Final Fever

It's next week, the final battle between West Coast Eagles and Sydney Swans. It's AFL of course. It's a repeat final battlle between the two. The pair met last year and Sydney won it. So let's see who'll win it this year.

There's going to be the usual show (the parade, etc) during the week ahead. And I think there will be free concert on Federation Square by the Australian Idol 06 finalist and Marcia Hines, Young Divas (if I'm not mistaken). Just check with the website, www.thatsmelbourne.com.au

And also coming next week is the opening of Krispy Kreme store in city, right at the end of Collins St. (not the Paris end). It's near Spencer St. It's opening on Tuesday, 26th of September. They are opening accross the street from Fitness First Collins St. I hope the gym junkies don't turn into sugar junkies. :)

I think the Royal Melbourne Show is still on. I'm not sure.....hmmm..no...yes...no...YES, it's still open, I just saw a pig fly.

summer in september

Look at that. This is the temperature for Tuesday, 19 of September 2006. And I thought, summer is a still a couple of months away.

Picture taken from The Age.

Wii is coming...

Newsflash,word just come for the release of Nintendo Wii. I had just received an sms from Nintendo Australia.

"As a nintendo.com.au member, we thought you'll want to be the 1st to know the Wii will arrive in Aus on Dec 7th for SRP AU$399.95. Unsubscribe at nintendo.com.au"

This is cool stuff. US will get it sooner though, on the 19th of November 2006. More news just check out www.nintendo.com.au for local news.

i'm a married man

I can't believe it. For you people that don't know, I got married last Wednesday with a nice little ceremony at the Cathedral and a nice little dinner somewhere in Kew.

It was a really special day for me because not only that I got married but I've got family and friends celebrating it with me. It was a really wonderful day

I (and my wife) just like to thank everybody who helped me (I mean us) with the wedding. I'll try and get some photos up on the web.

new iMac

WOW, after checking the Apple's website for a couple of weeks, finally, the new iMac is released. And they added a new 24 inch model.


They are loaded with the new Intel Core 2 Duo and the 24 inch model uses nVidia 7300GT. Prices start at AU$1599 for the 17 inch model and goes up to $2999 for the 24 inch model.

A new line up is also released for the mac Mini. Apple discontinued the Intel Core Solo and used Intel Core Duo for both models.

This is so exciting. I'm going to the stores to check out the 24 inch screen. Nice!!!

do not laugh!!!

Japanese and their creative minds.

Steve Irwin: A Wildlife Warrior

Yesterday, I opened a newspaper website and found out that Steve Irwin has died. He died in an accident while filming a documentary.

I am deeply saddened by the news. I think Steve Irwin is a great guy. He is so passionate on what he does. His family is great as well. It's just a terrible terrible news.

My thoughts and prayers goes to the family he left behind. You're a great man, mate. You're a legend. We will all miss you.

computer update

Today, we mark the end of August. Tomorrow, it will be September and officially the start of spring. Since yesterday, Melbourne temperature is hovering around the 20s. Nice....I only hope that it will stay that way until mid-September (so selfish of me)....ok until the grand final then.

A couple of days ago, I messed up my computer. Tried to install a new RAM and a new USB 2.0 expansion slot but ended up destroying it. Lesson to be learnt, never fix your computer while it is still in standby mode, plug the damn cord first. But, I think my computer's time is up. This baby has been serving me for nearly 6 years. I think it's time to go dual core.....terabyte......

I always like Mac but I'm the kind of people that still hesitated on getting one because of this and that (well, mainly about software wise). But now, I'm seriously thinking of getting one. I've been researching the Apple range, from iMac, Mac Mini, and Macbook. I was deciding between a 20-inch iMac


or 13-inch black Macbook.


The iMac was the first to use Intel processors and it's been there for a while. Macbook however, was just released as the iBook G4 replacement.

Then, I just thought to myself. Maybe I should just get a new PC with the Intel Core 2 Duo alias Conroe. But I decided not to because Vista's release is still uncertain. I think if I do get a PC, I would want to wait until the Vista is launched and ready to go.

But the same problem comes with Mac. The new OS, Leopard, is going to be released in 2007. So, it'll be nicer if you get the Mac with the new OS as well.
On top of that, there is rumour going on that Apple will launch their new range by using the Intel Core 2 Duo. It is rumoured to come up around September. But the rumour was for Mac mini. I don't know.

Confusing.

Maybe I'm not destined to change computer after all :(

Anways, in the meantime, check out Apple's new commercial about PC vs Mac here.

busy busy busy....

Fiuhhhh....

again the promise of keeping the blog updated is not kept.
Well, this month and the next is going to pretty busy for me.

Beginning of the month, my brother graduated from uni. Yayyy...
He's preparing to end his life in Melbourne and start anew back home.

Anyways, I've just read news that Krispy Kreme is opening in Indonesia.
Ok, I know you're probably bored to death with Krispy Kreme again and again.
I'm not trying to promote them at all.

I'm just rambling here, don't know what I'm really going to talk about.
I am actually busy with my master project and the wedding. I can't believe
that you need to think about so many things for just a wedding, my GOD.
Once this is all over, I'll tell you my wedding story from the beginning.

For now, I'm just going to stop writing. Nothing is making sense (sorry people).
Oooo, a few days ago I just found YouTube....ok I know, it's not new and it's been
there all this time. It is cool that you can share video from other people. I guess
the time is already upon us where everybody has a broadband connection.

Also, Intel just released their Intel Core 2 Duo, imagine saying this to the sales guy
to buy. It's easier to say 'the new Intel processor'. Apparantly they are going to stop
Pentium and Core Duo chips eventually because this baby can deliver 40% more power
with 40% less power (???) .

Ok ok I'll stop, I really don't know what I'm taking about, better get back to my chair.
Ciao.

touch down at krispy kreme

Today, I managed to get myself INSIDE Krispy Kreme store in Fountain Gate. I went through pass the door after 40 minutes of standing outside in the cold.

The store fairly big. Once you go in through the doors, you'll see the toilet on your left. The toilet has a baby change facility BUT only one at a time, which can be a bit hard after drinking lots of water to wash down the sugar from the doughnuts (or donuts, the way they say in the states).

Alrighty back to the store. Once you pass the toilet and the rubbish bin. Trust me, this is the worst place to queue - the door to the toilet is very big and swing outwards, i.e. towards you, so make sure you stick to the right.

After that, you'll be entertain with the process of "making the original glazed". They have explanation for each step of the way but it's a bit hard to read considering that people are still queuing there. Well basically the donuts are rollep up and down, up and down, up and down and then fried on the oil, flipped, glazed and cooled down (just to keep things short).

Passing the donut-making-demo, I was greeted with a donut - I should say it's FRESH from the conveyor belt. It was a sample that was given to everybody. But somehow after eating that donut, I don't feel like ordering anymore donuts. I don't know why. Maybe the blood sugar is talking.....I don't know. But the donut is soft, warm, and totally sugar loaded......yummm.

Ok, then when you finish the 'charade of donuts', you actually get to ORDER. Then you pay for it. You can pay by cash (of course), eftpos and credit card (Amex not yet - according to the staff, Amex is still working on it but it's been more than a month and they still haven't fixed it).

Well, my trip this Sunday took 67 minutes from the outside until I received the donuts in my hand. The total was under $60 for 2 sampler and 2 bottles of Mt. Franklin. This does not include the travel time and petrol etc etc. Was it worthed ? I don't know. Frankly, I can't answer that question. One side you know that queuing for donuts is stupid but on the other side, well let's just say you need the sugar.

Don't know whether I'll be back pretty soon though. Although maybe I just might......

so out of date

I have been visiting my own blog these couple of weeks and noticed how out-dated everything is. I kept thinking that I should update and put in a couple of entries for the the blog but I never get around to do it. Everytime I have an idea or thought to put in my blog, I'm always away from the computer. And if I am in front of the computer, it will be a public computer (like in state library, been going there these couple of weeks) or a uni computer, where they can track what I do.

Well, now finally I am able to put something down. Not a lot happened since the Aussie went out of the world cup. That is if you exclude the war in Lebanon, more tsunami in Indonesia, North Korea testing its missile that can reach Australia, Italy won the World Cup, etc, etc. Other than that, it's same old.

Anyways, I will update my blog link. Apparantly, a lot more of my frens are interested in blogging. I will try to update my blog every day. My passion to actually make a website like aerowalk's has not come true. I still need some guidance from him :) So, just wait and see.

Ok, will post some new topics soon. Please check again. And thanks to everybody that has been patient with me and my blog.

aussie out of world cup

I have no idea how many Australians who actually watch the game live, must have been plenty, but unfortunatly they lost. A bitter lost, I might add. 90 minutes of fighting and it was ended by a penalty kick.

So with the final score of 1-0 favouring Italy, Aussie is now out of the World Cup. Well the good news is we will be able to sleep like we used too.

a stupid bird

Please turn on your speaker for the bird.


Want one? Go to www.geocities.com/testiflash

don't worry...

I like this,

The future is unclear. Instead of hoping for what it could be, just wait and see.

krispy kreme in VIC (not melbourne)

Yes, it is TRUE. Krispy Kreme, the famous American donuts (or doughnuts, whatever), is coming to Victoria. So far, they've only open stores in NSW.
Well, everybody knows this. But now there is a definite date on the store launch. It's 4 MORE DAYS. The 22nd of June (correct me if I'm wrong but that Jakarta's birthday right ?) is the date when the only Victorian store will open. The fun starts at 6.30am.


As you are all aware, the store is located in Narre Warren, exactly it's on Fountain Gate Shopping Centre. If you have the VIC map, Narre Warren is south-east of Melbourne. It's pretty easy to go there. You can just take Princess Highway and after a series of traffic lights, you'll reach there. Ok, I don't want to mislead you, it is quite far. I think it's about 1.5-2 hours drive from Melbourne (or maybe more). So make sure when you go there, you fill up the car's boot with donuts, about 10-15 dozen maybe ?


They're saying that the store will open 24 hours and provide a drive in service, you know....like McDonalds. For the opening, there will be performances, bands, etc and I think they're going to continue for 4 days. For more information, go to http://www.krispykreme.com.au. Over there as well, you can join to be a FRIEND of KRISPY KREME. But, there is one condition; you must be obese or at least fat. Ok, just joking. Everybody can sign up and receive news about the upcoming store.

Well, before I finish. I have one more thing to say. Just something to remember when you're eating that mouth-watering tempting enticing alluring original glazed donut.....mmm..... To burn 1 donut, an average person of 75kg need to walk for 30 minutes.

cheap petrol

Everybody wants cheap petrol these days. When I first came to Melbourne, petrol was around 70-80 cents a litre. Apparantly a couple of years before, it was only about 50-60 cents a litre. In the recent months, the price of petrol has jumped so high, it's leaving us with a big hole in our wallet. So, we want something to stitch back our wallet.

Firstly, the supermarket docket. Spend $30 or so dollars and they'll give you a coupon to save on petrol. Savings vary but normally it is 4 cents, some supermarket has 30 cents discount but there is a lot of conditions (only 30 litres, spend more than $50, fill up at independent petrol kiosk, etc). But I seriously don't understand why the supermarkets are still giving discounts at 4 cents a litre. They're giving 4 cents discounts when fuel was 70 cents a litre and now when it's nearly $1.50 a litre. Ok, just imagine with 4 cents discount coupon, you will save:

• small car: 4 cents x 30 litres = $1.20 savings per fill
• medium car: 4 cents x 50 litres = $2 savings per fill
• large car : 4 cents x 60 litres = $2.40 savings per fill

That's not a lot, not a lot AT ALL. Last time, to fill up a tank of petrol, I need to fork out around $40-50 but now, I'm spending $60-70 on petrol. That's about $20 difference and the docket is only helping me with $2, nice....

But, if you do shop at supermarket and get the docket anyway, just use it. As my mom always say, $999 is not $1000 without the dollar, every dollar (and cents) count.

Another way to get cheap petrol is by regularly checking websites like this one, http://au.maps.yahoo.com/fuelwatch/. Yes, I know that there is a lot out there but I think this one is kind of cool. You search by suburb or postcode and it will then give you a map of the suburb. You can zoom in or zoom out, but the nearest petrol stations are displayed. This includes, the cheapest petrol station, the most expensive one and average. They label this with stars, green for cheapest, red for most expensive and yellow for in between.

Then, you can click on the start and find out the price for unleaded petrol, the address and the petrol kiosk operator (Coles Express, Mobil, Caltex, etc etc). Nice. I haven't actually checked whether the price on the website match the real one but I guess it should be pretty acurate cause Yahoo is doing it with Motormouth (which is a website that looks at petrol prices and stuff).

Ok, it doesn't actually let you save money like the docket but it's a great tool to find where's the cheapest fuel around.

Another tip is to follow the petrol price dynamics, the cycle, when it goes up and when it goes down. It always goes like this, slowly going down until it reaches the minimum point then sharp and sudden rise (about 10 cents rise), and then it slowly goes down again. The cycle normally repeats itself every week. Currently, the price always goes up every Wednesday and the lowest point is around Monday-Tuesday. It used to go up on Thursday so they're always changing so keep your eyes open.

Some other people has resort to something more dramatic like stealing petrol, not paying for it, putting another person's plate, etc etc.

Or you could always switch to public transport or cycling or motorcycling. I want to switch to motocycling but I don't have the dough to get a bike (and the helmet, jacket, gloves, and so on). But seriously, for long term I am considering motorcycle. They're saying that the petrol price could reach $2/litre by the end of this year. Imagina how hard would life be if that happens. That's another $20 extra per fill and not including the price increase on goods.

So that's why, bring on the next generation in transport: fuel-cell car, hydrogen powered car. But in the meantime, let's try and save up for every fill.

dion (in memory)

a good friend....

it has been 2 long years.....

rest in peace my friend.....

will always remember you....

God, please take care of him.....

Pam's Blog

Wow, I didn't realise that it's been a couple of months since I put an entry to my blog. I guess after a while, it's kind of hard to get a topic going. And when you do get one (or a few), you just have absolutely no time.

Anyways, the reason I'm adding an entry today is I have just seen Pam's blog. Well if you don't know, Pam is one of my friend who's been with me since the beginning of time...haha, I meant my time in Melbourne. She is a very funky girl and if you do know her, I think you will agree.

Well, here is the link to her blog. She's a really good writer and have very interesting topics/things that you might not even think at all. Her blog is http://itspams.blogspot.com/. I will add the link to my Links section as well.

Go Pam, we'll be waiting for your next blog.

save the environment

Hey people, this is something that we can all do to save the earth.

TAKE YOUR CANVAS BAG WHEN YOU GO TO THE SUPERMARKET.

This is a message that I got from the Royal Gala of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. This comedian managed to create a song for the canvas bag and in the whole song, the lyrics are

"take your canvas bag, take you canvas bag when you go to the supermarket..." (repeat 50 times)

Well, actually he did rap a bit in the middle of the song but that's not the point.

So, take your CANVAS BAG or GREEN BAG or ENVIRONMENTAL BAG or whatever you call it next time you go the supermarket. CONDEMN PLASTIC BAG.

even more things

Adding to the list of events.

Next Thursday, 30th of March, the AFL season is going to start. Yup, it's that time of the year again, footy.......
It won't play in Melbourne though. The MCG will be back for footy action on Anzac day, 25th April (I THINK - but it's definitely in April). They have to clean up the tracks from the Commonwealth Games.

And tomorrow (or today), Monday, there is going to be a parade for the Australian athletes. It will start at noon from the Arts Centre to Swanston St. and then Collins St.
I can't find more info on the route or anything else so I guess if you want to see the parade, just follow the crowd.

That's it for now.