First Post in Malaysia

So here I am at last, home sweet home. I've got a new, sleek laptop in red, now I just need to find the time to continue writing. Life has been pretty hectic with catching up; the family, the food, the apartment and the job(s). I'm not complaining, it has been wonderful having something else to take care of apart from the visa / residence permit registration or various maps of new places / public transports. It's also refreshing not having people stare at you all the time because you look different. The final night in Europe was spent in a rundown Turkish hotel (will write about it later because that deserves one whole entry on its own) so I was actually excited to leave. At the moment, a week after, I have started looking around me with a fresh set of eyes... like a tourist. The limestone hill of Batu Caves of which had no effect on me as I drove by to get to my in-law's is now an amazing sight; I mean seriously, lush green hills in the middle of a busy city??? Wow! 

I guess I've become more appreciative and I also have a higher tolerance for people's differences. It still feels weird. On the one hand, I feel like I haven't really left the country. On the other hand, I know I've changed. I'll just go with the flow because if I had to figure it out in one day, I would've gone out of my mind.

Final Post in Europe

I'm nervous. Definitely sad. A little scared. Of course excited too. After two amazing years, 20 beautiful countries, five lovely homes and countless new friends & acquaintances, it's time to go back to where it all started and begin a new and enhanced chapter. After all, the only constant in life is change.

Last Week

I know I should write about London, Dublin, Paris… well, Dublin especially. It is now in my top five favourite cities that include Paris, Istanbul, Cairo and Budapest. But with my worn out TravelMate, I don’t feel motivated at all. I haven’t even continued editing my book! I’m way behind schedule right now but I promise once I get a new laptop, I’ll get on top of things. Both the book and the blog. For now though, I’ll leave you with my favourite photos from the trips last week. We’re flying to Barcelona tomorrow for the graduation and I have a feeling next time you hear from me, I’ll be in my sweet home Malaysia. Oh boy I’ll have so many things to tell you by then!

Oh anyway, I did well in my Master’s thesis defence recently but the Q&A part was a little bit out of my depth. The committee gave me the highest mark but of course I couldn’t be happy since I personally think I flunked the Q&A. That’s me, I just have to dwell on the past and worry excessively about the future. Something I’m still working on.

Alright, the photos.

Stonehenge, one of the seven wonders.

The Wicklow mountains. The nearby surrounding is as magnificent, where they filmed the movies Braveheart, PS I Love You and Leap Year.

The Eiffel Tower & La Seine from a new angle (for me at least!).

Statue of Liberty as first seen on the movie National Treasure! Obviously I'm a self-proclaimed movie buff.

Saw Paris Hilton in Paris in her pink limo! I'm not a fan but any famous stars tend to have that effect on you.

We also saw a few local bands playing Irish folk music in Dublin and one of them played the famous Galway Girl, aaaaaa!!!

So many things to share it’s killing me here. I need a new laptop pronto!

My Mate's Got to Go

It has been too long and I miss writing. The thing is, my laptop is aging. She's making loud noises as if a critical football match is taking place inside the machine, she gets really cranky & heat stroke after ten minutes and I'm hurting my nails when I type because some of the keys refuse to work. 

I appreciate all the accomplishments that we've achieved together but it's time for her to go to a better place once I get a superior replacement in Malaysia. It sounds mean but I know she understands it's something I have to do. If she could talk, she would've let me know which model she thought would be good enough to take her place.

My darling Acer TravelMate 6291, you've been a wonderful companion.