My First Yoga Expo

Sydney yoga community unites

Yogic masters including Simon Borg-Olivier, John Ogilvie, Twee Merrigan and Mark O’Brien gave packed classes and yogic lectures to a full house at the Sydney Yoga Expo last Sunday, October 19. Byron Yoga Centre sponsored this year’s expo in line with the Centre’s philosophy of the benefits of yoga rippling out to advantage wider society, and tied in well with this year’s Expo theme of ‘Come as one, bring two.’ Byron Yoga Centre teachers were kept busy all day, answering questions about yoga teacher training offered in Sydney part-time, at Govinda Valley Spiritual Retreat Centre south of Sydney and at the Yoga Room and Life Centre on Sydney’s north shore. Others were keen to travel to Byron to immerse themselves in a full-time course or yoga retreat, the first of which begins November 1. With more than 50 local and international yoga businesses represented, five venues of back-to-back yoga classes and an entertainment line-up including kung fu and dance demonstrations and live performance by popular new-age ensemble Sacred Earth, Sydneysiders packed into Wharf 8 to stretch, talk, taste and sample. John taught a general class in the morning, starting in down-face warrior and challenging more experienced students into back-bends, handstands and arm balances. Later in the day, John facilitated two forums – the first with long-time teacher Eve Grzybowski of Simply Yoga, Simon Borg-Olivier of Yoga Synergy, Michael de Manincor of Yoga Sanga, Percy Garcia, Director of the Yoga Expo, and Debra McCormick of Soul Inspiration; the second with Katie Manitas of Samadhi Yoga, Mark O’Brien of Qi Yoga, Sevapuri Hurst from Yoga in Daily Life and Suraj from Kundalini Yoga. People were able to put questions to the experts, including what practises to prioritise if your time to practise at home was limited, whether attending class or doing a home practice was more beneficial, and how to keep up inspiration and stamina when undergoing a long teacher training. Many were curious about these senior teachers’ experiences, asking about defining moments in their yoga journeys and how their yoga practice changed during different life stages. The day ended with a rousing kirtan led by the Govinda Valley Kirtan Band, igniting more community spirit as Sydney came together in celebration of all things yoga.

My First Noodle Market in the City

So crowded. The queue to get any food is a mile long. The food is nothing fancy. Drinks are awfully expensive, a tiny bottle of water (mind you it's those one sip and finito). All is good especially with a company of friends. The weather was amazingly warm. Gosh... hearing myself whine is ridiculous. Me of all people where all my life spent in KL is nitpicking about the soaring temperature here... sigh...

My First Journey to Melbourne

It has been over a year and 6 months since I arrived in Aussie land. Looking back this time frame, there wasn't many adventures as I've expected initially. All I could blame on is myself.... "Hello everyone, my name is Lynn. I'm a workaholic". Soon, probably after a couple more years the introduction may change to... "Hello everyone, my name is Lynn. I'm an alcoholic". ;-p Kyle thinks I've been drinking alot more since I've arrived here. Well.... this I can't blame on myself. Aussie wine, bubblies and BEER are just too good too miss... burp! excuse me... :-) (mind I did not ever gotten myself drunk since I came here, just went striaght to bed... hehehehe)

Back to Melbourne, the main reason I found an excuse to travel to VIC is for Melinda's wedding celebration. she looks absolutely stunning. You know those Hong Kong celebreties... we have one here... :)

Marcus, Melinda & Kyle

Kyle was studying in Melbourne during his yoounger days. So we paid a visit to one of his old uni mate. Her kids are adorable (Chinese mom and Indian dad). Her youngest son could pull off as a very handsome Japanese boy... : )

Of course, without any doubt, I need to do the touristsy stuff... here are some pictures.

One thing I really love about this city is the alleyways in between the tall buildings. Hidden are those little unique cafes with the most enjoyable coffees. Oh yeah... one more.... "Hello everyone, my name is Lynn and I'm a caffeine addict."

Melbourne has a different feel to Sydney... I find it here rather artsy-fartsy... don't you think so?

Having just 2 days to explore Melbourne is just not enough... I'm definitely coming here again : ) Now all I need is another reason to get here... anyone interested? : )

My First Annual Floriade in Canberra

Flower Power !!! Seeing all the wonderful colours of nature, this is simply remarkable. Never in my life being surrounded by so many tulips and other flowers. I'm surprised that there isn't a single bee... !!!
Canberra reminds me of Putrajaya back home. A city with a very unique layout.

Of course since we're there, check out the parliament.Actually the main reason we went to Canberra was to get my visa permit to enter Israel. Malaysian s are prohibited to enter this country. Go figure. At the Malaysian embassy, there's this feeling that I'm back home sitting at one of the government offices. It's a striking resemblance. And guess what we saw.... at the counter, the officers were selling nasi lemak & char keoy teaw !!! On one of the wall was an inventory list of the office assets in the waiting lounge. This one takes the cake.... there was a microwave at the lounge ! To heat up the nasi lemak & char keoy teaw !!!! No joke! This microwave was not listed in the inventory list mind you...In Rome, do what the Romans do.... so we bought a pair of ugg boots for each of us... it's on sale... so why not... hehehe.... uggly looking shoes... but it is soooooo comfy.... :)

My First All Girls Holiday (Part 1)

Even though I have been to Blue Mountains, I had such a great time in this trip. The weather was terrible, raining non-stop during the long weekend. we could not go with our intended plan of daily bush walking. But, hey.... look at the brighter side, we had so much fun. Like a bunch of giggly girls.... ; p

We stayed in this lovely cottage. This place is highly recommended. 3 bedrooms, so it is not expensive if the rent is shared. Check out the pictures. Cottage is called Almora located in Wentworth Falls.

The backyard is a golf course. This place is absolute gorgeous, so cozy... we spent the nights drinking wine and bubblies till wee hours... chatting on serious topic and also about nothing... girlie talk.... followed by non-stop laughter.

One of the topic was no other Mr Keanu Reeves. One of the gals is absolutely crazy over him.
And when there's 2 fag hags in the group, our conversation will inadvertently touches on "happy" people. The gals' jaw dropped when I told them that I regularly have slumber parties with my sistas... ; p Thankfully I didn't had too much to drink, otherwise more crazy stories and adventures I had with my happy friends would have been revealed. These mis-adventures are best left deep in the closet of our memories. So my dear sistas, if you are reading this... you can breathe a sigh of relieve.

More pictures will be uploaded as soon as the gals has pass me a copy. (I didn't bring along my camera lar...)

My First All Girls Holiday

At last, I'm having an actual holiday... Yipee !!! I just could not believe practically every other day I'll get a message from a friend back home that it's a public holiday, sucks... In my previous company located in Selangor we enjoyed 20 over public holidays ! Now here in Sydney, just miserable 9 days.

I'm heading to the Blue Mountains this long weekend. Yea, this is my second time there (my first visit to Blue Mountains) well it's a different crowd, different kind of fun. As you can see there was a rather large generation gap among the group members in the first trip. This weekend, I'll be joining Michelle, Audrey & Fung in a last minute holiday arrangement. It's really at the last minute. I was casually having a chat with Michelle this morning and boom... I'm heading to Blue Mountains with them. Hiaks! This evening drive there and back on Monday. Then Tuesday I'm heading to Canberra to fix my Malaysian VISA. I'm going to be on a long long holiday Xmas holiday. Stay tune folks....

Since we're on topic of holiday, Monday is Australian Labour Day. I find it rather strange, I thought this was a worldwide holiday on May 1st. Here a little write-up from wikipedia... ;-p


Labour Day is an annual holiday celebrated all over the world that resulted from efforts of the labour union movement, to celebrate the economic and socialworkers. The majority of countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1st, and it is popularly known as May Day and International Workers' Day. The celebration of Labour Day has its origins in the eight hour day movement, which advocated eight hours for work, eight hours for recreation, and eight hours for rest.

Most countries celebrate Labour Day on May 1, known as May Day and International Workers' Day. In Europe the day has older significance as a rural festival which is predominantly more important than that of the Labour Day movement. The holiday has become internationalised and several countries hold multi-day celebrations including parades, shows and other patriotic and labour-oriented events. However, in Northern Europe, Walpurgis Night is celebrated on the preceding night and this holiday merges with the Labour Day in some countries.

Celebrating the Australian labour movement, the Labour Day public holiday is fixed by the various state and territory governments, and so varies considerably. It is the first Monday in October in the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales and South Australia. In both Victoria and Tasmania, it is the second Monday in March (though the latter calls it Eight Hours Day). In Western Australia, Labour Day is the first Monday in March. In both Queensland and the Northern Territory, it is the first Monday in May.