Friday, December 26, 2008

Tropical Christmas

There's something about the festive season in Singapore that just doesn't feel right.

I think it's the singing of songs about snow whilst you're sweating from the heat and humidity.
Hearing about a "White Christmas" and listening to someone singing "Let it snow" really doesn't do much to provide relief from the heat either....

Saturday, December 20, 2008

Mefloquine my dreams....

I've been taking Mefloquine for a few weeks now. It also goes by the name of "Larium". This anti-malaria drug seems to have a reputation that preceeds it.

My dreams and behaviour have been erratic to say the least.

Night time and sleep has brought about intense and bizarre dreams.

And during the day.... I've felt as though I have been behaving strangely. My brain feels inhibited. It's almost like there's a cloud hanging over my mind preventing me from thinking as clearly as I should. Over the last few days, slight nausea has also set in.

God I hope this awful feeling passes....

Saturday, December 13, 2008

Wicked through and through!

I was in Melbourne a couple of weeks ago for work. I decided to change my flights afterwards and stay the weekend.

So, after all the work was done, I shifted myself out of the luxuriously comfortable digs I had been provided at the Stamford and moved myself to the less luxurious but still comfortable hostel I had been able to find online.

Growing up in Melbourne had been fun as a child. However, since adulthood, I had only been back to Melbourne once. I thought this would be a nice opportunity to see Melbourne properly as an independent adult.

I was very impressed.

Unlike Sydney, Melbourne is far easier to move around in. The combination of trains, buses and trams makes commuting a relatively easy issue. Heading to St Kilda beach from the middle of the city was an easy matter of jumping on a tram, unlike the train + walk or bus (that will likely end up in a traffic jam) option in Sydney.

The life in the city in Melbourne was also a surprise. Compared to Sydney, were many parts of the city die on the weekends, the city in Melbourne was bustling. There were cafes everywhere, people wandering around the shops and generally just using this as a place for socialising. I particularly liked the small arcades that seemed to branch out from all of the streets.

Another reason for staying the weekend in Melbourne was that I wanted to see "Wicked"!

This hit broadway musical was in Melbourne and I heard great things. I didn't want to pay the full price, so instead I lined up for the lottery and managed to score myself some $30 tickets!

The show was fantastic. I still have the songs floating around in my head. The cast even included Anthony Callea, Robert Mills and Bert Newton!

I finished off my trip visiting old friends and just enjoying the sites of Melbourne.

I wonder if I made the right choice moving to Sydney....

Friday, December 05, 2008

Everyone is so adult

It seems like only yesterday that Angus and I were fighting in the halls of our old boarding school and stealing Nutella from the sickbay by the jar....

Things are now certainly getting adult.

I made my way down towards Canberra for a big party.

One to celebrate his engagement.

Angus and Kirsty.

My old housemates were now FINALLY engaged.

I generally avoid going back to Canberra. But this was a different situation.

The parents were beaming and for once I didn't feel too bad being back in Canberra.
However, it is definitely a terrifying reminder of the continued passage of time....