Football or Soccer?

University classes started probably a little better than i expected although there was this Censorship subject that i cant really relate to because everything is virtually censored in Malaysia, making it almost impossible for me to know about any topics discussed in class. Besides that, i was ready for the challenge of writing better essays and having my papers marked by lecturers over at Deakin.

Back home in Malaysia, every weekend means Barclays English Premier League time at mamak or at the comfort of my own home with a pack of nachos cheese and a can of 100 plus, on the other hand, over here in Melbourne weekend also meant Football!!! Yeah!!! but oh no..... Football here is also known as Australian Football League (AFL) which has a huge followings especially over here amongst Victorians. AFL or Footy are played using both hands and legs, a goal is worth 6 points while a behind is worth 1 point. Footy is played on an oval field with 15 players on each side using a oval shaped ball too (tricky).

One unique thing that i found out about Australian sport is that sports here are played year long. AFL and the National Rugby League (NRL) are played over Autumn and Winter while Cricket, Hyundai A- League (Soccer) and the Australian Open tennis were played over Spring and Summer. Being a huge sport fan myself since young made me realise that i chose the perfect place to come to.

Soccer here is not as popular as it is in Europe and Asia as cricket and rugby dominates the market share of sport down under. Bad news for me, it meant that i would have limited access to Manchester United games although SBS do broadcast the occasional UEFA Champions League games. Beggars are no choosers right?

After signing myself up for the new University gym, i found out that the gym organises weekly indoor soccer league. Where and how do i get a team to sign up? The gym staffs took my name and allocated me and my mate Syahid into a random team which were made out of 3 Sri Lankan post-grad students and a Guatemala international student. I was really excited for the first game but at the same time anxious to see who my teammate were.

I was at my peak in futsal in Malaysia so i was ready to keep that going. Scored a hat-trick in the first game where we lost 4-3 and throughout the season, i have only scored one winning goal against the league leaders to end the season 4th of the ladder, just did enough to qualify for the grand finals week. I knew that i was far from my best, scoring only 4 goals as much was due to the different rules used.

Me and the boys celebrating a surprise win.

Nevertheless, i manage to produce 3 winning goals for my team in the semis and the finals to win The Tigers its first and last grand champion title. Goal tally = 7.

Melbourne Touch Down !!!

Before officially arriving in Melbourne, i was trying to recall how Melbourne looked like, all i can remember was Movie World and Sea World in Gold Coast. The last time i was here in Australia i was 9 years old, no memories at all about Melbourne.

Once i stepped off the plane, turned on my cell straight away so that i can contact cousin Sue Lynn and her boyfriend Bren due to the slight delays from Singapore. Walking out of the arrival hall, seeing Sue Lynn and this fair looking Aussie guy made me feel secured and ready to start my adventure here. Sue Lynn was one of the reasons why i chose Melbourne, she sort of brainwashed me about how good Melbourne is and so here i am!!! Sue Lynn was generous in offering me a place to stay for a couple of days before picking up the keys to my accommodation.

Lights off.

The next day, while snoozing in bed, i felt a glare coming through the blind of Sue Lynn's guest room, got up and moved myself to the nice comfy sofa in the lounge room. The next thing i can recall is seeing Sue Lynn coming back home at around lunch time, isn't she at work? She took a sick leave so that she can show me around Melbourne on a beautiful day. How nice.

St Kilda Beach

Sue Lynn took me out for lunch at St Kilda beach, while we were strolling down the beach, we saw two extremely hot girls doing a photoshoot, that was when i need to do my own.

Not a bad start to Melbourne hey?

Had my first Aussie lunch at Amells- Fish and Chips. Pier at St Kilda Beach

February 2007- New Beginning

Back in 2005/06, knowing that there is a possibility to go abroad to further my studies came as an excitement for me as i have always believed in seeing the other side of the world. It has always been my parent's idea to give me the opportunity to study abroad while i was more than happy and content to finish off my degree at Limkokwing Univerisity College.

I started applying for a couple of Australian universities at the end of my final semester at Limkokwing, while applying i was looking at a number of factors like destination of the uni, credit transfers and the duration of the degree. I left all the university applications aside as i was heading to London for a month to spend Christmas and New Years with my sister. While in London, i felt insecure at times because for the first time in many years, i didn't know what my next step was, and which university i am going to enter.

I only had around 5 weeks to prepare myself for my Aussie adventure, scaled down university options to Swinburne and Deakin. In the end, i picked Deakin University because it provided me great credit transfers and offered me a partial scholarship. Sweet.

After receiving my offer letter from Deakin, everything from accommodations to visa applications happened really quickly, the next thing i know, i am on my way out of Malaysia. As Dad was more familiar with air ticket prices, he booked me a ticket on February 12th with Emirates Airlines, flying off Changi airport, Singapore.

Final picture with my folks before leaving.

After all the hugs and goodbyes, my feet felt heavy which makes me realised that leaving my loved ones wasn't easy at all. My parents looked smaller and smaller as i continued walking towards the departure hall. One year away from home starts NOW.

Blessed Boy?

Since i was young, i have always been taught by my family to count my blessings, in every sense, i consider myself very blessed both emotionally and physically. I am where i am now wasn't down to my own efforts, without my parents and my sister's support, i won't even dare to dream about achieving anything.

I haven't even have the chance to taste the hardship of life because my parents has done a great job in providing me a comfortable life, great education and life changing opportunities. The one thing that i can always take from my family is being humble. While considering titles for my blog, i knew straight away that the word 'blessed' needed to be in it, because it reflects me. Blessed - 1. highly favoured or fortunate 2. worthy of worship I have been blessed with a great family, and some great mates i can't ask for more can i? What i can do now is to make good use of this platform to build something different and carry on what my parents had instilled into me.

My Digicam

Before i officially start my first down under entry, please allow me to first introduce you my digital camera or my electronic-eyes.

All the pictures that will feature on the blog were taken using the Sony CyberShot T-50. I was asked to name my camera for my blog so that it sounds personal like having a pet but i prefer calling it 'china apek' style- my digicam.

When asked about the capability of my camera, i would be sure to mention that the camera featured in the latest James Bond movie- Casino Royale, held by the stunning Eva Green. My parents gladly bought me this camera just before i depart for Melbourne, so the camera is approximately one year old now and still in healthy condition. Eventually i would like to move onto a digital SLR but i believe i still have plenty to learn before i get my hands onto one.

Sony Cyber-Shot T-50 Specifications:

7.2 Megapixels

3X Optical Zoom

Carl Zeiss Lense

Touch Screen Navigation

Zhi Vern's Blogging 101

Even before presenting my idea of having my own blog to Hoong Earn, i had a couple of ideas on how to start my blog, one of them is to explain how my blog works. My blog will be divided accordingly by months (January, February etc...) then followed by subtitles of either travel, food or people which would be accompanied by a little icon. Pictures would feature prominently in almost every entry as there is a saying 'A PIcture Is Worth A Thousand Words'.

"Blogs are for Goyang Kaki people"

The idea of starting my own blog came when i was at the Sydney airport waiting for my flight to Brisbane. I gladly shared the idea with my mate Hoong Earn and he supported the idea and offered to help me set it up. I have asked myself several times before doing this, all these while i have always believed that blogs are for those who are away from their loved ones, presenting their life in a written form rather than speaking to them.

So my excuses for starting my own blog since i am going to be back in Malaysia in no time were to make it a review of my year down under and also as a way to improve my feature writing before it becomes rusty and finally, something that i can read over and over for self satisfaction.