~minors n’ MAJORS~ 2010 in review

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here’s a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Wow.

Crunchy numbers

A Boeing 747-400 passenger jet can hold 416 passengers. This blog was viewed about 13,000 times in 2010. That’s about 31 full 747s.

 

In 2010, there were 73 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 464 posts.

The busiest day of the year was October 25th with 88 views. The most popular post that day was Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core :spoilers beware:.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were facebook.com, jfook.blogspot.com, google.com.my, iris-footprints.blogspot.com, and alvinjani.mylovepress.net.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for cloud ff7, zack final fantasy, final fantasy 7 cloud, crisis core cloud, and fresh hotel ipoh.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

1

Final Fantasy 7: Crisis Core :spoilers beware: May 2008
37 comments

2

Ipoh trip 2009 February 2009
10 comments

3

Spaghetti Grill, Midvalley Megamall, Kuala Lumpur July 2010
2 comments

4

Yaki Yaki Japanese BBQ Buffet Lunch-Hi Tea Promotion September 2009
7 comments

5

Reviews: Nijyumaru Japanese Restaurant, Sutera Utama, Johor. June 2010
2 comments

Ten things from Twenty Ten.

First off, Happy New Year to all. I haven’t been updating for a long long while partially because I was very caught up with my work and dedications.

It’s the time of the year when I look back at 2010 and noted out some of the things which clearly  made my year (either great or miserable).

1. Someone broke into by car and stole the car battery

I still have no idea how someone could open up a locked car hood and took out the battery.

 

2. Became an avid photographer covering certain events and functions (such as), and getting some good shots off people as well.

1. CSSUPM Annual Dinner 2010.

Had a great time with great retro dressing models.

2. Now I See Spiritual Revival Concert 2010.

I wasn’t an official photographer for the event but since anyone can basically just go up front to take photos, I just went ahead. Anyway. Shot for 2 concerts, first one was in New Era College Kajang, and the second at a University in Sunway.

3. Staged photoshoots.

Managed to ask Joanne & Leo, Fang Wen and Shirley & Ezone to model for me. I still feel that the photos are lacking a lot though. Need more practice.

4. Desmine and Melissa’s Wedding

My first ever Wedding photoshoot. And I didn’t do quite well. Hmmm. But they are a loving couple. Apparently starting a family soon ^^.

5. UPM Dogathon 2010

Once again, not an official photographer. But I reckon I got some great shots that day.

6. CSSUPM Annual Camp 2010

I realized I didn’t blog about this since I was on a break. Regardless I had a fun, great and emotional time at Port Dickson.

7. Chinese Opera Charity Concert

This was a charity event so I wasn’t paid for it (nor I was for most of the events). But still enjoy taking photos of the actors and mostly actresses on stage. Also didn’t blog about this but most of the photos can be found on my Facebook.

8. Alex and KaeChing’s Wedding.

Was a guest but that didn’t keep Esme (my camera) away. They finally tie the knot after… 7-8 years?? And they will surely have many more years to look forward to.

9. CSSUPM Freshies Day.

Welcoming the lovely juniors to the family away from home.

10. English Language Dinner

Was called to shoot this event. More photos on Facebook. Though I think I was paid for this. Since the dinner was free for me ^^.

11. Some random shots of people around me

Nova might kill me for this. But its a lovely very descriptive shot.

12. Macro photography.

Loving the Tamron 90mm lens I have right now.

3. Met Karen Kong during Alex and KaeChing’s wedding.

I’m a fan for hers though not so recently. But I do like some of her songs. Did managed to get a couple of photos of her.

4. Won a few tickets online for miscellaneous events.

Tickets to Moto GP UK from Air Asia, which I didn’t go because it was in the UK. And they gave me the tickets 1 week before the event.

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NTV7 Star Live Concert 2010 tickets from DailyChilli.com which I gave to Sally.

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I did won tickets to Alice in Wonderland special screening though… I misplace the photo but I gave the tickets to TJF and Wei Keat. That particular screening was pretty harsh on my wallet though cause even though I got the tickets for free… I was fined for speeding on my way back from the cinema TT.

5. Got my photo published in a magazine.

I remember I intended to get a photo out in a magazine during my 2010 resolutions which I made in 2009. And in November 2010, I got my first photo out in the Digital SLR Magazine Malaysia October 2010 issue. I submitted the photo in September and I was very disappointed when it didn’t come out in the September issue but was really shocked when I saw it in the October issue. Won a memory card as well. Hurray for me.

6. Took care of a CAT for a whole month.

Smokey isn’t mine. She’s Sandy’s cat but Sandy is having her break so I offer to take care of her. And she is one timid cat. Enjoy my time scaring her all over the place. She’s going back to Sandy soon though. I might miss her. But she’s better off with Sandy since I found out that I can be quite a bully

7. Lost some weight.

I have no proof of this yet though since I haven’t weight myself for sometime. But since most of my jeans are a lot looser than they was, I guess I should have lost a few kgs. But definitely didn’t reach my target of 65kg. Perhaps somewhere within 70kg to 75kg. I’ll keep trying the coming year.

8. Cried my eyes out during the CSSUPM Annual Camp.

I did mention that it was emotional but you would never guess how emotional it was for me. Perhaps only the few who sat beside me knew what had happened. But it got me to change some parts of me though I guess. Some parts of the evil me still remain but I’ll slowly take care of that.

9. Travelled all over Malaysia.

I went to Malacca, Johor, Penang, Kedah, Pangkor, Perak and also went back Labuan for a few weeks. Didn’t managed to go outside Malaysia though like in 2009 when I went Taiwan. But AirAsia is already flying to South Korea and also New Zealand next year. These destinations are really tempting me. Maybe I will really fly to this places in 2011.

Went to AIMST university in Kedah when my sister enrolled there.

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Got attacked by monkeys and leeches during my trip to Pangkor. It was funny though.

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Went to Malacca with CharYong to meet up with FangWen for her photoshoot.

 

10. And finally… Made a decision to get my doctorate by 2013.

I have to graduate by then. Seriously I have to!!! Working hard on it now. Progress this year had been better than the past years but its still a long way to go and I still can’t see the end of the road. But I’ll keep walking… And I have to go on a faster pace as well. Lets do it!!!

 

I hope your 2010 was as eventful as mine ^^

To trust or not to trust? (Especially when you are asked for help)

I came across this situation while waiting in the airport for my flight back home. I was sitting on this bench in front of Old Town Kopitiam in LCCT when this young gentleman (we’ll call him A) from China approached the guy sitting next to me (lets call him B). A asked B if he could borrow his handphone to him to call his friend since he couldn’t find his friend. B was reluctant (how many of us aren’t?).  A moved away and came back a while later to ask where he could find a payphone for him to contact his friend. B referred A to the payphones. And after making the call A returned to chit chat with B and they talked as if they were good friends.

Now the point of the matter is that, how many of us were taught by others not to be gullible, especially when it comes to lending people our items or money. We all have our doubts on others, as in this case, will A run away with my phone or make an expensive phone call back home. We are taught not to talk with strangers since we don’t know them. But the above story is a story about how mistrust would have (it didn’t) ruin a chance for friendship. When you think about it, it neither A or B fault. A was just being himself and B was just practicing what he was taught. What’s at fault here is the culture we live in. We live in a culture of distrust and trickery. More often than not, our almsgiving of help to others might be the result of others tricking us into almsgiving. And this breeds distrust among human beings. And from distrust, stereotyping and even (eventually perhaps) hate is born.

But can you imagine how beautiful the world would be if there are no doubts or distrust among human beings, where there are no preying on others for personal gains. Can you imagine how perfect that world would be?

The bulk of problems which plague humans nowadays are caused by human themselves which is why I agree wholeheartedly with a quote which I heard on TED recently.

‘If all the insects on earth disappeared, all life on earth would disappear in 50 years. If all humans disappeared, life on Earth will flourish.’ -  Jonas Salk

What’s wrong with everything you ask? We are what’s wrong with everything.

I’m going home.

Literally…

No PUN intended.

Won’t be in Serdang for 5-6 days. Will be in Labuan for a friend’s wedding for a couple of days

I miss my bed.

I miss my home food.

I miss being able to be a sloth at home (YEAH I do)

I miss the beach and trying to take photos of the beach.

I miss being able to sleep in an air conditioned room.

I’m so going to get knocked out when I reach home.

Don’t you miss your home as well?

The two things I shared about…

… during the CSSUPM Annual Camp 2010. I talked about what I felt during the Juniors’ Day a few months ago. I remembered walking around the chapel wondering how much longer will it stand. It has been a great part of my life for the last 5 years that I was here. But recently I’ve heard that some problems might cause the chapel to be a less prominent part of my life. I wondered, was it the end? But then I heard sounds, voices of the people who were singing inside the chapel. I saw faces of people whom some I’ve just seen for the first time that day. They all have just arrived in this humble little chapel of ours. They were smiling knowing not of all that the chapel had gone through or might have to go through. And it just struck me hard and deep. We must keep holding this family away from home firm. We must continue to keep this chapel standing. We who were here for so long had learnt so much during our time in this chapel, in this family. The memories we have we will bring along with us. And I thought those who are new to this family should also have a chance to experience what we had experienced. They should have a chance to live and love in this family, to make their own treasured memories in the chapel. They should have the chance to mature as how others and I have matured throughout our stay here. It’s just pitiful and definitely unfair if they don’t have the chance to do so. We need to keep this family together. Keep on learning about LOVE and learning about God. Because Christianity is the religion of love.

The second thing I shared about was what I felt after the Taize prayer session while sitting behind with Nova in the dark overlooking the silhouettes of the participants. I had a great sense of  pride and happiness within me. The theme was ‘Quality time with our Lord’ and this is just what everyone is having right at that moment. And it was then that I told Nova that everything which they had done for the camp was all worth it. All the troubles, pains, and tears were nothing compared to that one moment. And I will always remember it.

What I’m trying to say here is that, sometimes the road is rough, and you are so worn out that you just can’t go on anymore. Do remember that it’s at these times when you will realize that there will be a moment which makes it all worth it. Keep looking for that moment. Just like a mother holding her newborn baby for the first time in her arms, do you think she will fret about the nine months of hardship she spent with the baby in the womb?

Think about it.