Another year has gone, and here goes another additional digit to my age.
Suddenly, I feel like I'm having lesser activities/things to write to match up to the increasing number of my age. Oh gosh, this is bad :(
Well, 2016 has been an interesting monkey year for me.
A year filled with sickness and death.
A year of trial and failure, and moving on with bigger challenges at work.
And, a year of new relationships and priorities.
Trying to realigned my life plans, goals, and priorities that mattered to me. But sometimes even if you have all the things planned out the way you want it, along the way, somehow the universe will change the things around us and we end up feeling lost again. To be honest, I still have no idea what I want to do in life, but let's hope things end up the way that I'm proud to be.
So, here it goes... The 23 things I did while I was still 23:
1. Had my first experience watching a live fireworks during New Years Eve
Always wanted to watch a real life fireworks, and it was incredibly beautiful! Instead of hogging myself at a countdown bar this time, I decided to renounce myself from ending my year with a crowd filled with drunkards and strippers. Instead, I chose to end the year with the special group of people from the Buddhist youth community at Desa Park City. Although it was a great live firework performance, that experience made me never want to do it again lol... From the horrendous parking (park like sibeh far, you can even complete a 5km distance run), and you have to queue for 30minutes just to use the toilet (they only had 2 cubicles. TWO. FREAKING. CUBICLES. For an expected crowd of 1k++ during that night! *faints*). But overall, it was a great start to the monkey year!
2. Attended the D2Y Getaway Trip @ Tadom Hills, Banting
Totally fell in love with this place! I enjoyed the water activities especially the tarzan swing and diving platform as I overcame my fear of jumping from a 5m tall tree! But the most memorable moments is being able to have a camp fire BBQ, singing to the strump of Shashi's amazing guitar skills, gossiping and chatting up in a cramped treehouse with a bunch of Kalyana Mitras, and also enjoying the awesome stargazing night view with Ken Hui! :)
3. Entered into a serious relationship
I've been labelled to have a "serious" personality sometimes, but nothing is as serious as being in a committed relationship. The biggest highlight of my year will definitely have to be this. Other than the sappy, and unbelievable love story that you have heard, I've learn a great deal of things myself during the process of our relationship.
4. Take a liking towards hiking
I have to be really honest with you, I rarely hike in my life. But just so happens that my other half really loves hiking and I want to do it together with him. Thus, after one hike after the other, I began to enjoy the thrill seeking adventures each time we go hiking. Because of him, I get to explore all my first time hiking places like Bukit Tabur, Gunung Apek, Gunung Nuang, and many more to come. I'm pretty glad to have a great hiking buddy like him for a clumsy person like me.
5. Became an responsible adult
Growing up is fun until you have to pay for your bills. Namely: income tax, roadtax, personal insurance, credit cards, student loans, etc.etc. Like, Oh. My. Buddha. Please let me hit my monthly sales incentive target please. Don't have pictures to show you how poor I am, so here's a potato for you.
6. Officially completed a year in Delfi Marketing
Can't believe that it's already been a year, and now soon approaching to my 2nd year in Delfi Marketing. Throughout this 2 years, I have dedicated my life and soul, and even threw away my reputation to get things done. All the things that I never imagine that I will do, had eventually happened! Risk my life driving INSIDE Petaling Street, traveled to Melaka without eating Satay Celup or having coconut milkshake :(, performed a dance in front of a large audiences, and last but not least, switching to a new brand portfolio where I could handle an agency by myself, and plenty more. I'm totally in love with the challenges I faced at work each day, but the only thing I'm worried is when I soon become too comfortable with my current position that it would be difficult for me to leave for bigger challenges in the future.
7. Planned my first trip to Pulau Redang with friends
My initial plan was to backpack and travel alone. Well, my plan got backfired. Mom didn't allowed me to travel alone just because I'm a girl and it's dangerous. So, I invited 3 interesting friends to come along with me. Interesting enough, my friend, Yean Lynn, got sick. Her boyfriend, Tommy had to take care of her. In the end, it was only me and Zann, and a few new people whom we met along the way during our snorkeling trip. It's a thrilling and adventurous 3days, 2 nights trip! The most memorable moment was being able to walk along the secluded dark beach while dragging our feet along the sand to see the infamous glowing blue sand. The only part of the trip which I find it detestable, was the night squid fishing trip. Got very seasick and vomited countless of times, but the experience was very rewarding as we get to have the most beautiful stargazing experience, and also a bunch of sotongs and fish to eat at the end of the trip.
8. My 2nd Penang trip with friends
Our first high school reunion trip with these bunch of friends to my hometown along with bae! Went for my first cave walking experience at Anak Gua Tempurung and it was pretty cool! Next time, aiming to go for the most difficult track instead! The food in Penang is not as nice as before anymore though. Hmm... :(
9. Went gambling for the first time
While I learned the better good of things, there were also *ahem*... badass things that I wanna experience too, and bae had to do it with me :P I was actually barred from entering the Casino because I wore slippers that day (I have no intention of gambling that day actually), but we were able to somehow sneaked in to the gambling area. I lose a few rounds at first, because of this !$&!@$&! guy who stacked his chips on top of mine (I'm super duper superstitious with these stuffs lo). But with bae's 2nd chance, I manage to end my gambling experience on a very positive note. I entered this gambling table which was on the losing end, and i turned the fengshui around hehehe... but in the end, I ended my slot when this greedy aunty was trying to use me (or more to my beginners luck) for her winnings. This experience reminded me that gambling is such an impulsive and adrenaline-rush activity, and I mustn't have high expectations and greediness in these kind of games.
10. Traveled to Sekinchan... 3 times
This, is really... Oh. My. God. One time is more than enough, but at least these 3 trips revolve around 3 important aspects of my life:
- 39th Incovar Dhamma Camp Induction Camp
- Friends trip
- Event work trip
But please.... no more... *cries*
11. Appeared on newspaper....... again.
I think I became used to the fact that I'm constantly on the papers, just that.... I never once look good on it. Must be a paper thing... You may read some of the interviews and articles below:
12. Took up a treasury and faci role in Incovar Dhamma Camp 2016
Decided to do something different by taking up treasury with my lovely partner, Nyon this time round. Also partly because my co-ex publicity sidekick, Chen Yee Leong, was leading the camp this year. Self-realized that I'm getting more particular with numbers and it's justification, I think partly because of my job. Other than that, I think I improve quite alot on facilitating based on my previous experience in other Buddhist camps. Just that, my group members like to bully me. It's definitely because of Brian Boudeville's fault! :(
13. Welcome my sister back from U.S.
Well, it's good to have her back. Now that I can listen to all her beautiful cursing languages and also her frequent dessert free treats! So much sisterly love <3 p="">
14. Went to the top of KL Tower
It's my first experience up the KL Tower thanks to the free passes from the KL Towerthon 2016! Glad to spend this great experience with my family.
15. Saw a meteor shower
I'm actually quite touched when people remembers the smallest details that means a lot to me (which sometimes I could never remember). First time hiking up to Broga Hill in the wee hours of the morning, together with bae and Sara to watch the meteor shower which was recommended by Nicholas Woon. Bae also brought some hot cup noodles and a tent up there as he expected it was going to rain, which it did. Saw a few meteors, but barely noticeable. It was a really chilling and exciting experience which I'll never forget. Didn't manage to capture the meteor though, so here's a beautiful cheese baked potato for you to drool on.
16. Queue for 2 days to renew my passport
Okay la... the statement above is a bit misleading and too kua juong. But basically, I had an initial plan to camp overnight at UTC to get my passport done, but, the meteor shower opportunity came up. So, after the hike up to Broga, we came back down closed to 4am. After cleaning up, me and Sara left to UTC at 6am to renew our passports. We reached about 7am and queued for nearly 2 hours, but we didn't manage to renew our passport as they had reached their maximum limit of passport renewals that day. Plus, the crowd was so overwhelming and we were actually quite late. The next day, I came alone at 6am and wasted my whole life waiting to renew my bloody passport for nearly 10 hours!! Thank God that Game of Thrones kept me entertained throughout the wait. Ughh... most horrid experience ever.
17. Traveled to Vietnam
I always wanted to go Vietnam to understand the lifestyle and culture of an developing country. Bae had to make it all arranged for me, just because I wanted it. Seriously, love die him. The place was really crazy to start with, with all the motorists and traffic congestion. The food itself tastes pretty weird but edible in all its ways. There's nothing much to shop around because the fashion trend is not as up-to-par compared to other developed countries, even compared with Malaysia. Most of the tours we had was pretty hospitable and I enjoyed every single trip of it, especially the cruise ship to Ha Long Bay. Overall, we had a lot of fun.
18. Did archery for the first time
Wanted to try archery for a long time, and I finally did it with bae! And I beat him, hehe... That's the only highlight I would like to share. Hehe... Here's the ice cream that was part of the bet that I won. Tee hee :p
19. Say goodbye
The most difficult part of this year, is actually leaving. Leaving something that I've promised myself, and maybe a few people that I would make things better. I felt quite shameful and dissapointed in myself for not being able to deliver what I expected to do due to work commitments and also a change of priorities, but because of this I put on a baggage that I didn't felt happy carrying it anymore given with the burden and responsibility that kept me from leaving. I finally decided I couldn't drag this anymore, and did what I think was right, leaving. It was also the day where I've decided to totally detached myself from all Buddhist activities. I remember sobbing to myself when I typed out that message to my team, because I felt so terrible to leave at such a critical transition stage of our organization, but that shows how much everyone meant to me and at the same time, the huge unhappiness that I'm carrying.
20. Had a bunion
I started doing frequent runs this year for my personal achievement, and also feeling the need to live a healthy and active lifestyle. Hence, introducing the 50km challenge that is due to be completed by this year. However, during mid of the year, things got painful and found out that I have an inflammation on my left foot, which soon developed a minor bunion. Partly because of my family genes inheritance (my mom and grandma had serious ugly bunions too), my tight running shoe, and also my mistake to constantly rub the boney area (stupid me), the injury actually got worse. After seeing the specialist, I was advise to take special precaution on my activities, and to wear this weird plastic toe stretcher thing until it gets better. I felt quite saddened by this news as I won't be able to run much anymore, and it's the only sports that I felt truly free and happy, and stress relieving compared to other sports besides badminton. Which also means, that I have to do some drastic change of plans to have a healthy lifestyle. Sigh....
21. Went JumpStreet for the first time
Just like the archery, I finally get to experience the infamous trampoline park! Pretty cool place, just that it's crowded with children and kids most of the time, making it feel like we're a bunch of amateurs. Manage to do this pretty cool front-somersault stunt! So addicted to the jumping experience that it feels super duper mega weird to walk of land again.
22. Broke my badminton racket :(
After a good 15 years, my 20 year old badminton racket (passed down from my dad generation) finally say goodbye. I'm quite sadden by this because I'm already use to using my old racket, and getting a new one means starting all over again to adapt to a new one, just like starting all over again in a relationship. Well, when old things don't go, new things will never come I guess.
23. Fail in a business plan
Just 1 month into a opportunistic business idea, me, Sara, Lydia, Yean Lynn, and newly joined member, Hui Mun, decided to not continue for several factors. I somehow foresee this to happen because it wasn't something easy that we can do, and have no knowledge on the product mechanic we're working on. But after this 1 month, we grew to understand each others working habit, and strength and weaknesses. I came to realize on where I stand and the things that I should improve on, such as... not being so stubborn, and also don't be too "cincai" when I do things, even when I deliver quality results. Haha... Yes, point noted. But sorry, not sorry.
23. Fail in a business plan
Just 1 month into a opportunistic business idea, me, Sara, Lydia, Yean Lynn, and newly joined member, Hui Mun, decided to not continue for several factors. I somehow foresee this to happen because it wasn't something easy that we can do, and have no knowledge on the product mechanic we're working on. But after this 1 month, we grew to understand each others working habit, and strength and weaknesses. I came to realize on where I stand and the things that I should improve on, such as... not being so stubborn, and also don't be too "cincai" when I do things, even when I deliver quality results. Haha... Yes, point noted. But sorry, not sorry.
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Today, I turned 24.
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