subbed people

with apologies to the migration agents in the audience, I’m not going to pay an extra cent than I have to for a visa.

With graduation over, the next thing to achieve in the goal trinity is a job. A task that warrants its painful reputation; first because of scarcity, and secondly because it is so damned hard to figure out how to get work rights.

No, sniggering agents, be off.

Try to figure out the IMIA website for yourself, and see if you can find hope within the bureaucracy.

For my purposes, I need a ‘subclass 487’ visa. Armed with anecdotal assurance from friends, I visited the website for more information.

I could find a list of required documents.

I could find associated costs.

But I couldn’t find a nominated occupation that was related to my occupation.

Whoa. Not good. Hurry, call their number.

Which gets you put on hold for a long time; occasionally a chirpy lady reminds you that someone will get to you as soon as possible.

Fingers rap table nervously.

Quo vadis?

provincial Melbourne

a Westpac document calls Melbourne a ‘provincial global community.’

I would say I’m inclined to say the same, being here for some time now.

Melburnians are proud, with a very strong sense of identity, which is good.

They take the city’s issues to heart and there’s a strong sense of responsibility expressed.

This pride can feel a little inward-looking though.

Melbourne invites people from all over the globe to work, play, and study here.

As long as they don’t disrupt the city’s look and feel too much. A tall order when you consider the number of people who come here every year.

Melbourne gladly opens its doors to the world; perhaps it’s time to open its heart too

the pedestrian

As a lowly pedestrian, I don’t really mind cars.

They’re big, noisy and easy to avoid.

Cyclists, on the other hand, are a pain.

The footpath is narrow, and there’s a crowd of people making their way in both directions. There’s heavy foot traffic but it’s smooth, people generally know the pace, direction, and space they’re walking on.

Suddenly, there’s impatient ringing, annoying, irritating from a cyclist 300 metres away to announce he’s taking over the path.

The traffic slows to a grind as us compliant peds make some room for the bicycle to slip through quick.

The cyclist doesn’t as much as nod to acknowledge this generous display of public civility.

Sheesh.

Power to the pedestrians.

Clayton Hall picture post

catch her and RPK here in Melbourne

this week! Full details over at facebook.com/msafriends

met some very interesting people over the course of organising the events, answered strangers' phone calls and listened to why they're really happy something like this is happening.

think its's safe to say there is still some interest in Malaysian politics, at the very least

//

but where are the young Bumiputeras?

4/30

election posters

More Melbourne

I go cheap cheap

Once more, it was summer. Now this being a Melbourne summer, it was not something you entirely looked forward to, not unless you come from climes where the sun only cameos. Here's what happens in the months beginning November in this desert country.

Semester ends. Friends balik kampung. People leave for vacations. Employers still won't hire you.

'But I have a previous experience!
'No.
'I can work full time!
'No
'I'll work for peanuts.
'No.
'I won't use Mohamad as my name.
'No.

Hai. Le Rejecion is no fun, but it's something you have to live with.

But how?

I was pushing aside the froth of my soy mocha with my tounge waiting for bro A (bukan nama sebenar) to respond. I had propositioned him earlier, in terms as seductively as society would permit, to embark on a business venture together.
T-shirts. Think about it. We buy them. We go around markets. We sell them. Cash out, cash in. Simple.
'Don't knowla, doesn't sound reasonable
'Before you say no, think about it. We don't need that much capital upfront. We could get them for cheap in KL. And even if we sell them for the same sticker price, we'd still be making a profit.
'But how are we going to get the t-shirts here?
'I'm still working on that.

Bosan

Melbourne in the rain

My love letter to the city of Melbourne

ooh la la!

First a poem,

Ah, spring!

The darling buds of life reappear,

the showers only proves it's here

Happy edible creatures come to fore

Skip and frolic, the days are yours

then a Buffalo Springfield song,

There's something happening here

What it is, ain't exactly clear

Ooooooh it's so exciting that I can't resist using multiple exclamation marks!!!

I think this song's pretty cool

I would rather be sleeping

It's 4-ish in Melbourne, the Sun at just the right angle for a warm and cozy afternoon nap. The boys are out for football, and the house is silent save for the dryer's whir. A nap at this moment of time would be soooo beautiful but I must resist the urge. I need all the sleep for tonight. I don't want to spend the entire flight tomorrow sleeping only to land in KL refreshed at rested at 10.00 pm.

Yes I go to bed early. I'm a good boy.

So let's blog.

Sindrom Kaki Kental

As proof that I still think in Malay, the subtitle of today's blog is in Malay, roughly translated as Hard Leg Syndrome.

Not a real disease but rather one that strikes newcomers to Melbourne rather suddenly, particularly if they have been too used to the use of only one leg (the one depressing the accelerator) where they originally came from.

I have had the good fortune these past two weeks of having visitors from Malaysia who visited me in my humble dwelling, far away here in North Melbourne. In remembrance of their visit, I offer this semi-fictionalised travelogue of a visitor to Melbourne.


Day 1

Finally arrived in Melbourne after 8 long hours in the plane, surrounded by boorish passengers and inattentive attendants. From the plane window, I see that is already dark outside. Not much of a surprise there, since the clock on the display in front of me says the local time is 8.30pm. I wonder if Lutfi has already had dinner. I wonder what do they eat here in Australia. Steaks? Kangaroo meat? Can't wait for my first Australian meal. Yum Yum!

2 hours later

I have never felt as humiliated. Who do these customs people think I am? A runner for Al-Qaeda? Imagine all that fuss over a bottle of Kicap Manis Cap Kipas Udang? What did they think I am going to do with that? Condiment the Parliament house to its destruction? What nonsense!

Apparently Lutfi can't meet me at the airport tonight. He said something about having an exam tomorrow. It's ok, I suppose. After all, he's already given me directions to his house. Now all I need to do is to find that Sky Bus platform.

1 hour 45 minutes later

Why don't the trams announce the stops here in Melbourne? Did they think everyone has complete knowledge of Melbourne at their fingertips? Its a good thing I met that old English guy. He was the one who told me where to get off, and which tram I was supposed to be on.

Anyway, I'm already at Lutfi's place, and it's a studio flat. With no rooms. There's only one single bed in the room/house, but I see some sleeping bags lying about. I wonder if he wants us to sleep in those things.

This is really not how I expected this vacation to start. Hmm.

Oh, and do you know what we had for dinner? Telur bungkus. With rice.

Tomorrow perhaps.

Day 2

It's been one long day. This is starting to look like one tiring holiday. Turns out that Lutfi doesn't have a car, and he does all his travelling on foot. And that is how we went about Melbourne. On foot.

My feet are sore from the hours of walking. I don't think I've walked this much since ... ever. How I miss my car.

But we did cover a lot of ground today, sightseeing in the 'CBD', the museums, waterfront etc.
I would've have forced in some shopping but by the time we were walking back from the docklands all the shops were already closed. At 6.00 pm. Some 'vibrant' city.

Oh and do you know what we had for dinner just now? Mee Goreng with Sambal on the side.

Sigh.


Day 3

I honestly have no idea what this trip is turning out to be. I've just returned from a kuliah in a mosque in one of the suburbs. Now who goes to a ceramah during their holiday? I better have a word with Lutfi before he starts going all preachy on us.

Otherwise, it was interesting meeting all the locals there. Kaki masjids who wear winter coats and sporting Aussie accents. And plenty of pizzas after the ceramah. Lutfi says that's what the locals like to eat. Erm, I sure hope that that's not the end of my association with native Australians. I mean, this is so far removed from Bondi Beach.

Did I mention, we had pizza? Boxes and boxes of them, brother. Ma sha allah.

*******************************************************************

Day 10

Phew, It's been sometime since I've put down anything in this travelogue. All this travelling business wears me out. And all the eating. Allahuakbar. It's like a kenduri everyday. Rendang, Bihun, Kari, Spaghetti (!), Pizza, Kebab. I will seriously need to diet once I get back to KL.

And do you know where I've been this past few days?
I was blowing didgeridoos in the market (and parted with $95 as a result). I visited an Islamic school in one of the outer suburbs, just because we thought it would be 'enlightening' to do so. I was live on air at a local radio station, reading news, "Ringkasan Berita Sukan Dari Tanahair", not once but twice. I chatted with KL old-timers who recounted the days when gangs ruled KL, and met with 'mozzies' who I would want to meet again ;P.

My legs too are so hard now from all the walking, that a 3 hour trek feels like nothing. I can now walk round the city for hours without feeling too out of breath. Not very Australian yet, but getting there.

Also it turns out that sleeping bags are very comfortable to be in all day long in winter. I wonder if mom would let me wear one in Malaysia.

Gotta sleep now. Having a barbie tomorrow. I'm in charge of the sidedishes, so must wake up early.


Day 14

Alas, the time has come to leave Melbourne.

It turns out, Lutfi didn't forget that we were tourists. Finally he indulged us in touristy stuff. That is a trip to the mountains and to the beaches and to the islands. Saw kangaroos, koalas that sort of thing. Interesting, but so very normal for a tourist.

I wished that we could do more of the odd stuff. More of the real things real people do in Melbourne. Met more people. Visited more houses. Window-shopped more. Ate more food. Seriously, I think I've gained at least 5kgs since arriving. But it's all good alhamdulillah. All that malay,turkish, lebanese, hyderabadi cuisine was really a break from all the junk food I usually feed on.

Sadly its time to leave. Two weeks have come and gone. And as the plane takes off and landscape starts to shrink, I think back to all the memories I take home with me. Who knew Melbourne could be that interesting?

So will I come again? Insha allah, brother. In sha allah.


End

hmmm, this looks familiar...

Seating plan for the sounds of light concert to be held at the Vodafone Arena Melbourne on the 27th of July. Tickets on sale now.