The Reality of Living in Malaysia

No doubt Malaysia, my home country, born and breed, I am a Malaysian, yes I am proud to be one. I have been in down under for the past 6 years, I have build my life there and I am happy to be a permanent resident, but I guess Australia will always remain as my second home, unless in the near future, I will settle down and have my family, I can call down under my first home. The times when I missed home, I wish was back, I get all the attentions from my family and friends, feeling rich with the amount of AUD I have due to the high exchange rate, sleep in, food is always ready on the table, no commitments and burdens, and most important, I have so many friends to hang out and talk too. Life is never boring here, but life here is hectic!

However, I can't see myself living in Malaysia at the moment, I mean if I ever return here to start my life, I might need time to get use to the environment. I have only been driving for the past few days, and realised I can die of heart attack driving, because the drivers here are crazy! There are three things I realised about them, firstly, they NEVER use their signals when turning right or left, I would suggest the Malaysian cars not to have a signal in the cars, because they never use it! Secondly, the cars have to follow closely behind your bumper, a way of letting you know, you are driving too slow, get out of my way! Excuse me! Since when driving according to the speed limit is a crime, oh yeah I forgot, there is never a speed limit in Malaysia! Lastly, the drivers here use the honk more than their signals, so when you hear a horn, you have to look twice and see whether some idiots are trying to get pass you!

Another important issue concerned, will be the cost of living, everything are expensive, from food to clothing, cosmetics, shoes, toiletries, but the weird thing is, the salary package has barely increased over the past few years! How do people survive here? The starting pay is low, and everyone has to work their way up to at least reach RM3000 ( $1000), with 2 years experience, having to pay for car installments ( the prices of the car are very expensive!), shopping for work clothes, a shirt would average cost at least RM70 and above, shoes, cosmetics, and knowing my spending habits, I can never have enough to spend here. I just don't understand how they survive! The only reason I understand why I can buy things here without thinking twice, is because I am earning AUD, and with the strong exchange rate now, I feel is worth the value to buy, but if I was working here, I might not even consider buying anything.

One final concern would be the security, everywhere I go, everyone tell me, make sure you have your handbag close to you at all times, for example, when we are at a restaurant, we have to put our bags on our laps, to ensure the bag is safe, because putting it on the table or a chair next to us, would encourage people to steal from us. I can't eat or drink properly with the bag on my lap, it's so inconvenient but if I don't do so, I can have the risk of losing my bag! I am not encourage to wear any gold jewellery or items that might attract people to look, and when they look, I feel so uncomfortable. It's not safe to drive alone, to go out till late, or even to walk on the streets, because anything can happen at anytime. I feel safe when I am back in Australia, walking on the streets during wee hours were never a problem, having open bags without a zipper was never a security issue, this is the reason we are taxed so high because the government provides us with securities to ensure we are safe. The polices here are corrupted, they don't care about our securities and probably under paid to do their job!

The thing I miss here is the night life, there are so many cafes, pubs and clubs opened at the moment, anytime of the day, there are lots of people around and it makes me feel that I have a life. It feels good to catch up with old high school friends, getting to know how their life is going, what it would feel like if I was to settle down here for good. One thing I am sure, I can never leave work early, and might have to stay up late depending on the job I have, because everyone here have their dinner after 9 pm, it's sad, but they are used to it.

Sometimes, I feel I am in the middle of a crossroad, I don't know which path to take, and when I am at different places I feel different. Everyone wish they were in Australia and some are trying so hard to apply for permanent residency or working visa to live and work there. As for me, I am fortunate to have my permanent residency visa, and allows me to work and live there, to fly back and from Malaysia. I guess the grass is always greener on the other side, not until you have experience both world, then you will know what to choose. I miss Australia at the moment, I miss the relaxed life, the weather, I definitely don't miss the work! Work is something I am not looking forward to at the moment, it's hard when you have a holiday abroad, when everyday is a Sunday, but it's time I face reality. Stress, stress and more stress!

One week till I am leaving, part of me want to stay and leave at the same time. Is this normal?

Yen

When 2 become 1

It has been a week already since I touch down, and time do fly quickly when you are having a great time! I have too many pictures to post, but I will select some good ones to post. I attended my good friend's wedding last weekend, as a bride's maid, I had so much to prepare and do before and during the ceremony. I stayed at her place on a Friday night, having to wake up at 6 am the very next day, prepared difficult questions for the bridegroom, and to make sure we get the right amount of ''angpao'' from them :) After the tea ceremony, we travelled 3.5 hours to Kluang, another state situated at the South of Peninsula Malaysia. I have not been travelling interstate for a very long time, but I have to say, it does feel different in smaller towns, but it was a good catch up with everyone. It's weird how everyone knows everyone, and it's a small world, that people we knew by the name but whom we never thought we had a chance to meet, and this occasion had bring a lot of nice people together. I guess when u least expect, good things happen. I can say I enjoyed myself!

I am lack of sleep for these few days, and I am glad I can now get connected to the Internet, have my space to relax and no time commitments or sms and calls coming in every hour. I have another wedding dinner to attend this coming Saturday, and I am looking forward to meet my ex uni mates, have some drinks and be loud!

Please feel free to visit my flickr website for the wedding pictures! http://www.flickr.com/photos/10155261@N08/?saved=1

Cheers
Yen

Touch down

I have safely touch down, having a little jet lagged, and my flight experience was terrible. First to start off, my pre departure didn't go to well, had problem uploading songs into my Ipod, and did not go to yum cha at red emperor because time was running out! I arrived at the airport, and there was a long line for check in, apparently the flight was full! I got my sit next to an Aussie woman in her mid 40's, did not speak a single word, how rude.

We had a bad weather conditions yesterday during the flight, there were a few times we experienced some turbulence, and I hate it when this happen. I start to visualise all the bad sights of travelling on the air plane. anything can happen, for example, like a crash! My hands were sweaty, and my head was spinning, my heart was falling out, it's such a bad experience. Now, I still feel the turbulence feeling while I am typing this out. We touch downed on time, but the baggage collection was delayed due to technical problems, I had to wait for nearly more than half an hour to get my luggage. When I did, one of the locks on my bag were missing, I had a bad feeling someone might open my bag and steal my things, my heart was racing, and I quickly open it, and realised everything are still in place! Phew!

I guess the most important part, I get to see my family waiting for me with a big smile and hug, they had waited for nearly an hour, but everything is good :) Dad is getting a little old, he looks thin and he said is due to stress. Mum is nagging me as usual, about my hair, my food, you know the mum's routine speech! I still need sometime to get used to the environment, the weather is humid, but it's not as hot as I expected.

It's weird, but I miss Australia, I guess everyone goes through the mix feeling of being at 2 different places.

Cheers
Yen

Leaving in 3 hours

I am leaving for Malaysia in 3 hours time. I can't find my novels, which I intended to bring aboard the plane to read during my 8 hours flight back. Unfortunately, I can't find it in any of the boxes, there are all sealed and it's annoying! I have not updated my Ipod songs, the apple function is so not user friendly, now I can't decide whether I should go for a Ipod Nano Video. I am excited to be going back and having a holiday. I have finish packing EVERYTHING, except having to carry people's item, which will be putting more weight on to my bag, and for once I wish I can travel light. I am never going to tell everyone I am going back to Malaysia for holidays, when all these favours start coming up, and it's so hard not to say NO!

Important items I need to bring with me during my holidays:

• Camera, snap snap!
• Sun block ( strong sun everywhere)
• Shorts ( for comfort)
• Sunnies ( to protect my eyes)
• GUCCI Gold card (HAHAHHAHAH)
• Hair straightener ( I need it! )
• Most important- Arriving safely to see my family

Have a good time working everyone! I will update my trip with pictures and of course stay tune for the wedding pictures. Check my facebook out too!

Bon Voyage Australia

Yen

Last Day in Docklands

My days are up in Docklands, the next trip back from Malaysia, I will be in a new apartment, with different surroundings, on Collins Street. Although it's only 10 minutes walk from Docklands, living by the harbour and in the city is totally a different feeling and environment. If I have a choice I will want to live in Docklands, a quiet environment, great views facing the harbour, and the outdoor stunning swimming pool, I will surely miss this home. However, if I had to choose between Docklands or a home with my privacy and freedom, I am sure I will choose freedom. It's so good sharing with my sister, having to live with people close to you, and most importantly, having the freedom to do anything I want. Yes, I will choose freedom.

These 2 weeks had been really hectic with so much packing to do, but I had it all planned out, everyday I packed a little to ensure that everything falls into place before I leave this Saturday back to Malaysia for my holidays. I have not felt the excitement yet, I reckon it's because I am so exhausted from packing and worrying at the same time, I don't feel I am on my holidays yet. I had all my furniture shopping done at Ikea on Melbourne's Cup Day, a quiet day with no traffic on the streets and not having to queue, I am glad I managed to get everything done.

I think I might have to stop buying things, just anything! It's hard when it comes to packing personal belongings, so much to throw out, and it's such a waste but at the sane time I can't store so much at my new apartment. I had 3 bags of old clothing, bags and shoes to donate, gosh! It's hard to buy what you need and not what you want! I am still learning :)

2 days till I am leaving.

Yen feels tired
Yen feels too much to do yet so little time
Yen has not feel the excitement yet
Yen does not want to go to work already
Yen is looking forward to see her family
Yen first meal in Malaysia will be Nasi Lemak..yummmmmm

Yen wants to sleep, good night everyone!

A little respect

I wish you would give me a little respect on how I feel, think about my feelings and reasons before deciding on something. I wish you would stop pretending and acting like you would sacrifice for me, but then taking a risk to see whether I would give in. I hate you! It's all about you and your events and friends, different lifestyle, something different bullshit! Stop chasing the superficial sight of life and neglect how I feel. You get to every event you want to, I have never not say No to where you want to go, and for once today, I wish you could cancel your plans and accompany me and my friends for my event. Is it so hard to do so?

What is so big deal about Simon's house or comforting Jenny, and what is the point of saying you did include me but when I am not even close to anyone there, and telling me is part of our plan. It has always been you, you and you. You wanted to go, you wanted to be part of yourself, and I am so called in your picture is when you casually include me in your plans. Have you ever asked whether I wanted to go? Would I be comfortable going and do I have any plans? After so many arguments and bullshit, you still act and pretend to take your mobile to say ''oh yeah, I will cancel the plans to make you happy'', but you did not! It's all an act.

Is it so wrong for me to ask you to accompany on my day off, to do something with my friends that you said we boring, just before I leave for Malaysia? Am I asking for too much? At the end of the day, it's not about the respect anymore, you go further by pointing out all my flaws and then tell me how sometimes you cancel your plans for me without telling me. So what??!?!?! You could have let me know and not make it sound like I am the bitch now. It's all about you. All about your cool friends and events. All about you being famous. All about YOURSELF!

Yeah we have different lifestyles. I am the boring one staying at home doing nothing. You happy now I am at home while you are at your cool friends' place. I am feeling upset and disappointed because I can't have any respect from you as a partner. You ask your partner questions, and think about their feelings before doing it your way. If you think I am such a burden, I am fucking not coming back to Aus, and should just live my life in Malaysia. How is that? fuck the moving out plans!