Chateau St. Julien, rural France

Bonjour!!

Yup!! You guessed it! I am now in France. In rural France to be exact. I forgot what is the exact name of this village but we are staying in this gigantic, cozy, antiques but renovated ancient castle called Chateau St. Julien. It’s our accommodation for the whole weekends as well as the reception venue of the wedding of my lovely friend Wellena and her French husband Nico. In fact this is actually Nico’s village where his parents live.

We’ve been staying in this chateau since 2 days ago. I’m loving every little corner of it. It looked spooky on the first sight but once inside, I’m amazed at everything that it offers. There are a total of seven rooms in this chateau that accommodates 15 occupancy but honestly it could fit 50 people. And I am now in a big room for the single travelers with 4 beds but I myself is not sleeping here. I am here just to suck some wifi cos it’s stronger here. Hehehe….. I sleep in a double room with my other girl friend, Cell.

We landed Paris after a rough 12 hours flight from KL on 19th early morning Paris time. There wer four of us from Malaysia. Me, Cell (the bridesmaid), Nick (the imported wedding photographer) and Azra ( the only one from KL). I believe everyone in the flight were not expecting the weather can be so cold when the Captain announce the temperature outside. It was 6 degree!!! Oh my gucci!! I thought I is Spring already?! In fact even the couple weren’t expecting the weather can be this so freaking cold that’s why they chose Spring Wedding at the first place.

So, we took a train to the main train station to this village. We still had plenty of time before our scheduled train to depart. Darn! The weather was so freakingly cold that all we wanted to do is to seat in a cafe and eat to keep us warm (from the heater). Gosh! This isn’t Spring. This is still Winter!! Maybe even colder than winter in Melbourne and Taipei the last time I went there. Now I am so glad that I brought my thick sweater apart from my trusted leather jacket. And my thermal sleeping long johns. Thank goodness!!

We took another 4 hours ride of train to reach the village and another 30 minutes to reach this majestic chateau. Apparently this chateau is up for rental for events such as weddings, workshops etc. The weather is very unpredictable, it can rain or drizzle for 15 mins and then stop and sun comes out and then half an hour later it rains again and repeat pattern for 100 times. So u tell me la, how to go out further? When every time after few shots of photos, we have to run back into the chateau whenever it started to rain and the fireplace never stop burning. It has been the favorite spot for everyone to get warm. Khaleena just arrived from Scotland yesterday and we did tried to walk a little further and the same thing happened. We had to run back again. grrrr!!

There are so much I wanted to write down. But the time is limited now. The wedding is today!! Yay!! And will start in another 6 hours at a church an hour drive from here. Yeah…. Everything is far here. But the bus is coming to pick us up at 12.30pm. So I need to get ready now. the reception will be at 8.30pm tonight. But over here, the sun sets at 8.30-9pm. They have longer day time here

I dont know how we all can stand the cold and chill with our dress later but for vanity we’ll brave ourselves.

I cannot wait for the wedding. The theme is ‘vintage’. So I’m going to shower now.

To Wel and Nico, enjoy your special day! And just have fun and don’t stop falling in love to each other over and over again. And million thanks for keeping me in this beautiful place and feed me so well that I think I’ve gain weigh just within these two days.

Be blessed always!

Chicken Curry

so one of my personal project this year is to learn to cook chicken curry.

reason: i love chicken curry! especially my mum’s.

The Mother cooked the best chicken curry everrrr. it’s so good that family friends will specially order from her when there’s small family party or when there’s pot luck or when i feel like eating :p but being an ignorant daughter i am, i never bother to learn or even look at how she cooked it. i only help her to… eat.

so, since i’m out of comfy home-cooked food. i’ll have to learn everything my own. huarrrghh!! this is when you say ‘Thank God for Internet!!’ so last Fri i googled the recipe and chose the simplest to follow.

so let’s start with the ingredients first.

1. half a chicken (my case, 1 part drumstick + 1 part breast)
2. 1 large potato (peeled and cut into chucks)
3. half packet of dry tofu (soaked in cold water until it is soft)
4. 3000ml of coconut milk
5. 5 tbl spoon of curry powder (add in water to make a paste)
6. 2 tbl spoon of chilli powder
7. 100ml of tamarind juice

Ingredients A:
1. 5 shallots
2. 5 cloves of garlic
3. 1 inch of ginger
4. 1 inch of tumeric

Ingredients B:
1. half of big onion (chopped finely)
2. 2 bunch of curry leaves
3. 2 cinnamon stick + 3 bunga cengkih (star anise) + some cadamom (i just pour in all what’s in the packet)
4. 2 stalks of big red chillies
5. 1 ripe tomato (cut into chunks)

hmmm… i think that’s about it. you may also add in 2 stalks of lemon grass for that extra aroma.

Method:
1. grind or blend all ingredients A together.

2. on a hot pan, heat up 100ml of cooking oil and fry Ingredients A until golden and aromatic.

3. add in Ingredients B into the pan ans stir together. ahh… the aroma is now starting to fill your entire kitchen.

4. add in the curry paste and chilli powder and then stir some more until everything is well mixed. be careful not to do that too long or else it will burn.

5. add in the coconut milk and stir well for 1 minute.

6. put in the chicken, potatoes and then the already soft dry tofu carefully into the mixture. mix well.

7. let it simmer for 5 minutes.

8. add in the tamarind juice.

9. leave to simmer for another 15-20 minutes.

10. done and ready to be served. good for 4 persons serving

and this is how mine turned out like.

have fun cooking!!

be blessed, friends.

Where Did January Go?!!!

*gasps*

1/12 of 2012 has just gone!

what have you done in the last 31 days that make you proud?!

eleven more months to accomplish and achieving our goals of the year.

and btw, it’s also Federal Territory Day today and Labuan is one of it.

Happy FT Day to all people in KL, Putrajaya and Labuan!!

be blessed, friends!

xoxo

30

[UPDATED]

when you enter another decade of your life how did you cope with it? i’m happy but i’m also a little bit confuse and…. in denial. kns! i have resisted and refrained to make a big fuss about it but part of me have waited so long to blog about it. this phase. this transition of age group. today, a month and four days of being in the 25-30 or sometimes 30-35 age group i finally decided to shake off the delusional issue of being forever 25+. blame it on CNY. during friends gathering i’m the only unmarried girl in the group T___T (KS doesnt count cos he is a guy) my girlfriends are either married, with kids or expecting babies (one popping out next month on Valentine’s Day! woot!) and seeing them worrying and take their child as main consideration every single time before making any decision made me worry too O.O” now who’s the boss already? the parents or the kids?! *confuse* my friends’ children calling me ‘aunty’ and worst, just 3 days ago my cousin brother got married at the age of 23!!! i will always remember he said to my cousin sister (who is also married) ‘i cannot wait for kak ong, who ask her dont want to marry? so i kawen first lah’ LOL!!! made me realized how ‘old’ i am and how left behind i am in the relationship department although i can say that mine stand the test of time and distance the longest! what is wrong with me?! sigh!! that’s that. the end. ok next.

but good thing is i am still eligible to receive ang pow!! muahahahahahaaa!!! so anyway, all is well. i’m not complaining much la just that you know it sometimes get into you and you get emo semacam.

so since it’s the 30th day of the year, imma blog about the 30 things i did in the span of one year of my 29 until the day i turned 30 last month (which is last year). brace yourself.

1. my 29th bithday was celebrated with a surprise cake from my youth group friends during their visit to our christmas open house (also on my birthday) before i leave for Taipei the next day.

friends and family

2. went to Taiwan with my bestie, Scarlet who was 5 months preggie that time. count down and celebrated new year 2011 at Taipei 101 and then visited the Taipei Flora Expo.

Taiwan 100 years anniversary ROC 2011 New Year countdown.

Taipei Flora Expo 2011

3. visited Hualien and met fellow Mirian in our tour group.

Hualien

the two dudes are fellow Mirian and a mother-daughter team from Sg.

4. family trip to Manila in Feb. and our house got broken into T___T

jeepney!! only in The Philippines.

5. passed the test of eating ‘Balut’. it tastes surprisingly good. can join Fear Factor Challenge already.

6. went for a relaxing gateway to Bali with Jane in March.

in Ubud

7. got my Giraffes (finally!) from Ubud and made new friend with a friendly local girl called Nami.

bought a family of girrafes. not the ducks ok :p

new friend

8. went for a long awaited trip to Vietnam with Jane in April.

typical morning activity in Hanoi.

9. traveled on a sleeping cabin on a train ride for the first time and trekked a total of 10 hours in Sapa, Hanoi.

sharing cabin with a friendly French couple.

Sapa, Hanoi. where you'll still see the natives wearing their traditional costumes everyday.

10. stayed in a junk for the first time at Ha Long Bay!

11. mesmerized by the breathtakingly beautiful Ha Long Bay!

Ha Long Bay

12. Chu Chi Tunnels at Ho Chi Minch.

13. went for a workover job for the first time on Trident 16 rig. of all the site jobs that are assign to us, workover job will be the last type of job that will be given to me because it is a tough job. tough means 24 hours on standby :p usually the guys will be given priority to go for it first. but that time was a desperate case where all engineers were unavailable due to heavy work schedule so no choice i had to go!! T___T but actually i was fine with it just that i had to miss my Osaka flight!!!! horror i tell you!! thank goodness i was flying MAS and with the help of high ranking insider i managed to change my date where MASHoliday is not eligible to do so initially. Phew!! ok where was i? owh…. Trident 16!

rig's helideck

14. went to Osaka and be a kid again at Universal Studio Japan. whee!!

Universal Studio Japan!!

15. visit to Osaka will not complete if you dont visit Kyoto. stayed at a ryokan. the japanese traditional bedroom. and also stayed in a mix dorm for the first time. and it is so clean that its toilet almost had me a heart attack!

ryokan

aiya!!! i actually wanted to upload a video of the toilet that nearly made me to experience heart attack but dunno why here cannot support AVI?! how ah??

16. turned into a geisha and visited the Kiyomizu temple.

fake geisha :p

Kiyomizu Temple, Kyoto

17. attended my 1st wedding of the year – my cousin Melissa’s in June.

their wedding theme colour was green hence the green apple as favors

18. went to Chiang Mai with Jane (again) in July and had a thrilling experience of Flights of The Gibbons.

i think that's Jane there. the ziplines is so long that you cannot wait to reach to the other end. a whole new experience of flying though the canopies.

19. visited the White Temple of Chiang Rai.

Wat Rong Khun, Chiang Rai

20. had to returned a day earlier to Malaysia from Thailand due to work purposes – attend ISORD 2011. which also turned out to be a part leisure part training trip at Langkawi. the last time i was there was 16 years ago.

21. just one day after returning from Langkawi, i packed my bag again for Perhentian Island. this time with a group of friends. both the bf’s and mine

little olsen and me floating happy day!

22. my gf got married!! to a Korean guy!! now i really really cannot say ‘she also not yet ma…. why rush?’ the usual excuse when people ask The Question

cmee + martin.

23. went to Phuket with cousin and my 2 other girls was a truly inspiring and blessed trip this one.

the bottom right photo with our 2 funny entertainer onboard our cruise. suddenly our guide and waiter turned into 'wonder girls' and 'gloria gaynor'. LOL!!LOL!!! l

24. Organized a fund raising dinner with a Rock-ish theme. but it was a super stressful one it can be the down-est moment in my whole 2011.

handmade paper weight made of rock and my cousin came all the way from miri to support

25. joined the church for outreach ministry to Trusan Laut. was treated 1st class hospitality. we were spoiled by so much yummy local food!!!!!!

26. attended more friends’ wedding. *yawn*

27. went for an impromptu trip to Sg. visited USS and Marina Bay Sands this time.

my 2nd universal studio in a year o.O

one of my bucket list!! to do rock climbing. of all the places i have to do it in USS. posing with my cert and my young instructor

Rain Oculus at Marina Bay Sands and chocolate lover ;p

28. became official photographer for D&G’s wedding. yay!

their album.

29. Christmas in Lawas at grandparents’. first time driving long distance alone and it wasnt that bad at all.

30. Climbed and reached the peak of Mount Kinabalu on my 30th Birthday!!! win!!!

bottom right is my team member. but only three managed to reach to peak (top left). yay. us!

i made it!!!!! happy birthday to me

may you have a blessed day, friends!

xoxo

Water Dragon

before i fall asleep, i just wanna wish all my chinese family / relatives, friends and readers a very prosperous chinese lunar new year 2012!!

it’s the dragon year. water dragon to be specific. some said it’s good. some said it’s the fiercest and nastiest dragon of all. #shrugs make no difference to me though. but many are trying to have baby this year i heard. hmmm….

visited only two houses today. we had time to go for a movie – Viral Factor starring Jay Chow and Nicholas Tze. funny thing when we thought the chinese will be busy celebrating the festival by tending the families and entertaining the visiting guests, the cinema was actually filled by majority of them. why arent these people celebrating at home?! @.@

so back to the movie. we didnt regret at all that we voted for it (we were torn between Viral Factor and The Journey To The Mysterious Island). i couldnt believe that 80% f the movie was shot in Malaysia. all the police officers, protons and even myvi were in it. oh! i particularly impressed with the scenes at Pavillion!! u’ll wont believe that those scenes can be done there. so dont be fooled by its gangster looking poster and its action packed trailer .it was actually filled with family value that it made such a suitable movie for CNY (especially the final part) am not gonna spoil anything here so u’ll have to watch it yourself. it’s quite long (2 hours 15mins) but yeah Breaking Dawn was long too :p

hmmm…. my main purpose was just to wish everyone happy chinese new year but melalak about movie instead. tomorrow is house visiting with ex-classmates cum gathering day! yay!! it’s my main reason that i decided to come back during this festive season. because you’ll never know when can you meet them again. so better appreciate every single time that we have now.

Gong Xi Fa Cai, friends!

The Unachievable Goals + Faith

i looked back at my old post on my goals that i’ve listed for 2011 and i cant believe that i’ve listed so many. a total of TEN goals! are you kidding me?!! now let’s check one by one whether i’ve achieve any of them.

1. to not skip my tithe. WoohoOO!!
2. maintain my weight.
3. complete my holi-year. (8 out of 9 planned trips and 1 impromptu trip)
4. to be less a procrastinator. (errrr……)
5. manage my financial to last me the whole year. (i said the whole 2011, right? not for the next 100 year, right? hehe…..)
6. to be less emo and control my temper. (still emo but i’ve lowered my temper. i think.)
7. plan and organise things with patience. (argghh!!! i screwed up on this!)
8. travel solo. (*cries in corner*)
9. to blog more often. (FAIL!!)
10. to take risks. (my life is at risk whenever i step my feet offshore! ceh! ok that doesnt count cos it is work. what about taking whole lot of annual leaves until nil and had to go unpaid risking my career advancement or worst got sacked?! i still feel i didnt do really fully push my limit on this one but for 2011 i can say that it was so-so. that explained the half-sentence scratched :p)

at least five out of 10 were achieved! what about the unachievable ones? should i bring them to my this year’s goal? some yes. some no. because i’m realistic like that. i will still try to blog often, i will try to plan and organize things properly and i still wish silently i have a chance to travel solo. as for being a world class procrastinator and an emo girl, i guess i’ll just have to be myself!

i dont have resolution this year. just like any other years before this. but i have plans! i have my own personal projects! and i have some goals!

Plans:
1. Paris/Europe Trip
2. Cambodia Trip
3. Two very important events

Personal Projects:
1. take vain picture of what i wear. #whatiwear
2. to frame all some paintings that i bought from my travels. *sweats*
3. develop new blogsite.
4. paint on canvas.
5. 50cents piggy bank.
6. learn to cook laksa and chicken curry for goodness sake!! me!!!

Goals:
1. push my career to the next level. IT’S TIME!! i can do this!! *tepuk semangat*
2. attend a photography workshop.
3. book at least ten five photo assignment (weddings, engagement, portrait. no event please.) knowing my hectic work schedule for this year i doubt i can handle 10 shoots -__- so i lowered my number. *timid
4. to blog all my travels last year. *sweats*

hmm…. that sounds a lot. i dont expect to achieve all of them. even if i fail to achieve any of them by the end of this year i know i’ll learn some valuable lessons and grow through it all. just like all previous years. i believe you’ve grown and become the person you are today because of what you’ve went through the whole year too, right? like they always say, it’s not about the destination, it’s more about the journey towards it.

in the midst of everything that going around in my life in this short 21 days, i’ve also experienced beautiful and indescribable encounter /feelings spiritually. i have ASKED!!! and i RECEIVED IMMEDIATELY!!! i have CHALLENGED His presence. and i was NUDGED for being of little faith. padan muka! The Holy Spirit work their way on me and always left my in peace for The Lord says – trust in Me!

For we walk by faith, not by sight ~ 2 Cor 5:7

aaahh!!! i caught you yawning!! *throw peanuts* wake up!! i guess in a nutshell (pun not intended) i just want to encourage us to believe in our ability to success / achieving our goals. there will always people / situations that may deter us along the way and want to give up but it is always our CHOICE to whether just brush them off the shoulder like a speck of dust or suck it until it hurt us. always choose the positive side!! and remember God always provide.

i want to leave you with my fav tweet recently.

Start with an idea or a dream. Then ACT on it. U may struggle; overcome it. Cry. Smile. Be GRATEFUL. And don’t let go of His hands. ~Sidney Mohede

be blessed, friends!

xoxo

A Lazy Update

it’s my second post of the year and we are nearly entering the third week of 2012. dang! when i track back my blog statistic last year i calculated that i only blogged a total of 63 posts where January was the most with 12 posts and July was the most pathetic with only ONE post. kns. then i remember, in July alone i had been to four different places either on holidays or work. i hardly have time to blog. okay. hear. hear. excuses!!! but after subtracted the total into 12 months i did blogged around 5 posts a month. wasn’t that bad afterall. it’s like once a week with 1-2 more extra. and why do i mention all this statistic again? digressing much!! and now i’ve forgotten my purpose of this post. kns!!!

i have been so busy with work since the first day of working day this year. hardly breath. hence the lack of updates. even as i am composing this post right now i have to refer to my diary for what has happen the passed weeks. not much i can use here cos they are all work related T__T sigh!

hmmm…. what about a stupid incident? for the first time in being a hand phone owner of my life, i dropped my phone into the toilet bowl one day. yes. i dropped my Iphone4 into the toilet bowl after flushing!! my reflex action worked a little too slow that it already touched the bottom when i picked it up in that split second. i got panicked! the first thing that came into my mind – HAIRDRYER! but knowing the not so smart phone, how can i open it up without the specific screwdriver? *cry* the casing was all wet. thank goodness my casing was the type that covers the whole body. but still…. what about the headset and charging port? water still can go in from there right? i went frantically to the nearest phone service shop but kns the person hasnt report duty. went to another one. they dont fix Iphone. kns!!!! so i had to drive all the way out to town….. went to Apple Boulevard and another phone shop. they both adviced me not to open it up due to warranty whatnots and assured me that Iphone4 design is so tight that water wont go in easily. i had my doubt and feeling skeptical on them. ‘what if they are only lazy to layan me?’ i did try charging and using the earphones at home before i went to the shop. both worked perfectly. and that strengthened their notion even more. and fyi, my phone is fine till this very moment. so yay!! Conclusion is, Iphone4 has high tolerance to water (or i was lucky) so can go get one yourself. or the 4s :p

pheww… that was a long one.

i just finally received D&G’s actual wedding day album. it arrived in less than a week. i was impressed!! the colour for some photos were a bit off unlike the one that i see and satisfied with on my laptop. but i am very very happy with the outcome. fabulous! and i cannot wait to share their photos here.

on a more stressful side, the ceo finally added me on google talk. our co’s mode of communication. and we had a good chat. ‘good’ means i’ll have to say bye-bye to my carefree lifestyle and be prepare for sleepless nights for the rest of the year which has already started though. i can feel 100 tonnes of weighs on my shoulders right after our chats. sigh! and i know my ’2011 holiyear’ will finally lead me to this. this exaggerating expectation is the price i have to pay. so this year is a year of redemption and to make up of all lose time. #challengeaccepted

met up with girl friends last week end. and for once, i felt so left behind in errr…. the relationship department. my girls are either married, have kids or expecting baby. well, suck it up buttercup!! it’s your choice!! me!!! T__T so i’ll be meeting them again next week on CNY. yay!! and talking bout that, i was planning to drive back but since the ferry is full and i have no companion, i might as well wait list for flight instead. its the same thing.

owh, i have finally sold my Nikkor 18-105mm f3.5 dx lens to a friend. thought of using the money to top up for a new lens but i am still torn between a new lens Nikkor 85mm f1.8 or a canon G12. haihh…. how ah??!

ok, a photo to end this post.

nexus karambunai

I didnt know bout the existence of this photo until now. must be my sister’s creative work while i was having my massage at the Massage Hut. i was browsing through my album to scout for a photo to be uploaded here and this one made the cut. because it reminds me of a wonderful relaxing and pampered time enjoyed with people i love and sponsored by people who love me

btw, i am on twitter most of the time nowadays. and instagram. this photo social network is addictive i tell you. tell me if you are on in and add me @leanoval ok.

be blessed, friends!

xoxo

12th Day Of Christmas

if you know the song you’ll know that my true love gave me twelve drummers drumming today. hahaha!! but alas… i receive nothing today. not even on Christmas day itself or worst not even anything on my birthday which was on Boxing Day :p well…. i’m not complaining here. it just crossed my mind now that’s all.

i dont really know what to blog about now. i am just taking a break from my editing work which took me forever. dang!!! when can this finish?!!! Grrrr….. the perils of procrastinating too long now i have to suffer. padan muka!

Since today is the last day of Cristmas (so called) i am still qualified to post up Christmas photos, right?! So here goes my Christmas 2011 at The Grandparent’s village in Lawas.

#1 Glimpse of sunset on my way back to Lawas. was driving alone from Labuan.

#2 Passed by Sipitang Esplanade. Managed to shoot this while one hand on the steering wheel.

#3 Aunt mixing the ingredient of cheesecakes. Of all the places in the kitchen, it has to be on the staircase.

#4 made 2 cheesecakes. hmmmmm!!!

#5 i contributed by grating the Cheddar cheese on top :p hehehe….

#6 Christmas Eve morning. You are not in Lawas if you dont eat their kolo mee.

#7 Cousins meet up!! bumped into each others at the small town. di kaki lima juga lah….

#8 #whatiwear on Christmas Eve 2011. It says Peace, Love & Joy. just what i wanna wish everybody.

dress (yes! the top is attached to the skimpy dress): Myy
head-band: Parkson

#9 Visit own house after Christmas Eve service :p this was midnight already.

#10 Christmas Day!! in church sitting next to Aunty Rose.

#11 Grandma and Nek Rikan. and she’ll go ‘dont call me nenek, call me aunty!!’ =.=”

#12 with Grandma & Cuz Fiona

#13 vain!

top: black lacey+satin (inside) and sheer back with heart-shape buttons- Blizz Boutique Lbu
Skirt: Myy
Bag: Burberry Blue Label, Osaka
Rings: Manila
Open-toes wedges (too bad not visible): Vincci

#14 Husband & Wife, Alex & Fiona

#15 After church luncheon. No chair or stool. Had to stand. But food was yummeh!!

#16 Owen & Nolan

#17 Christmas spirit at Laban Rata, Mount Kinabalu

#18 New Year Eve Countdown and finally!!

#19 with lil cuz Nicole.

#20 with Sis.

all photos were taken with my Iphone4 and posted to Instagram.

Ooops!! i just realised i missed out 1 pix. aihhh… to lazy to reupload. will do that later.

be blessed, friends!

xoxo

One Week + New Year Eve

well…. well…. here we go again. it’s the final day of 2011. here i am sitting on this desk of my room. facing the beautiful sea of Sabah with roaring waves and the chirps of friendly birds. i am in Nexus Karambunai Resort & Spa. One of the finest resort of this beautiful state. today marked my 7th day in KK. i have one more hour before i have to check out from here.

so let’s see what have i been up to in the last seven days….

24th Dec – Christmas Eve at the Grandparent’s place in Lawas. I drove alone the day before which wasn’t that bad at all. i ‘ngabang’ our own house right after the Christmas Eve service cos i’ll be leaving the next day to KK. my ‘ngabang’ companion consist of The Grandma (as host), aunt, sis and cousin. we end up sleeping at 2 a.m. :p

25th Dec – Christmas!! Yay!! me and sis drove straight to KK after visiting two houses which were on the same way towards KK. Reached KK at night. Met up with Yong and IK and we were so excited for the next day.

26th Dec – we drove ourselves up to Kinabalu Park early in tho morning. the weather wasnt pretty. the cloud was heavy and dark. a sign that it’s gonna pour us a good gallons of water. oh! let me tell you why we were there. We were climbing up Mount Kinabalu!!! Fo’real!!! we made new friend from Hong Kong in our team. and just as we started our journey, it rained! T____T but that didnt deter our spirit. and what a long climb up. we started at 11.30a.m. we (i) reached Laban Rata (our accommodation) at 6.30p.m o.O”

27th Dec – woke up to birthday wishes from my room mates. yours truly turned 30!! i’ll have to get use to that from now on :p i feel old and young at the same time. but as far as i remember….. i’ve lost count of my real age when i was 25!! the number after that lost aong the years. hahahaha!!!! we woke up at 2a.m. to continue on our climb to the peak. at 8.05a.am, I FINALLY REACHED THE SUMMIT – MOUNT KINABALU LOW’S PEAK at 4095.2m!! it was the best birthday gift i ever give to myself!! consider as my 1st achievement at 30y.o. HUGE ONE!!

28th Dec – in KK just chillaxing and trying to nurse my sore legs! our muscles pain all over T____T

29th Dec – i had to work. went to client’s site plant with my still sore feet. thank goodness i didnt have to go to the site. the operation personnel did all the job for me. haha! and at dinner, when wanted to pay for the bill, was told that our bill was paid by some kind soul from another table. wow! what a pleasant treat!

30th Dec – still loitering around KK. The Boyfriend treated me and sis a stay at this beautiful resort. a reward for successfully conquered Mount Kinabalu!! wohooOO!! i called my uncle and family up to bring The Grandparents to join us here as well.

31st Dec – as i am writing this, The Sister and The Grandparents are waiting for me at the lobby to check out :p we’re going to head back to Lawas after this and gonna celebrate the New Year Eve kampung style tonight.

so, since a post is never complete without a picture….. here’s one from the peak of Mount Kinabalu!

Happy New Year Eve, everyone!!

xoxo

Two More Sleeps

before Christmas!!! YahooOO!!!

i’ll be driving ALONE >.< back to Lawas this afternoon. Been asking the students or anyone going back to Lawas if they wanna join me. But till this very moment, no respond at all. I guess they all have their own ways already T___T sigh~~ THREE FREAKING HOURS lerrr…..

but anyway, a quick update before i indulge fully to the festive final preparation (which i volunteered to offer the easiest contribution – to sponsor drinks beverages!!! LOL)

done with my assignment to capture my friend's wedding last week. which was my one and only wedding of the year. was on my heels all day. yes i am that vain!! must live up to my status as 'the photog in heels' and 'glamorous photog' (i know i perasan here but that’s what they say lerrr….. they said ‘wah, your photographer so glamor wan? -__-” so i’ll just take it as a compliment la, can?) after the event my feet sore like they were not gonna make it to press on the accelerator when driving home. and the next morning, my right arm also sore and ached due to lugging my heavy gears. but all were good because I LOVE MY FREE LANCE JOB as much as i love my day job!!!

my excitement grows day by day as the days passed. in four more days, i’ll be on top of Malaysia’s highest peak. i can say that i’m all set and ready physically and mentally. i’ve been lobbying some friends to join me a month ago. many wanna climb but mostly cant make it at this time of the year. i dont blame them. some of them want to celebrate Christmas and some needs extra time to pump up their stamina. as my friend said, ‘only ppl as crazy as you will go for the climb during this festive season!’ tet!! so that left me with 3 other crazies!! 2 guy friends and my sister. haha!! dragged her last minute :p cos my gf Jane couldnt make it although she had tried all ways to get her leaves approve that includes trying to ‘bribe’ her colleague. LOL!! my sis and i will drive to KK right after Christmas service on 25th and meet up with the 2 boys. and the next day we all will venture up the legendary Mount Kinabalu!!! I. CANNOT. WAIT!!!!

so by now you should know that my excitement towards the climb is more than the excitement to celebrate Christmas. LOL!!

i only started packing last night. dang!!! the jacket alone has occupied half of my luggage bag. but thank goodness i’ve mastered the art of packing (both in short time and maximizing space) i managed to squeeze in everything i need. and at the same time, i was also decluttering my room. that’s when i found a lot of random, weird and funny stuff in between everything that’s in the drawers, the wardrobe, on the desk and side table. LOL!! the most random things so far were two wind chimes i bought from Langkawi and a Gangway ID from my job onboard Otto 3 barge a year ago!!! hahaha!!! i will blog about that in another post. promise!

i guess this all for now. The Boyfriend just asked what i want for Christmas and Birthday present. i am still considering….. :p he mentioned a new lens but…. i’ll think about it kekeke….. *tamak*

so to all my dear readers, in case i wont have the time to blog again during this festive season here

WISHING ALL OF YOU AWESOME PEOPLE A JOLY CHRISTMAS AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012!!!

be blessed, always!

xoxo