MY JOURNEY

A love letter

2012-01-15T15:38:00.000+08:00

It has been two years since I last updated my blog. Many things have happened. To briefly name a few... I toured Bali in Dec 2010... went for National Service from Jan to March 2011... started college in April 2011... got my driving licence in June... lost a substantial abount of fat (and gained muscles)... I would like to start my blog this year by giving tribute to my mother by sharing a letter that I wrote to her last year on Mother's Day.

Dear mum...

If I want to thank you for everything you have done for me, a lifetime wouldn't be enough for me to say it. You have done so many things for me that sometimes I even forget or overlook the little sacrifices you are still making for me. During my time in National Service, there was one class session about being thankful to your parents. We were all given a letter fold envelope to write to our parents or whoever we feel thankful to and of course the letter was written to you. This was the only time in NS when I actually cried (besides Tora's disappearance) and as I wrote the letter, I began to realize how much you have done for me and how little I have done in return.

If somebody were to ask me to describe my mother, I would describe you as cheerful, easy going, kind, loving and so much more. But the other part of my mother which so few people see and know is her strong will, her bravery, her willingness and the amount of love she has for her children. I have never really thanked you for being such a strong woman for our family before. Today, I want to truly thank you from the bottom of my heart for not giving up on Debbie and me during the absence of dad, leaving you to raise us alone. It must have been a very difficult journey filled with pain and sorrow, but thank you for loving us enough to pull through. There isn't any mother out there whom I can look upon with higher respect than my own mother. And when most of the boys claim their fathers as their role model, I have my mother as mine.

Everything I have now is all thanks to you and everything that I can be proud of, I have because of you. I am confident and speak well because I have a mother who taught me well. I can play all sorts of musical instruments because I have a mother who took the effort to send me for classes. I can dance because I have a mother who believed in giving the best she could in all aspects to her children. I can bowl because I have a mother who continues to trust in me even though I failed over and over again. I have moral values because I have a mother who believes in what she stands for. I have salvation because I have a mother who leads me spiritually. I have everything I have today because of my mother!

Even though in the future, I might not be able to give you a big house or flashy cars, I will always take care of you and give you the best I can. And just to let you know, although without having a father at my side, I still have a perfect family just as anyone else for I have a mum whose heart is big enough to carry both roles. Please do not ever feel sad that you couldn't give your children a perfect family because you did. I would never trade the amount of love you have given me for a father. And I am truly so blessed to have this opportunity of having someone as close to me as you!

I actually planned to write you a letter for a long time and decided to do it on Mother's day. Due to my heavy schedule these past few days, I kept procrastinating until I never got it done. I am sorry this is so last minute. I actually thought of postponing it to another year or another event but I really want you to know today. Please know that no matter what happens or whatever things that come into my life while growing up, nothing will be able to change how important you are to me and how much I love you. I'm sorry if I had made you feel any smaller in my life than you used to be through my actions but take note that nothing has changed. You will always hold the highest place in my life. This letter is merely the surface of how much I want to express my love and gratitude. Sometimes, words don't really matter… I'll let my actions prove it ;) I love you mum! Happy Mother's Day!!!

Water baptism

2011-01-02T03:04:00.009+08:00

On 17 October 2010, I was baptized by Pastor Timothy at Calvary Church. It was a great experience and also a *wet* one... ;) I was the first to be baptized and I didn’t know what to expect when I stepped into the pool. Somehow things seemed so blurry and awkward. Everything happened so fast at that moment. Although I was briefed about the procedure, I was still caught off guard as I just couldn't brace myself for it. All in all, I had a good time and I'm happy that it is finally over and done with. May this declaration of faith brings greater things in my walk with Christ. Below is the testimony which I shared in one of the prayer meetings prior to my baptism... :)

"Being born in a Christian family, I was introduced to Christ at a very young age and although I can’t remember the exact date of accepting Jesus as my personal Lord and Saviour, I would think that by the age of seven, I would have already done so. Throughout my daily walk with God, He has never failed me and has continued touching my life in marvelous ways. Christ is EVERYTHING to me. He is my rock, my shelter, Father, friend and so much more. I am ever so grateful to Him"

God bless all of you... Take care~

Flashback - Bowling tournaments in 2010

2011-01-02T01:23:00.017+08:00

(1) 33rd Canon Malaysian International Open - March 2010

This tournament was one of the best and worst experiences I ever had in bowling so far. Here is just a short insight of what happened throughout the tournament. First, I chose to play for the Boys Graded division. After 5mq’s, I got 10th placing in the top 18 chosen with an average of 201 over 6 games and in the finals I managed to get 8th place and got a prize money of RM200.

(Highest game)

(Highest series )

Then I decided to try out for the Men’s graded division. I played a total of 3mq’s and managed to secure 12th placing among the chosen 33 bowlers with an average of 221. It was a real achievement for me as I played may highest 3-game series with a total pinfall of 707 pins which is equivalent to an average of 236. My scores were 215, 279 and 213. Up till now, 279 is my highest score. However, I did not play well in the finals. Overall, this entire tournament has been an enriching experience. All glory to God! =D

(2) Little Champs Invitation Event SIRI2 - August 2010

I started off with a lousy score of 149 and felt very disheartened as the chances were... I could not qualify for the step ladder with such a lousy score. On top of that, it was a 6-game format, meaning I had only 5 games to cover the pin gap. Anyway, I managed to pull my average up to 186. I wasn’t happy with my overall performance as I felt I could have at least a 195 average. Just when I was about to leave the alley, the final results came out and I managed to get into the 7th placing.
It was time for the step ladder tournament. I had to face two other opponents in a 1-game elimination match for the quarter finals. I bowled a score of 258, securing a place in the semi-finals and also a trophy. However, I played a low game of 179 in the semi-finals and ended up with 4th placing. All in all, I was quite happy with the overall result. It was really a blessing for me not only to qualify into the top 8 but also to be able to gain back the confidence I needed as well. Praise God~

My stay with host family in Osaka, Japan

2010-07-10T00:00:00.015+08:00

The apprehension of meeting my host family in Osaka will remain crystal clear in my mind as it was the most nervous moment throughout my trip in

Japan

. I could still remember worrying over simple things such as removing my shoes, taking a bath and so on. And I had mixed emotions when I met my Okasan at the Shinkansen station.

The minute I stepped into the house, I was greeted warmly by the house dog named Poochie and we became good friends instantly. The houses there are smaller as compared to those in Malaysia but they still exude the comfort and coziness of a home. During dinner time, I became anxious as I was afraid of making mistakes. The notion of learning from mistakes then evaporated from my mind.

I could feel the intensity increasing immensely whereby I needed to be aware of my every single move but very quickly, my host family put my heart at ease. I ended up enjoying every single meal during my entire stay. They were kind and hospitable and made my stay enjoyable. Among the many types of Japanese dishes prepared by my host mother, I also tasted some popular food like Okonomiyaki, also known as Japanese pizza and Soba, thin Japanese noodles made from buckwheat, served either chilled with a dipping sauce or in hot broth as a noodle soup.

Besides attending school and going to Universal Studio, I got to visit places where I had hands-on experiences. The first place was a soap making shop where my host mother works in. I made my first soap there and brought it back to Malaysia.

Next was a special shop that served Japanese tofu. The interesting fact about this tofu shop is that the shop remains the way it was, preserving the structure of previous century. In addition, there was a collection of antiques. The shop owner allowed us to take a look upstairs where the collection was kept and I was fascinated with the traditional kimono, Japanese musical instruments and paintings. There were also varieties of cups and pots on display.

The last place was the mochi shop where I was given the opportunity to make mochi (Japanese rice cake) and attempted tasks like pounding the rice, preparing the ingredients and stuffing the red bean paste.

The time spent with my host family was the best experience in my life and I even tried on a real kimono. But the most important part of all is the bond that I’ve established with my host family. I will never forget them and cherish the unforgettable moment I had during the entire home stay. It was blissful, educational and fun. God bless my host family.

Japan (AFS JENESYS Program 2009)

2010-06-08T13:07:00.024+08:00

I would like to start off by thanking and praising God for such a wonderful opportunity to be able to visit

Japan

. In October last year I was awarded the “JENESYS Program Scholarship” to

Japan

for two weeks, from 2 December to 17 December 2009.

JENESYS program is not only a once in a lifetime experience but it is also a learning process for me. Besides learning the Japanese culture for example, saying ‘Itadakimas’ before having a meal to moral values such as tolerance, forgiveness and endurance, JENESYS has given me something more valuable and that is friendship.

Throughout the program, I have made friends from all the seven participating countries namely, the

Philippines

Thailand

Malaysia

Indonesia

India

Australia

and

New Zealand

, not to mention the host country,

Japan

. Although it was a short duration of time, the bonds that we established are so strong to the point where friendships of two weeks seem like a lifetime. Below are some brief write-ups on the various study tours.

Tokyo - Did not see much of Tokyo because the group I was in headed to Hiroshima. However, I was thrilled with the ride on the Shinkansen, also known as the bullet train. The people are friendly and the food was scrumptious.

Kyoto - Visited the famous temple named Kinkakuji (Golden Pavilion). The place was so breathtaking that I found my hands glued to the camera as I could not stop taking pictures of the picturesque sceneries. Kinkakuji is indeed one of the most beautiful temples I have ever seen. The other places we visited were Arashiyama and Kiyomizu-dera. I’ve learned much about the history of Kyoto which definitely got me more interested in the development of

Japan

from past to present.

Hiroshima - Visited the Peace Memorial Park and Hiroshima city Naka incineration plant but I missed out Miyajima as I had to attend the cultural dance rehearsal for the JENESYS Festival. The Peace Memorial Park has left an indelible impression on me. It was the only point in JENESYS program where I felt a huge sense of sorrow and grief. I have learned much about peace and will strive to maintain that in our world today.

The JENESYS Festival was a memorable event. I was among the ten students who were chosen to represent

Malaysia

for the cultural dance performance . It was indeed a proud moment as I was able to share our culture with the other countries as well. At the same time we were able to observe the different cultural dances of other countries. This has certainly increased the enthusiasm to learn more about other countries and their traditions.

Osaka (Host Family) - The home stay was the best time during my entire trip. I had so much fun and experienced so many new things with my host family. I’ll be doing a separate post on my stay with them.

Kanagawa - Visited the Yamashita Park, Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line where we were given the opportunity to board a display ship which was one of the first ships to be manufactured in

Japan

. Then we headed to a hill-like open air complex. There were shops selling clothes and restaurants. Next we proceeded to the Mitsubishi Minatomirai Industrial Museum where we were introduced to the present and future scientific technologies.

Understanding Other countries - Indeed JENESYS has taught me a lot about all the other countries involved in this program. I’ve learned to respect the traditions of other countries and I am happy to say that I had the chance to make friends from all the different participating countries, including my own country. This trip has also shown me the truth in the saying... ‘There is no right or wrong… only difference.’

In a nutshell, the JENESYS program has been and will always be one of the peaks in my life. Much has been learned through study tours, tears and laughter. JENESYS has not only taught me values but also a lifelong lesson. Heartfelt thanks to AFS Japan and AFS Antarabudaya

Malaysia

for making this trip possible for me.

Gold Coast and Brisbane

2010-06-02T20:25:00.016+08:00

It has been 8 months since I went to Gold Coast and Brisbane in Australia. I regret not writing about it earlier as the recollections now seem to be kind of blur. The few things that still remain clear are the BURGERS which were super awesome, best theme parks I've ever visited and, of course, the strong accent of the woman saying "beer or lemonade?"

I covered 3 different theme parks, namely Dreamworld, Seaworld and the best of all... Movieworld! I know many of you guys would assume Dreamworld is the best as they have record breaking rides but honestly, they weren't that good. The main thing I enjoyed in Dreamworld were the wet rides and for this reason, I regretted not going to the Wet and Wild. They have rides which would literally flush you down a hole, just like a toilet bowl and even slide you into a tilted cone-shaped structure. Seaworld, on the other hand, was actually pretty boring. There were 2 cool rides which were the Jet Ski coaster and the Cockscrew... *The one in Genting is seriously much better @.@*

And finally... Movieworld!!! Yes, this theme park not only has an interesting layout but AWESOME RIDES. The best ride of all is Superman Escape. It is a rollercoaster which launches you from a stationary position to 100km in just 2 seconds. You can feel your face moving all over like what you see in race car movies. Here is a simple description from some website I found... "SUPERMAN ESCAPE is an unprecedented rollercoaster ride experience which travels 0-100 kilometres in just 2 seconds! That's not fast, that's SUPERMAN fast! With 760 metres of vertical climbs, weightless drops, head spinning twists and giant G-force turns, SUPERMAN ESCAPE completely redefines the coaster experience."

The next best ride was an indoor rollercoaster called Scooby-Doo Spooky Coaster. This ride is a combination of both a haunted house theme and a nice rollercoaster experience. For those of you who have been to Genting with me, you will know that I am scared of the pirate ship ride. Let us just say that this was worse... much worse!!! As the slow and scary ride took off, I thought to myself, "Did I just queue for almost an hour for this stupid ride?" Just as I was about to tell my sister and cousin that we had wasted our time, we reached to a point where we were elevated while still being seated.

When we reached to the top, there were laser lights running all over the place and the Rocking Scooby Doo theme song could be heard. While we tried to focus on what was beyond the cloth in front of us, we suddenly found ourselves rolling backwards and by the time we looked around, we were headed for a "backward drop". This was the first time I experienced it on a rollercoaster so it was freaking awesome! After that, our car rotated and the ride continued. I went for about 4 times or perhaps more on this ride. Haha...

There was another ride called the Batwing Space Shot. It has the same concept as the one in Genting but this one launches you up. I understand that the Space Shot in Genting used to do that also but not anymore. Anyway, this ride was a total letdown. My heart didn't feel like bursting and I could breathe normally and could even talk to my sister during the ride... =.= There were two more rides that were good but I won't go into it. They are the Lethal Weapon which is a rollercoaster that leaves your legs hanging and Wild West Falls Adventure Ride which beat the Log Flume at Sunway Lagoon as well as the one at Genting anytime.

Another memorable thing was Infinity. It is a place that manipulates lighting, reflection and any other thing that has to do with tricking the eyes. It is just like a kaleidoscope except that you are not looking into it but inside it. There were many different types of rooms. Some look as big as the galaxy while some seem to have no floor. The cool thing about Infinity is that it is a maze kind of concept. You are supposed to find your way to the next room without any help at all. Some rooms are really challenging, for example there was this room that was pitch black. There were many roads inside but only one leading to the way out. And there were tentacle like things dangling from the ceiling with sticks and rubber gloves sticking out of the walls. This not only makes it harder to find your way out but creates a sense of fear as well. I would highly recommend this place but would suggest bringing along torchlight or phones if you are those who are easily scared.

Two other unforgettable experiences were the Glow worm cave and the Outback show. The Glow worm cave was something like a hike where it took about an hour drive deep into the jungle, followed by a 15-minute hike to reach the cave where the glow worms clustered all over. It was a breathtaking view. Near the cave was a waterfall and we had a hilarious moment there. It was really funny because there was this elderly Chinese lady who couldn't understand English and kept taking flash photography of the waterfall and the glow worms when it is not supposed to. This is because the flash will kill the worms. Although I think she easily killed multiple glow worms, I've her to thank for because if not for her, I would never get to see the waterfall in the darkness of the night.

As for the Outback show, it was great... a show like no others. There were horses doing tricks and live farm animals. The coolest part is that we get to enjoy our meal (dinner) during the show and were given a cowboy hat each for souvenir.

Well, that's it... a simple wrap-up of my trip in the shortest way possible as there were so many other things that I experienced, such as riding on the Wheel of Brisbane, river cruise, kangaroo feeding, etc. Anyway, take care and God bless peeps~

34th Malaysian National Bowling Championships

2010-01-24T18:10:00.007+08:00

The above tournament was held from 9^th January to 16^th January 2010 at Pyramid Bowl. I qualified into the Boys Graded Masters after my third MQ with an average of 205; landed up in the 7^th place amongst the top 18 bowlers qualified to enter the Boys Graded Master Finals. During the Master Finals, I did not have a good start. Things weren’t looking up till the last three games where I struck 205, 210 and 226. Although the games weren’t as high as I hoped for, it was enough to bring me up all the way to 4^th place. I was kind of disappointed then as the top three winners had trophies and I missed the 3^rd place by only three pins. Nevertheless, I am still happy and thankful that I managed to secure a place within the top 6 positions which had prizes. I won a total of RM300 and a hamper alongside it. Praise God =)

2010-01-14T00:51:00.015+08:00

Wrap-up of my last 3 bowling
tournaments in 2009 (3 in 1)

(1) Junior Eliminator Tournament
Date: 30 December 2009

Competed in the above tournament held at KL Mega Lanes, Endah Parade but due to lack of participants, the tournament became a straight four-game roll off. I started off with a low score of 150 but I didn't give up. My second and third game went up to 233 and 247 respectively. Ended with a score of 191 and secured an average of 205 scratch. Won 3rd position and became richer by RM200 (Prize winning - RM150 + reward from my mom - RM50). I lost to the 2nd position by 19 pins. Hope to have more upcoming victories this year (2010). Take care and God bless...

(2) Grand Final - Secondary School Bowling Competition
Date: 13 November 2009

*Sigh* I was hoping to get first place in the GP final held at Sunway Pyramid Bowl but unfortunately, I wasn’t able to but I still praise God that I retained my last year position of second place. We had a roll off of 6 games and my scores were 204, 191, 204, 221, 181 and 162, securing an average score of 193. I can proudly say that I did well overall except for the last game. I know that champions don’t get to where they are by being easily contented so I will continue to train harder and hope to achieve better… =)

(3) Secondary School Bowling Competition for October
Date: 23 October 2009

I managed to win first again with an average of 198 - my 3rd time ranking champion in this tournament...!!! My scores were 226, 196, 146 and 224. So far I'm really glad that all my victories had averages of at least 19* and one of them above 20*. All glory to God... =)

Secondary School Tournament (July 2009)

2009-08-04T01:34:00.013+08:00

Yep, it was the Sunway monthly bowling tournament. I've improved greatly when compared to last month and was very happy to get a high and satisfying average of 205 thus securing first place for the second time this year. Besides winning the trophy and other prizes, my mum rewarded me with a total of RM130 for my performance (RM100 for getting first position and RM30 for three games above the score of 200) ~ Praise God ~

(Tyron.. Me.. Sean)

(Results)

A Pleasant Surprise...!

2009-08-02T02:31:00.005+08:00

In my previous post, I stated that I was contemplating between two belts and eventually decided on the white one. Well, the very next day, my sister surprised me with the other belt as soon as I got into the car. Thank you so much sis... =)

Thank You Sis...

2009-07-06T22:59:00.008+08:00

The title says it all…! This post is specially to thank my sister for being so generous =P As you can see, she got me a 212 Carolina Herrera perfume and an A|X belt. I appreciate her not because of the expensive items she bought for me but rather her willingness to spend such a hefty sum on me.

Let me tell you guys what happened when we were scouting for the right perfume. My previous bottle was CK In 2 U but this time I decided to try something different, perhaps Polo RL, Davidoff or Tommy H. Usually when one shops for perfume, it is advisable to smell 3 to 4 scents only but no… my mum, Debbie and I went round, smelling easily 10 different scents and ended up liking the coffee bean smell which seemed to be the freshest of them all =P (*those who shop for perfume would understand what I mean*)

Well, when I came upon the 212, I knew instantly that was perfect for me. My mum and sister also bought perfumes for themselves =P Next was choosing my belt. Well, this wasn’t as complicating as looking for the perfume for I just wanted a nice A|X belt but it took just as long because I was contemplating between two belts, a white and a black one. Finally, I went for the white one as it was more outstanding.

All in my sister spent RM554 just on me (RM255 for the perfume and RM299 for the belt) so I want to say "THANK YOU SIS...!" By the way, even if you were to get the things from “pasar malam”, say a RM20 belt and a nice smelling eraser, I would still love and appreciate you just as much…! ~Love you~

MSSS Bowling

2009-06-11T16:58:00.010+08:00

(Prize presentation)

Just a quick and short post on the results of MSSS Bowling held last month at Pyramid Bowl. I had a vast improvement with an average of 185 (14th position) as compared to last year. It was quite an achievement as top 10 were selected for the finals and my position wasn't too far off. This was for the all events under-18 boys. As for team event, we (Petaling Utama A) managed to grasp 3rd position with a difference of 6 pins from the 2nd place. We were kind of disappointed as two out of the four of us had splits in the last frame, causing approximately a total pinfall of 20 pins...! All in all, we were still glad as we were able to bring something (medals and certificates) home =D

(Team: Petaling Utama A - 3rd position)

Choir Competition

2009-05-13T00:29:00.007+08:00

The whole team was looking forward to the competition this year held on 30thApril at SJKC Yuk Chai as we put in so much more effort than last year. I was the conductor for the choir this year and I was a little worried in the beginning but after some time I got the hang of it… thanks to friends for their help, including last year conductor (senior) who coincidentally is also the lead guitarist in my band. As we prepared to leave, we were all ready with only one thing in our minds… to win…!

When the competition began, our hopes started to sink lower and lower as the choir from both DJ and BU4 were really good. While listening to them, the hyped-up spirit in us slowly faded. Soon it was our turn as we were the third group to perform. We still tried our best and I conducted as dramatic as I could, hopefully without looking overly… erm… gay. Haha…

Although we kind of figured we could not win, we were still anxious to find out our position. Before they announced the rank of the schools, they gave out the prize for the best conductor first and to my surprise our school won. For a moment, I didn’t realize I had to go and take the prize. Hehe… Anyway our school got 4th. I'm glad that I managed to get the best conductor for the school so we need not go back empty handed. Praise God =)

Public Speaking Competition

2009-05-12T22:38:00.014+08:00

(With Puan Wong and her daughter)

On 25th last month, I represented my school in the Public Speaking competition organized by Sunway college. It was my very first attempt and therefore I was pretty excited yet confident to a certain extent. While I was lying on my folded arms in the auditorium, waiting to be allocated into the respective rooms, I observed the surrounding closely and it was kind of freaky watching some of the contestants busy rehearsing their speeches. Somehow it reminded me of my primary years where I represented the school for story-telling competitions.

(With the other contestants in my group)

Apparently there were a total of 90 contestants and only 12 will be chosen to enter the semi-finals whereby another 6 for the finals. All the contestants were divided into smaller groups with only one judge and a time-keeper for each group. My group consisted of 8 contestants. This competition was different for unlike the usual procedure of a prepared speech of individual choice and a set speech for impromptu, Sunway College did the other way round with the topic “Lost” for the prepared speech while the impromptu speech was different for everyone. Well, all I can say is besides having a good exposure and experience, I’ve no regrets as I did the very best I knew how and the very best I could. Coincidentally, that was also the conclusion in my prepared speech as quoted by Abraham Lincoln =p

Bowling Updates

2009-05-03T18:55:00.015+08:00

MSSD Bowling

Date: 21/22 April 2009

On the first day, I was leading with an average of 192. The top 8 bowlers contested again the next day and I’m happy to say that I managed to secure first place in the competition again. Praise God for I did my school proud. It was the first time my school (SMK Bandar Utama) hosted the event and my headmistress gave out the medals to the winners. Will try my utmost best for MSSS held from 4th to 7th May 2009.

(With Puan Hasni)

(1st - Ronald Tan.. 2nd - Azry.. 3rd - Louis.. 4th - Shaun)

Secondary School Competition

Date: 3 April 2009

Last month I entered the above competition held monthly at Sunway Mega Lanes and emerged as the champion for the month of April 2009. As you can view from the result sheet posted below, I played well except for the third game. Overall, I managed to get first by just a few pins ahead as everyone played well.

(Posing with my trophy)

(Result sheet)

My mother

2009-03-22T22:44:00.016+08:00

In my life, there are only two things which I’m willing to sacrifice for, that is God and my mother. Here are a few things about her...

Firstly, from the way some of my friends' mothers treat them seem so unloving when compared to the way my mum showers me with love. Secondly is her sense of forgiveness and kindness. For instance, she'll get upset for a while after being taken advantage of by her friends, but in a short period she forgives and forgets, even if it's the same person doing it over and over again. Thirdly is the amount of sacrifices she has made for my sister and me which I can never compensate enough, not even if it takes a life time.

Some of the things that she can do which leave me breathless time after time are her skills with the computer and camera. She can do things which I never thought was possible at her age (50+ years old). For example, handling Power Point and editing pictures in Photoshop. Now, with all the *chun* and sophisticated cameras, nice clear pictures can be taken easily.

My mum, on the other hand, has an average digital camera but takes captivating pictures. Each picture tells a story and it literally paints a thousand words… ~Wow~ deep… I know… =p She has an online gallery and she also writes beautifully. Her poems really touch one’s soul. Some of her poems are nominated for awards and published in poetry books for worldwide distribution. And yes, she even has her own blog…!

The most important part about her that places her as my role model is her relationship with God. The way she lives her life and handles situations in such a Christ-like manner amazes me. Her passion for doing God’s work all the more encourages me to serve as well. If someone were to ask me why is my mum so nice, caring and so on, I would proudly say with full of confidence that it is because of her intimate relationship with the Lord.

Well, this is just a summary of my wonderful mother! There is so much more but I can never finish writing, not even till my fingers hurt… =p Anyway, I just want her to know that I love her lots and that I will always be right here all the way for her. Love you lots mum and always will…!!! Muakz…

Stabbed in the back

2009-03-04T21:28:00.010+08:00

While I took a break from studying for my exam tomorrow, I surfed through my friends’ blogs and was surprised to find one of my *so-called* closest friend whom I knew for 10 years, calling me names and telling lies about me for whatever reasons she alone knows. I can only conclude that it’s sad to defame anyone, what more friends, for self-glory or purely to seek attention.

What actually happened was when I went back to school on Wednesday, 25th Feb after an absence of 5 days (inclusive of Sat and Sun), our BM teacher, Puan Suriani changed the seating arrangement in our class with Abigail sitting next to me. I admit I do talk with my friends but it’s impossible for her not to be able to pay attention in class just because of me. Then how come I can still listen and understand what the teachers are teaching? How could she simply lash out her anger at me just because she's unhappy sitting at the back? And for that I’m being called a DEVIL…!

The next issue was about the BM assignment. She claimed that I pushed all the work to her and she did EVERYTHING. First of all, I did not ask her to do everything. Upon entering the class when the bell rang, I saw her jotting down just the points on a piece of “majong” paper. I offered to help but she turned me down as she was almost done so as a team, I volunteered to do the presentation. Just ask Puan Suriani or the whole class who was the one who presented the whole synopsis. The teacher even praised us and Abigail told me she thought we were one of the best. And now she is CLAIMING CREDIT FOR EVERYTHING. I really don’t mind but accusing me of doing nothing when I did put in my effort just isn't right.

Anyway this post is not to bring her down or to elevate myself. It’s just to clarify to my friends the misconception given by her. I’m really disappointed that while I considered her as a close friend, she actually stabbed my back without remorse… :(

Christmas 2008

2009-01-01T02:46:00.003+08:00

Christmas last year was celebrated at my aunt's place. Although it was last month but it's considered last year because today is the first day of the new year. Besides family members and relatives, close friends were also invited. The food was great with all my favourite dishes such as stuffed turkey, pizza, curry and potato salad. Haha...

It was one of the best Christmas so far as the fellowship was really good. I was given the privilege to share the true meaning of Christmas, which is not about presents, parties and certainly NOT Santa Claus... IT'S THE BIRTH OF JESUS CHRIST...! So keep that in mind people =) Anyway, take care guys. God bless and...

HAPPY NEW YEAR...!

My trip to Taiwan

2008-12-27T10:40:00.000+08:00

(MH 094 - my reflection on the screen)

The holiday adventure started at our very own KLIA. We (my mother, aunt and I) had a snack at Delifrance, the same shop where I ate when I left for Korea last year. On this flight, every passenger has a screen for games, movies and music so it did not matter even though the air-hostesses weren’t pretty. Just joking… =) During the flight (5 hours plus to reach Taipei), I played games such as chess, tetris and even bowling… yes, bowling…! I also watched the ‘Mummy 3’ and ‘Mama Mia’ movies again.

After checking into Riverview Hotel upon arrival, we kicked start the holiday by walking through Taipei city on our own. The next morning we had breakfast at the Rhine Banquet Hall overlooking the Danshui River. The view was spectacular with highways, buildings, mountains and, of course… the river…! Although we visited many places of interest, I am going to write about those that I enjoyed most.

Shangri-La Leisure Farm is the coolest place among the others. This is because there were really cool events where I could take part in, such as spinning the traditional top, making glutinous balls and bubbles. I got to know my new friends there and how the games poker and ‘cho tai ti’ started nightly. The next place is the Naruwan Theme Park situated in the Formosan Aboriginal Culture Village. There were only three rides that seemed exciting enough which caught my attention. The Maya Adventure was closed for renovation. The rides I sat were Space Mountain, Waikiki Wave and UFO. Space Mountain was fun although it did not consist of any loops but only helixes, sharp turns and speed. The Waikiki Wave, on the other hand, was mildly thrilling. Finally, the UFO… the scariest and coolest ride there. Basically, it is the same as the Space Shot in Genting with the difference in height and larger seat capacity. It also rotates as it elevates. I also watched the aboriginal dance which portrayed the lifestyle of the mountain tribes in Alishan.

(Go to rontjx.multiply.com for more pictures)

The rock formations at Yehliu is another of my favorite visiting spots. It is famous for its exceptional geological features. All the rocks there were formed by natural erosion. Some looked like giant petrified mushrooms but the main attraction was the Queen’s Head. From a certain angle it looks perfectly like a queen’s head with a crown, nose, mouth and all. The view of the sea was also spectacular. Waves hitting the shore strongly splashing water all over. And finally... THE NIGHT MARKET…! (Both Fong Jia and Shilin) Why? Reason being the food, clothes, etc are all nice and cheap. My favorite food in the night market is baked potatoes - so soft, tasty, yummy and just thinking about it makes my mouth water. Yep, it’s that good…!!! I tried the tempura there and it tasted so much better. Even the fries tasted good for some reasons. Haha...

Well, those were the places that I really had fun in

Taiwan

. They were not only fun filled experiences but also memorable ones. Overall my trip was great and I give it an 8/10 =) Ciaoz…

GP Monthly Circuit

2008-12-11T14:08:00.000+08:00

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Hi guys... Yes, it's bowling again =) Alright, let me start off by saying that I won a new ball for securing the 3rd place...! Haha, I'm really happy as I wanted this ball since my coach displayed it in his shop. There are only a limited number of them as it is not a common brand. The ball is called Fire Hawk and it's a spare ball. On it is printed the word "Special" with the code under it. As you can view in the picture, it's blackish grey with a yellow stripe right across the middle. Isn't it awesome?

It's hard to explain how the ball is drilled. Let's just say that when I throw the ball, it looks really cool =) I'm not going to elaborate on my scores this time; just going to walk you through it briefly. You see, the top 4 bowlers enter the final step ladder. I was trailing in the 5th position throughout the whole tournament till the 6th game. I was about 20 pins behind the 4th position. I pulled it up, scored well in the 7th game and maintained my lead in the 8th game, qualifying as 3rd =)

In the semi finals, I just played my best and ended up 3rd place, hence winning my new spare ball =) Overall, I'm really happy as I did well for all the GPs. My next post will be on my holiday trip to Taiwan...! Take care~

Grand Prix Star Search

2008-11-29T13:42:00.000+08:00

(Go to rontjx.multiply.com for more pictures)

Sunday, 23rd November 2008 marked the Grand Prix (GP) Star Search. After winning 2nd position in the GP Sec School Bowling Competition, I was confident for this event held at U-Bowl. I started well with the first two games of 18* each which consisted of solid spares. After that I had to switch lanes. That was the rule - to switch lanes after every two games. I couldn’t adjust to the lanes and my games were lousy. Goodness I was so frustrated...!

Anyway, I tried my best to relax when I moved on to the next lane and had an encouraging score of 166 - a sign of picking up. After 4 games, I was in the 9th position but only the top 8 bowlers get to enter the quarter finals so I had to pick up. My confidence level soared after managing a 190 for the next game. Then it was due for switching lanes again. I got a 20* followed by 199, leveling me up to the 5th position. I was delighted…!

Soon the knock-out round began. Dang man… I had 4~5 splits in the first game, giving my opponent a 36-pin lead. Although I picked up in my second game, it wasn’t good enough as I only won by 10 pins. The frustrating part about my game was that all my solid pockets did not strike. I ended up 7th place - still very happy as I did well overall. One more last GP for this year - GP Monthly Circuit…! Praise and thank God for blessing me throughout all my tournaments. Ciaoz~ God bless~ =)

GP Secondary School Bowling Competition

2008-11-26T03:07:00.000+08:00

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This was one of the main events that I have been awaiting this whole year. It was held on 21st November 2008 at Mega Lanes Pyramid. I wanted to win something just to reassure myself that I have reached to a certain level. Haha... =) Glad to say that I did very well, got 2nd position with an average of 188.5 and mighty pleased with my overall performance.

I had a high score of 234. The coolest part is that I won the 2nd runner-up by only 1 pin...!!! It happened on my last game where I had a spare on the 9th frame with 120 pin falls on the 8th frame, which mean I had to strike home to get 170 on the dot in order to win the 2nd runner-up. Can you imagine how tense I was? Well, bowling the 10th frame then seemed like the longest time ever. The first ball rolled... I knew it would strike as it was a beautiful shot. The second ball rolled off too early, hooked over and hit the 1-2 pocket. Praise God for I still got a strike. Now it was the last throw... the moment of truth... =) I threw perfectly, saw it skidded, hooked and rolled right into the pocket. BOOM...!!! I DID IT...!!!

The prize for 2nd place is a tall trophy, 8 free games with McDonald's vouchers and RM100 cash. I also got a total of RM90 from my mum as an incentive for a clean game, score above 200 and all games above 170 pin falls... =) Well, the next tournament is GP Star Search and I'm ready for it...!

MTBC National Junior Circuit 2008

2008-10-30T20:25:00.000+08:00

The final circuit which I participated was held in Malacca. First of all, I just have to say… IT WAS FREAKING HOT IN THERE…! I was sweating as if I had just finished playing football. And secondly, the screen which displays the score was so low that tall bowlers had to bend very low just to walk through the approach - totally HORRIBLE…!

I recalled having an average of 16* after 7 games and the final qualifier was 169 so I had to get a high game of at least 210 to make it to the quarter finals. I was seriously pressured and stressed and kept praying. Then the strikes came in and I converted my spares consistently and got a high game of 223, securing 36^th position with an average of 172.5. Praise the Lord…! To sum up of the whole story, I managed to climb up to 32^nd position the next day.

Now with the circuits over, I feel kind of sad because I don’t get to travel around Malaysia till next year… =( Overall I’m very pleased with my performance as I managed to qualify to the quarter finals for most of the circuits. It is a vast improvement when compared to last year when all I could do then was to hope in vain. Well, next year will be time for me to GO FOR GOLD…!!! Something I’ve always wanted to say... Lol... =)

Secondary School Competition (Aug 2008)

2008-08-23T02:20:00.000+08:00

On 8th August 2008, I participated in the Secondary School Competition held in Sunway Pyramid. Oh yeah, just to let you all know, I've 6 tournaments this month - Malaysian Junior Circuit (KL and Malacca leg), Star Search (Leg 2 and 3), Secondary School Competition and Internal Circuit (both are monthly events). So far for this Secondary School Competition, I have never left without any trophies except for the month of June. Top 10 gets a trophy but the top 5 trophies are bigger. So it began with my first game...

At the 9th frame I only had 150 points and I thought to myself, "I'M SCREWED!" It was time for the 10th frame. The maximum points you can get for the 10th frame is 30, which is 3 strikes in a row and I needed that to get an average of 180. I felt the pressure rising and tried to calm myself down by playing with my *puff ball* and prayed that God will help me to focus. Then the game continued... Boom - first strike...! Boom - another strike followed by the third delivery - BOOOM...! TURKEY...!!! I got 180 points for my first game... =) Praise God...! Throughout the tournament I realized that the right lanes have pins with more reaction, giving me all my strikes but the left lane had no pin reaction at all which resulted alternate strikes in my third game. It went like this - strike on the right lane then spare on the left. The same pattern carried on till the 5th frame... =(

Anyway, I got 187 for the second game and 189 for the third. I could have scored more than 180 for my last game if not for a SPLIT at the 10th frame. Although I couldn't achieve my expectation of being the top three, I was pleased with my consistent performance and proud of it too. My average was 183 and got FOURTH again for the third time. Oh, I also earned RM60 from my mother - RM20 for a clean game and RM10 per game for not having any scores below 170 points (RM10 x 4 = RM40) SEEYA...!

Star Search

2008-07-28T18:13:00.000+08:00

(Go into rontjx.multiply.com for more pictures)

So far I have not done well in any tournaments held in U-Bowl (besides internal circuits) so I decided to do my best in the Star Search tournament (Leg 1) held on 20 July 2008. I arrived a little earlier than the registration time, scheduled at 9.30am and after adhering to all the formalities, the excitement began…

I started my first game badly, only a 14* and I thought, “Haih, Just like all the other tournaments held here…” But I didn’t give up. I pressed on and kept going. My games picked up and got higher and higher. Soon all the 6 games ended and I had an average of 170. I thought, “Well, that’s kind of low…” Then I realized that everyone had seriously low score due to the INSANE, yes INSANE oiling and lane conditions…!!! (I managed to adjust to it, phew…). I was feeling anxious and nervous while the administrators were doing the ranking list. I waited and waited... visited the washroom, came back and waited again. Finally, the results were out and I GOT 6th…!!!

Then it was time for the knock-out round as required by the top 8 bowlers to determine the prize winners. For the first match, I fought against my own league member, Azroy. I played a good game of 198 and he lost to me around 50 pins. My coach then advised me to relax in my next game as I had a huge lead. The second game started and POOF… he had 3 strikes in a row while I had two open frames. Dang… the pressure got to me so I relaxed and calmed myself by saying, “I look good… I look good… Haha… just kidding.” I focused in converting my spares and then some strikes came in. Azroy was leading by 18 pins. I continued sparing, giving him a great need for connection strikes. Soon, I got a split…! “Gosh, of all the times, why now?” Well, I managed to stay calm, relaxed and focused… and SPARED IT… WOOT…!!! After that came another split. This one was easier but it was still a split. (For bowlers out there, I’m not referring to 6/10 or 4/7. It was a 4/9 if you know what I mean). Anyway, the game soon ended and my score was 189 - lost by a dozen pins. But my first game with a 50-pin lead took me to the next round, securing the top 4 positions… :)

After that, I moved on to the second session of the knock-out round, aka semi finals. My opponent is one of the top players who happened to be my good friend (Aqeem), undergoing the same training program. We both bowled like crap when compared to our earlier games of 19* during our first session. When we fought, we only had 16*. Lol… Aqeem won me by only 6 pins. It was far from over. The second game started with me having a strike while he had an open frame. Just as I thought things were looking up, DANG… I had an impossible split to spare and soon after, Aqeem had 4 strikes in a row. I continued facing another split and although I targeted it perfectly, the remaining pin shook but did not fall. I knew then it was history so I tried my best to end nicely and BOM… my last frame was ANOTHER SPLIT…!!! I got 16*… it was over for me.

Although I lost to my opponent during the semi finals, my total pin-falls was higher than one of the other semi-finalists, therefore I GOT 3rd…!!! I was overjoyed. I won a MEDAL and RM100/= plus a cool t-shirt worth RM29/= So WOOT…!!!

Internal Bowling Circuit (May 2008)

2008-05-28T16:15:00.002+08:00

(Go into rontjx.multiply.com for more pictures and videos)

I had an Internal Bowling Circuit in my training on Sunday. This is a monthly tournament whereby points are accumulated for the final GP tournament at the end of the year. For the past 2 rounds since it started, I got 8^th and 5^th position respectively for March and April but this month I got 1^st!!! Haha… Praise the Lord!!! I received RM30 from the tournament and a hamper of Milo goodies. 30 bucks is not a lot but it’s like working for money by bowling =) Anyway I also received another RM30 from my mother as she pays me RM10 for above 200 score per game and RM20 for each clean game (no open frames meaning all either spares or strikes).

I got RM20 for my 193 game with no open frames and another RM10 from my 206 game which I almost got additional of RM20 for a clean game but my last frame was a SPLIT!!! Haha… I think you all know what a split is so I settled with just RM10 =) My average was 182 as compared to the second placing of 174 =) Lol… Well, it was really something for me but I can’t let that get to my head =P Haha… By the way, if you go to U-Bowl, you can see my pictures posted up at the Sukan Teras notice board, displayed near the pro-shop. Hopefully the pictures for this event will be up by next week. Oh yea, and to all those who actually read this… I UPDATED!!!!! =P

Updates on my bowling

2008-01-10T18:41:00.000+08:00

One of my favourite sports in my life so far is bowling. It is a sport which I take much pride in and I’m happy to say that once more I was chosen for “Selangor Sukan Teras” although the result is not officially out yet. I got the good news from my coach. I’ve been bowling for around 2 years now and it has been going on well. So far in all my tournaments, my average ranges from 160 to 185 - still not that consistent but I’m getting it.

However, my expectations could not be met lately. My *winning* streak ended after the Selangor Circuit when I got an average of 184. After that, my performance started to decline and everything seemed to go wrong. This put me in a deep stage of disappointment but lately, things have been improving a lot! I realized this when I bowled in my league last week. I got back my momentum and bowled 6 strikes in a row! I got a total score of 225 in that game. Lol… It was one of the best bowling days ever, not comparing to my high score of 247 =p... It’s like after so long I finally got back my groove~ my mojo~ my thing!!!

Well let me give you a brief introduction about this league. Our “Sukan Teras” has participated in this Wednesday night bowling league, held weekly at 9pm. We are called “S Trust Bowlers”. The team name was chosen by our coach and it was meant to sound like “Sukan Teras” Lol… Well, I’m the captain and my responsibilities are scheduling bowlers based on the strength of the opponent team and managing the collection of fines besides encouraging my team and giving them my full support. We are currently ranking 7^th but we are expecting to go up because we won lots of points last week and I may get the weekly award for the highest game. I’m still waiting in anticipation for the notice board to be updated.

I would like to conclude by inviting you to come and give us your support. Please note that I’m not bowling every week as there are 8 bowlers in a team and only 3 bowlers are required each time. Hmm… Guess that’s about all for the time being and by the way, sorry for not updating my blog. Reason being I can only use the computer during weekends and holidays. Lol… Ciaoz…

My Trip to Korea

2007-11-20T13:39:00.003+08:00

During the holidays in May, my mother and I went on a six-day vacation to Korea. After six hours above the clouds, we landed at the Incheon Airport. During our stay in Seoul, we visited many tourist spots such as Yangju - MBC Studio (the most famous drama in Korea (Daejangguem) shooting place), Nami Island (the original site for the famous drama "Winter Sonata"), Mt. Sorak National Park (one of the most beautiful parks in Korea), Shinheung Fortress and the Sitting Buddha. We also took a ride in a cable car right up to the mountain and I tasted a live squid at Daepuhang fish market. It was quite an experience... ;p

One of the attractions that I enjoyed most was in Yongin Everland. It's a festival World Park which offers thrilling rides, jungle safari and seasonal flower shows. I took a ride on "Rolling X-Train". It has two massive loops and one gigantic cockscrew. The ride was awesome. I would have tried more rides if not for time constraint. The other places we went were Walker Hill Casino and Dongdaemun Market. The city attractions were Kyongbok Palace (built in 1394 - the main palace by the first king of YI Dynasty), Folklore Museum and Blue House (the presidential residence of Korea)

The next destination was a Ginseng outlet followed by an Amethyst Factory where I bought my sister a cross pendant, War Museum and Namsan Park (located in the center of Seoul with a panorama view of the city and Seoul Tower). We also shopped at Myeongdong (reputated to be one of Asia's largest open-air markets). It was at this place where we saw a korean guy holding up a poster written "Free Hugs" and several girls went up to hug him. The final destination was the Kimchi Center where I took some pictures wearing korean traditional outfit and had fun making kimchi. Overall, it was a splendid holiday. Oh, we also went for a korean martial arts comedy show entitled "Jump". It was super hilarious. Here's the link:-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APtiPUzqQL8&NR=1

You can view my pictures and video clips at:-

http://rontjx.multiply.com/

Darshakar Youth Bowling Competition

2007-05-10T01:32:00.000+08:00

Pictures taken during the Darshakar Youth Bowling Competition held at U-Bowl on 21 April 2007. I was hoping to be within the top 8 as there were prizes and trophies but instead got 9th placing. My average was only 155 with a high game of 193. In the 1st picture, you can spot Nicholas on the left while Edmund (my cousin) is next to me. The next picture was taken with Nicholas and the last picture with Sean.

New blog

2007-04-09T19:13:00.001+08:00

Hi, this is Ronald here introducing my new blog. Just a brief introduction about me. My passion is music and dancing. Besides ballet, tap and modern dance, I'm currently into the Melbourne Shuffle and breakdancing. I'm also into bowling and is in the Selangor Sukan Teras MSSM Bowling Team. That's all for now... Cya... =)