Letter to My 16-year old self

Saw this article on 8-days, where the editor Jason Hahn & friends started the 'Write a letter to my 16-year old self' action inspired by celebrities who did the same & compiled into a book! Hey, who doesnt wana read abt celebrities dirt & how they wished otherwise for their 16-year old self.

Now, I totally support this! If i could turn back time, i DEFINITELY WOULD!! Those people who say 'no, i will not do anything different', 'every mistake i made is an experience for me & let me grow into who i am today, so i will not change a thing in the past', 'we should look forward, and not think abt past regrets', etc etc etc. All these are BULLSHIT!! You think they are really such a saint? Forgive and move on? i mean, come on, surely they would go 'if only i did that, if only i turned left, if only i waited 10mins'... So many 'If Only'.

I, for one, totally will take up the chance to go back & regroup my life! I mean, some mistakes or things I did were kinda stupid, silly mistakes that cost alot (physically & mentally). So I will take this chance to write a letter to my 16-year old self (heck if i could go even earlier i would, but let's stick to the theme). Please read closely and take the advice!
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Dear 16-year old DS,

Too late to worry about your eyes, you are myopic, you cannot change. But fret not, technology will advance & u will correct this problem when u are older...

Blogging is a lucrative business, start early & get the attention you want & u can be the star blogger!!

Start to do yoga & concentrate on improving your yoga skills. DO NOT STOP suddenly & pick up again. Be a yoga expert!! It will become a craze in years to come!

Don't worry too much about the O levels, you'll get good results to get into good college. Also, pursue your best buddies to try out HCJC!! Bullshit all those talk about 6 points being not even good enuff for HCJC, that is rubbish & not true. Gather all your buddies & conquer HCJC!!

Fulfill your tennis dreams once you get into JC! DO NOT WAIT any longer or else you will have to wait another 10yrs to start learning! Join the tennis club in JC, you get free court access & coach to teach you tennis!!! & You get proper coaching & prevention methods so u'll not end up like me now - sprained ankle, knee problem etc...Continue tennis playing into your Uni, cos the courts are FREE!!!

Love PE lessons more, run more! U'll love exercising once you enter Uni, so start early!!

U'll do relatively well in JC, so continue your studies. English will be your downfall, but there's not much you can do about it. PUT MORE EFFORT in F-MAths A Levels!! Somehow, you only managed a B, even though u will get distinction in 'Special Paper'. Weird, yes, but what to do...

Dancing is fun, do your best in JC while u'r in the dance club. Be very very careful when you are skipping school (even though there is officially no lesson), as u will get caught unfortunately by someone, but this will not be reported.

Take more chances when they present themselves. Hestitation may cost you a lot of missed opportunty (when it comes to matters of the hearts).

When you enter Uni, immediately start using the facilities - gym, swimming pool etc!! You have paid for them since the day you enter, so use them!!! Start the running regime, it is really very fun to run around NTU, believe me.

You'll meet great friends in Uni, so keep them (Alvin, Superhose, HX etc etc). DO NOT Attempt to get a vacation job @ F&B. Pay is not fantastic, the supervisor sucks & not fun! Apply to work at the clinic near your block, the pay is ok, hours not bad & the doctor is nice, so do it early to earn more during your spare time!

Learn to like Finance more, it will make more money! Start to look at stocks & shares, buy Apple shares if you have the money. Buy Wilmar. Once you get the money, buy condo for investment. Aim for The Carribean 1st.

You will unfortunately head to E&Y as an auditor, but fret not, your life will not be as terrible as others. Though tough, u will meet many many friends there. Treasure them. You will meet good clients, and some good bosses.

Gymming is your pastime, start real gymming as early as possible, learn to love running & doing cardio & weights, they will do good or your body. Be really really careful with sports, wear the right shoes, tie them up properly & DO NOT attempt any stupid stunt, or else you will regret it!

Enjoy life!! U are only 16, go travel around the world, play sports before you get too old!

Your older more matured self,
Moi (DS)

Redang To GO High Class

Extracted from Today newspaper dated 13 May 2010

According to a report in Malaysian daily The Star, Terengganu State Tourism, Culture, Arts and Heritage Committee chairman Za'abar Mohd Adib cited protection of the environment and area's coral reef in particular, as the reason behind plans to reduce number of tourists to the island to 160,000 annually. Currently, tourism figures stand at 200,000 annually.

Government will NO LONGER approve construction of chalet-type accomodation on the island. Only hotels rated 5-star and above will be allowed to be built. Hotel rooms will eventually cost no less than USD500 a night, and current chalets catering for backpackers will also have to be upgraded and raise their rates.

To further protect marine life, only eco-friendly sunscreens can be used in the future. Tourists will be briefed at entry points on the use of these eco-friendly creams.

This is crazy! Is the m'sian govt trying to reap us folks off? Redang to be high-class beach resort? Since when do we need another Bahamas? Reduction of 40,000 tourists annually means abt 3,000 less pple can go to Redang per month. So now we have to Q-up and register our names WAY IN ADVANCE to get to Redang? & will there be a priority system in place then? There are not many fantastic dive locations in M'sia, now with this restriction, it's going to get even more difficult for beach goers & dive enthusiasts to find a dive haven! So if a tourist does not want to go diving or snorkelling, is he/she allowed to go and NOT count towards the restricted figure?

&What's the deal with the hotels? USD500 and above? That's extortion!!! Bloody hell, i might as well fly over to Bali or Mauritius if it's going to be so damn expensive in Redang!! That's discrimination. So Redang is going to be an ATAS island in future? Only the rich & famous can go. Us poor normal blue/white collars would not be able to afford USD500/nite!! What's wrong with those chalets? Or cheaper hotels? Not eco-friendly? Being 5-star & expensive will bump you into being eco-friendly?? This is ridiculous! I've never heard of such a restriction or rule in other countries. I don't think even Cairns have that (tho nothing is reali cheap in AUstralia) but i'm sure i can find something cheaper there. I know govt band accomodation on Sipadan island (east malaysia) but at least we can get relatively inexpensive accomodation on other islands not far from Sipadan! So what? Do we have to stay on the mainland instead & travel the 45mins boat ride to Redang daily for a dive in future? & get permit each time to go dive in REdang due to the restriction in number of tourists? Sipadan has that, but let's not forget, when you go to Sipadan, you have other islands n dive sites further away to explore (Mabul or Kapalai). In Redang, there's juz Redang. Where else do you go? Perhentian? I might as well stay on Perhentian if i wana dive in Perhentian...

Eco-friendly sunscreen? Now that's really something new!! So we have to buy those bloody expensive eco-friendly sunscreen just for Redang now? Or do u provide FOC? Or do you charge exhorbitant rates to tourist at the entry points?

All these restrictions. Wow, in future maybe Perhentian will kena as well! So what to do now? Better all rush to Redang before it's too late!! Better rush to Perhentian b4 these rules apply to the island..Luckily I went to Redang couple of years back...

Finally, after 10 years of 'co-habiting' with my sis, I have my own room back to myself!!! For the next 3 months.... While she's away on the Work and Travel program in USA at some theme park in Ohio!

He He, better than nothing! Don't have to worry abt waking her up in the morning, or she waking me up late at night...I can even sleep on her bed whenever I want! It's good to have the room back to myself, which I had up until 10 years ago when she grew up & needed to NOT sleep with my parents.....

I will have to enjoy the 3 months of free time in my room!!! Kekekekeke.. Maybe i'll sleep on my sis' bed tonite!!!