O'Reilly's

A few days before Christmas in 2008 (4 days in fact), we went on our 3rd hike for the year.

This time, to O'Reilly's.

O'Reilly's is located in the heart of Lamington National Park, 2 hours by road south of Brisbane. It is 930 metres (3,000 feet) above sea level.











It is a mountain occupied by the O'Reillhy family since the early 1900s. Till this day, the family still stays on the mountain and produce their own line of wine. In addition to wines, the family also owns the O'Reilly's Rainforest Retreat and have operated business since first opening in 1926.











On our way towards to top of the mountain, we stopped by the vineyard and tasted some wines. Though you have to pay for tasting the wines, it will be fully refundable when you buy any from them. They have quite an extensive range of wines. Red, white, sparkling and even dessert wines. In the end, all of us when back with at least 1 bottle. (We bought a dessert wine with lychee flavour. Tastes sweet and refreshing... Too bad I forgot the name already...)














We saw rows upon rows of grape vines when we drove into the vineyard and we decided to explore and see if they have grapes on them. And yes, they do. In fact, Esmond had stealthily plucked one and pop it into his mouth... The verdict? It was one of the foulest things he had ever ingested... it was so "siap" that he spat it out the moment he bit onto it....

Once we are satisfied with our purchases, we proceeded up the mountain in search of a good picnic / bbq spot. We were lucky because we found one with a gazebo as it had started drizzling.











As usual, each party had to bring their own contribution and share. So out came all the plastic containers, thermal pots and cookwares filled with goodies. Once we've had our fill and the drizzle let up, we promptly bundled up our wares back into our car boots and headed off in search for the hanging bridge...

Before we came to the bridge, some very colourful creatures had stopped us in our paths.












Lorikeets! and they weren't scared of humans! They have grounds for you to hand feed the birds...

When we are done with the winged creatures, we headed off for the adventure. The climb on the hanging bridge is gentle. However, it belies the height it was hung above the ground.














It wasn't as steep or as harrowing as the hanging bridge which I climbed when I went on a school trip to Shah Alam's Four Season's Park in 1991. That bridge only allows for us to climb in a single file. And it was more like steps as we had to literally climb the hanging bridge as if it were a flight of stairs (coupled with the fact that 20 or so secondary school kids jumping and prancing and shaking the bridge as we cross....).

The hanging bridge is a lot sturdier and gives us a much stronger sense of reliability. The highlight is the Tree Top climb. There's a ladder which leads up to the top of the canopy and at its peak is about 30 - 40 metres above ground. Not everyone had the nerve to clamber up the steep ladder.

With Esmond and me being the usual "sam seng", we went up there like monkeys (i.e. no hesitation - not howling like one!....)














It was a pretty tight climb and there were two levels. The first can accommodate up to a maximum of 3 and the second (higher) level only 2. So at any point in time, the tree can only accommodate a maximum of 5 persons. Given the size of our group, not to mention the other visitors, there was soon a queue of 'monkeys' who want to get their butts up the tree.

When all the "sam sengs" are done with the tree, we proceeded with the track and came across a garden. It wasn't anything spectacular but we saw some R-rated activities going on there...

Two green and gold flies were having a good time on the ferns...

It wasn't a very long track so we were done in an hour. Before long, we were back where we started and sat down at the cafe for some drinks.

When we've quenched our thirst, we headed back to Haw's place to have dinner since we have so much leftover from lunch.

As with all our previous outings, this has been wonderful - especially with the company of our great bunch of friends....

Lion City again....


For the second time in 2008, we headed back to Singapore. This time, not for festivities, but still for a celebration - my baby bro's wedding.


Fortunately, I have an understanding boss who was willing to let me go on a 3 week paid holiday smack bang in the middle of our busiest season. As an compromise, I brought my laptop along and was checking on work from more than 7000km away everyday, except for the days when we were back in Malaysia where we were still on dial up.


In the weeks running up to our return, we had piled up our laundry basket with items that we had bought to be brought home for families and friends. As usual, we had only started packing the night before we fly.











And as usual, we didn't sleep until past 2am. In less than 12 hours, we were on the plane en route to Singapore.


You can immediately feel the difference once you disembark. There are loads more people in Singapore. We needed half an hour to adapt to the crowd as it was really getting on our nerves. Since we had time on our hands, we decided to visit the new terminal - Terminal 3, of Changi International Airport.





















It is truly big and the basement was just like any other shopping centre! Parents who had no where else to bring their kids, brought them to the airport and it was just like how it is in IMM. There were kids every where - running, screaming, crying. There were a lot of shops, eateries and food courts.

After an hour, we called my bro so he could pick us up. He came with his new old car and we went back to Simei where we unloaded some of our stuff.

Closer to midnight, Esmond's mom and dad came to pick us up, only to go back to the airport. Esmo's sis was arriving on a flight back from Japan on the same night. Once we've got everybody in the car, we headed to McPherson for some supper and didn't get home until past 1am.

My bro's wedding didn't take place until 11 Oct 2008 (which is also the day he proposed, the day they have their ROM as well as his birthday). He had all the events happening on the same day so that he will only need to remember 1 date....

A couple of days before the actual day, they was required to go to the Registry of Marriages at Fort Canning to "sumpah" that they were never married before and to collect their solemnization documents.

Upon arrival, we did Singapore's favourite past time - queing.











Fortunately, we didn't have to wait too long (of course lah, Singapore so efficient....) and it was soon their turn. Esmo and I were like a couple of mad paparazi. We were both snapping away, taking photos of this life changing event, much to the chagrin of the officer. She had asked my bro who we were and had said that we were not supposed to be there. But my bro turned on his charm and she soon forgot all about us....











After going through the formality, we headed off to venture into other 'famous' parts of Fort Canning for some photo taking, where my cheeky bro was up to his antics again...













So typical of my bro....

As the weather was getting more unbearable as the day goes on, we headed back to the car and went to Katong to have lunch, before going to their bridal salon at Katong Complex to collect their suits and gown.

That was Wednesday. On Friday, Esmond and I went back to the bridal salon to collect the flowers and have it delivered back to Simei.

Finally, the big day arrived. Esmond and I arrived at Simei bright and early at 7am to find....

And an hour or so later, my baby bro was all smart and ready to go fetch his bride...

While he was gone facing the multiple challenges set before him by the bride's sisters, we were home preparing to welcome the happy couple (and of course, doing last minute touch ups...)

Meng Li had made these two cute little squirrels (?) for her elder bro and soon to be sister-in-law. She also made the flower arrangement...

Soon we heard the loud continous honks from the bridal party below. They're back! As customs have it, we had to "hide" in the room so that we won't take a direct hit from their "strong aura"... Only when they are back in their own room, did we emerge...

They each had to finish eating a bowl of sweet dumpling (a.k.a. Tang Yuan), before serving tea to their elders...

This is what they've brought back...

This is what the bride gave the groom.... (which Esmond is extremely jealous about coz he didn't get anything from me on our wedding... he he...)

When everybody has been served their cup of 'expensive' tea and the bride changed into her tea gown or Kwa, the happy couple left for the bride's place again to serve them their cups of 'expensive tea'... They didn't arrive back in Simei until after lunch and promptly retired to their room for some rest before Part 2 of the wedding begins in the evening.

Their reception is held in Raffles Country Club in Tuas. Before the banquet begins at 7.15pm, they had their solemnization ceremony on a big balcony over looking the lake.

Their wedding bands....

The solemn "signing of half my pants to my wife" (as my bro puts it) ceremony...

before being pronounced husband and wife, and allowing him to....

see how my mom was beaming with pride and joy at seeing her only son changing his marital status?

And of course, capturing the memorable moment on film (or rather megabytes coz it's all digital now)...

Esmond and I get to meet a lot of my relatives before the wedding banquet began. We last saw most of them on our wedding back in 2006. It was good to be able to catch up with them again.

My dad couldn't recognise Meng Li after she was all made up. She was standing right in front of my dad when he went "Where's Meng Li?"....

As promised by my brother, the wedding banquet started on time at 7.15pm...

The bride was even sabotaged to sing a Happy Birthday song for my bro...

The banquet went well and it was all over around 9.30pm.

Though my bro was made to drink a cocktail of hard liquor by his friends, he was still standing and sober (albeit appearing like a cooked lobster) when he reach Simei later that night.

So that was the highlight of our 2nd trip back to Singapore in 2008.

Of course, apart from the wedding, we also managed to:

Celebrate my parents-in-law's birthday...

Catch up with friends...

poly-mates



Stuart, Cindy and their baby boy - Kang Yi,
Su Kai and Charmaine at their new home...







Take in the sights...


The 'Big Durian' and "The Palm"

They are still building the IR on Sentosa Island...

Singapore's financial district - Shenton Way...

The Padang, old Supreme Court (which is in front of the new UFO looking Supreme Court)

Tallest public housing (40 storeys) in one of Singapore's oldest suburb - Toa Payoh...

The view from the top....

Seeing public display of disobedience... (clear violation of the "No Bicycles" sign)

Going back to my home town - Batu Pahat...Catching a coach back home from Larkin bus station, walking back hom from the main road...

Having "reunion lunch" with the whole family in a Malaysian restaurant...

Catching up on Malaysian hawker food (they are the best!)

Shopping and having shopping breaks in BP...

Seeing a dog (His name is Money) eat rambutan (the lucky bugger....)

Witnessing a Kancil driving straight into the ditch right in front of our eyes...

Catching up on shopping and food (again) in Singapore...

Seeing Elmo and Cooking Monster still ordering their meals at Fasta Pasta, Bugis but this time, with an additional family member - Eeyore...

Saw an exhibition on Singapore's history at the HDB hub in Toa Payoh. The most interesting exhibit? This one... Singapore's campaign to control it's population back in the 60s - 70s, which includes "Don't marry early, One / Two is enough etc... (which is the reverse of what they want their fellow citizens to do now)

Even had the change to see Esmond's favourite band (or what's left of it) - Beyond

And as with all good things, it came to an end... by the end of Oct, we were all packed up and ready to head back to Brisbane on a one way ticket with SIA, departing from the spanking new Terminal 3....

And look who welcomed us back home in Brisbane!

How cute!