tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-71642925344299484282024-03-14T06:37:34.688+11:00Alan's Australian Adventure!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.comBlogger34125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-51366236358330497712012-07-04T15:14:00.003+10:002012-07-04T15:19:41.105+10:00My last few days in Australia, in pictures! (part 1)My last exam was on the 19th of June (Tuesday). A lot has happened since then, and instead of boring you with a bunch of descriptions, I think I'll just post pictures!<br />
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<b>Wednesday 20 June</b><br />
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Resting at home in the morning, and cube club in the afternoon! Sorry, no pictures from that day.<br />
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<b>Thursday 21 June</b><br />
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A while back at the <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com/2012/03/two-events-by-melbourne-university.html">MUOSS Student Experience Fair</a>, I won a free day tour of the Mornington Peninsula! But I kept putting it off. Well, I couldn't put it off for too much longer after exams, so I finally went on the tour! The weather was not so good that day, but it was still lots of fun.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqyZYyUpnKAwk73hcNhXK83yL_r2ErwleB6vjuEQgRfMPyAjQhd3oT-lhla0zfVKEUbNuDwgkIRP8_aktO10KLlDJzn4vziM4JQrCJVXIgxOFqAIiA_j2JYCUWpFzNDeC3AUVu2SCBAA/s1600/IMG_0092.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisqyZYyUpnKAwk73hcNhXK83yL_r2ErwleB6vjuEQgRfMPyAjQhd3oT-lhla0zfVKEUbNuDwgkIRP8_aktO10KLlDJzn4vziM4JQrCJVXIgxOFqAIiA_j2JYCUWpFzNDeC3AUVu2SCBAA/s320/IMG_0092.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthurs_Seat,_Victoria">Arthur's Point</a>, you're supposed to be able to see the entire peninsula! But as I learned, this is only possible on a sunny day.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxhkot0qtxQUdRyHzAI32jBB0pCoLM207kaunA1uJ8o-N_ocWV-s_-JrsH3bQJnOXMEQZDQmk7RlTXYUtN1TYdfSfDjQ09XvLIPY8ZMFJlmUp9k53RHPCOSjCrzLLRh6p8z8bsoUF_tA/s1600/IMG_0116.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxhkot0qtxQUdRyHzAI32jBB0pCoLM207kaunA1uJ8o-N_ocWV-s_-JrsH3bQJnOXMEQZDQmk7RlTXYUtN1TYdfSfDjQ09XvLIPY8ZMFJlmUp9k53RHPCOSjCrzLLRh6p8z8bsoUF_tA/s320/IMG_0116.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A nice view from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Point_Nepean">Point Nepean National Park!</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuCM7N2i3kS3pCXSKd53E7NNE09yrNTPZsEeXEKbFZuPIbeJZ9mK6N9r-PqWFQazCxo8IHYL4nGyuouTzUVEpVrKKIMP6uE6KB-iYgvqtqrPfJcShp_hFQNccgd7xQTFkZVskkgE_2jU/s1600/IMG_0121.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAuCM7N2i3kS3pCXSKd53E7NNE09yrNTPZsEeXEKbFZuPIbeJZ9mK6N9r-PqWFQazCxo8IHYL4nGyuouTzUVEpVrKKIMP6uE6KB-iYgvqtqrPfJcShp_hFQNccgd7xQTFkZVskkgE_2jU/s320/IMG_0121.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach boxes!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrQqufzh9SXZdArAroAbm4OyDtsuTHS_JfRHvc74FGjYw61utYWCrIGsGbAndUx7r_9gKbbnU4oEpp56FISIuu582I6LVReO-V8WodyXK6ucBqgKrnhNXJdikbPVbQxUDP5cR3exCV_I/s1600/IMG_0128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnrQqufzh9SXZdArAroAbm4OyDtsuTHS_JfRHvc74FGjYw61utYWCrIGsGbAndUx7r_9gKbbnU4oEpp56FISIuu582I6LVReO-V8WodyXK6ucBqgKrnhNXJdikbPVbQxUDP5cR3exCV_I/s320/IMG_0128.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wine tasting! (What a great view from the winery!) I started feeling a little dizzy after tasting a few wines. I was worried that I was becoming drunk!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQPGKd32RhcKvoY5v-sxupu20DhNbUvdGG223cJfAul2clp5Dzs1CGxbw0f43ZpqWFgG2DQu0ZzjFYNctEGQi5KLXLgAtuKI179UtwJ1kVNYTi033ky5JChQ3gfYtfI28CM001JfVcK8/s1600/IMG_0135.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQPGKd32RhcKvoY5v-sxupu20DhNbUvdGG223cJfAul2clp5Dzs1CGxbw0f43ZpqWFgG2DQu0ZzjFYNctEGQi5KLXLgAtuKI179UtwJ1kVNYTi033ky5JChQ3gfYtfI28CM001JfVcK8/s320/IMG_0135.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trying out some chocolate at a chocolate factory!</td></tr>
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<b>Friday 22 June</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv4ALFr8jiCW2LewzerlLIAnQJS4xq4si9JRt1M10BHyT5srKWa52bg6FETYxjrmVPDefy-qcl35zul96OX4_kkd9vJebcgsVwKOSBy6DgkLDLA3mn3TXlTFETid1QywQAN9qN0J0uLg/s1600/IMG_0195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDv4ALFr8jiCW2LewzerlLIAnQJS4xq4si9JRt1M10BHyT5srKWa52bg6FETYxjrmVPDefy-qcl35zul96OX4_kkd9vJebcgsVwKOSBy6DgkLDLA3mn3TXlTFETid1QywQAN9qN0J0uLg/s320/IMG_0195.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Checked out the Visitor Information Centre at Federation Square, and found some souvenir Rubik's cubes! I was looking around for tourist information and for things to do around Melbourne.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwTp_NWCkbKoFdNC2kOI8efbp23iwxQyaekY0hz-fHjqPO50IQu1Qciz22SoYGsqJuq7X5nLjmIOHepb3mYzuXRgHJxcSZJIW-2svjCCpp0mGDoD5T8plg79qmAlBkgFCve98Eietwi4/s1600/IMG_0198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpwTp_NWCkbKoFdNC2kOI8efbp23iwxQyaekY0hz-fHjqPO50IQu1Qciz22SoYGsqJuq7X5nLjmIOHepb3mYzuXRgHJxcSZJIW-2svjCCpp0mGDoD5T8plg79qmAlBkgFCve98Eietwi4/s320/IMG_0198.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a nice rainbow in sight from Federation Square!</td></tr>
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<b>Saturday 23 June</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYpHBR-B0_JlfWb3YajJdXNHe6ADop21mo3BThcHfByofeW98NSvKwfaOP5xlQOHI49JuydGeYnFCONCMg5Z0RQMGqWU5wOPe2dAIB_aq9Y98XPyx4ZL-mZyOftEAsrf9rBd2x0ONyo8/s1600/IMG_0238.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIYpHBR-B0_JlfWb3YajJdXNHe6ADop21mo3BThcHfByofeW98NSvKwfaOP5xlQOHI49JuydGeYnFCONCMg5Z0RQMGqWU5wOPe2dAIB_aq9Y98XPyx4ZL-mZyOftEAsrf9rBd2x0ONyo8/s320/IMG_0238.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to the Docklands, I had a nice view of a double rainbow!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2fvKVCBDTJtLDTZ9dIWfgSbyIC8U6skNYj5QqD8zRPZyr55FWY3QqNoD3nLeV_sOKQJVjkFsc5APA1ASHokiW-EOxCEDKOV95omfXwC6kBe4gdSDVy3KIga6k3fnJNVMTb3txlVOI6w/s1600/IMG_0245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX2fvKVCBDTJtLDTZ9dIWfgSbyIC8U6skNYj5QqD8zRPZyr55FWY3QqNoD3nLeV_sOKQJVjkFsc5APA1ASHokiW-EOxCEDKOV95omfXwC6kBe4gdSDVy3KIga6k3fnJNVMTb3txlVOI6w/s320/IMG_0245.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interesting shopping centre!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlpxvRaXRwz7Io_UfElZQ81FstnGMx9DMOA-x0Cr_VkSwxdaDmVH_gYVB7Rwt1zBDUKZ1OLA6I3-MOHhdVnUg5pEGLCWF8r4XkZxZeiHwKink3QmvKYCNYMEOtleY6UTMGue-rKgilic/s1600/IMG_0249.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOlpxvRaXRwz7Io_UfElZQ81FstnGMx9DMOA-x0Cr_VkSwxdaDmVH_gYVB7Rwt1zBDUKZ1OLA6I3-MOHhdVnUg5pEGLCWF8r4XkZxZeiHwKink3QmvKYCNYMEOtleY6UTMGue-rKgilic/s320/IMG_0249.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the end of the centre, Costco! Since I didn't have a membership, I couldn't get in. I was thinking of the "tag-along method" of getting in, but decided that wasn't a good idea.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHErOmcvrNIHBKHUXK5nqQ2UHKYgmmVnmFiLeNhCDR6DcpYbAuPLg-BvTAY2YSYlzmI4iOQxu4Cpb-ojU4L5Hv9yoKDgWxOmPq_-4gSgMCr0nGmG_W-LSHJJcfqMC-xffZiGu2trF6nw/s1600/IMG_0261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmHErOmcvrNIHBKHUXK5nqQ2UHKYgmmVnmFiLeNhCDR6DcpYbAuPLg-BvTAY2YSYlzmI4iOQxu4Cpb-ojU4L5Hv9yoKDgWxOmPq_-4gSgMCr0nGmG_W-LSHJJcfqMC-xffZiGu2trF6nw/s320/IMG_0261.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's a nice view of the city from the Docklands</td></tr>
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<b>Sunday 24 June</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0Kxbi-4YVJuwJOLteLnHlsLU958PaHQLYURvwyTW7Rjv5rFrERj0K7VQKq7PyU-8zc8uMzSoMi79Vow-cz27FVQUgw59rP_NLiT2YVXPnomOsTKBH2chekY_AgudfnJMt7cgflYUInw/s1600/IMG_0296.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm0Kxbi-4YVJuwJOLteLnHlsLU958PaHQLYURvwyTW7Rjv5rFrERj0K7VQKq7PyU-8zc8uMzSoMi79Vow-cz27FVQUgw59rP_NLiT2YVXPnomOsTKBH2chekY_AgudfnJMt7cgflYUInw/s320/IMG_0296.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I spent my day at St Kilda!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvhwM5jBHIH_VSX83Y6ji3yEDJPrJclAcwLAKwo4Leqy1uzQ2rwvMkSSsavIBO78zK6TzryXKDOxtRAY7LNaf_1z0LqmSQXFR9fA08Y7_L4QcQkuEFSe7G1MGMsg9FPrNO3xxrNq_A60/s1600/IMG_0329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrvhwM5jBHIH_VSX83Y6ji3yEDJPrJclAcwLAKwo4Leqy1uzQ2rwvMkSSsavIBO78zK6TzryXKDOxtRAY7LNaf_1z0LqmSQXFR9fA08Y7_L4QcQkuEFSe7G1MGMsg9FPrNO3xxrNq_A60/s320/IMG_0329.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Every Sunday, St Kilda has an arts and crafts market!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1x_-F_UsSFm5U9M5Xpzd2RGOfXFPH_8BTm7tzKdQUh-ycZ68HxXRS9UU0nHBwKtgkW3iMOzKcEoLGJjBkw9OjbVjaKlPsGvrHQB5flc2ILuv3tF07IZSNSsJD5CiZYN5KfL6kRtAosA/s1600/IMG_0370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp1x_-F_UsSFm5U9M5Xpzd2RGOfXFPH_8BTm7tzKdQUh-ycZ68HxXRS9UU0nHBwKtgkW3iMOzKcEoLGJjBkw9OjbVjaKlPsGvrHQB5flc2ILuv3tF07IZSNSsJD5CiZYN5KfL6kRtAosA/s320/IMG_0370.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The conservatory at the St Kilda Botanical Gardens!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WBgNN5fYf0P4t6b5qTMMHxlz6XxwV7AiO9JXSWoh-FN14C7vqFWMOlFGdFoEap7r5yr_EoCRoohd0RgOrfds5xDgxQtEFgCG9PHF-YTF9-2NlvIVjoH6VDtQJS6f_ZE8FewDQFXZ7TM/s1600/IMG_0397.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WBgNN5fYf0P4t6b5qTMMHxlz6XxwV7AiO9JXSWoh-FN14C7vqFWMOlFGdFoEap7r5yr_EoCRoohd0RgOrfds5xDgxQtEFgCG9PHF-YTF9-2NlvIVjoH6VDtQJS6f_ZE8FewDQFXZ7TM/s320/IMG_0397.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This store gives you a good idea of how crazy Acland St can be!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKppbcxNJXYgtWcC4lt65M2PzJUm43Ce7SMuavAy0Nwslm2AOKm97-r3qZTVP9bGbqniIf8cz_BON-4dFbiBRhWyGv7IRwHgHDlMRrSaSM4pZM6OLVlkuHWwGoPTrdCYMNME1NdpfYiAs/s1600/IMG_0401.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKppbcxNJXYgtWcC4lt65M2PzJUm43Ce7SMuavAy0Nwslm2AOKm97-r3qZTVP9bGbqniIf8cz_BON-4dFbiBRhWyGv7IRwHgHDlMRrSaSM4pZM6OLVlkuHWwGoPTrdCYMNME1NdpfYiAs/s320/IMG_0401.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yum, the cakes and pastries in all the bakeries on Acland St look so good!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgAWHCbSLdeuuDHuts18DuhU3Bpb987fadvYyUMwCcsIVlAPP-zmSya1efl6yIfccfodggzM8ADUNFcSar55Qq-5GVce_S_kuN4-CBn3JMmRs7UzrULzu2oV3oGLlIHOMSDZk1GCtV88/s1600/IMG_0416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijgAWHCbSLdeuuDHuts18DuhU3Bpb987fadvYyUMwCcsIVlAPP-zmSya1efl6yIfccfodggzM8ADUNFcSar55Qq-5GVce_S_kuN4-CBn3JMmRs7UzrULzu2oV3oGLlIHOMSDZk1GCtV88/s320/IMG_0416.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Kilda community garden!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtEuuMia2Wg4GlWBlvtdEImUHSxxUGqnitOvhmdGhUm_MPI0seER2lh4SZ5pwEgRjpe8vozAFBV99RZEv_grINbJOqJqX6XfeLbB0WixOIYk2Bhuj-K3r9lMDx_NN9NvyTDK2f-7hq1Y/s1600/IMG_0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjtEuuMia2Wg4GlWBlvtdEImUHSxxUGqnitOvhmdGhUm_MPI0seER2lh4SZ5pwEgRjpe8vozAFBV99RZEv_grINbJOqJqX6XfeLbB0WixOIYk2Bhuj-K3r9lMDx_NN9NvyTDK2f-7hq1Y/s320/IMG_0467.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Went out to the pier at dusk to look for penguins! I saw some hiding in the rocks, but they were impossible to photograph!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
<b>Monday 25 June</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJq0sapwkDrKRnzAT1hNmXJkgAO01riHHSINO_tBbpBUPy2lqBCsk0H5P6luR2FfpFKv73-xZ5vzvEnFe7lXH9f9kWoUBVoudt7BVljmS2qndjzjfNsFeEa1-JW8SE6gi6OJPvg64QB4/s1600/IMG_0520.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJq0sapwkDrKRnzAT1hNmXJkgAO01riHHSINO_tBbpBUPy2lqBCsk0H5P6luR2FfpFKv73-xZ5vzvEnFe7lXH9f9kWoUBVoudt7BVljmS2qndjzjfNsFeEa1-JW8SE6gi6OJPvg64QB4/s320/IMG_0520.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stopped by Saint Patrick's Cathedral on the way to the city</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs66OyT8nPmEyQoEhDuhKlD7bZGf9dBPQ0JGrajA0f9Q_Bc6SvAZ_AEfXnvYiH3RH5fJWGzc6vW4_UyC6-TwYQNwL9ldObSYEKDfe4FvZ5qdzkynj2QSkpomuNx-m4lwS9S6zYd5oVong/s1600/IMG_0532.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs66OyT8nPmEyQoEhDuhKlD7bZGf9dBPQ0JGrajA0f9Q_Bc6SvAZ_AEfXnvYiH3RH5fJWGzc6vW4_UyC6-TwYQNwL9ldObSYEKDfe4FvZ5qdzkynj2QSkpomuNx-m4lwS9S6zYd5oVong/s320/IMG_0532.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I passed by the Parliament House, and decided to go up the steps. When I did, I realized they were giving free tours of the building!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaTHXyEIdAE5TuXomOd-PCMDNodAyIjybb6ROB-I49TdUHzSFdttOlexdsP1ipdZXZBTtswr4PF2uPHtdtPf0hWKp55TtAN0JqoSH940l3j1O8xEUwob3wC7clgJCloU7wTkep8FAhjk/s1600/IMG_0536.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOaTHXyEIdAE5TuXomOd-PCMDNodAyIjybb6ROB-I49TdUHzSFdttOlexdsP1ipdZXZBTtswr4PF2uPHtdtPf0hWKp55TtAN0JqoSH940l3j1O8xEUwob3wC7clgJCloU7wTkep8FAhjk/s320/IMG_0536.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To get in the building, I had to go through an airport-like security screening. Then I had to wear a sticker. (This changed my jacket from "GAP" into "TAP"!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYVc2j6JiUefTP5mvP-TEBFODLYXZWulNs8N5HTETf6vxSAdEkN0ZX3Oht2rO8rEgPeHOa5LFc9W12fLCyhoAK-73V5s9kTBAzaBnLUplBs7Na0UuMHMe_GOIogLKSFevgqAF04KPXms/s1600/IMG_0548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEYVc2j6JiUefTP5mvP-TEBFODLYXZWulNs8N5HTETf6vxSAdEkN0ZX3Oht2rO8rEgPeHOa5LFc9W12fLCyhoAK-73V5s9kTBAzaBnLUplBs7Na0UuMHMe_GOIogLKSFevgqAF04KPXms/s320/IMG_0548.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pretending to be the speaker of the Legislative Assembly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHwSBw7VNp54Pkww-_7Ky00L5IW6guA25Y_eeFiuzgFYHay7imgzPcN6FNtu1qh7PPmxbbfz-QIM7Zwtt1bRvkUXn1vFZZLGdmegMUh5CcUG1puO6UP5sNlEPz70qNqPOrIB6pqJekN0/s1600/IMG_0556.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGHwSBw7VNp54Pkww-_7Ky00L5IW6guA25Y_eeFiuzgFYHay7imgzPcN6FNtu1qh7PPmxbbfz-QIM7Zwtt1bRvkUXn1vFZZLGdmegMUh5CcUG1puO6UP5sNlEPz70qNqPOrIB6pqJekN0/s320/IMG_0556.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Legislative Council room is also elaborated decorated!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavazO_zhq8F0kxJOrZsw5H-pUgCJrmFxSSOmO1zTHUzSO0NxeyGZbbPLEbcoiHdrNNrAZpDt6iYht__uRzQPDObyfookQwewP0MThQzqeKNBw1WTvlhAVB5x5z5E_rRceY8Eq4cDuxMY/s1600/IMG_0590.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavazO_zhq8F0kxJOrZsw5H-pUgCJrmFxSSOmO1zTHUzSO0NxeyGZbbPLEbcoiHdrNNrAZpDt6iYht__uRzQPDObyfookQwewP0MThQzqeKNBw1WTvlhAVB5x5z5E_rRceY8Eq4cDuxMY/s320/IMG_0590.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lunch with Emily. Yum, curry!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<b>Tuesday 26 June</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4zYtLQygS8-TPxvAdD205bV2GTbVIFoKiA8eELJ1G-nseS6Zfa2fMZZotOUhuq-QiqjwnetZJz77Z9GGFET38aHH9K_-eucFPp6-ElBpM0u2FrW0z1xlx2g0h7A0KtJ96zXd65i1YOQ/s1600/IMG_0607.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh4zYtLQygS8-TPxvAdD205bV2GTbVIFoKiA8eELJ1G-nseS6Zfa2fMZZotOUhuq-QiqjwnetZJz77Z9GGFET38aHH9K_-eucFPp6-ElBpM0u2FrW0z1xlx2g0h7A0KtJ96zXd65i1YOQ/s320/IMG_0607.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flinder St Station</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQkc5wf8jfrk8r_p7xXOMauPGjd5n30-iuIC-wju_c9vXIlxsCM6eHGd9dGyxLtbCx9ZTF6GG0kQE54Y4DrdGSFx3r6QiqlyWjZ9wdUjuchZrMHp1S-MCArJ9jMPgHbVajzOa-geQrtM/s1600/IMG_0611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVQkc5wf8jfrk8r_p7xXOMauPGjd5n30-iuIC-wju_c9vXIlxsCM6eHGd9dGyxLtbCx9ZTF6GG0kQE54Y4DrdGSFx3r6QiqlyWjZ9wdUjuchZrMHp1S-MCArJ9jMPgHbVajzOa-geQrtM/s320/IMG_0611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Federation Square. The triangular pattern apparently has a tiling pattern that is related to the mathematician <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Horton_Conway">John Conway</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYO2J5ApjSOxxA1daHxdmtWkNDs3YnxQmvUf4IywDwXUB7-pOrJEbhHBqNvPlFp-07JNNCnnnwvMBNqkymVLUiSu64FAAm8XQSq-gJIK-F5jnYwbDkyVs0Vedc31VNBecsqNAPWKEyXk/s1600/IMG_0624.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNYO2J5ApjSOxxA1daHxdmtWkNDs3YnxQmvUf4IywDwXUB7-pOrJEbhHBqNvPlFp-07JNNCnnnwvMBNqkymVLUiSu64FAAm8XQSq-gJIK-F5jnYwbDkyVs0Vedc31VNBecsqNAPWKEyXk/s320/IMG_0624.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was an exhibit on film and other media at the <a href="http://www.acmi.net.au/">ACMI</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLH63PRYvGno3Z1YepigCxPp6PgkFKZfg9kq3Hkmf4j2XDn3bTbiL4V9FhR7v4OZGh7acwBHXjYbIaBJekIrZMRECp1-MY-scvstKW_iU-CpL5GC_pfjnKcuECPieCQEVO7B10bZwhI9w/s1600/IMG_0626.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLH63PRYvGno3Z1YepigCxPp6PgkFKZfg9kq3Hkmf4j2XDn3bTbiL4V9FhR7v4OZGh7acwBHXjYbIaBJekIrZMRECp1-MY-scvstKW_iU-CpL5GC_pfjnKcuECPieCQEVO7B10bZwhI9w/s320/IMG_0626.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Playable Mario games!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyH8l4nKPM__9xXu30G6vqEswcQYqA7J3Aefo4l1Pls1nn24JlAGj4uC3bJP_uxpC5HDp85SyfFKwAMBDnM8w4FfUiHb40D91F0eU4LQKuxKQf2jFP4R7GCZZ1vCkJE6iIdJE5H13lSw/s1600/IMG_0639.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNyH8l4nKPM__9xXu30G6vqEswcQYqA7J3Aefo4l1Pls1nn24JlAGj4uC3bJP_uxpC5HDp85SyfFKwAMBDnM8w4FfUiHb40D91F0eU4LQKuxKQf2jFP4R7GCZZ1vCkJE6iIdJE5H13lSw/s320/IMG_0639.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Visited the Ian Potter Gallery, which is full of art!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-74447547758710650242012-06-17T10:56:00.003+10:002012-06-17T11:01:13.157+10:00Good-bye, bike...There are so many signs that my time in Melbourne is almost over, unfortunately. One is that I only have one exam left, on Tuesday. (Although, this should be a happy thing!) Another sign is that yesterday, I parted with the bicycle that I had used to commute to and from Melbourne Uni throughout the semester. I sold it to another student. Now I am sad...<br />
<br />
One of the biggest differences between here and Princeton is that at Princeton, all the undergraduate students live on campus, so there was never an issue of getting to campus. But here in Melbourne, I've been living 2.5 km away from the university. Quite a big difference!<br />
<br />
Back when I got here in February, I had been considering taking the buses and trams to get to the campus each day. Melbourne's public transportation is great, but to get to Uni, I would have to take a rather indirect route. Also, I thought it was a bit expensive. So, I decided to get a bike, even though I had no prior experience with cycling as a way to commute!<br />
<br />
And it has been great! In the beginning, I felt super shaky and unbalanced while riding and pedaling. (Actually, I had a hard time just <i>getting onto</i> the bike!) But I quickly got used to riding the bike around, not just to Uni and back, but also around the city! It was fun and healthy, and it saved time and money! I also got a chance to meet a great community of students at Melbourne Uni who also biked to campus! Perfect!<br />
<br />
I really would like to bike more from now on. Obviously, I didn't have to come all the way to Melbourne to discover the joys of biking, but I suppose it's just one of the benefits of putting myself in a new environment!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK7Q-4-L8wOvl4Jh4cZ1iXqu8z-caF2i64nMM97ccbzC1ebNr9qOxS6lA3aozb7i-i1ly_1TimdDG-azaWjl2cWoxi4gdwLddwlL8rgrQCqb45SI_zOrIeR4RwqUlof8iTnYbQiqKugY/s1600/IMG_9728.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqK7Q-4-L8wOvl4Jh4cZ1iXqu8z-caF2i64nMM97ccbzC1ebNr9qOxS6lA3aozb7i-i1ly_1TimdDG-azaWjl2cWoxi4gdwLddwlL8rgrQCqb45SI_zOrIeR4RwqUlof8iTnYbQiqKugY/s320/IMG_9728.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">An extra benefit of biking: yummy food! The environment department had free "Ride-to-Uni" breakfasts every Thursday for students who rode their bikes </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepPwaKvNELK7lqLcRJOzMhPp69iJlixqGFyCrsTt0IjmPNljQ8wtlO-hYr8GewvVmKN7v8F62ADfhbOmH6PR5yzRXXKIZ6dC6-WrYym6wLOLu2cabM4BjtvHbBi-kLo_VRvQnjBmmaHc/s1600/IMG_0007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjepPwaKvNELK7lqLcRJOzMhPp69iJlixqGFyCrsTt0IjmPNljQ8wtlO-hYr8GewvVmKN7v8F62ADfhbOmH6PR5yzRXXKIZ6dC6-WrYym6wLOLu2cabM4BjtvHbBi-kLo_VRvQnjBmmaHc/s320/IMG_0007.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a closer view of the bike. (I took this picture to post on advertisements.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRWhH9VHlQ_ux2cXKy6o9-C4vPVsJ9b4SLLsVVe34iKv2llZpsA79C3k5va_h2whGULsNAdNBt29w3Xdj0UlVlrPYHtyfub_LfL2wOW0ZiuFRekcXNtism3h7qGlEYgPasXbX43y9ZPA/s1600/IMG_0071.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfRWhH9VHlQ_ux2cXKy6o9-C4vPVsJ9b4SLLsVVe34iKv2llZpsA79C3k5va_h2whGULsNAdNBt29w3Xdj0UlVlrPYHtyfub_LfL2wOW0ZiuFRekcXNtism3h7qGlEYgPasXbX43y9ZPA/s320/IMG_0071.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with the bike, minutes before the buyer rode off with it. Sad moment for me... </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I did consider shipping the bike back to the U.S. That would have been super cool! It would be so nice to have the same bike back at home. But the cost of sending the bike would probably be at least 2/3rds of the price I paid for the bike. Yikes! Oh well... another bike may not be as special, but I'll never forget where I started biking!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-65463855815336250432012-06-15T20:51:00.001+10:002012-06-15T20:51:21.517+10:00Almost done with exams!Not-so-exciting update: This week, I turned in my linguistics research paper on Tuesday and took my maths final on Wednesday. Since yesterday, I've just been studying for my philosophy exam next Tuesday. Then I will be all done for the semester!<br />
<br />
Not-so-exciting pictures from today:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A-g1xWd41aEO0kBsYox1em-e55-gQwFcDOKux0R2A6KxqqHCB1cD1mLbXthBFXu0e7TxqYhg8KNhpi3YvA6hrp1air8luyZz_NnSwiXGxiUrOOBuQRLh1_iatJjP3LBLzGnTxOu81Xg/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7A-g1xWd41aEO0kBsYox1em-e55-gQwFcDOKux0R2A6KxqqHCB1cD1mLbXthBFXu0e7TxqYhg8KNhpi3YvA6hrp1air8luyZz_NnSwiXGxiUrOOBuQRLh1_iatJjP3LBLzGnTxOu81Xg/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arriving early to study in the library!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6fWPik88IMlzzmK7idjvSrSbHy61YzGxHnPBg_bm7FLHFkQVip7Mr66MVSxGSAwZpADfduvo6aP832bK_CpMnKkGWoTeMISmbcafSvlTg9_GVoAZkSa9fWsGVOk_RHRttMTr4yqGNjw/s1600/IMG_0065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw6fWPik88IMlzzmK7idjvSrSbHy61YzGxHnPBg_bm7FLHFkQVip7Mr66MVSxGSAwZpADfduvo6aP832bK_CpMnKkGWoTeMISmbcafSvlTg9_GVoAZkSa9fWsGVOk_RHRttMTr4yqGNjw/s320/IMG_0065.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After several hours, some more people arrived!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-20613948397816834332012-06-09T11:58:00.000+10:002012-06-09T12:14:26.701+10:00Mock meat restaurants around Melbourne!I turned in 3 history essays on Monday, and I have a linguistics research paper due next Wednesday. And I also have some exams coming up! Ahhhh! But I don't want to bore you with all the work that I have. (I'm afraid that I might have already done that!)<br />
<br />
During this period of intense busyness, I've saved myself from going insane by remembering to step out of the library every once in a while and do something else. Writing this blog right now is a good example. But I don't have time to write a bunch, so I'll put up a bunch of pictures instead. (Actually... isn't that what I usually do anyways? Haha!)<br />
<br />
The theme? Eating at mock meat restaurants around Melbourne! You might think, what's the point of mock meat? I don't know myself. As a vegetarian (well, actually a pescatarian), I used to think of mock meat as things like veggie burgers and veggie sausages, which I feel scare a lot of people away from vegetarianism. But the mock meat at these Buddhist vegetarian restaurants is much better. And really fascinating!<br />
<br />
Last Friday (1st of June), some friends I met through the Environment Department decided to have dinner at The White Lotus Vegetarian Restaurant<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWqN94SxKS6IIDHGhWlqaVbkU36QP1GZ2NaiBGqKM-rk_zPBpwJP9ycTHTa0_ef3icSUFKP4QNbcLn9DFagSX8Xudw9EpGC8SYDW4Uq0_LsSh8tKOpHISsJBsoisVUpt8_l-TzbfmjIw/s1600/IMG_9988.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSWqN94SxKS6IIDHGhWlqaVbkU36QP1GZ2NaiBGqKM-rk_zPBpwJP9ycTHTa0_ef3icSUFKP4QNbcLn9DFagSX8Xudw9EpGC8SYDW4Uq0_LsSh8tKOpHISsJBsoisVUpt8_l-TzbfmjIw/s320/IMG_9988.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We ordered a variety of "meat" dishes, and they were all delicious!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatOHqOZ875f8n5TwasX0P2flfck30WzibGB3hpIa1ddarhoIW68UrDYM4A9F-SnZE-uVLCAWO5SEC0AgSLxlt-K525XplRqPSit5ZPtODz9KBHf0X0FOKfrsdD_P0VBOOJHCMl_KVkNs/s1600/IMG_9984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgatOHqOZ875f8n5TwasX0P2flfck30WzibGB3hpIa1ddarhoIW68UrDYM4A9F-SnZE-uVLCAWO5SEC0AgSLxlt-K525XplRqPSit5ZPtODz9KBHf0X0FOKfrsdD_P0VBOOJHCMl_KVkNs/s320/IMG_9984.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mock duck was very convincing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
That was my yummy introduction to mock meat restaurants in Melbourne! And then this Thursday, the tai-chi club went to dinner after class at Enlightened Cuisine, another mock meat restaurant.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgha5cz8QuBOBOI-pyiooH5vFkC5hxKSYcVCpaWNM8tJsLDizA1PmjeY34dPUgN5oAGNzhdTSnDtC1E0948-E6FjGrUfZ15jWxfBpDAAbRs2Bn5YGhlLT45ojQSGqmwA8jjtS_IUz-u3XQ/s1600/IMG_0016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgha5cz8QuBOBOI-pyiooH5vFkC5hxKSYcVCpaWNM8tJsLDizA1PmjeY34dPUgN5oAGNzhdTSnDtC1E0948-E6FjGrUfZ15jWxfBpDAAbRs2Bn5YGhlLT45ojQSGqmwA8jjtS_IUz-u3XQ/s320/IMG_0016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We made it to the restaurant!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA8ccVOWku4YzsWlywc_80rf4bkJoos1sNrat0075XGlU9FDIIFM2d3OaPCNZZ0Wmcl77Z6HWddGzJS5HN5bZ_CEXYeXVw-2vFsiYNnlNhwvI_yOoltibrQwLI4rykJxzb2v5iF-OBW0/s1600/IMG_0018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrA8ccVOWku4YzsWlywc_80rf4bkJoos1sNrat0075XGlU9FDIIFM2d3OaPCNZZ0Wmcl77Z6HWddGzJS5HN5bZ_CEXYeXVw-2vFsiYNnlNhwvI_yOoltibrQwLI4rykJxzb2v5iF-OBW0/s320/IMG_0018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group photo!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhrMNhohHIHCZuhgB4kWKNNECPtffX1wgAP677ymwQt6cIiWvAt6O3nZgHbFTbv294egRX-WhrLrQvrlGDoN2RNCZqnFnkDGU-gU1Rinjb-ogoOvJfATpzSE3PtKG5j-Bza5x04MkcNU/s1600/IMG_0019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhrMNhohHIHCZuhgB4kWKNNECPtffX1wgAP677ymwQt6cIiWvAt6O3nZgHbFTbv294egRX-WhrLrQvrlGDoN2RNCZqnFnkDGU-gU1Rinjb-ogoOvJfATpzSE3PtKG5j-Bza5x04MkcNU/s320/IMG_0019.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soups and appetizers! (Except the appetizers were mostly eaten by the time I took this photo!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSruWRqSfymDQ1nxBIEyA9z1xohB06uAdLBs5-ktdj8zptj1vGKIlwnJC8saoRGeYMpYxhmY3vEtWXrSxiHzB2yEIrKhAE8gfiDl9MOFk_C_JXEVzqk1M1HhZjWTgkNiX_8L0Oz4zjhA/s1600/IMG_0021.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSruWRqSfymDQ1nxBIEyA9z1xohB06uAdLBs5-ktdj8zptj1vGKIlwnJC8saoRGeYMpYxhmY3vEtWXrSxiHzB2yEIrKhAE8gfiDl9MOFk_C_JXEVzqk1M1HhZjWTgkNiX_8L0Oz4zjhA/s320/IMG_0021.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The first main dish came out: sizzling "beef"!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PwiERw11An-J7WgWqnzjH1WTF3dDTdDxf5NqFdgPd7mkh5AQTWQwpXmxLGY9txLi8k-p02g3powhOyA2IqViqvHUJ2k98aPGftZT2Ym3VvEeRQqV28xZukYOsv9z5lI5jHLxuRJyI38/s1600/IMG_0026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9PwiERw11An-J7WgWqnzjH1WTF3dDTdDxf5NqFdgPd7mkh5AQTWQwpXmxLGY9txLi8k-p02g3powhOyA2IqViqvHUJ2k98aPGftZT2Ym3VvEeRQqV28xZukYOsv9z5lI5jHLxuRJyI38/s320/IMG_0026.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zn4vJcKjRx8dw3DYMxtMbQ6GGUque697aAu-yIAP0LQS5RW0ceGl6n8RbcqzERGkwHUGO5NdB-Q3d7KOmjvDKqRrV4QRMltq_Fg3Dp9NwkevR9fZLrmF0eOAc0to0C0sBXBWRWi1b1M/s1600/IMG_0027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zn4vJcKjRx8dw3DYMxtMbQ6GGUque697aAu-yIAP0LQS5RW0ceGl6n8RbcqzERGkwHUGO5NdB-Q3d7KOmjvDKqRrV4QRMltq_Fg3Dp9NwkevR9fZLrmF0eOAc0to0C0sBXBWRWi1b1M/s320/IMG_0027.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Closer view of all the dishes. Remember, there's not actual meat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmqOsTI3S_WOWGWZva1orNVitFQ_OcIJF4kxkSLtX1mRY9tzGBOwpwRwW-MWB4BdESQe61rsAQYKk1AuI8nmskqptOOkceux7vX1DZ_vRejINHSiMuljH_fo3v2TLGx5GVz3CP0eobrA/s1600/IMG_0032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhmqOsTI3S_WOWGWZva1orNVitFQ_OcIJF4kxkSLtX1mRY9tzGBOwpwRwW-MWB4BdESQe61rsAQYKk1AuI8nmskqptOOkceux7vX1DZ_vRejINHSiMuljH_fo3v2TLGx5GVz3CP0eobrA/s320/IMG_0032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fried ice cream for dessert! Probably not something I should have often!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Okay, back to work for me...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-23076343011970658642012-05-27T20:54:00.000+10:002012-05-27T20:54:38.372+10:00MUMS Trivia NightFriday (25th of May) was the last day of classes! I still find that kind of hard to believe. I've completed 12 weeks of classes at Melbourne Uni!<br />
<br />
But that's not the focus of this entry. It's about what MUMS (Melbourne University Maths and Stats Society) did to celebrate the end of classes. They hosted a trivia night!<br />
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-58x6EicI5uVLTBU2nhXqQs1oigKwGhApgmrlu2aE0GNEnTZlWqwaGu71oa30Dy3MX_HdnPVTh1k82CKnaVvgA1HHCLZRISSBxK4SOfM4BS2znVa4sWYtnkQUC-IJ9nJpzKuq4rOP8Pk/s1600/IMG_9915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-58x6EicI5uVLTBU2nhXqQs1oigKwGhApgmrlu2aE0GNEnTZlWqwaGu71oa30Dy3MX_HdnPVTh1k82CKnaVvgA1HHCLZRISSBxK4SOfM4BS2znVa4sWYtnkQUC-IJ9nJpzKuq4rOP8Pk/s320/IMG_9915.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My team!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
My 4-person team included one person from the Netherlands and one person from America (me!). This was a good thing for us; we had knowledge from different parts of the world! (Or hopefully, that was true.) We had a hard time coming up with a team name, but one of us started to write "Let's get quizzical" after the announcer (person reading the questions) said that. But he never finished writing that, so we became "Let's get quizzi."<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t3fyXMGmB1OV5fsKFU7KJ5eVYymbPwKnhQ6kG3Y76pwgl3yY7kzDD4q1D3HjoN0mphnhnikOlRAp0oGEwOpyFT_AlbGYyxf6pEIh8vuBirtU-bL2ewt-a_1UYZHFZJt2SIl4wC5jWkg/s1600/IMG_9914.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_t3fyXMGmB1OV5fsKFU7KJ5eVYymbPwKnhQ6kG3Y76pwgl3yY7kzDD4q1D3HjoN0mphnhnikOlRAp0oGEwOpyFT_AlbGYyxf6pEIh8vuBirtU-bL2ewt-a_1UYZHFZJt2SIl4wC5jWkg/s320/IMG_9914.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all the snacks!<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4-blR_w-tfa1jTUzn7EiS3OfoW2324e8lNscjw9o8d_izSSxkc76a-PeEZDC-5NqMnkUhbF4eDCP-NV9w9ZOHWbIrbvCB-KqBk8UiELs82r_UzsOywVy-zuhz8_gL0HgnOjdmUoT0nM/s1600/IMG_9916.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL4-blR_w-tfa1jTUzn7EiS3OfoW2324e8lNscjw9o8d_izSSxkc76a-PeEZDC-5NqMnkUhbF4eDCP-NV9w9ZOHWbIrbvCB-KqBk8UiELs82r_UzsOywVy-zuhz8_gL0HgnOjdmUoT0nM/s320/IMG_9916.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yay, my first time trying a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tim_Tam">Tim Tam</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I probably ate too much junk food there, but I had a lot of fun. Some highlights:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li>In Pokemon, what is the legendary fire bird in the Kanto region? Moltres! All my years of playing Pokemon has paid off!</li>
<li>Who is the protagonist of Nathaniel Hawthorne's The Scarlet Letter? Hester Prynne! Yay, thank you 11th grade American literature!</li>
<li>Identify the 4 colors of the buttons on a Super Nintendo controller. Umm... aren't they all purple? It turns out the question was asking for the PAL version. Whoops, I am in Australia after all!</li>
</ul>
So, how did we do?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfepE-1cfPs9UPRuc1Ua1HnWqmUOFC1Qy4jTkRlkmiQlLG6B9d9pZ6Nzz6w8mAVuf6bAMd09iP1aT6VH9VAfWnvT_ZKCm8TDll0y-ZapbKxWf8-IrMXQfrjV8JdweKS6BI7wzgeNuRWI/s1600/IMG_9917.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfepE-1cfPs9UPRuc1Ua1HnWqmUOFC1Qy4jTkRlkmiQlLG6B9d9pZ6Nzz6w8mAVuf6bAMd09iP1aT6VH9VAfWnvT_ZKCm8TDll0y-ZapbKxWf8-IrMXQfrjV8JdweKS6BI7wzgeNuRWI/s320/IMG_9917.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We're "Let's get quizzi" which is third on the scoreboard. Top three places received prizes, and we came in... fourth... We scored 48.75, and 3rd place scored 49.25. So close! Off by one question!<br />
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But that's okay, I already had enough chocolate that night. It was a great way to end my last day of classes at Melbourne. Now, onto final projects and exams!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-21308544401153800502012-05-16T09:07:00.000+10:002012-05-16T09:07:01.993+10:00Weet-Bix breakfast cereal!As my breakfast buddies back at Princeton know, I love Rice Chex. When I first entered Princeton, I tried many types of breakfast cereal
in the dining hall, and eventually settled on this one as my favorite. It's nice and crunchy and not overloaded with sugar. Soon afterwards, I discovered I really liked it with soy milk and fruit! And this combination became my typical breakfast for over a year!<br />
<br />
So it's probably not very surprising that I was very disappointed when I couldn't find any Rice Chex in the supermarkets around here. In <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/visit-to-city-centre.html">one of my visits to the city centre</a>, I went to a department store called David Jones that imported products from America. I didn't find any Rice Chex, but I did find Cheerios. But it was $16.95 per box! Yikes! Even if they did import Rice Chex, I highly doubt I would have gotten any there.<br />
<br />
I sampled different kinds of cereal that they did have here. Since I avoided sugary kinds of cereal, there weren't many for me to choose from. And it was during this period of exploration that I discovered Weet-Bix!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__1WIIOgZkaEHFU6mJXNUnTKpbcCr670qLzYs1mEPyX69kafCUZwNqxvmKj0SOJHAZIG6BR4e1JhjcGB_FPr6sl-JfAWYfcEFsL-g6wojF4yhKvO7uGl-iU4KFywXmyrh5GzY47hTPBs/s1600/IMG_9827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh__1WIIOgZkaEHFU6mJXNUnTKpbcCr670qLzYs1mEPyX69kafCUZwNqxvmKj0SOJHAZIG6BR4e1JhjcGB_FPr6sl-JfAWYfcEFsL-g6wojF4yhKvO7uGl-iU4KFywXmyrh5GzY47hTPBs/s320/IMG_9827.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rows and rows of Weet-Bix in the supermarket! (An enthusiastic worker saw my trying to take a photo by myself and offered to take one for me!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As a breakfast cereal, Weet-Bix is so... different! Even before you open the box, you can feel that something is weird. Weet-Bix boxes are so much heavier than other cereal boxes of the same size. It's not hard to figure out why. Most cereal boxes have a bunch of air inside, but Weet-Bix boxes are completely packed with Weet-Bix!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4B1NyDxb2JqJlyoHio8At1WjEvZY2Q7TQwtRxYvyBasLZfPXuVmyy0IV8M8epN__LDSFQw67Efsw0hPbWpOrweYjFcmU6tE2ulHvcuTPcsbivVB3Atp_KvifgJ9nVV6bIu-Oysng4mQ/s1600/IMG_9831.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU4B1NyDxb2JqJlyoHio8At1WjEvZY2Q7TQwtRxYvyBasLZfPXuVmyy0IV8M8epN__LDSFQw67Efsw0hPbWpOrweYjFcmU6tE2ulHvcuTPcsbivVB3Atp_KvifgJ9nVV6bIu-Oysng4mQ/s320/IMG_9831.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Talk about efficiency! Weet-Bix doesn't like to waste space at all! This box has 7 rows, each containing 12 biscuits.</td></tr>
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And as you can see, it doesn't look like other kinds of cereal! Weet-Bix come in giant pieces!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbopGextp3Blhdr8u_tR1EkKz52n-1N8QdrvaCNxbFGpXTcfoXXKIJ8uJ7xSbtyj5VgM_a2zyCF7q77jpRwAQJyBZ1FRAEWckw7GAibX_ju2Z7c-8mbHTJiH7OFXOYFtjozZavE-csDKY/s1600/IMG_9833.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbopGextp3Blhdr8u_tR1EkKz52n-1N8QdrvaCNxbFGpXTcfoXXKIJ8uJ7xSbtyj5VgM_a2zyCF7q77jpRwAQJyBZ1FRAEWckw7GAibX_ju2Z7c-8mbHTJiH7OFXOYFtjozZavE-csDKY/s320/IMG_9833.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How is this breakfast cereal?</td></tr>
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To eat them, I have to add soy milk to soften the biscuits up, and then break them into smaller pieces with my spoon. Of course, Weet-Bix has very little added sugar, so not much of a taste. But I like it with soy milk and fruit.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzhUhV9lSnA4qw_31cvkjW4sFoBST8SncyLnvp_vWLy8w1v0qP8AU31pgFk6RwTUwHVkQSulKVoFRU5NoKDNbPbQ4cflGjbyzjo2_JtxLbTHjHeVS4P4QlvMQNdOtMMYSTN5_j6ezLts/s1600/IMG_9834.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimzhUhV9lSnA4qw_31cvkjW4sFoBST8SncyLnvp_vWLy8w1v0qP8AU31pgFk6RwTUwHVkQSulKVoFRU5NoKDNbPbQ4cflGjbyzjo2_JtxLbTHjHeVS4P4QlvMQNdOtMMYSTN5_j6ezLts/s320/IMG_9834.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pounding up the Weet-Bix with my spoon can be fun!</td></tr>
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And this has been my typical breakfast for many weeks now!<br />
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I can't say whether Rice Chex or Weet-Bix is better. It would be nice if I could compare them side by side, but I wonder if there's a place that I'll be able to find both of them together! It seems like Weet-Bix is a very distinctively Australian thing. The box even says "Aussie Kids are Weet-Bix kids." (What does that mean though?) I know I will miss Weet-Bix when I go back to America!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-54763317644473193932012-05-13T19:06:00.001+10:002012-05-13T19:08:20.591+10:00Street art around MelbourneDo you remember seeing <a href="http://www.google.com/doodles/keith-harings-54th-birthday">the following Google Doodle</a> on the 4th of May?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd-gHzu9nle81V3ZhYvPX3SJWAoCJZlTBefM5GOEILTPcxI0DIiukvTimkhzaIMJPefU8UlK3Sb7tkvg6yV_wur_qWn-HRCPnjLD_DDPYibGA3F9vou5wS9anlJXyfkayL7Kbj_fHDgQ/s1600/haring-12-hp.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="108" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGd-gHzu9nle81V3ZhYvPX3SJWAoCJZlTBefM5GOEILTPcxI0DIiukvTimkhzaIMJPefU8UlK3Sb7tkvg6yV_wur_qWn-HRCPnjLD_DDPYibGA3F9vou5wS9anlJXyfkayL7Kbj_fHDgQ/s320/haring-12-hp.png" width="320" /></a></div>
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For some reason, something about this image looked really familiar to me. A few minutes of searching on Google and I figured out why. Check this out!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt-NFMTfEa8MPgSueOcVfhtvUBvJzfuafireg2kk9Q_kjxAxd9p8YkIp0KWxfmlg8NOzg8CDmKmsPWcwS15GP0OuLn1n5AEWmx0CNNlbcwMj5I7mzPyG4uYOLoPHq33XXV4Bop7CgOJQ/s1600/IMG_9710.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwt-NFMTfEa8MPgSueOcVfhtvUBvJzfuafireg2kk9Q_kjxAxd9p8YkIp0KWxfmlg8NOzg8CDmKmsPWcwS15GP0OuLn1n5AEWmx0CNNlbcwMj5I7mzPyG4uYOLoPHq33XXV4Bop7CgOJQ/s320/IMG_9710.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This mural by Keith Haring is just a 3 minute 37 second walk from where I am currently living. (Yes, I timed myself!)<br />
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There is a lot of street art around Melbourne! Near the bottom of <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/melbourne-welcome-orientation-program.html">my post on the Melbourne Welcome</a> is a picture of me standing in front of a very colorfully-decorated laneway in the city centre. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Collingwood,_Victoria">Collingwood</a>, where Haring's Mural is located and where I live, happens to filled with street art. So after the Google Doodle gave me inspiration for this blog entry, I decided to walk around a little bit to take pictures of different ones.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9IQRymwuB9Rq8PO3FEQkF-XEpe2ExChlXI87iwOOJLyEyO5FyLkCatv67MDh3C34uyT6Svork2tAb4mKHOWs4TD0YWHlwRZPluaehtQPgRF0idd1SCvzuCajxB1oOPp3j0OZLglvVxM/s1600/IMG_9737.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz9IQRymwuB9Rq8PO3FEQkF-XEpe2ExChlXI87iwOOJLyEyO5FyLkCatv67MDh3C34uyT6Svork2tAb4mKHOWs4TD0YWHlwRZPluaehtQPgRF0idd1SCvzuCajxB1oOPp3j0OZLglvVxM/s320/IMG_9737.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From Haring's mural, you only need to walk a little bit to find another work of art!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X6x3NgsE791QsOYfk3bYsbBNn_MYHIn91Vp65RCqB7rsYryIJ0BGyK9Wyx1GJV00byb0nnd690gjWLadDaAg4bM2_7EOkhlsuW6cZr1HEXLuxamKwHYpQGGAFdFw6_6Lb1wAVDepZlY/s1600/IMG_9744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-X6x3NgsE791QsOYfk3bYsbBNn_MYHIn91Vp65RCqB7rsYryIJ0BGyK9Wyx1GJV00byb0nnd690gjWLadDaAg4bM2_7EOkhlsuW6cZr1HEXLuxamKwHYpQGGAFdFw6_6Lb1wAVDepZlY/s320/IMG_9744.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a cute cartoon-y one!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEi_1eXxXRnKabyFLaZLE_U8Cy_Lgfyr6swD5nMOgPMgC8RLACvqoX7ylBvlizb5kAkkSKM1HzRbHI0FuZflGe7FsOpowHAcIxDepdgeimXFT9_FANIVHMlkbvwyF8nrXFMoKcLag67c/s1600/IMG_9748.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVEi_1eXxXRnKabyFLaZLE_U8Cy_Lgfyr6swD5nMOgPMgC8RLACvqoX7ylBvlizb5kAkkSKM1HzRbHI0FuZflGe7FsOpowHAcIxDepdgeimXFT9_FANIVHMlkbvwyF8nrXFMoKcLag67c/s320/IMG_9748.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And here's another drawing!</td></tr>
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There's so much variety in the subject/theme of the art and in the style. I wonder what inspires people to draw all of these. I pass by so much art on the way to Melbourne Uni that I don't really think about it much anymore, but it really gives this area a young and vibrant feel. I like it!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-91255816031387201172012-05-10T22:10:00.000+10:002012-05-13T21:41:15.330+10:00Sydney trip: ChinatownFor some reason, I ended up spending <i>a lot</i> of time in Chinatown while I was in Sydney. And I ate a lot of food there.<br />
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The first step to eating food in Chinatown is, of course, getting to Chinatown. As Edouard was showing me around Sydney on Friday morning, one of the only places he had not been to was Chinatown. When we were at Darling Harbour, we knew Chinatown was close by so we went to find it. We started passing by a lot of Asian stores and restaurants, but I had been expecting a gate, or something grand, which would tell us "you are now in Chinatown."<br />
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Edouard had to leave to take care of other business, and I continued my search for the central part of Chinatown. It turned out we had been circling around it! The main Chinatown area was Dixon Street, which was closed off to cars. Both ends of the street had big gates just like I had pictured in my mind.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKEWl41TzTNMVH6hD8HTfuuippo6KJDB6P7JGhJRVVTSogNxYEeLZOg-l8tqqacid3p1sbImpvQjgASGSXKAbnXA7Qsrq4ClSxYOlSq_3hyphenhyphenVW-_Gvo-emGTevx6CMss8viEfhfgL6Opg/s1600/IMG_9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKEWl41TzTNMVH6hD8HTfuuippo6KJDB6P7JGhJRVVTSogNxYEeLZOg-l8tqqacid3p1sbImpvQjgASGSXKAbnXA7Qsrq4ClSxYOlSq_3hyphenhyphenVW-_Gvo-emGTevx6CMss8viEfhfgL6Opg/s320/IMG_9153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One entrance!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitChdWBU3HYwzSw5mKIGVtVmC-cZrciYOf7ppLEs1WHG4IdKD5O_vDaMFeR6qyNW7KXUl2I9kS98MwEIeUJLAg8nqtEpfe9zpN8VgIKV0KAuMzxGq4T0DGn32mGrdm7ez-dDc9qNqt5yc/s1600/IMG_9171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitChdWBU3HYwzSw5mKIGVtVmC-cZrciYOf7ppLEs1WHG4IdKD5O_vDaMFeR6qyNW7KXUl2I9kS98MwEIeUJLAg8nqtEpfe9zpN8VgIKV0KAuMzxGq4T0DGn32mGrdm7ez-dDc9qNqt5yc/s320/IMG_9171.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And the other entrance!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHrLncrT7kTsJXKCL7IQww8biyiuJO70pY24ZSWvm4XQdQseMWnRFaD1hU95XWhcF0-bwDvIsOi63PhB0cGWpQ0gYwpTnPDF6gKQEM8ucer1wreUd9z6ad1kqMrDUtyZlzsvXwn_niYo/s1600/IMG_9154.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHrLncrT7kTsJXKCL7IQww8biyiuJO70pY24ZSWvm4XQdQseMWnRFaD1hU95XWhcF0-bwDvIsOi63PhB0cGWpQ0gYwpTnPDF6gKQEM8ucer1wreUd9z6ad1kqMrDUtyZlzsvXwn_niYo/s320/IMG_9154.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dixon Street is very busy!</td></tr>
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I ended up eating lunch at a Taiwanese restaurant on Dixon Street.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWJv4qNlwjtY4oeWEORiQcMn2y1Y8ztkZsbanCjnhnmFbekw02zOthWUMga9GLKhsVtgBNwkVRMbnIAxKTaWHMazqr7BSs_A5WXeTfZTk4XyQQzZW9yVLlVwHS7rgvEk9CbBqtWxc1EY/s1600/IMG_9162_edited.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYWJv4qNlwjtY4oeWEORiQcMn2y1Y8ztkZsbanCjnhnmFbekw02zOthWUMga9GLKhsVtgBNwkVRMbnIAxKTaWHMazqr7BSs_A5WXeTfZTk4XyQQzZW9yVLlVwHS7rgvEk9CbBqtWxc1EY/s320/IMG_9162_edited.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noodle soup</td></tr>
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After I finished eating, I went back out to Dixon Street, and noticed a lot of food stands being set up outside.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAximKZUL7q2dZxrS-FRk22Tw2lFaMzAdvRddX_v3MVT6XhrRugUSQIaMSLh-b6c1dg7Etn-uyxG0Q3iLh9gzfS7Gp0WuYojuuKfM8SiL1aMGTw6uBOOmzciDR0hs6vjWjUUGpOTZ1CmQ/s1600/IMG_9168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAximKZUL7q2dZxrS-FRk22Tw2lFaMzAdvRddX_v3MVT6XhrRugUSQIaMSLh-b6c1dg7Etn-uyxG0Q3iLh9gzfS7Gp0WuYojuuKfM8SiL1aMGTw6uBOOmzciDR0hs6vjWjUUGpOTZ1CmQ/s320/IMG_9168.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's one booth...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hEQO3EfzRt0-2VwHX2LmxXcoVW4s2F374yq3mIhaW7M_VvhuEAogLUIjzlTzViU2L8O3Nwh5xKGrYwsBZzJU9oZKOKIZMHTtmc7tjUckMoTfxFKjQx61-cwqNIt651aq3zSlShMJ378/s1600/IMG_9167.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6hEQO3EfzRt0-2VwHX2LmxXcoVW4s2F374yq3mIhaW7M_VvhuEAogLUIjzlTzViU2L8O3Nwh5xKGrYwsBZzJU9oZKOKIZMHTtmc7tjUckMoTfxFKjQx61-cwqNIt651aq3zSlShMJ378/s320/IMG_9167.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... and here's another!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Hmm! I wondered what was going on! It was around 3pm at that time (I had a late lunch), and I thought it was a weird time to be selling food to people. I probably would have tried some of the food, but I was already full. I decided to come back and investigate these food tents another day.<br />
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Later that afternoon, I met up with Edouard again, at Circular Quay. And I told him (excitedly) that I had found Chinatown! So after we checked out other parts of Sydney (like the Royal Botanical Gardens), we ended up going back to Dixon Street. And immediately, the food-booth mystery was solved.<br />
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There was a night market going on!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOdXv0dsDbV0yEwmhFd4w0XKGBfVjra7atwxo-5sNqSGUDu0wITyMoVdh0MXZSuLhNwRx63WsOEM0YnjI4Wu23xgzSYj4P4D3a9ZJgqhl-yB_3CmXsgygbMSv01vG24ZbGBPI5IbPTvM/s1600/IMG_9316.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGOdXv0dsDbV0yEwmhFd4w0XKGBfVjra7atwxo-5sNqSGUDu0wITyMoVdh0MXZSuLhNwRx63WsOEM0YnjI4Wu23xgzSYj4P4D3a9ZJgqhl-yB_3CmXsgygbMSv01vG24ZbGBPI5IbPTvM/s320/IMG_9316.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Merchandise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZUbg4XJsUKNZDpjtJZodmwIFNZUdQ1VqWqE0pX_IEb2FFGRdCveHgfATf7KAxzhYiJKN-9vqzFsu0M3dbUgEKH7tawPMRRU8c7ZWVqjbXjuAI5BmlxRD8-B-iNsGjG2o3H4lpznGaJc/s1600/IMG_9339.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyZUbg4XJsUKNZDpjtJZodmwIFNZUdQ1VqWqE0pX_IEb2FFGRdCveHgfATf7KAxzhYiJKN-9vqzFsu0M3dbUgEKH7tawPMRRU8c7ZWVqjbXjuAI5BmlxRD8-B-iNsGjG2o3H4lpznGaJc/s320/IMG_9339.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performances!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQl4w80lM08eu73hD27V2eSzmAUqaj60w45LZ0T9imN55msQKMiHk2-d-eVDo3gbxeOC2pStQGSAiDL31tjcLYHkLqUbn4_2ocoawP6MTRpT4gGBI4OYIEvhdDVNUtnul_MZtYVcdHmA/s1600/IMG_9331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQl4w80lM08eu73hD27V2eSzmAUqaj60w45LZ0T9imN55msQKMiHk2-d-eVDo3gbxeOC2pStQGSAiDL31tjcLYHkLqUbn4_2ocoawP6MTRpT4gGBI4OYIEvhdDVNUtnul_MZtYVcdHmA/s320/IMG_9331.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And of course, food!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Edouard had to leave again, and since I already had lunch at Chinatown, I thought about whether I should go somewhere else for dinner that night. I decided to stay.<br />
<br />
So I went and got food!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWl2N5CGNKye3acrkAxWvDMarxRfi0umyfoaqJdiVZHGT5BwfnMO16Cs5At8WlTwsIbYPofRJ6_W2cJReKpnXJPbdhdcLE-1xXbSjmpxNT2UhbYxH-Rg3cwN7FEJeoSB74w69VmhwUw8g/s1600/IMG_9326.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWl2N5CGNKye3acrkAxWvDMarxRfi0umyfoaqJdiVZHGT5BwfnMO16Cs5At8WlTwsIbYPofRJ6_W2cJReKpnXJPbdhdcLE-1xXbSjmpxNT2UhbYxH-Rg3cwN7FEJeoSB74w69VmhwUw8g/s320/IMG_9326.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Vegetarian steamed rice rolls"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjjzpQHvVQYmTG9J_11fR8KXNCOyzOVQshzCZ-xk54TJRVxdWYYCHG07w-ExP2BR9rn6331jSDLHyODRYQp5sxnqqFS1zThHSsEFWq5SSgj7wnZ1H9Spsxj-ErKrw6h70lntk2_hjC28/s1600/IMG_9327.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDjjzpQHvVQYmTG9J_11fR8KXNCOyzOVQshzCZ-xk54TJRVxdWYYCHG07w-ExP2BR9rn6331jSDLHyODRYQp5sxnqqFS1zThHSsEFWq5SSgj7wnZ1H9Spsxj-ErKrw6h70lntk2_hjC28/s320/IMG_9327.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Black sticky rice in coconut sauce"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCH1I_PeabkN9wVesoFguseTp9Rgx6Va98FydAv1HkTWjSUtlJJyQfhFnboY3nnqcjlcMUppALTmPXSXqErOAfJAJc6BxDarZCzvP__K-e2ckIQec2a5JdVk9o08Q2k3ZjE3eCZJq-WI/s1600/IMG_9333.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwCH1I_PeabkN9wVesoFguseTp9Rgx6Va98FydAv1HkTWjSUtlJJyQfhFnboY3nnqcjlcMUppALTmPXSXqErOAfJAJc6BxDarZCzvP__K-e2ckIQec2a5JdVk9o08Q2k3ZjE3eCZJq-WI/s320/IMG_9333.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Pan fried radish cakes with X.O. sauce"</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Some time while I was browsing the night market, I learned that the market only took place every Friday. So I felt super lucky, because (1) I wouldn't have returned to Chinatown that night if I wasn't showing Edouard where it was and (2) I had originally thought the night market took place every night. Yay!<br />
<br />
I left Chinatown that night pretty full of Chinese food. But then I returned to Chinatown pretty often during my time at Sydney, and I ate there a lot. Maybe I was craving Chinese food. But I think part of it was because of homesickness.<br />
<br />
Being in Sydney made me feel a little homesick. I wished my family was with me at the time so they could see how awesome Sydney was. But then being in Chinatown made me super homesick.<br />
<br />
This is a bit silly, but I wished my family was in Chinatown with me, partially because I couldn't speak/read Chinese very well and my parents could! Most of the time, I ended up speaking in English when I was ordering food. Once, the worker spoke to me in Chinese when I walked into the restaurant, so I replied in Chinese. But then I ended up speaking in English after I couldn't read the menu! Once, I almost successfully got by in Chinese while ordering food at the a booth at the night market... but at the end I said "thanks!". Whoops!<br />
<br />
There was one small bakery on Dixon Steet that I ended up going to pretty often. During my second time there, the owner came by and said every time I see you, you always seem so happy." Whoa, he remembered me! (And, I would say the same thing about him!) We had a nice little chat, in Chinese! And somehow, he made me feel a little "at home" in the bakery. And even more homesick. The last time I went was right before leaving for the airport. I came by to get some snacks for the flight.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-DZ7p049qvHfMUmS-XytvLcgaLCm-WWmUINT1aQDTtJ-K290GmZjC_VURf9IUQoq7Gcz4oTj8ZBM67pOrIgmJOh3ZQRvhVPOrXd304Iw6P1L-oqVzQDyxwEAvVHkL1VLDEktIH0Q614/s1600/IMG_9177.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy-DZ7p049qvHfMUmS-XytvLcgaLCm-WWmUINT1aQDTtJ-K290GmZjC_VURf9IUQoq7Gcz4oTj8ZBM67pOrIgmJOh3ZQRvhVPOrXd304Iw6P1L-oqVzQDyxwEAvVHkL1VLDEktIH0Q614/s320/IMG_9177.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standing in front of the bakery with a sesame rice ball that I had just bought!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I really do hope I could come back to Sydney with my family in the future. I wonder if that bakery will be thereAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-41865451345194500822012-05-04T21:23:00.000+10:002012-05-04T21:24:33.626+10:00Sydney trip: After the cube competition!Despite the competition being over, people still had plenty of energy left! Some of the Melbourne cubers and the organizers from the University of Sydney decided to celebrate the competition at a pub.<br />
<br />
I
was staying with the Melbourne cubers that night at a hotel we had
booked together, so first we went to drop off our stuff. Our hotel was
about 1.5 km north of the university. No big deal, in keeping with the
spirit of walking everywhere around Sydney, we dragged our suitcases off
to the hotel, checked in, and left for the pub. The pub was 1.5 km <i>south</i>
of the university.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=The+Haven+Inn+Sydney,+Glebe+Point+Road,+Glebe,+New+South+Wales&daddr=-33.8838654,151.1873346+to:-33.8847,151.18734+to:Cooper%27s+Hotel,+King+Street,+Newtown,+New+South+Wales&hl=en&sll=-33.883153,151.186654&sspn=0.003144,0.005681&geocode=FccS-_0dAuYCCSHpuJM07Po1aSl1PdR6068SazH82FNQT9UlmA%3BFSf5-v0dhu8CCSlffPpZ1a8SazHBAIblZ30BEw%3BFeT1-v0djO8CCSlX4LRI1bESazEBOKLlZ30BEw%3BFdfM-v0dE9kCCSFOW2s5I-7vnykPR7nTM7ASazFc5Ooo_sxUhg&oq=coopers+hotel&dirflg=w&mra=mrv&via=1,2&t=m&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.881603,151.18814&spn=0.025153,0.045447&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?saddr=The+Haven+Inn+Sydney,+Glebe+Point+Road,+Glebe,+New+South+Wales&daddr=-33.8838654,151.1873346+to:-33.8847,151.18734+to:Cooper%27s+Hotel,+King+Street,+Newtown,+New+South+Wales&hl=en&sll=-33.883153,151.186654&sspn=0.003144,0.005681&geocode=FccS-_0dAuYCCSHpuJM07Po1aSl1PdR6068SazH82FNQT9UlmA%3BFSf5-v0dhu8CCSlffPpZ1a8SazHBAIblZ30BEw%3BFeT1-v0djO8CCSlX4LRI1bESazEBOKLlZ30BEw%3BFdfM-v0dE9kCCSFOW2s5I-7vnykPR7nTM7ASazFc5Ooo_sxUhg&oq=coopers+hotel&dirflg=w&mra=mrv&via=1,2&t=m&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.881603,151.18814&spn=0.025153,0.045447&source=embed" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small>
</div>
<br />
I didn't mind
the walk that much. I was kind of hungry, so I was looking forward to
eating dinner at the pub. On our way there, Luke was trying to convince
me to drink beer, and I kept saying no.<br />
<br />
After a bunch of walking, we finally made it! I happily took a picture of the place.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf6FWrnJN6xalRSPCnuanueJc9huzMLi0rIN96RBr3weVssNx-iUb5VUwmPn8klOSgOCMgvBkCozxkGDdBAFNOTgKltowcBMK9MkFEmzwU-dMwUpdSYa7u47NH19q_hGmV_x0H76Ihis/s1600/IMG_9463.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDf6FWrnJN6xalRSPCnuanueJc9huzMLi0rIN96RBr3weVssNx-iUb5VUwmPn8klOSgOCMgvBkCozxkGDdBAFNOTgKltowcBMK9MkFEmzwU-dMwUpdSYa7u47NH19q_hGmV_x0H76Ihis/s320/IMG_9463.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Unfortunately,
there is an hour gap between me taking the picture above, and me
actually entering the pub. All the other Melbourne cubers went in, and I
followed along. Or tried to. The bouncer stopped me, asking me for ID
and telling me "you look too young!" I suppose I could take that as a
nice complement, but I had left my ID back in the hotel!<br />
<br />
Luke
and I walked 3 km all the way back to the hotel. I was tired and
hungry, and at that point, didn't really care about thinking before
speaking. So naturally I was complaining the whole time. (Luke, thanks
for accompanying me and putting up with me, haha!)<br />
<br />
We
made it back to the hotel. My feet were tired. But we were only half-way
there! I got my ID and we headed back on our 3 km journey back to the
pub. Urghhh... more complaining!<br />
<br />
But somehow we made it there, and I proudly showed the bouncer my ID and went inside.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9UmsrF9V6OF0VUi1u3gN29BfUCcQftnW021On0Na-CMVlZ1HJtYqywKLrutMA-fVVXJXzcZj5HW_s7JhuCGyLH7_R-Cyyv3AGOcfg-IsiV4R7sbY8_z3rvmsyOZxPAgo-H53pzX3XzU/s1600/IMG_9465.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR9UmsrF9V6OF0VUi1u3gN29BfUCcQftnW021On0Na-CMVlZ1HJtYqywKLrutMA-fVVXJXzcZj5HW_s7JhuCGyLH7_R-Cyyv3AGOcfg-IsiV4R7sbY8_z3rvmsyOZxPAgo-H53pzX3XzU/s320/IMG_9465.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Luke and I both ordered a warm butternut pumpkin risotto! Yum!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I was tired, but Luke clearly was not:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZdNnXljXFACFegAxscNEc1V5US9gjzN8Brx8B-7D9ryC_7OaDjvCKruRpf-iLClSoySZaIPr0w43ECCPU-L5XbazN3TQHpo4QYSeY9EsYXk_7_Zd1oXjFb6xGn4MSSmilZqiHG6p8fo/s1600/IMG_9469.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_ZdNnXljXFACFegAxscNEc1V5US9gjzN8Brx8B-7D9ryC_7OaDjvCKruRpf-iLClSoySZaIPr0w43ECCPU-L5XbazN3TQHpo4QYSeY9EsYXk_7_Zd1oXjFb6xGn4MSSmilZqiHG6p8fo/s320/IMG_9469.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And by that time, all the Sydney people had been long gone, leaving just the Melbourne cubers:<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeipHPpTK6BRzERQhFwFiYPk6IiroSQTYMx6-kxQ0Bd0qFr0I-RsI232irpREhKeWnR1FgRWIUmSlhVLiQuZOMBUXpazxH8yP4fT9YvUkko0soXgIswn0KzmvQ_hsJziwb-1Co5Y3-zlY/s1600/IMG_9466.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeipHPpTK6BRzERQhFwFiYPk6IiroSQTYMx6-kxQ0Bd0qFr0I-RsI232irpREhKeWnR1FgRWIUmSlhVLiQuZOMBUXpazxH8yP4fT9YvUkko0soXgIswn0KzmvQ_hsJziwb-1Co5Y3-zlY/s320/IMG_9466.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
And...
after all that trouble, I gave in to Luke's request, and had a glass of
beer! (*gasp!*) First time drinking beer! I think the taste is quite...
interesting. I guess I'm not used to it yet. But that was definitely a memorable experience. (Not just the beer itself, but all the trouble I had to go through to drink that glass of beer!)<br />
<br />
And guess what happened afterwards? We walked 3 km back to our hotel! I didn't have any trouble sleeping that night!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-85738741387170182642012-05-03T22:24:00.001+10:002012-05-04T21:44:56.800+10:00Sydney trip: Cube competition!Saturday (21/4) was the Rubik's cube competition, which was the reason I chose to go to Sydney on that particular weekend. That day was quite eventful, perhaps a little way too much. In the morning, I checked out of my hostel, and began my 4 km walk to the University of Sydney, where the competition would be taking place.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Zing+Backpackers+Hostel,+156+Victoria+Street,+Sydney+NSW&daddr=holme+building,+university+of+sydney&geocode=FaAl-_0dDXoDCSHX4lOzFSJOYikFyEpMDa4SazF7XNXdTYjUMg%3BFfHy-v0dZe8CCSG4NQmxWcaS3Q&aq=&sll=-33.878076,151.21685&sspn=0.027933,0.066047&hl=en&dirflg=w&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.878076,151.21685&spn=0.01335,0.0354&t=m&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com.au/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=Zing+Backpackers+Hostel,+156+Victoria+Street,+Sydney+NSW&daddr=holme+building,+university+of+sydney&geocode=FaAl-_0dDXoDCSHX4lOzFSJOYikFyEpMDa4SazF7XNXdTYjUMg%3BFfHy-v0dZe8CCSG4NQmxWcaS3Q&aq=&sll=-33.878076,151.21685&sspn=0.027933,0.066047&hl=en&dirflg=w&mra=ls&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.878076,151.21685&spn=0.01335,0.0354&t=m" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small></div>
<br />
Along the way, I learned that the Melbourne cubers (who had been planning to fly in to the competition that morning) had their flight delayed. Also, the competition could not start without the official World Cube Association delegate, who was one of the people stuck at the airport in Melbourne. So I decided to take my time on my walk, stopping to some pictures along the way. Somehow, I ended up walking for 2 whole hours!<br />
<br />
But eventually, I made it to the university!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8setb9tzkzC329rV65qnNGvwgfVeoVgdejB_IfpXCH8pcIUYAQ-YsxRB3wr6XpZA7oIZLYLdTtIsC0LXZ-DXu86cOGH27pIuC7w1eR3_bLuC5OR_uQLpkxqocV3sI2GZZxrklnfeqQE/s1600/IMG_9399.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT8setb9tzkzC329rV65qnNGvwgfVeoVgdejB_IfpXCH8pcIUYAQ-YsxRB3wr6XpZA7oIZLYLdTtIsC0LXZ-DXu86cOGH27pIuC7w1eR3_bLuC5OR_uQLpkxqocV3sI2GZZxrklnfeqQE/s320/IMG_9399.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The University of Sydney has some really pretty buildings!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL05M4HwdWgpdl5vJMYbe_33zAB_nRg04wnPMc5P81Jpj6uPM-2-ERHok1mHshTAeDHtcLVvmX3cwG4QVbz8N0I2uU_Kadqzh8HBJSuwQSAvNEQBG6-hnY-6DcYjRd5GS_Tjkm4F9XewA/s1600/IMG_9396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL05M4HwdWgpdl5vJMYbe_33zAB_nRg04wnPMc5P81Jpj6uPM-2-ERHok1mHshTAeDHtcLVvmX3cwG4QVbz8N0I2uU_Kadqzh8HBJSuwQSAvNEQBG6-hnY-6DcYjRd5GS_Tjkm4F9XewA/s320/IMG_9396.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(But some of those buildings are under construction!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I found my way to the competition. (Or rather, someone from the competition found me standing outside the building, lost!) The Melbourne cubers were still stuck at the airport. But everyone else was present, and they seemed to be having a good time! People were hanging out and cubing.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzspSOhGGh3Y9sqCDnBnx34vkd47Qd_0tl6yPUw8qDRMxCrBISxqWn2Uccniw-KluvU-ZOfY1BHYUzZUjIpp8_N6PCE8ua_CW00EkyURUsd0bbBMUwfOOcSmMA5h7TFbDN2CatMBJbsc/s1600/IMG_9425.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIzspSOhGGh3Y9sqCDnBnx34vkd47Qd_0tl6yPUw8qDRMxCrBISxqWn2Uccniw-KluvU-ZOfY1BHYUzZUjIpp8_N6PCE8ua_CW00EkyURUsd0bbBMUwfOOcSmMA5h7TFbDN2CatMBJbsc/s320/IMG_9425.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whoa! Look at all those puzzles!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The organizers of the competition decided to start soon after I got there. The Melbourne cubers were bringing the equipment for the competition (timers and displays), but some of us had brought our timers along, so we could use those.<br />
<br />
Without the delegate present, these rounds would not be officially recognized, but having an unofficial round is better than having nothing.<br />
<br />
But as it turned out, Edouard could act as the delegate until the official one came, so we were actually all set for the competition! Perfect!<br />
<br />
We had a round of 4x4 in the morning, followed by lunch, followed by 3x3 blindfolded afterwards.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8GBRKr_bwsnqFEfvkLLlsFc6GsIIlJgpsDYM_iXkGbiF4jKWnlP5d5ETCt4X10oVPGk3QU5t7gF7hFNDOFu_JBmr9dhb8MQsx0BfCJs_Q7JYcYNyfvWu46G7BielH5J7ZT4ouNmdpmE/s1600/IMG_9423.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS8GBRKr_bwsnqFEfvkLLlsFc6GsIIlJgpsDYM_iXkGbiF4jKWnlP5d5ETCt4X10oVPGk3QU5t7gF7hFNDOFu_JBmr9dhb8MQsx0BfCJs_Q7JYcYNyfvWu46G7BielH5J7ZT4ouNmdpmE/s320/IMG_9423.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The competition seemed to be going pretty smoothly!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Then the Melbourne cubers arrived around 2pm. We set up their equipment, and the competition proceeded in full speed afterwards with a 3x3 round and finishing with a 2x2 round.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQNK3WqVpTU1M4x6e5iery0TGLSsHMjjvxwWAo0wjErXLqqYGWs2SCumQnzSeZAI96tW6Xy3YHQN-oPN4aDvi1r1qt9qwzAeCAZkq4xV3s2NTiWNbpH5IzHUENY3BjE5HrsP3r2oxzG4/s1600/7105516303_5e244f6a80_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZQNK3WqVpTU1M4x6e5iery0TGLSsHMjjvxwWAo0wjErXLqqYGWs2SCumQnzSeZAI96tW6Xy3YHQN-oPN4aDvi1r1qt9qwzAeCAZkq4xV3s2NTiWNbpH5IzHUENY3BjE5HrsP3r2oxzG4/s320/7105516303_5e244f6a80_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inspecting my cube before starting a solve! (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotichead/sets/72157629852397153/">Luke</a>!)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlTnoB_4ePUXuhIR1CryBVhb-x-7vBRf6ukfev0PDqcPr0W9QiEVmDF40dvX8t6IW3eqO5IzH8ov_lRkRPdHlD66gwZHtAeuUsnTnM_4a8GCz3xtBy16RroZ84iK4J4Hez9YPwwpukX8/s1600/6955925558_67e74bee40_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdlTnoB_4ePUXuhIR1CryBVhb-x-7vBRf6ukfev0PDqcPr0W9QiEVmDF40dvX8t6IW3eqO5IzH8ov_lRkRPdHlD66gwZHtAeuUsnTnM_4a8GCz3xtBy16RroZ84iK4J4Hez9YPwwpukX8/s320/6955925558_67e74bee40_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Finishing another solve! (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/79332973@N03/sets/72157629873039017/">Laurence</a>!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V0cDfl7gZ9gxxBcIwCAEbbigt_tnudRHRA87Arpt2AXRUm64y-wpwehu0sn49DmwZ5TBayo01-pnAZaar0Gr8b52AAIqWDsCkCzylaxd7lLJcP0HPMzqom4zmcnL16upN6MEqwW8_3E/s1600/6959466440_3b44a45747_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8V0cDfl7gZ9gxxBcIwCAEbbigt_tnudRHRA87Arpt2AXRUm64y-wpwehu0sn49DmwZ5TBayo01-pnAZaar0Gr8b52AAIqWDsCkCzylaxd7lLJcP0HPMzqom4zmcnL16upN6MEqwW8_3E/s320/6959466440_3b44a45747_b.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture of me with Edouard during the awards ceremony! (Photo credit: <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotichead/sets/72157629852397153/">Luke</a>!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
What a great competition! I suppose you could look at it as a disaster, because the Melbourne cubers had been delayed at the airport, and that ruined what was originally planned. But it was very nice seeing everyone in Sydney work together to keep the competition going! I think this made it a very successful competition, not to mention a very unique one!<br />
<br />
In the morning when one of the organizers asked me if I had a timer, I thought for a bit, and realized that the answer was... yes! When I was packing in Melbourne, I had spent a few minutes deciding whether to pack my timer. I had been concerned about bringing too many things over. But then I realized I could ask Edouard to sign it! (I already had it signed by two other world record holders at <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/melbourne-summer-2012-cube-competition.html">Melbourne Summer 2012</a>.) For that reason alone, I ended up bringing that timer. And we used to it run the competition in the morning! Thank you Edouard for getting me to bring my timer!<br />
<br />
The competition ended, but the day was far from over! (However, this blog post is over. Stay tuned!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-25748962127071081692012-04-29T21:48:00.001+10:002012-05-04T21:24:33.592+10:00Sydney trip: exploring the city(I just finished a maths assignment due tomorrow, which means time to write about Sydney!)<br />
<br />
I arrived in Sydney Thursday evening and left Monday afternoon. The Rubik's cube competition was on Saturday, which gave me plenty of time to explore the city.<br />
<br />
I met up with another competitor when I got to Sydney. His name is Edouard, and he is from France, but he just happened to be in Sydney at the time. (If you look at his <a href="http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2004CHAM01">competition statistics</a>, you can see that he used to hold many Rubik's cube world records!) <br />
<br />
Edouard was really nice and took me all around the city, starting Thursday night! (I originally had planned to just rest after arriving on Thursday, but then I would have missed out.) That night, I saw:<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6nsj3wrZJsfHIRSgC0zCMnLZuQIxaya2IFjwnkZCBUEpv2rT97gmMiC_D-yHQN5hGEDYQLpa01v1_DIgHDGs3Ai6fPZse9Pt01T9BMNgRv2d161pgJai_TheSGkNlei3zaA0OT5OHQs/s1600/IMG_9085.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_6nsj3wrZJsfHIRSgC0zCMnLZuQIxaya2IFjwnkZCBUEpv2rT97gmMiC_D-yHQN5hGEDYQLpa01v1_DIgHDGs3Ai6fPZse9Pt01T9BMNgRv2d161pgJai_TheSGkNlei3zaA0OT5OHQs/s320/IMG_9085.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House">Sydney Opera House</a>!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt78IgBvECEFYuISfOLAXPG_A2HNdVjVhCrMec-Ce8gxinTJFyOcgei1KgXBMC9vKCTNKSF7Mda-6RPvbRn3O2zr_FddFqIoD1-gkBcWRUrT0BcZJZxMVbqKsRlCUbJbFaa-o3sY2hx-Y/s1600/IMG_9090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt78IgBvECEFYuISfOLAXPG_A2HNdVjVhCrMec-Ce8gxinTJFyOcgei1KgXBMC9vKCTNKSF7Mda-6RPvbRn3O2zr_FddFqIoD1-gkBcWRUrT0BcZJZxMVbqKsRlCUbJbFaa-o3sY2hx-Y/s320/IMG_9090.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Harbour_Bridge">Sydney Harbour Bridge</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I suppose the Opera House and the Bridge are the two big icons of Sydney, which means I finished all my major tourist business on my first night! But of course I didn't stop there. Some other places that I visited during my time in Sydney included: <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFAo_6m9MZnoEPTwptZK_wEdFZJM4a7Zi_3LiAFzlF0XT1KyhFjF4y0w7ydCT2QNBtTWTId7RcirPizlpuNfKL5nhEGNTt1Z2VfhMMPDQnQAJTL-2l9aoZO9i1vYPMj4mS9wdZiDqdjE/s1600/IMG_9153.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUFAo_6m9MZnoEPTwptZK_wEdFZJM4a7Zi_3LiAFzlF0XT1KyhFjF4y0w7ydCT2QNBtTWTId7RcirPizlpuNfKL5nhEGNTt1Z2VfhMMPDQnQAJTL-2l9aoZO9i1vYPMj4mS9wdZiDqdjE/s320/IMG_9153.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chinatown,_Sydney">Chinatown</a>! I spent so much time in this area that I should write another blog post about it!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRaFtw9e283xrwd5dYTQM6Y8m6MiTs3yvtnRIhsoCTmxpF9J7tQXXTUM0Zobffma7XgfaKpkR_1xJz1168gcAS8E2rpDGHNINwOAYuBqWepU3xmGx-M_ujFHaaN2cxJwQZPOm6CHfCWI/s1600/IMG_9181.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieRaFtw9e283xrwd5dYTQM6Y8m6MiTs3yvtnRIhsoCTmxpF9J7tQXXTUM0Zobffma7XgfaKpkR_1xJz1168gcAS8E2rpDGHNINwOAYuBqWepU3xmGx-M_ujFHaaN2cxJwQZPOm6CHfCWI/s320/IMG_9181.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darling_Harbour">Darling Harbour</a>!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMAhHnrIDWCyQfiafSML8Znajex80Yn8ITgKfrYLc9NxR4zXvIIp9Vxb6lxNDXROWKbDskVOD7kNyvSX9swGKmluNt_jso5NUHoVq4QQJ8etRZQDC-VYkeDUPKb6Y00hr5c95JwpAeow/s1600/IMG_9553.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfMAhHnrIDWCyQfiafSML8Znajex80Yn8ITgKfrYLc9NxR4zXvIIp9Vxb6lxNDXROWKbDskVOD7kNyvSX9swGKmluNt_jso5NUHoVq4QQJ8etRZQDC-VYkeDUPKb6Y00hr5c95JwpAeow/s320/IMG_9553.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darling Harbour at night!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LDbhgFqW1blmj-yc1yS-ykN5YRZpOQcP9ZZaph-b6M4f0EnM-rrRQd-zEyxGwH0ihUhleoo7DaklUxGeJNyh8n-M5kbPUnQqQf6clmTj5D7nY2siL1iumWkCT7MNxz-OOZ6zSeVSHQ8/s1600/IMG_9272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8LDbhgFqW1blmj-yc1yS-ykN5YRZpOQcP9ZZaph-b6M4f0EnM-rrRQd-zEyxGwH0ihUhleoo7DaklUxGeJNyh8n-M5kbPUnQqQf6clmTj5D7nY2siL1iumWkCT7MNxz-OOZ6zSeVSHQ8/s320/IMG_9272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Circular_Quay">Circular Quay</a>!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgAIZw4D4X5j_QEmkLc0glSYag9KLgH0nFhKS4jN6vmnunyTvX-TnrOAT094bwTLlWHMVTmiEh_rgYpvj6r_-spXWV8YsS_EJjOHB6BjfkyFLI_BlSuAvVW9gghy3VlogliRoRQoIHRs/s1600/IMG_9358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTgAIZw4D4X5j_QEmkLc0glSYag9KLgH0nFhKS4jN6vmnunyTvX-TnrOAT094bwTLlWHMVTmiEh_rgYpvj6r_-spXWV8YsS_EJjOHB6BjfkyFLI_BlSuAvVW9gghy3VlogliRoRQoIHRs/s320/IMG_9358.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ANZAC_War_Memorial">ANZAC War Memorial</a> in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyde_Park,_Sydney">Hyde Park</a>! (ANZAC Day was on Wednesday 25 April.)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHN2Ay0QrlvpE2e9bckUMrL8KFqmYxLXMXa7OL7oRYRgbkDNMn6veUoIEgk8HTItlSiE_kl22udAdfqWRr14fWTU4ePJFUPW1dce1p2uaYygb6nGbDWmQMv1afH8DVjuE9WgM1t5ni5vg/s1600/IMG_9287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHN2Ay0QrlvpE2e9bckUMrL8KFqmYxLXMXa7OL7oRYRgbkDNMn6veUoIEgk8HTItlSiE_kl22udAdfqWRr14fWTU4ePJFUPW1dce1p2uaYygb6nGbDWmQMv1afH8DVjuE9WgM1t5ni5vg/s320/IMG_9287.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Royal_Botanic_Gardens,_Sydney">Royal Botanic Gardens</a>!
Unfortunately, the gardens closed soon after Edouard and I entered, so
we didn't get to see much. We did have a nice short walk.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQlikm276xSyyAOhZYw9hVfwK8c50L02T1pRuRaJ6z6ZDnRS2rVb02tY53g9MYNi7_3XB0CMdYuWHb4KIAar6YymqfrFCueGr6TVtc3SGSmOCtav3z50c8kZheovdcaljYpu8fCYzMlA/s1600/IMG_9610.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQlikm276xSyyAOhZYw9hVfwK8c50L02T1pRuRaJ6z6ZDnRS2rVb02tY53g9MYNi7_3XB0CMdYuWHb4KIAar6YymqfrFCueGr6TVtc3SGSmOCtav3z50c8kZheovdcaljYpu8fCYzMlA/s320/IMG_9610.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Rocks,_New_South_Wales">The Rocks</a>! This is a historic part of Sydney, filled with lots of old buildings from the first colony.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTn6RNWoL0owhUVKZrmP6uiPTuskQumbOmvGEPHz_qqM75NJxy-wtur9ozAmwhuenE2q0yblfJrL2jRu3ppo7Zcyzqyd0upVdcjvXgZcUseG06_e-Agw4fYGPGVThundx65n5IZBV1X4/s1600/IMG_9309.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGTn6RNWoL0owhUVKZrmP6uiPTuskQumbOmvGEPHz_qqM75NJxy-wtur9ozAmwhuenE2q0yblfJrL2jRu3ppo7Zcyzqyd0upVdcjvXgZcUseG06_e-Agw4fYGPGVThundx65n5IZBV1X4/s320/IMG_9309.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Umm... Apple Store! I suppose every big city has one!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I looked up Sydney's weather forecast back when I had not yet left Melbourne, and I was disappointed to see rain, rain, rain - every single day when I was there! But I ended up being really lucky because the weather was really good when I visited! There was no rain (except Monday, my last day), and the weather was warm enough that I could walk around the city at night without a jacket! (How was this possible? It's almost winter in the southern hemisphere!)<br />
<br />
I originally planned to buy a public transportation pass when I arrived, but following Edouard's example, I decided to do most of my commuting via foot. After just the first night, my legs were super sore, and my knees hurt when I bent them. I learned the hard way that Sydney is very very hilly. Looking back, I don't know how I survived "hiking" around Sydney all those days! It was really good exercise though!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-35047180597183493522012-04-27T22:33:00.000+10:002012-05-04T21:24:33.613+10:00Sydney trip: an overviewYikes! I have been falling really behind in keeping this blog updated! This is because I have been spending the last few days catching up on schoolwork after returning from Sydney.<br />
<br />
Wait... Sydney? Oh yeah, I forgot to say! I went to Sydney last Thursday (4/19) and came back this Monday (4/23). There was a Rubik's cube competition there on Saturday (the <a href="http://www.worldcubeassociation.org/results/c.php?i=SydneyAutumn2012">Sydney Autumn 2012</a>), so I decided not only to attend, but to spend a few days before and after the competition exploring the city!<br />
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It was a very nice trip. Despite Easter break being over, I felt like I was on vacation! Well, actually, my Easter break didn't even feel like a vacation at all, because I was spending most of my time working on the two papers I had. But I finished them just in time for Sydney, so I didn't have to worry about schoolwork during my trip!<br />
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I think I'll break up my trip into separate entries so I don't have a super huge blog post. I'll find time to write the other entries in the next few days. For now, here's a picture!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNZqbPMTIkRUtpsqnBI6ynWAwjbQaECpvqih5AQ1PodQcbLxn7_sTfXLz32dkS5A9IAfyI_Nk8GCo0vA9gCjLnimvdhUZvyLh4SpFmpj1BHIMvSX_LZrMBG9MMoNKBfVdA8sApwReT9o/s1600/IMG_9261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcNZqbPMTIkRUtpsqnBI6ynWAwjbQaECpvqih5AQ1PodQcbLxn7_sTfXLz32dkS5A9IAfyI_Nk8GCo0vA9gCjLnimvdhUZvyLh4SpFmpj1BHIMvSX_LZrMBG9MMoNKBfVdA8sApwReT9o/s320/IMG_9261.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taking a picture with the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sydney_Opera_House">Sydney Opera House</a> while on a ferry!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(My camera had a total of 610 pictures of Sydney when I got back! But after removing lots of bad picture, I had 429. Not bad!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-60587823667098171422012-04-16T21:27:00.000+10:002012-04-24T11:43:25.936+10:00Cooking over Easter Break!<b>7 April 2012 Dinner</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97D7uYQeLoOGxNQAzOGwDCzwqwL80-PrvrIFSA7mWXS_nt52ys9wTv5Ea_iVSoc_NFlaeexYRr17ptppo2cIw813QJMc-4pOs4mjlHdJpWs4x2RgwUlz9jwhPdg0_vPsI7XMCF-sc1Lw/s1600/IMG_9030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97D7uYQeLoOGxNQAzOGwDCzwqwL80-PrvrIFSA7mWXS_nt52ys9wTv5Ea_iVSoc_NFlaeexYRr17ptppo2cIw813QJMc-4pOs4mjlHdJpWs4x2RgwUlz9jwhPdg0_vPsI7XMCF-sc1Lw/s320/IMG_9030.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="commentBody" data-jsid="text">garlic, onion, green onion, ginger, red chili pepper, red bell pepper, cabbage, 豆干/dòugān (dry tofu?), mirin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I was loosely following a recipe I found in a Chinese vegetarian cookbook. I like the nice, bright colors! (Or is that because of my camera?)<br />
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<b>8 April 2012 Lunch</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8lbwRfw3edB2R2-dAUYgSU6rkzYVKMtluuXpX7tcO_k37q4FCxGdgtGSS_GxAEmR0L-6hm6Quz2Xs1wt96P1BDDXMxnO9yzmy06EZV20YKDVCpDwkCf2v6Mh4Ffd_lt6bDJV-B32z_w/s1600/IMG_9031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl8lbwRfw3edB2R2-dAUYgSU6rkzYVKMtluuXpX7tcO_k37q4FCxGdgtGSS_GxAEmR0L-6hm6Quz2Xs1wt96P1BDDXMxnO9yzmy06EZV20YKDVCpDwkCf2v6Mh4Ffd_lt6bDJV-B32z_w/s320/IMG_9031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">egg, onion, green onion</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7NpccRRRAgQ08d2xTJocyz4cB_MQmvv9szfpt4RJNe4Sa_SlZ4XmNOgy5NOjehoulnUIt9NjqmCr1is7lUU7cz4uZU62v3baRi8eUYd9l6jiBE7SzDnrxLTTgf0OaecnPvvSxnjAP8/s1600/IMG_9032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizb7NpccRRRAgQ08d2xTJocyz4cB_MQmvv9szfpt4RJNe4Sa_SlZ4XmNOgy5NOjehoulnUIt9NjqmCr1is7lUU7cz4uZU62v3baRi8eUYd9l6jiBE7SzDnrxLTTgf0OaecnPvvSxnjAP8/s320/IMG_9032.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">sweet potato, cilantro</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The onion and green onion added to the fried egg was a nice touch! (Would this be considered an omelet?) So was the cilantro added to the steamed sweet potatoes! Yay for spices!<br />
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<b>8 April 2012 Dinner</b><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgI3tpeLpJakhYRVQ5BtLYU5myeiKvLmYdIJvsgXH_DWMe_0lgqqworWGZVJO5v230P-9JUAOBK0DbQKTfq7bcm_mm08vlVsCzpHx5w3_1TRdbCCbU8e39dvspXdo_yy1iM5_vQ8XY8Y/s1600/IMG_9033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEgI3tpeLpJakhYRVQ5BtLYU5myeiKvLmYdIJvsgXH_DWMe_0lgqqworWGZVJO5v230P-9JUAOBK0DbQKTfq7bcm_mm08vlVsCzpHx5w3_1TRdbCCbU8e39dvspXdo_yy1iM5_vQ8XY8Y/s320/IMG_9033.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">red curry paste (shallot, garlic, galangal, lime juice, lemongrass, cilantro seeds, cumin seeds, kaffir lime leaf, red chilli pepper, olive oil), coconut milk, green bean, broccoli, baby corn cob, cilantro, basil, Japanese ramen noodle (I'm typing this list from memory. I have a feeling I forgot something!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
In the morning, I decided I would try a recipe I found for "red curry with cashews" for dinner, so I went out to the Queen Victoria Market to gather all the ingredients. (I couldn't find some, so I left them out.)<br />
<br />
The recipe didn't look so bad, at first. But making it took forever! First, I had to make the red curry paste, which involved a lot of chopping. Then I had to do more chopping. And I cooked some Japanese ramen noodles on the side while doing all the other preparation. This was a bad idea because I couldn't keep track of everything.<br />
<br />
Finally, I had everything ready for stir-frying except the coconut milk. So I took the can of coconut milk and a can opener, and proceeded to open the can. Except I couldn't figure out how to use the can opener! After 10 or so minutes, I realized I was working with the wrong end of the can. So I turned the can upside down and spent another 5 minutes before I figured out the proper angle to hold the can opener. Sigh...<br />
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But everything worked out after that! And I think it turned out well! There were so many different flavors coming from all those ingredients!<br />
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Making the dish took me well over 2 hours! I was super exhausted by the end. I think I need a break from trying out new dishes. Especially if they are all this tiring!<br />
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<b>9 April 2012 Dinner</b><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHoFJr-E13PZrIRsgvMtMwhAkSFLQDTzFODfMiJ2v1Z6mXUWffWoCWfBhCVwtE7Je5nDm6mGtq7a5U47becuU-4QiseO-UyC54i50Sr1FTdvG9Umn4JpdF9u-BsUqRFAFyabR9wo26w8/s1600/IMG_9034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnHoFJr-E13PZrIRsgvMtMwhAkSFLQDTzFODfMiJ2v1Z6mXUWffWoCWfBhCVwtE7Je5nDm6mGtq7a5U47becuU-4QiseO-UyC54i50Sr1FTdvG9Umn4JpdF9u-BsUqRFAFyabR9wo26w8/s320/IMG_9034.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">garlic, green onion, broccoli stalk, carrot, dou gan, cabbage, basil, egg</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Like I said yesterday, I needed a break after that super complicated recipe. Nothing exciting tonight. I'm just trying to get clear out the refrigerator.<br />
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<b>10 April 2012 Dinner</b> <br />
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I'm still in the process of clearing out the refrigerator! I was thinking earlier about what I could do with all the vegetables, and one thing I thought of was: pasta! Except I didn't want to use pre-made tomato sauce, so I attempted to make my own sauce with absolutely no idea how to proceed. What I ended up doing was using a can of tomato paste. The result was nice, but nothing like tomato sauce that I am used to.<br />
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<b>12 April 2012 Dinner</b> <br />
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More tomatoes! This time, I used a can of diced tomatoes instead. And I added a bunch of spices in an attempt to make a tomato and egg curry.<br />
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<b>15 April 2012 Lunch</b><br />
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Before break started, I was looking online one day for ideas with fried rice, and found one that used pineapple! When I saw the pictures, I knew I had to try something like that, so I'm glad I was able to get to it on the last day of my break.<br />
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I even did the whole pineapple-bowl thing, which was lots of fun!<br />
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The dish turned out super sweet!<br />
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<b>15 April 2012 Dinner</b><br />
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Some fried quinoa here. Nothing super exciting really; I'm just trying to clear out the refrigerator some more. I had some leftover "red curry paste" (in quotes, because I don't think it turned out correctly!) which I had made for an earlier dish, so I decided to throw some of that in.<br />
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And that ends my Easter break cooking spree. I wish the ending was a bit more exciting.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-26942545872967407842012-04-15T21:47:00.002+10:002012-05-04T21:45:03.406+10:00End of Easter break already?I can't believe it's already Sunday night (9:50pm local time). How did my Easter break pass by so quickly? Did I even get anything done?<br />
<br />
Looking back at the past week, I've spent a lot of time at the university library working on two papers, one due this Wednesday and the other due next Monday. That was not so exciting. And this is my first time writing a university-level history paper and a philosophy paper (at any level!), so I experienced a lot more frustration and confusion than I would have liked.<br />
<br />
Other than passing hours in the library, I did spend some time outside enjoying the nice weather... when there actually was nice weather! The first few days and last few days were all sunny and warm. However, in the middle, it became super super freezing, and it rained for a few days. The break started off feeling like summer, then all of sudden it became winter, and now it's summer again. But it's actually supposed to be fall now! Melbourne weather sure is crazy!<br />
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I did spend Saturday afternoon at the Melbourne Central food court hanging out with some other cubers!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw5n-SWxiinx1uK0dMh74pWIsWKwSobOGr5IyOHMu8lZXms3ruEYm4IuqOa-Ue_BkRYSbBYD0EFW5KyoPWNtLUz5AL6AVZqPddDn2FxTcxT12uOT639JOhyLGuZPTjeSCv3kyp-98fs4/s1600/IMG_9041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIw5n-SWxiinx1uK0dMh74pWIsWKwSobOGr5IyOHMu8lZXms3ruEYm4IuqOa-Ue_BkRYSbBYD0EFW5KyoPWNtLUz5AL6AVZqPddDn2FxTcxT12uOT639JOhyLGuZPTjeSCv3kyp-98fs4/s320/IMG_9041.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everyone sure looks happy! (I took the picture after most cubers left. There were a lot more cubers there than this!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Oooh, I also did a lot of cooking! But I should probably save that for another entry. (Coming soon! Except I should work on my papers...)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-40992920250337194062012-04-07T13:10:00.001+10:002012-04-07T13:10:54.376+10:00More cooking!Thanks for everyone's support on my first blog entry on cooking! It's really encouraging! Here are some more pictures of dishes I came up with, mostly by mixing random things together. Hopefully I'm getting better?<br />
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Now that I am on Easter break, I plan to spend more time cooking and learning how spices and sauces and seasoning and everything else works, so that I won't have plain vegetables all the time. So maybe the next cooking entry will be better. (Or maybe not!)<br />
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<b>24 March 2012 </b><br />
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Butternut squash! (Or here, they call it "butternut pumpkin.") I had
never tried this until I went to Princeton, and I loved it so much that
when I saw it at Costco back home, I asked my mom to buy some!<br />
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<b>25 March 2012 Lunch</b><br />
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Butternut squash noodle soup! With an egg added! I think I am getting better at varying things!<br />
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<b>25 March 2012 Dinner</b><br />
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Between lunch and dinner, I biked to the Queen Victoria Market, and bought some fruits and vegetables. Among other things, I bought some cabbage and sweet potatoes!<br />
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<b>31 March 2012 Lunch</b><br />
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I only used half of the sweet potatoes the previous time, so I tried to steam the rest. First time using a steamer! <br />
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<b>31 March 2012 Dinner</b><br />
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<br />
I visited an Asian supermarket between lunch and dinner, and saw Japanese ramen noodles with "great for stir-fry" on the packaging. How could I not buy that? I mixed the noodles with celery, red bell pepper (or "red capsicum" as it's called here), carrots, mushrooms, and... what is all that tiny mushy white stuff? Tofu! I didn't intend for it to become like that, but I liked how it turned out!<br />
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<b>1 April 2012 Lunch </b><br />
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Fried rice! (Except it's kind of moist.) And I used up the remaining tofu. Not surprisingly, it ended up in the same condition as the previous time.<br />
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<b>3 April 2012</b><br />
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Quinoa with some vegetables!<br />
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<b>5 April 2012</b><br />
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I decided to try cooking some sweet potato in the same pot as the rice. I think it turned out nicely! I also tried to fry an egg, and it mostly stayed in one piece! (It was very dry though.)<br />
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<b>6 April 2012</b><br />
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I used the same cabbage from a few days ago! And there's still a bunch remaining. Ahh! I'll be eating lots of cabbage in the next few days! (And I only bought a quarter of a cabbage too!)<br />
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Also, I don't know if they're very visible, but I started off cooking with some cumin seeds! Trying to spice things up, literally! The seeds starting popping up from the pan like firecrackers, which kind of scared me, but I learned that it's actually normal for that happen.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-39545423950069616962012-04-06T21:59:00.002+10:002012-04-08T13:54:11.520+10:00Good Friday!Wow! I'm surprised that I "survived" Good Friday! Here in Melbourne, nearly <i>everything</i> was closed! My parents were surprised when I told them that, and people here are surprised when I tell that Good Friday isn't that big in America.<br />
<br />
Anyways, I'm on Easter break! Today was the first day, and I have the entire next week off! I can see myself doing a bunch of work on assignments due right after break. I guess that is part of university life...<br />
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But I'm also planning to spend more time cooking, so that all my dishes don't look the same. Which reminds me, I have plenty new cooking pictures that I need to put up!<br />
<br />
Since everything was closed today, I spent some time at a park doing some reading for my ethical theory class. I also decided to go for a run. I ran down <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smith_Street,_Melbourne">Smith Street</a> and up <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brunswick_Street,_Melbourne">Brunswick Street</a>, two big shopping centers in the area, and saw for myself that everything was closed. Well, everything except for a few restaurants, bars, small grocery stores, and... a bookstore!<br />
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Yesterday, while I was on campus, there were some Easter-related events.<br />
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Some of Melbourne Uni's Christian clubs were giving out hot cross buns. I had no idea what they were until yesterday! I thought "hot cross buns" was just a song! But now I know that people eat these on Good Friday. Except I'm still not quite sure why...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qDuSnP3WeS9b2Qm-H7itb4ggF0wUSaMVKAzN8o_PsbSwR5pG7h7tN3DXgKDQDFuhrZ65_gN4C7t4h5W53nIicDLQMPvLdrm5XAFaJY5CgUF-EJULoRMLhDxsW3CsU7Vt-r-QvPQno3A/s1600/IMG_9018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0qDuSnP3WeS9b2Qm-H7itb4ggF0wUSaMVKAzN8o_PsbSwR5pG7h7tN3DXgKDQDFuhrZ65_gN4C7t4h5W53nIicDLQMPvLdrm5XAFaJY5CgUF-EJULoRMLhDxsW3CsU7Vt-r-QvPQno3A/s320/IMG_9018.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They had boxes and boxes of these!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also, the Student Union Environment Department (the word "department" is used differently here), organized an Easter egg hunt, with "Easter egg" replaced by "water fountain"! They gave out a list of questions, and we went around campus looking for all the different water fountains, which contained the answers to the questions! The message that the Environment Department was trying to tell us was: bottled water is bad bad bad. In the end, I got a chocolate egg and a water bottle. Yay, environmental awareness!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nA4WChb1_BXyooRouJQgdlGO3j0lbJi6tgdn94CibCf3IQj8NAAflN_qUas6BW2VaR5kQbfjyMDmXgZVYeyMr3NAkYs2g_pRjsM1xmuN81MkYbqVvPRHLQOFc1XxVERp3JWPhF9fqiE/s1600/IMG_9016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4nA4WChb1_BXyooRouJQgdlGO3j0lbJi6tgdn94CibCf3IQj8NAAflN_qUas6BW2VaR5kQbfjyMDmXgZVYeyMr3NAkYs2g_pRjsM1xmuN81MkYbqVvPRHLQOFc1XxVERp3JWPhF9fqiE/s320/IMG_9016.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's me with Ruthi, one of the leaders of the Environment Department.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-59292526200152440502012-03-30T22:02:00.000+11:002012-04-08T13:54:02.233+10:00After the MUOSS Night Market...As nice as the Night Market was, I don't think I'll remember the market itself as much as the little mis-adventure that happened afterwards. I should provide some background information. The night market started around 6pm, and I went there with Tommy, who I met from Melbourne Welcome, and some of his friends. Tommy lives in Trinity College, one of the residential colleges on campus. Before we all headed over to the market, he let me leave my backpack in his room. I didn't want to carry my big backpack around the market since I expected it to be very crowded.<br />
<br />
And the market was indeed very crowded. We went around checking all the stalls together, but during one of the times that I was being silly and taking a picture, the others disappeared! Luckily, I ran into them some time later around the Indonesian booth. But then we decided to split off to buy different things. <br />
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After I finished eating the two things that I bought, it was already 7:30. I started to look for the others. Not only did I want to find them, I had to, since my backpack was in Tommy's room. I went around the booths once. No sign. I went around again. Still nothing. So I went around and around and in different directions. After the sun went down, it became extremely hard to identify people, even those that were right next to me. But I kept on searching. After 30 minutes or so, I started to become really worried. This was not looking good! <br />
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If you're wondering why I didn't just call them, it's because... well, I left my phone in my backpack, which I left in Tommy's room! Argh!! I felt so so so stupid for doing that. Why couldn't I just carry my phone around with me like most people?<br />
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As time passed, I felt less and less likely to find them at the market. But eventually I gave up. I thought of two things I could do: I could try to contact Tommy through the internet, or I could go look for Tommy at Trinity.<br />
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So I ran (literally!) to the library to try to contact Tommy through the internet. That was unsuccessful. I was tired from running, so I walked over to Trinity. Once I was inside, I started looking for people, so I could ask them "Do you know a Tommy?". Normally, I would not feel comfortable going around doing something like this, but I was super desperate! It was late and there weren't many people outside. The first person I asked didn't know Tommy, but he was nice and took me into the building to his room. Tommy wasn't inside.<br />
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There was no one else around outside. I walked around the area, looking inside buildings for people to ask. Then I ran into two girls on their way to the library in Trinity.<br />
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"Excuse me, do you know a Tommy?"<br />
"Tommy Chiu?"<br />
"YES!!!!! Would you happen to have his number?"<br />
"Yeah."<br />
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Wow! I could not believe how lucky I was! During this time, they seemed pretty amused, and they explained to me why: When they first saw me approaching them, they thought I was Tommy! (Apparently, we look alike?) But when I started talking, it became obvious that I wasn't Tommy. But I asked about Tommy!<br />
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Anyways, we called Tommy. I had been worried that he had also been looking for me all this time. (If he had been looking for me, I would have felt that I was wasting his time.) But it turned out that he had been watching the performances. (I had gone over and checked the audience so many times! How did I miss him?) He came over to Trinity, and everything was good again!<br />
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That was a tiring night, so after picking up my backpack, and apologizing over and over again, I went straight home and showered and went to bed.<br />
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Unfortunately, I didn't take any pictures during that time. Not surprisingly, I wasn't quite in the mood for pictures when I was panicking at the market. In the future, if something similar happens, I need to tell myself "Don't worry! You'll get through this! And you should take some pictures right now in case this ends up being worth writing about!"<br />
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Well, here's a picture. It's of me and Tommy at the formal dinner at Melbourne Welcome. Do we really look the same?<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAdJcstxfXeOwf9iGV1WBgCfGW8d90sS5hERRwnpd-fHe7sgjyYyYlYzCWrAANH6QCGHgaqkYIsB6zvAFt_feFB8QZ0wm4GU00CQETF9svF1sBcagG0sF6rZXO8lsjVMQFHPD6j8v2bc/s1600/423492_10151303415625393_792445392_23291265_49625123_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIAdJcstxfXeOwf9iGV1WBgCfGW8d90sS5hERRwnpd-fHe7sgjyYyYlYzCWrAANH6QCGHgaqkYIsB6zvAFt_feFB8QZ0wm4GU00CQETF9svF1sBcagG0sF6rZXO8lsjVMQFHPD6j8v2bc/s320/423492_10151303415625393_792445392_23291265_49625123_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-57663024624582030072012-03-30T21:27:00.000+11:002012-04-01T21:28:31.596+10:00Two events by the Melbourne University Overseas Student ServiceThis week, the Melbourne University Overseas Student Service (MUOSS) hosted two events on campus. The first one was the Student Experience Fair on Tuesday, and the second was the Night Market on Thursday.<br />
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The main goal of the fair was to let students know of the different services offered by the university.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPPl3QE3XjR3P4l3691KBmf1fdfA-ipW-Eu3daDotFw5_J5eouCsvPDOmjTDfMZ-UhM6rWteotaYFtaiym00q05ZgbgBzeCpUOqAR1QRHsBlUsO9O8deKI3IyT3-Ea_Wy40lSrvCZ4Y0/s1600/IMG_8939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLPPl3QE3XjR3P4l3691KBmf1fdfA-ipW-Eu3daDotFw5_J5eouCsvPDOmjTDfMZ-UhM6rWteotaYFtaiym00q05ZgbgBzeCpUOqAR1QRHsBlUsO9O8deKI3IyT3-Ea_Wy40lSrvCZ4Y0/s320/IMG_8939.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were booths set up by the different departments.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaW96mkuA1UECHlowcl5DICy9lfc4jxt1lFKv30PVFtSb6X5iP7ivJ7irV0vekghtQkC-F7QjxhaefBllrzyWrJnjyZRmNFgjyKjN7XrHUq3LGXShY_Ou874m6LxpP1w9-XaKpt4oA50/s1600/IMG_8943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYaW96mkuA1UECHlowcl5DICy9lfc4jxt1lFKv30PVFtSb6X5iP7ivJ7irV0vekghtQkC-F7QjxhaefBllrzyWrJnjyZRmNFgjyKjN7XrHUq3LGXShY_Ou874m6LxpP1w9-XaKpt4oA50/s320/IMG_8943.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmm... I wonder what this long line is for.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv2qYRqH12CwefMf-t5r1rvsRR1v0kzcFeCVFwGEroKeNMIGZan_NXwHLXiW1cbQNmCtm_UHdyvvcq7uXXvEQgAhSNJ4Ji4-Dt5rNiZzDAg0RdLU_kSKpzftNxesLuTuX0EsBsO-7BPw/s1600/IMG_8946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXv2qYRqH12CwefMf-t5r1rvsRR1v0kzcFeCVFwGEroKeNMIGZan_NXwHLXiW1cbQNmCtm_UHdyvvcq7uXXvEQgAhSNJ4Ji4-Dt5rNiZzDAg0RdLU_kSKpzftNxesLuTuX0EsBsO-7BPw/s320/IMG_8946.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aha! They're giving out free twist potatoes! (Remember these from the <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/visiting-night-market.html">Suzuki Night Market</a>?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AiNx68tCFdihp23PxujVIf3ATK4Suc_55kzJ4hJhhAbWESJs-5MtozEeefMJIqfD7djuwoHS-CbSlUeJaLj1yRhf2yL1HwdyrssYUFGUT0uzMjCF1KRy1QY5qsIr51vBBRtiPei5myw/s1600/IMG_8947.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2AiNx68tCFdihp23PxujVIf3ATK4Suc_55kzJ4hJhhAbWESJs-5MtozEeefMJIqfD7djuwoHS-CbSlUeJaLj1yRhf2yL1HwdyrssYUFGUT0uzMjCF1KRy1QY5qsIr51vBBRtiPei5myw/s320/IMG_8947.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Free Red Bull! But I didn't take any because energy drinks scare me</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U1m4TH1Y8Sp_0AAsDPklgkBHybFH-pDijg7eulZU7L7dn9FXQoua-kVgMxF1zfEiupRIDS7RzbrImaehvkC5UbuMTGkWXp-ECFdFfxddd0tFZR7NMsJK7ImUy9zzg2NziDmjDBk_yK8/s1600/IMG_8951.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1U1m4TH1Y8Sp_0AAsDPklgkBHybFH-pDijg7eulZU7L7dn9FXQoua-kVgMxF1zfEiupRIDS7RzbrImaehvkC5UbuMTGkWXp-ECFdFfxddd0tFZR7NMsJK7ImUy9zzg2NziDmjDBk_yK8/s320/IMG_8951.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was also free cotton candy! (An Australian would actually call it "fairy floss"!)</td></tr>
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No, I did not stand in line to consume all that sugar! I went to the front of the line, and asked the person making them and to let me take a picture with one. Then I handed the fairy floss off to the student at the front of the line, who probably thought I was crazy.<br />
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Anyways, Thursday night was the Night Market. A lot of the student clubs performed and others sold food! There was a nice variety of cultures represented!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMWNF0lNLtNO-XSxDOhVJM7rHsNFmapOpODruh2Y_bij3PuSS0BuXuru-mRVGMyCB5zJxroe-Xvqx76lPpVK9kqDUV_hDRvb5Oz4-OqwpFz3R6T16zOmoHObFuJGsSXmioilC0UUsqpQ/s1600/IMG_8959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGMWNF0lNLtNO-XSxDOhVJM7rHsNFmapOpODruh2Y_bij3PuSS0BuXuru-mRVGMyCB5zJxroe-Xvqx76lPpVK9kqDUV_hDRvb5Oz4-OqwpFz3R6T16zOmoHObFuJGsSXmioilC0UUsqpQ/s320/IMG_8959.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the banner in front of all the tents!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-uzSHCBkT6GiSSwaEtv3JttECjlPxTdKcjaMzPfpLZVbOosejW_wSDod3Yp97fnxYuUO4LOfIxNjF1bKwiuV0nwJYMX5bYUflpIHE-XItUUqq_G2zpXBlfgFqQe6haC0-YzJ7NEjer0/s1600/IMG_8963.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW-uzSHCBkT6GiSSwaEtv3JttECjlPxTdKcjaMzPfpLZVbOosejW_wSDod3Yp97fnxYuUO4LOfIxNjF1bKwiuV0nwJYMX5bYUflpIHE-XItUUqq_G2zpXBlfgFqQe6haC0-YzJ7NEjer0/s320/IMG_8963.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many food booths and so many people!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89kPtKMqcY1Beu2rO9uGlUhwtN6dX4pB4RFdF0pO469_RlwqumTGNzGTVa2Y64QunW0qRke79PD3bhho9aTW79e5yylKjzTQKO40dngmJv9c0wF8b5z6xY0r4e2utgEboKBjDIAojkck/s1600/IMG_8961.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg89kPtKMqcY1Beu2rO9uGlUhwtN6dX4pB4RFdF0pO469_RlwqumTGNzGTVa2Y64QunW0qRke79PD3bhho9aTW79e5yylKjzTQKO40dngmJv9c0wF8b5z6xY0r4e2utgEboKBjDIAojkck/s320/IMG_8961.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taiwanese Student Association!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIs5mgoAq_noHvNRWrcCCjuiTS-pOENXhIbK3MioU9V-giJHoCuH9vLtNY3gKEXOA2IfsWcEX0Ol2ZpzMa6aEsH7JTwPjGyoYF77cKDEsDcvtSXdrdwTf97pq2xEYqTVD2RnndOCIAx8/s1600/IMG_8964.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrIs5mgoAq_noHvNRWrcCCjuiTS-pOENXhIbK3MioU9V-giJHoCuH9vLtNY3gKEXOA2IfsWcEX0Ol2ZpzMa6aEsH7JTwPjGyoYF77cKDEsDcvtSXdrdwTf97pq2xEYqTVD2RnndOCIAx8/s320/IMG_8964.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I think my picture with the Korean booth turned out well!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9udwbxn8mEitm_XSVTDQRtjyez9ppFLztvGlMpkOpEdMpY3LJjTQ0ZkaiJopd1fApoFO1pirQzEE3vIvSW8YdJK02ai46aV0IW7K4V2dzF4NlIs_LJn_oNKIIggyCF0zc7k-prLXFgo/s1600/IMG_8968.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF9udwbxn8mEitm_XSVTDQRtjyez9ppFLztvGlMpkOpEdMpY3LJjTQ0ZkaiJopd1fApoFO1pirQzEE3vIvSW8YdJK02ai46aV0IW7K4V2dzF4NlIs_LJn_oNKIIggyCF0zc7k-prLXFgo/s320/IMG_8968.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">As you can see by this example (Vietnam), pretty much everything at the market has meet in it. Hmmm...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL_pWoI7RHMCN523PSSbMjdVWqGt8fk1QhDs1Byd6keXX2dmdc0jMFmOrQj52i9_0DSOHfhy7Q2zIXbM1gPW2hshW3wdZRfsZHRS5qOk8dZp4giahQyp_tw9TGTH9JM0_IEo4EE9e3vc/s1600/IMG_8969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilL_pWoI7RHMCN523PSSbMjdVWqGt8fk1QhDs1Byd6keXX2dmdc0jMFmOrQj52i9_0DSOHfhy7Q2zIXbM1gPW2hshW3wdZRfsZHRS5qOk8dZp4giahQyp_tw9TGTH9JM0_IEo4EE9e3vc/s320/IMG_8969.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Indonesian club had something vegetarian though!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89bgPXFfLpuIXutXA2CayvZWYoXCwzLg9NBzU-_Smvm8s43CrlseAteUm6kleVN-o2F0Mr1-BIlGz-cUh_1AmgjUJ2O4fT4Cfs2zjCnt0XvPmUi_DhjVaNTYlDWjUXl9qYWINb46Lylw/s1600/IMG_8970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89bgPXFfLpuIXutXA2CayvZWYoXCwzLg9NBzU-_Smvm8s43CrlseAteUm6kleVN-o2F0Mr1-BIlGz-cUh_1AmgjUJ2O4fT4Cfs2zjCnt0XvPmUi_DhjVaNTYlDWjUXl9qYWINb46Lylw/s320/IMG_8970.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tahu isi - fried tofu stuffed with vegetables!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0E4uFqbWkBBfI-uUV7W3hTx3zRuX8ZfJgBLL_2h7BZujj0jdFKChr3_N49d50sogcnc16snAceQ-X4jrOad7BuJpfFJr5jeB7FwiG7YK_mOy7tcVpYUA3aQBYVCIf49kSKgPlgTXOOI/s1600/IMG_8973.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0E4uFqbWkBBfI-uUV7W3hTx3zRuX8ZfJgBLL_2h7BZujj0jdFKChr3_N49d50sogcnc16snAceQ-X4jrOad7BuJpfFJr5jeB7FwiG7YK_mOy7tcVpYUA3aQBYVCIf49kSKgPlgTXOOI/s320/IMG_8973.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yikes! Here's the wrapper after I finished eating the tofu. I'm not sure why I am smiling...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosa3dRt4Q1jBbb5xjQ_g8ffZDBiM3L8R0UXFn0f-TI3sm52uzOHBGH8t7JF9aC1pYk3QzjW8ls4EohPJOoAPSFMaqTS4j0QS_uFhgLynkwNGQjohkKM6T7rBHWCyPoI07rMkTeA0DPU0/s1600/IMG_8974.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjosa3dRt4Q1jBbb5xjQ_g8ffZDBiM3L8R0UXFn0f-TI3sm52uzOHBGH8t7JF9aC1pYk3QzjW8ls4EohPJOoAPSFMaqTS4j0QS_uFhgLynkwNGQjohkKM6T7rBHWCyPoI07rMkTeA0DPU0/s320/IMG_8974.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So much deep frying was going on at the night market! But look! What's inside that pot?</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz7ApFCac0apUNX8BPX8km-nfNCAOPNfQVhBC5BqRFf4w408PtCVag5SFHcOGFbYy58EGAJ3kfPo6yiDW9WszyO6CSgPHArJDC7nD_EuN-3xSXjJYMz5VwbfftbGvy_ExrMwLEMTh2-I/s1600/IMG_8979.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibz7ApFCac0apUNX8BPX8km-nfNCAOPNfQVhBC5BqRFf4w408PtCVag5SFHcOGFbYy58EGAJ3kfPo6yiDW9WszyO6CSgPHArJDC7nD_EuN-3xSXjJYMz5VwbfftbGvy_ExrMwLEMTh2-I/s320/IMG_8979.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herbal tea egg! (cha ye dan)</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHLBuxdYtQEM3VHmQVuzyrY0Q2j0URXSvYQ8DuNec94o8-r0gdeChfKe3f8tFGYJcWZ7Iry4P5aTDV8fWszAbtc_xuu7UIEpHouoyy8DFkRwzkF41ZEA2ncsjW4QSVXuybjUD7GKNU4k/s1600/IMG_8981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivHLBuxdYtQEM3VHmQVuzyrY0Q2j0URXSvYQ8DuNec94o8-r0gdeChfKe3f8tFGYJcWZ7Iry4P5aTDV8fWszAbtc_xuu7UIEpHouoyy8DFkRwzkF41ZEA2ncsjW4QSVXuybjUD7GKNU4k/s320/IMG_8981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Performances lasted throughout the night.</td></tr>
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I ended up only getting the tofu and the egg at the Night Market. There simply wasn't many vegetarian options available. But also, watching the clubs prepare the food also scared me a bit. Maybe watching something being deep fried can make certain people really hungry, but it has the opposite effect for me. Also, I was about to get a cup of sweet potato and tangyuan soup, until I watched the people put a huge block of sugar into the pot. Ahh!<br />
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I still had a lot of fun walking around and exploring though! But actually, it turns out the most exciting part of the night wasn't everything I've just shown. I don't think it's fitting to talk about that here, at the end of this entry, so time for another post!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-18568557819156989202012-03-22T21:31:00.004+11:002012-03-22T21:31:48.072+11:00Initial attempts at cookingWhen I was sorting out my living arrangements for this semester, I ended up making the fateful decision to cook for myself, despite having no experience with cooking.<br />
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My very first attempt at cooking something on a stove here was an "egg with tomato" dish. Originally, I wanted the egg to be in one piece, but it just kept breaking apart. (I probably shouldn't have prodded it so much with the spatula.) In the end it was a big mess, consisting of tiny chunks of tomato mixed with even smaller pieces of egg. And I didn't know how to tell when the egg was done. I was well aware that it was not a good idea to eat raw eggs, so I probably overcooked the egg by a lot.<br />
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When I first came here, I did have the idea of taking a picture of everything that I cook, but I was feeling so discouraged and embarrassed after this first attempt that I didn't take a picture. (I didn't even mention what had happened to me before I even started cooking: while lighting the gas stove with a match, I burnt my thumb nail!) I didn't take pictures of the next few dishes either, which consisted mostly of stir-fry vegetables. Not taking pictures of any of these is quite a regrettable decision.<br />
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Here are the pictures that I do have. Before moving on to them, I should give a warning: When people usually write about food and include photos, those photos probably contain food that looks super delicious. But when you see these, I highly doubt you will think "Wow! I wish I could try that!" (But maybe my photos will for some people! I'll keep my fingers crossed!)<br />
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I should also talk about how these dishes ended up tasting. Being the overly health conscious person that I am, I didn't add any salt, pepper, spices, or other seasoning to these dishes. People might say that these dishes have no taste, which confuses me a little. Don't vegetables have taste on their own?<br />
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<b>4 March 2012</b><br />
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Here were some vegetables with a little bit of lentils on the side. I don't know what I did, but the lentils turned into mush!<br />
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<b>10 March 2012</b><br />
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Some more vegetables, but with rice this time. I started with around half a cup of uncooked rice. I didn't know it would turn into this much!<br />
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<b>11 March 2012</b><br />
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Cooking with tofu for the first time! (I got it at a local health food store. There's no Asian supermarket within walking distance.) I didn't end up with too much rice this time!<br />
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<b>14 March 2012</b><br />
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Ever since I became acquainted with tempeh at Princeton, I've always been fascinated with it for some reason. I could never find it at any of the supermarkets back in California, but I found it here at the health food store. Cooking with baby bok choy makes me feel Asian!<br />
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<b>15 March 2012</b><br />
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I was finishing up the rest of the tempeh. I also cut up an entire eggplant, so I ended up with more than I could eat in one meal. (Note the pot to the left of the pan. I was using it to cook the rice. I always add too much water to the rice, which I have to pour out at the end. It's better than not adding enough water though.)<br />
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<b>17 March 2012</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVFV-9i2mOutT-n9rBBZWowyBFm0K6KA7MUuXQ5jqqoZWFp-4DG5XxRrddugkM044ZAzqZ9Biq9wXv-eMguS17uX_1O814vGOEDbBMq2zI2FYQBg4wyMtQ6lTjd67gn3pRbjnwG9s5fI/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVFV-9i2mOutT-n9rBBZWowyBFm0K6KA7MUuXQ5jqqoZWFp-4DG5XxRrddugkM044ZAzqZ9Biq9wXv-eMguS17uX_1O814vGOEDbBMq2zI2FYQBg4wyMtQ6lTjd67gn3pRbjnwG9s5fI/s320/IMG_8876.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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I took the leftovers from the previous photo and made a noodle soup. My mom did this so often back home, and I always loved how the noodle soups turned out. So I knew I had to try that here! And I liked it, so now I know what to do with leftovers! (I got the noodles at an Asian supermarket I found during <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/03/visit-to-city-centre.html">my exploration of the city centre</a>.)<br />
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<b>18 March 2012</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpaskFwlLdIhCSAvlSgrwCb-SXQRqa11rRUplHjyQRdBaxC-gOnddHxw5cra3PEZlabYY5M5rpo48Gw27nqDA7aoI3kQSS-iMsISOg73tImNLEvJPpjZs18VeK90O9qflVk5kuwIg09w/s1600/IMG_8879.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIpaskFwlLdIhCSAvlSgrwCb-SXQRqa11rRUplHjyQRdBaxC-gOnddHxw5cra3PEZlabYY5M5rpo48Gw27nqDA7aoI3kQSS-iMsISOg73tImNLEvJPpjZs18VeK90O9qflVk5kuwIg09w/s320/IMG_8879.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here, I tried to cook with a type of tofu called dou gan. It's drier than regular tofu. I like how the carrots make this dish look brighter and more colorful!<br />
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<b>20 March 2012</b><br />
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Surprise! Leftovers turned into noodle soup!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-85664712349342791852012-03-17T22:08:00.000+11:002012-03-18T12:52:02.704+11:00A visit to the city centre(Warning: This is a very long post with a lot of silly pictures!)<br />
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I can't believe that I've completed three weeks of classes already. Time here sure is passing by quickly! I probably should write about how things are going at the university, but that will have to be put aside for another blog. Right now, I want to talk about the stuff that happened today (Saturday, 17 March 2012).<br />
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Hmm... so where to begin. I got up around 5:30am today, probably because I needed to use the toilet. (I've been getting used to saying "use the toilet" here instead of "use the bathroom"!) Naturally, I tried to go back to sleep. (Even though I do tend to get up early, I don't usually get up <i>that</i> early.) I couldn't fall asleep though. My brain just kept drifting through different thoughts. At some point, I was thinking about a math problem posed by the Maths and Stats Society at Melbourne Uni that I had been stuck on. And somehow I solved it! I guess my brain didn't want to go to sleep. It wanted to solve math problems...<br />
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Sorry, I thought that was kind of interesting to share. I'm not going to go into so much detail in the rest of this entry. I'll focus on the afternoon, when I decided to go and explore the city centre, also known as "the CBD" ("central business district").<br />
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It was a nice and sunny Saturday, which made it the perfect time to walk around. There have been some places in the CBD that I wanted to visit for some time now, so why not today? I made up my mind and left to house to do some exploring!<br />
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But wait! I said it was "a nice and <i>sunny</i> Saturday." This meant I should use some sun protection first!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8B_1Ml7v2UVIoxE-x0joUKxXrjLlc4w7Bf87YVy9dUn8TcE5wkI_lyZUXzXJF_GEDfEXaGtsd6iYmc4KPKRnT0tHuCDmWLd-GVgYYDyPXxD9nhdsoTMCMtBmqjznKGKviwqEkqekjw4/s1600/IMG_8768.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8B_1Ml7v2UVIoxE-x0joUKxXrjLlc4w7Bf87YVy9dUn8TcE5wkI_lyZUXzXJF_GEDfEXaGtsd6iYmc4KPKRnT0tHuCDmWLd-GVgYYDyPXxD9nhdsoTMCMtBmqjznKGKviwqEkqekjw4/s320/IMG_8768.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat!</td></tr>
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I live in Collingwood, which is an inner city suburb. There's a tram stop about five minutes away from where I'm staying that goes straight into the city centre!<br />
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When I got to the tram stop, the tram had just arrived, so I quickly hopped on. I wanted to take a picture of the tram arriving, but it would become a picture of the tram leaving me stranded!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYshsNdgL_Lshj04FIBmk3Hx_F_LA8VzUB7BmQmjYbK_dLqbd0J3-CRIlE-vRvvCCyCH5KpZYNS3JNL1ZqlsYbIkOHfG4nW1h8g3PG1f6Nly9N5lI4EAhwFEyAHkyMLZN2esg9k8tZ2vQ/s1600/IMG_8769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYshsNdgL_Lshj04FIBmk3Hx_F_LA8VzUB7BmQmjYbK_dLqbd0J3-CRIlE-vRvvCCyCH5KpZYNS3JNL1ZqlsYbIkOHfG4nW1h8g3PG1f6Nly9N5lI4EAhwFEyAHkyMLZN2esg9k8tZ2vQ/s320/IMG_8769.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made it just in time!</td></tr>
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20 minutes later, I got off at a stop inside the CBD. (I know the time it took because of the timestamps on my photos!)<br />
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Without having to walk very far, I came across some people pretending to be statues.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuR-xSrI8KpI9rSLfOPelELLAViPCr7IQ0_EfKU6kG7vNN-1VI_e53Ur8CSjkW9w7m0-CqIjGBvFDRiFYEz90Gp5RS2wXRZiNB-r65ruM0kA3xnTL8sUSN6rFg-MCBZAiWwZQFNHjcyw/s1600/IMG_8774.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHuR-xSrI8KpI9rSLfOPelELLAViPCr7IQ0_EfKU6kG7vNN-1VI_e53Ur8CSjkW9w7m0-CqIjGBvFDRiFYEz90Gp5RS2wXRZiNB-r65ruM0kA3xnTL8sUSN6rFg-MCBZAiWwZQFNHjcyw/s320/IMG_8774.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This reminds me of when I was in the Boston Commons!</td></tr>
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<b>Stop 1: David Jones</b> <br />
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My first destination was a place called David Jones. I heard that there was an section with American products, so I went to see what they had in stock! (I wonder if homesick Americans go there!)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13atF14KT_iPS1cSI3qqQGAlXoDd43-4dQ1DFLIq8aL9dGIfbGKrHp6YVEen_7xtk38zB9lH6BhJ8oAWyyffUC23SKPan34GznuH-T1QYDmkQP1Cx-wmXWtUumN88JLOpcdC5kTmYRno/s1600/IMG_8777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh13atF14KT_iPS1cSI3qqQGAlXoDd43-4dQ1DFLIq8aL9dGIfbGKrHp6YVEen_7xtk38zB9lH6BhJ8oAWyyffUC23SKPan34GznuH-T1QYDmkQP1Cx-wmXWtUumN88JLOpcdC5kTmYRno/s320/IMG_8777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You could not miss the place! It was a huge department store!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VbtmlpNxp0GO19gfBQQIB06c1_S9IJ4vE_JAGXBCZQw8OChAfDyeOIWmNCcS-4xQ3wJ-rKiYLAzUfSceIvZ9v1W7XPLUKnTY4N_cSfWCX_oBqBynDNqeZqx6F9-imLD4rfuS22K9658/s1600/IMG_8791.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3VbtmlpNxp0GO19gfBQQIB06c1_S9IJ4vE_JAGXBCZQw8OChAfDyeOIWmNCcS-4xQ3wJ-rKiYLAzUfSceIvZ9v1W7XPLUKnTY4N_cSfWCX_oBqBynDNqeZqx6F9-imLD4rfuS22K9658/s320/IMG_8791.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found some American Cheerios!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENAA-qDonxqyaUNjF3dVmZH536rnriL-VvK3n-Ysnh7YlfdLvKCm7LLGpJqLe9PP2SU0dsXqsDWRrad11Xw_w9_PRDbCT_YncwueSPxbbSoAZX1YVXxmR4cRtvadzaxZJYhLdvm8om3c/s1600/IMG_8784.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgENAA-qDonxqyaUNjF3dVmZH536rnriL-VvK3n-Ysnh7YlfdLvKCm7LLGpJqLe9PP2SU0dsXqsDWRrad11Xw_w9_PRDbCT_YncwueSPxbbSoAZX1YVXxmR4cRtvadzaxZJYhLdvm8om3c/s320/IMG_8784.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What?!?! Does it really cost $16.95?</td></tr>
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There are in fact Cheerios in regular Australian stores (although they're packaging looks different). If they wanted to sell breakfast cereal at crazy prices, shouldn't they choose ones that didn't exist in Australia? One example is Rice Chex. As anyone in the "Princeton morning breakfast group" can guess, I've been missing Rice Chex so much since I came here! <br />
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But as it turns out, David Jones only stocked Cheerios!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDum424YqLzUQu7YBA1tRShQ8-nxvb_ScVf388X6B_8Zfd6I1qhLlx2NqaJDdnK0xpV9rIN0g20veKZr2XSM2S5LLpimCYMGF8WYt_XeAHyLIEVlQy5VomKddlwaFCv2FNSURWHlQSRk0/s1600/IMG_8780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDum424YqLzUQu7YBA1tRShQ8-nxvb_ScVf388X6B_8Zfd6I1qhLlx2NqaJDdnK0xpV9rIN0g20veKZr2XSM2S5LLpimCYMGF8WYt_XeAHyLIEVlQy5VomKddlwaFCv2FNSURWHlQSRk0/s320/IMG_8780.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">No Rice Chex in sight!</td></tr>
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<span id="goog_1207385487"></span><span id="goog_1207385488"></span>Off I went, kind of confused. Along the way to my next destination, I passed by the Vietnamese restaurant I went to on my first day here, so I had to stop for a picture!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypwUCVPQ-qWYt7359cnhu2GSx2qDXGSFngjUIEvaN4hqiUQXCELhLPMpQ6Zi_wyO98TZGwLRnGSqxlyu0ZekrGPt6I88a27l2CvR9Srq2qiToaZX6pitIf47u7zHUVZj60qldafHz70s/s1600/IMG_8798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgypwUCVPQ-qWYt7359cnhu2GSx2qDXGSFngjUIEvaN4hqiUQXCELhLPMpQ6Zi_wyO98TZGwLRnGSqxlyu0ZekrGPt6I88a27l2CvR9Srq2qiToaZX6pitIf47u7zHUVZj60qldafHz70s/s320/IMG_8798.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the restaurant I went to on my first day! (I have a short <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/ive-made-it.html">blog post</a> about that day.)</td></tr>
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<b>Stop 2: QV</b> <br />
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My next stop was the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Victoria_Village">QV Villiage</a>, which is a mall. I didn't have anything I wanted to see in particular, so I just walked around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKncFM19g8dG92VBnx3Me0599eblcu1WASFLvGopPhJnwGTSB5uZe-xL7tsT0rZBC7BJ6_RbI6ZD-4QEA-5wm9C5b51R01OpBpumc6U0j2-bjfS009i-PnSOpSqQ__2Y8h3Yyj-1kMBQs/s1600/IMG_8806.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKncFM19g8dG92VBnx3Me0599eblcu1WASFLvGopPhJnwGTSB5uZe-xL7tsT0rZBC7BJ6_RbI6ZD-4QEA-5wm9C5b51R01OpBpumc6U0j2-bjfS009i-PnSOpSqQ__2Y8h3Yyj-1kMBQs/s320/IMG_8806.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here was the entrance that I went through.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjsus_k9L2N0cl7Cy-orOAgvkJYLkm1M0VAaYzK3ZHzgiytd0OwAaFFbqycYEAaYkSgYrNziIM5ZZNLUYFE5ESpv5IepANR4G9vB7kIDoB35o0W4Oo7didX29My90hQ5UTTUlUoXxaz4/s1600/IMG_8814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijjsus_k9L2N0cl7Cy-orOAgvkJYLkm1M0VAaYzK3ZHzgiytd0OwAaFFbqycYEAaYkSgYrNziIM5ZZNLUYFE5ESpv5IepANR4G9vB7kIDoB35o0W4Oo7didX29My90hQ5UTTUlUoXxaz4/s320/IMG_8814.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In Australia, bubble tea (or "boba" or "pearl milk tea") is called "bubble cup"!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidxHT1f19_uFv5H3h3ng0Lt2yZ_yuJMKdOYM4rzdtK8y_lWGMfVeNpD9lLY9LcKO1CbdXZZEWk4NjS7A6dv1eKrZI641P2FVa8m2WUMTYKbKOxUVTSq9C4J43fewA1IDJh6DX739h0gY/s1600/IMG_8816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgidxHT1f19_uFv5H3h3ng0Lt2yZ_yuJMKdOYM4rzdtK8y_lWGMfVeNpD9lLY9LcKO1CbdXZZEWk4NjS7A6dv1eKrZI641P2FVa8m2WUMTYKbKOxUVTSq9C4J43fewA1IDJh6DX739h0gY/s320/IMG_8816.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There's Tutti Frutti in Australia too! (I went to one in the U.S. during <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/berkeley-winter-2012-rubiks-cube.html">my time in Berkeley</a> a few months ago!) It's a little more expensive here though.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8aGUxt8m6k-T9CaJx-JfmgkYQmvZSDvsSoQxtZ-8n78O_ISxSkV2KIuFzSe48tQqtBEdWHqcGFvmhQetMseOSr9dUn9M5rP9B4whQzvu-rJsQ0f0KbJApIFD5m7IZSXuJmABelfEtv0/s1600/IMG_8822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8aGUxt8m6k-T9CaJx-JfmgkYQmvZSDvsSoQxtZ-8n78O_ISxSkV2KIuFzSe48tQqtBEdWHqcGFvmhQetMseOSr9dUn9M5rP9B4whQzvu-rJsQ0f0KbJApIFD5m7IZSXuJmABelfEtv0/s320/IMG_8822.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I also stopped by the supermarket in the QV to get a picture with regular Australian Cheerios. One box is
<span class="price">
$7.94 (which is still a lot, but way cheaper than the other one).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
At that point, I probably spent enough time in the mall, so I left.<br />
<br />
<b>Stop 3: Mind Games</b><br />
<br />
I made my way to a board game/card game/puzzle store called "Mind Games" that Tim told me about during my first RMIT Cube Club meeting.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIRcPaS4wN96MQ89i7H9jFjN3RHVRbjvvOPcv4m4ih-LhDbD3z2hIRBTtwOkZzBFIuT5xnBldyj7o1t5hwcL_3WxOOqTyFUBxxt_Wc2_oKd-APLbQzWeZdQRZK-79wrne0tB4m0_FjPE/s1600/IMG_8829.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKIRcPaS4wN96MQ89i7H9jFjN3RHVRbjvvOPcv4m4ih-LhDbD3z2hIRBTtwOkZzBFIuT5xnBldyj7o1t5hwcL_3WxOOqTyFUBxxt_Wc2_oKd-APLbQzWeZdQRZK-79wrne0tB4m0_FjPE/s320/IMG_8829.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Store entrance! (Note the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trefoil_knot">trefoil</a>!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The store might not look very big on the outside, but the store goes very far in, and there's a second floor!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRwq-M4AnJ9cmhsIZbXxj4hObWlIqiqwfpujLKxmFoWWeotI8RMOg0_kbVVkJGe3ThXF3Kl1NTVIT-MJOQod2bNEI8_pCJHKmmg1e0bfCqt41Ddd4QrExnqUCLkNTDrhcvp2Sa6wDEGM/s1600/IMG_8836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicRwq-M4AnJ9cmhsIZbXxj4hObWlIqiqwfpujLKxmFoWWeotI8RMOg0_kbVVkJGe3ThXF3Kl1NTVIT-MJOQod2bNEI8_pCJHKmmg1e0bfCqt41Ddd4QrExnqUCLkNTDrhcvp2Sa6wDEGM/s320/IMG_8836.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everywhere in the store is just packed with games!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAdjtzwvvb6Hn5K5T6LJ8z-yYnXmqwgzDJwtg6dZaAvBJ8qOQVd4SLXKXRE9CD8Ak-8EqiiTowqLIIW1kbcNKwgOjqf5xQ0LdRuh6-8cwJTNxynAyNifkmrYDSa7CluI5sNcB4i7RKBY/s1600/IMG_8837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMAdjtzwvvb6Hn5K5T6LJ8z-yYnXmqwgzDJwtg6dZaAvBJ8qOQVd4SLXKXRE9CD8Ak-8EqiiTowqLIIW1kbcNKwgOjqf5xQ0LdRuh6-8cwJTNxynAyNifkmrYDSa7CluI5sNcB4i7RKBY/s320/IMG_8837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Set! I haven't played that in a while!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2MWyePbp62uMSysBJphai2QEosjwqiIIbcGwU8Ul29ijFf_PzhE1UUyjtsCICjS-IJDvT0opOH_cVaOcKaHC9kSqZ_bnAJuwBOSQY3ajCcY7o_XRz_vVPcFenZQ2knr_FREtJW8tS0c/s1600/IMG_8832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2MWyePbp62uMSysBJphai2QEosjwqiIIbcGwU8Ul29ijFf_PzhE1UUyjtsCICjS-IJDvT0opOH_cVaOcKaHC9kSqZ_bnAJuwBOSQY3ajCcY7o_XRz_vVPcFenZQ2knr_FREtJW8tS0c/s320/IMG_8832.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at all those cubes! (And non-cube-shaped puzzles!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After some browsing, I headed for my last stop - an Asian supermarket. My plan was to buy some Asian groceries and then head back home. (Until this point, I had not bought anything from an Asian supermarket yet!)<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNg5DHy9meGd1_yJ6WRJQgl3ZtTwk7Ec_wulJEEqG4s_TsIVVUQuxz5W4r6_YY4cZsZAl_atpC7yFxzamaFLEuGFT72HdJzbIffxwHS1QqRibz3KkxjMfrrsX0yspdhRmMw2qW2hgfkw/s1600/IMG_8840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtNg5DHy9meGd1_yJ6WRJQgl3ZtTwk7Ec_wulJEEqG4s_TsIVVUQuxz5W4r6_YY4cZsZAl_atpC7yFxzamaFLEuGFT72HdJzbIffxwHS1QqRibz3KkxjMfrrsX0yspdhRmMw2qW2hgfkw/s320/IMG_8840.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To get to the place, I passed through Chinatown!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Stop 4: Great Eastern</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOltMA5p3nBKX3QvANVOziRylWDRkzV_as_Bjkj1LIIC_Dxdy9d4apLhYkgT86721gtL0jqjWjl_NClAu4caoMv7YdYQfQZIPjRs9d5ZAY71wK_xXgO4CbN6lLEG15QO9txkrNTQgNWSs/s1600/IMG_8850.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOltMA5p3nBKX3QvANVOziRylWDRkzV_as_Bjkj1LIIC_Dxdy9d4apLhYkgT86721gtL0jqjWjl_NClAu4caoMv7YdYQfQZIPjRs9d5ZAY71wK_xXgO4CbN6lLEG15QO9txkrNTQgNWSs/s320/IMG_8850.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I made it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Like Mind Games, this store didn't look very big from the outside, but one you go in, it's enormous!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULW3_5VH26iGzNsXwa4QQniK-F1jweot2fBvKc9s6OPplbE0GCtm3E6PyNMhgJnleF6_H9_Rg-eZNrZAnKfw2rhiiFdV80fz4xAz2f415ohvUSxqKIqGiKNDw0M3qtl-R8ZlFMY_xHIY/s1600/IMG_8851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiULW3_5VH26iGzNsXwa4QQniK-F1jweot2fBvKc9s6OPplbE0GCtm3E6PyNMhgJnleF6_H9_Rg-eZNrZAnKfw2rhiiFdV80fz4xAz2f415ohvUSxqKIqGiKNDw0M3qtl-R8ZlFMY_xHIY/s320/IMG_8851.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There were so many aisles of products!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7eAT87kGsRm7uIbDd3ENhVxQqMYW63aYiqcn-qokT4YYc9SerfW1DfvccFhsF8cc6JhIlcBvCplJY-aO-L0oIloyl_R-oKH4Oa-otpNFaH-Y58LHFNba4-y9_4uqv8BH-9KSFH44OjI/s1600/IMG_8852.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL7eAT87kGsRm7uIbDd3ENhVxQqMYW63aYiqcn-qokT4YYc9SerfW1DfvccFhsF8cc6JhIlcBvCplJY-aO-L0oIloyl_R-oKH4Oa-otpNFaH-Y58LHFNba4-y9_4uqv8BH-9KSFH44OjI/s320/IMG_8852.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I don't know what inspired me to get a picture with ramen. I didn't actually buy any.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After taking enough pictures, I decided to get a basket and actually buy stuff. I got some noodles, some mian-jin (fried wheat gluten), some tofu, and some bean sprouts. Time for my food to start tasting more Asian! Here's a picture of everything I bought:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8NRFx60kww-ddMj_xTX9g6r425rXI8Scl_5_2qobZuzzlafpUqL9M13fhNXHtl5MoP1G8qPgQ_w-pEZ96H4jzFvEzc3Twsaka7b6HVkw_o8M3eHIi0fkVBL5HkGDi4cA708-bwN27X8/s1600/IMG_8873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE8NRFx60kww-ddMj_xTX9g6r425rXI8Scl_5_2qobZuzzlafpUqL9M13fhNXHtl5MoP1G8qPgQ_w-pEZ96H4jzFvEzc3Twsaka7b6HVkw_o8M3eHIi0fkVBL5HkGDi4cA708-bwN27X8/s320/IMG_8873.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">(Since this picture was taken after I got home, it's way out of sequence. I don't know why it bothers me a little. Maybe because it ruins the flow of this blog post.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b>Homeward bound!</b><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRkDm-KrYhhj4J-s_xQItBrA1vfJYg3UmfkXhyXD7Iaqs4xjm6l15AmJtnLBnv5vhV9uferCrSurp4LyJN9x9Ig7jCVjeFjHrBD6VFvtWAKRs4Hy0xoYdgJsBTpR6wyvhZgl3U1_Ew2o/s1600/IMG_8864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQRkDm-KrYhhj4J-s_xQItBrA1vfJYg3UmfkXhyXD7Iaqs4xjm6l15AmJtnLBnv5vhV9uferCrSurp4LyJN9x9Ig7jCVjeFjHrBD6VFvtWAKRs4Hy0xoYdgJsBTpR6wyvhZgl3U1_Ew2o/s320/IMG_8864.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the tram stop, with my groceries!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySj_ceo6qWAi4h5fW7v85fWI60ZmwTmfoOEy025I6-wuisyvSFACmAdNQ_k9K01PN5BVikGu9KTsRnbIyC0V9SOkUjHkyhUX1A6iYXCT2uKWbr9zLDpvWofSJo8wbRsYf3DxbM7iqbmk/s1600/IMG_8866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjySj_ceo6qWAi4h5fW7v85fWI60ZmwTmfoOEy025I6-wuisyvSFACmAdNQ_k9K01PN5BVikGu9KTsRnbIyC0V9SOkUjHkyhUX1A6iYXCT2uKWbr9zLDpvWofSJo8wbRsYf3DxbM7iqbmk/s320/IMG_8866.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I wanted to get a shot of me with the tram arriving. I can't say it turned out very well. (I only had one try!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gTcaetfE8X9KmbfRXeWCP2rc_jm1fFcp9YczheohyphenhyphenQuy3BNQ4RhpBuwI-rOKxeLFzuivwNJ3Ule7Wd9oN3Z4GsnclXHsCDg0_T7rY11O_x8XY4Cbkt-qi9UCOrZyTCN0SimId24lRPw/s1600/IMG_8870.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8gTcaetfE8X9KmbfRXeWCP2rc_jm1fFcp9YczheohyphenhyphenQuy3BNQ4RhpBuwI-rOKxeLFzuivwNJ3Ule7Wd9oN3Z4GsnclXHsCDg0_T7rY11O_x8XY4Cbkt-qi9UCOrZyTCN0SimId24lRPw/s320/IMG_8870.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's me getting off and the tram leaving, 20 minutes later!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When I got back I decided to make dinner! I had some leftover vegetables in the refrigerator, so I mixed them with the noodles and bean sprouts to make a soup.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVFV-9i2mOutT-n9rBBZWowyBFm0K6KA7MUuXQ5jqqoZWFp-4DG5XxRrddugkM044ZAzqZ9Biq9wXv-eMguS17uX_1O814vGOEDbBMq2zI2FYQBg4wyMtQ6lTjd67gn3pRbjnwG9s5fI/s1600/IMG_8876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjVFV-9i2mOutT-n9rBBZWowyBFm0K6KA7MUuXQ5jqqoZWFp-4DG5XxRrddugkM044ZAzqZ9Biq9wXv-eMguS17uX_1O814vGOEDbBMq2zI2FYQBg4wyMtQ6lTjd67gn3pRbjnwG9s5fI/s320/IMG_8876.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here was the result!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrMA12E4pX7X0qSzMgehEmIYuNgiV1J61L27UxovVcZYgsyW5GdmL-M5H4ucC-xuCcKe3-Ym9Gd4ST9eTO5hyphenhyphen9B2h8YQi6Q8OgPo1JbtXSs8Ks1u0O3HTJg1PKBablHMf1fs12eOi7e0/s1600/IMG_8878.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPrMA12E4pX7X0qSzMgehEmIYuNgiV1J61L27UxovVcZYgsyW5GdmL-M5H4ucC-xuCcKe3-Ym9Gd4ST9eTO5hyphenhyphen9B2h8YQi6Q8OgPo1JbtXSs8Ks1u0O3HTJg1PKBablHMf1fs12eOi7e0/s320/IMG_8878.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bon appétit?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I thought it turned out well, but I'm sure most people would say that my noodle soup has no taste. I didn't add salt or anything else to give the vegetables or the soup flavor. But that's because I'm a little too worried about having too much sodium. Oh well...<br />
<br />
It has occurred to me that I should probably write a blog entry about my attempts at cooking! That would be pretty fun (and painful) to write! But that will have to be for another day.<br />
<br />
Anyways, this is where my mini-adventure of the day ends. I'll stop with all the silly photos for now. (I had much more that I didn't put on here!) It's 10pm, so time for bed!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-3061058686064480112012-03-10T19:10:00.000+11:002012-03-10T19:10:26.700+11:00A bit of homesicknessLast night, around 8:30pm, the full moon was so big and bright. It was a really beautiful sight, and I was reminded of Li Bai's "Jing Ye Si" ("Quiet Night Thoughts"). Then all of a sudden, tears started to flow... We had to memorize this poem back in Chinese school around 4th grade, but it took me 10 whole years to begin to appreciate what Li Bai was saying.<br />
<br />
I am definitely not an expert in Chinese poetry, but from my understanding, the moon is a symbol of family -- no matter how far you are from your family, everyone sees the same moon up in the night sky. The moon has an important role not just in Li Bai's poem, but many other ones (such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shui_diao_ge_tou">Shui Diao Ge Tou</a>, by Su Shi).<br />
<br />
I talked to my family over the internet and told them how I was reminded of the poem, and I started crying again. And now, as I am currently writing this, I feel a little saddened yet again. I have tried to tell myself that this feeling will eventually pass, but that doesn't really make me feel much better. <br />
<br />
I wonder if Li Bai felt a lot more homesick than I do now. At least I have the internet, so if I want to see my family (over the computer screen), it is not a problem at all. But I find it amazing that this poem, written over a thousand years ago, still moves people today.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-11031869224054063402012-03-08T17:31:00.000+11:002012-03-27T21:54:30.862+11:00Presenting the RMIT Speedcubers Team!Last night, I went with three other members of the RMIT Cube Club (Andrea, Luke, and Tim) to a pub called "The Brunswick Green" to perform in a variety show called "The Variety Collective." There were also comedians and magicians and other performers. (This included some people that weren't well-known to me but were to everyone else.)<br />
<br />
Nick, the host, introduced us as "The RMIT Speedcubers Team." Now doesn't that sound intimidating! When it was our turn, the four of us went up and solved the Rubik's cube one at a time. The lights were really blinding up on the stage, so I think we didn't do as well as we could have. (Also, we didn't get to pre-inspect the cube.) But that doesn't matter. The audience was impressed and entertained. (I hope!)<br />
<br />
Nick was really good at introducing us individually as we were solving the cube. I learned quite a few things about myself. Even though I'm called Alan, my real name is "GAP," and I sponsor a particular clothing company!<br />
<br />
Tim and I "competed" against each other in the final round. The audience took sides and started cheering. So is this what it feels like to be a wrestler? I won by a little, and that concluded our performance.<br />
<br />
After the show ended, we took some pictures and chatted with the people at the event.<br />
<br />
Then the other three became hungry so we went to find a place to eat. It turns out that a little down the road, there was a McDonalds that was open 24/7. And with that... I found myself walking into a McDonalds! Oh no!<br />
<br />
Here were pictures from the night. As much fun as I had taking these pictures, I think Andrew, Luke, and Tim had more fun being in them!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcmM82SCxj9N3auMXoiv79W9VIfBo2tCFlgYiDml3xPvqgmJBJZeIm51PA-4VpdMFCvytWss7EaObfJcRXEq3htiXV5eAAwe4JBH9WhtaKoT7V5tJgWmYm90NNphG18RwlJoCcnl9_Z8/s1600/IMG_8674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZcmM82SCxj9N3auMXoiv79W9VIfBo2tCFlgYiDml3xPvqgmJBJZeIm51PA-4VpdMFCvytWss7EaObfJcRXEq3htiXV5eAAwe4JBH9WhtaKoT7V5tJgWmYm90NNphG18RwlJoCcnl9_Z8/s320/IMG_8674.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We found the place, and we found parking!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmuaDXs6XNMAdo0OHyFXayR7o0_onjW4CV79UYChRvt1eDiP3_iG06n0ROdfQEjdRN54WDlZ0fF4kqFDYYh1m5LRD8dzp92DLfMgZL3WqI5Jyl25WZVif2IhSLC1Z_8iFkySbZGLayuk/s1600/IMG_8675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglmuaDXs6XNMAdo0OHyFXayR7o0_onjW4CV79UYChRvt1eDiP3_iG06n0ROdfQEjdRN54WDlZ0fF4kqFDYYh1m5LRD8dzp92DLfMgZL3WqI5Jyl25WZVif2IhSLC1Z_8iFkySbZGLayuk/s320/IMG_8675.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's a picture of me standing in front of the entrance. Oh, what's happening over there? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEB9E6AJ2BBkNWQa313EllbBpl1KHrp7sN1QVuPKaIUJ1l_cBww1J-FVET0tOqMZO1B7SppT18N0NBs0XmEnX-Bnip31Ezg_Eap210NlKBa3OUJgJJxKWoBLbbcu4iJ2-a-fNDJqntxs/s1600/IMG_8678.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwEB9E6AJ2BBkNWQa313EllbBpl1KHrp7sN1QVuPKaIUJ1l_cBww1J-FVET0tOqMZO1B7SppT18N0NBs0XmEnX-Bnip31Ezg_Eap210NlKBa3OUJgJJxKWoBLbbcu4iJ2-a-fNDJqntxs/s320/IMG_8678.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside the pub. This is what you would see if you were looking in from the outside.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3-Ri3vXYmbXx4EEJDefnKcT4tQX2cdZBwG51_YJF0bZy4JK6buuh44HNwA9qPm_Ph-JrMLgbvUZoOGNWh_3Azg7UYCMEaknrro4rI2vOHfVis2CfvUhLwWTpOgh3FFZ-XL8KGbF3aqA/s1600/IMG_8683.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3-Ri3vXYmbXx4EEJDefnKcT4tQX2cdZBwG51_YJF0bZy4JK6buuh44HNwA9qPm_Ph-JrMLgbvUZoOGNWh_3Azg7UYCMEaknrro4rI2vOHfVis2CfvUhLwWTpOgh3FFZ-XL8KGbF3aqA/s320/IMG_8683.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the section of the pub set aside for the performances. When I took this picture, the show had not started you, but look at all the people!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglvhx3pITaNT4kdcJlT6vnibUfzAosDZQElaNajcAlv5ytvOI8shArqmXxzv29iRTkHwt1VRoeTvVBKcpq5akIq8zlmNtFr6TKtZ5P1qu3ejHGHfDV7wlUx59j_3KqviuOtAnFrat68U/s1600/IMG_8691.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjglvhx3pITaNT4kdcJlT6vnibUfzAosDZQElaNajcAlv5ytvOI8shArqmXxzv29iRTkHwt1VRoeTvVBKcpq5akIq8zlmNtFr6TKtZ5P1qu3ejHGHfDV7wlUx59j_3KqviuOtAnFrat68U/s320/IMG_8691.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Group picture with Nick, our host, after the show.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T9SC07MsAK3aGTcNaL2WWvnCvRd4U57ftszwmB6LIQF4dx2MKmZv_EF9LxMv_JtzDbgC8as_Fcr1FJaQE9-uVqmHLg9mMr90y03SJ8KpCfMMMDaalAHRDHxnYcZGr8DSIyXFKh1F5ag/s1600/IMG_8690.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1T9SC07MsAK3aGTcNaL2WWvnCvRd4U57ftszwmB6LIQF4dx2MKmZv_EF9LxMv_JtzDbgC8as_Fcr1FJaQE9-uVqmHLg9mMr90y03SJ8KpCfMMMDaalAHRDHxnYcZGr8DSIyXFKh1F5ag/s320/IMG_8690.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Picture with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lawrence_Leung">Lawrence Leung</a>!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tgbk70NojVEMhnvGhAQo5v1vHkcpy51tJJa_tNbsFcjC9vqy0ePPrJYDke8lbAu8Amm2tzKuYLx_5N8tOHYr4ZYvx_SRtlU6utB1w4vX4JdQLLQLXSs9O1zKnrt9SwwQkUYqTzkUxGA/s1600/IMG_8693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tgbk70NojVEMhnvGhAQo5v1vHkcpy51tJJa_tNbsFcjC9vqy0ePPrJYDke8lbAu8Amm2tzKuYLx_5N8tOHYr4ZYvx_SRtlU6utB1w4vX4JdQLLQLXSs9O1zKnrt9SwwQkUYqTzkUxGA/s320/IMG_8693.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Noooo!!!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gu_zA1cszSkv_ufKzmoTXu8U-CZBy2tdAlPXuoApqUrfqVsGyo4IRuN6rEAj6xUDV13TKjPYD-7uU7FUdMA1ZYMEX4LCmdKL3x5W6CS_PaVK1ahyphenhyphenwC7SAtyprQhwcNWGnUNZYgVrlxg/s1600/IMG_8694.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_gu_zA1cszSkv_ufKzmoTXu8U-CZBy2tdAlPXuoApqUrfqVsGyo4IRuN6rEAj6xUDV13TKjPYD-7uU7FUdMA1ZYMEX4LCmdKL3x5W6CS_PaVK1ahyphenhyphenwC7SAtyprQhwcNWGnUNZYgVrlxg/s320/IMG_8694.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is McDonalds doing open at 11pm?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4EEtcD0FrYOlWcb4kYb2c41WwtMiHdXzGo4fd_Im6SwVM3D2M39b5BLn1otPozQ_fOlhgFeOixD02z4HuHOG2dAQ9MG-sAQLBhnpzy2PT8qZBWpnrYsNhSsJJ7I5ct4ooASV7b3kBH4/s1600/IMG_8696.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij4EEtcD0FrYOlWcb4kYb2c41WwtMiHdXzGo4fd_Im6SwVM3D2M39b5BLn1otPozQ_fOlhgFeOixD02z4HuHOG2dAQ9MG-sAQLBhnpzy2PT8qZBWpnrYsNhSsJJ7I5ct4ooASV7b3kBH4/s320/IMG_8696.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I didn't get anything, but I watched the other three happily eat their food.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-5676885740536498412012-03-01T12:37:00.000+11:002012-03-01T12:39:44.703+11:00Visiting the Night MarketA few weeks ago, during the Melbourne Welcome orientation program, we visited the Queen Victoria Market during the day. (There a picture of me tasting wine at the market in <a href="http://alans-australian-adventure.blogspot.com.au/2012/02/melbourne-welcome-orientation-program.html">an earlier post</a>.)<br />
<br />
During the summer Wednesday nights, the market is also open, but has a very different feel from the market during the day. Some of my friends from Melbourne Welcome decided to go to the market yesterday, and I went along with them to check it out. It was exciting seeing so many Melbournians and visitors gathered together in one place! There was so much going on!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1kz3SBLIqK-NvZ77UGreqwJNQObz6DvkQWRKKdOQzMK86PTDuzfPG9RDBoo2IoRa1PIXIfhwobfTijlyevNEyFXRfbKOw9CewLXwGqqLIIW9A8Tsf1je4xKfDzdkLfNqVv91fZwJ0o4/s1600/IMG_8653.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv1kz3SBLIqK-NvZ77UGreqwJNQObz6DvkQWRKKdOQzMK86PTDuzfPG9RDBoo2IoRa1PIXIfhwobfTijlyevNEyFXRfbKOw9CewLXwGqqLIIW9A8Tsf1je4xKfDzdkLfNqVv91fZwJ0o4/s320/IMG_8653.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immediately when we arrived, we saw performances everywhere!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcLuN9JBdmj46MQ5yFZ5ubuY_x9ePOYl9BlKgbA5ZvhfmlFXxq1AHGFr7q9tRMi4EKl1ZGUqWqZFWz2HF9fGHYUNp8X-9XDE50k6sEMunJRBkvgGvbh649QZUKUJ-lRkPi48JadCXJe8/s1600/IMG_8654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNcLuN9JBdmj46MQ5yFZ5ubuY_x9ePOYl9BlKgbA5ZvhfmlFXxq1AHGFr7q9tRMi4EKl1ZGUqWqZFWz2HF9fGHYUNp8X-9XDE50k6sEMunJRBkvgGvbh649QZUKUJ-lRkPi48JadCXJe8/s320/IMG_8654.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The market was so crowded!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafQDLQ6OpEYIzlNjPZwsoSMPgXUVp6_44K0tCruqdaSCcf7uOg9YdFCF80K2vv_QuYsGOtyBl6tBZYNYqnYj9Rozf9DZI-tDglI8UpYQ4-ucNujsG-3VmjFrOqyqRoTJOzGwf6wVhvhQ/s1600/IMG_8659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhafQDLQ6OpEYIzlNjPZwsoSMPgXUVp6_44K0tCruqdaSCcf7uOg9YdFCF80K2vv_QuYsGOtyBl6tBZYNYqnYj9Rozf9DZI-tDglI8UpYQ4-ucNujsG-3VmjFrOqyqRoTJOzGwf6wVhvhQ/s320/IMG_8659.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">So many food stands! Because of all the people, walking around and checking out what's available took a long time!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0iQYFqYRm9BJlANwBe99Cyg-z9jgnttYU-WijkmueQTQdBhlDLvLr9RBAdNSvc6QV-DRWvXispV6WN_Ys-bOpSazZb5z2m_BHyk9Bl46rYjpe2cwjv31fhwnbkzR9TMFBNY2ky-VISw/s1600/IMG_8657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf0iQYFqYRm9BJlANwBe99Cyg-z9jgnttYU-WijkmueQTQdBhlDLvLr9RBAdNSvc6QV-DRWvXispV6WN_Ys-bOpSazZb5z2m_BHyk9Bl46rYjpe2cwjv31fhwnbkzR9TMFBNY2ky-VISw/s320/IMG_8657.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wow! Look at those gigantic pans cooking fideuà! (Fideuà is like paelle but it uses noodles instead.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkQTIHrxDt1trJIcZDGdMAjIibwdgb2s9NXxAJLyhvn5gJ9D1MvZ04CB2WXIKTak2OkP0P9BeOoVmeE1lpEa3_DDyUBpCjYcZ99bLjNIdDXZHLN1c2FGyuWH97DQqTKXnkFGNfTD2uJQ/s1600/IMG_8661.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKkQTIHrxDt1trJIcZDGdMAjIibwdgb2s9NXxAJLyhvn5gJ9D1MvZ04CB2WXIKTak2OkP0P9BeOoVmeE1lpEa3_DDyUBpCjYcZ99bLjNIdDXZHLN1c2FGyuWH97DQqTKXnkFGNfTD2uJQ/s320/IMG_8661.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Everything looked great, but I think my mind was set on the fideuà once I saw it!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pPfM-K3LDlLbG_Xo10fDMBn0xTrq3cGdp6iOftutvKcfouOGqBUhBi91hLU9Y5V1TBSy-qeZKqcGZ0EBKj90ykb9DZlQ-h_irgRuhp5sjxZrXF1JxKZIMLtzlSuTeamUyHT1hUL5AWA/s1600/IMG_8665.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pPfM-K3LDlLbG_Xo10fDMBn0xTrq3cGdp6iOftutvKcfouOGqBUhBi91hLU9Y5V1TBSy-qeZKqcGZ0EBKj90ykb9DZlQ-h_irgRuhp5sjxZrXF1JxKZIMLtzlSuTeamUyHT1hUL5AWA/s320/IMG_8665.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here was something of interest. They used machine to cut up a potatoes into spirals, without
separating them into pieces. Then they deep fried these potatoes.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_tVQlARS1rjVeQsd0_Tm4YIpcKW8e_6vZQBMvdEQx9CSYeIMuMlwGTVtE3I7-MP494eMKhz4KmFgO6lvrG7_FHNz9teIIjikswoYqauHx7f491Fx9tbux9oF0abZdZFHZB34FdfYIuY/s1600/IMG_8666.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF_tVQlARS1rjVeQsd0_Tm4YIpcKW8e_6vZQBMvdEQx9CSYeIMuMlwGTVtE3I7-MP494eMKhz4KmFgO6lvrG7_FHNz9teIIjikswoYqauHx7f491Fx9tbux9oF0abZdZFHZB34FdfYIuY/s320/IMG_8666.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here's the result! I saw so many people with these around the market. (But I didn't get one.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Unfortunately, this is the last night market of this summer. The next one will take place at the start of the next summer near the end of 2012. Oh well, I guess this means I have to move on and explore other things! I'm glad I got the chance to see this before it ended though.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-34719003943858307792012-02-25T22:00:00.000+11:002012-03-27T21:55:13.887+11:00Melbourne Summer 2012 Cube CompetitionMy first cube competition in Australia was a lot of fun! With around 40 competitors, it was around half the size of Princeton's competitions, but it was still pretty big! And I was the only one from the United States! <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSnNKxzsrWlLY8oiupUbPYKlUmgyBBbI1QgAkc3tu1dluu9tq0OymwfTo3yknTeamaVyLMLNiMyIwPcXIzrggqZ6JQ31EyNlwdWbYQOFxNlB8YxuElb5slRMPaNnLnWDiP0zDAqMTvlM/s1600/6782303900_0fae923651_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJSnNKxzsrWlLY8oiupUbPYKlUmgyBBbI1QgAkc3tu1dluu9tq0OymwfTo3yknTeamaVyLMLNiMyIwPcXIzrggqZ6JQ31EyNlwdWbYQOFxNlB8YxuElb5slRMPaNnLnWDiP0zDAqMTvlM/s320/6782303900_0fae923651_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shortly after arrival and registration.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrCiCCSI6c6kQrbMMJVYxtUBSE51TkkNce37QO-hF1_Q32SlQiSx7mUqVfeDn_dcZo2YKBeW1aOmELUKtyWLUCfb8oCvyu5oDHVHZ_9ShrTMYALgECD3jxEyiDgYb7zYFF2v0fbyxajU/s1600/6784331358_4161cd76e1_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLrCiCCSI6c6kQrbMMJVYxtUBSE51TkkNce37QO-hF1_Q32SlQiSx7mUqVfeDn_dcZo2YKBeW1aOmELUKtyWLUCfb8oCvyu5oDHVHZ_9ShrTMYALgECD3jxEyiDgYb7zYFF2v0fbyxajU/s320/6784331358_4161cd76e1_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">At the scrambling table, practicing 3x3 speed-solve before the competition began.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I spent most of my time scrambling and judging for the competition, but I
still got to meet lots of others during the competition. This includes
some world record holders!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMAcO5PQtpMtAdqY8Z_tVrdjnc8jpn9rRBtb8rxRsaOGkNrSmvlUuK1C4pdNaBAB-ji2KQkvIVODGlnrJYbjOvGbf-ayWP-zlYYGCqA3xUppHM5OGRBfGgKBfe6z8MB2F1lsBWMBXB6I/s1600/IMG_8644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMAcO5PQtpMtAdqY8Z_tVrdjnc8jpn9rRBtb8rxRsaOGkNrSmvlUuK1C4pdNaBAB-ji2KQkvIVODGlnrJYbjOvGbf-ayWP-zlYYGCqA3xUppHM5OGRBfGgKBfe6z8MB2F1lsBWMBXB6I/s320/IMG_8644.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's <a href="http://worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2009ZEMD01">Feliks Zemdegs</a>! He is the current world record holder for the 3x3 single (5.66) and average (7.64)! Amazing!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHu078pBXNqrN03KBULeo5wSMC1GFB7jH1qjEhiUjfUj_pEGE3nZN5PVD7P7pn1v4QXK4muxGOnuuux8R7PKmCrwPWp7KBspINim6yRQoBQPoy_WV9aKmVcHXfBLd2Y6m1PSu7ZUxT0Y/s1600/IMG_8647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEHu078pBXNqrN03KBULeo5wSMC1GFB7jH1qjEhiUjfUj_pEGE3nZN5PVD7P7pn1v4QXK4muxGOnuuux8R7PKmCrwPWp7KBspINim6yRQoBQPoy_WV9aKmVcHXfBLd2Y6m1PSu7ZUxT0Y/s320/IMG_8647.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And <a href="http://worldcubeassociation.org/results/p.php?i=2010CARN01">Zane Carney</a>! He solved 23 out of 25 cubes blindfolded, a world record! Australia has some really awesome cubers!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I told Feliks's father that I came all the way from California to watch
his son. Needless to say, he didn't believe me. I am really glad that I
got a chance to watch Felik's solves up close. I even got to judge some
of them, which meant standing right next to him as he did his solves.
And all the other people (competitors and spectators) would form a big
crowd in front of him during each of his solves, so we all were very
excited.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9DPB7E0mVpQ2iU3redIbvF5DyaoDUFNgNJ2JUQkxQU9AesDXGylKvFgsU4WAUtCKBt9iAZy_kOUWXB-d50FW-Grr6_UZ6hQn7owWV9IpnbvPYdNC-aIOu60hyphenhyphenoBTFNtvmXoFAii99cc/s1600/6784336128_bb5a2581e1_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj9DPB7E0mVpQ2iU3redIbvF5DyaoDUFNgNJ2JUQkxQU9AesDXGylKvFgsU4WAUtCKBt9iAZy_kOUWXB-d50FW-Grr6_UZ6hQn7owWV9IpnbvPYdNC-aIOu60hyphenhyphenoBTFNtvmXoFAii99cc/s320/6784336128_bb5a2581e1_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my official solves during the competition. If only I was as fast as Feliks!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1_LeTGyZvlL6saKwZrmGoWeFAPFlGUo7EHjmR16Uo8BGZNb5XOlKePlC7el4GXHOgos5lNVool_pzS3YJEH4aLXZ_0gF8QLYU3dsMeVJOrF5qDmWbF7rJvowprzY8CVynJBhyphenhyphen-w21vw/s1600/6930468883_1aaa5c89c3_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh1_LeTGyZvlL6saKwZrmGoWeFAPFlGUo7EHjmR16Uo8BGZNb5XOlKePlC7el4GXHOgos5lNVool_pzS3YJEH4aLXZ_0gF8QLYU3dsMeVJOrF5qDmWbF7rJvowprzY8CVynJBhyphenhyphen-w21vw/s320/6930468883_1aaa5c89c3_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somehow I managed to win 3rd place at the Rubik's Magic event!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The competition went from 9:30am to 6:00pm. What a long day! It was certainly a lot of fun, but actually, the day wasn't over yet!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZmdzcEVZhhfmnhMS2AGj1-iIVAu57Y7plkKiJOQ9_d71do9hYbEF20GUAoqJyZ5fAlmk8iQ2nZNRuW0GwBMmZtxaFJ24sPrLrbkRZ-fXipaU_9pn8S1m8WbAL9b-S41bblgFcxdMKbI/s1600/IMG_8649.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZmdzcEVZhhfmnhMS2AGj1-iIVAu57Y7plkKiJOQ9_d71do9hYbEF20GUAoqJyZ5fAlmk8iQ2nZNRuW0GwBMmZtxaFJ24sPrLrbkRZ-fXipaU_9pn8S1m8WbAL9b-S41bblgFcxdMKbI/s320/IMG_8649.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dinner afterwards at the Melbourne Central food court to celebrate!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
(A lot of images from the competitions were taken from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/robotichead/sets/72157629086566956/">Luke Clarke's album</a>. Thank you Luke for being our official photographer!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7164292534429948428.post-85277608742621327542012-02-24T09:21:00.000+11:002012-03-27T21:54:11.286+11:00O-Week (Orientation Week)No, school has not started yet! This week has been orientation week (or "O-week" as they call it here). Most of the activities were meant for the incoming first-year students. (Don't forget that the school starts after the <i>Australian</i> summer here!) Still, the study abroad students were encouraged to attend, so I went to the university every day from Monday to Friday.<br />
<br />
I avoided events run by the university, such as "Getting the Most out of Lectures" and "Success at Uni." Instead I went mostly to events by the Student Union and the student groups affiliated with the union. Many student groups had free barbecue lunch -- in fact, there was more than one barbecue took place each day! But for me, after my first burnt veggie burger on Tuesday, I decided I would avoid the rest of the barbecues...<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DLcj_2tPcDLetXZlEDNErFSY3_70N4gh_YxLswG3WMhnmrt8H_wMyuamrjf9TRIFb-91Tm8poBYwst2O96P95_relbZ-f1SKeMevctXVxyE3I56fnEGSGQSme3Dfy5__UMwARQL2IhU/s1600/IMG_8613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3DLcj_2tPcDLetXZlEDNErFSY3_70N4gh_YxLswG3WMhnmrt8H_wMyuamrjf9TRIFb-91Tm8poBYwst2O96P95_relbZ-f1SKeMevctXVxyE3I56fnEGSGQSme3Dfy5__UMwARQL2IhU/s320/IMG_8613.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">During the week, when I saw a long line like this around lunchtime, I knew it was for a barbecue!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I checked out all the student groups at the Student Union Clubs and Societies Expo. There were so many clubs!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlzKR9pb2xpDJbwzsNNORz3-x3hUB4E6GOLBfZJb5TmMI7e46hjIK3_x7YfF2b9LwMjgbIkJn9oyb5AylkNyuH_gRqy4mSIcxPmHNZ7ad0nMJK3mdUlyZrwxHd2R5zJ4Zx6LeP1N7IWU/s1600/IMG_8628.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAlzKR9pb2xpDJbwzsNNORz3-x3hUB4E6GOLBfZJb5TmMI7e46hjIK3_x7YfF2b9LwMjgbIkJn9oyb5AylkNyuH_gRqy4mSIcxPmHNZ7ad0nMJK3mdUlyZrwxHd2R5zJ4Zx6LeP1N7IWU/s320/IMG_8628.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The inside of this room was full...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span id="goog_2026186701"></span><span id="goog_2026186702"></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBjf8spyK1TOlMmv956h24p0Cv-8_2x7Gm_YEeQKpfbZJisUmponIwSaFd54Xgv1OKcL8NDsLHJIA6bkapKjo_js_9fJIUub50QTwNtJd360MU3lUzuBUIXz4aXrXaEMfL2tV1SIkSSo/s1600/IMG_8629.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggBjf8spyK1TOlMmv956h24p0Cv-8_2x7Gm_YEeQKpfbZJisUmponIwSaFd54Xgv1OKcL8NDsLHJIA6bkapKjo_js_9fJIUub50QTwNtJd360MU3lUzuBUIXz4aXrXaEMfL2tV1SIkSSo/s320/IMG_8629.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">... so some tables were set up outside too!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Some clubs sounded fun, like Chocolate Lovers Society. Despite all these clubs, I ended up signing up only for the Mathematics and Statistics Society. Why? I didn't know how much time I would have during the semester to commit to all the clubs I wanted to join. And, unlike Princeton, almost all the clubs charged a membership fee, ranging from 2 to 15 dollars! (The Maths Society was free!) This was really really surprising and stopped me from just signing up for everything like I did at Princeton.<br />
<br />
In addition to clubs and other university organizations, there were plenty of companies trying to advertise their services. Some of them gave out (or sometimes, forced us to take) some free stuff!<br />
<br />
My favorite event during orientation was the Food Adventure Tour, run by MUOSS (Melbourne University Overseas Student Society). It was intended to show international students some different restaurants around the city. In one afternoon, we had two main dishes and two desserts! A little too much food in too little time, but I got to meet lots of other students!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjC0TTZSSVJNFBKwqJTAZHRsDOo3g5dv_TQYADwb8Awr9t2759l3bqBhZ7jX2VR4ah1dbTPneSwL8wh9NVJ8Txt58w7a5QP6MMiUtsfkL6bLPVm-fjNgee7VovpLxRlRsYWpPmID-XFg/s1600/IMG_8631.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJjC0TTZSSVJNFBKwqJTAZHRsDOo3g5dv_TQYADwb8Awr9t2759l3bqBhZ7jX2VR4ah1dbTPneSwL8wh9NVJ8Txt58w7a5QP6MMiUtsfkL6bLPVm-fjNgee7VovpLxRlRsYWpPmID-XFg/s320/IMG_8631.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First stop: A Malaysian restaurant. I had some vegetable curry with rice! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0gjyqI55nFHzW8rQMbQQxcZyYn8Frq_O5FkwR7v29aWxhWMoTQBOWk8HH4D9TuBK3fFARB66QtS7ZsURzKIcPd5TOV6k_Bdhb7a7Ccqg6yws84wQFC-Edky3272Im_ef35cNBPSiBIM/s1600/IMG_8635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC0gjyqI55nFHzW8rQMbQQxcZyYn8Frq_O5FkwR7v29aWxhWMoTQBOWk8HH4D9TuBK3fFARB66QtS7ZsURzKIcPd5TOV6k_Bdhb7a7Ccqg6yws84wQFC-Edky3272Im_ef35cNBPSiBIM/s320/IMG_8635.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second stop: Frozen yogurt for dessert! (Just as I was posting this photo, I noticed the American spelling of "yogurt"!)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb4xgnzbZcJpH5xf9dR1skq1k82OnLp2MVV86tABHcLeqMshZpGUXlNIxu68CNB5ei_iL3FsJHm6QxjS880eF2pMlUIaZzpSFjOmubse8St1qY-lIx_ZChNG5tSRbIbeWADGIvJy3m_Q/s1600/IMG_8637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUb4xgnzbZcJpH5xf9dR1skq1k82OnLp2MVV86tABHcLeqMshZpGUXlNIxu68CNB5ei_iL3FsJHm6QxjS880eF2pMlUIaZzpSFjOmubse8St1qY-lIx_ZChNG5tSRbIbeWADGIvJy3m_Q/s320/IMG_8637.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Third stop: An Italian restaurant. This photo makes the pizza look really big! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9D89-pnPbWPDsi0TAg9BwYyXA7ei89pYFUZtVg0cJACvaFA1ycJXAEQ1lawuovE4NfN_qWGcU1vURzQzR-EC43sNyP9oEZwjN-AlblRrLoMj4qUigEzH7MpD_g-o7QmBIUufN49ETIg/s1600/IMG_8638.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEip9D89-pnPbWPDsi0TAg9BwYyXA7ei89pYFUZtVg0cJACvaFA1ycJXAEQ1lawuovE4NfN_qWGcU1vURzQzR-EC43sNyP9oEZwjN-AlblRrLoMj4qUigEzH7MpD_g-o7QmBIUufN49ETIg/s320/IMG_8638.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fourth stop: Pancake Parlour for more dessert.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Yummy! But... I think it was a little too much food all crammed into the afternoon! Luckily I didn't have lunch before the event, and afterwards, I decided not to have dinner. (I thought of the Malaysian curry as my lunch and the pizza as my dinner!)<br />
<br />
In the middle of all these activities, I stumbled upon an interesting sustainability awareness event at the university. The organizers had bicycles set up to generators, and we could go on and pedal for a few minutes to help provide power for the orientation activities!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQSfjVCFxDiVuliOKhvBwyGUT3IBxtLlmZjuQeUe1c6da7MwPWkmkPqsr69bc3EwY9Dmn34CUCUTEAiVzo65_bnoCuuyqOXTej4E6F1AnBIMQ3qYZQ0OYW-AvuXnY2BtaN6myMp21vcg/s1600/IMG_8611.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAQSfjVCFxDiVuliOKhvBwyGUT3IBxtLlmZjuQeUe1c6da7MwPWkmkPqsr69bc3EwY9Dmn34CUCUTEAiVzo65_bnoCuuyqOXTej4E6F1AnBIMQ3qYZQ0OYW-AvuXnY2BtaN6myMp21vcg/s320/IMG_8611.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hmm... what's with all the bicycles?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IgXKJGemuvUelloJAsQTGtGSeqnxpB6b6JFhtphBYnQ6cvkp-rUla1ixRcbawhx6zeB6Xpj33vGpdQtDyD_4Bxa4vOHiUxVIyjyr7kBopWbOr3fGBk2pQFFwYdWzE3HXrrZmRpzL28k/s1600/IMG_8608.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5IgXKJGemuvUelloJAsQTGtGSeqnxpB6b6JFhtphBYnQ6cvkp-rUla1ixRcbawhx6zeB6Xpj33vGpdQtDyD_4Bxa4vOHiUxVIyjyr7kBopWbOr3fGBk2pQFFwYdWzE3HXrrZmRpzL28k/s320/IMG_8608.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They're connected to generators!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUZY0X1h2d92hBM5E6l0V2gObt96tfEOWqJg3O3BSRNqVr12No8K-UNPtOoops82RPriVOSzYdKPwa1qXa22BuXGYK2SaN7hWprX4jte7VKYELvksa4rbDmrjocQbWhTWxc9O8h3FHRw/s1600/IMG_8605.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcUZY0X1h2d92hBM5E6l0V2gObt96tfEOWqJg3O3BSRNqVr12No8K-UNPtOoops82RPriVOSzYdKPwa1qXa22BuXGYK2SaN7hWprX4jte7VKYELvksa4rbDmrjocQbWhTWxc9O8h3FHRw/s320/IMG_8605.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Generating electricity, and exercising at the same time! Awesome!</td></tr>
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Now that orientation is over, I am so tired! (And scared! Classes are finally starting next week! Ahh!!)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03702637063749164878noreply@blogger.com0