Alia Transformation Programme on Day 3

I've been walking a lot in London and so, you'd imagine that I've lost a bit of weight. I'm not complaining, but I think it's because of those walks, I'm eating a lot more here! Aiyo, I think I've grown bigger now. Today was just a whole entire day spent at Oxford and I did nothing but read. Binge. Read somemore. Walk a bit. Eat somemore.

Wait, Bicester Village I mean. It seems to be mum and dad's favourite place after Portsmouth Harbour, but I really don't find all that much joy there anymore. Perhaps probably because I'm a student back again now. So, naturally you don't see yourself stepping into Prada, Ferragamo, YSL, Jimmy Choo and the likes, well at least I don't. Ask me again when I resume work next year :P Aiman kept insisting that I get myself something in his attempt to transform me into an 'adult'. Alia Transformation Programme he calls it. I really just ended up memorizing the map!

Wearing Adidas sport shoes around is not considered being an adult to him.

The last time I came here was when I took my compulsory leave from work to spend my birthday in London last year. That time, I was working. So I splurged.

I love though seeing mum and dad walking in there knowing what to look at and having the urge to buy. I was just being a student, walking up and down, in and out and ended up not buying anything BUT FOOD!

I was so excited to see the word 'Malaysian', but then..it's chicken. Not halal. 

*cries a river*

Topsie Turvy

I can pick out the pounds and pence without looking but not our own Malaysian coins. Daddy was not impressed especially for someone who is so-in-love with Malaysia! But seriously, ever since we changed to the new coins, I cannot pay for my purchases without checking the coins at least twice. Makes me feel like a tourist in my own country.

Dislike.

But you know what? It's Merdeka in Malaysia and sadly, I'm in London. On Merdeka day is THE day that I have a whole day induction at Imperial. For you Malaysia, I shall make it a point to make sure that I'll behave and carry Malaysia's name well throughout my induction tomorrow! it's the least that I could do. Happy 55 darling!

*switches on Tanggal 31, bulan lapan lima puluh tujuh in the house*

London Tour on Day 2

Like getting behind the wheels after a long time of not driving, that's exactly what we did today! Familiarised ourselves again with what used to be my second home :) Of course this only worked as a normal oyster since it has already expired and the guy at the counter did not believe that the girl in the picture used to be me. All blonde and glam. Haha!

Anyway, being a foodie that I am, first stop was the food halls, whilst mum and dad went shopping! I mean, I have a year to shop, so clearly I was not too bothered to buy everything that I wanted! However....Lo and behold, I found them Vitamin Waters! Life is all good now! Yeah, if I drink them enough, I believe these Vitamin liquids will help me through Masters alright, try it :P

Whilst I busy stocked my system up with liquid and enjoyed the very breezy London weather (cold and chilly in between, do not be fooled!) we actually finished walking from one end to the other on Oxford Street before we decided to have lunch at Tuk Din. Oh God, the satay pieces at Tuk Din is simply ah-maaaa-zing ok! We finished it too quickly, I only managed this. So jee-double-ooo-dee-gooood!

Walks and food and drinks and more shops, the best  random thing I did today was leaving mum and dad to shop somemore whilst I took a tube ride to Uni and explored it! Ahhh! So lawa, and seniors I randomly bumped into were so friendly. Walked around Uni like a jakun tourist really and like there was nobody watching. Loved the lil cafes and the fact that Hyde Park is just a 5 minutes walk away :)

I think I'm in love :)

Came home in time to avoid the transport disruptions. Paralympics opening at Stratford East London is tonight! Go Team Malaysia!!! 

Different kinda familiarity on Day 1

I'm finally home! In London.

Everything suddenly seemed so familiar when I stepped out of the airport this morning. From the smell of the coffee to the cheerfulness of the airport staff and then the very chirpy taxi ride back to the house, the roads, the shops. Everything. The taxi driver was so impressed that I knew where the address I gave him was going to. It's as if he did not need his GPS. Well at least until he found out that I did my Undergraduate in london a few years back.

At the immigration, I was interviewed because they thought I was also an undergrad coming to London to do my first degree. Afterwards, when I went to the Bank, the officer was shocked that I am here to do my Masters and have previously worked back home. I need to do something about how-I-look before class starts next week. ASAP!

Feels rather different this time. Maybe because I'm not staying in halls, but instead in a house too comfortable for me to realize that the Firm has sent me here to bring back a scroll. We cleaned up the house like crazy today! I surely miss the warmth that you get when you enter shops in London! "Hello love! Did you just get in this morning?", "You look very young to be doing Masters", "Oh my, Imperial! Do you know that that is one of the top Universities in the world?", "Let me get your phone sorted for you sweetie. Hang on with me a minute, I will be right back in a flash".

As much as I love it here, I think I can do with the sun back home. It was scorching hot today! Mama said it's the kinda sun that will make you tan. She shouldn't! I went straight to stock up on my (all time favourite) Alpro Soya from the supermarket. So panas, I'm not joking!

All in all, everything is falling into place, InsyaAllah :) In the meantime, I shall look forward to buy them fresh soft baguettes from food halls every single day. My favourite part when I'm in London really. Choosing bread. Yums!!

First surprise in London!

Oh my god!

It has only been a few hours since I landed at Heathrow and ooh lala! Mr delivery man surprised me with an amazingly beautiful sweet surprise from my better half, delivered at my doorstep, MasyaAllah! This boy is such a charmer la, he even knows to say hi to mama and daddy :) (ASJ does that all the time when he knows mum and dad are with me!). Homesick now.

Time difference can be such a pain. When I'm awake, he's asleep. When he's awake, I'm asleep. But best of all is when he becomes a Superman and makes my day even when he is miles and miles and continents away.

I'm such a lucky girl :)

Did so many things today, but right now....I'm so (happily) jetlagged. 

#CountdownToUni - Hello London

Today is THE day.

The day I start on a new adventure. The day I switch from working at my designated desk developing products in the Bank, to starting my sabbatical leave and becoming the Bank's scholar. The day I am filled with a lot of pressure to fill up that big (expectation) shoe the firm has put on me. The day I pack my life abroad for the next more-than-a-year. The day I start counting down days till I come home for Winter. The day I start LDR with my better half.

The day I start living another dream. A dream I once wished for.

To experience and be accepted into Imperial College.

Bismillahhirrahmanirrahim, may He protect and help me through it, to have the strength to strive, to not disappoint and to never forget the more important things in life, InsyaAllah. Amin :)

Final push

If there is one  two things that I am gonna miss when I am in London is are Malaysia's good food and sunny sunshine sun. So this weekend was a quick getaway to Penang Island to stock up the body with all that they have!

Nasi kandar, best cendol in town, apam, laksa asam, rojak, roti canai, ermmm McDonald's, chicken chop. More nasi kandar. Haha! Who are we kidding, McDonald's is something that I can't easily eat either in london.

The beach. The night walks. The sun. The sand. The salt water.

The random movie outing. The random movie nights in.

Best of all, with an amazing company. I'm gonna miss this, oh god what did I sign up for.

*CRIES*

ProjectGreenFrame

Ambition: To witness a miracle.

New discoveries are the best when you're in the midst of completing a supposedly-happy project. No matter what, it pushes you to complete it because you want to see that miracle (you've got pictured in your head) at the end of it.

Now that it has been executed, it feels easier to rationalize matters with the system :) Just a few days till the flight that will start everything back at square 1. It may be more than I can take, but it's gonna be great!

New Toy for Raya

You don't know whether it's your service to the Bank, for being the 'face' on the advertisements or that you just work for the best firm ever.

However, I (definitely) am not complaining for the new toy I got from them! Thanks boss!

'Rezeki puasa' or 'materialized duit raya'?

Anyway, SELAMAT HARI RAYA to all those celebrating Eid!
*swipes finger*

I want to marry someone like him

It's official! Malaysia is celebrating Raya tomorrow!! Alhamdulillah for yet another great Ramadhan this year. May it not be the last one, InsyaAllah :)

Selamat Hari Raya guys! Maaf zahir dan batin okay for all the wrongdoings. We're going green this year! :)

This year, it's not JUST about Raya, but it is also the day, a man so important in my life retires. I have never met a great idol like him, so respectable, so successful yet so humble. If there is one person I have so much respect for is Daddy. A man with little words and an intelligence like no other!

This is one person who has all the patience in the world like nobody else! It's unbelievable! One, when I was younger, would make sure the water running from the tap was warm before he undress me and wait for me to finish showering (when I get out of the bathroom, my uniform will already be laid down on the bed) before accompanying me till I leave for school. When he comes by to fetch me from school, there will never be a day that goes by when the doesn't wait by the gate to carry my school bag all the way to the car and afterwards accompany me to do my homework till bedtime.

At work, he is a person of great charisma, so successful, so loved by his students and patients but yet so modest. A dentist/lecturer so loyal to his one and only institution from the day he graduated, continuously sharing knowledge with his students till he retired. At home, he's a buddy who'd make me laugh, a father with the greatest most rational advise and as a whole, an amazing father to me. A loving husband goes without saying. MasyaAllah. There is so much to learn from this man and I can only pray everyday that Allah will let me marry someone just like him, Amin!

He who has never raised his voice, he who brings laughter to the family, he who is very forgiving, he who effortlessly brings joy and he who cares for the family like I can only wish I'd be half as great as he is when I have my own family. Now that I'm big, he'd come shopping with me and he still sings like how he used to sing to me since I was little.

So indenial he said, "I have to continue working la. At least till I marry you off". In actual fact, he's just that caring and also... a workaholic. Hmmph.

Thank you for being such a perfect role model! Happy birthday Papa, I love you!

Power of the odds

During Ramadhan, most of us will, with great extra effort pray to Him to guide us to find malam Lailatul Qadr on the last 10 days. I must say this year has been a bit different as I was released off work to spend the Ramadhan with my family at home before the Firm sends me abroad to pursue my Masters.

It is no doubt that we need to continue seeking for Lailatul Qadr, but it has been said that it usually falls on a malam ganjil. Malam 21, 23, 25, 27. Last night was malam 27, so mama, daddy and I did our usual solat tasbih, solat taubat, solat tahajjud and solat hajat throughout the night till just before sahur. 

MasyaAllah, today the weather has been so pleasant, it feels so serene and the day has been very cool. It's now passed Zohor and the sun is still not out! :) I felt the same feeling and experienced the same sort of weather after malam 21 on Saturday. Considering Aiman and I came home late that night, we had all the energy to stay up to perform our prayers! Aiman even got a random call at 3 am, before we both woke up at 4 to perform our tahajjud prayers and then had our sahur at McDonalds.

That extra energy and calmness out of a sudden is just so magical! :)

May He continue to guide us and grant us Lailatul Qadr, InsyaAllah. Just a couple more days before the end of Ramadhan :(

Love Hate

I come from a family where most boys come from boarding schools (either MCKK or RMC) whilst the girls from normal daily schools. Naturally RMC boys and MCKK boys cannot agree on something most of the time, but because we're a family, we make it seem like these rival schools are best friends! Wednesdays are best when I see dad going to work in his RMC tie whilst abang in his MCKK tie. Dad's too nice not to allow his son enter MCKK when he was younger.

Medical doctors or dentists. I dislike both.

But you know how orang orang tua used to say "Don't hate (with great passion), because that's the one you'll end up loving one day (by force or not)".

True enough, I come from a family full of Doctors and Dentists and it cannot get any closer than my own idol. My dad. A dentist. The saying plays in my head sometimes, especially when I dislike something, so much so that for fear of having to love it eventually, I tend to manipulate my mind not to hate it.

A couple of days ago, I had to get my medical check up done prior to leaving for the UK. For the life of me, I can never learn to be ok with Doctors forcing blood out of me. However, having to see a family member to do a check up helps a great lot! Especially when they allow you to listen to your favourite song and can make you laugh whilst sucking your blood out. That's when Doctors/my cousins are at peace taking my blood.

 I'm just glad it's over! Thanks Doc!

I'm now ready to get through that UK border soon!

Spot the RMC tie. You can tell it's Wednesday!

Once in a blue moon

Sometimes, it takes cartoons to teach you a (real) thing or two about life.

"I gave you what I thought you wanted instead of what I thought was right. But this is right. It means something to me. And I think it's gonna mean something to others too. 

Once in a blue moon. That means that there are only a few moments in your life, when something truly memorable, truly magical, happens to you. And if you hesitate, or, afraid... you might just miss it."

Like a boy watching football

Nothing like looking through old newspaper cutting and photos. 

Somehow, most newspapers thought I was chinese, hence the (more excessive) chinese paper coverage.

My weird love for Malaysia, crazy promises I made when I was younger just so that I can perform for Malaysia Open in between SPM papers, my crazy passion for performing arts and my extremely peculiar source of motivation when I watch them perform. No one will ever understand you better than your parents. and my lil miss bestfriend.

Rhythmic gymnastics just started at the olympics and the TV has been left on throughout eventhough we go in and out in between! Mama even scheduled to record them so that I can watch it again and again and daddy stayed to accompany me watch these gymnasts throw their hoops whilst I silently whisper "catch!!!"!

Can't find me, look for me at home! :)

Lailatul Qadr

It's the last 10 days of Ramadhan, and what better time to search for Lailatul Qadr, InsyaAllah. I attended solat Tasbih, hajat and taubat earlier this morning, and it is amazing how calming it is every single time you spend time at the mosque. Reminds me of my Umrah times earlier this year. A very calm unexplainable feeling really.

Ramadhan is the best month ever, to purify and to ask for forgiveness from Him, to reflect and to change to be the best Muslim we can be.

It's malam ganjil tonight by the way! 

:):)

Perfect escapade

As a little girl, I've always had those moments when I jump up instantly when I hear the 'paddle pop' song from the ice cream truck. Don't even start with the happy faces! Ice cream has always been a comfort food for me, especially Milo ice creams. They're the bomb!

In honour of our Olympians for their determination and effort, Media Prima and Baskin Robins are collaborating to give out free ice cream tonight! I have a feeling, it's gonna be another night when attendance at the mosque is a little low than usual. What with the queue. Nonetheless, indirectly it's a celebration for our anak bangsa Malaysia for their stupendous efforts, they were amazingly amazing! Super proud watching them carry Malaysia's name at the olympics!

I so want the ice cream, but Ramadhan only comes once a year, I think Baskin can wait. Though right now, all I can think of is to have the perfect partner to experience the perfect things-I-wanna-do-before-I-die moment and explore this Top 10 Places To Eat Ice Cream  one day! 

Ok, don't fantasize too much, nanti batal puasa, makruh. 

Don't take things seriously

"Fighting is enjoined upon you while it is hard on you. It could be that you dislike something when it is good for you; and it could be that you like something when it is bad for you. Allah knows, and you know not" - 2:216

Moving on/letting go of what is real is always the toughest. Having a blood test appointment is not easy either! But you'll not get to the point of letting go before fighting for it. It's all His mysterious ways of guiding us indeed. I came across that in the Al Quran, and almost instantly, a sense of calmness fills me up.

If not a challenging beginning, to always create a beautiful ending. Afterall, to not win is still better than to not have experienced it at all :)

Hilarious

Dress: Alia Bastamam

A family friend took these shots and passed it on to me today. It cracks me up all the time.

Of course there was a story to this. Throughout abang's wedding earlier this year, many have thought that abang Hafiz and I were an item, only because I was the maid of honor and he was the best man when in actual fact, he is just abang's bestfriend!

Semua suka jadi analyst buat assumptions sendiri.

-_________-

#CountdownToUni - Visa Application

The photo in my passport today did not match my face it seems. I had a little problem entering because the security was not too convinced that it is I, Alia Ishak, in that passport. Afterwards, they thought I was chinese, so having stated Malay in my passport did not really match with their first-look-at-me. Best of all, everyone I met and made friends with thought I was applying for a Visa to pursue my undergraduate in the UK. "Erm...no. That was me 6 years ago, but I'll take that as a compliment, thank you :)". Oh well.

I thought it won't be too busy to apply for a UK Visa now since the A Levels results is still about 2 weeks away, but boy was I wrong. At 11 am, so many people came flocking by the HighCom at Wisma MCA. Good thing I came early. Point to note, application for UK Visa now is pretty similar to the US Visa in the sense where you've got to make an appointment online before you can make your way to the HighCom.

Some other points to take note of:

1. Book for an early appointment - Seems to me like everyone schedules their appointment for 11 am onwards. Either they don't plan to hassle through morning traffics to KL, or just plain lazy to wake up early. In my case, I got quite a nice slot at 10.30. Not too many people, and assistance was ample. 
2. Documents in order - As long as you follow all the instructions given on the website, you're pretty safe to go. In my case, I was applying for a Masters course, so the VAF 9 form was to be completed online, and appendix 8 (Tier 4 general student) to be attached in hard copy. The rest are just all your academic certificates and funding evidence.
3. Photo - DO NOT WEAR CONTACT LENSES when you take your photo. It will be rejected! I only got to know when I submitted my form over the counter. Rejected. So I had to pay an extra RM 25 for an instant one done at their office. Oh the struggle of taking off my lenses and not being able to see things clearly. Even when you to do the office, avoid wearing them lenses, they will get you to take it off when doing the biometric scan.
4. Payment - Needs to be in a Bank Draft. They do not accept cash nor credit cards. Most importantly, if you do not have a Bank Draft and you are not a Customer of Citibank, that Citibank at Intercontinental Hotel will not be able to provide you with one (what?! Why?!).  Well, Maybank is just opposite the road at Ampang Park.
5. Others - Other than that, they were very very helpful with the whole process :)

Hello August, I'm excited! Not.