Adau Gayoh - May 1st

Today the Dusun community celebrate Adau Gayoh (translate 'big day'). Its something like thanksgiving for the harvesting season. Families usually get together, have big feast at their houses and kids enjoying themselves playing on the bouncers.

This year my family are not celebrating it because of the recent loss of our loved one and also it coincide with the 14th day since my grandma's passing. We will have some makan-makan tonight (as part of the tradition) and tomorrow we will visit her grave.

I'm sure my family feel the loss *sigh* I'm still missing them both badly. It'll never be same without the both of them now :( R.I.P.

Anyways, wishing all Dusun people : 'Selamat Adau Gayoh'

Rest In Peace Grandma

I was not able to type out an entry so soon to follow up on the previous one because my family suffered another loss of a loved one recently.

My dearest and beloved grandma passed away on Friday morning (17^th April) in RIPAS hospital. She collapsed and slipped into a coma the previous day and never regained consciousness. She was 97. Just 69 days apart from my grandpa, who passed away last February this year.

On Thursday, most of the families were at the hospital eagerly waiting for news on her condition. We met the doctor and were devastated when he said there was no hope left and just be prepared in the next 48 hours.

She was admitted in the SICU and only two visitors were allowed at a time. All of us took turn to go in. I was anxious for my turn and keep asking my relatives about her condition but none said anything. When my turn came, seeing her lying on the hospital bed with tubes everywhere broke my heart into pieces. I was expecting her to be sitting upright in her bed, smiling and welcoming us but that didn’t happen. It pains me so much to see her that way. I shed more tears the rest of the day and went back home feeling gloomy. I was really praying and hoping for a miracle to happen.

The following morning, I got up as usual to get ready to go to work but I was feeling in doubt and knew something was wrong. I wanted to take another emergency leave from work that day. My dad was also on his way to work when he received a phone call from my uncle informing us my grandma was in a critical condition. This saddened me more. I left home just after 7am and received another call from my dad… the news that I dread to hear… my grandma had passed away. I made a turn and called my niece first. It took a while for her to answer it and when she finally did, I couldn’t speak because there was a lump in my throat. Eventually I blurted out that our grandma had passed. We both cried on the phone and there was nothing left to say.

When I reached home I woke my mom and told her the news. My dad came home a few minutes later. We busied ourselves that morning getting ready to go to my grandparent’s house in Kg. Lamunin. Her body was brought back to the house that morning while my uncle and cousins arranged for the coffin and other funeral arrangement.

I did not want to believe that she was gone. I expected to see her walking around the house, spraying ridsect on some ants or sweeping the floor…her regular activites. It pains me so much that even up till now I’m still regretting for not visiting her for the past few weeks. My last visit was before I went to the Philippine and the UK for my holiday. Now I will only have memories of her to cherish: her sweet laughter and beautiful smile.

Dearly missed by loved ones

Love you always grandma.

Country Hopping: Philippine

It has been a while since I last update my blog. Well anyways I'm back home now and thought I should spend some time updating it. So where have I been lately? Hmmm... let say 'country hopping'. I've been traveling a lot lately and I've raised few eyebrows here and there when I told them about my unusual hobby hahaha... I was in the Philippine last month for a couple of days to attend a meeting in Tagaytay for an upcoming event to be held there this November. It was my third trip to the Philippine. I've been there before in 2000 and 2006. We arrived in the evening on a direct flight from Brunei.We stayed at a very nice place called Bukal Ng Tipan (no idea what it means) upon our arrival. It is situated on top of a very high hill just outside of Manila. It has a very nice and peaceful environment and a great view of the city.
We arrived a day earlier so we had the chance to go around Manila for sightseeing and shopping. We first went around Quezon city looking for a shop that sells priest vestment and for lunch till in the afternoon, we went to the Mall of Asia (MOA), one of the biggest shopping malls in the world. Went around the mall and manage to do a bit of shopping here and there.
We left for Tagaytay on the same day and it took us about 2½ hours because of the traffic. It was a long and tiring journey. We arrived safely at the meeting venue by nightfall and rested for the night.
I recognised some familiar faces during the meeting. I met them during a conference I attended in Johor in 2006. The meeting went smoothly and I really enjoyed my short visit there. The people were very helpful and kind and also, the food was amazing! Our meals were prepared by two Italian nuns and a Filipino nun.

Sadly we had to leave a day early because there was no flight the next day and also, I had another flight to catch the day after. There are a lot of preparations to do and I'm looking forward for the next trip =)

Bye Bye iPod

I'm a bit frustrated now because I accidentally left my ipod at the back of my jeans pocket and in a rush, put it in a washing machine and the rest is history... *sigh* I can't believe I was that careless. And to make matters worst, just this morning I found my pendrive was in there as well!!! But thankfully the pendrive still works but, sadly, not the ipod :(
I arrived home at midnight from bndr and was exhausted and sleepy. I almost doze off while driving! I rushed to get my laundry done that night because I'm leaving for Manila later in the evening. I totally forgotten about the ipod and pendrive in my pocket, I put it there when I was getting out of the car. Did my laundry, took a shower and while showering I heard a loud thud from the washing machine. I stop it and have a look in it but found nothing then I let it continue. I can't think straight at that time because I was extremely tired. I look around my room and saw my phone on the desk so that couldn't be it, my wallet..nope, watch...nope then finally it clicks...my iPod in the back pocket!! aarrgghhh.... it was at the bottom of the washing machine with no sign of life...I quickly dried it and place it in a container of rice hoping there's a chance of survival. Last I check... it still hasn't work :( I'm trying to be optimistic now and leave the ipod for another 24hours in the rice container. Hopefully it'll works by tomorrow! Just have to remind my mom about it. Moral of the story: don't do your laundry when you are sleepy or at least check the pockets before loading it in the washing machine!!!

Wii hii yii pii

Finally the wait is over hehehe I finally bought the one thing I've been eying for soooo long and that is....

a Nintendo Wii
[yipeee... :)]

Bought it second hand for $350 which include an extra nunchuk and controller and 30 games. I've actually no idea on how to connect it or whatsoever but amazing due to 'iski kan main' I manage to get it started within 10mins hahaha
I've been talking about it for quite some times now and I even tell my parents about it (hinting lah tu kan minta bali for x'mas or birthday present but to no avail). I only told them about my recent purchase on the day itself during breakfast hehehe I thought they would freak out (because they know my habit of collecting things/gadgets) or something but rather they say 'what are you going to do with the other one? (my PS3) Baik tah jual.' No way man!!! I bought that for $550 and that's the cheapest I can get around here. I will decide when to sell it.
Anyways, I'm enjoying the wii but it seems like my parents are enjoying it more. They're competing against each other in bowling and my mom won 3 times in a row!!! My brother got hit by my dad while he was playing tennis hahaha talk about wii related injuries!!! I'm just worried that one day the wii controller will fly out of the hand and hit the tv or something!!! Not sure if I want to introduce other games to my parents yet, at the meantime I let them stick to the wii sport first hehehe

The only weekend that I am FREE

This is the only weekend that I am free to do whatever I want. And I choose to sleep on Saturday till God knows what time and then on Sunday, I’m planning to attend a classmate’s wedding in Tutong and visit my grandma.

I’ve been quite busy during the past weeks commuting between Seria and bandar to attend meetings for some upcoming activities. Last weekend, we had two visitors from the Philippines and I offered to bring them for sightseeing. I stayed for two nights in bandar because we had a retreat and then I stayed overnight at my grandma’s house in Tutong on Sunday night before heading back to Seria early on Monday morning to attend a continuation of the retreat. The retreat was brilliant and I’m glad I attend it. The speaker is a very well known guy and has been invited to give talks around the world. Our WYD group was very lucky to attend his catechism during the WYD in Sydney last year. And I have met him during a congress in Chiang Mai, Thailand in 2006.

It was a bit tiring but nevertheless I still enjoyed it with company of friends. It keeps me occupied rather than feeling bored and thinking on what to do.

During my stay that weekend, I take the advantage to do some shopping. I bought a new computer table for my room from IKEA. And I’m planning to get a new desktop pc and laptop to go with it. I still have not assembled it yet because I’m just too tired this week. Hopefully it will be a DIY project for my dad and me tomorrow. We usually assemble out-of-box furniture together. Although the instructions are provided we still end up putting it up wrongly or drill an extra hole in it!!!

Next week will be the 30hr Famine in COLA and after that I’m off to Manila to attend a meeting. After the Manila trip, I will be flying off to UK for a vacation and be back in time for Holy Week. My weekends will be fully occupied in April. The following weekend after Holy Week, I will be in Miri to help out in a programme for working adults and then the following weekend, I will be flying off to KL with some friends. I guess the next free weekends will be in May!!!

I will have more trips in the coming months and none of it is a company business trip. I just take a couple of days leave from work and make it my own personal business trip. Hehehe Will update again soon.

Dude, you're going the wrong way!

I went to bndr last Sunday with my cousin and niece. As usual, we were talking, laughing and singing to the latest songs on my recently updated ipod :)
There were a lot of cars on the Ttg highway that day and I was behind an army bus and van. We were talking about their license plate and debating what's the difference between MOD and MinDef. I was getting annoyed because we were on the fast lane and the bus was going slow! I divert my attention for a while on the opposite lane and got the shock of my life!
A small car was driving against the incoming traffic (from bndr to Seria)!!! Called it stupid or utter crazy but what the heck is that car doing? I kept on saying 'OMG!' and the others in the car was surprised too. The car was on the fast lane and coming towards a right bend (its a left bend coming from bndr); incoming cars flashes their headlights and some managed to avoid the car just in time by swerving to the other lane. The car was going slow with its signal indicators on.
I guess the driver must have been 'lost' and in panic! Gosh...of all things that I've to see that day...a suicidal car!!!