SiChuan province in China has hit the headline this week since monday. An earthquake of 7.8 ritcher scale hit WenChuan county of SiChuan province at 2.28pm. Ten and thousands has been killed and there is still many missing and unknown probably buried under the rubble. I felt devastated after hearing the news.

Well, I feel so lucky that we do not have such natural desasters in Malaysia. I felt so lucky that Melbourne does not experience such an event and thank God that there is none at the place where I live for the past 26 years of my life.

Reading more about the news, the earthquake has destroyed everything in the WenChuan county. All roads leading into the town was broken. Not just all roads but all the ways leading into the city was destroyed. All mode of communication was destroyed. No roads into the city. No way of getting into the city. No telephone. No cellular communication. The people in the city was trapped. The people outside of the city couldn't get in for hours. This is until the Chinese government had to bring in the paratroopers. But still the rain was heavy and the plane couldn't fly in and paratroopers couldn't see as they land.

The rescue crews have no choice but to hike into the city. By foot. thru the rubbles and the torn buildings. 6km per hour. 21 hours straight non stop. Upon hearing this, I actually feel sad that this have to happen. I feel sad that why so many innocent people are killed and buried alive.. I feel sad.

This is one time in the history that I feel that Chinese Government has done something very great. Some humanitarian act that deserve to be respected. Some action that deserve to be saluted for the rescue effort deployed and even PM Wen Jia Bao I salute and respect for his action and his effort to rescue and help these people.

Well, I am so warmly touched. I felt sad that this happen. I guess I have to do what I can to help. No harm helping people right? It's always a good thing. In the chinese proverb we always learn, got money, give money... got energy, give energy... I am like tens and thousands of kilometers away. I guess I can spare some of my pocket money to help these people...  and I guess many of you out there can also spare some.

A small sum will heap alot in situations like that. The money can get them food. The money can get them back up on their feet. The money can get them medical attentions.. The money can really help them alot. So I here by appeal to all PatrickHo.tk readers to donate to the Red Cross SiChuan Earthquake Relief Fund.

All you need to do is just to surf into your local Red Cross webpage (http://www.redcross.org.au - Australia) and I am sure there is a link for you to click on this. Else, click this link - DONATE ONLINE NOW.

Alternatively, dial 1800 811 700 from anywhere in Australia to make a credit card donation or send your money orders or cheque to GPO Box 2957 Melbourne VIC 8060. Please remember to quote which fund that you'll want to donate on.

P/S: To all my Australian readers, the donation over $2 will be issued a receipt and it is tax deductable. Since the financial year is almost ending next month, why not do a good deed with the money than paying the taxes? Think twice!

Forget about Big Brother! Big Brother is just the dumbest Australian reality show.... I present here a better reality show... Better than Survivor! Better than Australian Idol...

Nando's - Australia's Favourite Chicken - Ep. 1

Nando's Peri-peri production has come up with the cutest and most interesting commercial this time and it sure beats Australian Idol or Big Brother. 8 chickens, one penthouse and one Peri-peri sauce. Who will be Australia's Favourite Chicken?

The 8 chickens are listed on the Big Chicken CS website, so go vote for them! I voted for Tiffany from Mosman NSW. She likes Paris Hilton too... Muahahahhahha!!!

Stay tuned for Episode 2!

Tasmania is nothing good but for Cadbury chocolate and nature. Other than that, being the world known producers of Tasmanian Salmon, the fish ain't any cheap or easily found. Fish and chips are extremely expansive. Even the fish and chips shops around my pad are WAY cheaper than what they offer.

Well, two things that are obviously cheap and nice are oysters and apples. Tasmanian apples are infamously famous. Fuji apples ain't from Fuji or Japan! They're from Tasmania!

Tasmanian apples are mostly from the southern part of the island. We were rolling down the island in our rented Corolla and there are tonnes of beautiful apples and pears orchard. Heading towards Huonville and there is apple orchards along the road which offer the best, juiciest, sweetest, reddest, biggest apple with no wax! Fresh from the tree!

There are unmanned huts along the highway where we picked up bags of beautiful big juicy apples and they're the best apples that I've eaten in my life. Those apples in the supermarket ain't fresh, those in the market ain't the best apples and the worst thing is they're all waxed and polished and just full of chemicals. No wonder mum insisted me to skin it off.

A bag of apples.. I mean a BIG bag of apples with 12-15 apples in it only cost $2. Some bigger bags, $3. Pears as well, a mixed type of apple and pear which I call them apear as well. Which makes me wonder why those apples in the supermarket is so so so expansive!

I thought I got a big palm. Kids shaking my hand say I got King Kong hands. Compare it to the apples, I can't even grab the whole apple! But the funny thing is, they're all red apples! Maybe Tasmania didn't produce good green apples...

The only green apple trees I saw was when I visited the Cascade brewery. In the Cascade garden, there were a few green apple trees. Cascade brewery is the oldest brewery in Australia but their beer ain't as good as the Little Creature's pale ale in Perth. I bought a bottle of Cascade Premium and honestly, I don't like it. Never like lager beers. Ales are better!