More goodbyes & insighful thoughts

me, Azlan, Huzaimi @ Marmalade

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I still remember wat you did last semester(s)!! haha. It's a good afternoon of lunch and coffee.

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Lan - the big bro. Thanks for the times in college, listening to my craps/cries (yea, I know i've been silly in college). But you agree that i've grown rite.. :P

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Imi - yo, the fun fren? dunno wat to call u la. roommate? aahha. Couldnt have enjoyed the 3 yrs in Nilai without ur presence. :)

me & Daniel @ Haagan Daz

This guy sure can eat! Ate half of my dinner and can still fit 14 scoops of ice-cream!!!

Insightful thoughts for today:

If God is omniscient (having complete unlimited knowledge), a God that knows everything, and has predestined our destiny before we were even born, able to see our future & decisions before we even consider our options, knows which road we are going to take before we even make them... etc, why did God predestined for some people to end up in hell? Does He predestined who would be saved and who would not? Do we choose what God has decided from the start of creation?

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- How do I answer this question? God's sovereignity and men's freewill - mutually exclusive?

Memorable farewell...

As a Malaysian, it is with regret to say that this is my second visit to Putrajaya. But hey, I bet there are many of you out there whois never been! Do give this place a visit... It's beautiful at night... We were at Putrajaya Lake Club. It's restaurant is open to outsiders and prices are totally reasonable. (http://www.kelabtasikputrajaya.org/) Food was good and the views are fantastic.

My heartiest gratitude to Peter & Yvonne for organising a farewell for me at this place. Perfect for photo shoots.

R4 - Reload, Refresh, Refined, Relevant (a.k.a Ruggeds) has been a place where I find Godly encouragement and fellowship for the past 2.5 years. There has been ups and downs for this group of people. With God's grace, we've not only sustained it thus far but is now growing to a greater height.

I've enjoyed myself so much with this group. I will mISS the many CGs meetings, dinners & yamcha after church... To the board games kakis... I really really enjoyed the Risk & Power Grid sessions at PD camp, Bkt Tinggi Camp, and the one successful board game meeting at my home. To the rock climbing kakis... something that i've picked up and will miss.

Of the so many things that we do together, I will miss. But... it's the fellowship that we have that I'll ultimately miss... Thank you so much for making my life meaningful in KL.

It's not my birthday... it's Bon Voyage! But with a birthday song as they didnt know wat song to sing!

These ppl are the cutest... My farewell gift - a external HD with 80G of animes and series! for my entertainment at Hanoi

The ladies...

The gentlemen...

Putrajaya Lake Club @ 19 Oct '07

Ready to go?

I got my visa approved today... my flight ticket booked for 4 Nov... 2.20pm... Am I ready to go?? NOT JUST YET!!!!

Happy BiRthday Becky...

A year ago, this cute little girl (Small) came into the lives of a beautiful couple (Big & Medium) and to our lives.

Big & Medium has been a blessings to many of us in manyyy ways. Me being the 'PR' in the Taman Sri Rampai residence has given me the opportunity to be part of this family. I enjoy the many gatherings that we have had... Christmas gatherings, sleepovers, lunches, dinners, coffees, HFs, Hari Raya buka puasas, all the fooooddd... Being like parents to us, giving us advices and support, bringing meaningful moments into our lives...

How God has brought Small into the arms of Big & Medium as they waited patiently is a miracle. And there will be more miracles to come along as she grows up. :)

Happy Birthday little Rebekah... I pray that you'll grow up with God's blessing and wisdom showered upon you, mummy and daddy everyday! Keep that cute smile on your face!

Medium, Small & Big

15th Oct @ B Sentral

Rebekah Ghee Xiao Ern.. sooo the cute...

Last day...

Time in EY flies... it's been 3 years + since I first stepped in to venture into this so called 'stressful long hour' industry. Many times when introduced to be an auditor in one of the big fours, the first comments says it all... 'wow... long hours eh...' 'i hear it's a training nest' 'how late do u work?'... Many times i've hear colleagues and sometimes even myself commenting on how we will be gone (bang table & throw letter) once we've reach our limit of 3 years. I've had a time bomb on my computer screen counting down the days of 3 years.

Finally the 3 years came... and it didnt feel like it has been 3 years... There were times when I felt like hitting myself through the walls of the office and there were times where I wished it didn't end so fast. it just happened so quickly and there is so much more to learn. Am I ready to leave? I wish I could say that I am. As much as I hesitate to make this move, I've decided to move on to another place to experience another life. There's more to learn in this line and I may be venturing into another 'stress nest' but I guess life's all about challenges ... It's about the choices that we make...

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What will I miss most in EY? The answer will definitely be the people. In a way or another, I've learnt to be stronger and independent, and to overcome different challenges, be it a difficult client or boss or colleague. All these will always stay within me as it has helped me build a defined character. So thank you my dear bosses, seniors, and juniors. I appreciate the 'sumbating' moments as well as the good times working together.

Three years ago...

7th Oct '07 @ Apartment, Curve

3 years ago... on 2 August 2004, 3 strangers met in the lobby of EY KL... 3 different characters... I have to thank EY for matchmaking us cos I still wonder till today what each of us really have in common...

Here's what I think we think of each other:

glo: holy holy, goes to to church n prays all the time. rock climbs & plays piano. does very careless mistakes like locking herself out of her room, house n car a zillian times, have very bad lucks with cars. had an awful lady boss who made her cry. loved indian boys. independent in nature. going to an ulu place so that the rest can have another holiday destination to go.

jenn: the brainer of the group, gets the best grades in her papers, one who strives only for the best, loves clubbing, loves techno (feng tau) music, goes to cheras to hav fun when she's really stress up, has 2 branded cats (Armani & LV), mahjong kaki, business minded woman, can't wait to 'bang table and throw letter' now.

andrea: the pretty woman, the half korean & swimmer, once upon a time loved a BB who prayed for clams before they go back to the sea, has a loving boy now, had a thought of becoming a real estate agent (eh wat happened?), loves children, goes back home the earliest amongst us, doesnt like audit, can't drink much, a good girl, talks well, loves her dog very much.

Well, as different as we are, we love to sit around, drink a cup of coffee or wine and whine and gossip about work, relationships, and things under the sun.

I'm gonna miss hanging out with my 2 favourite EY ppl...

You guys better come visit me I tell u!!! Or else... hmph...

A gURLy night!

Eight girls from the same high school back in small town called Bukit Mertajam... with a bottle of wine, snacks, chocolates, dried apricots, sunflower seeds, a birthday cake, manicures, padicures and facial masks... aha! Lots of laughter and 'meaningful' chats... A fabulous slumber party. :) Will miss all these... It's gonna be tougher to gather everyone together again... Each one's career starts and continues at different points and different places. Juls' gonna join Jamie in Spore, DK's most prob going to Aus, I'm leaving for Hanoi... THank God for technology!! Internet and Gmail does it!! ahah

Will miss u guys loads!

6th Oct '07 @ SS19 Home

It amazingly meaningful how friends choose to stay close even though distance and time may separate... Let's continue to do this k! Many times we may not think alike or agree with each other, but hey.. all these draws us closer!! eheh. So let's KIT and stay close!

First giveaways...

Today, I started my first step of giving away / sold at cheap prices some cds, dvds, and books. I hesitate a little, but I can't be bringing everything with me. Its gonna too heavy and I won't be reading these books again. And all these cds... it's all copied into my pc... yea, time to give away certain things that has been a blessing to me to be a blessing to others. CG was at my place today and good timing to give away some things.

Peter gave me 50 bucks for a couple of Delirious, Matt Redman, Planet Shakers, Sun, etc CDs. THanks mate. Some incoming funds for the trip.

My Archies collections is going to be under Yvonne's care till I'm back again... :)

Major things to give away:
1. Yamaha keyboard goes to Andrea's mum (I've heard how much she loves music)
2. Violin
3. Rock climbing gears (Harness, shoes, belay device, carabina, chalk bag) - to sell at cheap price. Anybody?
4. Gym ball & yoga mat
5. Books, stationeries, cds, dvds
6. Risk board game goes to my lil bro
7. Desktop goes to my dad

Hmphh... not as much as I thought... all the furniture stays.... I guess this can be handled... anybody needs/wants any of the above???

My first farewell

time to say goodbye already? it has not hit me that i'll be leaving very soon... still so many things undone...

interesting expressions i heard today:

"next time we have to follow Gloria to these weird weird places like Vietnam :) "

"you know, you're the first person i've ever heard who goes to Vietnam to work. Very unique."

"i'm glad that you chose a third world country , and excited for you!"

Is it a weird place? a third world country?? hard to classify... the way i look at it... it's going to be a life changing place and experience... USD was dropping a few days ago and yea, i got a lil worried. But i just needed a friend from Hanoi to remind me again... it's not all about the $$$... it's the life and culture that you'll go through...

my bosses...

@ Delicious, Bangsar Village

The new machine...

The arrival of the new machine...

The new challenge...

Why Hanoi? The same question almost everyone asks me... Other than the economy facts (developing country, more exposure, good opportunities, etc), it's a place where I can give as well as receive... a place to learn and grow. When I first heard of the opportunity in Hanoi, I had the same reaction as you. But as I prayed and did more research... my heart was convicted. I know it's not gonna be all easy trying to adapt into a foreign culture in a place whereby ppl refer to as 'ulu' (backwards). Well, it's actually not as 'ulu' as you think it is. It's quite a cool place. :) Why Vietnam? I can only say it's a conviction God has placed in my heart.

I signed and sent over the papers today. It WILL BE a challenge. Staying in a foreign country with people speaking a language still unknown to me. Well, time for me to learn a lil Vietnamese.

A month from now...

Main transportation - motorbikes without helmets & traffic. Ppl honk to notify you that they are going to overtake you, not because you're in their way.

The lakes are just beautiful...

An experience of Hanoi nightlife