Petting my food 2

I have been spending more and more time in Nuriootpa. In person, I usually use the word "Nuri" but then I found out that most of the time, people in Adelaide do not know what I am talking about. It is only people from there who call it Nuri.

It is nice to talk to Steven's family and cook for them. They do not have any non-Aussie in their family so they are just delighted to have a taste of Asian cuisine. At the same time, I also get to taste fatty country food.

Here is a new photo of Skippy. You may remember a previous posting of Skippy as a joey (click here). She is grown up now and refuses to be touched except for Steven's aunt. I hate babies when they grow up.

The Hobbit or There and Back Again (novel)

I know this novel is not really that long but it took me some time to finish it because of several concerns. Well, if you visit this blog often then you would be able to know what those concerns are.

Instead of going straight to "The Two Towers" after reading "The Fellowship of the Ring", I decided to read "The Hobbit" because it is currently under production. I want to have an idea of what the movie is going to be.

This Tolkien novel is much much easier to read than "The Lord of the Rings" series. The language is simpler and the plot more straightforward. The characters are easy to follow because there are not that many of them.

Tolkien takes his readers to the simple life of Hobbiton to the perilous journey that Bilbo Baggins takes. If you have seen the three gigantic movies, then this book will explain a lot of things like Bilbo's riches and why he wanted to join Frodo in the latter's own adventure.

The world that Tolkien created is tamer compared to the succeeding series. Though evil is lurking, Middle Earth does not seem as bad as the time the fellowship left Rivendell.

As always, it will be extremely difficult to put all the important adventures on the big screen. I am sure there will be lots of encounters that will not be included. I just hope that the last battle scene will be presented in its entirety.

Casting will also be a challenge. Gandalf is not that different in this novel so I hope that the producers will be able to convince Sir Ian McKellen to reprise this role. Ian Holmes cannot reprise Bilbo Baggins' role as Bilbo here is much younger and he needs to be super charismatic and funny. The actor who will play Thorin has to be very strong as a leader, imperfect but very relatable. He needs to make a huge impact at the end of the adventure.

Guillermo Del Toro is reportedly directing this movie with couple Philippa Boyens and Peter Jackson as writers. I really would love Jackson to stick to directing but I guess he was traumatized by the earlier three movies. Del Toro is a great director but he is a bit too dark for the theme of "The Hobbit".

I will definitely watch this movie on the big screen in 2011. The next installment will be in 2012.

Missing Fog

It is still winter in Adelaide. We had a cold snap last week and it was about 4 degrees Celsius in Alberton where Steven and I live. After experiencing it, I can say that I really really prefer the heat wave that we had last summer. But that is selfish to wish for every summer as the farmers need the water for their crops.

I am still fascinated by the mist coming out of my mouth, the dew drops on leaves and the toadstools sprouting from mulch. But my favourite is the fog. On the way from our Payneham gym, Steven and I stumbled upon an eerie looking football field. It was blanketed by a fairly thick blanket of fog.

I immediately got out of the car and ran towards the fog but then it actually disappears as you go near it. But Steven took this haunting shot of silhouette.

Adelaide Model Railway Show 2009

Steven + Trains = Childhood obsession

You know that Steven has to drag me to a show like this one. I used to play with my GI Joes when I was a little gay boy but you do not see me fondling them now. They are in a box somewhere in the Philippines where spiders and cockroaches are impregnating them.

Anyway, it is amazing to see these tiny toys come to life with the help of wood, meters and meters of tracks, fake foliage and unmarried ugly men. No, I am not kidding. Most of the owners look like they do not have interest in sex but I did not take photos of them.

Instead, I took photos of their creation and it does take a lot of time and love to create beautiful creations like these.

Winter in Karoonda and Nuriootpa

I spent the long weekend with Steven in Nuriootpa and Karoonda. I welcome the distraction and relaxation as things have been tough here lately.

I spent our time in Nuriootpa sleeping most of the time. Steven reckons that I feel relaxed there and I had a difficult week. We also played a few board games, baked gingerbread and cooked a few Filipino dishes.

Our Karoonda trip was short but nice. I was able to meet Steven's family and friends again. We also visited the farm and boy, it looked so different from what it was in the summer. It is much much colder now and there are grass, moss and paddy melons. The latter is delicious-looking but Steven told me that they are poisonous. I swear they look very sweet and tempting.

Anyway, I hope you like these photos taken in the farm. Please notice how vast the farm is.

Waterfall Gully

Settling in another country is not easy and doing it a second time does not make it easier. There is one challenge after another. There is one setback after wrestling the first one.

Making decisions could have been simpler and quicker if I were single. I could just snap my fingers and off I go to Thailand. But I am no longer single. I am sharing my life now with a special person. Many people have said this and it will sound corny but I really cannot live without this person anymore. He gives me motivation to do the best I can for us and our home.

Steven has a good way of relieving my stress though. We go driving--and this time, we also went mountain hiking. We cooked food at home and drove to the conservation park Waterfall Gully. We admired the environment, took a sip of the cool water and took our picnic bag to the top of the mountain. There we had lunch while looking at Adelaide.

My knees felt like jello by the time we returned to our car. And planted a kiss on Steven's lips before driving home.

Magic Trick Gone Wrong

Rowan Allen is a friend of ours. He is a traffic reporter here in South Australia and it was his birthday the past weekend.

We had a blast at his party. The food was plenty and the conversations crazy.

One of his friends performed a fire show. Unfortunately, I left my own digital camera in our unit so I had to content myself with Steven's mobile phone camera.

This video is not for the faint-hearted but I am sure you will definitely laugh at it.

Dexter in the Clouds

It is getting colder in Adelaide as winter approaches. It is good that it has been raining as well so the parks and gardens are greener.

I do not like the cold. I will always be the stereotypical Asian island boy toy. I will always like the beaches and warm water of the ocean.

But last night, I asked Steven to show me a fog. I realized that there could not be a fog at night but we were able to find some low clouds. We drove and drove and drove.

So here I am looking like I am doped.

Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring (novel)

The Lord of the Rings is one of my favourite movies of all time. I have the extended editions and theatrical editions of all three movies. I have watched the movies more than ten times so when I found out that the UniSA Magill library has copies of the books, I immediately borrowed "The Fellowship of the Ring".

Tolkien is a true genius. He created a world that is totally alien and at the same time, totally familiar. He created maps of a world that fans of this book wish existed. He created creatures and characters that is rich with history and emotions.

The words are impeccable. Tolkien can weave desires and passions so intricately in the songs included in this novel. The descriptions are very scary because of the details and sometimes, I wonder if they really existed.

Of course, the novel is richer than the movie version but it is not really fair to compare because it is a different challenge to adapt this tale on the big screen. I have to say though that the relationship between Sam and Frodo is gayer in the novel than in the movie.

I read this book while going to and from the university. It is nice that I can take myself out of the bus and into a world where I can have a threesome with Legolas and Aragorn while Merry and Pippin are egging us on.

My First Autumn

This is my first autumn. I know it is strange for people living in the northern hemisphere (that gives you an idea of the demographics of my readers) to read that but I live in Australia. We have everything upside down here.

Yesterday morning, I saw condensation coming out of my mouth. I have experienced this only a few times in my life, most of which was the times I was working in a fast food restaurant that had a walk-in freezer.

When I go out, I could feel my own face getting colder and colder. The sun is out and yet my exposed skin feels damp and cold.

I am here typing in my lounge and I am wearing a jacket, pants and socks. I am still cold. I wonder how my body reacts to winter.

Dexter's Black Pussy

Steven and I did some socializing the past weekend. We had a lunch gathering with two gay couples and a straight couple. We were served excellent food by one of the hosts. I was just ecstatic because it was genuine Malaysian food. Most of the guests were complaining about the spice but I was loving it.

The hosts have some interesting pets also. They have a Great Dane and a boxer. I won't write about them because it is nothing new that I adore dogs.

But they also have a cat. All of my friends know that I had a troubled childhood. I used to torture cats for fun but I am now a changed man. I love cats although I knew very little about them.

Here are photos of Camacho. She is adorable. She is quite contented sleeping on my lap. Steven decided to put her on my head and she tried her best not to scratch me. I guess I am already forgiven of the crimes that I committed as a kid. Thanks Kerry for taking the photos!

Quenching Adelaide's Thirst

It has been ages and I have not written anything here. There are some developments in my life here that I cannot share publicly yet. There is one thing that I can say--things are going well but they are super slow.

One good thing that is happening here is the rain. South Australia is one big desert area so every bit of moisture is appreciated here. It drizzles and strangers tell me that it is a great day. There is half an inch of floodwater on the road, Steven gets a hard on.

In the past few days, it has been raining and raining. The plants are swaying and our windows are rattling. We cannot do much--Steven is with his choo choo trains and I am with my boring books.

Sedan Hills

On our way to Swan Reach, Steven and I drove some beautiful hills. I know the appearance of these hills are no longer natural because they are all cleared down. There should be more trees in this area.

I was tempted to climb to the top and let my body roll down the hill. But I was not that stupid. Besides, I might hit my head on a rock or get bitten by a snake.

All of my friends know that I love empty spaces and that is why I moved here.

Black Saturday Fishing

It was Black Saturday and Steven's brother invited us to go fishing along the Murray River in Swan Reach.

I had not gone fishing since I was 8 years old and that was when my father let me use his bamboo fishing pole. Last weekend, Steven loaned me his mum's fishing pole made of steel and rubber. His brother bought a couple of tubs of worms.

We did not get any fish although some of the local insects got to us. We hope to return when the river water is a bit higher.

Playing with the Light and Dark

It was the Good Friday night and the night was really really cold. It was around 10 degrees Celsius (12 degrees Fahrenheit) and Steven and I went to the look out on Mengler's Hill.

The moon was too bright to take dramatic photos of the stars so we decided to play with the torch on my mobile phone. Thus I made my very first attempt in light painting.

Poor Steven--he was wearing only a simple shirt while I was comfortably pushing the shutter button in my warm jacket.

Karoonda Farm Fair 2009

There are so many things right now that I do not expect that I will experience. I am not talking about my career direction. I am talking about my exposure to Australian country life. I am a true blue city mouse and everything changed when I shacked with a true blue country mouse.

Anyway, there was the Karoonda Farm Fair 3-4 April. I really did not expect anything but to see tractors and sheep. Well, I did see tons of them but I did not expect that there would be different kinds. I thought the only varieties of sheep were the black ones and the white ones. I did not know that even the white ones have different breeds. I was able to pat the rams but the ewes probably sensed that I love slapping them on the barby.

I was amazed to watch some sheepdog demonstrations. Those dogs must be very intelligent to be able to execute some very complicated herding techniques. I thought it was just barking and running around. Being a sheepdog involves calculations, agility and obedience.

I was also introduced to a platform where cars board on. Then, these huge planks of wood take the cars to the other side of the river.

Finally, I witnessed a real sheep-shearing competition. I have to inform all of my men-crazed readers--it is not as sexy as we thought. Most sheep-shearers are not muscular and handsome lads. Many of them are overweight and very unkempt. I should have let my fantasies come untouched. What a disappointment!

I hope you enjoy the videos and photos.

Got My TESOL Certificate

Finally, something interesting happened in my life. After months of taking online classes and spending lots of money, I finally achieved something on paper.

Yes, I already received my certificate IV in TESOL from the mail. Thanks, Chris W, for receiving the mail for me.

I wonder if prospective employers will be more interested now with this certificate in my hands.

Loving Adelaide Trains

I used to live in Manila and Bangkok--big cities with really bad traffic. It is undeniable that both of them have comprehensive and wide public transport systems. They have buses, trains, and the local tuktuks and jeepneys and many others.

I live in Adelaide now where the population is only a teeny weeny fraction of what Bangkok and Manila have. That means there is not a huge "market" here for a public transport system that is as big as the two cities I mentioned previously.

Unfortunately, I do not know how to drive.

I depend a lot on my partner to take me to places where I need to go but he has a full-time job. And I am a full-time student so I need to leave our unit almost everyday.

During the first few months, I had been taking buses. They are fucking slow and almost always late. Sometimes, they are 10 minutes late. Sometimes, the bus I am waiting for do not come at all.

A week ago, I made a new discovery: the Adelaide trains. They are on time and if they are late, it is only for 2 minutes. The closest (Alberton) station is an 8-minute walk from our unit. It is the same distance between my old Thai apartment and the Chong Nonsi station in Bangkok.

Plus traffic won't be a problem and I can read better because it is really smooth. I just wish that the crowds in Adelaide trains were as tight as the ones in Manila.

The Bubble (movie)

I was with my Israeli friend Rotem the first time I watched this one. She bought a pirated DVD in Israel and we played it in Bangkok. It did not have any subtitles so she had to translate it to English for me. Unfortunately, some of the lines are in Arabic so both of us did not understand some parts of the movie. This is why this is my first to watch the movie while understanding it entirely. Thank you SBS!

"Bubble" is a love story that happened at the wrong time, at the wrong place with the wrong pair. It is set in Palestine and Israel where a group of young people are trying to make a change. I hate to spoil the fun but it really does not present anything positive. It is an extremely sad story and there is only one thing positive about it and it is the love that the characters have for one another.

The plot is really really good and it is intertwined with another movie/play I like--"Bent". That other piece is used skillfully in the movie. The actors are also superb, especially Yousef 'Joe' Sweid as Ashraf . He is just extremely believable.

Many of the concepts in the movie is hard to comprehend for people who do not know the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. For anyone who wants to watch it, they have to do some research on the tension there.

This movie is memorable because it does not make anything simple. Every relationship that the characters have is complicated. It will not sugar coat. It will not make life appear easy. It is just real.

The Boyet Fajardo Scandal

I know that there has been tons of blog entries on this matter but I want to have my own say. Besides, I have a different "viewership" from those other blogs.

These are the events so far (please click the blue text to take you to other websites/blogs):

13 March 2009- Boyet Fajardo went to Duty Free shop in Manila to buy some chocolates. He did not sign his credit card so he was asked by the cashier to show another ID card with a signature and picture on it. He was able to produce some identification but all of them do not have signatures.

Boyet Fajardo claimed that he is a popular person and the people at the shop are worthless. He cussed at them and asked them to either kneel in front of him or let him slap them on their faces. The cashier chose to kneel in front of him as Boyet still cussed at him.

14 March 2009- a blog site was opened revealing the details of that infamous Friday the 13th scandal. Since then, thousands of bloggers and blog-followers have expressed their disgust on what happened and called for a boycott of Fajardo's products.

19 March 2009- another blog published the video of the incident which was caught on CCTV. Since then, other blog writers have picked up the story and spread the word. Boyet Fajardo's website was down for a few days and I think it is because somebody hacked it.

24 March 2009- Fajardo's spokesperson said that his client is apologising for what happened. It was only a creative outburst More people got angrier because of this statement.

The Duty Free Employees' Union's president told the media that they are going to lodge a complaint against the 28-year old designer at the Commission of Human Rights.

That night, Fajardo appeared on the news in tears and apologised to the cashier whose name he could not say right. And so the story goes on...

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So what can we learn from this story? Simple--leave your S&M fantasies in the bedroom.