Way Back Into 2007

2007 is the year Pui Mun got her driving license.The entire process was a little exciting, but soon I found out there are handful of things to be taken care of while driving. I promise, I must learn reverse parking and improve on my reversing skills!!Automatic cars are just made for people like me though, or not I could have been risking somebody's lives driving manually(hmmm...nonononono!!)
"Slow and steady,always get ready"




2007 has been a turning point to me, a lot of gains, but a lot of sacrifices at the same time.It isn't that bad after all, as I did have good times with my new friends, I know good times don't always come, that's why we took so many photos this year.Yea, I actually took A LOT OF PHOTOS compared to last time,in which I think taking photos would be great with the right bunch of people in it,then only would it recall good memories.



Pui Mun received some meaningful gifts to be added into her collection this year. Special gifts from special people ,make up the price of the gift.I really enjoy the feeling of receiving d.i.y gifts, because I know they did this specially for me,with all our memories in it.=) Perhaps it's because those wonderful days that we had,which make me feel happy about it. Because the people are all of you, that's why it is special.Thank you for all the messages you guys wrote,I'll always make sure thse things do not get out of my table.
"Be tough,Pui Mun!!"


I managed to visit my pen-pal at last,just before he went abroad to Japan.It wasn't any exciting nor pleasant, but it's the satisfaction I got for fulfilling our promise,I'm glad that we did not break the promise.Perhaps we need more time until both of us will open up to each other.It feels good to have reunited with an old friend,a friend who grew up with you and still keep in touch despite we're distant.
=) Good luck and enjoy life in Tokyo,my friend!
"=) Looking forward for our next meeting,hopefully there is still one"



Finally we had another family trip after 2 years.I always believe that family trip is the time to get ourselves relaxed.But this trip was a little different, it was tiring but a trip of knowledge,an experience to get into the other part of the world,in which we care less about. Less shopping,but more money donated to the needy people.Less photos of us but more on the interesting scenes of the local people.I'm glad, that I felt something different during this trip,I'm glad it was still a trip with every one of you,Dad,Mum and Sam J!!
" Smile for every moment you spend with your family,Pui Mun!! Because it's rare,and all of them are precious"


My niece has turned to a year old this year.A warmful and simple birthday celebration was held at my house with some of the relatives and friends coming to share the joy.=) Jia Huey is really a cheerful baby who makes everyone smile,playing with her is the best medicine to kill off my boredom.But it's great to see her development, from crawling to walking,from babbling until she says "baby" precisely.
To make it better,I've newly become an older aunt with 2 more nephews present this year.Keep me wondering how would 2009 CNY be with these 3 kids around.=)This must be something interesting!!My family keeps on expanding...and expanding....
"Pui Mun's life becomes wider with the presence of these 3 babies"


I did a lot of crazy things this year.But one of them would definitely be special,I gave in to Carl's Jr, it is " the real burger king" like what SQ described it as.Delicious food come with "good" price though,the natural combination, but it's definitely worth a try,not just a bite!



I decided not to make any new year resolutions this year, because resolutions fail without my effort.=) I'll go step by step to achieve those wishes until they come true.Happy 2008 to everyone!=) I will end my post by thanking everyone to stand by me most of the time, in times of happiness and depression.
"Learn to forgive,learn to forget"
A huge thank to
Mk,Py,Cl
Val,El,Winney
Susie,Karen,Chew Lian
Lawrence,Wei Lun,Shuqian,Lester
"2007 is one of the greatest years in Pui Mun's 18th years of life"

A True Sad Cambodian History-The Killing Fields

The killing fields was another Nanjing Massacre which brought the Cambodian's History down to the darkest period-only torture and pain could be felt.

The massacre happened in the year of 1975-1979, when Pol Pot,the leader of Khmer Rouge(a communist group) took power in the capital of Cambodia-Phnom Penh.They chased away all of the city dwellers to countryside and executed educated people regardless of genders,races as well as ages.Then they turned a former school in Phnom Penh into a prison to keep all these people in it,they were in fact waiting to be killed because it was in fact a door to the death.

This was the former school which was then turned to a prison.





There are 2 floors in each block.Each block was surrouded by a electrical fence to trap all victims who were caught.Those who attempted to escape would either be electrocuted or murdered once they were caught by the soldiers.



On the second floor,they have these cells to keep the victims before they were sentenced to death.Each "room" was used to keep one victim and the size of a room is even smaller than an usual public toilet.Victims were seperated according to their status,the above picture was used to keep people who had higher social status such as lawyers and doctors.Labours on the other hand were hung by hands in a shared room.They were not allowed to turn their back nor to sit unless they were permitted by the soldiers,those who offended would be killed immediately.


The first floor is divided to many rooms with a same function-the killing room.People were sent in to be tortured to death each day through different methods such as digging out their eyeballs,cutting throat,operating stomach and some other beyond imagination ways were used.


Many children and women were buried in a mass grave.This was still not the worst because the communist also bang the children on the tree and threw them into the river WITH THE WITNESS OF THEIR MOTHER,they brought the mother of each child to witness the death of their children. Some were thrown into the sky and killed with weapons and knives.

The massacre ended in the year of 1979 when France declared Cambodia as an independant country. However, atleast more than 3 million people were killed which was about half of the population of the country at that time.This is also a reason why we hardly see those aged ones in Cambodia nowadays.Part of the skeletons are stil kept in a huge glass shelf until now.The massive number of victims were so incredible that it could be used to surround the entire Cambodia to form their country map in which those who lived in countryside did it after the incident to symbolise that the huge spread of location those victims were from.

The visit to the prison was so unforgettable that I did not take any photos of it but I spent all the time walking past every corner to picture all of these,the intensed pain those of them who had gone through, the innocent blood that flown through all over the places.They also prepare a few rooms to put on as much pictures of the victims as possible, thousands and thousands of photos flashed through my sight in which I could not remember every of their faces despite how hard I tried to.

*Sometimes,We need to understand and feel the pain of the others to remind ourselves that we already have the greatest things in life*

Photos Provided by:http://www.galenfrysinger.com/killing_fields.htm

Farewell

I had a few farewell meet-ups with my college mates before they went back to their hometown. This is something awful for me, because I had none of this while I was in secondary as well as primary school where friends are just within reach and we do have regular meet up after the separation. A feeling of sadness, but I know temporary separation will lead to a reunion in someday, soon. Coincidentally, all three friends of mine are Sarawakians, enabling me to visit three of them at once when I pay a visit to Sarawak.

Susan was the first one to leave. We had Bak Kut Teh breakfast at Chew Lian’s territory-Klang a day before she left. It was a great day, my first time and also last time sitting beside you in the train, I regret not knowing you earlier, but I’m glad that we had a comfortable chat before you left. Really hope that you will be tough to confront with your inner fear, and live a good life at Marudi. I know that you will, but maybe just another longer time to overcome it. Be strong,my friend, because “no pain, no gain”.Susan, hopefully you will achieve your goals in life =), and stay fine my friend!
Hugs Hugs Susan.



Lester@ Tigger was the second to leave then. We had our last Pyramid trip for this year on the day he left. Tigger, I didn’t want to tear in front of you, just want to wave and smile in front of you for the last time , foreseeing the next time we will meet.
I’m really glad that I’ve known such a good friend like you, that will stay crazy with me, that will chase away my fear while I was so fear of the new surrounding at the beginning of the year. From the comment you wrote to me, I knew, that not much you’ve understand me, but I understand, there isn’t anything much to write about myself, because it is just that I didn’t express everything to you, just didn’t want my this tigger friend to worry too much about me. Tigger -such a playful guy should stay happy and have fun with friends. Sorry, I might not be a very good friend to you, but you certainly are a good friend in my eyes.I'm not as joyful as you thought me as.=)Thank you for the good and crazy moments, haha, I’ll never forget the day when we were riding roller-coaster together and laughed all the way till the end.
Happiness is what I gained from you all. Not only am I glad but I feel grateful to have known a friend like you. Because everyone of you is so special to me, really really sparkling my life.
Thank you my friend, you might not read this but just want to wish you all the best in life!
With everything in your hands, maybe K as well ,tigger. =)Minnie mouse will always pray for you that you're happy everly after.
Hugs Hugs Tigger.



Susie @ SSSS was the last to leave.I did everything that I could with Susie, my sarawakian friend before she left KL, a few nights of sleeping over at my place, shopping together, playing uno cards and basically everything that we will usually do and have not tried doing before. Susie is the one that understands me the best in the course, a true friend I’ve found here, someone that will provide me a feeling of security while I am talking to her. Susie, you’re really an awesome friend, a true listener. I miss ss-ing with you, miss singing in front of you and all the crazy things I did that only you will tolerate it, but no others in the gang. Perhaps among the gang, that only you’ve seen my depression like my other close friends, not just the craziness of mine like what others would think of.
For this time, that I really think ‘ God, please take away all my confidence, because I just want to be alone this time”. I’m not as brave as what you said, but I do gain a lot of strength and motivation from you, and also from my primary and secondary buddies.
But this time, I really feel the fear, fear of falling, fear of the feeling that it brings when all these happen. I do not want myself to live in fear always, building up the protective wall against all odd again. I will do my best ,to learn to forgive and forget, like what all of you would advise me of. Because, for this time, I’m just losing to myself, and so put the blame on me, it's my mistake.
Take care Susie. I would never forget our promise in 2008.

Hugs Hugs Susie!


At that time , hopefully you’ll see a courageous, bravo and independent Pui Mun. I can do it!


Lastly, I would never forget Optimus Prime who has gone back to Singapore.=) Creatively evil Optimus Prime, you owe me chicken rice balls and a heavy lunch.
Hopefully you will obtain your license soon, and drive safe okay lim peh XD!!


See you guys again, in 2008!! I know,that we will meet each other soon!=)

I Feel So Proud, Because Of All Of You

Together we walked through the past 9 months, we battled for the toughest fight -TEE Externals, together we created little suprises to delight each other.Maybe it was because of the prolonged period we stayed together for the long hour classes, we somehow have something in common with each other, built up several similarities within our gang.

I feel so proud and glad,because of the existence of everyone of you.
All of you have significantly reduced my pain when I was loaded with tones of presentations and assignments. A cold joke, a chatty lunch, a pillow talk or just simply a hug made me feel the sweetness to have good friends with us most of the time. Although our separation is not far from now, I feel glad that everyone of you filled my 18 years old with different colours,which will be cascaded down all the way remain unfaded. Thank you for making me to believe that, Pui Mun is able to go out of the boudary and experience something new. Thank you for tolerating my fear whenever I feel the discomfort of being with certain people.

Specially thanks to :
Susie, Karen , Catherine, Chew Lian, Ai Suan,Lester,Lawrence,Wei Lun, Shu Qian.

Every Gift Has A Little Story Behind It

This is a gift from my primary buddy,Chuan Ling which I received when I was 12(primary 6).Nothing special for its photo frame,but the photo which is framed in it that is significant.Primary 6 was the year we got to know each other ,sacarstically it was alo the year we had to be seperated to different schools.=)I'm happy that you left such a memorable gift for me before the end of 2001, the end of our sweet primary hours.




A reward for my effort.Enough said,I thank myself for making myself to believe that I'm capable of doing desired things when I work hard on it.This works the same on everyone of you!!



I received a D.I.Y photo frame from my secondary buddy,Eileen to be precise. Munx2 or Lao Po was what she would call me in school, I'm glad to have such nice nicknames although "Lao Po" might sound wrong for our relationship,hahaha!Perhaps this is why I like this birthday present so much, because I see the effort in you ,to maintain our ordinary yet sparkling friendship.



I got this on high school graduation night 2006 from Winney.She gave a copy to Eileen,Valerie and I. A rememberance of our craziness, together-ness,passionate in which we have gone through a lot of things together. =) All of you definitely made my secondary days a whole lot better, it might just be because of a lame joke you told me, a silly thing you did or even a problem you wanted to share with me, which saved me from my glommy days in school XD. Thank you




I would never forget the day they gave me this , the day I left PBSM and secretary position.This is a gift as a token of appreciation toward my contribution to the society, maybe not much but the same old Pui Mun's principle- always try to make things better ,maybe just by a little"! I really did understand that holding PBSM is difficult in a girl-school, hehe,with male dominated positions all replaced by females here(winney screamed: squad,keluar baris XD), and every decision,planning had to be well organized regardless the time and effort that had to be duplicated with fewer amount of members in our school. Thank you for making things happening, atleast happening to us.=) Cheers to all these Sweet juniors!



=) Many of you knew that I went for youth exchange last year, and brought back a lot of exciting memories as well as gifts. Trust me,they would never allow you home with empty luggage,but will stuff you will all sorts of gifts.
I gained a very special experience on my Japan trip- photoshoot at studio in kimono.
They brought me to the studio to dress up,everything was nicely done from outfit to hair, just for my farewell party. My host family brought me to take photos at studio in the morning,then to a few houses of their relatives to introduce me to them before I pack my bags home to Malaysia.=)I was treated like a doll,but their friendliness was always impressive,which made me wanting to serve them good as well,ensuring that it was not an 'one-sided' hospitality.The sisters in the family also gave me a winnie the pooh frame because they knew that I fancy Pooh a lot!!




Not only do I had good times with my host family at Japan,but I've met very nice Malaysian friends which were in my group,the few dependence of mine while I was in Japan. I do keep in touch with a few of them,those who come from different states,but somehow having something in common within us.I'm J234 Chong Pui Mun, youth exchangee who went to Japan in 2006, remember!!




=) Ms Julie-my first piano teacher was the one who brought me to an inner world of piano.Sadly I was unable to be under her guidance until the completion of my full 8 grades,because of the incidence that happened on her. I will always remember her-the Ms Julie that would have cute stamps chopped on theory book for my great work, giving me candies while I was bored doing her work, not to forget the christmas piano score she gave me,the last gift I could ever get from her. I still believe one day that I could perform to you my piano skills,to make you proud teacher!Thank you so much teacher!!



My sister,San Jie gave me this on my 17th birthday.=) She's observant,doing unexpected things to people around her sometimes.I knew she took time in looking for this cornetto's ice-cream since it is a limited edition.=) I decided not to show my care to you by words,but by every thing I'll do to you since then.




Remember this MK XD? Amor is love in Latin,Romanian,Spanish,Catalan and Portuguese.
It represents our ever blooming and love for our friendship. Amor amor amor amor amor!! I bet you would understand every bit of it without having me to speak much about it. Amor Mk!! =D


This is definitely one unexpected gift from you which came to me one day when the postman rang my doorbell.Not because of the signature on the album,neither does the tiny tube which has got my name on it.=)But the heart matters!! Thankful beyond description, I really appreciate for what you have done.And you'll get one in return!!Thank you ge ge, but no more wasting so much money next time ok??



I barely believe this when I got this from my college buddy-Lester.I was a little shocked when one ordinary day Susie stuffed this to me, eemmm, hand painted sand art..for me at the age 18? XD But once I read the sentences behind it, I feel happy.Happy that I've such a nice,playful friend who will not forget to write for his friends to show his care for them. XD Next time I'll buy a toy for you,ok? Thank you tigger my friend!!

Thinking that I've no gift to you all despite receiving so many gifts from you all?

Nah Nah Nah..Let me show you something




All of you are always surrounding me everyday,can even spot the faces of you all in my room.=D Because

""The most precious gift we can offer others is our presence. When mindfulness embraces those we love, they will bloom like flowers."
- Ven. Thich Nhat Hanh-

Pray for you all to live a good life always,and will always do.

记得要忘 记

活在这个世界上 ， 需要记得所有的 经历恐怕是很困 难的事情， 但对我来说每一件事 情都记得也不见得 是一件 好事， 因为生活经历 累积得越多 ，想更快跨越伤心 事的想法就会油 然而生， 毕竟人生下来也 不只是为 了享受人 生中美好的部分 ，而是需要亲身体 验更多难熬的关 子 ， 才懂得珍惜 ， 学会忘记悲 伤 ， 学会用自己 的方法来 安慰自己 ， 更晓得自己潜在的力量 ， 在紧要关头要懂 得爬起来， 看看自己需 要走的路， 唉 ， 还是有需要 完 成的事情啊 ！ ！ 这就是人生吧 ， 就像世界可不会因 为一个人的难 过而停止了 原本的运转 一样 ， 要流逝的 时间也终究会过 去。

当你难过的时候 ， 请记得回头看看 曾经陪伴过你的 快乐，我相信快乐 的感觉会驱走忧 郁 。
当你无助的时候 ， 请记得提醒你自己 你并不可怜 ， 因为如果可怜的话 ， 你不会拥有足 够的勇气活到今天 .
当你想哭的时候 ， 请记得安静地关 上门哭泣 ，毕竟这是 自己能够坦然的 对自己的感觉诚 实的时候， 哭完天不会放晴， 只是心不再那么地 郁闷。


如果想要自己活 得好一点， 快乐一 些， 请记得要忘记 该忘掉的事情 ，这也包括 了该放下的人 。 也许悲伤的事情如果来 的 合 时 将 会 变 成 快 乐 的 事 情 ， 该 放 下 的 人 如 果 遇 对 了 时 间 会 变成不该错过的人 ，只是 一旦变成 了悲伤 ，请学会看清 这残忍的决定 ，学会放下只 是为了走更远 的路 ，让自己的 心好好地准备接下 来的惊喜与不一定 ，生命不止存 在于被计划的事情 ，因为会不 期而遇的事情 往往会来得更 多 。 生活会变得有 价值是因为 我们被别人记 得我们的存在 ，所以才会 显得我们的价值 。

所以 ，朋 友 ，放弃并不是 一 件坏事 ， 当已经没 办法再维持下去 的时候 ， 记得要忘记原来就 不该开始 的东西 ，不属于自己 的东西 ，总有一天会 有离开的一 天 。 =)谁知道离开过 后 ，以后会有 更好的命运降 临 在我们的身上呢？活 在 当 下 ， 要学会对自己好一些 ， 为自己 开通了心 门 ，才能懂得看透更 多，你开始 懂了吗 ？

Left Brain VS Right Brain

Have you ever wondered whether you're left brained or right brained person?
When I flipped through the newspaper today and an interesting article caught my eye, it is about the the brain functioning besides body coordination. Come to think of it,everyone of us thinks differently based on our preference for the style of thinking,whether we are left-brained or right-brained people.

Left-brained people are generally more rational and analytical which lead them to a task-orientated life while right-brained people have high creativity and flexibility.Many of us are more to one of these styles of thinking although there are some who are more whole brained and equally adept to both modes. That brings a lot of my doubt,
" Does this mean that left-brained people and right-brained people will never do things the same because they have different thinking style?"

Out of curiousity,I went online to have a mini research on this topic,more about the way to know my brain better since I've no hint on the type of thinking style which I practise.This is where I found something interesting, our daily practises somehow give some clue to the dominant hemisphere of our brain.

Try out this simple test:
When you turn around,do you turn clockwise or anti-clockwise?
If clockwise, then you use more of the right side of the brain and vice versa.

LEFT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses logic,detail oriented,facts rule,words and language
present and past,math and science,can comprehend,knowing
acknowledges,order/pattern perception,knows object name
reality based,forms strategies,practical,safe


RIGHT BRAIN FUNCTIONS
uses feeling,"big picture" oriented,imagination rules
symbols and images,present and future,philosophy & religion
can "get it" (i.e. meaning),believes,appreciates
spatial perception,knows object function,fantasy based
presents possibilities,impetuous,risk taking

After all, I feel that it is actually not ourselves that determine our thinking completely, the brain has set it for us to think it in certain ways ,just like right-brained people will day dream more but left-brained people are more practical.It is how our brain coordinates and bring us to different decision.See the logic? Hmm..brain is actually the determinant of my life!!!

OOO,so next time if I ever did something incredible, I can proudly say
" because I'm 36% of a right-brained person who takes risk" XD

What happens to the rest of 67%?

Future

Recently I've seen many of my friends wandering around in the middle of the crossroads,feeling miserable about their future without knowing what to do and which to decide for their later life. Some feel upset for their not resulting academic performance despite many efforts have been put in,some do not have the confidence to pick on the course which they are interested in the most ,or worst come to worst,some do not have a hint of what to do in future.

I do not know the best way to calm down the fear in them because I'm nothing better than them ,I've my own worries for my future as well.It is just that I chosed to go one step by one step to achieve my own dreams, those ambitions which I think are attainable and reachable for me to go through it. Reality has taught me a lot to stop dreaming about what I really wanted to do,because I understand that I do not solely live my myself,but there are too much external factors to intervene in my decision, sad but this is something I have already accepted it since long time ago. Perhaps this is the reason I always tell people that
" Pui Mun is a person who seldom dreams, do not have an exact dream but only will work on what she thinks she can do it,not something which she loves the most".

Many of us always have the obligation in us which makes us think that we are responsible to think of the others as well besides of our own desires.My advice to many of you is that to think of a life which you feel that it is not too difficult for you to carry on ,because not all big dreams turn out to be big achievements,but to think of what you can do and not too far from your interest, as there is always an intermediary between dream and reality.Just like what we always hear,we would need to sacrifice something to achieve something else. If our dreams can't be a reality, then you know it's the time to have some changes and go in between it, not the exact desire but atleast it is not something far from it, be it just slightly associated with it.
" Do what you can do,not what others can do!!"

=) Keeping a positive attitude will maintain your motivation to work till the end,maybe that's not the desired destination but it is not necessary to think that only by achieving dreams that only one can be successful and satisfied. Anything that can make you feel that you're an useful resource to it can be a satisfactory reason to make you feel successful as well,and keeping your life happy and simple,with stable income and job. I do not know how many of you will agree with this thought,but simple thing always turns out to be happy, although this is what I think.=) I see kindergarden teachers as well as a hair-stylists are dedicated and satisfied with their job,although they undergo repeating routine daily.
" Sometimes being simple is not a bad thing, =) just go one step by one step,not to skip the process which will make you grow up"

Of course my reason to blog about this is not to demotivate everyone here to not have high dreams on their own future,=)but just keep your pace at a considerable rate and have alternatives ,=) do not keep your door shut to one option!!
"Be brave enough to think and to try , be it a small little ambition"

Good luck my friends!!

Mooncake festival

Mooncake festival is one of my favourite festivals not solely because of the mooncake I get to eat during this occasion but it always gives me an impression of family reunion and reunited when this day comes.XD The round moon is such a nice symbol to represent the feeling of home and the warm family members it consists.

Speaking about mooncake festival,it is getting more commercialised and modernised with the invention of new flavours of mooncakes as well as the more "canggih"
lanterns.I still remembered when I was young,I used to play the traditional kind of lantern which was made by coloured paper or maybe something better than that,the plastic ones.



My mom just bought an electronic lantern for my niece recently.When you push up the button and the music starts to begin,of course,nowadays the lantern manufacture has improved a lot because not only do I hear chinese traditional songs but they have now included some nurturing songs as well.
Compared to todays' kids..I know my young time was.....



*out*
There wasn't even a Hello Kitty lantern during my times .

Be it outdated,I still prefer my times where I could be so anxiously waiting for the arrival of mooncake festival and had a joyful night playing candles and lanterns with my sisters,celebrating it with relatives which gave me a better feeling of the significance behind this festival-人圆月团圆 .I bet todays' kids have definitely missed out the great fun and the special feel we felt for this day.=) Hopefully the new generation never forgets the story about the greatman for his sacrifices which contributed to the occurence of Mooncake festival and understands the values the story it contain,which is part of the beauty of chinese culture.


Happy Mooncake festival and never forgets to eat mooncake-Pui Mun's advice.