2012. The year when the world was prophesied to end in December according to the Mayan calendar, and yet I am sitting right here typing this blog post.
Many things happened this year. I formed many new relationships and strengthened old ones. Loads of memories were also made, and I learnt new things which will definitely help me in life.
Travelling is my passion. So I was happy to have travelled to many countries this year: UK, Japan, Thailand. All these trips and meeting with different cultures and different people made me grateful about the simple life we had. Instead of always wanting the latest gadgets or the famous brand of clothing, I learnt to be grateful for all the things I had so far, and also to appreciate the love that my family and friends gave me this year.
The relationships I made this year were also great. Going to a new university allowed me to truly experience meeting and living with lots of people from different countries and cultures. It also allowed me to make new friends, which I will definitely treasure for the rest of my life. Going to a foreign country to study also allowed me to truly experience home-sickness for the first time. I mean, I was like crying in my bed the first few nights I was there, and wondering why did I even take the course. But eventually I realised that it's not like I couldn't see them forever, it's just that I'm not forging a way for myself in life, with my own two hands. So there's nothing to be sad about.
Some people say that life is like a book. Everyday has a new page with adventures to tell, things to learn and tales to remember. I truly believe that and everyday I wake up excited to what the new day brings. And right now I'm getting excited at what the new year will bring. 2013, hopefully you'll be a great year for me! Wait, I'll make it a great year myself!! :)
Wishing everyone a Happy 2013!!
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
Friday, 28 December 2012
Sunday, 23 December 2012
Ang Thong National Marine Park
Today was my family's 2nd last day at Koh Samui, Thailand. And we decided to go as a family to Ang Thong National Marine Park. It turned out to be the wettest experience I ever had in Thailand, like really wet!
First of all, we had to wake up at 6am just so that we could have our breakfast at 6.30am. This is because the van was supposed to come and pick us up between 7.15 to 7.30am. When the jeep finally arrived to pick us up, I wasn't really thrilled about going but I thought that I would go with an open mind.
Then when we arrived there, our family was like the only Asian family there!! The rest were all Europeans, which was kinda cool in a way. Then while we were eating our light breakfast, ta-da! It started to rain, then pour. Everyone was forced to hide under shelter, and many families wanted to change the date or cancel it altogether. But for our family there was no other choice. After that, the trip was even almost cancelled, due to not enough people going for the trip! For my dad, that's not an option!! But eventually the rain stopped, and due to the guide's persuasion, we ended up going with only one family of 5 not coming along.
The speed boat ride there was about an hour long, so for the ride there, we took a nap. Then came the sights. First there was the snorkelling site, which for us was kind of dull because there were only a few fishes. But still we managed to wear the snorkelling mask and life jacket and take some photos.
After that, we went to a beach and kayaked around the islands. That was kinda fun as it was something outside of the norm, and my brother and I were in one kayak while my parents were in another. Thank god it wasn't raining while we were kayaking!! We then had lunch on the beach.
After lunch, we were given some time to laze on the beach. After a while, all of a sudden, it started to pour, like really heavily. We were then forced to get ourselves wet and rush to board the boat, which was also not really dry as the rain water could be seen coming in to the inside of the boat, making us all wet. That was cool in a way, as the rain was like s heavy and we were like stranded on the boat. Some people were still stranded on the beach, taking shelter below the beach hut!!
Finally the rain lessened and we headed to the viewpoint. The steps to climb to get to the viewpoint were so small. It was like one metal beam for one step. I had to hold the railing with both hands to make sure that I was stable, and the constant rain wasn't helping at all. But at the end we arrived at the viewpoint and got some nice pictures.
Then came the one hour speed boat ride back to the island, which was fun and exciting and scary. Since it was raining heavily, the waves were really big and choppy, so you can imagine the boat ride home: all floating and jumping and crashing and... You can imagine the rest yourself...
Then when we finally came back, we had the choice of either elephant trekking, or fish spa. My family decided to do the fish spa, which was fun and new to me as I have not done it before. The ticklish feeling when all the fish come and nibble at your dead skin at your feet is one that I'll never forget for the rest of my life.
So here you go, my family's experience at Ang Thong National Marine Park in Koh Samui, Thailand. This island is really very beautiful and if you truly want a place to relax yourself, this is the place to go.
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
First of all, we had to wake up at 6am just so that we could have our breakfast at 6.30am. This is because the van was supposed to come and pick us up between 7.15 to 7.30am. When the jeep finally arrived to pick us up, I wasn't really thrilled about going but I thought that I would go with an open mind.
Then when we arrived there, our family was like the only Asian family there!! The rest were all Europeans, which was kinda cool in a way. Then while we were eating our light breakfast, ta-da! It started to rain, then pour. Everyone was forced to hide under shelter, and many families wanted to change the date or cancel it altogether. But for our family there was no other choice. After that, the trip was even almost cancelled, due to not enough people going for the trip! For my dad, that's not an option!! But eventually the rain stopped, and due to the guide's persuasion, we ended up going with only one family of 5 not coming along.
The speed boat ride there was about an hour long, so for the ride there, we took a nap. Then came the sights. First there was the snorkelling site, which for us was kind of dull because there were only a few fishes. But still we managed to wear the snorkelling mask and life jacket and take some photos.
After that, we went to a beach and kayaked around the islands. That was kinda fun as it was something outside of the norm, and my brother and I were in one kayak while my parents were in another. Thank god it wasn't raining while we were kayaking!! We then had lunch on the beach.
After lunch, we were given some time to laze on the beach. After a while, all of a sudden, it started to pour, like really heavily. We were then forced to get ourselves wet and rush to board the boat, which was also not really dry as the rain water could be seen coming in to the inside of the boat, making us all wet. That was cool in a way, as the rain was like s heavy and we were like stranded on the boat. Some people were still stranded on the beach, taking shelter below the beach hut!!
Finally the rain lessened and we headed to the viewpoint. The steps to climb to get to the viewpoint were so small. It was like one metal beam for one step. I had to hold the railing with both hands to make sure that I was stable, and the constant rain wasn't helping at all. But at the end we arrived at the viewpoint and got some nice pictures.
Then came the one hour speed boat ride back to the island, which was fun and exciting and scary. Since it was raining heavily, the waves were really big and choppy, so you can imagine the boat ride home: all floating and jumping and crashing and... You can imagine the rest yourself...
Then when we finally came back, we had the choice of either elephant trekking, or fish spa. My family decided to do the fish spa, which was fun and new to me as I have not done it before. The ticklish feeling when all the fish come and nibble at your dead skin at your feet is one that I'll never forget for the rest of my life.
So here you go, my family's experience at Ang Thong National Marine Park in Koh Samui, Thailand. This island is really very beautiful and if you truly want a place to relax yourself, this is the place to go.
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Feelings
I don't know about you guys, but I ALWAYS feel real bad when I make someone upset. I often have this bad habit of not thinking things through before I do them, and this often causes me to make someone upset. I then have this HUGE regret, thinking that I could have done it in a better way, so as not to make the person upset.
Sometimes my friends tell me that I over-think things. They tell me that I shouldn't worry too much about other peoples' feelings and just do what I want to do. But I just can't shake the feeling that I have done something bad. Even after I apologise to that person and s/he says that it's alright, I still feel really bad inside,
even more if the person is like close to me, like a friend or a relative.
Am I actually over-thinking things?
What can I do to make things better between us?
After I apologize and the person forgives me, should I just go along with it and act as if things are back to normal?
Over the years, I have learnt that different people deal with this issue differently. Some people are really good at keeping grudges. They forgive you on the surface, but deep down they are still hurt. And then there are those people that don't seem to remember that you hurt them at all. They totally forget about it the next day and act as if nothing happened!! Sometimes I wish I could be that kind of a person...
Oh well, the important thing is to apologize once you found out you have made a mistake, and move on with life. No point trying to see whether the person has forgiven you or not. Whatever that has happened, has happened and life has to go on. Time waits for no man, or woman!
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Trying my best
"I will try my best." This is the line I often tell my friends and parents when they tell me to work hard to achieve my desired results. However, previously before now and today, I think I've said that line many times only half-heartedly. Many people, not only I, say lots of lies, white and black lies, and we often, if not always, make promises which we don't keep.
Therefore, I hope to curb myself of this bad habit, by really trying my best in everything I do, and be happy regardless of the results. I know, that it is easier said than done, but truthfully, I believe it's time to change myself and really, live my life to the fullest. If I really try my absolute best at the things I do, even if I failed at the end, I'll still feel good about the results and be proud of myself for giving it my all.
Life is all about challenges. Should we decide to face all these challenges and try our absolute best in facing these challenges, can put on a smile on our face regardless of the results. If we fail, it's probably just God's way of telling that:
Therefore, I hope to curb myself of this bad habit, by really trying my best in everything I do, and be happy regardless of the results. I know, that it is easier said than done, but truthfully, I believe it's time to change myself and really, live my life to the fullest. If I really try my absolute best at the things I do, even if I failed at the end, I'll still feel good about the results and be proud of myself for giving it my all.
Life is all about challenges. Should we decide to face all these challenges and try our absolute best in facing these challenges, can put on a smile on our face regardless of the results. If we fail, it's probably just God's way of telling that:
- You did not try your absolute best yet
- Whatever you're doing just isn't suited for you
- Now's probably not the time for you to succeed in that yet
- There's probably a blessing in disguise behind your failure
True, during the first few hours, I might most probably be very upset and throw a fit, balling my eyes out thinking why God would do this to me and how come I just can't pass like the rest of my friends. But after a while and some time calming down, you come to the realisation that life is too short to be caught up in all the failures. If you fail the first time, just keep trying until you succeed at the end. If at the end you find another thing that interests you, perhaps that's God's way of saying that that failure wasn't really that important in the first place.
At the end, this is all probably just pep talk for myself to make myself feel better, but what's important now, is that I really have to give it my all in everything I do, so that I can smile and tell myself that regardless of the results, I have already tried my best.
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
Monday, 3 September 2012
Driving test
See, this is why I require a blog: to help me to express all my pent up emotions!! Without my blog, I'll most probably get really depressed from not letting out all the pent up emotion. And the best part is, it's not like anyone is going to read all these posts anyway.
Anyway, today was my driving test. I had to a parking test and also a road test, which I miserably failed both. I guess for the road test, I was really nervous. I actually stalled my car 3 times I think, before the examiner asked me to change seats with him and he drove me back to the centre. To tell you the truth, I'm not really emotionally that strong. I really felt like crying that time and almost did, but managed to hold it together until we got back to the centre. I think the reason why I stalled is because I was too nervous, my legs were actually shaking the whole time, and then I think I released the clutch pedal too soon, resulting in the car stalling. I only scored a miserably 8 out of 20.
After that, I had to wait to do the parking test. At first I was worried that I might fail that too, so definitely my legs were shaking badly. So the first part was the slope test. I actually failed the first time and was asked to go down the slope and come up again, but luckily the second time I passed it, and also THANK GOD I managed to do balancing, pass the slope and pass the first part. After that, I was still very afraid, but managed to complete my parking, which was the second part. During my parking, I actually stalled the car 3 times!! But still I managed to pass the parking part, and was asked to go out and do the 3-point turn.
That's when the problem started. I actually, under stress, went into a wrong box which I thought was the box to do the 3-point turn. Then after I realised my STUPID mistake, I panicked and wondered how the hell was I going to solve the problem. However somehow MIRACULOUSLY I managed to reverse out of that spot and drive to the correct box. However, this is how I failed the test: I actually did the first turn properly without stalling the car, then did the reverse okay too (managed to reverse). Then problem arises. I was going to turn out and finish my parking test and also PASS, when... I stalled AGAIN!! Then after that automatically fail already, no second chance. Haiz, I was so going to pass and then come back next week to resit for the road test only. Now I have to come back next Monday to resit for the road test and parking test too.
So right now, my mood is not the best. Right now, I'm thinking what happens if I fail the resit next week? Then there will be no more chances for me already, since I'm going overseas soon after that. That resit is like my last chance. Maybe that's why I asked for 4 hours of extra classes before my resit next Monday. My only problem is that I get really stress before and during the test, my legs shake, and then I can't control the pedals properly. My hands shake too and then that causes my car to stall. How do I solve this problem?
Anyway, today was my driving test. I had to a parking test and also a road test, which I miserably failed both. I guess for the road test, I was really nervous. I actually stalled my car 3 times I think, before the examiner asked me to change seats with him and he drove me back to the centre. To tell you the truth, I'm not really emotionally that strong. I really felt like crying that time and almost did, but managed to hold it together until we got back to the centre. I think the reason why I stalled is because I was too nervous, my legs were actually shaking the whole time, and then I think I released the clutch pedal too soon, resulting in the car stalling. I only scored a miserably 8 out of 20.
After that, I had to wait to do the parking test. At first I was worried that I might fail that too, so definitely my legs were shaking badly. So the first part was the slope test. I actually failed the first time and was asked to go down the slope and come up again, but luckily the second time I passed it, and also THANK GOD I managed to do balancing, pass the slope and pass the first part. After that, I was still very afraid, but managed to complete my parking, which was the second part. During my parking, I actually stalled the car 3 times!! But still I managed to pass the parking part, and was asked to go out and do the 3-point turn.
That's when the problem started. I actually, under stress, went into a wrong box which I thought was the box to do the 3-point turn. Then after I realised my STUPID mistake, I panicked and wondered how the hell was I going to solve the problem. However somehow MIRACULOUSLY I managed to reverse out of that spot and drive to the correct box. However, this is how I failed the test: I actually did the first turn properly without stalling the car, then did the reverse okay too (managed to reverse). Then problem arises. I was going to turn out and finish my parking test and also PASS, when... I stalled AGAIN!! Then after that automatically fail already, no second chance. Haiz, I was so going to pass and then come back next week to resit for the road test only. Now I have to come back next Monday to resit for the road test and parking test too.
So right now, my mood is not the best. Right now, I'm thinking what happens if I fail the resit next week? Then there will be no more chances for me already, since I'm going overseas soon after that. That resit is like my last chance. Maybe that's why I asked for 4 hours of extra classes before my resit next Monday. My only problem is that I get really stress before and during the test, my legs shake, and then I can't control the pedals properly. My hands shake too and then that causes my car to stall. How do I solve this problem?
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
OTAKU!!
Anime. This word has now become a huge, no, gigantic part of my life. Since I watched my first anime, Dragon Ball, at the age of 13 (?), anime has captured my attention and has since became a big part of my life.
I'm now going to confess here on my blog, not like everyone I know reads this. But I have kept this for so long...
Here it goes... I AM AN OTAKU!!
Phew! I just had to get that out of my system! Not that I've been hiding it, but not everybody knows that I'm actually an otaku. I just love reading manga and watching anime, and often catch up with my favourite anime episodes and manga chapters every day. You will be absolutely shocked to see exactly how many manga and anime I read and watch everyday.
For the past 6 years since I was introduced, manga and anime has since became an addiction to me. I even watched a whole anime series with 203 episodes DURING my SPM exam. DURING!! Not before and not after, but DURING!! The amount of time I spend downloading all the anime music and manga + anime wallpaper is also staggering if you wish to know. For me, their music is very inspiring and very catchy, very suiting to my taste. The lyrics are also very nice and inspiring, so I love their music very much! :) Even my iPod's music playist if all filled with anime music!
Plus, the addition of ANIMAX in Astro just adds on to the addiciton, although now I no longer watch anime on TV. Instead I watch it online, on websites, which are constantly updated. Watching anime also helps me to improve on my Japanese, as listening and reading the English subtitles helps me to understand eventually, after watching so MUCH anime series, what the characters are actually talking about.
So, hope that you guys (or whoever that's reading), still like me and accept me for who I am, despite the fact that I'm an otaku. :)
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
I'm now going to confess here on my blog, not like everyone I know reads this. But I have kept this for so long...
Here it goes... I AM AN OTAKU!!
Phew! I just had to get that out of my system! Not that I've been hiding it, but not everybody knows that I'm actually an otaku. I just love reading manga and watching anime, and often catch up with my favourite anime episodes and manga chapters every day. You will be absolutely shocked to see exactly how many manga and anime I read and watch everyday.
For the past 6 years since I was introduced, manga and anime has since became an addiction to me. I even watched a whole anime series with 203 episodes DURING my SPM exam. DURING!! Not before and not after, but DURING!! The amount of time I spend downloading all the anime music and manga + anime wallpaper is also staggering if you wish to know. For me, their music is very inspiring and very catchy, very suiting to my taste. The lyrics are also very nice and inspiring, so I love their music very much! :) Even my iPod's music playist if all filled with anime music!
Plus, the addition of ANIMAX in Astro just adds on to the addiciton, although now I no longer watch anime on TV. Instead I watch it online, on websites, which are constantly updated. Watching anime also helps me to improve on my Japanese, as listening and reading the English subtitles helps me to understand eventually, after watching so MUCH anime series, what the characters are actually talking about.
So, hope that you guys (or whoever that's reading), still like me and accept me for who I am, despite the fact that I'm an otaku. :)
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
Crying over spilt milk
After I obtained my A levels results, I cried the whole night because I once again failed to meet my requirements marginally. I led myself to believe that my family was disappointed in me, upset that I once again couldn't reach my goals. I even cried thinking that my parents do not want me as their daughter anymore.
However, it was my dad's kind and encouraging words that put me out of my sadness and allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. His words led me to stop crying and to concentrate on solving the problem at hand instead of crying over spilt milk. He told me that instead of crying over not reaching the required grades, I should now consider appealing to my firm and insurance choices, and see whether they reply to my appeals or not. If they do not accept me, and I'm forced into clearing, then I'll have no choice but to go into clearing with all my might and hopefully I can get a place in some university doing the course that I originally wanted. His words really hit home as it made me realise something. I was so obsessed with what I've missed, I myself have failed to think about ways to solve the problem. Sitting on my bed crying over what has passed does not ease my pain, it only intensifies it and doesn't really solve the problem. After that I immediately stopped crying and resolved myself to work extra hard so that I can enter the university that I wanted and also do the course that I wanted.
Thanks to my dad and my hard work, my appeal paid off. I was given Unconditional Firm by University of Manchester. I was truly ecstatic when I heard the news, and was jumping up and down with joy as I informed my parents. They congratulated me for my hard work and asked me to study real hard, which I promised myself that I would.
Through this experience, I found out that crying over spilt milk helps to release the painful emotions instead of storing it deep inside one's heart, but it doesn't help in solving the problem. One has to cry for a while, then stand back up and try to solve the problem. After that promising to work even harder to achieve the next goal is also important.
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
However, it was my dad's kind and encouraging words that put me out of my sadness and allowed me to see the light at the end of the tunnel. His words led me to stop crying and to concentrate on solving the problem at hand instead of crying over spilt milk. He told me that instead of crying over not reaching the required grades, I should now consider appealing to my firm and insurance choices, and see whether they reply to my appeals or not. If they do not accept me, and I'm forced into clearing, then I'll have no choice but to go into clearing with all my might and hopefully I can get a place in some university doing the course that I originally wanted. His words really hit home as it made me realise something. I was so obsessed with what I've missed, I myself have failed to think about ways to solve the problem. Sitting on my bed crying over what has passed does not ease my pain, it only intensifies it and doesn't really solve the problem. After that I immediately stopped crying and resolved myself to work extra hard so that I can enter the university that I wanted and also do the course that I wanted.
Thanks to my dad and my hard work, my appeal paid off. I was given Unconditional Firm by University of Manchester. I was truly ecstatic when I heard the news, and was jumping up and down with joy as I informed my parents. They congratulated me for my hard work and asked me to study real hard, which I promised myself that I would.
Through this experience, I found out that crying over spilt milk helps to release the painful emotions instead of storing it deep inside one's heart, but it doesn't help in solving the problem. One has to cry for a while, then stand back up and try to solve the problem. After that promising to work even harder to achieve the next goal is also important.
XOXO,
Audrey Leow
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