I Gede Suparwata - 2008 Endeavour Vocational Education and Training Awards Holder

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2012!

2011-12-08T19:38:00.001-08:00

Bali Britain Brisbane (1)

2011-05-13T18:03:00.000-07:00

Pembaca yang budiman,
Kali ini saya akan menulis perjalanan hidup saya yang lahir dan dibesarkan di Bali (Indonesia),mendapatkan kesempatan untuk mengikuti program Food and Beverage Management Trainee di Sofitel Saint James London dan menimba ilmu Hospitality Management di Southbank Institute of Technology,Brisbane,Australia deangan biaya penuh dari Endeavour Award Australian Scholarship.Mohon bersabar karena kisah ini cukup panjang dan akan saya sajikan dalam beberapa kali tulisan.Selamat membaca dan semoga bermanfaat.

Happy Nyepi !

2011-03-04T18:48:00.000-08:00

Thank you I Gede Suparwata - you saved the day

2011-02-05T04:37:00.000-08:00

Hello Gede

I want to thank you for saving our holiday by welcoming us home to MMP at such short notice.
We all had a wonderful time, and wonder why we planned to go somewhere else in the first place.
I have done another review for TripAdvisor which this link should take you to:

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowUserReviews-g297699-d1532277-r94840005-Munduk_Moding_Plantation-Singaraja_Bali.html

If the link doesn't work, you can look it up. My name on TripAdvisor is "Placebo".

Thank you again.
We look forward to returning in the future.

Demikian isi surat yang dikirim oleh seorang tamu yang baru saja menginap di Munduk Moding Plantation Nature resort & Spa.Saya senag bukan kepalang karena telah berhasil menolong tamu untuk settling in.Saya sadar sangat tidak mudah untuk beradaptasi di tempat yang baru.Saya jadi teringat saat settling in di Inggris dan Australia.Beda waktu,beda cuaca dan tentunya beda budaya.

Syukurlah akhirnya apa yang saya lakukan tidak sia sia.Tamu ini menulis review
yang positif di Trip Advisor.Semoga ini akan menarik wisatawan lain untuk berkunjung ke tempat kami di Bali.

Flash Flood

2011-01-12T19:09:00.000-08:00

Dear All Friends in Australia,

The recent Queensland's flash flood is really scary for me.Hopefully neither you nor anyone dear to you are suffering from this disaster.My good though is always with you all the time.

Best regards from Bali,
I Gede Suparwata & Family

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2011

2010-12-22T22:37:00.000-08:00

Work place in Paradise

2010-12-19T19:59:00.000-08:00

A week after attending graduation ceremony at Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT),I got a job as Executive Assistant Manager of Munduk Moding Plantation (MMP) Nature Resort and Spa in Bali.MMP is a luxury nature resort, spa and boutique hotel in North Bali on a working coffee plantation located close by Bali’s central lakes and Munduk hill station. The hill sides are covered with jungle, coffee trees, rice fields, and pretty much anything that grows on the island. With just a handful of villas and suites on some 5 hectares of land you can enjoy all this in privacy and genuinely relax far away from the crowds.

The Owner,Mr Gert Jan Koopman and The General Manager,Mr Gede Uliadnyana are very professional and helpful.It is no doubt will help me with my new role at MMP.The staff are friendly and willing to learn from me.I conducted some training sessions to guarantee a quality customer service.

It is really a work place in paradise

Endeavour Awards

2010-12-19T19:20:00.000-08:00

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you to Endeavour Award Management Team for providing me a professional service during my studies at Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT) in Brisbane,Queensland,Australia.I am glad to complete my studies in December 2009.

I must say this is the best scholarship I ever had in my life. Everything is in order from preparation,visa application and graduation.I got a huge support from a dedicated Case Manager,Ms.Kelly Baum.She visited me two times at SBIT.She keep assisting me and always answer my queries quickly and professionally.

My Endeavour Award is a once in a life time study experience.Whilst undertaking my Endeavour VET Award at SBIT, I have developed my practical skills and enhanced my knowledge in the hospitality industry. I also use my Endeavour Award experience as an opportunity to improve my English skills. I have benefited from the opportunity to learn management skills and entrepreneurship.I had the opportunity to work with Australian colleagues and also assist in the training of fellow students by passing on my knowledge from working within the Indonesian hospitality industry.My qualification in hospitality management will support my career progression to a supervisory level.

Best regards from Bali,
I Gede Suparwata

Happy Holidays

2010-12-19T00:43:00.000-08:00

I wish you A Merry Chrismas and A Happy New Year

2010-12-10T21:08:00.000-08:00

Sakit Gigi

2009-10-20T21:40:00.000-07:00

Teman teman yang pernah sakit gigi tentu bisa merasakan bagaimana menderitanya kalau sedang terserang sakit yang satu ini.Tidak enak makan dan tidur.

Setelah bangun bagi,saya merasakan sakit di gigi saya bagian belakang.Sangat tidak nyaman rasanya apalagi hari ini saya berencana untuk menyelesaikan legal report salah satu tugas akhir dari kampus agar bisa wisuda taggal 9 Desember 2009.

Saya langsung online dan mengunjungi situs http://www.cbdmedical.com.au/,memasukkan nomor telepon saya dan klik CALL.Pihak CBD 7 Day Medical Centre langsung menghubungi saya.Kami pun menyetujui appointment hari ini pukul 13.20.

Pukul 12.15,saya berjalan meninggalkan Campus Living Village Kelvin Grove (CLVKG) menuju QUT Kelvin Grove Busway Station (QKGBS).Setelah menunggu dua menit,tepat pukul 12.24 Bus Nomor 333 mengantar saya ke Kota Brisbane.

Bis berhenti di King George Bus Station (KGBS) karena sebelumnya saya memencet tombol stop.Turun dari bis,saya ambil lift menuju Commonwealth Bank Australia (CBA) untuk mengambil sejumlah uang di ATM CBA.CBA terletak diseberang jalan KGBS.

Saya bergegas menuju CBD Medical karena ini baru pertama kali saya berobat.Seorang receptionist yang cantik dan ramah menyambut kedatangan saya.Saya jelaskan datang lebih awal karena baru pertama kali berobat disini dan juga ingin mengisi formulir.Receptionist ini pun menyerahkan formulir dan pulpen.Saya menyerahkan kembali formulir itu dan memberitahu bahwa saya akan kembali pukul 13.05.Petugas ini menyetujui.Saya berjalan menuju Harvey Norman Computer Superstore di Broadway On The Mall lantai 2,170 Queen Street Mall,Brisbane,tel.07 3013 2800 untuk membeli TOSHIBA USB Flash Memory 4 GB.Harganya cukup mahal AUD $ 24.95 atau sekitar Rp.212.075,-.USB ini akan saya pakai untuk menyimpan semua Appendix legal Report yang sedang saya susun.Setelah melakukan pembayaran,saya bergegas menuju CBD Medical.Suasana lumayan ramai karena ini jam makan siang.

'Suparwata' seseorang terdengar menyebut nama saya.Saya pun berjalan menuju sumber suara tersebut.Dr John CORFE menyambutku dan mempersilakan saya duduk.Dia menanyakan apa yang terjadi.Saya jelaskan bahwa gusi bagian belakang saya bengkak.Dr ini kemudian memeriksanya.Kemudian dia menulis resep dan berkata "Take ONE tablet TWICE a day immediately before food until all finished.If nothing happen within five days,please see dentist".Saya bisa mengerti maksudnya meskipun English is my second language.

Saya membawa semua document dari Dr John CORFE ke receptionist dan bertanya "How much is it?"."Sixthy five dollars" jawab si receptionist.Setelah melakukan pembayaran,tempat yang saya tuju adalah City Green Spot Chemist yang terletak di 103 Adelaide Street,Brisbane 4000.Telponnya 07 3839 5888.Setelah masuk ada beberapa orang yang sedang antre membeli obat.Saya melihat tulisan yang cukup besar "prescription".Saya langsung menuju kesana.Seorang petugas yang usianya cukup tua menyambut saya dengan ramah.Setelah menyerahkan rsep dari Dokter,dia berkata "It won't be long".Saya menjawab "Thank you".

Lima menit kemuadian muncul wanita dan membawakan obat yang saya pesan."Fifteen dollars please" katanya.Junlah yang sama bisa saya lihat di cash register.Saya pun merogoh kocek saya.Setelah mengucapkan terima kasih saya bergegas menuju Medibank Wintergarden yang berlokasi di Shop Q 230 Wintergarden 171,209 Queen St Mall Brisbane QLD 4000.Begitu masuk,saya melihat sebuah mesin menyambut kedatangan saya.Saya pun langsung membaca dan mengikuti petunjuk yang tertulis di touch screen machine ini.

Nomor antrean (424) saya muncul di layar.Saya langsung menuju counter yang tertulis di layar."Good afternoon,how are you today",kata petugas counter."Not so bad,thank you",jawabku karena sedang sakit gigi.Akupun menyerahkan receipt dari CBD Medical.petugas menyerahkan formulir untuk akau isi.Kemudian meminta kartu ATMku."Which one do you prefer?",kataku sambil menyerahkan Kartu Debit Mastercard dan Key Card CBA.Petugas mengambil key card.Setelah menggesek kartu ATMku,dia memintaku untuk memasukkan nomor PIN.Akupun menuruti kemauannya.Pukul 13.29,aku disodori receipt sebagai bukti bahwa petugas telah melakukan pembayaran.Aku mengucapkan terima kasih kepada petugas dan bergegas menuju Coles di Queen Street Mall untuk membeli beras dan roti.Disebelah Coles ada ATM CBA.Akupun mengecek saldo terakhirku.Uang dari Medibank sudah masuk rupanya.

Pukul 13.50,aku melakukan pembayaran di Coles.Satu kilo beras harganya AUD$ 2.49 (Rp.21.165,-) sedangkan Roti 340 gram harganya AUD$ 1.95 (Rp.16.575,-).

Kemudian aku langsung berjalan menuju KGBS.Entah kebetulan atau bagaimana,bis 333 mengantarku ke QKGBS.Pukul 14.15,aku tiba di CLVKG.Akun pun langsung log in di komputerku karena tugas tugasku menunggu.

Meskipun menderita karena sakit gigi,aku bersyukur bisa melakukan banyak hal dalam satu hari.Semoga sakit gigiku lekas sembuh sehingga aku bisa kosentrasi untuk menyelesaikan tugas tugasku dari kampus yang cukup banyak.

Swasti nyanggra rahinan jagat Galungan lan Kuningan

2009-10-12T18:02:00.000-07:00

Om Swasti Astu

Titiyang ngaturang swasti nyanggra rahinan jagat Galungan lan Kuningan.
Dumogi ida dane setata ngemanggihin kerahayuan lan kerahajengan.

Om Santi Santi Santi Om

I Gede Suparwata

Suka Duka di Australia

2009-09-24T17:50:00.001-07:00

Lyric by I Gede Suparwata
Song by I Gede Adrianta

Suka dan duka bagian dari hidup manusia
Suka jika bertemu teman teman tercinta
Duka bila ingat keluarga nun jauh disana
Suka dan duka datang tak terduga

Berita dari keluarga menghapus dahaga
Tidak ada pengorbanan yang sia sia
Pengalaman berharga hidup di Australia
Bertemu teman teman yang suka bercanda ria

Pemerintah Australia sangat mulia
Memberikan saya beasiswa
Belajar giat kewajiban siswa
Ini semua demi cita cita

Berita dari keluarga menghapus dahaga
Tidak ada pengorbanan yang sia sia
Pengalaman berharga hidup di Australia
Bertemu teman teman yang suka bercanda ria

Selamat ulang tahun dari seorang sahabat

2009-09-18T19:17:00.001-07:00

Selamat Ulang Tahun
Oleh I Gede Adrianta
Untuk I Gede Suparwata

Detak jantung tak kusadari
Waktu yang telah kunanti telah tiba
Cerah wajah berseri seri
Hariku datang menjemputku

Dua puluh september tiba
Cerah hari secerah bunga
Hari ternanti telah tiba
Setahun bertambah umurku

Selamat ulang tahun !
Selamat ulang tahun !
Selamat ulang tahun !
Selamat ulang tahun !

Kawan kawan semua
Mari bergembira ria
Dengar musik yang ceria
Di hari ulang tahunku

Selamat ulang tahun !
Selamat ulang tahun !
Selamat ulang tahun !
Selamat ulang tahun !

QBE RIVER FIRE 2009

2009-09-12T05:13:00.000-07:00

QBE RIVER FIRE is an annual event as the opening of Brisbane Festival.It starts on September 12,2009 and will last for three weeks.

Why 09/09/09 is so special

2009-09-09T00:50:00.000-07:00

Yahoo!7 September 9, 2009, 9:09 am

Have special plans this 09/09/09?

Everyone from brides and grooms to movie studio execs are celebrating the upcoming calendrical anomaly in their own way.

The Beatles have re-released their entire catalogue and a video game.

In the US, at least one Florida county clerk's office is offering a one-day wedding special for $99.99.

There has been a three-fold increase in the number of Queensland couples tying the knot today.

Registrar-General Helen Lucas says the ninth day of the ninth month of 2009 has proven a popular date to swap wedding vows.

"Some of them are from Chinese heritage and it is about the significance of nine meaning forever' - so a great day when all of the nines are there," she said.

"For other people it's as simple as having a wedding anniversary that you can never forget."

The rarity of this September 9 has not been lost on the creators of the iPod, who have moved their traditional Tuesday release day to Wednesday to take advantage of the special date.

Not only does the date look good in marketing promotions, but it also represents the last set of repeating, single-digit dates that we'll see for almost a century (until January 1, 2101), or a millennium (mark your calendars for January 1, 3001), depending on how you want to count it.

Though technically there's nothing special about the symmetrical date, some concerned with the history and meaning of numbers ascribe powerful significance to 09/09/09.

For cultures in which the number nine is lucky, Sept. 9 is anticipated - while others might see the date as an ominous warning.

Modern numerologists - who operate outside the realm of real science - believe that mystical significance or vibrations can be assigned to each numeral one through nine, and different combinations of the digits produce tangible results in life depending on their application.

As the final numeral, the number nine holds special rank. It is associated with forgiveness, compassion and success on the positive side as well as arrogance and self-righteousness on the negative, according to numerologists.

Though usually discredited as bogus, numerologists do have a famous predecessor to look to. Pythagoras, the Greek mathematician and father of the famous theorem, is also credited with popularizing numerology in ancient times.

"Pythagoras most of all seems to have honored and advanced the study concerned with numbers, having taken it away from the use of merchants and likening all things to numbers," Aristoxenus, an ancient Greek historian, in the 4th century BC, wrote.

As part of his obsession with numbers both mathematically and divine, and like many mathematicians before and since, Pythagoras noted that nine in particular had many unique properties.

Any grade-schooler could tell you, for example, that the sum of the two-digits resulting from nine multiplied by any other single-digit number will equal nine. So 9x3=27, and 2+7=9.

Multiply nine by any two, three or four-digit number and the sums of those will also break down to nine. For example: 9x62 = 558; 5+5+8=18; 1+8=9.

September 9 also happens to be the 252nd day of the year (2+5+2=9).

Both China and Japan have strong feelings about the number nine. Those feelings just happen to be on opposite ends of the spectrum.

The Chinese pulled out all the stops to celebrate their lucky number eight during last year's Summer Olympics, ringing the games in at 8pm on 08/08/08.

What many might not realize is that nine comes in second on their list of auspicious digits and is associated with long life, due to how similar its pronunciation is to the local word for long-lasting (eight sounds like wealth).

Historically, ancient Chinese emperors associated themselves closely with the number nine, which appeared prominently in architecture and royal dress, often in the form of nine fearsome dragons. The imperial dynasties were so convinced of the power of the number nine that the palace complex at Beijing's Forbidden City is rumored to have been built with 9999 rooms.

Japanese emperors would have never worn a robe with nine dragons, however.

In Japanese, the word for nine is a homophone for the word for suffering, so the number is considered highly unlucky - second only to four, which sounds like death.

Many Japanese will go so far as to avoid room numbers including nine at hotels or hospitals, if the building planners haven't already eliminated them altogether.

Source:http://au.news.yahoo.com/a/-/world/5985654/why-09-09-09-is-so-special/

Noosa di Australia

2009-09-06T03:58:00.000-07:00

Pagi ini aku pergi ke Noosa diantar oleh Bapak I Gede Sumantara dan keponakannya I Gede Adrianta.Toyota Kluger meluncur meninggalkan Kelvin Grove menuju Noosa.Suasana cukup ramai karena hari ini adalah Hari Minggu.Setelah satu jam kami memutuskan untuk beristirahat sejenak di Caboolture Food Court.Tempat ini mengingatkanku pada peristiwa setahun silam yang tak pernah kulupakan.Saat itu kameraku ketinggalan di salah satu meja Food Court ini.Syukurlah mereka sangat jujur.Saat aku kembali ketempat ini kameraku langsung dikembalikan.

Setelah beristirahat sejenak,perjalanan kami lanjutkan.Tempat pertama yang kami tuju adalah Noosa Botanical Garden.Tempatnya sangat asri.Ada tempat piknik,kamar kecil,dam dan juga amphitheatre.

Setelah puas berkeliling dan mencoba fasilitas kebun raya ini,kami kembali ke parkir dan perjalanan kami lanjutkan menuju Noosa Heads.Untuk mendapatkan tempat parkir tidaklah mudah.Setelah keliling keliling cukup lama,akhirnya kami menemukan tempat yang cukup bagus untuk parkir.Kami bergegas menuju main beach.Setelah melihat lihat situasi sejenak,kami memutuskan untuk makan siang karena terlalu panas kalau berenang dibawah terik matahari.

"Can I have one chicken kebab please?",kataku kepada pegawai Noosa Kebab.Petugas langsung menjawab "Yes,surely Sir.It's eight dollars".Akupun langsung merogoh kocekku untuk membayar Kebab tersebut.Langsung aku mencari tempat duduk yang nyaman untuk makan dan memberi tahu dua orang temanku.Setelah makan siang kami berbincang bincang sejenak."Ngalih kopi?" tanyaku kepada sahabatku."Ide yang bagus" kata mereka.Akupun langsung menghampiri petugas Hard Coffee untuk memesan capucino.Minum kopi setelah makan merupakan kebiasaan kami sehari hari.

Matahari secara perlahan namun pasti mulai bergerak ke ufuk Barat.Suasanapun tidak sepanas sebelumnya.Kami memutuskan untuk pergi ke changing room kemudian get ready untuk mandi.Aku pun langsung menceburkan diriku ke pantai.Aku sedikit terkejut karena airnya dingin.Aku mengira airnya akan hangat karena suasana cukup panas saat itu.Cukup banyak masyarakat Australia yang berkunjung ke pantai dari anak-anak hingga dewasa.Ada yang berenang,bermain surfing dan bermain main dengan pasir.

Setelah mandi dan santai sejenak,kami kembali ke ruang ganti dan berjalan kaki ke tempat parkir.Tepat pukul 16.12,kami meninggalkan Noosa Head menuju Brisbane.Pukul 16.43 kami masuk motor way..Kemacetan menghambat laju kendaraan kami.Ada pengemudi yang banting setir dan memutuskan lewat off road track yang ada disebelah motor way.Tiba tiba ada yang menyetop kami di perjalanan.Setelah kami tanya ternyata orang ini mau numpang.Kami pun mengajak orang ini karena kasihan.Dia turun di Alderly train station.Akhirnya tepat pukul 18.43,kami tiba di Kelvin Grove.Thank you to I Gede Sumantara and Adrian for taking me there.I really enjoy it.

Bali stages protest over `Pendet' dance

2009-08-27T16:41:00.000-07:00

Ni Komang Erviani and Niken Prathivi , The Jakarta Post , Denpasar | Wed, 08/26/2009 1:40 PM | Bali

The governor of Bali sent a letter of complaint to the central government on Tuesday, throwing its weight behind protests against Malaysia's appropriation of one of Bali's cultural mainstays, the Pendet dance.

The letter was sent to the home affairs, the tourism and culture as well as the foreign affairs ministries.

"We are asking the government to protect our cultural heritage," said Bali Governor I Made Mangku Pastika at the Bali legislative council in Denpasar.

He added that showing footage of the Pendet dance in a TV spot to promote the "Enigmatic Malaysia" series promoting tourism in Malaysia was "unethical".

"The Bali administration and people have taken a clear stance *against that claim*.

"We expect Malaysia not to do such things. It is internationally acknowledged the Pendet dance comes from Bali."

The governor said that to prevent future similar claims, his office was currently compiling a database of the island's original customs.

Head of the Bali cultural agency Ida Bagus Sedhawa said the database had not been created as a response to the Pendet dance controversy.

"All Balinese cultural assets are going to be listed, including our traditional architecture.

The upcoming database will be protected by a provincial bylaw," he said, adding his office has listed 30 dances and 47 items typical of Balinese architecture.

Several groups concerned with Malaysia's appropriation of elements of the Balinese culture also showed their support by staging peaceful protests.

I Wayan Nampa, leader of the Indonesian University Students Movement (GMNI) in Denpasar, said: "We strongly urge Malaysia to publish an apology to the Indonesian people in international and national press, and promise to avoid similar claims in the future."

Elsewhere, tens of Arts Institute of Indonesia (ISI) Denpasar's students and lecturers staged a theatrical protest in their campuses.

"It's about time the Indonesian government come down on every claim Malaysia makes on our heritage," I Ketut Gede Agus Adi Saputra, the leader of the protests, said.

Sumarsih, an ISI student, performed a Pendet dance in front of the crowd, with academic staff and students playing Balinese traditional musical instruments.

ISI lecturer I Wayan Sedana said Indonesia had the legal means to prevent such claims from being made on its cultural heritage.

"According to Article 10 of the Law No. 19/2002 on copyright, the government of Indonesia has the power to claim property rights on art and cultural pieces made within the country, to prevent other countries from claiming them as their own."

In a recent talkshow aired on TVOne, the company that produced the controversial ad, apologized to the Indonesian people for using the Pendet dance.

Source: http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/26/bali-stages-protest-over-pendet039-dance.html

Malaysia 'steals' Bali dance

2009-08-27T16:33:00.000-07:00

Stephen Fitzpatrick, Jakarta correspondent | August 26, 2009
Article from: The Australian

THE prickly relationship between neighbours Indonesia and Malaysia has grown thornier over the alleged theft of a classic Balinese dance.

Indonesian Tourism and Culture Minister Jero Wacik demanded an explanation from his opposite number this week after outrage mounted over the screening of a television advertisement with the theme "Enigmatic Malaysia", which featured the dance.

Animosity between the two nations goes back decades but the recent Jakarta bombings, apparently masterminded by the Malaysian terrorist Noordin Mohammad Top, inflamed matters.

Now the Pendet, a sacred dance created for temple ceremonies but familiar for decades to the millions of tourists who have visited Bali, has become the latest flashpoint.

President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono has been dragged into the row, with a palace spokesman confirming that a special "eminent persons group", formed specifically to resolve issues involving the two countries, would examine the matter.

Protests have been held in Bali for the past several days over the use of the image, even after the Discovery Channel, which was screening the segment, agreed on Monday to pull it.

The Malaysian government says it had nothing to do with the promotional clip, which apparently was produced by a US production house, but that hardly matters to the outraged Indonesians.

Citing a long list of infractions by their northern irritant, some have even called for a severing of relations.

"A protest note is not enough. We should withdraw our ambassador or demand their ambassador be sent home," the deputy head of the parliamentary committee on foreign affairs, Yusron Ihza Mahendra, was quoted as saying in the Koran Tempo newspaper.

Tempers flared in 2007 when a Malaysian tourism commercial used the tune of a well-known song from Maluku in eastern Indonesia, Rasa Sayange, to promote the country.

Controversy has arisen in recent years over the Malaysian appropriation of batik designs, musical instruments and a famed Javanese lion dance. The most belligerent Indonesians have a name for the phenomenon: "Malingsia", or thieving Malaysians.

It's not just a war of words over art, a series of diplomatic incidents emerged this year when Indonesia said it had chased Malaysian warships back across the joint maritime border off Ambalat, an oil- and gas-rich area on the Sulawesi Sea.

That dispute, and the dramatic escape of a teenage society figure from what she claimed was abuse at the hands of her royal Malaysian husband, were used as electioneering material by President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in his successful campaign for last month's ballot.

Source:http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,25981571-2703,00.html

Together Forever

2009-08-24T07:09:00.001-07:00

Together Forever
Lyric: I Gede Suparwata
Singer:I Gede Adrianta

I fly on the sky
So hard to say good bye
I almost cry
My heart was so dry

Different culture is exciting
I learn something
I have been trying to do greeting
My life is changing

My life is getting better
I no longer suffer
I respect different culture
It is my desire

Different culture is a power
We should respect each other
Doesn't matter what is your desire
Let's stay together forever

Dirgahayu Republik Indonesia ke-64

2009-08-17T19:49:00.000-07:00

More Australian tourists visit Bali

2009-08-16T02:04:00.000-07:00

The Jakarta Post , Jakarta | Sun, 08/16/2009 11:13 AM | National

The number of Australian tourists visiting the paradise island of Bali increased by 37 percent to 180,686 tourists during the first semester of this year, Antara news agency reported on Sunday.

The head of the Bali Bureau of Statistics, Ida Komang Wisnu, told the news agency that overall, the number of foreign tourists visiting Bali increased by 10 percent in the first semester to 1.07 million over the same period of last year.

Australia was the number one supplier of tourists to Bali, followed by Japan with 154,071 tourists and China with 97,930.

The next biggest suppliers of tourists were Malaysia, South Korea, Taiwan, France, Britain, Germany and United Sates.

Of those 10 countries, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan supplied less number of tourists this year compared to the previous year।

Source
http://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2009/08/16/more-australian-tourists-visit-bali.html

Bolak Balik Bali Brisbane

2009-07-30T21:17:00.000-07:00

Hujan rintik rintik yang membasahi Kota Brisbane membangunkan tidurku.Aku langsung ke kamar mandi untuk menggosok gigi dan mandi.Hari itu sangat istimewa bagiku karena aku akan pulang ke Bali untuk bertemu dengan keluarga dan teman temanku.

Setelah tinggal cukup lama di Australia,aku terbiasa menyantap roti panggang,kopi susu dan buah di pagi hari sambil menonton TV.Mentari menyusul bangun dari peraduannya menyinari kamarku.Sunrise kali ini terasa sangat indah, seindah hayalan hayalanku saat tiba di Bali nanti. Aku sangat beruntung tinggal di Lantai Tujuh Campus Living Village Kelvin Grove.Dari jendela kamarku tampak jelas kota Brisbane, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) dan Story Bridge.Dari tempat tinggalku hanya perlu waktu sepuluh menit naik bis ke Southbank Institute of Technology,kampus tempatku menimba ilmu di Brisbane.Dan yang terpenting setiap pagi aku tak perlu keluar kamar untuk menikmati sinar mentari .

Aku berjalan perlahan tapi pasti menuju ke QUT Kelvin Grove busway station. Dari sini aku naik bis selama lima menit ke Roma Street Station karena kereta api yang akan kutumpangi menuju Brisbane International Airport (BIA) berangkat dari sini.Dua orang temanku,Ida Bagus Gede Ariana (Dode) dan I Gede Adrianta (Adrian),menyambut kedatanganku.

Kereta yang kami tunggu tunggupun akhirnya tiba.Kami bergegas memasuki kereta ini.Adrian yang sudah dua tahun di Brisbane mengatakan kereta ini termasuk kereta terbaru yang dimiliki oleh Trans Link.

"Be makan ne pada nyamane ?", tanyaku kepada kedua sahabatku dalam bahasa Bali yang berarti sudah pada makan nih saudara saudaraku.Pertanyanku dijawab dengan senyum senyum oleh mereka.Setelah lama bergaul dengan mereka,aku bisa mengerti arti kode itu.Aku langsung memesan 2 Nasi Goreng, 1 Mie Goreng dan 3 botol air minum tentunya setelah mendapat persetujuan dari mereka.Setelah lima menit berlalu,"All together are thirthy three dollars" kata pegawai Noodle Box itu sambil menyodorkan makanan yang telah aku pesan.Aku langsung merogoh kocekku dan menyerahkannya kepada pegawai tersebut.Kalau di-convert ke Rupiah jadi Rp.264.000,-. Kami langsung menikmati sarapan pagi di Lounge BIA.

Setelah bercakap cakap cukup lama,saatnya tiba untuk mengucapkan selamat tinggal kepada Dode dan Adrian.Ku lambaikan tanganku sambil menuruni escalator menuju Gate China Airlines.Aku teringat kata kata Adrian yang mengatakan aku sangat beruntung,baru tinggal di Australia selama lima belas bulan sudah dua kali pulang ke Bali sedangkan Adrian sudah lebih dari dua tahun tinggal di Austrlia tetapi belum pernah pulang menengok keluarga.

"Attention Please !
Passengers of China Airline (CI), flight number CI 54 to Taipei are now boarding"

Suara petugas CI itu membuyarkan lamunanku.Aku pun menyiapakan pasport dan boarding pass.Antreannya cukup panjang.Pukul 10 35 pesawat take off menuju Taipei.

Pukul 17 35 pesawat mendarat di Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TTIA).Muka para penumpang terlihat jelas berseri seri setelah pesawat mendarat mulus di Taipei.Akupun harus sabar karena harus transit selama 2 jam 25 menit.Air minum baik dingin maupun panas disediakan secara cuma cuma di TTIA.Recycled paper disediakan sebagai sarana untuk minum air instead of gelas pelastik.

Pukul 20.00 Pesawat CI 2771 mengantarku menuju Bali.Perjalanan memakan waktu 5 jam 20 menit.Pukul 01 20,pesawat mendarat di Bandara Ngurah Rai,Denpasar,Bali. Ada form baru yang harus diisi yaitu form berwarna kuning dari Dinas Kesehatan Republik Indonesia mengenai H1N1 Flu (Swine Flu). Dua orang staf Munduk Moding Plantation (MMP), Bali Coffee Plantation Resort and Spa,Made Swadara Putra dan Kadek Kuta menyambutku di Bandara.

Toyota Kijang LSX yang dikemudikan oleh Made Swadara Putra pun meluncur membelah kesunyian malam.Setelah meninggalkan Bandara Ngurah Rai aku bertanya kepada mereka berdua "Be pade makan ne nyamane?". Kembali dijawab dengan senyum persis seperti respon dari Adrian dan Dode saat di bandara di Brisbane.Kami akhirnya menemukan tempat untuk makan.Setelah menikmati makan dan minum aku pun bertanya "Berapa semuanya Pak?".
"Tiga puluh lima ribu",jawab Bapak setengah baya.

Perjalanan kami lanjutkan.Suasana sangat sepi.Aku bisa memakluminya karena jam tanganku menunjukkan waktu pukul 2 pagi.Tidak ada kendaraan yang melintas di jalan raya.Pukul 3.30,kami pun tiba di MMP.Mereka mengajakku untuk beristirahat di MMP.Aku langsung menilaknya karena ingin bertemu istri dan anak anakku.Aku pun meluncur mengendarai Supra X 125 membelah kesunyian malam.Tidak ada perasaan takut sedikit pun.Yang ada hanya rasa rindu ingin bertemu anak terutama anak mertua. Pukul 3.45 pagi,istriku menyambutku dengan hangat.Anak anakku sudah tertidur lelap.Kami pun menikmati dinginnya malam setelah lima bulan tidak bertemu.Kelelahanku selama perjalanan akhirnya terobati.

Endeavour Awards Professional Development Workshops 2009

2009-05-11T04:15:00.000-07:00

I attended Endeavour Awards Professional Development Workshops 2009 at Royal on the Park Hotel this afternoon.Dr Adam Fraser was the speaker.He is one of Australia's leading educators,researhers and thought leaders in the area of human performance.He explained clearly about the characteristics of FLOW which include presenting and completely engaged,accurate,realistic and optimistic thoughts,clear goals,positive emotions,sense of control,completely focused and high energy levels.This special workshop started at 2.00 p.m.Afternoon tea at 3.30 p.m.Dr Adam Fraser finished his presentation at 5.00 p.m.

The next event was networking function.I had a great opportunity to meet some Endeavour Award Holders from many countries and also my Case Manager,Ms Kelly Baum.I really enjoy this workshop and function.Thank you to Endeavour Awards Team, International Group,Australian Government Department of Education,Employment and Workplace Relations (www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au)for inviting me to join this special event.

You can visit http://www.dradamfraser.com/video-showreel.html to view Dr Adam Fraser in action.

BBC helps Bali Make History

2009-05-09T16:15:00.000-07:00

Friday, 08 May 2009 00:00

Watch it first on you tube: http://www.youtube. com/watch? v=7BOhDaJH0m4

Almost exactly a year ago, ASL deployed a team of mad dogs to our favourite Caroline Island, intent on chasing big red blobs on the weather map. The boys – Jamie O’Brien, Dylan Longbottom, Ryan Hipwood – scored insane waves, Andrew Shield’s shots filled a dozen pages of our mag, and another successful trip was wrapped.

Twelve months later, new footage has surfaced from the lens of water filmer extraordinaire, Bali Strickland, in the trailer for new BBC documentary, South Pacific, a show filmed along the lines of the incredibly successful Planet Earth series.

As reported in the feature , Bali was filming with a $100,000 super slo-mo camera, and as you can see from the footage, the results, paired with some awesome Richard Attenborough style commentary, are pretty spectacular.

From ASL 238: A Bloke Named Bali and his $100,000 camera Bali Strickland may not be a name that lights up in neon when printed alongside the likes of Jamie O’Brien and Dylan Longbottom, but the dude is just as impressive. So good is Bali’s film work that he’s been picked up by the BBC, one of the world’s biggest TV networks. “I’d done a little bit of work for them in the past,” Bali told ASL.

“Then the opportunity popped up to shoot some stuff for a documentary they’re compiling on the South Pacific. The high-speed camera was something different I wanted to try. It’s the exact same type of camera they use in the cricket and golf, when you can see the guy’s arm ripple and the club flex. We ended up tracking down a guy in Germany who owned one, and just so happened to be making a water housing for it. We hired the guy to come with us and make sure everything was set-up and functioning right. It’s a $100,000 camera, so we wanted to make sure everything was done right.

“The camera itself was really hard to swim with. With the housing on, it weighed nearly 20kg! It had a short lens on too, so I had to get right in close to the boys. You can imagine the feelings going through my mind swimming in eight foot surf with a $100,000 camera that weighed 20kg! I was shitting myself.

“To make things even trickier, the camera operates in a really weird way. It shoots in bursts of 500 frames a second, and that’s on the slowest setting, so each actual shot only last for 2.5 seconds. To make it worse, I only got two shots before I had to swim back to the boat and upload it all. To give a bit of perspective, the day when it was pumping, like eight foot all day, I spent from morning to night in the water and got nine shots. I was flogged at the end of the day.”

source: http://www.surfinglife.com.au/news/asl-news/620-bbc-helps-bali-make-history

Bali TV Online

2009-05-07T15:18:00.000-07:00

Hari ini Bali TV memulai siarannya online.Linknya http://balitv.tv/btv2/index.php.Ini mampu mengobati kerinduanku terhadap tanah leluhurku.Terima kasih banyak Bali TV.Linknya juga ada di http://www.balipost.co.id

International Student BBQ at Southbank Institute of Technology

2009-05-06T04:42:00.000-07:00

L-R:Standing:Jamie (British),Sitting:Kapila (Srilanka),I Gede Suparwata (Indonesia),Victor (The Philipines)

I attended International Student BBQ at College of Tourism and Hospitality (COTAH) Training Restaurant this afternoon.It was very interesting event because I had an opportunity to experience Traditional Australia BBQ and catch up with my Australian friends and also international students.

A lot of prizes to be won include free entry to Gold Coast Theme Park;Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary,Health & Beauty Spa and Merlo gift vouchers.

Case Manager visited Endeavour Awards Holders

2009-04-20T06:47:00.000-07:00

L-F:Laddy (Thailand),Ms Kelly Baum ,I Gede Suparwata (Indonesia), Jessie (South Korea) and Lisa (China).

Ms Kelly Baum,Case Manager Endeavour Awards visited Endeavour Awards Holders at Southbank Institute of Technology this afternoon.She has been working very hard to assist some Endeavour Awards Holders to ensure that everybody settled well and had information related to studies and living in Australia.

The meeting was held at Southbank Institute of Technology,G Block Room 1013. It was very interesting because we can share our experinces with our Case Manager and also with other Endeavour Awards Holders.

Text by I Gede Suparwata,photograph by Ahmad Rifandi.

Prosesi ‘Melasti’ Masyarakat Bali di Australia

2009-03-22T02:19:00.000-07:00

Masyarakat Bali yang tinggal di Brisbane, Australia menyambut Hari Raya Nyepi dengan melaksanakan prosesi ‘melasti’, Sabtu, 21 Maret 209, di Paradise Point Beach, dekat Gold Coast, sekitar 70 km selatan kota Brisbane. Melasti adalah ritual penyucian bhuana agung (alam semesta) dan buana alit (jiwa raga) yang dilaksanakan menjelang tibanya hari raya Nyepi atau Tahun Baru Saka yang kali ini merupakan tahun baru 1931, jatuh pada Jumat, 26 Maret 2009.

Acara melasti kali ini dirangkaikan dengan perayaan Galungan dan Kuningan yang jatuh 18 dan 28 Maret. Dalam prosesi melasti, tampak umbul-umbul, warna menjunjung banten, iringan penari rejang, barong, rangda, dan warga Bali serta sejumlah masyarakat setempat. Prosesi diiringi tetabuhan baleganjur sederhana.

Sekitar 150 warga mengikuti melasti ini. Mereka melakukan persembahyangan bersama dan pementasan topeng sidakarya oleh Nyoman Suma, warga asal Buleleng. “Perayaan dipusatkan di gedung masyarakat Paradise Point. Dari gedung Paradise Point, peserta melasti berjalan kaki menuju pantai sejauh 350 meter,” ujar I Nyoman Darma Putra, warga Denpasar yang mengikuti acara tersebut.
Melasti mendapat tontotan menarik warga setempat karena kebetulan saat itu berlangsung pemilu Negara Bagian Queensland. “Tempat pemungutan suara berdampingan dengan gedung perayaan Galungan Kuningan,” tambah Darma.

Menurut keterangan ketua pelaksana Melasti dan Galungan-Kuningan, I Nyoman Suma, masyarakat Bali di Brisbane dan Gold Coast senantiasa melaksanakan perayaan Nyepi dan Galungan dan Kuningan setiap tiba waktunya. “Perayaan kali ini agak lain daripada biasanya karena dihadiri pejabat tinggi Indonesia di Australia, mulai dari Duta Besar Indonesia untuk Australia Primo Alui Joelianto, Konsul Jenderal Republik Indonesia di Sydney Sudaryomo Hartosudarmo, dan pejabat penting lainnya,” ujar I Nyoman Suma, asal Buleleng.

Dubes Primo Alui Joelianto mengajak masyarakat untuk mempertahankan kemesraan hubungan Indonesia Australia yang sudah terbina selama ini. Selain itu, dia juga minta agar masyarakat Indonesia di Australia tetap menggalang persatuan dan kesatuan.

I Gede Suparwata, mahasiswa Buleleng, yang mendapat kepercayaan sebagai pengantar acara mengatakan rasa bahagianya bisa ikut dalam perayaan hari Raya Galungan, Nyepi, dan Kuningan di luar negeri.”Selain dapat bersembahyang dan menikmati hiburan, kegiatan perayaan ini membuat kami bisa berjumpa dengan warga Bali lainnya,” ujar I Gede Suparwata, mahasiswa Southbank Institute of Technology,Brisbane.

Hal yang sama juga disampaikan I Made Soka, warga Bali asal Jl Imam Bonjol Denpasar yang sudah lebih dari 20 tahun tinggal di Australia. “Dalam perayaan hari raya seperti ini kami bisa sembahyang bersama dan bertemu kawan-kawan untuk melepas rasa kangen pada Bali, menikmati makanan Bali, dan bercakap-cakap dalam bahasa Bali,” ujar Made Soka tersenyum. Beberapa tahun lalu, Soka pernah menjadi ketua Balinese Community daerah Queensland.

Acara Galungan, Nyepi, Kuningan dimeriahkan dengan penampilan aneka tari Bali seperti Rejang, Baris, dan tari Nelayan. Tari Baris dibawakan oleh Ida Bagus Gede Ariana, sedangkan Tari Rejang dan Tari Nelayan ditampilkan oleh Luh Sri Sumarn dan kawan-kawan. Sekaa genjek juga tampil menyanyikan lagu ‘Merah Putih’ dan ‘Bhinneka Tunggal Ika’. Juga ada persembahan Tari Serapok (Jawa) oleh Ibu Tutik dan Tari Shiva Puja oleh Saminge dari India.

Tahun 2008, masyarakat Bali juga menggelar melasti di tempat yang sama. (*)
(By Dasar Bali)

Tri Hita Karana (THK) Tourism Awards and Accreditation 2008

2008-12-03T00:32:00.000-08:00

Saya sangat senang setelah mengetahui Puri Lumbung Cottages (PLC) terpilih sebagai salah satu The Nominees of THK Tourism Award and Accreditation 2008.PLC sangat konsisten menerapkan konsep THK sejak tahun 1992.Delapan tahun kemudian Bali Travel News me-launching program THK Tourism Awards & Accreditation.Besok malam,bertempat di Gedung Ksiraarnawa,Taman Budaya,Denpasar,Bali,para pemenang akan diumumkan.Meskipun saat ini saya sedang kuliah di Australia,perasaan saya berdebar-debar.Alasannya saya ingin agar PLC meraih medali emas tahun ini atau minimal bisa mempertahankan medali perak yang diraih tahun lalu.

Saya sangat beruntung mendapat kesempatan bekerja di PLC karena manager and founder-nya sangat senang jika karyawannya maju.Mau bukti? Saya mendapat kesempatan belajar di Sekolah Tinggi Pariwisata (Nusa Dua,Bali) dan dikirim ke Sofitel Saint James London (Food and Beverage Management Trainee program).Yang paling membuat saya terharu,Bapak Nyoman Bagiarta sangat mendukung ketika saya minta ijin untuk bertanding di tingkat Asia Pacific untuk memenangkan Endeavour Award.Sungguh anugerah Tuhan Yang Maha Kuasa, tahun ini saya bisa menimba ilmu di Southbank Institute of Technolgy (Brisbane,Australia).

Saya selalu berusaha bekerja sebaik-baiknya karena bagi saya bekerja adalah dharma.Saat bekerja di PLC saya berusaha sekuat tenaga untuk menjalin hubungan yang harmonis dengan teman-teman karyawan dan juga wisatawan baik mancanegara maupun domestik.Di Australia,saya belajar giat agar bisa lulus semua mata kuliah sambil menjalin hubungan dengan dosen-dosen,mahasiswa-mahasiswi internasional dan juga warga negara Australia.

Salam dari Brisbane, I Gede Suparwata

Brosur terbaru Endeavour Vocational Education and Training Awards

2008-10-13T01:24:00.000-07:00

Teman-teman yang budiman,

Pagi ini saya menerima brosur terbaru Endeavour Vocational Education and Training Awards dari Australian Education International,Canberra.Saya sangat senang bukan kepalang karena di dalamnya ada foto lengkap dengan quote yang saya tulis "My Endeavour Award gave me a great opportunity to study in a world class institute and further my education.It is a once in a lifetime experience."Igede Suparwata,Indonesia.Sebagai salah satu pemenang Endeavour Award,saya telah mendapatkan kesempatan menimba ilmu di Southbank Institute of Technology yang merupakan institute terbesar di Queensland dan terbesar ketiga di Australia.Belajar dengan mahasiswa/i dari berbagai negara ( Inggris,Australia,Selandia Baru,Swedia,Jepang,Sri Langka,Nepal,Taiwan,Hongkong dan Vietnam ) merupakan pengalaman yang sangat berharga dalam hidup saya.In addition,pengajar pengajar disini adalah para ahli hospitality.What is more,teknologi informasi,e-learn yang sangat modern dan COTAH Training Restaurant.

Bagi teman-teman (yang mungkin belum tahu),"The Endeavour Awards is the Australian Government's internationally competitive,merit-based scholarship program providing opportunities for citizens of the Asia-Pacific,Middle East,Europe and the americans t undertake study,research and professional development in Australia.Awards are also available for Australians to do the same abroad" (http://www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au).

Jadi jika ada diantara teman-teman yang berminat untuk melanjutkan study di Australia,saya sarankan untuk melamar Endeavour Awards.Informasi selengkapnya bisa didapatkan di www.endeavour.deewr.gov.au.

Selamat mencoba & semoga berhasil.

Photograph by Peter Robey (http://www.prphoto.com.au/index.php)

Manis Kuningan in Brisbane

2008-08-31T06:04:00.000-07:00

I have been living in Brisbane for five months.While developing my technical knowledge and skill in hospitality,I am also learning to play Balinese gamelan music.I decided to join Gamelan Puspa Wresti Group,Balinese Community of Queensland (BCQLD) because "one of the aims of the BCQLD organisation is to encourage Australian to think beyond their own borders-in particular to consider Bali and Indonesia as close neighbours,and thus encourage the establishment of stronger links between two nations from the perspective of culture and arts" (http://bcqld.org).For the first time ever,I performed in a cultural show with BCQLD this afternoon.The performance includes Tari Puspanjali,Pendet,Tabuh Sinom,Kebyar Tunjung Sari and Gilak.In addition,I met Ir.I G.M. Aryantha,S.Sn.,The Manager of Warini Balinese Dance Foundation,on his cultural show tour in Australia,Bapak Darma who is researching in University of Queensland,Ida Bagus Gede Ariana and his family who are in holiday in Australia,Mr Max Forsyth and Judith Brady (Both are Australian who have been to Bali many times).I would like to thank BCQLD for organising this event.For anybody who is interested in learning Balinese Gamelan Music in Brisbane,I really recommend you to join BCQLD because you will have an opportunity to play regularly at community event and festival,learn about Balinese culture,have a good fun and make a good friend.

Endeavour Awards promotional photo shoot in Southbank

2008-08-22T03:32:00.000-07:00

This morning,I participated in the Endeavour Awards promotional photo shoot.I met Melissa and Jess (The Endeavour Awards team) out the front of the Brisbane Exhibition and Convention Centre (BECC) in South Brisbane at 8.15 a.m. A few minutes later,more participants arrived.They were Annina Schmid (Endeavour Europe Award Holder from Switzerland),Dilini Abeygunawardane (Endeavour Postgraduate Award Holder from Sri Lanka),Basar Oku (Endeavour Award for Turkey Holder from Turkey),Juan Villanueva-Jimenez(Endeavour Research Fellowship Holder from Mexico),Ai Nguyen (Endeavour Postgraduate Award Holder from Vietnam),Guoran Li (Endeavour Australia Cheung Kong Research Fellowship Holder from China) and Guak Kim Tan (Endeavour Postgraduate Award Holder from Malaysia).Firstly,Peter Robey,the photographer,took some photoes shoot arround BECC.Then we had morning tea at Merlos Cafe at Southbank Institute of Technology (SBIT).Afterward,I was in action in the SBIT's kitchen.Southbank Parkland and Griffith University Campus were our next venues.Lunch was served at Kapsali Restaurant.I ordered Greek Mezethes and Orange Juice and it was delicious.Finally,I must leave my fellow participants because of my exam.Unfortunately,my teacher cancelled it in the last minute because his mother was in trouble.I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mellissa and Jess for organizing this event.It was a great honour for me to participate in this special event.

Selamat Hari Raya Galungan & Kuningan

2008-08-19T05:37:00.000-07:00

OM SWASTI ASTU! Selamat Hari Raya Galungan & Kuningan ! Semoga Ida Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa/Tuhan Yang Maha Esa melimpahkan rahmatnya kepada kita semua. OM SANTI SANTI SANTI OM! (Igede Suparwata)

Balinese Community of Queensland's rehearsal

2008-06-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

Yesterday,I went to Clearview Centre in Sevenhills to attend Balinese Community of Queensland's rehearsal.Details at www.bcqld.org.It was very interesting for me.

English Course (ELICOS) end of term celebration-Friday,June 27,2008

2008-06-27T17:19:00.000-07:00

Yesterday afternoon,I passed English for Academic Purposes course at Southbank Institute Language Centre.I and my classmates were very happy because we have studied hard for twelve weeks.In addition,to enter our formal course we did not need to take either IELTS or ISPLR test.I,Jeremy Almeida and my classmates were celebrating it at Southbank Parklands.

2008 Endeavour Award Holder function at the Royal On The Park Hotel in Brisbane,Australia

2008-05-05T23:21:00.000-07:00

The International Student Orientation at Southbank Institute of Technology

2008-04-06T22:13:00.000-07:00

I attended International Student Orientation at Southbank Institute of Technology this morning.My class mates Miss.Wakaba and Mr.Victor are very kind.

Brisbane City Botanic Garden

2008-04-05T22:27:00.000-07:00

I visited Brisbane City Botanic Garden two days ago.It was really a paradise in the city.

Climbing Mt Ngungun,Glass House Mountains National Park in Queensland,Australia

2008-04-03T18:42:00.001-07:00

My friends Ian and Lisa took me to the top of Mt Ngungun,Glass House Mountains National Park in Queensland,Australia.It's absolutely beautiful!