Fireworks

For the past few years I’ve had this love-hate relationship with fireworks…

What’s to love about fireworks?

Everything! The lights and sounds just appeals to your whole senses! It just captivates you & time just seems to stand still. All your problems are forgotten, albeit for a brief moment, when you stare into the brightly lit night sky…

What’s to hate about fireworks?

When they’re exploding all around you to the proximity you feel your eardrums are gonna burst and in the ungodly hours of the wee morning when you’re sleeping, or trying to and again when you’re woken up from barely a few hours of sleep early the following morning and you wake up with your heartbeat racing!

Well, it’s a little past 1am on Chinese New Year in Brunei – and it’s quiet outside. Something I have not experienced for the past 2 years as I’ve been celebrating it in Sibu. This year was a welcome change and it brought about an interesting whatsapp-versation between me and a friend:

Me: Oh hey..there goes the fireworks

Friend: Darn..here I can hear em but cannot see em

Me: Here I can see a few hehe.. I think I can appreciate fireworks better when I am not smack in the middle of it.

Friend: Or you are the one lighting it. Hehe..it has been a while since I played fireworks.

Me: Yeah, I think I would appreciate it if I were the one lighting it hehehe..maybe I wanna do fireworks on the 4th of July in the States? Hehe

Friend: Ooo now that is exciting! =) Or CNY in Beijing? Hehe

Me: CNY in Beijing?! *lightbulb* Cannot imagine how that would be like! Imagine watching fireworks from the Great Wall =) I have always wanted to go China too

Friend: One of the places I wanna visit too. Lots of food & breathtaking countryside! =) and fireworks is cheap and legal. Hehe. Ding! ‘lightbulb’ moment too! =)

…and soon after another friend whatsapp me that she was in China…and she verified that China is indeed awesome during CNY, especially the atmosphere.

But yeah, regardless where you are in the world right now, HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR (CNY)!!! I hope you have a great start to the Year of the Water Dragon! =D

2012: The beginning

Well into the 2nd week of 2012 now…

Christmas is over, the New Year parties are over (except for the Lunar New Year – that one is looming pretty near now…) and life is “back to normal”, if life has it’s norms…

So far, the year has been not too bad..(and I pray it will remain that way)

Found the courage to do things I have not been able to do before…worrying less…trying to enjoy myself more…considering I didn’t make any new year resolutions, I guess the “theme” for me this year is to:

1. Live in the moment

2. Trust God more

It’s actually the same come to think of it – if we trust God, we wouldn’t worry about the future so we’ll be happy just living in the present. There’s a saying:

So true.

So who’s to say the world will end this year? Who’s to say it won’t? We will only know when we get there now won’t we?

So here’s to 2012! May this year be fruitful one and when the world does end (be it this year, tomorrow, or in years to come) I pray that  I will be ready to meet my Maker…

Cheers! =)

2011 Recap

2 more days left before we greet 2012.

What did you think of 2011? What do you hope for 2012?

For me, 2011 has been an unimaginable year (in a good way, mostly =p)

HIGHLIGHTS

In 2011, I finally lived a dream – to TRAVEL THE WORLD! (well, maybe not the whole world but quite a significant part of it I think hehe)

Went to Bali, Indonesia (free airtixs & hotel accomdation!)

& a stopover in KL (free accomodation in Genting! =p)

Went to Singapore (free airtixs & hotel accomodation & Universal Studios Singapore tixs!) for the Company Trip

Went to EUROPE!!! – a dream of mine for 20 odd years! *tears of joy & unbelief*

I was in :-

1. Spain - Barcelona, Madrid & lovely Segovia!

2. France

It has always been my dream to be at the Eiffel Tower!

And The Louvre!

3. England

Southampton

Manchester

London!!!

Now as I’m writing this, I remember how blessed I was in 2011 =)))

In 2011, I made new friends (hahaha, sounds more like something a small child would list of as an accomplishment but..) I am listing this as a highlight because it’s in 2011 that I made the most friends ever! Best thing is, while I was also very glad to have made many many friends in Brunei especially big guns (with humble hearts! =D) , I now have friends from other parts of the world whose culture & even languages are so different that mine – now my FB timeline is littered with status updates in Spanish, Portuguese and even Chichewa – the language my Malawi friends use. =))

And I joined an Amazing Race!!! Maybe not the one in TV, but close hehe and in Brunei LOL!

My teammates came all the way from Malaysia too!

And to top that of, MORE friends came and visited too!!! =))))

Which reminds me, I also went back to Malaysia earlier this year for a Reunion as well!

Yeah…I guess 2011 has been a good year afterall (inspite of many heartaches & setbacks along the way…)

 So what do I hope for 2012?

Good friends at work maybe?

My 2 close friends at work – now my ex-colleagues =(

And while making new friends, not to lose too many existing ones?

In summary…

I hope & pray that it will be as blessed as 2011 was… =D

(a lil late but…) BLESSED CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!!

& HAPPY 2012 TO YOU!!!!!