The big Two O'

On 25th October, I finally can call myself a man in his twenties. We're indeed getting older, embracing life lessons and accepting more responsibilities. Although things have really changed drastically from the previous year, I would like to hammer the thought to myself, that all these changes are for the better. Although I look content in expression, my heart is shrieking on loneliness, dwelling on the past.

Damn it how come every time I blog, I will somehow express unpleasant thoughts. 

Listening to sad old love songs sure are having its effects on me. But I can't help it they're just so good and meaningful!

Anyway, days before my birthday, I was expecting to pass my 20th in a low note, hence not having any high expectations. But on the 23rd October, I traveled back to PJ from Kampar to celebrate with my family and friends. Had a simple lunch with family at a Thai Restaurant (I'm one who truly adore sour and spicy delicacies). Then at night, dinner at Skewers, Subang Avenue with Ser Siang, Yong Meng, Kar May, Sabrina, Choon Seng and Weng Hoe. Skewers serve awesome grilled food and burgers which are very reasonably priced. Definitely a place worth visiting :). 

Cheers :D

Scrumptious food served :)

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First pint to many more beer to come that night :p

Myself, Kar May, Ser Siang, and missing Esther :P

Kar May with pint of Hoegaarden beer haha. Don't worry that's not hers but mine :P.

We former Kempas bois :). Thank you both for the Fred Perry shirt!

Pretty Kar May and Sabrina :)

So far the best Tiramisu I ever had! Added with a dash of Brandy, I heard Yee Ming(Yong Meng's sis) contributed to the recipe. No wonder it taste so good ;)

I wished :).

Thank you, every single one of you! Love you all :).

After Skewers, we moved on to Piccadilly at Millenium Square for round 2 beer drinking session, with addition of Khy Li, Zhi Lei and Vincent. As far as I know, we always drink more than we ought to. Initially the plan was I spend everyone 2 towers of beer, but at the end, we all had 4 towers. Monster x)!

Taman Megah friends :), and with Khy Li's girlfriend Zhi Lei

Bromance ;).
Yong Meng claimed he couldn't drink too much because he has a political reputation to protect :P.

Everybody that night :).

That night I think I drank a little too much, alright not a little, definitely too much. Enough said :p.

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After an awesome day back at PJ, the following day, my birthday eve, I'm back at Kampar. At night, Wei Hoong called me and asked me to watch football at mamak together, I agreed because I have no plans spending my birthday eve, and watching football is fine with me.

Soon, Wei Hoong picked me up and he said he got to return to his house to get something before going mamak. So I thought, no problem let's go his house.

As I enter his house..

They actually had a surprise mini celebration awaiting me! :)

Yummylicious pancake served with Vanilla ice-cream and Hershey's chocolate syrup. Prepared by Wei Hoong, Hor Yi, Xin Wei and Edmund :)

Definitely earned the thumbs up from me :)!

Chit-a-chat session ^^

Still staying close to our previous plan, watching football x)

:D

Thank you dear residence of 1925 x)

Later on, we moved on to play DoTA with Mark, Kai Fu, Sun Hoe, Ah Lian, Chris and Sun Hoe's 3 other friends. This is the first time I spend the very beginning of my birthday(12am, 25th Oct) playing DoTA, while last 2 years I spent that with my very special someone.

DoTA with them are always fun, filled with laughter. Though playing DoTA might sound pathetic, but I wasn't sad a single bit :).

On my birthday itself, I spend most of the day eating and shopping at Ipoh with Chris, Kai Fu and Sun Hoe. Bromance, loving it. We shopped, tried clothes on, bought 'em, watched movie hehe. It's kinda queer that we watched a touching romance movie. But nonetheless, I enjoyed it, and hope you guys did too ;).

Back to Kampar for dinner at East Ocean Restaurant, together with Kai Fu, Sin Wei, Chris, Wei Hoong, Hor Yi, Edmund, Xin Wei, Sun Hoe and Ah Lian, which was my treat :).

Guess what was on the agenda after that? DoTA hahaha.

After a couple of hours DoTA, I was supposed to be home and supposed to be surprised by Denise, Yinli and Wan Kien ahaha. But I was too caught up playing with the boys, sorry to you three :P.

We had really funny conversations and chit chat for really long while sipping on the red wine Wei Hoong and the rest gave me :).

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Lots of thanks for my family took care of me, shaping me who I am today,
Thank you Jolynn for the Nike T-3 Futsal shoe,
Thank you Thian Hong for the phone call,
Thank you Ser Siang and Yong Meng for the Fred Perry shirt,
Thank you Kar May, Sabrina and Joanne for the Padini shirt,
Thank you Choon Seng for the Protein Shake,
Thank you Wei Hoong, Hor Yi, Xin Wei and Edmund for the red wine and cake,
Thank you Yinli, Denise and Wan Kien for the cake,
Thank you all who wished me through Facebook and text message, really appreciate it.

& the endless gratitude I would actually wish to express to the countless number thoughtful people around me. I'm truly blessed to have each and everyone of you in my life.

In a nutshell, I have to say I had an awesome 20th birthday :).
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When there is up, there is down.
When there is joy, there is despair.

Two days after my birthday, my paternal grandfather left to meet his Creator. He lived 95 years of blessed life, leaving behind faithful and loving children, in-laws, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

"Yeh Yeh, you'll be dearly missed and I will study hard like how you asked me to"

19th & Mizuno Wave Run 2009

This year's 19th celebration has been overshadowed by an unpleasant happening, which I might share it some other time.

First of all I would like to thank everyone who wished me on Facebook, text message, and even phone call from U.K. [*wink ;) Wei Kit] ...

the remaining Cengal bunch celebrated my 19th with me..

& Jac for the midnight surprise and being great company :).

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Call me sad or what, I took part in Mizuno Wave Run on my birthday. Frankly, I was looking forward to the run more than my very own appreciation day. Not too hyped up for my birthday. Hmm.

The Mizuno Run was gonna take place at UPM. So on the eve of my birthday, I slept over at my Jac's house because on the next day, she could direct me to UPM, accompany and cheer for me for the run.

This year the first wisher through text messaging was the same person as last year's, Aunt Farah :D .

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Back at Jac's house, she gave me a pleasant surprise at 12am sharp with 2 slices of Secret Recipe cakes :).

Thanks babe ;).

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Next morning, at UPM's Sports Complex. UPM is so big - definitely bigger than the whole Tropicana area! They have a lovely running track which I strongly believe UTAR should have one too to promote running and athletics among students. Being at the track gave me a chance to rekindle my old sweet memories of athletics :).

The distance for this Mizuno Wave Run is more than 11km which I got 89th placing with the time 52 minutes and 36 seconds. I did better than I expected, I was predicting to get around top 200 as the top 500 runners are eligible for medals.

Stretching and warming up.

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I registered this run together with Ah Lian which participated the previous Centro Run with me.

Meet Ah Lian a pro volleyball player but joined the run with the motive to - sweat out and keep fit.

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Right before the start of the run at the starting line, I heard, "MENG LEONG!".
Guess who was there!

Kevin Wong! He's currently at IMU now, the same Uni as Joanne Pereira. Kevin's stamina is a whole lot better than mine I'm sure! He got 24th place compared to mine, 89th. Very good run my friend! Haha there's still room for improvement as for my case :).

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The medal :)

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Behind me is the place where we can have unlimited water, 7up Revive, Milo, cereal etc. But being around those booths, Jac described the place as if it was 'raining' - raining sweat that is :p.

To get my cup of 7up Revive, I have to go through a crowd of heavily perspiring runners to reach the booth as if it I was a car going through a car wash.

But nevertheless, I enjoyed the run :).

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Ah Lian and I at the finishing line. The finishing line is such a turn on la, I cannot resist to sprint as I reached the final strecth back at the stadium track :).

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Last but not least,

Jac and I - thanks for accompanying me, really glad you came and watch me run :).

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At night, was a dinner at Damansara Village with the remaining Cengal bunch + Jac :).
Eh, Wei Kit, I thought you told me you were coming :\?
Special thanks to Yong Meng for the cake and organizing over such short notice,
Kar May, Sab and Joanne for the gift :).

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Now I have a tormenting issue to settle with. Hopefully things get better.

1 advice : There are plenty of scams all around. Don't be too gullible.

Lum's Cameron Highlands trip, Siang's 19.

Upon missing on catching Manchester United at Malaysia, it was made up by a family trip to Cameron Highlands. Except that my brother who didn't make it because he was too occupied with his Mid Term tests. That fellow prefer his favourite past-time activity - studying.

My dad picked me up from Kampar and headed up to Cameron Highlands through the Simpang Pulai route. Foong and Cheng missing out on the yummy Simpang Pulai pan mee.

We stayed at Equatorial hotel, considerably located at the summit of the highlands.

Upon reaching, we were welcomed by the cool breeze. Pardon me for the unclear pictures, can't demand much from a camera phone :\.

Outside the balcony of our apartment.

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As night falls, the first thought that will come to your mind when you're at Cameron would be..

Hot, steamy, yummylicious steamboat dinner! They have fresh goodies accompanied but good soup base.. *thumbs up.

What's Cameron without strawberries?

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After dinner, we went to the nearby night market.

Fresh, fresh Cameron vegetables!

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Next morning, we had sweet corn, bought from the night market. We have Foong promoting the Pearl Sweet Corns? (so it's named at Cameron).

This is Foong as the Warrior-corn-princess.

and her again as the Corn Sniper.

Want some corn? - Corny 11 year old.

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After that we went to the morning market around, got some yummy sweet potatoes, vegetables, strawberries and so on.

Then we went to a nearby ' BOH' Tea plantation, just a short distance after the morning markets near Equatorial Hotel.

The panoramic views of the tea plantation valley ;

Tea-bush-walk

As you can see, there's a tea house at the end :).

Foong and Pappy overlooking the tea valley.

Good sip of hot tea, with moist chocolate cake complemented by beautiful view :).

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Before going back to the lowlands, we wish to take more shot for remembrance.

That's all for now.
Back to assignments and studying for mid term :\.

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Happy early Birthday wish to my long time buddy Mr. Lim Ser Siang!
Sorry couldn't be around this time, enjoy your celebration, have a good one, cut down on the booze if you guys are planning to drink :).