2010 and looking forward

It is always interesting how we tend to look back in the year that has just passed and realized that there are so many things we could have put a little bit more effort and done better, did differently, or wish never done at all.

2010 has been a fantastic year despite all the comments going around that it's going to be another tough and challenging year (it is but I always believe that after every storm, there is a rainbow). There were times when the year just whizzed by but also slow and dreadful moments, whatever it is "in a blink of an eye" we have already stepped into 2011 and to sum it all up, 2010 was a great year!

Great times indeed!


Well, let's put the year behind in pictures!

> Been to the overcrowded, overrated and definitely oversunburnt Phuket



> Been to Hangzhou & Shanghai



> Could have gotten a super duper trooper epic swarm badge here at the Shanghai World Expo 2010



> Been to Bandung, Indonesia for shopping and just shopping



> Been to the magical Bali and had some best BBQ ribs in the world!



> White water rafting at Sg Padas, Sabah



> Currently posted to Colombo for 3 months, and it has been nothing but an eye opening journey



> Diving was in my 2010 NY Resolution list, got it fulfilled when I was in Unawatuna last week... in fact I failed cos I couldn't cope in the water but at least I've tried, and not lovin' it!



> The only sorrow that 2010 brought was the passing of grandma after months of coma. And I also lost a friend to a road accident.



Moving on to 2011, with years of experience in making empty resolutions, I've come to learn that I should just stick to those that is achievable (by spending a bit of money) and not vague stuff like 'be more hardworking and get more A's' - that is so high school.

So with this blog as my records keeper, my 2011 Travel Resolutions and things to achieve are as below:

> Visit the paradise of Maldives (since I'm gonna be in the region till end Feb '11, might as well make it happen?)



> Bungee jump at the world's tallest jump location- The Macau Tower (233m)



> Visit Cambodia & the breath taking Angkor Wat (which is happening in June- highly likely to achieve this)



> Perhaps revisit Hong Kong or Taiwan for a gastronomic adventure



> Tryout for the Amazing Race Asia Season 5! I know it sounds ambitious but it would certainly be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that money can't buy!



How does your 2011 list looks like?

The Year That Went Past

I notice that my long spell of silence is unconsciously becoming a routine rather an occasional occurrence. As much as I wish there are more hours in a day, I also wish those hours are NOT working hours. Here I am on NYE trying to write a post that (hopes) to capture the past 365 days of the year.

Some of MY defining moments for 2009:

- Quitted a job;
- Got a new job;
- Traveled to Perth, Bangkok, Vietnam, Singapore for holidays;
- Drove long distance for the first time in my life- Ipoh, Taiping, Melaka, Penang;
- Had the MOST hotel stays in 3 months- 9 times!
- Broke personal and all time record by staying up in office till 6.30am;
- Got thrown into shits and survived (1st assignment at new job) and got a good rating from bosses;
- Had the opportunity to be part of the BIGGEST milestone of the new co;
- Managed approx 30 Bangladeshi + Pakistani workers (learnt that 'Achar' means 'Good' in Bangla);
- Took up part time studies and never felt happy on weekends since then;
- Gotten an iPod Touch for birthday and now truly understands why it is THE bomb! but I'll still stick with my Nokia for phone functions cos apparently I suck in typing qwerty with touchscreen;
- Ate crocodile meat! (taste like chicken but slightly stiffer)
- Met with an accident, called an ambulance, went to the hospital (I'm not the injured one) and still believe there are good people out there;
- Stepped into an LV shop @Singapore and actually came out with a bag! (what people didn't know is I was merely helping someone to collect her bag hahaha)- at least now I know how it feels.... ;
- Registered as a voter- come GE13 I will be exercising my rights- beware inefficient $$ sucking gov, I'm gonna contribute that ONE vote for a better ONEMalaysia!!!
- Had my first Guinness on tap and still don't understand why people say it's not bitter when IT IS BITTER dammit;
- Still hates beeeeeeeeer....

... hmmm. 2009 has been a very challenging but great year indeed- a lot of travelings which I enjoy doing and greater responsibilities at work, studies to juggle, friends to meet, and bed to sleep.

***********

My resolution for 2010- To travel at least once every quarter of the year... I'm already close to achieving it before the year begins! Phuket in January, KK in March, Bali in Sept and I'm off for a 2.5 months overseas attachment at the end of the year (just hope I maintain my performance at work lah).

Till then, I shall sign off for 2009 and be back in this column next year!

Father's Day BBQ

I think I'm earning a little reputation on being a blogger who's 1) too busy (not lazy ok!) to update her blog and 2) a blogger who has quite a bit of backlogs to clear. So, that explains why I'm only posting on Father's Day when it was errr... 2 months back??



Mom bought a new cooking gadget from her last trip to Dubai- an Open BBQ Grill, very convenient as it's small and portable but runs on electricity, so no it cannot replace the good ol' charcoal pits!

We had pork chops...





Grilled prawns...





... and grilled squid.



*Tadah!* A wholesome homemade BBQ dinner. The grill is easy to use and best bit is you can see the oil dripping away... and it's fun to act like a hotel grill chef sometimes!

Headin' to Malacca tomorrow! And on a mission to NOT eat the usual Malaccan food (ie. chicken rice balls), gonna hunt for new food :-)

Will be back with pictures, cheers!

The BIGGEST Party is Back.... Hennessy Artistry '09

Artistry

The whole KL was there, were you???

It was one of the most anticipated party of the year, having been to the last few (@Aloha, @Orange, @Bkt Kiara'08), when I heard over the grapevine that @Bkt Kiara'09 is coming, I know I'll not miss it for anything!


Danny, Jill, Me, Ziling

Many pictures ahead, and I'll let them do the storytelling. Sorry to waste your bandwidth for once!


Recession times calls for recession size glasses....

Of course not! For all the Artistries I've been to, good times or bad, the organizers never scrimp on the size of their free flows! These shots are only meant to tempt you for more drinks inside! But really nice touch though- the welcome drinks and the cute glasses. Wasn't drunk enough to steal a few of 'em home.




The very awesome DJ Decks

Following are pictures of my fellow colleagues (who are all very hip&haps).


Eric, Me, Jessie, Stef


Fellow MTs- Me, Stef, Danny, Jill


Aaron, Laurence, Me


Stef, Rachel, Me


Ziling sesat in the 'colleague' crowd


Some LED dancers and DJ spinnin' in the background


Fatman Scoop in da house!

I thought the only act worth listening to was only One Buck Short (yoohoo to our own homeband!) and the DJs spinning in the beginning and end. Nobody really paid attention to the rest in between as we were either, 1) Busy drinking 2) Merry-making 3) Don't know what they singing 4) All of the abovementioned.


For the Very Important Party People


... and the Super Important Party People

The VIP areas were segregated into 4 sections- V.S.O.P. All 4 VIP areas had their own bars, sitting lounges and great view of the stage.

Moving on to pictures of collegemates, long lost friends, family dan lain-lain!


Shoniya & Me- long lost&found high school classmates!


Jill is everything in between- colleague, collegemate, friend dan lain-lain!


Jill & Co


Jill, Suet Li, Me- long lost&found collegemate


Calvin, Jill, Jen, David, Me


Me, Citygal, Eiling- Ipoh girls reunited!


David, Jen, Calvin- Two photographers and one red chiq


Greg, Eiling, Me- The usual Artistry gang


Jen and Calvin- Spongebob's greatest fans!


... last but not least, some sisterly love!

Overall, I must admit the party's better than last year's but the drinks (mixers) were abit disappointing this time. I still prefer the Hennessy Miami (with lime juice and mint leaves). Full credits must be given to the organizer and event management co for the great set up of the event (from the breeze registration, photography sessions- where's ze polaroids?, security, entertainment, bartenders, design and set up of venue...). Hopefully the powers-to-be will stop being an ass and restrict this&that! Grrrrr.

Other than that, well I had a great night!

Did you?

Happy Daddy's Day!

Silly things that my dad does

There's a Chinese saying that says there are 3 things in life that is destined-
1) The family you're born into;
2) The person you're going to marry; and
3) The day you die.

... or something to that effect.

For #1, there's no doubt it is pre-destined. Nobody can choose who or which family they want to born into, else the poor and less well to do will never have children.

I don't know about your daddies, but I know I have a GREAT one :-D I was sick yesterday and he took care of me, bringing me water and tucking me to bed. Ocassionally asking me if I'm feeling better (and asking if I had H1N1) and asking if I wanted food.


Making paper boats on a rainy day

I remember when we were younger, dad would also take great care of us when we fell sick... I remember him freezing towels and putting them on our forehead to absorb the heat. I remember how he used to throw in Tora and other junk food into the house and quickly drove away to let us know "Daddy is back!!!". I remember how he plays hide and seek with us when he's back from overseas and when we failed/can't be bothered to find him, he'll come out from his hiding sweating profusely and asked why we didn't look for him (actually we were busy ransacking his luggage). I remember his silly jokes and bedtime stories to put us to sleep (to E & Z: remember Mr Samy's long hands??? Hehehe). I remember him being very paranoid with us eating chillies and going to sleep late (the paranoid-ism still remains till today...). I remember how Z will cry when dad goes back to KL on Sunday night instead of the usual Mondays. Dad is the King of self-create acronyms too and they are all very lame ones!


And letting it go to sail away!

Dad taught us to be selfless and always be generous. He reminds us to be happy everyday. He taught us that learning is a never ending journey. He instills the 'family-first' value in us (To E & Z: You guys must say yes to whatever I ask ok?? I am your only youngest sister what...) and tells us that charity begins at home.

I'm going to just put it short and sweet to my daddy who I know is reading this.


My Daddy and Me :-)

Thanks for all that you've done for me. Love you Lim Baba!

Happy Daddy's Day to all Good Daddies in the world :-)