Looking Back at My Footprints in the Sand

I Quit

2010-12-28T21:25:00.001+08:00

Because in every relationship there comes a point when the damage is too much and no matter how good it once was,the memories can't sustain you. You have to save yourself knowing all the while it will hurt like hell.

Because you can't keep giving someone everything if you get nothing in return.

Don't quit because something went wrong, quit because you tried your hardest and nothing made it better.

Coffeeman

2010-04-13T16:11:00.003+08:00

Just last week, I had to wake up early on a Saturday morning to attend a CPA tutorial. And the night before I told CT I would need coffee for me to stay awake throughout the crash course.

At 7.30am, he gave me a wake up call and told me to go downstairs. I told him I was still in my pyjamas. He said "It's ok, it's only me". So I went down, and there he was, with a big flask of grinded-beans-turn-aromatic coffee. And off he went, leaving me standing there with coffee. Just like Superman. My hero. Except he doesn't wear his underwear on the outside and he can't fly.

And people wonder how we've lasted this long. It isn't hard, really.
;)

Updates!

2010-04-13T11:57:00.002+08:00

Boy it's been awhile...
Been so busy with work, can't wait till my study leave starts next week. Then I'll be free for 2 weeks! Yup, 2 whole weeks! So that'll be the time to meet up with friends. And study, of course :D

Let's see, nothing much has been happening in the past months. Besides work. But no, I'm not your typical auditor :P

AND, someone's getting married! Like, finally!

Currently at a client's place, waiting for some documents.
Have a look at the screen shot below. Notice the Japanese words at the top? That's because my client is Japanese. I had trouble uploading this.

But I managed! :D

What Did I Do To Deserve You?

2009-11-26T16:07:00.005+08:00

Most of my peers who've graduated with me have already found a job. No, I'd like to say I'm not a conformist. *tsk tsk* I don't feel pressured to find a job ASAP. I took my time. Mainly because most people tell me to enjoy my holidays, and I've also heard horror stories from friends who are already in the working force. But I have been sending my resumes to various companies. "Casually job searching", that's what I call it. If they call me, then I'll go for whatever interviews or tests they want to put me through to determine if I'm "worthy" enough to join their company. If not, then I'll just continue enjoying my holidays.

The problem is, I don't exactly know what I want to go into. Should I go into audit? Or taxation? What about banking? Or should I join an MNC's finance & accounting department? So I prayed for God to open only one door and close the rest.

Turns out that my God is a very generous God. And a humorous one too. I got an offer from A one Friday. I was about to accept it, all I needed was to go for a pre-employment medical examination. But I was having my period, so I had to postpone it to next week. Come Monday, B called me to go for an interview. I was in a dilemma.... For a few hours. Haha. With encouragement from my supportive friends (who also happen to be working in B), I went to B's interview on Saturday on the same week. And... I got offered on the spot. Praise God! HR department contacted me on Monday to confirm (I got the department I requested!) and I accepted the offer, and I'll be starting work on 1 December (which is less than a week away!).

"Shoot for the moon and if you miss you'll still be among the stars. Promise me you will find a job you love this time!
PS. I love you..."
- Excerpt from P.S. I love you.

That was one of the notes that Gerry had left for Holly to read after his death. Similarly, Chin Tuck has been so understanding and supportive through this months. What would I do without him...

I'm excited about beginning this new chapter in my life. I want to do so many things and learn so much. I understand and I'm prepared that it's going to be difficult. The learning curve is steep. I'll be working and taking my professional paper at the same time. But you won't hear me complaining. (Do tell me if you ever hear me complain).

Some random pictures we took last month.

Plants vs Zombies Music Video!!

2009-11-18T14:55:00.002+08:00

This video is so cute!! I'm now addicted to the game, and this song is stuck in my head. Go watch it, pretty soon the song will be stuck in your head too! *insert evil laugh*

Light Surrounding You

2009-11-06T02:16:00.003+08:00

CT & I went to Penang on Tuesday & came back on Wednesday. As usual, we went around to have all our favourite Penang food. I didn't bother taking pictures. Hehe. We've always been visiting Penang every now and then. I'll probably take pictures during this coming Chinese New Year. I will, however, be taking pictures of Kuantan. We'll be leaving for Kuantan at 6am. Though I know I need to sleep, I just can't. I'm becoming an owl :/

A lot has been on my mind. God has never stopped being good. Despite the circumstances, it doesn't change the fact that He's in control.

P.S. I see the light surrounding you. And I believe in you. You should believe in yourself. Don't be afraid of something new :)

Sept/Oct updates

2009-10-27T21:17:00.003+08:00

Chin Tuck bought me a Burberry wallet for our anniversary. I was shocked that he did that, since he just got me a Coach bag.

Also, we went to Redang and my skin is peeling because it's sunburnt. Anyway, it was fun. Plus, we both really needed quality time with each other :) We went snorkeling, and it's really sad that most, if not all the corals are dead. There are plenty of fishes though.

And last week I went shopping by myself. A little me-time. I love holidays! ;)

Redang pictures will be up soon! (I hope I get around to doing it)

CT's new camera

2009-09-17T16:55:00.008+08:00

This photos are from CT's new camera.

Say hello to Cherry the sugar glider :)

Isn't she adorable?

In the Hari Raya mood. Notice the fishing net behind me. hehe

So simple, yet pretty.

It's hard to go wrong with photos of Your creation. God, Your artwork is beautiful.

I love flowers!

I love waiting-to-bloom flowers!

I love flowers that are so close together they look like ONE flower.
Actually, I just love flowers. Full stop.

I love this flower! It's so cute. haha

This flower looks like someone painted it.

Next entry will be photos from my camera. hehe

I call this...... the starfish flower :)

Two ~~peas~~ flowers in a pod

I have no idea what this is. But it's cute!

Sooo symmetrical...

Next, butterflies!

I don't know what this fella is doing in a butterfly park.

Oh and we made lasagna for the first time!! We enjoyed making it. Can't wait till the next time! Yummy!!

My 22nd!

2009-09-01T21:11:00.010+08:00

I had an awesome weekend!

Friends treated me to dinner at TGIF. Ended up standing on the chair doing silly stuff. LOL :)

Got my first nail buffer and a pint of Macadamia Nut Cream from Baskin Robbins :)

Chatted with Josh till 4.30am :)

Bro bought me a 500GB external hard disk which is supposed to be my graduation present which ended up being my birthday present. And a cake. It's very rare that he does something like that :)
By the way, CT's mum sewed that cute pouch for my new external hdd :)

Ok I'm going to be a girl and be happy about this, at the risk of sounding too materialistic. CT bought me a Coach bag. O.M.G.!!! *Shrieks*
In the future, I can't tell CT what I'd love to have, 'coz he'll get it for me without even considering the price. Unless, of course, I want him to get it for me :)

CT got a "new toy", so I inherited his "old toy", which makes that my "new toy"! :)

Had BBQ with CT and his friends. Made new (and nice!) friends. It's not often that CT takes me out with his friends, so this is a big deal for me :)

My new, nice friend gave me a manicure. She's learning, and she wants to practice her manicure skills. hehe. Still, it's nice to be pampered on my birthday. I also got to play wii for the very first time! Haha! :)

To end my already great weekend, Hong got me a birthday present. He arrived outside my house with Mike in the front passenger seat!! Mikey is home for 4 months!!! wweeee!!! :)

That's 10 :)! What's not to be happy about? So thank you for making my birthday memorable with all those thoughtful gestures.
I LOVE YOU ALL. XOXO!

Thank You Note #1

2009-08-27T02:30:00.002+08:00

Dear God,

Today I'm reminded once again that I was made to love You, and be loved by You.

Thank You for being my only true source of stability. You are the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. Thank You for being You.

Love,
Crystal

There's Got To Be Something Else, Something More

2009-08-26T14:29:00.003+08:00

I want to be your friend. I'm sorry for all those missed opportunities. I wish I could turn back time.

What if I told you you're very special to me? You make me laugh. I like your voice. You're smart and you have so much ahead of you. You've left footprints in my life. Would it have made a difference?

We can stay up late and talk till the wee hours of the morning. You can tell me about your past. I can tell you mine. You can tell me your dreams and fears, your secrets will always be safe with me. We'll make a great team. You and I, against the world.
I want to be your friend.

I hope it's not too late.

I think it is.

Up is a stratospheric success

2009-08-24T15:43:00.006+08:00

I'm sitting here, staring at the screen, eating my favourite egg tart from Tong Kee Brothers, and I'm typing with 1 hand... lol. Question: Why are some girls so clingy? This is taking forever. Maybe I should finish my egg tart first.

Ok done!

Right where was I? Oh yea, I know LDRs can be painful, but you moping around the house does not make it any better. Sorry if I'm being harsh, but if I'm a guy I don't think I want a girlfriend that's emotionally unstable. Sometimes you need friends, or a 3rd party to wake you up. If you're only happy when he's around & depressed when he's not, something's really wrong. There's a fine line between missing someone and being obsessed with that certain someone, and sometimes we don't even know if we've crossed that line. Ok that was some random ranting. Hehe... On to more important stuff :)

I watched Up yesterday! It's really good. I want to watch it again! I cried so much and laughed so hard. If someone ever tells you that an animated film can't be considered a real movie, just show them Up. It's about a cranky widower, a chubby boy, and their amazing journey. It's a tale about grief and regret, purposes lost and rediscovered. The lessons of Up really lift us, even if they ground our heroes in what truly matters. Go see it!

After that we went home and watched another episode of Desperate Housewives and I cried again. Hehe I'm such a cry baby.

Ignite My Fire

2009-08-14T14:36:00.006+08:00

I miss lifegroup. I miss J8. You guys have taught me so much, about love, about friendship, about life, about God, about servanthood, about leadership. Some of you are younger than me yet you are matured and well-grounded in the Word, I've learned so much from you all. You choose to make time for church, lifegroup, AND prayer meeting, I am truly blessed to have known every single one of you. I pray God will continue to use you guys to impact more lives, just as you've impacted mine. Just something to ponder on:

Sorry for the lack of updates. I've been so busy. I'm finally getting around to finishing my resume. Grandpa's getting better. He doesn't need to go for an angiogram. Thank God. At his age, he moves slower, gets things done slower, and gets tired easily. Whenever needed I have to fetch him to the hospital. He's been pretty nostalgic too. He tells me stories of his younger days, and I listen, for maybe the seventh time. Just today when we were having lunch, I realised he used to finish his food before I do, but now I finish my food first. It's getting harder for him to chew 'tough' meat. When I was younger, he used to drive me around in the Wira. Now it's my turn to drive him around. He used to take care of me, now it's my turn to take up that role, and care for him. God help me, I can't possibly go through this alone.

During this time Chin Tuck has been the most supportive and loving boyfriend I could ever ask for. I tell him things I cannot tell anyone else, and I know my secret's safe with him. (Yes, we have talked about marriage. But no, we're not getting married in the near future. Stop asking.) Yesterday he handed me his credit card, even though my dad already gave me 2. I looked at him and before I could even ask or say anything, he said "Just in case. You don't even need to call me or anything before you use it". He even wanted to buy me a Coach handbag after I said I liked the design. I had to stop him from doing so. He couldn't be any sweeter :')

Today's his birthday. I suggested we go to Maredo's since he loves steak. I want to make this special after everything he's done for me.

Chilli Pan Mee for breakfast!!

2009-07-29T13:45:00.004+08:00

There are many things that bring back memories. Certain sights, sound, or touch. Today, it's a special smell. The smell of his softener on my clothes :)

By the way, you know what I love about Malaysia? My friends. I woke up to a phone call and the voice on the other line said "Are you quarantining yourself? Wanna go for chilli pan mee??"

Emotion MIX

2009-07-21T00:21:00.002+08:00

My parents will be here in less than 4 hours! Omg finally... I miss them so much...

Anyway I'm back from Sydney & Port Macquarie (Laurieton)! But that's another post altogether. My graduation's on Wednesday, & the Hydes & Gottkes will be coming up to Brisbane too! So many things to blog about, so little time!

Wait what the heck am I doing online? I'm supposed to be sleeping! Ok time to hit the sack. Good night!

Crystal the Nomad

2009-07-10T21:23:00.003+08:00

My room's almost empty now. Most of my stuff are in KT's place. What's left are the stuff that I'll be taking to Sydney. I'm gonna miss Unit 10 194 Carmody Rd. So many memories. But I miss Malaysia too. I feel so torn. Sigh...

On a lighter note, we had lots of fun in Melbourne, but that's another story. Tomorrow we'll be off to Sydney (& I can't wait to see Joy, Cass & hopefully I'll get to see Tina & her baby!). Then on Thursday I'll be flying to Port Macquarie to stay with the Gottkes in a small town called Laurieton (really looking forward to that!), then I'm coming back to Brisbane, bunking at Kt's place (hopefully there's still place for me), then will be staying with my parents at the hotel when they arrive for my GRADUATION!! Woot!!!

So yea, I'm gonna be a nomad for the next 2 weeks or so. Before I finally return to my beautiful country :)

PAINtball

2009-06-24T21:30:00.003+08:00

Yay I finally went paintball-ing! Really fun experience... Painful & scary too... hahaha. But fun nonetheless :)

It would've been more fun if I didn't come back with wounds and bruises :/

Last paper @ 1430. Mission accomplished

2009-06-22T18:41:00.003+08:00

I'm no longer a student. It feels................ nostalgic.

Part of me wants to be a student forever. Part of me just can't wait to start work and earn some money.

It feels nice to... well, have nothing to do. It's been awhile since I felt this free.
No wait, there IS things to do. There's so many series to catch up on, I have to do some research about Melbourne, book a car for my parents when they're here... Yup, busy busy HOLIDAYS!

It's only going to get better :D

First day of winter

2009-06-21T13:31:00.003+08:00

Bring on the heaters, jackets, shawls, gloves and beanies... This time, I'm ready!

Hello winter, we meet again...

Procrastination Break-time!!!

2009-06-12T16:41:00.002+08:00

Have a break....

Have a Kit Kat!!!

Ok back to Corporations Law... T_T

NERD MODE: ON

2009-06-09T12:04:00.003+08:00

I'm on my last lap now.
No more slacking.
Study study!!!

kthxbye

For Those Who Love To Save

2009-06-02T01:52:00.004+08:00

I was about to sleep. Then I stumbled on this. Just click once on the charity you'd like to support, and DiGi will donate RM5 to it!

These 3 are close to my heart. Too bad I could only choose one.

National Council of Senior Citizens Organisations (NACSCOM)

SPCA Selangor

Majlis Kanser Nasional (MAKNA)

Off to bed now!

If You Want To Be Happy, Be.

2009-05-28T15:48:00.005+08:00

I'm getting used to the lifestyle here, and if I had the money, & no other commitments back home, I don't mind staying here for awhile longer.

Today I went for a "Graduation and Beyond" session organised by the student services and it was a pretty good session. (I must say, the Student Services in UQ is one of the best ever :D). Then I went for lecture, had Subway by myself, got myself a regular mocha from Bar Merlo, went to the library, then headed for tutorial. And I'm happy.

"Me-time" is always good. And you know what I learned today? We are not happy because of our circumstances. We can choose to be happy despite our circumstances. We are as happy as we make up our minds to be. So despite the fact that finals are looming around the corner, despite the fact that I have tons to study in a limited amount of time, despite the fact that I'm going to miss the people that I've come to know here (and come to love), despite the fact that I'm bound to experience reverse culture shock, I'm gonna be happy... for now anyway.

The Things We Do For The People We Love

2009-05-27T23:27:00.009+08:00

I found a gift for a very dear friend and I thought it would be kinda cool to get it for his birthday! I purposely told him I'll just be sending him a card, so I hope he's surprised (he better be!). I'm not posting the photo yet, since he hasn't received it. I will post it once he has.

Also, I've recently started buying first day covers here because I know my grandpa collects them and they're oh-so-pretty! If only I discovered them last sem then I would have more first day covers for him. Some of the nice ones that I've missed out on are "Queen's Birthday 2009", "Australia Post - 200 years", and "Earth Hour"! Before I return to Malaysia, I will post up a photo of all those I've bought!

:)

*Update*

This is what I sent him...
(Please please don't use this at the office! We wouldn't want your boss receiving a fuck-it note!)

Movie World

2009-05-16T16:03:00.010+08:00

This should have been posted a month ago. Hehe...

The entrance to Movie World!

That, is BATWING Spaceshot. And also the first ride we sat :)
It stands at about 60 meters. Unlike Space Shot in Genting Highlands, going up is worse than coming down! Once everyone was safely secured, there's a 10-seconds countdown before this ride brings you up so fast you can feel a 4.5G vertical force... Hmm... Whatever that means. Haha!

Next, SUPERMAN Escape!
This ride travels from 0-100 km in 2 seconds! It's insane! There's also a little story before we get on the ride, which I found interesting. We were supposed to be "travelling" on a metropolis subway, so the ride actually starts indoor. Then suddenly an "earthquake" happens & "Superman" comes to save the day.

Superman: Don't worry. There's only one way out of this. I'll save you.

That was the last thing I heard before "Superman" "pushed" the "subway" out the building. Pretty cool concept. I really enjoyed this one.

Us on the way to Lethal Weapon.
This ride goes upside down 5 times! I like rides where your feet dangle in the air. Don't ask me why. But this was my least favourite ride. Mainly because it was painful. I kept hitting my head. After the ride I was in pain and feeling dizzy...

The Wild West Falls Adventure Ride! Somewhat similar to the Sungai Rejang Flume Ride in Genting.
It was so hot that day. The sun was literally burning our skin that they decided to sit this ride... But I didn't want to get wet! Still, I sat it. And I didn't regret!

I was the most drenched though :(

Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster!
This is my favourite-est ride! LOL. The whole ride is indoor, & it even has a twist! (I'm not telling)

Some superheroes parading... LOL

Tweety!!

Velma, in The Mystery Machine van.

Marilyn Monroe.

Some Lightning guy.

Bugs Bunny!

Next we headed to Shrek 4D Adventure & it was kinda funny. We had this "OgreVision" glasses too. I think I'm still a kid at heart because I really enjoyed it!

The 3 piglets was caught by the ghost of Lord Farquaad!

Gingy is really popular with the girls. LOL.

We went to Sunnybank for dinner. A really fulfilling dinner.

Yummy!

We "sapu" everything. I think Sean had 5 bowls of rice. No kidding.

My favourite picture of the day.

Oh happy day!!!

2009-05-09T23:45:00.002+08:00

Went out shopping with Hwai Li today. I bought A LOT of cheap stuff from diva... We had lunch at Kadoya & then had Krispy Kreme for dessert. We went home early (because I was going to have dinner at Sunnybank at this place called 7-8 with the J8 people, to celebrate Edwin's birthday).

Then I came home to find this in my mail.

Because I casually mentioned that I've been studying and there's pimples popping out on my face. And the bf sent me all these facial masks. You know I love you right?

Starting on my to-do list

2009-05-03T00:00:00.002+08:00

*phew* Mid-sem exams are over. Finally. Seemed like forever.

Now I can watch all the movies I have on my laptop (oh and update my blog more regularly. haha). First on the list, Emergency Unit (E.U.)!! I need my daily dose of TVB dramas!

I'm too lazy to blog about Movie World. Will probably do it one day, just not tonight. Because tomorrow we're going to Caxton Street Seafood & Wine Festival! Woot! :)

No! Not the buttons! Not my gumdrop buttons!

2009-04-18T15:30:00.005+08:00

Everyone say hello to my new friend!

Gingy!

He's quite a camwhore :P

Good night world!

Satisfaction

2009-04-14T20:51:00.002+08:00

We Malaysians are so used to all the good food back home that everytime we find anything similar to Malaysian food, it's enough to bring us to tears (Ok that was kinda exaggerated but you get my drift...). Tonight I had a huge bowl of Prawn Wan Tan for dinner (Australian's small portion is equivalent to our Malaysian large portion).

Then I had Tau Fu Fah for dessert (my 2nd bowl this week!).

I am full. My stomach is happy. I am happy.

I.AM.SATISFIED.

Welcome to the life of a Malaysian international student.

This is How We Celebrate Earth Hour

2009-04-14T13:26:00.005+08:00

This is a super late post!

That night, we (finally) had dinner at the famous La Dolce Vita. Their food and service is great. Next on my list, I want to visit their cafe! (which is next to their restaurant)

We then proceeded to Kwok Thye's place and had a drinking session in the dark. We even turned off our handphones. Kwok Thye did a good job mixing the drinks with the lights turned off. He did get a little help from the fridge light. LOL. These pictures were taken after 9.30pm :)

Easter Break

2009-04-13T12:16:00.003+08:00

Have you ever heard of an Easter Monday? I haven't. But it's a public holiday here in Australia.
So far I've only heard of Good Friday & Easter Sunday. But here, there's Good Friday, Easter Saturday, Easter Sunday, & Easter Monday... O.o

Anyway, the past few days have been so hectic... I've been studying for mid-terms (2 more mid-term exams after the Easter break), & I've been going out almost everyday since Thursday. My body is getting tired but my brain thinks I can do this until this sem is over. hehe... According to Hwai Li, "that's the life of a university student mar!" Yea I guess I won't regret this...

On Friday at 12am we went over to Gab's apartment to give him a surprise birthday thingy. Needless to say, he was surprised. LOL. We sang him his birthday song, took pictures, made him blow the candles, cut the cake, & everyone was happily eating the cake, until Gab smashed a piece of cake into Chris's face. All hell broke loose. Everybody was running everywhere, slippers flew in the air with pieces of chocolate & cheese cake following close by. There was screaming, laughter, "no no stay away from me!!".... You get the picture. LOL. It was fun seeing this side of Gab. Really short shorts, specs, messy curly hair, with cake in both hands. Haha... Priceless.

The hard part was getting the cake out of the carpet (& somebody's slippers). Still, it was fun nonetheless.

The next morning, dear Kim woke me up at 9 to play netball. I dragged myself out of bed, reached the netball court in about an hour later, then it started raining. NNOOO... I did not just get out of bed to be stuck under the rain!! Thank God it was a passing cloud (a big one, but still passing) so we stood under the umbrella & waited for it to stop. When the cloud passed we played & boy, did it feel good. I can't wait till our next netball session. The rest of the day was spent CS-ing with the guys & some girls. We had shabu-shabu for dinner & tau fu fah for dessert!! We proceeded back to our own mini cyber cafe at David's place on his balcony. I got home at 2.30am so you can imagine how crazy we were.

On Saturday, Hwai Li & I went (grocery) shopping then we watched Monsters vs. Aliens with Phuong at night. Go watch it (if you haven't), it has so many funny punchlines it's bound to leave you laughing long after the joke is over.

The next day we woke up late and we (Hwai Li actually) started cooking for our potluck lunch at the Manors. Turns out we were the first to arrive there. Hehe... The whole afternoon (and evening) was spent eating and laughing. Good food and laughter, a very good combination :D

So here I am, on Easter Monday. It's my turn to vacuum and mop the apartment, and cook dinner. I should probably start studying for the 2 papers coming up after the Easter break, since I know I'll be busy for the next couple of days.

*Sigh* I have mixed feelings about my last semester here. I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to miss being a student.

RIP Lappie

2009-03-30T12:54:00.003+08:00

Been going through a lot & I thank God for friends! Can't imagine what I'd do without them. (You know who you are! *hug*)

Btw, I have not abandoned my blog. My laptop died.
Some technician will come by tomorrow to revive her.

Currently surviving on housemates' laptops.

I really should be studying for mid sem exams now, but I can't block out these thoughts in my head... Anyway, I'll be back soon!

Still holding on to His promises...

Hello Autumn

2009-03-20T12:24:00.003+08:00

It's officially autumn. (According to Google, that is).

Autumn somehow has a very melancholic feel to it. Leaves change colour and fall to the ground. The chill of winter is on the horizon.

Goodbye summer, hello autumn.

History or Herstory?

2009-03-19T17:43:00.002+08:00

It doesn't bother me that history isn't herstory, that hurricanes are always feminine and that God is usually thought of as a man.

I can live with labels like Chairperson and Anchorperson and Postperson.

I can open my own doors and pull out my own chairs but if someone else wants to do those little courtesies for me, that's fine too.

There are many aspects of Feminism that I like but I like Humanism better.

I don't especially want to be a Ms.
I want to be a Me.

Incomplete

2009-03-13T22:01:00.002+08:00

Sometimes questions pop into my head, and I don't have the answers to everything. I am only human. I cannot see the road in front of me. It's dark and You are the only one I cling to.

Thank you for the people around me. They've loved, guided, encouraged, and took care of me. But sometimes people change. You, however, are constant. You are the same yesterday, today, and forever. I cannot fully understand (and I think I never will) how someone like You, could love someone like me. Despite all my flaws, my shortcomings, my impurity, still You love me. Despite me grieving You, still You love me. Despite all my failures, still You love me.

You were always there. When I'm happy, You were there. When I'm sad, You were there. When I'm angry, You were there. You were there when I needed You. And You were there when I didn't need You (or so I thought).

How could this wretch be Your masterpiece? Surely Your work in me isn't complete! You are the author and finisher of my faith. Don't give up on me just yet!

Please be patient. God isn't finished with me yet! :)

Blurry blurry

2009-03-07T22:50:00.008+08:00

The last week or so have been a blur of events. It was fun, but my body is tired. I need to rest before tutorials begin next week.

We went for this event called Klub Kandy @ Family. It's my first time clubbing in Australia.

They have 2 dancefloors. R&B is played upstairs. The lighting and bass downstairs is way nicer, but I'm not a fan of trance. The best part is probably the place where we're seated. It's a nice cozy area, with curtains, giving it a very exclusive feeling :)

This is a freakish picture of Patric. You can see his 'ghost' hovering above Darren's head. :P
Patrick is such a cam-whore. I swear he said "Add me on Facebook and tag me" more than 5 times. I have yet to do that. Hehe...

Thank God for Hwai Li. I cannot imagine our house without her. Haha

New friendships formed.

Old friendships strengthened.

Two days later, we went to Surfers Paradise.

Sun, sea and sand. What more could be a better combination?

We took plenty of (silly) pictures... Like the one below.

And made silly poses...

I find this picture kinda funny. Yup that's an Australian for you!

My lunch. Yummy!!!

We don't get to see this in Malaysia.

Buskers.
This guy is really good at what he does! If I had small change I would've given him some money. Unfortunately I used up all my coins for parking.

Elvis Presley!

We did some shopping as well! And I'm elated 'coz I finally got something that I've been wanting for a lllooonnnggg time. Plus it was on sale!

We went back to the beach as the sun was setting.
We may come back again. Probably stay a night. And this time we will swim in the sea.
See you soon Surfers Paradise!

Final semester...

2009-02-28T22:20:00.005+08:00

I'm back in Brisbane. It's over. 12 weeks of bumming around. *Sigh* How time flies when you're having fun. No more sleeping-whenever-I-wanted-to-and-doing-whatever-I-wanted-to-whenever-I-wanted-to. My brain's rusty too.

This sem is gonna be a memorable one. I'm sure of it. I can feel it already. It's my last semester and I know it's gonna be my best in more ways than one.

Here's a pic we took today at Eumundi markets. It's about 2 hours drive from Brisbane. After that we headed to Noosa beach and I had fun! It's been a long time since I played Captain Ball. No wait, it's been a long time since I last played with a ball! (Playing basketball on PS2 doesn't count) And it felt great. I could feel a strain in my arms and thighs from all the jumping and running. It made me feel good about my body. Looking forward to more fun!

It still doesn't change the fact that I miss you.
Take care you. See you in ~~five~~ four months ;)

Will You Be My Valentine??

2009-02-20T21:52:00.004+08:00

From this...

...to this!

This is a super late post. But what the heck, better late than never right?

This is our 7th Valentine's together. CT and I both decided that we didn't want to have dinner in a fancy restaurant. We didn't want to be stuck in a jam, line up for seats, fight with other couples for the waiter's attention. And, I didn't want him to give me flowers because I hate the fact that you can get it for a lot cheaper on any other day (that's the accountant in me speaking. tsk tsk).

The day before Valentine's, we went marketing. We bought beef, prawns, chicken wings, mussels, and clams. Not forgetting longan and nata de coco, for dessert. We took it home and he marinated the meat so it'll be ready for dinner the next day. He was going to cook dinner for me on Valentine's! Not like this is the first time, but how many bfs cook for their gfs?

To cut the short story even shorter, he was the chef and I was the sous chef. XD
The food tasted great because the special ingredient is love. Corny, I know. Wakaka... Seriously, we both know that he's the better cook.
I don't mind doing this every year <3

Fun-ness

2009-02-14T00:32:00.002+08:00

So many things have been happening. Where do I start??

CNY was great! As always it's the time of the year families and friends get together, eat, gossip, eat some more, and, well, we who are not married get to collect ang paus :)

This cny, Chin Tuck and I went to Penang with his friends for a holiday. It's becoming like a tradition for us.

All we did there was eat, eat, eat. Gamble. Play with firecrackers. Eat. Get a tan walking (to food stalls) under the sun coz there's way too many cars on the road. Then eat some more once we've reached those food stalls. Gamble. Fight over who gets to use the toilet first. Play with firecrackers. Oh and did I mention eat? Hehe...

Be prepared to drool...
The one and only Oh Chien I will eat.

Fried lobak.

Prawn Mee. The Penangites call it Hokkien Mee.

Lion dance at Penang. (It wasn't really good though. I've seen more pro and better ones.)

We bought BOXES of firecrackers. It amounted to RM200. We had so many of them, we were mistaken as some firecracker-seller when we went to Gurney -___-

Ok drool some more.
Really delicious rojak!

And Penang's famous Cendol. I had 2 bowls! :D

Popo's famous Curry Noodles! It's #@%* spicy! So think twice before mixing the sambal with the soup. (We had this for breakfast. All of us super gung ho.)

One-of-a-kind kuey teow soup. I lllooovvvee the soup.

On the way back from Penang, we stopped by at Bidor to have duck noodles. Too bad the place was too packed so we bought the famous wu kok. (I just realised that I've been typing the word "famous" a lot. But it really is famous wat!)

After much planning and 2 cancellations, we finally went caving at Gua Tempurung. I've heard stories about it, and I was excited to check it out. 7 of us (Me, CT, Evie, Gene, June, Gary, Esther) arranged to meet at Esther's place at 7.30am. When we reached Gua Tempurung, we had to join a group of Middle Eastern people who were dressed like they were going to a mall (There were about 30 of them). A really friendly guy by the name of Wan also joined us.

I'll give the scenery in Gua Tempurung a 9/10. It's really beautiful, with all the stalactites and stalagmites, and we even had some history lessons taught by the tour guide. Apparently (a long time ago) Chinese from Mainland China came to Gua Tempurung to dig some tin. I can't imagine them getting in there without the stairs and whatnot.

If you're looking for some challenge, you won't find it in Gua Tempurung. (We went for the "Grand Tour" btw, which took us about 4 hours to complete) Even though I came back with muscle aches on my thighs (from all the duck walk-ing) and a bruise on my shin, I came out from Gua Tempurung expecting more. If you want something more challenging, try Gua Telinga at Taman Negara. I personally enjoyed Gua Telinga more!

All in all, I had fun, despite those Middle Eastern people slowing us down (if not we could've finished in 3.5 hours). They were so slow that we had time to take pictures in the cave. I hate complaining about others, but at some point they really irritated me (or us) with their shouting and singing. Please, we're in a cave for Pete's sake, there's no need to shout! And what's with the singing and clapping?!?! Save your energy and stop whining! Geez...

What I like about caving is that teamwork is required. The 8 of us (including Wan) really worked together. We had some fun moments as well! At one point the 8 of us "off-ed" all our torchlights just to see how dark it was. Now I know the meaning of pitch dark. It was so dark that I couldn't even see my hand in front of my face!

After everything we showered there and headed to Ipoh for a late lunch. That was my 2nd time in Ipoh in 1 month. Nice!! I don't have any photos from Gua Tempurung. I'm still waiting for Esther to upload those photos (She was the only brave one to bring her camera in :P). In the meantime, drool at the photos I took at Ipoh after our caving trip.

No pictures of Ipoh Kuey Teow though. You can see it in my Ipoh post. Hehe...

Ipoh white coffee!

Really really fresh egg tarts. Fresh from the oven. It's really good I swear!

Our "special" chee cheong fun.

Enough about food. My stomach's growling!

Josh and I went to Cineleisure to catch a movie. Before we even lined up, this nice guy came over and handed us 2 free tickets to watch a special screening of Punisher! 10 days before it's in the cinemas! How cool is that? Not as cool as what you're about to see...

Omg! Sssooo cccoooooolll! They checked our tickets and we went in. I wanted to take a picture with them but I was afraid they'll headshot me. Wakakaka...

I have a sudden urge to play COD -_-

I love freebies! Which reminds me, Felicia and I got a complimentary cheesecake from the manager at Vivo, Curve. It was so nice of him! :)

Finally, Josh kept his word, and took me to MOS. I love the fact that the place is smoke-free. Surprisingly I didn't feel tipsy. Roger, who drank less than me, KO-ed :P
And Nick was high, so I guess I can't blame him for talking really loudly (read: shouting) to us at the mamak stall. Siok Kwan & I had to "sshhh" him a couple of times.

These are the moments that we'll look back and laugh about. Good times :)
It's Valentine's today <3
xoxo

Only imagine

2009-02-05T23:15:00.004+08:00

Yesterday was like any other day. Until I received an sms telling me of a friend's younger brother's passing. He was only 23 years old.

I don't know his brother personally. But I went to the wake service tonight, to support his family in this time of grief. From the amount of people that turned up, & the testimonies, he must've impacted many lives. And tonight is only the first night. I have a feeling there'll be more people tomorrow.

When I offered my condolences, I could see tears in his eyes. I can only imagine what it's like to lose a brother so young. So sudden, unexpected, abrupt, and without warning.

Life is fragile. We are fragile. And nowadays it seems that death isn't just a rumour to the young anymore.

God called you home. We may say it's too early, but God's ways are higher than our ways, His thoughts higher than our thoughts. There is mourning here on earth, but much rejoicing in heaven as He welcomes His son into His arms.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
2 Timothy 4:7

Rest in peace Markus Ng.

*Updated*
Markus wrote something that really touched me and I want to share it here.
What a rare mixture of youth and maturity.

What is success, if not without the possibility of failure?
Acceptance, without rejection?
Living entails making decisions; choosing implies uncertainty; uncertainty, risk.
What is success if not without the possibility of failure?
Acceptance, without rejection?
To live necessitates the triumph of hope over apprehension.
And what is hope? My hope is in dying to live.
Death I fear you not.
In God I trust.

Markus Ng
October 7, 2008

Happy Chinese "Niu" Year!

2009-01-25T23:08:00.002+08:00

Just had reunion dinner. Turns out that I'll be going to Penang after all. Happy Chinese New Year people!

Never the Same

2009-01-23T15:37:00.003+08:00

Yum cha-ed with an old friend last night. I just had to write this. You're probably the strongest girl I know. The death of a parent is something you'll NEVER get over (especially at such a young age) but it's something you'll come to terms with, over time.

I admire you for being so brave and responsible. And you're right. We are destined for greatness. Sometimes we just forget.

Pain

2009-01-22T14:35:00.003+08:00

I visited my paternal grandpa last week. Something I should have done sooner. His hip bone got detached or something. So now he can't walk and he has to be in a wheelchair. An operation would be too risky for someone his age.

(In Cantonese)
Bro: You know who this girl is??
Grandpa: -_-"........ She's your sister lor...

My grandpa still remembers me! LOL. His memory isn't as good, and sometimes he says stuff that doesn't make sense. He mumbles too, so he has to repeat himself a couple of times before we get what he's trying to say.

His appetite is really good. We arrived right after he had his lunch, but he could find space in his stomach for two mandarin oranges and popiah we brought. Even thought he's in pain, he hasn't lost his sense of humour, though occasionally he would stare at nothing. It pains me to see him like this.

This got me thinking. Would my children care for me? Would my grandchildren love me? What would I be like 60 years from now? Probably dead.

Perak Tong rockfall

2009-01-13T18:10:00.003+08:00

On Sunday, three days after our trip to Perak Tong, there was an accident at the Perak Tong.

Two days later (today), they believe the temple guard is dead. May he rest in peace.

God took care of us. There's so many times He did. I'm so thankful.

Ipoh

2009-01-11T20:08:00.014+08:00

Finally, we went to Ipoh. The last time I went there was 2 years ago. This time, we did our homework :)

On the way to Ipoh, we stopped at Sungkai.

I've been wanting to come here! TRAP did not disappoint. This place is well maintained, compared to other hot springs in Malaysia.

Notice the steam! There are certain places where we're not allowed to touch the water because it's too hot. I love this place. I could feel the steam on my legs as I stood there. It's like some sort of foot spa!

90-100 degrees Celsius! The water is almost boiling!

This place is so soothing. We picked the right day to go (it was on a Wednesday). Usually it'll be packed on weekends.

I regretted not bringing an extra change of clothes and a towel. I really wanted to swim in there! I could only walk around the pool. Chin Tuck couldn't resist it. He ended up putting his whole face inside. LOL

You can boil eggs here! Apparently the eggs taste better too. We were expecting somebody to sell eggs there but there was no one around :( Another thing I should've brought. Eggs.

We were already hungry by then. Next destination...

Bidor!

My favourite duck noodles! It's been one and a half years since I last ate it. I love the herbal soup. Yum!

After lunch, we headed to Kek Lok Tong, which means Cavern of Ultimate Bliss. It's a good thing we have GPS, since this cave is quite difficult to locate (you have to go through some housing area).

You'll have to walk through the cave....

Then you'll find this beautiful garden, surrounded by hills. Pretty neat, huh?

I just stood there, taking it all in.

When we were done, we headed back to the car. Next, we had to check into a hotel.

But the GPS device refused to cooperate. We couldn't get it to work! How were we supposed to get out of this housing area?? What right timing... Luckily Chin Tuck downloaded Google Maps into his phone the night before. And I had trouble using it because the screen is so small and I had to scroll everywhere.

We found our way to Majestic Hotel, but we didn't like the looks of it. So we decided to stay at Regalodge Hotel instead. I must say, it's a pretty decent 3-star hotel. It was quite cheap, clean (that's the most important), and safe (I think). Plus, we got a flat-screen TV in our room! hehe...

After we checked-in, we headed out again. With the help of Google Maps, we went to Ipoh Parade, made our way to Popular bookstore, & bought ourselves an Ipoh map.

When technology fails, we got to do it the conventional way. It was much better than using Google Maps on a phone!

With a map, we were ready for Ipoh Kway Teow @ Jalan Yau Tet Shin. Restoran Lou Wong is most famous for their steamed chicken and beansprout dishes that go with a bowl of piping hot kway teow soup. Their (chicken) rice is quite good too.

For supper, we had the famous Tau Fu Fah @ Jalan Dato Tahwil Azar. (The shop's name is called Funny Mountain :D). This is the softest Tau Fu Fah I've ever eaten!

Chin Tuck got this complimentary coupon (from the hotel) to Regal Spa.
I wanted to check it out. If it's cheap, maybe we can go together-gether. I saw lots of uncles and young, pretty girls at Regal Spa. *cough* *cough* Get it? Turns out that Regal Spa is "FOR MEN ONLY". Not the coupon!

We spent the rest of the night driving around Ipoh. Then we bought red wine and finished it in the hotel room.

For breakfast, we had curry noodles. It tasted normal to me :/

Next, we tapau-ed Salted Herbal Chicken from Aun Kheng Lim @ Jalan Theatre. Notice the boxes stacked behind the girl.

Our boxes of Salted Herbal Chicken! :)

Our last stop before heading home, Perak Tong (btw, tong means cave).

The temple guard told us that we could climb all the way to the peak, and then we could view almost the whole of Ipoh.
So climb we did.

That's where we're going! Up up up!

After a steep climb of 385 steps, we reached the peak! Look at the view!

It was then time to head back home...

Goodbye 2008. Hello 2009

2009-01-02T02:53:00.002+08:00

2008 was an eventful year. Out of all the years, 2008 is probably the year in which I've cried the most, loved the most, learned the most, and grown the most. It was the year I got a scholarship from UQ. It was the year my "chi mui" got married, and the first time I was asked to be a bridesmaid. It was the year I turned 21, the year my grandpa turned 80, the year Chin Tuck and I celebrated our anniversary 6,565km away from each other.

I wonder what 2009 holds for me. What resolutions have you made? If you've known me long enough, you've probably figured out that I suck at making resolutions. And I suck even more at achieving them. This time I'm gonna make it simple.

I want to live, love, and laugh while I still can. Yup that's my resolution for 2009 :)

I wish all of you a wonderful year ahead!

Sibuk Sial!!!

2008-12-31T01:18:00.007+08:00

Those 2 words describe exactly how my life has been for the past few weeks. I'll let the pictures do the talking :)

Had lunch with Lydia. All friendships are different, but the ones where you can just pick up right where you left off are sometimes the best kind, even though they can be hard to come by. She is one of those rare friends. And I thank God that she is not the only one :)

I made tong yuen!! Hehe... *pats self on the back*

A few days later, Chin Tuck and I experimented with more colours :D And he got colouring on my white shirt -__- (I had to wash my shirt before the colouring set in, that's why I'm wearing his shirt)

Besides tong yuen, we also made ~~ginger~~coffeebread man!

Our last batch. We got creative. LOL.

We went carolling and had so much fun! (and ate lots too! Hehe)

Us carolling in church on Christmas eve.

Chin Tuck+me @ church.

My Christmas present <3

Followed Chin Tuck and his family to Genting. We watched Dreamz. It's the best show that I've watched in Genting so far. The highlight of the evening was taking a picture with a white tiger!

I'm glad I came back to Malaysia, 'cos I got to celebrate my grandpa's 80th birthday. If there's one thing I learned in Brisbane, it's that we have to treasure our loved ones while they're still here.

We'll be celebrating Chin Tuck's mum's birthday today. It's gonna be a quiet New Year's Eve for me this year. Happy New Year everyone! :)

Why Christmas?

2008-12-16T14:23:00.005+08:00

Christmas is a strange time of the year.

There are bells and baubles. There are carols and choirs. There are trees and tinsels and turkeys and tarts and treats.

Somewhere - somewhere in there there's a reason for all that. There must be. But who's got the time? We'll all sing the carols and do Christmas. And then that'll be it for another year.

So why do we do this? Why Christmas?

Christians celebrate Christmas to honour the birth of Christ.

Which brings me to my next question. If you do not believe in Jesus Christ, why do you celebrate Christmas?

I read this somewhere:
"What makes Jesus so special that EVERYONE YOU KNOW has to get presents on HIS birthday?"
(I can assume that this wasn't meant to be taken literally and is actually funny)

Before I continue, I need to clear up some points:
1. I am not a religious zealot.
2. I am not condemning anyone nor do I think anyone is a bad person simply because they don't believe in Jesus.
3. Yes, I believe in Jesus Christ.

I can understand that no one wants to have another religion forced on them, but what gives society the right to "sanitize" Christmas just so they can partake in it too? It is Christmas, not Xmas.

This is a Christian holiday, just like Hari Raya Haji is a Muslim holiday. I'm pretty sure that if society were to step in and "participate" and slaughter a chicken (instead of a cow or goat... it is easier to slaughter a chicken right?) without praying, or have a tree as a symbol of their holiday, they wouldn't be too happy about it. Hari Raya Haji may not be in the same league as Christmas is to Christians, but it's still a holy day - as Christmas should be.

I'm not saying that you have to believe in the Christian religion to celebrate Christmas - simply respect that is is a religious and holy day and do not try to sanitize it. If you really want to celebrate something non-religious, there are 364 other days to choose from. Pick one and celebrate.

Somebody tried to explain some of the reasoning behind it. He explained that this is a widely recognised holiday and not everyone in society wants to deal with the religious aspects of it. However, they want to partake in it, so the only option was to sanitize, or ignore, the religious aspects. Therefore creating a comercialised Christmas. Okay... Interesting. While I can understand the reasoning - it doesn't make it right or respectful.

I guess Christians are just as much to blame because we did not stand up and speak as this was slowly happening.

One thing that more people need is tolerance, understanding, and respect.

Ok I'm done ranting. I wish you all a wonderful holiday season, (whatever religion you subscribe to) and a very fruitful new year!

Possessor or Possessed?

2008-12-09T21:13:00.004+08:00

Miss A buys clothes, & then she keeps them. She saves them for some "special" occassion, which rarely happens. Her clothes will probably last forever, along with Miss B's furniture which is all covered in clear plastic.

Now this may be fine for some, but I like to think that people should possess things. Never the reverse.

Furniture is for sitting on comfortably, not for sticking to. Carpets are to walk on, regardless the weather. Fine china & gleaming silver are wasted if they are always carefully stored away in some dark cupboard.

Beautiful, expensive clothes are meant to be worn. A lot!

Saving everything "for good" means that many of the best things are never really used.

I don't have that much, but what I do have isn't sacred, to be saved, covered, hidden, protected.

Things are to enjoy!

From Starcraft to this...

2008-12-03T23:02:00.007+08:00

We wanted to play Starcraft. But the settings weren't right, we couldn't LAN. We even tried direct cable connection but our laptops couldn't detect each other. We ended up doing this.

Did I mention how much I love holidays?

Funfacts

2008-12-02T01:43:00.008+08:00

Funfact no. 1: Some people said I gained weight!! Yay!! *pats self on the back* Must be all the rice, milk & butter...

Funfact no. 2: Some people said I got fairer... Which is weird considering the fact that I walked under the hot sun in Brisbane more than when I'm back here in Malaysia.

Funfact no. 3: I got bigger muscles on my arms. From all the housework perhaps?

Funfact no. 4: I can still drive. Haha!! I guess it's a skill that you cannot forget once you've learned it, kinda like swimming.

Funfact no. 5: I've been going out everyday since I've landed. There's so much catching up to do!!

Funfact no. 6: I've been shopping. A lot. Without doing any research, I got myself a new phone the same day I arrived in Malaysia. I know, I can be quite impulsive. Then cosmetics. & more cosmetics... Perfume <3... Clothes... I should stop. I can stop. I will stop! ....Next month. Haha!! There's still stuff on my shopping list, like bags, and accessories... and more cosmetics... XD

Funfact no. 7: I've been experiencing multiple orgasms. Food orgasm that is... Dim sum; Chong Qing steamboat; Kanna's banana leaf rice; Spicy Char Kuay Teow; Indomie; Heng Tai's Kam Heong Lala, & Tom Yam Fried Rice with Extra Sotong; Asam Laksa; Kayu's famous curry & my favourite Roti Telur (The waiter remembers me!! He said "Eh how ar yoo? Long taim yoo no coming..."); Nasi Lemak... There's so many more!!! Malaysia is a food heaven! I have to go... Like how Josh puts it, "I'm having the munchies!"

Madagascar & Lala

2008-11-28T12:09:00.005+08:00

Met up with Josh (whom I've known since we were 7 & I'm so nice to layan him everytime he's emo) on Tuesday & we watched Madagascar 2! The penguins are soo funny! It isn't really that good, but if you enjoyed Madagascar, then go watch Madagascar 2. I'm glad I'm in Malaysia. Australia is so backward, Quantum of Solace is only coming out in December in Brisbane. But I heard it's a disappointment anyway. No gadgets, & if you didn't watch Casino Royale, you wouldn't know what the heck is happening.

Oh & I bumped into Elvyna before the movie, met Aik Thai at GSC (he was also in the same hall watching the same movie), & bumped into my cousin after the movie. It's good to see familiar faces! Haha!

After Madagascar 2, we window shopped for awhile. We looked at some shoes, then headed to Parkson to sample some perfume. hehe...

By that time my stomach was growling so we went to Indomie to have our fix. Kam Heong Lala... Yum! & Tom Yam Fried Rice with Sotong... Double yum! We ate & chatted till ~~2am~~ our stomachs were satisfied & our butts hurt.

I miss this lifestyle. It's good to be home.

2008-11-27T13:24:00.003+08:00

I have no time to blog since I arrived in Malaysia! Ok so here's some of the stuff we did before leaving for Malaysia.

1. I ate a burger at McDonalds... with bacon! Tee hee... You cannot get this in Malaysia! Imagine going to a Ramli Burger stall, & you say "Burger babi satu". Nope, it's something I can't imagine happening in Malaysia. Pity, Burger babi has such a nice ring to it.

2. We finally went to the famous casino in Brisbane city. We actually wanted to play Blackjack, but decided against it after we saw how the banker kept winning. LOL. We didn't even know how to play the slot machine. Headed home & had our own gambling session. We used Phuong's limited edition Jay Chou playing cards! Woot!

3. Swam at the Manors. We did some really crazy stuff in the pool which I shall NOT blog about. Haha! Then they came over to our apartment since they haven't been here before.

4. Went shopping with the girls at Harbour Town. Had a really crappy meal. The menu said fish with prawn, calamari, scallops, & fries. Turns out the calamari & scallops were fake. WTF!!?!? It was made from potato & flour or something of that sort. Other than that, I really enjoyed shopping there :)

Thankful

2008-11-21T12:51:00.003+08:00

On Sunday, the girls & I went to Harbour Town (which took about an hour or more to reach by public transport) for some retail therapy. Little did I know that a storm would hit Brisbane. The worst storm that Queensland had experienced in more than 20 years.

The funny thing was, I didn't even know that a storm had hit Brisbane when I came back (the storm was in a different suburb), until a few days later. The only thing I knew was it was raining heavily the night we came back.

Phuong (who is all the way in Vietnam, mind you) messaged Hwai Li & I to ask if we were ok. & we were like "Storm? What storm?" Then we looked it up online & was shocked to find all the pictures... Trees uprooted, roofs blown off, people wading in knee-high waters...

I am thankful. God took care of me, & I didn't even know.

Is the grass really greener on the other side?

2008-11-17T23:27:00.007+08:00

A lot of people have asked me if I am planning to stay in Australia after I graduate, leaving Malaysia for a "better nation" for a "better life". & my answer to them is "No, I'm going home."

I'm not saying Australia isn't a nice place. I've had so much fun exploring this foreign land & I intend to learn much more about this place, the people, & its culture.

But, I've lived in Malaysia all 21 years of my life. I love my home. I don't deny that there are many things that we can be unhappy or complain about but this is home. Sure there are plenty of system that don't seem to work smoothly, but this is our tanah air!

I've crossed the fence, the grass isn't much greener after all.

Fun & orgasm

2008-11-13T23:08:00.005+08:00

Finally! Omg I'm so glad it's over. I'm so excited!!!

Holidays here I come!!

I'm looking forward to it... I was actually smiling to myself in the exam hall ok! & I couldn't concentrate. All I could think of is these 3 months... LOL I know I know...

The orgasm is kicking in, just thinking about it...

Listening to: Next Plane Home - Daniel Powter

Week 15, Semester 2, 2008

2008-10-31T12:31:00.003+08:00

14 weeks just passed by in the blink of an eye. Finals begin next week.
I won't have time to blog.

*looks at schedule & faints*

First paper on the 5th, 2 papers on 12th, last paper on the 13th.

Then I can't wait for what happens next :)

Freebie

2008-10-30T19:19:00.006+08:00

Last week of lectures was well... last week. & guess what I got from my tutor?

Chocolate! For achieving 100% attendance in his tutorial. *pats self on the back*

Ok Hwai Li, I admit I skipped more classes than you, but I know which one can't be skipped! hahaha...

If only we knew which class to skip & which not to. Like Phuong said, they should at least mention it in the course profile. LOL wtf...

Pick Up Lines 101

2008-10-26T14:47:00.004+08:00

Josh, remember we were once discussing about pick up lines? You've inspired me to write this post, & hopefully some of you guys can benefit from this ;)

I think the only purpose of a pick up line should be to initiate a conversation with a girl, but pick up lines are not an essential part of meeting women. Ok I shall start with bad pick up lines.

"Great legs, what time do they open?"
Your friends might find this hilarious, but you're certainly not getting anywhere with her by trying this pick up line. Anytime you imply that a good-looking girl is easy because she's dressed provocatively & in a bar, you're committing a huge mistake. If she's hot, would she really be interested in hearing you belittle her? & it's not witty, it's just insulting.

"Hey girl, what's up? Guess what? It's your lucky day. Out of all the girls here, I picked you to talk to."
Confidence is always good, but when it crosses the line into arrogance, you won't be having much luck with the ladies.

"Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk past again?"
Kind of funny, yes, but you want to know why it's so bad? Too cocky. This type of pick up lines has got egomaniac written all over it.

"Excuse me, I think you owe me a drink. Because when I saw you from across the room I dropped mine."
Not only will this trigger the bullsh*t detector on most girls, but you're bound to get labelled a cheapskate to boot. At this point, you shouldn't be asking her for things but instead, offering to make her life better in some small way - or at least buy her a drink.

You wouldn't want this to happen to you.

If you ask me, men have a tendency to walk up to women in completely the wrong manner. Whether it's out of a fear of rejection or just general stupidity, men often come off as being crude & insulting.

It is important that your first line of communication be one that is easily accepted, funny, or humorous, or something that will make a lasting impression. One mistake that any women can tell you that most men make is that they try to use a sexual pick up line. This does not work with women & is an instant turn off.

What does work however is to use a charming, sincere, & witty pick up line. Another area that is a quick turn off is to use a pick up line that sounds like a pick up line. Women want to hear a conversation starter, not a pick up line. So, make sure that you fine tune your pick up line & present it in a way that opens dialogue & is a form of communication, not a command that demeans the woman's character.

When you first meet a woman, unless you want a slap in the face, your pick line should be complimentary in nature, not overtly sexual. Here are the few good pick up lines that you can use as conversation starters.

"Besides being gorgeous, what else do you do for a living?"
This is a great pick up line because it opens with a compliment & is then followed by a sincere question - what line of work are you in. It is a two fold compliment; the first says that the woman is beautiful, the second that you are interested in her area of work, or her brains. Make sure you say it with a genuine & sincere smile & it will work like a charm.

"Heaven called, they said they're missing an angel. No, seriously, where are you from?"
This pick up line plays on the heaven/angel theme - a very common topic used in pick up lines. But this one leads into a conversational topic. Often, people use pick up lines & then are left dumbfounded with nothing else to say. Always follow your pick up line with a question or a comment that elicits a response.

"I only have a minute before I must get back to my friends, but I wanted to introduce myself to you."
This line is more formal & old fashioned, but it takes the edge off. Most women tend to shy away from men who they think may become instant stalkers. By letting her know from the beginning that you aren't planning on monopolizing her time, she will be more receptive to your introduction & conversation.

"The only thing your body language isn't telling me is your name."
This line is a bit more straightforward & should be used only when you are positive that you & the woman have made that first connection. It is another great starting point that leads into an introduction.

Remember guys, don't take pick up lines so seriously, or it's bound to fail. Let your guard down a bit, & make it clear that you're aware of the cliched approach you're taking. The girl may not swoon, but she'll probably think you're cool enough to carry on a conversation with. The rest is up to you ;)

My friend the siao cha boh

2008-10-18T20:53:00.005+08:00

Life would be so much duller without friends like you...

I miss u too siao cha boh!! :P

Feel the Adrenaline!

2008-10-10T17:12:00.015+08:00

I've been wanting to post this, but I was too busy watching Moonlight Resonance. hehe...

Guess where we went during SWOTVAC? We were deciding between Movieworld & Dreamworld, & almost everybody said that Dreamworld's rides are nicer, so yup, Dreamworld it is! (It was a good choice, Dreamworld did not disappoint)

Hwai Li & I on the train. The seats were uber comfortable! We thought of renting a car, but we were too lazy to drive.

Our tickets!

On the bus. Terence doesn't know how to look at the camera.
He was really excited. LOL. Like a small kid. It was funny watching him.
Terence: Oooh this is so fun!! *beams*
Three of us: Err...... ok... We're glad you're enjoying the bus ride.......

Terence still has trouble looking at the camera.

Me! There were so many people there. We went on a school holiday. School holiday = more time spent queing up :(
Notice the really tall Giant Drop behind. More on that later.

The Park Map. Really essential!

First ride! THE CLAW!
While we were lining up to get on the ride:
Me: Do you scream on rides?
Phuong: No. I curse.
Me: Haha... Hmm... Ok... (Whatever that means) *shrug*

People were screaming & we were telling each other "It's not that scary mar... Why are they screaming?"

I underestimated The Claw. Imagine this. A giant pendulum, swinging back & forth. & at the end of the pendulum we sit in a circle, facing outwards, feet dangling. Oh it also spins 360 degrees, & swings at up to 75km/hr. 9 storeys high. So 1 second u may be falling face down, another second you're falling backwards. Get it? ...Never mind, there's a picture of it below.

When it first started, I was like "Woohoo!! This is fun!!" But when it got faster, I couldn't scream. I just concentrated on breathing! Man, it was hilarious as well. Phuong was sitting on my left & I could hear him... "WHAT... THE... FFFUUUCCCKKKKKK!!!" *super high pitch at the end*. HAHAHAHAHA.... Now I know what he meant.

When we got off the ride, I felt like I was floating. I couldn't feel my feet on the ground. That was one hell of a ride!

Oh oh & I love it that they have all this cute "props" around so we can pose & take pictures. Haha!

Next, Wipeout! This ride wasn't so bad. Maybe I overestimated it after I sat The Claw. It spins, twists, & tumbles! I found it really fun! While on the ride:
Terence: *phew* Ok we're done. It's stopping.
Hwai Li: No there's still one more time! I counted when we were lining up!

Yea, we actually have conversations on rides at theme parks. Haha! Oh & she was right. It did turn one more time... Really slowly... I think that was probably the worst part of the ride. Going upside down is bad enough. Going upside down slowly... that's just torturing.
Wipeout in action!

More "props" to pose with!

Terence didn't take a picture coz he was queing up for the next ride.

Reef Diver. The most dizzy-ing ride I sat at Dreamworld. It's supposed to be a family ride weih!
Phuong & Hwai Li didn't want to sit because it'll make them dizzy. Wise decision. Reef Diver is like a giant vertical whirlpool thingy... It just goes round & round, up & down...

I like this picture! Wipeout on the left, The Claw on the right. Yup that's The Claw. Now you get it?

Phuong...
& Hwai Li... Watching us on Reef Diver also makes them dizzy. Haha!

After Reef Diver, I felt like puking! So I just sat with Phuong & stoned for awhile.
In the meantime, Terence went on Vortex, which I wanted to sit also but I was feeling too sick... Hwai Li took this picture. It's really cool! All you do is just stand there, & it spins so intensely that it leaves you plastered to the wall!

When Terence was done with Vortex, we proceeded to lunch! Bumped into Koala on the way, awhile later we saw him returning with a female Koala. Perhaps he picked her up somewhere? LOL.

Super long que. Damn school holidays...

Me --> happy, full, & not dizzy anymore! Yay! More rides please!
Phuong --> *pointing & middle finger above the eye, wink, tongue sticking out* face. A sign language us housemates learned. HAHAHA!!!

Cute-ness!

We weren't ready for another ride, so we decided to enter the haunted house. Theme: The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor.
I like the way they created the atmosphere... Orange lighting, mist, & you can hear those people that went in before you, screaming... The only thing not right about it is this white man dressed in those "sam fu" outfit, guarding the tomb. & he will hit the gong & say "ENTER" in an Australian accent.

This was another hilarious experience. Terence was supposed to lead, followed by me, Hwai Li, Phuong, & two random guys that joined us. Halfway through, Terence got scared & asked me to lead. I was like "No!!". So he had no choice but to lead. Phuong didn't help either... All he did was "Yalah Terence don't chicken out la!" LOL. Kudos to Terence for leading us through the tomb! Oh & at the last part this "actor" came out from nowhere, dressed in "sam fu" & all, looking bloody & really pale (their make up skills are superb), & he said "ni hao". All of us replied "NI HAO" in unison! It was so funny! So unplanned, & right on cue! I have a feeling that we're the only group that answered him :P

After much ~~screaming~~ laughter, we're ready for another adrenaline-pumping ride! The Giant Drop!
It's the tallest, free-falling ride in the world, according to the Guiness Book of Records. It took us up 120 metres, that's equivalent to a 39-storey building. When we reached the top, all I was thinking of was the trip down. & Terence tried to start a conversation to calm himself down.
Terence: Err.. Hello
Me: Hi.
Terence: Wah still can answer me. Wow this is really high.
Me: Yea... (duh...)

*silence*

WHOOSH!!! Whoa!!! That was soooo fun!! It was breathtaking! Literally! We even bought the picture of us on the way down.

Took this picture while lining up to get on the Giant Drop.
That's Captain Sturt Riverboat. (We were still lining up for the Giant Drop)

After the Giant Drop, we chose Mick Doohan's Motocoaster. We sit on life-size replicas of racing bikes, & are held in by a unique restraint system. The line for this ride was the longest. We had to wait close to an hour to sit on it for a few minutes! Still, this ride is fun! (It goes up to 72km/hr!)

Next, we went to Nickelodeon Central to sit on...
Runaway Reptar Rollercoaster! Hwai Li & I got to sit in the front, so I guess we enjoyed this ride a little more than the guys.
I even saw Superboy lining up for this ride too.

Final ride, Dreamworld Railway.
Phuong looking at the two photographs of us that we bought. One was from Wipeout, the other one is us on The Giant Drop.

Terence still not looking at the camera.

Terence is scared of Phuong touching him. Or should it be the other way around?

Lovely sunset.

Us waiting for the train.

It was a long, tiring, but fun day.

Oh... Here's the picture of us on Wipeout.

We survived The Giant Drop!
(r to l: Phuong, Terence, Crystal, Hwai Li)

Happy 21st Mikey!

2008-10-02T20:36:00.003+08:00

You've been a great friend all these years! & I'm thankful that I've known you for as long as I had.

I hope others bring you joy, just as you've brought joy to me. I pray that you can weather any storm that comes your way, & be all that you want to be. *hug*

- Grow old with me! The best is yet to be... - Robert Browning

Oxymoron

2008-09-27T14:29:00.002+08:00

Swotvac is here!!!

It stands for Study Without Teaching Vacation.

A vacation to study. What an oxymoron... Bah! You can study all you want. I'll be enjoying this precious one week!!

It's Officially Spring, According to Google. LOL

2008-09-23T23:43:00.003+08:00

Today, as in every other day since I arrived here, I'd google the weather. & here's what I found on google.com.au.

Apparently today is officially the first day of spring. Oh & I saw some Jacarandas blooming as I was walking back from uni!! I'm waiting for more to bloom before I take pictures of it... Whee!!! *twirls around*

The Greatest Thing

2008-09-19T13:23:00.013+08:00

Being in love with someone who loves you in return must be the greatest thing in the world. But finding this kind of two-way love is a pretty tricky business.

If it could be attained by hard work, I'd gladly put in a lot of 18-hour days. But sometimes it seems that the harder you work at love, the less chance you have of finding it.

Love comes more easily by half measures. I've loved more than one guy who hasn't felt much of anything for me. & the reverse situation can be flattering & embarrassing at the same time.

Love in half measures may be better than no love at all, but not much better.

None of the usual rules hold true for love. You can't demand it, or plead for it or explain all the reasons why it will work. Oh, I've tried these tactics, but without success.

Someone said that finding happiness is like catching a butterfly. The faster you run after one, the harder it is to catch. But if you just sit very quietly & wait very patiently, one may alight on you.

Love's that way, too. You just have to wait patiently & quietly, believing that love will come, & someday, when you least expect it, it probably will.

I should know. It came unexpectedly six years ago.

As I looked through numerous photos we've taken, I can't help but smile. It brings back happy memories.

That's not to say we didn't have hard times. I'm glad we didn't give up when the rest of the world told us to.

I don't know what the future holds for us. I guess we'll see... I'm just looking forward to more adventures with you! :)

Happy anniversary darling. You're my pillar of strength. *muaks*

Admit it - it Helps

2008-09-18T01:31:00.003+08:00

When I called him, he almost immediately said, "You sound kind of down today. Is anything wrong?"

I was taken aback. Now why was that?

Was it because he was right (he was) & had invaded some private territory of feeling that I wanted to keep to myself?

Was it because I was ashamed to be feeling a little down?

Probably both.

There is something in our society that teaches people that it is wrong to ever be anything but happy. If you feel gloomy, dejected, downcast, or discouraged, don't let anyone know. It's almost as if it's is some unspeakable disease.

Well, it isn't. We all feel it. & we get over it a lot quicker if we admit it & talk it out with those who care.

You were right, you know. I have been upset. I'm glad that you care, that you want to know about it & cheer me up if you can... Know that I will do the same for you :)

Hello spring!!

2008-09-16T22:03:00.003+08:00

Looking at all the flowers blooming just makes me happy. Spring has got to be the prettiest season! First signs of spring

I can't wait for the Jacarandas to bloom! But that would also mean finals are coming :(

Here's something I found from Wikipedia:

"The city of Brisbane in Australia has a local reputation of having a significant population of Jacaranda trees. The University of Queensland in the city's inner west has a very high concentration of the tree, and due to the impressive display of purple flowers in mid-Spring, which wind up littering vast sections of the suburbs, local folklore claims that "one won't start studying for exams until the jacarandas have molted". This has led to the slang name "exam tree" being attached to the plant. At the University of Queensland students even maintain a joke superstition that if a Jacaranda bloom falls on their head during exam time, they will fail an exam. The bad luck can be broken by catching another bloom before it hits the ground."

You can read the whole article & check out those pretty Jacaranda pictures here

I'll make sure I take a picture of myself with those purple Jacarandas!

Mid-Autumn Festival

2008-09-14T22:50:00.004+08:00

We bought mooncakes! Ok I only fancy certain mooncakes, particularly those green ones with lotus paste, with NO eggs... Hehe... But this time I just ate it to commemorate the Mooncake/Lantern Festival. It reminds me of home :)It actually tastes pretty good!
The moon from Brisbane. Lol

Ooh... Last week we had dinner at this Korean Restaurant... Yummy!! I seldom eat beef because I'm really picky & I don't like the meat to be tough. But the beef here is really good & tender! I know Chin Tuck will love it!

We had lunch at PhoB, a Vietnamese Restaurant. I ordered BEEF! & again, it's tender! Really good... Whee!!! My stomach is happy. Phuong was happy too! I could see he was excited coz he borrowed my camera & started taking pictures of the food, the menu, himself......... LOL! & he explained to us the difference between Northern & Southern Vietnamese dishes. I must say it's interesting to learn about different cultures!

Hmm... I just realised this whole post is about food. I actually intended it to be about the Mid-Autumn Festival. -_-"

Never mind then. Anyway, it's actually the beginning of spring in Brisbane now. The weather here is totally opposite from the rest of the world.

Happy Mooncake Festival peeps!

Happy (insert number)th birthday mummy dearest!

2008-09-12T14:20:00.003+08:00

Happy birthday mummy!! You haven't aged a bit!

Ok I admit I'm not exactly the easiest daughter to handle, & I sometimes drive you up the wall (& vice versa :P)... But if God gave me a chance to go back in time & choose my mummy, I'd pick you! Here's to a long, happy, "muscleache-free" life!

I love u mummy... *muax*
ps: Just remember that your age is only a number. & in your case, a rather LARGE one! :D

My 21st

2008-09-06T15:38:00.006+08:00

This is my first time celebrating my birthday away from home. No wait, there was no celebration, no cake, no birthday song, nothing. It doesn't matter, really. All these stuff never mattered.

I read this quote somewhere. "True friendship isn't being inseparable, it's being separated & nothing changes." How true. I'm very thankful for friends who care...... It's nice to know that you matter to them as much as they matter to you. This birthday has made me realised that it really is the thought that counts. Here's to friends that turn into family!

__________________________________________________

On a lighter note, I woke up that day, & this is what I found on my door.

Terence made this envelope from someone's auditing notes. LOL
& inside the envelope, was my "birthday card". (Click on pictures to enlarge)

Where else can I find such crazy housemates?!!? Hehe... Thanks guys!

Riverfestival

2008-09-05T15:47:00.006+08:00

I got to watch fireworks on the day before my birthday. That's normal if I'm in Malaysia, since there's always fireworks to watch on Merdeka eve. This year, I get to watch it here in Brisbane too! It's this celebration thingy called Riverfestival. No Josh, it's not a ritual where people dance around a fire & worship the river. Lol.

Nice ferris wheel. My photo-taking skills are improving. :P Or maybe it's just my camera

While waiting for the fireworks, Hwai Li & I camwhored.

I like this picture for some odd reason

One of the many photos I took of the fireworks

The beautiful Brisbane river. The colourful (purplish) building is the famous casino

*gasp* I just realised that I can gamble legally now! I bet they'll ask for my ID if I try to go into the casino.

My housemates

After the fireworks show, we had dinner at this place called "Little Singapore". & they serve Malaysian food......... -_-" I find it insulting! Why can't they just name it "Little Malaysia"?? Eesh... It's misleading anyway... What the heck is Singaporean food huh??

All in all, it was an enjoyable night. This is the second time that I get to watch fireworks since I came here. First EKKA, then Riverfest. It's a good time to be in Brisbane!

We All Have To Choose

2008-08-24T11:09:00.000+08:00

There is a line from a poem by Robert Frost. He tells of coming to a fork in the road, a place to decide where his life is going, & he says that he is "sorry I cannot travel both roads & be one traveller".

He was sorry. I'm sorry. We're all sorry about that one.

But one person can never travel two roads. We all have to choose.

It would help if the decisions were more clear-cut, if one road guaranteed success & happiness & the other was posted "Dead End". But, almost always, at the fork, the choices look about the same, equally inviting.

Sometimes I wonder about the road not taken. Did I do the right thing? Maybe I'll never know. I seem to keep taking the road less travelled by & that has made all the difference. I think, for the better.

But to travel both roads & see where they lead... wouldn't it be nice.

Making It Through Another Day

2008-08-23T10:27:00.000+08:00

*phew* Everything's happening so fast I don't have time to breathe! I have to study for quiz, mid-sem exam, another mid-sem exam, and another mid-sem exam, quiz, another quiz, work on my assignment, sit for another quiz... & by the time all this is over, finals is here! Gosh, I don't know how I'll survive this.

Anyway, I went to EKKA last week, & it was fun! For those that don't know what EKKA is, u can check it out here. hehe.. I hate uploading photos here, because it's so freakin' slow! You guys can check out my Facebook account though, I've uploaded photos & videos there. :)

There were exhibitions, stalls where you can win soft toys, stalls where you can buy soft toys (if you're really bad & can't win the soft toys. lol). I even saw a dog competition, & at night there were performances & fireworks! Oh, & over here, cotton candy is called fairy floss. Hehe.. Really fancy name.

Phuong, Hwai Li & I sat on the ferris wheel & took lots of lovely pictures on it! The view was nice, the sun was bright & the sky was blue.. :))) I also had the nicest mango yoghurt in my life! It's much nicer than the one Chin Tuck tries to feed me back home. =P

Phuong bought this inflattable hammer with Simpsons all over it, & it squeeks when you hit it on something! Really cute! & I bought a halo! Was thinking of buying the angel's wings too, but settled for just the halo. Then Hwai Li felt like she needed to buy something also, & she bought herself a puppy soft toy (because she doesn't think that she can win it by playing the games. =P).

By that time it was already evening & we waited outdoors to watch the fireworks, on a winter night. There were lots of performances, like this monster truck running over some cars. I usually get to see this on tv only! Just go see the pictures on facebook la. hehe.. Then finally, the fireworks. I'm so proud of my camera. It exceeded my expectations. :)

I should really do something more productive with my time, like study. *sigh*

Rainbow After the Rain

2008-08-05T18:39:00.000+08:00

Have you ever felt that you wanted something so badly, but no matter how hard you try, it just seems to get further away from your grasp? I have. For the past week or so I've been struggling with these thoughts in my head. That I'm not good enough. I don't think I can make it. It was frustrating.

I was angry at myself & it came to a point that I was disappointed with God. I've found that the Bible includes detailed accounts of people sorely disappointed with God. Job & Moses had it out with God, as did Habakkuk, Jeremiah, & many of the unnamed psalmists. The psalmists do not rationalize anger or give abstract advice about pain; rather they express emotions vividly & loudly, directing their feelings primarily at God. The anguished conclusion of Psalm 88 provides ample evidence. From them I learn to bring to God whatever I feel about Him. I need not paper over my failures; it's far better to bring my weaknesses to Him, who alone has the power to heal.

I've always wondered, why do people cry when they win? Watch any contest, Miss Universe, American Idol, etc... It's just silly to cry. Shouldn't they be happy that they won? Today I experienced it for the first time, tears of joy. I just sat there & cried. Thinking of everything I went through. Remembering that He was there, carrying me through my darkest hour. I just felt so relieved & thankful. The journey hasn't ended just yet, there's still a long way to go. But I know He'll be there, holding my hand. I worship a God of miracles!

Times like this

2008-08-02T15:06:00.000+08:00

A smile... A hug... Encouraging words... I'm sorry for your loss. & I'll be here if you ever need a friend that'll just sit in silence & listen. Yes, in times like this, we all try to do the best we can, knowing it won't be enough.

Saying goodbye

2008-07-26T14:45:00.000+08:00

These photos were taken before I left for Brisbane. Too lazy to type. So I just uploaded the pics. hehe...

Uncle Chee Toong came to visit us from USA =) So we took him everywhere to makan makan makan... hehe.. & I got to makan a lot also =P

I miss Chinese food!!!

Mum, grandpa, Uncle CT, dad. Can see any resemblance between mum & Uncle CT?
Bro, Chin Tuck, me

Kenny Sia blogged about eating gold. I ate gold too!! On a mooncake. LOL. It doesn't taste like much.. So overrated
The clothes Rachel gave me. Uncle CT had to carry it all the way from USA
My last Nando's meal in Malaysia. Nando's in Malaysia beats the one in Brisbane (pictures below) hands down!

My extra hot chicken in Nando's Brisbane wasn't so hot after all

Selina & her husband (Nick) came down for a holiday from Australia too! He had a hard time getting used to our 9 course meals in Chinese restaurants. hehe...

We took Uncle CT to Bukit Tinggi

Pretty flowers!! Notice how symmetrical it is! I was so excited when I saw the same flowers when I was walking back from uni to my house & I was pointing it out to Hwai Li.. hehe...

Had dinner with my family, Uncle Ed Mun & family, grandaunt, granduncle, Uncle CT.. The reason that there's so few food left is coz I was too busy eating. hahaha!! When I finally remembered to take pictures, most of it was gone already *smiles sheepishly*

Me + Aik Thai :)

Us at Laundry

Had dinner with the church people before I left. We had crabs! LOTS of crabs. There was sweet & sour crab, butter cheese crab, marmite crab, salted egg crab, etc... Ok I should stop. I'm starting to salivate.

Evie pursuading Keira to kiss her. Look at Keira's expression. LOL
Dad & grandma

Thank you all!

2008-07-13T22:18:00.000+08:00

It’s been a few days since I arrived here at UQ. Really glad for those friends who made the effort to meet up with me before I left. I really am so touched & blessed to have u guys in my life. Thanks Josh for burning all those series for me. Will miss those yum cha sessions. Thanks Swee Boon for the lovely card & for planning the farewell. Thanks Evie for planning. Thanks Pek Wah for bringing me to that mamak. Thanks Teng for those encouraging words. Thanks Lydia for stopping by even though u were busy, & for your prayers. Thanks Tuck, for everything. You’ve done so much for me. & I was pleasantly surprised that you ticked on my to-do list. Thanks for the Melaka trip, durian cendol, asam laksa, the Warcraft dvd, driving me around to get stuff for Australia, & helping me pack my bag. Hehe.. I can’t possibly list down everything you did for me. & lastly, mummy, papa, ‘gor gor’, ‘gong gong’, thank you for all the support.. Try not to worry about me yar.. I will take care. I love you all. See you in one year!

Pek Wah loves to camwhore. LOL

First Post!

2008-07-05T10:56:00.000+08:00

Hi all! I have no idea why I decided to start a blog. Another ‘spur-of-the-moment’ thingy I guess. So… this blog will be based on the day to day happenings that colour my life. Those experiences that have caused me to pause & reflect. Some important, some trivial. Incidents that have struck me as funny, sad, curious, touching, surprising – a few just frustrating. So yea, here goes! =)