Room 515

Sleeping was a big problem on the first night. Though i slept pretty well in the OperaHouse, my excitement at night kept me even more alive. I stood up, looked out the window, and wondered how life is out there at night. If u didnt read my previous entry, u might be missing out quite a huge deal, so just turn back now. KingsCross, thats where we're living, and as u might already know, its the notorious area in Sydney, as the location of the red light district. Whats that? Go find a wall, knock ur head against it.

Waking up wasnt a problem. However, showering was. Its winter, and if u really wanna shower in cold water, please go ahead. I turned on the hot water almost to its max, but the water literally just flowed out. Such a depressing shower! Thanks to my phone, i had great songs to accompany my sad showering moments. Wore kinda little because we'll be staying in the hotel for the entire day. There'll be 3 rehearsal sessions in total, with 2 breaks, being lunch and dinner respectively.

How cool.

Morning rehearsals are usually bad. I took my Pipa out from its wrapped up boxes. The Pipa was bubblewrapped so tightly. I had to slowly take the bubblewrap out, because they wanna store the wraps at a corner for later use. It aint my character to slowly tear or untie something. I would had preferred to just claw it all off. Doesnt matter, we took the Pipas out, and checked our instruments.

After getting ready and tuned, MikeChiang gave a small talk. The first run was kinda fine surprisingly. Im amazed at NYPCO's ability to be able to capture quite abit of the feeling at the first go. Usually, orchestras like this would have to warm up first and stuff. Honestly, after listening to NYPCO so many times, i must admit that ive seen it grow from nothing to everything. Its really good, and quote me, for that its the best throughout the polys.

MrChiang had to stop over and over for the GeHus, who were still getting used to the instruments, because they practiced with Cellos instead when we're in Singapore. Because, the GeHus were required to be sent to Australia first for checking. So, without their instruments, the Cello came in as a substitute. As for me, i sat there... trying to stay awake. Its merely the first rehearsal in the morning, but i think i might need to warm myself up first.

Did i mention breakfast? Its the best! Imagine this... porridge, scrambled egg, tomatoes, baked beans, beef and lamb sausages, bacons and harshbrowns. So many items? Theres more... miso soup, SzeChuan vegetables, orange and apple juice, cornflakes, milk and a wide selection of bread. Alright, is that ur usual breakfast buffet? No. Honestly, its really quite alot of food to choose from. However, theres really quite a headache which to choose because... they're all tasteless and disgusting! We heard that the cook was the same person who worked at the reception, as the security guard and the technician. Its an all in one job! Where can u find that? So, the only thing which kept me going was just baked beans, which wouldnt taste any worse than the others because its canned food, and scrambled eggs because... eggs taste about the same all over the world. Apple juice was like a stapled drink, i had to have it every morning, even in Singapore.

I was expecting good food for lunch. Well, i think u have the prescience of what im trying to say about lunch. Yes, its bad! How bad? So bad that i would rather eat anything that falls off my mates' ass crack. Now, its a Chinese restaurant nearby, and i wouldnt wanna name it because it'll be so bad to ruin their reputation. They're already destroying themselves with every dish served, and honestly... those 5 dishes were the most horrible 5 in my entire life. Chinese food in Australia aint bad, we had better ones on our first night, though many complained about the generous amount of salt. The first dish was already there when we arrived, its like this washing basin, filled with some wierd looking water.

Its soup! I had my first sip, and it became my last. Its disgusting! I really felt like puking infront of the lady boss. The whole entire orchestra was suffering under her horrible cooking. MrChiang worked as a chef once, and he shook his head throughout the dinner. The food was freaking horrible! How many times must i repeat myself? Its freaking horrible! All 5 dishes were tasteless but just salty!

After leaving all the food to dry, its time to go. The lady boss then asked for comments to help improve our time there. At that moment, i was shocked for my life. I could infer that we'll be dining there for at least another time. Right, its dinner. We'll be eating those horrible junk for dinner! Great!

The complaints went shooting about, and everybody directed it to the tour agency. The agent didnt know what to do... so he tried explaining about the budget. Good job man, MrPringles. His appearance doesnt vary much from the Pringle's icon. It became his name since i started calling him that at the airport. I wonder if he knows...

After eating, and some left shocked that they'll be eating at that horrible restaurant, we left for Coles. Its like Singapore's NTUC, only lesser people around. I didnt buy anything, so i headed back to the hotel. We held our practices at the hotel's function room. When the drums strike, the hotel will shake. There once even once that one of the lights went out after the quake.

The second practice was alright, but the third wasnt. After dinner, many of us went to buy ourselves a proper dinner. That Chinese restaurant is the 19th level of hell. Well, we thought that'll be the last of it. Who knows... we'll be eating there for at least 3 more times. Heavenly, isnt it? The third rehearsal was really a blew off for MrChiang. The ErHus werent concentrating, and they kept plucking wrongly. I couldnt understand why, but well... i guess we were all tired from the intense practices. MrChiang was ticked off, but he understood. He told us that rehearsal ends there, but everybody thought that he was angry thats why. The funny thing was that, everybody kept quiet, looked at him and kept holding on to their instruments. I was sitting there, waiting for somebody to move first so i can keep my instruments and head back to bed!

The third day in Sydney would be our most important day for the whole trip. Our purpose for these years of preparation now falls on this very day. There were some who couldnt sleep, and there were others who just wanna have fun.

We travelled in groups when we're out of the hotel at night. The reason is very simple, its for the girls' safety, as well as to ensure that we dun get outnumbered by hookers. We took a walk down Darlinghurst Street, heading towards McDonalds where some of the girls wanted to grab a bite. As for me, i went for the Burritos over the street. While walking there, there were many bouncers who stood outside the stripclubs, calling for customers. I was an ocassion victim, getting pulled in, but i resisted and walked on. How intrepid! Im a brave boy.

Food is slightly more expensive, and on top of it, the currency difference adds onto the pain. I took my food back to bed, and found myself complaining about the spinach pie, but loving the Burrito. Even as im blogging, im really craving for one now... im glad i can remember its taste. The power of imagination shall now act upon my tastebuds!

KaiYi and YiRui bought many things from Coles, from chips to orange juice. I bought nothing, and didnt share any of their items too. They paid $5 each for all those stuff, which was kinda alright. So, they opened up one of the chips and started sharing it around with Geneviene and gang. Geneviene is my desk partner. She sits beside me, as the principal seat because she is a member of NYPCO. Im merely a guest, so i sit beside her. There were 5 Pipa players, sitting 2 infront with 3 at the back. Shes a bubble blitheful girl, always cracking jokes and not afraid to talk. Being the vocal her, im always entertained with her questions and her jokes. Theres very often little time when i'll crack a joke. With NYPCO, im usually quiet, with opened ears, listening to their busy chatting channels. Its a massive network, and its a really huge family.

NYPCO has many character and their traits. Im amazed that they're so united and it was hard for me to fit in at first. Slowly, through the second night, im beginning to feel more accepted into the family. Moreover, im getting more familiar with KaiYi and gang. Another priceless thing from this trip ive benefited is certainly friendship.