The very awesome kitchen.

I’m actually quite surprised that I don’t miss the place as much as I thought I would.

I’m also surprised that I only had char kuay teow once since I got back. It’s never really my fav hawker food to begin with.

I’m very surprised at how much I have missed my friends here. I’m not the sort of person that will actually miss their friends. Perhaps age plays a part.

In fact when someone asked me why am I going back, I actually said I miss my friends.

I came back at the right time. CNY. Everyone is back.

Sparkles at the “snow-covered-backyard”!

NYE was spent having probably the best lasagna in this city. Found out the city had its fireworks at 6pm and of course I missed it because I was still half-awake then. But I still went to possibly my favorite-st part of the city hoping to catch some fireworks. Well, we saw a few and some even light up wish lanterns. One didn’t make it though and hit the freezing water.

My 2009 was arguably slightly better than 2008.

I moved to a foreign country, lost both my granddads, lived and still am living on my own, able to cook a simple meal, traveled….

The only time I was hit with homesickness was in early April, before the Easter Break and I was this close to booking my flight back for the break but instead I went to Amsterdam. I had a lovely time there though I think I never got around to blogging about it. I was sick of this country, sick of the bland tasteless food (seriously wtf), sick of the general politeness here and I missed home. But somehow, I got over it and that was pretty much the only time I felt homesick. If I don’t take into account all those cravings for my asam laksa, chicken rice, hokkien mee, the list goes on.

I think one of the main reasons I actually survived this long is that I have a great bunch of friends here. All of us are from different countries but somehow we get along great. I remembered I was on the phone with my mum once and she asked if I have any Malaysian friends here. Before I came here, I have about two malaysian friends here. I was and still am very close to one of them but he left in July. I think I know why some of the students overseas stick to the people from the same country as them. The familiarity of home, food, manglish etc but I will never see the point of students coming here and preferring to speak in their mother tongues instead of English. In case you are wondering, I can count the number of Malaysians I know here with one hand. Quality over quantity, I say.

2009 was also the year I got seriously drunk till I have no recollections whatsoever of the events that took place. I was feeling ill for a few days after that and the next day when I saw the wine list at some restaurant in Durham, I wanted to puke. I stopped drinking after that, well, till couple of days ago. It was a scary feeling, being not able to remember what happened.

There is another thing that I learned in 2009 but since this is not a private blog, I shall not mention it.

I wish I can say I did some growing up in 2009 but nah I don’t think I did, apart from the moving to another country. If all goes well, the reason I am here in the first place will be accomplished soon.

But now.

Now McD is just less than 5 minutes walk away (probably something like 3 minutes) but I’m so lazy to walk there to grab a double sausage mcmuffin.

Am considering going back to Aviemore during winter for some skiing. Switzerland is too expensive bleh.

Drove up to the skiing place - Caingorm Mountain

Took the tram up.

The tram coming down.

You can see a lake at the background. It was freezingggggg up there.

There’s a restaurant at the top.

View on the way down.

Stopped by this small town, Pitlochry for lunch.

Penang Bridge The Forth Road Bridge at Edinburgh. I swear it really looks like Penang Bridge. I showed a friend the picture and told him its Penang Bridge. He believed me haha.

I missssssssssssss Penang.

That’s The Forth Rail Bridge on the left.

Windmills

And of course, this trip is made possible by Google Maps.

On the way to Inverness, we stopped by Urquhart Castle. Entrance fee was £7-8 I think.

Inverness.

The city centre.

Considered spending the night here but decided to continue driving after dinner and look for B & B along the way, which turned out to be a good decision coz we ended up in a town that has a ski resort.

The dining area of the B & B we stayed at Aviemore.

Full Scottish/English Breakfast. The black thing is the black pudding.

The other B&Bs along the road.

The B&B we stayed in. £30/night.

Went and explored the national park after breakfast.

Then I realised I played badminton for a measly 20 minutes the day before. ARGH.

Crossing the bridge to err somewhere

Old Inverlochy Castle. The first thought that came to mind when I saw the entrance was, no way I’m paying the entrance fee to this place.

Turned out there are no entrance fees. Free!

On our way to Kyle of Lochalsh.

Eilean Donan Castle. It was closed by the time we got there.

Had dinner at this little restaurant at Broadford, Isle Of Skye. Apparently its an award winning restaurant.

View from outside the restaurant.

The B & B we stayed in at Portree. £35 a night. For some unknown reasons, almost all the B & B there were fully occupied.

Catching the ferry to Mallaig.

Fort Augustus. The Loch Ness. The monster’s name is Nessie haha. So girlish for a monster.

Loch Ness.

Rented a car from budget. 4 days for £102. Fuel for the whole trip cost about £100.

Relied heavily on Google Maps.

First stop was Glasgow.

Lotssssssss of theaters in Glasgow. After an early dinner we went to this Cathedral.

Stumbled upon a very old cemetery nearby and we went up. Probably about 500 years old. Had a great view of the cathedral and Glasgow royal infirmary (right of the pic).

Stayed at one of the b & b that cost £25/night.

The next morning, we headed out to Dumbarton to visit the Dumbarton Castle.

Had to walk up quite a few steps but the view was totally worth it.

Continued out journey to For Williams. Drove through the Scottish Highlands which was stunning.

Stopped by one of the rest place to have our lunch.

Loch Lomond.

The dogs really love the water.

One of the many Loch (Lake).

view from friends’ flat.

- bought dan brown’s the lost symbol from amazon at £4.99 hardcover but guess what to get the free shipping your order must be over £5 cilaka so i bought another book.
- i need to lose weight like seriously.
- basically i’m free to do whatever i want go wherever i like in these 3 months plus as long as i finish my dissertation before the due date next Jan.
- why is bailey’s so expensive here.
- i kinda like being alone in this flat (flatmates are away).
- i’m camera-less because i accidentally dropped mine. don’t think i’m gonna get a new one here.
- i finished dollhouse, ncis season smth, bones season 4, ugly betty season 3, monk season smth in 3 weeks. halfway through trueblood mmhm. gossip girls might be next if i’m that bored. we’ll see.
- i really need to lose weight arggggh.
- the days are getting shorter - winter’s coming blah.

this has not been a good year. not at all.

i didn’t know the central station was just nearby. starbucks was on the right while a pub was on the left.

coffee or beer.

went in and ordered a pint of carlsberg and i don’t even like carlsberg. was asked to press a button and the screen showed two for one.

you have got to be kidding me. how am i supposed to finish 2 pints of beer. on an empty stomach.

why cant it be full price or even half price or even one quid for a drink. two for one. on all days. on the day i left my phone at home and couldn’t call my flatmate to come over and join me. on the day. on this day.

sat outside overlooking the central station. saw the taxis lined up. the taxi drivers feeding the pigeons. cars driving past. homeless woman walking past asking for 25p.

you have never failed to remember our birthdays every year until your memory got the better of you.

sorry i could not be there.

two toast to you, ah gong.

this has not been a good year.