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Sunday, December 31, 2006

It's the last few hours of 2006! A look back at the year...

I moved out of college, I learnt more about living on my own, about doing my own chores, about dealing with bills & money & annoying services. I re-explored sydney with good friends at least twice, and I really had fun:) I went to melbourne, I went to china, I went to bukit timah hill and scaled the tricky rock path. I went to sentosa a few times, I tried the new rides and played volleyball till I got tanned to a crisp, but it was still fun.

I realised how lucky I am to have certain people in my life, and I thank those who made my 21st birthday one of the best I've ever had. I made & hung butterflies on the ceiling for xinli's 21st, among other things, and I really am thankful that I got to help with her party and spend her 21st with her:) I got little pink pony candles for ollie's 21st, among other things, and it was so worth seeing the look on her face when she walked in the door to her surprise party:)

I whipped oreo cheesecake with kian & ade, I made chicken rice with ruth, I baked orange spongecake with gloria which didn't turn out as expected, but at least I know what 'orange zest' is now:) I'm thankful for my housemates who can cook so much better than me, & who have made living in sydney a very special experience.

I played in 4 concerts with the band in unsw, I learnt to make do with lousy instruments. I learnt some new songs on my keyboard, I learnt some new moves with my drumsticks.

I learnt more about being a mother, I learnt how to change a diaper. I learnt the joys of seeing a child speak his first words & take his first steps. I realised just how tough it is to raise a baby and how incredible all mothers are. I discovered it really is a blessing to be able to find that special someone, to be able to have a family. I learnt how afraid I am sometimes of letting people into my life, & how that may not be a good thing at times.

This year was not one of my best, but I really did learn alot. I really don't know what to expect from 2007, but I guess all we can do is to look forward, and to pray that the next year be a good one:) happy new year everyone, and thanks for being a part of my life:)
~me~ at 9:31 PM

Friday, December 29, 2006

Here are some thoughts on china!me and michelle spent lunch swapping stories on my china & her korea trip, which got me feeling abit obligated to myself to pen down some stuff on my trip, so I'll at least remember most of the little details when I think back on it next time:) this is a summarised version though, to spare you the boredom of reading through it all.

ehh..where to start. memorable places in yun-nan were the gorge, and the stone forest, which was really cool if you think about how it was formed:) it's literally a forest of huge stones formed over millions of years cos of some special minerals in the rock:)




then we lucked out cos we got to see the very first day of snow:)


everything was very pretty:) trees were half-covered in snow and there was a misty magical feel in the air:) amazing how plain water can look so beautiful in different forms.


oh by the way, the adorable little pup in the background was one of many roaming the streets..there were so many cute little stray puppies there! I felt so sad when this one pawed at my feet and we had to hurry on our way..weird thing is, there are many many pups..but so few big dogs..chris's theory is that they don't get the chance to be big dogs cos they're chopped up for meat before they even get the chance to grow up :( my sister did warn me to ask for sure what meat I was eating before I put anything in my mouth :(

ok speaking of food..this simple-looking dish is called 'guo qiao mian xian'..which literally means 'crossing bridge noodles' I suppose.


haha in my opinion the chinese just have this habit of dressing up simple things with fancy names..what with buddha jumps over the wall and other weird names. let me tell you the story of the crossing bridge noodles. apparantly a long time ago there was this man who had to eat cold noodles everyday for lunch cos the winter days were so cold that by the time his wife brought over his lunch from home it was icy cold. then one day his wife accidentally poured in too much oil into his noodles and he realised that by lunch it was still warm cos the oil had insulated it from the cold or something. then they experimented dropping in raw pieces of meat and realised that the soup under the oil layer was even hot enough to cook the meat. so basically the trademark of the noodles is cooking the raw meat under the layer of oil. oh and it's called 'crossing bridge noodles' cos his wife had to bring him his lunch over a bridge. I don't know how much of this is true..ohwell but the noodles were nice:)

anyway my point is..china is full of silly but interesting little stories like these:) then there are the heavier and more historically interesting bits like how this temple came about and how people are still living on the streets in the same way as they were a hundred years ago..sorry but I can't describe it nicely enough in words:) think it's the sort of thing you have to see in person to appreciate:) so that was just a few elements of yun-nan. lots more I learnt but then I don't want to bore everyone:) thanks for reading though if you made it up to here:)

back to the now! like I mentioned, been spending this week thus far having post-christmas celebrations and meet-ups and lunches..spent a lovely today with ruth and michelle:)


only annoying thing was the weather which makes it really depressing to be out on the streets..but christmas lights always make it better for me:) sigh. feel better soon ruth!
~me~ at 2:27 AM

Wednesday, December 27, 2006

So christmas has come and gone..christmas is like my landmark for the year; each christmas marks the official passing of my year, guess i'm not too much of a new year's type of person..this christmas was relatively reflective, somewhat upsetting, but of course there were the high moments.

Been meeting up & exchanging gifts with people this week..mostly after christmas, thanks to me returning from china on christmas eve..but no matter, gifts are fun..on both the giving and receiving end:)


gifts yet to be given away! if I've yet to give you your present..guess which one's yours??:)

China was nice:) abit colder than expected..but that also means we got to see snow! it's such a magical sight:) still I suppose it must be different for the people living there who have to bear the brunt of winter. in short, nice scenary, good cheap shopping, yummy cheap food, crappy toilets. and you will never fully appreciate the value of a hot shower till you've had to take a bath in freezing cold water after a chilly day out. but in general, it was a nice experience which leaves me wanting to see more of china, and more of the world..

And the rain continues to come down, down, down....which suits my mood now I suppose. I really hate to feel this way.
~me~ at 9:06 PM

Monday, December 25, 2006

Merry christmas everyone!:)
~me~ at 10:58 PM

Thursday, December 14, 2006

To all my single girl friends, check this out if you're free & bored - http://phocks.org/stumble/girlsarelike.php

woo been back for nearly 3 weeks now..I wish time would slow down during the hols:) I had a really good cheap nonya buffet lunch today at bugis:) highly recommended! $10.80 for all-you-can-eat:)

oh and to those who don't know yet..I'm heading off to china with the mother and sis this friday..will be back in a week's time..
ruth: wish I could be here! I promise to dedicate much time to you the minute I return:)
pips: you better still be around and free to meet when I get back k!see!this is what happens when you refuse to tell me when you're returning!

think I am quite lucky that I get to travel so much:) just wish I could revisit all those places I went to as a kid though..I probably didn't appreciate them half as much as I would if I went now. speaking of travelling..my elder sis and chris are away on holiday as well, so that means buster and the guinea pig are with us for the week..poor buster..think he really misses them..he keeps curling up in front of the door and only looks up whenever I mention the words "chris", "lucas", or "carrot". dogs are such nice companions:) they listen without judging, and they just seem to understand whatever you say. somehow, the picture of a single life & a dog for a companion is a tempting idea to me right now.

xinli: haha he was happy! haha it's just hard to catch his expression on camera cos he's at a hyperactive age:)
~me~ at 12:17 AM

Tuesday, December 12, 2006

Orchard really is too crowded :P

I had dinner with michelle & amelia tonight..suddenly everyone seems so stressed in the hospital environments..the exams..the long hours..sigh wonder what life's gonna be like next year. and it still feels like the nus med students are learning so much more than me in australia. I hope I won't feel dumb when I come back home to work next time.

Human emotions are just so hard to understand at times..I admire people who can stick by those who give them no reason to, and I really don't get how some people can get away with treating others in a bad way without feeling guilty themselves. But I think reason wears out when we really do care for someone. Sigh sigh.


~me~ at 1:47 AM

Friday, December 08, 2006

ok sorry that the background makes this so hard to read! haha but I was in a sort-of christmassy mood..& somehow the glow of xmas tree lights always fill me with a warm feeling:) though christmas used to be alot more special for me back when I was a kid, I think it's still special to me in a different way now:) heh back then I wouldn't hafta worry about what to buy for others; I'd just be on the receiving end..now its more a season of exchanging gifts & heartfelt thanks, to God, & to one another:)

still I do miss the old days when all I thought about was presents & playing & fun..when I was too young to be involved in the whole shopping for christmas bit & having to push my way through crowds..

heh I just sent off my mom for her exam..feels so weird for me to be wishing her good luck instead of the other way around. no matter, she's a genius la so I'm sure she'll do well no matter what:)

ruth: hey girl! sigh wish I could be here when you get back..I'm so sorry..I'll contact you as soon as I return k! we definitely have to talk!
olivia: ollie!haha think our phones are not fated to connect..did you get my sms to you? msg me your number or something!
~me~ at 10:09 PM

Thursday, December 07, 2006

I really think there's some mosquito nest somewhere in or near my room! for the past couple of nights I've been kept up by the annoying sound of mosquitoes whizzing about my ears when I'm trying to sleep..I'm a light enough sleeper as it is so it really is annoying..maybe its something about my blood..or the mosquitoes have just come out of hibernation..

haha oh well I got a good night's rest the other night at my sister's place..it really was fun..an old-fashioned sleepover at my sister's place with both my sisters..us acting childish & talking rubbish & indulging in good supper:)

sigh but last night it was back to the buzzing mosquitoes. alright. I'm sleeping with the air-conditioning & sleeping with the sheets over my head tonight.

aaanyway...so I spent today indulging in good food once again..and the rain has this sleep-inducing effect which makes one not feel like doing anything productive..I really should exercise more. haha well since I've gotten back I haven't done anything too active..other than walking about orchard..oh & I did take a morning trek up around bukit timah hill the other day..the place has changed quite abit since I last went there..they've paved several trekking tracks through the forest which really are kinda enjoyable to walk/climb along:)

I feel like I'm getting to know singapore all over again..despite always complaining that there's never anything to do in singapore, I think there is if we know where to look, & it really depends on what we're interested in doing I suppose. & company's important:)

going for dinner now!
~me~ at 9:43 PM

Monday, December 04, 2006

It feels like I've done a ton of things in the last week:) but oddly nothing comes to mind when I sit down to blog right now..hmm ok here's some random stuff of the last week..

1. I got a hair cut.
haha but as usual its not that noticable by anyone other than me..it feels neater:)

2. Vivo city is huge!I've been there twice since I've gotten back..it took me & cindy 2 hours+ to get through one level..and we didn't even go into any of the shops..we were mostly just walking aimlessly around & talking..but I have to say that I'm pretty impressed with the place..there's clearly been alot of effort put into the general deco & its paid off..the place definitely stands out from other normal shopping malls..what with the rooftop wading pool & the nice view of sentosa + the sea..the maze of escalators..the general layout of the place can be confusing but its nice:) I was abit taken aback by the sight of children (& some adults) splashing around in the rooftop pools in their clothes though..wonder if they designed the pools with that purpose in mind..but it really is a nice place to just sit around & relax:)

3. I can't get over how much Lucas has grown once again in the last 2 months! I know I always say that when I come back..but he's honestly gotten so smart now:) heh I love it how he claps his hands together before mealtimes & shouts "AAAhhrr-mmen" (my sister's teaching him to say grace before eating), how he bounces up & down & waves his hands around when he hears xmas music, how he looks down at his stomach when we ask him "Where's your tummy?", how he offers me a bite of his baby biscuit..haha he is just too cute for words:)

xinli: hah I can't wait to see you too! but it sounds like you're having so much fun there as well:)
ruth: haha of course! Though I'm not too sure how good a teacher I can be..haha my skills are pretty rusty considering I haven't touched my drumset in awhile..when are you coming back??:)
~me~ at 11:50 PM