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!

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

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

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

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

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

epic fail #1

i was supposed to go back to miri last Thu night. the last flight from labuan. and assuming the flight departure time would be as usual at 2140hr, so i took my own sweet time before i go to the airport to check-in. i reached the counter at exactly 2100hr, to my horror, the counter has closed!!! so a pointless argument began;

me: i wanna check in to miri.
counter guy: counter is closed. why now only you come? what time is it now?
me: 2105hr. i thought the flight is at 2140hr?
counter guy: that is what you thought!! (in a loud and mocking voice i started to get annoyed) have you check the departure time on the screen.
me: no but please… just let me in…. bla… bla… bla… i have a morning flight to Sg tomorrow… bla…
counter guy: that is tomorrow. today is today. i have sold your seat to the wait list people. (so stern it ticked me off to the core)
me: please… sure you can help me with this…. *pleading*
counter guy: no… that doesnt work on me. (KNS!!! so merciless)
me: hmmmm…. really cant help? just let me in la…. (i annoyed myself at this point for begging and i could feel my temperature rising i could felt the heat oozing out from my pores. FACE PORES!!)
counter guy: ok, u tell me, if i let u in, where are u going to sit? u will still be expelled by the captain.
me: hmmm…. ok thanks. *bitter i almost cried*

feeling really defeated i walked to the bench and took out my ticket. and KNSBBQ!!! the departure time was indeed at 2125hr!! ARRRRGGGGHHHH!!!! i missed my flight!!!!! at this time i can only blame my silly self for not mobile check-in (as usual) and for not double-check on the time during purchasing the ticket.

moral of the story: ALWAYS DOUBLE/ TRIPLE-CHECK YOUR FLIGHT TICKET. DO NOT ASSUME THE NORM. AND ALWAYS CHECK-IN EARLIER / WEB CHECK-IN / MOBILE CHECK-IN.

so i return home, took out my laptop and started to crack my head to find another alternative for cheapest and earliest route to Sg. cos i definitely gonna miss my initial miri-sg flight the next morning T____T cry blood also no use.

to cut the story short, i managed to get a sit to miri the next day. both MAS (my suppose flight) and AA flight to singapore have flew. the next best option was miri-kch-sg. but the problem was flight miri-kch by AA might delay due to bad weather so that will risk i’ll miss the kch-sg flight. arrrghh!!! so i had to WAIT LIST again miri to kl. it was a mess going to and forth between MAS and AA counters. thank goodness i got a sit, it costs me rm839. more expensive than my myy-sg RETURN!! again, cry blood also no use. reached klia, i wasted no time to get the earliest flight to sg which cost me another rm453. and the universe decided to topple everything on me i guess, my flight delayed!!! and that must happened when all of us passengers were already seated comfortably inside the flight. half an hour we had been romped around the runway. another 1.5hr sitting helplessly in the stationary plane. gosh!!! after 3 different flight sectors, 6 hours inside the planes (4 hrs in the air, 2 hrs just sitting, waiting), crossed 4 different airport immigresen counters, i finally reached Sg. around 7pm. that marked a total of 12hours of my whole journey starting from labuan. gosh!!

and you think my stupidity stops there? let’s continue with….

epic fail #2

i guess i never learned from my lesson. and some more dare to to put that ‘Moral Of The Story’ in caps and bold. so the day i returned to Miri, right after landed i decided to check-in early for my flight back to Labuan the next day. little did i know……

me: i wanna check-in for Labuan. tomorrow morning flight, please.

then proudly took out my IC and printed electronic ticket to the counter lady. she typed on the keyboard and frowned at the screen. and then look at me in disbelief.

counter lady: tomorrow? are you sure? the system showed that your flight is today. 5th December. you are suppose to fly to Labuan this morning.

me: WHAT???!!!!! o.O!! Seriously?!!

i looked at my ticket and the date. WTH!!!!!! it was indeed 5th Dec!!! instead of 6th. i was so stunned, speechless and feeling really really stupid. my gosh!!! what a mess!! what was i thinking when i purchase this return ticket? *cry* i just wasted my entire return ticket labuan-miri!! and next morning flight (which i thought i’ll be flying with were fully booked. i had to wait list. AGAIN! sigh~!

when the 1st time i missed the TIME, now 2nd time i missed the DATE!!!! damn, who do this double idiotic act? ONLY ME~!!!!!!

sigh~! i guess i have no choice to just have to admit that I AM THE CLUMSIEST and FORGETFUL (almost senile) GIRL IN THE WORLD!!!

let me tell you a little secret. of all the rooms / part / space of a house, bathroom is my favorite space for only i know why. every time if i go to someone’s house or a hotel or even a shopping mall, i’ll rate it by just looking at their bathroom or toilet. huhuhu…. by now i regretted for revealing this. please, just let me in to your toilet if i ever go to your house ok. i promise i wont judge. *serious face* cos my own bathroom at home isnt as sparkly as you think it is although i scrub it with toothbrush all the time and i made sure i can see my reflection on the water tap after that. i know, OCD much!!!

i am glad that my rented room came with an attached bathroom. so, i have a freedom to beautify it as i like. if Balqiz uses plastic plant in her guest toilet, (actually this post is inspired by hers) i am hereby proudly present you my own lifeless ‘toilet plant’ made of wait for it—– WAX!!! and two dead Bath Buddies who stare at you whenever you shower! (but with eyes like that i doubt they can even see)

#1

whole lot of bath companion :p

back row: shampoos/conditioners/lotion from various hotels during my travels, two cute but ‘dead’/ ‘fainted’ (if a doll with this (x.x) expression, means they are dead / fainted lah right?) they called it Bath Buddy. Got ‘em from Bali at RM2.50 ONLY each. and i saw these in one of the beauty salon in Miri selling at RM25!!!! CRAZY!!! apparently you use it to scrub your body while shower with a soap hidden inside it. so it will produce foam while scrubbing. the soap if refillable.

#2

front row: four different kind of scents of soaps to be refilled inside Bath Buddy. but since i never use them so do the soaps. a scented candles from my girl friend and my lovely scented candles in different cactus shapes!!!!

#3

scented candles in cactus shapes as 'toilet plant' :p nice or not?

that’s a little peek into my bathroom. i quote Balqiz, ‘at least give me some credits for trying’

Happy Tuesday, peeps!

xoxo

these sisters shared a very unique name, Astry. but they both are of totally different character. each with her own personality. Astry A. (Ana) is bubbly, out-going and fun. While Astry Z. (Azie) is the opposite. she’s the quiet, helpful, soft-spoken and that goes with the flow type. but they share two things in common apart of their first name. they have the kindest soul and giving heart! <3

Ana and her little princess, Kiera are now residing in China (follow the husband who has been transferred there few months ago). they came back to Labuan just for a short break. Azie on the other hand, will pursue her course to the land down under very soon T____T i'll be losing my helpful assistant. pretty or not? i will surely miss her as a colleague as well as a dear friend.

so, jangan banyak merepek kerana kerepek dah habis.

let's see pretty ladies

ever sweet Ana

young and pretty mama

meanwhile, a random shot. hehehe….

things around the compound.

meet Azie, the younger sister.

lovely

i wish i have long slim legs like that too.

yummy day

:)

bring it on, sexy!

simply pretty and fierce.

hotness!!

one last ‘emo’ shot of Azie.

coolness!

clingy.

sisterhood

smile and the whole world smile with you both

^.^

kindred spirit

how can i resist a shot of their backyard that’s overlooking a lake. it’s where we spent some of our lazy weekends. sure gonna miss those times when leave soon T_____T

the backyard that has served us very very well during weekend chill outs.

and last but not least. a photo that sums up the personality of each of them. my fav!!!

Astry Z. & Astry A.

i’m so glad to know, work, play, spending the weekends with this amazing sisters whom i now called friends.

Ana & Azie, i wish nothing but the best to both of you wherever you are. God bless!!

Happy Friday!!

xoxo

was about to post a blog earlier on which i’ve prepared whole day but wordpress just ‘refused’ to publish it T______T sia-sia usaha sepanjang hari.

so i thought maybe i try a

Ice Crem Fondue @ Hagen Daz Bali