Nirvana.

Just about three months ago, the Group 21 classmates and I started planning for a class trip that could wrap up our journey together before we leave to different pathways. Many factors had to be considered: local or overseas, airplane or coach, beach or city, and the endless list just went on and on. Of course, majority always wins, and by having multiple voting sessions, we finally came to an agreement that Phuket would be the most desired destination. Although solely half of our class was able to make it to the trip, I was still simply delighted that the trip wasn't called off at the eleventh hour. To be frank, that was almost part of my biggest fears aside from the scandalous rumor about the forecasted catastrophic weather, as I was fully in charge with the bookings of both the flight tickets and accommodation.

I looked into several hotels in Phuket, but most were either fully-booked or that they were completely out of our budget. As I've heard of some positive feedbacks on Airbnb from friends around me and that Rebecca Tan from Clicknetwork had a video on how amazing was her stay in an apartment that she managed to find through Airbnb, I thought it would be worth a try. 

One thing I really like about Airbnb is that you can actually specify the range of price you're willing to pay, which definitely relieves a lot of pain having to look into the accommodations one by one. Unlike other websites that offer just hotels, Airbnb offers apartments, private rooms and shared rooms. I figured we should get an apartment that could accommodate all 14 of us so that we could have great nights drinking and talking! In the end, I booked an apartment hosted by Nick that could accommodate 12 people but could also accommodate more people without any extra charges! Plus, I was also pretty much enthralled by the pictures and services that they provide. 

When we arrived at the apartment, what we could see was a terribly dilapidated apartment that looked so run down that it would probably crumple any moment. It really bummed me out, I can't even put it into words. But what more could I do? And thinking that I have most likely let everyone down was my biggest concern.

Having my fingers intertwined between one another and stealthily praying that our place would look just like how it did on the website was the most I could do. Fortunately, our place was a massive BOMB! It was indeed spacious just like how it was shown on pictures. Clean and comfortable and kitchen utensils... Basically, everything was well-prepared! Previously, I actually thought we would have to cram as we had another two extra humans, but nope, they provided us sufficient beds. Actually, even more than what we had asked for! Not to forget, the rate was definitely a great deal, I can't ask for anything better than what we've got! Besides, Nick, our host, was an incredibly approachable and helpful gentleman who recommended plenty of inexpensive and noteworthy restaurants to us. I would say, the location of our apartment was definitely at its best. It's located at the heart of Patong and with Patong beach just about 15 minutes of short stroll, we could feel the breeze from the ocean just anytime! The location was also beyond sheer convenience as we could easily catch a Tuk-Tuk. 

Alright, I think I'm getting overly excited about our apartment that I'm starting to fumble over words. I shall bring it to a halt right now. 

On the first day with our stomachs growling and tumbling, we went for lunch just along the beach where we could enjoy the incessant gust of wind that swept in. I simply loved the feeling of being able to have a peace of mind as if the sea waves were singing songs that could lure your minds of all chaos away! 

We went to Tiger Kingdom, possibly a must-go place in Phuket, at least that was what Tripadvisor said, HAHA. We could either get the cubs package or tigers package. Somehow I find it pretty ironic how the cubs package was much more expensive. I suppose adorableness is valuable too, no? 

We had to go in groups of 4 to 5, so we had to split. My group opted for the tigers package. Honestly, I thought it looked ferociously intimidating at the start. Yeap, thanks to my abominable cowardice. I had to seize all the courage I could get from every possible nerves in my body to only be able to lay a tiny finger on its skin. There were quite a number of tigers in that particular enclosed area. And from time to time, we sort of befriended each and every tigers there too! In the end, I didn't find it really petrifying at all! In fact, I could even lie on it. It was definitely a remarkable coup to me!

We went to watch Simon Cabaret show at night and I would say it was nothing like what I had expected. The 'Agua Show' I watched back in Bangkok was superbly extreme and wild, definitely not for kids below 18. No harm watching it again, I thought to myself at the first place. However, it was nothing like a legitimate 'Agua Show' but a truly spectacular show with well-trained and professional dancers and entertainers who could lip-sync so so well! Besides, they weren't too revealing as well, which I felt was a good thing. I would definitely give them another round of applause because I enjoyed myself so very much. 

Sadly, we didn't manage to take any photos with any of the performers after the show (or were we even allowed to?) as it was raining cats and dogs. Here's a Google image of their poster to give you a vague idea of it.

On the second day, we went island hopping! The weather in Phuket was beyond bipolar. And you know the feeling when you feel like your entire body is as sticky as a cotton candy because of the humid air? Yeah, IT TOTALLY SUCKED! It was raining quite heavily and by looking at the rough seas and choppy waves, I could only stomach all my insecurities while recalling all the unfortunate news regarding Thailand's sinking ferries and so forth. 

We waited for the rain to subside at the sheltered bay and behind closed doors, I couldn't stop cursing the weather. I mean, who would enjoy island hopping with such loathsome weather that flickered on and off like a lady on her period?

Apart from the upsetting weather, I would call it a splendid experience for someone like me who in all honesty, wouldn't say sightseeing was her cup of tea. We went visiting a lot of caves, so many caves I lost count. Hence, there was a lot of climbing too! I suppose I'm very much of a grounded person, not too much of a climbing and jumping person, ergo my mood that went a little downhill like I woke up from the wrong side of the bed.

Kayaking was the best part of the entire tour. As a matter of fact, I was a little paranoid while I frightened myself with the scenes from Jaws, and Anaconda, and even, JURASSIC PARK.

All in all, the entire tour definitely worth every single penny. No regrets at all!

  

That night, we went to Bangla Road after dinner. We didn't manage to take any photos because that place was too crowded and messed up with deafening music. I finally got to witness real life prostitutes. Not just one, but 400 metres of bars with prostitutes showing us leaflets that looked like menus, except that we didn't have foods as our choices, but girls. Plenty of girls! You can easily ask for girls from Russia, or China, or of course, Thailand. They will literally guarantee you that you'll leave with your heart's content.

Frankly speaking, I find this street a real eye-opener. Never have I ever thought that places like that actually existed, and that the population along the street would at least go up to 20,000 every night! It simply shows how casual sex could be unbelievably common on the other side of the world. Umpteen girls do this for their living, and I personally don't feel that they deserve any treatments that obviously contain thorough disdain. In fact, I feel that they living as prostitutes is just like any other people in the society living with their own profession. In the end, everyone wants and needs money, everyone is ogling the same damn thing. Money. It's simple as that.

And sometimes I do wonder, will prostitutes come to life, if men had never lusted over casual sex that much?

The next day was quite a relaxing day. We went to Phuket Town, a renowned and distinguished town in Phuket, again, at least that was what the internet said. Well, IT WAS NOTHING LIKE THAT! Having to walk in the heavy rain, with absolutely NOTHING to do was tiresome. Most of the shops were closed and there was nothing spectacular to see. I would proudly say Malacca is actually hundred times better than this awfully hushed town. Therefore, we ultimately decided to return to Patong for good.

After a long rest, some of us went for Thai massage whereas some went to the beach. The Thai massage was only 200 Baht. I mean, WHERE THE HECK CAN YOU GET THAI MASSAGE IN MALAYSIA FOR ONLY RM20? On the extremely plus side, it was so comfortable I could almost feel every part of my body losing its senses. One word, AMAZING!

At night, we went to Xana Beach Club. I was very much expecting a bigger crowd, probably a much larger tourist swarm, but as it was a Thursday (which they did say a Friday or a Saturday would definitely be better), there was no crowd at all other than us and a few more very civilized families. Nevertheless, the ambiance was perfect even though looking at the ocean at night could be scarily eerie. Many of us ordered their award-winning burger and gosh, it was the BEST burger I've ever tasted in my life, and I will never take back my words until I come across any other burgers that can taste better. Their service was excellent too, but I would love it better if the DJ could tone up the music a little and of course, bigger crowd and a dance floor.

The next day was a tremendously rainy day. I was glad that it was the day we had to leave, though. Having to stay sheltered at all times in an outdoor place like Phuket kills the mood.

4D3N went by too briskly that I couldn't even grasp hold of every single moment with all of them who have not only been great classmates, but great friends, great company, great mentors. Thank you Nick for the comfortable apartment; Thank you Phuket for the memorable experience; Thank you Group 21 for the superb memories. 'Till we meet again!

(All picture credits go to Daniel Ling, Instagram: @dan.works)

Run.

In one of my previous posts, I mentioned working as a part time waitress in a restaurant and I stopped updating about it after dengue virus had attacked me. I have to admit that being a waitress was never my first option that I intended to opt for. Although I was desperately seeking for a job that could take up all my time that was vulnerably spent lazing on my bed, I still aspired to do something that I would enjoy, or at the very least, learn something vastly out of it that I could relate with my own interests. Taking up the job meant pretty much to me, as it could be considered my first job, also leaving my reading, baking, music and drama sessions as my opportunity costs. The moment I took up the job, I had pictures of myself learning new baking skills and a chance to finally have my hands on a commercial coffee machine. Yeap, I was supposed to be a pastry helper. At least that was what I thought.

I didn't know by any chance that I had to do waitressing.

After my first day of work, I couldn't feel any more enervated standing on my wobbly legs and fatigued soul. On one side, I was crestfallen by the fact that I couldn't belong to the pastry counter, and that I had to do waitressing for the next two or three months while faking a smile upon my face like I was taking on the world every single day. After my first shift, the next shift had become the day with colours that could fill the clear sky torn by a lightning, which I dreaded very much. And knowing that our meal time was horrendously inconsistent, it only added up to my remorse on even thinking about starting it. Nevertheless, on the other side of the coin, I didn't want to waver from my initial intention of looking for a job while sticking with it.

Upon complaining about it to Wendy, who has been working in an accounting firm since February, I found out that her boss was looking for a part time staff as they were rushing for the deadline of the GST submission. Admittedly, I couldn't wait to call up to inform my boss regarding my resignation, but at the same time, I was afraid to have to be doing that, because leaving would make me seem flighty or inept. Neither one of those was what I thought I was, but it was the only way out. Resigning from my job as a waitress only after one sad day was embarrassing, of course. And by doing that has made me incapable of making myself visit the restaurant even though I fancy their food very much. Well, what can I say? I can't begrudge the consequences.

Many people may ask, how can doing accounting work be any better? I know this sounds utterly crazy, especially on a girl who wanted to drop Accounting after Form 4, after SPM, after AS Level, but was still one of the candidates for Accounting A2 Level. I guess I was destined to have this invincible bond with Accounting that I had to end up working in an accounting firm, totally out of expectation.

Honestly, I quite enjoy what I am doing right now in the company. My job scope includes keying in a lot of data that involve petty cash, contra, spare parts coding, bank statements and so forth. I'm currently under Kathy, who I call my mentor, and by looking at all the files that have been burdening her for months while she is competent of having all of it done by the deadline makes me impel myself to be as helpful as I possibly can. Also, my colleagues are really great people who are fun from the inside out. Here's a picture of my work cubicle taken when things have yet to be messed up with hundreds of folders.

 

I started working in this company just four days before I was hospitalized, hence, being on leave for almost two weeks. It did make me feel rather irresponsible knowing that I would have to take another 4-day leave for my class trip to Phuket, 1-day leave for my trip with the friends to Malacca and most probably a few more days for my visa application after result day. God heard my guilt and few days ago, when I was feeling completely groggy and lethargic while brushing my bottom retainer just like any other mornings, it broke out of a sudden. Oops? From that, I had to take a half-day leave on Thursday to consult my retired orthodontist's apprentice.

It was Ellen's birthday few days ago and a few of us went to Le Pollidor for lunch with her. It was our first try there as its location is pretty secluded. I would say their food wasn't extremely succulent but good enough to fill up your stomach. I ordered club sandwich because I missed having it in Peppercorn back in SS15. You will not believe how many times I've had that back then. Sadly, the one in Le Pollidor wasn't any close to the one in Peppercorn.

Last last night, I met up with the Baes in Setiawalk to have dinner at Padi House. It took us a long time to finally be able to spare some time for a simple reunion. Without a doubt, I am indescribably grateful for having them in my life because they're one of the very few reasons why I truly believe in friendships that will last. That night was the last night we could sit together to update each other about what have been going on and what will be going on to our respective lives. Days back in Kuen Cheng were days much simpler for our innocent minds and souls. We would sit around to gossip while we chuckled incessantly on stupid and puny matters. We didn't know how hard it would be for us to be able to do that again.

Time really flies. It's been six amazing years.

ZhiSan will be heading back to Taiwan for Media, Gillian will be heading back to Australia for Economics and Finance, YiTeng will be paving her brand new journey in Hong Kong for Medicine whereas ZhuanYuan will be paving hers in China for Chinese Medicine. We will all be scattered all around the world like the scattered stars that are seemingly distant. But I hope we will come out as wonderful and intelligent people and just like now and then, we will help each other when we fall, we will cheer for each other when we thrive.

This is not a goodbye, my friends. I absolutely look forward to seeing you all one year later!

Yesterday was Raya and the family and I went for a one day trip to Tanjung Tualang with my aunts. It was my mom's hometown before my grandparents decided to move to KL when I was only three years old. Thus, I can barely remember being there. Their house was then sold to their neighbour, but I could already tell that they've missed it very much through their excitement when they finally visited it again after many many years. We went visiting people, none of whom I knew. But it was definitely a great time for them getting to reminisce over things they grew up with.

This left me pondering if I would be like them as well in say, another twenty years? Will I be staying far from home? Will I miss the familiar footsteps I never failed to walk over? Will I miss the very few reputable restaurants I always visit? And will I miss everything that makes everything home?

Whatever will happen in the future awaits me. And I, too, will return to the place where makes me who I am. It's home, that will make us remember who we were, who we are, and who we will become.