Life Scouts Part Deux

Continuation from the previous post!

Zoo Badge

Probably been to a few zoos in my 27 and half years of my life, but the best was probably Singapore Zoo, but I don't remember much about it. I remember fragments like the dolphin show and I think my brother got a little lost but I remember it was really good.

Horse Riding Badge

The most recent horse riding experience was last year at Fraser's Hill for about 3 minutes. I think I have a small fear of horses as I feel that they are such mighty beast and can kill me if they don't like me. Maybe it is because of the Christopher Reeve's incident that gave me this fear. Hmmmmm......

Snake-Holding Badge

Held a snake while I was at Pulau Tiga when I was about 19. It was this trip that my dad's company had organize to the Survivor Island. While we were there, we took a little trip to this tiny island that was famous for its water snakes. So there we were holding it and feeling a little squeamish. 

Rainforest Badge

Being Malaysians, we are blessed with plentiful rainforests. It's one of the beautiful things we have in Malaysia. Had a few experience with rainforest like when I went to climb Mt. Kinabalu and visited the Mulu Caves. All these places had rainforests as your preview before reaching its peak/ cave.

Video Game Badge

My experience include Game Boy, Game Gear, PS1, PS3, Xbox and the one with those cartridges and wired controllers...I don't remember what it is called.

Bowling Badge

Played this for fun. Was okay with it, but it always hurt my thumb!

Ukelele Badge

I own one but doesn't mean that I am great at it. My besties gave me for my 27th birthday and that was about 5 months ago since I had it and I am still learning! Anyone care to give me free classes???

That is all for now, as I have to wait for LifeScouts to come out with more badges. I know the descriptions are way shorter than the previous one, it is just that I feel that I have more to write with the previous badges. Let's see what badges they come up with. I surely hope they are more interesting than these ones. 

Have a great week!

Life Scouts

I won't go into how looooooooong I haven't blogged....So let's start with what I found online today.

Lifescouts!!

It is an online badge-collecting community that allows you to virtually or physically collect badges. It is more of a sharing of real-life experiences. They have just started this year so there are not many badges to collect yet. But it will be easier to start as I can talk about some of the real-life experiences based on the badge. Here goes..................

Mountain-Climbing Badge

Mt. Kinabalu (2001) - Did this when I was in Form 4. Probably one of the proudest moments of my life to have reached the top. Eventhough I came down walking like a duck for about a week, it was definitely one that put my physical fitness to the test. Did it with my dad and a few family friends and I can safely said "I climbed the highest mountain in South East Asia"

Sunrise Badge

Probably a few times which I cannot really remember when exactly, but I guess the best was when I was on the top of Mt. Kinabalu. While feeling so tired climbing the last stretch of the mountain, the sun begin to rise above the horizon was definitely took the icing! Beautiful scenery, with clean crisp (maybe a little lack of oxygen) air, it was a moment to cherish!

Driving Badge

I was one of the last ones of my friends in school to get my drivers license. Somehow, while everyone couldn't wait to drive, I took my own sweet time. I only started my pursue of my drivers license in Upper Form 6 (when everyone were taking it in Form 5). I don't really know why I wasn't in a rush but all I remember was that it was my parents who were the ones who started ask "Eh, you don't want to take driver's license ah?". Only then did I start. I guess they got bored of picking and sending me everywhere ...haha... Anyway, when I got it, I was excited to drive, but now after almost 9 years of driving already, I can safely say I rather be chauffeured.

Taj Mahal Badge

Visited the Taj Mahal in 2003 while I was volunteering at the Baha'i House of Worship, New Delhi (maybe they should have a badge for that). We took the early train from Delhi to Agra to visit the Taj Mahal and the Red Ford. My first impression of the Taj Mahal was that it was very beautifully built for the name of love! What a gesture! However before entering the Taj Mahal, I remember feeling "this better be good" because of the crazily priced entrance fee that they impose on foreigners! I remember it being about maybe RM50-60 but if you are an Indian national, it was like RM 2! Anyway, it was something to see. I know if I didn't pay to see, I'd regret it and everyone back home will go " You went to India and didn't see the Taj Mahal, baik no need to go!"

Parade Badge

I don't know if you consider being in the marching troupe part of being in a parade but it was what I did almost every year while I was in highschool. Wasn't the coolest thing to do but I did it. Marching under the hot sun wasn't the best. If you look back at my highschool photos, I definitely wasn't snow white ( I'm still not).

Bungee Jump Badge

Did this last year with friends for Era's birthday! It has been something that I have always wanted to do and so since we have one mini one here at Sunway Lagoon Theme Park, why not? It was only about 25 meters high but standing at the edge was something new. Although you know that there is a bungee cord holding you, knowing that you are about to free fall for a few seconds is definitely something that will make you question yourself "What the F*** am I doing?". After the experience, I have only one advice/tip for you should you want to do this too.....DON'T THINK, JUST JUMP!

Archery Badge

Did archery for fun while I was back in highschool. Competed in a few competition organized by my dad's company, won a few vouchers but overall I still suck at it.

Picnic Badge

This is something my family and a few friends used to do when I was still in school in Labuan. This was a weekly affair we took advantage of being that we stayed on an island. I guess this one of the things you treasure when you have been living in a big city for so many years. This is what I feel children in big cities are missing out on: quality time by the beach! ;p

CPR badge

I don't know if I qualify for this badge or not. I have not saved a life using CPR before but have taken a CPR/life saving course before when I was going throught my Lifeguard certification. By now it would have expired. So I guess, this badge was valid one point in time but now I have to keep it away.

Tree-planting Badge

If I didn't this badge on the website, I would have totally forgotten this experience my friends and I had when we were in high school. We were creating a Malaysian record for planting the most trees in a period of time. Wow, somehow memories get lost in my mind and it definitely needs some jolting!

Eiffel Tower Badge

2007 was the year I met the iconic tower. Didn't manage to go up since the queue was crazy but nonetheless, very beautiful. Somehow it gives of this very romantic feeling, maybe its just the whole Paris that just gives you the impression that everything is romantic.....NOW I remember why...its the language! French language is so SEXY.

Swimming Badge

If you know me well enough, you'll know me and my history with swimming, 'nuff said.

Fishing Badge

This is also one thing I used to do when I was in Labuan. Hsei Di used to live near this small lake when we were young and once in a while we would go fishing, but would find it kinda boring so we would leave the fishing rod at the lake probably buried half way and come back later after we have had enough time to play other stuff. Hehe, well at least I can say that I have fished before.

Big Ben Badge

Another iconic structure when I visited London a few times when I was living in the UK. Fun fact: Did you know that it's the bell inside that is called Big Ben and not the structure? Now you know! The name of the structure? Go google it yourself, I am no google.

Anyway, I guess this is it for now. There are more badges but I am getting tired of writing already so I shall blog later ( maybe later this afternoon if I feel like it). It was definitely fun writing this post as it brought back lots of memories, memories that otherwise have been forgotten. Maybe you would like to give this a go? Go check out Lifescouts!

Have an awesome Saturday people!

Be Mindfully Grateful

This is one thing I need to learn to do and stop complaining!
JUST A REMINDER!!!!

XOXOXOX
May

2010 at a glance!

January – Officially left the UK! Bittersweet definitely to leave a country that I grew to love. Wouldn’t mind going back there if given the chance!  Had the experience of studying and working there so had quite a gist of living abroad. Had a ball with my friends there. Memories to cherish!!!! Transit in Dubai for 2 weeks! Had fun with my sister’s family. Got to even celebrate Jia Wen’s Birthday with her after so many years! Even babysat my niece while my sister came back earlier to attend her friends wedding!

February – Came back to Malaysia for good! Celebrated CNY with the family having spent 2 years away was definitely awesome! Coming from a big family, it seems that CNY is never ending, from one house to another, from the 1st day to the next and the next day until we come to a close on the 15th day! Crazy don’t you think the amount of celebrating we are doing plus all the food that is consumed!

March – Spend 1 whole month back in Labuan, the small little island that I grew up! Didn’t really do much except trying to apply for jobs and catching up with good ol’ friends who i grew up with. Chilled out to the point of horizontal is what i can say about Labuan. When I was younger and still in school, always wanted to get out of Labuan, thinking it was so boring and just uncool to be in Labuan. But know I feel attached to that place. Looking forward to going back and just do nothing. Now I’m proud to say that I am from Labuan, however uncool you may think it is!

April -  Came back to KL, spent time in Alor Setar (where my parents are from) for Cheng Beng (first time ever). I think there are photos of that trip in an earlier post before I went MIA. Starting working part-time for my cousin while I continue to get disappointed with all the rejections from companies that didn’t want me!

May to July – Was still working for my cousin at Caterpillar. Usual meet ups with friends. These couple of months were kinda routine for me. Work, out with friends, chilled at home at my aunts place. I guess that was about it for that few months.

  

August – Went back to Labuan to celebrate my father’s 59th birthday! My sister and brother was there too and it was fun to have everyone around! Being at home with the siblings was nice. Being the youngest in the family and also having age gaps that are quite big, I was mostly at home on my own without my brothers and sister. My sister and I have an age difference of 8 and with my brother its 5, which means that when I was 9 years old, my sister left the nest and when i was 13 my brother too left the house. So since I was 13 years old, I was the only one at home with my parents till I was 19? crazy right? But it also meant that I spent loads of time with my parents and I think that it made very attached to them! In August was also the month that I permanently started working for my cousin, since there were no offers that came my way I decided to work with her full-time. So I guess a new beginning started!

September -  Went on a road trip with a few good friends to Melaka! Ate and shop was what we did! Fun is what was on the menu. Jocker street was fun as things were really cheap!!!! Don’t mind going there again!!!!!

October – Went to watch a few shows at the KLPAC with my aunt and cousin during the Short and Sweet Festival. Saw friends act, direct and dance during the festival and it was definitely a breath of fresh air!

November – Moved in to the new place in Puchong. Still empty but excited to get it furnished. kitchen is coming in on Thursday so that part I’m excited! Also had a party there, my 25th Birthday! OMG i cannot believe that i am now 25 years old. Last time when i was in school, I always thought 25 was a very cool age to be, but now I feel weird. Sometimes I still cannot believe that I’m 25, keep thinking that this is all a dream and that 25 is an age where you have to be all grown up and act like a grown up which i feel i hardly do. I still feel like I’m 18 and still seek approval sometimes on things that don’t even matter! Argh….While i am writing this it is kicking in that 25 is the age that most people get married or even have kids! I still don’t think I am mature/capable enough to make such commitments. How can people my age raise another human being?!! Salute to those who are doing it but to me it is still something that i cannot imagine myself doing YET! Since moving to the apartment, I started to go to the gym provided and run on the treadmill. Seeing results already but I know I need to keep it a routine so that I don’t lose momentum

December – Busy busy month in terms of work. Was running around like a headless chicken for a few weeks! It was good as the weeks went by soooo quickly! It was hectic but at the same time, coming back from work after a busy day was very fulfilling. Christmas time came and have been celebrating it with friends and family. Fun times definitely and its a good way to end a year! Looking forward to the New Years although I know I need to set goals to achieve to make the year more fruitful. Resolutions is what everyone calls it. Have you got yours? Will have to sit down and think!

Hope all of you had an AMAZING 2010…….and wishing all of you AWESOME 2011!! As Era taught me, I need to tell the Universe what I want, so here goes “I WANT AN AWESOME 2011!!*era says need to be specific* Work wise - I want a pay rise, I want the company to expand! Health wise - I want to be able to run 5km on the treadmill none stop at a constant speed of 7 (now only 3 km). Overall – to be content with what I have and just to be happy!!! I guess there goes my resolutions for the year of 2011? Simple enough to accomplish?? Hopefully! *think positive*

God Bless!!!

Things that has been happening……

……since I came back from the UK:

I know that I have been promising to do a proper blog but have since failed. Now I shall attempt to..

I came back just in time for CNY which was the plan so that I could catch up with the whole family! I definitely managed to meet up with everyone.

After Chinese New Year, I went back to ol’ Labuan for a month. Although there was nothing to do there, I was out almost every night till 2am catching up with old friends. We would end up almost always at the same place every night just yakking till the morning. I guess having been away for more that 2 years, there was a lot of catch up with everyone.

After a month in Labuan, my parents and I came back to KL for Cheng Beng (chinese old souls day). While transiting in KL for a couple of days, I managed to go for my first interview with a pharmaceutical company, which I got offered and turned down (which I hope I don’t regret later). Cheng Beng was back in Alor Setar, Kedah, where my parents are from . This was the first time that I have been back for Cheng Beng, so it was all new for me. How there is so much food to bring to the graveyard as offering. We also burn paper shirts, shoes too! It is also like a massive reunion where you meet relatives who you share the same great-grandparents, relatives that I have not met before and would not recognise even they were staring at me in a middle of town. It really makes me realise that my family is actually very very big, both my dad’s and mom’s side are equally quite big.

After coming back to Alor Setar, I started work with my cousin at her activity centre and that is what has gotten me occupied this whole while. I have now worked with her for almost 3 months now and time has definitely flown! I’m working part time for my cousin while something else comes up is better than sitting on my bum applying for jobs, which I know that it might take a while before getting a job, as a few of my friends who came back last year only managed to get a job recently. I know that it takes a while. I am happy that I am able to gain experience as I wait.  You never know that I might find my calling while doing this. I know that I am a coward when it comes to job hunting. I’m always scared that I might make the wrong decision jumping into a job that I would end up regretting! I know that I am still young and I should be experimenting with jobs, finding my true calling, but on the other hand, I am scared! Like I feel that its gamble to choose a job, even if you know that maybe something better would come along. I guess all I need to do is to jump into in, mistakes are meant to be made to make you learn right???? Hopefully, with the mistakes made, I would find my true calling * imagining a light coming from above with a path to the most amazing job/career!

I have been catching up with my babes almost every week. Now that I am back, Janu is leaving for her studies in India in 2 days, Nana and Hsei Di is also leaving next week. Sad! Will definitely miss them!!! At least I managed to hang out with everyone before they leave! These are the friends who I grew up with and even now, graduated and working, I feel that we are still close and I really appreciate friends who know me best! I’ve known Hsei Di since I was 8 ( that’s 17 years!!) and the girls since I was 13 (12 years!!). Having friendships that long, make you feel kinda old huh??

Anyway, do enjoy the random photos taken since coming back. For those who read my blog back in the   UK. I miss you guys dearly, and I really hope to go back there soon! Somehow, it feels like home as well, even though I was there for only 2 and a half years, I feel that it was a big part of my life. The friends I’ve made and the experience that I have gained makes me wanna go back there. Having had lived there before, I feel that the possibility of going back there seems ever possible and I am keeping my options open. Maybe you’ll find me back there soon?? :P

Oh ya, my sister and family are coming back soon and I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!

Loves!

 

Atlantis, Dubai

Taking a “Leap of Faith”

Chinese New Year:

Cheng Beng in Alor Setar, sadly my camera went crazy after that so I couldn’t take photos of when we went to my dad’s side’s cheng beng.

            

Paper clothes for my maternal grandparents.

All cleaned and ready for prayers.

   

Money to be burnt for the loved ones who have passed on. Don’t ask me why its called “Hell”  bank notes

Food and prayer papers laid out as offerings to our ancestors.

 

Snippets of my time with the girls!!!! We hung out loads and photos are from the girls as my camera is gone…… these photos are random ones from here and there…enjoy!

 

 

 

                                                                  

 

  

 

Need to buy new camera so that I can snap away!!!!!!!!!!

I know I'm lazy

I know that I said I would update soon, however this is not true, which probably makes me a liar!

We are now at the mid-point of 2010! Time has definitely flew by!! I was in UK beginning of this year, and how I'm back to my home country. Not much has happened except that I am closer to my family. I am currently working part-time for my cousin for the past 2 months at her activity centre. Have been quite occupied with it as I work most Saturdays as well.

I have been to a couple of interview and currently still waiting for one more interview as it was postponed. Do pray for me! I really do want to start a stable job. I feel that I'm in such a limbo right now that I really can't plan anything. Friends keep asking me to go for holiday but can't really do much planning as I do not know what I'll be doing then. Sometimes it can be a little frustrating. I really hope that this period will soon end!

I've been meaning to upload photos from the moment I came back. I've got no wifi at home and always so busy at work that I tend to just not bother! I know I have my dubai holiday photos, CNY, Cheng Beng photos that I have wanting to post up but been telling myself " Later lar"

Anyway, I have to go now... I want to promise photos soon, but i'm so scared that I'll not be able to live up to it...hahahah..I dont want to call myself a liar again!

Till later...HUGS!

First attempt

at painting flowers on my fingernails……..

Sorry for the bad photo quality….using my webcam to take a photo as I am too lazy to use my camera and this is so much quicker…. my left-hand looked alright because I’m a righty but the right-hands’ flower came out messier. Overall I was quite happy with what i did….maybe even after getting a degree in chemistry, I could still pursue a career as a manicurist? What say you?