The journey of happiness

20th June 2009 – Day 1:



Departed from Hyde Park, London at 9am and this was my first time got boarded into a double decker coach. Yes, we do have lots of double decker busses in UK, but it’s quite rare to have those for travelling coach.

It was 70 of us. At that time, my friends and I only had an ice breaking session with Vk, Thiong (both from Saudi) and Ana and Fara (Both from Malaysia). They were among new friends we knew on the first day.

The weather was breezy and lots of chatting was going on at the time while waiting for our luggage to be boarded into the bus. I was quite surprised to see most of the people who joined the tour were from Malaysia! I mean, they came all the way from Malaysia just for this trip.

It took us 2 hrs 45 minutes to reach Dover where we entered English Channel Tunnel. I was impressed with the technology as we used a train to cross the English Channel in an hour’s time.

Yeay..We have reached Calais (France) at 12.25pm (UK time) and as we reached France, we were instructed by the tour manager (Khairul) to add 1 hour in our watches as there was a timing difference between UK and European countries.
After an hour ride, we arrived in Brussels. Never thought that we were only in Belgium just to buy the chocolate. Sigh. Similar to Netherlands, Belgium people used Flemish. They do speak in French too. Suddenly, I realized that I should learn French as my third language.
Belgium is famous for its chocolates and beer. As we passed by the highways, we noted that there were lots of wind bines.
After a long journey (Approx 5 hrs), finally we reached Netherlands .

21st June 2009-Day 2


Left the camp site and headed to Cheese Village in Netherlands. It was an opportunity to see how Dutch makes their own clog! I was amazed because it was all HAND-MADE. They used this clogs in all occasions and it symbolized where they are from. Hence, they have different patterns that symbolized their origins. Isn’t that amazing? Oh, we were informed that if a guy wanted to propose a girl, he has to make a pair of clogs with 72 craved flowers. Now, that is what I called EFFORTS babeh! :)

Besides that, we also saw the cheese making demonstration.
After the photography sessions took place, we headed to Volendam. On our way to Volendam, we stopped at 1 traditional wind mill. Volendam is a fishing village and famous for its souvenirs.

Later on, we were brought to Amsterdam for Canal ride (gosh, highly not recommended!). Went to Van Gough museum, Hard Rock Café and Red Light District.

22nd June 2009- Day 3



At 11.50am, we arrived in Frankfurt,Germany. This country is famous for its luxurious cars such as Porsche, BMW and Volkswagen. Germany is the second largest country in Europe and it’s a roman ruler originated country. Guess what, there is no speed limit at autobahns (Highways).

Went to Frankfurt Airport, Central Bank of Europe, Romar square and River Main.

23rd June 2009- Day 4


Departed from Frankfurt at 10.30am and reached in Fussen about an hour later. It’s a place where Mr. Disney got his idea for DISNEYLAND. This place has 2 beautiful castles.

Left Fussen in the evening and 4 hours later, we reached our campsite in Austria.

24th June 2009- Day 5



The view from this campsite was breath taking as the campsite is facing the northern part of Swiss Alps. We went to Innsbruck the morning and Austria is famous for Swarovski.

Day 6- 15..to be continued...

Detour or Exit

I’m standing in the middle of a road which has 2 sign board showing signs of detour and exit.

Half part of me wants me to choose detour while another part wants me to choose exit road. Actually i wanted to come home so badly and work for this company in Malaysia. But it's all still uncertain as i need to undergo the final stage of interview which the session will be conducted by the directors.

Yes, i do miss Malaysia a lot but i was hoping that i could secure a job here as the culture and the working exposure are totally difference.But bottom line is, it's all about $$$..I mean the cost that i need to bear for my visa extension.


Even though when I first came here, all I wanted was to stay and find a work here, but with the current financial turmoil, there is not much of hope left.


However, last week when I’ve paid a visit to All Saints International office, I read statistic from Top 100 graduate employer companies and below is the statistic for sectors that shown positive trend for quarter period of 2009.





The Financial Institutions has surprisingly shown an inward movement despite of the financial turmoil that currently has an adverse effect to UK economy.
However, the green grass in other sectors may not always have the same scenario for other industries. The graph illustrated below shown an adverse effect of the job opportunities in UK market for the quarter period of 2009.





It has been everyone wishes to find a proper job in UK as the working experience is very valuable to our career progression. However, before a decision is made, there are few considerations that we need to be aware of such as;
• Cost analysis (Ensure that the benefits outweigh the costs incurred)
• Visa requirements (Comprised of Qualification perspective and Financial
perspective)
• Leaving your loved ones behind (Parents, siblings, relatives and friends)
• Impossible to get hitched up before 30.

My parents has insisted me to prolong my stay in UK and there is nothing much that I can do as I’m going for my Europe trip this weekend and shall be back in Manchester again by 4th July.

Insyallah, by then everything will be clearer.
Hope Allah will lead me to the right path. Amen.

5Q's in Choosing a Life Partner..

Hey guys,
M back..FREE FROM EXAMS and it means that i have more time to update my blog. Nway, i've received this interesting article from a friend of mine and i found that this article is really relevant to people who are still havent found the love of their lives.


FINDING AND KEEPING A LIFE PARTNER
by Dov Heller, M.A.

When it comes to making the decision about choosing a life partner, no one wants to make a mistake. Yet, with a divorce rate of close to 50%, it appears that many are making serious mistakes in their approach to finding Mr./Miss. Right!

If you ask most couples who are engaged why they're getting married, they'll say: 'We're in love'; I believe this is the ..1 mistake people make when they date. Choosing a life partner should never be based on love. Though this may sound 'not politically correct', there's a profound truth here.

Love is not the basis for getting married. Rather, love is the result of a good marriage. When the other ingredients are right, then the love will come. Let me say it again: 'You can't build a lifetime relationship on love alone'; You need a lot more!!! Here are five questions you must ask yourself if you're serious about finding and keeping a life partner.

QUESTION ..1: Do we share a common life purpose?

Why is this so important? Let me put it this way: If you're married for20 or 30 years, that's a long time to live with someone. What do you plan to do with each other all that time? Travel, eat and jog together? You need to share something deeper and more meaningful. You need a
common life purpose.

Two things can happen in a marriage:
(1) You can grow together
(2)you can grow apart.
50% of the people out there are growing apart.To make a marriage work, you need to know what you want out of life!Bottom line; marry someone who wants the same thing.

QUESTION ..2: Do I feel safe expressing my feelings and thoughts with this person?

This question goes to the core of the quality of your relationship. Feeling safe means you can communicate openly with this person. The basis of having good communication is trust i.e.. trust that I won't get 'punished'; or hurt for expressing my honest thoughts and feelings.
A colleague of mine defines an abusive person as someone with whom you feel afraid to express your thoughts and feelings. Be honest with yourself on this one. Make sure you feel emotionally safe with the person you plan to marry.

QUESTION ..3: Is he/she a mensch?

A mensch is someone who is a refined and sensitive person. How can you test? Here are some suggestions. Do they work on personal growth on a regular basis? Are they serious about improving themselves? A teacher of mine defines a good person as 'someone who is always striving to be good and do the right ';. So ask about your significant other: What do they
do with their time? Is this person materialistic? Usually a materialistic person is not someone whose top priority is character refinement.

There are essentially two types of people in the world:
(1) People who are dedicated to personal growth.
(2) People who are dedicated to seeking comfort.

Someone whose goal in life is to be comfortable will put personal comfort ahead of doing the right thing. You need to know that before walking down the aisle.

QUESTION ..4: How does he/she treat other people?

The one most important thing that makes any relationship work is the ability to give. By giving, we mean the ability to give another person pleasure.

Ask: Is this someone who enjoys giving pleasure to others or are they wrapped up in themselves and self absorbed? To measure this, think about the following: How do they treat people
whom they do not have to be nice to, such as waiters, bus boys, taxi drivers, etc.. How do they treat their parents and siblings? Do they have gratitude and appreciation? If they don't have gratitude for the people who have given them everything; can you do nearly as much for them? You can be sure that someone, who treats others poorly, will eventually treat you poorly as
well.


QUESTION ..5: Is there anything I'm hoping to change about this person after we're married?

Too many people make the mistake of marrying someone with the intention of trying to 'improve'; them after they're married. As a colleague of mine puts it: 'You can probably expect someone to change after marriage for the worse' If you cannot fully accept this person the way they are now, then you are not ready to marry them. In conclusion, dating doesn't have to be difficult and treacherous. The key is to try leading a little more with your head and less with
your heart. It pays to be as objective as possible when you are dating; to be sure to ask questions that will help you get to the key issues. Falling in love is a great feeling, but when you wake up with a ring on your finger, you don't want to find yourself trouble because you didn't do your homework.

Another perspective...
There are some people in your life that need to be loved from a distance.. It's amazing what you can accomplish when you let go of or at least minimize your time with draining, negative, incompatible, not going anywhere relationships. Observe the relationships around you.
Pay attention...Which ones lift and which ones lean?
Which ones encourage and which ones discourage?
Which ones are on a path of growth uphill and which ones are going downhill?
When you leave certain people do you feel better or feel worse?
Which ones dont appreciate you?
Which ones make you feel good, praises you, boosts you with loving and
caring words or annotations.

The more you seek quality, respect, growth, peace of mind, love and truth around you...the easier it will become for you to decide who gets to sit in the front row and who should be moved to the balcony of your life.

An African proverb states, 'Before you get married, keep both eyes open, and after you marry, close one eye'; Before you get involved and make a commitment to someone, don't let lust, desperation, immaturity, ignorance, pressure from others or a low selfâ€'esteem make you blind to warning signs. Keep your eyes open, and don't fool yourself that you can change someone or that what you see as faults aren't really that important.
Do you bring out the best in each other?
Do you compliment and compromise with each other, or do you compete, compare and control?
What do you bring to the relationship?
Do you bring past relationships, past hurt, past mistrust, past pain?
You can't take someone to the altar to alter them. You can't make someone love you or make someone stay.
If you develop selfâ€'esteem, spiritual discernment, and 'a life'; you won't find yourself making someone else responsible for your happiness or responsible for your pain. Seeking status, sex, and security are the wrong reasons to be in a relationship.

WHAT KEEPS A RELATIONSHIP STRONG IS:
1. TRUST
2. COMMUNICATION
3. INTIMACY
4. A SENSE OF HUMOR
5. SHARING TASKS
6. DAILY EXCHANGES (meal, shared activity, hug, call, touch, notes,etc.)
7. SHARING COMMON GOALS AND INTERESTS
8. GIVING EACH OTHER SPACE TO GROW WITHOUT FEELING INSECURE
9.GIVING EACH OTHER A SENSE OF BELONGING AND ASSURANCES OF COMMITMENT
10. CONCERN AND CARE FOR YOUR LOVER IN YOUR OWN WAYS.

If these qualities are missing, the relationship will erode as resentment withdrawal, abuse, neglect, and dishonesty; and pain will replace.

It's all about May!

Okay..i;ve started the month of May by enrolling to Sugden Fitness Centre with a guy fren. hehehe.Thank god that he also wants to lose some weights..that makes us even.Both of us need to work out before we come back to Msia.

The next day, i went to watch WOLVERINE-Original with my girlfriends and guyfren (my gym buddy). My jaw was opened all the time as i was mesmerized with Hugh Jackman's body.He has a very sexy top..still smiling untill now.hahaha Girls..

Oh..after watching the movie, we went for Hot Choc drinking session @ Costa Rica in Piccadilly. After few hrs of gossiping, we went home.Owh, it was actually a birthday of my Guyfren and due to that i've cooked some meals for him.So he had lunch at our house before we left to watch the movie. And after that, we had Tiramisu dessert for tea, guess Hot chocolate was not enuff for everyone.

We watched Friends together while enjoying my 'masterpiece'.Glad to see that he was enjoying every single piece of it. I've even make another tiramisu for him to bring home. It was a birthday gift from me to him..wasnt it sweet?hehehe nah, i just want to give something which he cant get from anywhere else. A very special gift indeed..

I've enjoyed being his freind..enjoying the companion and the laughters we had. Sad that in few months time, i shall be going back to Msia and he stays here until Oct. Hopefully, we'll keep in touch when both of us in Msia.

aHA..and today, something interesting has happens to me. Manage to talk to my exschoolmate when i was in primary school.We skyped for 2-3hrs...Miss him a lot. We used to chat long time ago, but then since i flew to UK..we have lost contact.He is still the same Rizal that i knew..and the best part was when i called him and i didnt mention my name, he can actually recognised my voice without me introducing myself..He's still single though..nice chap..anyone who;s interested, gimme a buzz, maybe i can pair u guys :)...

Erm..Anyway, as May has come, it means that it only a month left before i sits for my FINAL EXAMS in June..Chill..Cold and goosebumps everywhere..Still paddling ..

Pls pray for my success as i need to nail these 2 papers in order for me to secure a job with B** :)

Until now~Ciao...

Chill..Cold..Nervous and finally Flu!

After not being on stage for 11 years, i finally got the chance to perform again. I thought i would have the confidence to face the crowd. However, my assumption was wrong. I was too nervous and even when we had rehearsal for 2 times, my hands were starts to shake.

Goosebumps were everywhere.Even though the performace was not that great, all of us DID had FUN. Glad to be part of the team.

A week past by and i felt sicked.Got flu since yesterday. Actually during the practices and rehearsal, i managed to find my gedikmate. He always said cute things and make me laughed. We were gossiping, bitching and laughing abt ppl's performances.hahaah.And now, no more practices, no more rehearsals, i kinda miss his presence.

Really grateful that i've met him now..He is my best Boyfriend ever! (Not that special bf ya..dun get me wrong)..:)

Small changes can make a big difference.

{ This is me before i came to UK..i have lost 8 Kgs so far and
i still need to lose few more Kgs..}

I NEED TO LOSE WEIGHT and things that i need to do..

The most effective way to do this is to :
1)reduce the amount of calories you eat
2)increase your levels of activity.

The healthiest way to lose weight is neither crash diets nor bursts of exercise. The body likes slow changes in terms of food and exercise. Hence, we need to change gradually day by day.

As result to that, I'm going to jog for 20mins at Withworth Park at 8am tomorrow.

There is 1 finding in the website that really shocked me.

One extra biscuit a week can lead you to gain 5lb a year – cut that biscuit out
of your diet and you'll lose the same amount.

(So, strictly no biscuit people!)

Swapping full-fat milk for semi-skimmed or making time for breakfast each morning than a diet that sets rules for all foods. I'm already doing this.

Since I'm a student now, i cant afford to go to Gym, the best cost-free exercise would be jog for 20 mins at the park which is opposite my house.I've been to the park since i'm here, so why dont i start to do it today! Because an even light exercise such as a short 20 minute walk will be beneficial if done most days of the week.Every single time you exercise more than usual, you burn calories and fat.

Reduce your calorie intake

Based on BMI calculation, M overweight and obviously i can't continue with my current eating habits. (Just had Magnum ice cream this eve)-too bad.Only have that once in fortnight.It's not possible to reduce body fat while eating lots of food, cakes and sweets. This doesn't mean you can never have any treats, but you need to learn how to limit these foods to small quantities - say, for special occasions.

Below are ways to reduce calorie intake without having to alter your diet significantly.

1)Replace fizzy drinks and fruit cordials with water.
2)Swap whole milk for semi-skimmed, or semi-skimmed for skimmed.
3)Eat less lunch than usual. For example, make your own sandwich and limit the use of margarine/butter and full-fat mayonnaise (store-bought sandwiches often contain both).
4)Stop taking sugar in tea and coffee. Okay.. definitely my coffee will taste weirder tomorrow.
5)Have smaller portions of the food you enjoy.
6)Avoid having a second helping at dinner.
7)Cut out unhealthy treats such as confectionary, sugary biscuits and crisps between meals.

My ideal weight 62kg..8kg in 4 months time..is it possible?Need to be in a good shape when m going back to KL.So both of my missions will be accomplished. (First, would be my ACCA la kan).hehehe. LOVE?Nah, maybe i will find someone at my future workplace.Amen :D

Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus

I know that u cant actually express what ur feelings from SMS. But actually, the reader should know how to differentiate a person who is upset or happy.

I;ve heard of this book for a quite long time but, due to the work commitment, i was unable to have a look at it. After the heartaching incident happened this afternoon, it has motivates me to google and search for the contents of the book and here are the summary:

a) The differences of need:

-Men primarily need:
1.Trust
2.Acceptance
3.Admiration
4.Approval
5.Appreciation
6.Encouragement

- Women on the other hand need:
1.Caring
2.Understanding
3.Respect
4.Devotion
5.Validation
6.Reassurance

Why We Argue
Common things men and women argue about are money, sex,
decisions, scheduling, values, child rearing, and household responsibilities.
When these discussions and negotiations turn into painful arguments, it is for
one reason — we are not feeling loved.
Most of these arguments occur not
because two people disagree but because either the man feels that the woman
disapproves of his point of view or of him, when in fact she disapproves because
he is not validating her point of view or speaking to her in a caring way. This
leads to an escalating argument rooted in both parties not feeling their needs
being met.
When men and women learn to approve and validate, they will no
longer have to argue. They can instead negotiate differences.

b)Scoring Points with the Opposite Sex

-Here are some suggestions that Gray offers:
1.Give her a hug
2.Practice listening and asking questions
3.Surprise her for no special reason with flowers
4.Make her dinner
5.Compliment her looks
6.Validate her feelings when she is upset
7.When she talks to you, put down the magazine or turn off the TV and give her your full
attention
8.Wash before having sex
9.Wash her car
10.Take her side when she is upset with someone

So what about with men? How can a woman score points with them? Well, it’s
all about appreciation. When a woman verbally tells a man that she appreciates
what he does for her, this scores big points with him.
This works especially
well when a man learns to do many small things for his partner, as we just
discussed. He will feel loved and want to continue to fulfill her resulting in a
cycle of increasing love.

Here are some ways that women can score with men:
1.He makes a mistake and she doesn’t say “I told you so” or offer advice.
2.He disappoints her and she doesn’t punish him.
3.He gets lost while driving and she doesn’t make a big deal out of it.
4.When he withdraws she doesn’t make him feel guilty
5.She is happy to see him when he gets home.


c)How to Communicate Difficult Feelings

Write a letter to express both feelings.

FINALLY...

d)How to Ask for Support and Get It

If you are not getting the support that you want and need in a relationship, the main culprit may be simply because you’re not asking. Asking for love and support is essential to the success of any relationship.