Winter in Melbourne...

... is pretty cold.

It has been a relaxing and restful one week after the rather brain numbing experience of trying to get my PR extended for another 5 years (thankfully i have succeeded after THREE attempts in TWO days *yay me!*). Actually i am surprised i got it all done in 15minutes on the last try. The official word is that it takes AT LEAST two weeks. Ya right. Hrummph. I guess it all depends on who you talk to and how HELPFUL they want to be. Luckily, the last chap i talked to was pretty nice and willing to listen to my rather carefully planned story/excuses on why i was not in Australia in the last 5 years (technically, i have been here for 36 days in total). Well, the first two didn't even want to talk to me *sheesh*! But let bygones be bygones... I got my PR till 2009 and that's all that matters. *evil crackle* Yes yes... terrible i know i am.. but what the heck, i do plan to come here... sooner or later anyway.

So after that harrowing two days, I have been doing nothing except reading books (finished Dan Brown's Angels&Demons and The Da Vinci Code), walking around melb city, visiting various museums and markets and having gastonomical delights courtesy of my brother here. Turkish on sunday. Steak on monday. Mexican on tuesday. Greek on wednesday. And i believe tonight we are having japanese and having dim sum on saturday morning! I will worry about friday night tomorrow. *smirks*

I think Melbourne is beginning to grow on me. It is no longer unfamiliar or foreign and not quite as boring as i thought before. I am confident in driving around and am actually recognizing the roads and landmark. I guess i am feeling like 1/4 of a resident here and not so much of a visitor like the other times i have been here.

Think tomorrow i will drive to Werribee open range safari zoo outside melbourne... but then, i may not. Ah well. It is nice having no agenda and no pressure once in a while though i can't wait to get back to Spore on sunday either.

*stretches*

All in all, a most rejuvenating holiday.