Museum - nostalgic stuff and memories of pioneer Australian mining towns

Gold mining equipment and tools - the beginning of migrant settlement after penal colony was established.


Later years, a pretty sophisticated cash register.

A dentist surgery in the old days


The homely feeling

lace and embriodery

Baby prams, walkers and high chairs

The 1900s and post-war tech revolution - television, gramaphones, recorders, players - ancestors of current day hi-fi audio visual systems.

The Burmese Dilemma

Advice by neighbours, pain of continuous economic sanctions and protests by world citizens demanding the release of Aung San Suu Kyi have all fallen to deaf ears. Indeed, the Burmese military junta are more intransigent and recalcitrant than anyone can imagine.

Proponents of sanctions against the Burmese military junta are full of hypocrisy. It has long been proven that sanctions are ineffective. We've seen the futility when applied to Iran, South Africa and Iraq under Saddam. Despite official sanctions, many private businessmen including western middlemen and oil congolomerates have bypassed legal channels to carry on trade and investments in a supposedly isolated country. Sanctions would hit innocent Burmese people harder than the regime as the leaders could find alternative sources of income and financial services. It is impossible to cut off all ties with Burma nor is it advisable to do so. Australia which is a strong critic of the junta has trained Burmese police officers and hosts Burmese students who are children of the military leaders.

Engagement would have to continue no matter how loathsome it might be. Surely, we're not thinking of Bush's infamous : you're either with us or against us; or are some idealists tinkering with ideas of invading Burma to overthrow the junta?

Asian neighbours who know the Burmese culture well are aware they are a people with great pride regardless of their rank or social status. They would not bow down to pressure or public embarrassment. However, the patience of Burma's ASEAN members is wearing thin as the efficacy of engagement is proving impotent.

There are also limitations to how much Asian neighbours could pressure a sovereign country where the military still wields the reigns of power. Pragmatism often overrides humanitarian or moral considerations. What can we expect from some of these governments that aren't exemplary in their treatment of domestic opposition. Not just Asean, but energy hungry China, Japan, South Korea and France too. The impact of sanctions is more psychological.

One thing is certain is that the military junta's grasp of power is not sustainable in time to come. They have long defied the people's will shown in the results of the elections two decades ago. The junta has already lost their legitimacy to govern. Perhaps more sanctions would cause widespread starvation and hardship and turn the whole nation to revolt against the incompetent and corrupt regime.

An internal revolution from top down in Burma may be the most powerful and least disintegrative path to resolving the myriad of problems in Burma. Aung San Suu Kyi's has given new energy to the opposition groups in Burma and galvanise the people. Burma needs a people power revolution involving disgruntled subjects of the military junta to break the stalemate.

One way out of the quagmire would be for the military junta to relinquish economic management to the experts. They could well retire with the millions they have accumulated. A power-sharing agreement with Aung San Suu Kyi would be a face-saving way out for the military junta. At the same time, western governments and the diverse Burmese opposition should realize that a future government which totally excludes SLRC may not be workable and cause a breakdown in administration and lead to chaos. The contending forces should not let the opportunity slip pass. The junta should release Aung San Suu Kyi and help to bring about a national reconciliation government soon instead of bringing about their own downfall and bloodshed.

Cyber Bullying dangerous and fatal trend

The recent spate of cyber bullying is worrisome.

http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/mean-girls-mother-speaks-out-on-ascham-bullying/2009/05/08/1241727605725.html

The anguish and nightmare of cyberbullying that a family I know had to endure was excruciating, which threatened to destroy precious friendships and undermined acceptable social and moral norms that our education system strived so hard to cultivate. A nice girl who's academically gifted, helpful, generous, kind and courteous recently fell victim to cyberbullying.

Despite the brave front she put on, she was fearful for her life, yes, literally. What began as a prank during the school vacation when her friends became restless and bored turned out to be horrifying experience; a joke that went awry when friends impersonating as a gang of students and adult bullies threatened to bring physical harm and even kill her for a fabricated crime of torturing their pets which she of course, never did. The bullies thought that the anonymity would protect themselves in their game of taunting their good friend. But the "joke" that went on in digital, electronic and voice medium for several days, was not funny anymore.

Fortunately, parents became aware of the seriousness of the bullying, sought clarification and mediation. After lots of sleepless nights, trembles and heartaches, the issues were finally thrashed out and resolved amicably without involving school authorities, the police and law suits. There were no indications of nervous breakdowns, injuries of deaths of any parties unlike some of the sad cyber bullying incidents. But there are some lessons to be learnt by children, parents and teachers to tread carefully : where cyber communication is involved, one should not to get carried away by innocent pranks that may grow too hot and huge for the players and victims to handle.

Northwestern Chinese Cuisine - no frills, fill up

Are you sufficiently adventurous to deviate from central Chinese food to frontier cuisine? The impoverished and harsh terrain of northwest China (xi bei) are translated into simple fare using very basic and locally produced ingredients. Do not expect elaborate flavours or decoration for the main purpose is to eat to live, not the other way around. For the fussy eater, this may turn out to be a little disappointing but it gives you an idea of the living conditions of people in Xinjiang regions. However, you are planning to explore the exotic Silk Route, this is a preview and training to adjust your tastebuds. I heard that for the most part of the trip, tourists have lamb as the staple diet.

Giganti spring rolls wrapped in wheat crepe with lettuce, cucumber, fungus and mung bean noodle filling. The only seasoning is dark soy sauce so you might want to ask for chilli sauce to spice it up.

My preference or prejudice is for the southern version which I believe is more delicate and flavoursome with more ingredients such as turnip, carrot, prawn and dried squid in it.

http://ausletters.blogspot.com/search?q=malaysian+best


La Mian - noodle soup

The texture of the handmade noodles are chewy and refreshing. But the taste is rather bland. It is quite a healthy dish considering it's cooked in chicken and egg flower soup with wood sliced fungus, tofu cubes, carrot, tomato.

This stir fried chicken and cabbage dish is tastier. We were told it's popular and highly recommended.


The long awaited finale of the meal is the pan-fried lamb bun. Quite similar to murtabak, this dish is on the greasy side and the crepe is thick and tough. Since we've ordered so much food, we didn't get to try the skewer lamb or beef.

Despite the distinctive and strong aroma of lamb and spices the moment you enter the restaurant, the place is usually packed with hungry crowds during their extended lunch hours. The menu also offers other northern delights such as meat dumplings. The prices are reasonable and the serving portions are huge, which could partly explain why it's so popular with students and those who miss homecooked food of the northwestern regions (Gansu, Qinghai, Shanxi, Ningxia, Xinjiang).