Applying For Visa

After months of hardwork collecting documents for my UK visa application, I've finally got most of the essentials in my CAS provided by Nottingham UK. I couldn't wait til the date of appointment at Wisma MCA to submit my documents, so as well just try my luck to be there as early as possible. Thanks God Sen Loong is around to offer an early ride for me to Kajang KTM. I arrived at Ampang Park station 9 am, good timing.

Waking up early but not for Broga Hill:

This is where google map kicks in, exploration of new route is not that difficult after all. I found my way to Wisma MCA, they're checking documents at 4th floor. My waiting number was 139 and they are attending number 128. It didn't take as long as I imagined, after 20 minutes, it's my turn. Completing the verification of documents, there I go submitting them at 19th floor.

Waiting to verify my documents:

It was a period of worry and frustration as I'm checking online almost everyday to track my visa application. You never know if they're gonna reject your application and there goes your time and $$$money$$$ (RM 1301). Approximately 2 weeks, exactly 9 working days later, it says that my visa is ready to collect, and I rushed down back to Wisma MCA. Wow, glad to see this extra page on my passport, and I'm all ready to get myself in the plane... except packing.

Finally! UK visa approved:

"May the foot of the proud not come against me, nor the hand of the wicked drive me away."
-Psalms 36:11-

For all the prayers throughout the months, The LORD has been faithful to deliver his promises. It is certain that I am still worried and afraid of what lies ahead, but I believe all will be well. May Your blessings be upon my path, in Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Hoi Tong Steambot

Monday blue, having a gathering dinner with colleages at Hoi Tong restaurant in Serdang on the exact day of Moon Cake Festival. While the others are still sorting out who's going and who's not, Gavin brought me to Low Yat for some gadget shopping. Thus, we're late for dinner, reaching at 9 pm.

Buying mouse for See Chew and Gavin's camera:

First time at Hoi Tong, buffet style steambot. The place is big, and it's almost all full! Probably cause it's a festival night. The other 4 have been eating very hard for the pass hour before we arrive, and they quickly switch job to cooking once we're there. Amazingly, they have really wide choices of food, chicken, seafood, beef and LAMB!

First sight at the restaurant:

I knew that the concept of steambot is throwing raw food into the boiling soup to cook, but I never knew they expanded the side of the pot for barbecue. Now I can have roast lamb as well~ I was eating non-stop, full plates of meats until another 3 came and join us. By the portion I ate, I think RM27 per person really worth it.

Keep cooking the meat :

Actually, having beer after steambot sorta felt nice. I don't usually take that but it kinda clear up some heaty and oily part of the throat. The war ended around 12 midnight, and we're like the last few tables left still eating. Reached home around 1 am~ what a satisfying day.

Closing beverage for the day:

"The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing."
-Psalms 23:1-

Another great day going out doing big stuffs. Thank you LORD! Pray that as the long holiday ends, we would be able to resume back to working pace and continue the long fight. Be our guide, and lead us back to the narrow path. Amen.

Celebrate Moon Cake Festival at Nilai

It's been a while since the Nilai Student Ministry organize some gathering, or is it me staying too far to join most of their outings? We celebrated Moon Cake Festival in the student house on Sunday night, with around 30 students from Nilai UC, Inti UC, and KTT. Some girls arrived early to help cooking, while I helped cutting the moon cakes.

Food & beverage department:

Students will never have enough for food, good thing we have reinforcement from catering. I see a lot of new faces that night, means the students are doing good job inviting friends... I hope. Had a round of introduction and played a cup-passing game to start the night, not bad.

Ice breaker before we grab the foods:

We had a representative from each college to tell us their own version of story related to moon. I've googled the story for Moon Cake festival on Robert's iPhone earlier in that day and noticed that the online version is kinda different from what I knew, and there are some other variations too. Besides that, we had them divided into 4 groups to make lantern and design a pomelo.

Making lantern and pomelo design:

Finally, everyone took a small lantern and gather at the park nearby to sing songs~ this feels like caroling... no... campfire? So yeah, a night to let the students relax before going back for assignments and tests. And I got reached Semenyih quite late that night =.=

Group picture with lanters:

"Do not be far from me, for trouble is near and there is no one to help."
-Psalms 22:11-

Now that the amount of students from each colleges are more balance, and some seniors in KTT are graduating soon. This is the trend of student ministry, people come and go, including me~ Pray that there will be another batch of happening young people that replaces us. Amen.

12th Month of PostGrad

Without realizing, it's been a year since I entered this course. This summer break feels emptier after the super busy academic year, with work and events. However, still managed to clear up my lab, arranging devices nicely and found an old manual that helps operating the machines. Recently the lab is occupied by an intern student which I helped him in his experiments, an excuse for my low productivity.

The lab still looks kinda messy:

My focus was actually shifted on preparing a journal lately. Finished my draft a few weeks ago and send to both of my supervisor in Malaysia and UK for review. Honestly, there're really a big difference of style and preference from both sides. Overall, it's just being criticize from head to toe and some big renovation had been done, waiting for another wave of feedback.

Slashes all over:

Another more challenging thing that I've done is being involve in the admin game, the legendary game where people push around tasks and it ends up not done. Anyway, it's finally coming to an end and I finally get some approval in my electronic documents for transferring to UK. No hardcopy evidence and document produced, I hope the visa agency is convinced with these.

Electronic evidence of scholarship:

The review for my first year report has returned. Not too bad, a few comments on my presentation of mathematical model, everything else are alright. So basically, I've passed my first year, although a part of me felt bits of reluctance to move forward.

I just passed the only point to U-turn:

"They confronted me in the day of my disaster, but the LORD was my support."
-Psalms 18:18-

There's not much time left, need to get a lot of things done before leaving this place. Just pray that everything would be alright, visa and the traveling, I've did my best and I surrender the rest to Him. Amen.

Office Birthday Celebration on Monday

After one week of Raya break, most of us are back in N-block office for Monday blue again~ My colleagues prepared something since it's my exact birthday, they actually drove down to Kepong to buy red Indian smoke duck (I have no idea what is that). Yeah, some reason to chill before getting serious for work. Some are actually shock knowing my real age :P I guess.

Cake and smoke duck:

They actually knew my typical appetite, no vegie no spicy. Maybe that's why they get meat for me~ Haha, there might be an advantage being the youngest in the office, being pampered with meat. Luckily there's no vegie challenge on that day, they actually mentioned torturing me with that for a few times. No la~ they won't la, they're nice people XP

Sweet + Meat, and a random comic on the newspaper:

Another birthday collection in N-block again. Traditionally, they would request the victim (birthday boy/girl) to present a song, but I'm excused :P Since I've already done it during POCER. Anyhow, gotta play Kamen Rider henshin sequence in front of them =.= OK la, a good way to end the long holiday.

Group picture:

"LORD, You alone are my portion and my cup, You make my lot secure."
-Psalms 16:5-

Thank You Lord for blessing me through another year. It's been a long way reaching here as I look back, and more to go on. Keep us close to You and remember our prayers. Also thanks a lot for this group of great people. Amen.

3 Years Blogging Anniversary

This has been a very different year. I ended up spending another year in UNMC doing PostGrad. It's kinda hard in the beginning thinking my coursemates stepping into the society earning money, but hey, actually most of them are doing either 4th year, Master, or PhD. I admit that I actually learned a lot of new stuffs setting up my lab, but seriously BEng knowledge doesn't help much, Diploma does!

The transformation of my experiment rig:

Lab work can be very stressful, doing repetitive works that will not promise any result. If I get to quiet down and think about this path that I've taken, it never fails to depress me. However, joining the PostGrad team do have some great events, they are really nice colleagues that I guess never can be found out there. I mean, how good it is to celebrate birthdays in the office, leaving early for badminton, and play DOTA at night sometimes :P

Great people in the office, N block and B block:

One of the reason that I think God put me back here, is for CF and ConneXion. I'm really happy that both join forces a lot this year. Just like the Christmas event last year, there were a good balance of both members in each session (band, act, dance). It was my first time joining dance and leading a band myself, and the name of our band is Green!

CF Christmas event in Nottingham University:

When I thought that's awesome, here comes Easter. I wrote script for the first time, directing and participating in the acting as well. A few audiences accepted Christ that night, praise The LORD! Also, when a close friend told me that he really felt being used for the glory of God for the first time, the joy was overwhelming. We actually thought nothing will work out during the preparations, too many problems and barriers, but by God's grace, it was wonderful.

My smartest angel outfit of the year:

I'm back in performing again~ We formed a "PhD Band" for our uni's Music Talent Quest, playing a mash of 8 songs! My first time in a band competition, though we didn't win, it's a great experience. Next, a band performance for an academic conference, POCER in our uni. First time leading vocal while playing keyboard for a song, while Sarah did the other 9 songs. It was a sweet and simple band. Oh ya, back on recording songs again, check out my playlist at the sidebar.

MTQ and POCER performance:

It's marvelous to be involved in the declaration of love. I was the pianist for Christopher Lee and Stephanie Lee's wedding. The opportunity to work with other great musicians were great, but the fact that my playing blessed the couple, it was just pure awesome. Also, the proposal of Robert Yee to Cheryl Chan, I helped making the proposal cardboard! Too bad I won't be around for their wedding, Congratulation!

Season of love:

"The one who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind, will never be shaken"
-Psalms 15:4~5-

Without realizing, a lot has been done and it has been a great year. I'm grateful that wonderful things are accomplished together with people that share their love and faith, like Benjamin, Wei Ern, Wen Shan, Joseph, Legend, Terrence and Lynton. Summer break is ending, also means that a new chapter is starting soon, God bless everyone and everything that we're gonna do, Amen!

Charles & Tiramisu

The calender has strikes September again, and Nilai used to be a happening place during early September when the previous worship team was around. Carl and Charles (the twins) share the same birthday on 2nd, Audri and Timotius (the guitar series) are 3rd. Seems like our September band is now split all around the world, time really flies. Anyway, me and Charles are still in Nilai, the family planned a mini surprise for him.

Tiramisu cake, the cherries are real:

It was actually a day after his actual birthday since Saturday night allows more flexibility. I didn't even know we're doing it until Robert says we're going over to their house after I showered =.= Just a simple one, present cake, sing song, eat cake, and watch television. I've also called Audri who is back in KK to wish him as well. Just realized that we actually haven't meet and talked for more than a year, Happy Birthday again, Audri.

Surprise~

The next day, after Sunday service, a few of the churchmates went to Ice Room for lunch... I mean ... dessert. It's new to me as it started after I graduate. Not bad, durian ice cream for RM8.90, good choice for a heaty weather. I pretty much like the green apple design over the shop, kinda reminds me of Maxis centre actually.

Dessert at Ice Room:

"The evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor, but the LORD is their refuge."
-Psalms 14:6-

I thank the Lord for putting awesome people together and share bits of their life with each other. Though now, everyone is walking on their own path, we still cherish the wonderful memories that we made. I pray for the ex-worship team, that I've been working with in Nilai, Cheras, and Nottingham, wherever and whatever we do, let it be for the glory of the Lord. Amen.