It's been ages

Here lies memories from Melbourne, Australia, which I cannot seem to find or buy from anywhere. A great song from His Girl Friday called Take Shots, it was used in the Australian Virgin Mobile ad back in 2009/2010. So it will be here for anyone willing to listen to the awesome song.

As they say, memories are priceless.

Salvation

And so it is just like they said it would be. You stick out long enough at it and one fine day you'll get it. The thing they forgot to mention in those fairy tales is that the sticking out period is hellish. Well that's why they're called fairy tales, they always forget to mention the drab points..

Anyway, on the 24th of March I finally got a call from the property agency of the house I last visited. A vast apartment for the rent they're charging.. of course the catch was there ain't any washing machines nor the taps for 'em.

Well the date was 28th March 2008, that date will go down in history as the day my initial nomadic life here ends. FINALLY! My own room, my own bed, my own everything! The 28th was a Friday, Jeff was coming back here the following day so I decided to move in only on Monday.

So when I did, I snapped away! These are pics of how it all went..

Welcome to the new world. That's the hallway, the left and straight ahead is the living room and the right is the toilet. Enjoy your stay! Let's get on with it, this is a bloody heavy door.

And a peek into the living room through the main door.. yeah the living room's got a door. Big room with a lovely view out, especially during autumn...

There you go, the whole living room taken from... what can only be called dining room.. not much of a room really it's like a small extended part of the whole place.. it's like an L shaped thingy.. never mind.

And... that's my room! I've always wanted one with a nice window like that. The view is.. basically a tree but when you're down and looking up... ohhh what a treat.

And Jeff's room.. don't be fooled, the sunset here is magnificent.. it is!

The bathroom! Hmmm lots of space but.. something is amiss

Nah.. it's not missing! The best bathrooms always have their baths like this one!

This may not look like the part of a five star kitchen but everything's there. The stove, grill, oven... lots of space for stuff!
As can be seen from the above pictures, lovely house, lots of space... LOTS AND LOTS OF SPACE.. We need to do something about all that space.. So... we got on to work on it.

Firstly.. ALL my stuff will go into the cabinetsssss...

Then we pull the curtains and get down to work.. well easy stuff first..

The living room has now turned into a workshop, this is where most of the stuff will take shape.

Ohhh the bathroom needs some work too!

Re-cleaning the rooms again and putting that mattress down. This is just the beginning...

Work continues in the morning where the mess is piling. It's funny.. the longer we work the messier it gets.. counter productive really.. How ironic.

See what I mean? Messy is the word.

And the work continues into April!

The Quintessential Traveller

29th March 2008...
And so after two weeks at Caulfield I had to move to Clayton. A place far from the busier parts of city life, this district is definitely sub urban. It is nice though, very calm, very peaceful.. and the night sky here is awesome! It wasn't hard to locate the house, the guys there picked a sweet spot right across their school, Monash's Clayton Campus. It was here that I experienced the first of Autumn and it was not gentle. But when I first arrived it was still Summer in full force, it's hard to get used to the idea that when the sun's down, it is time to sleep. Sunset is around nine at night during summers here, you'd think it'd only be time for dinner. Even then, the climate is most irregular with bouts of cold fronts from the south for days and then an abrupt return to the heat. When you seek shelter under a tree in a hot day you'll be surprised of the difference!
Now I've come to stay in the home of five guys, Jeff's friends, Monash students, football players and gamers. They've just gotten the place not too long ago either, cabinets weren't available, door handles litter the corridor.. but it was peaceful.

The thing with this place is it is quite some distance away from Swinburne University of Technology.. not to mention on a different railway line altogether. Clayton's at the southeastern suburbs of Melbourne metro while Hawthorn, where Swinburne's campus is located, is still well within metro and in the east. To get to school I could do it several ways. One way was to take a bus from Monash Clayton to Clayton Railway station and get on a train to Richmond which takes around 40 minutes at least and then switch to an eastbound train. That path normally takes almost an hour. The other one which we only discovered after a few days was taking a bus from Monash northwards to Syndal Railway Station and then head towards Burnley and then off to Glenferrie.. All in all... it was still very time consuming. At times I didn't even feel like going back to Clayton after school! I'll load up a nice map of the Metro railway network for a good idea of how it was!
THERE YOU GO! Melbourne Metropolitan Railway Network.

That's the temporary home at Clayton!

And from the driveway...

The first signs of Autumn from very visible from Syndal station. On the way to school of course...
This station is quite camouflaged by bushes and trees and everything that it actually looks like a railway line cuts through a hill from the outside.

The good thing about staying at the suburbs is the view, which are clear and unobstructed most of the time. But that comes with the wind, the cold, the hail and the storm. Oh well...

Syndal station!!! This was my favourite hangout place for a good two weeks!

Oh and of course I've finally managed to get some music back in here, just as it was orignally way back in.. I can't remember which year. Anyway this IS a sanctuary so if all this lets you escape even for a moment from the rush and the works, then the purpose for the existence for this place has been fulfilled. And I'll be glad it helped.

Dire Straits

8th March 2008 then...
And so I've moved on to a nice chap's house. He's Jeff's friend, and so I'm his. The place is a nice little studio apartment at Caulfield right across from the Monash University campus there. From there on to school isn't too bad, just about six stations up to Richmond interchange and then another four or five Eastbound to Glenferrie. I'm just glad there's a small little spot for me where I can relax and unwind and stare at the walls and ceilings. There's a small little cove that's supposed to be some sort of balcony. When I send my clothes for a wash, I tend to sit out there and just look at the nice starry skies. The skies are different here.

The search for a suitable home here continues with no end in sight. We've visited many and applied for some and yet here we are. Walking up and down the streets looking up homes and property agencies have never been this essential, never felt this.. cruicial. And still we happy homeless few...

During my first week at Caulfield I got myself a stomach infection. Most horrible feeling ever.. You can't keep your food down properly and the toilet's your best friend. Between these two you basically lie on the bed powerless.. you just feel.. tired and very very uncomfortable with all the gas in there. I did manage to get myself to the nearest Asian's grocer to get some ginger and honey tea though, on the day itself when I was grazed by this terrible affliction. Went to see the doc the next day and he simply said stomach infection, nothing you can do about it just take some medication and you'll be fine. Easy for him to say when I was the one going purple.

This here is a picture of Glenferrie Road just by the school. Swinburne's to the right along with the Railway Station that cuts the campus in two. It's a busy little street and it may not look much but there's a couple of nice things here. There's Mc Donald's along with Sushi Sushi and some other asian restaurants, a personal favourite is Hawker's Cafe since they have my beloved Teh. There're two supermarkets, bookshops, gameshops, couple of banks and there's even a dedicated crumpler shop. No Krispy Kremes though...

This I took on one of my many trips walking around looking for houses. I took this picture because after that long walk I realised I was up on a high ground and turned around to see how far I've gone. This street is a couple of streets down that runs parallel to Chapel Street. Toorak Road itself isn't even visible here. Oh and look at that slope...

But on some cheerful days I am greeted by just such a sight. A sight many will kill and die for... The Gucci, the LV for gaming systems... Alienware.

And when you stand up and see this.. There's a reason why it's called Alien Invasion!

Within Southern Cross Station on a bright sunny evening. Everything looks nice and fine when the sun's up and shining, then you'll feel just fine...

Well soon I shall have to be moving again as Caulfield will be unavailable. Next destination I've been told is an outskirt called Clayton...

Mein Kampf

28th February 2008
Eastern Front
Situation: Nomadic

The struggle to locate a long term habitable location continues. Multiple possible positions have been identified but has yet to be confirmed if we are to be able to acquire the said locations. Meanwhile we toured our allies' stronghold to get a better idea of how well entranched we are and of our lines on this front. One of the more prominent locations is Fort Ying, after the commanding officer of the settlement. Located near the end of Bourke street it is a remarkable place with the Southern Cross Railway Station just across the street. It also commands the high ground with very good lines of sight.

A good idea of the high ground from Fort Ying with a view of the streets below with the Victorian church across.

Looking deeper into CBD area from the sentry balcony of Fort Ying shows the good lines of sight.

Also, a good coverage of the Southern Cross Railway Station as can be seen here in the evening light with docklands beyond it. The docklands area was more like a harbour not 20 years ago, it has been turned into a modern residential and commercial district now.

The day after we toured the western edges of the CBD and this is the view up the Yarra river between Southern Cross Railway station and Crown.

This is taken recently from the approaches to the southern half of Swinburne University of Technology. A lovely walk from Glenferrie train station.

So then 13 days after our landing we still have yet to secure a prominent settlement that can be fortified and be held with confidence. I shall have to relocate to another temporary shelter as my current position is compromised after the first planned 10 days. We need to find that settlement, fast. Time is not on our side now.

I shall lodge in another report once I have completed my temporary relocation. I pray it won't be long...

New Life, settling down...

But then it seems life is peachy. The first ten days I was in Melbourne I was staying at a backpacker's inn while we were looking for a more permanent sort of lodging. Meanwhile there's school to deal with as well. Registration, orientation and everything. It's only the third day and I had to find my way to Hawthorn for my registration day and so with sushi as breakfast I blundered my way onto Glenferrie Railyway station. The view wasn't half bad.

That view above was what greeted me when the train I was on pulled into the station and on the station sign it boldly stated "Glenferrie - Swinburne University of Technology". A beautiful day indeed, clear blue skies and all.

Making my way through most of the campus was fairly easy as they had boards pointing the way towards the Hawthorn Town Hall where the Registration was to take place. Right across the street I took the liberty to snap a picture of it while waiting for the light to go green. The tower can serve as a marker. The Melbourne CBD skyline can actually be seen from here!

And there it is! 360 Burwood Road, Hawthorn Town Hall and a full two hours of rigors await.

After three hours I was back on platform 1 of Glenferrie station and I found that even here the CBD skyline is clearly visible. Feels like the city isn't far off. No, no within normal walking distance. Have you not heard of the phrase appearances can be deceiving? Further, it seems that the process of searching for a long term home here is more complicated than expected. Ten days it seems may not be enough. I had to find alternatives.

But not all is lost. A couple of days after registration was the orientation day proper and my lecturer/tutor/unit convenor/superman Dr Mark Finn brought me up to the computer lab that was being prepped and readied for us gaming students and the new semester. Guess what these rooms are loaded with? Check out that silhouette. I'm sure you've seen that somewhere! Oh that's the good Dr reflected on the beautiful clean glass.

Hell, that was enough to light up my day.

Five more days now...

Destination: Melbourne!

On the 14th of February 2008, I set out for the future. This was a step into the unknown. I've never liked the idea of going to university out of need. People should go for something they want to do. Nevertheless I find myself at the boarding gate of the Qantas flight, looking out at the busy workers preparing the aircraft, looking out to the twilight and wonder..

Fast forward 6 hours and I'm at Adelaide for the transit to Melbourne. Just over an hour for transit is simply not enough! Especially when you're transferring from an international flight to an inter state one. Well at least I caught Elizabeth: The Golden Age on board the last one, bravo Cate Blanchett! Not much sleep though... Off dry Adelaide and unto unpredictable Melbourne!

After a couple of hours I couldn't be bothered anymore. I was tired and hungry. The snack on the inter state was good but that's all they are, SNACK! Nothing much at the airport and I didn't have change so off I go then, collect my baggage and out into wall of icy breeze. I did not take notice of the climate report and am paying the price, cold winds from the south that day. A bright sun shiny day though, reason for celebration. Melbourne! Melbourne!

That was short lived though. Following precise instructions I went into the Skybus ticket line and got my single way to Southern Cross. A full AU $16! The last time I paid $16 for a bus ride was 8 years ago in Japan and there's the obvious reason that the event still linger in my memory. Onto the Skybus then and 20 minutes off into Melbourne CBD. Once I hit the tarmac at Southern Cross I just sought the nearest row of chairs and made myself comfortable, I wasn't moving anywhere till Jeffrey arrives.. time for a little shut eye..

There wasn't fade to black.. it was just black but I was still wide awake...

And then Jeffrey appeared out of nowhere, in fact just down the escalator from what I would later learn was the train station, Southern Cross. Off we went then to find me a roof over my head for the next 10 days or so. Godwilling I'll spend less than that period to find a proper place to call home. Checked in at a backpacker's inn and sharing the room with 14 others, YES FOURTEEN, we went off in search for food and walked around CBD. In this Endeavour I took these first few pictures of Melbourne.

This is the first picture taken in Melbourne, that's Jeffrey acting busy.

And since he was busy I was just content looking around... I was awed. That spot was the corner of Bourke and King streets and hell I took more shots. This one is down King's and look at that skyscraper!

And then down just across the Bourke street there's THIS! It's actually a Victorian church but granted, not a very well taken shot. But hey! You can still see the Accord Euro R clear enough.

That's further down Bourke and into the heart of CBD...

And this.. is a TRAM! I'm gonna get intimate with her and her sisters soon enough. It's essential! No forget the cab, note the.. the TRAM!

Now that's grass growing on the.. curb.. pavement.. shit I don't know what it is.. and WHY it's like that. Interesting...

And on the way into the heart of CBD.. at the crossroads!

One of the Cathedrals in Melbourne, this one's near Melbourne Central, right beside where we had lunch.. or breakfast... the FIRST meal.

Walking down Swanston Street... there's the magnificent St Paul's Cathedral. It's huge.

And finally, here we are! This is like City Hall station really.. it's the one and only Flinder's Street train station. Now that in the middle of a modern city. I'd say that's cool!

From Flinder's Street station, there are still other brilliant structures. They are nicely fused into this new city that's growing around them. Just look at the contrast in the picture below.

And finally as an afterthought I slipped to the back of Flinder's Street station and walah, this greeted me... From there I see the South bank of the Yarra river. Only later I realise how iconic this actually is.

Enjoy~!!!

The rest gotta wait a bit...