The Best of San Diego :)

so, it came to the last day..and man..wasn’t it the best day..

i think san diego is famous for their beaches and they are totally NOT overrated..

the morning started with the beautiful couple, hilda and indra, bringing us to a very sweet and quaint breakfast place, “the cottage”! my god, the food there is just simply ooh lala!:D

they served some really appetizing cinnamon, walnut cake while you wait in queue!

i fell in love with “eggs benedict”…mammalicious! :9

the couple and the spread of food..1. stuffed french toast (caramelized fruits) 2. omelette 3. eggs benedict

hilda suggested that we go to yet ANOTHER beach..called the ‘La Jolla Coast’…

when i first heard..all i thought was..”oh! another beach…..AGAIN!”

but let me tell you guys..it was the BEST experience of beaches i have ever had..

maybe because of my mood..and how the wind comforted me..

or maybe because of where my heart was longing..and how the horizon allured me to see beyond the impossible..

or maybe its just because La Jolla Coast is just magnificently beautiful..

i loved that place..it was another one of those ‘wished you were here’ moments…but seriously..if i had more time..i would love to walk slowly..stand still and gaze at the ocean..soak and breathe in the life that exudes from this coast..

nature’s beauty..one of God’s greatest gift..:)

and yes!there were seals!!!hahaha

after that breathtaking (because it was SOOOO cold and windy also) experience..we went to phil’s bbq..another famous foodie place for its ribs and all that…

i must say..it was gooood..much much much better than all you can expect from cafe cartel..haha the beef ribs were awesome:)

then i went to Rock Church..some church in downtown..my greatest takeaway is..

they embrace the cultural mandate..live by it and show it practically to the congregation and the rest of the community..

the sermon was simple and basic…but that’s beyond the point..

the way it was conveyed..through drama..and a creative storyline to teach the Word..makes people come with anticipation and builds an expectation that there will be a transformation after the series:) and Rachel Lampa was there…the one that sang ‘No Greater Love’..awesome song!

this is by far the best day i have had in san diego..and the Lord ended it well..by reminding me with a great encouragement and affirmation…

a beauteous sky..

like he always said..and i always thought..

“what a beautiful sky…it always reminds me that God is there and how great He is..”

the best of san diego.

San Diego! (oops, sorry for late updates and the photo spamming!)

and so, i left san francisco and set foot in the land of sun and sea…

SAN DIEGO!:)

but the journey was sure long, tiring!!

travelling with a group of 6 girls sure isnt easy!we left the house at about 9am..when our flight was at 1050am!so when we got there, we were LATE obviously..and MISSED OUR FLIGHT!!!!my first time missing a flight…man!and i heard there was a USD50 charge!!but thank God, it was waived..and we were put on waiting list on the next flight!!!

but sadly, yunxi and i didnt get onto the next flight..and had to wait for like 6 hrs to go on the NEXT one…for what seemed like eternity..with pockets of extreme drama..we finally got onto the 1720h flight..

HELLO SAN DIEGO!

yunxi is happy (cos she is not stranded again in the aiport..)

hilda came to pick us up at the airport!!!!!and man, i must say she has really grown to be one a really beautiful lady…and she is AWESOMELY hospitable…(and her boyfriend is really nice, happy for her)..so we went to her place and then we went to eat pizza (again -____-”) but the taste was not bad:) then, hilda brought us to this really heavenly dessert place, “extraordinary desserts”…it was really cosy and quaint..loved that place makes me feel the ‘love’ feeling, if you get what i means…”wished you were here..”

the cakesssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!oh my……………you have not tasted anything yet in singapore!!!

the next day we went to old town, its like a mexican small town!very very cool..

and we went to some very awesome mexican restaurant that serves delicious FISH TACOS!!!!!!!oh my…you can’t believe how fresh and how yummy they are!!:) cafe coyote…highly recommended!

to the beach we went!!:) mission beach…we just sun bathed..the weirdest thing is..the sun is hot..but the wind is colddddd….and the waters are icy!eventually, i caught a cold… *sniff*

no hot guys!!!:( hahahaha…just me, the sun and the sand!

after MANY days of pure trans fat floating in my body..i NEEDED some soup, rice, noodles..SOME ASIAN PLEASE! and great hilda brought us to this great vietnamese pho place!!!!!!superrrrrrrrr yummmmyyy!!!!:9 the soup is sooo tasty and the beef is soooo tender!!

THEN THE BIG BANG CAME….we went to hodad’s!!!!!!!!!the best american food restaurant….man the queue is perpetually long…and it is NOT overrated..its worth the wait!:D

the inside of the restaurant is very vintage..(and crowded)..with loud, country music..which you can jiggle along with

now for the legendary and revolutionary ONION RINGS and CHOCOLATE/VANILLA/STRAWBERRY MALT….they are SUPER huge………..seriously, purely trans fats…….buttttt worth the fats toooO!!

pearl and the strawberry malt!

the awesome onion ringS!

some other pics at ocean’s beach…the wind is strong, but gives you a really calm feeling..there is a really beautiful cafe that sits along the pier…hmmm..another “wished you were here” moment..

alright..thats all for now..this post is all over the place..cos i am ill-disciplined to blog everyday..so, sorry for not having any poetic interest in this…haha

me, with my burnt face..and i have totally put on weight!!!!!!arghs:/ when school starts at Berkeley..i am going to run 5km regularly!!!!!!!!!

(i am starting to hate dislike american food…and its only a weeek! soooo unhealthy!!!!)

p.s.: in san diego, other than the beach, and the shopping..its really about foooooodddd…….haha

“wished you were here…”…very apt..and i really want to see you..hmmm..

do you want to see me too?

Day 1: Chasing the American Nightmare!!

i am finally in SFO!!!!!

aft a grueling 16hr-flight, my butt becoming sore and my legs stiffening, with a baby that cried his lungs out and sounded like he was going through massive pain, i finally stepped into US grounds!! (which isn’t all a good thing, HAHA)

the first ‘american’ thing i experienced was the INefficiency of their security system…HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WANT TO CHECK MY BAG?!!!!and HOW MANY TIMES DO YOU WANT TO ASK ME WHY I AM IN USA FOR???

i took like 1 whole hr to clear customs…and they confiscated my maggie DRIED chicken porridge! sobs :’( and the way they treat Asians..man lets not get there!!

first time taking the BART (the train system) and guys in singapore, seriously, you MUST really THANK GOD for the efficient and comprehensive transport sys in singapore…

cos, my friends and i almst got LOST…almst boarded the wrong train that brought us to timbaktoo!!!cos there are 2 tracks..but the trains are not direct opposites of each other..each train has its own specific route…so if you are so used to singapore’s ‘just cross over’ mentality..you will 流浪 for quite a long while..

so finally, reached downtown berkeley station…YAYNESS!!!!!!:D and my apartment is SUPER near to town…YAYNESS DOUBLE!:DD

oh and did i tell you..its SUMMER..but its like 8-9 degrees Celsius, with wind and rain..ARGHS…..brrrrr-ing collldddd!!!!!i was wearing jeans, boots, tee and a hoodie over…and still i was shaking!!!hahaha what kind of summer is this man!!!shouldn’t i be in tank tops and shorts!!!!!???

so, anyway..the place is still quite quaint with many exotic flowers (seriouly)..and i like the whole feeling of the streets (though i really miss home ALOT ALOT ALOT)..and my apartment (pics another time, now too dark) is like big but a little messy..haha and ermm u know..a little :S haha but oh wells..this is what i call ‘HOME’ for the next 2 mths..(bear with it sarah! *kabishes head* )

SIA’s food was goood..haha really enjoyed it..but to prevent myself from getting fat on this trip..i decided to only eat half to 3-quarters of each meal..they gave us 3 meals altogether..

but when i came to Berkeley..man!!!tummy starts to rumble….finding for foood again..so, the best and quickest solution for a bunch of really tired and jetlagged girls..PIZZA!!!:D which serves really huge-ass slices..and i chose diet coke to drink……..(HAHAHA)

and yes!pepperoni and mushrooms!!!YUMMY!!!hahaha but only one slice..no more…and certainly no less..hahaha

but man, when i see the eateries around..besides pasta, pizza, chessies and creamies..i see macdonald’s -__________-

where is the ASIAN FOOD!!!! i want noodles, soup, rice………..and from the corner of my eye i saw THAI-NOODS…mann i was ELATED!!!:D hahaha will try that really soon!:)

yupps so that basically marks my first day..really sleepy now..(with a rumbling tummy AGAIN!but tahan-ing NOT to eat till morning)…and will sleep aft blogging…

jetlag, i am going to overcome you!!8D

till tmr, or maybe in the near days…

sarah is fading out in berkeley!check here more for regular (i hope) updates about my US summer experience!:)

p.s: if you are wondering..YES my main mission here is to NOT put on weight…if i did..this will be chasing the american DISASTER!

Sarah IS Bliss:) (a really outdated post)

so it is..SARAH IS FINALLY ATTACHED!!!

(actually for quite some time, just no time to post this up!!)

so that eventful night happened on the 14th of Feb (awww..) in the midst of CNY (awwwwww….) and he just flew back from Shanghai (awwwwwwwwwwww…..)

but really sarah feels like she is most most most  blessed person in this world!!:D

he is someone i have always dreamed of..wanted..prayed for..he is everything i ever imagined the “HIM” to be..

and day by day..i discover more things i enjoy about him..more love to love him with..and more of myself to sacrifice for him with..

once i blogged (in my blogger account), about what kind of guy i wanted..and man!almost every moment i stand and admire the work that God has done in kelvin’s life..that makes me astounded..he fits every criterion that i stated:)

kelvin wasn’t someone i thought i could be with previously..not my most immediate choice..

but it is really only through God..that i found him..appreciated him..and grew to love him..(and still growing more and more..falling deeper and deeper)

he is like a dream come true..a god-sent..my confidante..

simply, my love.

so to Mr Kelvin Loh Kah Meng: (as if he’ll ever read my blog..hahaha)

“dear..thanks for everything..once i thought to myself this relationship can never happen..it is impossible..but i guess God proved me wrong..very very wrong..

i love you more each day..:)

thanks for always drawing me back to God..encouraging me..building me up..telling me that if i make a mistake that it’s alright..

that you will still accept and love me:)

when i see you..my heart skips a beat..maybe two..cos every part of my being wants to be with you..

i stand afar, admiring you..and i know..

you’re the one for me..

my one and only..

and i pray..that through His grace and love..

we will go on forever..

and ever..

i love you:)”

p.s.: sarah is really really happy.

The Divine Plan.

i never really understood..

what does this “God’s divine plan for your life”..

is really all about..

only recently, when i sat and pondered..

then i realized..my ENTIRE life..

is God’s divine plan..to allow me to reach my destiny..

but not just to reach it..but to be able to sustain it..

this is a thank-You post.

recently, my dad smsed me to pray for our house is australia to get sold off at a good price..

this is really impt as now rachel is on to medical school..and per year her education cost a ‘superlicious’ 60k..four years means 240k..(aussie dollars that is..)

so, if we could sell this house at 300k..her education will be more or less settled..which means a HUGE load off my parents’ back..

and to think about it..my dad was still complaining about this property we bought when my bro was born..in case he decided to go brisbane to study in this teens..but of cos, he didnt and my dad was really thinking about selling the house and sorta regretting buying it the first place..

but now, it could be the only solution to make our cashflow smoother..and of cos more money for me, the youngest one, to spend….(for educational and constructive reasons, of cos )

so anyway..whilst thinking about it..its really God’s divine plan..from my dad buying the house to him slogging his way through to pay it off..to slogging his way to pay off our local property (that is making profits too)..to being debt free..and now trying to sell of the property to allow this family to be even more prosperous..

God works in wonders..period.

He knows what are the thoughts He thinks toward us..of a future and a hope..

be it the most minute thing..and maybe in our eyes, the most insignificant..

but the interplay of who we meet, what we do, how we did it, where and when..

reflects the DIVINE plan that God has for our lives..

and we must trust that EVERYTHING will work out for the good to those who love God (Rom 8)..

even if the situations and seasons we go through may seem like ‘CRAP!’..

but its really for a future and a hope..

but we always punch our fists up in the air..blaming God for everything that goes wrong in our lives..but maybe without it..we wouldnt be tasting the successes we are today..

so wouldnt it be easier to KNOW what He is trying to do in our lives..know the season He is putting us through..know what He plans to do…

AND GET INVOLVED IN IT? (instead of complaining and whining)

thinking about it, God has already shown this nature of His in our natural bodies..where He allows infection to take place, to make us rest..antibodies to get rid of unwanted stuff etc etc..

He is awesome, isnt He?

God has 纸上谈兵 before we were born..

and seriously..His strategy will make us victorious..He will win this battle for us on Earth..

if He is for, who can be against us?

p.s.: this is just one of the many incidents that happened this week now i am more sure than ever, i’m blessed.

Jer 29:10-14

I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place.  For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

(from New International Version)

A Long Hiatus.

haven’t blogged and wont be blogging for a while..

been doing work, driving, cg stuff..etc etc..

no time to do facial masks..

no time to sleep well..

no time to exercise (hence, the weight and size)..

so no time to blog..

see you guys soon. (i hope)

Common Grace.

i’m totally beat today…

my eyes are like squinting at the moment..

and my brain feels like it is being trampled upon..

i am very tired…period.

slept at 330am the night before..

and woke up at 726am..

went for driving at 815am..of which i almost banged upon a car..

who had a VERY irritating driver..*spat*

but my instructor says…i am a good lady driver!HAHAHA

then i went to meet pauline and the other leaders for post-bday celebration lunch..

had a really good time of fellowship since i havent really been talking to them..

yay!got capitaland vouchers!!!shopping!!:D

then i went for yoga class at true yoga..

good place, high quality..

still thinking whether to take up the package..

but in any case..i expended a lot of energy trying to de-suade them from hard selling to me..

went to hospital aft that to visit my uncle..

then now back home with a really zonked face..

and a really feeling like one ZOMBIE!!

but what impacted me the most today was..

that God uses anyone and everyone to speak to His children..

He never fails to use ANY circumstance, or person..

to remind u of His goodness or the things He has been trying to speak to you about…

my instructor today shared w me about his loss of his wife..

she passed away just 6weeks before their wedding..

and according to him..her death was his fault..

i was shocked and very sorry to hear that..

and at the same time..provoked..

cos what is my problem compared to his..

and if he got through these years with this regret and pain..

and is becoming a very successful man..(he is retiring when he is only 41)..

i definitely can too..

the most amazing thing he said was..

“it was VERY difficult, VERY heart breaking..

but i got through it..still having the regret and some pain..

but i moved on with my life..

so i guess it isn’t impossible..”

and sarah, it is very difficult…but definitely not impossible.

I’m Adulte-Rated!

*exhales* finally i can blog about my bday celebrations..to finally just pen down my thought about how i feel being 21 and to thank various ones for everything they have done for me:)

day #1: Yanghong, Sean and Chris

we went to sakae teppanyaki and the food is goood:) but beyond the glorious, delectable savouries..was the company i had shared with them..

i am not like the best friend they have ever had..and evaluating myself..i don’t think i have been a very good friend either..but i m just soooo touched and blessed to have people like them in my life..that even when i didn’t feel like celebrating my bday..they took the effort and their sincerity to celebrate with me:) and for that i’m eternally grateful..yanghong did the most i sense..(haha)..but really, that meal meant A LOT to me..cos it made me realize that i have friends around me that are willing to stand by my side..even when no one else notices me! love you all!

having an awesomely,almost heavenly chocolate cake..its soooo much better than coco-exotic..

bright smiles and a shining heart…hehehe

then i went to meet don..who “abducted” me into a corner of macritche reservior..but man that place really looked like some enchanted forest..the air was cool and sweet..the sound of tranquility was surrounding me..and there he sang a half birthday song..which i had to finish..haha then i went to watch transformers..awesome show i must say!:)

Day #2: Don

jo was so cute when she exclaimed, “Sarah Teo, its your bday!!i’m gonna do your makeup and wear this and that!you need to look your best on your 21st!!”

so yes i was her canvas..and i must say she is quite good at make up and grooming..though she keeps complaining that my eyes were just toooooooooooo POPpy and frog-like..but yes i went out looking like a beautiful..so thanks josi-anna;)

so, i was really touched that day..as i thought that i really spend my bday with someone special..and felt really happy about that..i was taken care of, attended to..feeling like i didnt need to worry about anything..but i know i’ll have a great day:) hehe thanks donatello!

so we went to shashlik..a russian restaurant..that dates right back to my parents days or even older!the place was really dim and has that rustic feel to it..cos of the decor and the stuff they serve..it feels like you are transported to a realm of the 1960s..seriously..

but let me tell you the food is amazingly gooooood!:) the borsch soup, steaks, and banana flambee are highly recommended!not mentioning the really fresh oysters…(this is my second time eating it..and the taste in this restaurant never failed me) yay!

吃在口里，甜在心里

Day #4: Family <3

jo practically did all the planning and gathered the usuals to singapore flyer for dinner with me..and i MUST say..it is one of the BEST BEST BESTTT dinners i have ever had..the food was sooo goood (ate till my tummy grew by 2inches, haha)..but the place was just quaint and comfortable..

the best thing about this year is..my bday cake was actually a mountain of 寿包 (the pink, peach-shaped buns)!!!haha it was really hilarious!!But it’ll really be unforgettable in 100years to come..my 21st bday was made special!

my mummy and daddy are the 2 most incredible people in the world..they raised me..nurtured me..tolerated all my nonsense..and still loves me unconditionally..right now, i dun even know what to say to describe my gratitude towards them…

but simply to all the teo-s, i love you:) *even rach sent a pretty, purple, mermaid card all the way from aussie…yes i am a mermaid now..not the alaskan seal! hahaha*

Day #5: cell group!

they are one bunch of monkeys mannn..haha telling me day and night about how they won’t celebrate my bday..wanna come to my house and play guitar hero instead..but of cos i know they are lying la..like HELLO?which century do you think i was from?hahaha

but they are such sweeties..they aren’t the richest people around..they aren’t the most happening and rah-rah ones too..but they try..and not just that..they try their bestest best to make me smile…and man did i smile they are people that i will sincerely sacrifice a lot for..not because they have something to offer back to me..but simply because i really sense that they love me W380, you guys rock my socks!! hehehe

so that sums it up!:) all in all, my bday was one rockin’ good time..not because i went to deliberately plan a super awesome party..but because i had earth-shaking, super uber awesome people around me!:) i love them very very very muchies!

so now i’m 21, what’s my new direction?

haha, actually i havent really thought abt it..

just that i wanna love more sincerely..

live my life more seriously..

and ultimately just smile every day of my life!:)

p.s.: i have put on soooo much weight because of all the meals mannn!减肥大行动又要开始了!

Whatssup Sars?

haha i just realized that i need to have a record of all the things i have been doing..to update everyone and also for me to remember..

first, i went for many graduations and a passing out parade…haha i really felt like one old gran-mama witnessing my precious children finally becoming someone of use..arghss:/  thanks jason, ian and kaien for giving me such a insightful preview..haha

that little jason boy shaking the can’t-rmb-his-name HOD:)

at nafa!:)

i don’t have the pics of the beret presentation for ian..cos sp never uploaded it!but in any case,the place was SOOOOO uluuu…seriously if any crime was committed there..i don’t think anyone would find out…but thanks to don, i got a free ride there (and back )..i wouldn’t have got there and back safe without him..haha..anyway i went there not even knowing how to put a beret…and when you have to touch a very sweat cap and forehead…NOT FUNNY lo..haha but it was interesting..

Next, i went to play bowling..

some truths about sarah, three-holed balls and pins..

1. she hasn’t touched them in like DONKEY MONGKEY yearsssss…

2. she has this fear that every time she throws the ball onto the alley..she will rolls off together with it..

3. she has no idea how NOT to throw the ball into the gutter..

4. she is SUPER UBER lousy at bowling..period.

oh yes..he’s much much better than me…haha

but of cos, i still had ONE strikes and 2 SPARES..not bad for a retard like me..hahaha..it was rather embarassing though….(no, i m not going to tell you my score)

Thirdly, i tasted a homemade potato cha-pa-lang soup that really tasted like those soup spoon kind.. goodilicious!!hahaha maybe one day it’ll be sold for like $6/bowl..haha but of cos its always free for me……:)

it tastes better than it looks…haha really!

fourthly, i went to the Da Vinci Exhibition @ Science Centre..it was really interesting..though there’s lotsa reading and lotsa things to observe…but i didnt know so much encompasses the life of Leonardo..

he is one honourable man..

he was a master of art..sculpting, painting..

he was a master of music..made instruments and played them..

he was a master of physics..flying and weight lifting machines..and other apparatus that formed the basis of many machines today..

he was a master of biology..he studied and drew the anatomy in sucha detailed way..he did extensive research on it tooo…

he created millitary weaponry, did landscape planning…amongst the many that he attempted in his lifetime..

he was an inventor..

possessed the power to create and improve..

he was multitalented..with a heart wanting to learn all the time..

man!i honestly think he was working under God’s anointing..he is indeed a proof that God created us..and he is His creation:)

unfortunately, no photography was allowed though…

fifthly, i am preparing to go for Sundown Marathon tmr..i spend a substantial amount on all the stuff i need and for the event itself..i better finish it..not because of the money..but for myself…*go sarah!*

LAST but not least…*drum rolls* i decided to take part in Singapore Idol…just for fun and to make my life count..i just hope i don’t appear on tv..SERIOUSLY…

that’s all folks!:)

It Is Finished!!!!really?

it is really a hectic week..

with most of my mind thinking abt exams..

but witnessing myself doing everything besides studying :/

but oh well..all for a good cause and for His kingdom..

tmr the mugging high fever must start and NOT stop!!!

please pray i can do well well..

 

anyway..i still had fun with citynews..

taking care of the friends..

busing the nigerians..

they are all just evidences of God’s greatness and goodness over my life..

they are indeed the fulfillment of prophesies told before..

and people that have impacted my life..

for that..i thank all of them for being sucha inspiration!

 

but right now..seriously..

i got so much on my mind with no outlet for me to release..

so much things i wanna pour out..

but i don’t know where to start..

things i wanna confess, express..

but i have just surpressed..

God help meeee!!

i really need to stand up, run and never look back!!

till then..

and while i am camping in my humble university’s library..

sarah is still colourful and surviving..

peace to all and out!:)