Preview of 2012

Hi Everybody! I know it's a little bit late but i will assure you the following stories will not be a waste of time. :)

People usually talks about what happened last year when they stepped into new year i.e. best bits of 2011. However i'm going to skip that and do the opposite. Here's the preview of the year 2012 for me.

1. Moving back to Singapore

Yes. I will be back to Singapore for my third project in Keppel Tuas Shipyard early February. It's a very challenging project and i am quite delighted that i will be a part of it. I've been learning and it's been tough for me thus far. My new year resolution for work is that i must be humble and be willing to take advice. 

2. Going to the US

I have had quite an unusual experience obtaining the US Visa. In short, i will be at Kansas City for Factory Acceptance Test (FAT) for my current project. Out of the 6 days, 2.5 days i will be in planes or airports. 1 day for FAT and 1.5 days free and easy. All are with co-workers of course. It is my first time there and it is work related but it certainly won't be the last since i'm having a 10 years multiple entry Visa. ^.^

3. Going to Japan

My Japan Visa is currently being processed. Like the US one but slightly easier, without interview, and it is free of charge as well. This trip however is not work related. I am going there alone for 7 days. I have a friend there who may able to bring me around. Well... going there anyway with or without anyone. Flights are confirmed. 

4. Buying a house

It is a new condominium located in Subang Jaya expected to complete end of 2014. Down-payment paid, loan approved, and going to sign S&P soon. The entire process is more tedious than i thought it would be. This house most probably is not for own stay. Maybe will sell maybe will rent out. Will see...

5. Just bought a 10-24mm Nikkor DX lens

I bought it for a week but yet to explore its greatness. This lens is a must considering the events that are going to happen this year. Not to mention the oversea trips i'm going to have, i actually have few friends going to tie the knot this year. Do expect some wedding related photos coming up later this year in my Facebook profile, or maybe here blogger. I think i will get a flash soon for proper wedding shoots. :P

6. Considering taking MBA

It is close to 2 years since i graduated from USM. The working life is not exactly broadening my perspective for life. I have not seen enough and i am hunger for more unique experiences. This is still at a very beginning stage, still not sure where to pursue MBA. Most probably i will take it full time and hence money is another issue i need to consider seriously. 

Some of you may have stopped reading the above and jumped to this photo. If you did please tick the "lolzz" below. Then i will know how exactly boring my writing is. Please comment as well if you think i look funny. Hahaha...

Is it a waste of time? Lolz...

Honda CR-Z

Early this month was the launching of Honda CR-Z. Honda claimed it is the world first sporty hybrid.

It is special because it is a coupe, and that means 2 doors and most probably 2 seater. The car is awesome but when you realized that you can only share with one person at a time, it is kind of "owh... that's too bad."

Look at the interior! Breathtaking!

Well the back seats are either for hobbits or kids. Maybe for people with no legs too. How considerate. (Zzzz... It's a coupe lah... Don't you understand?)

Engine integrated with electric motor, IMA(Integrated Motor Assist). It is called so because the engine is always working. When you accelerates the electric motor assist, and when you decelerates it charges the battery. Less fuel for more power. An unique type of "hybrid". Since it bears the name "hybrid", it only sells at RM 115k in Malaysia.

Currently we only have 6 speeds manual in Malaysia, CVT comes later. With 6 speeds you do feel quite sporty, but you would a bit upset when you realized the 0-100km/h is 10 seconds. (Yes! You probably able to outrace CR-Z with a Gen-2.)

Jason Barlow said it is a different kind of car, for a different kind of road trip. It is a coupe so forget about the back seats.

Creating Great Memories

After watching 'You are the Apple of My Eye', can't help but recalled all the memories during my school days. They were so nostalgic and beautiful!

I realized that the beauty of life is life itself. You have to live in it and create great memories. Do awesome things! Do beautiful things! What kind of things is awesome and beautiful? Well you got to figure it out yourself. 

One day i'm going to dump my job and become a person i truly wanna become. Perhaps will go to a foreign land, if possible maybe i will get some odd jobs. Stay there for as long as possible, meet new people, and start creating great memories!

Does it sounds childish? Maybe... but what's so great about being a mature, predictable, dull person? I think i have done that enough. Should try to become silly and immature aka childish.

If we could possibly choose to stop growing up, would you want to?

US Visa

"Hello how are you?"
"Say again?"

"How are you?"
"Yeah i'm fine."

"Why are you going to the US?"
"I'm an employee of Antara Koh.... .... I'm there to witness the testing."

"Do you have any relatives there?"
"Nope."

"How long would you stay in the US?"
"3 days."

"Your Visa is approved. This is the collection card to pick up your passport at your selected distribution office. Enjoy your trip to the US."

"So it's done?"
"Yeah."

"Thanks!"

The interview took me less than 2 minutes (maybe because i have the invitation letter from the US manufacturer) but the queue took me 2 hours!

The application itself is a lengthy and tedious process. Pay up the application fees at Standard Charted Bank, filling up the online application form, schedule the interview, get ready the US Visa format photos, attend the interview at the US embassy, and finally collect the Visa.

And here it is!

I was never informed of the validity of the Visa but i was granted 10 years! I thought it would be like perhaps a month? That is so cool!

This is not about Steve Jobs

The passing of Steve Jobs was a phenomenon although some people have deemed his contribution was overrated. There were other people with much greater inventions but never seemed to be appreciated as much as Steve Jobs does. He was good in earning our money and yet everybody respect him.

I do like one of its quotes though, which states;

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

Live your everyday like it is the last day of your life. Do what you think that even if today was the last day you would ever live in this world and you would still do whatever you have planned to do today.

I realized i have failed in this respect. I still doing the same freaking thing i do everyday which wasn't really where my passion truly lies. Is it because i don't get to choose? Or just simply because i was afraid? Sometimes i think i have lost my direction in life. I was so tuned to work to the degree where i think i have forgotten my passion for other things in life. I don't feel the desire to do other things that much anymore. In fact, i don't know what i wanted to do exactly. I think i am losing it.

Where is my courage? I thought i was brave.

煎熬    李佳薇

Superb Vocal from 李佳薇