A summary of my summer =)

Well, initially I was planning to blog about my vacation frequently. But things happened so quickly that I didn't have enough time to sit down, reflect and write. However, since something very important is going to happen tomorrow (revealed later), and many blog posts about it will follow, I think I better put what has passed into perspective first.

I went back to Penang right after my exams. Actually I was very anxious to visit Shion (one of my twin brothers) because he broke his leg in an attempt to break the school's long jump record. Ironically, he didn't break the record. Instead, he earned an overnight fame and rose to a status of godhood in school since the incident was witnessed by dozens of students and teachers.

Shion looked alright, he went through a minor surgery and so he didn't need to have a cast.

Shion coming back from his MUET (Malaysian University English Test)
Shion was trying hard to hide the fact that he couldn't stand straight! (Look at his strained smile)
This was taken during a simple mother's day celebration back at home. I could never ever repay what these two women did for me. Again, a happy mother's day to my dear mom and aunt.
Daddy giving mom a sweet mother's day's kiss!

Besides checking out on my brother's condition and celebrating mother's day, one of the major purposes of going home was to attend my grandma's 1st death anniversary. During the day of the anniversary, the whole family (except for my bros and cousins who are still schooling) came together for the memorial in a Buddhist temple. It was very touching to meet other relatives and old neighbours there too. I couldn't help but to reflect upon the reasons behind many chinese traditions: although the ceremony might seem redundant to some--because you'll never know whether grandma received all the offerings that we made--it brought the whole family together, and reminded us that though grandma has left us, we still have each other.

A couple of days later, it was my best friend Ah Khuan's birthday. Of course, for this kind of occasion, we, the Air Itam gang would surely organize a small reunion. Ai Juin just came back from UK too, and that calls for a double celebration!

Khuan with her birthday cake.

Everybody say "Cheese" to the camera =) I put it on a timer and managed to squeeze into the photo just on time!

The day before I went back to Singapore was Wesak Day. Since young, I have always liked Wesak Day. It celebrates the birth, the enlightenment and the passing away of Buddha. On this day, I feel especially calm and completely happy. I guess that's the whole point of it, to remind us to cherish life and to be at peace with ourselves.
My mom is an extremely gifted gardener. Our lawn is always full of life and splendor! This was a lotus that bloomed on the day of Wesak.
Mom took this special lotus to the temple to offer it to Buddha.

After I came back from Penang, I had to move out of my cozy hostel room at Ridge View Residences. This room had been a home to me for 1 year and I love every inch of it! I love the view from my window, I love the various cupboards and drawers (more than enough to stuff my belongings), I love the proximity of it to lecture halls and canteens, I love the bed, I love how I could knock on Ding Ying, Wanyi and Ramkumar's door whenever I needed company ... I felt quite sad to say goodbye to it. But still, life must go on...

One last look out of my window. I'll definitely miss the sillhouette of the trees at night...
Once my room sweet room...

After going through the whole ordeal of packing up, moving out, and unpacking everything into my new vacation room (for just one month), I was on my way back to Penang again for Sumei's wedding! Well, it was quite insane to make two trips to Penang within one week. But how could I miss the first wedding among my friends?!

Aunt and I with our gorgeous bride, Sumei.
Me and the Hui Yin Seh Chinese Orchestra gang. Chinese Orchestra was the core of my life many many years ago. I was very happy to see everybody again after all these years. Even though we haven't met in ages, when we started chatting, it was as though time has never passed. I guess that's what good friends are made of--the ability to withstand the test of time!

After the wedding, I met up with Lin and Qi for a small gathering. That was the first time Qi came back to Malaysia since she went to UK for her studies four years ago! I've met up with Qi in Europe before--she visited me and I visited her in UK--but it was totally rare to be able to catch her in Malaysia! I really hope we don't have to wait another four years for a reunion! Qi said that she'll be back again if any of us are getting married =) Hmm... I wonder who'll be first?

When I was back in Singapore again, I met up with Carolyn Chi Chi for a visit to the Philatelic (Stamps) Museum and the new Peranakan Museum in Singapore. We made full use of the International Musuem Day and paid nothing for going to both of them! But before the museum trips, we needed to stock ourselves with enough carbo to last for a whole afternoon's walk! (you know, visiting a museum is like shopping, both are very vigorous exercise!) So, we went to a nice Italian restaurant at Raffles Place for pasta!!! The pasta was delicious, but the desserts were even better!

Chi Chi recommended the Crème brûlée for me and it was simply... simply a luxury to taste!
Chi Chi herself had an apple pie, but I 'kop' her ice cream!
The Peranakan Museum!
Us at the reception

My grandma is a Peranakan, so the culture is nothing foreign to me =) I must really give a thumbs up for the museum curators for showcasing the culture to such details! It was very nice to walk through the sections with Chi Chi and to discover so much of our childhood within the exhibits! We couldn't help but keep exclaiming "Hey, my who and who had this too!" "This looks familiar!"

Nyonyas are crazy about beads and handicrafts! Guess what these are?
... They are actually spectacles cases! It's amazing how much work Nyonyas are prepared to go through to decorate an accessory like the spectacles case!
A huge rug made of beads. (Jaw drop!)

Chi Chi and I posing in front of a wedding procession
Ah... the golden rules for ladies! It's a poem, with a rhythmic recital, that talks about what is expected from a daughter-in-law in the Peranakan culture =) Grandma recited it to me before!

Mummy and Ah yee, I'll bring you both to the museum the next time you're in Singapore ya! =) Thanks to Chi Chi for a very pleasant afternoon!!