Today is 20th Dec 2012, and according to the
extinct Mayans, yes, tomorrow 21.12.12. is the end of our earth. But by what means would this world end remains vague. Some people say it will be a huge tsunami (it's too late to learn swimming, ppl); some say it could be some nuclear warfare and I may be killed by excessive radiation. But me thinks, nothing can be worst than being attacked by a zombie, probably due a mad scientist from...er...say...North Korea/Russia releasing a gray-matter-eating bacteria which consequently creates a pandemic. Zombie Apocalyse, they called it. I am not paranoid, but I've learnt a lot of zombie-apocalypse survival skills over 3 Seasons of "Walking Dead". I should be okay when that happens.
As I sit here reflecting upon my life, looking at the sky and watching closely at the chirping birds and spot a black cat crossing pass me, everything seemed so.....
normal. No indication (animals are good indicators) of an apocalypse. But I do feel that year 2012 did pass me by like a swift wind. Guess it has been a dramatic year so far, but if you have
Ivy in your life, everything is dramatic. Let's recap:
January 2012:
I was given the task to take over a scientific project in Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, in Tronoh. I have to spell that out in CAPS because I've never been given a task so huge before, both time and space. First: my new car (at that time), was pushed to its limits travelling incessantly from Ipoh-Tronoh-Ipoh-KL-Tronoh-Ipoh-KL-Ipoh-Tronoh.
Phew! My
new car has to go thru' pothole-filled roads, lembu-crossing areas, tankers-filled roads daily. Second: UTP is such a brilliant campus with nice architecture, but located in a lousy township. Honestly. Food was scarce; my life was downgraded. I couldn't accept it (I am a spoilt kid). My Ipoh home was my lifesaver. UTP
post here.
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| Farewell party for Susan. I went to UTP to take over her role. |
February 2012:
We had our first trip out in Cameron Highlands in conjunction with Valentine's day. How amazing having ourselves just for ourselves, doing things we love most: run, walk, hike, talk. Cameron Highlands
adventures here. Also, Whitney passed away this February. Sob! Sob! My dad was devastated.
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| How convenient. Fresh flowers from Camerons on V-day. |
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| I hate tea. |
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| Hike from Brinchang to Sungai Palas. |
March 2012
Still stuck in Tronoh. Traveled Ipoh-KL-Tronoh-KL-Ipoh
A LOT. Nothing interesting. Oh yes: I made 6 dives with my colleagues at Lang Tengah! Scuba at Lang Tengah
post here.
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| Lang Tengah with colleagues |
April 2012
I was sent offshore to assist in a sampling project for 2.5 weeks. Actually, I volunteered (you'll know why - October 2012). What an experience! In short, it was 'interesting'. Sufficient amount of experience to let myself know I do not want to be an offshore person,
ever! Even if it pays 2X to 3X more than my current salary. All my oily offshore experiences are mentioned in
previous post here.
May 2012
Begged my boss not to send me offshore again. :P She wanted me to go on August 2012, but to my delight (and a little begging, plus a cute Puss In Boots face), I don't have to anymore.
I was sent to Penang for a huge conference to talk about.....yes...what else ...but on oil, oil, oil. Nevertheless I had a great time in a 5 star hotel (invited my whole family to stay over a few nights) and once more, experiencing Penang like a pure tourist. I joined the
kwai-low delegates to visit the whole of Penang touristsy spots. Even as a Malaysian, I had to be opened about facing the "
tourist traps", but was smart enough to NOT buy any
batiks.
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| Rasa Sayang |
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| Up Bukit Bendera with the kwai low delegates. Nothing interesting. |
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| View of Penang bridge from Bukit Bendera |
June 2012
My 2nd Full Marathon completed at 5:47. Wee!!! ONE-
freaking-hour improvement from my 1st Marathon in Singapore 2011. He
teman-ed me throughout whole 42.2km, and we finished together. Some runners always say: we reach the finish line holding hands. Where got?!?! Prove below:
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| Who said we held hands to the finish line? :P |
July 2012
Kerja masih jalan, but I have to study for my
naik-pangkat assessment. Subject runs from statistics to physical chemistry, I became cuckoo and hormonal.... for the reason I had to
study!?!?!?! I thought I don't have to study ever again, really. :P I guess learning is a continuous process until the day you die (tomorrow?).
August 2012
I purchased a condo for myself. Finally!! Yay!! Yippee!! WoWweee!! But I remembered being very broke after that. But, but, but...if don't buy now, buy when kan?
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| The infinity pool (and view!) was what made me bought this condo. I think. |
Also on Hari Raya, I had an awesome
Phuket dive trip and walk-around adventure with Fong. He paid mostly everything because he knew (and understood) that...I was broke.
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| Boat dive at Koh Phi Phi |
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| What a view! |
September 2012.
I remembered still being broke. Very Broke.
Even my car was 'broke' (from a robbery attempt of my bag at the traffic lights). Brief account
here.
October 2012
Found out I scored fairly well in my
naik-pangkat assessment. My mentor said I did quite well for a "biologist in an engineering world" :-) I gave myself a pat in the back, literally. Became not so hormonal. Oh dear, was devastated when I made a decision to cancel my trip to Sipadan. It's already end-of-the-world tomorrow and I still haven't had a chance to dive at Sipadan. *
Bucket list dilemma*
Fong's graduation was what made me so proud of him. He worked really hard for this 2-3 years juggling between work and study (and relationship!) to complete his MBA at UM. I am grateful to have him as my guy.
November 2012
Company team-building trip to PD. I had a great stay at a 5 star hotel. At night, I was
dipaksa-rela to do
Gangnam on stage in front of 500 ppl. Blardy...all because I look the
most Korean amongst my colleagues.
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Gangnam with some selected big-size PSY. Try spot my GM.
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December 2012
Participated in the hardest-ever-questions-given-in-a-treasure-hunt: The Sun's MotorHunt with our team Bundan & Hobbitz. Malu je...Ph.D. dan Masters degree semua tarak boleh pakai dalam Hunt ni. It was called the 'mother of all treasure-hunts' for a reason! Nvm, even we didn't get a good placing amongst 250 teams, at least one team member won the 1st prize in lucky draw!!!! Will post about this later.
End-of-the-world today. My mum just called to ask me to help out in her Christmas party 24 Dec 2012. Through the looking glass; she's soo optimistic. I love her.
P/S: Just in case this end of the world shit really happens: I want to thank all my blog readers for your continuous support all these years. Now, go hide in some plumbum-coated underground bunker, or read the below:
