A Trip Down Memory Lane ~

It has been a very long time we have planned this, and I am glad that we have finally made it happen on Boxing Day.

We have always loved Malacca; for the historical and heritage value and also its significance to us.
My brother and I have both studied in Malacca for a year; during our first year in university and to us, this place has hold uncountable memories that one could not buy with money.

My parents love Malacca too, as the place brings fond memories of their pride when their children entered university.

I was looking forward to the trip as I have not been to Malacca ever since I graduated a few years ago, and I have often wondered how it had become today. Don't get me wrong, I did want to go back, but somehow we could never fit it into the schedule; well, I blame procrastination for that.

Returning to Malacca brought a lot of memories to my mind; the trip we made there for my Orientation Day after accepting the letter from the university, the search for a place to stay, and to buy the necessary items.

As we approach the familiar area where I used to stay within the vicinity of the university, I was also filled with nostalgia of the friends I have made during that time whereby the friendship turned out to be a profound and lasting one in my lifetime.


Every landmark was just memorable, and had left marks in my mind



There were old landmarks and also new landmarks; something that weren't there before.



We searched for a particular shop making longevity buns; which Mum was quite fond of back then and we were delighted to find it!




Of course, Mum bought the buns to bring home; those with lotus paste as they were freshly handmade by the folks who run the shop.
Honestly, buns like these could only be found in states with historical value such as Penang and Malacca.

We drove around the area, and I was really happy to see most of the shops where I used to go to and get my daily necessities are still around.



Where I used to stay


We even managed to gain entry into the university and drove around, reminiscing about those days when we were still students


The place didn't change much, albeit there were some new buildings in construction.
It was such a nostalgic moment; this is the place that had made me who I am today, and secured me with a bright future.

We drove around the place, unwilling to leave actually =P
This is a place where my friends and most of the university students would love to have a cup or two and chat until the wee hours in the night.

I don't do that, but my brother and most of my friends have done that before.

As we drove around town, I remembered this church too; St Peter's Church, one of the most prominent landmarks in Malacca.
Come every Easter, people from Singapore, Johor, and KL would drive to this church to join in the grand procession for Good Friday.

For me, this church was also the one where I used to attend my Sunday masses via bus.
It is a small but historic church=)


There were just so many things about Malacca that was memorable, and my brother and I would just go on talking about them in the car, telling my parents over and over again, like a broken gramophone record.
It is always nice to be able to look back into the past, and feel proud and happy that you have been there and perhaps, that's why they always say that history makes who we are today.

I am looking forward to my next trip to Malacca; and of course more family trips as well.

It is just lovely being able to chat and laugh over every single thing as we reminisce together over the good old times =)

What Christmas truly means to me

Christmas is often perceived as a joyous and colorful celebration and is widely celebrated all over the world.
The global celebration of Christmas was probably due to the influence of Western movies and dramas which made Christmas such a merry and glamourous festival and thus, the younger generation these days just took after the celebrated notion of Christmas as a festivity.

In the midst of all the festive atmosphere of shopping for presents and parties, it makes me wonder whether the true meaning of Christmas is still truly remembered.

Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ, the only Son of God, and who was destined to be the Saviour of mankind.
His birth brings New Hope, light and goodness to all mankind.


To me, that is what the fundamental of Christmas is all about.

Christmas is not merely a festive season, but truly, a religious celebration of the birth of Our Saviour and Our Lord.
That is why Christians all over the world sing "Joy to the World" at the strike of midnight, the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.

It is a celebration of the triumph of good, and most importantly, it is a significance of God's true love for all of us, His children.

Christmas is not about exchanging presents, nor setting up of the Christmas tree or attending a number of parties, nor is it about dressing to the nines and displaying your best plates for a good meal with roasted turkey and wine, but truly, it is all about the celebration of welcoming Our Saviour with an open heart.

Today, Christmas is not being understood for its true meaning but celebrated just merely because of the glamour and the need to imitate the Western culture.
It is funny how they always criticize the Western influence and yet adopt most of the practices in the culture.

Everyone celebrates Christmas these days, because it is fun and it is a great way to enjoy the public holiday.

I am glad that it was such a welcomed festival although I do hope people truly understand what they are celebrating about.

When you celebrate Christmas, you are believing in Jesus Christ as the Saviour, you are believing in the goodness of His Birth and the reason He came to the world.
Yes, Christmas is not merely a festive occasion filled with fun and glamour, it is truly a religious festival and it reminds us of the great things that the Lord had done for us.

For me, this is what Christmas has always been about, no distortion about that.


I love the spirit and the cheer of the beautiful and miraculous Christmas season; and most of all, I love the midnight masses.

I look forward to going to mass for Christmas, to celebrate and to welcome the Lord's birth.

I look forward to going home to my family, and spending quality time with them.

Christmas is all about hope and LOVE, and that's why it is so important to be with our loved ones.
We are to be reminded of the love and the faith that surrounded us, and to cherish every moment of our life.

I love Christmas because of the true meaning, because it the birth of our dearest Lord =)


Every year, come end of September and December, I would be looking forward to the coming of Christmas.
Preparing for Christmas means to reflect and to repent on our past misdoings and sins, and to prepare for Confession as well.
We are to do good during this time, before Christmas.

I also spend time buying gifts for my loved ones, as a token of appreciation for their love which is really important to me. The value of the gift is not in terms of the price of the item but rather the significance it brings to the recipient.

I make sure I have a nice and new attire for Church, as this is a grand celebration and it is a banquet of the Lord which we are invited to.
Think of it as a formal birthday party we are invited to.

This year, we finally have a Christmas tree set up in our new home and my brother had truly spent a lot of effort (and money) on ensuring that this is one of the best Christmas tree for the home.
I was really touched to see the Christmas tree being set up (I will be sharing the meaning of a Christmas tree in my other blog: Starry Starry Blog)

The shiny tinsels were just so colorful and it added so much life to the tree.
The presents are just so symbolic of our love and care for each other too.

Of course, the Christmas tree was just part of the preparations to welcome the Lord's birthday at home. It is just like decorating our home for the Lord's presence, and to truly welcome him into a place fit for a King like Him.


Midnight mass is another most looked forward to in my itinerary; in fact, it is the MOST important as we participate in the celebration of the Lord's birthday.


This year is different from the previous years as we celebrate in a new church; instead of the church we grew up in but it was all the same to us, we are not the main focus, but rather the Lord himself.

The Church of the Holy Family was also meaningful in its name as it is a true symbol of what a family is to be modeled after the Holy family.



The Church was elaborately decorated as well and it was just so beautiful amidst the lights lit inside and outside the church.


After all, Christmas is about LIGHT which brings hope to mankind.


We are always reminded of our baptismal promises in church, as we put the holy water on our forehead as we make the sign of the cross


Mother Mary is also the reason we have the Lord, and we honour her as Our Lady and Our Holy Mother who will always be there to help us in our prayers.



After our celebration at the church, we would usually reach home after 1am, and despite me being an early sleeper, this is one of the rare times in a year when I would stay up to chat with the family and toast to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is like a family tradition, for a small family gathering where we would laugh and eat and drink (not to our heart's content at that hour), and enjoy each other's company.


I LOVE Christmas, I really do, not for the festivities alone but for the presence of the Lord in our lives and how He is always there for us.
I am glad that I love Christmas for its meaning and not for the glamour and fun of the celebrations.

What is there not to love about Christmas as we celebrate the love of God and the presence of Jesus Christ among all mankind?

Will you lend a Helping Hand?

I went to work as usual yesterday, but the office shutters were still down.
I stopped in shock, I was wondering, is it again a public holiday or was it a replacement that I am not aware of (since I was so blur on Monday morning whereby I went to the office thinking that we did not have a replacement holiday for New Year's Day when indeed, we do have)

Then my ex-colleague who is now residing next door (used to belong to the same company until they were sold off, that's why they are ex-colleagues) told me that our admin lady, M, was downstairs in the clinic as she was not feeling too well.

That is one advantage of being in the branch office, the relationship with each and everyone working there is relatively closer compared to the huge team in the headquarters.

The disadvantage?
Well, that means I have to open the doors myself and that also directly translates to having to pull up the heavy metal shutter all by myself!
*Groans*

I admit, I am spoilt and seriously, I am not used to doing this on a daily basis as well and I was kind of dreading it when I had to do it, furthermore, ALONE!

I put down all my bags and proceeded to unlock the lock fastened to the door opening, then tried to lift up the shutter.

I was in despair when I noticed that it only lifted up a little, and I struggled to get it up when suddenly, there was an extra hand behind me who just pushed the whole thing without much effort!

No, no, this is no horror movie or it was not an invisible being, but a young man who just stopped by to give me a hand while he was on his way to his office just a few doors down.

He was quite cool about it and just nodded, but I was really touched and grateful for his help.
(No, don't think of anything mushy or romantic either)
I was genuinely and deeply touched by the actions as it was unexpected and rare these days.

I mean, how many people would help when they see something like this?
Some people may say that guys will be more willing to help ladies, but I don't think so.

I doubt that there will many who will lend a helping hand.

For that, I am convinced that there is still hope in this world.
To that young man out there, whoever you are, I just want to thank you for your great help which may not seem much to you, but you have really made my day and you are truly one with a good heart.
May the Good Lord bless you, and it is wonderful to start the NEW YEAR knowing that the world is indeed BEAUTIFUL with the many great people existing amidst the dark clouds =)

Have a MARVELLOUS day ahead!~

NEW YEAR 2011

It is 2011 now; we have stepped into a new year once again!!~
It is phenomenal, how we celebrate festivals after festivals, and then we come back to the same point where we started.
We bid goodbyes to the previous year and gather with good old friends to celebrate yet another year of friendship, but did we truly throw away all the old and negative habits as well?

It is funny, how we look at the past years as the PAST, but we just leave it at that, LOOK and DECLARE but we don't change.
For instance, do you still grumble about everything in your life?
Do you still wonder why you are stuck in this same old job?
Do you think of what is going to be your future?

Do you quit smoking?
Do you quit littering the Malaysian streets?
It is funny, how everyone claims to welcome the brand new year but yet does nothing to alter their life at all.

Is that what New Year means to you?
Is it just about the countdown and the crazy and wild parties on the streets?
Is it only about the fireworks and the wonderful decorations on the streets?

Somehow, there are people who just do not understand the true meaning of NEW Year and yet they are just joining in the celebrations.
What are they truly celebrating?

I am not trying to dampen the New Year spirits through this post, but rather, I would like to help to send the message across; that the NEW YEAR is not just merely a celebration that lasts a night (or morning) but it is THE FUTURE to look forward to and how we intend to make a change for the BETTER.

It is no point staying up for the celebrations and yet revert to the old habits after the countdown, to me, that is just clearly a waste of time!

Everyone is excited with the coming of the New Year every year; and there are those who planned months ahead for their parties; buying food and choosing what to wear or planning a romantic getaway with their loved ones.
Everyone has a reason to anticipate what the New Year brings to them, but what does it truly say about us?

I look forward to the New Year, for one thing: CHANGE
I look forward to new things and GOOD things, that will CHANGE my old negative habits.

I want to be a BETTER person, and I want to pick up from the past, on what I need to learn and realize to pave a new path.
I do not want to walk on the same old mistakes and say the same old thing, and yet not doing anything about it.
I do not want to just usher in the New Year when I am still holding onto the past.

It is not easy, yes, but it is all about determination and enthusiasm.

The Past year (2010) has been a year of ups and downs as well; and I have learnt yet to be a stronger person from all that I have gone through and enjoyed.

2010 - the Year it was....
1. Our team won the most outstanding and dynamic growth in the world and we enjoyed a trip to Phuket to celebrate our victory.

2. I was promoted in a year from my performance in the northern region!! (My hard work did pay off)

3. My dear grandaunt passed away, leaving the trail of the last ancestor on my paternal side.

4. My company's organization changed; we had a new CEO, department head and my boss left as well (I had a new boss)

5. I enjoyed a business cum personal trip to Singapore again and did some major shopping there too (it has been a very long time since my last trip there!)

6. I enjoyed a wonderful trip to Perth, Western Australia after a year of no international/personal travel! It was also a very memorable trip as my dear proposed to me on that trip as well!

7. Had my first bad experience with hotels which I thought were supposed to be of 4-5 star ranking!!

8. Learnt the true colors of people whom I thought were good and kind people, and yet, they were just hypocrites.

9. Moved into a new home with my family, and enjoyed spending quality time with them and recalling all the nostalgia at the old house as well.

10. Enjoyed our new car and learnt the legal procedures of house/car processing.

There are definitely more, but the above were the highlights! =)
I have had a great year and also learnt the downsides as well, and I would hope to do MUCH BETTER in the coming year...

For the Year 2011...
1. I want to DO something I am truly passionate about, and concentrate to develop my life career around it

2. I want to plan a wonderful and enjoyable wedding for myself and to cherish my beloved husband to be for the rest of my life!

3. I want to spend more time with my family; especially my parents for all that they have done for me when I was a kid (I am glad I found out, and I am ever thankful for all their sacrifices)

4. I want to make a good decision and to look forward (and not back on it anymore)!

5. I want to see all my good and best friends around me, and thank them for all their great friendship for all this time!

6. I MUST read more books, to add up my collection of books I have read..LOL!

7. I want to give my parents and family a better life, and to earn a better living for their comfort and luxury.

8. I want to have a better financial planning/management and to ensure that I spend wisely with every single cent.

9. I want to make more friends and to treat everyone like they are my family as well!

10. I want to travel to more places and share about my life in all my blogs/travelogue!

I will add accordingly as time goes, and by default, PRAISE the GOOD LORD for all the little things and blessings that I cannot see that he had done for me in my life.
THANK YOU LORD, I will never forget to thank you every single day.

A HAPPY and BLESSED NEW YEAR 2011 to each and every one of you out there!~

Completed posting on Perth!

It's been a whole good two months but I have finally completed my posts on Perth in my traveblogue.
You can read it here

I am currently compiling on my Singapore trip; even though I have been to Singapore more than once, I still love this country for travel and shopping!
I was treated to interesting places and food during this recent trip which I can't wait to share about in my travel blog, so stay tune!~

Conference in Singapore 2010

Yeah, it was yet another business trip (like I said, there were really a lot of travels these few months, and I can't say I am not enjoying it ;)

This time, I was bound for Singapore for an internal product launch and technical training cum conference on this new product.

Ironically, this was a training I never did look forward to, despite my love for Singapore (I always leap for joy whenever I plan any trip to Singapore).
Perhaps it had something to do with my motivation level?

The interesting part, it turned out to be an enjoyable trip for me!~
I enjoyed the trainings and meeting new people/colleagues from all over the world; Germany, Australia, South Africa, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Indonesia, Hong Kong, etc

Oh, and we were definitely spoilt with the luxurious spread of food and after work activities organized by our beloved Singaporean colleagues every evening!
It exhausted us every night and we had to drag our feet to training every morning, but I dare say everyone enjoyed it still.

I loved the hotel I stayed in; it was my second time here and I still loved every bit of it! =)

Day Scenes of the Lion City


When darkness falls in this modernized neighboring country


The FOOD....


I do missed the good times, and the FOOD too, looking back at the photos now...

Do look out for the updates on this trip in my travel blog

Annual Meeting Review in Johor Bahru

Shortly after my Perth trip (after all the fun and relaxing times I've had), it was soon back to reality as our working calendar hits the end of the Fiscal Year.

This means that we are to attend the yearly review meeting.
Last year, it was held in Penang and this year, they decided to choose the southern region and that meant our office in Johor Bahru.

It was rather a last minute notice, and it coincided with my dearest Mummy's birthday (actual day!) but thankfully, I had celebrated with her and the family over the weekend.

Frankly, I didn't look forward to this trip as I never did have a good impression of the state down south but it's not like I had a choise anyway, and so, here goes, the short two days 1 night trip to JB for our meeting.


I think there seemed to be more food (and wine) involved compared to the actual business agenda when I compiled the photos.
There was nothing much really, besides work and food on this trip and I was glad to be back in Penang after the rather hazy and dirty air down south.