To weep and to cry

I realise as I grow older, I give myself no excuses to cry, weep or even sob. When I was a kid, I wail hysterically everytime my brothers team up to snatch Koko Crunch from my bowl. But as I grow older, more painful moments like separations and conflicts are concealed to avoid unwanted attention.

Or maybe, just maybe... as one grows older, they begin to understand the meaning of dignity and crying out loud jst ain't acceptable anymore. Not only to male chauvinistic pigs but to growing up women like me and you.

To those tt hv seen that side of me, it's very rare so rejoice when I'm crying. Ok, that does not sound right. Errr... cry with me?

To my dear friends, have a safe flight! You're being missed eventhough it's only been 5hrs..

My job-seeking adventure

I still remember my first interview was when I was interviewed by a panel of 4 in RMIT for the Orientation job. Phew~~ Tt was seriously nerve-wrecking. It was the first interview in my life & I had no idea wht to expect.

So I thought after all tt, this can't be THAT bad. Little did I expect in a real-life interview.. (and by real-life I mean, a permanent position in a company & not simply a student looking for some experience), it is indeed quite intense.

In the sense that, even at my 3rd round of interview yday, I can only prepare this much and yet, unexpected questions left me baffled. After some intensive grilling on my education background & my knowledge on the industry at the 1st & 2nd round of the interview, I was grilled on my personality yday.

Maybe because of the delay, I wasn't as nervous as I thought. But the more I speak to them, the more interested I am with the position. And now I understand why ppl apply for a few jobs at one time. Coz then you don't feel like you're putting all yr eggs in one basket. Oh well, ain't life's abt taking risks?!..

That aside, Franco's visit to KL had led me to much exploration of this chaotic city. We visited the Twin Towers' skybridge the other day. Man, highly-recommended to everyone, esp Malaysians!!! It is only whn you witness it yrself, then would u realise how advance our country CAN be, if much effort & thought is put.

We even made a trip to Desa Waterpark... shhhhhhhh~~ Don't tell anyone! *blush*

Welcome Franco & Goodbye Amanda!

Jst as how we’ve been planning for our trip to Hong Kong, we had also planned for Franco’s trip to KL. And finally, he’s here!!!! *jumping* For 10 days!!! Feels funny to have him around... showing him places I’ve been telling him in Melb, like my high school that always get flooded everytime it rains. We brought him & aunt Michelle (Franco’s ex-boss) around, mainly to eat!! So far, we’ve eaten local delights such as durian, mangosteens, bak kut teh & some super duper yummy seafood and 've been to Petaling St & Genting. Gosh, it’s been more than 2 years since I last went to Genting. And yday was the first time I step into the casino. Unlike in Crown Casino where e age requirement is 18-years-old and above, the required age here is 21-years-old.

After all the years of curiosity of what’s behind the security bar, it’s nothing but adults smoking like a chimney, trying their luck on gambling. Fine if it’s for pleasure but I couldn’t quite make sense of those who can spend their fortune gambling. For heavens sake, don’t they get it tt their increasing loss directly contributes to the ever-growing employees of Genting Casino while the chance of someone winning the jackpot is like 1 in a billion...?!

That aside, Yap, Phik Jin, Sam & I went to sent Amanda off at KLIA yday. She left for Tasmania to continue her studies in law. It wasn’t a teary farewell but certainly I felt a sense of déjà vu whn I saw some other family & friends gathering to bid farewells to their loved ones. It was 2 yrs ago but seriously, it felt like yday! We hugged her to her bones & off she went to her experience of a lifetime ........................................... Missing you, Amanda!

A meeting with time

I was browsing through June's blog when I stumbled across Ant's, which led me to his interesting designs. Particularly like the Christmas cards he made, I thought it was very creative and original. Potatoe stamps.. I used to do tt when I was in high school. ^_^

One of his blog entries tt caught my attention again:

love is hard to find.
love at the right time is near impossible.
if you find love meeting time, go join them.
cos they don't meet often.

posted by ant @ 4:12 PM 2 comments

2 Comments:
Ze Ann said...
I agree, love is rare! That's why when it comes yr way, grab it.

I've grabbed mine. Have you?

9:55 AM
ant said...
i think i missed the meeting with time. wish time didn't have to leave for you. i know you will miss him.

.....
.....

Happy Valentine's Day, Jeremy.

Hong Kong Final Edition

Finally, I hear u say!

Day 15 - Our departure

You can imagine after 14 days in HK, by the last day, we were dead tired like a deflated puffle fish fr all the shopping, eating & spending. But also, today marks the last day in HK, the end of our trip tt had been anticipated for a yr. Truly, time flies when u're having fun. We had a challenging time trying to stuff everything in our luggage. Said our goodbyes & left to the airport in the aft. Not a teary goodbye mind u, coz we know we'll be seeing him when he comes to visit us in Feb........... which btw, is this coming Fri!!!! *jumping* *pat to Seacow*

Overall, our HK trip is a trip to remember. Not because of the shopping or the eating (i'm lying!) but also because it is a trip with friends I usually hang out with in Melb. It revealed to me what true friendship really means and who knows, after graduating, we might get too caught up in the working world tt such a trip is not possible. Although there are plans for a "reunion trip" to Japan in errr.... a few yrs time?! After all, I do need time to revive my bank account.

My impression on the country has not changed. Extremely fashionable. Loud people. Incredibly busy. Polluted. Great food. Chaotic. Not a place I see myself living in but definitely a shopping & eating haven.

Special thanks to Franco, Franco's mum & Franco's sis for their warm hospitality, incredible patience & tolerance to us 4 dirty monkeys, crashing into their place for 2 weeks.

Hong Kong Edition 7

Day 13 - Times Square

I remember Ant once told me I should never miss Times Square's basement if I ever go HK. So off we went, kickstarted @ Pacific Place - a place where celebrities commonly go shopping. After spending a fortune there, we headed to Times Square for a quick half an hr. Tried to search for the basement but to no avail. Dinner today was hotpot. It could be the atmosphere or the hot soup but either one, I had one of the most relaxing dinner that night........ Thanks, aunt Peggy (Franco's aunt)!!

Day 14 - Wong Tai Sin

After feeling v guilty abt Richie accompanying us girls for hard core shopping for the past few days, we decided to accompany him to Wong Tai Sin, a Chinese temple. A touristy spot where many come to worship their Gods. After less than an hr there, we went shopping again, of course. Back to Lei Sze @ Tsim Tsa Tsui. Oh gosh, I think Krystal & I hv been generously contributing to HK's economy.

Dinner was again super yummy. This time, with Franco's mum @ Lung Wah, Shatin for their famous pigeon. I don't usually eat animals that are not commonly eaten. And by tt I mean: monkeys, rabbits, dogs, cats, lizards or others what I categorised as "non-cookable" animals. So you could imagine I wasn't very fond of the idea of having 5 pigeons lying dead in front of me. But I thought, what the heck?!.. Let's be adventurous! No regrets coz the taste & texture of the pigeons are jst right. A little too oily to my liking but a perfect last dinner in HK!

The test of time

CC once told us, to know whether a friend is a true friend, wait till the two of u comes back to KL and see how yr friendship changes, admist yr other friends.

She brought me to one of the most relaxing Japanese buffet I ever had. Jogoya @ Starhill. A new Jap restaurant originally fr Taiwan. In terms of atmosphere, I think they impressed many. I for one, particularly like the dim lights & their generous usage of wood, which contributes to the relaxing environment.

The staff are friendly but some are TOO friendly. We had 2 waiters constantly looking at our direction, for a moment we thought they were stalking us. If you're someone who loves a variety of food, Jogoya is the place to go. But if you're after quality, consider going to Shangri-la Jap buffet instead with pricing not too much of a difference.

Jogoya's flaws are the absence of my fav unagi & green tea ice-cream. In fact, how could anyone called it a Jap restaurant without unagi & green tea ice-cream? Isn't tt like a Korean restaurant without kimchi?

Another thing tt impressed me was their toilet. (!!!) Not a super fancy one. Just a digital toilet bowl. Read: the toilet seat has its own seat warmer. Not to mention an automatic wash. And by far, it’s the best. Warm water, accurate and an adjustable water pressure. How do I know? *grin*

True enough, it is the company tt makes all the difference. Whether in KL or in Melb, I think we’ve passed the test of time, pumpcake.

Hong Kong Edition 6

Day 11 - Macau

After much contemplating, we decided to head down to Macau for a bingeing trip. And by bingeing trip, I mean a nothing-but-purely-eating trip. Sat on the 1hr ferry to Macau & warm up our stomach with crab porridge. It's one of the mst hvs in Macau. The taste was a bit unique but being me, a delicious porridge mst also comes with the right texture. Reminds me so much of Charmane's dad's seafood porridge. (Aaaaahhh~~) The whole day was basically spent finding food & swallowing them. Had the infamous Portugese egg tart, porkchop bun & portugese food for dinner. Trust me, by the end of the trip, we could barely walk straight. We managed to do a bit of sightseeing, visiting Senado Square & the Macau Casino. Overall, nothing really facinates me besides the food. Thank God we didn't stay overnight!!

Day 12 - Shopping again!!

Yes, u read it correctly. More shopping!! Went to Lei Sze @ Tsim Tsa Tsui. Although the boutiques are incredibly tiny (some don't even have fitting rooms!), the stuff they sell there are fashionable yet affordable. I think Krystal & I spent most of our money here.. Dinner was Japanese. I tell u, it was unforgettable & one of the best Jap food I've ever eaten. Some of the dish was very new to me. Thanks to aunt Michelle (Franco's boss)!! Of course, dinner would never be complete without another round of tong shui.

Hong Kong Edition 5

Day 9 - Back to Mong Kok

Yday's shopping in Mong Kok was so exhilariting & addictive that we went back to Mong Kok today. This time, exploring other streets such as Fa Yuen St, "Sports Shoe" St, "Goldfish's" St & many others. By today, I've already spent all tt I've budgeted for & in fact, called mum to bank in additional $$$ to Franco's account.. clearly revealing myself as a true shopping queen.. haha..

Our second Friday night in HK was spent checking out Lan Kwai Fong. Our first proper night life. Lan Kwai Fong, although isn't very big, is crowded with people. It was already midnight but it's as though the city never sleeps. Although I didn't party much tt night, it truly was an experience to see the nightlife of HK.

Day 10 - Memoirs of Geisha

We came back in the wee hours of the morning after our late night supper or should I call tt breakfast...? Met up w aunt Peggy (Franco's aunt) @ China Treasures, Tefford Plaza for yum cha.. our first yum cha session in HK. Tried heaps of new delicious dim sums I haven't tried before. Did a bit of shopping in Tsim Tsa Tsui before heading to our first movie of year 2006.

We've all been anticipating to watch Memoirs of Geisha since beginning of last yr. By e time I watched the movie, I'm already reading the last 3 chapters. Although language wise, I sometimes had a hard time trying to catch what Zhang Ziyi or Gong Li is trying to articulate, the story line, the background music, the acting, the scene & the shots are as beautiful as I could imagine. Totally meeting up to my high expectations. My verdict: 9/10. Definitely must-watched.

A trip down memory lane.

Tell u something you don't know about me: I originate from a Baba & Nyonya clan.

Not from my grandparents but my grandmother's parents. So even as young as 5 yrs old, I wear sarong (similar to sulu) everytime I stay over my ye-ye & ma-ma's hse. At that time, I was the only granddaughter bearing the Ng surname; hence, I was adored dearly.

Throughout the years, after all the dramas in my family, somehow we didn't contact as often as we used to. They were still dear in my heart but it was diff altogether.. from familiarity to "strangers". As a respect, I pay an annual visit to them.

Year after year, I see them both alive & robust..... until last year. An incident that sparked off my ma-ma's depression. She started to seclude herself, even to her own brother. But after much persuasion fr my aunty, she agreed to seeing us today. I was touched. I didn't know what to expect but I felt deeply for her when I saw how frail & tiny she was. Physically & emotionally, you can see the impact of my ye-ye's death on her.

We chatted & as I told her tt my bro & I hv accepted Christ, she beamed proudly. You see, my ye-ye was a staunch Catholic & had always hoped that we would one day come to know God. Apparently, my aunt & my grandparents are born-again Christians, which was something I never knew abt.

As I held her hand, I knew she still sees me as the little Irene 15 yrs ago. But maybe, this time round, it is my turn to guide & protect her instead.

Hong Kong Edition 4

Day 7 - Exploration continued

After yesterday's hard core shopping, we decided we should check out Hong Kong's Museum of History. As its name suggests, we spent almost 2 hours digesting information and extravagant pictures depicting HK's transformation & history. An educational balance to our trip. Then headed to Tsim Tsa Tsui for wantan mee. The wantans are incredibly delicious. Had this milk & chesse tart. Something I've nv tried before. Then, we headed to Arena of Stars - a place where you see hand prints of the most respected & most renowned HK artists. Our first time to Victoria Harbour, seeing HK fr a diff perspective.

After more than half a day of sight-seeing, we went shopping @ APM, Kwun Tong. Apparently, it is one of the best shopping spots in HK, especially for young adults like us. Headed to Cookie's to eat "poon choy". It's a traditional dish where everything is boiled in a claypot, from scallops to chicken, mushrooms, lotus..... you get the point. Dessert was again our favourite tong sui @ Tsim Tsa Tsui. Overall, it was a tiring but worthwhile day.

Day 8 - Shopping craze

I've heard a lot abt this place called Ladies St @ Mong Kok. But little did I realise, I would spend most of my fortune here. Poor Richie, I think by this time, he's sick of following the girls to shopping. Ladies St is akin to Petaling St in KL, except tt they sell mostly "Hongkie stuff". The thing abt shopping in Ladies St is not the things I bought tt thrills me but the extent of my bargaining skills that excites me. True enough, Cupcake & I are "queens of bargaining", certified by many sellers through their remarks & disgusted looks. Some even said, "You again!!!!" when we went back the second time. :D

Dinner today was @ Shatin Plaza. It was the first time we had dinner w Franco's aunt, her partner, Franco's parents & his sister. Food was yummy & it was truly an enjoyable dinner w Franco's aunt giving us tips of places to visit in HK.

A girl's thing.

Yesterday, I did something what girls are generally familiar with.... facial. Some of my peers had probably experience this many times but all this is brand new to me. I wasn't forced or coaxed. But mum did assure me that it's plainless. She said it probably feels a bit like mosquito bite. How bad can that be right?

And so I walked in filled with anticipation and a slight fear the minute I saw the tweezers and not to mention some fine, sharp needles. The next half an hour was the worst hour of my life. Considering I've got a low tolerance for pain, it was very uncomfortable. I remember feeling sweat trickling down my spine although the air-condition was on full blast. Oh boy! Talking abt my poor face being poked, dug and grilled. My face is now bruised. Okay, that's a bit exaggerating. Slightly bruised maybe? She promised it will all subside in 3 days time. It better be!

Apparently, my skin is categorised under dehydrated, sensitive ecyzema skin. Meaning, I am to avoid foamy cleansers, alcohol-based product, toner, tinted products and the list goes on.

In the end, she asked me to book for my 2nd consultation in 2 weeks time. Hmmmmm.....

Hong Kong Edition 3

Day 5 - Disneyland

I woke up today feeling as excited as a kid would be by jst the thought of goin Disneyland. Considering e limited space in HK, Disney was built quite far fr e city & it took us almost an hr to get there. Even e train to Disney are decorated w Mickey's trademark, fr the passengers' handle to the windows... All that adds to the excitement. Thanks to Katie, all of us went in w complimentary tickets. Some said HK's Disney is nothing compared to Tokyo or LA. But for me, since I haven't been to the one in Tokyo & since I couldn't recall much abt my time in LA whn I was a kid, HK's Disney still excites me. We spent e whole day there.. went for all e rides & shows. Although it wasn't fully opened, I was bouncy & excited jst like a 10-year-old.

We only left Disney after watching the parade & fireworks. Did u know it costs Disney US 30, 000 for the nightly spectacular fireworks display? By dinner time, we could barely feel our limbs. Thanks to Franco's friend, I had one of e best Chinese dinner I could remember for a very very long time. It was affordable and down right delicious. Some of the dishes I didn't even know existed. The combination and the taste is jst perfect. There were almost 15 of us & there were abt 12 dishes. We gobbled down our food like pigs who haven't eaten for weeks. hahaha..

Day 6 - Shopping @ Tsim Tsa Tsui

You can imagine by today all of us were dead tired. We slept till late & hit Tsim Tsa Tsui for our first major shopping spree. I couldn't recall how much I've spent, but jst to give u a rough idea, I needed Richie to help w carrying my shopping bags. hehee... Left early to hv dinner at home w Katie. Special thanks to Franco's mum, we had a feast!