More cycling?

This weekend was a superb one, despite all the 'self-inflicted' pains and aches! ^^

Why 'MORE cycling', you say? Hahaha once upon a time in Amsterdam my friends n I cycled to this small town in Marken 'innocently' I have to say ^^ without knowing what we got ourselves into.. only to find that we were cheated by some 'Dutch pancakehouse waitress' telling us that Marken is 'close by'! When its actually not =S So guess how long was the whole 'cycle trip'?

Yup a freaking 10hours long. And I don't know how far we cycled, all I know was that it was extremely extremely far.. and we barely had time to stop for fear it would get dark before we could get out of that freaky 'countryside' with only an occasional car at sight.

But every time we (my fellow erm 'cycling comrades' and I) looked back at those times, we always would have so much to say. Experiences, feelings, happenings.. so much to look back at, either with a big smile.. thinking.. ah..what a memorable trip, or the occasional cringe whenever a cyclist cycles by..thinking.. urgh.. yuck bicycles.. never again.

The thoughts that passed my mind, and the emotions that I felt when I was cycling that distance.. 3years ago... I remember so well.

I remember telling myself... you cannot faint or stop.. or give up. Nobody can carry you home. There is no car in sight. Don't put your friends through this worry, just because you feel weak.

And I was chanting those words in my head.. over and over again.. willing my aching legs and extremely sore butt to carry me through.

I reached the point where I felt numb all over. My mind went blank, and I just continued cycling and cycling and cycling. I have never been so determined my whole life. I was determined to finish the race. I told myself I must get to the finish line. I MUST.

The fear that I felt was real, it was a foreign country.. and a really deserted countryside. The wind was blowing so strongly I was holding on to my handlebars for dear life. The sky darkening.. more and more as we cycled.. it did make me panic.. but amazingly with that I found new energy.

Its amazing how fear could motivate people to do things that they otherwise would not/ could not.

When we finally arrived at Amsterdam, it was pitch dark. It was then when my body gave way to the exhaustion.. the used energy, and whatever adrenaline I had left was drained.. and I felt like I could collapse any second. The feeling of not having any ounce of energy left in your body is quite scary.. and I was at the point where my knees couldn't support my body very well anymore, and the only thing I felt was excruciating PAIN all over.

PAIN to the extent of a free-flow of tears.

Yes this weekend I decided I shall 'repeat history' and went cycling again!

Many people have said that I was 'nuts', 'crazy', 'out of my mind' even 'suicidal' hahaha and for me although the journey was quite 'extreme' for a 'non-exerciser' like myself..

It was 50kilometres (32miles) of fun! ^^

Yes there were good parts and bad in the journey... for one the horrible weather in England. It hailed freaking 3 times, rained a couple of times. and we had sunny spells ( which didnt last very long =S)

.. but all I remember from this Bristol -> Bath, then Bath-> Bristol journey, was that the scenery was amazingly beautiful.. and the 'workout' extremely refreshing!

The experience did come with PAIN afterward.. ^^

But I had 2 wonderful friends for company..

... great scenery with amazing photos

.. and another memorable weekend to look back in years to come with a big smile on my face!!!

God presented Himself to me in the form of an old lady I met today.

I was feeling stupid and ignorant, self-absorbed and wallowing in self-pity, when she humbly greeted me from the opposite bench at the shopping centre in Salford this morning.
I had a bad morning, a morning that tested my patience in every sense, and pushed my 'emotional' buttons like it has never before in a long long time.

She said a simple "Hello, are you ok?"

I guess it was obvious that I wasn't, and that I wasn't in the mood to talk to a random stranger.

But she was persistent in continuing the conversation.

"Sweetie, what's upsetting you? Is it your boyfriend? Work problems?"

I mumbled a quick "work problems" and turned away. I was a mess, and I really wasn't in any condition to exchange pleasantries, what more share 'life problems'. I just wanted to wallow, and let the world swallow me up bcoz I was just tired. Sick and tired of all the nonsense people can inflict on you.

However she was still persistent. I relented, exchanged 'words' mindlessly, just to be polite. I figured, she meant well. I shouldn't be rude.

Words left my mouth, but I was just muttering and wasn't concentrating. Fleeting emotions of the disappointment of the morning, was still strong.

Then she said to me "I don't know what your sorrows are sweetie, but always remember your guardian angel is with you. It will all be ok, you will be ok."

"What religion are you?"she asked.

"I'm Catholic," I replied.

"Oh, so am I!"

What followed then was an amazing life testimony that God does indeed live in people.
The God that I have been searching for all these years, faithfully and unfaithful at times, does exist. I cannot count the number of times I doubted His existence. The number of times I long to feel His presence, only to feel emptiness. The number of times, I do not recognise Him.

All my life, I wanted a miracle. Something to happen to me that shows me it is God speaking to me, for real.

Something to happen that I could look back and say, "That is God comforting me for sure. God, trying to tell me that everything will be OK." Something that I could look back at without a doubt.

I wanted to be sure. Who doesnt? With this 'figure of greatness' that cannot be seen or touched, who wouldn't?

She didn't have any 'hidden' intentions, she was a regular old lady who happens to be at the same place waiting for her friend to have coffee together.

No, she wasn't one of those 'gospel-sharing' people I meet on the roadside with sheets of paper to give out so I can be 'saved'.

Was she a coincidence? If she was, I wouldn't be comforted like I was. No, certainly not by a stranger.

With this comfort is my certainty that I have found what I looked for all my life.
To think that I almost missed identifying this, thank God for a friend who reminded me that 'everything happens for a reason'.

And thank you, God for sending me this miracle.

A miracle that would help me live my life in certainty of Your existence.

the weather has been soooooo good i wish i wasn't stuck in clinics all day every day

i wonder why my mind goes into the 'state of blank' ever so often

weekend SOON!

A weekend getaway on a 'budget' ^^

Everytime I step down from the train onto the platform in any train station in London (Kings Cross, Euston, Victoria ) I always feel the same excitement and exhiliration I felt the first time I visited this city.

Don't ask me why after SO MANY TRIPS down I can still be as excited. >_<

Maybe I am a city girl after all. I DO LOVE LONDON. Its A.M.A.Z.I.N.G. ^^
Yup I was there this weekend ^^ visiting friends^^ throwing 'surprises' hahaha I realised its becoming a favourite past time of ours..

..but its always heartwarming to see a shocked but genuine very-happy-to-see-you face afterwards.

..also pleasing to be reminded how very small treats you bring for a friend dear to you would be so appreciated.

Icing on the cupcake and dark chocolate oozing from a cookie, ah heavenly! Yes Ben's cookies are DREAM-friendly. Hummingbird cupcakes, day-dream friendly? Hahaha forgive my lack of creativity when it comes to choosing the right words to describe these sinfully delicious SUGAR-filled cutesies. ^^

Anyways, how do you go around LONDON, eating all these on a 'budget'?

( Erm OK let me explain the financial crisis I'm under now.. due to a certain stupid flight ticket back to Malaysia this summer that costed me a BOMB, my bank balance is extremely unhealthy leading to an estimated calculation of having to survive on 15pds a week until the end of April when hopefully my 'daddy JPA' will give us our 'pocket money' )

Well, you share food. ^^ This way, you get variety, and it is more than enough to fill you up anyway. ( This economical financial 'handling' is introduced to me by my 'saving-money-to-go-Japan' buddy Helen )

Also a certain PEERs club in college which came up with this catchy phrase 'Sharing is Caring' ^^ Hahaha that thought just randomly popped into mind^^

Anyways. I'm getting carried away.

This London trip, was also aimed to crash a certain 'someone's' birthday lunch.. YINHUI my dearest ex-roomie in KMB! Which succeeded...'HOORAY!' I was almost positive I would kantoi hahaha.. birthday girl was surprised speehless ^^

After the commotion, we settled for Morrocan food.

Feedback? OK OK la... something different..but too filling.. and service was the slowest I've ever encountered.

After that Helen n I adjourned to the Natural History museum near South Kensington. and I SAW DINOSAURS! (hahaha replicas la ^^ )

the museum was interesting.. not a typical and boring like most museums are!

After that we adjourned to sainsbury to buy taugeh and veg.. for a late supper of vegetables bcoz both of us were constipated with food from lunch, I know. I know. very random! ( also coz we're so broke we dcided we shudn't stuff ourselves just for the sake of it ^^)

>_<

I'm happy I managed to keep to my budget for this weekend away and had lots of fun at the same time! Yayy! ^^

Announcement : FOR ALL YE APRICOT LOVERS WHO CAN'T SEEM TO GET ENOUGH OF THESE YELLOW YUMMYLICIOUS GOODIE FRUIT-ish-ness, (and I wonder why I can't write decent essays =S) FEAR NOT! NOW ITS EVEN IN CHOCOLATE BARS!

WAH what would be better than my FAV fruit and my FAV all-time chocolate in a COMBO mannn.

to add to the crunchyness, NUTS *yumm*

OK I sound like I'm doing an advert for Cadbury, which I am NOT! Hahaha I just randomly found this in Londis and i thought hmm I should try it out!

And no type of chocolate Cadbury churns out for our consumption has disappointed me just yet, and neither did this! ^^

So yes the WEEKEND IS OVER and yes I'm suffering from pre-monday blues as usual. Doesnt help that with my heightened state of emotion my nose is not cooperating by disallowing me to breathe normally, ( feels like someone stacked some bricks in there to block the passage) which resorts to my opening of my mouth to get some air in.. only to find that my BIG tonsils on both sides decides to play the game of "see who can get BIGGER n REDDER".

With all these 'games' going around messing about my passageway of survival, I have no choice but to try break 'barriers' with the epitome of all British remedies *Lemsip* (woohoo!! *applauds*)

The only thing with this 'thing' is that its horribly YUCKY.

So to distract myself from the yucky aftertaste.. I shall distract myself with pictures of my fun saturday out!

YP and I decided we shall go to Salford Quays and the Lowry for a stroll ^^

Its not far from Manchester city, but Ive never been there before!

And boy does it feel like another world.

Or rather a world with barely any homosapiens. Yupp this was the 'route' we took. Empty, not a single soul in sight. So easy to take 'human-free' photos of the place...^^

Salford Quays is a very newly developed part of Manchester ( or mayb i just think it is coz the buildings are so new and modern).. most of them are quite unique too!

The Imperial War museum's architecture was amazing ^^ I never did know how to appreciate these things but looking at it from far it did 'wow' me so hmm. I'm thinking its pretty brilliant?^^

The Lowry where YP n I spent the afternoon eating icecream n strolling around ^^

And there's this niceeee niceeeeee path along the river where you can walk along with the Old trafford stadium right across!

I know its puny in this picture but can you SEE?

OK time to rest, loooong day tomoro at outreach =( So NOT looking forward to it AT ALL.

Anyways have a good week people! ^^

Whoahhh I feel like I haven't been in this space for AGESSS.

I'm beginning to think blogging is BAD for my language. Why, you ask?
Well I've been properly buried in my CAT assignment (yes CAT for Critically Appraised Topic, not Me-ow CAT! ^^) and it was then I realised I was making lots of words UP!

Words not in the English vocabulary can you even believe it.

4years in England, i should have IMPROVED if anything, you say, but WHY IS THE REVERSE HAPPENING?

Hahahaha maybe when I go home I'll automatically improve in my 'other languages' eg. Hokkien, Mandarin, Malay. What. As I said what, life is going on a reverse. So just let me console myself first la.

OMG you know what watching that latest epi of Malaysian Dreamgirl, I realise when MUMMY CALLS SHE SAYS THE EXACT SAME THINGYS AS THE MUMS OF THE GIRLS IN THE SHOW DO! How are u? Eat already or not (Although my mum doesnt ask me to eat more coz she's worried I'll be fatter than I already am hahaha) Oh and sometimes she'll ask what I ate...HAHAHA and "Take your vitamins, drink more water" too!


I wonder if those angmor mummies call their daughters what will they say? I doubt "Eat already or not" will be part of the conversation, if not the 'essential' part hahahaha.

Ok I shall stop being so wuliao n go hit the shower.