Sunday, January 22, 2012

One last post to end 23

8:07 PM

I turn 24 in 3 days. Makes me look back in retrospect and think how 23 was significant to me. Apart from having to turn older quicker than everyone else,I kinda love how my birthday falls in the month of January. Everyone's still in a festive mood from the remnants of Decembers' partying and fired up with new resolutions to take on the new year.

This year my birthday falls in that odd wandering period of the Chinese New Year holidays. I mention "odd wandering" because although it isn't an official public holiday, a lot of people are still on leave continuing to enjoy the prosperity that the dragon year hasushered in.

Truth be told, I am not even the least bit excited to be turning 24. Maybe it's the roll of the tongue when you say those numbers or the fact that as I write this I feel that there is little to look forward to in the coming months? To eliminate the lack of enthusiasm, I forced myself to be inspired enough to come up with this blog post so I could recap all my achievements in 2011
and hopefully put 2012 in perspective. After all, I should remain an optimist because I hear that 2012 is a good year for the diplomatic rabbit person (yours truly).

So 2011 kicked off with me starting all over again in the motherland.

taken from SkyBar durig Allan's 24th Bday celebration (Jan 2012)

I did not know if I was going to be back for good or if it was just a phase I would grow out of once I revisited the place I called home and reconnected with my family and friends. At that point in time, deciding to work in Malaysia was one of the least likely decisions that I would have made.

The Internship

taken during Louis Vuitton's annual dinner, theme 70s (April 2011)

Interning at Louis Vuitton Malaysia in the public relations department was yet another venture that fell onto my lap pretty soon after I returned to Malaysia. All I knew was that I needed and wanted an internship to pass my time not very long after my return so that I could pick up some useful skills. Also, it didn't hurt to beef up my CV with written achievements. I have to admit that I only accepted the position because LouisVuitton was an exclusive name and to be associated with it was an honour on my part. And additionally because it was the highest paying internship that I had come across.

Besides, I was curious to find out if public relations was something I wanted to venture into in the future and before I knew it, I was frequenting a posh penthouse office in the luxurious Starhill Gallery smack in the center of KL everyday. It mattered at first that I had to take the LRT back and forth to KL everyday and that my life was like a flashback of scenes from Devil Wears Prada but it all played out to my advantage at the end of it all.

I realized that it really paid to be organized and I got a taste of working directly with media publications. I even got a chance at writing one of my very own cover letters which was circulated to the most exclusive magazines and which I will be endlessly grateful to the Assistant Public Relations Manager, Jasmine for. I suppose although it felt like I was moving from day to day in a routined manner, I managed to inject some form of creativity into the job scope and I am ever so grateful to have left my mark on LV in a way.

Travels

2011 was a year that really took me places which I find quite ironic given that I was forced to be rooted in Malaysia even though my thoughts strayed about starting a life in a different country.

It started off with Singapore once my internship ended. Felt like I needed to get away and see Akash for a bit which is exactly what I did. But Singapore turned out to be as much as a holiday as it was a reason to spend quality time with the person I loved. I knew from this trip on wards that there were many more to come for us.

Taken on the Boardwalk from Sentosa Island to Singapore City (April 2011)

I can still recall clearly how thrilled I was to finally visit Universal Studios in Singapore. It was really all that I had ever imagined. (April 2011)

Flinders Street Station. Melbourne's trademark. (April 2011)

Next up was Melbourne where the sun shone brightly and city bustled with vibrance. The countless markets and ad hoc street shows and events were all a real entertainment and I could tell why so many choose to flock to Melbourne and make a living there. I enjoyed everything really, from the diverse food choices to the museums which boasted culture and the shopping although I was overwhelmed with frugality. Will definitely visit Melbie again.
Reconnecting with old friends. (April 2011)

At Yarra Valley for wine tasting with the family. April 2011.

Taken from the Park within Queenstown. May 2011.

I think one of the highlights this year was Queenstown but in a very subtle sort of way. Queenstown was breathtaking. The views were amazing although the weather was slightly too frigid. Definitely one of the most serene places I have ever visited. I mention that it was a subtle highlight because it was actually our last stop during our three week holiday and we were all pretty worn out by then. So it was the perfect way to end the awesome trip. My mum, aunty Purni and I made this our to go destination after my graduation in Auckland.

Breathtaking Milford Sound. A place you definitely have to visit at least once in your lifetime. (May 2011)

taken from the peak of Kings Park. June 2011.

And then there was Perth, Western Australia. Perth, again, was as much as a trip as it was a getaway to spend time with the person I loved. There was so much about Perth that reminded me of Auckland. The laid back lifestyle, the rolling hills and acres of parks, even some parts of the city itself. So much so that when I walked hand in hand with Akash down the walkways that felt somewhat familiar, it seemed perfect. Like we were back in the days when we had just met and everything was funnily uncomplicated.

My second visit to Perth. Taken at Freo (Oct 2011)

Achievements

I guess my biggest achievement was finally graduating with a double major in Economics and Psychology. I finally ended my phase of education this year to move on to another phase in life - WORK. I think I was high on life during my tenure at Auckland Uni. I loved being busy, loved being part of an organisation, loved the exam buzz and most of all, I loved the people that uni allowed me to stumble into. I started the journey alone but came out of it with a whole throng of people I learnt to love and trust along the way. It was one of the most amazing journeys I have been on to date and to finally have it end, I felt like part of me was left behind. But here I am, having started anew, with the sweetest memories that I took with me. And with many relationships that stand strong til now.

A picture with the family. Taken at Aotea Center, Auckland. May 2011

Another with my UMSA mates, people that made Auckland feel more like home to me. Taken in Albert Park, May 2011.

Groupon office (Sept 2011)

In July 2011, I became part of the Groupon family. I think this was the peak of my year. Joining Groupon was one of the best decisions I have made to date. There were other job offers, there were other opportunities, one of which was to apply for a work and travel visa and leave my family once again to live abroad. And in place of all those, I chose this. Groupon has been a roller coaster ride for me. The first couple of months plunged me into an unexpected twist of events and for a moment, I was convinced that I had chose the wrong path for myself. But resilience took over hopelessness and as I strove to achieve perfection, I began to really live for each and everyday and cherish the moments that went by. This was what completely differed from my experience at LV where I just lived through the phases. Groupon allowed me to actually enjoy every single moment while gritting my teeth to achieve what was expected of me.

In sept 2011 I graduated as a Groupon employee.

Months into it and all thoughts of quitting has left my mind. I keep learning from the experience everyday and the friendships that have culminated with time keeps me rooted even during the most trying times. Groupon beams with a culture that is hard to come by in a society that swears by pure achievement. It challenges you to speak up for yourself and allows your voice to matter. It allows you to be involved and feel like you are involved. And its rewards are endless, be it in the form of incentives, learning or people that you will meet along the way and within the organization. Of course I would really be appreciative if I were given the chance to expand my skills and acquire a position of leadership. But I am grateful everyday for the life that Groupon has enthralled me with because I am the sort of person who lives for an outlet like this.

Groupon expands with 120 employees, Dec 2011. This was during our christmas Secret Santa revelation party.

The working life has awarded me with independence. I have had three salary increments ever since joining Groupon and incentives which allowed me to formulate a savings plan. My increase in net worth is confusing at the very least and deeply gratifying at the most. Confusing in the sense that now that I have money, I don't know if I should start shopping for more branded items or if I should save the bulk of it for a rainy day. I think I am still a bit tight on my purse strings but I know how to reward myself when the time calls for it. Eitherway, I still have plenty of time to consider between branded or not judging by the number of working years that I now have before me.

Relationships

After joining Groupon, my social life definitely heightened. But I am the type of person who likes to base my life on the depth of relationships rather than the width of it. It's great to have a whole lot of acquaintances but I think what's even sweeter is to have friends that I am comfortable around and who I can truly confide in. 2011 was definitely a year of networking for me. A year of reconnecting with those who truly matter to me like my immediate family and the friends that I have had the priviledge of knowing since forever.

My central support unit. Everyone important to me is standing right here except for Leeza Foo who was away in the US of A during this point in time. Taken during my 23rd birthday party at Souled Out, Hartamas. Jan 2011.

My amazing bestfriends. I just realized that we truly are a travelling sisterhood unit. Lee Hua has been to UK and back and currently resides in Singapore as a posh architect. Cassie was once in UK too (ok, for a short period of time) but I think she has traveled journies of her own within Malaysia itself and within Deloitte to be more precise. Leez has gone to US and back and wishes to end back there someday. And through all of our journeys, we have still come back to each other with hillarious stories and thoughts to share. I love this friendship of ours and wish that in years to come, nothing about it will change. Picture taken at The Hills during Leez's 23rd birthday (Aug 2011).

Pictured here are some of my amazing colleagues who support each other through thick and thin. Without these guys, the Groupon experience would have fallen short. Taken at Brotzeit German Bistro, Mid Valley. (Dec 2011)

All personalities come shining through at Groupon. :P At our Halloween Party at a rented bungalow on Jln Gasing. (Oct 2011)


Last but not least, my relationship with Akash has grown tremendously this year. Ironically, the further a person is, the more you know about them. Things that work and don't work. Our temperaments. Personalities and the mounting of problems. We pulled through. Don't think it was easy, at least for me it was not and for him it was probably harder but at the end of it all, I am that much more grateful that he is a part of my life. There's this funny little thing called love. It drives you crazy but you can never say you have truly lived without experiencing all of it.

Another Beginning...



The social media team at Groupon asked me how I wanted to end my year back in 2011 and I replied : With lotsa love (see above). I think I really did end my year last year with lots of love. I could feel it jumping at me from all directions. Although sometimes I would beg to differ, because after all I am a worry wart, drama queen, slightly pessimistic and partly ungrateful sort of a person. Fact is, I am truly blessed and lucky in every way possible. We all are. We just forget to realize it sometimes. Because every one of us is so immersed and far off into our own little misconceptions of perfection, we forget to pat ourselves on the back for the things we have achieved and beat ourselves up over things we cannot seem to. Think about it.

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Thursday, December 8, 2011

Joy to the Worrrllddd.

6:47 AM

Christmas is in the air. I think I actually feel it this year. What with the overly decorated malls in my motherland and all. But more than anything else, I think I feel it because of the sense of togetherness that it seems to be bringing once again. Sister's back, Mike's back, friends from NZ land are back and I feel closer than ever to some people at work AND oddly, Skyping with Akash actually feels like quality time spent together instead of a quick exchange of updated routines.

The unveiling of christmas this year is made even more interesting by:-

1. Groupon's Secret Santa stunt

I have to admit, talent management pulled off a pretty spectacular one by materializing this. My office social e mails have been going berserk with colleagues thanking their Secret Santas to no end. No offense to whoever my Secret Santa is, but I think he should be upping his game. All I got this week was a sweet note with a choki choki stick beside it on Wednesday and today, I got a second note on my desk asking me to head to the microwave to check its contents. There was nothing in it when I opened it, only a note on the ceiling of the microwave staring back at me saying : "Must have been the rat... Better luck next time". And here I was thinking Secret Santas were supposed to be everything apart from manipulative :P

Why you so disappointing wan my Secret Santa!!!

On the flip side, I've been a pretty awesome Secret Santa thus far. I've come up with catchy notes and interesting little surprises to keep my victim on his toes. I feel like making it a little more interesting, but we'll see if I do end up having the time to inject interest into the entire process.

2. My sudden generosity when it comes to purchasing gifts for other people

I don't know what has gotten into me off late but I seem to be overly keen to spend money on other people. Today I donated RM 10 to a perfect stranger who came into Starbucks, mind you! to pitch about how he was collecting money for children who had no milk to drink and who were malnourished. He showed me his license for collecting money and everything and so I thought what the heck! If it was for a good cause then I'm in. I also have this unfaltering surge to bulk purchase like toys or something for orphans OR perhaps to donate my unwanted clothes to some form of cause. It's almost as if I feel like my increase in net worth should be shared a little with those who are less fortunate and who may appreciate the spirit of giving.

3. The fact that the year is almost over.

The first half of this year was messy, so to speak, on my part. I didn't know where the hell to start with my life and felt like I was just bobbing up and down with the flow. But then again, when I look back to evaluate what I've actually achieved, I think it adds up to pretty damn heaps. For one, I graduated from Uni. I found a job AND graduated from it. I took on an internship which helped me somewhat figure out a certain industry. I survived an entire freaking year in a long distance relationship. I managed to travel the most this year compared to any other year. I reconnected with old friends and it felt amazing. I scored the best first job ever (like every Groupon employee says : it all goes downhill from here). This year was challenging in its own way but hey, it's almost the end, and we're all still here. So that must account for something, right?

ahhhh. christmas. new year. life. bring it bitch. i'm here. and i ain't going nowhere.

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Saturday, December 3, 2011

The Breadth of Life

6:11 AM

There was a quote I stumbled upon recently. I can't recall if it was from a book or if it was from a movie that I watched. But the fact that I remember it to this day means it struck some sort of chord with me. Life is about living the breadth of it, not merely the length of it.

I'd like to think that I've been really living it up both ways. But fact is, I know that there is more breadth to life. Or my life at least. Look how long it took me to reconnect with my love for pouring out my feelings in words. Long enough for blog parasites to invade my chat box, that's how long

I've been itching to cook up a storm in the kitchen for the longest time. Be it a simple dish of tom yam soup or a more complicated concoction of stuffed ravioli. I remember how life in Auckland granted me permission when it came to making a complete mess out of the kitchen and in the process a masterpiece was somehow created. Be it a darn good cake or a recipe I never knew I had it in me to prepare. Things just aren't the same in the comfort of my own home. And not in a bad way either. Whenever I get back from work, there's always a warm meal prepared by my darling mother. The only thing I dislike about this arrangement is I don't know how much salt/sugar/oil goes into each meal. Conclusion is, I miss the autonomy that I once had when it comes to preparing my own meals and the only way I am actually going to go back to doing that is if I live by myself and am forced to start being completely responsible for what goes into my mouth. Right now, it just seems too much of an effort and I will somehow have to ease myself back into it.

My teeth are falling out just looking at these!!!

Despite my current state of contentment, there are a couple of other things that wouldn't really hurt if it were positioned at my advantage just as well. For instance, my physical wellbeing. I actually miss the uphill walks I used to take ever so often back in uni. Not having a car was somewhat the best thing that happened to my calves. Walking from my place to the Foodtown at Britomart and then refusing to take the bus and lugging everything back with my bare hands (and the help of my bf/bffs) was the best decision I had ever made. The walks allowed me to really connect with what I was doing (lugging), with the stretch of my hamstrings and glutes, with the chill that ran up and down my spine during winter and the red imprints that the plastic bags left across my palms from the weight of the groceries. Call me psychotic but I miss all that dearly.

Having a car and driving to and from work is a blessing. But a very mechanical one too. These days I feel like I sit on my bottom way too much and in order to get moving I've actually considered paying a fair amount of money for fitness classes at cut throat gyms. I still have not joined one yet by the way because I'm considering between the yoga classes down the road from my place or the zumba classes at an over crowded gym. Last thing I want is to be locked into a gym I hardly use. I mean seriously, how tough can it be to get moving every now and then, you'd think? Even with a sales job that requires me to be out of the office more than cooped up in one, I'd say that it's a pretty tough feat coz rather than cooped up in an office, I'm sandwiched in my car racing against traffic which involves no movement of my glutes what so ever. So there. I know why people start getting fat when their career seems to take off and I am determined to make it otherwise for me. Stay tuned to find out the status of my success (or failure....).

It also wouldn't really hurt if my man was around a little more often and our only means of communication wasn't hunched in front of a computer and in a haste over skype. I love Akash to bits and pieces but sometimes, I really wish I didn't have to sit in front of the computer again as soon as I came back from work so that I could reconnect with him. I mean even the frequency of that has reduced because when I look at the computer screen again after work, nausea squirms through my body probing me to wriggle away. Lucky for me, the sweetheart that he is will never hold it against me. Aside from that, I'm really proud to claim that we made it an entire year apart. I really admire the patience and constant communication that brought us to where we are although the first couple of months were bumpy. I also admire how in our capacity we always managed to schedule in holidays to be spent with each other

2 years. 1 together. 1 apart. and we're still rocking the scene. :) I've learnt that it's all about trust, patience, communication and determination.

Christmas is in the air once again. Look how time flies. Soon the new year will unveil itself and kick me in the butt each time I stop to take a breather. For now, I'm just going to bask in the glory of the festivities and buy as many gifts as possible for all the people I have come to adore because christmas is a time to give. Give and you shall receive.

Here's wishing all of you a very Merry Christmas. Spend it with your loved ones. With your friends. And your colleagues. With God or underneath a Christmas tree. In a sock or with a wrapper. Just make sure to feel it in your bones.

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Sunday, September 11, 2011

Graduation 2.0

8:04 AM

2nd graduation for the year

Change. The only thing in life that is constant. Resistance. The only thing that makes coping with change a tad more difficult.

My life of late has been defined by more than a fair share of change. Just when one thing starts slipping into status quo another change comes whooping in to mash and jiggle it up a little, disorientating yours truly. Resistance is probably the only thing I have been familiar with all this while. Whenever there's a change, there is this immediate compulsion to groan and moan injustice. To the point where I am convinced that the non existent injustice reigns supreme and all negativity bursts through like a cracked dam failing to hold back water. So my goal for the rest of the year is to embrace change. It's never too late to slip in another resolution albeit the high speed at which the year seems to be zooming past at.

My life as a business consultant in Groupon has been a series of constant changes. There are some days that suck beyond words. Those days have taught me some of the most valuable lessons. There were days when I was confused and puzzled as to what my main objectives were. Those were the days that got me to question my priorities. There were days that brimmed with rejection which led me to search for an inkling of hope. And then there were some days when I lost good friends who chose to develop their careers elsewhere, those were the days when I reached out and tried to seek comfort in others which ultimately brought me closer to new people. There were days when I lost my way around town and thought I'd never find a way back again. Those were the days I discovered new routes and shortcuts to avoid traffic congestions in the future.

And then, there were the days when I practically jumped out of bed with the excitement of meeting new people reverberating in my body. Days where I laughed so hard I thought I could cry. Days when the people I went out to meet presented me with more opportunities and inspired me altogether. Days when the tenacity and willingness to help of my fellow colleagues really touched my heart. Days when the value of my commission surpassed my salary. Days when I confronted my fear of standing in front of a crowd to speak what was in my mind. Days that I did not resist changes and felt the goodness that came out of it.

What an enriching experience it has been. An exploration at its very best. And despite the fear that I have of falling flat on my face some day along the road, I am glad that I have learnt that change is not such a bad thing after all once we start embracing it and stop resisting it. I graduated as a permanent employee at Groupon on Monday and it was certainly a milestone for me in terms of achievements in my life. Simply because it was a challenge at the very least which made me leave my comfort zone and explore something that I never thought I'd end up liking.

I owe this blog one too many entries.

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Monday, June 27, 2011

Happy Meals

8:55 AM

You know that really good feeling that comes when you laugh so hard that tears spill out of your eyes and your tummy muscles gleefully cramp up? I am so glad that I have friends and family who give me this rather joyful workout as I readjust to life in Malaysia. These are the things that I seemingly live for lately. To let loose all my inhibitions and enjoy light moments that come by every now and then. Glad to say that I've been enjoying more of my fair share recently.

I spent Saturday night with a group of friends that I met while living in Huia residence in Auckland. They are all Malaysian TESOL scholarship students and after two years of education there, they have returned to complete their training phase in KL. I'm pretty grateful to have them here to be quite honest coz with each person, I hold a different memory of a certain phase of my life in Auckland. Episodic memories that are all simultaneously retrieved when I spend time with them.

We headed to Indian Kitchen in Bangsar where we had an interesting array of really splendid Indian food. I got to taste the chicken, mutton, and seafaood briyani as well as the Goan fish curry with the garlic naan that I had ordered. And everything tasted surprisingly good to me, from the cucumber raita to the refreshing minty lemon drink that one of my friends had ordered. I'd totally recommend this place to anyone. We headed to McDonald's shortly after to for ice cream and a game of saboteur. Call me a nerd but I actually appreciate nights like these more than one with clubbing and drinks on the agenda. Never had I laughed so hard that I woke up the next morning feeling like I had done a couple of hundred sit ups in one go!

This is MY perfect idea of a sweet treat. Soft delicate swirls of vanilla ice cream flooded with warm thick chocolate fudge and great company to match. Heaven. Even more heavenly when shared amongst friends.

Shogi! Funny laugh. Man of his word. Can crack up a joke in the most tense of tense moments. Met this budding teacher to be at Huia where we went on a holiday of the east coast beaches in Auckland together....

Chewy - cutest sane alive. Adelynn - most feisty woman I've known to date. Chew was present every single day during UMSA's lantern fest preparation in Feb 2010. Met Adelynn when we set out on the same east coast Auckland beach road trip and we grew closer while training for futsal for the Auckland Bersatu Games in 2010.

Anita - giant heart. small eater. smile that could light up the world. Anita was an ornament that adorned Huia Residence. I significantly remember meeting her at the Huia Formal Dinner in 2009. Her smile made me smile in return.

whenever I hang out with this group of people in particular, they introduce me to new forms of card games. This time around it was Saboteur - a very awesome game especially if you have the numbers.

My darling grandmother's 82nd birthday was on Sunday. She woke up a little disorientated with cramps but by evening she was up and raring to go so we dressed up and went for a nice chinese dinner in SS2.

the lovely mango cake that mumsy bought her.

The cutest person ever. I noticed today that my grandmother values equality very seriously. She saved me an equal portion of her birthday cake because I was out the whole day and everyone else got to taste her cake. She's also got quite the eye of a hawk in the way that she observes people AND who says old people forget things easily! Definitely not her!

I wonder if I take after her?? Pati and me :) The very fortunate reason for the strange mix of culture and race that we have in our family.

The night concluded with durians because my grandmother adores savoring them just like a tauke would. With her fingers digging right into the yellow flesh and her lips covered in a custard-y concoction of what most non-Malaysian would deem terribly absurd. I'd say that this magnanimous woman was born to defy ;)

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Wednesday, June 22, 2011

YUMMAY....

2:06 AM

I apologize for having to come up with this blog post in my blog which is usually adorned with very meaningful posts about very meaningful things that happens in my very meaningful life. I have to admit that at times, I am just a girl after all and I have my very own vices. And one of them is in the form of Ryan Reynolds.... *drools*.

Just got back from Tropicana City Mall where Allan and I finally caught up over lunch and then decided to sit down for a bit to Green Lantern. We went in fifteen minutes later but I don't think we missed much... At least not the most important bit (ie: THE BODY). Anyhoooo. I'm still over awed at how much Ryan has toned up from his Scrubs days. Kudos to him really because I don't even see an ounce of fat on that body... Perhaps I'm blinded by all the hotness?

From a scene in Srubs

Ryan NOW. Those chiseled absss!

Greek God.

In other areas. I think I should up my swimming ante. I realized this this morning when Allan came over to swim. I had already done 26 laps by the time he joined me and after that I think I did 20 something more with chat gaps in between and I didn't feel tired even then. Which is not good. Without diversifying your routines you gain very little out of it...

I also think I am losing my baking talent. Either that or the ancestral oven that we have is working against me. I tried baking cinnamon apple muffins yesterday but they didn't turn out properly. The inside was still pasty and it lacked that flaky texture. Which drives me to the conclusion that when you are purchasing a house, a lot of emphasis needs to be put into the kitchen. I for one would need an inspirational kitchen coz without the proper equipment I become easily uninspired. Sad but true.

Food time!

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Monday, June 20, 2011

Jet Setter

12:00 AM

June. 20th. 2011. Half a year has gone by without much warning. And honestly this year has picked up speed faster than a speeding electric locomotive. Unlike previous years when I used to marvel at the speed of time and wish that it just stopped cheating me off my age, this year I literally prompted the clock to fast forward to where it is at the moment. I gleefully cancelled out the days of the month as it slipped by and have no idea how I got to a point where the turning of time meant nothing more than a barrier to fulfill a holiday dream or a hindrance to spend time with a loved one. Perhaps the insecurities of where my future lay took me off guard ever since I waved goodbye to the small city where I spent three of the best years of my life pursuing my studies or perhaps it was the nervous tension that I felt each time I envisioned being in a long distance relationship? What I know for sure is that at present, and probably for the very first time in a long long while, I have no intention what so ever of slowing down the clock.

The year has gone by so far with many uncertainties on my part. First it was the issue of beginning a life in Auckland. Well that was until I found out how job demand in the country was against the good intentions of many job seekers that even my boyfriend had fled to find greener pastures in a more economically stable country. Then came the decision to stay at home and find a job versus go abroad on a work and travel visa and experience an independent albeit lonely life. I grappled with this decision for a while. Toyed with the idea and then decided that maybe at least a year at home wouldn’t be so bad now, would it? After all, I’m 23, if I really wanted to travel the world and start anew elsewhere, I should not be rushing to do it. Rather, I should give home a chance for a bit and see where it would take me. Only then, when I finally decide to leave home would I get to say that I truly experienced a work life that did not place utmost priority on work life balance.

Speaking of work, I have finally landed a position in a company that I am pretty excited to work for. Groupon, a multinational company that generates its income from the power of group buying has hired me as a business consultant responsible for negotiating some of the most interesting deals that we see on their website to date. The company is so young and dynamic and being the fastest growing company in the world, I don’t think there should be any reason to dispute my excitement. Since I’m only starting in July, I will leave all further comments/laments/rants/praises about my new position for future updates and cross my fingers that my first real job is everything that I dreamt it would be. For further information about Groupon in Malaysia, please feel free to browse the following: http://www.groupsmore.com/

A few significant events occurred in those many months during which I kept away from my blog. Or more precisely, events which I was too lazy to blog about because I was having too much fun savoring every moment of it. I finally set foot into Melbourne, Australia. The land that many deem to be a student paradise with its all too many trams and night life and entertainment. Truth to be told, I found Melbourne pleasant in all its wonders. The shopping would have been good if I had the money. The weather was very impressive throughout our entire week there. The company was splendid most of the time. The food was average - some too indulgent, others too large in proportion and others failed to live up to their name. But what Melbourne had in food was a variety. From Greek to Indian to Turkish. You name it, they have it. I can't say too much about the people because the city was a little too overpopulated for my liking and the people did not appear friendly. But perhaps that was because we came across some of the bad apples during our stay there. All in all I would sum up Melbourne to be a place you HAVE to visit but not one conducive enough for a person like me to choose to stay in. I'd happily settle and grow old in Auckland if I had to choose.

I summarize Melbourne with five of my favorite pictures or more precisely put, reasons why I would want to go back to the bustling city:

for the love of flea markets.

friends!!!

Artistic buildings ala Flinders Street Station

Graffiti Art

Food.Glorious Food.

Auckland was my next destination. I was greeted in Auckland by the familiarity that I had grown to love throughout all those years that I spent there. The friendly atmosphere, the ability to roam about without a care in the world, the abundance of friends who put a gigantic smile on my face. It was the perfect place to graduate, the perfect moments to bask in pride with the perfect people who made three years feel like three very precious minutes. Yes. I am finally A graduate. Hat on my head, scroll in my hands the whole works. And I could not have asked for a better way to receive the honour. My graduation day plays in my head with such clarity, I don't think even a diagnosis of dementia can take that away from me.

On the night before my graduation, I discovered that I had failed to do one of the most important things - make a booking and secure my graduation regalia. I initially thought that the university would provide this which was pretty silly of me really. Luckily insightful Andrew rang me up the night before and informed me of this very important piece of information. So there I was on the morning of my graduation rushing about trying to push my luck and secure a gown just in time to graduate. I missed the graduation parade on Queen Street and dragged my mom with me from the university to Aotea Square and to the Graduate Dress Hire place near the ASB tennis court where I was fortunate enough to secure the appropriate regalia with more than ample time before my ceremony. My mother fell sick shortly after but she was ever so supportive and was present in a pretty purple dress to watch me receive my scroll. It was definitely a proud moment for her to watch me go up there to receive a certificate that she had worked almost all her life to pay for and a prouder moment for me to prove that all that money, sweat and tears was well spent. But more than anything, it was a day that will forever be engraved in my mind because of all the people who came to celebrate it with me, because of the sheer panic in the morning that was followed by relief, pride and joy after and ultimately because I was with the people I loved in a city that I had grown to love and one that eventually helped me find love.

I will let these photos speak for themselves but I can honestly say that I have never seen a wider smile plastered on my face before.

me and the gorgeous fluffy pink hood signifying a Bachelor of Arts degree qualification.

in front of the business building where I spent many days and some nights all in the name of getting my degree.

some of the lovely people that came to take a picture with me. Uni would have been so dull without the people who made my days lively.

with my gorgeous mother who dons the same adoring smile on her face that I have on mine.

The entire family excluding sis who had to stay back in Melbourne due to uni obligations. Truly the happiest day of my life.

I also proudly celebrated Akash's graduation day with him while we were in Auckland.

Blue - the colour of his hood - signifies a Bachelor of Science qualification. I was only too proud being his photographer, running around taking pictures of him and all his friends on HIS day. Save to say, my boyfriend is definitely more popular than I am. Shucks!

As much as I wanted to stay with Akash for a while in Auckland, my mom, aunt and I dashed off to Queenstown soon after. And boy was I glad I went. Queenstown has some of the most amazing views in the world. Or at least in those parts of the world in which I've travelled to so far. The water is amazingly clear and the hills that encompass the lake makes the view even more interesting compared to any other location. I enjoyed strolling through the scenic parks and felt time slowing down right before my very eyes. It slowed down to the point that sometimes I (and my mother) found it hard to deal with. Especially in an uber small town like Queenstown.

Some of the popular destinations we visited were Aoraki Mount Cook and Milford Sound. Seen up here, even the damp weather failed to dampen our mood but it would really have helped if the rain cleared up a bit so that our view of the mountain was not as impeded.

We took the cable cars to the look out point in Queenstown. Felt like we were swimming amidst the clouds. And we managed to get many pretty pictures. I've uploaded a lot more pictures on Facebook if you're interested. :)

And finally, just like everywhere else, food in Queenstown is just as awesome. If you're headed down that way, I'd totally recommend the burger place right across the road from Base backpackers, the name has completely slipped my mind at the moment. And also for yummylicious desserts like the churros pictured above, one word : Patagonia!!! The churros were warm and served with warm chocolate/caramel. Perfect on a cold winters day. And tastes even better when it's shared :D

Heading back home after such an amazing holiday was both a relief and a let down. We used to joke about having a holiday from the holiday when we were there and boy did we actually need one. But at the same time, thinking about having to apply for jobs and being stuck in a daily routine of waking up and bumming around dampened my mood to head home. Plus, I was in a dilemma of my own on whether or not to work in malaysia or abroad.

Little did I know that I was headed to Perth just a few weeks after I returned to Malaysia. And much to my satisfaction as well. A romantic getaway with Akash was what I felt like I really needed and if Perth was a place that he was thinking about settling in, then I definitely felt like I had to scan the waters a little just to make sure that I could live there and make ends meet.

I found Perth to be a wonderful city despite all that is said of it. It's definitely not as buzzy as Melbourne but neither is it as laid back as Auckland. Which leaves it at.... perfection. With it's fair share of buildings in the CBD and scenic parks to feed my hunger for morning/evening walks, I deem Perth to be a wonderful place to settle down in.

Take at Rottnest Island where the sky was clear blue and the sun shone brightly. Akash and I explored the island on bicycles. Seriously, I never thought I had it in me to cycle up and down those strolling hills but we had a good work out and slept peacefully during the nights.

Clear blue waters at Parker Point. Definitely rewarding after a cycling marathon.

Being with my man again. Every moment was bliss particularly because those moments don't come easy. To my surprise, this trip was unlike any other trip where we talked senselessly about annoying the heck out of each other and playing house. This trip saw us talking seriously about future prospects. One conversation in particular struck me. The one where we sat in the blistering cold in front of the beach with it's waves rolling in, I heard him talk about all the dreams that he had in mind, for him, for his family and for us. And for the first time I felt so sure that I wanted to be a part of something. I love how we have both grown in this relationship and how we keep growing everyday.

Of course I didn't miss out on meeting up with this sexy miss while I was there. Feels just the same when I'm around her. Two years down the road and we still have a lot in common.

Had breakfast with Hoss by the lake where I had the best fruit toast ever. I love little eateries with sceneries. In fact, I'd like to open one if my finances allow it in the future.

All in all Perth was a balanced package in terms of everything. I returned with a heavy heart but also with excitement of where life would lead me in the future. If there was one thing I knew for sure, it was that I never wanted to sit in a plane again any time soon.... Out.

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