2012 NYE

A bit shy to blog about this because it's already 15th January now! Now only wanna talk about 2012.

I took a bus after work on the 28th Dec and spent New Year in KL. Can't recall what I did on that weekend but it was crazy packed coz Step had so much to do with his family and friends with so little time!

We went over to Rexine's place for her countdown BBQ party. We were late so didn't help out with the bbq-ing at all. When we reached, the bacon and ribs and salmon are all already on the table waiting for us to feast! The ribs her brother marinated and bbq-ed was super awesome and mouth watering!  

Rexine suggested the game Tap Tap. It's basically a game of sequence of taps on the table. A player drinks if he/she taps wrongly or forget to tap.

Joe preparing all the killer drinks. I swore I'm not going to drink before I go to the party coz I really really hate the hangover, and the last thing I need is to feel like crap on the 1st day of 2013!

Step with his 上刀山下油锅 buddy.

So happy mixing the drinks.

There're just too many types of drinks and I can't even remember all the different names. All I know is Soju. I don't really know the names of alcohol because they all taste the same to me and I never bothered finding out. They even added tabasco into the liquor nearing the end of the game. Lucky me I didn't kena any! I had to drink like 3-4 cups, even that I already felt like puking. Joe was kind enough to drink half for me!

They say eating 'fat' is supposed to help ease the alcohol. I kept devouring the KFC and brownies the whole time. Don't know true or not but I sure felt half a KG heavier wtf.

Hahahahaha. I was busy playing mahjong and he was playing the Tap game. Less than half an hour I looked over he's already lobster red and buried himself under couch pillows and slept like a king lol. Must have lost a lot of times. Even his eyes were red!

Missed Joe! He's the only one who's willing to accompany me for Penang food in Singapore!

Lovely Rexine who hosted the party.

Everyone kept disturbing him and taking photos of him coz he's red beyond recognition. A bit regret because we didn't manage to take any decent photo.

3 of the guys were playing mahjong and the rest were playing Tap. Even though I don't get to play I also must sit there and watch. I missssss mahjong!!!!! Miss my kakis!

Then kind Rexine shooed the guys away and so we played for few rounds before going for Tap. Yay!

Happy New Year 2013 everyone!

I cannot wait to see what this new year will bring!~

Cheers to a new year!

That moment in airport when I was told the passports are stolen, I gave up all hopes. I was in a state of shock and disbelief but I knew we're never getting it back. 'Go home', is what I said. On the bus all the way back, to going through the immigration office until back home at 7pm, I was still crying. Sobbing uncontrollably. I had a killing headache. I felt..awful.

I'm more than glad to welcome 2011. Really. 2010 is a good riddance. Only the night before as I lie on bed, I told the boy how disastrous the year has been and other than finally gotten a new job, nothing quite goes well. Of which he replied 'it's okay. tomorrow's 30th. we'll go to Taiwan tomorrow. we'll have a great end to a horrible year'.

Apparently, I had horrible days up until the very last day of the year.

He was very apologetic. I know he was. But I just couldn't forgive him at that moment when I lie there crying and muttering what a horrible year and my year has been nothing but just sadness. He replied 'I don't know why you kept saying you had a horrible year when the truth is you're in a really good situation and many good things have happened but you never appreciate them. You kept focusing on the negative thoughts. How can your year be not horrible that way. There's nothing I can do about Taiwan except saying sorry. But if you really think of it, it's really no big deal. We can always go again anytime. We can always stay in the room feeling awful and waste the remaining of the days away. Or we can go out and do something about it. Go out and have fun and at least we spent the beginning of 2011 well.'

When he put it that way, it seems like it's really such a small deal. Buying a new ticket solves everything. I guess in a way, he's right. 'The sun shines and warms and lights us and we have no curiosity to know why this is so; but we ask the reason of all evil, of pain, and hunger, and mosquitoes and silly people.' I cannot agree more. If I've looked back, I can't exactly pinpoint anything really BAD that has happened for me to say 2010 is a horrible year.

What actually happened is, nothing. I am the problem. I left my comfortable life of 6 years, and even though I am glad I finally stepped out, I didn't REALLY moved on. I was still living in the past. I cried, whined, clinging to the past and refused to move on. THAT is the problem. I couldn't handle changes well. I kept finding fault in everything because they're not what I am used to. It's not that they're of no good, but I just wanted how things were. And you know what? Nothing will be the same forever and I just failed to realize that. Even if I was in Penang, so what. Will things stay the same 5 years down the road? If yes, then can I consider that good? No changes is no improvement. We all know that. I was just too busy living in the past to see the good in my life right now.

His words 'You're just looking for another Kevin. Another Shushan. Another PeySuan. You'll never find them. You keep giving excuses. You have friends there. You're the one who refused to go out when invited. You just don't want to move on.'

To be upset over what I don't have is to waste what I do have.I can always close all the windows and darken the room, or I can open the windows and let the light in. It's really just a matter of choice. Penang is good. But it's all in the past. It's a good place for vacation. And maybe, just maybe, when I've saved and invested enough, I might go back to such a relaxing life. Until then, I'm here to stay.

It's a brand new year. I really can't wait to live the year well. This time I really sat down and thought things through. I'm done living in the past. I'm ready to move on, cheesy? but true.

I went out with the high school bunch in Orchard after work today. I nearly forgot how comfortable it is to speak with people of the same language. People who I grew up with. People who have one or two Malay word in every sentence. People who find Haji Lane as unique and Shisha as fun as I did. People who behave almost like me. Ahhh.

It's true. When you open up, good things come. If you love life, life will love you back.



#1 On 29th December 2010. In SG Budget terminal waiting for 8.50pm flight to KL. If not for my brother's car, I would have missed the flight.

On 30th December 2010, the day we missed the flight, he pulled me out of bed, got me to stop crying and brought me to one very expensive Chinese restaurant in Pavillion, and 3 of us ordered zhu char with a bill of RM450. His sister was so nice for she paid for the dinner, trying to cheer us up from the bad day. We then went shopping and got home around midnight, exhausted from all the crying.

On 31st December 2010, woke up and went to this really good dim sum. Can't remember what I did in the afternoon. But at night, Rebecca hosted a dinner potluck party and we went over.


#2 The maid fried beehoon and curry chicken. Rebecca baked the toffee cake, cheese stix and bacon roll. Crystal brought over lots of KFC which finished first wtf. Everybody loves KFC no matter what. People say KFC in US and SG pales in comparison to Msia's but honestly I've tried all 3 of them and I can't tell the difference! I enjoyed all 3..I mean..it's KFC okie!


#3 Said bacon roll. Actually this photo really didn't do the bacon roll any justice because I took photo of the last batch which is a bit burnt already. The good ones are on the table, almost finished. I don't know what's the proper name for it but it's bacon rolled together with croissant and baked. Rebecca bakes a lot and the best she made that night for dessert is Fresh Orange Jelly which is literally ORANGE and I enjoyed it a lot! If you want to try it out, here's the recipe I found online.


#4 Ice cream soda + milk + biji biji agar. Nobody dare to try it so Beckie threw it away. I tried it too. Well not too lousy lah but just sorta weird. End up, everyone drank beer and water.


#5 His house bar.


#6 A few of those who're present. The rest are either busy or late. Everyone is such a small eater and so much food left!


#7 Jonathan brought over 4 big Dominoes Pizza! I didn't eat any because I'm too full from KFC and Curry Chicken. What a waste! The leftovers were given to the boy's auntie so boo hoo to me.

After dinner around 11pm, we drove out to this bar named Tom, Dick & Harry's at TTDI for countdown. We went to the place upstairs so I don't know if it belongs to TDH but it wrote "Dine, Wine, Dessert" or something like that.


#8 The 3 lovely girl's dinner that we crashed.


#8 The actor who was at the next table with his crew and whole bunch of friends. I cant really recognize him at first but then now I know who he is! He's in a lot of TVB drama right! And he brought along his kids and maid to the place and the kids just sat at one corner yawning waiting for time to go home while the dad parties and hug girls wtf.


#9 The Singleton we ordered for 6 of us. Didn't try. I quit alcohol already. For all the times I've waken up with killing headaches and non stop vomitting, I'm done!


#10 Haven't met FK in ages. Used to play mahjong with her last time but stopped after a while.


#11 Crystal, Beckie & the boy.


#12 Love this photo! I was upset when I was changing that night because I didn't pack any pretty dresses for NYE. All I have is long sweaters, cardigans and scarfs for winter. So I was complaining I have nothing to wear and the boy kept telling me I look fine in shirt and jeans =(


#13 Another one.


#14 The boy & Joe with don't know whose cigar.


#15 Some of us. If you love makeup, you should hang with Jon (far left) because I was told his mother is the CEO of makeup brand Benefit. I love Benefit!


#16 The waiter say the previous one not okay so take another one. After taking this one he said hm this one is okay. To me, both look exactly the same.


#17 Joe with lovely Crystal.


#18 Who else but me and the boy counting down 2011 and wishing each other best luck for the new year haha.

So people, that is my New Year. I initially don't plan to blog about it because what is this compare to a countdown to Taipei right? But I guess Taipei can always wait. What we had is what's important. What's important, is I was with the one I love. I guess at the end of the year when I've had loads of fun where I am now, I would look back at this entry, and feeling all silly and stupid for not appreciating what I'm currently having.

It's okay to make mistake because that's how I learn in life. Which is why I said if I can wish for 1 thing in 2011, is to stay optimistic and positive. After all, positive people attract positive things =)

Thoughts from 2010.

Every little thing written is bound to offend someone. Everything written here is about me. Not you. Read with an open mind, not a sensitive heart.

In 2 days I will be flying off to Taiwan for a great 10 days trip round the country and shouting Happy New Year 2011 at Taipei 101. Exciting much?

Last year I was damn gung-ho I wrote a full piece of what I did here. Until now I don't understand where I find all the time and energy to actually put all the puzzle together into a nice piece. This year maybe I've aged or what but I have the intention to write just kept delaying it and today I finally decided not to wtf. Fret not, this is temporary only. When 2011 comes, I'll respin the wheel and blog as things happened.

2009 was a big travel year. That was also because I have bigger plans and thus wanted to make full use of my remaining annual leaves and flexibility/freedom of the previous job to travel around. A total of 3 travel months in a year. Thank you ex-boss for approving me.

Part of 2009 was spent studying, taking exams and mailing out university applications. After serious consideration and plenty of $$ calculation I decided to forgo the acceptance so I won't be in great debt after I graduate. After grumbling and sighing for the last 5 years I have finally took the big step and made a change.

2010 was a significant year for me.

First half of the 2010 year was busy coming up with brilliant resume (*cough* as if) and looking for jobs.

Second half of the year was spent saying goodbyes, moving house, settling down, starting a new job.

Many I know took a break in between jobs to go around. I had my last day on Friday and started new job on Monday. Barely have time to breathe. In the midst of getting to know the country, how things work here, getting to know new colleagues, rebuilt burnt bridge with old friends, I've had my share of down times. Things moved too fast that before I realize it, there was a few months where I was extremely depressed. All the new things. All the new environments. I just couldn't get used to it. I'm never a person who can accept change well.

It's not easy. Trust me. Nothing in life is easy anyway.

But it turned out to be a good change. First I'm really glad I'm out of that shithole where money is always a problem. I'm not saying money is not a problem now, just that I can see more light wtf and half way out of the tunnel. More importantly, I'm totally out of debt. Citibank you can stop calling me now about late fees and interest charges wtf. I've also learnt a great deal here. Learning to be humble and accepting new things and changes all over again. Exposed to more things in this new vibrant busy city. Picked up new hobby. Spent more time with family. I've toughened up a great deal and I'll take whatever obstacles thrown my way with ease *flips hair. I'm secretly glad I am not sitting in the same place when new year comes and sighing about how my year never changed.

I used to make a long list of resolutions that never happened. But at least this year I made one big thing came true and doing something for my future. So I won't be making unrealistic far-fetched resolutions like losing 5 kgs (was in the list the past 5 years but never happened) anymore.

If I can make ONE resolution, it would be for me to see things more optimistically in the new year and replenish everything that I think have been broken.

Happy New Year 2011. May the new year be filled with nothing but sugar and spice and all things nice.

35 in 2009.

This was generated from Hope Dies Last.


1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before?

Err..Nothing! I really cant think of anything new that I did.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

I tried to look for my previous entry on last year new year resolution but looks like I didn't write any. But I think I have some in mind like eat vege (not done), get a diving license (not done), lose weight (not done and gained more weight summore fml), learn violin (yes i did!). Can't think of anything else though. I will make more for 2010, not that I intend to keep though.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

YES! Well technically it's someone-close-to-me's wife gave birth. Kevin's wife gave birth to a beautiful baby girl Eirena, and my friend Fiona also gave birth to her 2nd baby girl Reia.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

Yes.

5. What countries did you visit?

Thailand (too many times). Australia. United States of America.

6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009?

Passion for my job.

7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory and why?

January 17th, 2009. I had a boyfriend and that changed me quite a bit.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I tried coming up with something. But, nothing I can think of.

9. What was your biggest failure?

Failed to catch up more with old friends.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

None. Thank god.

11. What was the best thing you bought?

Nothing. I didn't buy anything in 2009. I became that stingy frugal girl you cannot imagine. My boy trained me well. The most expensive thing I bought is the Sony video camera and Garmin GPS.

12. Whose behaviour merited celebration?

I don't understand the question fml.

13. Whose behaviour made you appalled and depressed?

Some friends who are ignorant and not sensitive towards other people's feeling.

14. Where did most of your money go?

NOT SURE. I've been wanting to get a expanses book to keep track but never come to actually do it. Let's make that my 2010 resolution.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Learning that my sisters will return together in May so a full family get together. We hadn't had one since ages ago!!!!!

16. What song will always remind of you 2009?

None. Nothing significant came to mind.

17. Compared to this time last year, are:

a)happier or sadder?

b)thinner or fatter?

c) richer or poorer?

sadder. fatter. poorer. fml.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Exercise!!!! Studying!!!!!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Crying. I cried so much I lost count.

20. Did you fall in love in 2009?

Yes. Very much in love now.

21. What was your favourite TV program?

I don't have a FAVORITE program. I watch every single thing on PPS. To name a few: Gossip Girl, Chuck, Desperate Housewives, ANTM, CSI, Grey's Anatomy and all new HK series.

22. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?

I used to hate a lot of people every year last time. But I think I've really grown up a lot and I love more than I hate now.

23. What was the best book you read?

*embarassed. I don't read anymore. Not even CLEO! Let's make that my 2010 resolution too. I mean meaningful storybooks not CLEO wtf.

24. What was your greatest musical discovery?

Nothing new discovered.

25. What did you want and get?

I didn't get everything I want in 2009. Too bad.

26. What did you want and not get?

A lot.

27. What was your favourite film of this year?

No favorite. But Transformers, (500) Days of Summer, District 9 is quite good. Don't ask me about Avatar, like I said, I'm prolly the last person on earth that hasn't watch it.

28. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?

I turned 27 on Dec 19th 2009. I spent the day with my family and night with the boy. Other than able to spend quality family time, nothing amazing happened, much to my regret.

29. How you would describe your personal fashion concept in 2009?

Boring, black and white. Partly because I've gained a lot of weight and black loosely.

30. What kept you sane?

My mother.

31. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

None. Can't think of any now. I'm on the road too much to be able to catch up on celebrity news.

32. Who did you miss?

Candy =( Are you going to come back already =(

33. Who was the best new person you met?

Most new people I met is the boy's friends. Can't say best new person because we don't really hang out closely together except a few occasions. I should make more effort next time.

34. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009.

Learnt to have no expectation. I can't say it's very valuable though.

35. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

TAK TAHU!

Happy New Year 2010!

My god. It's the last day of 2009. Can time still fly any faster than this wtf.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010 EVERYONE! *throwing confetti around*

2010 will be definitely be a good year for me because I have a wonderful family, amazing boyfriend, and a whole bunch of mou liu friends to keep me company! What can be better than that?!

What I Did In 2009.

I'm supposed to write about 2010 resolution but before that maybe a bit of recap is good so I know what I'd done and what I wanted to do in 2010.

1. I lost 7kg end of Dec'08. TUJUH! SEVEN! CAT! WORTH MENTIONING OKAY. But I already gained it all back now =(

2. Candy is back from the US for 1 month and we had a great Dec-Jan including my birthday celebration in KL and Christmas in Spore!



2. CNY 2009 with everyone back in Sgt except Candy who has already left =( 2010 CNY will be lagi sad even Pauline & Martin won't be here /boo



3. CNY Kek Lok Si for the umpteenth time. This is one of the few occasions throughout the year where we can gather everyone to go out together now that we're old and grumpy and always tired.



4. I had a new boyfriend and that changed my life quite a bit, but in a really good way though. I also spent a nice Valentines...doing nothing. I can't believe I did nothing! I was seriously thinking now if I missed out anything but no..ilek...we seriously didn't do anything! Anyway no matter what, I think what's important is we get to spend precious time together. He treated me like I'm a rare piece of jewel lol. I'm honestly contented enough.

5. "Celebrated" Jesamine's farewell =( She's leaving Msia for good with her husband who loved her like nothing else matters so we thought we all should drag our lazy butt out to the club.



6. Me, Shu, Pey and MeiLing started selling masks lol! It was pretty good sales though. Many who bought it said it works for them. I used it for a while but did not continue because my face is ULTRA SENSITIVE and it flares up red even if I touches dust. ripley's believe or not. Anyway, everything was sold out and I'm not selling it anymore but I think the others still do.

7. Applied and was accepted into Simon Graduate School of Business, University of Rochester, New York with USD13k scholarship per year. It is a good school, ranked 29 in US News and 46 in Financial Times. One of the many reasons I chose the school is because it's in east US, somewhere I've never been to and it'd be a great new experience. I sort of worked my ass off for a while studying for all the prelim exams. Most importantly I got great great great great help from my sister and without her I prolly wont even get the admission. I am supposed to start school Q3 of the year. However, after serious consideration and a couple of factors I decided to reject the offer. I am not sure whether I made the right or wrong choice but I'd like to think on the positive side.



8. Went up to Genting and lost RM500 in 15 minutes. Both the boy and I agreed that we shouldn't gamble when we have each other around coz it sorts of gives bad luck wtf.



9. Went to Hatyai and had the best Chicken Rice and my first ever Thai massage in Lee Garden Hotel.



10. Went to Bangkok for 5 days. Had lots and lots and lots of good good (which in the end contributed to the extreme weight gain). That's all I remember from the trip. FOOD! You can also see my obvious weight gain from the trip's photos =( le sigh



11. Went to US for 3 weeks ++ for Candy's UW commencement. Also dropped by San Francisco, Seattle and Vegas. Slept in the air bed for the first time and other than that, nothing special. Been there, done that. and bored of Vegas! I didn't even finished blogging about US yet. There's just too much photos and 3 weeks worth of blogs! Was supposed to go Canada at that time but decided to kill the plan because...I'm too tired and I need more sleep fml.



12. I cut off my long hair! I've had long hair since 6 years ago and the most I did was to trim the most 10cm off and that's about it. But one day I woke up and I knew I just had to cut it off because I'm also curious how I'd look like without hiding behind all the hair!



13. Went to Krabi. Was expecting a lot of sun, sand and fun but turns out to be the total opposite. Krabi rains everyday and I didn't even get to touch the sea at all coz the laut bergelora everyday and no longtail boat or even speedboat wants to go island hopping. In the end, we just rented the motorbike and jalan around the town everyday and eat pancake wtf.



14. Went to Malacca with the family! It's been ages since we last actually stayed overnight. Went for Makko yum yum!



15. Went to Melbourne for the boy's sister's wedding. Didn't do much because following the boy to Melb is like going to KL because Melb is like the boy's 2nd home since most of his family is in Melb already. But I had a good time checking out Melb town and went to the Great Ocean Road. Tried Max Brenner at last after reading about it soooo many times from all the blogs around. Nothing to shout about but it's a great hangout place and the Belgian Waffles is Love! Sorry I didn't get to blog about Melbourne yet but I will...soon....I promise! I didn't want to drag too long just in case I forgot about it also =) I am really looking forward to going to Australia again. There's so much more I want to see!



16. Went Skytrek for the 1st time in Shah Alam. Was definitely challenged because I was scared of heights and that damn skytrek is really quite high up! But like I said, after the first climb and first flying fox, you'd get used to the height and you will lose the fear. Trust me.



17. Someone I know passed away =(

18. Joel and Carmen is married! We all went down to KL for their wedding. Last year around the same time we went for Junn & Pey's, Kevin & Mei's and HuiYien & WeePing's. My god. All my friends are married.



19. Started taking Violin lessons. I completed Piano and Theory Certification already when I was 15 and violin has always been something I wanted to learn since then. So one day I just went straight to Yamaha Music School and signed up for the course. Violin is much tougher than piano at least that's what I think. lol maybe people who know violin but start learning piano would say piano is tougher too. We'd see how it goes for a few more months. Now at this point, I can't even play Old Macdonalds song nicely also. Any volunteer violinist out there willing to give me a point or two?



20. Celebrated a nothing more than ordinary birthday with my loved ones in KL and a mini get together with a couple of friends back in PG. Spent birthday eve and birthday itself sleeping at home and...that's about it. Family came down to KL and we tried Jarrod & Rawlins and also Vietnam Kitchen for the 1st time. Appreciate the family time coz it's getting lesser and lesser le sigh. Other than that, nothing special about my birthday hence I'll consider whether I'll even blog about it?



This year has been full of ups and downs. I had plenty of great family times especially with Candy returning for a month and also many more meet-ups with Pauline because she came down to KL more often. I seldom go back to Sgt though and I should really work on that. And I can't even remember the last time I go to Singapore to visit my brother le sigh.

I also had lesser friends time because I wasn't around in PG most of the weekends. Also, I don't go back to dancing at all. I actually DID go back for 1 class early this year but then the rest of the time I was either stuck in meetings or not even in PG at all.

I've also unfortunately gained back all the 7kgs that I lost early this year. My appetite has grown terribly and gym visits have been getting lesser and lesser. This is also definitely something I have to start working on IMMEDIATELY and repair whatever damage fml.

That's all folks. That's my 2009. It's not perfect and flawless. But I've enjoyed myself thoroughly and learnt a great deal from it. Did you have a great year too?




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