I'll have my cake...and it eat it too

Belated birthday posting! I spent my 21st in Auckland by design. I wanted to avoid a big party at home (though that kinda happened). So I figured a great way to spend my birthday would be with some people I really loved in a place I'd never seen.

Oh and also jumping off the Auckland harbour bridge but that's a story for a different post.

The night before my birthday Marsha and I went to bed and then she got up and said she had to do some work for her mum. I was like huh? So late?? What are you doing. And she was like urgghhh I dunno lah she's gonna piss me off.

Then as I tried to sleep I heard some very strange noises coming from the kitchen. It sounded like she was drilling! I was in half a mind to have a look when it occurred to me she was making my birthday cake. Hehehe. And I knew she's be royally pissed if I did spoil the surprise. So I stayed in bed.



And I was right! She made me a red velvet cake! One of my faves.


The candles kept relighting. I had to blow them out a few times. Inset a dirty joke about my blowing abilities.

I forgot to make a wish until I was cutting. Haha. It was yummy! And I was so touched that Marsha made me a cake. I don't know if I had even mentioned to her before that I liked Red Velvet cake. But it was gorgeous and the nicest thing to have sitting out for me on my birthday.

Thank you Marshy Parshy!

Winter Holidays

I've been referring to these last few months as summer. Because at the end of summer I go to school in NY.

But I'm in New Zealand now, and it's winter here. I underestimated the weather. I thought I could handle it no problem. I'm alright though it can get a little cold. I was freezing yesterday even though everyone else seemed fine.

This holiday is everything I expected it to be. A long sleepover...with late nights spent talking, DVD marathons, lots and lots and lots of junk food, and some drinking (if there wasn't any drinking you know it's not me on holiday).

I'm too lazy to blog about anything else. I took pictures the other day though this holiday has been pretty light on the photos. Also we haven't done anything AMAZING. Yet. Watch this space for updates. ;)

Hope and a Cosmo

So I've been babbling a lot about how I'm worried about my US visa and all the blah blah blah that's involved with going away to another country. The last time I applied for an important visa it got declined so I was pretty nervous about this one.

I couldn't imagine anything worse than having my student visa declined. Everyone told me it would be fine but I was still worried. So I decided to power dress. I always do this when I'm nervous. Rely on clothes or some kind of accessory to make me feel better. I have had so many lucky dresses/shoes/bags it's not funny.

I decided I wanted to project Audrey Hepburn. Grown up but still fun. I woke up anxious but hopeful. I even managed to smile!


I have a problem smiling for the camera when told to smile on cue. My visa photo is pretty awful I look PISSED OFF. Lol. This is the closest I can get to friendly and approachable in a posed picture.

I bought this dress specially for the occasion. I figured it was elegant and still comfortable. Also it made me look more grown up. I look about fifteen normally. Recently this aunty asked me if I was in Form 1!!!!

The other kids applying for visas at the American Embassy were a lot more casually dressed. Either in a simple collared shirt and jeans, or a kid version of formal. You know what I mean. Boys who are trying to look more grown up but don't have the formal clothes to pull it off.

A striped dress shirt with a tie, pants that are not slacks. Girls who don't have a nicely cut shirt that looks awkward or an ill fitting skirt.

Anyways it took forever and at one point I wanted to pee soooo badly but I didn't dare go to the bathroom in case they called my number. The interview went pretty well.

Except for the guy implying I've been a slacker for the last 3 years of my life.

Visa dude: So is this a graduate program?
Me: No, it's an undergraduate program.
VD (hahahaha VD): But you're like 21/22. What have you been doing since you left school?
Me: Well I did A levels and then I took a year off.
VD: So you've just been relaxing?

Kurang ajar betul!! Lol. He was kinda friendly though. And when I told him I wanted to be a writer he said he hoped to see my work in ten years. Then he said,

"Congratulations! Your visa has been approved."

He was actually quite cute. Chinese American. Or at least a Chinese guy with a very convincing American accent. But I don't think you can fake that accent.

So it's done!!!!! There's only one way to celebrate a momentous occasion like this. With.....



ALCOHOL! Hehehe. *Hic*

I took my ladylike ass and had me a cocktail and a burger. Mmmmmm.

My mouth is still watering at the thought of that Downtown Tokyo burger. Deep fried softshell crab. Wasabi mayo. Rocket. Heaven. Mmmmmm.

I'm dreaming of a different horizon

I woke up this morning smiling and so happy. I haven't done that in a long time. Which is a shame...life's too short to be sad all the time. Not that I'm sad all the time. Just bored a lot of the time.

I'd had the most amazing dream. Sam was in it! I was just so happy to be with one of my oldest friends, even if it was just a dream. Sappy huh?

But I really miss all my friends. There's a long list of people who are not here anymore and may never come back to Malaysia.

Sam, Ming, Son, Galvin, Marsha, Marcus.

Not that long. But out of that list I've known some of those people since I was seven...been friends with them since I was nine or ten. And now I only get to see them once a year and who knows what will happen when we all start work in different corners of the world.

I must have been having a major nostalgia trip last night because I started thinking about my trip to Sabah. It was one of the best holidays I've had in a long time. I got to hang out with Son in her hometown and see a part of Malaysia that I've never really seen.

Everyone's moving away and I can't wait to as well.

I'm a little nervous about my visa after my British visa fiasco last year. I hope that all goes well with my US visa. I'm waiting for my I-20 form from Sarah Lawrence and hoping it won't mess up my travel plans to NZ. Sigh...I hate bureaucracy.

There's nothing to do but wait.

Interspersing Limbo with Moments of Lightness

I float around in a state of limbo these days. It fluctuates between pleasant and intolerable. I have the deja vu feeling of being stuck in the past when I'm dying to be in the future.

My feet are mired in the past but my head is already months ahead.

Whenever I feel like this I feel the need to go away. So I hopped on a train to Singapore with Val.


Val's an expert at going to Singapore. She knows what's the best coach to take on the overnight train. Where it stops longest. What people do in the buffet car. Which line to pick at immigration. So I was in good hands.


We went to the PS Cafe in Dempsey Road. And shared orange cake.



Traveling agrees with me. Look at how happy and relaxed I am. Hahaha. Don't tell my mother. She's gives me a lot of grief about the fact that I never look happy at home.

Singapore is not how I remember it. I was expecting concrete and bustle. People pushing and buildings mushrooming everywhere. While the city center is very developed...it's not as concrete as I expected it to be.

Around Dempsey Road there were wide pavements, trees that were old, not piddling little things supported by iron stakes. The cafe had a terrace that looked out onto trees and greenery.

And it all made me miss London. The fact that you could take the bus and count on it to show up within the next 3/5 minutes. The MRT goes everywhere. And you can walk around without fear of your handbag being snatched.

I miss being able to get around without a car. I miss having a nice local cafe you can sit in and have a cuppa and cake.

It was a good trip, mostly because Val and Francis were great and showed me a good time.