I’m back in Brunei! Yes, I take what I said back - Brunei might just be my home. Anyways, more on that later. So I arrived here on Saturday night. My flight was supposed to take off at 5.30 pm but due to (1) plane arriving late and (2) technical difficulties, the flight was double-delayed till 7.30. I spent my time alone in a noisy crowded terminal reading Queen of Babble, listening to music on my mp3 player which I’ve neglected for the past few months, eating highly-expensive-and-so-not-worth-their-price food, messaging my classmate, Wei Hsien and going online with my phone! It took me quite a while to get Messenger to work on my phone but it did eventually. I’ve no idea how much it costs, but at least I had someone to ‘talk’ to. So yes, what other drama? My name was called! Because, stupid AirAsia/LCCT announced for both the Brunei AND Singapore passengers to queue at the same gate. So I, was at the back with a few others when we realized that, the queue wasn’t moving anymore and they were going ‘last call for flight…‘. Luckily, it wasn’t a fully booked flight so I managed to find a seat quite near the front… which may have been not too a good a choice because there weren’t many choices left for food - their overly-priced food. I arrived at 10 pm at the Brunei Airport which the air-stewardess called “Seri Begawan International Airport” - I found that amusing. Oh and that she forgot to mention that handphones shouldn’t be switched on till in the terminal building. Maybe, I’ve flown too much to know what to expect.

The next day, I went out with my friends. Long time no see! It was fun really. We i.e. Rita, Jess, Christine, JW, J. Sim and Angel talked, went to the arcade, ate, laughed, walked around. We sat at the food court for about an hour, talking, staring in silence, talking again, laughing etc. Oh and eat too. Then, we went to the arcade. I’ve never been to the arcade here, not to play at least. But really, it felt like we burned our pockets. It’s like B$5 gone, just.. like.. that. But we all enjoyed ourselves! We (failingly) threw balls into the hoops, raced in the motorbikes which I had to do once in manual because I had no idea how to change options, so for the first half of the race, I was on Gear 1. The buttons were so small on the handles. Thanks to NFS Underground or whichever, I think it was the drag race, I knew how to change gears. Sorry, but I can’t remember what it’s called. Help, anyone? Haha.

Anyways, today I went with my dad to Tasek Lama for walk/exercise. I almost collapsed in the beginning. My left leg hurts. OH OH, speaking of that, my course had a SAM Fiesta - Disco Night 2008 on Thursday. It was FUN! Pictures might come later. It was fun dancing crazily with the classmates. Oh yes, I’ve got lots of work to do this break. It really sucks. I’m supposed to complete the interview questions before I sleep and it’s already 1.30 AM. AND, I’m going to my school to visit, which means, I have to wake up at 6 something. I’m going to be all sleepy there. Oh and my classmates, namely, Yi Ling, Sheng Yi, Lok Mun, Alex and Wei Hsien have been combined chats. And the topics are, endless, and.. pointless too sometimes. Haha. Oh, and they gave me a name, why that name I don’t know. So, Olga and Simon, I have mentioned you too!
So yes, I’m back home. I have after all, lived here for the past 10 years or so. Maybe, in a few years time it wouldn’t be home anymore, but for now, it feels like it. My bed is like, mine. My home’s, my home. My parents are here, so it feels like how it’s been for the past 5 years. I’ve missed home, I really have. And I’m going to miss this familiar place again soon - please pass on by slowly time. My parents, the friends, .. not so much the hang-out places but yes, you get the drift. I miss my brothers too. I don’t recall expecting missing everyone so much really. But now that we’re all in different places: Brunei, Auckland, Melbourne and KL, it strikes me every now and then that I really do miss them. Oh and, did I ever mention that I absolutely hate leaving my comfort zones? I was all happy leaving KL, but I’m so not going to be when I leave Brunei again. It simply tells you, which is home to me, doesn’t it?

I’ve got a couple of close friends here. Sure, I’ve got great friends back in KL too. But friends in Brunei have been with me for a comparatively longer time, and they know me. In time, my friends in KL, we’ll know each other way better than now, but at this very moment, friends here are the ‘usuals’. I went out with them on Saturday. Though I haven’t really been in contact with them, it felt like, nothing much had changed. So, maybe the hairstyles have changed, schools have changed, classmates and friends have changed, but I felt almost like I never left. Even though the Mall is absolutely boring, I really did have fun. I’m probably only going to meet up with them only one more time before I leave, but I’ll be back! In a couple of months. It’s just that, the leaving process just, isn’t fun at all. (Right bro Tarnos?) It feels great to be with my parents again. I know eventually we’ll part ways, but this is the comfort zone - it won’t ever change. My family will always be the people closest to me, always.

This laziness bug is an all-bad thing. I will and must get rid of it. I’ve been reading The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Apparently, I’m supposed to read it before I go to college. As for now, that, seems kind of impossible. But anyways, the book’s interesting. Talks about things that, we actually already are aware of, but just don’t apply. Like being positive, proactive. There’s also a documentary called The Secret (Law of Attraction) - which I haven’t watched/read but have heard about. Here’s what it says from the official website:

The Secret reveals the most powerful law in the universe. The knowledge of this law has run like a golden thread through the lives and the teachings of all the prophets, seers, sages and saviors in the world’s history, and through the lives of all truly great men and women. All that they have ever accomplished or attained has been done in full accordance with this most powerful law.

Without exception, every human being has the ability to transform any weakness or suffering into strength, power, perfect peace, health, and abundance.

.. The Secret explains with simplicity the law that is governing all lives, and offers the knowledge of how to create - intentionally and effortlessly - a joyful life. This is the secret to everything - the secret to unlimited happiness, love, health and prosperity.

This is the secret to life.

I’ve been asked to watch it. I’ve watched the other The Secret by Jay Chou - it’s a good movie. It was hard to understand him in Initial D, probably because he was talking in Cantonese. This one’s in Mandarin: it’s better but also not very clear some parts. Luckily, I had trusty subtitles to read from. I have this habit of reading subtitles - even for English shows! I get kind of lost when there’s no subtitles - I think I depend on them too much.

A couple of things have happened since my last blog.

1. I got a new phone! An aquatic white W200i. I’d be super happy with it, if not for the fact the music tends to fail and the themes the stupid guy at the shop installed were all corrupted - waste of space but I’ve cleared them, yesterday. The phone’s okay really. Went back to Sungei Wang (which mind you, is in the congested KL city and in this complex itself, you rub shoulders with almost everyone - it’s that packed) and the guy went and cleared the settings. Which, apparently should stop the failing problem. And then he said, “Oh, some themes don’t work on some walkman phones. Different format.” AND he, was the one who asked for 10 minutes to do the “settings” i.e. add some strange corrupted themes.
2. I went to sit in the Eye On Malaysia. It’s a relatively big ferris wheel with air-conditioned gondolas. Oh, look the site says it’s the “biggest in the world”:
   

   An integral part of the Visit Malaysia Year 2007 celebrations, “Eye on Malaysia” brings a new perspective to the dynamic city of Kuala Lumpur. Soaring to giddy heights 60 metres above the tropical waters of Lake Titiwangsa, “Eye on Malaysia” is the largest portable wheel in the world, and the first overhanging a lake. The “Eye on Malaysia” provides stunning views across Lake Titiwangsa, all the way to the world renowned Petronas Towers and KL Tower.This astounding viewing wheel consists of 42 fully air-conditioned gondolas, 39 of which have the capacity to carry a cosy eight passengers per 12-minute ride.

   We actually wanted to go before going to my aunt’s house for the Christmas party since it was on the way, but it was raining and it “looked” like a long queue - according to my uncle, it “looks” like a long queue but those people aren’t going on the ride. Anyways, they’re supposedly taking it down at the end of the year so, might as well go and experience it right? It was rather.. boring. It might have been nicer if it was at night with all the lights and all. In the day, it was just, the KLCC, KL Tower, Times Square, other skyscrapers, the lake, houses far away.. But hey, at least I’ve been on “the largest portable wheel in the world, and the first overhanging a lake.”

3. I went for the Christmas party at my aunt’s house. There were Christmas carols, good dinner, two games from which I got chocolate (which reminds me it’s half-eaten in the fridge). I’ve got lots of chocolate from the Cadbury Chocolate Factory in Tasmania - I didn’t mention that in my previous blogs I think. So yes, it’s time to get, fat(ter). Or not. Anyone wants chocolate?
4. My eldest brother flew back again for work to New Zealand on Boxing Day. I’ll be seeing him when Chinese New Year comes. Did you know, that a lot of shops (and even the TV commercials) are playing Chinese New Year songs already? The year hasn’t even ended and Christmas just passed a few days ago, yet, they’ve already started playing. It’s.. so early. Well, okay, so it’s only about a month away, but still, I think it’s strange to hear it when the actual new year hasn’t even arrived yet. Anyways, talking about flying out, my parents left this morning. I said goodbye last night - it, was not a happy occasion *sobs*. But, I WILL see them this CNY. They’re coming back for two days I think. It’s been 10 years since they last came back for CNY. My 2nd brother on the other hand, won’t be here and I won’t be seeing him for a year after the 3rd of January since he’s going to start work in Melbourne.
5. I went to Times Square yesterday. The monorail was packed like, seriously packed. You literally have to push to get in. My brother and I waited for the second train, AND, the second train malfunctioned. The power went off, they made some inaudible announcement. Lasted for about 15 minutes during which, people started leaving because they must have felt hot and had to breathe stale air since the air-conditioning was turned off. Did I mention that everyone was standing/sitting without almost any gap in between? I think they stopped all the monorail trains because of that train.

So, that’s basically the somewhat interesting parts of these few days. I must say, I hate the traffic congestion in KL city. And the monorail experience, was really an experience - I must remember not to use it at peak hours.

Tomorrow, I’m supposed to check-in or, more like, attend the briefing for accommodation. I wonder whether I’ll be meeting my roommates/housemates.. Oh and Jun Jie’s taking SAM too! Happy is me! Haha. At least I know someone. In the event I don’t make new friends (which I don’t hope will happen), I’ll just drag him around and explore college. (Okay Jun Jie?)

PS: I’m in KL already and will be studying here. So if you all happen to come here, tell me okay! Oh and I replied the comments in the previous post.