Merdeka Carnival UK 2016

I had a lot of things in mind. I save a lot of photos in my phones and all the wonderful thoughts thinking i should share but i never get it started. Was in SHOWER today, and was thinking that i don't get to eat Malaysian Food which i miss ALL the time, i am going to document it whenever i had the chance to have my favorite meal as a treat. 

Last Saturday (17th of September,2016), i had the opportunity to spend time with my family in countryside while attending Merdeka Carnival 2016 in Brickendonbury Estate, Hertfordshire (aka Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre) in conjunction of the celebration of Malaysian Independent day (31st Aug,1957) as well as Malaysian Day (16th Sept,1963). I always look forward to Merdeka Carnival because of its location (give me a chance to escape #londonlife) and also this occasion we get to see lots of Malaysian residing in the UK which sometimes we are deprived of (depending on the location you live haha), and not forgetting malaysian food feasting (Noms). 

Scenic views from Tunku Abdul Razak Research Centre. 

Brief introduction of Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre :

The Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre (TARRC), founded in 1938, is the UK-based research and promotion centre of the Malaysian Rubber Board, whose mission is to enhance the competitiveness and viability of the Malaysian Rubber industries in the global environment through focused R&D, effective transfer of technology and quality support services. 

More info : Tun Abdul Razak Research Centre 

Moving on. 

I was mostly distracted by the amount of people and my wonderful friends who came around to spend time with me so i didnt have enough time to indulge in some amazing foods. 

 I am very fortunate to have known Gabriel (from Kuching, in UK for more than 20 years) and that we share the same appetite. I guess all Malaysians do!! When we meet, we all talk about food alllllll the time! #beingmalaysian 

Another reunion with my beloved Esther. A friend a sister i get to know from a very close friend in Malaysia. Very fortunate to have someone like her to look up when you live far away from home. She is and will always be my inspiration. Also, not to mention our love for NASI LEMAK. We actually spend time hunting for the best Nasi Lemak around London! Will definitely share our adventure in future, InsyaAllah.

With another girlfriend of mine, Catherine. She is Malaysian born but grew up in the UK so can consider her being BBC(British Born Chinese)  or in her case BBM (British Born Malaysian.)

My choice of food this year! Nasi Kerabu always! IS hard to find amazing kampung food (since my grandparents are from the North of Malaysia), hence i gave in immediately when i saw them at the stall. Not to mention that they are amazingly good! I soon to find out that they owns a restaurant in London, of which me and Esther plan to visit one day! IF you are interested in Kelantanesse food do visit Malaysian Deli. 

That's all from my latest updates! 

Please do follow me on twitter for my latest update!. 

Before i leave, 

here is a brief introduction on Nasi Kerabu (Kelantan Herb Rice Salad) :

Nasi Kerabu is a Malay rice dish, a type of Salad rice, in which blue-colored rice is eaten with dried fish/fried chicken/fried beef (daging bakar), crackers, pickles and other herb salads. The blue color of rice resulting from the petals of butterfly-pea flower used in cooking it. The rice can also be cooked with plain white rice or rice cooked using tumeric. 

Nasi Kerabu is very popular in the east coast states of Peninsular Malaysia such as Kelantan and Terengganu.

Source : Wikipedia

IF you 'd like to know how to make them please do visit this blog : Justasdelish.com

Let it flow

3 Years in London.

It felt longer. It felt like i was born to be here.
I could imagine my son, Mikhael growing up and receive the best education here. I could imagine myself one day having British Passport. Home isn't about where i originally came from. Home is anywhere, everywhere He planned for me to be. And that one day, i will return to Him. #theroadishome

I find it amusing. 3 years back, i was so reluctant to leave Korea. I was so in love in Korea that, after my move to London.. Everything i do leads me back to Korea.I took every opportunities that arises, that give me the chance to make a living, traveling back to back between London, and Seoul.. in the hope that one day i will return to Seoul, permanently. I was so certain, determined and goal-driven. 

3 years along the road, i fell out of love. The place that i love so much, has become so distant. I finally understood that, love fades. Everything does. The only thing that is constant is change. And what must grow is the love for yourself and the love for God. 

London, I fell in love with you. Despite the horrible weather, i am attracted to the fact that the grass is always green regardless of the season. And green , is my happy colour. Sometimes, the sun shines the brightest, it makes me felt like im loved. I am embraced by Him, His Mercy. Is as if, the sun was shining for me. It was meant to be. 

Love for something, someone. Like all elements, it will fade through time. I know that i must not settle, and that this world is not permanent .The past 3 years, I learned to let go , and let it flow. I am grateful for his blessings, for sending me here. Because, never in my wildest dreams that i thought that is possible to move continents. And i did it. With His Mercy. 

The only thing that must grow is love for yourself and faith. Everything else, let it flow. 

Passion

I no longer remember when was the last time i had so much passion for something. When i was younger, all i wanted to do was to do well academically at school and make the love of my life (my mother) proud. I gone all out for it until SPM that i actually put my effort wholeheartedly to achieve something so badly.

I remember when i was 12, when i wasn't selected to represent the state for basketball. From my narcissism point of view, i knew deep down i was good enough to be in the state team. I worked so hard to show to the world, that i could excel in basketball. And i did, but still not good enough for state team. Maybe basketball, wasn't just meant for me. I tend to put more effort against all the rejections and discrimination that i encountered. I wasn't passionate enough to do it for myself, but enough to prove to the world around me that i can. I was drawn to the attention that i get and the triumph feeling when i was standing in the hall of fame. 

And then, there was Mathematics. I wasn't interested in science related subject to begin with. I like imagining world-ly matter, but couldn't care less to know what is biology, physics or chemistry is all about. That was until... I scored less that 10 points for my Additional Mathematics when i was 16. I remember vividly, i made a promise to my Add Math teacher, that never in my life will i fail in Add Math again. I get all the help and support i could. I was good at it. To my surprise, i worked so hard that i became one of the top scorer in mathematics. I knew Maths was meant for me, but didn't know what it meant when i went to Korea to study purely in Maths. I was left alone, i didn't know where to ask for help, and i felt completely lost. I lost my conquest and confident.. I lost everything. 

I was defeated badly.Later on, all i yearn was for an easy life. To fall in love, get married and see the world with my love. Of course, i did achieve all of them at some point of my life. But the turning point of my life? It was when all my world crumbled on me. Yes. Again.

Life, of course.. is full of surprises. I can recall vividly, the first breathe i took when i arrived London in 2004. I was 14, and my mother brought me to London for the first time in my life. I could comprehend why she was so in love with this country, and i thought to myself (maybe someday..i will move to London). And here i am! Living in my thoughts. That said. You are what you think you are. I wanted to travel, got a job as a cabin crew in a prestigious airline.. and still i wasn't happy. I was.. don't get me wrong. Happiness, is not constant. I guess when you are at your highest state of your dream, to live an easy life.. you just find that your life is meaningless. Life shouldn't be that way. I don't know how to respond to an easy life. I get the chance to travel, but i hardly do. I lost my passion in living.

And it woke me up. Slapped me hard on the face. I remember dying. 

I wake up one day, and wished i have worked harder in the past. I wish i am a skilled worker. I know now. Is never too late. My only passion now is to progress to a greater version of me. To be good at something. To achieve something solely based on my passion and interest. Of course, with blessings from people around and above all, the Most Merciful and the Ever-Giving. It is my dream to influence change in the world i live in. I will keep looking and rely the rest in Him. His gift is the best gift to me. His 'no', does not mean rejection but a redirection of will.

I believe, this documentation of my journal will be a kick start to better version of me tomorrow. I want to be able to look back one day and think " I am glad that i start this journey." 

On this journey, I have learned that to be successful, it requires continuous efforts, repetition of your competencies and to be confident that you will achieve in whatever you invest in.And to be able to influence change, you need to build up good interpersonal relationship and have good command of communication skills. Working on that.  

Remembering Death

People always associate 'death' with negativity.

However, if we change our perception,'death' could mean many good things for us.

If i die tomorrow, all these would have meant nothing.

I guess that is why it is important for us to remember death. No matter how achieved we were, when we die we are still food of worms.

I would like to share a quote by the legendary Steve Jobs,

Fear death.
Don't be afraid to fall or being rejected.
Fear regrets.
And hopefully, I pray that you will be among the righteous.

Myanmar Preparation Checklist

In a week time, i will re reuniting with my girlfriends in Myanmar together with my beloved family.

Here are few things to take heed before departure. 

1. Visa Application : visit here to know if you require visa to enter Myanmar.
2. USD - as they are only open up to tourism recently, most place only accept USD. Some place accept MYR or Euro.
3. Flight to Bagan . Do check out Mayflower Travel & Tours. They offer the best price for all kinds of travelling. 
4. Balloons over Bagan Reservation. Visit here for best price. 
5. Accommodation. Try Booking.com for best price.