Sze Wan: February 2009

9 months is not that long but it is enough for me to understand what working life is about. The routine, the stress and the boredom...

At every stages of our life, we have different aims. During my primary schooling age, I aimed for a perfect score. Then in secondary school, I pushed myself forward in both academic and extra-curriculum aspects just for a place in university. When I was in university, I prepared myself with knowledge and experience with the hope that they will help me in securing a great job. All these past years, my aims revolved around academic field...all I wanted was the degree which I thought would bring me all that I have ever dream for.

Throughout this 9 months, I have learned a lot technically and emotionally. Lots trainings to undergo, lots of assignments to deliver and lots of expectations to meet. But all these are not what I have aimed for. My life now is rather pale...I will not say that I am far lack from what I have dream of but I was lost...no mission, nothing in specific to strive for...car, house, properties they are all 身外物, life is just not all about those...life should be meaningful. It must be filled with valuable experience.

Work, work and work... I just can't stop at one spot for too long. This drive me forward to improve myself. I have decided to pursue my Master part time. I know it will be very challenging and time consuming. I will have more than 700+ of exhausting days, trying to cope with my study and career, to balance between family and friends...but I am ready! Please bring it on! UTM...u better give me a place!

CNY was just another 15days celebrated by many Chinese and of course a time for my family, friends and me to gather around and have some fun.

Pre-CNY - cleaning up and preparing biscuits and cookies...fattening to make coz ended up testing and testing while waiting for the oven. Met up with the Top Maid gang and kueh kapit high tea with VTSM folks :P

Last day of the rat year - still busy cleaning up my house. Prayers and of course the most anticipated dinner of the year. We had a great reunion dinner....an overflowing steamboat with all sorts of ingredients. And karaoke session while waiting to 拜天公

Day 1 in the year of Ox - 拜年 with my grandma, aunties and uncles...Another round of steamboat in Tambun. Then headed to my paternal grandparents' house in Bagan Ajam. Another round of 红包 collections and 开台...the most exciting moments were when we were in 'The Between Game'

Day 2 - Reunion dinner at paternal side. Another round of wealth collection time...the heart pumping game...'The Between'

Day 3 - Started work in office in green...so lonely for there were no souls in the neighbouring cubicles...Anyway still good to be able to catch up with my family for dinner in 'Chow Dee Thai'. Yes we were bored of Chinese food especially steamboat. Great food there!

Day 4 - Another day at work...no mood...has been counting down to leave office after lunch. Left early and headed back to BM. How much I missed my uni time?...I would have just declared my own holiday... :D Decent new year dishes at home. Supper in Segafredo at night. ..not really a supper...no food but with a drink.

the CBW gals...too bad that so many could not make it

Stef, me and Siew Ling

Day 5 - Hate to wake up so early in the morning but no choice...a quick lunch in cafe...so it was a short yet productive day in office. Settled another HSD...bravo Sze Wan! SO left office at 4. Picked up Phaik and went to Tesco for BBQ preparation. Then BBQ aka the Queen's Guide Guild Gathering at PGGA HQ. This was really our best place for all activities. No reservation, no charges and available all year round with all the needed utensils and gas for the case it rains...haha...really enjoyed my time with Phaik, Stella, Slyvia, Suat Hwa, Kher Sing, Hooi Theng, Yee Keat, Pei Ling...Ms Ng and her mum...had a great time BBQing and preparing and did the washing together.

preparing fruit punch

ahli-ahli top maid :P

having fun in front of the stove

Day 6 - Another round of gathering with friends...met Sunny and Tzy Chin at Swensen Cafe. Ate some ice-cream, pizza and fries....hmm...fattening! Then I went to Jusco to pick up my coins and notes albums...my norm past time activity during holidays. Finally a long Q at Baskin Robin...it was 31st...worth long waiting for the 31% off on those yummy ice cream...

Day 7 - Another day lazying at home

Day 8 - Another ordinary Monday at work....Monday blue!

Day 9 - Wanted to visit Chew Jetty and pay EP a visit on the night before to 拜天公 but unable to do so...coz have project meet at 8am. However it was canceled last minute. Thank god for it was cancelled as I didn't have a good night sleep. It was so happening in Penang. The sound of the blasting fireworks for the whole night. Only managed to doze off at about 3 in the morning. Was awaken at 6am by another blast.

Day 10-11 - Work and work...

Day 12 - Got off today as the replacement holiday for Thaipusam which fell on Sunday. Went for my first 贺岁片 in the year of Ox, 游龍戲鳳, Looking For A Star by Andy Lau and Shu Qi together with Yong Chai. Then coffee talk at Secret Recipe.

Day 13 - Was suppose to attend meet at GGA but it was canceled for the traffic in Penang during Thaipusam was terrible. Met up with EP, YY, KM, GB and MY for karaoke session at Red Box, Gurney Plaza...yeah...enjoyed it! Then met up with YP and WC...we had Lorong Selamat Kuey Teow Goreng and Ais Kacang with Peanut Ice-Cream...
Then we headed to the Heritage site...visited the 觀音亭 and 福德正神廟...passed by the 邱公司龍山堂, Masjid Kapitan Keling and Little India...have a serving of traditional Indian triangular curry puff, Samosa...拜年 with EP's parents....followed by a long walk along Love Lane and Chulia Street back to our car.

福德正神廟...CCC 到此一游...7 Feb 09

the making of the rare samosa...as good as in India...can be found at Lebuh Queen, Little India of Penang

at EP's house...thanks to uncle for taking a good shot

Then, we drove up North to Korean Palace BBQ Restaurant at Tanjung Tokong. Very good food and generous serving of cold dishes...I love the stone rice and Kimchi stew. After the filling dinner, we went for a walk along Gurney Drive. Then 开台 at KM's house.

at Korean BBQ Palace...placing the burning charcoal

yummy BBQ...

unlimited and free serving of cold dishes...all 9 at a time...different combination everyday

favourite stone rice

hot flame Kimchi stew

chopsticks licking good...wah

night view at Gurney

been here once with EP for a drink

night view at Gurney Drive

see that effect?

Day 14 - 5 in a car, we went to the Teluk Bahang Dam...round island with YP. Then we went to Penang Bowl for 2 games...bad performance today but YP and YY were still 有水准. The we went to the famous coconut drink at Lorong Abu Siti. The pandan flavoured drink was sweet. Then we drove to Air Itam...visited the famous yet unknown to me, the 天神壇 and the 蝙蝠洞大佰公.
We then went up to Penang Hill on cable car at 4pm. Penang Hill still remain unchanged...only good if one visited in a group. Anyway still a good place to see Penang as a whole.

Teluk Bahang Dam

CC gang in KL...

KM showing off her skill

Thaipusam at Penang...very happening...for the whole 2 days

good painting at 天神壇

also at 天神壇

the 天壇

do u know what is this...complex roof?

the famous yet unknown Bat Cave Temple

Penang Hil cable car track

hmm...大头照...this wasn't my creation

Bukit Bendera

CCC + 1C....so many Cs la!

After the stuffy way down, we went to the Western Cafe in Air Itam for dinner. Food was rather so so. Then we visited 極樂寺 for a round of photographs. This was really a good place to test out ones photographing skills and to test if u have potential to be a Parkinson patient...haha...Ended the day 开台 at my house in Pg.