GE13 is over, finally

There is no short in excitement as we once more vote for the fate of our country. We decide who we want our Malaysia government to be, but of course, the majority always wins. How the votes and majority are decided throughout the country is pretty much, I should say, out of our hands. 050513 will be my 3rd time voting but this election is said to be the dirtiest election ever, hence I was most excited to see what the outcome was. I've never felt prouder (I was proud to vote in the previous 2 elections too) to be citizen of Banglasia...I mean, Malaysia. Maybe also because this time the people are using social media to disseminate actual news, rumours, 'threatening' news, and loads of other rubbish,  making it one of the most interesting election, ever. I remembered in 2008 where Twitter and FB were still a game sharing, FarmVille-dominated avenue, many young people don't even care to vote. Like really...cause my friend said they didn't think their votes matter. However I was there in 2008, voted, and I remember the results were shocking to see Perak's close call, PR taking over Kedah and Selangor, and ex-PM Badawi's sad face. There wasn't much sharing on social media and you don't find it weird that time.

Finger with removable 'indelible ink' is all too common. Let's do a different voting pic.

As of the previous times, my family love to go rather late into the morning/afternoon. This year was no different. Some said we were stupid to go so late....just in case some foreigners take our names away. Oh, I mean....."Ivy Chai C**** H***" ain't an easy name for a female foreigner to steal. My name is rare like that beautiful HK actress. My family were not worried about the so-many-crazy rumours and were not a big fan of long queues under the scorching sun. First time voters on the internet are like super excited, but we are like....err...err....voting only mar. Nothing much during the voting process. Boringz. At a point, I did hate Whatapps and FB being the platform where rumours spread like wildfire. Victim no.1 was dark-skin Chua Lai Fatt. The rumour that he was a Bangla was proven to be false. Pity Mr. Chua. Sorry for the paranoid and hyper-emotional people on FB, including myself. The rest of the 13 May incident that 'may occur' where Malay kills Chinese....has never even scared me a bit. I saw Malaysians were all pretty much united this time, ever since the Bersih rally. I mix with Malays 95% of my time, hence I do know the ground level situation. My Malay colleagues are my best friends everyday at work. Never believe all the rumors on FB. 13 May 1969 was triggered by a separate economic and political situation from today. The FB is filled with rubbish; that I agree with Azmin. Please filter the news rationally and look up/research the facts, using systematics approach, see the whole thing holistically and don't be emotional.

People who supported PR are now cyberbulling Michelle Yeoh, Justin Lo, KRU, etc. for their open support for BN. For me, they are entitled to vote for anybody as long as they are Malaysians. As you have openly supported PR on social media, they have all the right to support whoever they want. I see so much cyber-bullying just because you are emotionally against someone else or against any party. Guess what, if I tell you now that I actually voted for BN for DUN, I guess my friends on FB will start boycotting me, heh? Yes, you guys lately are as emotional as a piece of wreck. But you see, why hold an election when you wanna stop me from voting whoever I want. Bangla (I dun want to be so racist: Nepali, Burmese, Indonesian, Pinoys, etc) are not totally at fault, as they really really do have a real Malaysia blue IC. I hate them for voting in our boxes, but bearing in mind that it was the previous policy by Mahathir that was the fundamental problem of all existing ghost voters today.


Then there was this indelible ink to prevent double voting. I mean, many countries around the world are using the 'indelible ink' to manicure voters' fingers before/after voting. It's there for a good reason. Well, almost....cause it doesn't stick well (fades off after a good scrub) for even an hour after voting. Probably our version isn't really silver nitrate, or the active concentration was minute, it didn't work on Malaysian's skin. Well, SPR said that because the indelible ink is 'Halal', it doesn't stick well. But not like we will be eating it anyway.

Didn't matter the outcome of the Election results, I was just having my fingers crossed that I could submit my marriage application form to the NRD of Perak on a day after GE. First, if there were a change of government in Perak, probably the present government servants may revolt (I said probably!), then NRD may not be on for business. Oh well, just a theory. But of course none of that happened, and I submitted my marriage application form to NRD. I am happy to tell you that the NRD are now opened on Saturday and Sunday (half day), and allow for max 6 couples to exchange vows (ROM) on weekends. Thank God! I was thinking I needed to take leave.

Happens that my ROM was set on...tada....on my birthday! My fiance was smiling all the way as he soon declared that he need not buy roses for me on two separate occasion. Just one. Of course I disagree with him.

Even my dad who is so into politics says that enough is enough after 0505. I know I still share things online with regards to the this election, but I am now wishing for more food food food pictures, cat meowing pics, and cute dog pics. I crave for some running updates and some cute gwiyomi or the likes that could do social media some justice lately.

Although we can never avoid politics as it is part and parcel of any citizen's lives, enough of elections news per se! Move on and work hard to forge unity with friends of other races (which I don't need much forging already). PR should go into the outskirts area of Sabah and Sarawak to gain trust (lots of it too!). Literally meredah hutan belantara and mengayuh sampan.

Work Hard! Move on! Bersih!

3rd Marathon - The Hilly one

I made up my mind to blog all Full Marathons that I've completed.

42.195 ain't a big number for mathematicians, but it's a damn big deal to runners. Of course, there are are 84km, 100km ultra-distances out there, but these are optional kilometres to achieve. To many 'common runners', we just want to finish a 42.195, and cross it out from our buckets list.

Though I've done 2 other full marathons prior to this, I get chills every time I hear the word 'Full Marathon' because every FM is just as tough as the first. This 3rd FM was the inaugural Malaysia Women Marathon, where it is (supposed) to be a all-women marathon event, but you will see the some Martians pacers tagging along. I asked Fong to be my FM pacer for this race as I knew I needed virtual whipping on my butt to keep me going 'til I reach the finish line. It's not easy to run a FM alone, if you're an amateur like me.

Indeed, we have no definitive strategy. The night prior to this FM, we had a pre-talk about the race, and our 'strategy' was to run comfortably at our own pace (slower than 21km pace), and rest at every water-stops after the 10th km. I reminded myself not to curse !*X^#!$&%^ at the 30th km, and enjoy the company of each other.

The route in Shah Alam is super duper hilly. Take for instance the route in front of UiTM is a looooong (feels like neverending) inclination - a steeper version of Penang Bridge (on the bridge going up). If you know Shah Alam, you will know that there are many roundabouts, which I think pose safety issue to runners, especially when most of the cars there are very non-obliging to runners. You can tell that Shah Alam folks ain't used to having runners clogging up their roads. Of course there are Rela/Police trying to stop traffic, but the drivers in Shah Alam are.....hnmmphhhh.....non-accommodating and doesn't bother to stop at all; some cars were spotted to have tailgatted runners. &#&%$@&!

I was happy during the race as I realised all my body parts were fine at 30th km, even though I've been through countless hills. I broke the barrier of not cursing profanities at my pacer and myself (which happened in my previous 2 FMs). Nevertheless, in this race, my legs felt the wrath of FM at the 35th km onward  My right foot (which people has earlier indicated having stride problems) suffered the worst. The sole was giving me pains, but for which you have to ignore...and when the mind comes stronger than you body....you just pushed on, ignoring the pain, just wanting to reach the finish line.

Albeit the hilly route, this race was well organized with water stations/fruits/snacks station every 2 km after the 10th km. Many pro-marathoners turned supporters and came up with their own water/snack booth for the ladies. The supporters were very supportive(?!), and there were drums and positive cheers at selected corners of the race, though I do empathize the residences in Shah Alam having Indian & Chinese drums playing their roads at 5.40am. I felt great with the multitude support that was given to runners before, during and after the race. And at the back of my mind, I was thankful for Miss Kathrine Swtizer, the first women to enter the Boston Marathon, empowering women like I to run a marathon. She was there to flag off the women for this race, and just glad that this race means as much to her as is to me.

Deo's group provided oranges, chocolates and Coke to runners. Thank you. (35km)

I finished the race with a smile, hand-in-hand with my pacer. He was tolerant with me/supportive, and just glad he's not the curse-r like I am. He's still can jump around, did Gangnam and some gymastics after the race. For me, I died-ed upon crossing the finish line. My right foot yearns for some TLC.

This is kilometer no: 42.192

Almost finish. i-City, Shah Alam.

So, there! 3rd marathon pocketed into my history book, and I would like to give some simple simple simple tips to runners who are doing their first FM. (Disclaimer: personal view/notes)

1. Train for long distance. Clock-in the distance, and not how fast you run.
2. Hydrate before the FM race.
3. Eat well (esp. more carbo) a few days before FM.
4. On race day, discard all your gadgets, as they will kill your pace by running too fast. A watch will do. Enjoy the view.
5. Run slower than your half-marathon pace, but not too slow. Keep your energy for the second half of the race. You can feel 'EVERYTHING' at 30km. Beyond 30km (or the last 12km) is where every devil in you arises and your mind starts playing tricks on you (e.g. faking an injury to get to an ambulance, flagging a taxi to the finish line, or fake-hunger pangs, or tendency to go toilet to do No.2, when obviously there's nothing to pass, but air). And of course, the pain. Well, the pain is very real.
6. Bring your running gels...and a tube of Deep Heat.


My next FM is SCKLM. And I will be running this 42.195 all by myself :-)


**Photos are courtesy of Facebook friends/MWM.

A New Leaf

I devoted 6 freakin' manhours to complete this 'Save The Date" composition with Corel Draw. Was dead tired. Graphics designing is definitely not in my blood.

You may think 1st March 2014 is next year, but it's actually just a good 10 months away. All good restaurants in Ipoh are fully booked at this point of time (some booked since 2 years back), so I am not that early to send this, y'know! Even as I am writing this, we are still scrambling to get a good restaurant in Ipoh.

Plus, I will be in TX, USA for most of the second half of this year so it's pretty ridiculous to have my wedding in 2013. And it's not easy to plan when one half is here and another is there.

The formal invitation, which I clearly will not design myself, will follow.

Cheers!

I am the Pope

Fumata nera?

or Fumata bianca?

Of course you will understand that these are the smokes that emit from the Sistine chapel's chimney upon a failed x2 to x10 (nera) or successful x1 (bianca) selection of a new Pope during papal conclave.

Rejoice if you see white smoke! That's when the new pope will comes out to the infamous balcony and pageant wave to all believers and tourists that patiently awaits, just like Queen E, Kate, or like the Japanese royal family.

Yay, a Pope! Wherever he's from.

But I don't get it. Maybe because I am not Catholic (Btw, I am Methodist, whatever, or am I Baptist? *What am I??!* I need to ask Jesus what kinda Christian-type I am).  I don't get it. I don't get this papal conclave because I don't understand why people have to rejoice when a pope is selected. I mean, don't they always GET selected at the end? No surprise. But yah, maybe if the Pope originates from your country, only then, probably, you (or I) may feel a great difference and I may even feel proud. Otherwise....meh!

But you see, this is tradition. This is process. This is meaningful. Bare in mind, each step in every process as its significance. 95% confidence. May not make sense to you, but make sense to others. I'll just rejoice, when everyone does. I will also feel sad together-gether with the anxious crowd if no pope pops from the balcony after 20 fumata nera (unlikely! 95% confident). I will just do and feel as the masses do. Process. Culture. Tradition.

Oh no, false alarm. No pope?

Let's relate:

This Sunday will be my first time (once in my entire life!) going through a 'process'. A tradition. A culture. My own papal conclave. I may be lost in translation but at least when I am an important part of the process, I might be learning faster than normal times. And I just KNOW that my papal conclave will result in a fumata bianca even in the first round of voting. So, already, please rejoice!

My "Sistine Chapel". Obviously without a balcony.

This is my big FUMATA BIANCA:

White smoke can have many meanings

Disclaimer: This post may touch the sensitivities of some readers. Views are purely personal and unintentional. 

Yee ha!

Maybe some close friends has already know this - that I will be attached to Houston, TX for a few months, which may be both a good and a bad thing. The good thing is: I am going to the USA! It's USA, y'all!! Yee haa!! *cowgirl style*. I have always wanted to go US ever since my whole family  were there for my brother's graduation, except the pity me. So, this is it (FOC some more, except the shopping bags). But on the other hand, I don't know what will become of my ROM/wedding, etc. I might have to delay my wedding if I can't plan on time. Wedding is all about planning, and communication which at this point of time, is pretty much = zero.

Another splendid thing about me going to the US, is that...ahem....I am giving my fiance the time he needs to renovate our new beautiful house. By me going away, probably I don't have to mess with him on what's best for the house. I've been with him long enough to know that I am such a butthead on the new pad, his annoyance shows in his demeanour. :-P Hehehehe...macam clash of the titans gitu. But I trust he knows best, well, except probably the wardrobe. Decorating the bedroom and wardrobe always requires some woman's touch/feel (which some times guys, as guys, just can't seem to get it).

BTW, my family in Ipoh are all moving out to a bigger place near Tambun. I am expecting two new houses in a year! *Blessed*

Yee ha! New Ipoh house.

I have been advice by friends/relatives close and far regarding how we need to 'be ready' for a wedding, like... book this, book that, do this, do that, don't do this, wear this, don't wear that, get this make-up, guest list, etc. Hmmphh. At this point of time, there's no date, I've not surveyed a single bridal gallery, haven't talked to the Pastor. I have no dream wedding in mind since I was a kid (cause that's just me). But I do have Pinterest and wedding ideas from there are infinite, kan?! I think nothing beats Pinterest as a good start to bridal wants and nots, whilst putting my smartphone to some other good use besides Candy Crush and Facebook. I still can't see myself in the dress I am to wear on my wedding day, but one thing I do know is the theme will be pink, which is undeniably, my favourite colour.

All I can think of now what kinda stuffs I wanna buy and bring back from the US *rub hands**evil smirk*. Actually, I've no inkling how it's gonna be at Houston but as usual, Wikipedia (and Pinterest) would be a good start. However, even before Wiki, I knew Houston has NASA, ample museums, Houston Rockets (Jeremy Lin's back! But when I go there the NBA season may be over), summer heat and humidity like Malaysia (not too good a feature), but lots of sweet succulent ribs and steak! I have to remind myself many times that I am there to korek minyak, not to shop. :-P So say Houston is a mecca for shopping, but then again, which US city is not?

 Let's get started: A shopping list, a US visa (urrggh!) and a lots of credit and cash.

Rice University is located at in the middle of Houston. I feel so spoilt already.

Houston is the oil and gas capital of the world. Wait, issit..?

Myth-busted

There was a time where I thought I would be getting married and have kids only at 45. Because of the lingering myth that I have had too many failed relationships and am too intelligent a woman for any guy to appreciate scientific conversations (No, I don't bring up such topics in any date); that I would be single forever and drown in my own self-indulgences. Some said I must only find a guy who has Ph.D. to stay with me for long. *WHAT?!?!*

The myth also says if I am too active and like to try-out new stuff and am a go-getter, no guy on this earth can ever keep up with me. Honestly, I can be really focused (read: serious) in my work/studies, and on the other hand, totally involved in fun-filled activities and sports. Hence, guys cannot predict what I would do next, and that makes them very frustrated. Typical Gemini, no? :-P

But on 2/2/2013, the myth is finally busted! After asking my parents (and god-parents) permission and telling his parents about the planned proposal, he asked me to married him at a luxury restaurant. He has already planned it for a couple of weeks, in which he wanted it to be a surprise. He produced his own scrap-book (read: handwritten photobook) about us sharing our lives in many activities and vacays together, I was literally in tears (because kam tung marrr) before he bravely knelt down and showed me the ring. I didn't say yes immediately, but remembered throwing him back a few questions while he was still kneeling: "Is the ring Lumiere?" "1 carat!?" "Not cubic zirkonia right?" Oh...I was so mean, and he has to asked me one more time(1), as I actually forgot to say "Yes".

Of course I (finally) did.

The self-made thoughtful photobook of us.

I must say that this myth wasn't easily busted. We both worked hard to make our courting years work. They are not without ups and downs. But no r/ship is perfect, therefore we do not expect perfection. If I am not perfect, I do not demand perfection from him. We also do not like to copy ppl's r/ship as no one relationship is the same. Doesn't mean other happy couples do/have this or that, we have to have/do the same. The myth went busted also because he compliments me in every way.

Our needs for the same things makes it all work well. I am in my early 30s but am more mature/smart enough to know what I want/need in life, and so does he. At this age, I am basically exhausted(enough-is-enough!) in trying out new stuffs, and just would like to settle down. Well, but still you can't take sports out of our lives, esp running (for me, also swimming/teaching swimming), I hope!

Betcha there is no corrrect recipe or equation for a good and lasting r/ship or marriage. All I can do is pray. I pray that the trust, chemistry, and passion we have for each other today will continue to grow as we go into a new milestone in life. I have to say that I am lucky to find him. Of course behind the scenes, are the good introduction (FY & A) and encouragement from our close friends and families.

There! Myth busted: If the hyper, fierce (but fun), and very contradicting me can get married, any girl out there can!!

Enjoying a glass of NZ's pinot noir at Gobo Upstairs, Traders Shangri La

Disclaimer: Don't take my statements too seriously. They are just my personal opinion from past experiments.

31 Dec 2012

Yawwwnn....just a short post while I wait to pang-kang from work. Today, I worked. Stupid, I know. Oh well.

Anyways:

"Wishing everyone a blessed 2013!"

Plus a word of advice: you do not need to make NY resolutions because you won't be able to keep up with your promises. I know. I've been there a thousand times, making resolutions that I could never keep. :-P

A better advice? Keep a bucket list. 

Check today's doodle for a great 2012 recap at Google.com

For myself, I am hoping to be the best I can be (I said the same thing every new year, yawnnn) with increasing wealth, better career growth, better running legs, nicer figure, more love given & received, and probably, ahem.... sparkling diamonds on my.....errr.....ears. Yes!



God bless. IVY-out for 2012.

Damn you Mayans (20121221)

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.

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.

How convenient. Fresh flowers from Camerons on V-day.

I hate tea.

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.

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.

Rasa Sayang

Up Bukit Bendera with the kwai low delegates. Nothing interesting.

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:

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?

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.

Boat dive at Koh Phi Phi

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.

Gangnam with some selected big-size PSY. Try spot my GM.

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:

Sensitive

Talking about ones beauty is a taboo. I think this post does reveal a bit of my courage in battling acne.

I was born with smooth skin. Ok, which baby doesn't, right? But even after I've hit puberty, throughout my youthful days (circa 15-24 years old) my face skin was as smooth as baby bump albeit a systematic quantifiable amount of stubborn black heads on my nose. I inherited my daddy's family's good genes which possesses smooth and fair skin. Even though swimming was my main sport during secondary school and university days, I did wonder why I was blessed without any major skin problems even with direct exposure to UV during sports.

Then I got really dark. This was the turning point. The blazing morning sun while teaching swimming every other day starts to turn my face skin into some colour even Pantone can't establish its number. I guess, in my own terms, it was: olive greenish chlorine colour. And when you get olive greenish chlorine as your skin colour, that triggers an alarm to start using a stronger sunblock. I knew any sunblock >SPF50 was already strong and should start to clog your pores. However, I was more concerned about not-getting-dark rather than clogged-pores, because...you thought ....hey, you are blessed with perfect skin, so why care about acne! I resorted to a sunblock which was SPF50 that was water-proof. Water.proof.because.I.am.in.the.swim.pool.all.the.time. At that time, I knew if you don't have a good cleanser to remove these water-proof sunblock, you'll find that you have your pores clogged for the rest of the day.

The problematic product (fr Australia). Never use this on your face.

First symptom was the black and white heads on my nose and T-zones, which eventually turn into multitude of acne at random areas of my forehead & cheeks. I thought if I don't touch it, it will go away. Articles have always recommended NOT TO TOUCH your pimples even if it's full-blown acne that has oozing pusses and head (On the contrary, I found out from a dermatologist that if you do not remove this kinda acne, you are going to have it worse. So do something about it. Don't leave these acne alone). 

I didn't remove or touch the acne (so wrong), and still persisted on the same daily sunblock >SPF 50. Swimming mahhh. The 'very-high-protection' sunblock did protect me from getting dark, but on the other hand caused a major acne outbreak on my face. I was devastated with the condition of my skin 'til I cried. I've never seen myself looking like a red-face monster. I went for a facial treatment and the facial centre asked me to use all their products which has AHA/BHA which was actually worse for my skin in the long term. I bought their 'lies' because I was naive. You see, the ingredient AHA is an exfoliator that removes your outer-most protective layer of your face skin. It helps temporarily removing your blackheads/acne. But if you don't use a good moisturizer after use of any product containing AHA, you are going to have NO protective layer at all be it natural or synthetic. Your skin becomes hypersensitive. And any slight irritants causes your sensitive skin to blow up into pimples that even my mum likened it to small-pox. 

This was what happened to me. I cried to my mum on why would such 'disease' happen to me. Me! I thought my skin improved after a few facial, but suddenly gotten worst than when I didn't had facial. 

I went to my aunt who works all her life as a skin consultant (not dermatologist). She now works as the manager of a reputable skin center at Bangsar Shopping Centre that advocates products such as Dermalogica and Clinelle. Upon consulting her, she gave me free facial (at her home), removed alllll the acne (5 hours, mind you) and advised me to stop all products that has AHA or BHA and no more scrubs/exfoliators. Also she ask me to tell the facial lady not to massage my face too much as it stimulates the formation of acne. She interviewed me and said that that the sunblock was the main culprit. Second culprit was using AHA-containing products, and thirdly, not properly identifying what the underlying cause of my acne was. I went straight to battle with my face without even knowing why I waged war.

I continued using Dermalogica products for a year and now, my skin has improved tremendously. I have ample scars due to extraction of hard-core/deep acne (=jerawat batu), but I know these scars may subside soon as I was still youthful. Ahem. My aunt used to say that my skin problem is a YOUTH problem, shouldn't be happening to young adults like me.

So, my advice to readers who faced similar problems:

1. Go facial. Basic facial is a very important regime that one must do primarily to extract your black/white heads. But you can let your facial center know that you don't want to use their products. Ask them not to over massage your face as that stimulates pore activity. 

2. People/some articles say not to do anything to your pimples. That's bulls**t. Do something. Go to Youtube and see how they press out the pimples (in a hygienic manner). At home, these pimples can only be remove with hands (by popping them out) if the pimples are already masak (got head). If not masak yet, leave the pimple alone until masak.

3. Cleanse your skin very thoroughly. Remove all makeup and sunblock properly using makeup removal. Wash your face from sweat immediately after any sport activity. But don't over-wash your face. Don't wash more than 3 times a day as that may dry up your face skin. Your skin will try to compensate the dryness by producing more oil = Oily skin = bacteria loves oil = acne. 

4. Please/must use the right Moisturizer. Because my skin was over-sensitized (epidermis removed) and there was no more more protective layer, my complacency of not using the right moisturizer (=protection) has caused my skin to be directly exposed to any external irritants e.g. sun, sweat, etc. So, when I didn't use moisturizer, it also did not provide my skin the nutrient to build back the outer-most protective natural layer. Even if you think you have oily skin, still use a moisturizer but choose the right type (e.g. gel-type, water-base, etc.).

5. Back to basics: Cleanse --> Mask/Tone --> Moisturize --> Sunblock LOL! Of course, I do put makeup on on big events. 

6. It is never due to coffee. Stress= yes. But not coffee. Don't blame it on coffee, ya?

This is not all of it. I've more in my bathroom.

I don't know if Dermalogica is for everyone, but after searching for the longest time and after incurring thousands of $$$ to search for the right product, Dermalogica products seems to work best on my skin. I've tried the infamous SKII and yet it gave me problems as it was too rich for my skin. 

I still have a pimples visiting me one in a while. Sometimes 5 pimples visit me on a hormonal day or stressful period. But it was still soooooooo much better compared to the previous year. My skin was 10% okay (diseased!), but now it is 80% good with scars, but I am not bothered about the scars. Having pimples showed that I still have oils in me. Which indirectly translates to youthfulness. Hah!

ALL.THE.TIME

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end" - Semisonic, Closing Time.

Procrastinator like me always start their post by giving excuses: "Oh, I am soo busy, no time for anything", I am so damn caught up with work, no time to blog", "I need to have me-time", bla bla bla. Well, I really full of stuff, and if you are my close-friend, you would know I am full-of-stuffs all the time. ALL.THE.TIME.

So, this post, yes, comes late because I was.....actually so busy. No kidding. I was. Let's see: my downtime was mostly contributed to a series of bad luck that knocked me off my sane mind:

First, my phone Samsung Galaxy S1 was pick-pocketed (story HERE). Then came the car-window smashing incident due to an attempted robbery on my yellow, Korean-style bag. Yellow. I believed it was the colour that caught the robbers' attention while waiting at the traffic lights although I had dark tinting on my car windows. Not my complacent-ness :P hahaha. Moral of the story: Don't buy a yellow bag.

Nah, kidding. My advice: put security tinting on your car windows. It was a failed robbery attempt because the robbers couldn't hammer my window despite a couple of hard hits. Though the windows cracked, the robbery knew it would take like another 10 hits before they could rob my stuff. And the traffic lights was about to turn green anyway.  And never put your bag on the passenger seats, not even on the car floor (my case).  

Second, my oral examination and assessment to gain promotion in my company was unfortunately postponed. Unfortunate - because I was all mentally prepared for the interview, with millions of facts in my tiny brains, and once postponed, alll these revision facts didn't stay either. I would have to revise everything all over again. Last minute study, you say? - yes, I believe in last minute studying which is very much effective in my age-group :P

Fortunate that my exam was postponed? - Yes, because I lost my voice that week. Being in a interview-type, tete-a-tete assessment, ultimately your voice has to come strong. I've always thought my confidence and commanding voice was what got me through a lot of tough situation e.g. scholarships, fellowships, job interviews and Ph.D. So, thank God for the postponement because I knew without my Samson's hair, I would have fail my assessment and ...sound wee bit too 'sexy'...like a cross-dresser.

  

Third, I put a substantial pressure on myself to complete my appraisal for 2012 all because ...I deserve it...more than any other years combined. First, I am fast learner in an industry unrelated to my education background. I have worked my ass off this year and being attached to horrid + far & distance places (i.e. oil rigs and Tronoh), but whether my work is appreciated or not lies in how convincing (read:voice) I can be in my appraisal writing. I want the best for myself, in monetary and reputation terms. Well, which rising corporate woman doesn't?

And then, I was hooked to fifty-shades-of-grey trilogy. Those books took a lot of my time away :P Oooppssy, 'nuff said.

But can I say, I feel great about my career (kinda), my relationships with my guy, friends and family, my part time job, and more importantly....I kinda feel great about myself. ALL.THE.TIME. Well, most of the time lahh, especially when there's coffee.

I know I complain a lot ...just because I can. But deep down, I could not ask for more of my present life. Of course, you dream of being way up 'there' and envious of what people have in their life, but it's their "rezeki", as my Malay friend told me. People have their kinda life; You have your own life, your own tastes, so don't live to society's hideous expectation of how you're supposed to be. And in the process of achieving your live's goal, never take for granted the people around you. 

Bad stuffs happen, but if you give it a lil thought...many good things happen this year too. Don't dwell in the negative, see the whole big picture, and systematically you realized you had it not too bad, ehh? Can I hear an 'Amen' to that?

Let me end this post with one song my Semisonic (I've loved you guys), embedded deep in my heart, lyrics never lost in time, and most relevant to this post:

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end - SemiSonic 's Closing Time