Sayoonara

Goodbye 2011...

To heartaches... many moments of agony when the girls went through exams and challenging moments; when work stress was super high and oh...but that's about all!

So we thank God for all the great laughter, joy and peace that came along the way...

But most of all gratitude for the ' strategic planning' since birth becoming a reality when...

Sara beomes a lawyer in 2011...

Esther becomes an architect in 2011...

Grace serving as a MO in Singapore in 2011...

I can only but say... thank you God for the abundant blessings that I have forgotten to count. You must forgive me for allowing little heartaches to blanket the many blessings. I thank God that together with dad we have completed our education duty for them. It has been a long process but one with God's amazing grace; providing opportunities, finance and mercy.
But greater still is our prayer for them; that they will become useful and grateful children to our amazing God; that they will never leave Him; that they will remember the teachings of the Good Book and walk with Him.

So for 2011; I reflect upon God's Amazing Grace.

Goodbye Melbourne

Good to have her home.

Yes; it has been a moment I have waited long. We were glad to receive her home and grant her the warmth and security that is rightly hers. We were most glad she completed this ever so lengthy course.

The ever long suffering dad is always there for her girls. When it is moving things home time, he is bound to be there for them. He would leave jobs and commitments behind and see to the packing of things. There is something I fail to understand though; she left with a bag but came home with at least 120 kg of belongings ! So each time a daughter finishes a degree, the whole family travels to secure kg space for luggage!

Having enrolled in Taylor's Diploma course after SPM, she secured a diploma after 3 years in 2007.

These are some of her buddies who graduated with a diploma back then after which some opted for Australia, others the UK and still others worked a while.

In 2008, Esther completed her Architectural studies in the University of Melbourne without a mortar board.

A photo taken with some of her buddies from Taylor's then. Persevering friends.

Esther finally completed her Masters ; with a mortar board this time in 2011.

I was glad to see her with her long standing friends right from Taylor's college days. Today they all have finally ended with what they started with; mortar boards on their crowns.

Esther leaves Melbourne and the Korean dinner given to loved ones after the convocation in celebration. Here she is seen with cousin John. When he was born, my brother gave me the privilege of naming his first child. The name John flashed through me; a good name and a good prophet in the Good Book. So, the child was named John. John and Esther were classmates since secondary school days. My brother was dubious of the achievement of Seafield; he was not totally confident of the school. But when he saw Esther being put there; he asked that John be there too. So, they went to school together and became classmates ever since. I remembered in fondness as I watched them pray together before an exam paper asking for God's favor and guidance in the exam hall. I smiled to myself. They were so cute, simple and adorable. God loves sincere prayers; prayers that cut through His heart.

Today, they have both graduated well and have done their parents and Alma mater proud.
May the Good Lord's countenance and favor be ever strong in their lives.

On the way to Lorne, dad stopped the car and told Esther; " isn't that similar to the design you created last time?" I remember it well too. I dug memories and photos...

I found it ! Do you notice some similarity? Do all architects think and behave alike?

May she find her niche in architecture and enjoy her working days.
God Bless Esther.

And... goodbye Melbourne; at least for the time being.

The 12 Apostles

The Remnants

The Great Ocean Road's biggest attraction I should think so is kept somewhere along the coastline of this continent; south east to be exact.

From as early as 9am we left the apartment at Lorne for the great drive home to Melbourne. Summer here means more daylight hours and the nights are short. Days only grow dark after 9pm daily and before you know it, morning comes again; as early as 4 am. No wonder people sleep less in summer months here. There's hardly night hours...

This was what everybody was talking about ... to visit the site of the 12 apostles.

We drove the popular beach resort in Apollo Bay and we were kept in suspension as we neared the much talked about coastline feature...what was it really like?

As we strolled along the pathway we paused to examine the vegetation of the place. The species here are indeed special and we have not seen them before.

The vegetation spread is rather dry and arid and as I recalled the geography days of my youth; I could safely say that the vegetation is caused by the Mediterranean climate experienced here. Stunted growth caused by little rain and dry climate and chilly winds. South east and south west states of the continent both are bathed by the Mediterranean climate.

Tourists thronged the site and we got more excited as we approached the bewitching site.

My geography lessons informed me that the coastal waves beating against the coast will result in
steep cliffs.

Some harder rocks will stand against the waves better and remain as protruding features into the sea.

Others stand in remembrance of its once wider existence along the coast.

Some weaker spots are more easily eroded and arches are formed as the softer parts collapse.

Very soon, the collapsed arches become remnants along the coast...perfect geography lesson. Geography students must study the site to behold the eroding power of the waves. In my younger days I see and read about them; I am grateful that I have a chance to see them in their real forms in my older days.

The stump left behind from the coast after years of erosion.

Attached to a pole near the site is an explanation of wave action on coastlines and the features they create. Beautiful and scenic...

The Great Ocean Road ride was but a tale of hundreds of miles of sandy beaches, coastal features and beach sports. We drove for hours after seeing the 12 apostles and hit Warrnambool; a huge beach attraction after 4 hours of driving. After a brief pause here, we labored on till we reached Melbourne City in the evening; a total of 9 hours of drive.

I could not help but notice the agricultural activities practised here; sheep rearing and bales of hay assembled as animal feed spreading along the undulating plains. Esther said she drank litres of milk here and was disappointed that the milk back home was so much more expensive and not tasting the same. Well... you can't find durians here; each to its natural abundance.

We be grateful for what we have in life.
The Great Ocean Road was a memorable experience.

To Lorne

The Great Ocean Experience

Dad will never allow an opportunity like this to escape him. He was flipping through the map for several days and decided that the trip must be made. So after leaving Sorrento we drove to Queenscliff Sorrento Passenger Ferry to touch Queenscliff for the Great Ocean Road.

On this sunny afternoon, we lined up for our turn to go into the ferry for a ride to the Bellarine Peninsula opposite Sorrento. It took us 40 minutes to cross the strip of water. We girls, bored dad when we chose to rest in the car whereas he climbed to the top to drink in the best of scenery of the oceanic waters.

Floating on top of the waters was a breezy affair and the weather was kind to us.

When we arrived on land, we drove and dad stopped the vehicle and insisted Esther photograph the building... very architectural. Buildings of this nature purposely designed to have the best overlooking shots.

Soon we arrived at Split Point Station; bear in mind now that the whole drive is about highest light houses, the seas, beaches, breaking waves and gushing waters...

This is it. A light house to guide and lead in the dark.

This quaint countryside township is meticulously clean and the air is soothing to the skin and mind...

Here, you walk and walk to reach a point to overlook from high spot...

Beautiful, isn't it?

Scenic; isn't it? Some pictures are best left self-explained.

This is Lorne. After some hours of drive, we had to rest. We chose this town because we were told it is very beautiful.

At 7 pm, the summer evening was still bright but the chilly wind did not spare us from the cold.

Lorne has many beach spots and it a hit for beach activities.

Dad was mesmerized by the big planks used as seats. He loves the chunkiness; almost impossible to find in ordinary places.

A small cathedral for the local people and tourists to worship.

Roller blading must be a favourite sports.

This flock will rest on any place they deem fit...friendly and not afraid of its onlookers.

There is an old-fashioned cinema here; unlike the ones we have in the malls in Malaysia.

The apartment we rented was spacious and comfortable; enough to house half a dozen people.

Grace said she would cook and look after me like the way I look after por por...

To make life happy and easy...maggie mee.

But yes... she did concord a quick delicious one...

She used butter for her cooking. When I saw this piece of butter I had a flash back to the days when I was a little girl. Back then to have a chance to taste butter would mean I was either having a fever or Kong Kong had a win over the mahjong game. I was told that when you are running a fever, butter would 'cool' the body and bring the temperature down. I know it is not true but at the same time, it was really good to have an opportunity to take butter. So fever days were butter days. Life was really tough then.

So we put up at Lorne for an evening before we continue the great drive the next day.