Last day of January

So I kinda told myself that, no matter what, I shouldn't be late in posting, especially if I want to organise it into monthly highlights. So I was determined to get that zoo update posted within this month. And yes I did phewww!

Just to recap, nothing eventful happened this month; it was a month where I really have start to push hard in my work, or face getting the axe. First quarter is really critical. New structure, new system, been adapting to it and I think I am getting the hang of it already.

Went to the National Zoo for the first time, then went to my colleague's mum's temple for a charity temple donation dinner, and that's basically it. Have to cut down on spending so I foresee more staying at home and less going out and spending money.

As for the films I watched in January, saw the Singaporean movie "A Boys to Men" and "Les Miserables". Was very impressed by Les Miz, Anne Hathaway is absolutely brilliant, and great performance by Hugh Jackman too. My first full musical film too; takes a bit of getting used to but I got it :)

Health-wise, caught fever two weeks ago and had been struggling to recover for a week and had just recently got better, until last night I went out for drinks with my friend and we had French Fries and I got heaty again and now my eye is swollen and I'd been coughing whole day with trouble speaking. Sigh. Hopefully I can recover as soon as possible! Because with the fever, I also caught the flu and coughing after the fever dissipated. What a way to start 2013!

I did renewed my passport yesterday too, since I will be having difficulty doing it when I'm back in Miri for CNY next week (NEXT WEEK! YAY!). Ever since young until 2 years ago, my parents (mostly my mum) had been doing it for me, and this time although she is not physically around to help me, I asked for her guidance still. I am still such a kid aren't I? I miss her and she really is a great person, the things she did for us.

I also finished 3 books, Natsuo Kirino's "Out", Caroline Taggart's "I Used to Know That" (yeah those fact books again LOL. This particular one jiggled my memory for things I learnt in my past and forgotten), and lastly and recently, Mitch Albom's "For One More Day", about spending one more day with a lost loved one. It reminds me of my mum so much. I miss her more after reading that book...I must ask my brother to read that book, because I want to wake him up on taking my mum for granted all the time.

Lastly, a friend I knew through working in Kuching in 2010/11 came to KL for a short vacation with her friends, and I met up with her on 28th, and she was so overjoyed at seeing me, I was surprised and flabbergasted actually. Nobody had such a big reaction seeing me again after a long time. Haha. She even brought me some cookies and omg bless her for having the thought to bring me stuff! I think she is the first who did that. I THINK. Anyway we had a good time catching up, met with her in Sunway then went to Sg Wang and had dinner with her and her friends at Jalan Alor, Restaurant Wong Ah Wah. Bless her!

Work-wise, I fell short of my target by a long distance. Oh wells. Just gotta do my best for the next two months. No matter what. Grr!

That's all for January. How time flies! February means seeing my family again and back to my hometown and spending time with them. Very much looking forward to it!

January Highlight: National Zoo

So me and my colleagues went for a little outing one day and it was originally planned to go to Pulau Ketam but due to "unforeseen circumstances", we changed plans last minute and went for the zoo.

I had breakfast by myself before joining the others and then in two cars, we drove to the National Zoo. Before going in I was particularly worried about the hygiene and cleanliness in there (but it turns out better than I expected, though not first-class exemplary) and I heard that there were less animals in there now compared to the past, and that a lot of the animals are very thin....

We were there early, around 9am. Bought our tickets at RM 30 each (heard it actually doubled from the previous RM 15) and off we went in!

There was an initial debate to where we should set off first, based on the types of animals that they want to see (since it's my first time, the order wasn't important to me). In the end we just followed the path anyway and well, here are some of the pics I took using my iPod. Less words, more pictures!



I think overall, I am most thrilled at seeing the animals right in front of me (though some distance away), especially the tigers. Giraffes and the elephant which I fed sugar cane too, omg! When you look into the elephants eyes and their face, it just warms you and you feel it being so gentle and kind!

We stayed there until about 2pm, all hot and hungry. Can't believe we spent 5hrs in the zoo, and were complaining not much animals to see! Haha. So we went to Ampang to have our late lunch, and quite honestly I was so hungry I totally no mood to talk and this headache in my head ugh!

But the food is good and didn't take too long so it's alright. Ate and chatted, and we finally parted ways around 5pm. Day well spent!

Firsts & Lasts

Last movie of 2012: The Hobbit
Last meal of 2012: Ploughman's Platter (salad)
Last beer of 2012: Kilkenny one pint


First (real) meal of 2013: Shredded pork + egg rice
First movie of 2013: Ah Boys to Men

Happy New Year!!!

So I made it to another year! Survived the "Mayan Apocalypse"! xD

But I also caught flu on 30th Dec 2012 and is now still feeling the effects of it :( last night I went to countdown at Sungei Wang Plaza, Bukit Bintang with my friends.

31/12/12

We were allowed to go home by 2pm! Seeing it was the last day of sales there was a temptation to stay back but my colleagues booked karaoke session at 3pm and that's it. I got a last-minute deal in thanks to my client and managed to close one deal for the day, but generally the whole month I am the worst performer with the least sales, and I don't like that at all...

Anyway, I went with my team leader, J, SY, JN, VC & ST and I started slow but gradually sang my heart and voice out, despite me not in a good condition. Went off-key but you know, to hell with it! xD

My meal in Neway: Thai Chicken rice.

After karaoke we parted ways, and it's time to be ready for the night's countdown.

I went through KLCC on my way to Pavilion and to my surprise there was actually event(s) going to happen there in contrast to last year, where there was basically nothing. I guess this is making up for what is missing in Pavilion due to the ongoing construction there.

By 9pm the water fountains + music started but I had to go and meet up my friends already so I didnt stay long and went to Pavilion instead. Met up with two of my friends and we went to get some beer and also a meal for me.

Water fountain at KLCC past 9pm.

Kilkenny beer. Missed this! You can't find this everywhere...

Ploughman's Platter, a salad.

After we're done, we made our way to Sg Wang and countdown there. The moment 2013 arrived, the fireworks started, and I revel in it despite my headache, flu and nausea I was experiencing that time.

Good start to 2013 nevertheless! :D


01/01/13

Slept till 3pm, went to Festival Mall to have early dinner at Food & Tea before catching Ah Boys to Men. Then back home and that's it. Low-key but considering I'm not entirely fit, it's a good day to be out but not too far. Back to work tomorrow!

March 2012 Highlights: Putrajaya

I also went to Putrajaya for the first time. We actually went there for the Hot Air Balloon show, and to me it feels like a different world out here because it's empty everywhere except for the buildings, and it has those apocalyptic forgotten buildings to it, except they all look brand new. Oh and did I mention? Our Prime Minister's office is here in Putrajaya, so you can fairly say I went to his territory. LOLZ~~

Mosque

All the State Flags

Heard this is a man-made lake.

T'was a hot day! xD Just sight-seeing and nothing much. ^^


Note: Written and edited on 31/12 but unable to post until today 01/01/13 ohwells!

30th Dec 2012

Second last day of 2012 and I literally slept the whole day away. Earlier my friend texted me whether I want to join them on countdown to 2013 tomorrow night, and I mentally facepalmed when I found out I was gonna be stuck with two pairs of couple for tomorrow night to usher in the new year. Where are the fun people? What else can I do?

Inevitably, that pang of loneliness is back again. And I missed my friends company. Those who are open to celebrating openly. And that made me think back to the very start of this year when we celebrated New Year's.

Well, I did separate from them during the enter into 2012 but we still were around each other. This time, going into 2013, it will be my second year celebrating New Year's in KL, with different companionship.

Let's talk abt today. I came out of The Hobbit last night around 11.45pm and got back to my place thereafter and had supper with my friend and her bf. Got to watch the last 10mins of Man Utd vs West Brom match too. Man Utd won with Van Persie scoring a very nice 2nd goal for United.

We actually chatted again on FB after getting home respectively and I went to slp after 4am. Woke up at 10am pondering whether to catch the 12pm showing of "Perks of Being a Wallflower", a movie I really liked alot.

However, laziness and moreover fatigue, took over me and I stayed home all day. Online for a while, ate some biscuits, then fell back into a nap which took me into the evening. I still feel slight fatigue but more clear in my mind. Went out tapao dinner, got caught in the rain and guess what? I think I'm catching a flu.

Now, as I sit here typing this, my friend hadn't replied me abt tmr after I asked if it's okay with them I will be drinking. No smooches going into the New Year with a lover but hey, at least I get my alcohol fix? That's so cliched, but I'm still young and rebellious so I get what I want. I wonder if my friend's pissed at my speed of replying texts.

Anyway, I think there're a few things left that I hadn't really recapped.... should I go on cos I know I won't have time tomorrow, that's for sure :)

April Highlights: I-City, Shah Alam

After the Banting trip, it seemed too early to go home, and we spontaneously decided to go to I-City to finish our night. Well, those sitting in the same car anyway.

By the time we got to the place, the sun was already setting. We made our way to the Ferris Wheel, buying tickets to go on it later. Then we walked around the park waiting for night to fall, because that's when its best offering comes up: the night lights!

I haven't seen a Ferris Wheel in close up for a loooong time and I'm happy to see one :D

Peaceful walk in the park

These are cool! Feels like you're in a spaceship park ^^

And the lights are on~

The flying-swinging ride... hadn't been in one for as long as I remember. I rode it with my colleague and it wasn't very fast but still nice!

Carousel... didn't ride this one. It's for the kids.

The night is upon us and everywhere the lights make things much brighter and suddenly, it's very beautiful.

Then we rode the Ferris Wheel and it was fantastic! :D loved it hadn't been in one for a long time!

View from atop the Ferris wheel

Alas, after that we started to go home and it took long due to the traffic jam; nevertheless, the lights from that night made it memorable. That concludes my first ever visit to I-City!

April Highlights: Tanjung Sepat Trip

My team leader brought us all back to his hometown to explore around and eat seafood, and it's my first time out there too, and we hadn't had a gathering together for some time already, so this is perfect!

Travelling by carpooling, we reached there and had lunch Bak Kut Teh, which was quite nice. Then we went to the Morib coast and breath in the sea air. I am very pleased to see the beach again. I love the beach! xD

Then we went to another side of the beach where they are selling seafood and that's the main pull of the gathering. Seafood! Although I didn't eat the prawns or crabs because I don't want to dirty my hands eating them, I still sat around and ate the others.

Fried Sotong/Shrimps

La-las....

Crab & Oyster Omelette

The whole meal

Crab

Then we went around to the shops selling seafood goods among other stuffs. These are tiny prawns and I took a pic is because of the name, it's a name of famous Chinese actress Lin Ching-Hsiah.

Then we were taken to a famous pau store, and there is already a queue outside waiting to buy their famous paus.

Pau menu. I'm getting "Mei-Chai" and "Meat" Pau

This is from the coffee store next door. They grind their own coffee and sells them. It was quite good from my colleague's recommendation.

Got my pau! It was the BEST pau I tried in the Peninsula(not that I had tried many...)!

March Highlight: Girl's Generation

Guess who made a special appearance in Kuala Lumpur? The biggest Korean girl group Girls Generation or SNSD (So Nyuh Shi Dae) whichever you wanna call them of course!!!

They were invited for a night's performance in conjunction with the F1 racing event. On site it was called the Twin Tower @live 2012 event. I remember it being a last minute confirmation thingy and the stage wasn't even fully completed the night before... so here it is me taking pics of the stage the night before the performance the next day.

The next day, at lunchtime, I went over with my friend to check out the scene. And under the hot sun there was already a big group of fans sitting there and queuing, trying to get the best space to stand. Due to me working, obviously I'll be at a greatly disadvantageous position when I attend the event later.

See how sunny and hot it really is?

Some fanmade posters/banners. Dedication!

Event dancers

After work when I went there, the crowd had grown enormous and it's virtually impossible to get close to the stage anymore. Furthermore, the crowd barricades are positioned in a pretty useless way and there's no getting round to it unless you buy a rockzone ticket or squeeze in with sweaty ppl.

It was only 6.15pm and the performance is not due to start for another 2hrs yet. And ppl had been queuing since 1pm. Crazy much?

It wasn't even their own concert...just a 'special appearance' ppl...

 View from outskirts of the compound

 View from outskirts of the compound

In the end, I settled somewhere on the outskirts where I could at least see the screen. Lolz.

 Waited for 2hrs and the show hadn't started yet. The girls are late...

So when the hosts started the show,  ppl started thinking that SNSD is abt to come out and in a moment of desperation they pushed and broke the barricade down and rushed forward., filling the space there.

Look at them! See how crazy these ppl are just to get a glimpse of the girls. I thought the organising is very bad especially the area for ppl to stand.


Anyway, the girls came out around 9pm and sang for half an hour that's it. About 6 songs. Some talking. Melted everyone's hearts. Went off. Lol!

This was what's behind me right after their performance ended.

Dispersing and going home is so difficult because of the human traffic. Lol.

I actually went over to the side where the girls will be leaving the arena. It's basically human sandwich time and I can only see the tops of their heads as they walked by. Nevertheless, it's great knowing they were so close to me! :D

And that is how the LRT looks like when it's time to go home. Thank goodness for my Touch N' Go!