It’s been a while since the last update. Life has been same old same old, and time passes really fast. It’s already Q3 and I’ve recently completed a year in my current company – JUST LIKE THAT. To think that it was an impossible feat for my first three real jobs, and I thought I had some serious problems.

A major milestone is that I am now a house owner!

But it’s still empty! Like my CPF! YAY!

Hahahaha. Being an adult sucks.. but also exciting at the same time where Loti and I run around like monkeys trying to figure out this whole new renovation thingy together. Who ask us gei kiang wanna do everything ourselves. (Trust me, it was a long tussle before deciding to ditch the idea of hiring an interior designer.)

Pokémon Go is taking over the world by storm. Singaporeans have gone mad. I’ve never seen so many people roaming the outdoors before, and the sight is really quite phenomenal. I’m guilty as charged, but I’m not super siao over it – level 10 only.

Nothing beats the good old days Pokémon Blue days where bro and I turned to the PC emulator version after mum confiscated our Game Boys. (OH BTW, WHAT AN OLD SCHOOL NERDY PHOTO OF US THAT MY COUSIN DUG OUT AND POSTED ON FACEBOOK! :O)

Ya, I’ve finally gotten over the new fugly Instagram logo and updated my app. They ripped off the stories thing from Snapchat, like whuuuuttttt. I don’t use any of these stories thing ‘cos I refuse to conform to the trend my Snap only has two friends T_T hahahah. And Instagram stories are kinda weird when the audience is so random. It’s for extreme extroverts really – I prefer to hide behind the screen and stalk them hahaha. With all these new instant updating on-the-go technologies, who still blogs? I’m so passé LOL.

Another no link thought. Life is really full of surprises. Life is short.

Life has you running around in circles chasing after things that I don’t know for what sometimes.

In the end, does it even matter?

Back to a hamster ball life where it’s work eat sleep repeat. It has only been slightly more than a month of full-time work and I feel jaded already. Was discussing with friends today what is our ideal age to retire and my answer was to “semi-retire” at the age of 35, by finding a job where I only have to work 2 – 3 days per week (no idea what that is, barista maybe?) and do freelance work from home. I know this totally sounds like what a spoilt brat would say but hey, this goal will never involve living off anyone but myself.

I fianlly cleared all my trip photos and videos (even the Korea one which dragged on for almost a year) YAY! I have a lot more to update on this space but time is forever not on my side. Almost every other thing or person requires my immediate attention and sometimes I do really feel drowned. In two weeks’, I’ll be gone to Vietnam and Laos for 22 days. It will be my first actual backpacking trip (with an actual backpack) and I’m really looking forward to it. Fingers crossed on the safety and crockoaches though.

Okay I’m on a bus now and my fingers are freezing and eyes are drying up (thanks haze). Till my next update, adios!

Some time last year, Loti and I decided to go on a one-month trip. When air tickets went on sale, we instantly hit on the book button, and there we were – Taiwan in 35 days. At that point in time, I had no thoughts on consequences despite having just converted to full-time. I overheard and assumed that there was something called an “unpaid leave,” and even if there isn’t, the most I quit my job lor. I was quite an unhappy lone ranger in my company anyways.

Moving forward to the beginning of 2013, after being inspired by my superior, I set my heart to change for the better. With a new attitude, I was given a month’s time to prove myself. I started opening up to people around me and soon, colleagues turned into friends (at least for me). These people suddenly became my motivation to go work everyday. A happier soul also translates into greater productivity, and I didn’t mind giving more or doing extra stuffs. So, one month later, I got confirmed. YAY!

Just when all is good and well, my worst nightmare came true. “Unpaid leave” does not exist, unless it was communicated way beforehand and should be for a super extremely very good reason. Dang! How liddat. I’ve already came out with a perfect plan for the whole trip and made deposits for most of the accommodations.

Much as I want the best of both worlds, reality only left me with two choices:

1. Utilise my leave for the entire year and shorten the trip to two weeks.
2. Resign.

If you see the second option and go like, “HUHHHH! SIAO AHHH!” Then, ya, I think I siao liao. ‘Cos I chose 2, with my heart (and not my brain).

I know it sounds foolish, to sacrifice my career just for a vacation. “Go two weeks not enough meh?” Enough is enough, but that defeats the entire purpose of the one-month idea. These 35 days mean more than a mere vacation to me. It’s about living independently outside my comfort zone with a possible life partner; it’s about experiencing a different kind of traveling pace; it’s maybe even about migration in the future. Also, if we don’t do it now, once Loti starts working, we’d probably never get a chance to travel for 35 days straight, at least not in the next five years. And it’ll get even harder when you grow older (more responsibilities, more loans, less guts, less energy, etc).

Today, 8 March 2013, the go-getter in me went against all advises to give up my job over a 35-day Taiwan trip. Ten years down the road, I don’t know if I’d look back with regret or rejoice. But whatever it is, the trip (this coming June) better be DAMN AWESOME! Meanwhile, my promise to myself is that I will not give anything lesser at work just because my intents of quitting are made.

(Photo source: Pinterest. Quote: Island Company.)

Update:

After leaving Singapore for a month, I’ve made a comeback and am now back to working. It wasn’t easy trying to re-enter the same office doors, but I am definitely thankful.