As I am writing this, I am having some serious post-CNY blues and possibly a mild depression, which probably also resulted from having enjoyed myself too much during the 12 days I was away from work.

Chinese New Year this year wasn’t very much more special than Chinese New Year last year, but I guess with age, I tend to appreciate more the people whom I celebrate with, and I tend to ensure that my “presence of mind” was where I wanted it to be, instead of just passing by the days with little interest in things that didn’t really interest me.

A few days before CNY, I got news that one of my girlfriends’ younger brother had passed away. He was 27. I wanted to cry, not because I knew the deceased very well, but my heart was broken into pieces because this had to happen to one of my friends. The following days as we were preparing to usher into the new year, I kept thinking about how my friend would be coping and how unfortunate that many of us weren’t there by her side when she needed us most. And every time I thought how this could happen to any one of us, I fearfully shook my thoughts away.

My sister has left for Brisbane, though not before crying buckets, LOL. We arrived at KLIA a few hours before the flight and spent some time playing Truth or Dare at McDonald’s, which was funny and hilarious. One of us had to have his hair tied until his next turn, one of us had to do a Macarena (which was super funny) and I had to get a phone number from an uncle seated a few tables away from us.

I proceeded to Penang to spend the last days of my CNY break. I visited a CNY bazaar somewhere near Pitt Street, and the bazaar really reminded me of Jonker Walk in Melaka. There were a lot of stalls and people were selling food and drinks, books, sugar candy, and there were also mini stages where (older) people sang karaoke :D The highlight of the bazaar must definitely be the Khoo Kongsi building, which looked so majestically beautiful especially when the lights were all switched on!

The following day I visited Kek Lok Si temple before sundown and managed to take a couple of really nice photos of the temples during the day. Shortly after, at about 7:30pm, the lanterns were lighted and Kek Lok Si once again turned into this beautiful and colourful temple that people all over the world flock to during Chinese New Year :)

It has been exactly a week since I have returned to Kuala Terengganu, and I am sorely missing the company and fun I have had during my CNY break. I still go through the pictures taken during CNY once in a while and smile at them, wishing I had the power to turn back time so that I could enjoy it once again. But I guess the world doesn’t work that way :(

And since all good things must come to an end, I shall look forward to more greeeat stuff in the coming days :) I hope you too, had a blast during CNY and I wish you a new year filled with lots of joy, happiness, good luck and love :D

As I am writing this, I have a pile of clothes on my bed, a few pairs of shoes on the floor and some knick knacks in my luggage, which I am supposed to bring home for Chinese New Year. I was supposed to choose and fold the clothes that I want to bring home this afternoon, but I took a nap instead. I was supposed to pack my stuff into my luggage a few hours ago, but I went to a BBQ party instead.

You know how some people say “Chinese New Year isn’t Chinese New Year until you hear some Chinese New Year songs”? Well, I think I am one of those people, LOL. I am not in the CNY mood yet though my loooooong CNY holidays begin tomorrow.

I am looking forward to seeing my grandparents and relatives in Ipoh because the last time I met them was during mid-Autumn last year. I am looking forward to meeting my BFFs in Melaka because like I said earlier, I have never spent any CNYs in Melaka with them before. I am looking forward to spending more time with J because he’s back in Malaysia for a month (though I’d only be able to see him for 9 days). I am also looking forward to spending some time with my sister because she will be leaving for Aussie-land in a little more than a week.

OK lah, I really should get going. My clothes and shoes won’t miraculously walk into the luggage by themselves. And I need to catch the 8:20am flight to KL tomorrow morning.

So if you don’t see updates in the next 2 weeks or so, just assume that I’m enjoying myselves, LOL.

Happy Chinese New Year and Happy Holidays to you guys. Drive safely, and take it easy on the Carlsberg and Tiger beer, OK?

I woke up in the middle of the night because my fingers hurt like no tomorrow. For a moment, I thought it was a cramp. Or that I had arthritis. Or rheumatism. Or *touch wood* bone cancer. I got up, switched on the light and walked into the kitchen. There was a red dot on the fourth ringer on my right hand. And the finger was swollen and it was very painful.

I was taken to Hospital Setiu and given an anti-inflammatory injection at the Emergency Ward. The on-call doctor, a very nice lady doctor, said that I would have to be admitted for observation, in particular for any kind of allergic reactions I might display toward the medicines they would be pumping into my system. In 2 hours, I was wheeled into the ward.

I was given an injection every 6 hours, and my blood pressure, heart beat and temperature readings recorded about once in 4 hours (except when I was asleep). I was also drugged a few times a day, so much so that the simple meals prepared by the hospital canteen tasted so delicious though they looked really bland and unappetizing.

It was my first time spending a night in the hospital bed and it definitely wasn’t a very nice experience — to be hospitalized and drugged round the clock — and if there was something that I had “gained or learned” from the experience, it would be the fact that my health is the most important thing in my life, not work. I wouldn’t be anywhere I’d want to be, doing anything I’d want to do, if I’m not healthy and if I had to be in a hospital where nurses give me painkillers that not only kill my pain but my tastebuds and appetite as well. All the money in my bank (though I don’t have much) wouldn’t mean anything if it hurt me so much to take a shower or to dress myself.

So, lesson of the year: Do not take your health for granted.