Bye Bye Snow

"I think the few furious days of cold and snow are over... forecast for 31st says 65". Taken by abhishekit

The Marzocco

"Shot on location in Volterra, Italy". Taken by John Grace

A Cup of 2010

A lot of crazy stuff happened this year so here's a summary of my life in 2010.

I learnt how to skate!

I took the public bus for the first time.

Errm... lets just say I was lucky not to go on THAT public bus...

I celebrated my Sweet 16th birthday by doing extreme sports!

I went to my first concert to see Kelly Clarkson LIVE in Malaysia!

Went for a Memory Course and created this awesome poster!

Ermm... I conned this guy at the ticket reserve counter into letting me buy a ticket to watch Toy Story 3 when I didn't have a reservation so that I can cut the line because I was desperate...

And it works! But I'll never do that again. Honestly, that was the most daring thing I've ever done...

I've also helped to organize our BEC's Family Day which was in Hulu Langat. It was awesome!

Took loads of pictures which involves getting wet...

I joined our Church's play which is about St. John Vianney. I was the mom (as in the old lady...)

I learnt how to bake muffins...

Yeah... it didn't turn out so well...

I've was one of the lucky two BRATs to be sent to the Back to Nature camp in Genting with my friend Melissa and another BRAT, Kai Tying. Best trip ever!

I've learnt about what qualities I look for in a guy...

My article was published in The star newspaper about the Back to Nature camp!

I've had the time of my life in Universal Studios, Singapore!

I've baked my first edible muffin!

Went to Australia to stay with Aunty Catherine, Uncle Raymond and my cousins. I've seen a lot of crazy stuffs over there...

I went to see my first parade on the streets of Melbourne!

I'm amazed that they can tahan the cold dressed up like that...

I visited a REAL mansion with an actual love story behind it!

I got lost in an actual Hedge Maze!

I've discovered the heavenly taste of the Wagyu Beef!! MMmmm......

... And that's about it to summarize 2010 for me. It wasn't all perfect, but I'd like to remember the bright side of it all.

How was the year 2010 for you?

If you missed some of the action, the click on the links provided.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Magical Land

Bama, China. Taken by Robert Lio

Moscow Underground

"His name is Kolya. I was returning to home late in the evening when this guy came up to me and very politely asked me for some money for Vodka, he said he has met an old friend and they wanted to mark this event... I was too much tired even to think, so just gave it... then he came up again and asked if I want to join them... I said, No thanks, but a photo as a memento, it would be nice!...". Taken by Yulia Zabiyaka

The P R A N K S T E R

"Its Siraj the rickshaw-walla again. One of my favorite subjects, early in the morning in front of Bose Brothers exactly about a month ago. This guy is a genius". Bangladesh. Taken by NAYEEM

Three Trees

Taken by petalpusher 61

A TRUE Christmas Story

MERRY CHRISTMAS my dear readers!!

Its the day we've all been waiting for every year and its finally here. So while you read this post I want you to listen to this song because its gonna be related and it sets the mood.

This Christmas, I'm not gonna tell you all those heart warming stuff between families and friends, nor am I gonna tell you what we traditionally do on Christmas day so basically, I'm not gonna share the obvious.

Instead, here is a true Christmas story which I just made up.

***WARNING: Only for 18 and above***

**eh, what the heck I'm 16 and I wrote this thing**

This is a story about a little girl named Vicky.

One Christmas Eve, Vicky couldn't sleep and crept down the stairs for a glass of milk to see a fat man in a red suit eating her cookies. Its Santa Claus!

As she stared at him, Santa turned around and realized that he was being watched! Of course Santa knew Vicky and she knew Santa.... but what little Vicky didn't know was that Santa Claus is actually... a pedophile...

What? You think an old fart in a red suit who knows every child's names and weather they're naughty or nice and gives them presents isn't a pedophile? You think a guy who sees you when you're sleeping and knows when you're awake or not to mention the fact that he creeps into your house in the middle of the night via your chimney and eats all your cookies isn't weird at all?

Oh and by the way, he LOVES children. So much...

Shame on you.

But anyway, Vicky totally freaked out before Santa could do anything because she was too excited and so Santa just dumped the gifts and left before her parents could come down.

20 years later, Vicky still believes in Santa Claus despite the fact that she's already 27 years old. That year, Vicky's grandfather had a heart attack on Christmas Eve and she was really miserable.

And so that night, Vicky wrote to Santa Claus:

Dear Santa,

All I want for Christmas is that Grandpa may get well soon.

He's very old now but I love him so much. Please help him get

better this Christmas.

Love,

Vicky.

Santa got her letter alright, but unfortunately, Vicky's handwriting was so bad he misunderstood the entire message. I wouldn't want to get into detail but he felt really bad after he found out that he made a mistake. So, Vicky's grandpa was able to live another 12 years to make it up to her.

And that's how the writer of the song "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus" was born...

THE END

Behold the lamest story ever told. Merry Christmas.

Happy Christmas

"Shown in the photo is not even half the Christmas display. I did not bring a tripod since I was not aware this house was there. We saw it driving by and I just had to get out and snap a few photos in Edmonton, Canada". Taken by Stella Blu

Batman prepares his Christmas shopping...

"... at Macy's. Must view large.

Taken from Empire State Building". Taken by James Yeung

Top Level Meeting

Top Level Meeting - Three-Striped Palm Squirrel (Funambulus palmarum).
Family :Sciuridae. Bokundara, Sri Lanka. Taken by Sara-D

T-Shirt

If a T-Shirt could talk............... Jerusalem, Israel. Taken by Flavio@Flickr

beach seat

Melbourne, Australia. Taken by Man Underground

Tis The Season

Ahhh Christmas. The time of the year when kids go caroling...

... Men putting on thier best makeup,

... and joining the Beauty Pageant








Of course not forgetting the armpit competition.


Who has the hairiest armpit hair of them all?

You be the judge.

And not forgetting random, unprepared dance performances by our BEC youths!







Oh yes! Its also the time of the year where I create seasonal nail art. Call me if you need your nails done. Haha!





But seriously, Christmas is the time of the year when friends and family come together to celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. Its the time of the year when we look back to the good ol' times we had together and cherish our loved ones.





Its not about the presents or the food, or getting drunk. Ok, maybe a little bit...





But we all should be thankful and appreciate one another as you never know when we'll ever see each other again.





This was last year's photo of me and my cousins last christmas.


Unfortunately, this Christmas won't be as jolly as usual. Some didn't want to come back for Christmas, some had to go overseas, some of them lives overseas and couldn't come back, some have to spend christmas with another family and some probably didn't really like us. Oh, and did I mention that one went missing for the past few days?


So this christmas is the lonliest christmas ever. Sad, isn't it?


That's why we must be thankful when our families are together and treasure the good times we had. Yes, sometimes they can be a pain in the butt, but they are our only family and we should support each other. Not bring one another down to make us feel better about ourselves.


Love and treasure your family. They're all you've got and they're irreplaceble.


Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Kindergarten

"Kindergarten children in Liuzhou, China excitedly greet foreign visitors". Taken by Michael

The Ruins of Machu Pichu

The Ruins of Machu Pichu, Peru. Taken by Theodore Scott

Urban Moment

"Urban moment with Mauboussin, Mother and Daughter en route from school. Tokyo metro". Taken by kuroko01

Solitude

"Looking out of the MNAC - Barcelona - Catalonia". Taken by Rich

Christmas Market

Nuremberg, Germany. Taken by Wfkherzog

Meditation

"Meditation near the Pashupatinath temple". Nepal. Taken by Dick Verton

Pada, pada śnieg, bim bom

(Tiddly Pom) The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom) The more it goes
(Tiddly Pom) On snowing.

And nobody knows (Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes (Tiddly Pom)
How cold my toes (Tiddly Pom)
Are growing.

Poland. Taken by bazylek100

Louvre, Paris, France. Taken by Yvan

Gull Island

"Birds on Gull Island off coast of Homer, Alaska USA - we were in a boat. FYI there is 1 oddball in the bunch, should be easy to ID". Taken by Bill & Mavis