since I left Perth for good. It was a place where I was transformed into a different person. My family noticed how different I was during my first year in Perth. My sister said I was a warmer, happier and friendlier person and sister. Mom thought I was happier and more caring towards people around me. I guess, it was the friends that I have made during those years. They were my friends who helped me to go through ups and downs, eased the transition and be there for me almost 24/7.

There were students from different countries got together and learned to tolerate with differences. During the valentines’ day, it was the only valentine’s that I received the most presents in my life. Yeah..I don’t think I will ever get more than 15 valentine presents in the future. They were my very first friends in Perth. We spent most of the time and also eating 3 meals together. We were inseparable!

After Year 12, I went to uni and that was when I left most of my friends from boarding house. Each of us went to different uni and some had gone back for good. Back in uni, I have made a different group friends. And these friends stayed with me for the next 4 years.

I have learned so much during those years, much more than I have spent my 12 years in primary and high school. Because of studying abroad, I have learned to be independent with no familiar support. I have learned to cook, baking, operate washing machines and etc. There were time when I was so helpless and lost but somehow, I have made it through. When I read my archives, I realised that I have grown so much from the problems and mistakes I have done. It made me stronger and taught me to see things and people in different perspectives. There were times when I was so upset and almost gave up, but, I survive! Thank god…. I guess, what doesn’t kill you will only make you stronger and I totally agree with that!

My last day in Perth wasn’t a special one but my buddies came to my house to pick me up to the airport. We had dim sum at one of my favourite places for the very last time. A few cars sent me off and it was absolutely an emotional moment. Leaving friends who had spent almost every day with me was one of the hardest thing in my life.

Despite the dark period I had gone through, I had no regrets at all. After all, if it wasn’t because of all these, it wouldn’t be the same me, today. Mistakes and problems do help me to learn to be more grateful and become a better person. =)

Dear friends, I miss you guys heaps! Thanks for being with me and I hope we will meet again one day. =)

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I was very glad that I’ve made it to the pier again. It was so beautiful at night and this time, I was ready to take more pictures. The good news is, they are going to build a restaurant at the structure in the middle of the sea. Can’t wait. =) It would be great if they open cafes and set tables by the sea. Perfecto!

It says, EST. 1897 CHURCH STREET PIER

I want that boat! (the one at the end of the pier)

Look ferry!!

We had a special ‘guest’ that night. Shocked to see such a huge reptile at the pier lying totally flat on the stairs. We thought it was dead because it did not move at all after observing for very long. We also thought it was pregnant. We asked the security guard to check it out and he confirmed that it was dead. Mm..not until my cousin’s boyfriend threw a small pebble at it. It wiggled a bit and we all shocked and jumped simultaneously! Then it swan to the sea slowly. I guess it must have eaten a CAT! I mean look at its stomach! It must be so full and drowsy.

Some pictures taken when I took the ferry during the day. The last time I took a ferry was probably more than 10 years ago. Back then, everything looked so huge to me. But when I went back again this time, I asked my friend if they have torn down some of the structures because it looked so much narrower and smaller. He said everything was the same except that I have grown ‘bigger’. =(

Komtar, one of the Penang icon

When I was young, I loved to daze at the endlessly running wave. And I never thought I still love it so much.

I still prefer the conventional yellow ferry instead of the one painted with rainbow.

After the ferry, it took about 30 minutes drive to my friend’s farm. There was a heavy crop of corn, some melons, palm trees and lemons. (He told me that they were lemons but I seriously doubt it because first, I did not see any lemon at the tree and second, I didn’t know lemon can grow in Malaysia. Need to do some research about it. Mm..

Some melons, which we didn’t know what they were. This friend of mine really has no idea what his farm is producing. He pointed at sugar cane and told me it was bamboo! Luckily I wasn’t that ‘city-girl’.

Corn!! Reminded me of Kellogg’s advertisement.

It was an eye-opening experience and I love orchard and farm especially if I can see the fruits and vegetables. My dream is to own a vineyard….hey..don’t laugh! Everyone has a dream ok??

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Things that I wish to do:

1. Spend more time with my family - There will never be enough time to spend with my family
2. Catch most of the recent movies since watching movies in Malaysia is so much cheaper - Done
   Only able to catch The Cars and Over The Hedge
   
3. Cut my hair - Done
   Mom just cut my hair. Much shorter now. *wink*
   
4. Do some shopping - Very disappointed. Read below
5. Revisit Church Street Pier (at ferry terminal) at night before I go back - Still trying to look for time and people to go with. Can’t go alone because passer-by will think I commit suicide.
6. Take a ride on trishaw around Penang street and Esplanade - And again, still looking for opportunity to do so because it is not safe to take trishaw alone.
7. Visit my newly-wed buddies – Done. Very happy to see them again and their wedding pictures. Making me feel like growing up too fast
8. Visit new makan places - Done. Only 3 places though
9. Have Häagen-Dazs fondue. I had it several times but I wish to have it again. It is not about the ice cream but it is about who I have the fondue with. - Not yet. Hopefully tomorrow night
10. Play golf - Don’t think I will have time to do that.
11. Eat dumplings - Done. Have you tried eating dumplings with white sugar? It is super-licious!

Talking about shopping, I was pretty disappointed as I spent an afternoon with my mom on Tuesday to look for clothes that I want. I thought of shopping in Penang will save me heaps as compared to shopping in Singapore but I was so wrong. First, even after I converted the currency, it is still more expensive than Singapore! Plus, we spent the afternoon looking for a decent three-quarter pants but I just can’t seem to find any. Every shop seems to sell the same thing and the price is ridiculously high. Sometimes it makes me think that people have been spending more than they earn because of the price of the food, petrol, clothes and etc. I think I will just do my shopping back in Singapore then.

Today after The Cars, my parents took me to a new hawker centre in town. Actually it has been there for ages. I am rather NEW to that place.They said it was famous for its popiah and foreigners liked to have the popiahs. Ok..I have been here for ages and I haven’t even had the popiah before. I felt more like a foreigner instead.

Love the sign boards so much. It is classic! I would love to collect one of those boards someday. You will never know when it will disappear from the city facade.

The popiah was ok. The only difference was it had more crab meat wrapped in the roll. =)

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So I am back in Penang. (yay!) And I told my family that I will be arriving on Tuesday morning instead. Secretly, I sneaked back right after my work on Monday evening. Heheheh..

I touched down at 8+pm and my plan definitely can’t work without Daniel’s help – picking me up from the airport. It was the first time I was picked up by a friend in Penang. And of course it was the first time I gave my family a surprise. It was just too hard to hide a secret from them. They will however, track me down.

Now I am working and financially dependant….NOTHING CAN STOP ME NOW!! Hahahahaa…but still…

Daniel took me for a Penang night tour that came with authentic tandoori dinner. My first time eating tandoori chicken! I must say it was also my first time eating nan with curry with my fingers. It was very fun and the food somehow tasted differently when eating with fingers.

Tandoori chicken with cheese nan =)

Penang never fails to surprise me each time I come back. There are always new buildings and shop houses. It was so embarrassing that I didn’t know many places in Penang. I had been asking the same questions – "where is this?" repeatedly. Obviously, I haven’t seen enough.

Then, we went to the ferry terminal. They built a new pier and it was fantastic! It was so nice to be near to the sea again. We saw a few boats parking and little lights and the reflections along the pier. It was exhilarating! I almost forgot how it smelt like. Each time when the wind blew, the brackish smell of the sea water and wood planks entered my pores and sapped my bloodstream. I just felt like lying down on the pier and smile.

And that’s why I miss the sea and Penang so much.

Daniel’s super artistic picture

After the pier, Daniel sent me to my grandma’s house because I wanted to surprise her first. Everyone was so shocked and happy to see me. We chatted a lot and I showed them pictures taken in Singapore. Then I called my mom. She was stunned for awhile and later, she just kept saying that I was crazy…and laughed hysterically. Before that, she was so worried because she can’t reach me on my phone. (Read this) She called the same friend of mine and made him all worried and started the whole Cherry-search frenzy. Poor thing…..See! It is never easy to give a surprise to my family.

Met my neighbours also. Obviously all of them expected me to reach on Tuesday. =) Wow…didn’t know that so many people knew about my arrival. *blush*

Posted under Glorious food! , Life documentaries | No Comments 

I was ridiculously happy and excited of going to Sentosa. Just because SPONGEBOB & PATRICK were there!! Yoohoo..I know, I am hopeless. Even 4 years old kids think I am nuts. Anyway, I had been longing to go to Sentosa to take picture with spongebob 1 week ago when I saw the ads from the telly. My heart was thumping and breathing hard and MAN, I WAS SO GOING TO SENTOSA.

When I told my friends and colleagues that I was going, they said I was nuts. Hello…It is great to be have fun once in a while!! Not that I have all grown up and I can’t attend event like the Balloon Hat Festival. Well thank god, there was still a supportive friend who didn’t think I was nuts and accompanied me all the way to the festival. Watson, you are indeed a true friend. *sob*

So, we met for lunch and headed over to sentosa. Boy, the last time I was there, it was 4 years ago and I could hardly remember much. Lots of new stuff and renovations. This time, Watson took me to take cable car instead. Man that was fun! I had never taken a cable car to sentosa before. I went there either by bus or car. The cable car was so spacious, cleaner and odourless than I expected.

I used to call the crane as giraffe when I was little. =) Don’t they look like one? Especially those in yellow.

It was very crowded everywhere. So I wasn’t the only NUTS there, ok! We had to queue for very long for shuttle bus. Then, we had to change to another bus to get to Palawan Beach, where the Balloon Hat festival was. It was scorching hot and humid. We can smell sweat and odour everywhere…=(

Finally, after queuing, waiting, sweating and ‘squeezing’, we made it to Palawan Beach! It was very hot…I was just holding up for a picture and I almost melted.

When we were walking towards the event, I heard the MC announced that spongebob and patrick were there for photo session. Suddenly I lost my mind and rushed towards the stage. Poor Watson had to chase after me with umbrella some more…*blush* I was just a 5 years old kid, remember?

Yeah!! Finally…

And of course, Balloon Hat festival must have balloon hat right? The following pictures will ‘blow you away’.

The balloon expert! I actually wanted the one like his! But he made me a smaller one. They were all 2 bucks! Cheap right…for any design you like.

My cool balloon hat! Hey, I should have asked him to make one like ‘hers’!!! By the way, it was a pink cat on my hat in case you can’t tell.

Then, we walked to another balloon creation stall. And we found THIS! *argh* Should have gotten here earlier.

A fishing balloon hat!!! I like the FISH!!!!

And THIS! Cycling one! There were 3 bucks each but still..!!!! Watson wanted to get one of them too but they ran out of Smiley Face balloon.

So this auntie recommended penguin instead, which was 5 bucks! And Watson actually got the penguin hat!

TADA!! And again, I like the FISH!!! The penguin was holding the fish with sad face. (the auntie said because it was going to be its dinner)

I also want this!

And Elmo & Cookie monster from sesame street for goodness sake!

I should have requested for a spongebob balloon hat…

There was a band competition and 3000 students from various schools participated. Boy, every one of them wore a balloon hat with different sizes, colours and designs. It was spectacular. I hadn’t seen so many balloon hats in my life before. For the grand finale, all of them stood along the beach to perform a final tune. It was great and fun!!

To close the ceremony, they also released thousands of balloons to the sky. But we did not stay for that as the last bus departed from the beach was 6.30pm. We rushed to the bus station and people were already queuing up. We were so worried that we were not be able to get on the bus. So when the bus finally came, we were praying that the marshal would let us go on the bus. My heart was beating so hard when seeing the bus getting fuller while there were still more than 20 people ahead of us. When it was our turn to board, I almost can’t breathe when I saw her raising her hand as if to stop the people from boarding the bus. She put her hand down right after Watson boarded and we can’t be more grateful. *phew* The guy queued behind Watson was staring at us with anger until the bus was out of his sight. Scary huh!

I like the night cable car ride even more. It was quiet with lesser traffic noises. It was cooling and we heard a lady singing for a concert from far. It was great and peaceful. AND, we even saw couples had candle light dinners in the cable cars!! I found it funny because the cable car door kept opening and closing each time it reached a station. Then people who were queuing for cable car looked at them in awe. Ahahahaha….

You can find out more about sky dining and menu here. Yeah…they called it sky dining. The price is reasonable and considering that you can take unlimited cable car rides until you are sick finished your food. I certainly want to try this whole new dining experience one day…you know, being the great restaurant and food critique that is. =)

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