Year: 2009

Today is one of the most action-packed day of my CNY in Sandakan.

Woke up early in the morning to go to the Rainforest Discovery Centre in Sepilok. It’s nice to break away and indulge in the greenness! I totally love the feeling of walking in the forest. There were many kinds of plants that you can see here. Most of them are labelled. You get to see big big trees. Tall tall trees. Majestic!

There is a suspension bridge, a canopy walk and a tower. It’s like you’re walking on the forest when you are walking along the canopy walk. Didn’t get to go on the suspension bridge because Mummy was already tired of walking.

Heard from the workers there that talked to Pappy that Sultan of Brunei will be visiting this place. You can see the Brunei flags being raised along the lamp post so I guess it’s true. Prince Philip will be coming here to in March if not mistaken. Cool, isn’t it?

This Rainforest Discovery Centre is well-maintained. There is also an air-conditioned room that showcases the kinds of forests that exists on Mother Earth, how forest preservation works and other educational and informative facts of our forest.

Came home and slept like I haven’t slept in 10 days because I had a late night yesterday and forced myself to wake up early to go to the wilderness this morning. After 1 hour plus or more of walking in the forest, it just sapped the energy out of me.

In the evening, went to have ice cream with Mummy at Vedablu and on our way there, we saw a lion dance troupe waiting to perform at another cafe so we opted to sit outside of the ice cream outlet that we were going so that we can hop off easily once we hear the sound of the drums! It was Mummy’s idea so looks like she’s more excited than I am!

This is my 2nd lion dance performance that I get to see here. Chances of me meeting one this year is little because of the rain and because I don’t have a car that I can drive myself to hunt for them. Haha! So…at least today I saw one even though it’s not the melompat-lompat kind but the kopek limau kind. Boleh juga lah.

For dinner, we tossed for good luck. Usually I’ll go dinner with my family and we’ll have yee sang on the 7th day of CNY because it’s everyone’s birthday today for the Chinese.

Tomorrow I’m going to spend my last day in Sandakan before I head back to Kuala Lumpur day after tomorrow.

Do you know that Chinese New Year 2010 (next year) falls on 14 February. That’s Valentine’s Day and first day of CNY! Awesome, isn’t it? I was looking at the calendar and already wanting to plan the dates of when I should come back to Sandakan for my next CNY. 😀

Visited a friend today. We went to the same primary school and secondary school. I used to spend weekends at her house just chatting away when we were still in school. We also share food while she’s on duty as a school prefect in primary school and I would stand next to her, sharing with her the food Mummy prepared for me. I miss those times.

Met another few friends who used to be girl guides just like me and it was funny listening to one of them talking about the perils of her working life.

In fact, whenever I come back to Sandakan. It relives all my wonderful memories of my childhood. And each time I come back, my mind would always start to think about coming back for good.

I have many thoughts this time around.

Firstly, friends…they are hard to keep. Some friends of mine make it hard because they just don’t want to be dated out for a drink. For some reason, I just don’t understand why. So I only have a few that I truly cherish our friendship. In cases like this, I have no choice but to expand my network by getting to know new people else it’s really sad because each passing CNY, more and more friends just start to disappear. It’s like they are no longer interested to keep in touch.

Many of my friends are still single even though there are some that are married and about to get married. I’ve always thought I’m the odd one out but it seems like a normal thing of still being single and available. We are all worried, especially being ladies so we must strive harder to get noticed!

Coming back home, I’ve also put in some serious thought of really working towards things I’ve planned to do but just don’t have that commitment to accomplish it. It’s always about not having enough time. Like I said before, I want to do something substantial this year and I MUST do it this time.

So you see…it’s a good thing to come home at least once a year…I look at things at a different perspective and going back to KL, I’ll feel refreshed and recharged, ready to take on the world again.

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

Total count of lion: 2

No photos taken because no one was home and so I was the one giving out the angpao to the lion. Another one came but it looks cacat so I also don’t feel like taking a photo of it.

Went to visit a friend this afternoon and then yamcha.

At night, there was a reunion gathering of our highschool mates and teachers. Very nice to see good old faces. Talked to people I’ve never talked to in class. It’s weird right? You are in the same class but never get to talk. Maybe because I’m just too quiet. Or we just don’t click or I don’t know. So tonight I made my effort to stretch my hand to give that handshake first to break the ice. Dapat juga aku cakap sikit dengan orang yang saya kenal tapi tak pernah cakap sebelum ni.

There were so many people, so many questions I want to ask that I don’t even know where to begin with. By just looking at their faces, exchanging smiles dah mencukupi juga. It’s nice lor. Nice that I don’t know how to describe the feeling. This is our reunion after 10 years of leaving school. Awesome, kan?

Gong Xi Fa Cai!

It rained super heavily starting 7 something in the morning. Another downpour again after that. As usual, Gracie & Family has got an open house on the first day of Chinese New Year. All I can say is this year is quieter than before, even the guests are lesser in number. Some don’t even bother to reply my SMS. Never mind.

Managed to speak to Iris in the UK too. She’s about to go to sleep while we are preparing to dress up for the day. Feel a bit sad lor..and wanted to cry also because I really miss her. It’s just different, very different without her around. It’s been 3 CNYs. But today is not supposed to be a day to cry.

Poured tea for Pappy this morning, wishing him good health. Because we drank tea a bit later in the morning while busying with other stuff, there was already a guest in the house that saw me pouring tea and wishing my dad. She laughed. Pappy laughed then I also shy lor. hahaha.

Wore my new cheongsam. 🙂 Ada orang cakap saya cantik. Cakap saya sudah gemuk sikit. Gemuk sikit baru cantik cakapnya. Suruh saya it’s time to kahwin.

I get to meet the same people every CNY and I like the familiarity. There’s a boy that I’ve seen for 3-4 consecutive years from a baby to now being 5-year old. Very cute.

A friend, my junior, seemed blur blur the years before but now he’s all grown up and is already married! He’s a really nice guy and I kinda poured out a problem that has been hiding in my heart for so long when he asked about my relationship. A problem that I’ve not written here before and don’t think it will be written until the problem is solved. Offered to help me and by just listening to that, I’m already very happy. When you’re married, you’re just grown up and mature just like that. I look at him and I feel very happy for him. He’s young but he’s set so many things right in the first place.

Few close friends came and I appreciate it a lot. I don’t have the privilege to drive around here because there is only one car and I can’t drive that car because it’s a company car and I need a GDL licence to drive it. So I can only depend on others and there’s a friend who’s ever so willing to drive me. Nampaknya, dapat juga aku pergi bersiar-siar malam nanti. haha

No lion dance that came to the house in the morning due to the rain  I suppose but at least there were 2 in the evening. One was quite old. One was nicer and very cheeky.  I managed to snap one shot that I love every much today. The lion was like staring straight at me while I snapped a shot. It came out very comical.

Going for 2 other open houses at night. 1 more lion to catch and more angpows to collect!

Gracie and family wishes everyone a prosperous, wealthy, healthy and auspicious Year of the Ox!

GONG XI FA CAI!
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Over a span of 2 days, I have been visiting supermarkets for 5 times. 3 supermarkets in total, with 2 repeating visits to two of them. Met my former English tuition teacher and a friend while I visited the supermarket.

CNY decoration is all up now and I like the fact that I’m home earlier this year as compared to a few years back where I would normally be flying back 1-2 days before Chinese New Year, just in time for reunion dinner where I don’t have to do a single thing to prepare for it but to savour the dinner and enjoy the rest of CNY.

This year I get to help with the decoration and I think I like it this way. Have not met up any friends yet because I just want to stay home. Coming to think of it, my friends get lesser and lesser each year, the ones that I normally stick with are also those I usually stick with when I’m in KL. Only 2-3 closer ones. This year I feel the need to expand my circle of friends.

Tomorrow it’s going to be an early morning at the market to accompany mum to shop for ingredients for reunion dinner. Something I’ve been doing for a few years lately because I think it’s important. As you grow older, there will be things that you’ve taken granted for last time that you’ll take it seriously now. I used to not following my mum to the market on the eve of CNY because I always felt I needed that extra dose of sleep. But these few years, I was just thinking how many eve of CNY I can have to accompany mum to the market?

After flying back, my face seems to be releasing tension. It’s bumpy with red dots, like detoxing itself, releasing all harmful things that I’m starting to worry because I want to look good on CNY. Then it’s menses day today and for half a day, I’m like lifeless. Uncomfortable and slightly painful. In fact, I had stomach cramp last night when I was sleeping so I knew it was a sign that it’s near. Good that it came today so that I don’t have to appear lifeless on the first day of CNY.

Coming back here is like living the good ol’ life. You have to reduce your speed, slower your pace, walk instead of run. I get to sleep earlier and wake up earlier. No stress or whatsoever. And whenever I come back, I always feel that I want to come back here for good. There are development going on that is certainly going to change this town. More roads are being built and it’s just so nice. No regrets of taking a long leave this CNY to be back home. Wanted to drag it until Chap Goh Meh but tak boleh lah..unless I’m jobless.

Read more predictions of the year of my zodiac until I don’t know what is what. Some say is good. Some say it’s not so good but whatever it is. There are things that I want to do this year. The economic situation may be bad but I don’t see a direct impact on me yet so I’m going to try my luck on one thing that I’ve planned for myself. May turn out well, may be worse than my current situation but my mind and heart has been telling me to just go for it, give it a try so I’ll seize any opportunity coming my way because I need such change.

I need a change.

I need a fresh start.

I need something that I feel is adding value to my life and not robbing my life values away.

eyes are tired. computer is sleepy. bed is so enticing. teeth needs a good brush.

I love Sandakan!

Very pleased with myself today. Managed to make myself another cup of apple juice in the morning, cleaned 2 toilet bowls, clear the mess in the study room, paid management fee, packed the remaining 5% of my luggage, water the plants so that it’ll survive for at least 13 days and then left for airport at 11am.

The taxi driver even commented I looked very happy today. Well, yes I am! Because it was still early, he wanted to do one of his personal errand so we took the long way instead of the short way. He took LDP instead of NKVE and stopped by at Puchong Jaya before continuing our journey to the airport. I always follow this cabbie whenever I go to the airport so he’s a man that I can trust and he’s funny. Your ride to the airport will always be entertaining.

He was playing the MYFM’s Chinese New Year album throughout the journey. For some reason, I always get to listen to this album wherever I go. On the radio, on the tv, in shopping mall, in certain shops of shopping mall. I think I can even here it in my dreams! I bought the first CNY CD from MY FM last year but I just didn’t buy this 2nd release this year because I’ve heard it too much to even wanting to buy one! 😛

LCCT is super-packed today. When I went into the departure hall, all I see was two very long queues. I tell you lah…some people are very kiasu, kiasu until they will go line up at the gate even though it’s not even time yet. That also nevermind. Aircraft is still not here yet so why are they lining up..I can never understand. Well, maybe I do, they want to get the front seat. But it’s a pain to see. Because whenever one person starts queueing up..like today..flight is at 2pm..but people starting to queue up at about 1:10pm, the rest of the crowd follows suit! Ridiculous!

I just sat there until the airport staff announced that we can now board the plan and I managed to get seat at Row 5. Not bad. Hahah. Because where I sat was the end of the second queue that was made up after the first line was too long. Sitting next to me were students..probably a couple because they touched hands. Each had a laptop and was browsing through Zhang Zi Yi’s leaked photo at the private beach. Sempat juga aku kepo because I’ve never seen any of those photos yet. Seated in front of me was a little girl who kept turning around and peep at me through the gap between the seat and the window. I smiled and she smiled back and this process repeatedly for a few times and it happened more frequently towards the end of the flight. She must be very happy about flying home too I assume. She will give me a good scan while I’m reading my book and waiting for me to notice her and give her a look and a smile, as though checking if I’m doing fine. We exchanged smiles for the very last time when we got off the plane and she was holding her father’s hand, walking towards the terminal. Sempat juga dia menoleh ke belakang dan senyum sekali dengan saya.

It was so green today as the plane was approaching the airport. So so so lovely. And because I was seated at the right side of the plane, I get to see the word “Sandakan” at the roof of the airport as the plane touched the runway. Can’t describe that feeling. Freaking awesome!

Then the front exit decided to fail on us…only the back exit was functioning so…I had to wait for the whole plane to get down before I could leave the plane…as I was seated at Row number 5. But it’s okay…because I’m home.

Came home, was watching TV when a cat came to sniff my shoes and then it looked like it wanted to untie the ribbon on my shoes. Mum shooed it away but it came back after that, this time scanning me, looking at me with such adorable eyes. When it left..and I saw the same cat again, together with a new cat after I came back from dinner. Still looking…hehehe. This time I took my shoes in. God knows what will happen, maybe I’ll find a missing shoe tomorrow morning!

It’s nice to be home! 🙂

It rained very heavily today, just like yesterday but it didn’t dampen my mood. I am so happy today I came home and danced like a ballerina. You know..two hands up, do a graceful turn, with a smile. Yea! That’s how happy I AM!

Would have to put off the house-cleaning part until I come back because I’ve spent too much time at work that I come home feeling tired everyday that lifting up a broom after that is a very difficult chore. Yesterday I managed to get 2 rounds of laundry completed. Bedsheet changed. Well at least, the decorations are up so I’m not feeling too bad about leaving my house feeling very crappy about itself. Although I’m only going to be in this house a few days during the 15-day Chinese New Year period, I still feel the need to “create” the Chinese New Year mood. You know..you always hear people saying there’s no Chinese New Year mood. I don’t really care about other people creating the mood for me. I create them myself. Decorate the house. Listen to Chinese New Year songs. Go the mall, catch some lion dance performance, catch some acrobatic shows (they’re awesome!), go shopping, look at Chinese New Year ornaments, gift package, cookies. You don’t have to buy them, just looking at them give you the mood. Buy a cheongsam. Just buy something new lah! Works for me!

The best part is going home. Ducky won’t be following me this time around. She has a friend here now, Bebeki. Haha. They can play with each other. Iris won’t be coming back so I will be playing myself at home in Sandakan. Actually I think my parents are more excited than me. Pappy will be flying back from KK tomorrow…he tried to match to fly back on the same day as me.

From tomorrow onwards, I’ll be blogging from another PC, across the South China Sea. 🙂

Siaran tergendala. Was about to start packing and suddenly my stomach started to do some self-cleansing. Diarrhoea. Must be the fruit juice lah but it’s okay, everything bad must go out. So while I’m nursing my tummy with some ginger cream which is said to relieve stomach wind, and also used as a slimming cream and period pain reliever, I shall continue writing. I will continue packing when I’m a bit more better.

The picture above is exactly how my balcony looks like now. The lightings which consists of small red lanterns is put up on Sunday evening itself and I was enjoying the view of it last night. I switched off the lights in the living room, apply facial mask on my face, lie on the sofa and enjoyed the redness in the darkness. And because I wanted to show you how it looks like, I took pictures of it. It took me 48 shots to pick one. This is the nicest. The rest is just like shit. I tested every ISO settings possible 100 to 1600. 1600 appears brighter but with more noise/grains and just plain cacat. I think this one is with the lower ISO setting. Actually after taking pictures with this camera for so long, I’ve never once touched the ISO setting. Usually it’s set to Auto then one day I was playing with the camera and I must have set some of the setting to other setting, I don’t even remember what I did so from then on, I thought something was wrong with my camera because I don’t take nice sharp pictures anymore. Or the fact that I need to get at least so many shots to get a decent one. Time-consuming and very tiring.

Like when I went to shoot for lion dance. Also I can’t get good pictures. First is because the lion is always moving and I didn’t want to use flash. So I was always taking pictures when the lion is still enough. And with that, I also have one decent picture of it to show you. The rest tak boleh pakai.

Anyone knows how to take good pictures for lion dances that are moving vigorously using without flash? Or am I asking for too much? Don’t ask me to get DSLR even though I wish I had one but I’m just not going to invest in one just yet because I just don’t know. Just not now..not yet.

Okie back to work now.