Famine 30 2011

On the 5th of August, I went to a 30-hour fasting program named Famine 30. Its purpose is to collect money and help the poor and needy all over the world. We fast to experience hunger, and to remind ourselves of how lucky we are. Or should I said, how blessed we are? Indeed, we are the blessed ones.

Thirty hours of hunger is not a very nice experience. At first it was still okay. Then the feeling of hunger struck. After that I got used to the feeling, and so 24 hours passed. At the end of the Famine 30 program, I was really hungry. For four hours plus I have to push the thoughts of food away. The countdown of Famine 30 was superbly entertaining. With so many superstars, singers and DJ from all over Malaysia, we had a great time watching all the performances. It was nice to be with friends especially during this kind of event. It was the first time I attended such a grand event, with so many faces and people. There were nearly 9000 people there, counting down to the time we break our fast. I took quite a number of pictures, because pictures are the only element which can roughly show what I have experienced.

 The crowd lining up to enter Stadium Bukit Jalil.

 The crowd before the countdown started.

 Random shot.

 Singers coming out.

 Another singer.

 Yet another one.

 Three

 David Lee

 Another one.

 A group of singers singing in different languages.

 Cantonese song.

Before the countdown ended.

Famine 30 has left a mark in my life. For the first time I didn't eat for 30 hours. It was a great, and yet, sad experience. Someone said this in the camp:"Our fast will eventually come to an end. But to those people outside who are experiencing the real famine, they never know when their fast will end." Now i wonder, for those people, they don't complain about the problems in their lives. All they ask is just sufficient food and drink for them to survive. Yet, we as the group of blessed people often complain about this and that. No matter how trivial the thing is, we can still make a fuss over it. It is time for us to learn a lesson. A lesson of how to appreciate the things and people in our lives, and not just complaining nonstop. It is time for us to learn how to give, and not choosing to receive. It is time for us to end the famine of those people outside, and to show them that love still exists in this world. Help will come, not tomorrow, not the day after that, but today. Give, and you will receive, abundantly, exceedingly...

Relay For Life 2011

On the 16th of July, I went to a national event known as Relay for Life (RFL). On the morning of that particular day was my INPRO (Inter Program Games) badminton competition. I was supposed to reach the Stadium UKM before 2:30 p.m. for RFL. I thought the INPRO badminton matches would end before that, or around that time. So I went for badminton in the morning. I play three single matches, in which I won two and lost one pathetically. I was the person in charge of my program badminton for INPRO 2011, and I felt so bad when we lost our champion away and got the fourth place instead. I felt so tired but I left for RFL at 3 something in the afternoon.

At the KL central KTM station, I saw some epic scenes. People pushing against each other and the KTM was like a sardin can. A woman kept shouting "Sempitlah, macam binatang orang-orang ni!" I could only sit there and do nothing except wondering why Malaysians are like this. After I reached the UKM KTM station, I bought the cheapest Kuih-Muih in my life. 12 pieces of different kuih with 1 buck. Oh yeah =D

Reaching the Stadium, I was kind of stunned by the grandness of the event. I could see people wearing the RFL yellow T-shirts everywhere around the field. There were tents set up along the tracks for the participants to sleep in at night. Events after events followed and the entertainers were all full of enthusiasm.  I was supposed to be a part of the security team. To be exact, I was supposed to be the head of the security team. But I didn't actually do anything security-related for the whole process. All I did was picking up rubbish, playing cards and talking to my bunch of friends. I slept at 4 something looking up at the moon. When I woke up, I was greeted by the sunrise. The sky was so amazingly beautiful. The event ended at 10 with the last lap ran by everyone participating in it, be it participants or volunteers.

At the very beginning...

In the process...

Performance by cancer survivors...

The sunrise that greeted me when I woke up...

I was really exhausted. The event was meaningful and impacting as a whole. I just wish I could be less tired. But if I am to be given a chance a gain, I will definitely go for it again. The event reminds me of the people suffering from cancer and how hard they have or have been fighting the fatal virus. Pray Lord that a cure to cancer can be found soon.

The Start of Fall 2011

Fall semester 2011 started with registration. One thing that I noticed, there was less noise around me. Somehow there is just something missing. No more exuberant people talking crap around. No more bell ding donging around. No more angelic smiles that make my day. It's gonna be different, this sem. I guess I just have to adapt myself. But I just can't get used to it. Sigh... Hope that as the days pass, I will be normal once again.

Sarawak & Sabah, The Land of Borneo

So it happened that my West Malaysian friends decided to come over to Sarawak and Sabah for a 9-day-trip. Mostly because we Sibuians always bragged about our hometown, and about the delicious food available here. 11 people flew back to Sibu together, including my senior, Lawrence, and me. Transportation was taken care of by Lawrence, his cousin Christopher, and me. Budget hotel rooms for free, thanks to Lawrence's uncle.

First thing we did after my friends left their luggage at the hotel was to taste the most famous food in Sibu - Kampua. Turned out that the kampua there was among the worst that I have eaten so far. But still, some of my friends said it tasted nice. Sweat. After the "delicious" kampua, we went into Wisma Sanyan to walk around. Nothing much has changed since I last visited that place.

I could not really remember which place we went on which day. So I shall just list the places here, in case someone wants to promote Sibu or bring their friends around.

1. Sibu Lake Garden
2. Sibu Town Square
3. Bukit Aup
4. The temple far far away
5. Taman Muhibah
6. Sugarbun
7. Sibu Riverside
8. Mat Rempit
9. Sentosa
10. Pasar Malam
11. Sibu Wet Market
12. Sibu's Window
13. Kompia
14. Kampua
15. Peppermint Tea
16. Kolok Mee beside Masland Church
17. Laksa beside Paramount Hotel
18. Million guok
19. Lakian Mee
20. Big Thumb Xiao Long Bao

I guess they all had a hell lot of fun here. Especially the food. I fed them quite enough I think. Haha...

Sibu Lake Garden Jump Shot

Sibu Town Square Group Photo

So we moved on to Kuching. Shin arranged the transport for us. Turned out the drivers were our seniors, Rachel and Nathaniel. We ate kolok mee, laksa, went to the waterfront, visited shin's house, and also stepped foot on Fort Margherita. Since we were in Kuching for only one day, that were all we could do.

Group Photo In Kuching

Next destination - Kota Kinabalu
Stayed in the seniors' houses. Jerald, Darren and Kevin. We ate a lot of seafood, and we went up Kota Kinabalu Mountain. Half of Mountain Kota Kinabalu to be exact. We visited a cattle farm up there, and it felt like being in New Zealand. The Poring Hot Spring there was really lame. But there was one unique place that I liked -  the place with the fish bitting me. Haha..it was something like a fish spa, just that it was a natural river and the fish there are big and bite you until you scream out loud. The whole session was filled with the girl's screaming and my hysterical laughter. Ha Ha Ha. Another place that impressed me the most was the Perdana Park. It had a water fountain that shoots following the rhythm of songs. The view was spectacular. The beach in Sabah was really nice too. I love the sunset there. The sand is soft and the atmosphere is just so serene. Wish Sibu had a beach, then everything would be perfect.

One

Two

Three

Four

So the week was gone, with a lot of photos taken and a lot of memories lingering around. The remaining week will be spent to rest myself, and to prepare for the new semester - the Fall. Kind of boring, but going out every day to limteh and eat. Yeah =D

End of Summer

And the end of summer sem is here. Silently it came, hinting, giving the signs that we are going to part soon. Had a karaoke session with the gang, and a sleepover at one of our friends' house. Somehow I don't really feel sad now. But when realization hits me I wonder whether I can stop the tears. Good buddies going on separate ways. I have gone through that. And yet my heart feels the same. It wasn't easy then. Neither is it easy now. The year has been fulfilling, fun, and memorable because of the bank scholars. Smart, and yet crazy scholars. Sarcastic, and yet caring friends. It seems like yesterday that I stepped into INTEC. By the blink of eyes, a year has passed by. Seriously? You got to be kidding me.

We came from many, we leave as one.

Father's Day

Home, is where the heart is. And I am home for Father's Day. Weeee~ Had been quite a while since I last came back. But nothing much has changed. Still the same, old home, not grand but super duper comfortable to me. This is the place where I can open the fridge at any time, step in or out of the gate at any time, bath at any time, eat at any time, but not sleep at any time. Received a scolding from my parents for sleeping too late last night..haha. Just like usual. Love my parents so much. Swee Yong asked me to hug my father, but I didn't do so. I guess it will really be an awkward thing to do, seeing that the last time I hug my dad was during Form 1. Not that we are not close. I love my parents very much, but there are things that I don't dare to do or say. Not even a simple "thank you". I guess most of the Chinese people are just too traditional. Anyway, it has been a great weekend for me, and I still love kampua. Took some pictures during this home-coming trip. And lastly, Happy Father's Day to my Daddy!!! You are my superman. I love you =)

ATU Night

15th of June - A date on which I saw a lot of girls transforming from caterpillars into butterflies. It was a grand dinner for our program, the famous American Program (due to its hyper-activeness). The girls went to perm or style their hair, plus making up, determined to stun the guys I guessed. Turned out they did pretty well. I could not recognize some of them at the first glance. It was a great night. A night which I will remember for a long, long time. For no matter what happens, we will always keep in our minds that we have once, if not always, looked good =)

The Big Family (ABCA)

 Another one.

 Third

And not forgetting her.