Lost In Translation

Just a VERY quick update while I'm stealing from smelliepoo's bandwidth...
I'm alive!! Yes! As some of you would've heard already, I've just survived my first week of internship at EY. Trying it is. But nevertheless, I must survive!!

I'll try to really blog about it wholly another day as I'm running short of time. Mel's gotta go out to dinner soon and I gotta run.

Life here hasn't been that great, to be honest. Work, despite just one week of it is very tiring. Uni results just came out and they aren't that great. I miss Bo Bester (hehe. sorry jon, but you didn't patent that name). And to my surprise, really, I miss City Church and all about it TO BITS (yes, that means UL too!).

Despite all the good food here, and not to forget cheap DVDs and cheap everything else, I really haven't had much time to really enjoy all that (due to work). Maybe that's the reason why I'm not really enjoying my stay here this time as much. But nevertheless, thank goodness there's a few friends around who can take me out to explore the lil nooks and corners of this large metropolitan mayhem during my (recently attained) very, very appreciated weekends.

Alright now. I've gotta run. I'll just leave you guys with something I got the first day I arrived. Tis a thing of beauty I tell you...

Hehehehehe....

It's been a while, I know.
Much has happened, but with much activity, comes exhaustion. I really wish I could blog about it all. Most optimally, I would've blogged about each event immediately after the event itself. That way, the fire would still be there in the entry, and of course, details would be far better too. But due to the FACT THAT I DO NOT HAVE INTERNET, it's not quite possible for me to do so.
So instead, I'll have to summarise. But even at that, I don't think I'll do a good job. Cuz I'm tired. It's now my nap time. I have about an hour left to nap before I head on out to go carolling in the Kluang homes tonight.
That's right, folks. It's Christmas weekend, and finally, I'm home.

After about 3 weeks in KL, I am finally home in good ol' Kluang. All is good, and I really love it here because it's been a while since a lot of my friends are gathered here together at the same time (from all over. uni, work in kl, jb, penang, etc). But of course, I do miss KL and 'em Melbournians back here as well. Friday night was such a great night spent with Jeremy, Brodie, Iris, Sharene, and Jolyn. Thanks, Sharene, for the tour. T'was the best night of my stay in KL thus far.

PS Conference was awesome. Although I could only make it to the night sessions due to work during the day, each night was nothing short of a new revelation as the preachers from down under shook the grounds of Sunway Pyramid. Some really ancient familiar faces were seen there from waaay back, and it was really good to catch up.

Church on the following Sunday at CCKL was amazing too. I was so encouraged to learn of how fast they grew, being a church of just 9 months. Starting from a mere 4 people to the average of 180 now, Ps Mark is doing a powerful job impacting the lives of young people in KL, and I am seriously in awe of them.
And they serve yummy food after service too! Which is always a plus factor

And of course, there's the food sessions held all week. (One particular one after church can be found here) Friday night, as I mentioned earlier, was the best. Unfortunately, I did not bring my camera along with me as I headed off with the group right after work, and nobody told me what the plans were. But basically, Sharene took us to KL for some really awesome dinner at a place called the Green Lotus. It is possibly the dodgiest looking place I've ever been for dinner. Located just behind Lot 10 at some seedy looking, run-down, low-cost flats, the place was so dimly lit, it looked more like a brothel from the outside. But boy, was the food AMAZING! Thai and Malay delicacies. And I couldn't stop feeding myself. The only thing to complain though, was the terrible choice of music. Brodie called it suicidal music, I think. It was terrible. It was only much later (after about an hour of being there), that they switched to some soothing jazz. Then things got better. Before that, the music was just plain horrible; we wanted to share ghost stories.

After dinner, we headed over to Jalan P.Ramlee (I think) where all the nightclubs & bars were for a stroll. We didn't head in, of course, but the whole atmosphere there was really nice. The place was well lit and decorated, one of the pubs even built a tall Christmas tree completely made out of Heineken bottles. Sweet! There were, however, a coupla bapoks hanging around, which completely freaked Brodie out, so I guess we didn't hang out there too long.

Lastly, we headed back to Jln Bukit Bintang where we buzzed around like little insects, in awe of the beautiful lights of Starhill Gallery. I tell you the truth, Starhill Gallery has got to be like... the prettiest place on the face of KL. I was cursing under my breath for not having my camera with me. But at least you can see a few of them at Sharene & Jolyn's blogs.
Everytime I go there, I go home happy.

And now, here I am in Kluang. Home. Land of the best kopitiam in Malaysia and friends and family I love.
Tonight, I'm going carolling, and tomorrow, I'll be heading back to KL. Work awaits on Tuesday.
Next weekend, The posse from Melb are heading to KK for a short holiday over New Years Eve. I wanted to tag along but air tickets are fully booked.
:(
I wonder what I'm gonna do then... I guess we'll just wait and see. Till then, I'm off to nap!

Oh, before I forget. And just in case I can't blog tomorrow,

I faced many demons.

I have changed. I am no longer the david you all knew a year back or before, I must admit. I can feel it. I can see it. And I'm sure many of you can too. I'm not saying that it's a better me, nor a worse, as that is still subjective to you. But I know I'm not the same.

This past year has once again brought new highs and new lows to my life, and it's a scary ride. On one end, I believe I've rediscovered God. Who He is. Why He is. How He is. I've also rediscovered the church. Why I'm here. Who I'm with. What do I do. And this year, once again, I've found new friends. People I've come to know over this short span of time, and yet, have formed strong ties & bonds that can't be easily broken.
On the other hand, I've been irresponsible. With what I have. With my time. With money. With so many more things I dare not mention. A new low, indeed. I have been ashamed with many of my actions this year alone, and I know I've disappointed many.
With that, I apologise truly from the bottom of my heart.

As for now, I have another year to go before I graduate now, then head on to the working world - something I'm getting a taste of at the moment, and honestly, I question myself: 'Just how am I gonna grow up in time for all these?' I seriously can't picture myself there yet, in a corporate world. But that's only given that that's where I'm headed to. God has recently been taking over the wheel a bit more, and He isn't a good driver in my opinion. I know He'll get there. Just how, I don't know. And I worry at that.

So in comes a new year now. New questions are raised. New issues have to be resolved. A new phase of life begins.
I'm sorry to everyone whom I've disappointed this year. I know there also are a few out there whom I've neglected for the better part of this year; you know who you are. I apologise.
I'm however thankful for the journey God's led me thus far. These past few months have been amazing with my newfound family in Shakers. I thank every one of you who's been there for me, believing in me, through the downs especially.

I wish everyone a beautiful 2007. Tis the year of jubilee, I believe, as Neil Smith said.
I look forward to it - its challenges, the new friends I'll be making, the changes I'll be making.
Hope you'll be along with me on this rollercoaster ride.