Ending 2012

*was supposed to post this up before the New Year but since it's 2013 already, I decided to start from scratch*

So 2012 ended pretty quick for me, probably because I had so many things to look forward to.
I'll start off with my 2 weeks in St. Catz for the ORA Summer programme which is still the highlight of my life. It was such an amazing experience and it was worth failing Bio for.
Met so many amazing people over there in St. Catz, some which I know will be great in the future :)

Then two weeks after coming back from UK, I was back in training for the National Cadet and Junior Championship, which was a huge shock for me cause I expected to get a medal for the U-17 category but instead got a bronze for the U-21. Trust me, even my coach didn't see that coming.

Oh right in the middle of it all, Tom Daley won an Olympic Bronze ;) 

But before that, my beloved grandaunt passed away, which brought a dark cloud over my mum's side of the family for quite a while. She was like my second grandmother, always there with her warm smile and her delicious sago pancake. I miss her so much.

For the rest of the year, it was mostly schoolwork and exams. It was my first year as a senior and I was lucky to have survived that. I was so blessed to be in an amazing class for 2012 (SENIOR ONE XIAO!) and I couldn't have asked for a more better class. It sure is sad that we are all separated this year. :(

Oh right, 2012 was also the year of standing in the crowds, screaming and singing along to artists :D So I managed to catch Anthony Neely, Pixie Lott (Thanks so much Heidi!) and also join in the fun at the HitzKK Birthday Invasion (Thanks so much Laura!) and also, I was lucky enough to be invited by my lovely sister to meet Sungha Jung just a few weeks back :)

During the long year-end break, I went to work for 3 weeks, ended up getting paid half than expected, which was a bit unfair considering I did everything my boss asked me to. Oh well, this is the injustice of the underpaid and overworked.

Then it was Caroling season! I had tons of fun caroling with Jude's Hobbits and the CLOW ministry and it totally build up the spirit towards Christmas.

A week before the big day, I flew to Paris for a few nights stay (DISNEYLAND!) and then went back to Oxford where I spent Christmas with my family and London where I finally went to Tower Bridge.
Reached home just in time for the NYE's countdown at grandma's and for the first time in a long time, spent the New Year's with my eccentric family.

All in all, 2012 wasn't as bad as I thought it will be.

Well, 2013, I'd be happy if it was half as good as last year.

Room sweet room

Finally I've moved back into the house, or as my dad likes to call it, Casa, and I've got my own room!
I've posted about it (Casa D Liza) sometime in April, but today's the finished product! Spent an entire day rearranging my books, postcards and clothes. Things are still somewhat messy but I'll sort that out after my energy comes back. So here they are, the pictures!

 The comforter is handmade from Indonesia. Very comfy! :) 

 Day bed from Bali. Most of the furnitures here are. 

 My wall of postcards! 

 Meet Bunny the bunny, Bear the bear, Hedwig the owl and Kanga the kangaroo.

My book shelf. Nearly had a breakdown from trying to categorize them.

Ain't easy, I'll tell you. 

Well, that's all for now. Other places are either empty or too messy to show. Next time then. Maybe :) 

Just stepping aside..

As of now, I am untangled from everything related to schoolwork.
Finals are over *punches fist* and two weeks of break is just what I need.

Not many interesting events happened in the past month. Been going through the same routine everyday, maybe that's why time seems to endlessly go on. Weird, seems like I have lesser things to blog about these days.

BUT NOT FOR LONG :)

Exciting moments waiting to happen!!
Pixie Lott showcase!!! (INFINITY LOVE TO HEIDI)
and of course, Anthony Neely concert!!

Yes, I am definitely very hyper and excited ;)

I guess that's just about it.

Catch you on the flipside :)

Ciao bella!

Finally back from my Christmas holiday! I had a blast!
Here are some photos some taken by me and most of them by my sister. (She insisted on being credited)

The first part of my trip was a one week cruise on the ship called Costa Deliziosa,
it's big and long, that's why I can't take the whole ship in one picture.

 

Then we embarked at Savona pier, in Italy.  

 Then we made our way to Naples. On our way there, I finally found out that my Galaxy tab has the panaromic option. I took a few photos with it.

 Cool eh?

This is Mt. Vesuvius, the one that destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum and other cities, and it's the only mountain in the world that's sponsored by McDonalds. True fact.

When we reached Naples, we headed out and visited Pompeii, one of the ancient town ruined during the volcanic explosions some 2000 years ago.

 Then, the next part was Malta. A country full of history and culture. Oh, and a Hard Rock Bar.

It was such a peaceful and beautiful country. *terminator voice* I'll be back.

At night they had this Christmas Gala on Christmas Eve and it was very much Italian. They waved their napkins above their heads like a lasso and singing along to a apparently well known Italian song. I liked it!

Then it was cruising at sea the whole day for Christmas. The sea was very rough and I didn't leave my room often, because of the sea sickness.

After that, on boxing day we stopped by at Cagliari, in the Sardinia Island. Had the yummiest cappuccino for only 1euro, which is considered cheap.
The next day it was at Ajaccio, the French Island and the birthplace of Napoleon Bonaparte.
Since the Napoleon tour was fully booked, we had to opt for the tasting one in the high mountain village of Bastimillca.

We got to try out the pork meat, their goat cheese and the coffee mousse! I also had a sip of their wine and according to the tour guide, I "changed color". My skin doesn't take alcohol well.
Then we had another Farewell Gala dinner, when all the cabin staff came to the restaurant for what they call it "Curtain Call" and it was magnificent.
then on the last night, it was Italian themed, yes, another napkin waving moment and more celebrations! 
I just love how the Italian celebrate.


Yup that was roughly how the cruise went. I had fun. Enjoyed eating the food. They serve early breakfast, late breakfast, snack time, lunch, afternoon tea, pizza time, dinner and pizza time. So you can tell I was a very happy girl then.

Their pizza, although plain but it tastes so much better than pizza hut's.

Then it was back to Savona and off to Milan! Shopped till I nearly drop there. Mostly for snacks, gelato and outlet shoes. I bought a few pieces of clothes, but because most of the shops are in the winter season, so there wasn't any point on buying winter clothes and bring it back to sunny Sabah.
When you compare MYR(malaysian currency) to Euro, things will start to look even more expensive. That's why I limited my purchases to "Made In Italy" products or "Only In Italy" products.

Aunty Beat and me with our pizza at a local cafe in the streets of Milan. Delish!!

After that, spent New Years Eve in Singapore with jet lag and did the countdown alone in my hotel room.

So there, I've shared my Christmas trip :) Hope that you'll try going on a cruise too! It's good to go for once.

And I want to wish anyone reading this post a very blessed new year and may the year 2012 bring you many blessings and amazing moments.

FLYING OFF.

For the next 11 days, I will not be able to continue my 30 Day Challenge and update my "online journal" for I'll be spending

Yes, be going off to some unexpected but interesting places! Can't wait!

Till then, arrivederci!

Promise to post some photos! :)

Finally!

After 3 years of no meet ups, Honovi, Natalie, Abigail, Cassandra and me finally got the chance to catch up. 

Natalie, who went to Nottingham to study towards the end of Primary 6, finally came back! 

Missed her so much.We had meet ups every other day/week, and now that she's left, I'm already missing the times.

 First meet up! From left, Honovi, Me, Natalie and Abigail 

(Cass wasn't in the photo cause she was busy when we first met up)

Nat and me. 

As you could see from my funny look, I was actually tip-toeing to look as tall as her in the photo. 

Attempt failed.

I wish I could say there are more photos but most of them aren't with me right now. :( 

Brother took the memory card to Vietnam.

Our Final Destination

Not to be all melodramatic about it but, yes, in a few weeks, I'll be entering my "final destination". Life would halt at a standstill for that period of time and hopefully, I might be able to resume normally.
I'm not going to die, just going to sit for the PMR & UEC examinations alongside my friends. (but then,from another point of view it would seem that I just might "die")

Yeap, been writing about that the whole year. Can't wait to get over it actually, but still, I don't want it to come that fast. Come slow, go fast. Geddit?

Anyways, spent my day finishing up the final chapters of Book 1 on Pottermore. Finally! So I can now focus on my studies. Yeah right. Yes, yes I will.

Also today is the Mooncake Festival, aka the Mid-Autumn Festival! So happy mooncake eating to those who are celebrating! My family celebrated it yesterday so I'm staying off the mooncakes for now.

p/s: I haven't watched Final Destination and I would not watch it unless it's on HBO, so I could change the channel whenever I like. Just wanting to get it out there.

Just what have I been doing

I'm actually still on hiatus mode but I just wanted to give a little insight about what I have been doing for the past couple of weeks. Skipped school, went to the island, my first job as an interviewer/photographer, Raya and the visits from Oxford and Nottingham. Doesn't it sound exciting? Yes, it was.

Low line with the Internet so I might just post some photos and not blog for another couple of weeks. 

We did charades and here's our team photo:

 My awesome team with our awesome pic

from left Lezlee, Razi, Sabah and Me

 They're just trying to be cool

from left Carl, Zulfi, Leon and Lois

Group photo! 

 With the adults. 

Now for the MICSS photos: (took only girls volleyball photos because was working there the whole competition)

These are a few of my favorite shots:

(there were more photos but the uploader was taking too long indeed, might try again later)