Melbourne (or Melbie)

Yes I'm here. Uni life's gonna start very soon, with the first lecture to be held on March 3rd. The idea of me being a university student is so intriguing and frightening at the same time (especially when the thoughts of the multiple subjects that I'll be taking for my 1st Sem twirl in my head). After a deep contemplation, I've decided to choose Microeconomics and Macroeconomics as my breadth subject for my first and second semester, respectively. My complementary subjects will consist of Chemistry and either Environmental Studies or Physics, which will come hand in hand with my major Earth Sciences-related subjects that I'll be taking throughout my 3-year studies here. Sounds complicated aint it? yes it is. Thanks to the Melbourne Model that has succeeded in making my uni experience considerably more hectic than anything I've ever hoped it to become. But well, I've suffered IB, so another three years of sleepless nights and caffeine-generated nocturnal activities will hopefully be quite tolerable.

Speaking on Melbourne city, I'd love to say that it's just lovely. The city aint too hectic but it's not too sleepy and boring either, so the people can basically enjoy their city living without having to wade through the problems that have always been associated to big cities like traffic congestion, rampant crime, etc. The city is also very pedestrian-friendly, making our daily 5 to 10-minute-long trip to the University a safe and hassle-free one. The trams are a good mode of transportation around the city, but the tickets are pretty expensive, so walking (and burning calories in the process) is actually the best way in exploring the city. My 1-room-apartment also beats my prior expectation; it's clean, quite spacious (for a single occupancy) and well-equipped.















































*my unit is also facing the cemetery, but believe me, it's not half as scary as what you might think!

Feeling bored in our new digs, my batchmates and I went for a night stroll around Melbourne city. It was quite chilly at that time, and Zahra, who's so infamous of her inability to withstand cold of any kind whined throughout the night for the chilly air that was just unbearable for her. She even covered her head with her sweater's hood just to mitigate the effects of the chilly summer (not winter) air. I couldn't help but thinking that there's no way that she's gonna survive the chillier winter air. We had time to take some inevitable pictures that night, and looks like I've only got the arse to post one of those this time around:














*I've got tonnes of pictures to upload, but due to the bloody-expensive internet rate in Australia, austerity in bandwidth usage is just my way to go. More pictures have been uploaded to my Facebook, though. Courtesy to Syed for taking most of the pictures that night, and Yvonne, who brought Sri KDU name all the way to the streets of Melbourne by wearing her universally-dreaded blue house Sri KDU tee. Mrs. Chan must've been very proud had she looked at her SriKDU-spirited look that night.

Speaking on the Australian accent, I have to say that I don't like it, but I know with intense surety that I'll have to live with it for, like 3 years to come, so I should try getting a hang on it as soon as possible.

Basically, I have nothing to complain or whine about, which comes to a surprise since my whining addiction has really gotten some sorts of infamy from my friends all these while. Life's been good, so far, and I've got a free phone, too! (Nokia 6500 that I'm not looking forward to using soon since I'm still in love with my not-so-old SE s500i, which is still functioning perfectly). The seniors have been amazing, and they've gone great length to help us solve many settling-down-related problems. Thank you so much!

So far, the odyssey has just begun. I know that my 3-year-long journey in attaining excellence in life through the medium of university education is going to be thorny along the way, but with the fullest faith in everything in which my destiny is determined, everything is going to be fine. I'm really excited and nervous right now, and that's all I can say. Since I've started using schmaltzy and corny-inclined language, which signifies my sleepiness at the moment, so I guess it's time to stop with this post and get myself some sleep that I really need. See ya!

Faizal Hamssin

Of Randomness

Tick tock. The clock is ticking. It's nearly 3 and the dawn is gonna crack in a matter of a few hours, and I haven't even plunged into the state of peaceful slumber. I'm sleepy but the night has been so pleasant that sleeping early is just a waste of opportunity. The opportunity to blog! Yeah, it is. As the saying goes, "make hays while the Sun shines". And here I am, breaking my own promise to stop being a nocturnal animal. The phletora of memories I've had with my friends keep on streaming to me as I look into my IB graduation (or prom, or pseudo-prom as some might call it) picture. It gives me peace of mind thinking of the good time I've had with my friends that the bad memories of the sufferings we've all had while doing IB is starting to diminish. Therefore, this post will be written as randomly as possible, to give ways for the random thoughts of my mind to waltz.

*WARNING: This post is not to be written in accordance to the conventional laws of plot, so do bear it's complicaticity.

News have been buzzing about the latest political crisis that's currently happening in Perak. The change of government in Perak has been described as a 'coup' by some, and the events that have followed have really left a bad taste in the mouth. It's a shame that such incident can actually happen in our country, as the people are increasingly aware of their current economic problems and their looming financial gloom. While many countries in the world have started with the implementation of their respective stimulus packages to mitigate the worst that might just happen, it seems that our country is taking a sweet time with our 'tidak apa' (carefree) attitude. We're all so occupied with playing our incessant political game that does nothing but further exacerbates the public discontentment of their ailing situation. Our own apathy in this matter seems to nauseate me, actually. Do you still remember who's the one who initiated the idea of lompat-melompat (crossovers)? As far as my feelings are concerned, the use of crossovers to form a government can never morally justified. Neither PKR nor BN should resort to using political defections as a mean of clinging to power. It's just unacceptable, and the very person who first started the game of crossovers does not deserve to say that it's "a big blow to democracy and insults the wisdom of the masses". I'm aware of my shallow knowledge in politics that bar me from talking much about it, but I'm definitely in a position to voice my views as a Malaysian who's sick of the inconsistencies that have recently been a sad feature of our politicians. I'm not against the government nor the opposition party. I'm just judging them based on their actions, and I want honest people with the rare sense of accountability to lead our country out of these shameful episodes of political drama.

Okay okay enough with politics.

Pau and Siangie are gonna fly off to Canberra tomorrow! So, good luck guys! Do keep in touch okay, and remember of our upcoming Australian trip. The same goes to my other friends; Osem, Fida, Juanne, Amirul, and Khairul. Don't you dare having me perished from yr memories!

To my dearest girlfriend's' Zara, Yvonne, and our very own Miss Mongolia Universe Aggie Sia; let's stick to each other okay? Let's have fun together in Melbourne! And Syed too!















To my unforgettable IB friends A'lenns', Fa'teens', Jiha, Aiman, Amin, Apit and Kay, good luck for yr campus life! Remember me always, since this Faizal is too good to be forgotten lol. I don't wanna be like stray cats. I know you guys can make it, and let us strive to get excellent degrees so that we can reunite in klcc later on, god-willingly. All the best!















To Mary, Abg Ling, and Chan Hu, good luck for yr maths paper! I know you can kill it :)

To JonMah, good luck for yr uni life in the states. To Winson, I think you're well aware on the path that you should take. Just follow your heart, and let yr efforts be blessed accordingly.

To Liying, Kim, and other retakers, good luck! I know our IB path has been thorny, but the ending will surely be rosy for you guys. Just keep on having faith in yourself.

Let me end this post with the song that we've and will always love, Love Story by Taylor Swift. This song brings back memories. Good memories of us, people in Fida's car!


Speaking about cars, I can't help but reflecting back on those 'eating out' moments that I had with my IB mates. I can never thank Syed, Apit, Teens, Amin, Fida, and other 'minor' drivers enough for the driving me to Deli, Naina, JCM, and even Ichi Banto!














En route to makan (eating)!



I miss my IB friends dearly!













Us at the Bintulu Airport

Oopss...


















p/s thank you my dearest one and only kakak for bringing me out on my last Sunday in Bintulu that's gonna be my last for months to come, at least. Nothing can stop me (not even the minor scratch you've made on mamak's (my mom, not that mamak's stall) car) from perceiving you as an excellent driver :p I will surely miss Bintulu sorely after this.


And I need some sleep. Turn off the lights please.

Faizal Hamssin