Note to self:

To myself, 

After wandering at all the career fair and education fair.

After thinking about what to take over and over again.

After weeks of google-ing and internet researches. 

After all and all,

I've finally make up my mind, 

And chose the Pre University course desired.

And the final answer to all the questions friends/relatives/parents posed to me asking what's next after SPM will be Australian Matriculation (AUSMAT) I know many would ask me to go for A-Levels but I do have my reasons why I opt to do so. Well, there are a many, but I've narrowed it down to a few. 

Okay, one of the main reason I chose Ausmat is it is one of the fastest track to universities. As I do not plan for a direct entry into Universities in UK (though I really want to but financially I'm stuck :( so yeah)  Ausmat is just a 11 month course and it comprises a 50-50 internal and external assessment, which is 50% coursework and 50% exams. In my opinion, this is why Ausmat stands out more than A-Levels. The 50% Coursework might (will) give me an opportunity to learn how to socialise with others, for to me is what the real world looks like. I couldn't and wouldn't want myself  being all anti-social. Okay maybe not anti-social, just maybe not so good at communicating with others.

And why I chose Sunway College? Hmmmm It's definitely because It's very near to Monash University (where my elder sister study) and we can car pool together. AND, Sunway College has been quite a reputable college, so there's no need to fret about the pre-u taken is not recognised. And only Sunway College (KL Campus) Ausmat students are entitled to a Curtin University Scholarship in Perth :) And so on so forth...

So, college has started about a month. Everything is well and fine. No financial issues for now. But my fingers are crossed. :X Really hope to get a 9A+ in SPM  in order to get a full scholarship for Pre-U. This is still bugging me, quite often :/ 

Besides those, college is fun. Everything is so enjoyable. I'm going for commerce, though I'm from a pure science stream knowledge base student. What I am learning now, I'm enjoying it very much! I'm so glad that I do not have to face Chemistry any more, like seriously! I'm actually very grateful and thankful that I am able to pursue what I have interest in. 

Oh and I have been joining the college's CF! Like finally huh?! I went with Desmond before the week for CNY. So glad that he told me where the place is if not I could've been late and lost out there XD It's nice but a lil too cold, probably I've stayed in the library for too long. Anyway, all has been well. Just hoping to join more clubs (but not to many) and have fun before university life begins. 

About Universities. Money is a big issue. Idk, yet. It still all depends on my results and so on so forth. So that shall be discussed or rather I say, concluded later. 

Striving hard for a better future! 

Promised myself to achieve my new year resolutions, and one of it is ATAR 95. So I will be working my ass off this year! Please don't call me a nerd/geek, if you were in my shoes you would do the same. 

Signing off,

Cynthea 

Getting back to nature at Sarawak'2012 (Part III)

And after the refreshing Paku Waterfall, we had a simple lunch. And then we ( me and both of my sis) departed from our parents and cousins. 3 of us left for Camp 5, which is the place where we're gonna stay and climb the pinnacles the next day. Well. How are we supposed to reach Camp 5 then? BY FOOT! and it is a 8.8km walk which is also equals to a 8800m walk, with all your water and clothes and sleeping bag and stuff. It's not easy man.

That's what I said earlier, be grateful of the boat ride. We started off strong. Then we started to feel tired, especially our shoulders. The bag just seems to get heavier when you walk longer. And it's not ordinary plank wood walk. It's the jungle walk with muds and insects and cob webs. AND LEECH >< And I thought of a mental game to play with my sisters, just to distract our mind off. Then we played the alphabet game, where everyone takes turn to say an adjective, starting from A-Z. Then both of my sis soon become too tired too talk. They say it's a waste of their saliva. Oh well then I thought of this poem.

The numbers are just a lie

to fool your mind

so you think you can fly

and reach the sky

with all your supplies 

so you wouldn't die 

AND SO WE FINALLY REACH! And we really thanked God that id didn't rain all the way! Like when we settled our stuff it started to rain! And when it rains, it POURS! 

It's raining so heavily! 

 And trust me we had dinner at 6pm. And 6pm is that dark. Look the photo below.

So dark that we had to walk with our torch!

Their small yet big kitchen

And after dinner we washed up. And started setting up the mosquito netting. We've grow up in the city and have never used a mosquito netting at all. Well, I personally feel that I am living back in the 90s. LOL

NO DOOR NO FAN. TAKE THAT!

And we went to bed at 7.30p.m. I mean like, what can you do over there? No phone, no line, nothing to play at all. So we chatted for a while and get as much rest as possible as we're climbing the pinnacles tomorrow. :)

December 30, 2012

IT'S THE D-DAY! We woke up at 5 and had our breakfast at 6. And one thing about their meal proportion is the quantity is very big! They serve fried rice for breakfast, ant it's like two big bowls of fried rice with soup and an egg and jelly and juice. Who eats that much for breakfast, as early as 5? 

Okay so get ourselves equipped and prepared. Did some warm up. I was feeling so nervous about the hike. And around 6.30am we left. We had two guides and another two tourist with us. Anthea leads first and second goes to Alethea. And then me and those two tourist behind.

So the first few metres is just walking. Then it soon involves climbing. It is sort of like rock climbing, with real rocks. Then later Anthea starts grumbling and gave up. So left two of us. And probably another few metres of climb Alethea gave up. And so left me, the two tourist and the two guide. One of the guide even offered to take my water bottle. OH and FYI, we have to carry a minimum of 3liters of water up. One is to be left at the middle point of the hill for collection when we're coming down. And so we climb. climb climb. It was really really really really really very tiring and exhausting. I just keep on counting numbers and keep telling myself not to give up. I keep on reminding myself that there's no second chance for me to come again so I have to continue to go for it! And I thought of Nick Vujicic. So I continue going. And I finally reached the mini pinnacles.

This is sort of the route. It's pure jungle route. 

And so we continue. We cannot afford to lose any time because we have to reach the 3rd point (slightly before reaching the top) before 11 am. If not you have to turn back because you wouldn't have enough time to go down the mountain. After putting in so much effort, how could I even possibly give up now? No way, I told myself. And then.......

I MADE IT! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

It is really nice up there. They said it's around 18 degrees up there but I couldn't really feel it cause I sweat all the way up. Oh and they really have good line up there! Hahaha 

I like this the most :)

And after those photo shooting up there, I had my lunch. It tasted extra yummy cause I carried it all the way up and I was super hungry already! I also had some energy bar because I was so so so hungry! I wish I had one gallon of 100 plus that time. So thirsty hungry sweaty.

And then I started my journey down. And my oh my oh my. Coming down requires more energy then going up. I have the feeling of just bouncing down only you know? Like can I just roll down like a ball. So freaking tired man. But then I still try to be very positive out of stuff. I told myself even If I want to give up I have to go down right? So whenever there's rope I slide down (of course I'm wearing gloves) and the guide was amazed o.O

And when I cam down. I quickly meet up with my sisters and went to the river to cool down. My muscles were aching already then. I just feel so relaxed and thankful that everything went well.

Overview of the pinnacles 

And then after I washed up I took a nap for a while cause I was really really really exhausted. I slept till dinner time. After dinner I washed up and went straight to bed. My sisters on the other side were chatting so annoyingly but oh well I was so tired by then. I put on so much Deep Heat Rub on my calf and shoulders cause my muscles really ache. 

And there goes a meaning day

December 31, 2013

Woke up and packed all the stuff. Ready to leave to the Resort (where mum stays) and back to Miri and KL! But before that, we had to walk another 8.8km T.T Seriously I really like the long boat now. Muscles aching already but still have to walk for so long, with the bags! I rather run without the bags.

And we sat the long boat back. SO GLAD to have the long boat. And we were singing. And this song fits our shoes perfectly.

I'm Coming Home

Coming Home

Tell the World I'm Coming Home

Let the rain 

Wash away

All the pain of yesterday 

 That fits so well. Until this song came up

I knew you were trouble when you walked in 

HAHAHA We immediately laughed! 

And then Althea and Anthea is singing the Hall Of Fame and changed it to Hall Of Shame because they didn't mange to reach the peak. 

And so we got back. Everything was so good. The bed, the fan, the air con, the plank wood floor, the van; Just plain everything is fine! We certainly feel much more blessed and grateful for everything we had now, especially air con. But for me I prefer my toilet. Oh I just love the way how I arrange my shampoo, soap, conditioner, face soap, hair oil and stuff nicely. I missed my toilet the most. My green toilet :) 

And we still managed to got back to KL before midnight. And Anthea and I went to Church to countdown! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 

Great year ahead (I know it's a bit late to say this for now) 

Getting back to nature at Sarawak'2012 (Part II)

December 28, 2012

And so after settling all our luggage and load some stuff at the resort, we came out and explore the resort. 

Enjoying the refreshing drink from a pure bamboo cup

Like A Boss 

And because the tour package does not include lunch for this day, so we went out to search for a place to eat food. And we found out that there is just one cafe out there, so we decided to give it a go. Cause we're gonna have the resort food for dinner, so why not try something else? 

It may seems a lil run-down but trust me the food was okay. I personally do not expect much from here anyway :) Moving on, we took a Jeep ride to the Mulu National HQ, and we the 'city kids' enjoyed the ride. We feel like those Bangladesh workers LOL 

Hold on tight JIM!

 After 10 minutes ride.......

I feel so blessed to actually have this opportunity to visit one of the world heritage area with my family members. The fact that they agreed to have a trip to Sarawak, our own country rather than to places like Hong Kong or Taiwan etcetera. 

Feels so proud :)

And then the plank walk begins. Easy-breasy! Just plain walking enjoying the floras around and the natural breeze.

The ancient people used to bury those dead in here :/ How creepy

And then while walking we saw two millipede mating. We actually saw 3 pairs of millipede mating. HAHA

The we head off straight to Lang Cave. To be really honest, this lang cave is really windy especially when we went nearby the river inside the cave. I even drank from the river. So refreshing and cooling :)

 I took quite some photos but the outcomes aren't really satisfying. So here's a sneak peak of it.

Group photo before leaving  to deer cave

Then we went straight to deer cave. And I personally think that deer cave is much more windy than the Lang cave.

After all the exploration, we feel so sticky and dirty and sweaty. And the last thing we do before we head back to the resort is the bat observatory! We were already so tired by the time but we've pulled it through anyway :)

And the one of the reasons why bat flies in formation is to actually scare off their enemy/predator. After flying for a few metres in formation then only will they break the formation and go look for food. And because they fly during evening hence the MAS airlines have to stop flying since 3 p.m. to give way to the bats. 

 

And later on we went back to the resort and clean ourselves up and had dinner in the resort itself. And we were all so tired we fall flat right after dinner. Me and my sis (Anthea) is in the same room started packing for the stuff we need for the pinnacles trip. And there goes this day :D

December 29, 2012 

Today is the pre-hiking day. Okay first, we sat the long boat to the market. And trust me, it's not the kind of pasar pagi in kl. It's a handicraft market! YAY :) It's where those lady in the village made and sell some traditional stuff (there's one flute or sth idk that you use your nose to blow it, i'm serious!) and some key chains and stuff. 

They've built this ladder just for the dog 

Our gov. builiding new houses for them

And this is how the market looks like. No crowd. Like only the tourist. And by tourist I mean 99% is all ang mohs and 1% Asians = us

The we head straight to Deer cave and the Paku Waterfall. Oh and our main transportation is using either the longboat or by foot. So be grateful when you have the chance to sit the long boat, you'll see later why I said so.

Jim, Timothy and Charlotte

And here's some view inside of the cave. The outcomes are just not really satisfying. My flash either doesn't work or it's too bright. So yeah -,-

A group shot before immersing ourselves  into the cool waterfall

We were all sweaty and hot after the cave exploration. The waterfall just seem so tempting! And when we touch the water....... It's freezing cold and I mean FREEZING. We have to like shout while going in cause it's really freezing cold. But when you got all in and started playing it's all fun then :)

 And so before I officially start the pinnacles 'trip in the trip', let's take a short break.