Our new company, called Turtle Centre, has only one mission so far — that is to create awareness in turtles through camps, outreach programs and turtle-themed merchandise. And how do we create and spread awareness in turtles?

For a start, we are producing, suppling and retailing turtle-themed merchandise. We have just launched a range of 10 products with turtle motifs:

• Bandanna (head scarf), assorted colours, RM 9.90
• Book thong (bookmark), RM 8.90
• Bracelet/Anklet, RM 8.90
• Pewter earrings, RM 18.90
• Handphone accessory, RM 7.90
• Fridge magnet RM 7.90
• Terrapin figurine, RM 14.90
• Polymer clay turtle necklace, RM 10.90 or pewter necklace RM 12.90
• Turtle collar pin, assorted colours, RM 5.90
• Zipper pull, RM 7.90

The focal item of our products is the pewter green/leatherback turtle pendant. Apart from the bandanna, fridge magnet and terrapin figurine, all other products were hand-strung ourselves, so rest assured that you will not be able to find a similar item in the market :D

Each product is individually packaged, and it comes with a brochure (except for the turtle collar pin) which lists 6 ways to help save our turtles. We would be delighted if you would practice at least one of them. And of course, we would also appreciate it if you would pass the brochure to your colleagues, friends and family. Together, we can help save our turtles :)

The items you purchase will be carefully wrapped and sent to you via Pos Ekspres. Postage via Pos Ekspres to any Malaysian address is RM 3.50. If you buy at least one River Terrapin Figurine, postage via Pos Ekspres to any Malaysian address is RM 6.00 because the figurine measures about 9 cm by 7.5 cm and has a height of 4 cm and it cannot be inserted into the document-size Pos Ekspres envelope.

So, what do you think of our products? Would you buy some yourself? Some products, e.g. the book thong, bracelet/anklet and necklace make really good gifts :)

Check out Turtle Centre Merchandise @ Facebook for more pictures and instructions on how you can make an order.

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

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 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.

The good news is, I am embarking into a very challenging and exciting territory as we speak (or rather, as I type). In a pleasant twist of events, we have secured a place in a village in Setiu where we would be working from. The past week had been spent cleaning the place and making it up so that it feels more like “home”. We will be putting some finishing touches to the place this weekend, and after that, HOUSEWARMING! :)

Another good news is, Chinese New Year is approaching! Yay! It is one of my favourite festivals and I celebrate it with much enthusiasm because that’s when I get to meet and spend time with my grandparents, relatives, cousins and nephews/nieces in Ipoh. And this year, I will be seeing my girlfriends in Melaka during Chinese New Year for the first time! It’s gong to be so much fun!

Chinese New Year also means that J will be coming back to Malaysia, for a whole month, though I will only be able to see him for 8 days (beggars can’t be choosers, heh).

More good news — My sister successfully secured a place to do her Master’s degree in the University of Queensland, and she will be leaving for Brisbane on the 6th day of Chinese New Year. Also, for the first time, I will be seeing her off, instead of the other way round :)

Now, the bad news.

One of my maternal aunts was recently diagnosed with Stage 2 endometrium cancer AND Stage 3 ovarian cancer. She will be starting her first chemotherapy session today. Please say a little prayer for her before you go to bed today, would you? Mum will be her sole care provider and my uncle (her husband) will travel from Johor to Melaka every weekend to visit her. Please pray that she will be strong enough to pull through this difficult time in her life, and that she will not only survive this but kick the cancers in the butt, OK? Thanks.