A stress'full' first week of the semester

I was looking forward to start my new semester and now, I kindda regret what I said before...

It was a long, stressful, tiring first week. Monday started off easily and I soon encounter a major problem with my workshop. There were too many students in one particular workshop and my lecturer kept on asking for volunteers to move over to the other class. There were many complications all throughout the week with our workshop day and time, many clashes even for Mass Communication department! My timetable was later finalized on Friday after my attending my final class of the week and I'm so glad that I won't be having classes on Friday!~ it's a bonus for me to do my assignments all on Friday...and can sleep~~~

Timetable was one of my major problem and now, it's DONE!
Next, I received news from my parents that my grandma fell and broke her knee cap and was admitted to hospital for surgery. I was worried, of course and there was nothing I could do but to sit restlessly here in Miri and wonder how her condition was. Anyway, glad to hear that she is discharge today and will go for physiotherapy and will recover within two months.

Another dilemma was my production project. I thought I had only 2 projects this semester and was shocked to find out that I have FOUR projects to do!!! A 30 seconds advertisement, a Music Video, a mini documentary and a 5 minutes documentary... *no wonder Mr. Rama mentioned that it will be a hard semester if we are to take 2 FTV units together* I understand now...sigh~~ Time to switch back to my MULTITASKING mode! Looking forwards to finishing all these production...

'Eat full full until got nothing to do' (phrasing this in Hokkien)
Cari pasal! Yes! I'm scolding myself for mencari pasal here...why? Coz I just realized that I have overloaded myself with a lot of side projects all throughout this semester and now, my schedules are packed for that matter.

...One, HLS Corporate/Documentary video which I am now in the pre-production process with Petrus and Bonus and hopefully when everything approves, will be on production process and editing will be around June/July.

...Two, offered myself to volunteer in the foundation orientation next week. Looking forward to this...anyway, it is only for a week so, it's ok.

...Three, will be quite busy with CSS this semester and currently became the representative of CSS for Curtinsc.com.

...Four, offered help for Curtin's Corporate video production which I actually hope to get in to learn production of a real corporate video.

...Five, enrolled in Taekwondo and targetting for my first exam this April for yellow belt. Practice every Wednesday and Friday.

...Six, still is in CSS Music Ministry. Meeting every Thursday night and practice every Friday afternoon. Singing and hopefully got to play guitar.

hmm...gotta look up for my schedules to remind myself of how pack it is for the whole semester. gosh, need rest! for now, I'm mentally and physically drained and I barely can open my eyes now. Gotta sign out now~

Cath turns 21

HAPPY 21st BIRTHDAY, CATHERINE!!!

As surprising as it can get, this is my very first time surprising the birthday girl, the whole day through...wahahahaha...she didn't see it coming! *singing*

Surprise No.1: The Birthday Present
Well, that surprise didn't work out as I thought it would. I had her present hiding in my camera bag and we were snapping syok sendiri photos and when it was midnight, I gave Catherine the camera bag to keep the camera into it...she did - opening the camera bag, looking at the present, wrapped with 'Happy Birthday' present paper and put the present aside (didn't know that it was hers) and kept my camera...sigh~~ Only when I told her that the present is hers then she baru realize...*sweat*

Surprise No.1 = FAILED!!!

...the birthday girl with her present...

Surprise No.2: Dinner at Pong's
I told Catherine that dinner was at 7pm at Pong's Cafe. We went arcading at Boulevard and it was FUN! (Arcading is a way we pass time when we are waiting for time to pass...) Drove to Pong's and had my table reserved the night before but...my name wasn't there!!! WHAT??? Check and check...my number was there, but not my name...why? coz it was spelled J.A.L.E.N.! Had a good laugh at that name and I vow that I'll use that name when I reserved table at Pong's - so the boss will not have a hard time trying to get my name right...sigh~~ Ordered, eat...and...walah!~ Elizabeth came...surprise? I think so la...but, she knew that there will be other people joining because I booked a table for 5.

Surprise No.2 = 50/50 PASS

...the 'surprise-but-I-wanna-kill-you' look at Elizabeth...

Surprise No.3: At Marriott
This wasn't a surprise from me, la...Catherine decided to go look-see stars by the beach so we drove to Marriott and had a great time looking towards the dark but wavy sea. Took photos of the place, and us...but it was kindda blur coz the place is kindda dark (use flash lo).

...the background is the dark and wavy sea...

Surprise No.4: At Home...
Home? As Catherine was boiling eggs, Elizabeth came with the cake and I quickly hid it in my room. A moment later, Angeline and Hiew came, with a bottle of Absolute Vodka, Sprite and Orange Juice. Went into my room and gotten ready the cake and...SURPRISE! hehehehe... Sang 'Happy Birthday', made a wish, blow the candle, cut the cake...


Hiew brought cards and Elizabeth membuka tirai by doing card readings. Then we played Black Jack (not with money, but with Vodka) It was a good one. Something to do, at least before starting our classes on Monday...

Surprise No.3 = PASS!!!

Hope you enjoyed your birthday, Cath!

HLS at SMK Bakong

...a banner specially made for HLS...

HLS, Human Life Services of Miri organized a talk at SMK Bakong and I was volunteering in that program as a photographer. This was my first HLS program and I learned a lot through it. There were two speakers, Petrus and Ansovinus and three other volunteers, Angeline, Melvin and I together with Auntie Dorothy, our adviser. We had breakfast before departing to SMK Bakong which was about an hour drive from Miri.

...the speakers...

We were in a van, driving through roads where you can see 'dinosaur's footprints' and it was a bumpy ride. Reaching SMK Bakong was a big relieve because we were afraid that we might get lost. Met with Cikgu Evelyn and she showed us the place and we started setting up the exhibits and the computers.

...preparations before the talk...

It was amazingly full where 600 students came for the talk. The talk started about 2.20pm with Ansovinus's topic. I took a whole lot of pictures, 340 pictures in total. Petrus spoke of topic 2 and 3 and the students were participating well.

...the view of the hall with 600 students...

The talk ended right on the dot at 5pm and Cikgu Evelyn had prepared food for us. We had our late lunch/early dinner and made our move at 6pm. The main concern was not of getting lost, but to reach home safely as it was getting dark and the roads are not of good condition.Praise to God...We reached St. Joseph's Church at about 7.30pm and I was home at 8pm, all exhausted...

It was a great experience and I'm hoping to volunteer in the next program...

Chap Goh Mei dinner

Finally, after 4 years of having mamak food for Chap Goh Mei (15th day of Chinese New Year) in KL, I had the best Chap Goh Mei dinner here in Senadin, Miri! My usual food were:

1. Nasi Goreng Ayam
2. Kailan Ikan Masin
3. Telur Mata Kerbau
4. Syrup Ice
But this year's a total different one. SELF-HOME COOK FOOD!

It was my official first time cooking in my new house in Senadin. Catherine came up with some experimental recipes and I stick with real recipes...hehehe...So, yea, we decided to cook for Chap Goh Mei. Bought the ingredients needed for dinner and started cooking at 4pm. Dinner was done at about 6pm and it was a great one :)

Well, mum told me that we shouldn't be having 4 dishes, so we came up with 5 dishes...

...farm's omelet...

...mushroom soup...

...ngo hiam...

...special marinated BBQ chicken...

...mashed potato...

Somewhere in the middle of cooking...
Karen picked up the can of mushroom soup and was looking for the can opener. She asked Catherine, "Umm...did we get the can opener?" "NO!" Catherine replied and headed out to her car and went to DPS and bought the can opener...

...this is how Karen was after dinner...

T.I.R.I.N.G.

TIRING~
That's the only word I can express now...

It was such a tiring week and will be another tiring days to come and it will not end until my next semester break which is in March, but, I doubt that I will have time to REST because I will be very BUSY with my classes and other activities. I need SLEEP for now, but dreams are bothering me every night, SLEEPLESS NIGHTS are all I am facing now which causes me to be even more TIRED!!!

How tiring my week was?
It was dead tired since Monday night where I actually dozed off to sleep at 10pm! (pecah record ah...) but my sleep wasn't as comforting as you think, it was all about dreams and nightmares. I was set to wake up at 4am on Tuesday morning but found myself pressing the stop button for my alarm clock. Lucky for me, I had another backup. So, it woke me up at 4.15am and off to shower and got myself ready to the airport. Packed my luggages and weighted them before leaving to airport. Reached Kuching airport at 5.30am and checked in. Checking in was another thing...my luggages was 35kg!!! I was 20kg over-weighted. So, I stood beside the check in counter and waited...and walah!~ a man was checking in without luggages, so I approached him and thank God that he was willing to help me. Even with the extra 15kg, I had to pay access of 6kg which was RM60...phew~ and off to say goodbye to my family and boarded the plane at 6.35am. (air ticket and boarding info on the TV was showing different information...confusing...)

Reached Miri airport at 8am and was told that the passengers would have to wait for the plane to leave before departing from the aircraft (how dumb can these people be to park our plane next to the plane which is due to depart). I had another 15kg of bags on my shoulder, which means I was Ninja Turtle for a day (carrying one bag in front and another bag on my back). Waited for my luggages and met Elizabeth who picked me up at the airport.

I'm in MIRI! alas~
We were off to breakfast, where we met Juliana there. (throughout this year's CNY, I have been escaping from lion dancing...mana tau, I met one, upclose and personal in Miri!) I needed a fan for my room, so went to purchase one and went back to Senadin. It was a hot afternoon and I cleaned my new room and the entire house and was all drained out by 5pm. My hands were both aching very badly. I couldn't really hold on to anything without feeling the pain. (I finally had to take the medicine to ease the pain). Elizabeth and I planned to surprise Catherine in the airport, so I came up with the idea...

K: What time is your flight?
C: At night.
K: Can you text me when you're boarding?
C: Why?
K: Coz I can start cooking.
C: You cook first and you eat first la...
K: Nola, you let me know when you board and I'll start cooking, so the food won't get cold...

And tada~ got her flight info and we headed to the airport and BOO! surprised! Catherine was with Jaski (another schoolmate) and we squeezed their luggages into Elizabeth's Kenari and drove her to the badminton court before sending Jaski back to Curtin Villa and Catherine back home to keep her luggages. We went back to the court to pick up Elizabeth and headed for supper at 11pm at A1...

That was day 1...now day 2...
Woke up early, 7am and got ready for campus. Did my registration and some photo shoot for the website and sent my mail and back to campus until 4pm. I was sitting in the computer lab since 12pm...and the server was down until 1.30pm and I went for my class registration at 2pm and went back to the lab at 2.10pm until 4pm where finally, I gave up with my 100Plus and went to cafeteria to look for food. Met James (CSSer) and later went off for tea at Lutong (Roti Milo and Mee Goreng mamak style!) Was supposed to help Jasmine moving but the plan was canceled so Catherine and I went to Survey for grocery shopping...and bought RM188 of things!!! (things that will last us for a long time, though...) Went home and kept all the groceries and took a while rest and was off again for our dinner at 10.30pm...

Day 3 in Miri...
Had a meeting with Petrus and Bonus at HLS (Human Life Services) for our talk at Bakong on Friday. It was a brief discussion and we had lunch nearby before Petrus sent me back home and once I was home, we headed out to campus for more photo shoots.

Chap Goh Mei!!!
and...the two ladies at home decided to COOK!
...will post the cooking session in my next post...

So, it was a really tiring 3 days and more tiring days to come...sigh~~

Adios Kuching, Hola Miri!

ADIOS to Kuching!
HOLA to Miri!

Finally my 3 months holiday is OVER! (stressing the word 'OVER')...
It was a loooooooooong holiday - never had college break this long :)

I went back to Kuching on the 15th November 2007 and came back Miri on the 19th February 2008, and looking back at what I did for the past 3 months...*nada! Lots of going out a night, parties, a camp, tour guiding...

Bid farewell to Kuching at 7am and reached Miri at 8am. (still not used to the 'one hour' flight). It was a long day, cleaning up my room and the house was wearing me off by evening when both my hands were aching in pain...until now...sigh~ Had fun suprising Cathering in the airport...wahahahaha...and a supper was all I need before heading off to bed.

Will be in Miri for the next 4 months for the entire 2nd semester.

Registration was easy this time and is taking time chilling all through this week before semester starts next Monday. Timetable = okla~ a class only on Monday, Thursday and Friday, two classes on Wednesday and a class maraton on Tuesday from 8am to 4.30pm. Yesh! Making myself as busy as possible but enjoying every moment of a student life~~~

Till then, lots more to come...

I have BLUE EYES!

Finally I decided to get myself a pair of colour contact lens; of course thanks to the 'ang pow' money collected throughout Chinese New Year. There were promotions in TheSpring and Boulevard. Brought my mum along to help me choose the colour and wanted Baby Aqua but it was out of stock. I was told that the new stock would be coming in within a day or two. So, I left my contact and waited...

A day later, they called! Paid RM50 for a pair which will last for 3 months...

...so many to choose from...

Yesterday, I opened the contact lens and wore them to church...and I walked through blank looks from people around me. SIGH~ They must be thinking that I am weird. Even my brother, Aaron said, 'Hantu!' when he saw me with the blue eyes. Nah~ it's cool though!

Took pictures of myself with the blue eyes...
hehehehe...
time to syok sendiri mah!

NICE OR NOT???

10th Year Reunion Gathering

Date: 11th February 2008

Venue: The Wishing Well, Jalan Padungan

The reunion gathering's plan started last year when I realized that 2008 marks the 10th year we were in Primary 6 (Class of 1998) of SRB St. Theresa Padungan. *Imagine we were still little boys and girls 10 years ago!!!* So, I started recalling and collecting names of our primary schoolmates from people that I was in contact with. Invitations were sent out in November and there were feedbacks from people. By January, I confirmed the place, date and time and resent out confirmed invitations and waited for replies.

Out of 80 people in Primary 6, I had 60 names, 40 contacts and 20 turned up in the gathering. It was quite a big surprise to have 20 people that night because most of us are here and there and aren't back for the holidays.

Names who came are:
Khiu Yin Chiak, Lee Wei Kit, Alvin Lee, Alex Yeo, Betty Kho, Danny Tan, Edwina Wee, Tsai Fui Mei, Joel Chung, Jason Kong, Wendy Lau, Ivy Liew, Yu Yin Young, Karen Kuek, Jonathan Lee, Nicholas Ting, Ng Shen Fatt, Kho Lee Yi, Kevin Ong and Chan Yee Hon.

...the girls and the boys...
(not complete)

...rounds of Unos and Black Jacks...


...eating and taking photos and chit chatting...

The gathering started at 6pm and we had people coming in from 6pm to 10pm. We had the bar reserved for us and food was ala-carte. Some of us hadn't seen each other for years and that night, we had fun chit-chatting over old and new stories. A few brought Uno card and play cards and, well it's Chinese New Year, it was a gambling night!

Some had requested for a gathering every year around Chinese New Year. I'm looking forward to our future meets and gatherings and hope to see more people next time!!!

BEST OF LUCK TO US ALL!!!

The 100th Post! Courtesy of Tiffany Nakita...

Congratulations to kaYren original © to hit the 100th post today! and it has been only 7 months since this blog started its operation. Blogging back then was only on Friendster where I would blog an entry a day when I'm out of boredom in the office back when I was interning.

A little trip to July 2007 when I created this blog...
My friends encouraged me to start my own blog (other than Friendster's blog) and it took me about a year to actually get one in the world wide web. Since then, I entered entries regarding my worklife, my studylife, my social life, my...everything that happens around me. And this post marks the 100th post in this blog of mine...:)

Courtesy of Tiffany Nakita. Why?
Thanks to Tiffany, I had something to blog for the 100th post. Had a night out with Tiffany before leaving to Miri (known as our post valentine date - don't get me wrong ya...). Part 1, as usual, I'm the driver. Introduced Tiffany to the delicious steak just above the Petanak Market. We had a long gossiping time while having our dinner (the talk started since she got into the car). It was when Tiffany went over to wash her hands, came back to the table, pulled out the chair and sat and as she was about to continue the conversation, she realized that things were different. Remarkably, she was sitting on the wrong table!!! *laughing my head off* Walking back to the table I was at, she was already laughing her head off. Three men in front of us were also laughing their heads off. I was wondering...only until I laughed my head off myself when she told me what had just happened. sigh~ 'There is never a day that the insanity is turned off'.

Part 2, after dinner, we decided to go for a movie, but was thinking of deciding which movie to watch when we get to the cinema. Drove to the 3rd floor and found an extraordinary great parking space just right opposite the door. Parked the car, took the lift up to the 9th floor and headed to the counter and checked the showtime. The movies available were 'Kungfu Dunk', 'Rambo 4' and 'Jumper'...and suddenly, "We don't watch la. We go home better," said Tiffany. *sweats* We went back to the car, drove down from the building, paid RM1 for parking and left. sigh~ 'Indecisive is our major problem'.

Part 3, headed to The Wishing Well for a drink. Sat at the bar and watched StarMovie, listening to nice RnB music and were still gossiping. I got distracted towards the TV as it was showing some 'flesh eating leeches which turns human into zombies' film. It was disgusting yet cool! We had trouble finishing up our drinks because of the movie...sigh~ 'Never watch disgusting movie when you're on a drink'.

Part 4, on the way back to Tiffany's house, she was on SOS! "I need to go toilet now! I am also thinking of peeing at the side of the road! Karen, I need to go to a gas station, now!" Tiffany screaming while gossiping in the car. So, I drove to several gas station and finally found one (still open at 11pm) and the minute I stopped the car, she sped her way to the toilet...sigh~ 'Girls just need toilet break every 10 minutes'.

Concluding my 100th post, I had fun tonight! 'Thank you, Tiffany!' It will be another 4 months to our girls crazy night out again...*sob sob* Grateful to have friends who are always insane in any situation... :) because that's where you'll see me insane as well!

Karen Kuek signing out from 'The 100th Post!'

CJ7

To clarify here, I am not a fan of Stephen Chow's works ever since I find Shaolin Soccer (2001) and Kungfu Hustle (2004) were over comedic and non-realistic at all and especially the 'not so great' graphics as I thought it would be. His films are also very predictable (proven when I foresee the story without watching them)...and a few had asked me to watch CJ7 and I turned down saying, 'I'm not a fan of Stephen Chow and I don't like to watch his films'!

That was only until yesterday where I went for CJ7 with Adeline at Star Cineplex. sigh~ I could see sweats on both sides of my forehead even before I purchased the tickets but thinking that I'm a media student and watching weird films are a part of my studies, I took the 'risk' of watching CJ7.

CJ7 also known as Cheung Gong 7 Hou was a 90 minute film in Cantonese (lucky me I understand Cantonese coz the guy in front of me blocked the entire subtitles). Directed and written and starred by Stephen Chow himself along with a new starlet playing Dicky Chow; the boy - she's very talented though. I was first attracted to the actings of the boys and girls on screen - very talented (wonder when will Malaysia films feature talented children in it...). When the alien came along, I was quite amazed with the graphics and effects used and it featured the alien which looks rather real. *at least improvements are seen in HK film industry...Malaysia's film industry is still at the standstill* And for this film, Chow showed audiences more values than his previous films.

I have to admit that CJ7 is a good film, a great one from Chow. Looking forward to see his works in the future...

'We are poor. We do not lie, nor steal, nor use foul words. We do not take things that doesn't belong to us...' (CJ7, 2008)

p/s: the cinema is finally computerized with an LCD screen showing movie time, computer screens for seats and printed movie tickets!

CNY 2008...Year of the Rat!

Finally I get to be home before, during and after Chinese New Year this year...and it's the year of the RAT! (rat sounds a little harsh...I shall call it year of the MOUSE) Yesh, I'm very happy to be home, but not looking forward to all the cleanings and cleanings in and around the house (with my 'laterlah' attitude). Here goes my timeline:

Chinese New Year eve
It was an early start that morning as my brothers, Alex and Aaron and I all headed down town and gotten everything ready for our prays to our ancestors at the temple. It was a wet morning and a jammed packed day as well. Got into a glitch with an idiotic driver just outside the temple. The Hilton Hotel Yee San we ordered was late, mum was waiting at home for the fried chicken in the car, and...but the time we got home, mum was done with lunch. Waited for grandma and auntie Ling to come over for our 'Reunion lunch' and time for F.O.O.D.! Food was excellent...'love your cookings, mum!' We had our final cleaning up and off for the 'Reunion dinner' at Country Court (dinner wasn't that great...sigh~). Got home at about 10pm and there goes the fireworks :) all the way until New Year morning...

...at the temple...

...mum's home cook reunion lunch...


...everyone dig into the Yee Sang...

...my family for reunion dinner...


...deep fried soft shell crab (looks like a deep fried spider to me!) & roasted duck...

...taken from my bedroom window...

Chinese New Year Day 1
Got up early for mass at St. Peter's and went over to the Open House at the Parish Center. (got 2 oranges each) and headed to my grandma's house (mum's mum) and had my favorite dish, as always. Visitings this year wasn't that much of a craze, just to some close relatives of ours and some church wardens'. Called it an afternoon and went home where everyone got their afternoon naps except for me (staring in front of the laptop and forced myself not to sleep). One thing's for sure - ANG POWS!!!

...morning of the New Year...

...the oranges from church...

...my 'must have' dish every 1st day of CNY...

...Kuek's Casino (runs only once a year - 1st day of CNY)...

...my grandma and us...

Chinese New Year Day 2
Santubong Resort! First family backpacking trip to somewhere far from OPEN HOUSE!~ Skipped the open house and had a family retreat to Santubong where, I was surprised, my family actually love camwhoring! hahahaha...yeap, lots of photos were taken (with tripod and syok sendiri) Spents the two days one night there with 6 rounds of pool, blackjack, tuak and food!

...that's Alex on the bed with Aaron and I pointing fingers at him...

...the best picture of all...



...our pool sessions...

...us...

Chinese New Year Day 3
Another day in Santubong. It was still raining. Checked out at 11am and went back to Kuching and had lunch at my aunt's place. Thought of going visiting to friends' but found myself sleeping the whole afternoon through until it was time for church.

...morning breakfast...


...the camerawoman and the assistant...

...syok sendiri on the way down to Kuching...

Chinese New Year Day 4
To the airport to meet Catherine and her sisters and her friends. Drove 1 1/2 hours to and another 1 1/2 hours back to Sematan's NS Camp. Went to Adeline's house for visiting and drove around Kuching...and best of all, that's where I accidentally DRIFTED! hehehehe... Dinner at home (mum's homecook food) and by night, Alex's flight back to KL and later was Catherine's flight. Aaron and I went to Sharon's place for visiting after.

...at Adeline's...

...home cook dinner...

...us at the airport before Alex and Choulyee's flight...

...syok sendiri in the airport...

...at Sharon's...

This year's CNY was a little more interesting than the year before. At least no more hassle during 2nd day for Open House *phew!* Had a great family retreat and visitings and of course, ang pows! HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR 2008!