As the year 2011 approaches its last two weeks, it’s time to look back at the year as a whole. While a lot of amazing and interesting things have happened this year throughout, each photo weaves together into what 2011 had been for me. Enjoy! 🙂
I hope 2011 had been a blast for you, as it was for me. It’s not the number of years you put into your life… but the life you put into your years!
Also known as RYM Camping Trip…
I organized the camping trip for my church friends at RYM @ SIC just last week i.e. 10th and 11th December. It was RYM’s first ever camping trip and even though it was 2 days 1 night for everyone else, my initial team and I booked the place and stayed one day earlier.
It’s been exactly 10 years since I last went on a camping trip like this. It brought me back memories to my high school days as a boy scout. 🙂 And yes, I camped here in Templers Park as a scout before… surprisingly, not much changes even after a decade!
Being the camp master, I did a lot of planning – including Plan Bs and emergencies – and went on a shopping spree for items. I felt less confident initially since it was ages I’ve been out of touch with scouting / camping. My cooking skills is nearly non-existent too!
Thankfully, there were other more experienced people in the group who could help with the fire pit and cooking. 🙂 That left me to focus on running the activities for the group of 17.
Arriving a day earlier, some of us set up the tents and chopped firewood and bamboos in preparation for the coming days.
There was a group of hedgehog hunters that arrived hours later and initially, we feared they would interfere with our program. Fortunately, they were really nice people and matter of fact we owe a bunch of thanks to their help and generosity. They helped us set up some gadgets and being very experienced with the jungle, they gave us priceless survival advice!
For me, it was 3 days 2 nights of being disconnected from the outside world and civilization! That’s right – no Internet. No computers. And no reception.
Since the jungle is deep, I got us a couple of walkie talkies to communicate while within the jungle.
The camping trip was more relaxed and I deliberately planned for a loose, less rigid schedule. I mean, I’ve already punked so many people into thinking the walking journey from entrance to camp site is 25 minutes… when in actual fact it is 45 minutes long. 😛
Ironically I found the abundance of time observing others curiously. I don’t remember going people-looking for that long. Probably because I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with them. Haha!
When you are in the middle of nowhere, the luxury of modern technology is taken away from you and the comfort of a cozy bed gone, you cannot help but wonder how people lived just simply hundreds of years ago!
I also remember that things used to be harsher and less forgiving when I was a scout. But I stuck it through. Now? I work half as hard than I used to but I was already easily lethargic. I think it must be age, haha!
Since it’s coming to year end, it was a great opportunity for me to pause and reflect on all the past events.
This year throughout…
How a chain of events and circumstances shaped me to become who I am today…
And of course, reminiscing my days as a scout 🙂
To think that just one and a half months ago, I was busy preparing this camping trip for the youth group while juggling my travels. Now everything seemed so worth it. I know it, when I saw everyone’s smile on their faces. 🙂
This is something that doesn’t happen all the time! Not long ago, Ashley stumbled upon a stray turtle walking somewhere outside our Lakeview house. 🙂
It might have walked away from the lake so Ashley was carrying it back, only to realize its legs were injured and there were scratches underneath the shell, possibly from walking on the hot tar road.
So she decided to take it back home and nurse it to health. 🙂
Initially shy, the stray turtle (we name it Nomad Kura) now stays in our backyard pond with the rest of our red ear sliders. Ashley and I discussed this over the phone and since it’s a stray animal, it would be best to let it go again after it is fully healed.
Days later, Ashley read about the illegal pet trade going on in Malaysia and coincidentally this turtle type was mentioned. It’s called the “Malayan Box Turtle” although it goes by many other names.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Its current species status is “threatened” or “vulnerable”! There was an article about it in The Star last Saturday (10th December 2011) – I am unable to find the article online but this older article pretty much sums it:
http://thestar.com.my/news/
In short, this turtle is a prime target for poachers. Common tactics of duping include a guy coming over to tell you it’s illegal to possess it; he will take it away and what you don’t know is that he’s a poacher.
That said, we cannot risk returning the turtle to the lake since people go there to fish now. As of now, we are taking care of Nomad Kura until further notice. Fortunately, for a stray animal, Nomad Kura seems to adapt well with our pond and our other turtles! 🙂
November 24 – 29.
In between launching PLR Encyclopedia with my business partner Khai Ng and running house errands as a bachelor, I hastily packed my bags for Mauritius Island.
This is the first time I celebrated my birthday abroad, albeit for just a few days. Mauritius is 7 hours away from Malaysia by flight, and there are many more surrounding islands; I’d love to come back again. Mauritius sports a humble setting, boasting population of no more than 1.3 million people.
Surprisingly, I saw many Proton cars on the road; this is the first time I’ve seen so many Malaysian cars in another country! Didn’t feel like I left home.
People here speak Mauritian Creole, which is mostly of French language. Fortunately, people here speak English well even for a second language.
Reviewing back, a number of my travels is attending weddings. Just two weeks prior to this, I attended Padro and Vera‘s wedding in Jakarta, Indonesia. This time, I was to attend Jonathan Teng and Sharon‘s wedding.
It was a shame that Calvin Woon and Patricia Lin from Singapore couldn’t join me on the short notice; but we’ve been talking about it since early this year it would suck to back out on my promise right now. Besides, I heard Mauritius is a lovely island.
Got to admit I wasn’t as well prepared to come to Mauritius. Jonathan was the only person I know here but thankfully he, Sharon and their family have been very generous to me as a guest. The most generous treatment I’ve received ever, in fact!
After Jonathan and Sharon’s wedding and dinner reception, I was checked into Pearle Beach Hotel and hawt damn, it was super awesome! Not just because of the “all expenses paid” by Jon for coming, but really this is easily one of the most enjoyable hotels I’ve been to that I can remember.
The beach is enchanting too, rivals that of Bali in Indonesia.
It’s a shame that while I could afford my trip here from a few day’s worth of work, I actually had a whole year to find a date to come with me… and I didn’t do it.
I swear, when I come back to Mauritius I’m bringing a hot date with me. 😉
I didn’t take many photos this trip but I’m serious about coming back again… it’s a must, and I want to check out the nearby islands as well!
There will certainly be a Mauritian Martians PART 2…