if things aren't meant to be

This morning at the pantry, after making my usual morning coffee (I like it thick and strong btw), I closed the lid of both coffee powder and sugar cases. I first tried to close the coffee’s case, but it won’t work. It won’t even tighten. Seconds later I realised that I’ve been using the wrong lid (sugar’s) to close the coffee case.

It struck me momentarily that : In life, if things aren’t meant to be, no matter how hard you push for it to happen - it won’t.

Just like how if you don’t like your job and your employment relationship doesn’t work out, quit. Or if you feel like things are just not meant to be anymore between you and your guy/girl, break up.

Having said that, this does not mean you should not give it a try. Give it a go, give it your best; and if it doesn’t work out, alter the direction you’re heading and move on.. till you find something that works. Just like how the coffee case’s lid is meant for the coffee case and not the sugar’s. Nothing wrong about the wrong choices we make in life, for if things aren’t meant to be, they just aren’t.

Just one of those enlightening moments I had this morning.

To one of the nicest aunties I know

the kind-hearted, generous, whacky, accomodating person she is;

Best friends - Aunt Pat & Mummy

*love this picture!* taken last year Feb @ Port Dickson

A helluva company to have around, one that has a young heart & mind;

And one who knows how to enjoy life. (She loves her whisky)

May you rest in peace, Aunty Pat.

Ah Mei LIVE

Had the opportunity to watch Ah Mei live over the weekend @ Arena of Stars, Genting.

She sounds good in her CDs, yeah? Live? She's waaaayyyy better! I literally went 0.0. Speechless. The impact of her voice is simply amazing.

Couldn't find any of her videos from the Genting show (where her performance was so, so much better!!), but managed to get these 2 videos from her other touring shows:




And this song when she got the crowd to sing for her:


Trust me, she is x10000000 better if you were there at the stands! Definitely the best concert I've been to thus far.

Note to Self #1

There's a Chinese saying which goes: When someone is right in front of you, you don't appreciate him/her as much as when that person is not right beside you.

I have this habit where when I'm around people, very often my mind is drifted to other things; and my actions show - through playing with my mobile phone, mental planning of other things, and sometimes worrying too about unnecessary stuff.

I never thought this issue was really an issue despite people telling me that.. till today when I was driving my grandma to her friend's place. In my mind, I kept thinking of my day's plans, of how I have to decide on a job soon, and of a certain someone which I am trying hard not to think of. Basically, doing everything BUT engaging with the person right beside me.

And I don't feel right. It's not right at all. So I snapped out of that zone and started focusing on my grandma. Instead of just asking her usual Q's like what time and how she is going back, I turned the attention to that little pink bag she clutches so tightly on her lap.

I asked what was inside that bag, why isn't she carrying her normal handbag. She replied saying she has her medicine inside, all packed up. I teased her, 'You have your toothbrush and all too inside so you can prepare to stay over in case your mahjong session prolongs all night??'

She's even better than me in this teasing business!

'Yeah, I have my pyjamas all kept neatly in my friend's place too.'

Wah. Then we both just laughed. It was a nice feeling :)

Note to self: To truly appreciate the ones present around me, to seize and maximise the moment. And not just be there physically, and engage on the 'surface' level. Mom's favourite motto used to be carpe diem, now she finds 'The Power of Now' - Eckhart Tolle more meaningful. Hmm, I indeed have a lot to improve on. 

to Sri KDU-ians SPM batch of 2004/2005

Guess who I bumped into yesterday during my first ever yoga class?

OK, no points for guessing as you can obviously see who in the picture below. Hehe.

Why, ALOHA Mr.Selvam!

My BM teacher who was strict as hell and one of the only few teachers whom I thought did not like me. (Just because I answered most questions correctly?? Kinda like how Snape reacts to Hermione's ever-rising hand in class? Haha I kid!! I don't even put up my hands that often in class). However, it turned out that he had so much faith in me, and sang praises to me in my class that made me so shy.

Was good catching up with him, though in a very awkward environment. While he's so flexible stretching & working his yoga, I struggled to even lift my right and left leg backwards.

I think I will just stick to my good ol' Body Pump from now onwards. Yoga is just too hard. :( 

**

P.S. to my 4 & 5 Mozart classmates in year 2004/2005, Mr.Selvam misses you all and he does think of you all from time to time. 

Supper road trip!

Two nights ago, Keat and Seth texted me to confirm our supper meet-up session for the night. And this crazy idea popped into my mind! I thought of hitting 3 supper places.

It’s fine if I haven’t had dinner….

I had dinner at 8.30 p.m.

Supper started at 10pm.
(!!!! I know what you are thinking....)

Anyways, our #1st stop: McDonalds @ Centrepoint! or Mackers as how the Aussies put it

It seemed only normal if we shared, and not order a set each. So it was a 20 pieces nugget, large fries + large coke.

My favourite, favourite McD’s food choice of all time - McNuggets!!!!!

Sitting by the booth really brings back memories where Keat and I used to study for our A-levels examinations. A perfect place to “kap lui” for him… and a perfect place for me to concentrate on my studies. True story. I really enjoy studying in these public places sometimes. I feel that as long as we can remain oblivious to the surrounding noises, these ‘noises’ can actually prove to be a studying catalyst (kick) to us. Or in my case that is, at least.

#2 stop: Hokkien mee @ DU

Look at that girl there - all happy and excited. Besides the delicious hokkien mee, the fried rice there is also B.E.S.T.

Seth is a hokkien mee lover, and for him to say that the HM is pretty good… it has got to be pretty good!!

#3rd stop: Mamak @ Kayu, Aman Suria (the boys’ favourite place)

Roti tissue!!!! YUMMMM.

Seth, Keat & I

Amazing company + amazing food + CHEAP PRICES = LIFE

My rock

My dearest family; my rock, my pillar of strength, my everything.

As I write this, they must have landed in KL already. True enough, I’ve just received an sms from mummy that they have arrived safe. That’s mummy for you - always thinking of others first, making sure we have nothing to worry about. She handed me my graduation present last night:

Mummy has given me a few good books over the years with special written notes inside. At different age and point in time, she would have different words of advice and encouragement for me, but the message she tries to get across is always the same. This time, on my graduation, the message was particularly heartfelt. Among the few sentences mummy wrote that touched my heart deep down were:

“You are meant for a great life, filled with True Wealth. Always do remember to keep a balance in everything you do - health, family, career, friends and spirit. First wealth is health. Without it everything is irrelevant.”

“Mummy wishes that each night: before you retire for the day, you can reflect on your day, smile at what you have accomplished; and each morning when you wake up, you are grateful for being alive, healthy, and full of zest to live another wonderful day.”

Love you, mummy, papa, mama, ken and shaun - for everything, and everything else. Papa for being the man of the family he is - always watching out for us, providing for us, giving us nothing but the best, instilling the value of money in us. Mama for being the caring, concerned grandmother she is - and though sometimes she is naggy, she only means well. Ken and shaun - for being the most patient brothers ever, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything else in the world.

Blood is truly thicker than water

Sydney for the 2nd time

I miss Sydney. Can’t believe it’s only been 4 days since I left this city.

It’s so different this time around- no hurricanes ribs, no opera house, no bondi beach. Instead I got to experience how my friends here go about in their daily lives. One thing I’ve realised- my friends here don’t live very near their universities, even the ‘nearest’ will have to take a bus ride of 15 mins to uni. I feel so pampered now, living right in front of uni.

Throughout my 10 days stay in Sydney, I was lucky enough to be chauffeured around. It feels surreal - each time I plan to take the public transport, a shining armour just comes and save me. I feel so blessed to have good friends like these. Rest assured that if they ever need any help from me - be it in Melbourne, or KL - I will be there for them.

TJ - for allowing me stay at your place for a week, for driving me to dinners with the Wesley gang, for being the usual you - teasing me, making fun of the silly me, making me so furious at you it’s funny. TJ brought me to the suburbs of Mosman (sort of like Melb's Chapel Street alike), to Manly beach for ribs at Ribs n Rumps (he claims it's better than hurricanes...), and for those little talks and chats.

Drew - for picking me up from the airport despite living an hour away, taking me to supper at chat thai the night I arrived Sydney, dinner at honey wok, driving me to bondi junction at night to catch a glimpse of winter festival. For taking the day off work and drive me all the way to blue mountains just because I really wanted to, for bringing me to this place where we can cook our own steak @ west ryde hotel,  for coming home early from work and bring me to paramatta (the place he works) westfield shopping mall.. for not going to work and instead work from home, so that you can bring me out for lunch. For driving us all the way down to have dinners with our highschool friends. For letting me stay at your awesome granny flat. For being so patient with me, and for accompanying me the night before I flew back to Melb despite having work the next day. For your warm hospitality, amazing company, and everything else. I can only say three words - you are awesome.

Su yi - one of my closest girlfriends in highschool. It's always so good to see her.  She has this warmth and genuity about her that I like so much, and I am glad she is still the same Su yi I know since years ago. We may have lost touch for a bit, but seeing her this time definitely reminded me of the friendship we have, and the good ol' times in highschool. Thank you for the mirror, marshmallows and chocolates dear. And for coming to dinners despite being so tired after work. For the pork wrap from Surry Hills. For wanting to bring me to breakfast. For being so accepting and kind. I love you, always.

Kb - for being the nice, gentleman guy he is. Always willing to plan, always willing to accomodate, always willing to organise dinners. All I needed was to ask. Thank you for everything - for taking me to the language centre to apply for IELTS, for taking me to the usual lunch place university students go to, for inviting me to watch Inception with the rest, for accompanying me to the Aroma festival, and for planning dinner at Madang, the korean place.

Yh - despite only having met you once (or twice hehe), thank you for accompanying drew and I to blue mountains, and for being so tactless in your teases mm haha. Also, for picking me up all the wayy from drew's, to the fish market, to broadway for movie, Makoto for Japanese dinner and passionflower for ice cream desserts. You've been such an amazing company, laughing at my lame jokes (giving me face, I know... lol), and for making me laugh at your even lamer jokes. Thanks for sending me to the airport too :)

M.tiah - for driving me, kb and rest of us around, to lunches, dinners, Usyd, aroma festival and for the times we shared in Sydney. Thank you so much :)

Sydney- July 2010, a trip unintended, a trip extended, a trip which turned out to be unexpectedly amazing.

Do you know what I realised after this trip?

Friends like these are so hard to find. They are as rare as treasures. Having met them, and being close to them is one of the most beautiful things that has happened in my life. It also made me realised that- yes we all have flaws, but if we choose to focus on the best side of everyone, we’d be amazed to find beauty in each and everyone of them. As Confucius says, ‘everything has beauty but not everyone sees it’.

*yes you can imagine me tearing a bit now, happy tears! :)