Glow Worms In Surfers’ Paradise

Surfers’ Paradise in Gold Coast should be the ideal place to practice surfing and soak up in the sun, but since I was still unsuitable for any water sports and the sun was hiding behind the thick rainy clouds, I decided to try another activity.

This was the first time I saw glow worms, they were actually not flying around like I always used to think (or those are another species?). They were living in the humid mud and stone cracks, with their tail sticking out emitting green lights to attract their preys.

It was amazing to see thousands of little green lights scattered around you in the middle of the forest. It was definitely breath taking when you are inside the cave surrounded by a huge glow worm colony and a waterfall.

Bryon Bay

This was taken from Bryon Bay lighthouse, the most easternly point of mainland Australia. It was about 9:15am, the sun had just up and shining over a calm sea. I would really like to stay there longer and admire the scene. I would also like to see the sunset from here, then I will be the first person on Australia mainland to receive the sun.

Maybe everything that you missed doing is the most beautiful or desirable. Due to bus schedule and room availability, I can only stay in Bryon Bay for one night. I rushed to the lighthouse in the morning before I checked out the hostel. I was unable to stay up there longer nor to see the sunset on the next day.

Surf Camp

Try to look for me? Save it, I was behind the camera taking this picture.

This was a free surf lesson comes with my bus pass. They will put you into a private beach where there is only one group of surfing beginners. You cannot say you have travelled in Australia without trying to surf. I was very excited & so looking forward to this lesson, afterall, it looks pretty easy and loads of fun.

However, on the arrival date, whilst we were walking to our cabin... I have got a visitor!!! An uninvited visitor came on the inappropriate date. Damn!! So I spent the surfing lesson standing next to the class and taking pictures like an alien.

Even worse, the coming week was spent in Bryon Bay & Surfers' Paradise, which are places that have not much to do if you are out of water. V.V

My Work

"Hi there, this is Gloria calling from CommInsure, how are you...?" This is the sentence I say at least 50 times a day. Finally find myself comfortable and capable of handling the job I am doing, but at the same time know that I have to move on.

Still remembered the first time they asked me to call the customer and ask me to tell them their claim has been denied. I was so stressed out and had no idea what I was talking about, it was ended up a question from my supervisor saying that "Did you understand how this works?".

Worked in CommInsure for 2 months now, most of the customers are reasonable and nice. Given the adverse conditions that half of their ceiling has been collapsed and all the home contents being damaged by flood water, they are very composed & polite indeed.

One thinig I learnt from this job is, you have to speak for yourself, and hold on to what you entitled to. So never dream of taking advantage of me AGAIN!!!

East Coast

Tentatively decided to leave Sydney on 13 March and get my bottom to leave the chair and do some REAL travelling!!! The route will be from Sydney via Brisbane and end at Cairns, this might possibily take one month. ^-^ So so looking forward to this. Afterall, this is the reason for me to leave HK and come to the Down Under (people call Australia the "Down Under"). So excited.

P.S. New housemates = 3 Swedish (2 of them are blonde). I do not know starting from when, I would also stereotype Swedish Blondes like others. Ha~

Overtime on Weekday

Today is the first time OT during weekdays, again, dinner is provided. You will also receive a Taxi e-ticket. Presumably you can use this e-ticket to go wherever you want in a taxi, and the ticket will pay for you. Feeling a bit thrilled that I can ride a taxi home though it's only 20 minutes walk. It costs you AUD15 for a start, and it is kind of expensive transportation to me.

However, as usual, the stupid me thinking that I can easily hop on a cab during a storm night in Sydney city centre, has proved I am still as naive as I always am. Just after 10 seconds walk from my work building to the first street, I was wet from my knee down. And I was unable to see a single cab that was vacant... !#%@#$@!!! They booked the cab before they leave the office!!!

So... since I was half wet already, I will not going to wait in the rain for God knows how long for a vacant cab. So I walked home, even I have a free taxi ride home... I walked 20 minutes home, I was drenched from my waist down and wet from the neck up... coz my umbrella was leaking.

Even with all these ordeal, I walked home with a smile. Just thinking why didn't I wear a skirt today with thong, so I can step on the water without worry. Hahaa~ More importantly, I saw many people on the street being wet by this ferocious storm are wearing a smile. Maybe they find it's funny to get wet, or maybe they think this is just part of life, embrace it with either a frown or a smile. They choose a smile. ^-^

My Birthday

Overtime Work

Overtime work is always not on my mind whilst working in Hong Kong, because you are trading off your personal time with the work that will not be recognized nor be paid extra.

Here in Australia, Company actually "beg" you to do overtime on Saturday. Not only will they pay you extra, they will also provide lunch. So on a Saturday afternoon, I am sitting in the office after eating a mouthful of pasta & salad & pies, listening to the in-house radio (yes, there is always background music in the office programmed by the in-house radio), and writing the blog.

Come And Go

People come and go in our lives, we make new friends, and at the end of the party, you might have difficulties recalling their names.

However, there are people you met that you feel a connection. The encounter needs not to be long, but you know somehow you are connected. It is hard to say goodbye to these people. When you meet people on the road, it is very likely that the goodbye is an eternal one. All the bullshits about meet up again some years later in your / my countries are just a sweet way to round up.

Respect

***WARNING: People who disapprove homosexual is encouraged to STOP reading***

I witnessed one of the most bizarre weddings in Sydney Festival last Saturday. A gay couple was holding their wedding ceremony during this massive arts & music festival. One of the couple is a Chinese who told his family his sexual preference at the age of 16. The other one is a over 6 feet & 180 pounds foreigner who had married at a very young age, and is a father of a girl. He struggled hard in the heterosexual marriage, and lastly he confronted his sexual orientation. (Brokeback Mountain?)

You could feel the love between them, they kept giving each other little kisses on the cheek and stroking each other lightly in their holding hands. When the huge foreigner read his vowes, big tears were rolling down. Even you disapprove gay marriages, you will be moved by his vowes.

Actually gay marriages are not lawful in Australia, but the couple would like to go through the normal rituals as in a normal marriage to signify their commitments to this relationship, and most importantly, the organizer of the event is open minded enough to make this happen.

This is a true demonstration of showing respect on people's decision in their lives.