Countdowns

At the blink of an eye, it is approaching the time of the year to have the New Year countdown. While people out there are playing hard during such occasions, I have never been excited about all New Year countdowns.

When I was a student, the New Year countdowns symbolised the end of the long school holidays and the start of a new school year with more difficult school work. For the recent years, the New Year countdown symbolises the end of yet another year and as I look back at the new year resolutions which I made a year ago, hardly half of them have been accomplished and yet I am another year older.

Can't help getting the blues for this coming 2010. I am getting 30!! When Chinese New Year comes, I can bet the relatives will be bugging me when I will expect a baby, especially when I am no longer young!! *roll my eyes* I hope none will ask me to seek medical help!

Eeeks! Hope my birthday will never come!

感谢水声

昨天夜晚，我独自回家。
踏进屋门，一片漆黑，鸦雀无声。
我开了灯，开了窗，开了小池塘的水流。

悦耳的水声打破了房子的寂静。
突然间，我不再感觉寂寞。

感谢小池塘陪伴我度过每个独处的时刻。
也感谢曾经陪伴我的小鱼儿们。:)

Cruise to Malaysia

I went on a cruise again, this time on board Superstar Cruise Libra for a 4D3N cruise to KL and Penang, with my husband, his mum and sis.

Though the vessel was smaller than Superstar Aquarius which I cruised on last year, we had a cabin with porthole. :) However the weather had been cloudy the past few days and we couldnt really catch a nice sunrise or sunset. But it was great fun to view the sea and sky just from the cabin!

Arriving in KL Port Klang... The link way connecting the harbour to the terminal hall, where our coach to bring us to Mid Valley Megamall awaited.

Mid Valley Megamall reminded me of Vivo City - with its size and branded boutiques. Basically there was no bargain up for grabs, so a 3-hour allowance in the mall was more than enough for most of us.


The new harbour in Penang, which coincidentally had its first opening on the day which our Superstar Libra docked at its pier. So we were warmly welcomed by the local authorities, together with their traditional drumming as heard in muslim weddings! Even the custom officers greeted us with a smile just like PR officers!


Queensbay Mall in Penang, some what like Suntec City.

Chinese cuisine on Superstar Libra.


Dim sum breakfast.

Italian seafood pasta. Creamy and authentic!

Italian grilled chicken with a unique taste.

Another Chinese meal with totally different dishes and soup.

The only show on board which we were allowed to take photos. "The Underwater Escape" performed by world magician Charles Bach from Las Vegas. He managed to hold his breath for more than 2 mins underwater to set himself free from the chain and locks. Bravo!

*

On the whole, the trip was enjoyable and the service by the crew was excellent. It would be better if we were given more time to explore Penang's unique heritage, architecture and... food! We only get to try Penang Laksa and their Hokkien Mee (prawn noodles). Aww....

老天保佑

老天保佑，保佑我永远也不会得糖尿病。

我宁可得癌症，起码医的好，可以过普通人的生活，大不了死了就一了百了，离开人世，脱离烦恼。

糖尿病还比癌症可怕，它永远也医不好，永远得控制饮食，吃一辈子的药。若病情控制得不好，还有可能影响到肾，肝，眼睛，甚至中风。到了那个时候，我有能力照顾自己吗？

老天保佑，保佑我永远也不会得糖尿病。我好爱吃蛋糕，好爱吃巧克力，好爱吃水果。天气热时，我超爱吃冰淇淋，喝泡泡茶和可乐。我也好喜欢吃面食，好喜欢马铃薯制作的一切。可是一旦得到那个恐怖的病，我就得跟我喜爱的一切告别了。

那活着岂不是很痛苦？

老天保佑，保佑我们大家都远离那个可怕的病。

Bargain books at HMV

Ha! Bought these 2 bestsellers at HMV last Sat at the City Link Mall branch. Yes, HMV actually sells books! And at a very cheap price too - 1 for $12.95, 2 for $20! Can you believe it?

Glad that I finally bought "The Time Traveler's Wife". Had wanted to read this book way back in 2006, now that even the movie is out shows how long I have been delaying the read. :)

Too bad HMV didnt have a copy of Jodi Picoult's "My Sister's Keeper". Had wanted to read this book back in 2006 too and till now didnt get to borrow this book from NLB. HMV had "Nineteen Minutes" though but its story of a court case involving violence didnt really interest me.

Dale Carnegie's series are worth collecting too, I have read his "How to enjoy your life and job" (mentioned in my blog last year in Aug) and find it really insightful and awesome. :)

Oh yes, I saw 2 of Mitch Albom's books on sale too - "The five people you meet in heaven" and "Tuesdays with Morrie". Too bad I have already read them, or I would have bought them too.

I must say the selection at HMV is not wide, but you may just find something that you like, and at unbelievable prices too. :)

What knowledge is of most worth?

Today I shopped for a blood glucose metre with my mum at Unity pharmacy and we were glad to receive so much new info from a pharmacist, as if we had visited a doctor.

Besides demonstrating how to use the metre step-by-step and advising my mum on what types of food to avoid, the pharmacist also recommended a type of supplement Sugar Guard (made from bitter gourd - thus "bitter gourd tablets" in short) to help balance the glucose level in the body.

I feel that it is really cool that pharmacists have such vast knowledge on medicine, health supplements, health-related issues and even operating of health devices. The way that this lady pharmacist spoke, though a bit dramatic (for comic relief, I suppose), did provide us with not less info than if we had visited a doctor. Furthermore, she had recommended us with relevant, inexpensive health supplement which was not something that a doctor would normally do.

I gradually can comprehend what Herbert Spencer (English philosopher, 1820 - 1903) meant when he believed the knowledge that was of most worth was "the knowledge needed to pursue those activities which directly minister to self-preservation". Doesnt that simply mean knowledge on health issues? Of course! How can a soldier save himself and others injured in a war if he has no knowledge on first aid? How well can we keep ourselves from being infected by H1N1 virus if we do not know anything about hygiene practice? When our health is not there, how can we succeed in doing any other things?

Glad that I have always been reading health magazines. :)

Hooray!

Ahhhh!!

I couldnt believe my eyes when I first looked at the weighing scale. And I opened my eyes wide.

I have lost 1 kg!

My hard work has paid off! The jogging works! The pilates works! The stop-snacking strategy works!

Yes! I am on the right track! Will continue till I lost 1-2 kg more! :D