Look What I've Bought.....Again!

Remember I previously blogged about how ugly the new 2009/10 Manchester United jersey was? I still had to buy one when I was in transit in Kuala Lumpur prior to my trip back to Palembang.

I was shopping for some computer hardware in Low Yat Plaza when I came across the replica. I could not resist asking the seller how much it was. The guy said RM60 but I thought it would be too expensive and started to walk away. It was starting to drizzle and the man pulled me back to negotiate on the price. In the end he said RM45. I thought the material and badges were really authentic. I never liked wearing rough textured synthetic material jerseys that feel hot. However, this one is as smooth as silk.

I had to eat my words because in the end I bought the jersey with the "V" across the chest. Even my mind does not think it looks as nice as jerseys that Man Utd had before, it was my passion for the team that drove me to spend RM45 for that outfit. My wife will definitely grumble at me again saying that I already have so many jerseys but seldom wear them....LOL!

Miniature Steam Trains

Our toddler son is crazy about trains. When we were in Brisbane, we found this place where the Lions Club had their minature steam trains operating and bringing people along for rides. It was heaven for our son.

The train rides are available every last Sunday of the month in one of the parks. The railway tracks go around the park. There were a total of 5-6 mini steam trains in operation and each of them could carry passengers up to 8 persons. The steam trains had to stop to load coal and water upon completion of one round around the park. Despite their miniature size, they could move as fast as 10km/hr with passengers!

The queue was long when we arrived and had to wait for almost 20 mins before we could get on. The Lions Club sold donuts, hotdog sandwiches and refreshments. They also had tents selling handicrafts as well.

We had much fun riding on those trains. Our son managed to get onto 3 rides. He was happy just to see his Thomas and Friends chuffing along. They had "Salty", "Emily", "Thomas", "Donald & Douglas", " Annie & Clarabel" and "Henry" in operations that day.

Queensland Spanner Crabs

I had lots of nice food when I was in Brisbane. We ate some good authentic Hong Kong Dim Sum from Landmark, Sunnybank; good steaks at Normans Hotel but the best is still the delicious spanner crabs.

Spanner crabs are named after their spanner like claws. They are mostly found in the sandy beaches along Queensland, NSW and South Australia. Unlike mud crabs, spanner crabs could walk foreward and backward (not sideways) plus they are already reddish orange even before they are cooked.

Below are some photos that show how big they are and their unique shell designs. I am sure future sci-fi movie producers would use their figures for some alien characters.

Photos of the week - Brisbane Activities

Miniature train rides (organized by Bramble Bay Lion Club - 4th Sunday of every month).















Picnics along beaches of Redcliffe (not the Chinese movie RED CLIFF!)














Sandcastle building at South Bank's man-made beach.















Playing "excavators" at the back yard.




















Fishing at Redcliffe's pier
















Stationary Thomas train rides at Indoroopilly Mall.
(we are not stingy but we don't want him to have a habit of asking for rides)


















Reading Thomas books in a bookstore until people stare at us.


















Fishing at the marinas around Raby Bay (near Elaine & Scott's place)
















We only caught these pest fishes the whole day (donated much of our bait)!
















Cycling along Brisbane river
















Visting the City Library.

Back in Palembang

It has been 3 days since I came back to Palembang from Brisbane.

When I first arrived, I could feel my ears burning as the heat was scorching! It happened to me everytime I come out from the Palembang airport. Maybe it is the temperature difference between Kuala Lumpur (my transit airport) and Palembang? It would normally take me a day before I get adapted to the heat again. Of course, a cold shower helps....;)

2 days prior to my arrival, Padang had an over 7.0 Richter Scale earthquake that killed almost 150 (still counting as of today) and buried thousands. Kuala Lumpur and Singapore also had aftershocks. My boss sms'd me to ask how was Palembang. When I checked with the locals, they mentioned that they did not even noticed there was an earthquake.

However in 2007 when the quake hit Bengkulu (western Sumatra as well but nearer to Palembang), I felt the ground shaking and felt as if my head was spinning. There were no damages to Palembang but Bengkulu suffered.

In mass today, the priest gave a sermon stating that we should not hestitate to do what we feel like doing (but not being impulsive though). He stated that after the quake hit Padang, Australia immediately dispatched vessels to Padang to provide help. Aid reached Padang after 6 hours but it took the Indonesian government 1 day before help was dispatched. Isn't it ironic that foreign help reached Padang at a faster pace? I think the priest was pretty witty to take a swipe during his sermon at the local government for hesitating on this matter.

Anyway, we pray that the casualties from this disaster do not pile up and pray that all anxieties experienced by the people in Padang could be reduced. God bless.