KUALA LUMPUR 2017: RISING TOGETHER

Kuala Lumpur 2017 (read: 29th SEA Games) was my first ever experience of going to the stadium for such event and this memories are some of the best that i ever had. The first step in the stadium was, for me, absolutely amazing and the moment was as good as i ever imagined it would be. The events itself were spectacular and the team did a great job in making the experience particularly special. I mean, it's great to watch and support our SEA Games from television but when you went to Opening Ceremony and the Games, it really hits you that you're actually at the SEA Games. The crowd seems pretty big to me. And needless to mention, all the lighting inside the stadium was grand and glorious. 

Me and my sister were at first only intended to go for the Opening Ceremony but one thing led to another, when the experience was beyond expectation, we decided to go and experience Closing Ceremony at Bukit Jalil National Stadium itself. We both were supposed to be volunteers for the Bowling Games at Sunway Pyramid. Unfortunately, i was sick and diagnosed with dengue on the day we supposed to go for a rehearsal and training at Sunway Pyramid. And this was the reason why we decided to go to Bukit Jalil for the Opening Ceremony. The Closing Ceremony was held on 30th August 2017 which also on the Merdeka Eve. Home advantage, Malaysia set 111 golds as target and accomplished far beyond that. We collected 145 gold medals and total of 323 medals. Wow i really just googled that haha! Obviously Malaysia need to raise our bar high by aiming to win more medals in bigger games like Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and Olympic Games. 

The Closing Ceremony was not as majestic as the Opening Ceremony. But i still enjoyed it till the very last minute. Many Malaysian singers were there singing songs that i know. I've never been to any concert before. This was my very first time. Some of my friends were also there. We were singing like we were the one on stage lol. So much fun it's a crime. However still to me the song choices were not as good because only all Malay songs with no universal appeal and did not highlight the diversity of the nation. I don't think people from other countries including some Malaysians (the Chinese and Indian) actually enjoyed this. And i thought there would be a grand countdown to Merdeka but that was not happening. I mean, we should really considering the Merdeka Eve right instead of just concerts and public holiday announcement. Idk. And i didn't went to any of the games. I was planning to go for the Final Football Game at Shah Alam Stadium. Sadly, there were no online tickets ever sold for the particular game. Just like that, bye bye final football game. Somehow i'm glad i didn't went to the stadium for the match because i was way too emotional watching the game that Thailand ended up winning against Malaysia. Not a good game from the Malaysia team i must say. Just my 2 cents.

Overall it's such a fantastic experience to be at the National Stadium for both ceremonies and there would be this 9th ASEAN Para Games to be held soon. I wonder if i ever have time to watch any Para Games live at the venues. We'll see. Gonna send love and support the disabled as well cause we are in this together. And oh, i really love the theme song for Kuala Lumpur 2017, So Many Hands by Mia Palencia. That song is my kind of song tbh. To the next SEA Games, Manila 2019!

SIMPLE SKINCARE ROUTINE

To be blunt, i don't have superbly good skin because i have like 30 freckles, dark spots on my face and they show no sign of fading. My mom told me not to count them spots or they will breed more in time. Idk. Somehow, the dark spots and freckles multiplies literally once in a blue moon but they're on my face since forever. I don't know if i'll ever stand a chance to get rid of them. However, i am still grateful that i don't have the struggles that others have with their skin.

So over the years, through a lot of trial and error and product hopping, i've discovered some drugstore gems as well as some splurges that are worth my coins. Yes, Eversoft Facial Wash, Safi Rania Gold and the latest one is Snail Moist Mask by Neula. Literally, these are not the only products i ever applied on my skin. But tbh, Eversoft and Safi Rania are two products that i've been using since forever and still have them today. No matter what (gazzilion) products i used now and then, at the end of the day, i will always get myself these two. I don't know if i never had enough patience or what, but no product really worked on me for long. I constantly changing my skincare routine despite of my sensitive skin type. Oh wait! I don't even have any skincare routine actually. I think i was just exaggerating for a moment lol. While in point of fact, i'm that type of person who buy a product (or anything) and only get excited for only like a week or two, and then totally forget about it. I may for a minute be thinking of having a perfect skin and apply things on my face, but on the next day, i'm just, "nah maybe next time". As long as my skin is okay and not too far down the spectrum, then i'll be good.

The first time i applied Safi Rania Gold was during PLKN. PLKN was the most boring period of my life. I dislike it too much to talk about it at all. But i'm not saying that PLKN was not a good program. I mean, of course this program has it pros and cons. It's just that PLKN was not my cup of tea and that is all. Safi Rania Gold was the first ever complete product that i applied on my face literally everyday including the facial wash, day night cream, toner and even the beauty cream. Omg hahaha i suddenly feel funny. Nonetheless, i swear the product work wonders. At least for me. And i've been using Eversoft Facial Wash since high school. I do not have any issues with Eversoft. I really like the formulation and it suits my skin very well. While Snail Moist Mask by Neula was actually kinda new in the market. I don't even know why i buy it in the first place. But instead of using the mask on my face, i decided to put the mask on my legs lol. For my legs, the dryness was the biggest thing. And somehow this mask did great on reverting my dry legs back to its old better self. My legs now are nowhere near as bad as it used to be because of this mask. Thank you Neula!

I rarely get pimples but when i do, they seem to last for weeks. Blergh! But i never believe in slathering a lot of creams on face, exfoliating like crazy, going under the knife, taking daily or weekly injections for a good and better skin. For me, not drinking enough water and not washing face religiously are the key to the pimples and any skin problems. My skin is a living proof for that. However, i did not object the idea of skincare and supplements for better skin. It's just that most of them are so life challenging that i feel like the need to keep spending $100 a month on it is too much. Did i just sound like a cheapskate? Whatever. I hope i will never head down a skincare rabbit hole that would lead me to spend a big chunk of change. Amen to that!

P/S: The photo of me up there was just for symbolism of great graphic. Lol. Just kidding. Or maybe not.