Welcome Aboard, Joshua!

Finally I've got sometime to update my blog.

These last few days have been so hectic (even now). It's because I've got a new family member coming into my home.

His name is Joshua.

He was born on Sunday night, 17th January 2010 at 23:22. And I witnessed every single step of his arrival into this world.

You know, not so many people, especially women, would like to watch the delivery process. I didn't mean to be proud for being so brave to watch everything. To be honest, at that time, I didn't think that I should get out and wait outside. I thought, if he's going to born now, so be it. After all, who doesn't want to see the baby born?

Anyway, I couldn't tell much right now. It seems to be a chaos around here, with the baby born, his two grandmas arrived from Jakarta, the new parents, etc, etc..

What I can say, I'm proud to have a nephew like Joshua.

Be a good boy, okay?!

Content of The Day

Hari ini gw ngerasa content abis.

Dimulai dengan bangun pagi yang sebenernya telat bangun, berakibat kepala berat dan rada sakit waktu sampe di kantor, tapi hari gw diisi dengan kegiatan yang cukup memeras otak dan menguras tenaga buat mikir (Yap. Mikir itu butuh tenaga).

Aslinya di kantor gw justru lagi ga ada kerjaan. Akibatnya, yang bukan sepenuhnya salah gw, gw jadi ber-internet ria buat research informasi2 yang lagi gw butuhkan. Tapi, justru dengan ber-google ria ini, gw jadi ngerasa hari gw content abis.

Karena hari ini gw berhasil melakukan beberapa hal yang rencananya bakal gw laksanakan dalam beberapa minggu ke depan:

1. Research tentang iPhone application. Dengan sebuah tujuan yang cukup mulia (menurut gw) dan tanpa mengurangi rasa hormat, gw lagi butuh research tentang iPhone. Aslinya sih gw paling males kalo disuruh google2an, soalnya gw suka ngerasa apa yg gw mau ga bisa lsg ketemu di search engine. Tapi, hari ini, usaha gw ga sia2. Kurang lebih, gw dapet apa yang gw mau.

2. Cari tau informasi buat translate driver license into English. Tadi siang gw telpon kantor yg bisa nyediain jasa translation yg gw mau (soalnya ga semua translator bakal 'diakui' di RTA, yang notabene adalah kantor 'komdak'nya Sydney). Dan gw udah dapet informasi lengkap, jadi gw tinggal dtg ke kantornya aja minggu ini.

3. Belajar Driver Knowledge Test dan nyobain Practice Testnya. Secara gw lagi ga ada kerjaan yang bener2 'berarti' di kantor, gw bisa pake waktu gw buat belajar computer-based driving test. Niatnya sih, gw pgn ambil tes ini secepetnya. Hasilnya tadi sih lumayan, 2 kali pass buat 2 kali percobaan.

4. Mulai ngebuka module Taxation. Sepulang kerja, sambil nunggu WC yg lagi 'dibajak' ama nci gw (soalnya kalo dia yg pake bisa lama bgt), gw mulai buka2 module CA. Dimulai dari halaman yg paling pertama, berjudul 'Study Planning', gw berhasil baca sampe 'Overview of Taxation Module'. Lumayan, kurang lebih gw tau assessment requirementnya dan apa aja yang gw butuhkan buat pass module ini.

Ya. Hari ini udah cukup banyak yg gw lakuin. So, the lesson for today is, 'Do not postpone what you can do today.'

Abis ini sebenernya gw berniat buat Study Plan CA. Tapi, berhubung gw udah mulai ngantuk n males, mgkn besok aja deh buatnya (kontras bgt sama lesson yg disebut barusan).

Do What You Gotta Do

Today I got a gift.

It's from Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia (ICAA) and the gift is Taxation Module.

Nice.

So, I haven't mentioned in this blog about my real actions towards achieving 2010 goals. In fact, this is one of them. Undertaking a professional course so that I can be qualified even to become a top quality accountant.

Very exciting, isn't it?

If you asked me last year whether being a highly-qualified accountant is my ultimate goal, I would say probably (yes).

But now, I can darely say I have a much bigger goal than that. I really want to share with you guys, but I'm a bit superstitious so I might want to keep it for myself for a while until I've done something (or I've got some achievements).

Still, right now I need to do what's in front of me, which is that bulky file that must be learned through the next 5 months. Great, sometimes I just love going back to school, yet I often get stressed in the middle of the semester (typical, isn't it?).

Apart from getting my mind ready to get more pressure this year, I'm also planning to open my heart bigger than ever (hopefully). It means that in 2010, I would like to learn being more 'human' by accepting that everyone is unique and always makes mistakes. Noone is greater than the other, so I should be more respectful and not underestimate people whom I'll meet. Fingers crossed and mind sticked to my goal, I believe myself that I can do it.

Just like Ajahn Brahm has given his 'Mega Metta' (big love)

And have you ever seen sunrise? When the sun starts rising and sky's slowly turning brighter? I can tell you that nothing is more beautiful than the nature itself.

On the 1st January 2010, 5 o'clock in the morning, together with some friends, I went to Opera House to look for the first sunrise in 2010.

 Opera House @5.30am

Just simply stare the sky and you'll find the beauty of the beauty

 This rising sun, in fact, does have something to do with me. As I never stop thinking, I thought at that time, that every of your dreams will have its way for you to be walked through. As the saying goes, 'Every cloud has its silver lining', so there's nothing in this world that you can't make it happened.

Follow your dreams and do what you gotta do.

Beautiful Memories from Beautiful Melbourne

So, I finally have to post this anyway (as I've been planning for it since last year).

This is about my trip to Melbourne during Christmas holiday. It was a 3-day trip and it was a second trip since I went there on January last year. Still, another trip had another story.

I was quite excited ever since I imagined my self flying away from Sydney and could get some rest for my soul, body, and my eyes from Sydney crowd. And the time had come. It was 24th December 2009.

Unfortunately, the weather didn't give me a warm, rather a wet welcome as it was raining by time I arrived at 9.30pm in Tullamarine Melbourne Airport. It was drizzling and I felt sorry for people who were celebrating the Christmas Eve (coz I thought it wasn't feel good to find yourself have to get wet after having such a delicious Christmas dinner).

Anyway, I was still excited to find my self in another city with its yellow taxis (dreamt like a New Yorker), its trams and its beautiful art centres. So, my cab brought me to a hotel that I had booked yet, I had not exactly any clue of its location.

Then I arrived in China Town. And there it was the hotel.

Okay. Tell me wrong coz I really want it to be wrong. But, why do I always come across with this China-town thingy? Not in Sydney, not in Melbourne, not in any other cities. I was almost convinced that I would find myself in another China Town if I went to the other places but Melbourne.

So, I tried to be more positive and thought this location was not bad at all. Asian restaurants were everywhere and I thought that was the only thing I need to feed my self here.

Next morning is Christmas Day.

While I planned to go around city for shopping, I had to admit that Christmas is the time for family gathering as all shops (including supermarkets) were closed. Luckily I still had 'my China Town' and Ronald McDonald that looked like Chinese businessman (coz he always opens his shops 24 hours). After all, having breakfast in McDonalds was not totally bad.

Found this unique instrument in the middle of the road.

Yarra River - Let's say this is one of Melbourne's famous places

Then I went around the city and luckily the public transport was free on Christmas Day. Yippee! That's why I 've been fallen in love with this city.

I thought they are look like some-kind of "Guardian Angels"

Who said nothing is free in this world? Can you see I was going to catch a FREE tram? Haha!

Oh! I forgot to tell you something. While all shops were closed, there was still something open which was Crown Casino, the biggest casino (I heard) in Australia. And I should admit that it was true. Not only being the biggest, it was totally glamorous including some highly-branded shops located in the ground floor (i.e.: Louis Vuitton, Prada, Gucci, etc).

Bling2 everywhere @ Crown

Look! It's Yenny Christmas!

Also, there was another special treat from Crown for people celebrating Christmas in Melbourne. There was a kind of musical objects that were played every half-an-hour. So there were Christmas tree, Rudolph-red-nose-reindeer, Santa Claus and musical box that seemed to be talking and moving around following the music. Sorry if it's confusing, but I hope you do understand what I'm saying.

It reminded me with big shopping centres in Jakarta

After getting enough with Crown 'blitz', I met up with a friend that was very kind to spare her Christmas time and went to Melbourne city only to see me.

In a tram! See I was totally excited like a kid.

Cool! You won't see this in Sydney.

So, after having a nice and totally spicy lunch with her, I went around city, such as Federation Square, Botanical Gardens, etc. Remember, I was a tourist so I acted like one.

Federation Square. I've never get bored with its unique shape.

Melbourne 'Eiffel Tower', yeah!

Nice ride! But it wasn't me.

@ Royal Botanical Gardens. It seems to be sacred statue.

I also didn't want to lose my chance to ride on a free tram. So I went to St. Kilda beach of which I also found another Luna Park (as Sydney got another one).

It was so windy so I was lazy to take lots of pics.

While Sydney has the 'girl' one, Melbourne got the 'boy' Luna Park.

On second day, it was a Boxing Day. Shopping time! I couldn't wait for all shops getting opened. Firstly, I imagined that the shops would be fully packed with aggressive people grabbing items and there would be long queue even for fitting rooms. But I was totally wrong.

In Melbourne, people seemed to be more relaxed facing this Big Shopping Day. I felt it was like only weekend time when people would do the shop. Some shops were packed (esp. big shopping centres) but it's still fine. There were no rush, no fight and the clothes were still amazingly hanged tidily. I was amazed. It was not like in Sydney where clothes were scattered on the floor and you have to get a long queue for trying them on (not including another long queue in cashier). Geesh! I love shopping in Melbourne. It's awesome!

So, another day was finished. In the following day, which was my last day, I was still exhausted. I thought I'd done with shopping but I found my self still buying some more stuff (couldn't resist a woman instinct for shopping). Then, I also did another last round in Melbourne city.

Having brunch @ Pancake Parlour. If you go to Melbourne, you should try it!

And I found this funny mirror in front of the cafe. Cute!

Hoho!

Melbourne State Library. Hei Melbourne people! I really envy you guys for this.

Also, I met my friend from Sydney that was in Melbourne as she was visiting her boyfriend. We went to a cafe in Fitzroy Street as firstly, she wanted to take us to an Art Street Market but it was closed. But I found lots of interesting objects around the street.

As my friend told me, there are lots of unique sign boards above each shop or cafe. I thought I'd never stop finding such artistic objects around Melbourne.

 Ha! What a really nice bench! It's made from ceramic though

A Beggar Man?

Think it straight, okay?!

I wonder what does 'Penang Affair' really mean...

And that was it. I finally had to leave that lovely city. I think, I will always miss...

its tram...

it's Victorian-style buildings...

and its numerous beautiful parks

Until next time, Melbourne!

First Post of The Year

Happy New Year everyone!

It's been another year for us to breath, to walk and to live.

And today was my first day going back to work. *huuhh...*

Anyway, I've got a very nice holiday during Christmas and New Year holiday period. And I've got some interesting stories to be shared. But not today (as I'm still being lazy to do a long post, sorry guys but I promise I'll post it sometimes later).

Apart from that, we should still get excited with this new year. New year means you gotta do new things (not old stuff, old habits or old stories).

And for me, I'd decided to leave all my past behind, never look back and keep going forward.

Classic? Not really coz I promise I will be committed to make it true.

No more old stories.

No more old nightmares.

No more old problems.

Instead,

I wanna have new stories from new people I've met.

I wanna have sleep tight and nice dream every night.

I wanna face new problems as I'll chase up my new dreams to make them true.

So, what's next? Action.

It's time for me to do more action and less talk.

Again, happy new year and hope you guys have a new spirit to make your life to be alive.