Go-karting

Went to go-karting on Sunday at Ace Kart somewhere in Sunshine with AIESECers. It's only the second time i've been go-karting apart from the other time in Malaysia, and it is extremely fun, despite the fact that i couldn't come to terms with the concept of using both feet to drive. Left foot to brake. Right foot to accelerate. And don't use both at the same time. Which unfortunately, is something i accidentally did a couple of times, hence causing me to go into an uncontrollable spin. It's a concept that still befuddles me.

We had lunch at Laksa King on the way home, then off i went to play football in nearby Royal Park. 3 and a half hours of football, coupled with just 4 hours of sleep the previous night, meant that i came home and just collapsed in bed (after showering, or course =P). However, playing football in Australia is a breeze compared to playing in Malaysia. The cool temperatures and low humidity. You can play for hours at end and still not get that tired. In Malaysia, 10 mins, and i'll be panting and asking for a break. haha.

On another note, witnessed a spectacle along Swanston St last night. For those who haven't heard the news, Iraq, against all odds, against the backdrop of sectarian violence and frequent suicide bombings back home, managed to win the Asian Cup. After a nightmare run-up to the competition - whereby some players were detained for hours by Thai immigration officials, training equipment went missing, and 30 players having to stay in 7 rooms on arrival Kuala Lumpur, what the Iraqis have achieved is a huge achievement, to say the least. Well, as the FIFA president put it, football has the ability to unite people in the most desperate of circumstances. Unfortunately, even in this moment of joy, celebratory gunfire all over the country caused many fatalities and injuries due to falling bullets. Sigh. Iraqis. Why do they always have to have a weapon in hand.

Anyway, as i was saying, sometime after midnight yesterday i heard lots of noises outside. Wondering what was causing all the commotion i looked outside my window towards Swanston St, and saw a long line of cars, honking and stopping in the middle of the road with total disregard for traffic rules. One could see elated supporters waving the red, white, and black of the Iraqi flag, and people dancing on the streets. Hopefully, this proud sporting moment in Iraqi history will prove to be not just a reprieve from the daily infighting, but will provide a beacon of hope in a nation divided by war.