Back to school

Hello, hello

First day back at uni and my second lecture was canceled…what a great start! So, thought I’d take the time to tell you ALL about what I’ve been up to.

O week was short and sweet. Came in on Monday for some introductory stuff. Not very interesting but good to see the campus…it was a quick visit to say the least. It’s tiny (compared to Clayton standards). About 9 buildings, that’s all…but really nice, brand new, nice cheap cafeteria, no smoking on campus (lovely!), crazy air con (that’s more a general Malaysian thing I think though, I hope I don’t get sick from it) and super cheap textbooks…about a third of what I might pay back home. So if anybody would like some light “thermodynamic” reading, just let me know.

There wasn’t much else to do throughout the week so seeing as we have to hand in our passports (for 6 weeks) to get our visa, we decided to make the most of the holidays and make a quick trip to the duty free island of Langkawi, up north. Craig, Ally and I took a bus and ferry overnight before crashing in a random hotel we’d booked the night before. We went snorkeling off Payar Island. Saw some very pretty fish although most of the coral was dead, which was a shame. Also went on an Island hopping tour with eagle feeding and a visit to the Lake of the Pregnant Maiden. It’s a freshwater lake that is supposed to make ladies more fertile if they drink it…We didn’t, just to be safe. (Although I’d like to see the effect it might have on Craig.) Went to a wicked night market where we managed to buy a feast of new foods (noodles, rice, cakes, whatever we could find) for not more than $1. Crazy, crazy cheap. And finally some general lounging around on the beach. The water was so hot, almost the same temperature as outside. It was great for snorkeling but I would’ve liked something a bit more refreshing at times. (That’s right, I just complained about how warm the water is here…I may have been a little too spoilt recently!!!). Met lots of people - other Monashians from Australia, Irish backpackers, Malaysians, American travelers and I have no idea who else. Got back late Saturday night…or early Sunday morning, depending which way you want to look at it.

Ally and I had our first attempt at grocery shopping yesterday…there’s a superstore, MYDIN, right next to Casa (where we live). It’s similar to Carrefour in France, where they have EVERYTHING. You go in, you’re swamped with things to buy and struggle to find your way out. Would like to find a fresh fruit market but will see how we go. For now, we just wanted lots and lots of vegetables to keep us going for the week. If we stick to our current noodle, fried rice, meat and no-veg diet…well, we want to keep horizontal expansion to a minimum.

Also, they’re big on packaging and plastic bags here. And I haven’t seen any signs of recycling. It was quite a shock at Langkawi because from far away the beaches and surrounding islands look beautiful but when you get up close there is rubbish just everywhere. It’s amazing. Unfortunately, the quest for my favourite beach still always ends back home. :)

Other random things –

• Bus trip to uni this morning was sooooo long. Really have to figure out how to walk but a bit of a worry with my sense of direction. It’s very frustrating because I can see the uni from my bedroom window!!!
• Went to Ministry of Sound Club when we first arrived. Very fun
• Loving the heat and longer days but am used to being on holidays in this kind of weather…don’t know how that will go down with the study :P
• Managed to get Fridays off with my timetable…yippee!
• Bought plenty of DVD’s in Bali…started with Gossip Girl (xoxo), a bit of Underbelly last night…I really have too much time on my hands. All good, it’s only the first week back
• Birthday bash tomorrow…not sure what just yet but am sure I will tell you ALL about it :)

OK. I think that’s enough…

Love to all

A-ROD
xoxo