I am emotional, really emotional lately.
We booked our DBSS flat #09-565 at $551,000. Our flat would be ours once we signed an agreement at the Lawyer's Office 2 months later. We have given a 5% deposit, and his dad and mum began regretting this decision. The forfeit of rejecting the flat after this booking date is $6,000.
After that booking date, although afraid of what the future may hold for us in terms of finance, I felt really ecstatic. I wanted to post on Facebook my new address! :D
Until...
His uncles and aunts began questioning our ability to pay for the flat. And his cousin started to flood his phone's inbox, saying that she planned and said we would have a hard time paying for it.
His parents doubted us too. And day after day, his mum started to warn him against it, he had to take the pressure of his relatives.
We were coerced into discussing it again today. His dad was upset that we didn't tell him our big decision of buying the flat, and why we didn't make that decision together. They only knew about it when we brought them to the showflat a few days before the booking date. U know, the way I was brought up was quite different from how Jun Wen was. His parents hope for alot of communication and transparency within the family. Before he makes any major decision, his parents would like to have him discuss with them first. My parents hope for me to be independent and build our friendship based on trust. I make my own decisions and they support them. I didn't know what it was like to have parents concerned about my decisions.
My parents always give me lots of freedom. They are the most easy going parents. I was brought up in an environment where I make my own decisions, make mistakes and learn from them. My parents give me support for whatever I do. I told them I might cancel my application and they, especially mum, were infuriated. Okie, maybe not infuriated but I saw some strong emotions in her a she spoke. Lol. Again, they gave me their support. :D
Facing all the pressure from his relatives, Jun Wen wasn't afraid intially. He told me that we were almost there in getting our own apartment, and we shouldn't give up halfway. I could tell that he really likes it so much.
With time, we were pressed to give up our stand. His relatives said we were crazy and foolishly courageous since we just started working and chose such a expensive flat. Words hurt.
I know he took a genuine liking to the house. I had my doubts but I trust that if he believes in us, we can make it. And I believe in him. I trust that his decision is a good one. I believe in working hard together to achieve something. I thought that parents always want us to study hard, work hard for our future.. But why, after we have studied so hard, they want to stop us from buying a more furnished house? I thought this future that we share will be bright enough to let us get something we like. I thought they wanted us to work hard so that we work harder to afford better stuff next time. Now remind me, what is the point of working hard all this while? What do we aim for when we work hard? Shouldn't it be a better standard of living?I dunno now.
We really had fun at Langkawi and we came back, celebrated Valentines' Day and back to reality. I was pretty affected by it. I told Simba that we should give up the flat, wait a few more years and use our own money and CPF to buy something cheaper, as they wished. We shouldn't go against their will and not have their blessings. If not, this will never end. There will be endless unhappiness and friction, and no ultimate decision. Maybe they agreed today and they object tomorrow. Maybe they regretted after 2 months when we signed the agreement at the lawyer's office, and we will not lose $6,000 but $27,000.
I saw an instant disappointed response from him. His face turned red, and that brought tears to my eyes.
I always want to marry early. I think of my dream wedding, think of the prefect wedding dress I'm going to wear, imagine the feeling of being the happiest on my wedding day... I look forward to preparing for my wedding. Now, if we were to only apply for a flat a few years later, I will be 30+ when I really get married. :(
We may not always make the best decisions, but we hope for support in this "bad" decision. His dad and brother considered the factors and have given us their support. Now, we are left with his mum.
We are not materialistic.
I don't need a fancy apartment.
I just need someone whom I can grow old in it with.
Hence, if we can't get everyone to agree on it, I would choose to give it up.
This incident has kind of impacted my emotions for quite abit. Work hasn't been great. I made another error, that led to alot of subsequent troubles. I blame myself alot. Simba said I was too sensitive. I know I am not a Science person. I am more of a left-brained person, someone who loves design, art and everything beautiful.
I gave the mouse cardiac puncture today. I anaesthetised it and then draw the whole volume of the blood from its heart. Before doing it, I have to cut its diaphragm and let it die of suffocation. It's sad. I saw it gasping for air and looked very uncomfortable, and it was so afraid that urine came out from its body. I cried. Wiped it off before colleague came to help me. He helped me to draw the whole blood from its heart, and some blood splashed onto him accidentally. Tears formed again. He saw them and pointed it out.
My trip to Langkawi was really fun! I would go back again next time, with a longer stay. I took the Cable Car, the Duck Tour, went for horse and elephant riding, Go-Kart... And Chuan Sia was saying, "So u did all the things you can do in Sentosa." LOL. That is so true, and the funny thing is Simba and I didn't realise it. But Pui Haan said, "But they did it with a different scenery." That's true too!
Our flight was at 7:05am and we have to do a transit at KL airport.
We went to Terminal 2 for Macs breakfast. I was expecting us to board the plane at Terminal 3, so we can walk around there. But the cab driver told us that Malaysia Airlines is only situated at Terminal 2.
Our first time with Malaysia Airlines. :D
After breakfast, the only interesting thing we saw before boarding the plane in Terminal 2 was this small Orchid garden. The orchids are of attractive colours and look so beautiful. :D
Right in the middle of these orchids are kois in the pond. He said I had to pretend to touch them. Lol.
If not for the airport background behind, u might have thought that I was in some park.
My bag was bought in Vietnam xoxo.
A close zoom on the purple orchid, our national flower.
And it was time to board the plane. We were quite disappointed since the outlook in the plane was none like SIA, but is quite similar to Jetstar or Tiger Airways.
We were given peanuts and orange juices. Pui Haan told me to try ordering wine but I didn't dare since it was a morning flight and no one else was ordering wine. They were obediently drinking the orange or apple juice that they were given. Simba said he shouldn't take the peanuts since he didn't feel like eating them. But I told him that I didn't want to eat them too but we should just keep them in our bags. Lol. Super auntie I know!
The travel Malaysian magazine at our seats. It was quite interesting! The writer recommended couples places to go for a romantic experience!
And after an hour, we reached KL airport. It was like it made an announcement for us to fasten our seatbelts and the plane was going to fly. And half an hour later, it made the same announcement but this time it would be landing. It was like taking a trip by MRT from Serangoon to NTU.
Harrods, the bear shop cum cafe we saw in the KL airport. Cool!
There were also delicate models of different airlines. :D
Cute dog at Toblerone!
Jungle Boardwalk. Nice man-made waterfall.
He likes these chains at the entrance of all the parks. Do those chains serve the prupose of keeping mosquitoes away? It's a wild guess. I do not know!
There were also these very comfy chairs at the KL airport. U can stretch your legs and rest them on this chair!
We got tired and hungry waiting for our next flight to Langkawi. We had mango strudel at Delifrance. I bought a mineral water for SGD4 and Simba was so agitated. "We need to buy a house u know!" He said. So funny. LOL.
And while waiting for our flight.
Flew for another 50 minutes and landed. The Langkawi airport gave maps and guides for tourists. We were ambitious and wanted to try walking to our hotel. Lol. Many taxis approached us along our way. We were walking alongside the road. It was so dangerous!
We saw cows on our way. Lol. They kept staring at us.
Zoomed right in on the not-so-camera-shy cow.
We gave up after 20 minutes of walking. It was too time-consuming, and the weather was against us. We flagged a cab and it drove us to our hotel for SGD5. We were relieved that we didn't walk all the way there since it was going to take a lot of perspiration and energy.
Our hotel lobby. This was the first time we travelled for leisure, not for shopping. And we were marvelled by the relaxed setting of the place. Love it!
And since we could only check in at 3pm, we ate our lunch in the hotel restaurant first. This is the view outside the restaurant.
Our cocktails. Our waiter dropped the stirrer from Simba's glass on the table and nearly put it back in. Omg. I stared at him and he forgo the idea of putting it back. Lol. Thank God for my eyes.
He ordered Asian cuisine. Nasi Kway Teow.
It was a big portion and he couldn't finish it. But it was nice. Worth the price of SGD16.
I ordered Carbonara. The sauce wasn't so creamy and u can finish the pasta without getting tired of the taste.
Yea, we didn't book the wrong hotel. The outlook was nice, food was great and service was awesome. We got the feeling that they served us genuinely, not just for tips.
After lunch, we walked around the premises of the hotel.
This is cute! The outside of the hotel lies a small beach.
Opposite the beach were a stretch of kelongs.
First attempt to take a photo with the logo of the resort behind us.
Failed.
2nd attempt. It was better but still our heads blocked part of it.
And finally it was 3pm and we could check in. We were pleasantly surprised when we were told that our room is a Studio Suite and we got to stay in one of the kelongs! Wow, I wondered if it was Simba who booked a better room, since he paid $200+ instead of $174 (original price). Lol.
And we were seated in a buggy where the bell boy would drive us to our room.
There was a balcony outside our room where from there we saw a magnificent view of offshore platforms built predominantly with wood in waters.
The room is so spacious! My first time in a 5-star hotel. Lol. Pardon the excitement.
U can sit on the couch, open the windows and enjoy the view.
Us at the balcony.
His idea. Lol.
I have a very sharp chin. :(
The cab driver waited outside our hotel at 3:30pm and drove us to the Oriental Village where most activities are held at.
:D
Entrance! U have to cross this bridge to get into the village. Simba just had to jump on it to make it shaky and that I would scream. LOL.
There were many of such playgrounds in parts of the place.
He did more embarrassing things again. He lost his balance and fell off it the first time. Lol. Many people were watching, wondering what he was trying to accomplish.
I like the feel of stretch of houses along the pavement. U will hardly see them in Singapore.
The sun is scorching and I felt 2 tones darker!
We came across a man holding a horse and walking beside it. We were curious and followed him. He asked if we wanted a 10 minutes ride with it. It costs RM10 per ride. Quite okie right the price!
He helped us take several photos before the ride started.
I chose the smaller black horse.
Chose the wrong camera setting and I looked very pale.
He made a horse face for our group photo and the man thought it wasn't on purpose. So funny! He took a few more photos of us since Simba wasn't cooperative. Lol.
He stopped at this photo. :D
The horse ride was quite an experience for me. It was quite shaky though. The horse tail felt like my hair! They are both very hoarse. Lol. Simba loved this ride so much. His horse was in front of mine, so he kept turning back to smile at me, while I was so conscious of my fear of falling off it.
Then we bought our package which consisted of Cable Car and Duck Tour tickets for RM60 each. Nice! Never get such a good deal in Singapore.
Our Duck Tour ride was at 5pm and we still had sometime for our elephant ride. Spent RM80 on this. Riding on the HUGE elephant, feeding it and taking photos with it.
We followed the elephant into the forest and out of it. The ride was steady and high. Our heads were near the branches of trees and we saw a squirrel feeding on chestnut up close on the tree.
The staff took about 20 photos of us throughout the elephant ride. I was quite satisfied with the photos! He has stable hands.
And we get to feed the elephant with bread.
He tried aiming high and see if the elephant would hold its trunk higher to get the bread. It didn't and so he had to loosen his arm strength and aim the bread at a lower height.
Me sincerely feeding the elephant.
That's all for Part One! Hope it wasn't boring!
:D
