I hardly know what to say on this last day of year 2008.

It might be better if I list down my resolutions for 2009... but that never seldom works for me. Whatever I've planned beforehand always get done like.. almost 50% only... shamefully, unplanned things are (most of the time) given full attention, hence they always get done before I even realize it.

Anyway. A thought came to me a few days ago. I always have something to say in my blog but lately I seem to avoid blogging anything... What happened? I think it has something to do with my previous, previous post. But for this last day (of 2008), I'm determined to face this blog again.

Well... I'm going to list down things that I must give my appreciation to for this year.

First of all, "Thank you, God."

You've taken care of my health throughout this year. I didn't catch any colds in the end of year (which I always do in the past). I know I'm strong-headed sometimes and that you had always tried to tell me things (I should know) which I don't always listen to. An incident (which I won't elaborate) that happened in Nov/Dec had dragged me back to my senses. I realised I need to do a major change to my way of thinking and seeing things. I don't know how yet but hopefully you'll continue to remind me to change myself.

"Thank you, mum and dad."

It's very suprising how much a parent can be patient and forgiving towards a stubborn and idealistic daughter like me. I can't ask for more. They are always there - my mum and my dad. They may not be perfect but I'm not a perfect daughter too, you know... When I screwed up last year, they said "It's okay. You've done your best." It pained me a bit because I knew I haven't done my best. Till now, I'm still uncertain if I ever going to do my best again. Their encouragement and support always remind me of the phrase, "Never give up. Let failure be your teacher." With such treatment, I'm assured that if I ever screw up again in the future, they will not turn me away. Here I'll say the words that's hard to be spoken face to face: I love you both.

"Thank you to my little sister and little brother."

In some weird, twisted way, both of you had become a good listener to my everyday ramblings. Sure, there were times where I was really angry with both of you... But we are family. Family does that. They annoy and please you at the same time.

"Thank you, Mel-chan and Ren-chan."

These were the only two close friends I've kept in touch with throughout the year.(I know I'm a terrible friend but that's not the point of discussion right now) Mel-chan and I are childhood friends. Ren-chan was my form 6 classmate. I'd told them my thoughts about my future recently - something like (although not exact words) 'What will they think of me if I do etc... Will they think less of me?'...
Both were supportive.
Ren-chan said she'll support me no matter what.
My conversation with Mel-chan was more like me opening up to her (though she might think otherwise). I told her what was in my mind recently. She thinks my other choices are interesting but at the same time wants me to keep in mind about the prospects. She also let me know that there's way to realize my original ambition if I choose to stick to it.

"Thank you, Miss Chong."

I'm really grateful that she would accept an adult piano student like me. I'm not sure how I compare to her other younger students but hopefully not that bad.

...and last but not least, thank you to those I didn't mention specifically in this post, which had became a part of my life in 2008.

I'll leave the title that way.
You ran out of ideas, huh?

I think I should give some account of what happened on the day we flew back to Sabah.

The last place we visited was the Muzium Negara. Tired by the prices offered by tout(s) taxi drivers, we used a different transport (my 1st time! Sugoi! lol) to reach KL Sentral, and find a taxi (by coupon) there.

Maybe because of the limited time left or etc... I found that the trip to Muzium Negara quite disappointing. I don't have any expectations at first and still I kind of didn't enjoy it. In the end it was like, "That's it?"

Hmmm... But I did enjoy going to the Zoo Negara and KLCC's Aquaria.. So that kind of made up for the disappointment...

Anyway... At the airport...
I had a stupid fight with my siblings that I put on a long face all the way to Sabah. Usually, the immigration officers (is that what they call it?) I see have a longer face [never met a cheerful one] than mine that day... Stupid me! I forgot about the digital camera in my pocket... and "beep!" the machine went... they had to check me for fear of bringing anything murderous. At the same time I was staring at them murderously. I really didn't have the mood to deal with them. I don't like the feeling of being accused of something wrongful that I didn't do and yet I can't shout back to them to defend myself. The whole night waiting for our flight had me thinking of not getting on an airplane again in the near future.

While waiting, I finished reading "Mr Darcy's Diary". I broke my one-book rule that I stopped reading "Doctor Thorne" for a while to make way for this book. To be frank, I didn't really enjoy it... other than the scenes from "Pride and Prejudice", Mr Darcy's other diary entries were like... unnecessary off-topic scenes (made up this term). I only look at it as "another fan-fiction" based on P&P.

Back in Sabah... we managed to get home early and prepared ourselves for church. Then, came the funny/odd part. We were lacking so much sleep that we kept dozing off during the church sermon. That's just how exhausted we were. We left church early and cancelled our piano classes that morning.

In the evening, I felt very happy because finally could catch one of my favourite programme on TV. (I can't believe that the hotel we were staying at don't have the 8TV channel!)

Leaving aside the matters from the previous post for a while...

Here I am... in KL. This is our family's choice of end-year vacation for this year.
Yeah. For people who from KK who always travel there, this is nothing new. But for our family, it is. At least, mostly, to my siblings. We are only an average family - we can't afford to travel overseas.

I had mixed feelings on the day we were to leave Sabah. I'm going to miss my cats, I'm going to miss watching several TV programmes... Most importantly, I'm going to miss 4 days of piano practice. Hmmm...

Oh well... Tomorrow we'll be returning to Sabah (ureshii!). Our flight is around 4am so we'll have to be at the airport very early. We'll reach KK around 6am, return home and get ready to go to church. I do wonder how exhausted we will be when we show up at the church...

Anyway, this post isn't going to be entirely about 5W+1H questions... What or where we'd eaten. I'm bad at describing that. I just want to write[type] down some things that caught my attention.

Following will be an encounter of someone not familiar with KL.
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Taxi... I remembered a couple years ago how [disadvantagedly] my mum and I fell prey to tout(s) (they also call them ulat = slug, I think) at the KLIA airport. They brought us to a comfy car (can't remember what type) then drop us off at a petrol station where we'll have to take the normal cab. At that point, I've grown slightly suspicious of these people (they are *ehem* b-u~m_i@s) but as it was surprisingly hot that day, I only think of reaching Melaka as soon as possible. Didn't think much about it.

But, actually, you have to care and think much about taxi fares. My family don't use taxi much in Sabah because we have a car. The only time we need it is when my dad's not home (out station) or the car sent to the "workshop" (should be garage)... My mum usually straight-away asks how much to _________? The taxi doesn't use the meter thingy at all... and I'm not even sure if it has one...

Ermm. Back to the topic.

We met another one. After traveling on foot to Suria KLCC (I never imagine it to be this huge and so crowded!) we decided we want to return to the hotel with taxi. As we consist of 5 person, we should be on two taxis. Then this taxi driver said he'll sent us all in his taxi with a special price and he'll take responsibility if anything happen (What can happen? I'm curious.) Then this driver turned out to be a Sabahan! From Sandakan. With his erm... [semenanjung] slang, I thought he has been in KL for at least a year. But, no~ he's here for 6 months already! Wow. A person who can change this fast must be a really opportunistic creature. His character has been decided - he is a taxi sagishi.. haha.. I'm glad my dad didn't call him the next day to bring us to the zoo.

Today we did met two nice taxi drivers. The chinese one talked a lot about many things. He said he had been in Sabah before. And from his conversation with my mum, he seems like someone who paid attention to happenings in Sabah/Sarawak... but it might also be because he read newspaper a lot. Hmm. I was surprised when he suddenly exclaimed (he raised his voice) something about the zoo in Singapore.

The indian taxi driver we met on the way back to the hotel from Mid Valley also talked a lot. He and my mum talked (or should I say discussed?) mostly about politics. This uncle seems to have strong opinions on some politicians and "people up there".

I'm not saying that the *ehem*.... are bad, opportunistic taxi drivers... but so far this is what I'd seen and experienced... Imagine paying RM 50 for a trip that will just be around RM 20 if you are on a taxi with meter (thingy. I don't know what they call it in english). I don't know you, but I'll be angry with myself for being fool enough to be swindled. I can buy a book at Kinokuniya with RM 30!

Speaking of books... I finally "met" Kinokuniya! I've brought several books from them online and I love how fast they get my books ready - The fastest I received the book was the next day after my order was confirmed!

I love Kinokuniya! I can be there all day. If only I have the cash...

Since recently, books have been my big weakness. I want to buy books I want to read, books I think good to read, books I'm not sure if I'll read... and books I'd read with beautiful covers (lol)... People say "Don't judge a book by its cover." I have my own saying derived from that: "Only judge a book by its cover when you already read it."

I also went to Mid Valley's MPH bookstore. The feeling was almost the same when I was at Kinokuniya but lesser. There's book everywhere. I feel like I'm in a book heaven! If only they open at the 1Borneo... *smiles dreamily*


~ Finally own a Lat/NST 2009 calender (from Kinokuniya). Can't find this anywhere in Sabah (or maybe it's only me who missed it). Lazy to order via post too...
~ The other pic is my MPH shopping bag. A piano score (book) and some notebooks. Nothing special.

~ And... my Kinokuniya shopping bag.

Oh. Man. I did it AGAIN.

I ditched myself again. Again. Again.

No new posts in blog. No new entries in my diary.

What happened to you?

I should be fighting, NOT fleeing!

Ah~Ah~


I've been thinking lately... how I really don't know myself anymore.
I found myself often saying "Why am I doing things I wouldn't have done before? Why I started seeing everything that I thought was right becoming the opposite?..etc etc"

I am changing. To be a better or worst person? I'm not sure.

I've always suspect that I'm the kind of person who wants to avoid getting out of my "comfort zone"... and now I realise that I am. Other people might have seen it before me and also has told me or hinted... but I (think I) see it clearly now. I am that person!

I need some time to adjust to this new changes...