Just ended Spring 2007 Vacation with my visiting parents. Will talk more about this later.

Life has changed quite a bit since I last updated this blog... lol. Why?

Well I started working-cum-studying. Not one job, but two paid jobs, one volunteer job and one society task... all at the same time!

I'm selling milkshakes, coffees, doughnuts, hotdogs, icy drinks etc with Australian fast food chain Donut King, another at a Malaysian Chinese Restaurant, volunteer bookshop assistant at Senior Citizens Community of Annerley, in-charged of Learning Circle of my university's AIESEC, and many many more things.

I don't think I can really cope with my studies if I continue having such a busy schedule, especially when my final exam is fast approaching. Let's see what happens in the next few weeks.

As for blogging, I've more than 8 events that happened more than 10 weeks ago yet to be reported here, including some very fascinating ones such as my College's Grease Musical Production and Brisbane's largest event of the year - The Riverfest.

Recently, I started a 2nd blog called Malaysia City, and WOW it has been a tremendous success I must say, in terms of unique visitors count. Daily count averaged around 300, compared to about 15 for this blog (well it used to be about 50, but never had 300!). Also recently, I was involved in some online retail research concerning two of KL's newest, trendiest malls.

OK I think that's about all for now. Stay tuned ya!

Tags: Patchay-Blogspot and blogging.

Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is a world-class urban development, right in the heart of Bukit Bintang directly opposite Starhill Gallery and Westin KL, comprising a 7-level shopping complex, two luxury 50-storey residential towers, a corporate office block, and a 6-star boutique hotel.

Pavilion KL's entire development

The 1.3 million sqft (3.68 million sqft total gross built-up area) luxury mall will have 6 distinct themes or precincts catering for couture, food, leisure, entertainment, home retail and a luxury floor for spa.

Pavilion KL Mall

Come this Thursday (September 20), Pavilion KL, one of the most talked about shopping malls in the capital, will officially open its doors to the public. Rejoice ... to all Shopaholics!

Chic, elegant, classy shopping mall

The shopping experience of world-famous New York's 5th Avenue, Tokyo's Ginza and Milan is now at our doorstep. With the opening of this mall, Malaysia can reinforce its ambition to be South-east Asia's No.1 shopping destination.

Not just that, a pedestrian bridge linking Suria KLCC and Pavilion KL in Bukit Bintang is currently under construction. There are links to other Bukit Bintang malls as well.

Wider choices. More Shopping.

*** *** Sneak Preview of Pavilion KL *** ***

Looks like we have to climb up to Acropolis inside Pavilion KL

Pavilion KL redefines shopping experience in Malaysia. The large airy premises framed with high ceilings and wide corridor pavements will make shopping here a relaxing, pleasurable, unforgettable experience.

Zig-zag escalators...

Pavilion's Bintang Circle

Inside the swanky mall...

The wall...

The pillars...

Male Washroom

Most of Malaysia's Flagship Boutiques will be located here

*** *** The Retail Outlets at Pavilion KL *** ***

[The Partial List compiled by Patchay]

From Parkson to Tangs of Singapore to Harvey Norman of Australia, a 3-level Esprit Megastore, more than a dozen double-storey stores including Hermes, Versace, Burberry, Ferragamo, Zegna, Hugo Boss, Escada, Coach, Canali, Chopard, Juicy Couture, MontBlanc etc; many first timers to Malaysia including Diane Von Furstenberg, Club Monaco, Marc Jacobs, Chloe, River Island, Thomas Pink, Lalique Crystals, Kiehl's, Cole Haan, Francesco Biasia, Furla, Mandarina Duck, Joan & David, Reiss, Paul Frank etc. About 20% of the mall's 450 stores will be new in Malaysia.

The biggest Sincere watch boutique, an exclusive IWC, Omega and Rolex Tudor store, local brand Padini's most fashionable outlet, biggest Tiffany & Co outlet in Southeast Asia, Guess?'s first footwear store in Southeast Asia... so many more...

There won't be McDonalds, but Carl's Jr will replace it. Coffee Bean and Baskin-Robbins are to have very special concept outlet. Mercato is anchoring the gourmet supermarket. Watch a movie at GSC's 13 screens, or sing at double-storey RedBox Plus, or play the latest gadget at Epicentre's first all-Apple megastore in Malaysia, or read the latest fiction at Times, then relax at the La Mode Coiffure.

(I'll repost the entire list above on Malaysia City)

*** *** It's all on September 20 *** ***

Pavilion KL, where minds are broadened, hearts are opened. Remember September 20 is the day you have to check out this mall!

Tags: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Bukit Bintang, shopping and Visit Malaysia 2007.

Patchay discusses Pavilion KL at SSC. This post is in association with Patchay@Blogspot, Malaysia City, Patchay@SSC and Patchay Research. Special thanks to fellow SSC Malaysian forumers. Inside mall photos courtesy of forumer James Foong. Also thanks to Shaiful at Oxygen Malaysia, news coverage from TheStar, Jobstreet Malaysia, Retail Online Asia, FJ Benjamin, Melium Group, Valiram, Club21, CloveTwo, NSTP Business Times, TheEdgeDaily, KL Pavilion, KLUE Magazine, Vision KL and other sources.

The International House's Annual Soirée on 11 August 2007 is my university's largest cultural event of the year.

SPIDERMAN! The Spiderweb can be seen from far.

When was your last time to a cultural-based event? Think about it.

Myriad of cultures showcased, from local food to cultural performances.

Oh Satay and Beer???

Malaysia's was Satay. However, many Australians still think that satay originated from Thailand.

[QUIZ: Can you name Australia's most unique food/foodstuff ? There're several answers.]

Soirée (pronounced as Swa-Rei) means evening in French.

Aha! I spotted the Malaysian flag!

Tags: Australia and cultural.

Australian Broadcasting Corporation's (ABC) 75th Anniversary at Riverstage Brisbane on 8th July 2007.

This morning I came here not to have fun etc, but to work with Danny's Baked Potatoes' booth.

It was my pleasure serving spuds and rolls to these folks.

Picnic and concerts. A typical Brisbanian-Australian weekends.

Brisbane Riverstage

Broadcasting... ...

Tags: Australia and Brisbane.

Remember Amazing Race reality game show on prime-time TV?

Now I present to you Amazing Race Brisbane Version called Amazing G-Race, held on the 4th of August 2007.

Booklet indicating our stops and game regulations

From St Lucia University Campus to South Bank, then Brisbane CBD, then to suburbs Toowong and Indooroopilly, back to city QUT Gardens Point and lastly BBQ gathering at Roma Street Parkland.

This is my lovely teammates from Judah 5...

Instead of pairs in the real show, we got into Teams! There were more than 30 (?) teams from two universities, UQ and QUT.

Another team from J5...

All of J5...

***

Game started from The Great Court. My team split into two, one to find the cheapest Coke in Uni and another to run few kilometres to capture this photo...

That is Me...!

Only the first round we're able to split. Next time we gonna be UNITED as a TEAM.

My team united, onboard a CityCat ferry from Uni pier to South Bank.

I just realised that Shannon (right) is quite a poser... lol.

***

This morning South Bank was pretty crowded.

Demonstration? Rally? Apparently a little concert and kids show was about to kick off there.

We took our time walking around South Bank, heading towards Queensland Museum & Sciencentre.

NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM... omg!

I posed like a stupid guy there alongside the five-fingered Muttaburrasaurus, known as the Australian Dinosaur!

Then treasure hunt was within the museum. Up and down, left and right, and we completed our tasks on time. Met the Station Master and we were allowed to proceed to the next stage.

***

To Brisbane City by foot. On Victoria Bridge.

This is soo random...

Team discussion... we discussed really hard, you know!

City stage was the hardest. We ran from one point to another. We had sushi for lunch too.

From shopping malls along Queen Street to a Teddy Bear Shop then to The Pancake Manors (finding clues for a question regarding their pancakes).

Inside the former St Luke's Cathedral, this pancake house is indeed the best in Brisbane.

We almost couldn't find Student Flights, even though there was one or two Flight Centres.

Then we went back to the Station Master at Queen Street. Fortunately, we got an option to skip suburb Indooroopilly, if we successfully did this...

THE RANDOM SUPERHERO POSERS

We were good at approaching strangers to act "cool" with us... Thank you guys!

***

Next stop - Toowong.

Took a bus from city to Toowong. Tiredness started creeping into Me at Toowong Village mall.

Besides solving puzzles, we got to fork out some money to buy something and later got to show the receipt to the Station Master.

***

OH NO... ...almost 12.30 NOON

Expectedly, we were already quite far behind others and we got 30 minutes more to go back to the city (at QUT Gardens Point) or just abandon that stop at all!

Rule 11 states this:

Teams must abandon all remaining stations at 1300hrs and reach Roma Street Parkland by 1330hrs, regardless of whether they have finished the race or not, or risk DISQUALIFICATION. Station Masters have been told NOT to entertain participants after 1300hrs.

There goes our game...

The face of an inevitable "Loser"

So we decided to head to Roma straightaway by train, and yes we didn't finished the entire RACE.

(If you realized, we've travelled by Ferry, Bus and Train and by foot)

Reason: unlucky?, maybe poor time management?, poor team strategies?, and by the way, when we were in the city my team ladies even got time to do some SHOPPING! What haha?

***

At Roma Street Parklands 1.30pm.

The "Lions" calling us to gather at the BBQ pit

I was sooo HUNGRY... and TIRED...

After BBQ lunch, there was price-giving ceremony. Second runners-up (left) and runners-up (right).

OH MAN...

The WINNING TEAM went to an ALL LADIES TEAM, not from my Uni ! Prize: a few hundred dollars of Myer shopping voucher.

What happenned to the guys? You know, nowadays the ladies are better than MEN even in endurance kind of things.

I want the group pic from the unknown photographer, who is He?

So perhaps a hundred participants took a picture together from the top.

(CCM was the organizer of this event)

***

Roma Street Parkland "Flower Tour" 2.30pm - 3.30pm.

Spring was not here yet.

Flowers grow WILD at the wrong season. Well maybe at least in Brisbane.

Violet that touches my heart.

Next time I know where to pluck flowers for my girlfriend haha!

(Don't tell her that it's from Roma ok?)

Wooooot...

Nice?

Then, Patchay went into a "Frenzy Party with Flowers" mode.

Not just Me though. Look at the other guys... crazy nuts!

The loving family of J5

Alright, that's all for now. Goodbye and goodnight.

I've got mid-semester exams soon. Wish Me all the best yeah!

Tags: Australia, Queensland, Brisbane and student life.