My flight tomorrow is at 9:40am, KLIA, estimated time of arrival at 3pm local time. W00t!

That’s right, Aussies, watch out!

Except for the few nights in February that I was down in Perth for my graduation this year, it’s almost going to be a year since I’ve left the place I call ‘home’. My sanctum.

In the second half of 2006 in Malaysia, I was depressingly jobless, lifeless and clueless about my direction in a country I didn’t want to be back in. In early January 2007, I was a bartender in a club, a waitress in a restaurant, and a receptionist/cash register operator/accountant at a high-end hair salon all at the same time, and all in a matter of a few days… funny story, ask me about it sometime.

A few hours after I got hired on the spot as a bartender though, I scored an interview in a small company involved in advertising, events, marketing and PR. I had applied for the job online through Jobstreet a few days earlier, and it was as though the ad was made for me. The title was great, the job scope was everything I’ve always had interest in, I had the bonus skills they wanted, and at that point in time, it was my dream job. I desperately wanted it, and to have them on my resume would kick ass. The people there were convinced of my qualifications, but they liked my attitude (who wouldn’t? ) and the fact that I’m multi-purpose sold the deal. With the shake of a hand on my second interview, I got the job, and I was ready to make my mark in the Malaysian scene.

6 months down the road, I’m overworked, wiser, sleep-deprived, more cunning, tired, and a kung fu master at multi-tasking in all the different departments in the company. I wasn’t just a Creative Communications Designer, I was a copywriter, photographer, events program manager, stylist, webmistress, web designer, business R&D researcher, proposal writer… and the list went on. I worked with some of the biggest commercial brands in the local and international market. But, I still wanted to go home.

Lately, I don’t know how it happened, but my family finally agreed to help me go back to Australia. They can probably see that I don’t belong here anymore, or they’ve had enough of me dropping hints, haha. Well, it’s kinda hard to go back to settle in your old nest after you’ve flown out into the world and made your own nest.

So I resigned from my job last Tuesday, and sent in my one month’s notice. It was quite sudden to some.

Anyway, I’ll be going back to further my studies. I don’t have any confirmed dates yet as I’m trying to get into the July intake. Or I’ll get into the September intake, we’ll see.

I’ll see you guys soon

… how I’ve missed you!

I shall celebrate by sitting in front of the Hyde Park Hotel in the middle of the road.

Meerkat butts.

Okay, so they might not be Australian natives, but find these cute little critters in the Perth Zoo if you happen to be in the ‘hood.

[female news reporter voice] Thanks for joining us in this news exclusive where we personally inform the inhabitants of the Perth Zoo here in Western Australia of the untimely death of Australia’s beloved Crocodile Hunter, Steve Irwin.

We quickly join proud Aussie native, Mr. Kookaburra. Sir, what are your thoughts on the death of the most popular Australian conservationist, Steve Irwin?

Well, trrrr-oh-oh-oh-trrr-a-a-a-aaaaa, I’ve never actually met him before but my neighbors, the Macaws, have told me amazing stories about this human. Nothing much I can do for him now, being stuck in a cage and all that, but… yeah, he was a good guy…

Thank you, Mr. Kookaburra, now, moving on, we meet Mr. Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat…

Who’re yer calling hairy-nosed! [proceeds to stuff face with grass]
Er, sir, Steve Irwin was…

[muffled thick Aussie accent] mmphf, yeeeeeh I huurd all abayout heem. *chomp* *chomp* Gonna miss heem, gonna miss heem. Can’t imagine wot it would be loike fer the animals in the Australia Zoo where he werked.

Thank you, sir. We all feel your pain. We’ll be back after the break.

[commercial jingle]

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Merry merry king of the bush is he,

Laugh, kookaburra, Laugh, kookaburra,

Gay your life must be…

Kookaburra sits in the old gum tree,

Eating all the gum drops he can see,

Stop, kookaburra, Stop, kookaburra,

Leave some there for me…

[end commercial jingle]

Welcome back, due to some complications, we could not have an interview with Mrs. Cassowary today, but her cousin, Mr. Emu, seems to be available over there at the moment so we will try to approach him…

Oh Mr. Emu…

Mmmyessss?

We were wondering if you have heard of the death of Steve Irwin, the croc…

WHAAAT?! *gasping wide-eyed*

Er, well I think it’s best that we leave Mr. Emu to cope with the news in his own way.

No doubt, we have been getting interviewees walking away from the camera or just keeping their emotions to themselves, dumbfounded and in shock, upon hearing about this tragedy.

Naaaaaah! Naaaaaaaah! He’s not gone! Steve Irwin can’t be dead!!

[dramatic montage of Mr.Tasmanian Devil all teary-eyed]

We’ll be back after this break.

Everybody sing Waltzing Matilda!

Welcome back, we now check up on the reptiles section…

The Crocodile Hunter has died? How?

By a stab in the heart by a stingray off the Low Isles at Port Douglas…
Stingray? Huh… wouldn’t have thought that he’d go that way, but, that’s very sad news indeed. He treated all of us as equals. I took a pic with him once. Best moment of my life.

With the news quickly spreading across the zoo,

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!

… the hurt from this significant loss is collectively shared by his family, friends, and millions of fans and animals around the world, in this time of mourning.

[somber mood] I’m Mystery Wolf, take care, and have a good day, everyone.

Thanks for the Jabiru & Tazzy Devil pic, Philip!

Become a Wildlife Warrior today

In continuance with my post on Steve Irwin’s tragic death, just like the thousands (millions?) of people who’ve heard the news, I’ve been scouring the net and watching the news consistently, consuming every bit of information that still hasn’t completely sunk in.

I’ve been talking to my friends about it, and I’ve also been reading the comments of hundreds of netizens throughout the web.

What irks me though, is how some people can still knock Steve Irwin in his death. The Australians who find Irwin embarassing, the people who claimed that he deserved it, the people who say how lame or hilarious the circumstances of his death was, and the people ignorant enough to not bother to understand the important causes he worked hard for. Causes that he gave his life for.

He’s already gone, what’s your problem? Have you no empathy? I hope you die a horrible death and people will laugh at your demise in your face and on the Internet.

It’s still seems unreal to know that you’re gone. I was just watching a re-run of one of your shows a couple of days ago! At least your legacy will live on. You’re a bloody legend, Steve Irwin, and Australia and the world misses you.

Steve Irwin, Crocodile Hunter, ladies and gentleman.

I made the tribute picture above, but photo credits to the respective photographers.

Koala butts.