For those who asked where are we going for honeymoon, time and again! From before our wedding to on the wedding day to after the wedding! Well the answer is NOW! We are packed and ready for our honeymoon! Where are we going? Answer is EUROPE (; "I am blessed! I thank God for it! Always!" God prove to me that my dreams are too small when I trust in Him! He is ABLE! Able to give above and beyond what my dreams could be!
Hubby & I will be flying off tomorrow at 10:20am. We will be transit Doha and then reach UK! UK and Burberry, get ready! (Danielle! I will shout your name ya!), then we will hit Belgium, Austria (I will be shouting my auntie's name! Coz she is the one that gone on about "The sound of music"), then to Switzerland (MAMA!) and then Italy and France (Eiffel Tower! All names at one) We will be back on 05th April 2012. So miss us till then ok! (Lawrence you especially!)
We just came back from Johor last night and am preparing for our trip! Reach home about 11pm yesterday and started packing! Now with everything in check! We are ready for you EUROPE! Ole! Ole! Ole!
Europe, we are ready for YOU!
Hideout : Pulai Springs Resort
Before getting our place to stay, we are hiding-out at Pulai Springs Resort. The resort in its glorious days is one of the best in town, people marvel at its name BUT sadly now all that is left is a humble resort with a beautiful past! What was once is now NOT! Truth be told, we have higher expectations when we first booked this place.
When we were in Johor the past time, we booked ourselves into Thistle hotel, Johor does not have much stars hotels around, so this are a few. Thistle is a bit of a disappointment, therefore we are forced to look for another one. So we took up Pulai Springs instead. The exterior of the hotel is grand indeed with guard-houses, man-made lake and beautiful resort style palm trees, surrounded by acres of golf course. If it is well maintained, this could be one of those high class golf course after all it was build to be that in the past BUT too bad it wasn't anymore.
Our stay here has been pleasant so far! Like I told hubby what is most important is the feeling we get when we step into the room. We have been to many five stars hotel but there are times when I first stepped into the room. The worst one is that I use to tell hubby that I have this feeling that something is watching over us & it wasn't nice at all! But for Pulai it was a nice feeling, although the things in the room is old and aged BUT the room is well lighted and the toilet is pleasant! The most important thing for me is the toilet! So far the toilet is nice! Hotels that can't maintain the bath tub should just do away with it and place the nice glass standing shower instead! It is really chic and in-style in my opinion! And that is what Pulai has done! Good job! The housekeeping staffs are friendly and also when I requested for an iron & board from the service line, they attended to me very swiftly! So that is also a plus point for ya! (Ya the room doesnt come with iron & to add to that, the tv set is still a box unit type BUT to be thankful of it, it came with a lot of Astro channels & Singapore channels) Although it a box tv, the sound and the display still functions well so for us it is still OK!
The place is nicely situated from the busy street and hustle-bustle of town, so it is overall ok! When we drive out about 10 minutes, you will come to a small town with a lot of shops and kopi-tiams (Johor style), so food isn't that hard to find! But the cleanliness of the places around is certainly lower than in KL or even Klang! So do not put up your expectation. No use comparing to KL! No use! Learn that some time ago! People are going to stare! I do not know why but anyway I take it as positive note! We are pretty nice people to look at (;
Overall I would give them 6.5 out of 10. For the surrounding and the condition of the room. I haven't hit the pool yet as our schedule is pack, plus I have gain "some" weight, so I am not bikini ready as I am two weeks ago! Ha! Ha! Gonna pack some fat for my Honeymoon peeps... But don't worry I am still ok! (; Here are some surrounding pix... Enjoy as I am signing out now to go continue our search around! Dear Lord, please lead us to the right accommodation place today! Amen! Update tonight.... (If hubby didn't hoard the PC again)
Day 2 : Wake up in the morning feeling like........
Wake up in the morning feeling like Princeton! Ha! Ha! Hyper & energetic, we are now commencing day 2 of our search for stability in Johor! I am creating my own hype of my own "reality show" (watched only by my boys & people who check into this blog - kudos to you guys! Thanks for supporting)
Day 1 : In search for stability
Coming from a big city, life that we are facing will definitely be very different. As we tread on unknown territories for our days ahead, we must brave our confusion and be united. This is indeed yet another test for us as husband and wife. Our road together is now long and we do not what are the plans that God has in store for us yet..... We drove for hours finally to arrive at Johor, our schedules are pack for this few days as we have arrange agents after agents to look for a place to stay.
- Development has not affected them much, they still live complacently in a "kampung" like style
- The people here makes me feel young again, like when I was riding piggy back on my late grandma's bicycle through town, the people still are laid-back, none rushy and none-flashy!
- Dressing : My normal day to day short pants and t-shirt or even pullover short dress can be consider a bit raunchy! People here dress as in "turtle-neck" & "long-pants" type! No flashy accessories, no bling and definitely no big sunshades and earrings. (Gosh! Maybe we are on the wrong side of JOHOR??)
- Lifestyle cafes here are close to zero! Miss the yummy Pappa-Rich coffee and roti? Guess Johor has not make "Pappa" rich yet!
- Shopping malls? Wanted somehing flashier? The only place is Johor Premium Outlet - Home of Burberry, Coach & Prada. Other than that? Giant, Tesco & the bigger ones are Aeon Chain Malls!
- The roads are still very small two ways road, "one in, the other out" that is all! So be very careful as Johorian drives madly too! (Ok! Generally MALAYSIAN)
Starting a new life
I have just started a new chapter in life, and being married and being a wife (a Proverbs 31 type) is NOT easy! Although initially I do not feel any maturity power surging through my body but at this moment I could say I have indeed grown in some kind of wisdom (OK! I'm still the crazy, laugh till my stomach-aches kind of girl BUT it is indeed something more to that) Starting a new chapter as a wife has its challenge, we must be a burden-bearer, a comforter and also a strong supporter. I couldn't function as a single unit anymore BUT as a helper to the man I love, decisive but not over-bearing, listening but not weak, seek answers in discussion but not brainlessly. That was a challenge BUT I am learning fast! I guess it is an instinct in every woman that we will be able to draw out naturally when the time is right??!! (Guess so!)
Starting a new chapter in life is difficult BUT what if you were given a chance to start a new life somewhere else? You might be wondering "what it was?" But truth be told, YES we had an announcement to make
A Mother's Prayer
Life may knocks us down with a lot of challenges but nothing covers us like a MOTHER'S PRAYER. I am blessed to have a praying mother. A mother's prayer is the most sincere kind of all, it is unselfish, it is big in heart and it expects nothing in return.
I thank God for the life I am living now, everyday! Nothing really compares to knowing that no matter what, I can turn to my mommy for a reassuring words of prayer. I could never thank her enough for the things I received and for the things I have today! Looking back at many years ago, when we were barely getting by, the challenge was struggling to stable all the basic financial needs with income. I praise God that we had been through it all. I appreciate every moment of it because through that experience it makes me strong, courageous and dependent on God. Indeed it is true that God's answers to our prayers do come in the form of "YES", "NO", "WAIT" & "ANOTHER ALTERNATIVE".
Nothing brings down God's blessing more than a mother's prayer! I believe that with all my heart! I believed that the things that I have today is the result of my mom's faithful prayers to the Heavenly Father. I am covered by the angels of God because my mommy pray for protection, I have choose the path of life with enlightenment because mommy prayed for wisdom and above all I have met and marry the man of my life because mommy prayed for a faithful God loving spouse for me ever since I was a little girl! I used to think that it was really not necessary to ask of that but now I thank her for it!
To travel the world has been every girls' dream! BUT not many has been able to! For me, a girl who came from a single parent family with nothing luxury while growing up can now see the world, live a good life and enjoy over and abundant blessings is beyond my own imagination! My dreams and wishes in the past now look small compare to the faithfulness of God in my life! I go out knowing one thing! I have what I have today because of my mommy's prayer!
In case I did not thank my mom enough I would love to say thank you from the bottom of my heart and remember mommy you will always have a way to my heart and in any way that I can appreciate you, I will! I love you mom......
We are humbled....
We acknowledge that the blessing that we received and the life that we live belong to Christ Jesus our Lord. We both have been through trials and testings to be where we are today. Through this challenges, we acknowledge that, God is here with us.... All we need to do is to be dependent on Him. Here is a wonderful song that we want to dedicate to our Lord Jesus....
And no treasure untold
That could draw me away from Your heart
Neither love of myself
Or of anyone else will do
Life does goes ON!
Ever lost someone in your life? We grieved for people that passed on BUT deep down inside of us, we know that they are in a better place. The person I missed the most is my grandpa, the fact that he is now with the Lord has brought great peace to me! Although at times, I still wished I could spend a day with him, telling him stories and things that happened to me! I really still wished he could see me right now, how far off I have gone on in life and still hear his voice, so calming, encouraging and loving! I know someday I will see him again in HEAVEN. This kind of loss although painful, we know deep down that special person leave loving us deeply.
I remembered the tears that my grandpa shed when he's in ICU. We were asked to go in one by one to bid our last goodbye, the moment I went in he cried! I couldn't hold back my tears remembering that, that moment could be the last glimpse I would catch of him. He is deeply missed and I love him till today. This kind of lost we know will one day be compensate when its our time to leave. Life needs to go on till we meet again.
There is another kind of loss that hurt so much that "at that moment" we thought we couldn't survived anymore. This is the loss of someone that we thought will spend forever with us. Everyone of us had one story or another. We cried, we prayed, we walked around meaningless and even went into an anger fib at times. Depending what kind of situation we are in. The fact is that we all fell down like that before. Some of us fell from richness into normal life. This is hard-knocks of life. In finding "the one" we have gone through a lot of pain and tears. Met many disqualified people. Some even spend a long time with us like they are going to stay until they decided to walk out on us.
It is never easy looking for our other half. I have my share of story that I have moved on from. The fact is that life do go on even though we might not have the strength to at that moment. If there is a need to cry! CRY! (I always say that) do not hold it inside of you and try to ACT strong! Acting strong will not solved the problem. Just go ahead have a good cry anytime you felt like it and then when the times come you will know that you have cried enough and crying and being emotionally down will not help you to start another chapter of life. People are attracted to positive people and not the opposite, therefore once you are down, sweep the pain off you door, wipe the tears off your face, put some make-up on, dress up and go on to meet that new person that will bring happiness in life.
Life does go on.. That is what I wanted to say. All of us have lost someone either way before & I believe that we owe our self a good life. Wake up and walk strong and let go of that person that left, we are worth much more because like it or not we are worth much more than what we have been before, our experiences made us a better, stronger person. So the next time you are about to cry, remember Life does go on, cry if you want to! After that it's rise and shine.... (; (Trust me! God is good! I'm married now)
Rambling about : Bridal Studio
Inspiration comes all of a sudden when I was doing my household chores. It is about bridal studio. Well many of us have heard of bridal studio woes, be it from a close friend or a relative. They in turn had heard of it from some other people. For me, I am truly blessed to have found a bridal studio that doesn't really gave us any bad times! As far as I can remembered the dealings with them has been alright! Not excellent but alright!
Bridal studio business is a very challenging one & I believe there is no other business as realistic as this! Run by women, staff by women and set to appeal to woman customers. One phrase that I truly believe to represent the bridal studios around Klang Valley is "With money you are our precious customer!" or maybe "Everything is 'YES' with money!" When I spoke to them I realized that they did not see this as our "once a lifetime" but they see us as "$$$$"
I honestly think that, the way they do business is a bit too much. As one particular incident is that, when I wanted that particular hairstyle for my wedding day, they refuse to let me have it, they insist that it is not possible as the hair accessories are all meant strictly for photo shoots only! The items are NOT available to be taken out of the studio for any other use! Well after a long "hoo-hah" I finally said, "Ok! We will pay you extra to get that hairstyle" Instantly their attitude change and the girl that refused me earlier nicely tell me "Sure, we will take additional this amount of money to get that hairstyle! I will let the make-up person know so that she can prepare the items!"
-See what I told you again about the money??
To make it even funnier! They in fact reveal to us something that we have suspected earlier on.
I told them do they need a copy of the photo in to inform the girl which hair exactly I wanted. They replied "No need, we will open back the photos from our system and she can have a look!" (Excuse me! I thought that day when the lady boss offer us an "additional" page and photographers poses she pressed us that "if" we did not pay her extra for the photos they will all be deleted as they do not keep copies???!!??" Now they have a copy! Erm!) -See what I told you again about the money??
Money! Money! Money! Its all about the Ba-bling, Ba-bling.. Jessie J! Without em the world will NOT dance! With it.. You can even make any monkey break-dance! That is what I think! One thing I would do differently if I am a happy money business... Like them, they put so little concern over the actual wedding day that the gowns and the evening dresses are way too normal! For advertising purpose they should allowed us to be more beautiful on the actual wedding day as this is the day where all our guests get to see the dresses, the makeup and the hairstyle! This is additional free advertising compare to the little video that they add in at the end of our wedding slides!
In conclusion! Look into your budget! (For wedding, its always important to allocate how much you are willing to spend) as hubby and I have agreed we will not go above MYR10k for our wedding photos, gowns and make-ups. And we did keep to it! So do not push too hard, learn to say NO! Because trust me! These shops open their door to those who couldn't say NO and at the end its just business as usual to them while you have to shrink back on other expenditure! Is it worth it? Think about it (;