My body clock has gone hay-wired!

My body clock has gone hay-wired!

Relief. Joy. Exhilaration. These basically sum up my feelings after England successfully toppled Croatia in a highly anticipated match which ended in a electrifying score of 4-2. Again 18 year old Wayne Roodney shone , surpassing the talents of his well-known predecessors by shooting in two stylish goals. However, it was really Paul Scholes’ surprising header which helped England regain her confidence after being one goal down to Croatia. From then on, England was jolted up from her slumber, with Wayne Roodney scoring twice. Particularly memorable was Roodney’s forceful long-shot goal of which Croatia’s goalkeeper (I can’t remember Soviet names very well) could only stare helplessly. Owen, in contrast had to be contented in playing second fiddle to Roodney. His only attempt in scoring a goal failed miserably despite having great clearance to manoeuvre the ball. It should have been a goal had it been someone else in his place.
Beckham continued his role as a dud after a couple of off-target free-kick shot and to my amazement/aghast, he had the cheek to chuckle…Paul Scholes finally got his breakthrough, ending his 3years of goal-less drought!

Apart from minor glitches here & there, England played superbly, at least better than the match against Switzerland. It seems like England must go through the hard way of conceding a goal before her players will buckle up. In this match, complacency did not rear its ugly head fortunately, possibly due to the fact that they were taught a heavy lesson previously against France. What frustrated me was Ericksson’s perpetual habit of substituting scorers for defenders in the late second-half which always proves to too costly and even fatal at times. This is not to imply that substitute players like Ledley King are inferior but harmony is disrupted whenever too many changes are made within a short span of time. Adaptation is crucial for good communication to exist. Erickson also has a soft spot for Owen, judging from his refusal to substitute him. He is really lucky not to come under fire since England won

Anyway I am happy for England. Call me an Anglophile if u want but England will win Portugal and get into the semifinals. Looking forward to the match against Portugal when Ronaldo and his Man-u teammates would have to slug it out for a place in the semi finals!

Relief. Joy. Exhilaration. These basically sum up my feelings after England successfully toppled Croatia in a highly anticipated match which ended in a electrifying score of 4-2. Again 18 year old Wayne Roodney shone , surpassing the talents of his well-known predecessors by shooting in two stylish goals. However, it was really Paul Scholes’ surprising header which helped England regain her confidence after being one goal down to Croatia. From then on, England was jolted up from her slumber, with Wayne Roodney scoring twice. Particularly memorable was Roodney’s forceful long-shot goal of which Croatia’s goalkeeper (I can’t remember Soviet names very well) could only stare helplessly. Owen, in contrast had to be contented in playing second fiddle to Roodney. His only attempt in scoring a goal failed miserably despite having great clearance to manoeuvre the ball. It should have been a goal had it been someone else in his place.
Beckham continued his role as a dud after a couple of off-target free-kick shot and to my amazement/aghast, he had the cheek to chuckle…Paul Scholes finally got his breakthrough, ending his 3years of goal-less drought!

Apart from minor glitches here & there, England played superbly, at least better than the match against Switzerland. It seems like England must go through the hard way of conceding a goal before her players will buckle up. In this match, complacency did not rear its ugly head fortunately, possibly due to the fact that they were taught a heavy lesson previously against France. What frustrated me was Ericksson’s perpetual habit of substituting scorers for defenders in the late second-half which always proves to too costly and even fatal at times. This is not to imply that substitute players like Ledley King are inferior but harmony is disrupted whenever too many changes are made within a short span of time. Adaptation is crucial for good communication to exist. Erickson also has a soft spot for Owen, judging from his refusal to substitute him. He is really lucky not to come under fire since England won

Anyway I am happy for England. Call me an Anglophile if u want but England will win Portugal and get into the semifinals. Looking forward to the match against Portugal when Ronaldo and his Man-u teammates would have to slug it out for a place in the semi finals!

Holland vs Czech Republic is definitely the most adrenaline-pumping and heart-stopping match of the tournament so far. Those who have watched this match live will attest to it. Also the most heartwrenching match given that Holland is my favourite Group D team! When Holland scored an early goal at the third minute, I shared the intense joy and jubilation that infused our souls with Holland fans in the Portugal stadium as well as those sitting around me. Just when I thought that my jubilation was perhaps a tad too early to determine the final score, in came Ruud Van Nistelroy’s second goal which I thought for sure would seal the Czechs’fate. Ha, how misguided I was ! With sheer tenacity and doggedness, the Czechs fought back valiantly, constantly putting pressure on the Dutch side, finally culminating to a 3-2 win. As expected, defense was never the Dutch’s forte, which was more prone to an attacking mode but lady luck was not on their side. Several shots were so near on target, only to be deflected by the goalie’s leg or the goal post. I must admit , though, that both teams were equally outstanding, playing soccer with such verve and gusto the hasn’t been seen so far in the tournament. Compared to England, I would say that both teams are a notch higher than the English. I really hope that both the Dutch and the Czechs would successfully go through the next round. Germany plays too safely and is boring to watch which is why I can’t be bothered to wake up and watch the Latvia vs Germany match. Ha, hopefully, the Dutch can beat Latvia, which has shown that it is a force not to be reckoned with.

The next death match between Portugal and Spain is a must watch… Portugal desperately needs to win this competition to qualify while Spain would just need a draw! I am keeping my fingers crossed on Spain. Hopefully Greece would lose to Russia so that both Portugal and Spain will enter the next round. but that is almost impossible…

Holland vs Czech Republic is definitely the most adrenaline-pumping and heart-stopping match of the tournament so far. Those who have watched this match live will attest to it. Also the most heartwrenching match given that Holland is my favourite Group D team! When Holland scored an early goal at the third minute, I shared the intense joy and jubilation that infused our souls with Holland fans in the Portugal stadium as well as those sitting around me. Just when I thought that my jubilation was perhaps a tad too early to determine the final score, in came Ruud Van Nistelroy’s second goal which I thought for sure would seal the Czechs’fate. Ha, how misguided I was ! With sheer tenacity and doggedness, the Czechs fought back valiantly, constantly putting pressure on the Dutch side, finally culminating to a 3-2 win. As expected, defense was never the Dutch’s forte, which was more prone to an attacking mode but lady luck was not on their side. Several shots were so near on target, only to be deflected by the goalie’s leg or the goal post. I must admit , though, that both teams were equally outstanding, playing soccer with such verve and gusto the hasn’t been seen so far in the tournament. Compared to England, I would say that both teams are a notch higher than the English. I really hope that both the Dutch and the Czechs would successfully go through the next round. Germany plays too safely and is boring to watch which is why I can’t be bothered to wake up and watch the Latvia vs Germany match. Ha, hopefully, the Dutch can beat Latvia, which has shown that it is a force not to be reckoned with.

The next death match between Portugal and Spain is a must watch… Portugal desperately needs to win this competition to qualify while Spain would just need a draw! I am keeping my fingers crossed on Spain. Hopefully Greece would lose to Russia so that both Portugal and Spain will enter the next round. but that is almost impossible…

I have been listening to songs from American Idol Season 3 contestants. Listening to these songs bring back such fond memories of constant sms-ings and endless discussions among friends who sux and who rocks. Perhaps I have been too harsh on performers like Jasmine Trias but I still hold on to my views about her off-tune and constipated-like singing. But I still listen faithfully to her songs without skipping them expect for those songs sung in disco night. Inseparable and Dun let the sun go down me were her best performances. Breathe was totally disastrous and I never fail to cringe when she can’t hit those high notes. Fantasia really deserves to win , come to think of it, as she has the most consistent performances among the contestants and I really love her version of What are you doing for the rest of your life and Summertime. Jennifer Hudson is great with Circle of Life and I have nothing. Latoya London ‘s Somewhere and Someone saved me tonight is so well-sung that I try not to listen to it when I am happy because my spirits will sink . Camile Velasco Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, though not really well-sung got me playing again and again because it has such a nice tune. Not to forget Diana Degarmo with her Dun Cry Out Loud , Think and I believe…
I never get to re-hear the songs sung by the male contestants simply bcos my friend only likes the female singersand therefore, only have songs sung by female contestants on his cd!

Has anyone heard of His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman? I went round asking others whether they have heard of His Dark Materials and the answers I got back was an emphatic NO. Why is it that Harry Potter can be such a phenomenal success when an equally captivating trilogy is buried in obscurity, eclipsed by the famous Harry Potter. Just a short introduction for those who have yet to hear the name of this great book: It consists of three books, Northern Lights, The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass. Each book will feature a new weapon which will be used in solving the mystery … Till now, I have only finished reading Northern Lights, which I was lucky enough to have borrowed from the library. Though the language is not as reader-friendly as JK Rowling, with sentences too long to be digested within a split second and funny punctuation, the content is explosive! Deep beneath the world of magic and mystery conceals themes like betrayal and even subtler ones. The grey area between good and evil, right and wrong, moral and immoral, is what that makes it difficult to be a human…
Hopefully, I can find the rest of the two books in the library.!

I finished reading the much-hyped-about book , Da Vinci Code, the top bestselling book for weeks. I was spellbound for 2 entire days, even reading while I am supposed to doing my job. Ok, the content is controversial and almost heresy and I shan’t divulge any , lest I incur the wrath of my Christian friends. I checked out the website of Dan Brown to verify some of the details as I find it increasingly difficult to separate the truth from fiction given the persuasive nature of the language and content. Alas, everything about the book is based on conspiracy theories that have been conjured up over the centuries but there is certain telling facts that cannot be denied. Whether Mary Magdalene is truly the wife of Jesus Christ and what the Holy Grail really stands for remain to be discovered by future historians.

Date Activities

5th July

1700
1725
1820
1900
2045 Prepare check in at Changi Airport
Depart Singapore for Kuala Lumpur
Arrival at Kuala Lumpur International Airport
Dinner
Leave Kuala Lumpur for Sydney


6th July

0625
Arrival at Sydney Airport
Airport Pickup to Jolly Swagman Backpackers/ Globe Backpackers
Walk to Gallery of New South Wales and start the Sydney Harbour bridge walk.
From the gallery steps follow the narrow road down through the botanical gardens and toward Mrs Macquarie’s Point.
Have a look at Royal Botanical Gardens
Take a side trip to GovernmentHouse whose grounds lie within the botanical gardens.
Sydney Opera House Optional: Take a guided tour or see if there are any concerts to be watched.
From there, it follows another inlet a couple of hundred yards to Circular Quay
The rocks
Cadman’s Cottage
Sydney Observatory Hill
Pylon Lookout








7th July

0800 Head Down to Circular Quay again and take to Ferry that travels beneath Harbour Bridge and across to Darling Harbour
At Darling Harbour visit Sydney Aquarium
Visit National Maritime Museum
Take monorail to Town Hall in time for Sunset at the top of the AMP Centrepoint Tower + Sydney skytour
Visit the nightlife of King Cross.


8th July

Blue Mountains Day Tour

• Visit to Featherdale Wildlife Park ( included ), simply the best wildlife park in Sydney. Don't miss it ! Hand feed Kangaroos, pat Koalas and see over 2000 different types of Australian animals including Crocodiles, Tasmanian Devils, Wombats, Fairy Penguins, Dingoes and Snakes.
• Have your taken with a Koala
• Receive a Free souvenir Koala
• Free booklet " The 10 things you simply must do in Sydney " with every tour booked (while stocks last )
• Stop at the Sydney 2000 Olympic site where you can take photos and see Stadium Australia, The Superdome, The Aquatic Centre, The Olympic Village and more.
• Award winning small group ( max 19 people ) personalised tours
• Lunch and a drink ( included ) in the heart of the mountains with spectacular views ( vegetarian option available ).
• National Park walk to view the spectacular Wentworth Falls ( optional )
• The Three Sisters at Echo Point - hear the aboriginal story of this world famous rock formation
• With our friendly relaxed tours there's the opportunity to meet fellow travellers from many different cultures and countries.
• Walk through temperate rainforests
• Throw a boomerang ( weather permitting ) and learn about Aboriginal ( the indigenous people of Australia ) culture. Opportunity to purchase authentic returning boomerangs made by one of the local tribes ( while stocks last ).
• Visit the Scenic Skyway, Scenicsender and the Steepest Railway in the world with time to do the rides ( not included, $A8-14 pp ).
• See the mountain villages of Katoomba and Leura ( the heart of the mountains ). See why they call Leura the garden village.
• Breath in the fresh mountain air as you view the huge valleys of Australia's " Grand Canyon " - the Megalong and Jamieson Valleys
• Travel on the spectacular scenic cliff top drive
• Get off the beaten track - visit Sublime Point for the best untouched lookout in the Blue Mountains ( our small group sizes are permitted here ).
• Enjoy afternoon tea ( included ) in a relaxed country setting.
• Cross the picturesque Nepean River
• Finish your enjoyable day by taking a river cruise ( included ) from Homebush Bay down the Parramatta River and into Sydney Harbour. See the waterfront properties and enjoy the unique views as you go under the Sydney Harbour Bridge and cruise into Sydney Harbour. See the Sydney Opera House close up before arriving at Circular Quay where your tour finishes.
• Pick up from City Hotels or :
• Circular Quay ( cnr Loftus and Alfred Streets ) at 8.10am
• YHA Central, Rawson Place ( right next to Central Station ) at 7.50am.
• Kings Cross / Potts Point : Holiday Inn Potts Point, 203 Victoria Street ( next to Kings Cross station ), 7.40am
• Please allow 10 minutes either side of pick-up times due to traffic
• Sydney return 6pm

9th July
Take a bus to Bondi Beach and indulge in the scenic view
Laze about in Hyde Park and see Hyde Park Barracks
First stop at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Go up Centrepoint tower and see Sydney a different way
State Library of New South Wales
University of Sydney
Go shopping in the Queen Victoria Building (Lunch)
Proceed to the Australian Museum
Visit the Anzac War Memorial
Wander around Chinatown
Sydney Entertainment centre
Dinner at Sydney’s Paddy Market
Proceed to Eddy Avenue Bus stop
Board bus for Melbourne at 800

10th July
Arrival at Melbourne 58 Franklin Street
Check in @
Elizabeth Aus-Asia Hostel
Address: Lvl 1 490
Elizabeth St, Melbourne VIC 3000
Contact: (03) 9663 1685
Melbourne Walks
Start walking tours of Melbourne at Flinders Street Railway Station
St Paul’s Cathedral
Young and Jackson Hotel
Walk one: Over the Yarra
Follow St. Kilda Road across the Yarra on the ornate Princes Bridge
Just across the bridge and on the right go down the steps to Southgate
Crown Casino
Victorain Arts Centre
Melbourne Concert Hall
National Gallery of Victoria
Royal Botanical Gardens
Government House
Old Melbourne Observatory
Governor Latorbe’s Cottage
National Herbarium
Shrine of Remembrance

11th July Walk two
Start at Flinders Street Station
Block Arcade
Hopetoun Tea Rooms
Royal Arcade
Old Treasury Building
Princess Theatre
Old Melbourne Gaol
Melbourne Central Mall
12th July Great Ocean Road,
Twelve Apostles
& Port Campbell National Park

stop at the famous Bells Beach as shown in the movie "Point Break"

travel the scenic Great Ocean Road - 300 kms long with many picturesque lookouts

bush walk through a spectacular Otway Rainforest

pass through the coastal towns of Anglesea, Lorne and Apollo Bay

enjoy the beauty of the Port Campbell National Park & Twelve Apostles

explore Loach Ard Gorge, Razorback & Island Archway and see the collapsed London Bridge


locate koalas in the wild

visit many other outstanding coastal rock formations


13th July Phillip Island, Penguin Parade,
Fauna Park & Wonthaggi State Coal Mine

See the rugged Phillip Island coastline, the Nobbies & Seal Rocks

visit a Fauna Park - hand feed Kangaroos & Wallabies, and stroke & play with the Wombats

Take a journey into the Wonthaggi State Coal Mine, travel 60 metres underground, travel back to the surface in \a coal skip



see the Koalas up close

get the best position at the Penguin Parade

in the summer months go for a swim in the surf

14th July Either end with a day trip to Victoria’s alpjne country
Or proceed to Tasmania

It’s Vesak Day! I visited Bright Hill Temple on Vesak Day’s eve with my sister and cousins to pay my offerings to the omnipotent Lord Buddha, thanking him for making my wishes come through and lending me support when I was at my lowest point in life. This was the very first year that I participated Three step One bow ceremony, the last year only paying my respects to Lord Buddha because of SARS. The symbolism of the Three steps One bow + kneel ceremony, I am not very sure of but my own interpretation would be that of renewing my faith, strengthening myself mentally for the tough times ahead, as well as purging my sins… Bright Hill temple was unusually crowded: throngs of people were queuing up to participate in the Three step one Bow ceremony but the temple is amazingly still as serene and tranquil as before, with soft chantings wafting out from the loudspeakers calming the hearts of city people.

To prepare myself for this big event, we ate vegetarian food for the past three days. It was difficult to find vegetarian food and most likely, the prices of vegetarian food is unusually expensive perhaps because of the efforts in producing them.

We started queuing at around eleven and waited for a whole three hours before our turns came. You can imagine how many devout Buddhists actually participated in this event. While waiting, we chatted about our lives,etc. The whole ceremony took two and a half hours to complete and we had to go up slope, down slope, round the circumference of the temple. When going upslope, I had difficult balancing myself and nearly fell down a couple of times while trying to get up from my kneeling position. But it got easier and easier towards the end. My cousin told me that she experienced difficulty at the beginning but at the middle of the ceremony, some sand got into her eyes and the next moment, it was as though light dawned on her, spurring her to complete. I had to catch up with her towards the end.

After the ceremony, we went to eat vegetarian noodles and proceeded with bathing Prince Siddhartha, after which we collected some books and cds and made our donations.

It was a unbelievably enriching experience. May everyone on earth find his/her own inner peace.

With Metta,
Nicholas


Went to play tennis today. I played the least as my knees were still aching from yesterday/ today’s event but I had great fun. Still in the midst of contemplation of buying a racket cos I am afraid that I will not utilise the tennis racket once school reopens. On the other had, I really should get myself a tennis racket so that it won’t be so troublesome having to borrow from someone else when the need arises.

Upon reaching home, I slept like a log. I feel well-rested now and here I am, writing my blog.