Random Rumblings

January 8, 2009 in One year in Laos by Weet Neu

Random Rumblings

Happy Neu Year!

Spent the countdown in pursuit of happyness via searching for a karaoke place that had a vacant room.

But it seemed that the whole of Singapore decided to sing in the new year!

I mean, there was no available place to sing at all!

Unless we decided to wait till 1am. Which i realise, is not very possible, cos i was really darn tired. Shacks! Forgot that i hit the big 3 liaos…

We by the way, referred to Kenny Kentucky, army best buddy, Andrew, good friend and business partner of KK, Eddie Pee, army sergeant now hanging out pal and two new friends. (forgot their names lor. but darn pretty lah).

Whilst not exactly how i envisioned how i would spent the countdown, it was nonetheless, enjoyable as i got to literally disturb everyone to death. Literally. Nobody wanted to sit next to me!

Boohoo…

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The prelude to the new year was a very hectic time back to Singapore, diving in Mabul, Sabah, back to Singapore again, then back to Vientiane.

My daily routine resembled something like this

0900- 1100 Meet friends/ colleagues/ ex teachers for breakfast.

1130- 1300 Meet friends/ colleagues/ ex teachers for lunch.

1400- 1600 Meet friends/ colleagues/ ex teachers for tea

1630- 1800 Shopping

1830- 2100 Meet friends/ colleagues/ ex teachers for dinner.

2200-??? Meet friends/ colleagues/ ex teachers for supper/ drinks/ slumber parties.

How to lose weight like that, you tell me lah?

Seriously, it was such a good time meeting everyone and good to see that ex students have grown up and seemingly more mature, if only a little.

Seeing many of the ES colleagues just brought back so many memories of fun and laughter, not to say anger and disappointment.

To my many colleagues, or ex- colleagues, all the best to 2009 and may good health and optimism accompany our every path!

And my wonderful friends lah!

Wait. Some friends are colleagues, and all colleagues are friends. So no distinction here.

Just very happy to see everyone and thanks all for the meals/ drinks/ movies/ chocolates/ presents you bought me!

I am one very blessed bastard!

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When i promised Minghwee that i would go to Mabul and Tawau, Sabah, East Malaysia, i was a little apprehensive, as it was a pricey trip and looking at my current financial situation (i am currently on half pay, to teach in Laos), it was kinda erm….

But when i reached and saw the wonderful place that Mabul was (still is), i was like, money well spent!

The dive spots are definitely the best i have ever been!

Ming and i were definitely very lucky to get to dive in Sipadan.

We were not given a place to dive there, as apparently, we signed up too late. Hence, the ballots were already drawn.

However, as two Hongkongers did not want to go, we went on their behalf instead. And that was the second day we arrived!

Sipadan made me want to be a vegetarian forever.

I mean, looking at the wonderful sea creatures swimming, how could i have eaten them!

Every single dive (there were 3) i saw turtles, black and white tip reef sharks, and of course, the wonderful school of unicorn fish, the bumphead parrots and the shoals of barracudas! just to name a few..

Wah… the amateur diver that is me died and went to marine heaven…

The water bungalows are a hoot!

Imagine living in the sea and when you look below the hut you live in, you see crystal clear water where sting rays, octopuses, and a myriad of fishes swimming nonchantly in.

We didnt stay there lah. But our place was still good, nonetheless.

Spent Christmas in Mabul and had a good chat with Ming over many things.

Services were good, food was good, almost perfect if only for the stupid flu, which incidentally, i am still nursing. Darn potent. Fish flu!

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After that, went to Tawau to attend Christy’s and Ken’s wedding.

Met up with Pui Sze and it was nice sharing a room with a lady!

The wedding was so interesting to say the least.

Whilst similar to a typical Singaporean wedding, it is full of local flavours in terms of friendliness and sincerity.

In Singapore, i had attended countless weddings where i sat with people i didnt know, and i still didnt know when the dinner ended!

In Tawau, it was markedly different.

People were talking to everyone, regardless of whether they knew you or otherwise. Quite funny, really.

Made a lot of small talks during the 2 hour dinner. I think sterile Singapore can have more of such niceties.