Purple has now turned blue... purple is joy, yet blue is hope!

掌握一生的幸福。。。

Monday, December 31, 2012

2012 In Review

Whilst I don't usually blog on my personal stuff, guess it is time for an exception, perhaps a new start for 2013. 2012 somewhat been a challenging journey for me. No doubt, I am proud I made it through. There were ups and downs, with some extra personal time during the weekdays been sacrificed for work.

I still crafted some personal time for own self - yes, own self!
  • Scuba diving - 3 places in the year (Redang, Perhentian, Mataking)
  • Got my Advanced Open Water certification, in preparation for more deep dives!
  • Outdoor yoga - early morning in the park
  • Reading
  • Nail spa and excellent personal "massager" - too bad she quit her job come end 2012, I miss her.
Some of my time were made aside for family members.
  • Made home to Labuan island 3 times in the year - included family trips to Kota Kinabalu, Pulau Papan and so
  • Tried horse riding - but gave up after 2 rides
  • Island trip to Redang - partial as I enjoyed my personal time with my dive buddies too
  • Chiang Mai trip - 1st time there, it was an eye opener
  • Baking, cooking for experimental dishes
  • Cameron Highland trip with friends cum their families - enjoyed the nice bungalow & home cooked food
  • Cycling - got my 1st foldable bike, improving my ride every now and then :)
What I did not do in 2012... :(
  • Karaoke with my close buddies
  • Organize a party
Guess I would consider myself being more outdoor this year, is it a good thing? Oh well, perhaps so when I gradually feeling health condition de-tolerating. I wish to explore more on healthy diet, more healthy stuff to start my 2013. A journey to begin with, after the long waited dooms day 2012.

Of course, more de-stress sessions including some pampering ones, i.e. spa will be an ideal thing to do. I wish to visit more places in 2013, particularly those with 4 seasons. Some plan has been lined up, can't wait to see them happen.

Improve my writings, both formal and informal - more blogs perhaps?

Bye 2012, welcome 2013!

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Lego in the Box

Honestly, I'm still cracking my head... Thinking hard if I ever had Lego set during my childhood days. I am sure I have, as it's not an 'alien' toy to me. But seriously, I couldn't recall how they looked like, and what model were they. I don't even have a 'skeleton' leftover at home.

Very likely they had all been hijacked by my little brother. He had Lassy too, a slightly bigger educational toy, which he connected them all into guns! Gosh, I should have more girl typed childhood.... And yes, I had Barbie doll :)! A gift by my late aunt.

I never intend to collect all of the Shell Ferrari Lego cars, which were under promotion lately in Malaysia. I picked and choose a few, in which I super liked the minifigure. Hence, I got myself 3 sets.

Where to store? I left it on my cupboard for the past weeks, it then collected dust! It ain easy to maintain. Hence, off I went to hunt for a box. Daiso has been my common household shopping paradise. Here goes my transparent plastic box, specially made for toys and miniature storage display. Without need further intro, you would have know how much would this cost :)

Collection Box from Daiso
Made in Japan ?
They all squeezed in well...

Monday, December 24, 2012

Merry Christmas 2012 & Happy New Year 2013




Wishing all friends & their families....
Merry Christmas &
Happy New Year 2013

Time flies as much as it could, we cherish the moment as we move along,
great time always in memories, lousy one we should leave behind.




Friday, December 21, 2012

21-12-2012 so called D-day & Winter Solstices

I am pretty sure many will be blogging on this special day, even most social media will be flooded with such kind of post over the world. What is going to happen to the world, will we all be doomed once and for all, or will the world turn dark forever.....

Obviously, some would have believe, but certainly I did not (but wish it could happen). At least, I wouldn't need to continue my routine lifestyle. Wish to have some change, but not too sure where to start. Perhaps, this may be the new beginning of my life. Who knows!

Writing here to mark the occasion I had went through for this special day ... Glutinous rice ball (湯圓) and roasted pork (燒肉) as breakfast -> Simple Lunch with buddies -> Nice drinking & Pork Knuckle session with buddies -> Unplanned (at least not mine) dinner with relatives -> traffic jam (whom someone been more irritated than I) -> now writing -> soon going to bed.

I am glad that my life has been filled with great company of buddies, no matter sun shines or rainy days. I am sure good heart pays all for it, enjoying every single inch of my life with them. Y'all the best!

Happy Winter Solstices to mark the end of 2012, let's aim for a better & happier living as a start for 2013 (a whole new world).

Happy Winter Solstices

Hmm.. nice cider! 
Yam Seng!
*1st time appeared in Purple's diary.... a random blog post. a post without much content that make sense, afterall... its dooms day right?

Sunday, December 9, 2012

Trip back home (again), Nov 23 - 28 2012

Back home twice in 3 months time? I know, timing was just ridiculous. This air ticket was redeemed a year ago and was supposed to be used up last June. No matter what, I was back home once again. Being more adventurous this time round, and discovered many new things.

My 1st morning was greet with this new 'baby' at home. He has grown up so fast!
My name is Fido
Our morning was occupied at Financial Park (FP) or Ujana Kewangan (UK, in Malay). Might as well, we had our lunch in there. It was unexpected good for Indonesian delight - Soto daging and Nasi Ayam Penyet. 
Soto Daging with Iced Lemon Tea
Nasi Ayam Penyet
Restaurant in Financial Park
We were slightly lucky this round, where we were able to enjoy the sunlight and beach view. But the weather changed very soon around 4pm each day, hence I missed most of the sunset view.

Man made pier for fishing
Layang layangan view
BBQ pit, ready for any picnic or gathering
Traditional Ketupat
Satay and fresh coconut is a must!
A visit to the small opposite island, Pulau Papan has been in our plan for many many years. I have been there once during my secondary days, yet most of my local friends and families had never been to here before. We dragged the other couple here. The boat ride was rather pricey because we kind of charter the whole speed boat. We paid RM80 for 4 pax at a round trip, for the 5min boat ride. Nevertheless, it was worthwhile for an experience. We load the boat from the old public jetty.

Vessels parked off the jetty
The jetty
The locals kids
Welcome board
Pulau Papan brief backgroun
Team building area
Clear water and me
Sand and Toe
Resort

Overlooking Victoria Island, Labuan

Marina Hotel & Financial Park view from the boat
Heard there is another island, ~45min boat ride away is now under renovation. It will be good for visit, picnic, snorkeling and wreck diving with a resort operator available. Pulau Kuraman, read here at wiki for its interesting background. I have never know this is an island which been in ownership claim between Brunei and Malaysia. However, it is still owned by Malaysia and FT Labuan.

It was the same night, we had packed flowery crab for dinner. The butter cheese favor was great, very tasty. I had never tasted flowery crab with such good meat and tasty too. Good to know there are more and more quality food around the island.

Tasty flowery crab
Chilli Squid
My other shopping activities, besides the usual chocolate and liqour shop. I did spend some time in comparing some price against some particular daily confectionary. Take for example, a Belgium Choco Magnum ice-cream, its selling RM3.90 vs RM4.90 here in KL. Though, I didn't took those, instead indulged with the Nestle Kit Kat coned ice-cream. It was selling only at RM2.80 per cone. Not sure how much is selling here in KL.
Kit Kat Ice cream
Here's how it looks inside.. Fido likes it

Other shopping was cool. We shop for vegetables and chili in the dark. It was around 9PM where the vegetable stalls at the Pertubuhan Peladang (Agriculture society) still active in business. It was probably the time where most hawker will shop for their ingredient to prepare that very night. Vegetables were very fresh, as it just arrived by lorries from the mainland.

Huge pumpkin
Skinny & Fat dried chilli
Till the day we were taking off. This jet fighter was set landing. I love the skies that evening, and I saw even the moon while flying over the clouds. Such beautiful day.

Fighter
Sky view from the plane

End of report. Till then looking forward for my very next trip back home again. CNY 2013.