Merry Christmas...!!! Oh wait.... Christmas is over already haha.

So I obviously should be sleeping now (it's 5am) but I took a long nap from 11+pm to 3am so I guess that should make up for some of the lost sleep.

And it's time for... *drumroll* the annual wrap up post! The time we take to sit down and look back at the year past. Actually I'm not really reflecting about my year, but just randomly plucking off things from my head about what I did. So here's my year in review!

In 2013, I...

MOVED ON! *fireworks*

- I moved on from a hazardous relationship and all that 藕断丝连 nonsense and thankfully found someone a bazillion times better (I think I struck the lottery on that one). Took a while and everyone's right, we will all get there eventually, painful as it was (at that time).

- I moved on (or am about to) from a company that I've been with for close to 6 years. I haven't "officially" tendered but I will miss the nice people there... other than that, good riddance! Haha.

- My mindset moved on too. I used to relish my single life and did not harbour any hopes of settling down (awesome for me - no need to think about having kids plus I get to save my money to do things I want haha). I guess partly because of my friends' influences and seeing people getting married and settling down around me that I start to think - hmm, maybe the married life ain't that bad. Of course, a lot depends the timing and the person, and I am thankful that the right person appeared at the right time.

Which explains the Sale of Balance and the seemingly fast-forwarded pace of the relationship. But if not now, then when?

- I moved from climbing mountains to swimming with the fishes! Hurhurhur. But in terms of achieving my "do one new thing a year" goal, I get an A! Haha. I'm running out of new things to do next year though. Any suggestions?

- I also moved from being a poor struggling employee to a dead broke and struggling employee, if that is even possible. Hahaha.

- And moved from being at my ideal weight to +4kg more. Blah. :x

Also took plenty of trips this year starting from Shanghai, Ho Chi Minh, short trips to Genting, Phuket, Dayang, KL, Batam, went trekking in Nepal and finally ending off the year in Seoul. Lots of notable moments such as seeing magnificent scenery and snow falling. I think one of my resolutions next year should be to not go on so many trips so that I can save some of my annual leave and most importantly, save some money. :x

And the weddings in 2013! Weddings involve a lot of work but I like to be part of them to share the joy of the couple. :D For good friends I mean. In fact I'm starting off 2014 with another wedding! Looks like my whole 1 Jan will be gone sigh!

Looks like Moving On is the recurring theme for 2013! Moving on ahead with life and planning for your future would, I suppose, signify some personal growth and development so I hope that it means at least I've erm, grown somewhat to be a better person.

I really have no idea what I want 2014 to be like. Living life one day at a time as usual. But it really does seem like odd-numbered years are better for me haha. I just hope my new job will treat me well. *cross fingers*

Whoop whoop, imma certified open water diver now! v(^_^)v

 

Must pose v(^_^)v as I unglamorously crashed into corals (can't control my body well underwater haha). Emerged with a few little nicks and cuts here and there.

 

Our group! Everyone looks the same underwater haha. I'm the one on the left :D

 

On the surface with our stern looking dive instructor Michael

We've only got a few precious underwater photos courtesy of our groupmate's friend. Underwater cameras and casings are so expensive! The case for my Olympus EPM-1 is $1k. Say whut?!?! I bought my camera for only $600+ leh.

Still, it was an interesting and pretty cool experience despite my initial apprehension. The skills were boring but we still had to go through it. The fun part was the leisure dive, and we saw a turtle! *achievement unlocked* Haha. And so it's another ONE OFF THE BUCKET LIST! :D I've cleared the mountain, I've cleared the sea, next up, I think I wanna skydive! OK maybe trek Nepal, then take my Advanced diving first, then we save money, we go see Aurora Bourellis, then we skydive. So many things to do before I turn 30, I don't know if I have enough time (or money). ㅠ.ㅠ Did I mention that I have $1.82 left in my travel fund?

But yes, all on the bucket list. Will tick them off one by one eventually!

Also, I got kissed by an elephant (in Phuket) :3

 

Very enthusiastic, this one

 

I think she likes Paul more haha

And I finally found some time to bake! Tried the Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies again; my friend has been requesting me to bake it again for her since one year ago.

 

Swirly swirls 

 

Someone commented on Instagram that it looked like raw beef :(

  

Easy peasy nutella brownies that I made into the form of cupcakes

Can't remember if I left anything important out but what's been hogging the news these days is the terrible, terrible haze. It hit 401 today and it's really unfortunate because I had plans to go to Legoland tomorrow. :(

So Legoland was postponed, and I thought I'd stay at home and bake some banana cake while wishing that I was breathing underwater from an oxygen tank. But within a few hours, we decided to escape smoky Singapore and now I'm scooting off to KL for the weekend to get away from the haze. Haha. Talk about impromptu.

June is shaping up to be a rather happening month. It's an overseas trip every weekend for the third consecutive week running! Haha and may I reiterate that I only have $1.82 left in my travel fund. Hurhurhur. Live now, pay later. Bonus coming in July!!! Then I need to sit down and take a long and hard look at where I am going from here.