Happy Birthday Surabaya!

Today the street is full of bustling joy since this afternoon. The town hall area has been jammed up with the preparation for the celebration tonight. And tonight to celebrate, we are all going for a movie! Going to watch Spiderwick, but to avoid all that hustle bustle, we are going to the mall nearby my place to watch.

So for a day, the talk and protests about the fuel hike take a short break before it continues again.

Marlin has OFFICIALLY graduated. Ong reminded me that it is results day today!! So when i checked today, after i login, the very first page that I opened was " Congratulations on your graduation!"And i was contented!!

The next thing is i got an A- for my FYP!!! Thank God for that!!! All that work and effort that I put in was all worth it. Finally my very first and last A in uni!!! Though it's just an A- but whatever it is still an A!

Surprisingly, my engineering modules seems to have scored better than the electives this time. It is a surprising end to my 4 years of uni. I got Cs for the rest of the electives. Thank God i still have 2 S/U left for them.

I'm happy beyond words, and I am really thankful that God is able to bring me through all this.

KOMPAS/TOTOK WIJAYANTO / Kompas Images

Indonesia now is rather in chaos right now with the recent increase in the fuel price. Surabaya is now filled with students, workers and the public transport drivers voicing their unhappiness in the streets in front of the governtment buildings. Jakarta is no less different. Yesterday they tried to get the support from the City Governor in their appeal to the hike. But what can truly a governor do? They cant possibly reject it as well since it is his duty to back up the government.

Sometimes i think the student bodies or what they are campaigning are pretty silly. What can u get from trying to garner support from the authorities in challenging the government. Wouldn't it be dividing the country? What happens to united we stand? In good times we are united, but when there's bad things we go our own way? That's not a sense of belonging. That's a parasite!

I am not saying that the fuel hike is a good decision but they way people are protesting, they should not put it in such a way that they are making the country divide. There are people who are trying to bring down the President, and they feel that this is an opportunity. They easily provoked the people and get them to be violent. The rumors has been pretty strong about this and all what we can do right now, is pray and try to avoid city centre. It is sad actually to see the people being manipulated and the country divided just for the sake of political gains. Are we not important enough for them to be thinking about rather than just making us their pawns? The crave for power is truly great here. Even if now we change the head of the country, can it be guaranteed that fuel prices wont be increased? Reducing the country's subsidy is a great way of either lining your pockets or using the means to invest in another thing. I am not sure about the motives behind the current president's move, but I am sure it is not the former reason that he is increasing it.

Why do i say this is a silly decision? While the world prices for crude oil increase, Indonesia has her own pool of crude oil and what they have been supplying is Indonesia's own supply. Isnt it silly to increase the price for local use, while the country economy is slowing down, while there are still many people at the lower end income compared to the middle end? Yes Indonesia has been supplying what has been the largest amount of oil subsidy but if it can help the lower end income people to survive why not?

Right now, the government is trying to cushion the impact of the crude oil by giving out 100,000 rupiahs (20SGD) to those eligible for it. But you see, it is being pocketed by the government officers and those government bodies working at the lower end. And who gets blamed, really? THe president. It is sad and sickening to see those people crazy for money, just embezzle any money they can get their hands on. It is so unfair to the people. How can we stop the corruption at these lower end of the government body? Even with better education, the corruption is still as rampant. Even with how serious the President is with corruption, it is still as rampant. So how do one solve this? Isn't it such a sad sight?

I OUGHT TO BE SHOT!!!!!

NANA-Chan!!!!! HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Gomen gomen gomen gomen............................ maap maap!!! gak sengaja!!! kelupaan... Sorry sorry!!! It just hits me in the middle of the night!!!!

Wishing you all the best for the bachelor years ahead!!! JIA YOU!!! Even without PG, we'll still be having our usual gatherings and I'll still be ur personal chef too k!!! Moga2 cepet ketemu the one... cepet tambah gede... cepet kerja... cepet dapet duit biar bisa invest duit elo kalo ntar gue bikin cafe! hhahahaha

Anyway I might be going to Jakarta, Sukabumi in particular for a short trip after the bali trip. So i can meet the people in Jkt probably. It's been quite sometime since I went over to Jakarta. I think the last trip was 3-4 years ago. I cant wait for all my trips, oh but the sad thing, my backpack got ripped when I was flying over. So i got no backpack and in need to get one! Argh...

My sleeping time is seriously screwed!!!! I sleep late, wake up late, take afternoon naps and eat a lot!!! oh NO!!!!

A conversation that made my eyeballs almost dropped out.

Fedora says:
u intend to settle down in sg?

mArLin! =) nostalgic mode says:
we'll see how after the first 4 years

Fedora says:
hmm...i must find u a sg husband

mArLin! =) nostalgic mode says:
wahlaooooo

Fedora says:
my dear, u're not tt young liao lor

mArLin! =) nostalgic mode says:
23 only!!!!!!

Fedora says:
yeah, and no bf. so when u wanna get married and have kids?

Fedora says:
hehe. someone said tt to me u noe

mArLin! =) nostalgic mode says:
hahahahah wait lah im still enjoying my single status

mArLin! =) nostalgic mode says:
crazy!

Fedora says:
and i'm 21!

Sure didnt see that coming!!! and I dont intend to see it coming anytime again soon! I still enjoy singlehood and have no intention to end it anytime soon.

The bliss of Home.

Pulang-pulang, kolek pisang sudah menunggu...
Pulang-pulang, udah ada sambel goreng pete ama ampela...
Pulang-pulang, udah ada pepes udang...
Pulang-pulang, bakal dimasakin ginjal babi...
Pulang-pulang, aku makan melulu bhoww dari tadi!!!

Today Nata, Rina and I said our goodbyes. It was pretty sad thing, but no tears of course. Not a goodbye which require tears.

After 4 years, Nata and I finally get separated. She's my longest running housemate and also probably the best since she also happens to be my best bud of all time. She listens to me 75% (25% her mind wanders off somewhere) of the time, and though sometime I feel like strangling her neck, she cares for me in her own way. Most people comment, " Oh you both are not going to stay together anymore? So sad. " I guess the two of us have just been together for so long it is actually quite sad to no longer be around each other. (Okay now the sadness is looming)

She is my first housemate together with Gret and Lyvi. Lyvi bunked in for a while with me. While Gret, we spent 6 fun months together. I still remember how I first started out being independent living on my own. How I am still quite "clingy" to nata. How we always have late night toasted ham and cheese sandwich in the middle of the night. How I started cooking indo food to satisfy our cravings. How we began to organise gatherings and parties. Just look at how we improve over time. From the first xmas party and to the next. From the normal birthdays surprise to a big one that we planned for Hana. There's also our yearly CNY gathering with the exception to this year since we got too busy and caught up with FYP. Oh and most importantly how we got addicted to mahjong and taught anyone new in our circle to play the game. Just look at the latest addition to PG family, Wijen. He's already addicted to it.

PG definitely adds volume to the memories of being a Uni undergrad. It is an important chapter in our lives. It was a big transition for me from a sheltered life to one where I have to hold the rein and dont let myself go astray. And i really have to thank God for sending me Nata to be my housemate and we stayed on being housemates and buddies for 4 years. At least i didnt go astray, and she was pretty strict with me. We supported each other and i guess cos both of us are uni students we knew what each of us is going through and made it a lot easier for us to understand each other's needs. Spiritually, even when i go astray, she will nag at me and bring me back. There are times when both of us actually go to the naughty side, but we will remind each other and we'll find ourselves back in track.

Though now we have our own path laid out in front of us, I hope we can still understand what each other are going through and support each other in our own way. She has decided to go back for good sometime soon. And i guess she has already made her choice and of course all I can do is to give her my support and my prayers. For me, though I kind of know what I want, but I have tis refusal mode in me that makes it want to be uncertain. I dont quite know what it is.

But of course for sure, I am no longer a kid, teenage, student, undergrad. I am grown-up now with the 'Fresh Graduate' status stamped on me.

Saying goodbye to PG

Well it's time to say goodbye to PG. Tonight is actually my last night. And actually I am gonna miss this place. So many things and memories were created in this very place. All that small gatherings, sleepovers, mahjong and monopoly. It just felt like it just happened yesterday. All the fun and crazy times. From the very first gathering of Gret's farewell, to the new housewarming, my surprise birthday party and then all that mid-autumn potlucks. All the sleepover of mahjong and late night supper. Oh time really flew past.

Although it's goodbye PG, but i know for sure it wont be goodbye to Nata... we'll still meetup and have my dinner parties! =p It wont be goodbye to the people as well. It will be more memories created at the new place. Oh but that will be september onward with a new set of people under the roof. 3 Perfect Slackers staying under one roof. How fun would that be!

There are still many things to do tomorrow. I still have to deposit the rest of my belongings into the store-room, and then there's the used textbooks (i still dont know what to do with it), buy my dad's medication. And settle whatever remaining things that I have to do. I'll spend the night over at Elaine's. Come wednesday, I will be going back home. Back to my home sweet home. Though the room is of course not as comfy as my own, but being in the midst of my family is more important. I'm really looking forward to being home. Just 2 more days.

Well, I have packed away most of my stuff and boy they are really a lot. Even with a lot thrown away it is still a lot. I havent really started on looking for jobs yet. But i guess i have to start soon. Agh i am dreading it.

Have been planning on the Bali trip. Quite a tiring task actually, all the research and reading up all that travel materials. We ended up having an 8 days trip instead of the planned 14 days. We are excluding Lombok just to alay the worries that the parents are gonna have when we are on our trip. You see, there is gonna be a 30% increase on the price of the fuel and there is bound to be unhappiness amongst the people and they are afraid of the possibility that another May 1998 incident happening. Now we sort of regret choosing Bali to be our grad trip location. Me and V were thinking of why we didnt go to Korea or somewhere else.

Will be leaving on wednesday for indo. The parents have been dying for me to go home asap. And I have been dying to go home asap too so that i can spend more time with them.

Hmmmm post-exam life has been good. Haven't been tracking about the time at all. I have to constantly remind myself of the days in the week just to remind myself of the things that I have to do on those days. Everyday is just another day. Living and enjoying it to the fullest at least for now.

This week, though, I have to start packing and start to move the things somewhere. It's still fuzzy where is that unknown place. I got so many things to pack! The books, the vodkas, the kitchen stuff. Hmmmm...

Great Comfort Food

Macaroni and Cheese BME (bacon, mushroom and egg) yummy!!!
Pasir Panjang BBQ Chicken Wing with the tantalizing chilli shiok!!!
Beef Lungs (Paru) with Sambal Ijo from Minang House wuuuuenakk!

Arghh I want more more more....

I'm donee! I dont know if I may or will flunk one of the mods. It's a bummer, but i'm crossing my fingers that I wont. Anyway let me just be happy and jubilant. I need to say this

I'm DONE!

I was drowsy on and off the whole afternoon. And here i am finding myself being unable to sleep at all! Sucks. I cant sleep!

In fact i feel like eating! arhghghghg... macaroni and cheeseeee!!

Just one more day, I have been telling myself to be patient and still concentrate on the last exam. When i woke up this morning, I was all ready to study and concentrate. But i guess my body is not that co-operative. I think i'm going to be down with flu soon. I woke up with a pretty clogged-up nose. I had been trying to study but my nose is like a spoilt tap, keeps having runny nose. And then now i keep feeling drowsy even when i'm not on medication.

Oh man....

Well the conversation is just along the line of us loving to eat beef lungs from this Minang House, a new padang restaurant that just opened in Lucky Plaza. The beef lungs there are really good. In fact they are so good that each time i went there, it always run out even as early as 2pm! My dear friend here just had to blame her luck.

LiZZzzzzz.. says:
it's like playing in casino u noe
LiZZzzzzz.. says:
ga dapet ya nyoba lagi n lagi [ if u cant get it, then try it again and again]

It's so funny how a simple thing like food becomes a game of luck! And yeah we are still trying, me going there again every now and then to get it.

I've gotten my sleeping time messed up because of the exams and the presentation! For the first few days this week, i had been surviving with only a few hours sleep, sleeping only when the sun begins to rise. And yesterday, when i finally had a chance to sleep a proper sleep, it was not enough and it affected me the whole day! Pounding headache the whole day! But it was elaine's birthday and we all wanted to celebrate the day with her. She took half day, while Chris took the whole day off. Chris and I went to hunt for her presents in the morning together with Chloe. Then after that we had high tea at Equinox! It was a rare thing to be dining high tea on the 70th floor on a sunny day with a great view! Of course i brought the camera! The view was really great! The headache came on and off.

The presentation was okay i suppose. I mean my words get tangled up in me as usual. And I am really really hoping that it was okay for them and sufficient since they asked me for a short presentation. Im thankful that the examiner didnt ask much and I didnt have a difficult time. ANyway FYP is really over. Now it's just left with binding the theses and handing them up to the supervisors. I really need to proof-read and make a lot of amendments to it.

Anyway I thank God for bringing me through this halfway point. It's another 2 more paper and it's the end. Really thank Him for being there with me all the time and lending me His support and strength.

More bird's eye-view pics of the Marina area. Look at the cool soccer field floating on the water.
The construction area is gonna be the new integrated resort. And look at the eye-glass of Singapore. They all look so tiny! =)