Route to the Skies

Every achievement comes from small little steps. To proceed on with this flying career, every person (politically correct compared to 'man') has to take the step of clearing his solo. I've done almost 18 hrs of flight and now its the next big step. Big for me because it will be significant in getting that confidence 'boost' to proceed on with the next training.

Most people says that going solo is the most memorable part of the training. It is so simply because you'd put your life on the line. But of course, proper instruction was given prior to that to build confidence with proper technique. Suddenly I realize it is similar with our life as well. Literally, how we want our life to be lies in our own hands as well!

With few more flights, I hope to have achieve something here before I return to see the loved ones soon....

Life is Fragile

Life is fragile, life is like a smile,
Time permits there's ups and downs
Take our day as it comes
Make it thine O Creator one

A life is worth the living as it is
See the beauty that's within
Live each moment as it last
Make each minute as your last

Reach out to them while you can
There's not a second to delay
Felicitate with the company every day
Rejoice at the chance to be there

Happy are those who have seen
How wonderful the world have been
Who has no regrets or doubt
The road they took and beyond

Though far a yonder you may be
My thoughts and prayers goes to thee
Respect is all that I can give
To follow a life as fulfilling as thine

To a life I shall salute
No tears shall flow a smile instead
Each happy moments in my head
Shall forever be engraved

Why dwell in past oh you precious
When the present is at hand
Rejoice rejoice I shall sing
At the company of the Kings

See the smile at his face
Its not fading but growing strong
Life is fragile life is sweet
Life is good just keep the spirit

Viral Gastroenteritis Attacks!

Attention all earthlings.. you are now being attacked by gastroenteritis virus! You shall feel dizzy when you try to sit straight or walk. You shall feel nausea and thus feels like vomiting. In worse case scenario, you will vomit and loose bodily fluid. You will feel stomach discomfort and also diarrhea.
Lucky for me, it was all very mild- no vomiting or diarrhea, nevertheless not any comforting than a full blown fever like feeling. For whole of beautiful Saturday, I had no appetite to have any breakfast or lunch. Only after consulting doctor in evening, I manage to eat some porridge cooked by Kai..
Lesson for the day, watch your hygene where ever you are... I thought I had stomach made of stainless steel. Today you won virus, tomorrow I'll fight back by eating twice as much!! Mwahahaha!!

Room Entertainment System

To keep myself entertained in my room, we acquired a TV, a DVD, Yamaha 5.1 Sound system and X-box with some original games. Its not that I'm extreme by buying so much, but its just that it all comes as a whole package. The seniors are graduating and therefore they're selling it all off. They got it from some other seniors as a package and therefore passing it down as such. Well, part of my aim of spending my limited income on them is because I would like to save more money!

How's that possible? By having an entertainment in room, hopefully I'd be less tempted to go out and spend money.. hehe.. but so far, I've yet to see the investment doing its job.

And to get around in Perth? Couple of us shared a car as well, namely Kai, Mark, Devan and myself bought a Nissan Pintara. 4D anyone? 8DC-328 is the plate number. Looks decent and price is within our budget. The seller was a friendly guy as well. Car is a necessity, just like in Kuching and Sarikei (although cycling and bike in Sarikei can get you lots of places as well), and that's why there's a certain homey feel here.

With wheels, everywhere is within reach. With wings, we can go even more places!!

Most of the expenditure when I go out is on food. One of the example of the favorite eatery is Nandos. Here, Nandos Peri Peri Chicken is very popular. Unlike its counterpart in KL, the chicken here taste a kazillion (if that's even a measurement for quantity) times better that the dry and tasteless chicken in Key El. Another culprit is the Fish and Chips from Freo. I've tried every shop F&C shops there and the last row was Joe's. Not the best compared to Kaili's and Cicerello's.

Guess I better start budgeting for other things that I would like to buy and do here with limited resources (and by that I mean $$$):

1. Go whale watching boat trip

2. Go Swan Valley for Winery visit (would need a driver as I'm planning to indulge on the fermented grapes)

3. Buy a nice leather Bush hat for summer

4. Buy some Kangaroo parts for souvenier

5. Scout for some nice leather jacket (saw some but sadly out of size)

6. Boomerang (was thinking of that but where the heck to use that in Singapore?)

7. Buy a house here? Ok, lets leave this KIV for the next 30 years..

Happy MoonCake Festival Ala Italiano

This mooncake festival is weird. Instead of having mooncake, we had pizza (and imagine its mooncake). I'm sure if they had mooncake festival in Europe, pizza would be renamed as moonzza. But it wasn't the only occasion. The gathering is also because someone's wife here for a visit but he (Cough*my room mate*cough cough) wanted to keep it a secret. Didn't bring my camera for the occasion and therefore all photos courteousy of Nash.

The place we went for dinner is called Ciao Italiano. While waiting outside the restaurant - yes we had quite a wait just to get seated cause its really tiny in there. The weather was cold but there were upbeat Italian music that lightens the mood. Italy has a big Australian community.. opps.. the moment we step into the small restaurant it feels like were actually in Italy with Australian diners! Rephrase myself. Perth has quite a big Italian community. Therefore, the guys working there talks like italian (because they are!). If I had visited Italy, I would imagine the ambiance is just like in that restaurant.

For starters we ordered a pizza (imagine its mooncake for now). The moonzza was quite different from normal pizza I've had before. Instead of cheesy toppings, it had pork salamy toppings all over and tomato cooked but still succulant topped the centre bits. Baked to perfection!

Next, each of us ordered a main each (bad idea). Why you say? Unless you're the size of the Rock or some sumo wrestling guy, I would not suggest you try downing your own pasta. Its delicious but the servings are very generous. I personally ordered Bolognise (beef) pasta. Others ordered Marinara (seafood which includes prawn and mussel), and there's Carbonara (this one is really recommended that you share with others.. for a cheese lover, even I find its too much of cheese). Their lagsania (Garfield comes to mind immediately) is big cube of lagsania layered with beef and tomato puree.

On top of that, we ordered chilly mussels. So you can imagine, by the time were's done, were really done. But the best part is that we celebrated Bunny's very belated birthday.. the staffs burst out singing Happy Birthday song with a chocolate coated ice cream desert and held fire works in their hand.. well, cause he's a jolly good fella!

Top it off, good authentic Italian ambiance, good company and good music makes one good outing!

Pissed off

Pissed pissed pissed.. think I've never peed so much before. Not literally. Getting bumped here and there. I'm not angry at anyone. I'm just angry. Now I can't fly and I'm back to square one.
Woke up, got ready in uniform and all, only to be told that my flight's canceled due to some circumstances. Glitches in the system.. I wanted to post about the nice dinner we had at Ciao Italia for Mooncake Festival yesterday but that will have to wait.. I'm still pissed off here.

Cottesloe Beach

Everywhere is near in Perth. Half an hour's drive and you're there. City, beach, biggest shopping centre in W.A., Fremantle (and maybe winery- maybe because I've yet to plan a visit). But where do I stay in relation to Perth City? Jandakot is tagged 'the busiest airport in the southern hemisphere'. Its located South of the city where the land is flat as far as your eyes can see except for the sea in the East and hills in the west.

After wandering the city, the port town of Fremantle and our neighbourhood in Jandakot, its time for some beach. Australia has 34,218kms of coastline and thus it is worthy of mention and visit.

Cottesloe Beach is located at the East of the city. Its one of the beach along the stretch of beaches and therefore don't worry about the lack of beachline. In fact, this beach is one of the landmark when we fly. Its early spring and therefore the wind's still very cold. However, during this particular day, the sun's quite bright as well therefore making the day out in the beach comfortable. You get sun but its not hot!

People come here mainly just to relax rather than have heavy activity. Sunbathing, playing freesbie, reading and just to chill out. There's some folks who came here for surfing as well. But I guess the water might be too cold for a swim unless you have a wetsuit.

I particularly enjoyed feeding the seagulls. I even tried to feed one off my hands but its too timid to approach close to humans. As dusk approaches, the sun hid behind the clouds, and then a couple walked pass on the beach. It was so romantic I had to snap the photo..

We stayed until its sunset and then its dinner time. Since the beach is just a drive away from Fremantle and there's nowhere interesting to eat nearby... Fish and Chips it is!