Happy New Year!!!

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Day 1 climbing site
Originally uploaded by Minas Morgul.

Dear TomHa,
I know I know... it's a little late, I know... but hey, there's still 355 more days to be even more happy! So, Happy 2008 to all readers of this pitifully ill maintained blog. Thank you guys and girls for all of your continual support. Really appreciate it.

So 2007 had passed. Would say that it felt like a really short year. For one, Mohan was tucked nicely in some god forsaken US place, out of range to disturb us, and then, he is back and disturbing us, with a newly grown stash of beard just under the lips, like some Dracula thing. Eeewww...

Lol...

This year, I do not suppose that I would commit myself to some lousy resolutions that I would never keep anyway. Neither would I do any reflections of the year that passed. I do not really mean all of them anyway. Hence, this blog would only detail some of my recollections of the past year and some projections into the future.

Well, 2007 was a year when I finally sat down and learn Japanese really seriously. For one, I had gotten to a level where I can actually eavesdrop and understand some Japanese conversations in Kinokuniya. To add to that, I even went to Japan with the Indian and Malay and spoke with those local Japanese! Woohoo! Asking for directions, asking about the weather, and to the best of my ability, order the most halal thing that the Japanese cuisines can offer! All these things just fill me with so much pride and satisfaction that are pretty different from climbing and reaching the goal. Of course, trekking in Hokkaido was fun. Cooking and trekking with nothing but a few pages of Lonely Planet's Hiking in Japan. Add to this, the typhon and the earthquake in Niigata that spoiled loads of our original plans. Way Cool! Arguably one of the best trips I had ever gone to.

Academically wise, there wasn't much improvement as I am still the slack like no one;s business student who do not really care what come out of my University education as the dust had pretty much settled on what I would be getting at the end of it. So, ya, nothing much to talk about. Except maybe that I noticed this girl in my robotics lecture last semester and she is really cute. Short straight hair and very demurely poised. But the damn thing is her boyfriend never seem to leave her alone, attending the robotics lecture even when he is a chem engin student. What dedicated love. I was left with no chance. But then again, so what if there was a chance??

As I walked around school, aimless and nothing much else to do except to go to my lab to watch more youtube and crunchyroll and all sorts of streaming nonsense, I started to think of many more excuse on why I am single. At the end of the day, I chose 2 which like suits me the best.

1. I am still a very selfish, self-centred guy who would not put my partner's interest on top of mine. So unless I can correct this character flaw of my, better don't cause any trouble.

2. No one wants me.

2. seemed like the better explanation, as some people might want to point out. lol

Then at the end of the year, I followed Kim Boon, together with Weisheng and Shuangru to Sichuan and did some ice climbing. The climb was very relax, but very enriching. I learnt loads of technical skills, which, I think improved my climbing skills a lot. My climbing improved, at least I think. No longer falling like no one's business.

Well, there are still loads of things to write about, but I am just plain lazy, so until next time, and
Happy 2008!

oh before i forget, do check out my flickr page for some of my china photos!