Boiling Barley

Home-made Barley

After 4 days of nursing a sore throat with the right, a little swollen, one brilliant friend suggested that I try drinking some barley, which can usually help in some soothing. With no boiling barley experience, but with one good internet, I found the following recipe:

3 ounces pearl barley
1.5 ounces candied winter melon strips
12 cups of water

Instructions:
(A) Bring the 12 cups of water to boil in a pot. Rinse and drain the pearl barley.

(B) Put the pearl barley and candied winter melon strips in a pot and bring to a boil again.

(C) Lower the heat and partially cover the pot. Leave to simmer for 1.5 hours. Drink barley water warm.


The trouble with the recipe is that I have no measuring utensil that can help with ounces. So, with my incredible wit, I decided to go by proportion.

Pearl Barley : Melon Strips

3 : 1.5
1 pkt : 0.5 pkt

As for the amount of water, I think I used my instinct.

Hopefully, my home-made barley works a little miracle.

Anti-social weekend,
A

Whiney

I have a sore throat and my body is aching.....

The Issues With Numbers

Just got home from work at the restaurant, and many hours of chit chat session with fellow colleagues. One dense person decided to talk about age and of course the younger and more enthusiastic colleagues volunteered their age delightfully. While some chose to keep mum. Nonetheless, the latter group didnt manage to escape the evil crutches of these young 'things'. Their ages were spelled out, no, their ages were announced at the top of their voices in chorus!

18
20
19
26
20
28
22
21
29

Guess who's standing at the age of 29?

Not a very happy person at 3am,
A

Everything But The Penguins

One of the most visited tourist attractions in Melbourne, next to the Great Ocean Road, is probably the Phillip Island, where people flock to see the little penguins.

Yes, I was there last Thursday. Since I am a so-called tourist, I have to visit it at least once. Went along with some friends who were here to visit. Here are some pictures,


Sleepy Wombat


Red Headed Duck


Kangaroo


Koala


Chirpies

Now, where exactly are the penguins?

Guess what? We were not allowed to take any pictures of the penguins! But we did see them up close and personal when they were trampling to their 'home', right at our feet. Quite a sight!

But prior to this, we were made to wait and watch them from the grandstand. Group by group, they will waddle up the beach and straight to the holes or bushes. Some have their 'homes' pretty far from the beach, that's why we were able to see them up close while we were walking back to the visitor center. They had to waddle under pedestrain beaches and sidewalks to get to their sleeping places.

So, think you guys better visit the island and see them!

While, its a little misleading about the pictures, which were not taken on Phillip Island itself. But rather, they were taken on the trip before the penguins. If you do take a group tour like us, you will be brought to many other places on the way to Phillip Island. Not too bad, unless you have seen dozens of Koalas and Kangaroos!


In-touch with the animals of Australia,
A

Lucky Me!

Hey, check out my new gadget from 4 friends who came to visit me.

My New Gadget

Delighted me,

A

Brave Spirits

Trude will be so proud of me, if she ever reads this.

Went to a classmate's party last night. And I swear I only knew her and her flatmate at the party. Worst, I forgot flatmate's name. Sigh. Anyhow, I made my way there with brave spirits, in the hope of promoting a little Singaporean friendlinest, and shatter any singlish notion.

The first friend I met was Sande, from Burma, who has been staying in Australia for 15 years. She's a bag designer since a year ago, and is currently retailing her bags in 35 shops. Remembered these numbers only because it's my first sip off my wine glass. One of her comments to me was 'you don't sound like a Singaporean, you don't use the 'lah' language'. Should I feel insulted? Or should I feel triumphant since I am not a 'lah' user? Since I have to be my friendiest best, I brushed it off with a very weak 'serious?'....... And she went on to introduce me to the other people.

After 4 glasses of white, I met
1 indonesian
1 hongkie
2 malaysians
1 japanese
1 english
1 german
12 aussies

Managed a little boogie too since the in-house deejay was spinning.
And even managed to get a lift home from 2 new friends. Hee...

Can you tell that my holidays have just begun?
A

The Best Things In Life

The best things in life come when you least expect them.

Most of us demand a lot from life. We seek ways and means to get what we think we want. And when things do not land on our plates, we plunge into a deep hole, blaming the whole world but ourselves.

I am more for the idea that because we raise our expectations and hopes so high that when we dont achieve what we want, we fall even harder.

My 'philisophy'...... do your best in eveything, but when it seems like a hard wall you are facing, relax. What's yours, will come knocking on your door. And when that happen, it will be a double, triple surprise! That's the thrill in life!

Feeling worldly,
A

Shopping Streak!

Today, I was out shopping with my new friend, from Singapore along Bridge Road (full of factory outlets). But trust me, I wasn't going to buy anything for myself in my student status. Just wanted to get something for granny.

Anyway, we walked into Esprit without much 'hope' since Esprit is quite old school. A sales lady walked up and handed us one scratch card each, which will entitile us to a surprise discount. Held it in my hand and walked aimlessly, when my friend yelled and asked me to scratch my card. Was going to take a coin out to scratch since the silvey surface will stain my nails... heh... so gu-niang, I know. My friend grabbed the card and scratched it with her fingernails, tsk! Her eyes grew rather big when she looked up at me, and exclaimed, "eh, 75% discount off!"

Nonchalantly, I carried on browsing around the store, hardly excited while she was very busy buzzing around searching for things to buy. Told you I had no intention of spending money...... not till I picked up this 100% cotton red stylish 3quarters pants!

Retail Price $39.95 (already discounted pc)
After 75% Discount $ 9.99

My heart raced with top speed! It only hit me now that the 'golden' card I was toying with in my hand was worth something! ...... the rest is history, I tell you.

In summary, my damage or delight:

red 3quaters pants $9.99
blue 3quarters pants $7.49
green 3quarters pants $7.49
kharki bermudas for dad $12.49
blue cap $5.00
----------------------------------------
total $42.46
----------------------------------------


My Unintentional Buys

No more shopping for the next month,
A

What If I Have Never Met You?

Carrie Bradshaw (2nd last episode): "What if I have never met you?"

In the context of SITC, Carrie wondered what her life will be like if she has never met her trio-bulous friends, just before she leaves NY and gasps at the Effiel Tower.

I wondered, what it will be like without the people around me. Every corner I turn, I will meet a different person, or kick a pebble, or spot a 'buy-me-now' t-shirt, or stare at the 'slurp-till-your-throat-freeze' milkshake.

How exciting and yet mysterious, life can be!


Completed SITC, wanna know the ending?
A

Tim Tams

Its 4.33am, Melbourne time, and I am still up. My friends would have guessed that I had probably had a cup of kopi hours ago - a syndrome that was made known by some belt swinging in the middle of the night, some time ago. (story ends here)

Not only did I drink a cup of kopi, but with 2 pieces of tim tams as well! .... that was at 12 midnight. Body combat, I am coming!

But seriously speaking, if your sight ever crosses a pack of tim tam - double coated chocolate, please buy it and dip into your coffee. Its bagus! Have not stopped since April this year.... and thats, one, two, three, four, five, six, seven... months of tim tams since then!

Nevertheless, due to waistline issues, I thought I better cut down on my intake. My 'non-sale' tactic did help a little. This means that I only buy tim tams when they are on sale.... also known as the 'cheapo' tactic, which is a powerful tool when you are a student.

Shall I give it up all together?

Waistline concerned,
A

My First

I have just congratulated my mate on her first blog attempt, so thought I better post something on my own. Otherwise, will probably be choked on my own words.

4 more days before school ends, I am estatic! There are so many things to do and see. I can't wait!

Ammes

P/s. I think I may have commitment issues as well. Maybe that's why we are friends, Awn. Cant guarantee that I will be back to write more. We'll see.