Hey reader! Surprised to see me? I know its been ages. I can say that everything in my life had been going on so smoothly for the past few months that the thought of blogging escapes my mind. But here I am back again with more stories to tell. Unfortunately today, it is not a very happy story. It was the end of my fairytale romance. The prince whom I thought was a prince after a string of toads turned out to be a toad too. Story of my life.

But I'm happy to say that it hit the 6-month mark. A record-breaking feat seeing that none of the other relationships last more than 3 months. The difference is that this is long distance. I guess guys can't bear staying with me for more than 3 months, huh? Just a reckoning.

So tomorrow's my semester class test. I'm handing in my final news story tomorrow. Presentation and another test on Wednesday. Then I'm done for the semester! Flying back home on Saturday. Was supposed to stay for five days but because of the changes of events I'm staying two weeks instead. I miss home badly. I love Perth but nothing beats home, seriously. The scents, the sights, the surroundings. Heck, I even miss my smelly dog. No one looks happier to see me each time I come home even though I ignore him.

The first thing I will do when I get back is to savour the delicacies of Malaysia. Nasi Lemak, Assam Laksa, come to me! Then of course meeting up family and friends. Need to visit my ailing grandmother. She's special to me, a very loving grandmother who always make sure all of us are well-fed. Then the friends that I have grown up with. Friends who saw me through thick and thin, through the hook ups and the break ups. People that I will cherish forever and never ever take for granted. You know who you are.

I think the people I want to meet most is Mom and Dad. They gave me all types of support through the whole ordeal, financial, emotional and psychological. At my darkest moments, they were who I turned to.

Going back also may give me time to reflect. Reflect on the past 6 months. What has happened. The lesson learnt. The scars healing as the wounds close. The happiest moments of my life as well as the saddest. Life is truly a rollercoaster ride. You don't expect the sudden dips and turns...and twists that scares the hell out of you. But I have grown. Even though I don't admit it but I have grown more mature and wiser in all these. Being in Australia, I learned how to take care of myself. Something I never thought would happen. I learned how to be my own best friend when there is no one else to turn to at night. At my lowest point, it was God and myself that pulled me through.

Right now I just want to say thank you. Thank you to people who have shaped my life. For the good and the bad. For the joy and the pain. It has been an eventful 6 months. Probably one of the greatest lessons ever learnt.

Yesterday was a lesson. Today is a present. Tomorrow's a mystery.

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

It has been ages since I actually blogged. Life has caught on with me and I guess I found better things to do than blog. This week is Easter break. However, I didn't really make full use of it. Should have gone on a short trip or at least go out more often. I seem to be stuck at home most of the time, surprisingly. I thought I would be doing my assignment but that seems not to be the case. I don't even know what I do at home.

I do realise I'm online everyday but I don't know why there isn't a need to blog. Maybe I've grown out of the blogging phase. Anyway, I treasure the times I spend with people around me. My church members, my friends and pre-friends. You never know who you will meet. Like today I went for a potbless at church and I got to meet my senior pastor. He's such a nice person and he was genuinely interested to get to know us personally. He's also very down-to-earth. I like his approachable demeanor.

I'm planning to serve more in church. I feel that coming to Australia, I have an opportunity to grow spiritually. In so many ways, I'm constantly surrounded by Christians. I have alot of time in my hands in which I can use to serve the Lord. It is a good time to start. I'm planning to do so this Sunday with the Ministry of Helps. I believe that when you put God first in your life, all things will be added unto you.

Of course I will not neglect my studies in the meantime. I will work harder in my studies too, because I haven't been putting in my 100%. Coming here, my main purpose is to study. To experience the Aussie life too, I know but the main objective is studying. I think I would be very disappointed if I don't achieve reasonably well here. Alot of money has been invested into coming here and I think my parents would be upset too if I didn't do well.

I feel that coming here is also an opportunity for me to mature. I'm left all alone by myself. I think people will mature when they are independent. I hope by the end of this stay I will become an independent person. I want to be able to stand on my own two feet. To be able to earn my own living soon and to say that I can live in this world without depending on anyone. That would be an achievement for me.

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

Mark your calendars on April 13th and May 30th, people who are living in Perth!

Why, you ask?

Well, big international acts like Pussycat Dolls, Lady GaGa and Jason Mraz are coming to town! April 13th is the Blues and Roots festival, where numerous local and international acts will be performing. Starting from April 9th through April 13th, this festival is not to be missed for blues listeners.In May, Lady Gaga will be performing alongside Pussycat Dolls in a one day only concert in Perth. The Queen of electro-pop Lady Gaga, get ready to be "wowed" by her sexy outfits, unmistakable voice and hit singles such as "Just Dance" and "Poker Face"

I'm guilty of listening non-stop to "Poker Face". I hate to admit it but I'm actually listening to electro-pop! Apparently, I'm a closet electro-pop listener =P It is very addictive, okay? Ever since I came to Ozzie, its been on the airplay in every departmental store I went to, infecting my earbuds with the chorus. It came to a point where I couldn't take it anymore and I went to Kmart to get a copy of the album. I think this is the first time in years that I bought an actual original CD. Ever since the emergence of mp3 downloads, I have not been buying any CDs, no matter how much I like the artist. But the limitations of my bandwidth here in Perth has restricted my downloading close to none.

Fret not, however! I shall be listening and WATCHING Lady Gaga perform live soon! I hope I can get tickets. Its been awhile since I've went to a live concert with an international superstar performing. They don't come to Malaysia to perform and even when they do, I usually am too "kiamsiap" to pay for the tickets.

Anyway, I'll just leave you with another breathtaking photo of the sunset last evening.

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

One of the first Australian lingo I learned when I landed in Perth International Airport was Wait Awhile. The lady who picked us up told me that WA does not only stand for Western Australia but it stands for Wait Awhile, referring to the laid back lifestyle in Perth. So far it has been good, taking things slowly at one time. Although there are so many tasks to be done, I take my time to do them instead of rushing. Visiting places, meeting new people, eating good food, shopping, settling enrollment and administrative tasks are what I have been doing for the past two weeks that I have been here. 

The first few days were difficult because of some complications but as the days go by, the Lord's grace has been sufficient and I was able to overcome them. There are still alot of things to settle but I just wanted to take a breather and update my cobweb infested site.

Internet here makes me regret taking Streamyx for granted. Here you have fast connection but it is limited bandwidth. For my first time connection, I paid AUD29 for 2GB!!! I've recharged now, and it was AUD49 for 4GB. So that means no uploading photos or downloading dramas. How upsetting is that!

But other things keep me busy. I'm glad I made so many Malaysian and Singaporean friends. For the first time, I'm not so hooked to the Internet. I actually have a social life! LOL. Everyday I'm out doing something. Last week I went to the beach 3 times in a week! The water is so clear compared to Malaysian beaches and the beach is more cleaner. I love the skies in Perth. At night the stars shine brilliantly along with the moon. In the morning, the blue skies are either dotted with marshmallow like clouds or just an endless blanket of blue. I have yet to capture the magnificent sunsets. My initial plan of documenting my life in Perth through lenses did not work out because of the busyness. Maybe after class started I can do that.

Budgeting will be something I have to learn here. Food is pricey and so is transportation. Lucky I know some friends with cars. Can't imagine life without proper transportation.

Do I miss Malaysia? Sometimes. But I really do love Perth. I'm glad I came. Its gonna be a year of fun, studies, love, friendship, God and life!

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

I'm leaving in less than 24 hours. To a place that I've been wanting to go to complete my final year degree. I couldn't really sleep last night. Although my mind wasn't cluttered with any thoughts, it was blank. There were no sign of worry, anxiety or expectations but somehow my mind was wide awake. I didn't keep track of the time. But all I knew was I finally fell asleep and when I woke up in the morning, it was about 9:40AM. I just realized that's the time my plane flies off tomorrow for Australia.

Other than the fact that I'm going overseas, I'm also thinking about getting a new cell phone. Been deliberating whether to get a Nokia E71 or an LG KT610 ever since I lost my beloved pink Motorola RAZR. Nokia wins hands-down for functionality but the LG is a compact beauty with just one less function - WLAN.

Which is more important? To emulate the style of Gossip Girl icon, Blair Waldorf or have the ability to Skype with my other half without paying a single cent on the phone?

Decisions. Decisions. Not easy being a girl. Always have to choose between the most simplest things, for example, clothes. Like, which blue jeans should I wear? The blue skinny jeans or the slightly darker blue skinny jeans? The differences are not apparent yet it takes us hours to decide, even though they're practically the same.

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

Ayaka - I Believe MV [eng sub]

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

Another update from Pangkor Island - now using my cousin's brand new 15-inch Macbook. Still prefer my white Mackey. Anyway, the first thing I did in the morning was brush my teeth and then settle on the mahjong table for a "pertarungan sengit". Actually, it wasn't much of a "pertarungan" but a friendly competition between Ak,  Benjamin and I. We're still not sure who won because we are currently having a long break to make way for lunch, shower and home facials among other things. I hung some laundered clothes to dry, had a great fantastic reunion lunch, chatted with people  family I haven't seen in ages and watched as my Taoist relatives paid respect to their ancestors with a mock lunch setup, joss-sticks and silent prayers.

Somehow there is no stress or worry in this place. In fact, it seemed foreign to mention those words even. People are always laughing, chattering away, doing things with a glow on their faces. There is no rush. Even the monkeys on their "highways" don't seem bothered by their surroundings. By "highway" I mean the telephone/electric lines where they walk on fours.

I do feel lack because I always go online and here, even though there is Wi-Fi, Astro and mobile phone coverage, I didn't bring any Wi-Fi device save for the battery-almost-dying-iTouch.

I updated my LJ using the iTouch and it took a few minutes because I wasn't used to the touchscreen keyboard. Despite raves from my cousin and uncle who shamelessly promoted the iPhone, I wasn't impressed. My interest was piqued when he said that it had a mosquito repellent function but that's it. The fact that it is touchscreen and it doesn't have two-way video calling already cause me to turn a deaf ear to their "advertising".

OK, now I'm gonna go on Ebay to help my cousin search for a green iPhone casing. Or more like future iPhone casing.

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

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Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

A few weeks ago, my wallet got stolen. Then some kind, rare soul returned it intact minus the cash.
Today, my beloved phone got stolen from the same bag I was carrying. This time, I would be very surprised if it got returned back. Somehow I do feel sad and angered by this but it does not shake my faith. I still believe in my Lord and Saviour and I trust that nothing in this world, no Satan, no bad luck can bring me down.

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

In this short span of time,

I just want to capture all our memories and seal them,

I'll never leave you behind,

Because I love you and that is the reason.

Being in your arms is a dream come true,

Seeing the rise and fall of your chest as you breathe,

I'm afraid to fall asleep because you might see me drool,

But if I had a choice, I don't ever wanna leave.

Two hearts united as one,

So different, yet the same,

Our love like fire, burning like the sun,

Like a wild lion, it is so hard to tame.

Time and distance can't come in between us,

No person, event or thing,

This bubble of love is impossible to burst,

This is what I call lyfe worth Lyvin.

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

Surprises come in big and small packages. Today for me, it came in the form of a 6"2 bespectacled goodness bearing flowers and gifts. I was just telling people how "suay" my day started out:

• First, the aluminium foil in my lunchbox caught fire when I blurrily popped it into the microwave oven.
• Then, in the bathroom, the water hose had a mind of its own, flying in every direction, squirting and spurting torrents of water, flooding the floor. The back of my pants and underwear got some of it. Thankfully it decided to free me from my misery after what it seems like forever.

Got a call from my loverboy saying that he was bored and that he was in One Utama. I was unsuspecting and oblivious of the pleasant surprise later on. As I cursed my day for being "suay", I sat gingerly on my chair, hoping that somehow miraculously my pants will dry itself although I'm sitting on the chair.

I looked up from my monitor and spotted a certain somebody. I thought I was seeing things.

So I grabbed my phone and dialled the familiar number.

My loverboy answered, his voice masking a secret that I suspiciously detected. I asked his whereabouts to which he innocently replied in One Utama. I confronted him and then he was wondering how did I guess where he was. Then I said I saw him. So I went into the meeting room, and lo and behold, there he stood, looking spiffy with a bouquet of reds on his right and a sleek looking black paper bag on the table. He smiled at me mischievously and I had this expression O_O

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. And give you this."

"But, why? I thought you were in One Utama. I'm speechless."

"I know"

"Thank you very much though."

"These roses are for our 44th day. And the eyeshadow is for your farewell."

"But, why", I repeated, sounding like a broken record. In my heart I felt so blessed to have a guy go through so much just for me. And I was beyond thankful for his sincerity, his love and his dedication. He's definitely a keeper. Even if he didn't get me anything.

So the last day of 2008 is eventful after all. Can't wait for the countdown! <3

Happy New Year everyone!

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com

A couple of things I wanted to achieve in the beginning of the year. They are as follows:

• Lose weight. My goal was to lose 5 kgs mid-year and another 5 for the second half. But losing 15kgs would be most ideal.
• Do well in my studies. I wanted to pass every single subject. That was what I wanted. Simple and un-demanding.
• Be more closer to God. It has been awhile since I committed my life to the Lord. I was lukewarm in my faith and even though I did devotions every night, I couldn't feel the spiritual connection.
• Love and be loved by my family. Relationships between family members are important and I needed to give and receive love from the most important people in my life. Since I'm leaving to another country next year, quality time is crucial.
• Bond with old friends and make new friends.

Things that happened:

• I lost 9kgs a few months before the year ended. Quite a huge achievement considering the factors involved: I didn't really diet nor did I upped my exercise regime.
• I did pretty well in my studies. More than I prayed or hoped for. Scored credits for all subjects even when I seriously slacked.
• I started relying on God for every decision I made. More on those decisions later.
• Things between me and my parents started working out really well. I'm able to understand my sibling even more too.
• I made a lot of new good friends and I bonded with old close friends. I appreciate them even more now.

Unexpected Highlight:

• Met the guy of my dreams even when I least expected it. I prayed about this decision for a long time and when God unfolded His plan for me, I became sure of what I decided to do and went ahead with it. I'm glad I made the decision because this guy is made out of steady, trustworthy, honest, loving stuff.
• 90% chance of going to study in Perth next year. Everything is settled except for my visa.
• Be finally contented with life and grateful for what God has given to me

I will post photos of my busy but perfect December. Stay tuned!

Originally posted on nitric.vox.com