All I know is that, I have dreams and I want to just do all my best to reach for my dreams and the things I’ve always been wanting to do.

That’s my battle to fight and I will fight it like a tiger… ROAR!

So yes… Here I am here wishing all of you a very prosperous Chinese New Year ahead. May all that you wished for be it health, wealth, business growth, career growth, new car, new bungalow or maybe new girlfriend or boyfriend may come to pass. If you also wish for hari-hari mau, also I wish your dream come true lah!

Nah… this is me with my Fatt Choy outfit…

It’s gonna be one great year ahead and I’m all ready for it!

GONG HEI FATT CHOY!!

Just that, I’m more active on Twitter rather than blogging nowdays.
Follow me @yapthomas.

I can Tweet on the go, but not blog on the go.

I remember I did some setting to blog on the go, but I can’t remember how now.

Chinese New Year is coming very near and how is it going with you peeps there?

I haven’t even shop for CNY, which I don’t think I will at all.

I must start planning my leave by Friday.

Where have I been? No where… Here. Still here.

I will not be updating regularly for these coming two weeks.

Don’t run away! I’m just having too much to do that I don’t want to write rubbish here just so that I want to feed something for your eyes.

Plus, editing pictures is anal. Okay I need to continue my corporate review now. Big meeting with my client.

Till you read from me again, have a great weekend ahead and of course, DRIVE SAFE back to your hometown if you are.

Anyways, this is a great song by Soul Asylum, originally by Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers. Load the YouTube and enjoy.

Call you up in the middle of the night,
like a fire flower miles away,
you were there like a blow torch burnin’,
I was a key that could use a little turnin’

So tired that I couldn’t even sleep,
so many secrets I couldn’t keep,
promised myself I wouldn’t weep,
one more promise I couldn’t keep

It seems no one can help me now,
I’m in too deep theres no way out,
this time I have really let myself pull stray

Runaway train never goin’ back,
wrong way on a one way track
seems like I should be getting somewhere,
somehow I’m neither here nor there

Can you help me remember how to smile,
make it somehow seem all worth while,
how on earth did I get so jaded,
last mystery seemed so naked

I can go where no one else can go,
I know what no one else has known,
here I am just a drowning in the brain,
with a ticket for a runaway train

Everything seems judded inside,
day and night earth and sky,
somehow I just don’t believe it

Runaway train never goin’ back,
wrong way on a one way track
seems like I should be getting somewhere,
somehow I’m neither here nor there

Want a ticket for a runaway train?,
like a madman laughin’ at the rain,
a little out of touch little in the brain,
its just easier to deal with the pain

Runaway train never goin’ back,
wrong way on a one way track
seems like I should be getting somewhere,
somehow I’m neither here nor there

Runaway train never comin’ back,
runaway train tearin’ up the track,
runaway train burnin’ in my veins,
run away but it always seems the same

Listening to this song over and over again, it is just something that I realize. Sometimes, I’m neither here nor there too. I’m always looking for a ticket on a runaway train. Looking to hide from the harsh reality but it always never help and I always opt for this way out.

I just need to face the harsh reality and work my way through it. That’s life and we all have to deal with it. I have to do it my style… listen and blend in.

Yes, I’ve blog about it and this has been my dream since 2005. I see an opportunity of this realizing when Tiger and Nuffnang came together to fulfill those with dreams dying to come true with Tiger Run. I wait no longer (although I waited till the last minute) and hence, this post.

I’ve read some other post on other blogger’s dream, searched randomly on Google Blog Search.

ShaolinTiger wants to get a Nikon D300s and a paint job on his Airtrek Turbo.
SimonSeow wants to go to Japan Homestay to learn the culture there.
Cheesie wants to go to Japan Homestay too. She can’t get enough of it.
Fourfeetnine will put it as a down payment for a bug, the car.
See Yin wants to beautify herself and go to Japan too. What’s with Japan!?!?
Huai Bin wants to utilize the money on Jestina. Haha! I root for you, HB!
Adele got a whole load of shopping list to fulfill. Okay only 4…
Amelia wants to get iPhone, braces done and trip to Aussie…

They all seems like things that I want too… but I have to fulfill my this dream that I long for it to happen. Forget about Blackberry Bold 2, iPhone and many more material stuffs money can buy. A trip to Turkana is what I want to buy when I get my RM 8,888, should I win them. I’m aiming for 1st Runner up lah, if win Grand Prize then RM 1,888 is a bonus lor.

I am totally serious and am so keen that I’ve even book my flight to Nairobi, Kenya on Qatar Airways which will cost me RM 4616.

Okay. Why I dream and want to head over to Turkana so much? 3 reasons.

1) To help build God’s kingdom. St. Paul’s Apostle runs a missionary there and I’ve been wanting to do head over since 2005. I couldn’t due to commitments here. It has been 5 years now and after following the developments there and how much I’ve kept in touch with Fr. Francis, I want to see with my own eyes the work of God there.

2) Get out of this hectic crazy city life. I like city life, but I do think it would be good to take head out to some ‘deserted’ area and live.

3) Soul searching. 25 years old and I still think that I’ve not achieved much. I do need a soul searching time and this would be a great opportunity for me. Away from everything else and a lot of ‘me-time’.

So, RM 8,888 minus RM 4,616 will leave me with RM 4,272. What can I do with RM 4,272? A lot more! Imagine if the conversion rate for Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) to Kenyan Shillings (KES) is as follow:

I would have roughly KES 95,373! That’s a lot and I can do so much with it while I’m at Turkana. This money can fund so many development projects like building a school or plantation project or water retention dam project. It will all benefit the people. Also, they need medical supplies too!

Part of the funds can support my stay there to. Traveling from one place to another needs long distance travel, hence money definitely will be involve. Unless I can learn to ride a horse while I’m there, then I can save those funds. Hey! Good idea. Will keep that in mind.

What if I win Grand Prize? I spend those who comments on this post for a round of Yee Sang! (I’m sure gonna keep them all RM 1,888! Who comments on my posts anyways…)

I am not joking about this dream okay! Look! I’ve even tried to go to the extreme to win two gold bars worth at least about RM 300 each!

So… please Nuffnang and Tiger, let me join the race! I’m so determined to win okay! What? I’m known as “Long Leg Tiger” for a reason you know.

ROAR!

Tiger pics by Joshua Ong.

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We stayed at Flamingo by the Beach Hotel, Penang which is located on the stretch of Tanjung Bungah beach. Can’t complain with the quality of the beach if you want a beach nearby the city and ease of traveling in and out of Batu Ferringhi which has nicer beach compared to Tanjung Bungah.

Did not really explore the whole hotel, but if you want a decent “new” hotel and nearby the city, this would be it. This is the view from the front entrance into the lobby.

The reception area large enough to handle a big group check-in or large crowd. The service by the reception staffs, just okay.

The lounge right opposite the lobby. See that Foosball table? Don’t even think of playing it. They balls are all gone hence, when you put your money in, no balls comes out. They are nice to refund my RM3.00 without hassle. Hope they get the new balls.

The pool may get very busy over the weekend with families spending their weekend there. Can chill on the beach chairs and sun bath all day long if you want. Pool bar offers good service, but they need to pay more attention to customers sitting just right outside the restaurant.

The hotel has 280 room capacity with 250 of them are deluxe rooms (hill view & sea view), 28 suites and 2 presidential suites (source). Room rates goes around RM 210 depending on the source you get them from.

I would say the room is big enough to fit in 4 person if you are 2 adults and 2 kids traveling together. Oh in the hotel, they got a Spa, Gaming Room (oh yeah!), Travel Agency and other facilities and outlets you can splurge your money on. If that is the more honest way to put it.

My hotel experience at Flamingo by the Beach Penang: 7/10
Comments:
I like the whole environment. Parking is free even for public and the most important thing is that the room is decent and bigger than usual for the price of RM 200++.

The hotel is located on Jalan Tanjung Bungah. See Google Maps.

Full hotel address:
Jalan Tanjung Bungah
Tanjong Bungah, Pulau Pinang 11200
Tel: +604-892-7111

Anyways, the point is. There is another way for you to reach LCCT from KL Sentral. It is a service by Express Rail Link which brings you from KL Sentral to LCCT in less than 50 minutes. (I’ve calculated the time)

First, you need to get yourself a ticket from KL Sentral. It will only cost you RM 12.50 and the train will take you to Salak Tinggi.

Then, from the Salak Tinggi station, you just need to walk out to the main entrance and you can see the transit bus waiting for you to board.

When I was traveling (December 2009), there were not many people in the bus. They even have a luggage storage space in the bus. It will definitely be a challenge to move in and out for those who got abnormally large luggage. Not too sure if they have luggage compartment at the bottom as they usually does.

For full train schedules, please visit KLIA Transit to LCCT – Schedule.

There you go, my experience using KLIA Transit to LCCT. Will definitely travel with KLIA Transit again…

You know what’s 1Malaysia?

It is that my Muslim friends out of sudden made plans for Christmas BBQ.

The equation of Muslim and Christmas may be hard to be accepted by many, but not with me nor us The Boys which consist of 3 Muslims, 1 All God Believer/Non-Believer and 2 Christians. Guess which is who?

There you go… The Boys doing some rituals… I guess so…

So here we are, celebrating Christmas in 2009 with a small BBKill fest…

Oh… I don’t think I will have any issue using the word “Allah” in front of them. The unwritten pact is, we respect each others’ believe and learn the differences between our Islam and Christianity.

For the past 20 years, I’ve learnt that we are both brothers and sisters in God’s name.

In the end of the day, love is a very subjective topic and it is a very personal issue which takes more than one person to work on it, to make it work. I guess, when it comes to love, we just have to make the best out of it. Make the best out of love because love knows no boundary and with love, everything’s possible.

YapThomas. 23rd January 2010

It has been a long day, time for a nice shower and sleep.

Been busy with The Office’s budget for 2010 and many other crazy things.

One of it being Project Capricorn and also meeting up friends whom I’ve not met for a very long time…

Another thing that I did this past week was to look into updating my resume. It has been a while since I last updated my resume. Why? 6 months yo! 6 months!

I’ve never even been for a proper interview. This job is my first job and the interview? It was so impromptu right at along the college corridor. Haha.

Just came back from dinner with moi mates from Taylor’s College back then, except one.

Three happy couples they are while I’m the only single one there.

To my left, SM and KK. I think they should get married already! Which I think they are planning already.

To my front, PT and MW. Both of them also. Time to tie the knot. Nads kept on asking MW when they both gonna get married and MW replied “Stop asking me this question already lah!”. Hahah… so funny.

To my right, Nads and Nigel. Well, maybe you both will get married first! But, hey… I’m happy to see both of you and you are much happier now as I can see.

Me? I will send my invitation card soon! T_T

Swaying away, a friend over the weekend made a comment saying that guys who says they would want to look into their career now first rather than relationship should rethink. Something she said along the line of,

“If you can’t even take multiple responsibilities between a career and a relationship, what makes you think that you can juggle them both when you find the love of your life?“

It took a hit on me as it was exactly my intention and I last said it over last Christmas that I’m looking into a career now more than a relationship.

Guess I was just running away from the truth, as we all do. I’ve always wanted a relationship, well I’m not the kind of desperate for one but a relationship to share my life with someone whom I would love.

Maybe I didn’t take my chances or rather was not brave enough to get into one these past year. Maybe it’s just me or as many people would put it, “face problem”. Hahahaha. AND I don’t think the later is correct cause I hensem wat. :p (OMG, muka tebal gila tebal teramat tebal) T_T

Why am I talking about relationship here now? Ish… not the real purpose of this post.

So, anyways… I was saying… it has been a while since I last updated.

Been catching up with buddies and friends whom I’ve not met for some time now and it was good. I guess, I will still update regularly and I’ve got so many posts to write from events I’ve been recently invited and attended.

Chinese New Year is around the corner yet again, and plans has been made to meet up with Primary Mates. Whoa! It has been really a while since I last planned a gathering. Feels… a lot more refreshing planning things out.

I’m gonna head home now and crash… so you my friends, keep on coming for more as I’ve been outta my busy week mode. Will update more often!