End of IAP

After 5 weeks, IAP or the orientation program for AusAid scholars was over. We had a final presentation and that was the last time we were together with our IAP friends from various countries. It was pretty sad as we know it's unlikely that we would get to do things as a big group like this again. Although it was not a long time, the memory and friendship would definitely last for as long as we treasure them.

Me with my group, most are PhD or MPhil research students from southeast Asia region

We recieved certificate of participation from our learning advisors who have been really helpful.

Southbank

Me at southbank in the winter so no wonder I had on a jumper. In summer, this place would be packed with people in the swimming suits
Another corner of Southbank parkland

IAP cultural concert

As AusAid-funded scholars, we had 5-week orientation program about how study and living in Australia in June before the semester started. Part of the program also include cultural concert when people performed something from their culture. I got together with Loasian girl and Cambodian guy and we did "Ram Wong". Others did dancing, singing, and presentation. It was cool to see such variety in culture and also beautiful traditional costumes.

Final view fromParinga Lodge

Life is not always going to be what we dream for, so although Paringa Lodge has provided me with cosy stay and wonderful memory, there is time when that comes to an end. I was very sad but at least I got good memories to carry with me when I had to walk away. And of course, good photo too. Thanks to all for being part of the wonderful memories. Thank you Jo and Tom.

Pretzel and German beer

Before parting with my kind host, I was lucky to have a taste of the pretzel and German beer once again. Thanks, man, I really appreciate all your efforts to make my stay at Paringa Lodge as nice as possible.

Sanctuary at Withcott

During my tough time of the first few months in Australia, I was so fortunate to have unlimited and patient support from my supervisor, Bob and his wife, Ros. They open their warm house for me as a sanctuary where I could truely relax and gather my broken heart and soul. Thanks to their words of wisdom and kind support, I was able to survive and start to see the other side of the long dark tunnel. I'm eternally grateful to them, thank you so much, Bob and Ros.

Yummy and cheerful breafast by Ros

Me and my breakfast with the green view in the background

More food and dinners

I got to eat so much good food during the first month in Australia. All thanks to the wonderful host and extremely talented chef, Jo.

German red cabbage and white sausage and the most important thing of all, beer! =D

Thai chicken satay and rice

Breakfast with Brisbane river view

First week in Australia, it's all about adjusting to the change. So I need good breakfast to start my day with. =P Life is tough when you move from being in a full time job to a postgraduate student. I'm not sure which one is better. Hehehe

First BBQ back in Brissie

Josh and Rhiannon kindly invited me to the BBQ so I was able to have the real Aussie meal once again after one and a half year away from this country

Me waiting for the meat! Look at how happy I was. =D

Lamb for dinner!

Here is the lamb before the cooking. Look good, doesn't it?
Many thanks to the chef who carefully select the meat and magically cook it as we shall see the result in the next picture.

Here is the lamb after the cooking. Look awesome and taste unreal! Thank you so much, Jo! =D

Brisbane 24th May 2008

First day back in Paringa Lodge in Brisbane on May 24, 2008.

Welcome breakfast thoughtfully prepared by the kind host, Jo.

Thanks a lot, man.

End of one chapter and new journey begins!

View over the Phuket Town at dusk from Khao Lang at the last leg of my stay in Thailand before flying to Australia to do PhD

Flying over Brisbane, once again here I am.

This time things are greatly different and they were shocks after shocks for me. But I'm going to pull through it and I will be fine. So let's the journey begin!

Sylvain visit in Bangkok

Sylvain, my good friend from France visit Bangkok so we arranged to meet up after more than 2 years. It's always wonderful to catch up with good old friends again. Sylvain also introduced me to the part of my country where I've never known to exist. The art gallery venue. We spent the whole day visiting different art galleries following the Bangkok Art Map that Sylvain picked up from Info center. It turned out to be really fun, refreshing and challenging. Thanks a lot, Sylvain!


The most unual piece of art I've ever experience, very bizaare yet I was glad to have seen it. It took forever to find the place though, we almost gave up.

Sylvain always takes the best photo of me (at least I like it =P)

Art Gallery that Sylvain managed to search from internet, very hidden place.

Luxurius restuarant with art display where we stopped by for a drink

Restaurant where we had dinner

Josh and Rhiannon

Josh, Tom's brother, and Rhiannon came to visit Phuket so I had a chance to take them along on one of the work-related trip to the islands

On the beach at Lawa Island
Mangrove at Yao Noi Island

I am an Aunty

My brother and His daughter, Fa (Sky)
Cool looking little Fa with her funny hat and fluffy buddy

James Bond Island

Thanks to my connection to Phuket Community Colleague again, I got to take an excursion with youths to Phanggna Bay and see the famous James Bond Island

My Job as a presenter for curriculum roadshow

Presenting the university and the new Master Program

The students attending the session

Chill out at the beach

Although we work in Phuket, we don't often get to go out and enjoy what the island has to offer for tourists who travel across the sea to visit. So one day I and my 2 colleagues went out to have a sunset drink at Nai Han beach, 20 minutes drive from my university.

Dr. Kaew and Dr. Mark, both are lecturers in IT department. Mark is from France

The beach is also a house of a big yatch club resort hence several expensive vehicles in the background

My working environment

My colleague who is the director of Phuket Community College organize a workshop for environmental study teachers to discuss and work on an environmental curriculum on Phuket at an island between Phuket and Phanggna coast called Lawa Island

We are having a brainstorming session therefore needs lots of food for our brain. =D

Recreational time with the canoe at sunset

Group discusion

Excursion around the south of Phuket

My colleague (right) took his students out for excursion around the southern part of Phuket so I took an opportunity to take Jo, a visiting researcher who is also a good friend of mine, on this little cruise as well.
Me in my work outfit which is the traditional style of southern Thai

My Trophy

It was one of those events where your organization supported it and recruite staff to join in. This time it was a fun run of 5 km, I was lucky enough to get the 2nd place. Yeah!

Friend and Family visit at Phuket

Nok, my dear Thai friend who came to Phuket during her study holiday in Japan. So we went to the famous temple of Phuket, Wat Chalong to pay the respect to statue of holy monks. That's what Thai visitors always do when they visit places, it's for good luck, safe journey and a piece of mind that holy spirits would protect them and family members.

Nok and the sunset at Prom Thep Cape, always cheerful and sweet.

Dad and me at Junceylon Shopping mall in Patong

Part of my job as a tour guide

Taking the university guests from MIT, USA and Chulalongkorn university, Bangkok to the Three Bay Lookout

One of the very few times when you can really get to see the sunset just above the sea at Prom Thep Cape

Vegetarian festival

Phuket is famous for its vegetarian festival when majority of the residents wear white and become vegetarian for 10 days. There are food stalls set up and the main streets where the Chinese temples are so people can pray and then eat.

Little mischievous thing we do as lecturers

This simple photo has an amusing story of how 5 highly educated faculty members got told off by a security guard who thought that we were students about the university rule that bans all fireworks on the university ground. Hehehe. Thought age whould help us to know better, well, not really. =P

Hike down Prom Thep Cape

As university lecturers, some of us don't have much time to visit and do things that tourists got to do in Phuket. So one day we get together to go to Prom Thep Cape and do adventurous things so nobody can say that academics are all boring people

Taking colleagues to hike down Prom Thep Cape, the famouse sunset lookout point in Phuket

Me and the Prom Thep Lookout Point in the background

Down at the rocky shore at Prom Thep Cape