Sick on the First Week Again???

I have the word blasphemy potentially written upon my forehead after posting my thoughts for the day but I have to say that I'm just totally unlucky to find myself sick yet again on the weekend of my first week of school. I just refuse to believe that there's a reason for me to be sick so coincidentally on the first weekend of school. No, nay and iie. And here I go again, sipping my hot cuppa ho yan hor tea to numb my sore throat.

Meal Plan C (C for See Huang)

News spreads pretty fast and by the time you know it, people are probably hoarding around you like a swarm of flies. (Well, that's also kinda like the case of big Texan mosquitoes, but that's another story altogether, which I won't spare the time to elaborate!)

After several days of cooking (actually, no -- more like sweating it out... my house lacks proper air vents, and it's pretty hot right about now) for myself and for a few friends, I have now a list of people to cater food to (hint: I'm getting paid to do this). Dreams of owning a restaurant isn't that impossible now and all I just need to do is to hush up about the whole you-can't-get-no-jobs-if-you're-a-foreign-student-in-the-US policy. Probably the only problem is time and motivation. Well, most other things would probably require those quintessential elements, no?

The semester's starting pretty swell (except for a really stupid class, which I dropped and ain't too happy about doing so...), and hopefully, God willing, I hope I'll be able to sustain myself while catering food for others. Ganbarimasu!

Master Photographer

It's only so often that I meet a really great photographer and thankfully, I have one quite close by. It's actually quite agonizing to see her eyes squinting, hands positioning with her palms and most of her fingers supporting the little device we call a camera while one of her index fingers silently pushes the button. Here's one of her little beauties.


We're in the middle of Penang and instead of going after the more 'gorgeous' scenes, she went after a beggar in the middle of the market. That says a lot about her, don't you think?

Here's a random photo of me by her. It was traumatizing to pose for her. "Turn your head like so-and-so, hands positioned so-and-so, look so-and-so... HOLD IT!".

It would probably not be a good idea to bring her along for a cosplaying gig. XD

PS: It's raining cats and dogs here. I HATE THE RAIN!!!

Made It Finally!

Well, it's kind of depressing not to have internet access for a while, but anyway, just want to say, I've made it safely to A-Town. And thanks, Yeng for the SMS. I wished I had bought more credits to forward it. It's just 10 minutes to 4 pm and I realized that I have missed church (SJGC's Sunday service, obviously) and the tennis cum swimming gig. Oh well... Gotta move on and I miss say I still miss Sim's hair. XD

PS: Elena thought that Ken was Simon and the curly haired one, Ken.

Rejoice, Rejoice!

By God's grace, I finally retrieved my 'lost' passport.

Surprising (?)

Had to wake up super early this morning (not that I can sleep actually, cause of the jet lag). Took a train from Solana Beach to LA, which took approximately 2 hours. And of all the seats I took, I took the one which didn't have any windows -- so I couldn't manage to get a glimpse of the 'scenic view' of California. Thank goodness for my precious DS that kept me occupied, though I would probably mention that I used up 1 and a half hours just to kill a boss in FF IV.

Solana Beach Station

When I reached LA, it was already 9 am in the morning and I took a Fly Away Bus leading to LAX. That itself already took a good half hour and I was hungry like anything (I ate my breakfast at about 4 am in the morning). Went to the Korean Air counter and well, to cut it short, I got back my passport without breaking a sweat.

Fastforward... I got back to San Diego around 2 pm and this time, I was wiser in choosing my seating. I got the one facing to the sea and the view was gorgeous. Had to thank you Ken for the songs you spared me! Glad that my iPod is no longer J-pop exclusive! When I got back to Elena's brother's home, I was already beaten up and with the jet lag and all, I went straight to bed without any further contemplation.

Evening was the best. After a nice nap, it was time again to get some grub and I was glad that we chose to eat out instead of eating last nite's leftover spaghetti. And this time it was Japanese food. ^_^

Seriously, hands down (hands up and sideways as well) the ramen that I had here is the best that I have ever savored in my entire life. Goes to show that you can't make Japanese food both good and halal at the same time (for those really blur about Japanese food preparation, most of the ramen dashi broth contains rice wine -- and removing that from the recipe just immediately kills the whole recipe... also not to mention that making chicken chashu is blasphemy).

Elena's Chicken Teriyaki (the portion is frightening, no?)

My Miso Chashu Ramen... Hontou ni oishii desu yo!

I was also glad that the restaurant that we went to offered Asian portions. Elena on the other hand was more gung-ho, she attempted the larger Western portion.

After all the eating, we decided to go to the Taiwanese market. Truthfully, this is the most EVIL place that I have ever been to. I'm asking myself now, why did I even bother to 'smuggle' in so many things from Malaysia when I can get the all here. Baka!!!

Pondan cake anyone?

O_o

Later throughout the evening, we went to La Jolla Beach. I'll just let the pictures speak for themselves.

Doing some aerobics, I suppose?

Some rare Muslim tourists


Aileen Kua (Elena's in-law), Jeremy Kua (Elena's Bro), and Elena

Well, that is that. I'm heading off to Texas tomorrow morn. Hope I don't lose my passport again. I'm really looking forward to seeing old friends and whipping up some wicked Bak Kut Teh once I reach there!

PS: Totally random but Sim, I'm totally missing your hair!!!

Malaysia Within America

Aside from my fluke of dropping my passport in the airport, I'm faring pretty well despite the fact that I'm currently jet lagging with a slight nausea. Well, well, just want to post a few pictures of interest. Here's some photos of the food in a Malaysian restaurant in Los Angeles called Belacan Grill. I happen to order a plate of Char Kuay Teow while Elena took on the Nasi Lemak. Don't even start with the prices -- they're an abomination!

Mine of course. No shrimps, lunch set with fried popiah. 8 USD.

Nasi Lemak USA?

Utterly an American invention, no doubt about it.

Food wise, it's no way as close to the ones we have in Malaysia. Even the worst Char Kuay Teow tastes better than the one here. Oh well, you really can't blame them for substituting fresh kuay teow with those dried nonsense variety -- but it makes all the difference having fresh kuay teow. As for the nasi lemak, Elena seems to like it, though I think it's for a very different reason other than the fact that it is supposedly 'Malaysian' food. Maybe she's just plain sick with Korean food in the airplane.

Fancy porridge with green tea? I feel like vomiting already.

Well, I guess that's enough to spoil my palate for tomorrow. I have my passport to worry about too, so food is not a priority anytime soon. Meh.

Travel Tip No 1: Never Lose Sight of Your Passport

What a genius that I am! I happen to have dropped my passport on my way out from LAX. Just when I thought that all the traveling was over, I'm baffled with the fact that I'm passportless. Thankfully, Elena's brother, Jeremy had an email saying that my passport is in the confines of the Korean Air office. Well, other than that, it's just the whole chore of going back to LAX that irks me the most. It's a 2 hour journey from San Diego to Los Angeles and not only that, I'm tired, nauseated and dehydrated. I'm EMOing right now. Dear God, why am I so dumb at times?

Walk Down Memory Lane

Just a few months ago, I walked down that narrow escalator leading to the customs security check. And it was just mere hours ago that I walked down that same escalator, bidding goodbye to friends I won't be able to see (and join for Mamak) for another year.

The tale of a guy who studies overseas... how tragic, if you think about it. Yet again, if I didn't go to the US in the first place, I wouldn't have turned out the way I am right now.

Nonetheless, I can't believe that summer break flew just like that and I cannot believe that I'm in Korea again for the third time of my life! And Elena's sick (but she's OK)...

Christina, I wished you were here!

It's rainy here and I have to say that it's been fun being back in Malaysia. Totemo, totemo tanoshii katta desu yo! And I'm glad for the mischief of surprising people with how I currently look like too. Uh, actually, I kinda got in trouble in the airport when I was about to board the plane. The flight officers asked me if I was using another person's passport. Haha, thank God that the mole on my nose was noticeable even in my passport photo.

As for now, I'm just going to sit around just spamming other people's c-box like babi. See y'all next year! 15 CGs, (Simon) Sim and I'll come back with vengence!

PS: Please pray for Elena. Airsickness is not the best thing to contract during times like these.

Thank God For Patient Mothers

OK, my last day here in Malaysia this year. Woke up at 7.30 am after sleeping at 2 in the morning. One word to describe me today: EMO. Yup, as much as you don't want to mess with the Zohan, you don't want to mess with me today. I'm grumpy, tired and annoyed. Coupled with the thought of going back to US, it's easy to conclude that all of these negative emotions could actually manufacture an atomic bomb.

So, thank God for Mom who was patient with me today. I wouldn't be half as prepared to depart if not for her stuffing me up with Bak Kut Teh and neslo ice this morning. You just can't deny it -- God's greatest gift is the gift of having a Mom.

Haven't Really Left, Now I'm Leaving

Looking back, the experience of leaving Malaysia again to the US now is far more emotional than it was the first time I sojourned. Though I've experienced it before, I realized that now it's even harder to leave home. The last time was easy -- much easier. I was a nobody, so saying goodbye was not that difficult but now, after really knowing people around me and allowing people to penetrate through me, it really changes the whole game.

Says a lot, doesn't it? (Ii Shan, why are your eyes closed!!??)

I never really left Malaysia last time. Now I'm really leaving. I really thank God that the 4 months that I was in US changed me and now I truly know how to appreciate Malaysia. Yeah, so to Adeni and my life group in US, thanks for praying for me.

O_o

Mission accomplished: I've grown closer to my home church and opened myself to love and to be loved.

Best Mamak experience this year!

To my brothers-and-sisters-in-Christ of SJGC, I LOVE Y'ALL!!!!

Monotonous

I was just in the Summit the other day bowling with a bunch of friends. It just happened that I took notice of two workers wearing T shirts, bearing a bold "May I Come Closer". To add insult to injury, these workers were forced to strap themselves with those seriously ridiculous wear-on-the-waist contraptions as if they were not already buff enough (No, actually I take that back, they looked buff but upon closer inspection, those devices perhaps are worn to hide their bulging tummies... Oh well, Ogawa need their workers to demonstrate how its device works, no?).

But what that happen to annoy me were those adverts that kept on repeating itself over and over again, droning into my mind. It was always the same 2 minute-ish advert screened upon a 20 inch TV in front of the tiny shop lot blaring away, in Mandarin, the benefits of the massage chair. Well, if it's bad enough for people walking around the shopping complex, just imagine how much worse it is for these two blokes with weird machines strapped on their waist and wearing T shirts that imply they have HIV while listening to the same advert replying itself every 2 minutes for a possible 8-10 hours of their job every single day? (No wonder the Ogawa of Subang Parade got rid of the ad and opted instead for a PS2)

I just hope that when I think about the monotonousity of life, I would try remember these two Ogawa workers.

Closer to You

I suppose it early to call it a day and throw in the towel, as if waking up in the morning spells life-is-meaningless. For all the things that I do, I thank God that He has been patient with me and His grace abounds even at times when I'm not seeking Him. Ironically, most of the times when I'm on that dry and barren 'spiritual' land, He draws nearer to me in unexpected ways -- constantly reminding me that even though I don't feel His presence, He has not forgotten about me.

Joshua 1:9
The LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.