My new MJ.. Coming right up!!

Its another MJ i've been craving for. Tried to sell my coach strawberry milk poppy lurex, but i guess it is unsuccessful. Buyers wants a cheaper price which i think is way too cheap considering that i bought the bag for RM1425. Buyers wants to buy for RM400. I cant accept that. In conclusion, I will use the bag until it is worn out. Anyway, here's the MJ bag on the way.. Hopefully I can get it before my trip to Osaka.

Malakoff 12KM, Kuala Lumpur 2011

Date : 18th December 2011
Location : Bukit Kiara Equestrian & Country Resort, KL
Personal Running Timed : 1:30:26, Pace : 7' 32"/km

It was a fun Sunday run, it is the last run of the year 2011, and it has been the best run ever! And super challenging, that we had to climb the super steep hills twice but we survived. Here are some photos taken during the event. The goodie bag not as luxurious as the other runs I participated, but its okay.. We had great cendol (Tmn Melawati cendol as stated on the lorry). Enjoy the photos!!

From left : My husband, me, Dr Siok Foong, Fadhil's fiance (sorry, we met twice, but no manners of me for not asking your name), Fadhil, Din, Aizat, Rashid's friend, and of course, Rashid.

2pz kepenatan

2pz poyo

According to Rashid, Fadhil was saying, " Ezanee ada kat sana, ambik goodie bag."

The boys

Yes.. the girls... :)

Guess who's got the most expensive running shoes??

Our last run for year 2011 :).

Last but not least... the finisher medal... :) we made it!!!

There... that's the closing running event of the year.. More to come next year before I move on to further my studies.. InsyaAllah...

Food Galleria, Princecourt

I dropped of my sis, baby aariz, abg bob & my favourite little sarah at the lobby of Princecourt. Now we are at the food galleria to have lunch while waiting for kakak and family. I dont feel like eating here, i want nandos, but i have to take my medicine. Still having fever. Now a bit drowsy. Yesterday was worst.

Did not finish the food, expensive though. Probably my tastebud are not functioning well due to fever or just the taste arent that good. Anyway... Here are some pics of the food i ate, and my husband's as well.

Aston cengkareng hotel and convention centre, jakarta

We stayed in jakarta for another day after the wedding. Our beloved friends, the newly married couple and their cousins (darius & felix) sent us to the hotel after hanging out at the biggest mall in jakarta (according to my husb it is located near Jln Sudirman). We thought it was a so-so hotel, because it is a 3-star hotel but, it turned out to a quite awesome hotel to stay and very convenient in terms of location to the airport, shops nearby (We saw Carrefour about 100m away from the hotel.

Okay, the room was superb, purple (my favourite color), clean, great tv channels (HBO, AXN, etc.), good breakfast, easy access to the internet, provides shuttle to the Soekarno Hatta airport every two hours (our flight due to depart at 1:45pm, the earliest shuttle was at 10 am. It was okay, as long as we do not get stuck in the traffic jam!

So, i would recommend aston cengkareng hotel for anyone who do not want to be late to catch a flight. Its far frm the city centre (toko tanah abang, mangga dua etc.), but you can stay there after you've done touring and shopping in the heart of jakarta. So, its a 9/10! :)

Indonesian wedding 26/12/2011

Last week I was in Jakarta to attend a good friends' wedding. A friend me and my husband had known way back then when we used to work part-time at Pizza Hut Subang Parade. That was 10 years ago. How time flies.

So we took Air Asia to jakarta on saturday noon and arrived at 3, took the bluebird cab to the santika premier hotel. Thats in the city centre. And very convenient to go to Tanah Abang to shop for "telekung" or prayer clothing for myself and the rest of my family members as well as some close friends. We reached the hotel around 4 close to 5 pm. Take a rest for a bit then be prepared for the wedding. At 7pm, the wedding started.

It was beautiful, pink was the theme color and then i saw the bride.. She was so beautiful. She is my friend. The wedding was not so much different from malaysian wedding except for a few things i find different. Maybe two. One, as the bride walked down the aisle, no one took her photograph except us, me & my husband. Haha. Two, there werent any seat or tables for the guests, only buffet table. Oh, there's three, they actually give gifts to the guests (the lucky ones only :)) yeah, they had to play some games then they'll get the prize. Guess what prize they gave away?? A blackberry!! How cool was that?! Only for single man or ladies, okay.. Haha.

When i asked the bride of the wedding processes.., they actually undergone the same chinese tradition. Tea drinking ceremony where they had to serve the in-laws chinese tea. Thats the custom. They were officially married on the 11/11/11 but held the reception a bit later. Anyway, enjoy the pic, and thank you Lili & Andry for the free stay at the hotel :)

IOI Community Run 2011

Its Sunday, woke up at 6 a.m. (rarely) and get ready for the 7KM run at Puchong. It was fun, but the route was too challenging that we kinda had to climb almost all the way to the finishing line. My record was 55 mins, not a good record, obviously not qualfied to get a medal. This time around my youngest brother joined the run too. It was his first run, and he ran continously. Not bad for a 1st timer though. My husband's thigh got cramped again, bt this time he had it pretty bad. I had to drive back home this time since his right thigh was not in the right condition to drive. Anyway, here are some pictures of the event today.. Next run will be Malakoff 12KM run. I'm looking forward and wish me luck! :)

Husband, me and bro. Before running.

With the goody bag. Shoe bag, one can of gatorade, Shokubutsu bosy wash, Fisherman's friend, peppermint gum and some vouchers.

One step to PhD

I have contacted by someone from University of Leeds, UK recently seems to be interested into taking me in as a PhD candidate. I am relieved and happy to finally have someone responding well to my e-mails on my wish to further PhD. I will be having a skype meeting with the head centre and team leader of the epigenetic group on the 24th Nov, 9.30 a.m. UK time. Wish me luck, k.

I will be having another session with someone of another group from Leeds on the 30th Nov a well. Apparently she's a visiting professor at the faculty of medicine, University of Malaya, and we will discuss of my interest to help me identify a potential supervisor. I'm excited and nervous at the same time.

A moment ago, a colleague of mine texted, telling me that there is a UK education fair held in KL. I guess, i'd better go. I suppose I could hand in my CV and cover letter to them. I'm excited!!!

Is this my fated place for PhD?? InsyaAllah... :)

A friend, or just a companion?

Cow Trish was on her way to the hill to get the best greener grass to feed for breakfast. Her best friend, Cow Lenny was going to meet her for breakfast at the top spot for a herd of cows to get good breakfast, of the cool weather, serene and fresh air.

While having a feast, Cow Lenny was telling Cow Trish how she wanted a new choker that she told another friend of hers that she bought a new designer choker from a blog which sells good bargain choker at almost half the price at retail. And as she told her friend that she got to know about the blog was from "someone" she always eats breakfast with almost every day.

Then it hits Cow Trish. Is she a friend or just a breakfast companion? Because she would definitely address Cow Lenny as her friend, and not someone at breakfast. It kept her thinking, until one day she realised that we can never find true friend anywhere easily. The one who sticks with you may be one or two in a million. So, never give high hopes in friendship when it is uncertain that a friend is even a friend. Be good to the ones we have, never hope for others to think the same way as we are.

A cow to slaughter during the previous Aidiladha.

Miss Ebola play rough? I can play rough too.

Me and a friend went to Midvalley during the 2 hours lunch break.  The mission was to buy okonomiyaki sauce. Yeah, finally found the halal sauce at Jusco. I bought two bottles since its rare to find it anywhere in any Japanese shop, not even in Shojikiya or Daiso. But one thing i havent found since i last bought it about 10 months ago is the Shittori. A chocolate wafer packaged in a red packet, I usually eat back in Japan. Anyway... the highlight of the story is again about Miss Ebola.

I was told earlier in the evening that Miss Ebola purposely asked the two students to axe out my name from their presentation. How I got to know this was from another friend who told me apparently another good friend of mine, who have experienced similar incidence by this pathetic Miss Ebola. She directly asked the students why wasnt my name in the presentation, and they said it was in, until Miss Ebola asked them to take my name out. So, now, who is trying to destruct harmony?? She started to provoke, now I have to respond by not tolerating her stupidness. Yes. A dumb woman. Pity you. I curse you till the end of time. I curse the worst on you, and you will never b forgiven until you kneel down and beg for forgiveness. I pray for your bad doings to be returned back to you.

Harmony. Really??

I was humiliated. I was belittled. Underestimated. Discriminated. Yes. I remain calm to avoid any disputes. But one has a limit to this. There was an incidence, a few days ago that someone tried to interfere with my work and I'd have enough that I actually spoke to the Big Guy of my uncomfortable ordeal with that someone or should i name her Ebola virus? yeah, the name can be think later, but I would want to highlight on the events that has happened to me this week which has made me feel angry that I wanted to shout. Well, I ended up crying to myself after the Research Progress meeting.

Owh, about my session with the Big Guy. I didnt really complained about Miss Ebola, just saying that I am not comfortable to have her as my collaborator that she did not give any contribution in completing my work. Big Guy was somehow agree with me at first and thought maybe Miss Ebola meant for other projects. He hesitated when i mentioned its my work that she wanted her way in. Then he said that sometimes we have to make the best decision but not the right one and the decision may not make you happy. But you've just gotta live in wisdom, trying to retain harmony. I was taken aback, not very happy but only to accept his advise, well, i totally understood knowing Miss Ebola's annoying attitude, all those whining, shrieking and pitching, yeah, totally understood that the Big Guy do not wish to encounter any dispute. He said, let her do some major works, in terms of editing and writing. He was at first asking what was her role in my project, and she doesnt help on analysis or anything... harmony...

I almost hate the word harmony. Today, two students presented their proposals, and whalla, as expected, my name wasnt there. I would love to think the fact that I am not allowed to supervise (Not my LEVEL), and they are presenting proposals, but I just wonder whether my name will eventually be on the publications? Knowing Miss Ebola, I am 98.9% sure that she will purposely exclude out my name. So, here I am thinking again, should I be the one to retain harmony when people around are destructing harmony??

I pray to Allah to give me guidance, strength and patience.

Movie review : In Time

Casts : Justin Timberlake, Amanda Seyfried

Rating : 9.5/10

Of late, I havent heard JT on the radio. I guess he is pretty occupied with acting. And I have to admit that he is pretty good at it. This movie, yeah, he nailed it. Love the plot, creatively designed with the stem cell technology where people only live for 25 years, and that 25 years have to be re-newed every 25 years, unless your time is out. The length of life they will endure depends on the time they have on their arms. If the time says 00:00:00:10, then, you will only have 10 seconds to live. Or else, you die.Haha. You work, you get paid with time. You buy things with time. That's how they live in this particular movie. There are time zones, where rich people will have longer time, living a luxurious life, while poorer people live in they say getto area, which they have to fight for time to live.

Funny in the earlier part of the movie, when JT wished his mom,(Olivia Wilde) who looked super young (they dont aged, they'll look young forever), happy birthday. Didnt get why at first, but they kinda revealed why so we understood the storyline.

Owh, and there's Alex Pettyfer, the bad guy in the getto who kills for time. Yeah, bad guy but he still looks good.. Haha..

I'm too lazy to elaborate more, but this movie is superb!!! Must See!!!!!

Eye Cream

I have been trying to get the best eye cream, but so far, I couldnt find any that could fix my eye bag and fine lines around my eyes. Here are ome eye creams I've used all these years. Please suggest  if you have any good products, k...

Now using Garnier.. but not helping much... help.....!

Going back to school : University options for PhD

Picture courtesy of http://wwp.greenwichmeantime.com/time-zone/usa/websites/education/university/massachusetts/harvard-university.htm

Back to school? Yes. Its time, before its too late. I'm not getting any younger, and I really need to settle down soon. I want to get a PhD, and i want kids on my own. I've been surveying potential universities to further my PhD degree since I got back fom Japan. That was almost a year now.

Back in August I have discussed with a potential supervisor from a university in Australia, proposed a few projects and he liked the last project which is something to do with viral infection and risk susceptibilities. I love the idea too.. since its my original ideas, plus that he gave some input to be added up to make it more sensible. I bet, most of you were wondering how I manage to discussed with him, huh? Well, he visited my workplace, its like an annual event for him, as he is an adjunct professor for our institute. He's very kind and understanding. Well, for as far as I know him (not yet a SV), he's pretty supportive. However, my heart has never been to Ozzie. I've always wanted to go to United Kingdom or perhaps USA. Of course for USA, its out of the questions, because its gonna be 5 years until i will be conferred a PhD degree and its too long for me. I'll get bored, bla bla bla.. Even with the discussion with the potential SV, things still moving as slow as it is before.

Last week i got depressed due to this matter as well as I may not have a funded project and that is bad... Talked to my sis, crying, not knowing what to do next, hardly getting any support from the upper management of the institute (probably they are just too busy), my sis told me its because I relied on one option, that is the ozzie university. That moment, i tried to re-gain my effort and will to resume my applications and enquiries on other universities again.

Picture courtesy of http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/54500/54529/54529_johns_hopkin.htm

The only problem is, I hardly get any responds from any universities. Some may reply but with dissappointing emails, most will ask to register online, then only they will assign me to which lab. This wasnt enough, as I do not have any potential SV who wish to know more about me. I wish I know what my mistkes are, since there is nobody have any interest of knowing me.

But I must not give up, now keeps on browsing universities in the world, which could provide me knowledge and experience I long to have. Any ideas which university is suitable with my interest?

I tried emailling Yale. They asked me to apply online. then I will have to enroll a two years course, if I passed, then only they decide on which lab shall i be to do my PhD. Well, this is just the USA format. so, altogether it'll be 5 years to complete the whole PhD. I will be too old to spread my wings then.

Stanford. No project. So they say.
Edinburgh. Online registration.
Oxford. No respond.
Univ of Berkeley. Online registration.
Cambridge. No project.
Birmingham. No respond.
Dundee. No respond.
Sheffield. No respond.
.....and the list go on..

Well, I better keep on trying. Keep writing..keep on writing... Wish me luck!

Zillions questions...

At the back of my lab back in Niigata. NOPE. Nothng to do with this entry. haha..

What do I want in life? I dont have the answer to that question. Do you? Sometimes I keeps on wondering if I have made the right decision to do what I am doing now. Am I up to it? Do I have what it takes to excell in my field now? Does my strength heard and seen? My potential? Always questionable. Am I happy? Yes. Sometimes. I know one thing in life that I love to do for sure... SHOP. But then again, I'll get bored even shopping. Thinking of the money which makes other people richer. I wish I can be one of those people who just created blogs to sell stuffs like handbags, shoes, watches etc. I'd love to do that. The only problem is, on how much money needed to start?

I hate coming back home feeling depressed and tired. Yes, I bring home whatever problems i have back in the office. I cant seem to forget or take it easy. I'll always think and think and it drives me crazy. I've always think the worst out of everything. Always feel unappreciated, underestimated.

Sometimes I feel that I havent given myself a break from anything. I started my masters degree immediately after I graduated. Then started working immediately after submitted my thesis. I did not let myself explore the horizon to identify what my interest is. I want to further my studies, but am I making the right platform as a stepping stone?

These are questions keep playing in my mind. I do hope I'll find the answers soon before its too late...

Movie Review : Dream house 2011

Cast: Daniel Craig, Rachel Weisz, Noami Watts
Type : Thriller/suspense
Synopsis :This is actually a rather heart-breaking movie. Its sad, but of course with a sorta happy ending. its a little bit similar to a movie acted by Nicole Kidman, only that this 007 guy actually the survivor of this story. William Attenton (Daniel Craig) quitted his job in the city to be spending time with his family (Rachel Weisz and 2 daughters). He got home, had all the father figure character in place, suddenly one of his girls saw a man outside his house. He took a look and saw no one, until the next day he saw foot prints along the window where his daughter saw a man, to the back door. That was when he got suspicious and went investigating. Bla bla bla, he found out that there was a family of 3 died in that same house about 5 years earlier, and the man responsible was the father in the family.

Naomi Watts played his neighbor Ann Patterson, but didnt reveal what has happened 5 years back but keeps on giving that mysterious looks everytime she and Will bumped into each other. Its annoying. Will and his family got harrassed and stalked, the kids were scared until he went to find out who the murderer was at the mental instituition. Yeah, the murderer was not jailed for life because they couldnt find any evidence against him to put him in jail, but instead to the mental ward. Of course, he couldnt find that guy who murdered his own family, but just to find out that he had a picture of Libby (Rachel Weisz) with his other belongings and yes, he was released from the mental instituition. He went back home, explained to his wife of the incidence, they got worried, and he went back to the instituition to get the footage of how the guy looked like... and..tada..!!! Its him. Will Attenton.

His name was not Will attenton, its something else, i dont remember but ann patterson tried to explained to him in between the movie. Well, his wife, Libby and the kids are actually dead. He saw them because he was in denial. He didnt kill them, some intruder who actually being paid to kill Ann Patterson by her estranged ex-husband due to the divorce thingy... Its all about the money. The intruder got in the wrong house and killed wrong peiople. Until then when Will got back, the husband tried to plot another murder, to accuse Will for killing Ann. But Libby's ghost saved their lives by distracting the intruder and estranged ex-husband and walla! the killers died in the explosion, Ann and Will were safe, Will had to let go Libby's ghost in the burning house. In the end, Will wrote a book about his tragedy and became bestselling book, I guess.

Owh, forgot to mention the house where he used to live with his family turned old, empty when he found out he was actually the father.

Conclusion: In my opinion, this is a good movie. Good plot but there are rooms to improve. I love it when the house from lively turned awry, old and empty. Libby was gone and came back. Well, Daniel Craid did pull it out great, not that I'm a big fan of him. Not at all. but i love Rachel Weisz though. Its worth watching. I'd give 8.5/10 for this movie.

My life as an amateur runner. I'm loving it!

Last week's Putrajaya Night Run.

I was active in sports during schooldays, but stopped sweat it all out as i entered univesity. I piled on weight, but worked out once in a while doing Paula Abdul's dance aerobic, or Kathy Smiths aero-boxing. It didnt last long though, the work out. I stopped again, but managed to maintain my weight (up and down a litte bit), but started to work out again until after i got back from Japan in January 2011. That was when i put on almost 5kg for just 3 months being in Japan! Then I got too depressed for putting on that much of weight and started to do dance aerobic again, but the extra weight just didnt go away, or maybe i ws just ignoring to noticed any difference. But then again, I still felt frustated.

It was until April, that my husband asked me to join him running at the park, I did ran but did not have enough stamina to jog. Frustrated still, but keeps on motivating myself, and luckily my husband bought me a new running shoes sometime in June, I guess.. Reebok Zig Nano. Cool shoes, give me more reason to run, simply because its a new shoes. Reebok Zig Nano, you are my 2nd best in motivating me to run besides my beloved husband.

Our Reebok Zig Nano @ Putrajaya Night Marathon 2011

My first run was the NTV7 feel good run held in July, organised by the local TV station and that moment on I just had the heart to run and run and run again. To date, I have joined 5 runs in 4 months! Isnt that an achievement?! And I guess, i have successfully shed off the unwanted fat on my cheek, waist and the whole body. Okay, not so much on the waist and tummy because i still have that flabbiness I wish i can just slash it off, scrap off the extra tires and paste the skin back to my flesh. Yeah, I sounded like a crazy psycho-maniac, but seriously, I do think of that, if that's even possible! (note: please dont send me to a psycho-therapist, its just a metaphore!).

My first recorded timing was during Siemens run back in September, but I did not managed to run with my own timing as my husband had  knee injury. So i waited for him, and we ran together. My timing was 1:42:

Second recorded timing was last week, during Putrajaya Night Run and i actually left my husband behind, since he said h was doing okay... I kinda want to see how fast I can run to complete the 10KM run. So, my timing wasnt that good.. 1:26:22 I guess.. cant remember. well, after my 8th kilometer that i regretted for not signing up for 5KM run! but I completed the run anayway, and its an achievement! Reebok Zig Nano. I love you too!!!! Nike Plus, i love you too!!!!!

My next run will be in December, Malakoff Run. Signed up for 12KM. not sure where i can get all the stamina. haha.. we'll see.. But Reebok Zig Nano, you truly have made a turn around in my life. I become more active, and healthy.. Thank you to Mr. Husband for encouraging me :) And many thx to Nike Plus. Haha.. here are some pictures for you to see.. Its fun.. you should try joining runs!



me & my husband :) <3

Husband being "poyo"

with my younger sister :)

Setting the nike plus programme on my Iphone4

Reebok Zig Nano

With the celebrity, Vanidah Imran at the Kepong Charity Run

Men's Health Run. My husband and Rashid Miau Miau

Me.. interframed.. hahaha..

Kliuc unity run. TQ reebok zig nano!

Me!! Ranked #39!!! Reebok Zig Nano again.. hahaha





Before running. I was excited!!!