February Song

post # 155

Last day of February 2007.
Amazing vacation.
Work's been good.
Heroes, Prison Break and Smallville...

One word to wrap this month, Fabulous.
As a closure, here's Josh Groban....

Josh Groban - February Song

Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song
Tell him it won't be long
Til he opens his eyes, opens his eyes
Where is that simple day
Before colors broke into shades
And how did I ever fade
Into this life, into this life

And I never want to let you down
Forgive me if I slip away
When all that I've known is lost and found
I promise you I, I'll come back to you one day

Morning is waking up
And sometimes it's more than just enough
When all that you need to love
Is in front of your eyes
It's in front of your eyes

And I never want to let you down
Forgive me if I slip away
Sometimes it's hard to find my ground
Cause I keep on falling as I try to get away
From this crazy world

And I never want to let you down
Forgive me if I slip away
When all that I've known is lost and found
I promise you I, I'll come back to you one day

Where has that old friend gone
Lost in a February song
Tell him it won't be long
Til he opens his eyes
Opens his eyes

(Strange) Foreign Beauty

post # 154


I went to Accenture office in the morning and took some pictures from the 20th floor windows. The city view from the windows was great. The office was different with my office in Jakarta. The lunch room was larger and better.

After that I went to a catholic bookshop to buy some souvenirs for my friends. Stopped by at Safeway for a while then headed back to the apartment. Rod n sis came around lunch time and we went to Queen Victoria market. Found some interesting items which I bought later on. The market was larger compared to the one in Subiaco, Perth. Yet both of them were clean and well organized.

Next stop was Mount Macedon. It was located about 70 km from the city. We went up there n the view was very beautiful. The air was sooooooo fresh. We bought some drinks at Top of The Range restaurant. One of the waitresses was kinda cute with beautiful blonde hair. Then we walked around to the Monumental Cross, took some pictures. The scenery was absolutely gorgeous.

Went back to the city, stopped by at Highpoint. Rod n sis wanted to install a new telephone line. The customer service was a beautiful girl with brown hair and exquisite face. She was very pretty. Argghhhhhh...... I was mesmerized by the way she’s talking…very attractive.

Unfortunately they couldn’t get the phone line issue resolved on that day. We went to La Porchetta to have dinner afterward. Once again I was treated with refreshing sight of two beautiful dark haired waitresses. They both differently beautiful. One was more of the aggressive type, and the other was the calm and alluring type. Darnnnnnn……I dunno why, maybe I have this kinda encoded preference in my mind since I found that dark haired girls attract me more than the blondes. (strange) foreign beauty…

Aside from those two beautiful creatures (pardon my choice of words..hehehe), the food tasted quite funny to my Indonesian tongue. Lots of tomato sauce. And the risotto tasted like sardines. Then Rod dropped me, mom n sis at the apartment. Sis stayed for the night to spend time w mom. As usual, my night routine was swimming. After swimming I went up and watched the TV for a while n then went to sleep. What a day….

MLTR - Strange Foreign Beauty

Strange foreign beauty
I'll never know what's in your heart
Does anyone know how it feels to hold you
does anyone know the secret of your mind

Strange foreign beauty
I'll never come to share your world
Does anyone know how it feels to live with you
does anyone know the secret of your life

Strange foreign beauty
You'll never know what I felt for you
Sometimes it feels like a million chances
are slipping away disappearing in the air

Post chorus:
(You'll) never know what I felt for you
you were always on my mind
(I'll) never know how it feels to hold you
how it feels to be with you

Journal for Feb 22, 2007

Fifth

post # 153


Woke up at 9 AM today. Went to Asian grocery n woolies w mom. She cooked lunch after we finished our shopping and went back to the apartment. Rod n Sis came for lunch then we went to high point n the real estate office. High point is one big mall. It reminded me of Kelapa Gading Mall.

After we got back to the apartment, I went to change the US$ and print the photos from my digicam. While waiting for the photos to be printed, I went online for a while (browsing WG). Ahh….finally I could get online. Too bad the rate for internet café is quite expensive here. It cost A$2 for half an hour, A$3.50 for an hour….but the line was very fast.

After browsing for about an hour, I went to pick up the photos, then went back to apartment for dinner. Went swimming for a while afterward then watching TV. The TV programs here are very good. Very different with the ones we have in Jakarta.

originally written on Feb 21, 2007 at 11.45 PM

Fourth

post # 152

Today’s my fourth day in Melbourne. Woke up at almost 9 AM. Wandered around till RMIT. Saw the State library and then went to the building where Accenture located, but didn’t go inside. Bought some groceries. Went back to the apartment at 11 AM. Two hours of walking n I didn’t feel tired. It’s really healthy lifestyle.

Called Margha before I started my journey and her voice is much softer than I had imagined, with distinct british accent. We talked for a while and then I went to Bourke st to start the my journey for the day.

Waited for sis n rod to come while mom was cooking fried rice. They came at around 12 PM. We had lunch together and then we went to Royal Botanical Garden. We explored the garden for two and a half hours. The garden was very beautiful and mom couldn’t stop comparing the difference with the ones we have (if there’s any) in Jakarta. Of course it’s like comparing heaven n earth…lolzzz

Rod dropped mom n me at our apartment and then I took a short nap. Sis came at around 6 PM. We had dinner then went swimming afterward while Rod’s watching Simpson. Swam for about an hour and we went up. Now I’m watching Man Made Marvel: Petronas Tower.

To wrap the day, I ate chips n (2ltrs) ice cream….n write this journal. Yummy…..


Originally written @Feb 20, 2007 10.09 PM

Family

post #151

Yesterday was a very memorable moment for my sister. It was her wedding day. She n Rod picked up us at the Melb airport, went to the apartment and then went to their hotel to get ready. After that we went to the Victorian Marriage Office. Rod’s family was already there. Took tons of pictures when they said the vow and then I signed the certificate as a witness along with Rod’s mom. After that, Rod’s sis came. She has a very gorgeous daughter and a cute son. Her daughter, Ella was 3 years old and she looked like a little angel. She is very sweet. After took some pictures on the park near the office, Rod’s family went to the dinner place, we went to the hotel because sis wanted to change. We arrived at the Boathouse (the name of the dining place) at around 5 PM. The sun was still shining. It’s like 3 PM in Jakarta. We had great time there. I became an interpreter for mom since Rod’s family wanted to talk to her but mom couldn’t speak English. So I became the translator. Rod’s big family was very kind and warm.

One of them, Karen, was a psychologist and she talked a lot with mom. The other family members also welcomed us open handedly. It felt so great. I didn’t feel tired, though I hadn’t got real sleep since friday morning. I had great time too, being an interpreter and talking to Rod’s friend who’s working in the same industry I’m in, taking pictures of lovely Ella. The dinner was delicious too and I think I’m getting used (and like) to drink wine. We stayed there till 11 PM. It’s almost 5 hours we spent quality time together. Before we parted, Rod’s mom said to us once again, welcome to the family.

Yup, we are one big family now, I can say proudly that I have a very beautiful niece (in law?). My sis n Rod looked very happy. She couldn’t stop smiling. It was a simple wedding with only families n close friends invited, but I felt that it was very meaningful, to share the joy with the ones we love, the ones that really close to us. Unlike wedding in Jakarta, which is in my opinion usually too extravagant. Lot of money spent which is merely for the sake of prestige.

Originally written on Feb 18, 2007 at 11.23 PM

Fantastic

post #150

Melbourne is (bloody) fantastic. I’m sitting on a comfy orange couch at the moment. Watching the relay game between Melb Victory vs Adelaide Utd. Melb won 6-0. I guess that was the reason why people are celebrating on the street near Telstra stadium. I was back from afternoon mass at St. Augustine when I saw lot of crowd singing and shouting.

I slept for almost 12 hours last nite. Woke up today at around 11 AM, went to see the view. Asked for a Catholic church around the apartment I’m staying in. Followed the direction the receptionist gave me, but I couldn’t find it. I almost gave up when I laid my eyes on a small building, then I realized that it was the church I was looking for. I was guided by God. Then I took some pictures, there’s a Charismatic renewal movement in that church. Then I wandered around to the china town in Little Bourke. Saw the celebration of Chinese New Year. This surely the best Chinese New Year I’ve ever had. Walking around Swanston Street. Saw a beautiful dog and took some pictures of it. After that I bought KFC for lunch then headed back to the apartment. Ate lunch w mom and then went back to sleep. Woke up at 7 PM, took a shower n then went to the church.

Well I have to save my laptop battery since I haven’t got the converter for my laptop.


Originally written on Feb 18, 2007 at 10.56 PM

First

post #149


Here I am, sitting at gate 4. Waiting to board my flight to Melbourne. It’s the first time ever I set foot on Sydney. The weather is quite sunny. Lots of Asian students around here. Maybe they’re on their vacation. My first time to have a connecting flight which makes me have to transfer from international airport to domestic airport. Too bad I don’t have enough time to wander around Sydney. Otherwise I could visit my friends who live here (Margha and Ivo). Well, it’s 9.30 AM now. I’m thrilled. The boarding time is 9.40 AM and I think I’m gonna use the remaining ten minutes to wander around the shops.

Melbourne, here I come!!!

originally written on Feb 17, 2007 at 9.30 AM