Living in present

Things have changed, i feel that i've changed too. Change for the better of course. I've  always wished to find someone who belongs with me, with the one person, gives me strength to face my fears, comforts me when i'm feeling down, makes me feel secured just being with me. I think that one person has appeared in my life and It's a wonderful feeling that i've never experienced before. The maturity of it, together we see far ahead into the future and we chat about great things that we could accomplish.

Living in my current present, treasuring every moment.. Just makes me happy. As the person read this poem to me, titled "Invictus" by William Ernest Henley...
 

Invictus

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

 - William Ernest Henley

As quoted in many movies, the last two rows strike out the most to me. It's true that nobody will be able to tell you what to do if you really don't want to. Ultimately, the decision falls back on oneself. So the importance of it? My views are.. know what you want in life, never give up looking for it, be thankful to those who share their opinions (regardless their views are aligned or not with yours), make your own decision, be happy and leave no regrets. I truly appreciate for god has fated for our paths to have come across.

Sometimes, it's scary to know that your prayers are answered. Now is up to you to pursue after it, and make it happen.

So..share with me, what do you think of the poem Invictus, and what have you derived from it.. Any other poems that you have come across and would like to share it here is much appreciated! :)

My tag line of the day: Live today, as if there's no tomorrow.

Mt. Kinabalu Hike/New Cover

6/5/13 - Blackout Day.. (Okay I gave the term myself). Why is it today a black day? I'm sure you can find the details over the internet in regards to Malaysia's GE13 which was held yesterday. Either any party who has won, I hope they will fulfill their promise to the people. And It's saddening to see that the EC wasn't as clean as it should be *disappointment*.

Alright, i'll try not to talk about politics. Let's just stick to my daily life journal ya. :)

So.. I've been wanting to blog about this.. I've finally made it to Mount Kinabalu!!! *YAY* So happy that I did it~~!!! The view on top was awesomely breath-taking!  Malaysia has such beautiful places, and many more that I've still yet to explore. ^.^

There were 2 different trails to hike up to Mt. KK, the simple and shorter route - Timpohon trial (6KM), and the relatively difficult and slightly longer route - Mesilau Trail (8KM). I'm proud that me and a group of great people, which makes up a total of 18 beginner hikers, bravely challenged Mesilau trail to hike up from the gate to Laban Rata and taking Timpohon trail to hike down.

After experiencing both trails, I highly recommend hikers that have not go through Mesilau, please DO TRY OUT MESILAU TRAIL!!! It's just sooooo beautiful and tranquil that you'll fall in love with it.

The terrain wasn't that bad to hike up to Mt. KK for both trails, by comparison to the Mt. Nuang hike that I went (Mt. Nuang is the highest point in Selangor State), the trails were properly maintained, whereas Mt. Nuang, the route was muddy and slippery when it rains. Sections of it are hard to climb and no ropes or wooden handles can be found at these sections at Mt. Nuang.

For Mt. KK, environmental factors play a huge part that makes it tough to climb - high altitude (climbers are advised to take altitude sickness pills; get a proper consultation from pharmacist or doctor), cold and thinned air (makes it hard to breathe), streams of water can be found during rainfall (it was raining 90% of the time while we hike!) etc.

Okay, let's see.. so here are the photos!

The view from Kinabalu Park HQ

Mesilau Gate (about an hour drive from Kinabalu Park HQ)

And the hiking begins!

Impressed with the fitness level that the guides and porters have. Each of them carried at least 30kg of baggage weight!

Pitcher plants (Nepenthes sp.) are easily spotted along the trail

Weird-looking moss spotted everywhere

Three tiny pitcher plants

It was drizzling on and off during our hike

Come across several rivers and waterfalls. This is 1 of it.

Not forgetting to take more macro shots. :p

Walking on Kipuyut hanging-bridge

Carol trying to "catch" the mist

Another stream that we have crossed

Berries (don't know what is this plant though)

First clear view of Mt. Kinabalu's peak

We're above the clouds!

Over-looking KK city

2nd Day - The hike from Laban Rata to the Low's Peak (2.7KM)

We started hiking at 2am. It was too dark then, and I only managed to take few photos when it gets brighter.

 

Rested here for a while to see the sunrise (kinda cloudy to actually see the sun)

KM8.0

The moon is still visible

The famous point at KM8.0 - Looks familiar??

And.. Yes, if you haven't guessed it correctly already.. It's the picture printed behind the old RM1 note :)

My panda look (had only 10 hrs of sleep for the past 3 days.. looked like a zombie here. =.=")

Continue hiking upwards

Last 100m to Low's Peak - very steep and dangerous here.

Sun rising

Pee-ka-boo!

 

I called this the Gorilla's head - at KM8.6

 

I was so close to the peak (100m away), it was 7.15am when I reached the KM8.6. And the guides demanded us to start hiking down due to time constrain (check out time is 10am at Laban Rata hostel. According to the guides, extra charges for the room per hour is RM100). But anyway, I was happy I've been able to made it to 8.6KM for a beginner. And no regrets for picking the Mesilau trail as well.

 

 

It's truly a great experience, and all of us left Mt. KK with heavy hearted. I felt as if I left my soul behind, the beauty of Mt. KK, certainly can't be expressed by words. You'll need to hike up to find  out, and witness how majestic and captivating it is. I'll definitely go there again~ :)

 

 

Okay, to end my post, I shall share a new cover that I've just did earlier today, "Love the way you lie (part 2)" by Rihanna ft. Eminem.

 



Everybody talks

Hey peeps! I'm officially done with my laboratory research bench work!!! Okay, this is a delayed announcement.. Anyway, still happy that i'm done and finish with it. Now comes the painful part, analyzing what seems like tonnes of data that i've been putting aside for all these while.. *sighs* and.. will need to do up for journal publications as well, and of course not forgetting my thesis! ><"

Oh well.. Life wouldn't be interesting if it's without a bit of challenge eh~

Talking about challenge, really really looking forward to climbing mount Kinabalu next month! Started working out since past 2 weeks. When i first started, it felt like hell!!! Now i'm picking up the pace by doing more aerobic exercises like running, hiking, cycling.. ^^ Need to really boost up my stamina before actually engaging Kinabalu mountain with my camera and backpack. Left with approximately 6 weeks to the actual day.. feeling the excitement creeping in me.. :p


Alright, i'll end this post by sharing a new cover that i did at 1am this morning.. I know it sounds crazy. LOL~ was trying to keep my voice low, so that i won't woke anybody up at the middle of night. Everybody Talks by Neon Trees! Hope you guys will like it and give me a thumbs up at my channel ya~ xoxo

Ka Boom!!!

Haha.. did you figure out from the my post's title?

Yeah, at last~ after delaying for a week.. managed to find time to catch a GRENADE. LOL~~

Spent my day doing stuff I love.. is another form of relaxation. ♥ As CNY draws near, been really busy lately with work, research, and pre-CNY preparation (cleaning & sHOpPiNG ^o^). Finally bought the red shirt i needed, and get a weekend off from lab to do up this cover - Grenade, originally by the ever talented Bruno (Aaaaaahhhh... his records are simply brilliant! ).

ALright, i messed up with the tempo quite a lot. haha.. Anyway, hope you guys would enjoy my imperfect version of Grenade. And yes, again.. you're allowed to throw me some grenade in the comment box either at my blog here / twitter account / youtube vid embedded below!

*runs off quickly*

New Cover!!!

As promised.. this is my second cover~ "Love Story" by Taylor Swift. What do you think about my cover? Well, i'm just doing this out of interest. I hope everyone have some fun along while watching my cover. And please bear with my singing as i know it's not that great. hahaha..

But hey, do let me know what do you think about my cover yeah.. (i'm all ears for critics >,<). Post your comment on my video at youtube (embedded below) or at the comment box here at my blog!



*Subscribe to my youtube channel for more upcoming covers :p

Have a great weekend peeps!

Voting time

Alright~ Now that i've done up my first cover, i'm planning for my second one!

I'm currently learning both songs as shown below, "Love Story" by Taylor Swift and also "Grenade" by Bruno Mars. Due to my lack of skills in playing the ukulele, i'm only able to do cover for limited songs at the moment (need more practice! ><").

Would appreciate if any of you would give some feedback as which song do you prefer for my next cover? The poll is up until next Thursday (10th Jan). I shall announce the results on Friday (11th Jan) yea~ so please do vote, and stay tuned!

p/s: I'll like to thank all of my friends and family who have been really supportive and encouraged me to do song covers.. I wouldn't have done this without you guys! Thank you for subscribing on my youtube channel too~~ Many thanks!!! xoxo.

Which song to cover next?

First full cover ^^

Finally~~ I DID IT!!! My very first full cover.

Chose a short and sweet song called - The Way I Am by Ingrid Michaelson.

Hope you guys will like it~ ( And don't forget to hit the "like" and "Subscribe" button~~ Do give me some feedback so that i could further improve). :)

So here it is..... ^^

Happy 2013!!!

It's a brand new year again!!! HAPPY NEW YEAR dear readers!!!

So what's your new year's resolution? One thing about new year's resolution, i tend to forget about them after a while.. and when i look back by the end of the year, i'll get to celebrate and be proud of sulk and complain about what are the things that i've NOT done. LOL~ >.<

Okay~ so let's start with my list of things to accomplish!

1. Do at least 3 covers with my new ukulele! 

-Yeap! I bought a new ukulele recently~ New year, new hobby! hehe~~ Having only 4 strings, it's so much simpler compared to learning the guitar. Sigh.. which reminds me what a failure i am in learning the guitar. Alright, i'm determined to at least able to sing along while playing the chords on my ukulele.. ^^

Meet my new uke~ Ms. Reindeer! <3 i="i">

This is me practicing.. or ahem.. posing?! X)

2. Graduate with Masters cert.

- Have to first submit my thesis by this semester. Else this wouldn't work out for me. (Wish me luck!) :p

3. Career stability.

-I'm trying new job scope with my current company, hope that with my tiny effort, would be able to help resolve some issues at the company by bringing in new business opportunity. Well, on the other hand, i've been job-hunting for quite some time. Either way, I hope that i wouldn't need to worry about financial crisis by end of this year.

4. Lose some weight. Target -->53 KG

-OKAY..... this is a tough one. There's just too many temptations around as you all know, Malaysia is indeed a food paradise! How on earth am I gonna resist them.. >.<" Actually to hit that target is to lose about 3 kg or so. But it's really "so near, yet so far" kinda thing.. I've managed to hit that target some time in July 12', but it didn't last long until i've gained back my original weight. *sigh* Guess I have to try harder!

5. Conquer mount Kinabalu!

-Yes!!! I'm so gonna do it this year~~ I MUST CLIMB MOUNT KK NO MATTER WHAT IT TAKES!!! LOL~~~ Have been planning this for half a year now. I'll need to chase on the agent to secure our climbing permit. Didn't know that getting accomodation at Laban rata is that tough!

One of the peak at Mount Kinabalu (source: click here)

It's the same peak printed behind of our RM1 note (so gonna pose with this when i'm up there!)

Alright, let's keep these 5 on the list first (to avoid another major disappointment by the end of the year.. haha~~). And these are the top 5 in my to-do list. If I can't even accomplish these 5 tasks, i'm indeed a failure in setting any resolutions at all. I'm determined to un-check the top 5 items by end of this year.. wish me luck!