an Old Friend

Sydney, 27 July 2017

It's been two weeks I didn't write anything on my blog, while I had a lot of thing happened in my life. Now I have to collect the memories I had back in this two weeks.

I remember after I posted an instastory of my friend's coming to Sydney at 15 July 2017, an old friend suddenly texted me. She was a very kind and caring person to her friends. Everyone loved her. She was also very smart. Everyone must envy her.

But at that night when she texted me, I was so surprised to what has happened to her. I have never ever expected that she has a though that really surprises me! She said she has changed a lot. I can't tell what or why since I have promised her not to tell anyone about her problem. 

I am glad that she still remembers me as a good and nice person. She said if I was a protective person to his friends. She said she was happy to have a friend like me. I told her if I have changed a lot too. I didn't tell her in detail how I changed, but I told her that I wrote everything on my blog. I was so afraid if she would feel disappointed to me. I have changed to be who I really am, but I am still the same nice, kind person as I used to be.

We were close, but we were never further than just friends. I knew that she liked me as my other friend told it to me. I liked her too, but she is my friend's best friend, that my friend have happened to like me too. I can't hurt anyone's feeling. I guess this is the best situation. I might be hurting her even more if I am with her now, to know that I am a gay that I can never sexually attracted to a woman no matter how hard I try.

Life is a mystery and I am wishing her to get the solution of her all problems.

Arrivederci Pizza

Sydney, 14 July 2017

Yesterday, Giorgio invited us to come to his farewell dinner. This week is gonna be his last week in Australia since he has finished his study this semester. We went to Caffe Roma restaurant near Kings Cross station. The pizza restaurants chosen by Giorgio and his Italian friends are always good and reliable.

At the afternoon on that day, he gave me his fridge and some other stuffs such as shoe shelves, book shelves, and a wine glass. I'd love to receive goods from him but I don't have space to store them especially during summer break when I have to empty my dorm room. What I am worried about the most is to take his fridge. I was in between whether or not to receive it. Firstly, I don't really need it but it is nice to have one. Secondly, I just want to help him to clear all his stuffs before he is leaving for good. He also promised to come back to Sydney next year and he would take his fridge back.

As I remember, International House does not allow the residents to add their own furniture and electricity appliances in the room. So I am a bit worried for keeping Gio's fridge in my room. But we'll see what happens, since the fridge has been in the dorm for at least one year and there was no problem. Last semester it was in Gio's room and previously, it was owned by Roberta.

The fridge itself seemed to be less cared. The seal was dangling and the bottle shelf was off. The freezer door was locked, fully covered by thick frost. However the machine worked really good and it was still super cold. So I fixed it little by little. I inserted the door seal back into its housing and I glued the bottle shelf back into its place. I defrosted the two-inch thick frost on the freezer. I cleaned up the dirt inside and out. Now it is clean as a brand new one.

Nonetheless, I am missing my European friends one by one. I knew them because of Joseph (my Indonesian friend), he easily makes friend with westerners. His friends is also my friends. I see that Europeans are friendlier than other westerners. I had good memories with them for last one year. I am gonna miss them all.

When Did You Choose to be Straight?

Sydney, 16 July 2017

I think this video is very smart to help straight people to see homosexuality from different perspective. Straight people never know how it feels to grow as homosexuals, as well they never know how or why themselves grow as "straight".

And here is another older video talking the same issue.

And the best comment on this video would be "homosexuality is found in over 450 species, homophobia is found in one!". So if you still say gay people are lower than animals, you should read the journals again. Isn't it something natural? Don't let your hatred toward homosexuality makes you deny the fact of science.

Now you can see how awkward the question is, isn't it? So, will you still ask "when did you decide to be gay?"?

Credit Reduction

Sydney, 12 July 2017

On Monday, my friend asked me for a help to take pictures of him in Sydney Harbour. He graduated this year and he wanted to make a mandatory picture wearing his graduation toga with Opera House as background. We spent the time in Sydney Harbour until night, and we got exceptional view. Sydney's sky never fails to amaze me whether it is clear or cloudy!

On the way back home, my classmate sent me a message on Facebook messenger. She said she applied for credit reduction of MPAcc program and her application was accepted. It was a little bit unexpected since she took English literature as her bachelor degree. It made me anxious about my own degree. I was thinking to apply for credit reduction to spare some slots if I fail in some core units and I have to retake them again. In that way, I can manage to graduate on time. So basically I want to apply for credit reduction just because I am not confident with myself. But in the other side, I do really want to take the electives and I don't want to ask for reduction. I was so in confusion.

So yesterday, I try to apply for reduction to see if my undergraduate transcript is recognised by Usyd. Today, I got the response if they approved my request to reduce the credits. It was so quick than I expected since they say they gonna answer within 10 business days. I haven't confirm to accept or to cancel the offer of reduction. I am gonna wait until the last final exam results are released. If I did well in final exam, I will go to the next semester without any credit reduction, because I want to study the electives.

Bradleys Head Amphitheatre

Sydney, 9 July 2017

This Sunday I decided to go to Bradleys Head Amphitheatre in Sydney Harbour National Park. Yesterday I was thinking to go to farm land in Orange or in Hunter Valley but it seems there is no public transportation to reach those place. I have to drive my own car to get there. But then last night, I had an idea to go to Bradleys head Amphiteathre since I saw the pictures of this place are so beautiful and this place is still in Sydney. I wanted to have less walk this time. I just want to enjoy the ride since it is Sunday and the fare of public transport is cheap a whole day. I planned to take some sunset pictures from Bradleys Head. Also, I planned to take a picture of birthday note for my crush in that beautiful place. 

I took a train from Central station to Circular Quay and a ferry from Circular Quay to Taronga Zoo wharf. From there I walked on a coastal walk for about 15 minutes. Sydney has a lot of beautiful coastal walks. I have been to Spit-Manly coastal walk, Bondi-Cogee, Royal National Park, and this time Sydney Harbour National Park. I would say, Sydney coastal walks are not any less beautiful than what we have in Bali. And what really interesting is despite Sydney has been packed with concrete buildings and people, there are a lot of wilderness preserved well around it.  Here are some pictures of Sydney Harbour National Park.

There was nothing much to do actually at Bradleys Head other than just sitting in the amphitheatre and enjoying the breeze and the view of Sydney skyline. That's why I waited a little longer until the sun has set. The view was gorgeous. I also took a picture of birthday wish for my crush with the sunset as the background.

There were only me, two other photographers, and a fisherman. It was getting dark and no light at all except from a lighthouse on the other side of the cape. It was only 5.30 pm but the sky has already been pitch black. I decided to walk back to the Taronga Zoo harbour to get back to Circular Quay. I decided to take asphalt road, not the coastal path, since I know it can be dangerous to walk in the darkness in a small path. But way too bad, the asphalt road was also super dark. There was no single street lamp. I walked in a complete darkness in the middle of forest. I walked faster and faster since there was no one and it was so quiet. Luckily it was full moon so the moonlight helped my to see the road. I also can see million stars above me.

I arrived at Taronga Zoo wharf at 6.10 pm after walking for 2 km. A bad luck came again after I saw the last ferry was 5.10 pm. I regretted that I didn't pay attention to the ferry schedule. Then I had to find another route to go back home, either to take bus, train or ferry on another wharf. I depended on my google maps to find the route. I was lost in a beautiful neighbourhood. The path shown on the maps are mostly small path in a small neighbourhood garden covered with thick trees so it is concealed from the main street. I almost gave up and cried, lol. A young lady then saw me and asked me if I need help. The she helped me showing the way to the closest wharf, The South Mosman wharf. She was a really nice lady who was exercising in that neighbourhood. She also offered me a drink or a toilet for a little break. I can't thank her enough for the help that night.

Taronga Zoo wharf has closed since 5.10 pm

What a beautiful neighbourhood with beautiful people who help stranger like me.

South Mosman wharf.

After waiting for 40 minutes alone in South Mosman wharf, the ferry finally came. Even the passenger of the ferry was only me! But the way back home was so beautiful. I planned to have a short walked but it turned to be a long unforgettable journey for me! I walked at least 11 km on that evening.

Kirribilli Point

Sydney, 7 July 2017

Yesterday I walked from my dorm to Kirribilli. I decided to walk after I saw my friend's post on her Facebook about walk routine challenge during a whole winter holiday. I guessed it would be a good activity to spend the holiday instead of laying on my bed a whole day. Kirribilli was only 6 km from my dorm so I guessed it would be a good route for walk. Moreover, I had never been there but I saw the pics of view from Kirribilli point are so good. I also just bought a proper tripod, so I think it would be a good chance to try out my new tripod. So here are the pictures I got on Kirribilli.

This is my most favourite picture. This photo tells a hope. The bridge depicts a way that leads into a big bright dream in the future, in this case, the city of Sydney. This picture reminds me of a scene in Zootopia movie.

This picture was taken from Luna Park. This angle is actually so standard that many people took almost the exact same picture.

What surprised me is that my Galaxy S8 phone can capture the stars up above in the sky so clearly. Luckily the sky was clear that night. When I got back on my dorm, I took some stars pics with my phone and they did amaze me. I am ready to take some milky way photos later during stargazing with my phone.

At the end, I walked for a total of 17 km distance (not to mention the elevation that I had to hike), 21k steps and 900 kcal. It was a good way to exercise indeed.

Shanghainese Restaurant

Sydney, 3 July 2017

Yesterday when I was on my way to south coast, a friend of mine texted me. She invited me for a lunch as gratitude for helping her during the semester. This was my second invitation from my classmates because I have helped them in studying. Now I see that Chinese people are so kind and loyal once they have trusted us.

So today we went to "Taste of Shanghai", a Shanghainese restaurant in Ashfield, a suburb where she lives. The food was really really good and they are all unique, in other words, it was something new for me. I felt bad since I ordered too many food more than we could eat, while she denied to share the bill with me. She gave me a hug when I went back home. I felt like I owe her kindness and I should give her something.

I never got such this flattering response when I was in Indonesia. I like to help friends in studying and I consider that as a normal thing in student life. I didn't expect that in here they really appreciate it so much. Now what I am really afraid is if I fail with my own subject. How can I help other if I myself still struggle with my own studies? I am afraid for being cocky and overconfident.

South Coast Line (Sea Cliff Bridge and Kiama)

Sydney, 3 July 2017

Yesterday I went out to get some fresh air since I didn't want to spend my winter holiday just laying on my bed. So I decided to go to south to visit Wollongong. I checked on the internet what to visit on Wollongong but there was nothing attracts me. But I saw that sea cliff bridge on the north of Wollongong and Kiama on the south of Wollongong look so promising. So on Sunday morning I went to Central Station. It is good to travel on Sunday since the fare of public transportation is only $2.5 once at the beginning for the entire day.

The first destination I visited is sea cliff bridge. It took about one hour from central to Coalcliff station, the nearest station to the location. The location turns out to be only few kilometers south of Figure Eight Pools at Royal National Park I have visited last year. From the coal station, I just walked down the road about 10 minutes or about 750 m. The view was just breathtaking. Here are some pictures I took:

Later on, instead of going back to the Coalcliff station, I decided to walk south to take the train at the following station, Scarborough station. On the map, the distance to the following station is similar to the distance to go back to Coalcliff station. So I guessed it was a good idea to see further view of this route by walking south more. Yes it was true the view was so gorgeous with blue ocean on the lefthand side and hills and trees on the righthand side.

However after I walked more than 20 minutes, I didn't see any sign of train station. When I checked on google maps, I actually walked too far. It was true that there was no sign of the station. I relied on my google maps to find the location of the station. The station was so quiet and there was nobody except me when I came there. But the view from the station was just peaceful and very beautiful.

From that Scarborough station, I continued my journey to Kiama. I swear the view from the train was so fabulous. I highly recommend this South Coast Line if you want to get beautiful scenery from the train. On the left window, you can see beautiful houses and beautiful beaches, while on the right window you can see hills, trees, and some ranches. It took another one hour to get to Kiama.

Kiama is another beauty on the south coast of New South Wales. The sand beach is white, the beaches are tranquil and a lot of parks with green grass. While Bondi beach and Manly beach has been filled with tourists from around the world, Kiama is the option for Australian families to spend their weekend. I saw a lot of Australian families, parents with their kids, or a group of people were playing or having small party on the park. It made the ambiance feels so homey and warm. 

One popular spot at Kiama is the little blowhole. It is basically a giant reef with a hollow underneath. When there is a big wave enters the reef, the water pressure pushes itself out from a small hole on the top of the reef and creates a sudden, up high jet stream of water. It is similar to "Seruling Samudera" in Klayar beach in Pacitan.

I came home at 6 pm and I got a very bad pain on my stomach. I only ate a single McDonald's breakfast muffin and I pushed myself to walk too far. I was afraid if I couldn't manage my health and I got too tired with my activities, my liver disease will relapse. Luckily, after a night of resting, I feel much better today.