#tbt
Stumbled on this old photo while doing a housekeeping of the files on my phone.
Stakeholder engagement in Feb 2019 with the Customs Director of KB.
I miss my long hair.... I really do :(

12092019 - 16092019 Korea (Jeju) family trip

A compilation of my favorite photos to commemorate our first trip to Korea.

Oedolgae Rock

Jungmun Resort 

Sunset view from Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Sunset view 2 from Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Sunset view 3 from Seongsan Ilchulbong Peak

Her affectionate hugs

Girl power!

Black pig BBQ 

La familia

Sooo cute!

Love how happy mom looks and is every time she is with Carina

Sanbanggulsa Grotto

Kissing the lava frog. Her future prince might just be Korean
(Cheonjeyeon Falls)

Sunrise + Mt Hallasan view from our hotel (The Qube Resort)

Medical documenting

8 September 2019
@ 0300hrs - worst ever abdominal pain in my life (to-date)
@ 0400hrs - the day the Emergency Department of General Hospital Kuala Lumpur dismissed me disrespectfully, as though my pain didn't matter
@ 0500hrs - first admission in 25 years into the Emergency Department + first CT Scan

11 September 2019
@ 0700hrs - 1900hrs - longest fasting I've ever done in my life
@ 0930hrs - 1300hrs - first time ever to have drank 4 liters of fluid in 4 hours
@ 1700hrs - first time my bowels got flushed clean with zero stool in stock
@ 1730hrs - first oesophagus gastro duodenoscopy scope and colonoscope

What amazed me most was the timing of this incident, and how there might have been divine intervention in some part. (I'm sure there was!)

For the past couple of months I'd been wanting to do a thorough abdominal check due to the frequent abdominal pains I've been having for the past few years - just to confirm that there isn't something seriously nasty growing inside me. It was my medical KPI for the year but also a condition that I had to fulfil in order for us to start family planning again. As important as it was, I procrastinated for months. The incident gave me the opportunity to do all the necessary abdominal tests, from the most basic to the most comprehensive - without having to pay a single dime! It was all covered by the company insurance. Had I not procrastinated and done it proactively on my own, it would have cost me RM 9,000.

Mom was quite certain I wouldn't make it for the Korea trip the next day. I was worried I wouldn't too. Thankfully there were no complications, just 3 minor polyps in my colon and the presence of Helicobacter pylori in my stomach - and the doctor was understanding enough to allow me to be discharged the same day after the procedure was done.

God is good.

2 November 2019
@ 1030hrs - did the urea breath test follow up check and the results for H. pylori were negative.

Zoo Explorers

26 Oct 2019 - Carina's first visit to the zoo. :)
3 favourite shots of the day: 

APC 2019 (20-24Oct)

First physical count in my life! 

Takeaways from this experience:

1. The guys are really a nice bunch. It was nice to see and experience a different side of their personalities - the charm, wit and more. 

2. Interns really know how to live out the motto "work hard, play hard" - and take great pictures while at it!

3. Kemaman's lamb curry + briyani rice @ Restoran Razali is definitely in my Top 5 list of favourite food.

May, Ruban & May  

Trying hard to pull the warehouse door open
(May the intern said I looked cute and told me to freeze so that she can take a picture of me :S)

Count buddies 

The great feast before we work our ass off @ Restoran Tong Juan, Kemaman

     

fragile life

You took me shopping for my first saree, and for my wedding saree.

You welcomed me to the family even before I became family.

You were the first to visit me in the hospital when I delivered Carina.

Of all the sisters, I was most comfortable and open with you. 

They say we shouldn't live life with regrets but the one regret I will always have is not being able to see you one last time to say goodbye, and thank you for all that you've done for me, for us. 

All those visits to the hospital, never once did I think it would be the last. I had that much hope, that much faith - that time was on our side. 

In life, and in death, you taught me the importance of time, of family, of investing in relationships. 

I will miss you dearly, Sumathi akka. 

The saree that you lent me because the one I had was too old-fashioned for my age. For any function, we would always get dressed up at your place. 

Uplifted

Appreciation is a powerful tool.
Brownie points to the company for doing this.

Celebrity chef

"Father" of all Malaysian Chefs - and we got a picture with him! Even got featured (unknowingly) in his Instagram :)

Was never a huge fan of him or the type of dishes he popularized but having a picture to immortalize the moment was nice, as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone.

 

 

Probably the first decent solo picture with Tina, after all these years....

 



Elaine is a tough one to please....

 

 

Love at first bite

Today in history - my very first taste of panna cotta. Love, at first bite. Every bite leaves me wanting more. Sold, for life. 

Desde casi perfecto hasta perfecto

The unbelievable feat.

Ain't going to be an easy journey from here onwards to maintain the score, and standard. :S

 

every moment was you

"…….I want the kind of romance where even if every second doesn't sweep me off my feet, just a little hug erases the fatigue of the day."


Carina did the sweetest thing this evening. She came up behind me while I was sorting the fridge and gave me the most unexpected hug from the back. Thank you, sweetie - for showing me love just when I needed it most. You erased all my fatigue.

"Sometimes, we create our own heartbreaks through expectation"

"Sometimes, we expect more from others because we would be willing to do that much for them."

---

I reached out. Several times. But got nothing back. Can't help but feel that we're going into the same cycle (for the third time) of miscommunication again.

Happy birthday.