My 2nd Visitor

About a couple of weeks ago, I got a call from my friend, Geoffrey. He left me a message to say hi and to ask how I was doing. So I thought he was just calling from back in the bay area. A couple of days later, I got another message from him leaving me a call back number. Well, what'd you know? I have my second visitor here in Sydney within two months (I hope you guys keep coming so I don't feel lonely). Geoffrey and his mom are staying over with relatives in Ingleburn...about 40 minutes train ride to our place. During the week, him and his niece (Diane) went to the city to meet me and Michelle for lunch at Wynyard Station. Its really nice to see a familiar face! I can't believe Geoffrey is here. Geoff, hopefully your cousin/niece will get married next year so you can visit me again.

Next day (Thursday), I went to RTA (Roads and Traffic Authority) similar to our DMV to apply for my driver's license. From what I read, I can just tranfer over my CA license and get a full driver's license here if I've been driving for at least three years (only in certain countries such as US, UK, Canada, Italy, Ireland, Japan, Spain, France, Germany, etc). Otherwise, you have to go through a series of tests and will take a few years before you get a full DL. First timers get a RED 'P' placard to be displayed in their car (lots of teenager driving accidents here that's why its good to know who the drivers are around you). After 1 to 2 years, you take another test. If you do pass that test, then RTA will replace your RED 'P' placard to a GREEN 'P' placard...not that it looks any better. After a couple more years, then they issue you your fill DL. So I'm glad I don't have to go through all that. I don't think I even need to take any written or actual driving test. Just the regular eye test and photo op and you get your DL card in 5 minutes. You just need to turn in your old DL and they'll punch a hole on it. For tourists, you can use your existing DL for 3 months to use.

I actually didn't get my license yet. I forgot to bring my proof of address to RTA. So I went back the next day with my coworker who's been here for a year and a half and still hasn't gone to get his DL. So next day, my coworker got his within probably 30 minutes including waiting time. Again, I couldn't get my license issued because my issue date on the DL is this year (I got it renewed this year)...so I cannot vouch for myself driving for at least 3 years already. Arghhhhh!!!! I'll have to wait for mama to send my old DL with an issue date of at least 3yrs old.

Thursday, Mitch and I went to Martin Place to see the Xmas tree lighting. Of course, Santa Clause was there, too, and the mayor of Sydney. And they had fireworks!!! See pictures below. Doesn't the clock tower look just like the one on Embarcadero? More similarities between Sydney and San Francisco. Ahhh, I just thought of what the Sydney Opera House could be an equivalent of in SF...possibly the Palace of Fine Arts??? Ayaw patalo, eh!







Friday, Geoff and his relatives (Diane, Christine, and George) came over to the house. We had dinner at Bar Italia (thanks for dinner, Geoff!!!) just around the corner from the house and took them around Norton St.

On Saturday, I went to the city at the intersection of Pitt/Hunter/O'Connell St (I work nearby on O'Connell). They were filming a scene of the new Superman movie. It is set on the streets of New York with yellow taxi cabs and police officers on the set (I don't understand why they have to film in Sydney for a scene that takes place in New York). No actors/actresses around. They were just shooting a scene where everyone was running around...I guess I'll see it in the theatres if it made the cutting room floor.

That night, one of Michelle's friends from church came over to show his slideshow of his pictures from the US. He brought his own projector and screen and showed us his pictures (including the twin towers of NY and scenes from SF) of when he lived back in the East Coast.

Notes:
This weekend, I saw a woman walking around the city carrying her surfboard...only in Australia!

Nothing Much

Things have been pretty quiet and back to normal these past few days. But we're trying to keep ourselves busy especially on weekends.

On Friday, we met up at the World Square in the city after work for dinner. World Square is a very conspicuous center in that the main building is named Ernst & Young...yes, one of the big 4 accounting firms... and its the building that took about 14 yrs??? to finish due to several building issues (don't think its related to EY). Its a business complex with shopping and dining area. I've noticed that companies here are really proud of naming their buildings with their huge and bright logos seen even from across the water (but then again, the water is not as wide or as far as the SF bay). Among the Big 4, I've seen two EY buildings, one PWC and one KPMG. I know they have Deloitte here but I don't see them among the skyscrapers. From Balmain Wharf (north west and overlooking the city), to your left would be North Sydney (I hope I'm getting my directions right) where you'll see buildings such as Cisco, IBM, Sun Microsystems, Hitachi, Optus...I call it the Silicon Valley of Sydney. To the left of the Harbour bridge, you'll see the bright lights of Luna Park with its ferries wheel, rollercoasters and other rides...reminds me of Santa Cruz beach boardwalk. And yes, its by the water, too. Apparently, this was based on Coney Island of New York. Nearby is Fort Denison...a small island with a prison cell. Yup, you guessed it. Just like Alcatraz. And of course, the Sydney Harbour Bridge equals our Golden Gate Bridge. I have yet to think what the Sydney Opera House would relate to. Hmmm??? Let me know if you have any ideas.

I digress. We went to the World Square to check out the jazz bar at the Avillion Hotel. Not bad...something relaxing and to unwind myself after a long second week of training for me. Too much information overload.

Saturday, I went to Kim's 23rd bday party (Tita Terry's daughter) at Crunella beach (my 3rd beach...but I haven't swam yet...I need to take swimming lessons first by the pool). We played beach cricket...similar to baseball...but I still think baseball is more exciting than cricket (sorry if I offend anyone). Now I'm beginning to understand cricket a little bit. I gotta go to an actual game and get the Aussie feel (but nothing like hanging out with my RHI coworkers when we used to watch the A's (and Giants) baseball games back in the bay area. I hope you guys take me back to our baseball club when I come back).

On Sunday, I went to check out the Xmas tree at Martin Place. They are now setting it up for the official Xmas tree lighting this coming Thursday. We will be there!!! About the same time last year, every Friday after Turkey day, I went to see the Xmas tree lighting at Union Square in SF. It was beautiful. You should check it out this year...and maybe get star struck to see some celebrities. Its a great idea for a date!

Mommy Lourding

Please pray for my grandma..."Mommy" Lourding. She passed away on Sunday, Nov 13th. I'm sure she is happy to see my grandpa "Pop" and papa in heaven. May she rest in peace!

Pet Peeves

Pet Peeves - Sydney
1. No paper toilet seat covers in public places or anywhere else
2. Too many flies. For some reason, there is an explosion of flies every spring/summer. Wherever you go, they seem to swarm and get fixated with you even if you try to shoo them away or walk away. They just seem to follow you around and stick to you. And its just not you. It’s everybody. You will notice other people trying to shoo away the flies with those hand gestures infront of their faces. A fly that followed you in downtown, 30 minutes away from home, could end up at your home. The flies! The flies!
3. Too many smokers
4. Cockroaches

Back to Reality

Life was sweet for about 6 weeks from the time I left my firm at Hood&Strong, a week in Hawaii, and some free time to roam around Sydney. But eventually, things had to come back to normal (that's why I haven't updated my blog for a week). I started my new job at Verisign - Australia on Monday, Nov 7th.

So what did I do to celebrate the remaining days of my so-called- life- is- sweet- I've- got- too- much- time- on- my- hands free days? Nothing really! I was supposed to go to Brisbane with my friend, Amin, but of course, I had to stay for that fateful 2nd interview with Verisign that got me the job. Friday night, Andrew had some friends visiting from Germany. They came over to the house and we all had dinner at a Thai restaurant just around the corner.

Saturday was more of a laid back day. Just resting before the big day on Monday while Natasha was preparing for her trek in Nepal at Machupuchre.

Sunday, Michelle and I took the train to Milson's Point and walked back across the Harbor Bridge to the Rocks.





Monday is the big day. I arrived in the office even before the controller came in. Pretty much the whole day I was trying to memorize everyone's name (I finally got it by the end of the week!), doing some admin paperworks, and started training. Not bad at all. Knowing what the company does, there's lots of room for growth and success in this company... especially working for the AsiaPacific division (ie. China). My office is less than a block away from cousin Michelle's office. So this week, I've met up with her twice for lunch already. One day was 'Welcome, Celestine' lunch...but they forgot me on the email invitation. Another thing I like about this job is the business casual dress code and Friday jeans are ok. No suits...and my boss doesn't want me to wear suits anyway.

Tuesday, Amin was back from his trip to Brisbane. Had dinner along Circular Quay and walked along the harbor and at the Rocks. Wednesday night, the whole gang (Me, Michelle, Andrew, Natasha and Amin) went to Balmain to celebrate Amin's last night in Aussieland. Thanks for dinner, Amin! After dinner, we checked out the wharf at Balmain overlooking Sydney Harbor bridge and the city. Great view...especially living in those million dollar homes!!!

Thursday, another dinner out...I guess this seems pretty normal because we used to eat out alot back home (except that they don't have In-N-Out burger over here!!!). But on Thursday, we went to a $5 steak restaurant called the "Slip Inn" along Sussex St and King St. This restaurant is a special one because back in 2000 during the Sydney Olympics, the Crown Prince of Denmark (Prince Fredrick) met his wife-to-be, Mary, a commoner. She is now a princess! Maybe I should hang out there more often and maybe I'll find my prince charming. The food was great and its cheap. What makes it cheap is the beer they sell all night. Well, we were there for the food...not the beer. We're in for any cheap deals! So lugi sila sa amin.

Saturday, we went bowling at Randwick. Not one of us got even close to making 100 points...well, its been years since we all played bowling. Oh well. Warm up for a bowling get together we're planning for next time. After that, we went to Coogee beach, another nice beach you will find in Sydney.

Andrew bought a badminton set for our backyard. After the beach, we set it up at the backyard. You think its pretty easy but it could be a good work out especially running after the birdie (called the "shuttlecock") and always having to pick it up if you're on the loosing side of the net.

I got a job

After my first interview with Verisign on Monday, they asked me to come in on Wednesday to meet with the HR Manager. Michelle and I went to the city together and she bid me good luck and hoped that I get the job because her office would just be a block away. The interview went well. By that afternoon, they offered me the Sr Financial Analyst position reporting directly to the Controller of Verisign – AsiaPacific division. Verisign is a really good company and their parent company is located in Mountain View back home in the SF bay area. Overall, I liked the company, the people, and the job. So I accepted the offer and will start working on November 7, 2005.

Yes, finally. A job. At first I was hoping to get an extra week off. But then again, I don’t know what I’ll be doing for the rest of that week. I hope if they ever do anymore business trips in SF, that they bring me along. That would be cool so I can get a free flight back home.

Next day, I went to Bondi Beach, most famous beach in Australia. Check out my pictures below:

Melbourne Cup

Dig this. Do you know of any other country that celebrates a horse race as a public holiday? Australia it is! Melbourne Cup is the most famous horse race in Australia that happens every first Tuesday of November. It is so much celebrated that pretty much all companies shut down for half a day to watch and bet on the horse race…not to mention, the city of Melbourne declares it a public holiday and everyone gets a day off. They call it, “the race which stops a nation” for a horse race that runs for about 3 minutes (3200m track). It is similar to the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs where people dress up to see the race. Of course, there are other smaller horse races during the day which then leads to the main event.

So since most companies are half day on Nov 1^st, I did not have any interviews scheduled. I went down to a local pub around Norton St appropriately called “Nortons on Norton” – very original! The favorite horse this year is Makybe Diva (pronounced Makaibe Diva). For the past two years, the horse has won the most prestigious cup. A three-peat has never been done before. The main race starts at three and a couple of the guys in the pub told me to bet on a horse. So I did. I made a bet on another horse (Railings) that has had a good record from its last four races (I believe 2111 – 1^st place in its last three races and 2^nd place on its 4^th race). I betted $2 for Win and $2 for Place/Show (I’ve been to the race tracks in Bay Meadows in San Mateo with my brother Michael and cousin Francis at one point. Funny story. All day we were betting on the horse races. Overall, I lost $2. On the way home, I had a lottery ticket that I needed to get checked. Guess what? I won some money…$2!!! I broke even at the end of the day. Cool!). FYI: “Place” is 2^nd place and “Show” is 3^rd place. Obviously, “Win” is 1^st place.

Unfortunately, my horse did not win…not even on the top three. Makybe Diva set the record for winning three Melbourne Cup back to back to back.

It was a great experience. My first Melbourne Cup. Maybe next year, I’ll get half a day off from work. This year it didn’t matter. I was unemployed anyway.

One other thing, Australia doesn't really celebrate Halloween. It is slowly coming here so I'll miss it for a few years. But anyway, a few teenagers rang our doorbell for some treats. Of course, we didn't really have anything to offer (I said, how about some unagi...that was our dinner that night). But since Michelle and Natasha are on a chocolate-nuts-sweets diet, we had a box of chocolate sitting in the cupboard and we gave it out (I wouldn't really miss it too much. Besides, I had some Tim Tams from Verisign that day).