Things Change

Human can draw a well-planned plan for future, but not everything will go according to the plan, one by one or step by step. Sometimes we have to divert our way from the plan, because we think the other road will lead our life to a different path. And if there is a chance coming towards you, will you take the chance or push it away? I believe that we should take it and have a try on it, because the same opportunity won't come twice. Well, it's possible that chances will come again, but not in a short time. It might take a few years or many years to come back again. For me, I think people should grab any opportunity that they were given. It doesn't matter that we might fail upon taking the chance, or it will lead a hard way. The most important thing is the outcome we can get from the opportunity, and what we had learn from it!

When I miss the 7 of u...

I will listen to this song over and over again, and recalled back all the sweet memories we had.

Forever by Takashi Somachi. OST for the Japanese drama, The Beach Boys. 沙滩男孩

Lyrics:

Kaze ga yureteru, nami ga utatteru
Ore wa kyou mo aruiteru
Suna wo tsukande, sono atsusa tashikamete
Kono kisetsu wo kanjiteru

Ah, Forever Your Love
Ano hi no mama no egao ga koko ni
Shizukani toki wo kizamu
Forever Your Heart
Itsuno hi mo
Nani mo iwazu ni sasaete kureta
Omae to futari yorokobi kanjiteru

Kawarazu ni nagarete yuku
Toki wa tomerarenai
Korekara no michi de nani ga attemo
Ima wo wasurenai sa

Sorezore no yume, katariatta hibi
Omae no me ga suki data
Kokoro no oku ni kakusenai mirai e no
Fuan ore wa kizuiteta

Ah, Forever Your Love
Nani ga attemo kawaranai sa to
Ano toki itta kotoba ga kasurete
Oh, hitori demo
Norikoerareru michi wo sagashite
Omae to futari mata koko de aitai

Taemanaku tsuzuite yuku
Hoshizora ni chikau yo
Sorezore no michi de nani ga attemo
Ore wa koko ni iru sa

Kawarazu ni nagarete yuku
Toki wa tomerarenai
Korekara no michi de nani ga attemo
Ima wo wasurenai sa
Oh, wasurenai sa

Translated:

The wind is blowing, the waves are singing

And I continue to walk, even today

Grabbing a handful of sand, confirming the heat

I can feel the season

Ah, Forever Your Love
The way you smiled that day
Is still engraved in time here
Forever Your Heart
No matter when
Without saying a thing, you supported me
I feel happiness when I'm with you

Things keep drifting along without changing
Time cannot be stopped
No matter what happens on our paths from here on
I won't forget this moment

Each of our dreams, the days we spent talking together
I loved your eyes
I noticed the fears for the future
Which you couldn't hide in your heart

Ah, Forever Your Love
"No matter what happens, I won't change"
Those words I spoke then are growing hoarse
Oh, even alone
I want to search for a way to overcome
So I can be together with you here again

It continues unceasingly
We'll swear it upon the starry sky
No matter what happens on our separate paths
I'll be right here

Things keep drifting along without changing
Time cannot be stopped
No matter what happens on our paths from here on
I won't forget this moment
Oh, I won't forget

*The lyrics said it all. I feel happiness with you all, I want to be together with you guys again, and I won't forget the moment we had spent before!

My family, My responsibility

I've been at home for 2 weeks. That weekend I reached home, I went back to my grandma's house, as the was a praying session for my great grandpa. And another weekend, went to play a badminton match on Saturday, and went to watch Thomas Cup the next day. My time at home was spent doing house chores, online-ing, and of course a little bit of TV time. Since last week the whole nation was in Thomas Cup fever, most of my TV time was occupied with the live coverage of the games. That's the things I did since I reached home. Full stop.

These are part of my job:

Traditionally, it supposed to be sweep. But now we are in modern days.

This work is the toughest!!

Iron once or twice a week. but fold and keep all the clothes everyday.

Prepare veges. My brother will do the cooking.

The time flies by when I do these things. These tasks keep me busy, until I don't feel it's troublesome , like what I used to think before. It makes me feel responsible to do these stuffs. But there are times when we don't feel like doing anything. You just want to sit in front of the TV or laptop, either watching movie or listening to music or just click whatever buttons you have on the remote control or mouse or the keyboard. That's the hard part. Either you leave it for others to do the task and you kena nagging by them, or you have to push yourself out from the laziness and finish the task. Haiz. Me don't want to be a housewife. Housewife that stays at home!

World class act

When there is an opportunity, and we know that we can take it, we shouldn't let the chance flies away. It applied in every aspect. Literally.

The recent Thomas Cup which was held in Malaysia was my opportunity to experience some real badminton matches by professional players, locally or internationally. It was a real opportunity for me as in: 1) held in Bukit Jalil which was an easy spot for me to go to 2) the date of the competition, 9-16th May, is a holiday for me and 3) it was affordable (much cheaper compare to Formula 1 ticket). I grabbed the chance by buying 2 tickets for final day of the competition. Initially, I plan to get RM 103's seat, which is the first row near to the court, but I couldn't get it. So I ended up getting a RM 73 seat, 2nd row higher. Haiz.

My younger brother was supposed to go with me, but at last, he didn't make it, cos his exam is around the corner. Although my father is an avid badminton player, I know he wouldn't want to if I asked him in the first place, or should I said, ask for his permission, before I buy the tickets. And I was totally right about it. I told him I will be going the day I reached home and he said 'What's the use of going there with a lot of crowd when you can watch it live at home?' I told him it will be a different experience, since I've 'experienced' this type of situation before (I went to watch Formula 1 at Sepang before, so I know how it feel). And now, since my brother needs to do revision, my father have to go with me. =)

So, on Sunday, the final day of the competition where China meets Indonesia, we went out at 12 noon, to get a better seat in Stadium Putra, although the game will only start at 2pm. We reached at about 12.45 noon, and it was already crowded. With Indonesian. The door to the stadium only opened at 1pm. It's hard to go through the small door with a lot of people. We took the seats behind the umpire. Literally. Few meters behind it, though. LOL. But from where I sat, I can see the court clearly, and of course, the players. It was a good seats, my father said. Because we can see both sides of the courts. The seats for the teams who took part in this competition was on the left side, below the VVIP seats. At this time, the Chinese teams were already in their seats, and there were 2 players training in the main court. Around 1.30 pm, all the Chinese players who were named to play against the Indonesian, and their coaches, went to the court and make a round, and had a cheer for themselves before going into the backstage. Whereas all these times, the Indonesian players who were going to play against the Chinese, stayed out from the spectators, all this while staying in the backstage.

1.45pm

National anthem, Negaraku was played. The Thomas cup was in front of me, and the crowd was getting high. These Indonesian spectators are real crazy supporters. It happens in all sports that involved Indonesian players. They shout, they sing, they wave flags, they wave banners, they boo, and they hah, to make people nervous.

1.55pm

The umpire, service judge and linesmen walked in. The umpire and service judge walked into the court while the linesmen took their seats. And then, Lin Dan, the first single player from China, walked into the court. After putting his bag, he walk towards the umpire and service judge, and then waits for Taufik Hidayat to come out. They exchange gift, before umpire throwing a coin to see who has the chance to make the first serve. And then, they started to warm up, for 3-5 minutes.

3-5 minutes later...

and the first game of the very first match started!! Obviously, it was totally a different feeling compared with watching in front of the television. There's the crowd wooing and booing, and the whole environment was totally different. It has the feel, the excitement. It was a match where both players played their very best, although it seems to me that Lin Dan dominate the whole match, and Taufik was kind of being bully. So Lin Dan won in straight sets. But I know Taufk took the match seriously. I mean, there's no player want to lose in a competition.

Second and third match were the real games, where the two teams exchange points, and they only differ a few points to each other. Most of the crowd cheered for the Indonesian, but I still stick to my Chinese players, especially the double players, whom are my idols. Though adrenaline still pump and move as fast as they could, this time around, I was not that kan jiong. I used to be very kan jiong whenever the Chinese team played, as I want them to win badly. But now, my feeling is that, it doesn't matter win or lose, as long as they had play their very best. But the doubles match is always the best match to watch compared to the singles. They moved around very fast, and their opponent's defense were great. Totally great!

After 3 hours of fighting, China was the winner for this year's Thomas Cup. The 3 first matches were all won buy China, so there is no need to play the 4th and 5th match. I got to see they celebrate, through my own eyes. It was totally a different feeling, indescribable.

It was an exiting moment for me, as I finally realized one of my dream: seeing my idols through my naked eyes. From this competition too, I got to see the world class act by those world class players. All of the day's players are really great players. They have their skills, and it's a very serious stuff for them: displayed a good match for their country and their fans. They showed their determinations to get each points, the power to overcome the pressures from the fans and themselves. It was really a world class act, where my dad finally agree with me that it was totally a different feeling watching live at the stadium, and it was much better watch it there. When we reach home, daddy said this: Next time we go watch live again! Roger, daddy!!! =)

Sistah-hood Forever

For the past 2.5 years, I’ve stick to XinMi Chan, SzeSze Chuah, Lawrence Wong, MingWei Lee, ZheRong Liew, ChiaMin Lim and SheiHan Lim. XinMi Chan and SzeSze Chuah was the first few people I knew when I got into this university. Since then, I always stick to these two fellas. But then, my circle of friends expanded: new fellas include Lawrence Wong, MingWei Lee, ChiaMin Lim and SheiHan Lim. I was closed to ChiaMin and SheiHan than Lawrence and MingWei, as the two Lims stay at the same hostel as me. Though we stay at different hostels, I still stick closely to XinMi and SzeSze, thanks to the one week orientation that make us stayed together! =) But as the seven of us took the same minor papers, our relationship grow from acquaintance to friends, then level up to closed friends. At one point (and I don’t really know how it happened), ZheRong started to join us. As time goes by, the eight of us are then 1 level higher: we considered ourselves as ‘sistahs’ (sisters), as the majority of us are female. We are here in a world of democracy; hence the guys have nothing to say! LOL!

Anyway, this shows that our bond grow stronger, day after day, in this big group of us. We knew each other much more after each semester, through the things that we had went through. We shared what we know to each other, although much of the time we talk rubbish, and we have many ideas on rubbish! Hahaha! But that’s how our relationships grow stronger. We spend time to have meals together, watch movies together, chat together, karaoke together, and of course, we studied together-discussed past years or share the notes.

I myself had a very closed friend during my secondary years, but we did not live the way I live now. Probably it’s because at that time I was still school-bounded, and it’s only the 2 of us, plus the environment is totally different. It’s different to have a bunch of closed friends compared to a closed friend. But what important to me is that I really found someone to share, to love and being loved by them, in this different stages of life. It’s actually not easy to find a person who can be so kamching with us, let alone finding 7! That’s why I am very grateful. If I’ve not chosen this course, I’ll not meet this crazy bunch of fellas! :) I know it’s easy to say but hard to do, but I do hope our bond will be as tight as never before, and may our friendship last forever!

A Priceless Present

2010's Birthday present from my close friends-a sketch book!!

Taadaaa!!!

The front page, with my initial and a very-private-photo.

The first page: different roles of me

and then it continue with their messages, deep from their heart!! =)

It all happened yesterday when Ah Wei asked me for dinner, where I thought it was just a normal dinner, although it's my birthday, as most of us already started to enjoy our holiday (yeap, no exams, meaning our holiday starts earlier than others!). The meeting time was supposed to be at 7 pm, but it started to rain at 5.45 pm. Initially I thought of cancelling the dinner, since it was really a downpour. But Ah Wei asked to go out a lil late, when the rain is getting smaller. I didn't smell any tricks there though, as I was not expecting a birthday celebration, since we've done it during our Taiping trip. So, I made myself ready to get a call from Ah Wei to indicate that she's arriving. While waiting for her, I continued watching anime. Thus, I truly don't have the time to think, or guessed any birthday surprises, until Ah Wei rang the bell and said hello to me, and then a loud shout comprising Happy Birthday and Surprise that really surprised me! I didn't expect that! It turned out that they were going to have dinner with me! :)

Dinner took place at Hidden Recipe. It was a normal dinner though, with normal way-chatting before, while and after meal. And then, I was given the present! I was like, Huh? Biar betul ni. Cos I've celebrated my birthday with them, and I didn't expect to receive anymore from them. I'm a very simple person. Warm wishes from people close to me is more than enough for me. I don't bother if I didn't get any birthday presents. So, to get something so special from them is unthinkable. I can only say that I was really surprised by that. Honestly, I did not felt touched but I definitely felt warm being showered by their loves, in the cold night after a heavy downpour. You guys make my night wonderful! Love you all forever! =)

Not-so-productive Days

Since the Taiping trip, I've been staying in the house for the majority of the time, except 2 or 3 days went out for movie, dinner and visiting my uni's museum. It supposed to be good to stay in the house without having to do assignments or reading books for exam, but the bad and lousy internet line makes it less fun. Luckily in the early days, I still managed to watch a few movies, before the internet line became worst starting the past 2 or 3 days until now. I can't think of doing other stuff other than watching movies taken from friends or downloaded before this, or watching television, go through the old magazines again and sleep. Getting out from the house frequently is a no-no for me cos the weather here is farking hot, plus there is already a huge hole in my purse. I can't afford to go out and spend again. =(

The only productive things that I've done was that the reason I still stay here in Penang when I actually can go home and enjoy my holiday. I've contacted lecturers and asked them to become my referee for my Master's application and I've got one done, and one more to go. I've also met the lecturer whom I wanted to be my supervisor and Dr. had been very helpful by giving a few ideas on what topic should I do for the research studies. In the meantime, I'm reading a book recommended by Dr. and try to set up the topic. *Hope I can finish filling up my Master's form by next week!*

As the examination starts this week, most of my house mates were already back here in Penang to prepare their respective examination. Thus the peaceful and quiet house become merrier and full of musics again. While they prepare for their exam, I'm having fun on my own.

As for yesterday, I had an advanced birthday celebration again, this time from my house mates. I was already in bed at that time and my room mate woke me up when they came into the room with a cake. Oh gosh! This will be one of the memorable birthday celebration, as no one celebrated in that way with me before. If it's not because the next day I'm free, which means I can sleep until I wake up on my own, I surely will be moody cos I don't like people disturbing me when I'm asleep. Lucky for them! But it's good to celebrate with them once during our 2 years time together. Thanks to my Desa U's house mates from April 2008-May 2010! =)

And in the coming days, I shall start packing my stuff. Though I will be here again in Penang when I'm doing my Master, but I'm not staying in this cozy and lovely room where I can hear the water flowing in the swimming pool 6 floors below me again. I shall move into the uni's hostel or another room outside the campus, which I'm still considering for the sake of the internet line.

*初恋红豆冰@Ais Kacang Puppy Love which is now airing in cinemas is quite good. A simple storyline, but a lot of memorable scenes.*

Graduation Trip

Graduation Trip-9 April - 12 April 2010

9 April 2010

Before started the journey to Taiping to my lovely Miss Chuah@burung's house, went Meriendita El Fin de Semestre organised by Dr. Noni at C24. It was a final gathering for us the 3rd year seniors, before we leave this uni. I went around asking for 'autograph' from my fellow course mates with my laminated group photo. It was great fun to do this, as this will be my last chance to speak to them and get to know what is their planning after this. Through this meriendita too, I had a chance to taste the all the way come from Finland's Salmiakki, a salty liquorice, courtesy of Miss Chuah. It was a weird flavour, and felt very geli the moment my tongue make contact with the salty candy. But afterwards, I felt okey, but is not delicious. Spent around 1.5 hours there, went around getting signature and photographing with Dr. Noni and others.

Then went to Chia Min's room to pack her stuff, before starting our journey to Taiping.

Reached Taiping at 8.3opm, had dinner at Taiping Lake foodcourt. After dinner, went to Taiping Zoo. Took a train to round the zoo, and then we walked for about 30 minutes before we left. A typical zoo, but the nocturnal animals are not as much as the Singapore's Night Safari. A place that will never ever 100% attract me cos I don't personally like animals, but Night Safari at Taiping Zoo is famous here in Malaysia. So went for it as I was here at Taiping. =)

After zoo, we went for supper before heading off to Miss Chuah's mansion and called it a day. Had pillow talk until 3a.m. before we finally dozed off.

10 April 2010

Reached Maxwell Hill at 8.30am. Had breakfast there while waiting for the jeep to fetch us up to the hill. Like FRIM, this place is full of trees. There were a lot of ah peks and youngsters walking up and down the hills. Like Cameron Highlands, the weather gets cooler whenever we moved higher up the hill. Thus, it's like a combination of Cameron Highlands and FRIM. The only way up the hill by jeep is a narrow road, and there are schedule to go up and down the hill by jeep. The top of the hill is verry cool, and the view is full of mist, which I like it so much. Somehow, it rains cats and dogs, and then stop, and rains again. On top of the hill, there were 2 cafes at different spots, chalets and a place where they planted the tulips. It's pity that it was not the period when the tulips blossom. Otherwise, we might have seen the beautiful tulips. Oh, the flowers here are all beautiful, like those we seen in Cameron. I can feel the freshness and aliveness in it.

Next destination: the charcoal factory at Kuala Sepetang. From the information that Miss Chuah gave, I roughly knew how a charcoal is made. And only now that I know that there should be a canal to make a charcoal! It was totally a new information for me, to see on my own and to get to know the details of making charcoal. By the way, it was totally hot there, as it needed a very high temperature in the furnace to heat the wood. And we all smelled charcoal and become blackie when we get out from there!! Well, too exaggerate!

Then went Hutan Paya Laut Matang to see the tress before becoming charcoal. There is a path throughout the mangrove for visitors to move around to see the different types of tress and creatures in it.

Next was lunch at Restoran Tepi Sungai at Kuala Speetang too. Before that, went to Port Weld, the very first railway station in Malaysia, but is now dismantled. And first time met Tauke Chuah@Miss Chuah's dad. Hello, uncle. The lunch was a table full of seafood, cos this place is famous for its seafood-fresh and delicious, because it is right above the place where fisherman collect all their catches of the day. I ate heart fully, especially fishes, as I've not ate seafood for a long time, since I did not go back home after Chinese New Year.

After lunch, went to Miss Chuah's relative's house, to see the sea right behind the house. There were a few boats behind the house where her uncle used to catch fishes long time ago. If I'm not mistaken. Had experience in seeing these before, so I'm not too surprise to see this. Just that I felt great to be with mother nature again after a long period in the concrete bounded city. It doesn't matter whether it's a sea full of salty smell or hill with hilly road, as long as it's mother nature, I'm grateful.

Went back to Miss Chuah's house to bath before went to the famous Taiping Lake Garden. Except that it is much bigger than Shah Alam's Lake, they are almost alike in the other parts. People jogging and walking around and it's a lake with a fountain. Walked almost an hour, and then went to a kuil to see wild boars. Rumours said that touching these boars will bring good wealth. There were even a bus of tourist all the way from Singapore came to touch the boars!

After that, went to a shop to buy the famous hiong pia, and then straight away went back home. Had barbecue, and a little birthday surprised. It was a joint birthday celebration for me and Chia Min. I thought it was a belated celebration for Chia Min, but never thought that they will celebrate my birthday 15 days in advanced here in Taiping. Thank you very much, my dear friends!! =)

11 April 2010

Started our journey to the north at 11.30am. Stopped at Butterworth for lunch. Then went to Ah Mi's house at Sungai Petani. Lepak for a while at her house, then continue our journey to Alor Setar at 4pm. Went to Menara Alor Setar and stay there for an hour. Then we went to Ah Han's house at Jitra. Had steamboat as dinner. We rest and chat and watched TV before we headed to Changlun, to a friend's house, and clean ourselves before a pillow talk.

12 April 2010

Went Universiti Utara Malaysia before going to Padang Besar. UUM is really big, and it's very ulu. I'm not sure whether it was a lecture day that day, because there were not many students around. It feels like USM's weekend, less people moving around. After driving around the campus, we started journey to Padang Besar. After an hour ride through the sugarcane farm and endless road, finally we reached Padang Besar, Perlis, border of Malaysia and Thailand. The place is actually famous for it's cheap price, on shirts and shoes, not in the very original brand. There are also food like cashew nuts, dodol, all these, but I didn't buy any of it. One thing for sure, the weather is very hot. I think last time when I went to Hatyai, the weather was the same too. I wonder is it the weather up to the north is getting hotter.

After lunch, went to Gua Kelam Recreational Park. Spend about an hour there, before leaving tiredly back to Changlun to take bath and going back Jitra. At Jitra, had dinner at Rung Reang Thai Seafood Restaurant. Head back to Penang after a short stop at Ah Han's house, and said goodbye to Ah Han who lead the way to highway. Ah Han is officially 'graduated' from USM, cos she's not going back there in a short time.

4 days 3 nights trips to 3 different states and many places make me experienced different things. It's totally a trip, where we go here and there, taking photos, talk more, sleep less and gain new experience at new place. It's tiring-sitting in the car and walk around under the different weather at different places. But what's more important is that it will be one of the few memories we will have as a gang of the 8 of us from Universiti Sains Malaysia. I personally will cherish the moments from this trip, and others that we had before!

Curtain Falls for Degree's Life

Finally, my degree's life is officially over.

No more classes, tutorials, assignments, group works, pair works, rushing for class's moments, being 'shoot' by lecturers, lepak-lepak moments at Subaidah or Queensbay or RedBox, etc. I can't believe that my three year's uni life ended so fast. It really feel like just a click of time. It seems like I just started the uni life not so long ago. And now, I'm saying goodbyes to friends whom I met here, lecturers whom had taught me. Since my final semester is more on final year project where less classes being conduct, I started to miss the life full of classes, though I hate it so much when there were classes back then.

These three years have been a good year for me. Of course there are bad and worst moments, but we need to think positive. So overall, it's a good three years. Met many types of people and learnt how to handle them. It's good to know all of them-friends, coursemates, lectures in my journey of life. Through them, I saw many things from different perspective, and of course, I learn things from them.

I had sorrow, I had bad moments, but I had joy and I had fun in Universiti Sains Malaysia! I will treasure these moments forever and ever!

Precious Moment

2th of April 2010

It's a day totally without any school work, an afternoon with my zhi muis, and a night with all 2007 batch of BATI-ans plus wonderful lecturers!!!

It's a proper prom night for me that day. Really. With hairdo and make up, and of course the dress and the killing shoes...I haven't done any make up before, let alone the hairdo. Anyway, it was a great journey to the salon and let the hairdresser show off his creative skills.

Next was the make up session at Chan Poo Bee's house. Thanks to her, I looked a little different that night. After 1.5 hours of make up session, we finally went off to City Bayview Hotel for the big event.

Many of us looked different that night!

What I saw and felt that night was not something that can be describe by words, but is to be feel by heart. I know all of us had a wonderful night, cos I myself really enjoy that night, with themakan-makan session, the singing session and the prom queen and king session. Even the lecturers were different that night! :)

It's a night that I shall not forget in my life!

BATI-ans ROxxxxx!