Looking back...

Looking back at 2009, I realized it had truly been a fast year. I thought I was screwed at first because the thought of facing everything alone was damn scary. But oh well, I survived and now I am stronger than before. *insert smug look*

A recap of the past year....walk with me and re-live the crazy moments.

01 January 2009 - Spent New Year counting down with The Sistahood, their partners, my bro, Michael and a few friends at Luke's crib. That was the first New Year that I actually celebrated with a bunch of people after like six years.

January - Three months since Shawn and I broke up. I decided I need to get up on my feet cos I had sat at the crossroad long enough. This was the breakthrough month as I removed the ring from Shawn that I had worn for five whole years. The necklace that I had really loved and worn since he gave it to me on my 21st birthday was also taken down. The old blog that track what happened during our relationship of six years was also shut down for good.

February - Threw a mahjong party and The Sistahood plus a bunch of close friends came over for food and mahjong. It was ages since I organized something like that! Awesome party! Met up with Shawn one last time to cancel the mobile lines and the feeling of how everything-is-over-after-we-part-ways-here washed over me. At that point of time, I felt like a burden has been lifted off me and I can finally walk on into my new journey. Attended Her World's birthday party with AW on Valentine's day and got myself drunk on Moet & Chandon by 5pm. (wtf??)

March - Doctor finally instructed "No alcohol". Didn't really listen but instead of drinking everyday, I cut down the drinking sessions to three/ four a week. An achievement ok?!?!

April - First time to Batam for a spa weekend with Sea Cucumber! Also, it was this time when I decided to not be so "dao" and accept more people/ friends into my life. Also, around this time, I embraced my title of being "Single" and am proud of it. 

May - Second time to Batam with Sea Cucumber. Attended Pink Dot event at Hong Lim Park with JT & LP. Went out for quite a few dates. Knew DoRAYmon via FB. 29 May - first time DoRAYmon and I met up at Boiler.  ^_^

June - First time I joined a movie night thingy with HY and the girls at Luke's. Got my third tattoo on the back of my neck. Fell very sick for a week - stupid viral infection and gastric flu. Started to spend more time with DoRAYmon while status was unknown.  -.- 

July - DoRAYmon had a couple of misplaced wallet and key incidents and started staying over. Then we went to Genting. And become a couple officially in Genting (of all places). Then we became "同居蜜友" ever since. **Happiness**


August - Attended unofficial pink dot picnic at Botanic Gardens with DoRAYmon, Chris, Terence and Louis. Went to the Smirn-Off event together on National Day where DoRAYmon meets JT. It was HILARIOUS!


September - Spent the first stay-cation at Rasa Sentosa with DoRAYmon a week before Vietnam. Visited Vietnam for the first time with DoRAYmon, Sis and Mao Mao - best holiday ever.


October - Left the PR company I was working for after three years. DoRAYmon organized a birthday dinner for me and it was also the first time we celebrated my birthday. Booked our tickets for Perth. First time in my life where I booked a holiday four months in advance!  @.@


November - Accepted the offer at the new company, it's a managerial position! DoRAYmon and I had our first quarrel. Eeyer. Wasn't a very happy month but we survived.


December - This is a fucking eventful month. Seriously. Went to Buko Nero (the restaurant that's famous for the months' long wait list) for dinner. Got an email which we have dismissed as a prank email (I can't write details of what happened because of some possible legal issues). Mum got diagnosed with breast cancer. We got couple phones - the iPhone! Well, I got mine myself lah while DoRAYmon's was a Christmas gift from me. DoRAYmon finally met the family, including the grandparents. Mama finally giving us her blessings. 
AND, a day or rather twenty four hours before the year ended, DoRAYmon said (I know he will probably strangle me for writing this out but I can't help it!) : You are going to be my wife.


Wooooo.....weeeee......wooooooot! What can I say? *acts shy*
Eh...this is not a proposal. No. Really not lah. But it could possibly happen soon. Yes, I am ultra confident in Us.  :p


As I saw how the past year began and ended, I realize how drama it looks. It began in the worst possible way but ended in the best scenario ever. When I thought my door was closed for good forever, God decided to send me an angel to turn my fucked up life around and fill it up with a lot of laughter and joy.


I haven't been this happy for a long, long time. Looking at how good this new year is already looking - I start in my new career next week, we have a trip to Australia next month, we have talked about working out something concrete for us when we are back from holidays, we are talking (though vaguely) of vacation plans in the third quarter of the year) - I can't help but look forward to our new year.  ^_^


This pretty much sums up my crazy 2009 and gives you an insight into my beautiful 2010. How about you? What have you done for the past year? Are you looking forward to the next year excitedly like me?


PS : I have drafted an entry on my new year resolutions. Oh yeah, I did it again. Some are practical while some are crap which I really don't intend to keep. But I am tired after the mahjong games today and DoRAYmon is nagging at me to go to bed (the nagging has stopped for a few minutes now though...haha) so I guess I will post it up over the next couple of days.

Viet Viet (A Far From Overdue Post)

I hate to admit this but I have been slacking. From the looks of it, I have joined the slackers clan - where the blogs get forgotten; the Twitter gets no updates; the news do not get read despite the RSS feeds and the once hectic life comes to a standstill.

Oh well, how many times do I get to be jobless and do nothing but sleep till 12pm daily, wake up and do nothing? Guess I should treasure this slacker lifestyle before I swing right back to the crazy corporate world.

So, as promised, I am posting up a brief of what went on in Vietnam. Honestly, I am not going to and I cannot do a proper write up of Vietnam because :

• When the history lessons on Vietnam were on-going in school, I was either sleeping or playing truant.
• Whatever that I had managed to absorb (when I actually sit in for that few lessons), were left behind in school when I graduated.
• When our tour guides were briefing us, I was more interested in the birds that were flying by.

Yes, I admit, I do have a learning disability. I take in things visually easier than via listening. Hence, the crazy amount of photos we took in Vietnam.

Here we go, follow us through our journey in Vietnam - starting from Ho Chi Minh to Da Lat to Nha Thrang and back to Ho Chi Minh.

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All geared up and excited about Vietnam.

Passports - checked. Boarding passes - checked. Off we go!

Arriving at Ho Chi Minh's international airport.

Lavender Hotel - accommodation for the first night at HCM.

A friend told us not to go too near this building as the guards will come with their guns.

Arriving at Da Lat's market. We bought winter coats in Vietnam.

Can you believe that?

A back alley we chanced upon. It was one of those old school back alleys. Beautiful.

Having our first meal the Vietnamese way - sitting on the low stools and eating at the low tables. Did I mention that there were cubes of pig's blood in these noodles? WooooOooooo!

The tour starts at the Prenn Waterfalls in Dalat.

Then we went on to see a much more nicer waterfall - Datanla Waterfalls.

Our holiday mates - Lawrence and Karen at The Crazy House.

Buddhist Meditation Monastery - I hope we didn't destroy the peace there.....

One of my favorite shots taken at The Valley Of Love.

Didn't I already said it's The Valley Of Love we are at?

The King and The Concubine found at The Summer Palace. I hope this photo spooked you out a little. I purposely touched up the color so it looks faded. One day, when we are old, we shall show this photo to our grandchildren and see what reactions they will come up with. Muahahaha!

Soaking at the Mineral Mud Spa.

Strolling by the beach at Nha Thrang.

First stop of our tour at Nha Thrang - the aquarium with not much fishes. But we had loads of fun taking pictures. Hah!

Sometimes, just sometimes, I like to pretend I am a mermaid and not a Dugong.

My baby's first attempt at para-sailing!

I thought this is interesting - we tried sea urchin for the first time. The sashimi and the porridge versions. The sashimi was perfect while the porridge was so-so. Now, you know what to order if you decide to try it, don't you?

On board Boat Trip No 4.

Can you see how happy I am? Cos I finally get to hit the sea!

Another one of my favorite shots taken by Lawrence. I am too photo conscious most of the time and it's nice to have something shot in a much more natural way.

And this shot marks the end of our tour in Nha Thrang.

It was back to Ho Chi Minh the next day.

Fooling around just before entering Cu Chi Tunnels.

This is the original size of the actual Cu Chi Tunnel entrance during war times.

See how my baby is struggling to get in?

Outside their General Post Office at 4.25pm.

Notre Dame - the one in Vietnam.

Coming back home. Obviously, we are not excited about coming home at all.