Sze Jun's Wedding

SJ is getting married this Saturday, but there was a reception dinner on Thursday for all her friends and family back home.

I had the honour of being invited to her wedding dinner that night, and the hen's night the night before.

SJ had been a part of my troop when I was leading it at that time. It still amazes me to see them all grown up with careers and families of their own. I guess I would always consider them like I did so many years ago. :)

Congratulations!!! SJ!!!

May your days of married life be a loving and eternal one.

Me Underwater

I believe that many people who know me know that I love diving. Well, that could be an understatement. Diving has become a part of my life, something that I do whenever I had the chance, even if it is in the pool.

Wanna see how I looked like underwater?

Ta-da~~~!!!

Guess which one is me?

I came across this old picture while browsing through my archives. This was taken during my trip to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah in December, 2006. I had a great time there. I guess every experience is unique, and this trip especially, since it was the first time that I really did some hard-core diving, to the extend that I was looking more like a worn-out rag than a diving diva at the end of the trip. :P

That was a trip that I was supposed to blog a long time ago. But given the magnitude of it, the greediness in me to try to put everything into my blog, the whole thing got so huge that I finally gave up the whole project.

Well, not really. I decided that if the pictures did not go in my blog, at least they would be displayed to the public to view, at least for my friends, in Facebook. For those who are interested, you can find me in Facebook using my full name. :)

Or, to a lesser extent, in my Friendster's photo album.

For those who had waited for my blog on this trip, please forgive me. I apologize for the delay of nearly two years. :P I hope it could still bring back some good memories of wonderful times back then. It was really a fun time. :)

A New Friend

I met a new friend when I was in Miri. Cindy introduced us, and I was amused by her name.

Her name is, " Lulu Lu"

Cindy and Lulu Lu

Great name, eh? Never would one have to crack one's head to remember a name like that.

Simple and easy to remember. Her dad is a genius!!!

I was in Miri

I was in Miri city the week after the Merdeka day (Independence day of Malaysia) to do my first round of calls after joining my new company. It was a week of new exploration and also a time to meet up with my mate from Kuching, who had moved to Miri a while ago.

My Area Supervisor came down with me to show me the ropes and the ins and outs of the place. I was glad that he could make it this trip with me. If not, I was afraid that I would have wasted so much time just trying to figure out who to see and where to go in a very limited period of time.

My Area Supervisor noting down in a map all the important people to see.

Besides my work, I guess the next fruitful event during this trip would be to meet up with my good friend, Cindy, from Kuching.

Cindy has moved to Miri since the middle of last year after having decided that she would come and work for an oil and gas company as an accountant. And, being a true accountant, she is very good with figures.

We had spent many nights with other friends in karaokes and happy hours in pubs before she moved here. Since she left us, the gang soon dissipated and continued on with our own lifes. None of us was really sure whether this was due to her leaving, or us having our own ways to go in life. I guess both played a part.

My first night in Miri Cindy came and pick me up in her new silver Citra. I was surprise to see her in her new car. I had known that she was looking for a car back in December last year, but it failed to register in my mind that she could have bought a car months ago.

Cindy and I went to Halo cafe for dinner. I did not even know that there was one in Miri. Frankly speaking, I was both surprised and not. Surprised because I never thought that Halo would actually thought about investing in a city like Miri and not Kuching. Not surprised because I had always thought of Miri for being more productive in terms of singing cultures and bands.

I ordered spaghetti and Cindy ordered something that looked like nachos, but not entirely a nacho. I was quite doubtful about the food, and hesitated in putting them into my mouth.

Cindy with the spaghetti from Halo cafe, Miri.

There was a stage where young people, mostly students, would come by and sing for the night. There is a romantic notion to the idea of singing in one of the cafes like Halo. It is something that a student would think of doing to be romantic while earning some bucks for the semester.

That night, three boys performed on stage. They looked like they were in their late teens. One of them can actually sing very well. The guitarist seemed to like to echo whatever his other mates had just said. It was rather amusing to listen to them talk.

Cindy and I started to send in our dedications after dinner. It was fun seeing them trying to fish out the lyrics for some of the songs that we had asked for, and others they had to cover with other similar songs, since none of them knew how to sing it. I liked the voice of the percussionist. I thought that he had a better voice.

Cindy and I talked about our friends back home, and how each of us had fared since our departures. She is doing pretty well now, and I am simply glad and happy for her.

Anna W. et. al.

29 August 2008, Friday

Anna W. came back on Friday, and we went out for dinner that night.

Fridays have always been quite hectic for me, as I will always have to rush for things to be done before the weekend, especially when I have to leave for other places the coming week.

But Anna came back, and she texted me for dinner. I had a lot to finish before the coming week, and three full days of activities waiting for me come weekend, but I just could not refuse her. She had been an angel to me when I was in K. L.

I picked Anna up at around seven from her place. Kelly, Anna's sister, came with us too. I felt that something was up since the moment she told me that she would be back home for a night, but I did not ask much. It was then that she told me her true purpose of being home, and that took the wind out of me.

That was a little dramatic, to take the wind out of me, but literally, I was about to throw up, after the stress of the day, and now this? The excitement had worked my body to the extend of almost vomiting. I will not disclose the true purpose of Anna's reason being home, for she had made me swear to total discretion. Furthermore, what better blackmailing material do I have on her than this?!!! I was more than delighted to know and not to tell. Hehe....

Anna and I had dinner at Bla Bla Bla, which served us huge dishes of chinese food fused with a western touch. I could only managed a small portion of it, and left the others for the rest of the table to finish. Anna was trying to get me to eat more, which I refused. There were two other guys with us, they could take care of that.

The dinner was a long and mundane one. None of us wanted to be there in the first place. I felt like leaving the place just half an hour of arriving there. Friends were waiting for me in another place.

The relief was immense when the dinner was called to an end. Anything to get out of there. Little did I know that it was about to continue on for the rest of the night.

We proceeded to R. K. for a drink. My intention in the beginning was actually to bring Anna along to meet all our old friends from our high school days. Her appearance was meant to be a surprise for them. It did create the impact, but sadly, she was not able to join the gang as her parents were with her as well. Oh, well, I was thinking, let them be. It was not everyday that one gets to be joined by their parents in a pub.

I was sitting with Anna and her parents, upon her insistence. Nick K. texted me from the other side, "You looked so bored..." There was no better description of me then. And my reply was equally boring, "Imagine having to sit with parents..."

"Haha.. Kesian..."

The night ended uneventfully with the parents taking off, and I thought I could steal Anna for another hour or so. Knowing that she needed a break, I took her driving up to the beach. It was dark there, and I dared not leave my vehicle. We sat locked in the car, listening the the quietness of the night. It was a peaceful night, with very little stars in the sky, and the tide far out at the end of the beach.

We spoke very little, listening more than talking. She was fine, a little frustrated and worn out, but fine nevertheless. She needed a break, and the only way that I could think of getting her one, was actually to let nature help her.

We both got home around sometime after two. I cleaned myself up before hitting the pillow. Her last text came in, telling me that it was not in her intention initially to get me involved. But I understood. So, it was not a problem at all, I told her.

Good night, she said, with a smile.

Good night, I said to her. I went to sleep. Tomorrow would be another long day.

Johnny's Going-Away Dinner

L to R: Ai Fern, Nick K., Wesley, Teresa, Johnny, Edward, Ah Nong, Edward's wife, Lucas, C. S., Valerie, Henry, Kim Leng

28 August 2008, Thursday

Johnny has finally graduated from Swinburne University of Technology from his engineering course.

In celebration of his graduation, and for his time with us in Kuching, the gang met up in Koreana for a joyful dinner.

It was a fun night, and Mrs. Kim, the owner of the restaurant, joined us for a chat too. She is a very wise woman, with deep insight with regards to the current Malaysian society and government. The young ones left the place that night with renewed respect for the lady.

But, at the end of the night, Johnny was still the main character. :) Therefore, Johnny, we wish you a great journey ahead, and don't forget to come pay us a visit anytime soon. ;)

Adios, amigo!!! Best wishes for all!!!

One Bite, One Go!!!

Some can drink a jug of beer in one breath,
our Leo could do a drumstick with just ONE BITE!!!

Happy Birthday, ML!!!

It is ML's birthday, and divers all around celebrated it with her on her birthday's eve.

Happy Birthday, ML!!!

The Gang, Bunch of Crazy Divers

The Master and the Protege, same dark skin...

Have a good one this year!!!

Stanley Getting Married

6 March 2008, Thursday

The day that Stanley got married. In the typical Chinese way.

I woke up late at four in the morning. Stanley said that he would be leaving for the bride's place at five.

I was still groggy and sleepy when I reached his place, which was packed with his family and friends. Even at the wee hour of the morning, the house was bustling with people getting ready to welcome the bride.

I had some breakfast at Stan's place before departing. Stan's mother gave some milo, and I added Nescafe powder to it. That would keep me up for a few more hours later. ;P

There were five cars forming the bride-receiving procession. We rode in a line, and it was quite a scene on the quiet morning road.

We finally reached the bride's place, and the whole lot of us packed the door to the bride's family flat.

Stan looking extremely please and happy on his big day :)

The day had not broken when we were at the bride's door.
Stan had to wait until the family of the bride allowed him to enter the house for the bride.

The "Brothers"

The band of "Brothers" was supposed to be there to support the groom in winning his bride over from the bride's family.

Stan, and his bride, after going through the "Sister's" obstacle

Stan got through the door without much difficulty.
The only thing was that his brothers would have to suffer on his behalf in order to get him into the door. ;P

Stan escorting his bride from her place

When the bride was ready, Stan took Ling's hand and walked her out of her house. Ling bowed to her parents before leaving the house, a sign of respect and gratitute from the child to the parents for all the years and effort in raising her up and caring for her.

Finally, at Stan's place

Stan had brought his bride home.

Stan wrote this calligraphy.
It meant, "Chi Ling and Phoenix reside here"
Chi Ling is a Chinese lucky mascot that represented the male or husband, and Phoenix was the lucky mascot that represented the female or wife.

The new room

The Wedding Lamps

Two red wedding lamps that represented the well wishing of "Forever One Heart".
The lamp was supposed to be light the whole day, or for a couple of days, depending on which culture.

Stan and Ling, Husband and Wife.

Congratulations, Stan. :)

Yau Yau's Wedding Dinner

Yau Yau and her husband
28 March 2008

Yau Yau came back to organized a wedding dinner for her family and friends at home. She had done one previously in Kuala Lumpur, where she was residing, before coming back here to celebrate it with her family and friends.

I was honored to be invited to her occasion, and had the grace to help her in inviting many others.

The wedding was at the BDC Grand Hall, on the PTPL College. The whole occasion took up the whole school hall, and I was wondering if there might be nearly 600 people to attend her dinner.

Yau Yau talking casually with her friends after the dinner.

It must have been hectic for her, having to entertain the people from both places. But then again, you would want to share it with all your good friends and family, won't you?

Congratulations, YY!!! I just can't believe that you are finally getting married. It feels like yesterday since we last spent our school days together in one class.

Best wishes to you, my friend, and may your days with laced with the grace of God. :)

Friends I Have Not Seen In Eleven Years

Ee Chia and Lee Na @ the Food Court, The Spring

I never gave much thought about this, but friends of mine from High School just met up last night to have dinner and drinks together at the Food Court in The Spring.

Both Ee Chia and Lee Na I had not seen since I graduated high school. Heck! I had not seen them even before graduation, after we were seperated into different classes after junior high.

Ee Chia just gave birth to a beautiful daughter a month ago, and Lee Na is expecting in another two months' time. Two mothers from my year, and I am still walking around single. :)

Both looked the same as they had a decade ago. Time had not age them, but life had put them into different catogories now. I wish them well in keeping their families. :) I am always happy to see my friends having good things in their life. :)

Anna @ Rain

Anna was from my class too in junior high. She had been quiet in her younger days, and spent her time doing God-knows-what, for she and I had beed seated a distance away, almost a room across. But I had always this memory of me teasing her rather "sad" look, and she would always tolerate me in a big-sisterly way.

Now, eleven years later, she came back from the city, and could nail me back whenever I started teasing her. But at the end of the day, I was the one with the oppotunity of having the last say. Haha!!! I might be a little older than our times in school, but my cheekiness had never failed to strike home. And as we were when we were young, she would tolerate me in her big-sisterly way, with a smile.

It was great to have our friends home.

Get Out of Your Life and Look Around!!!

A spoilt brat just sat and drank with me two nights ago.

There are times when I tend to forget how naive and self-centered a person can be.

Life is a bitch, and shits around. We are bound to be at the receiving end of all and any sorts of crap to be thrown at us. But that does not mean that we should pick them all up and stink ourselves silly.

When shit happens, just take water and wash them away.

And one should never be angry with life shitting in our pot holes. It just happens, like rain falling onto the roof. Hey, you don't see the roof complaining about a rainy day.

I understand the anger of being unfairly treated, and the feeling of suffocation when one is under the pressure of being responsible for others. You may lashed out at me, with an acid tongue and even ill demeanor, but never forget that you still have yourself and your friends and family around you.

Know the persons who are truly good to you, and take them with you on your journey down. You might need to rest for a while, so rest on the shoulders of your friends. They are strong, and care for you more than you think they do. Trust them to help you, but never expect a particular kind of return, for that would only do more harm to your already tired and torn soul.

Please, take a step back and look around yourself. There are many others who are under the same kind of pressure, yet chose to be strong in the face of trials. Be like them, and you will be happy in the end.

We will all be happy for you.

Happy Birthday!!! Shun!!!

It is the birthday of a friend, Shun, and I am writing this post to honour this day in which he was born 25 years ago.

He likes to photograph himself. Not a bad hobby, eh?

This is the Shun with the "executive look"

He can be cute at times...

His "specky-look"...

His "poster-look"...

And, His, erm..., "Greek-God look"....

:D HAPPY BIRTHDAY, Shun!!!
May your days be as bright as the sun shines!!! :-)

Pom Pom Island: The Group

9 guys + 4 gals = 13 in a group

This is us!!!

Alwin

Dr. Alwin Lee Kim Peng
(1981 - 2006)

Six months has passed since Alwin passed away last Christmas.

I was lazing on the couch on Christmas noon, easing my hangover from the rowdy night before, when I received this sms:

"Dr Alwin just pass away 25/12/06 @10.44am...Thank you. Fr: family"

For two heart beats, I just laid there staring at my phone screen, before it finally dawned on me.

Alwin was really gone.

The few months counting down to Alwin's last moment, I sent him more sms's and called him more times than any other times in college. He was still the same him. A little naughty, and being himself. I guess I regretted a little for not making the trip over to KL to visit him when he was hospitalized. At least WM did make it on one trip, after I told her that Alwin was suffering from Acute Myeloid Leukaemia (AML). My case, I had to fly over to his place, and that was not something I was willing to do at that time.

So, I made that up by calling him often, though not everyday, and prayed for him in the nights.

Alwin did a bone marrow transplant sometime in April or May last year, and was for a period at a slightly better condition. He even went home and had supper out in the market place with his family once. But AML was no easy disease. Every single effort was needed in order to fight it. It was one of the most aggressive and lethal malignancy that killed young people who was diagnosed with it.

Eventually, Alwin stopped replying my messages. He was getting too weak to even type a message on his cell phone.

I was getting more and more worried as the day passed by.

I kept another of his sms in my phone:

"still having discomfort & in hospital! will email u my progress later! dun call me now! can pray for me?"

It just broke my heart to read it.

Then, at 23 December 2006, I remembered another sms that told of him going into a coma. It was then that I knew that it won't be long.

Two days later, Alwin passed away.

Rest in peace, Al, and I hope that your stay here was good.

Something New

It was like deja vu...

I called up a friend's mother the night before, and she told me things that were scarily similar to what I had been going through for these past few days, without me telling her about my life.

And the night before I was with another friend, who talked to me all things regarding the spiritual side of the human being.

So now, I am making more friends of the spiritual aspect?

Oh well, it is just another phase in my life. At least it's interesting. Something new.

The New Gal....

Behold!!! The Black Beauty!!!

November 7, 2006. Tuesday.

Interview in the morning. Drove the whole way up to Kota Samarahan. Second in line, out of 90++ candidates. Asked about certain quotes by certain deputy ministers. Er..... Dunno...

Bad day. But at least one good thing happened that day. Put a smile on the face, and brightened the heart. The sms of the day. What do you know, things weren't all that bad.... ;)

Cheers, and good luck on your way...

Telok Melano: Polis!!! Polis!!!

Telok Melano is a small village. But they do have the security and protection of the enforcement team of the country. Here is a picture of the nation's brave and beloved police-fisherman (whatever that means...).

"Polis" is the Malay word of police, and "Tenang" means relaxed. I wonder why one would call a armed forces' vehicle that. Aren't they suppose to be always on the alert for problems and troubles??

This boat has its motors taken off. Are not the police always be ready for emergencies???

What Should I Do??

What am I feeling now?

aise my eye brows*

.......

*Kept on driving and avoided a motorcyclist that just crossed my path. Oi!!!*

You know how it feels like to have this one guy, who likes you and intends to marry you, but never tells you or confirms it.

*Raise my eye brows again, higher now*

And you don't know whether to go for another one, or wait stupidly (the actual words were "gong gong") for this one.

*Nodding slowly, turning right at the junction*

And when someone else comes along and asked, "Do you have a boyfriend?", and all that you could answer is, "Er.................."

What do you do? Should I take up that man, or should I wait?

That's how I'm feeling now!!!

And that stupid fella who's staling me is the KPM!!!!

*I stopped my car, turned around and smiled at her. *

She smiled back, said good bye, and let herself out of my car.

Bloody Tuesday

MC and I were brave yesterday. Well, at least we didn't squirm at the sight of some dark maroon liquid flowing out of the tube with a needle inserted into the inside of her elbow.

Blood!!!

Too bad only MC could donate. I was always shunned at the door when I wanted to donate blood. It was either my blood pressure was too low for donation, or the fact that I had been to Europe between 1980 and the present, that I was excluded from the group that were allowed to donate blood.

1980 to the present.... THAT'S MY ENTIRE LIFE!!!!

Those dumbwits in the ministry should at least try to revise those questionnaires every once in a while. Yeah, I've been to the islands and the continent, but I've also been back for more than four years!!! Any residue of what was left from my stay in Europe should have cleared from my system!!!

So, there I was, sitting beside the small table where the "nurse" was supposed to measure your blood pressure, and being talked to. This "nurse" was a guy, and he was more interested in getting me to talk to him than taking my pressure!!

I mean, I don't mind getting chatted up once in a while. There's always the feminine pride to be fed! But I do prefer that someone who is interested to be, well, at least, NOT MARRIED!!!

Furthermore, I think that a man who takes his job seriously and does them right is the sexiest.

Take my word for this, I really do mean it. Man are most attractive to me when they are concentrated on what they are doing and being really serious about it.

This was not me being rude, but hey, I'm way out of your league, spec-guy!!! Go try it on someone who would actually give you a damn!!!

But before you do that, do you mind taking my pressure??

Alright, so I couldn't donate blood. And my pressure was alright that day, damn....

So, there I was sitting beside the bed that MC was lying in, and looking forlornly as the nurse (now a proper nurse) insert that huge needle into her vein and watched with fascination as the blood, fresh and warm, started to flow into the bag below.

I've got to say, MC's blood looks pretty nice. I mean, the colour and the viscosity. Not too dark, not too viscous, not too thin too. The good things of being young and healthy.

Well, I've got to give it to the spec-guy. Now he was actually sitting beside MC's bed at the head of the bed!!! Way to go, MC, you got him coming this time!!! And he was actually trying to imagine MC in her year 19th?!! I mean, alright, you've been one of the technicians at the Blood Donation drive of her high school, but could you really remember her since she was one of the tens or hundreds of students giving blood??

Man, if you are really fascinated by women, and love to communicate with them, try improving yourself more, so that we would be fascinated by you!!

Be good, and people will just come to you!!

I don't think I'll be able to donate blood for the rest of my life, do I?