Weekend in Melbourne

I've been to Melbourne for years and almost forgot what it looks like, and I am surprised how much it's changed over the last few years. My trip down to Melbourne was mainly for a photo essay project that I am doing at the moment, so I didn't really enjoy myself that much apart from working throughout the whole weekend. Fortunately I did managed to catch up with some old friends since high school, for a BBQ and poker night. It was a great night to be around with some old friends.

But yeah, the whole weekend I was pretty much playing the role of a photojournalist, chasing after my subject, snapping away. It was all new to me again on how to find my way around in Melbourne, especially taking tram all the way to Preston, way far north from city. It was interesting to be in the burbs.... And Saturday I pretty much spent whole day hiding behind backstage, documenting the whole preparation, the highs and los of the whole event. My back was hurting from standing, walking around whole day, and my right toe is numb since.... oh well I am sure the end result of the project is worth it. I've snapped around 500 shots, so will take some time for me to go through them and select the good ones. In the mean time people also asked me for my namecards and I am more than happy to give it away. And today already had a lady contacted me showing interest in the photos, but too bad I havent have them organised. I am already looking forward to my next photo essay, probably one about Japan. It's lot of fun.

R.I.P. Peter Brock

I spent last Sunday in Bathurst with Pete and Dave. Initial plan was just to follow Pete on his regular flying training, so thought it would be nice to spend a day outside since I've been busy working at home on Saturday when the day was nice outside. So we flew all the way out west to Bathurst, on a small Piper Arrow and then we met up with Dave, who drove all the way up. Dave grew up in Bathurst, so he was the perfect tour guide for us. We had a nice lunch at the Royal Hotel, then had a walk in Kings Parade where White Cherry Blossoms were blizzarding the whole park. It was beautiful. Then we drove all the way up to Mount Panorama, to find there was already a group of people parking along the race track, paying tribute to Peter Brock, who died recently in Perth. Messages and flowers were everywhere at Pit Straight, and people just stopped there, having a beer, enjoying the view, and also started talking stories about the motorsport racing legend. Althought I don't really follow sport, I definitely do feel the passion from the fans towards their hero. I took a few shots along the trip and have decided to make it into a photo essay as a tribute to Peter Brock. Hope you enjoy it as much as I do.



Peter Brock : King of the Mountain

What will be your funeral song?

I was talking to a friend the other day about funeral and he asked me what will be my funeral song? For the first time, a question of something that I never thought of before. I went silent few a minute, and think hard, but couldn't come up with the best answer. I have lots of favorite songs, but a song to play at your funeral is kind of tricky. He told me his song choice, well I couldn't remember now.... I will have to ask him again.

So I've decided to spend bit more time on this subject. I also asked 2 other friends of mine about their funeral songs, one said his funeral song will be Blackbird by Beatles and another friend's choice is Follow the Cops Back Home by Placebo. Well, the only song so far came to my mind is "Such Great Heights" by Iron & Wine, the track was featured in one of my favorite movie, Garden State. I mean seriously, what's the criteria to choose the one and only song to be your funeral song really.... Is it because it is your favorite song of all time? Or is it because the lyrics is suitable for a funeral? Should the song be a tears jerker? or should be a happy song to leave a good memory by??? I don't know really..... I would like to hear what others say about their song choice for their funerals....

たらこ・たらこ・たらこ Tarako! Tarako! Tarako!

Ta-rako! Ta-rako! Ta-rako!!!!.... This song is officially stuck in my head now. You have to watch this clip in Utube, is highly addictive. And if you are daughter or twins, is best to learn the dancesteps as well!!! Definitely the best party trick ever!

Tarako is quite a famous brand in Japan, and now they releasing this new range of pasta sauce, along with this catchy song... And Japanese now is obsessed possessed by it recently, and Tarako Ads (ad1 | ad2) on TV, Tarako plush in vending machine, and Kigurumi (the 2 girls) also released this Tarako song in CD single and they are even on TV morning show (you can sing along too if u can read Japanese)! Everyone is loving Tarako!!!! I can't wait to be in Japan this oct for some Tarako's love!!! Now lets sing everybody!~ Ta-rako!!! Ta-rako!!! tsubi---tsubi... Ta-rako!!!

Lay in the water

Haven't been to cinema for a while, so thought will go and check out M. Night Shyamalan latest movie, Lady in the water. So I was ready for a good twist cuz that's what normally Shymalan will do in his films.

Cleveland Heep (Giamatti), a stuttering apartment superintendent, has discovered strange things had happened around the building, especially the swimming pool where he thinks someone been sneaking out at night and swim in it. Until one night, he rescues what he thinks is a young woman from the pool he maintains. Soon enough, he discovers that she is actually a character from a bedtime story who is trying to make the journey back to her home, he works with his tenants to protect his new friend from the creatures that are determined to keep her in our world.

I think people go to see Shymalan's films is because they expecting a twist, well that's what he was good at. However, this film will be quite a let down if you are expecting some sort of twist in the end. The movie is more straight forward than previous ones, and the story is told like it is. Giamatti is a great actor, I still like him since "Sideways", however I am not quite sure why Shymalan himself wants to play a role in the movie himself. There are lots of unanswered plotholes in the movie, and somehow the ending just seems unsatisfied.

There is really nothing looking forward to in this movie, is just another fairy tale, mythical, magic story. Overall, I am not overhype about it.

Story :

Popcorn Level :

TOTAL :5.0/10

I'm suffocating

Today is the day where I can't even stand my own perfume!!! I found an old bottle of perfume in one of the cabinet last weekend there's only few drops left inside the bottle. So I took it out and thought will finish it up over the next few days. When I say old, probably been sitting inside the cupboard over a year or so.... it is a Blvgari Eau de Homme, a present from a friend years back. I have to say the smell is quite strong and "weird".... so I don't use it much, it definitely attracts unwanted attention.

Today I squirted a few sprays on myself, walked out of the house.... and I've been sneezing since!!! Normally when you spray perfume on, you will immune to it after an hour or so and you will not able to smell yourself except the others, but not this case, cuz the scent is so strong and is choking me. Every time the scent hits my nose, it stings and I sneeze.... man.... never again....

Ben Folds rocked the Opera House

One of the scary side of working in the city is the overly convenient bars and pubs around town and excessive drinking. That's exactly what happened to me since last Wednesday, every night after work, drinking and late nights....scary. But is all good, nothing better than hanging out with friends, chatting over a glass of gin and tonic, or vodka and coke, take your pick.

Anyway, I was sooooo lucky to get the chance to see Ben Folds rocking the Opera House down last friday night. Liz from flickr was kindly enough offering her spare ticket to me, so we both rocked up at Opera House and ready for a great night. I have to say I haven't follow Ben Folds music for a long time since he went solo, after breaking up from his former Ben Folds Five band. I used to like Ben Folds Five alot, their songs are always fun and cheeky. So I was expecting a great night at the opera house, not to mention a great excuse for me to check out the concert hall, it was my first time.

Ben showed up on stage geekily wearing a navy blue shirt, and his dorky black framed glasses, then straight into playing his first song. During the first half, I don't know many of the songs that he played, but they were great nonetheless. Ben Folds also a very funny guy, and really got the audience into the mood, singing along with him. Then Ben Folds also asked for audience participation and split the hall in half, one part of Bass and another part of Tenor, and we had so much fun singing along with him. It was brilliant. Along the show, the songs getting older, from his first album with the band, and that's when the party started. Everyone suddenly can relate to the songs like 'Steven's last night in town', 'Brick', etc. Ben Folds totally rocked the house down, and walked out the stage with standing ovation from the crowd.

The night didn't end there, me and Liz caught up with Ben and Paul at 34B, for more Burlesque, strippers, jesus and nuns, it was a chaos in there. Afterwards, we embraced the night with great company and stimulating conversation. Then it was 3am before we called it a night....

R.I.P Steve Irwin

It was a shocking news yesterday around 2pm, that the well known Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin has passed away. The news travelled fast, and now the whole world is moarning for Irwin. Unless you've been living in a cave, Steve Irwin died just after 11am yesterday in front of the cameras when a stingray's barb pierced his heart as he swam over Batt Reef, off the coast of Port Douglas in far north Queensland. The poor wife Terri, and 2 children were on a Tasmanian wilderness trekking holiday when friends broke the news to them.

This morning, the news is all over the place, and even have a tribute show for him on Channel 7, but somehow is kind of surreal and you really start wondering whether it is really a tribute or more about channel-ratings hogging when they start playing all the old footages of Steve and interviews etc.

It is a sad news, although he can be bit nuts by holding his baby while feeding a croc. A truly aussie icon will sadly be missed.

Fly! Supermen... Fly!~!!

Man, I almost forgot what "blog" is all about!! The world is pretty crazy for me at the moment. Work is hectic, and social life also taking a big chunk out of my life. I think I am going crazeee.... crazeeee... I think I am going crazeee.....

Anyway, thought will do a small blog. It was Dave's birthday last week and normally we will hire a boat out in the water with friends for weekend, but not this year. So we've decided to give him a birthday surprise instead and we took him to the Cirque du Soleil at Entertainment Quarter. I've seen Alegria and also Quidam years back, so Varekai is noth much of a different from the previous shows really but still it was an amazing show. Pete had never seen it before so he was up for a nice treat and birthday boy also enjoyed it very much. There were some new acts, and some old ones, and also there were few misses in the performance, flying men falling off the swing and hit his head, all these made the show even more exciting. I especially like the chinese kids where they spin the rope and all, they probably only 6 or 7 yo, but darn good. So yeah if you never see a Cirque du Soleil performance before, I highly recommend it. You are paying for an experience for sure.