Jul - A month with an ending and a new start

Jul is approaching the end again. I dont know how I spend it again.

Probably it is just an usual time passing by again. What is the main focus this months was back on track and workout. It has become routine for a weekly gym session with Hui Ying since she participate in the 2XU compression run in 2015. What make it different for me this year, I am going to join the Full Marathon again to challenge my limits and also to see how far I can go.

Marathon has become part of my life back in 2010 so that I will be continue watch out my stamina and also body health. This year, becoming 25 years old, I am thinking to go for some changes to life and thus 42.195 km has become one of the target again.

The month of July begins the painful training, I went to Mount Pulai twice in a week thought want to start make good friends with the uncles while enjoying the nature but it happens that I saw a news post that it is closed for public due to too many life threatening cases happened there. Thanks to my buddy Chian Yit for accompany and both of us got wet due to rain. And the second session with Sarah, Thong Thong and Leslie, a good weather.

Then Jia Yi has become actively call me for workout, whether gym or the route at Taman Merdeka. It is usually for me to run on a treadmill for about 30 min for  a distance of 3 km, but she motivates me to go for 5 km at least. of course, longer time needed. And yes, I need to make sure myself go further than that when the marathon gets nearer.

Birthday
Jul has become a month for PIZZA due to it is Debera's Birthday! Thanks to her I have try on 6 pizzas in a week.

There are a few of the important persons that are born in this month, firstly is my beloved daddy, which I used to call home on this day and wish him if I am not at home. I seldom call home but this is the day I usually does. Even it might be just a 5 to 10 minutes call.

The nearest to me now is Debera, one of the best buddy I met in Johor Bahru. So this is the only birthday celebration I had. The longest I can remember and still keep in touch is one of the Genting buddy back in 2008, my first job batch mate. Although I keep forgetting the date of his birthday. He used to put on FB is 31st Aug. One friend that I did not manage to wish is Sock Ting, this month I gets a little bit emo so more focusing on sports and also reading.

Reading
Thanks to the limited WiFi connection at my current house, whether it easily get disconnected or the 20 GB in a month, I finally back to my reading as well. It has been quite a long book list that I have bought back and the reading speed has been slow down due to me falling to the drama again and again and time wasted.

Back to reading. Recently my favorites are about foods and also how to make your life simpler. There are a few books that I have read and it opens my mind about the globalization of food supply, some reading about how the technology has change the way we eat today, and also how it has been influencing and impacting the whole economy. Interesting to read, something that I have never come across throughout my degree years while learning Food Technology.

The other topic is also related to my current situation. One of the author he try to simplified his stuff by control it under 100 things for a year. There is also book related to some Japanese lifestyle that encourage minimum stuff at home （极简生活）. It suits my taste, being a lazy person in life, I am looking forward that my house will be of minimum stuff so that it can be clean easily. Meanwhile, it makes you values all the stuff that you have.

Cooking
While trying to focus on workout and reading, cooking is also one of the tasks for the month. After a whole month of heavy meals, I am running out of money and there goes the cooking plan. Well, still the beginner in cooking and again, being the lazy one, I am proud to have my meal ready in 10 min!

Well, pretty simple time to go for my work-life balance target. August is coming, looking forward for a whole month of celebrations. Hint: My birthday is coming soon! But no more cakes please. Gift are most welcome, and... and... I like FOOD!

Jun Part 2: Being A Lucky Person

Finally got back my WiFi at home, after five days. What a good timing!

Jun has been really a month full with fun and activities!

After return from Perak/Penang Trip, the following week I have a date with senior, Lee Hoon for a promise that I have made some time ago, which is to find a place to jog or so called training in Singapore. The marathon run registration fee is becoming more expensive when the popularity goes up and not mentioning those in Singapore which is three times Malaysian Ringgit!

She asked me if the thought is going for real and then there goes the weekend on Jun 25, 26! Although not much time to plan on the schedule, I did end up really enjoy the trip. Smooth traffic on the Saturday and meet up with my buddy, Andrew to catch up for a brunch. Then meet up with Lee Hoon, she bring me to all the places that I wanna to go. Hehe. We made it to the the second hand book heaven, Bras Basah Complex to search for 2nd hand magazine for my training the following week. At the same time, we found a lot of interesting shop located in this complex and have fun exploring it! Then go to International Music Day at Alliance Francaise le Singapour. The first thing fun is back to old school time to enjoy our music and performance, secondly, it is the first time I am so near to a French environment! I had a Level 1 study in university, hardly understand French language, but long before that it is one of the bucket list travel to France to witness the Eiffel Tower in real!

Then, followed by Sun, go to the Macrithie National Park for the jogging. Another reservoir that I see in Singapore, after the Lower Seletar Reservoir and this is a real place for some training, it is a 11 km trail with most of the places cover under the tree, so not hot at all! Having fun looking at other handsome running at the same time! The place is almost flat, so we have quite some running except for some place the rock is slippery which we have to slow down to avoid injured.

Macritchie Reservoir

The Tree Top Walk - 250 m of one way walk 

on top of all the tall trees and nature. 

Initially I thought it is not scary at all. 

Keep back my words after 50 m walk. 

Start walking fast before my leg start shaking.

After that, had a great shower and then meet up with ShuChen for lunch before heading back to where I come from. Back to Johor, the traffic was smooth as well.

Come to end of Jun, I had the APAC Early Career Training Program Part 2. Unlike the first part, this time we are meeting up the same group of people, more familiar faces, although less people. More learning come in for the three days of training, communication skills, presentation skills, and this time we had a finance workshop plus a megatrend presentation.

Meet back MiniUN Team in part 1 on the first day! 

Then they changed the team so that we are better mixing around.

This is my team no 2, Malindo, 

originally from Malaysia and Indonesia.

I made a promise at the beginning check-in time, to be ready to practice more of my presentation skills and build my confidence. Throughout these three days, I did enjoy it although not so much night outing and drinking session like what seniors told us. Well, my drinking ability is still a toddler, better not to drink so much too.

Team photo 2, after we won the presentation.

A good ending for part 2.

Soon after the training, bring one of my colleague from Thai to go visit my hometown, Melaka. Well, not much to travel, only that her travel plan is to go to place with good food, and I think Melaka fit it well. But it is a hot weather and we really feel exhausted in the afternoon.

I hope she did enjoy Melaka and the food. Happy when she commented "A-roy!" (HoChiak in Thai)

Finally, end of Jun and there come the Raya holiday. To be continue... 

Movie : Me before You

Forgotten to update about this movie that I recently watch it, hmm, alone.

A totally worthwhile to be a "me" time movie. One that you don't want any distractions from your friends and you feel bad to stop people talking to you.

Me Before You, a love story? A love story but full with rational thoughts. A girl living in her own world with all the love from the family and boyfriend.

She meet the guy, which was once the most arrogant guy with everything in his control.

The guy is smart, smarter than anyone else. How much you love one and you will let your love one growth as much as she could?

It links back to all the men I met, first and foremost my lovely daddy that let me travel as far as I could as long as I spend my own money. Without him, I maybe really the same girl 10 years ago, study in the hometown , working and settle down the whole life in the same place.

Not that it is not a good life, but I really appreciate that I am given all the opportunity and freedom, from working part time at Genting Highlands, study in Penang, exchange to Chiang Rai, Thailand, visit to other places around the world, and even accept me not working at the hometown as long as I can manage to survive on my own.

I am starting to imagine myself as the girl in the movie, only that I haven't get to find a partner like that, well, I once thought I really working hard to archive something in order for me to be eligible to be one's partner.

What is not wasted, it is always good that you are trying to improve yourself, even though he ends up not the person in life you have proven yourself tried your best with no regrets, you will be ready for the most suitable one in life. Who is that, no one knows, it maybe ended by you alone, when time comes, you will be ready for it, because you chose the path you want to walk. But even you walk alone, you are only to be more confident because of the path you have walk through, that is the only promise that I have keep to myself.

Keep life simple, focus on what you want to do, since you cannot control other factor in life. One day, you will shine, the way you should be. Good luck my girl, the little one inside my heart.

Somewhere deep inside my heart, I do hope that you are my one and only.
Cheers, to the special friendship that we have. And congrats to the new journey starting soon. All the best!

June : Sister Wedding, Farewell, Next Steps

It is June going towards the end very soon, 2016 come half its way and yet a lot of things still pending. Well, as usual, the turtle use its own pace to finish the race. This month, most of the time was on travel, seems like work has been left aside and more to settle.

This month starting from sent mum back to Melaka from Johor during the long weekend. At the same time, meet up with my lovely sister, Sue Anne at Melaka. I hope she did enjoy the day trip, eating Pork Rib Noodle, Cendol, Popiah, Chicken Rice, Durian Puff, and also walking along the Jonker Street although in the morning - I prefer morning as it will be less crowded and more freedom to walk around. Fully utilize the one day and a half.

Debera appointed must eat popiah 

because of the crispy, crunchy pork lark 

Then, it is the long awaited my third sister Jiao Mei's wedding. I really salute her to settle everything on her own. Two weekend, one at Melaka hometown, one at the her husband's hometown at Sungai Siput, Perak. So end up I did not help anything, just go shopping and buy new dress and get ready to take photo.

Thanks to my second sister for the makeup @Luyeyen, Melaka, 11th Jun 2016 ,

And first time in my life to be the bride's sisters @ Sg Siput, Perak, 18th Jun 2016

I also get to eat the famous dimsum at Fushan and lim kopi at Ipoh, Perak.

After that, continue the journey to the north to Penang and join a gathering with my USM Food Technology juniors for a badminton session and dinner arranged by my super junior, Yahouy, the two batch younger than me, and finished her degree very soon. Happy for her that she has got a job confirmed right after graduate.

The old man cannot beat the young one, 

and what is the most change here is the new badminton court!!

After that bath and go for dinner, 

I talk more than I eat. LOL.

Time to learn back to listen... 

Take another day off due to the flight ticket price, spend half a day back USM again to meet up and catch up with my lovely lecturer, Dr Syahariza and Dr Cheng, happened to meet Dr Fazilah as well. Miss the school and teachers so much! But what Dr say is hitting straight to the point also, after 2 years in the food industry, the knowledge that you gain is much more than what you learn in school already and it is more up to day to the current need. Hmm, whether is a right choice to start working first, anyway the time cannot turn back.

After had all the meet up sessions, it is time to face the reality again, I am really lucky to have such a considerate boss, it is hard not to take the offer. So, it is time to plan everything out for my long vacation and then ready to come back again.

Next week, it is going to be another 3 days off from work for training, then ready for July coming and it is another holiday for Raya. I haven't get to go to any plaza Ramadan yet! Next week, a must!

May Update

I dont know how this month really passed. It seems to be just yesterday I updated my blog, but it seems to be also so much happening. 

Beginning of the month, my dear Sun Chen come for work for two weeks. Follow her to visit one of the boss hometown at Pontian, Johor. Then still continue accompany her go eat all the local food - following the footsteps two years back when we first met and I just started the working life. 

Roti canai, leicha, asam laksa, and my new favorite char kuey teow. Boss sees I only bring her to all these local food, she brought us to some new places such as New Chua Kee Seafood Restaurant, Anna's Kitchen (Dare myself to try out the Petai Fried Rice, and it appears to be really nice. )

See the big crab! @New Chua Kee Seafood Restaurant

What is different of her trip, she have her boyfriend already! So I become the obstacle and keep take her away. XD. 

Right before Sun Chen last few days in Malaysia, my mum come to stay with me in Johor. It is really hard if one do not know what to do except for the cooking and television. She brought all the food from Melaka to Johor, and my house's kitchen is not suitable to fry. But there has been 10 days of yong tauhu supply. 

The only day that I bring my mum out for food, 

she asked for vege and Japanese, 

I brought her to the Bushidao Shabu2, 

but she complain that it is only mushroom, not vegetables. >.<

Had been leave home for too long, office life also another world that probably my mum cannot imagine. While two people in the same room having two different life, disaster do happen. She cannot sleep at night and consequence my sleeping time also affected. End up she requested to go to stay with my aunt at Kulai and I will pick her up next weekend (4th Jun) to sent her back to Melaka.

Not having much time to continue my sports but managed to join the 5 km run by my company and also 10 km night run at UTM. Time to resume for the training. August will be the next half marathon before the Nov Full Marathon. Final try and I will go with half marathon to keep the running spirit. 

Kerry 5 km Fun Run with the Ladies~ 

UTM Luminous Night Run 10 km

Meanwhile, time to get exposure to my new house's gymnasium and also swimming pool. 

June, it should be a month for celebration, I will have a long weekend between 4th to 7th June, then attending my third sister's wedding on 11th and 18th. Just schedule a meet up session with my dear junior generations. Then month end will attend my second APAC Early Career Training Program Part two. 

It is also going to be time for half year review for work. Time to look forward for more exposure. 

May and Jun, Lots of memories can linked: 

- it is two-years anniversary for my Final Year Project Presentation, the end of four years university life.  (2014)

Submitted the hard cover Final Year Project 

and the start of all the party night

- three years ago, end of internship life and my first Taiwan backpack bringing my friend. (2013)

Back in my lovely old days. 

Taipei and Taichung for a week 

and then I am broke and stop traveling around. 

- five years ago, I entered PLKN for less than two weeks and then travel by plane the first time in life for my student exchange at MFU, Thailand for one semester (2011)

Chiang Mai, Doi Inthanon one day trip. 

Recalled the moments that we learn hard for Thai language in order to travel more places in Thailand. 

- six years ago, I left Genting Casino as a part time card dealer and to further my study in USM.

 

Photo created by one of my ex-colleague 

for our table game. 

Pontoon a.k.a 笨蛋

and viewing my hard drive, it seems like it is time for some clean up. The End.

Start of May: Move out, Short Getaway to Pontian, Shopping

The story started at last week, I have a packed schedule although it is a long weekend.

Started to shift my stuffs to the new house after hiking, farewell with my housemates before Marian is returning to her home country. It has been a nice stay of 18 months with tonnes of freedom and privacy in the house. How time flies. It is just like yesterday she inform us that she has an opportunity to continue working with Kerry near to her home.

Feeling happy for her to be back to her kids, and looking forward for the next time we meet, maybe no more Malaysia but their home country or even the new place that I am going to explore. Where will be the next destination? It creates a new bucket list in my travel plan.

I finally make the last round on Thu night, move all my belongings to my car and bring them back to Melaka, and then full loaded again back to Johor. Gotta try my best not to buy new stuff into the house and also try finish up those already in within this year.

Returned home after Fri dinner, Jia Yi is the one accompany me for dinner and get ready for her exam preparations. 

Round Melaka for almost whole day, pick up my sis, sleep, go eat Chicken Rice Ball (oh well, I know right, AGAIN!) Settle my tax filling, lunch, go out settle her wedding stuff preparations, which it will be happening in about a month time! 

Too busy until I forgotten to update my friend who is also back to home for the long weekend. I have help my sister to book the earliest bus ticket to sent her off to bus station and start my journey back to Johor. 

One of the first China colleague that I get to know after I enter the workplace a.k.a my once upon a time dinner mate come to Malaysia for work purpose invited me to be a big light bulb for a day trip to Pontian, Johor, hosted by our manager. Some of my coursemate have told me to visit Tanjung Piai before but due to the closure of some part of it so I have yet to plan for a visit. 

Go to Pontian, met Berlin in person (Janice's dog) - I dare not to touch any live animals... >.< but she is cute, ate Pontion Ah Poh Bakuteh - I like the herbal taste! Asam Fish, “Ginger Wine Chicken" (姜酒鸡）, Loh Bak, A day started with FOODDDDDDDDDDDD!

Then started our journey to Tanjung Piai, and go to Kukup. I missed one of the family trip few years back with my parents. Finally I have the chance to see these mangrove habitats after so many years study from Geography. The one from Kukup seems much cleaner with the sand. 

Get to eat fresh fish again after few hours of digestion. Special fried noodles with fish, fish soups, spring rolls, coconut jelly, etc etc. Get to see all the houses build above the sea again. Sun Chen reminds us of Penang Chew Jetty. 

End of one day trip. 

Monday, last day of my long weekend, first day sleeping in the new room. 

My ex colleague a.k.a one of the long lost friends (6 years!) a.k.a Wai San has come to Johor and find me, ask me to bring her for some local food and also do shopping. Some friendship is just so simple, even though it has been a long time but once meet up you don't feel it awkward. She is one of them. Had a day laughing with her. 

Due to did not open my internet at all, I did not noticed it is her birthday. What a big surprise! She must be likes me a lot. Muahaha. As a credit to her for coming all the way from Singapore and find me in this special day, we go for a piece of cake after a crazy shopping day before sending her off back.  

May come too soon and it will sure to be fully occupied again. I am thankful for all the people that have make me smile and cherish my life. Well, take it easy and ALL is WELL.

Recap for April 2016

Another month is coming to an end again.

This months has gone fast again.

April 5, it is the death anniversary for my beloved daddy. Thanks to all his siblings, they are indeed treat us all very well. We are one big family, this is one big treasure that left to us, the younger generations by our grandparents. And yes, one year has passed. Too many things that happened in this period. All I wanted is a good deep rest, which I am looking forward to it to be happening soon. Meanwhile, I am yet to do a deep research, well pretty much to be just having a me-time for refreshing and reflecting myself on what I really want for life.

Joined a half marathon on the Apr 3 for 2xu Compression Run in Singapore, reunited with the marathon kaki a.k.a seniors a.k.a they are all my buddies. Get shocked by the number of people who join the running event, the human traffic along the way. Affect my running result although I feel that my performance was better compared to the last one as this time I had Hui Ying running all the way with me. T.T I will really miss you as my training partner for the past one year until today. 21 km in 3h25min.

p/s met Leng Mui a.k.a Wai San, my Genting mei mei in SG, 

it has been 6 years ago, she has become da jie jie this time to treat me good food. 

Had a short lunch with her and catch up with her. 

Then had a charity run (Donut Run) at UTM on the Apr 16, for 4.2 km in 31 min 27 sec. They gave out donut at each checkpoint - I ate one and feel it is really not a good time to eat while running. So I kept the other two until the end. Manage to run continuously for 3 km but the last km I was just walking until finally I find the finish point.

There is a donuts buffet at the finishing line, 

but no more feeling to eat any of them so I just make my way home with the medal. 

Working life is all good, sometimes cracking head to find a solution, but that is the function of the brain. What I really like about working here is the chances to know more people: I join a training program from Apr 20 to 23, meet new people from the Asia Pacific region. Well, not really all new to me, so managed to target a few new faces and get to know them in this three-days event. After all, it is a good time to move away from the working stress, which I had been busy for a few weeks and will be busy within this quarter.

I wonder why even training, my group name are linking with "minions". 

But I really enjoying within the group.

And then come back from the training, learnt a new card game (Phase 10) from Debera, bring all the way back from New Zealand and introduce to us. We were all tired after the training, as the night before had some preparation works on for the next day presentation. (I am a slow thinker, so need to work beforehand. ) But still they (Deb and JY) come to my house and we play a few rounds.

The pretty batch mates, we are lacking Iznie a.k.a my sayang!

Continue with the weekend on Apr 23, planned in a month ago to go to Gunung Lambak, Kluang for the hiking, the only place to-go that I missed out the last trip I went to Kluang. Did not do much survey on the hiking trail as we have a local with us. But the local only went there a few times. Still we need her, lost in no where with the GPS for our car. She shared the location to save us. Reach the recreation park at 745 am in the morning, then we start hiking. Ask one of the local on which route is easier for the hike, uncle run and show us the direction. I tried to talk to the uncle by asking whether he come here weekly. Uncle say no. He come to this place five times a week, as a half retired age.

He shows us the direction then go back. Finally after a 1.5 hours we reach the peak of Gunung Lambak. Another uncle talked to us. He laughed at us as he already go up and down for 3 times when we just go up. And he told us that we come up from the wrong way as there is more preferable to be the going down path. We thought to go the same way down, but then someone suggest us to go the other path down to see a different view. It is a much shorter path, but all the way steep to the half checkpoint. We used the longer but easier path to go up, and taking a short but tougher path to go down. Challenging, but a good experience. The second uncle seems to be a typical old fashion man, who scolded us stupid to use the wrong path, but he actually become our guide to lead us down the way. Imagine he can actually use 29 min to go down, but because of us, he spend 1.5 hours.

I believe he is also the local who really love this nature place and it is what he called as home. He shared with us the knowledge for the hiking places in Malaysia, and he is very proud as Gunung Lambak is consider one of the most challenging path (I believe he is also the person who walk all the route out, which is really a good experience to meet and listen).
Thank you uncle, you make our journey much more smoother although it is all the hard way through.

Missed the Railway Coffee this time, we eat for Botak Curry Mee and also Cendol before heading back to Johor. Then all sleep dead after get a refreshing shower.