Friday, August 17, 2012

From Berlin to Kuching

So let me tell you how this story came about. I was on my way flying back home to Kuching from Singapore. I was sitting at the last row seat 30D and actually these 2 Caucasians sitting next to me at 30B and C. Initially I thought they were from Australia so I didn't really pay much attention. After landed, Fabian was asking the passenger in front of him like where is the best place to stay in town and how to get there. I heard the conversation and suggested him the 360 hotel in Hock Lee Centre. We then left the aircraft. We met again when we collecting our baggage at the rotating belt in arrival hall so I went to approach them to offer my number and tell them to look for me if they need any help or something. Fabian told us they don't really have a local sim card and asked if I would be able to drop them off somewhere in the downtown. I promptly accepted their request and drove them down to the city centre. So we started to chat in the car and there was where the story began and how we made our friendship. So after arriving at the Persinggahan hotel, Fabian left me his and his girlfriend Tabea's facebook so we could keep in touch. The next morning (Saturday 11 August) I received an invitation from Fabian over the Facebook messenger to join them for dinner at the Kuching festival. So we tried something really special which most probably Fabian and Tabea could not find in Germany, like: fried durian, fried ice-cream etc. While we were still walking around the festival, Tabea saw a German Shepherd competition and we went there. It was at Jubilee Ground where I used to have my Sports Day back in high school. I think they really find it interesting because it is not common to see German dogs in Malaysia, in Kuching and even a pet competition like that. We went to the rooftop bar for some beer afterwards. On Sunday, we went to the Bako National Park for a 3.5 hours 5.8km jungle trekking. Fabian said it was the best trail among all the trekkings he had in Malaysia. I suppose it means Sarawak has the best nature conservative effort to keep the rainforest in its best state. We went for seafood that evening and both Fabian and Tabea said the pepper crabs were really really great. On Monday, they went to Semenggok for the Orang Utans which I did not follow but I brought them to the famous hawker stalls at Jalan Song that night for local delicacies like the Laksa, 3 layers teh C special. They also tried stingray and clamps for the first time. Daddy actually brought some canned drinks by Sundrop upon my request, so I drove them back to my house to get the drinks. We then went to Little Lebanon for some chilling session. Tuesday, I drove down with Zhann to pick both of them up after the checked out at 10.30am. After which we drove all the way up to Damai where all the nice beaches are. I am glad that Fabian likes the Damai beach and he would love to stay there if he has not booked this bus ticket to Miri yet. So we went to the sea and the swimming pool for swimming. We also had this "Vitamin Juice" which was the mixture of grape, watermelon and honeydew and we find it really refreshing. We wanted to hop on boat for dolphin watching but unfortunately the time slot did not really fit in. It's okay, there is always next time right? =) Later we drove to Buntal village to have some light seafoods like the curry stir fried bamboo clamps, Bidin with red wine and cekur manis ("Mani Cai" in chinese and scientific name "Sauropus androgynus") with eggs.The bidin was really good that Fabian ordered a second plate. We also had coconut and Tabea said it tasted good as well. We drove back to Kuching after the meal and we were caught in bad traffic because it was peak hour. Fabian wanted a haircut so we brought him to one of the best hairdressers in town, fortunately he loves his new hairstyle, so does Tabea I think, haha. We had our last meal in Kuching at Sushi King Boulevard and just as always, the Japanese food was awesome. Finally we went to Kuching Sentral and that was the time when we said Goodbye and Auf Wiedersehen. It was a fun trip to host friends from Germany to tour around Kuching. Fabian and Tabea, I hope you guys find Malaysia a warm and hospitable country and I can't be more welcome if you guys would like to visit Kuching again! Also I hope I get a chance to visit you guys in Germany soon, be it in Berlin or Stuggart. Do keep in touch and it is good to meet friends like you. Freundschaft für immer.

I wish we could go for backpacking together around the world some time in the near future. Of course, I also hope that I could visit you guys in Germany real soon! Have fun for the rest of your trip!

Tabea, Zhann, Fabian und me

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

Little update

Because the link in my last blog was removed due to copyright infringement
So in case you wanna listen to how awesome the song was
Please check the video below and fast forward to 4.40

Friday, August 10, 2012

Kukup

I was invited by Snowie to go for a short 2D1N getaway in Kukup on Wednesday right after my last common test paper at 10am. Initially I was still thinking because I knew that I gonna sleep late the previous night to burn midnight oil for the paper (in fact I really did, I slept at 4.30am Tuesday night, or perhaps Wednesday early morning). But my mum told me she was going on Tuesday evening so I finally made up my mind to go. I actually asked around my classmates but none of them give a fuck, as in none of them replied me except Jeremy who wouldn't be able to go because of National Day event. Actually I didn't go solo, because I still have Dato and Jacky as my year3's coursemates. 

So how's the trip?


AWESOME.

Now let's look at some of the photos we have taken.


The immigration office and commercial center of Kukup

This is how our chalet looks like, it wasn't the ordinary wooden chalet which
we used to have at resort, rather a concrete made and modern style
*I took this photo from google because we didn't take the photo of our chalet

One of the activities - visit to fish farm
The guide trying to pull up the net to shallow the salt water 
so we can see the fishes inside
Bought a number of souvenirs here too

 Our seafood lunch, basically we had prawns and fish every meal
We also had crabs for the second day lunch
They were all included in the package which was god damn cheap

Mum said she doesn't like it when 
everyone just randomly picks up the fish during eating 
and making it looks very "gao wei" (disgusting in Hokkian)
so she actually divided the fish into pieces before we started eating
Just a typical delicate mum
I love her so much

What is summer without ice?
The mango ice was heavenly awesome!
The blended ice was so fine and added with milk
Making it tasted so yummylicious with the milky smooth sensation
The mango slices were very fresh, juicy and sweet too

Just me and Snowie taking a random photo before we left for the ferry

 Group photo at the balcony of our chalet

The good thing about this trip was the built in karaoke and two sets of mahjong in the chalet. Imagine singing K with the view of sea and breathing in offshore breeze. It instantly calms your tensed nerves and put us in a relaxed mode. When you sing too much and feeling tired, just walk outside balcony watching the sea and see how the crabs pops up a hole in the sand. Hungry? Not at all! 6 meals were provided during the 2 days 1 night course. 6 meals included - the first day lunch, high tea, dinner, supper and second day breakfast and lunch. The best part is you will be served seafood for every meal! And yes, they are all inclusive in the package. For just RM90 you will get all of the above, on top of that you will enjoy a guided tour to fish farm. Did I forget to mention that our room is air-conditioned? The only thing I find it not so appealing is no wifi and even if you are on a data plan, the signal is so weak that the speed is throttled to 2G. But you are not coming here to tweet all day long right? So ya, I will definitely go Kukup again!

I watched 康熙来了 after I came back from Kukup. Watching this show has became my daily routine since last year no matter how busy I am unless I really have no time for it let say the night before exam when I need to do last minute sprinting. So I caught the episode previous night which the guest to my surprise was Deserts Chang also known as 张悬 in Chinese. She is a very cool and styled female singer who I like very much. I never expect her to go this programme because she composes music for music, unlike other mainstream singers who made music for commercial purpose and to earn profits. But her friend - 青峰 the main singer of Soda Green, in 
Chinese 苏打绿 encouraged her to be more outward. He gave her the reason that - good music must be shared, which finally persuaded her.

She sang the song by Soda Green - 无与伦比的美丽. The first time when I listened to it I was impressed. Second time it reminisced the life I am having now, the third time when I listened again, I teared.



Tuesday, August 7, 2012

It Was and It Is

Three years ago when I came here
I was filled with ample of hopes, dreams and loves
Knowing that this a city where I will deeply fall in love with
Just as many many of my cousins, uncles and aunties had chosen to settle here
Three years later
Oh wait, not even three years
Just slightly longer than two years
I experience the total opposite real time
In the campus where I spend most of my time at
Is not my ideal study corner at all
I was back stabbed by senior whom I thought he would take care of us, or even myself
In a team, I thought work would spread out based on equity
In a meritocracy society, I thought nationalism isn't a big deal

Many times, I give my thoughts in an over optimistic way
Without knowing I should actually be more alert
Not everyone will care about you like how you used to
Just be sure that you are free from the hidden smiling dagger
Make sure you'll be fine and doing good
That's the end of story

Despite the hardships
I will still keep my head up
To finish the not taken trails
Maybe one day I will find someone like you
To be my fighting alliance
Or else I will bite on and complete it myself

And where has the human heart disappeared to?

Show encrypted text

580th: The little spark is back. I feel love.

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

When Reverse Is True


This afternoon when we were inside the lab discussing about the design of snap fit we had this conversation. Came across all the worst case scenario that could happen, asking me to ditch whichever plan A, B or C that I could think of. I told myself I don't want to spend the last 6 months just like that. Although sometimes I would feel good to lend a helping hand in making some of the events successful. Can I just be a more selfish? Were I too generous? When I was still stoning with all the W-questions whirling around my head, I heard a pin drop silence which immediately hooked on to my nerve, I saw a shining reflection rolling down the cheeks which left me in panic at that moment. What happened? Another round of question marks dancing around my head. Then she finally spoke.

...

I was left speechless. Not very long, but a moment which was enough to be awkward. She expressed her concern on how we have worked together all these while and had made all the tiny possibilities possible. Even if it wasn't to compensate the sacrifice I have made, I am still fit to have my name pinched on the list. I have never doubted my ability until recently but she quickly restored it. She gave me a strong dose. She wanted to reassure me it's gonna be alright despite the already jeopardous situation. Nothing within her or even his control, but... I think I better not say anything bad about that person. Took a deep breath and I looked up to hold back any possible embarrassing moment. I learnt that the only hope was gone, like a tiny ignition on the candle in a cold shivering snowy night blown off again. This time round for how long I don't know. Until the "yes" or "no" answer is known, I am basically mentally tortured every day. I am not sure how long am I able to take this, but superficially there is something called mask which you can put on. And then we were back to the conversation again. But it ended up with all the pressure on me because the opposite situation was I am the one giving consolation to ensure her that I am all fine and worry no more.

...

At that very very very moment, I wanted to give up.
I went back to flash back all the conversation we had earlier this year.

23 Feb 2012 - 
12.22.09pm
"Haha it's ok, kind of giving up edy. Please check ur email regarding the DPE new committee interview stuff"
12.23.09pm
"K. Thks. Never give up. hv 2 fight for it."
12.24.20pm
"I just feel myself too weak and vulnerable in front of adults' politics"
12.26.56pm
"U wil b adult one day. See n learn n fight for your deserve. U can stop fighting when u reach my age n have achieve wat u wan 2 achieve. Must fight for our deserve without hurting anyone or against conscience."
12.28.37
"I will take ur last sentence in my heart forever. I feel the pain."
12.31.17pm
"Is better be hurt then to hurt others. Bcos hurting others wil have our conscience haunt us til our last day.
I dun like being haunt, rather lose a bit to have a clear conscience. 加油"
12.32.15pm
"Haha thanks, u spoke like my mum. I will take ur words, don't worry. =D"



#574th: No news means good news?