Credit

When I was in primary school, it was considered a special privilege if your parents gave you a credit card. Back then, I have no idea how it worked. All I knew was it's a magic plastic card that you swipe to get what you want but then again, what I want at the age of 12 were probably just books and the latest coolest looking stationeries. Oh and NSYNC cassettes. 

When I was in high school and an older girl friend took me out, she told me to never sign up for a credit card because it's dangerous. By then I had vaguely heard of things like people committing suicide, ah longs and such because of credit card. I never saw the big picture - why would people spend if they don't have the money? 

For a while, I vowed never to get a credit card because I'm afraid I might get addicted and swipe non stop, finally go broke and panic (cue shopacholic the movie). After discussing several times with my colleague when I started working, I just applied for the cards. 

It was a decision driven separately by need or want. I don't have a pressing need for one but at the same time, it might be a life saver to have a plastic card since I do start spending ever since I started working. I followed his words when he uses his credit card - " I don't spend on money that I don't have". 

His words I kept to heart whenever I approached the cashier with my items. Can I afford this? Do I have the cash in my bank account? Do I really truly need this? Will I regret buying this? Then I swipe. 

In order to make sure I'm interest free, I check my account once a week to clear off the burden on my shoulder. Debit cards worked the same concept as well but sometimes I do run low on available cash in bank due to transfer so credit comes in handy.  I'm grateful to have the option to swipe my credit when I have low cash in my purse. It's very handy and I'm happy to break this little misunderstanding I had of credit card before.  

It's not addictive if you really take responsibility of your cash. If you can't afford it, don't swipe. Just a note written for future self and for others who might have the misconception as I did. You won't go crazy shopping spree if you have cash and self control. 

Remember - I don't spend the money that I don't have -  

Common sense

As stated above, common sense is no longer that common anymore. This is an old incident but it bugged me for a bit just because it's one of those things where your jaws dropped and you screamed in your heart "Isn't that just plain common sense? Common courtesy?" 

A while back, me and sister wanted to get a nice cold ice drink. I was on the fence about the drink as it was quite late but it's the weekend so let's let our hair down. I went to the stall and there's this couple in front of me. There was only one menu on the counter and the counter fit for two people so obviously they stood there choosing their drinks. 

Waited a bit but never mind because sometimes people need a little time to make up their mind. Then they ordered. I saw money changed hands and I saw them receiving the receipt. After that, they just stood there. Stood there. 

Fine, maybe they are a not those type of people who are sensitive of their surroundings so I folded my arms to create some movement to catch their attention. I saw the guy saw us from the corner of his eye and he just looked away as if we're invisible and continued talking to the girl. Did not budge from the counter at all. 

I took my sister's hand and walked off. Yes, I was really pissed and I should have cleared my throat and said something but I was still shaken by the fact that it's such a simple matter. Common sense and courtesy? I'm standing right behind you, when you noticed me, you move! 

I totally understand the fact that you dunno that after you paid your drinks, you have to go to the receiving end to wait for your order but I caught you glancing at us and then just plain ignoring us. Can't you just move so I can take a look at the menu that you've been hogging?  

That's just downright rude. What is the matter with people? Why can't people function properly in public? 

Gossip

Wow, what a heavy title to kick start the new year. Well, one of my new year resolution is to gossip less so I’m gonna jot down why I made that resolution.

I’m one to admit, as far as I can remember and I think when I hit puberty, I  gossiped. I was bitchy. I probably bitched through my whole teenage life. That is until I heard a gossip that made my jaws dropped.  

Example of the gossip :-

“she’s so ugly yet she still wants to put make up. Please la, nothing can fix that ugly face lo. Damn geli see her pimpled face, dunno how to take care one. Can afford iphone but cannot buy some cream to take care of face? She say tried cream de but not working. Please la, don’t lie la. Dunno how she got that rich boyfriend, dunno how she seduce him one lor”

Not exactly the gossip I heard but stoop down to that level. It made me pissed off especially when people gossip about health issue “fake one la period pain, everyday headache fake one la”. The bottom line is :- you are NOT in the position of that person, how dare you judge their well being just by looking externally?

I totally get light gossip and spreading words but including your vicious opinions and spicy lies to drama up the situation is not funny. I don’t remember how bad I gossiped in the past but that’s when I realized, I might have dip down to that level before.  I closed one eye to gossips about me but to me, gossip and opinion are two different thing. 

Opinion : Her dress does not match with her shoes

Gossip : Damn ugly her dress, she blind one is it? Face also like dunno what. Short then short la, wear shoes so high. 

Everyone is free to give their opinions but why attack with such hatred? Does it make you feel better about yourself? You can let out, rant out your anger but don’t spread lies. 

When I heard that gossip, I decided that I will stop being vicious to others. Sometimes it might happened unintentionally in the past but I NEVER attacked or made assumption about someone’s health. Held my lips tight and just think of a positive way to express my discomfort and just stop it there.  Are you perfect? No. No one is. So why keep picking on that someone’s flaw?

I choose to express opinion and stop there. Don’t need to attack their face, body, mother, father.    

2016 resolutions

Happy New Year 2016! 

It's another new year. I hope this year I'll be older, wiser and luckier. 

My resolutions for this year :- 

* to revive my fitness regime. I've been slacking so much lately, it's so unhealthy. 
* to finally learn some dance 
* to learn some new courses 
* to never give up finding love 
* to be more confident in my driving 

This would be the last year before I turned 30 - here's to success! 

The hospital visit

Mia had surgery on her ankle and it's been a while since we seen each other. The initial plan was we were supposed to meet her at her home after she checked out of the hospital. Unfortunately the whole insurance business was delayed therefore we went to the hospital straight to see her. 



Mia's mom bought us chicken rice and we brought some chips. We spent a few hours with her there, just catching up. Coincidentally a year ago on the same date, we had our Christmas gathering. This year we didn't have it as Lily's auntie passed away. 

This would be the last time we see each other before the new year. Here's hoping to more fun times in 2016! 

Trial advent

One thing I like to do for people - small little gestures. I've been wanting to make an advent calendar for someone but I am not sure how people might take it. Christmas culture is not well known around here therefore I kept postponing the idea. 

Anyways I tried to make this advent calendar countdown thing for Simmy. I even extended it to 27 December in celebration of her birthday. In order to experiment, I searched for motivational quotes and put them together in a 25 boxes grid.

For the first day, I gave her a paper with 25 boxes with the following quotes to be opened daily for the next 25 days. On the last day, I gave her a 100 days planner for her to plan her upcoming year. Simmy and I usually talked about our fitness goals and I thought this would be perfect for her. 

 

This is my first lousy attempt at an advent calendar. Hopefully I'll be able to get more budget next time to make a nicer one next round. 

The custom trip

Karyn and I went on one of our shopping spree and bought several items for ourselves and some others. Unfortunately our spending exceeded the limit and after few days of wondering, we received the custom letter to go settle our stuff.

The letter itself had the address of KLIA on the top so based on google map, we took the bus to KLIA - thinking that we just had to sort it out and return with our package.

No, the custom department is not in KLIA. We either had to pay post office to settle it for us (have to call them) or we go to the custom office ourselves. If the parcel is not collected within 11 days of the letter, then it will be sent back to the original country. The custom office is also closed on the first Saturday so we had to make it that last Saturday of the month no matter what. 

We took the taxi to LCCT (which is where the custom office is) and got down to this building where we walked up and down the floors but the offices were not opened. We asked the cleaner the location of the address and she pointed us to the post office building further up front. We walked about 1 km distance to reach the post office, surrendered an identification at the guard house, took a number and proceed in.

First I need to submit the letter to the counter then proceed to collect the parcel. Opened the parcel in front of the officers and proceed back to the first counter to collect a specific form. Waited nearly 20 mins for the form before being told to proceed to pharmacy department (since our stuff were skin cares products) with one of each stuff that we have (20 items). It was back in the first building so we stuffed our backpack with our items and walked back.

The forms were verified and we spent some time at the mamak nearby while figuring out how we were supposed to get back home since there was no taxi around the area. LCCT is an abandoned area ever since AirAsia moved to KLIA2. Download the mytaxi app and headed back to the post office.

Submitted our forms and finally get the sign off to finally get our parcel. It took us hours to get all these administrative stuff settled, we finally laid them all out for a group photo. 



Tadaahhh .. then we emptied the box and filled up our backpack before we used the myTaxi app and called up a ride. Luckily there was an uncle taxi nearby who took us back to the airport where we board the bus back to Paradigm. 

It took us nearly 8 hours out there - just to get our items. Luckily even though with the tax amount divided per item, it is still much cheaper than buying retail here. 

It was certainly an adventure and I learned from it but I hope to never repeat it. 

Selfish society

People are so selfish nowadays. Greedy and takes advantage at any opportunity.

Yesterday while loitering around the express counter in hypermarket while Jo was queuing up, a dude in front of her had a basket full of items. My mental calculation, there are more than 10 items in his basket.

Can't he read that 10 items and below sign above his head? The express counter is longer than other counters but each customer are allowed 10 items and below thus making the line supposedly faster.


Why are there people who chose to be ignorant and selfish to hog up the express counter lane? You are very much aware of how many items you have in your basket so go to the appropriate counter.

I admit, I'm a bit too goody goody sometimes. I push when the door says push and I cringed when someone pull instead. I'm a little crazy like that but seriously, this social behavior annoyed the crap out of me.

The other thing I realize was how no manners the people are in public transport. Empty seat are not meant for your bag, lady! I don't mind standing but there are other people who might need the seat and your backpack is not it.

Not to say society is doomed forever. I witnessed some kind soul who willingly give up their seats to old people. It puts a smile on my face.

Please people, just be considerate. Don't be selfish.

Legoland

I took a trip to Johor last weekend and I got the opportunity to go to Legoland. Here are some photos that I took. 





The view from the top of the rotating tower. 



This dinosaur spits out cooling mist. 









A water percussion band with music





The flying airplane ride where I was supposed to put away my phone





The ninja shadow show



The ninjas who are controlling the puppets











Driving around the lake





Hi there! 

The following are buildings made of lego. 













They are so awesome, the photos are nothing. 



Halloween around the corner.



That's a Lego scuba diver









The sleeping man - complete with snores







If you are a Lego fan or you have the opportunity, do go for a visit. The theme parks are designed to cater to the younger audiences so thrill seekers might find this boring. 

Run for Peace 2015

The bi-annual run is back! The first time I joined was two years ago. I don't like joining marathons but I'm running for the awareness of peace! Woke up at 4 am + and it's time to go. 

The whole family was ready to go. We arrived at the stadium at 5 am + and loitered around the area. 



The sun is not up yet. I really wish I was still in bed but I'm also glad to be here with my family. The sea of purple everywhere! 



This is my crew who ran separately after the first 500 metres. Once again, I walked with Eve and her boyfriend. I didn't realize my towel was too tight around my head and it cut my circulation which made me dizzy. FML.  



It took me about 2 hours to get to 8 km done. Burnt nearly 1 thousand calories but I'm proud of myself for not taking the short cut although I was tempted several times. I really don't like marathon or walking.  

So happy to be finally be back at the stadium and settled down with my ice cream. Milo line was way too long for me to queue so I skipped that. 

Run for Peace 2017, I'll be there!