The Gross Apartment

Aaah I can finally post up some of the much anticipated photos of that horrible apartment which I was expected to live in for 4.5 weeks. Looking back at these photos, they really don't do the place any justice as to how disgusting it really was. You gotta remember that there was a cigarette stench upon entering!

This place allowed me to experience what it is like to have a psychotic disorder. At first I was in disbelief that a multinational company (ok, it's really just Australia, NZ and some stores in Singapore) would put someone here. Then I got really pissed off because I already had to endure huge admin issues with obtaining the flight/accommodation details. To put me into a cheap 'bring-your-own-whore' hotel was the icing on the cake. That anger turned into maniacal laughter as I critiqued my surrounding environment. Finally, I started to cry - all these emotions in a span of 10 minutes of opening the door. I dont know if my crying stemmed from the fact that I was on the verge of insanity, laughing too hard, tired or just plain upset.

My first night was spent in a foetal position in my cigarette bed. Yes, I had to stay there given it was nearly 1am and I was exhausted from my flight from the east coast.

My stinky cigarette bed. I have a smirk on my face because I was leaving in 5 minutes!

Why I'm posing with the fan, I'm not sure.

Yes, there are two TVs in the room. I couldn't figure that one out either. They had exactly the same channels and the same (bad) quality of reception. Bizarre.

Horrible, unfinished-wood wardrobe. My clothes would've had termites.

You call that a kitchen!?!?! Check out my portable stove/oven. I'm gonna make a feast! What about my taps? I have separate hot and cold running water.

Notice the dark grouting between the small hexagonal tiles. Horrid, just horrid.

The shower from THAT scene in "Psycho". No, that is not an digital photo artefact on the side of the bathtub. I have no idea what that those 'stains' are.

The bathroom door. Mmmmm secure. Notice the very technical latch. See the missing paint from the door handle? I wonder who had to claw their way out of the bathroom?

What a welcoming and secure door to come home to every night.

WELCOME HOME! Notice the light fixture inside. It is meant to have 5 lights, however, somehwhere along the line, two bulbs went AWOL.

I'm not sure what the elevator in a mental institution looks like, but it probably resembles something like this. Despite that, this elevator didn't even work and I had to carry my 20+kg luggage up two flights of stairs myself.

Arriving in Perth

Ok, I have to cheat a little bit cos for all the smart people out there, I've already gotten back from Perth and each time I post something up, it'll reflect that. But I'm gonna try and do this chronologically because during my time in Perth, I kept having thoughts running through my head describing my time here. Yeah, I know, there is a little nerd inside of me. Damn, it was awful having no computer readily available for me.

Anyway, my lead up into Perth was awful. Working for the 'Big Evil' you would think that they would have admin issues under control but it was pretty obvious that I work alongside complete idiots. I was meant to leave Melbourne for Perth on Easter Monday and by the day before Good Friday I still hadn't received any information about my flight or accommodation. Whatever.

I was so pissed off that I had to chase up such stupid admin issues and I was more pissed off that they spelt my surname incorrectly on my booking!!! For those who went to high school with me, they will realise that I'm completely insulted to have an association with such a misspelled name.

Despite that unnecessary headache, I touched down into Perth at about 11pm and reached my place of residence for the next 4.5 weeks.

I don't think that I have overly high standards but this place was absolutely disgusting. First of all, when the taxi driver dropped me off, I thought he went to the wrong place. From what other work colleagues told me, I was expecting a serviced apartment like Quest, Medina etc. But instead, I had arrived at what resembled a cheap hotel/motel where you take a cheap prostitute. You know, where the doors open up onto an open balcony. Despite that, I thought to myself that I shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and continued to check in.

Now, this place did not have a reception desk available now that it was nearly midnight. Which hmmmm ok, it's cool, it's cool, I can handle that. I read the instructions left on the reception door, advising me to go to the apartment of the "Caretaker" to collect my key. Now, alarm bells should've rung a bit when I saw the word Caretaker. I knocked on the door of his apartment and heard a toilet flush - never a good sign.

I was greeted by a rather dishevelled (let's not be judgmental here) gentleman in stubbies and a white (stained?) wife-beater. I felt welcome right at that instant!!! NOT. I wonder if he saw me take a step back when he opened the door? hahaha

He managed to fumble around through a Tupperware lunchbox and hand me my key. I asked him a few queries about public transport by which he had no clue but kindly gave me a map of Perth. By then, I was still keeping my cool and proceeded to find my apartment.

I still gotta work out how to upload fotos here and I'll show everyone my horrible apartment which pushed me to the psychotic edge. It's quite funny now but I went through all sorts of crazy emotions within a time span of 10 minutes after seeing where I was supposed to 'live' for the next 4.5 weeks.

My First Post!

Welcome to my first post!

To the select few people who are reading this :P, this is intended is my way of keeping contact with you while I'm travelling around Australia for work. I figure this would be easier for me to post photos and share my experience rather than write mass emails. No way in hell will this blog be one of those "I think I'm so deep" blogs.

Feel free to email me or make any comments while you're here! Do you like my blog name? Hahahahaha, a combination of one of my nicknames (thanks Lil Miss J and Bao!) and one of my famous poses.

First stop - Perth!