Bye 2017

2017 passed by super fast, but I don't think I can go ahead and post anything related to 2018 without having a proper goodbye post for last year. 

So even though it is already April and nobody really cares,  here is a bunch of great stuff that happened last year!

1) Graduated

Law school was no joke.

In that 4 years of degree,  I thought of quitting probably about 50 times a year. 

And if finals was that month I would usually go through a minor depression and start googling things like "Fun Jobs To Do Without a Degree" and then end up with suggestions about leading a career as a drug dealer or something. 

That won't really suit my Muslim lifestyle so then I tried to picture  life as a university drop out who would then make this grand pitch and create her own ciplak version of Facebook.

Then I remember that I can barely use Microsoft Excel let alone code, so that was that. 

Granted, it wasn't Harvard but it definitely wasn't as simple as " read, memorize and puke it out " like all the aunties kept telling me after high school. 

That day ( think it was in April) my parents came and all of my wonderful friends too! 

I still have the deflated balloons and dead flowers much to my mum's dismay.

What can I say, I'm  a horder sentimental.

Me trying to be Hermione Granger

Anyway, despite the struggles, university was definitely fun. Mostly because of the people and the lack of responsibility of having to make money all the time.

2) Prison Programme

In order  to get called to the Bar, you have to do some pro bono work for a few months. Some didn't like it, (haha don't lie)  while others looked forward to it.

I was the latter.  

I joined the Prison Programme which basically allowed us to go to prisons and give the prisoners who can't afford lawyers some legal advice. 

At first I liked it for purely selfish reasons, like being able to get away from the office once a week and end early. However, once the programme started, my perspective changed and it became slightly more  than that.

A few of the team members! 

We mostly dealt with those with minor offences, but it was really memorable and eye opening because I think that was one of the few times where I felt like I was actually making a tiny bit of difference. 

Plus since I was in a firm dealing with civil litigation, I never thought I would get a chance to enter a prison before this ( except that one time when I almost strangled my sister to death a few years back).

3) Called to the Bar

Fast forward a couple of months later, I got called to the Bar. 

I could've chosen better pants but no.

I have so many things to say about my experience chambering, and the whole process of getting called to the Bar but not in this post. Maybe in the future. 

I thought that day was going to be an emotional one, but it was pretty chill. Mainly it was because I was the 12th person to get called and the fact that we were all squeezed together in that one small bench was making me somewhat antsy.

It was memorable though. Plus it marked the first day of my freedom!

3) Travelling

So the fun begins! I saved up most of my chambering allowances for this much awaited trip. Pretty much been looking forward to this vacation ever since my university days!

(a) Norwich

Stayed at my sister's place so we were able to save on accomodation.

My mum and I got really fit (well,by our definition) during our stay there because we walked literally everywhere. From the city centre, to my sister's university, to the city's festivals and we did that everyday for almost 2 weeks, just exploring everything by foot.

Plus halal meat was expensive and had to be ordered online so our food mostly consists of 80% vegetables and the rest was pasta and salmon. 

I felt like one of those health gurus on Youtube you know. All vegetables and positive thinking and animal loving and erm..yoga. 

It was all in my head but still. 

Regular picnic spot.

It was really cold there. 

One day I forgot to wear my thermal wear ( the ones from Uniqlo are just amazing) and I started shivering really bad and I couldn't think so my mum had to poke me with her pen a couple of times just to make sure my pain receptors were still functioning. 

I would go around skipping about merrily  until I realised this is where the dogs peed

Secret garden!! Nobody was around. So magical. Almost scary.

(b) Paris

The Eiffle Tower was great and all but Disneyland was like....dayum.

 I cried.

You can't see this but my eyes were glistening with tears of joy. Really.

For once, I didn't bother much with my Go Pro because I wanted to run around and be everywhere and experience everything all at once.

The minute I entered the magical kingdom of Disney, their songs were playing from the speakers and all of a sudden I wasn't the 24 year old Aifa who sat through client  meetings and used words like due diligence (okay not really) no. 

I became a hyper 12 year old who would sneak her way through the crowd with this mad glint in her eyes and would stop at nothing until I reached my goal. 

The Castle. (that was the goal).

We stayed till midnight which was when they had the fireworks and light shows.

At the end of that day, I was a changed woman. 

(c) Brighton

After Paris we got back to London and I separated from my mum and sisters and met up with Binxy!

Had a bit of a scare that night we met up because  there was a rumor that somebody got stabbed or a shooting was going on (either one, can't remember) in central London so that obviously freaked my mum out because they were going back to Norwich and we were heading off somewhere else.

Thank God it was not true. 

I've never had to deal with that sort of fear in Malaysia before so that was scary.

We spent a day in London and then the next day took the train to Brighton!

You will notice a change in the quality of pictures from now on because they were mostly taken by Binxy with her new fabulous handphone woots woots!

It was super windy and my sensitive skin was screaming in pain but all I felt was pure joy

Had the famous fish and chips with salt and vinegar! Yums!

The last stop before taking the trip back home was Snooper's Paradise which is an amazing place where they sold vintage stuff and lots of second hand goodies!

You could find just about everything there! The kind of place where you would find Annabelle type dolls you know.

We also found an old vintage photo booth! You know like the ones in the movies where the couple would go in and make out and then the flash would go off and somebody would steal the photo strips from outside??

Yes that one!!

(d) Germany

Here we met up with Janice and it was his turn to show us around! Last time in Penang he was the blur tourist but this time it was our turn.

The first night there Janice brought us to a Christmas Market! 

Everyone was pretty much drinking beer and having a old good chat in the super cold weather which kind of reminds me of our mamak culture in Malaysia! Well, minus the cold and alcohol haha.

We didn't want to miss out on the fun so he got us hot chocolates instead haha!

(i)  Neuschwanstein Castle 

 Inspiration for the Sleeping Beauty Castle!

Touched snow for the very first time. No words. Just emotions. 

Janiceeee!

(ii) Rothenburg

The most beautiful medieval town ever! It was like being in another time. 

Before it started snowing

Overall it was an amazing trip.

 So amazing that I didn't feel particularly sad when  we boarded the plane home. Mostly because I felt satisfied being able to do so many things and having the luxury of time to truly experience and savour each moment.

2017 was a blast with the first half being somewhat depressing and the second half being all around amazing.

I know I live a pretty blessed life and not once will I take it for granted. (This is more like a reminder to myself haha)

Okay bye.

Ps. 2018 is scary but it is okay for I bought cupcakes. 

Sponge

I feel like a sponge.

An emotional sponge.

Who obviously can't draw 

Turning 24

Turning 24 was rather awesome. With a massive thanks to my friends of course.

1) Thank you Juliekins

About a month (more or less) before my birthday, Juliekins gave Binxy and I an early birthday celebration!

 She was heading to the land of Donald Trump and therefore would not be around for both of our birthdays .

So thoughtful of her to celebrate with us early!

The funny thing is, I almost cancelled on meeting up with them that night and was wondering why she was being so persistent in giving several suspicious suggestions for an alternative plan that would get us to come.

 I remember thinking, dayum.

 She must really miss us eh!! 

She finally had to confess that she bought us both cupcakes and balloons !

Probably should have edited my face differently. Now I look like a balloon there as well.

She also gave each of us handwritten cards which was suppose to be opened on our birthdays.

But I am not capable of waiting that long ok!

I opened it 2 days before my birthday (which in my opinion is a great feat already)

Poor Juliekins always having to suffer alone since forever because both of  our birthdays are so close to each other!

We love you bud hehe!! 

2) Thank you Binxy

About a week after my actual birthday, Binxy brought me to this amazing airbnb somewhere in Empire Damansara for a weekend getaway!

The apartment we stayed in had this breathtaking view.

Well, actually the view was just the buildings below, but since we were so high up, everything looked simply majestic to me!

 It was like being in our very own mini penthouse! 

She also got me fairy wings because I never got to be a fairy

Binxy came prepared.

She cooked us macaroni and cheese to be heated for dinner that night, ( which tasted amazing I think I like it more than Kenny Roger's one yes I said it) and brought ingredients for us to make pancakes with in the morning!

With the pots and pans and everything!

It has always been a dream of mine to have my own tiny apartment and to bring friends over to cook for them ( in that dream I would somehow be a fabulous cook) and thanks to her I got to do just that! 

The only thing missing from that staycation was Juliekins really!

I love cosy little reading corners man

The plan was to have a  movie night, but like most awesome sleepovers we ended up sitting on the couch admiring the view and talking instead.

 Halfway through I was like...

"Wouldn't it be nice to have a date looking at the view like this with our boyfriends one day?"

"Yeah...Eh husband la. Better." 

(Always keeping it halal that girl, very good)

And then we both continued on scarfing down our potato chips. 

3) Thank you members of the Mark

Little did I know, that night itself the boys were baking a cake at Founga's house.

 They asked Binxy for ideas on what to draw on the cake ( I saw a whatsaap from Chief for Binxy but was too high on chips and macaroni to be suspicious) and she came up with this picture of this really weird cat with fangs.

Apparently, pada suatu masa dahulu, I doodled the same drawing on Binxy's arm in high school! She kept the picture in her blog and remembered!

Like how freaking thoughtful are my friends right? Very! 

They dropped it off at my house (surprisingly mama was able to keep it a secret and didn't tell me anything about it at all like waaah apakah) and I found it in the fridge the next day.

Freaking adorable I mean yeah la
  technically I AM the original artist bahaha

It was suppose to be a red velvet cake but I think it tasted like cracker cakes. I don't know if that is a thing but it should be!

Of course I didn't want to be rude and eat it all by myself so the next day we shared the gloriously yummy cake.

4) Terima kasih raykat jelata

I was all happy and ready to move on and live my life as a 24 year old human being when suddenly a week after that we ended up going to this really nice thai restaurant and they decided to pay for me so I was left feeling guilty as hell.

Apparently before the cake thing, they planned a birthday dinner for me but somehow it got pushed back but the plan was left hanging so they decided to unhang it and I felt really guilty I should've gone and hang myself but that would be rather ironic so I didn't.

I'm not particularly good with words of affection so I'll skip that. But in all seriousness though...

 I really don't know what I did to deserve friends like them. 

Thank you so much you guys!

Also for next year I've always wanted a private jet 

I'm going to die

The idea of dying fascinates me.

I was sitting outside in the garden the other day watching my fat tubby cat trying to catch a squirrel and failing miserably (because it was too fat) and then I remembered my grandpa.

How he was when he was alive and how he was before he passed away.

Two completely different human beings.

One was caring, dependable and had more discipline than a Japanese soldier. 

A person who would go out of his way to find me a sturdy piece of wood and some ropes to make me a swing just because I wanted to feel like ;

 "perempuan main buaian dalam cerita bawang merah bawang putih tu".

The other one was a person who couldn't drink a single drop of water, a person who was too tired to carry himself up to go and pee or to pray. A person who would look at me and not even realize that I was his granddaughter. ( And I'm like his favorite okay! sheesh)

When he was alive and healthy, I would sit next to him on the couch and he would ask me to list down the pillars of Islam and I would just mutter a few to keep him entertained before slowly easing myself away from the conversation just so I could focus on what Meredith was doing in the latest episode of Grey's Anatomy.

Even though he could tell that I didn't have any interest in hearing what he wanted to say (obviously I was a huge fan of the show and probably part Satan ) he kept on talking anyways. Mainly because he enjoyed chatting and also because he knew I would listen despite giving the less than enthusiastic response.

My grandpa would tell me how one day we would all die and end up in the dark grave all alone with only our deeds to accompany us.(That's how we Muslims roll)

 He would wonder out loud about what the afterlife would really be like and he would always end his one way chatter with the same thing.

He felt scared.

He was scared of what will happen after he dies. He was scared that his deeds will not be enough.

And now he is dead.

And one day I will die too. 

It's so fascinating to me.

I can't freeze myself.
 I can't send myself to Mars like the NASA experiment.
I can't break my soul into tiny little pieces and make Hocruxes and hide myself so Harry Potter can't find me.
 I can't pay people to keep me alive artificially forever and ever there is NO POSSIBLE WAY. (try and google this crap up, you will be disappointed)

Someday, a bunch of ladies will be washing me one final time, wrap me up in white cloth and place me in front of people who will then pray for me.

Someday a group of men will lower my neatly wrapped body in the ground, cover me up in soil and then I'll be buried in there forever and my mum won't be able to save me.

My grandpa was a religious person who would never intentionally miss a prayer. He was brave and kind and giving and yet he was scared to face death.

Where the heck does that leave me

Engagement and Port Dickson

It finally happened.

The moment we were giggling about in between classes in high school. That one topic occasionally creeping  into our conversations in the car on the way back from what used to be our single ladies mamak sessions.

My best friend got engaged!

Yup. Our dear old Juliekins scored her dream guy and is now officially the fabulous fiance of Mr. Lootify!

Looking like a Princess!

Aww

Pictures taken by Haniff Hazim Photography. 

A week after the engagement Binxy and I decided to kidnap Juliekins for our own mini vacation. 

It was to celebrate the engagement, her belated birthday, passing her finals and becoming a doctor, the ending of my chambering period in the legal firm (yes I'm done!) and to rescue Binxy out of her working slump.

We told her we were taking her to Terengganu for a trip to be one with nature and to eat Budu and it was going to be a long drive.

We lied. 

We brought her to Port Dickson instead.

We planned this trip a long time ago and when it finally arrived, it was safe to say that Binxy and I were extremely excited.

We kept on feeding lies to her and told her we were taking her to this fabulous glamping site with a lazy river and fancy tents with fairylights. 

It was kind of funny because she hates camping and anything to do with fluttering insects or nature.

To make it seem more believable we assured her that it would be an acceptable glamping site which would suit her style, with proper toilets , one where she wouldn't have to dig out a hole in the ground to shit in.

I look pregnant here but that is also okay.

It was really hot.

I guess we got a little caught up with our lies and the plan sort of backfired because when we arrived at the actual surprise destination which was Lexis Hibiscus in Port Dickson, she looked rather disappointed for a moment upon realizing that we were not going glamping afterall. 

HAHA.

Sorry bud!

That aside,the hotel was amazing!

I've been to Grand Lexis before which was also in Port Dickson and I personally thought that was  rather neat with the private pool and the set up of the chalets making the guests feel like we were part of a private beach community.

Lexis Hibiscus was just as breathtaking!

The room we got had two huge beds which was hilarious because the three of us could fit quite comfortably on just one bed if we wanted to but hey good for us. 

There was also a mini pool and a freaking sauna!!

 Jakun mode onz la what else.

Okay I should probably have taken a picture before we messed the place up eh.

Yeah I know, the pool was really tiny and the water was probably up to my waist and we even started laughing when we first arrived looking at the mere cute little size of it, but it was super fun regardless and was definitely big enough for three girls to at least rotate around with the floaties.

Unfortunately, we were unable to stay in the chalets on the beach but it turns out to be for the better because we got a room on the tenth (or eleventh) floor and it was overlooking the sea and we were able to see the formation of the hibiscus made from all of the chalets below.

I should really learn how to take better pictures

It was beautiful especially at night!

It felt like Vegas.

That evening we went to the market about 10 minutes away and bought yummy food to bring back to the hotel for dinner.

Tasted like childhood.

 All and all it was an extremely enjoyable trip. I'm so glad we were able to have that one ultimate sleepover.

It felt like I was back in high school, dancing away to good music, making lame jokes and eating good food with not much to worry about. I definitely miss that.

So extremely blessed :)

Ps. Congrats again Juliekins Bud!

Penang Trip

A few months back we made a spontaneous trip to Penang!

Binxy wanted to show her old friend Lenno around Malaysia and I needed an excuse to fly off to another state, so a trip was planned (all by Binxy. I was merely there for emotional support) and off we went!

Binxy, Lenno and Janice (fake names because why not)  rented a car and left earlier on Friday and I took the plane that night and met them at the airport because poor old me needed to work during the day.

We stayed at this reasonably priced hotel which later on became a problem because they had lousy management system and tried to get us to pay more than what was agreed.

 I can't remember the name of the hotel and for good reason because  we are not planning to ever go there again. 

Future customers of the Lousy Hotel do not fear though! 

Janice constructed a rather long and on point review about the hotel so if you are a responsible person who would read the reviews before booking cheap but suspicious looking hotels then you are safe.

The trip was suppose to be a short weekend vacation so we were determined to squeeze in as many food and places as we could.

Anyway, here are some of the places we went!

1. Penang Hill

Beautiful place located in Air Itam about 6 kilometres west of the city centre of George Town (according to Wikipedia haha). 

The boys wanted to hike all the way up whereas Binxy and I well,  we preferred the good ol' choo choo train. 

Long story short since it was getting a bit late to hike up we decided to take the train hehe.

That was probably my third time going to Penang Hill but it was my first time being there at night. If you ever feel like making a trip there I would definitely recommend going at night. 

You can patiently wait for the sun to go down and for darkness to slowly creep through the sky and donate your blood to some hungry Penang mosquitoes all at once.

Also as a bonus, look at the magical view!

Before the sun went down, we also saw a sign which says Monkey Cups a few kilometres away. 

So we got all excited and thought it would be an actual monkey probably playing with a cup or something along those lines only to realize a few minutes too late that Monkey Cups are actually periuk kera as in ...

This

Oh well.

2) Snake Temple

Left pretty quickly when we saw snakes hanging about freely on branches just above our heads. 

Before the horror

3) Clan Jetty ( I think)

We went to this market on this jetty thing but I can't remember the name of the place so I'm just going to assume it is Clan Jetty.

Interesting market with cute little souvenirs. 

I would have enjoyed it a bit more if the weather wasn't excruciatingly hot. 

But it was, and at one point I couldn't even think or see clearly anymore because I was just concentrating hard on how not to melt.

You would think after living in Malaysia with our sunny weather my whole life I would get used to the heat right. Well nope. Not the Penang jetty heat anyways.

Heat aside, we still managed to place our assess on the frying ground long enough to take a decent picture thanks to Binxy's persuasive skills hee.

4) Batu Feringghi Beach

We got to build sand castles which I like. 

And then they wanted to play card games which I didn't like. Haha..

5) Kek Lok Si 

Was definitely worth my money.

It was a huge temple with so many different parts to explore and you get to climb all the way up to the towers and just take in all the different details of the temple's design.

Also, at the bottom part of the entrance you get to buy kangkung and feed the turtles!! 

No monkey cups so this will do

We managed to squeeze in a lot of places and tried loads of yummy food during that short trip. But uploading the pictures I got on my Go Pro takes effort which is too much to ask for on a Sunday night. 

Besides, I think I've spammed enough for now.

All in all it was a really fun trip! I'm so happy and  thankful for mini getaways and new friends. I want to hug my cats now.

Night!