeness, the table of 20 waited for his 2 hour fashionably-late arrival, thus starting dinner at 9:30pm instead of 7:30pm.

The dinner was amazing. Entree being a marinated chicken breast salad, a smoked salmon with semi-dried tomatoes with chips and greens as the main, finished off with a beautiful mouth watering raspberry white chocolate cheese cake. *ugh* so good, so good.

The small talk turned out okay, but i felt slightly restricted when i realised i was stucked in between my manager and my supervisor. The conversations soon ran wild after a little bit of alcohol influence, mainly revolving around the topic of children, sex and rooting - whatever that is. I'm certainly not as innocent as most people think i am, but on the table of mature drunk health professionals who use big words like perineum, i felt clueless. Apparently the gift jacinta received looked like some kind of sex toy, but all i did was stare at it blankly whilst the others giggled. Had no idea.

I'm glad i went.
posted by sciurine @ 8:21 PM   0 comments
purple tongue
Today, i think my tongue turned purple. No, not 'cause of the hubba bubba chewing gums, but because of anger. Last week at an information seminar at the Australian College of Natural Medicine, i learnt that you can tell whether a person is angry or not by the colour of their tongue. Mine was red; but today it changed within a matter of minutes.

After my usual tutoring on Sunday morning, i decided to finish off some more christmas shopping on my own. I had essentially 2 hours at Southland Westfield Shopping Centre before i had to go pick up my brother at work. For those of you who know me well; it takes me two hours of shopping just to warm up.

Anywho, i arrived at the carpark, desperately searching for a space, trying to maximise my shopping time. After a good five minutes, i found one! I did the usual routine; allowed the car to take its time coming out, i sat there and indicated patiently and reversed when necessary to give them more room. Meanwhile, another car was waiting on the opposite lane a few meters down, for another car that was leaving. As the car i was waiting for left, i slowly drove forward, being very cautious due to the tight lane and was about to turn in; until the fucken stupid dickhead who was waiting for the other car decided to butt in and take my space. Fine, i thought at first, as i made my way to the space they were waiting for initially; but another car decided to take that one too. With fumes rising from my head and my precious shopping time dwindling, i reversed quickly and beeped at the family who took my spot. I sat there glaring at this indian wife and mouthed to her that it was my spot. She shook her head and mouthed back a no, it isn't. I swear i was almost about to get out and start something. I sat back again, waiting for her to get back in the car and tell her husband to reverse. Thirty seconds passed. Ignoring me, she opened the back door to let her kids out. I knew there was no point in arguing, so instead, i beeped the horn, yelled out something rude and dashed off. F*ck heads. Then i had to resort to driving to 3 other carparks for anothe 15 mins before i found a spot; which meant i only had 1 hour left to shop. Arrggh.

Funnily, i recognised the wife as i walked through Big W and gave her a good old greasy.
posted by sciurine @ 7:54 PM   0 comments
Wednesday
Feel the need to complain
My shoulders and traps are so soooore. My calves are tight as and so are my quads. I am sitting on a cushion typing this out coz my groin feel bruised. My sore throat is also adding to my agony. Swallowing hurts.

*sigh of relief* now that all my complaining is out of my system, i can immerse myself into my second book of the holidays, and look forward to a long awaited full body professional massage tommorow. What's even more to rejoice about it that it's for free! I knew travelling out into the city last sunday on a smokey, hot day and sitting there for 2 and a half hours was worth it.

I shall recall my 40km bike ride to and from the city, and to and from the city again, some other time - when i can actually sit properly and comfortably.
posted by sciurine @ 9:41 PM   0 comments
"Everything that deceives may be said to enchant"

A rush of excitement flowed through me as i purchased my ticket into the Eyes, Lies and Illusions exhibition yesterday, at Federation Square. The exhibition essentially explored the art and science of visual perception through time, constantly tricking our eyes, deceiving and enhancing our minds. It took us on a journey where nothing seen is what it seems.
Here are some of the many highlights:

Rotoreliefs: Optical discs placed on a turntable of a phonograph, producing the illusion of motion and depth. To make the illusion work, stare at the centre of the discs. (The one with the fish being my favourite)




Anamorphosis: A deformed drawing on a piece of paper that appears in proportion when viewed from a particular angle through some sort of prism.



Thaumatropes: A thaumatrope is a small disc, held on opposite sides of its circumference by pieces of string. An image is drawn on each side of the disc, and is selected in such a way that when the disc is spun, the two images appear to become superimposed. This illusion relies on the persistence of vision principle, where the eye has the ability to retain an image for roughly 1/20th of a second after the image is gone, thus, the faster the disc is spun, the greater the clarity of the illusion.


Anthropomorphic images:


After subjected to the series of bombardment by real images that are in fact fake and fake images that are in fact real, by the end of the hour i almost forgot what was real and what was only an illusion. By the 10th station of contemporary works, we arrived at a room full of haze, entitled "Line describing a Cone." Very cautiously, i walked into the enclosed room where the haze highlighted a beam of light projected from a distance. In the mist of the hazy lighting were two girls facing us, standing there and talking and gesturing to one another in slow motion - or so it seemed. I stared at them for a good minute, wondering how this mysterious beam of light could possibly create the outline of two girls in motion. Suddenly, they sat down with their bags and told us to go over to where they were standing and look into the beam of light. I was stunned. I paused for a moment before i dragged myself towards them, still wondering whether it was all part of the trick. It was then that i realised they were in fact real. Oops.
posted by sciurine @ 9:33 PM   1 comments
Friday
swing to the music
My return to swing dancing after two full weeks of deconditioning proved that practice makes perfect. Ditching the only lead in our swing dancing group (who didn’t want to make an appearance ‘cause he couldn’t be bothered), my friend and i bravely travelled into the city to the usual swing club, risking a night of sitting and observing. Walking clumsily up the flight of stairs into a familiar room dully lit, we glanced around in hope of bumping into friends we knew from uni. My heart sunk after the first five minutes when we realised we were the young ones amongst a whole bunch of mature-aged dancers. Great. Fortunately, after another few minutes of small talk, people we knew started appearing.

Slightly disappointed at my own feeling of inadequacy due to my little attempt to revise the swing moves recently, i allowed myself to slump onto a vintage couch for the first half an hour, observing the experts prance around confidently on the dance floors, strutting their moves.

After the long thirty minutes, a guy asked me to dance. Delighted to get off my bum, i smiled and took off my jacket and he took my hand. i’ve danced with him couple of weeks ago, and that time, he led me slowly and beautifully, understanding that i was only a beginner. But this time he was a little rough; starting with an 8-beat basic which i struggled to keep count of half the time. Whilst i love being spun around, he was simply too rough for me. Thanking one another courteously after the rather horribly followed-dance on my behalf, i returned to my crater for a few quiet minutes of observations with the feeling of inadequacy weighing heavily over my head.

Several more songs went by without much action, until a friend came up to me. He had promised to teach me the 8-beat basic before and he lived up to it. Escaping the conversation smothering room of loud speakers, he took me outside into the lane way. We laughed loudly at my semi-unco initial attempt at duplicating the moves, at his struggle with coming up with the follow’s moves and the sausage in a hotdog analogy – where the girl walks on the sausage and the boy circulates on the bun. After mastering the follow’s move, i asked him to teach me the lead’s part – so that i could attempt to teach the boys who didn’t come. Struggling very badly with even obtaining the starting position and with his height as he went under my arm, i gave up. But I can say quite confidently that i am equipped with the knowledge of both parts; at least for the next 72 hours without any practice. We returned to the packed dance floor and practiced the basics with music. A very well-led dance i must admit, with plenty of turns and spins, and i was complimented on my ability to follow.

Overall, a slow-to-kick-off night which ended happily with laughter and achievement. I must practice the two Charlestons, 6-beat and 8-beat before my next appearance! But that won’t be next week anymore, due to an unforeseen Christmas dinner for work; one that i cannot possibly miss again.
posted by sciurine @ 5:50 PM   1 comments
Wednesday
red cross


Every time we walk pass a Red Cross sign, we immediately relate it to medical aid, help and blood donation. But there is so much more behind this sign, and i am only made aware of this yesterday when i attended a Australian Red Cross volunteer seminar in Parkville. For those interested, here's a brief run down of the history of this organisation.

The red cross organisation was founded, ironically, in the mist of the Battle of Solferino in 1859, otherwise more well-known as The Second Italian War of Independence. Given my sudden interest in history, i'll explain what prompted this war. Back in the late 1800s, the Sardinian army wanted to conquer Northern Italy, then under Austrian rule. A year before the war, emperor of France, Napolean 3, and the PM of Sardinia, Cavour, signed a secret treaty of alliance against Austria; that France would help Sardinia if Austria attacked, and Sardinia would give two of its countries to France in return. Cavour, unable to attain help from the French unless the Austrians attacked first, provoked Vienna with military manoeuvers in their desperate attempt to conquer northern italy. Consequently, in April 29, 1859, Austria declared war, thus drawing France into the conflict.

After a series of battles, the french and austrian forces met at Solferino in June 1859. Coincidentally, a Swiss banker Henry Dunant who happened to be travelling through northern italy on business, stumbled into the battle field, witnessing the horrifying aftermath of the bloody conflict. Overwhelmed and moved by the sight of the injuries suffered by young men who lay there bleeding and tormented by hunger, thirst and heat, Dunant rallied villagers to assist and tend the wounded, regardless of age, gender and race. Despite the knowledge that they may in fact be saving a solider who have killed their son or husband, these villagers were to become the first volunteers of the red cross. Fyi, under the rule of Napolean, the french army defeated the austrians in what proved to be a tactiful, but costly battle.

Under the leadership of Henry Dunant, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was established in 1863, their emblem being a red cross on a white background, the inverse of the swiss flag. Today, due to clashes with religious symbols, the official Red Cross icon includes a red crescent, a red diamond and the cross (only established dec 05). The cross is an international protective emblem, carrying with it a symbol of hope and assistance, and interestingly, it means "don't shoot" in every language in the world. Unfortunately, this symbol has been constantly commerically misused by pharmacies and medical clinics.

Anywho, that was how the Red Cross was established. As for Henry, the remainder of his life is a bitter story to tell. Being a banker, he was once healthy and wealthy, but due to his overwhelming compassion, he focussed on the red cross, giving everything he earnt to the organisation, rendering him bankrupt. What was more tragic, was that he, unbelieveably, was expelled from the red cross once he was bankrupt. In the late 1800s, the poor was looked down upon, and Henry spent the next 18 years in a small hospital, living in horrible health and appalling conditions. It was not until a young journalist traced him down was he awarded the first ever Nobel Peace Prize in 1901. Semi happy ending, i guess.

Today, the ICRC exists in almost every country, with over 97 million members and volunteers. Guided by the 7 fundamental principles; Humanity, Impartiality, Neutrality, Independence, Voluntary service, Unity and Universality, the mission of the red cross is to improve the lives of vulnerable people, promoting humanitarian laws and values, and to alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found, with no discrimination based on sex, culture, political stance, and religious beliefs. Given that it must remain impartial and neutral under all circumstances, the red cross does not approach the media for support and receives only 3% of its fund from the government, the rest from donations.

Yesterday, i became a red cross volunteer. Why have i decided to forfeit some of my time i could be lying in bed or out with my friends for something i will not be recognised for? Why?

Let me tell you why.

To help.

Silly, some people may think; how can one person alone make any significant difference? Have you not read the story of the stranded starfish? It may be small what each volunteer does, but at the very least, it is making a difference to the life of that one person you are helping. I urge you all to give it a go if possible, coz you not only come out with a smile on your face, but your heart smiles with you.
posted by sciurine @ 4:49 PM   2 comments
Monday
back in civilisation
Speeding is like a drug. The more you do it; the more you need to do it. It has taken me mere 5 days of driving in ever changing speed limits on the strip of the great ocean road to develop a tolerance to speeding. Despite the sharp bends and curves along the coastline, speed limits often reached 100km/h, and cars would suddenly appear in your back mirror within a glimpse of the second. There is no wonder why driving at 70km/h feels like walking pace to me nowadays. In fact, i am finding it rather difficult to keep to a speed limit of 60km/h these days.

A couple of days ago, i farewelled a good friend as he returns to the sunshine coast for a month or so. I drove out to southern cross station with all his luggage and parked illegally, luckily escaping a parking ticket as i returned 20mins later to retrieve Olley (Yes, i have decided to give my beloved sedan an identity). Confident that my navigation skills have improved after our road trip and probably better than most, ahem, i decided to rely on my newly gained skill and intuition to direct me back onto dandenong road, instead of using the wiser melways. Not that this is a surprise to anyone anymore, i lost my way, again. I normally don't panic in these familiar situtations, but this time, i think i almost did. I ended up driving behind the Vodafone Arena; the opposite side of the city i was supposed to be, doing random three-point-turns thinking the road belonged to me, getting caught up in a 'no through road' and being beeped at by 2 taxi drivers. How strange it feels to be sharing the road with other cars again. Despite all the drama and calm chaos, i eventually found my way out by following road signs. I glanced at the time as i arrived home, and realised it's taken me so long to find my way home that my friend was already on the plane.

Given my recent lethargic and can't-be-bothered-with-anything attitude, i am going to take the easy way out and ask that you all follow this link to find out more about our great ocean road trip.

There are, however, a few experiences that i would like to recap on in slightly more detail. Apart from the first night staying at the magnificent Wye River camping site, that has been essentially reduced to a small trickle of water, the other 4 days were rather spontaneous and didn't quite go as planned.

Prepared for some gourmet cooking and scrumptious dinner, followed by a warm shower after a long day of driving, we arrived at our second campsite at Stevenson's Falls only to find ourselves greeted with two dirty compost toilets, soggy bug-and-leech invested grass area and a campfire. No power, no light; nothing. It was quite an adventure just to find our way to the campsite. Driving around and around in circles in what seemed a deserted and secluded camping ground, we decided that our feet were slightly more reliable. Stepping foot into the forest setting, following the one and only road sigh which was supposed to direct us to the camping site, we ventured into the unknown. About 1km in, the dirt track narrowed just enough to fit one person through at a time, and another road appeared beside us, apparently out of nowhere. Overwhelmed with excitment and laughter, we hurried along the track in hope of arriving at the site soon. But to our disbelief, after walking 1.5km, we realised we were walking along the track we were just driving on a few minutes ago. Battered and exhausted and in hysterics over our stupidity, we dragged our heavy legs back to the car to share the good news. In desperation, as the sun was closing in on us, we ended up plopping ouselves down on the patch of grass back towards the beginning. Not satisfied with dining on simple fruits and beans for the night, we believed that nothing should stand in our way of feeding our tummies with gourmet food, even without any electricity. Using what's left in the flask of hot water, a pot and a rice cooker barely supported with three large logs around a camp fire, we managed to whip up a delicious beef minced pasta, ash-covered potatoes with a fruit salad by 10:30pm. Satisfied with our efforts, we dined with bugs and dampened air, under a single torch, the moon and the stars.

The next day was no less of an adventure. After a bad night of sleep, i silently dozed off in the car as we made our journey down to cape otway for our third day, under the well trusted navigational skills of a travel-mate. But perhaps, we shouldn't have put too much trust on one person.

Me: As i opened my eyes to the coastline, the only words i could utter out was 'wow, it's so beautiful.' After a moment of silence, i continued, 'it looks strangely like the...'
Person A: "omg it is the 12 apostles..."
Person B: Angrily, "Keegan..."

We were rougly 100km out from where we were planning to stay for that night. Too tired from the journey and immersed into the magnificent scenery, the navigator managed to escape an ear full. No stress, as we eventually managed to find a camping ground at Port Campbell nearby to settle in for the night. Barging into the kitchen with our burnt pots and pans from the campfire the night before, and our esky stashed with gourmet hoikien noodles and vegetable soup, we were ready for some dinner. Feeling rather uneasy and self-absorbed, we dispersed the scent of beautiful cooked gourmet dinner to the seats nearby where other campers were dining with their BBQ sausages and 2 minute fantastic noodles. Gosh it felt good.

The not quite water proof tent was almost falling apart under the gushing wind that night at Port Campbell, and although an adventurous sleep, ahem, it wasn't particulary pleasant. Nonetheless, it was another memorable experience, especially when the person beside you wakes up an says, "I had a dream. I dreamt of opening up the tent and finding a prawn inside," then forgetting the whole story the day after.

Our fourth day was one full of walking and hiking. Due to the unforeseen diuretic effect of tea the night before, my bladder was filling up rapidly as we approached moonlight head. It was going to be a good 40min hike down to the bay, so i decided to pull over at a luxurious moonlight head resort to empty before proceeding. I walked into the resort with all politeness and caution and found myself greeted by two middle-aged couple.

Me: "Hi, how you going?"
Woman: "Good, how can i help you?"
Me, smiling, : "I was hoping to borrow your bathroom if that's okay." At this point, the woman was about to lift her arm and direct me through, but...
Man: "No."
Me, in disbelief, but still smiling, thinking it was a joke: "Umm.."
Man: "No you can't, we're in a drought and we don't have enough water."
Me, blank-faced: "Are you being serious?"
Bastard: "Yes, we don't have enough water as it is, we can't afford the water."
Me, standing in shock, wondering whether he was still playing with me, or whether i should crack it, but instead uttered, "oh, ok."
Bastard. So much for luxurious resort. Dickhead.

So, refusing to pee in the bush, i clung onto the full bladder with tonic contraction of my sphincter muscles for the whole hike, which led us nowhere. We later found out that we went down the wrong path but followed the correct signage.
On the same day, a few hours later, we went for another 3hour hike down to station beach and rainbow falls. Enduring all the scratches and aching muscle pain from unforgiving eccentric muscle activity, we made it there and back before getting trapped by high tide. Damn those steep sandunes.

Our last day lash night was probably the most memorable. Memorable not because of the glory, but because of its stupidity. Throughout the whole trip, the boys kept saying, we need to spend a day at the beach, and well, you asked for it. We stayed here or 14 hours. The same place for 14 hours.
After a good four hours of belly surfing (yes, that is surfing with your belly, nothing else) and scoffing down succulent chicken and tuna pasta salad with a dash of balsamic and lemon dressing before the sand gets to it, we return to the car exhausted and battered with wet sand down our pants and tops. We were all more than ready to drive home to melbourne, picking up a chilled coke and ice cream on our way back.

If something can go wrong; it will go wrong

The car wouldn't start. Shit.

The engine was fine. The batteries were fine. The starter motor was fine. The key wasn't. Five phones, one with reception, one with battery.

The RACV arrived lengthy wait whilst we munched on dry just right cereal and hydrated ourselves with what's left in the wate flask. After a brief examination of the car, no more than 15 minutes, we were hit by the verdict that the key, not the car, was the problem. The key had been soaked in saltwater. Sometimes, security can be a nuisance.

By 9:30pm, the sole taxi driver of the entire Apollo Bay arrived to pick us up from Johanna Beach. Three of us jumped in while the other two were left behind in the dark, lonely beach carpark. The over-friendly and cheerful driver, alan, carried a sense of eeriness to me. He reminded me strangely of the movie Wolf Creek. The ride was essentially fine until suddenly he took a turn into a dark side street, without informing us, then turned off the lights and engine. My friends probably couldn't tell right there and then, but i absolutely freaked out. A friendly stranger offering a lift to three stranded young teenagers in the depths of the night, turning into unfamiliar places. Doesn't that seem like wolf creek all over again. For who knows what could've happened. Apparantly he wanted us to look out for glow worms. My goodness.

We ended up crashing at his place for a few hours whilst waiting for the key to be brought down to Apollo Bay from Melbourne. Spliting his cold dinner comprising of chips and calamari rings and warm lasagna, he offered to feed us. In return, i helped him with his dishes. Alan left us, strangers, in his house for a good 20 minutes while he went off to pick others up. Although i was companied by a couple of friends, i have to say, i freaked out again. But luckily, we survived to tell the story, and Alan was probably the best stranger we met on our trip. Saved our day.

I shall upload some photos when i get to them.
posted by sciurine @ 2:17 PM   2 comments
Saturday
just a note to say i'm back
I'm back. Stay tuned for more.
posted by sciurine @ 8:27 PM   0 comments

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Thoughts, ...flowing slowly and gracefully, ...awakening the senses, ...keeping you up in the night, I sometimes wonder why people write. To express? To reflect? To be heard? I write, to free myself from a world of thoughts.

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