2009, summed up.

I really like taking walks down memory lane, and now's the best time for this last entry of the year, so here's my 2009 in a few words.

I knew 2009 would be awesome, how could it not be when I kick-started the year with an awesome, ultra yummy Vermonster at Dempsey with the Pri Sch Clique. And the year sure started on a good note, a few in fact.

First up, we received our free laptops from the school. A little problems with the lappy here and there initially, but I got that sorted out and am now happily typing on it.

In 2009,

Finally got started on doing something that I had been thinking about for a long time too: SALSA! I signed up with JJ's, and the lessons were great fun. I met a group of really enthusiastic classmates and we started dancing regularly at Union Square. I'd stopped salsa dancing for awhile now, but I'm hoping to put those dancing heels back on when school starts.

And it was in January that I got my driving license; I can still remember those knee-shaking moments in the car with my tester and how I still wasn't able to breathe properly even after he announced my results. I hogged the car most of the time after I'd gotten my license, and it sure beats having to take public transport, most of the time (noticed I didn't say all the time).

In 2009,

I took part in my first windsurf competition this year, and the race results have been nothing short of depressing each time. I screwed up big time in most of the races because I was so afraid of disappointing and placed such great pressure on myself. No more pressure in 2010, it's just all going to be learning experiences, I hope.

In 2009,

I am finally a PADI-certified Advanced Diver. I had my first visit to Pulau Tioman with Sunnycove, David & Amelia and we dived the first dives of diving season. Amelia was my dive-buddy for the second time, and the visibility was great because there were so few divers around! Visited Tioman a second time round with Sunnycove with a couple of other windsurfers and it was good too. Welcome to the world of diving, dear friends.

In 2009,

I got the iPhone. It was fun at first, but now everyone's got one so it's not such a big deal anymore. Found out that I'm not a big fan of touchscreen phones, but, I'll be keeping it until the contract terminates. Mum will probably give me another round of her lectures if I were to change to some other phone so quickly.

In 2009,

I tried to go on a Subway Veggie Delite Diet, in an attempt to lose some weight. I was totally comfortable with eating salad sandwiches, but everyone else didn't seem to think so. Anyway, it was a bad case of diet-phail, as it's always been the case for me.

In 2009,

I went through the big J hoohas, and learnt that infatuations are just phases in life and will pass when you pay little attention to the subject whom you are infatuated with. We are still good friends, thank god.

In 2009,

I was extremely lucky that Mingle helped me get a set of hardsail and shortboard so that I could start to learn how to plane across the surface of waters. I learned to use a harness with the help of walkie-talkies, but sad to say, I've not been a very promising student. I hope I'll be able to do so much better in this new year.

In 2009,

I got my first epilator and was introduced to the world of silky smooth and hairless legs (and sometimes hands too).

In 2009,

I had my first picnic in 473120384 years with the bimbos at Botanical Gardens, under the giant tree. I hope we'll get to do it again in 2010!

In 2009,

I attended Beerfest with the windsurf guys! We saw David get drunk real bad, and they had fun playing all sorts of orientation games ON me. kanasai.

In 2009,

I made a big decision, did what I'd wanted to do for a long time and cut my hair really short. I enjoyed the days of having really short hair, but it wasn't as fuss-free as I thought it'd be, with all that styling that you need to do. I like my short hair a lot, but sometimes, I find myself missing the long hair I used to have.

In 2009,

I ventured out of South East Asia and visited Hong Kong with the girls! We ate, and shopped, ate, and shopped, and had Kwunhok bring us around too. I bought 10 pairs of shoes, and they started calling me the 'thousand-legged worm'.

In 2009,

KTOWY had our first overseas trip to KL. It was not easy to make the trip possible for everyone but somehow, we did it! We had fun slapping make-up onto the boys and going up on some of the rides at the themepark up in Genting.

In 2009,

I did what I'd always wanted to, and got inked for the first time. I got it done on my birthday at 8 Volts, and my parents are still in the dark about it till now. The colour's somewhat faded now, due to the constant exposure to the sun and body rejection, so I'll need to go get it touched up once the big competition's over in February.

In 2009,

I turned 21. I didn't throw a big party to celebrate, but had a few gatherings with a few close friends. I had the durian buffet at Carlton with the pri sch clique, and a big sushi feast with KTOWY at ECP; they made me the most unique 'cake' I'd ever seen in my 21 years. Thank you guys for all that you've done for me!

In 2009,

I went diving somewhere further than Pulau Aur and Pulau Tioman; I took a 9-hour bus ride and headed all the way to Pulau Redang. The trip was kindly sponsored by Mumsy as my 21st birthday present; and I can't say how thankful I am to her for that. I used the underwater casing that KTOWY got me and took my very first diving underwater pictures.

In 2009,

I organized my first windsurf orientation with Shiqi, Titus and Shunxiang. & Mingle and Gerald and all the other seniors who were so kind to help out in one way or another.

In 2009,

My new roomie moved in! Bestest roomie that I've had so far, and we did so many crazy things together. I'm so looking forward to the new semester that's about to start soon!

In 2009,

I had Hives again WTF. It was funny how I was freaking out when red patches started appearing all over my body and my eyes started swelling. Thanks for the late-night chauffeur service so that I could go get a late-night jab, Gerald.

In 2009,

I went somewhere even further than Malaysia to dive. I visited Lombok on my own, and got to know so many awesome people on the trip. I learnt to appreciate all the simple things that I'm always taking for granted in my life, and people too.

In 2009,

I met up with the two bimbos in Bali! They made a super spontaneous decision to come to Bali, just before the exams and I'm so glad they did, because we had so much fun eating, shopping and surfing! I'm so thankful for their company and words just cannot describe how happy I was to be able to finally have someone I know to speak to at the end of the big, Bali break. Love you girls la!

In 2009,

We had the annual surf camp. I'd like to say a big thank you to the girls who did all the planning, everyone who turned up, and everyone who'd helped out in making it a successful 2-day thing. We did not have the biggest turn-out, but I hope everyone who did turn up, had fun.

In 2009,

I visited Lankawi, and then Koh Lipe in Thailand with David, Titus and his friend, Cheryl. It was a very unplanned trip that turned out just fine. I was sick, and passed the virus around the group. Really am sorry for all that coughing I made you guys go through!

In 2009,

I visited Malacca with Jiamin, Tracy and their friend Joan. It was a super spontaneous decision, and thankfully, we had Jiamin do the planning for the trip. I had fun taking walks along old shophouses, eating chicken rice balls, chendol with thick gula melaka, and shopping. Thank you girls for asking me along!

In 2009,

I've done a lot of things that I've always wanted to do, experienced so many things that I've never experienced before, and got to know so many wonderful people who all played a part in making my year a great one. The year's been awesome for me, and I hope it's been that way for all of you too.

2009's been awesome, 2010 will be even better!