Heading into the bright fields of hope...

Listening to: Better Man - Robbie Williams

Good day mates! Ah, my last blog post for the year. This post is gonna be full of nostalgicness and a lot of reminiscing for the year 2008. To be honest, I can never fully remember what happens every month of the year but I can tell you the highlights and the first few bits and pieces that come to my mind when I think of the year 2008.

I've learned so many lessons in life, got hit by life's reality too much at times, but picked myself up. I've experienced its highs, and its lows. But when I've hit those lows, I've learned from my mistakes and not just let them pass me by.

I've learned that in 2008...

1. College life begun to really present itself to me. I've realized that college isn't as easy and laidback as when we first entered. I've found my real friends, and I'll do everything in my power to keep you guys around me for the rest of my life. You guys mean the world to me. = )

2. Life in itself can be a real pain sometimes, but thats why we breathe. Where would all the fun be if life was perfect? The fun comes when we get up from our falls, brush off the dust and dirt, let the cloud of uncertainty clear, and come out tops.

3. God has really shown Himself so real to me. At times when I should have failed, He gave me an A. At times when I knew I did not prepare hard enough, He gave me results better than I ever hoped to achieve. At times when I broke down, He reminded me He was there. At times when pain hopelessness was all I felt, He gave me hope. At times when I was weak, He was strong and His grace was made perfect through me. When you least expect it, God springs up wonderful surprises that reminds me that He still has a plan for me. Gives me meaning to live every single day.

Recap of the year 2008
- Gain new friends.
- Lost some friends.
- Grew closer to some people, strayed from others.
- Ate a whole lot.
- Fell out of love.
- Felt the pain of losing the one you love.
- Moved on.
- Learn a lil bit more about my dear Daddy in heaven.
- Learned to trust Him no matter what.
- Turned rebel on a few occasions.
- Understand the true meaning of forgiveness.
- Pinpointed my mistakes and weaknesses.
- Learned how to love.
- Learned that God somehow loves me so incredibly much, and all my achievements in the year 2008 is all because of Him. Nothing about me, or my abilities, or skills that He has given me.
- Learned that when you secretly make wishes inside your heart, He actually hears them because God grants the desires of our heart (refer to Christmas wish list) = )
- Achieved some things I could NEVER do without God.
- Came out in the newspapers! (Clicky here)

And I've learned so much more. If I could just put it into words, I think it'll take the whole night. But I wanna thank God that He's been with me rain or shine, thick or thin, through highs of life, and more importantly through the lows. If it wasn't for Him year 2008 would have been a total failure.

As I approach 2009, I've never seen a future so bright, the path so clear, and God so ever-present that it does not bring optimism, but rather hope and trust. Maybe even a sense of confidence that it'll all be alright. No doubt there'll be more trials to get through, more hurdles to jump over, more mountains to climb, and more storms to weather through, but I'm confident its gonna be an even better year.

There are just so many things and so little time to put everything into words. But I'll end with just this...

Send someone to love me
I need to rest in arms
Keep me safe from harm
In pouring rain

Keep me yellow summer
Lord I feel the cold
Feel I'm getting old
Before my time

As my soul heals the shame
I will grow through this pain
Lord I'm doing, all I can...to be a better man

Good easy on my conscience
Cause its not my fault
I know I've been taught
To take the blame

Rest assured my angels
Will catch my tears
Walk me outta here
I'm in my pain

As my soul heals the shame
I will grow through this pain
Lord I'm doing, all I can...to be a better man

Once you found that lover
You're homeward bound
Love is all around
Love is all around

I know some have fallen on stony ground
But love is all around

Send someone to love me
I need to rest in arms
Keep me safe from harm
In pouring rain

Keep me yellow summer
Lord I feel the cold
Feel I'm getting old
Before my time

As my soul heals the shame
I will grow through this pain
Lord I'm doing, all I can...to be a better man

Anyway, I'm celebrating New Year's tomorrow! Goodbye Year 2008, and a warm welcome to the Year 2009.

Thank you to everyone who made year 2008 so extremely memorable. You guys know who you are. To those who have hurt/offended/disappointed me, thank you because without you, I wouldn't have grown every single day of life in terms of mental strength and maturity. Thank You dear Lord above all, for being there for me.

PS: Congrats to my dearest brother, Andrew. Straight As in PMR! One better than me, but I expected it. = )

On the count of 3...

Just a short and quick update.

Studying was more productive today.

Tomorrow I'm off for almost the whole day for a one day job. So, my handphone is available of course if I need to be contacted.

And...

New Year's Eve! Lets meet up people! Let me know. I've got semi plans confirmed, so quickie! Lets meet! xD

Till my next post, Happy New Year people!

Just one sign that you're serious?

Internet's being a real pain. My humble apologies for delaying the last 2 days of Penang but without pictures, how can I portray the beauty of Penang as it is? Please be patient with me...

Just some good Christmas cheer...

1. Mazda RX-8
2. Trip around the world
3. Visit to Anfield
4. Green Vistalite drum set
5. Sony Vaio
6. DSLR
7. iPhone/iPod touch
8. PSP
9. Adidas futsal shoes

*Those in italic have already been given by God.

In February, I'll get my new laptop and if God willing, that scholarship to do my Masters. As for my realistic wishlist, it'll be ongoing. My life resolution, not just new year's.

Wanna thank someone who surprised me with a pair of Adidas futsal shoes. Came back from college and there lay a package from Pos Laju. Thank you so very much. You made my day. Owe you a good treat real soon. = )

Tomorrow, I'll try to get the Penang post up. Hopefully the internet connection will be better. For some reason, Streamyx really sucks. Till then, good night.

PS: After the Penang post, there's Caroling pictures, Christmas Musical Interlude, and the Harvest Crew Musical Mime pictures to be up. Outdated? Yes. Availability of time? Little. Pray hard...

Your love is the reason for the season...

Merry and Blessed Christmas to all my family and friends.

I've already done up a post on the Harvest Crew webbie, so please head over there by clicking here.

Just needed to update a lil bit before I hit the hay. The effects of my medication are kicking in as my eyes are shutting down. Yesh, I'm extremely sleepy now. But, its Christmas...so I'll hang in there a lil bit more.

Church was good today, and we presented our musical mime again albeit this time in front of the whole church. It was a bit nervewrecking, but we pulled through. A lot of exchanging of gifts happened right after but sadly, my Christmas mood was a bit spoiled by Andrew being down with fever. : (

We ended up spending the whole day at home due to my brother's sickness. Get well soon mate. You'll be fine.

Anyway, I totally love giving presents because their smile means the whole world to me. It is indeed more blessed to give than to receive. Ah, I'm done for tonight. My eyes are on the verge of closing.

Jesus is my reason for the season! Happy Birthday my dear Lord Jesus.

Love,
Matt

PS: Study group tomorrow. Will it work? I don't know. Hopefully Penang updates will be done by tomorrow.

And a partridge in a pear tree...

Just a really short and quick update cause I lack time.

For once in my life, I'm starting to understand and realize why people are complaining about the lack of time. I suddenly face the problem of having ONLY 24 hours per day.

Anyway, a lot has been happening. Have yet to complete my Penang trip, as well as carolling and the Chrismas Musical as well as the Harvest Crew Musical Mime that took place (which we will be performing tomorrow). Anyway, this is to make sure that my blog is still alive.

I need a holiday after my finals.

More updates will be up by the end of tomorrow and hopefully I've received all the pictures and have the video in my hands. Off to wrap presents...

Till then, Merry Christmas to all my readers and family and friends out there.

Taaaa.

PS: Went out a while with dad and its so quiet. I simply love it. Also had the traditional Christmas dinner of Turkey, mash potato, sausages, and what not.

PSS: Thank you to those who gave me Christmas presents today. You guys are awesome though you don't celebrate Christmas. <3 you guys.

Nothing feels right when I'm not with you...

Penang Day 2, 6th December 2008


BMW 6 Series! So awesome!

Haha, okay. Moving on. Day 2 started off and ended with more eating of course. So here we go. Had breakfast somewhere in town in a kopitiam...


The Kuey Teow soup. Uniquely Penang.


Nasi Lemak. Less than RM5 and they had fish, chicken, and squid. Tell me where on Earth can you get a Nasi Lemak over in KL for that kinda price?


The Curry Mee. Pretty good, but the best is yet to come.


Traditional toast. Nothing different about this though.


Went to Aunt Winnie's apartment a while. Nice view yes? = )




Jalan Transfer? lol. They had all sorts of weird names for roads. Jalan Siam, Jalan Kuantan, Jalan Magazine and a whole lot of other weird names.


Christmas downtown.

Next up, lunch...


Venue: Lebuh Keng Kwee, if you know where it is.


The famous Cendol downtown.


Food orgasm! The taste definitely "blows your senses away".


This place was equally buzzing with people.


Assam Laksa. A must try in Penang.


Popiah!


Char Kuey Teow here was average though.


'Tam Chiak' face as Rachy puts it. xD


Candid.


Matt and Mummy Dearest. Photo credits to Dad...


Uncle James and Aunt Winnie. Best tour guides in Malaysia. Haha! Will publicize later...




What's a Singaporean dental doing in Penang? See what I mean?

Headed back to our apartment to rest after lunch to prepare for an early dinner.


The pool didn't really look inviting.

Towards the evening, Uncle James and Aunt Winnie came to fetch us to head to the mainland to have some seafood. Thank God it was clear traffic coming out of the island, as the traffic heading into the island was the worse jam I've ever seen. The jam probably stretched for about 5km or so. It was incredible...

However, we were definitely in for a treat.












Took us through some 'kampung' area to have seafood.


Appetizers!


Sea-snail. Trust me, it tasted better than it looked.


Mmm...Picture credits to dad.


LOL! I was hungry okay? Picture credits to dad.






Curry Crab.


Uncle James having his crab dissection. Bio class anyone?


Awhh, isn't that sweet? xD




And this went extremely well with the curry.


Assam sting-ray.


Prawns fried with (believe it or not) cornflakes. Yumz...

Went back around 9-ish and once again thank God it was clear going into the island and instead, the jam was heading out of the island. The power of prayers...=D

Anyway, thats all for day 2. Day 3 will be up soon...

Free fall...

What a day!! Gah...I don't even know who to rant or let it out to. I'd hate to think this, but somehow feeling like nobody cares frees me of being emotionally attached yet it makes me feel so secluded. Lonely much. Taxation disgust me, and the lack of understanding makes it worse. I hate being so dependant and so lost when I'm like this but the sad truth is...I am.

Anyway, I promised an update on a short holiday I had a while ago. For the majority of you who don't know, I was in Penang for a holiday with the family. I'll let the pictures do the talking.

Warning: There will be LOTS of pictures of food and nothing else. You have been warned.

Penang Day 1, 5th December 2008.


On our way.


Serene much.




Fiddling with the camera.


Green, green, and more green!




Tunnel bustle.


The toll prior to the Penang Bridge. It was extremely hot, the roads were jammed up, and the car air-cond chose to die on us on the spot.


Crossing the bridge which wasn't really much.






Finally reached Penang at 2pm-ish, without lunch.


Random.


Something Kay Elle do not have...a kiosk just for motorcyclist.



Met up with Aunt Winnie and she took us for lunch nearby our apartment @ Tanjung Tokong.


Hokkien Mee a.k.a. Prawn Mee. Way better than any prawn mee in Kay Elle.


What would Penang food be without their famous ABC? (Ais Batu Campur or Mixed ice in literal translation).


Mee Mamak, or rather their Indian mee. This was really yumz. Can't get this anywhere in Kay Elle, for real.


Yummy 'muah chee'. See, I got it right. xD


This was probably the best char kuey teow I've tried during the whole trip. Penang honestly has the best char kuey teow! Food haven! Okay, I'm getting carried away.


Dessert.

Then we headed towards the apartment which was nearby.


Kereta mayat? Literal translation would be "Corpse car". lawl.


Rawr!


Master bedroom.


Andrew's and my bedroom.


Here's the best part! Check out the sound system! Hence, we watched about 6-8 movies during the entire time we were there! Awesome much.


The owner of the apartment must be a real Snoopy fan.

After checking in, having a slight rest and all, we went for dinner later in the night. Uncle James and Aunt Winnie drove us to Batu Feringghi for dinner at a very popular hawker centre. You'll be surprised...the food was awesome!


See what I mean by popular?


Sorry, lighting there was terrible. This was the oyster by the way.


'Ikan Bakar' or Grilled Fish in English.


Fried popiah, sorta.


Cantonese Yee Mee. The taste is very very unique compared to the local ones here.


Oh wait, I think this is the Cantonese Yee Mee. No idea what was the one above. Short Term Memory Loss. >.<"
Dessert. Same thing as lunch.


Satay!


Food aside, this is a drink called Ambra. Its from some sort of fruit and again, another Penang specialty. A must try.


Took a stroll around after dinner.




Finally, had supper from a very famous Ramli burger stall, cooked by a Chinese. And honestly, the way they cook was also very different from the Kay Elle Ramli burger! Yumz...


Good night Penang!

Day 2 coming up.