Home for CNY~~

It's been a few years since I was home for the festive season; I have even lost count of the last time I was actually back at home.

Working away from home was not as easy as it seems; I had no problems adapting to the new environment and the new company of friends and colleagues surrounding me.
It looks fun and cool to be independent; having your own place and all, paying your own bills, going out anywhere you want (without curfews) - it's a total freedom for yourself while you are out on your own.
However, there are times when loneliness and homesickness set in; especially during those festive moments which do not grant you any long break or luxury to go home.

The last time I tried to go back for CNY was about 2 years ago; and it was well-planned and really exciting for me and my family.
Unfortunately, the plan had to be canceled last minute due to the project 'commitments' and also due to, most importantly, 'NO-coverage' for the project.
Seriously, it was the first time I was ever that devastated!
I had to cancel my plans and call my family last minute because of a great person who refused to help me out with the project; well, it was 'supposed' to be my responsibility.

Oh well, I had a bitter experience then and I was really really upset, I even had to work my way through CNY!
Seriously, words could not describe how I felt then...when I had to slug my hours until 6-7pm to finish off my work 2 days before CNY; which was the day I was scheduled to be home with my family.

Needless to say, my family had to endure a tiring and exhaustively LONG journey north at the very last minute as they traveled on Chinese New Year's eve and we all know how northbound traffic can be at this time.
It was really a painful experience and I waited for the whole day for my family to arrive; and guess what, we only had our reunion dinner at 9pm!

What a way to have this memorable CNY in my mind and I guess there it will remain forever.

Well, this year, my dad had his qualms when he heard I was coming home and he already had his back up plan in case I couldn't make it again..well, once bitten, twice shy.

It was really unbelievable that I am home and reunions have had a different meaning since that incident.
I guess in a way, it wasn't all bad, it made us appreciate the notion of family reunion for CNY more and treasure our family moments.

It's really blissful to be with your family and loved ones during this wonderful festive season.
I wish you a safe journey home, a great reunion with your family and loved ones and not forgetting, a very very HAPPY and prosperous Chinese NIU year! :)

GONG XI GONG XI!

2008 - the year t'was

Happy New Year to everyone and myself!
It's already the new year, 2009 is here!

I've always found it funny that one year is only apart by one day...hehe...it's like yesterday you woke up and it was last year and all of a sudden, today is a new year!

It has been a long year; 2008 it was, especially for me.
Change was a major element for me last year and there were lots of things that I went through.
As usual, I always like to review my past year and hmmm, put myself to that new year's resolution - it's like a tradition I have in myself.

2008 was a year of change, and a year of determination and faith put to test.
It started off with a little slight rocky wave at the end of 2007 and I was gripped with the feelings of uncertainty, doubt and confusion.
It was a testing time for me, until the new year and my birthday where the wind of change decides to brush across my face.
Good news came in and I was relieved that God finally gave me an answer.

After the Chinese New Year, I was on the new road and things were really weird for me in the beginning.
Everything seems to be apart from the normal route and I knew I had to watch my path, but I have to trudge on, with my torch of faith.
Thankfully, there were invisible angels around me who taught me to see the bright things and the beauty of everything.
I believed I had learnt a thing or two about endurance, tolerance, not to mention patience.

I had to let go of the past, although it kept haunting me; I wouldn't exactly put it past haunting - it was more of a lovely memory trail that I just had it at the back of my mind which prompted me to look back once in a while, questioning the decision I have made - the path I had taken.

Then a wonderful opportunity came, I had Lady Luck sent by God to me - I was sent for a trip abroad; to attend a training and it was in the Europe continent; a territory I had yet to step foot in.
It was such a wonderful chance that I would not say no, and thus, I have added a flag to my atlas - when I visited Germany (place of invention and innovation), and to Italy where I have seen the much-acclaimed Venice (city of water), Florence (city of art) and of course, Rome - the origin of my religious faith.

The trip left me with so much beautiful memories and once I was back in Malaysia, I had another opportunity to fly off to Bangkok for another trip (though a short trip).
I must say, 2008 has been a year of traveling - locally and abroad.

As for myself, I have also had some major leaps in my lifestyle.
For a first, I had decided to perm my naturally straight hair.
Cost a bit of a fortune (for me) but the first results were pretty decent (though right now, I do wish for my straight hair to be back)
Curls and perms; look really nice but it was definitely not easy to maintain:(
However, recently my hair has naturally bounced off the waves and my hairdresser said it won't be too long as my hair is naturally straight although he thinks a little wave is nice too.
Hmmmm......I was even thinking of cutting my hair:p

I had ventured into a world of challenges and have seen with my own eyes the reality of the world and picked up a few things along the way.
It wasn't easy I can tell you; and there are lots of times I had to keep reminding myself, I shouldn't trust anyone so easily out there.

I have also, made a few great friends from my training trip in Germany whom I am still keeping in touch with and two of them have also managed to travel to Malaysia for trainings and conferences.

Also, with a twist of fate, I landed back in the same place where I decided to leave in the first place. I was back in the state where my friends were pretty happy to welcome me for more gatherings:)

I had also started to mingle into the world of the rich and famous through all the company's events! Good experience though:)

And one Great achievement from my years of blogging; I have expanded the number of blogs to 7 and still counting. AND, 2008 was the year when my food blog was published in the Star column!! YIPPEE!:)
Read it here

Ahhhhh.... 2008 was such a long time ago, as I write this post to share on my happenings; a view of my 2008 happenings:)