What I did in 2011

I wrote a summary of what I did in 2009, forgotten about it in 2010, and now since I still have plenty of time, I shall slowly summarize what I did in 2011 (written this starting 15th Nov).

When this year started, I was still doing Bmed science, entering the phase where I'm going to sacrifice all the rats I had. And I just came back from Guilin, China not long ago. The first most exciting event that happened early this year was the Maxis Om Nom Nom race. It's a food related amazing race around KL and Selangor, where we have to find clues and go to the next location, which are restaurants, and we're supposed to taste the food they provide and blog about the food and experience. Sadly, we didn't win anything in the race, but we came close, at a point in the race, we were 5th!!

It was a really great experience and we get to try lots of good food, for free!!! More options for meals next time, provided I still visit KL in the future =P

After having things settled in KL, I came back to Penang for Chinese New Year. I visited my relatives as usual, ate one full day of laksa cook by my aunt, which was heavenly. Besides that, I went to climb Penang Hill with Lih Shian, house visiting with friends, and also sing K with Kok Keat and the gang. I went back KL rather early, having stayed back in Butterworth for only around a week. And when I went back to KL, I hang out with Jamie and the gang again, doing house visiting and collect angpaus, playing Xbox for the first time in my life, had an awesome meal of home-cook nasi lemak and homemade ice kacang made by Shu Qeng's mum, and had an unforgettable night playing the King's game. Also, I went Seremban to visit the Seremban bunch of people and together we went Melacca for a day trip. One of the best Chinese New Year I've had, really.

After that I continued on with my research, gotten pretty frustrated at certain points when I couldn't yield any proper results. But thanks to all the great friends around who gave me help and support I manage to complete everything, obtained a BmedSc degree although it's only a second class upper, and get my paper published!

During that period of time, I did a lot of things too, not just hide inside the lab and do experiments non-stop like a mad scientist. I joined the Energizer Night Run in Sepang. It was really cool to be running on the F1 track, though that run was the worst I ever joined thanks to the lousy organizer.

I went to Genting with Vui, Yuxiang and Ickes, and guess what? We went there to camwhore!! Lol

I challenged my acrophobia once again and went to hike Bukit Tabur, and it proved to be more scary than mount KK!! Sorry guys for dragging you all from moving fast, but at the same time thanks a lot for the help!! Definitely couldn't do it without you guys!!

Hang out to JB and Singapore, my 3rd....wait...4th? visit to Singapore in a span of 3 years. Again, more camwhores and tried the curry laksa in JB!! Yumm...

Middle of the year, Leon came visit Penang twice. Once with Clarice, before she flies off and the other with Ickes, before our trip to Hong Kong. The first trip with Clarice we went to Lembah Bujang in Kedah and visited the historical site that I've wanted to visit for a long time. Other than that I guess it was all eating and eating, and Penang Hill hike. The trip with Ickes was also only consist of eating, and a visit to MengKuang dam before it closes (supposedly). It was my first time taking photo over there even though I went there countless times when I was young, and it really brings back lots of memories revisiting the place after such a long gap in between.

I also visited Sunway Lagoon with Ickes, Yuxiang and Vui, my second time being there if I remember correctly. The first being my graduating trip after form 5 with my classmates. 

As if Bukit Tabur wasn't enough, I challenged my acrophobia again shortly after my Bukit Tabur hike, this time SkyTrek. Basically you are walking on the rooftop level, some 20 meters above ground. It was thrilling, and I think my acrophobia improved somewhat after that. 

Second half of the year was filled with a lot of travelling and outings. Within a short half a year, I went Hong Kong, Hatyai and Taiwan. I had my first fishing trip with Lih Shian and her colleagues, which wasn't really pleasant with the strong waves that we experienced. Hong Kong trip would be my 3rd visit to Hong Kong, this time self-travelling, which was indeed more fun, and we stayed over at Manlo's house. With Manlo's guide, we ate lots of awesome Hong Kong delicacies and visited many places and all in all, it was an awesome trip. Hatyai trip wasn't bad either, though I stayed so close and it is so easily accessible, this was my first visit there. It is something like Vietnam, and a totally different experience than visiting those more developed countries. And most important of all, I met a bunch of great friends whom I got so close to, and eventually hang out every week with them after coming back from Hatyai. As for Taiwan, I guess it's the highlight of my year. I enjoyed Taiwan so much I want to go there once more, backpacking. The food was fantastic, the scenery wows you and the shopping experience was thrilling! One time is never enough.

During second half of the year, I also worked for 2 and a half months, as a trader. It was a good experience and I learnt more about trading and became more sensitive to economic news (only during the working period) but I doubt I will come back to this ever again. 

Christmas this year was spent at Jacky's house, doing BBQ and steamboat, with gift exchange and a drinking session, and it was my first time throwing up after having alcohol, though I reckon I didn't drank that much, only 3 bottles of Heineken and some wine. 

I guess this wraps up my hightlights in 2011, a fun-filled year indeed. And may 2012 be another exciting year as I step into another stage of life, where I'll be studying in ANU, Canberra.