Still in disbelieve that the year is ending! I still have vivid memories when we first stepped into 2014. Somehow, time just fly by really really quickly last couple of years. I am not sure if it is the technology we have which made me feel that way or it's true when people say time flies when you're in your 20s. Another year with lots of things happened in my life. I remember how I spent my crossover to 2014 in the Serengeti. Right now I am in a completely different country/city/island at the other end of the world, waiting for 2015 to come by.

This year I made two trips home. I was very home deprived after the first year in Serengeti and kind of got sick of travelling elsewhere. Glad I took a trip during CNY and the chance to spend it with my family. Also rather surreal that Almas did make it to Singapore and spent some time on the island I grew up in. Had him utilize his comp nights for the first time was super cool and we got the chance to stay in FS Singapore & Regent.

Second trip home in August was fantastic as well spending more time with my friends & family, and reconnecting with my best friend is the greatest deal of the trip. Having my family fly out to Serengeti in May was another moment worth remembering. I always dreamed of sharing the beauty of the Serengeti with my family since day 1 I arrived and glad they also managed to spend some time in Arusha. It was a long long travel for them which I can totally imagine but I am sure the trip was worthwhile.

The other FS trips includes my second time in BKK and back to the Maldives - this time to both Kuda Huraa & Landaa Giravaaru. Great time spent in Bangkok eating & shopping. Plus staying at the Four Seasons (which will soon be gone!) Maldives trip was much anticipated since the first day I confirmed my flight tickets. Back in KH with so much memories so seeing some of my friends from 5 years ago was just amazing. Landaa is so beautiful and I was so grateful for the chance to visit this time! Thank you to Poh Suan for being my travel buddy these trips during my time back in Asia in August.

Eldest brother flew out in September for the last chance to visit me in the bush. Really glad he made it otherwise I would imagine no other chance he will fly into Africa.

Then comes the big move! Never imagine I would have the chance to apply for a position in Maui, and getting it! My 3rd promotion in 6 years, 4th property in 6 years. I was ecstatic when I found out I was chosen. I bet it was a tough decision to make but I am thankful for my boss's faith in me, to move me from Serengeti to Maui, one of the busiest resort within the company, with a promotion. Packed my bags and was ready to leave in September. Hard to say goodbye to the beautiful mother nature and my daily dose of wildlife. Spent a week in Dar es Salaam getting my visa worked out before I flew out to US. Also hopped over to Zanzibar (FINALLY!), another gorgeous island in the Indian ocean. Finally met Alisia for the first time, which also felt like the last. She is the cutest I swear. Love her so much. At last bid goodbye to Almas at Dar airport not knowing when is the next time I would see him again. Tough, tough to say goodbye.

Longest trip I ever taken, traveled from Dar to Maui via Amsterdam & LA. First time I lost track of date and time. The moment I arrived in Kahului international airport with 2 suitcase was weird. I didn't know which day it was. The moment to be picked up was nerve wrecking. I didn't know who was coming, I didn't know what my new life in Maui would bring.

It has been almost 3 months now, a quarter of a year and I still feel super new on this island. Getting a hang of the new resort, new job, new position, new friends. Miss being loved and wish my friends were here to share this beautiful island with me. I have to say, life has been good so far. I made a couple of friends from work, I found a new place to stay and a cute car to drive around. Haven't much explored the island but I hope over time I would do more of that. Getting more settled about work though I have tonnes of new stuff to learn.

Honestly my life right now is never I have imagined I would be at 26. I feel like a completely different person from 10 years ago. Everything right now is really surreal, my travels, my accomplishments, my friends, my habits, my life. But one thing I will always bear in mind, my home will always be Singapore. My family and my heart will always be at home.

FYI - I have no plans made for the NY. hahaha.

And also no travel plans made for 2015. hahaha.

every day I still feel surreal to be here. I know I have felt surreal many times in my life - first in Serengeti, now here in Maui. especially those times when I'm cruising on streets in my own car. unbelievable how much I have grown over these years. moving overseas is the greatest decision I have made in my life. and I was so lucky to first move to Serengeti whereby I do not need to worry anything about my livelihood, basically only learning about living apart from my family. now at 26, I moved out to the US on my own. getting my own place and a car. this might be something so normal for many people around the world, but for Singaporeans this is definitely a big deal, right? yes I miss my family & friends at home so much. but each day every moment I feel I'm growing up. still lots of things to learn and have to know for sure. today I was just looking at a sticker on my windscreen with a date & mileage not knowing what was it. hahaha. 

can't believe I am here, Hawaii. 

I know I am very lucky, and I am very grateful.

I wish I was a little more lucky though, I really wish that Almas could be here. 

Miss my family too, plenty! & my friends, of course. I wish I could bring my life in Singapore to Maui.

My Hawaiian life has changed almost completely since my last post! Did not realized how behind time I was with blogging. Regardless, I'm glad that I have been keeping up with most friends & family - as much as I can! Back log a little, I have moved out of the hotel and moved into my new place! Sharing the apartment with two other managers who works in the resort and I am in my own cosy little room. It was tough at the beginning since my buddy was out of town and I had to find & do everything on my own. I managed to get a mattress from the hotel at a steal, a colleague came with me to find my bed frame & box. Then slowly I just figured out places to get other furniture & stuff. Anyhow during this time I also managed to buy a car! Say whutttttt. It was kinda crazy as I desperately needed a car and went to several places. I was sad that I didn't get a Jeep as how much I really want to but ended up getting a Nissan Versa Note 2012.

Anyway my mind just blocked out and I don't really know what else I want to write. Most importantly I am feeling much settled right now at my place, happy that I can make dinner for myself and start to exploring some places around. Definitely needed to get more friends to hangout and see places!

Sooooo miss my boyfriend and every minute I was he was here.

Festive is coming! Not that I really celebrate Xmas anymore but its just getting so intense in the resort with all the "festive" guests coming in. Plus it scares me & us when all these festive guests are so demanding, why they must be so demanding leh? Just be nice cannot meh! Everything will go well la... good luck to us for the next 3 weeks!

Finally found (confirmed) a place to live. I am so glad 10% of my stress is taken care of. Nothing will be "confirmed" until the day I MOVE IN. Which is possibly 8th or the 9th, IF I find someone to drive me & my bags over. I don't even quite remember the route there even though I have been there twice. Next to settle will be please booking my drivers test, both theory & practical. Of course I also need to practice driving. Again who can be here to sit at passengers seat to guide me? Stress stress stress!

By the way, Kana was just here on the island the past 4 days. She flew in on 26th Oct and stayed at the resort in my room for the past 4 nights. So amazing to see her after 2 years and this is actually the first time we are "travelling/living" together. Or even spending so much time together! Super awesome to catch up so much about our lives, really awesome. We celebrated our birthday dinner on the 28th which is her actual birthday at Ferraro's. And she bought me a Ted Baker cosmetics bags which looks totally cool as a clutch. Well, people is going to know that its a cosmetic bag right? :( Kana flew out today to Oahu and I am back to normal, that's why I am online now. Just Skyped Almas few minutes ago and now I am ready to snooze. So sleepy.

Let's see what life's bringing me next! 

"STAY STRONG"

This is what I keep telling myself. Afterall, moving out alone ain't simple. There are tonnes of things that needs to be done - house hunting, getting a license, then getting a car, bank account, social security card, these are just the first few. I am stressing out on finding a place to live and I can't stop others keep asking me what's going on with that. I am blessed that many of my colleagues actually offered a room to me if I really needs to get out of the hotel and have yet to find a place. At least I know I have a shelter. Haha other than that nobody really needs to give a shit to me. Well, they all have their own lives, friends, family, and shit to deal with, why do they need to bother about whether I am staying in the resort all day and not going out exploring places, right? I have learnt to be thick skin just over the last 2 weeks. Ask ask ask! I was born with a mouth so ASK! 

Besides that, I do miss Almas. The 13 hour time difference actually makes it pretty simple to keep connected. We usually Skype once a day, sometimes twice. We talk, I tell him my stories, and there ain't much interesting ones from his side. But every single time, I just keep wondering how long can we do this. I don't know about his interest on moving to Maui, definitely not an easy task for the fact that he won't get a job here that simple. Also, there is a part of us which is not working out, that's why I left in the first place, not to break up with him but taking on the job over the relationship. Every time we Skype I just wish he was here with me to share all these experiences. Well, how long can we do this? 

Though only 2 weeks, the thought of me maybe residing in Hawaii for a couple of years does scares me. Mainly because I do feel I have been away from home for too long. I miss my family, my parents especially. I can never know what is going to happen in the next 2 years. But I am sure that 2 years will fly by so fast, just like how my time in Serengeti went by just like that. 

On a happier note, Kana is flying in on Sunday! So glad at least I can celebrate her birthday with her! I haven't seen her for more than 2 years now. Whoopie!

Today I got up earlier than I would to help in my department's Day of Hope sales. I literally had to pull myself out of bed wishing that I do not have to go in but once I am there it was so much fun because of all the delicious food prepared by the HK team, I was just eating and collecting money. How fun is that! 

Just did my first massage here on the island, $75 promo for 50min Lomi Lomi Massage. Not bad for a price and it was damn super good! I felt so relaxed and almost asleep!

Aloha!

First post from Maui! 

I am finally here after all the hassle and travelling! So since Sept 11, I kept trying to log in to make the interview appointment and managed to do that even before they replied to my email. Finally the date was set and was then much easier process afterwards. Almas and I travelled to Dar, we arrived on Friday and the appointment was on Monday, 29 Sept. Interview was simple, a 3 mins Q&A at the window and I was told to collect my passport the next day. Woohoo! Way efficient, I thank the fact that there wasn't too many people for them to process the visa. So on 1 Oct we managed to catch the afternoon ferry and headed to Zanzibar for a couple of days. At last I see Zanzibar after how everyone loved it, and I am so glad I visited before I leave Tanzania. The best time was when I get to meet Alisia and we went to the zoo! Although short but really really sweet. I wish I could spend more time with the princess. 

Anxiety continued when I couldn't book my flight ticket. Mistake on my side which I figured out on the day before I am supposed to fly. Thankfully I managed to book the ticket and left on the 5th Oct evening. Before that we almost couldn't get ferry tickets from Zanzibar back to Dar, imagine that! Because of the Eid festival, but we managed. Heng ah!! At last at the airport, anxiety over but hardest to leave my boo behind. I don't know when I will ever see him again... since we have no concrete plans for now. Kept tearing each time I think about him and seeing the texts. 

34 hours of travelling was insane! I don't know how I really managed to do it quite easily. 9 hr from Dar to Amsterdam, 2 hr transit, 11 hr from Amsterdam to LA, 6 hr transit, and 6 hr from LA to Maui. the worst part was my hunger since I couldn't eat airplane food. I know many of you LOVE airplane food but not me. The smell makes me nausea. :( Had 2 bread rolls in 20 hours, imagine! The last leg was the worst, I had a seat in front of the emergency exit row and my seat back cannot be adjusted. I was so tired yet I couldn't sleep with my back upright. Omg I was so restless, also no energy to stand and walk around. As I finally arrived at the airport, I don't see anyone to pick me! I got worried after waiting for almost 20mins but there was nothing I can do except for thinking to take a cab down to the resort. At last my dor showed up, someone whom I least expect to pick me. 

Today is my first day of work! I will be meeting Carlos in an hour's time. I woke up at 4am and skyped Almas for almost an hour. Oh time difference, long distance relationship - last thing I ever imagine me doing it. Wonder how long it will last but I surely miss him a lot.

Here I am in America! Time to change into everything american - Fahrenheit, Pounds, Miles, driving on the right side of the road, can't imagine I have to take a driving test again!  

Okay, let's prep myself for work now! 6.30am and it's all bright outside now!

I truly understand why people suggested I do my visa application IN SINGAPORE. I wish I could, I wish I had heard from the law firm a week before today. 

Doing the entire application process here in Tanzania is so complicated! Well, besides the usual questions I have to answer on the survey form, what makes everything so complicated is the payment process. I had a hard time downloading the step by step instructions and when I finally did, I don't find that function on my mobile SIM card. So BF had to call the service provider to figure out why. Hopefully they don't tell us that I have to go to the physical store to change my SIM card hor, impossible leh, I am in the middle of bush. They said they will call back, but it's been hours and I am worried they are going to speak to me in Swahili because my SIM card is apparently registered in a local name. So I now have to hope that I am with BF when they call. WTH. Of course getting that function onto my mobile will only be step 1 completed, haven't even started the process of payment yet! Geez, got so difficult or not. By the way before this, my BF had to call somebody in town to do the transfer of money onto my SIM card. So that was one work itself. 

Anxiety ttm.

I really don't know what is going on between the two of us. I am sick & tired of going through the same discussion over and over again. Everything just boils down to the same issue and I have no energy left to type and explain the things which I already have explained so many times. It seemed like the same kind of argument that either of us can digest and understand each others part? Or what? I myself hate it when I use a lot of "Yous" in my text to you because I do not want to simply put the blame on you. I have always reflected on myself, where I have done not enough and where can I compromise more. But it seemed like there is no resolution, at all. 

Please don't make me stop loving you. 

That's all I ask for.

I wanted to blog after returning from Bangkok and before leaving for Maldives. But two days wasn't enough, I succumbed to sleep and meeting friends. Now after coming back from Maldives, I have more things to blog! 

Firstly, I am very grateful to get the comp nights in Bangkok despite being rather last minute. PS and I had a great time searching for street food - cheap & very good! We also had lots of adventurous time locating those places, although we didn't put much effort in doing so, like, just walk and see if it's there, we still managed to find them! Very happy because makan was our first priority. Second goes to the massage places. We merely looked into google maps before we left the hotel and just walked with our instincts, also can find! Massage was literally a daily thing. Haven't done so many massages in one trip! Plus Thai massage really super cheap as compared to anywhere else in the World. Thai Massages are usually the most expensive type of massage in other Spas. Then comes shopping. Both of us neither a shopaholic plus the fact that I don't shop as much as I used to (after moving to Serengeti, like no point). But we did have fun window shopping. I can totally imagine how people can anyhow buy in Bangkok! Some say things in Bangkok are not as cheap as in Singapore, but still! you can never find such places here with this prices. So I do still recommend you to go Bangkok for shopping, if you're not brand conscious and happy with simple and lower quality pieces, at the risk of no trying. We totally had fun in Bangkok eating and massages, enough for both of us. Also managed to meet one friend who now works in Chiangrai, so this trip not bad!

Then comes the long-awaited Maldives. Wow, visiting the island again after 6 years. Usually people will not travel back to where they have worked but Maldives has been one place I really wanted to visit again since I joined the company. Largely because I felt my 3 months there while I was doing internship was wasted spending too much time on wrong things, instead of truly enjoying the beauty of the island. Again thanks to PS for saving this trip for me so that I have the chance to visit Kuda Huraa, and even Landaa this time! I contacted a few friends before my visit just to let them know I will be there, at least they won't say "why you didn't tell me!" After being in the island then realizing that I really don't have many friends left in KH. Many of those whom I really want to meet have already left the company. Sad. But those who are still there still made our trip so super awesome. Despite bad weather the first two days, we still had fun just hanging around and catching up with my friends. Thanks to Anmadey, he brought us to Bodu Huraa not once but twice! I didn't have enough Bombay Tea and decided to go back again for breakfast. And I'm so glad that PS liked the traditional Maldivian breakfast of tuna and chapati! Was super happy to relive the BH Sunset days. Weather turned better on the day when we were leaving KH, blessing in disguise since we had to take the seaplane out to LG, weather must be good. Still, the ride was very bumpy especially the part when we were landing. Totally the same like the small planes I take in the park. But so, amazing weather in LG!!! PS did her morning dives, no she did not convince me to do it. And she even went to sunset fishing to catch our dinner! Nope, I skipped it as well for Management Cocktail. Loved the sharks and rays feeding and the idea of bicycles in the resort for guests is amazing! Super fun. This trip was amazing, very fun, lots of laughter and lots of blooper moments. PS and I laughed until stomachache. 

Great thanks to all my friends in Maldives who made our trip so memorable. Not only I am happy to see you all once again, your hospitality is really amazing, that's why I love Maldives! Again, not sure when I will ever come back to paradise, but I am truly blessed for this time. 

One more week left in Singapore before travelling back to Tanzania! Make full use ah!

A lot of times I tried blogging but end up deleting my posts or saved it to draft. Because after writing a couple of paragraphs I will start to wonder why am I writing about my life on the internet. Even if I finished writing a post, I end up saving them and not publishing it. 

Today I was just talking to Lyndel regarding social media. Even for myself, almost everything I do, I will think whether if it's Instagram-worthy and followed by how many people liking my photo. But does it really matter? I think it kind of does in the world today! Even though with these thoughts, I still want to take nice pictures and post them up. Instagram is probably my favourite app! 

Being home has been great so far. Spending lots of time with my family and catching up with friends. Especially lots with my Mum & Dad. I try to stay at home on those days when both or either of them are not working. And they have been very enthusiastic to do food hunting with me! Of course I also accompanied them if they have any food cravings. Last Tuesday we drove all the way from home to Jurong Point to eat at Malaysia Boleh, a Malaysian street food concept which they found. The food were super yums though a little pricey. It has been 13 days and I have eaten almost every hawker food I wanted to. So happy! Singaporean just LOVE our food. 

Two days ago I read an article someone shared on Facebook. I seldom go read those article or news others share but this title caught my attention. And Wow, everything said on the article are so true! And seriously only those who live abroad will truly understand every single point. 

Five points which best describes ME!

1. But when you go back... everything looks the same - TRUE
2. You lack the words - TRUE
3. You become a tourist in your own country - TRUE
4. Nostalgia strikes you when you least expect - TRUE
5. You fit your home into a suitcase - TRUE

Link below, if you are interested!

http://masedimburgo.com/2014/06/04/17-things-change-forever-live-abroad/

Travelling out to Bangkok tomorrow afternoon for a couple of days! Need massage and some shopping!

Woohoo, till then folks, while I continue my vacation!

So familiar, you put me back to insomnia.
Flashback, overflowed my mind.
So much emotions in one night, I was numbed.
Reminded by everything that passed.
Time kept ticking.
Every second passed.
Recalled everything I wanted to put behind.
I can't, or is it
I didn't.

One night... to remember.

Didn't realized how long has it been since I last blogged. Had been very very emotional the past month but I am feeling much better right now. Not going to touch on why and what happened because those are not important anymore today. But I have learnt an great lesson definitely. Realized how important it is to find a right channel to vent and express these emotions OUT, to the right person. I spent too much effort hoping that I can rely on my boyfriend to "do the job". It fell right through, I was completely completely wrong. And it went completely opposite. On the other hand, I was thankful that how this chapter made me understood where our relationship stands.

A little upset that I had to miss my Sister's graduation two weeks ago. What to do when I am out of the country... In fact I'd miss a lot of things past two years which I feel extremely upset about. But this event in particular - very sad! My close friends would know how close and proud of my sister I am always. Especially she did so well in NUS and received some USP award. Hehe, so proud of my nerd sister! Also happy that she secured a job and starting August 1st. What a timing when she had more than 2 months of free time and August will be the month I am travelling home... yet she is starting work! Boohoo.

Speaking about travelling home! August 1st starts my travelling! Will only arrive in Singapore on the 2nd though. Me being me, likes to start planning long time ago! But honestly la, one month seemed to be a long time but all my friends and family so busy one! Almost impossible to meet anyone twice! Somehow I also cannot faithfully stay in Singapore for the whole month. Long time ago Poh Suan already managed to secure comp nights in both Maldives properties and invited me to go! Why my friend love me so much! Hahaha I also understand that it is not easy for her to find somebody who is willing to spend that $$$ on this trip. Luckily the budget airline ticket is so affordable. Just cannot imagine paying for SQ. Maldives is really used to be for RICH PEOPLE. PS and I want to puke blood when we start calculating our expenses. O-M-G. But xie xie for inviting me. Never imagine I would be so lucky to visit Maldives again, Four Seasons some more. Back home to Kuda Huraa... memories. Thanks to PS for using your comp nights quota. Hehehe.

So another colleague of mine gave me the great idea to check for comp nights in Bali to bring my Mum. Unfortunately it was a busy month for both properties and I got turned away. So I decided to try my luck with a weekend at FS Singapore, and I got it! Whee! At the same time, I asked another friend to check FS Bangkok for me. Didn't get any news back so I thought no chance already. Then this morning I received an email saying there is a possibility to accommodate me for 3 nights, WOW! Why I so lucky! I actually hesitated to take these because it means I will spend lesser time in Singapore with my family, becos my Mum & Sis cannot come to BKK this period. But then like wasted never go, so I decided to take it! Too last min I kind of cannot find anyone to go with me, so I jio Poh Suan, AGAIN and she AGREED. LOL! Why this lady so easy to take leave one? Anyway this means that I am going to spend more days with her. Eh, need like this or not. But anyway my friend will also be flying out from Chiangrai to meet us at BKK. Pretty awesome! When I was in Singapore, he was in Maldives, and then moved to Beijing. Then I moved to Tanzania and now he moved to Thailand. Finally we get to meet again in a few weeks time. And the funny thing is that I got to know him through some other friends from Kuda Huraa, never even worked with him before! Hahaha life is so amazing... really.

Anyway, a shout out if anyone wants to join us in BKK, we will be there 14 - 17 Aug. But accommodation not included hor. Find your own accommodation. Hahaha we can just makan together. Spam Thai food!

Wish that 1 Aug is tomorrow. But no problem, only a few more days to go.

Yay!

Instead, I am going to write about happy stuff today. 

Because there are simply toooooooo many unhappy stuff and I can never finish writing them down. 

As promised by my sister, I was the first to know her results.

She sent me a whatsapp at about 4am my time. Of course I was still sleeping. I saw it at about 10.30am when I connected myself to the WIFI. Though by then I am no longer the only one who knows it, I was super happy that it was good news. 

My sister got First Class Honours!

I cannot express how HAPPY I am. It's as if I am the one with the marvelous results. Haha I wish but I will never be able to get First Class. When I saw that text, it's as if our past flashed back. Those times whereby she was mugging so hard into the middle of the night, often end up sleeping on her desk. Those times she forgo times to relax and enjoy with her friends AND I, and see the need to read and read her readings. Those times she skipped coming home during the weekends to spend time with us, and stayed in hostel/school to save the travelling time to study aka those times she spent (almost) alone in the hostel. Those times she spent miles away from home, wearing blue and missing homecooked food. (Though I think she really had more fun than misery in UNC). Those times which she confessed to me how insecure she was with her thesis subject, worried she will not be able to get a First Class. Those times she travelled to Cambodia alone to study about the culture and complete what she started and never gave up. 

I may not be always there to really understand how she walked her 4 years in Uni but I have always tried to be. It suddenly came to my mind how I drove her and her luggage in and out of her hostels. Helped her to pack and unpack, tried to clean the dusty room. How she smuggled me to the various canteen to eat the cheap canteen food. Going around the uni and her telling her friends "She is my sister." That night I drove to her hostel after my work with a slice of oreo cheesecake and sang her a lousy birthday song. Spent time at random benches waiting for her to finish certain project meetings and classes. Haha sockkeng do you miss?

I am nothing short of proud of my sister. Her academic excellence from Primary - Secondary - JC then now Uni. I am really proud of you and I enjoy being hao lian because of you! 

Well done my dear girl! You truly deserve the First Class for all the hardwork and perseverance you had throughout the 4 years, and the entire academic years of your life. You are indeed a true nerd, in a good way! Because I also love how you enjoy life as much as you enjoy books! 

Looking forward to the next chapter of your life and I will always be there for and with you. 

Yay to $$$$$ and we can do tonnes of shopping!

Love you sister, always. forever.

Saturday evening: 8pm.

I was looking forward to this time the entire day to finish my shift. 

In fact I was home about 30mins before 8pm. 

Even so, I reached home and realized another type of emptiness.

Nothing to do. 

Tried switching on the TV and was browsing thru' the channels. 

Nope, nothing interesting. 

Came online started browsing the webpages. 

It took 7 mins to load the Blogger page. 

I'm sorry that my life is so miserable, now. 

Today's option of "special" dinner is from the takeaway menu.

Nope I didn't order, I gave today's a miss since I am entitled to 5 meals at the outlets per week.

Because they will cook my takeaway before 6.30pm and start sitting until I collect my food. 

Imagine a pipping hot pizza fresh out from the oven... and start sitting. 

Because the kitchen needs to manage the order from guest's outlet. 

And so they say...

Yes my other option is Cafeteria. 

My dinner tonight was rice with beef cubes "stew" and a spoonful of cole slaw.

Some overnight dessert on display from yesterday's buffet which had turned stale. My BF had a slice of so-called Cream Cheesecake. 

Since it's takeaway night, it is quiet in the Main Building. 

Every manager collected their food and went back to their apartment.

Lucky ones like Department Head and above gets to heat up their food if it has turned cold.

They have a kitchen. And they get 7 meals a week. 

I'm sorry that my life is so miserable, now. 

I was looking thru' the Transportation allocation tomorrow. 

A group of Managers decided to go to the nearby village to spent their day off. 

But they did not want to leave at 7am (which is the standard time of departure for line staff).

So they made it happen, to leave at 11am. 

One of the Managers who is going is the one who is in charge of arranging the transport.

Of course, she made it happen. 

The same lady, made me leave hours earlier because of "shortage of drivers or cars".

Whenever I want to go somewhere - "shortage of drivers or cars".

But at her turn to go somewhere, Magic happens. 

I'm sorry that my life is so miserable, now. 

And the list goes on... 

Each of them just trying their best to misuse their privilege. 

Hoping that no one says a thing.

And yep, no one will. 

Because some other is doing something else in their benefit. 

I'm sorry that my life is so miserable, now. 

I understood what a friend told me. 

He told me he has lost faith. 

He had to leave.

And he did. 

Do you think it is okay to publish this? 

Eeekkkks!

Almost end of May, already? 20th May, back-to-work day. both R&Rs over, looking forward to home leave if that comes, otherwise maybe something else. Just ended my 2nd part of R&R leave which I spent it here in the lodge because family came to visit! It was only Mum, Dad and Sis though. BF & I flew out to Arusha on 14th May to pick them up at the airport. Had to spend a night in Arusha because they could not catch up with the connecting flight to Serengeti. That's also why I had to pick them in Arusha. So glad that BF managed to take 2 days off and came to Arusha with me. It's always awesome to have a local, easier to go around and get good price for accommodation & transport! On the way to the hotel, we detoured to Masai Market and they bought some souvenirs already :) Brought them to McEllys, my usual hotel then went to late dinner at McMoody's, my usual cafe! Hahaha. I wanted to eat Chinese but both restaurant was closed. Brought them out to a bar for a couple of drinks before my parents need to catch some sleep so we sent them back to the hotel. Of cos BF not gna miss the one night in Arusha so we went out again, hoping to get some supper but the eatery was out of food! Had to travel to another bar place and managed to get some food. Brought the family for some traditional breakfast next morning before visiting the Cultural Heritage Centre then to the airstrip. Not bad an itinerary for only a few hours in Arusha - I feel they did enough for what they need in town! Very satisfied with my planning. Hahaha. 

Did 2 morning game drives and I would say we managed to see a lot! I was especially satisfied with the 2nd game drive because we had a very experienced and expert driver guide. He can see the animals from a very very far distance! Crazy one, the animals can be lying on the ground with the long grasses and he also can see. Not only from the game drive, we were so lucky to have a lot of animals coming to the lodge's watering hole as well. Cos it is a really hot and dry season, outside no water to drink very ke lian. There are almost 60 elephants passing and hundreds of buffaloes! I managed to get a lot of nice pictures, so excited to start editing and uploading them again! Yay!

I am so lucky and grateful that this trip actually happened. Sis and I were just discussing the possibility cos both her & Mum has leave on the same period. After much convincing, Mum finally decided to come, and dragged Dad to come along. The journey was really long and tiring and I was so worried that the parents could not take it. So I am super happy that the time spent here is worth the travelling time because they saw so many animals and enjoyed the property so much! It's like the best thing ever to have them here with me in the Serengeti. Cannot explain lah! Really hoped they enjoyed thoroughly as much as I did :)

A Bush Life

I found it very funny when I was first told that this place is called a "bush". Even until today I feel weird to call it bush but I swear everyone here calls it this way so I guess it is the best word to describe it. I cannot believe that I am already here for 1.5 years, I seriously don't know how time just passes sooooo fast because I clearly clearly remember when I first travelled from Singapore to the bush. 

1.5 years on, I realized and sometimes not realized how much I have learnt and changed about my lifestyle, my job and myself. A lot of things just happened within these 18 months and I totally have a different perspective of life and working overseas. It is how funny that about 2 years ago, I only see myself wanting to transfer overseas so much; don't even know where in the world Tanzania & Serengeti is. If I can and will do it again, I will definitely think twice. Mainly because of the location I am at right now, I am pretty sure my thoughts will not be so strong if I am anywhere else (with more civilization as I meant). 

1) Did 6 vacations including 2 trips home. Initial R&R trips I was super excited and just wanted to travel to different places. Never really felt homesick so I took the chance and visited places which I really never thought I will ever visit. Very exotic some would say. Did Seychelles, Mauritius, Lebanon and Turkey. Was also very lucky to utilize comp nights or else it would cost so much more to do 10 days of vacation. Nearing to the first home leave, I became very home sick and all I wanted to do is to go home. Which I did, for 3 weeks. Didn't end up doing / eating what I imagine myself would - I can't possible eat 5 meals a day and keep going shopping or places which I wanted to go. Instead I just wna stay home to watch tv and open the fridge 20 times a day. After Mwanza & Dar trip, I buay tahan needed to go home again, which nicely coincides with CNY, extra excuses. Which I did again, for 3 weeks. Spent a lot of money, or I felt like it, as compared to no spendings for 3 months, then suddenly boom, one lump sum gone. But I know I probably used to spend more when working in Singapore just that I don't realize it. 

2) Very food deprived. I think I developed a disease or something because I keep looking at food pictures on Instagram. The shortage of variety here in the bush makes me crazy. Yes the food in cafeteria and restaurants are tasty but eating the same food for 1.5 years can make one go crazy. Feels like in prison. There are days which I just feel like dropping everything and fly back to Singapore for food. The lack of opportunity to cook my own food made it worst. Just hated how inflexible this place is, unfortunately. 

3) Very slow and very lazy. Oh the last thing I wna happen to myself because I am already very lazy before coming here. With my room 2 mins from my office, every other short in between times, I feel like going back to my room to nua. I wake up right in time to prepare myself for work because I have nothing to do when I am awake anyway. I watch TV or online until 3 mins before the time I start work, and I can still make it in time. I walk slower but hopefully I am not thinking slower. Some days I don't even feel like leaving the room at all. 

4) I found and fell in love again. I never really told myself not to find a boyfriend but at the back of my head, I always understood this kind of short term romances which I never want to get involve in. But when it came knocking on the door, I didn't realized nor resist it and fell into the "trap" like how others do. It hasn't been an easy relationship to deal with. There were A LOT of drama and I swear A LOT. While I always wished that things has been easier and better for the both of us, I am very thankful and lucky to have someone to keep me sane. Sane or crazy, actually I don't know. But if not for his presence, I cannot imagine how I would survive dealing with other drama for the past 11 months. Ok lah, we had our good times too. 

5) The deadline. From before arriving here to the in between and until now, I always have "2 years" at the back of my head. Friends will ask me so what happens after 2 years. Honestly I don't know and I never really think about it. Now that it is 1.5 years later, it scares me a little what have I accomplished for the time which has passed. More on the job side. Technically I only have 6 months left till the end of my "2 years". Deadlines are always scary, nobody likes deadlines. And as my major deadline is drawing, I have some mini deadlines which I will have to face as well. By the way, doesn't mean that if/when my 2 years is up, I move back to Singapore but the search to move starts again. And the whole cycle begins. 

How long more am I staying in the "bush"... let's wait and see...

Hello blog, Hello March

I made a crazy decision by the way.

Time is ticking.

I'm back!

Longest hiatus ever! My laptop died a few weeks before my trip back home; the screen turned the-legendary-blue after I tried logging onto Windows. I remembered I was just super worried that I did not back up all my files, photos and movies. But sometimes it manages to log in and work perfectly fine so I used those times to back up what I needed. And I had no laptop to use for awhile, neither my boyfriend's was working so both of us watched a lot of TV. 

Anyway I am more excited to blog about my Singapore trip! I also don't remember what happened before the trip, hahaha. So mid January I took a 3 weeks break back to Singapore, combined my R&R with some balance leave days from last year. Flight ticket was on USD1,243 so I took the chance to fly home to celebrate Chinese New Year with my family! I was waiting for this trip for so long and even started a almost-no-carbs diet 2 months before my trip! 

Flew home alone because my boo will only join me supposedly mid of my trip. It was a long and super tiring journey with layover at Addis Ababa and Bangkok. But the tiredness just disappeared when I arrived in Changi Airport seeing my parents & eldest brother. I was a lil disappointed when I didn't see Keng, only to know that she will join us for dinner because of travelling from school. My first meal was at Bedok 85 for bar chor mee and lots of other random stuff. Shiokness! I also had to eat all the yummy pork before BF arrives because he doesn't eat pork. Hahaha. So everyday I was just thinking of what to eat the next meal while I was busy catching up with friends during my first week home, before CNY kicks in. I spent almost everyday out and feeling guilty that I wasn't spending enough time with my family... though my day was not super packed, so I also had some time for myself to rest and enjoy the comfort at home. Week 1 was just spent meeting friend after friend. Really thankful for these people who are still in my life, I really don't want to lose them! You know who you are, I love you friends!! 

The week was also very dramatic with some unfortunate events happening at the background. It led onto Week 2. BF was supposed to arrived on CNY eve but did not managed to because there were some issues in Tanzania. To the extend that I didn't know if he was even able gna make it. I was so upset and worried including worried for him because he was in Dar for almost a week trying to sort out the issue. While I really had no mood to celebrate CNY whatsoever, which is really depressing! I also had to worry about my comp nights booked at Regent & Four Seasons for the intended stay with BF but thankfully the peeps at Regent managed to accommodate to my request and postponed 2 nights to after FS stay.

But anyway! Week 2 was busy preparing and celebrating CNY. Made it for steamboat at Auntie's place this year, finally! I ate a lot, it was so yummy! I felt that my stomach was bottomless, but controlled, somehow. Supposed to check in at Regent on CNY eve but since I'd postponed it, it was spent at home. Woke up really late for first day of CNY, as usual haha. After bai nian with parents, we made it to Auntie's place for homecooked Laksa, I had 2 bowls! Stayed on, watched movie and TV and bam, dinner time already. This time was whole table of homecooked goodness, especially that bowl of CHICKEN CURRY!! Yum yum tum tum. Spent a night at Regent with my sis, really cool to spend a lot of time with my grumpy but cute sis. hahaha. 

Finally, BF arrived in Singapore on Week 3, 4 Feb. I couldn't believe it when I saw him at the arrival hall, I was elated, over the moon! We quickly checked into Four Seasons and went around. It was a fantastic week spent with him, in Singapore! Most awesome part is when he met and spent some time with my family, so heartwarming, i love it! The most memorable part was the last night which he spent at my place. We drove to NEX to meet my parents and sis for dinner at Ichiban, my Dad's fave restaurant. Seeing him enjoying Japanese food with my family is so awesome. I never knew our dining habits until there is someone new in the family. And I am glad he is comfortable with them. We went supermarketing after dinner and headed home. 

The next day we woke up earliest and waited to have breakfast with parents and sis at Kovan! Mum was upset why I didn't bring him to hawker centre or kopitiam so she suggested to bring him see one. But I brought him to Katong Laksa! Somewhat similiar leh. I had my final share of bar chor mee while he enjoyed a bowl of spicy Laksa, third bowl during his trip. We then went to the market, he looked around and was in awe of the cleanliness while Mum bought some chicken. Sis went to school and the rest of us went home. Both of us took a nap while Mum cooked us lunch. Woke up to my Mum's delicious Soya Sauce chicken. This time it was just me, BF and parents having lunch. I can imagine how nervous he is! Homecooked food for him, at last! Went on to do my final packing before we all headed to the airport. Last meal was Mcdonalds, (don't hate me because I haven't had McSpicy this trip). It was super shiok and sinful! Mum was also very sweet to prepare me seaweed and beancurd skin chicken for me to eat along the journey cos I don't take airplane food. I swear that box saved my life. Damn shiok.

Back to the week spent with my boo in Singapore. Honestly, we didn't do much cos we wake up so late everyday. And we didn't do 50% of what I planned to do because I ended up not wanting to do the touristy stuff. We walked around Orchard, went to City Hall area walked to Merlion and up to Marina Bay Sands and took literally a step into Gardens by the Bay because we were both so tired of walking already, we went to watch Chingay parade and ended up eating street food at River Angbao, went to eat Katong Laksa since BF really liked Laksa but found the Katong one less yummy compared to others he had, most of the time we took buses and MRT around so it was really cool for him to soak into the Singapore life. After the first dinner with family, we went to Clarke Quay to party the Saturday night away and really had fun bar/club hopping. Awesome to meet this bouncer who helped us jump Q into Attica on this busy Saturday night! Apart from these, FYI we did not go to Sentosa, Dempsey, Newton, Chomp Chomp, Chinatown, Little India, Arab St/Bugis, and he is lastly pissed that I did not bring him to eat Chilli Crab! OMG what kind of tour guide am I, FAILED. Until today he still talks about it...

Well, afterall, I really had a fantastic time with my family, friends and boyfriend these 3 weeks though it was quite an emotional whirlwind. 

Love it! Wonder when will be our next trip back home...