Fruit farm!

Day three in Tasmania was spent between Sorell Fruit Farm and Port Arthur.

We headed out bright and early, and our first stop was the Sorell Fruit Farm as it was on our way to Port Arther. At the fruit farm, you pay for a punnet and you get to stuff as many fruits as you can into it and bring home. You get to pick whatever fruits that were in season at the time. While we were there, heaps of berries (strawberries, blackberries, raspberries, and berries names I can’t remember), peaches and cherries were in season.

Cherries

The cherries were the yummiest and the most difficult to pick. All the good ones were high up in the tree, it required teamwork. One person to hold down the branch, the other to pick the cherries. But we weren’t very tall people, so our cherry picking potentials were hindered. Anyways, the best part about fruit picking? You can just stand there and pick the fruits off the branches and just eat them right there and then. And then when you’re full, just pick more and put them in that punnet and head off. Noms.

From the river

Next off, Port Arthur. Port Arthur used to be an old convict site. It had prison facilities for both grown men and boys. They had an interesting concept of using the river to separate the men from the boys, to prevent the men from influencing the boys with their bad habits, causing them to become worse criminals. At Port Arthur, they have different admission packages – bronze, silver, gold. Obviously the gold one would give you the most access to the exhibits, which were mostly offshore islands. The islands where the boys were, and where the graveyard was. Each had its own tour explaining what had happened in that area and what they think it was used for. All the packages include a boat cruise though, making a round about the islands and then back to the mainland again.

The prison from the river

I think we took the bronze package and paid a little extra to get onto the island where the boys were held. The tour guide takes you around the place, shows you maps and drawings of what the place used to be like, and explain how the life of the boys were like, the reward system, where they slept/worked blablabla.

Afterwhich, we returned to the mainland and we were allowed to explore the whole of it. So you got to visit the prison, the prison officier’s lodge, the doctor’s lodge, the church and blablabla. We unfortunately didn’t get to cover everything because they were closing. They close at about 5pm. Sigh Australia, why does everything close so early?

Inside the prison

The prison has two levels

I really liked the church. It was pretty, it looked like something that would come out from a Kpop music video.

Looking into the church

Although only its wall is left, the lush green grass, plus the little white flowers were so pretty and romantic. I was telling my friends that I thought it was a lovely place to take wedding pictures. And then a group of prom kids showed up and kinda just broke the tranquility of the place.

And... a shot of WZ. Haha

After that it was burgers at… I think it was Burger Got Soul, some bubble tea and then sleep.

BURGER

Bird's eye view

Waiting for the firemen to get him down

And he was still alive and moving. But it looked like he broke his legs. By this time, there was a small crowd and people from the neighbouring blocks were also peeking out from the corridor.

I wonder what happened. How does one manage to get themselves on the roof of a covered walkway?? I was speculating what happened with my grandma. Did he jump? Did he drop something and was trying to get it and then fall? Did someone push him? WHAT WAS HE DOING ON THE ROOF??

That was my afternoon whilst I was being a bum.

The end.

As such, I’ve forgotten how I had originally intended this blog entry to be like. I had it all planned out in my head and everything. And then food was placed in front of me, and then I forgot everything. Go me!

So anyway, I spent a couple of days in Hobart during the summer break before returning to Singapore. Here’s what we did during our second day. Our first day only consisted of dinner, a little bit of exploring and then sleep.

The glass elevator that takes you 3 floors into the ground

Recommended by a friend of a friend. We headed to Mona, which is really this area in Hobart which is entirely owned by this really rich guy. It has a hotel/resort/chalet, restaurant, vineyard, winery and a museum. The museum is basically an art museum where he stores his art collection. It was pretty cool because the museum was situated in a cliff. Three whole levels. INSIDE A CLIFF. I think the owner basically thought ‘I’ve got all these art work. Where should I store them? I know! I shall just dig into that cliff I own and store them all there!’

Not gonna lie. Being three levels into a cliff was kinda cool. Being a non-resident of Tasmania, we had to pay a small entrance fee. You were then given an iTouch which had been formated especially for the museum. As you moved through different parts of the museum, you press this ‘Where am I’ button, it senses where you are, and then comes up with a list of art works that you’re close to. You get to read up about the works, who the artists were, what the owner thought about it and blablabla. And then it kinda remembers your route around the museum and you can get it emailed to you.

My route

It also allowed you to vote whether you liked the artwork or not.

Light bulb

One of the works I liked was this light bulb chain thing. There’s this metal thingy that you hold onto, it measures your heartbeat and the light bulb pulsates according to it. The picture above is of the very first light bulb, when another person holds on to the metal thingy, their heartbeat is shown on the first light bulb and yours gets pushed on to the second light bulb in the chain. So on and so forth, the light bulb chain eventually reaches a room full of light bulbs pulsating at different rates from different people. It was really interesting.

Wall of drawers

Moving on. There was this wall of drawers with pictures of people. And when you pulled a drawer out, a recorded voice of the person saying ‘I love you’ plays on repeat. There’re little descriptions about the person and what the ‘I love you’ meant to the person or something. It was cool, and yet creepy at the same time. Especially when you have a few drawers pulled out. And some people have really creepy voices? Or the way they were saying ‘I love you’ was just…. really creepy! Plus, it was dark.

Bicycle

The wheel spins

The owner’s description of the wheel at the back, was that he didn’t understand why did he even buy it. He said that he could have probably painted it himself or that his kid could have done one of similar standards or something like that. He had a sense of humor. But if he saw it as something he could have done himself, then why did he even buy it?? What artistic value did he see in it?? I don’t understand! Why did you buy it then??

Besides the paintings, the little bags of coal on the floor were art pieces too

Perhaps I’m not really an arts person, or I don’t really know how to appreciate art that well. The bags of coal (I think it was coal? Or rocks?? I don’t remember!) on the ground were art pieces too. How is placing bags on the ground art?? I DON’T UNDERSTAND! The paintings were pretty to look at though.

The blank room

Everything in this room was blank. I forgot what it was suppose to symbolise.

Blank books and everything

During the first half hour or so, I was still voting on the little device as to whether I liked an art work or not. But as we ventured on further into the museum, the works just got increasingly depressing. Works about euthanasia and a lot of things about death or blood or torture or pain or goodness-knows-what, made the majority of the works. I just gave up voting, I was just going to dislike everything anyway. By the time we finished looking around, I was feeling depressed and sluggish. Oh, one thing cool about voting though, after you submit your vote, the device tells you how many other people liked/disliked that particular work too.

Cafe overlooking the river, I think it's a river

Indoors or out, your pick!

The weather at Tassie is crazy amazing during the summer. It wasn’t insanely warm like Adelaide, but really pleasant and sunny! The temperature was usually around the 20s (celsius).

The closest we'll get to having everyone in the same country

A belated Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!

I can’t believe it’s already 2012.

Yorke Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula

Yorke Peninsula Sunset

Yorke Peninsula

Lighthouse in the distance

Lighthouse

Lighthouse

Island

Taking in the view

At Moonta

Moonta Jetty

Sunset at the jetty

Full set of photos here: Click

Camera: Smena 8M
Film: DNP Centuria

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAD!

You’re still sorely missed. So many things have happened since your last birthday. Today’s day 468 since you’ve been gone. Have you met Pastor Henry up there yet? We got the sudden news that he left us whilst away on a mission trip to India. I told him to give you a hug when he sees you, did you receive that hug?

Dad & Mum

I was so shocked when I received the news that I made a call to Mum. And then I felt sad that his family had to go through what we went through when we lost you too. Not something I would recommend others to experience too. It feels so surreal that he’s gone. I mean, I wouldn’t say I was especially close to Pastor Henry, even though he’s watched me grow up in church and all. But he was somebody that I’ve known my whole life. Like, whenever I’m back in Singapore, whenever I go to church, he was there. He was always there. Now, he won’t be, it’s just— … Sigh. To me, at the moment, it just feels like he is somewhere else, and we just haven’t spoken in a long time. Maybe it’s because I didn’t get to attend his funeral? For you, your funeral was the thing that really told me that you were really gone. Everything just sunk in. That was it. This is real. The pictures, the flowers, the coffin. All real.

I finally got my driving license. And I have since started driving around to uni and to the shops and whatnot. Kinda wish you were still around to teach me about cars. Surely you would have had some tips on how I should properly maintain my car. Right? And now, whenever I see one of those classic Volkswagen Beetles, it reminds me of you. At times I would wish I could drive a manual, so that I could get one of those Beetles. But then again, it’s too complicated for my simple brain to handle. Haha.

How have you been, Dad? Are you watching me from above?

This year is suppose to be our last year of lectures/classes for our course. Next year comprises of mainly clinical placements. You know, after studying what I’ve been studying these few years. There have been times when I’ve wished I had this knowledge earlier, because then, I would have attempted to do something with you while you were still with us. Even like with swallowing, if I knew what I know now, maybe then, I could have been able to do something to make the last few months you had with us better. I would have known how to help you eat better, how to feed you better.Or even before that, when you were only just mildy aphasic, what I could have done to help you communicate better. All the things I could have done. Studying this course can be depressing sometimes.

Did you know, Dad. Since you’ve been gone, every time I go for one of our family dinners at grandma’s place. One of our relatives never fail to tell me to work hard at uni and make sure I return to Singapore when I graduate because you’re no longer around and so I should return to keep mum company. Almost all the kind-hearted advice would end with ‘… You know, because, your dad isn’t around anymore…’ Seriously, I think they’re way more worried about things than Mum is. Mum’s all chill, whilst everyone else seem to be freaking out, just mildly. Haha. I can understand where they’re coming from, and why they’re worried though. But, sometimes I just find this really amusing.

Honestly, Dad, I had so much in my head that I originally wanted to write in this post. But then now, I can’t even recall one. Next time, I will make little notes somewhere to remind myself. So that when I actually sit down to write you something, I will have my little points ready!

Love you too,

Elaine

Cakes and such

Um

Sash again

Passed by the Brown Dog Cafe a million times, but never stopped to try it.

They have a little outdoor place for people to bring their dogs. And they seem to have their fair share of regular customers. And they apparently appeared in the papers because Masterchef judges, Gary and George, were apparently ‘spotted’ there.

I used a lot of ‘apparently’s in this post.

Sash with her drink and food

Lamb Cutlets

Eggs Benedict

All day breakfast at Grind It. Super noms. Where have you been all my life? Why did I only find out about this place now?! I want to go back there again. So many things I want to try. And the staff there were really nice and friendly too.

Tags

For the housemates

11/11/11

It’s Pocky Year!

I was watching this documentary on Bill Cunningham last night. And I love how down to earth and humble he is despite all his achievements. I also love the fact that he is still using a film camera.