That Was The Year That Was

2009 was a mixed year. I managed to pursue my interest in travelling, alhamdulillah, by visiting new and revisiting other places. It was also the first year that I managed to travel every month (despite the H1N1). A recap of the trips is as follows:

January
1) Took my niece and nephew to Solo and Yogyakarta (Jogja) among others to visit the UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Borobudur and Prambanan
2) Took my parents to Chiang Mai at end of the month

February
Back from Chiang Mai on 3rd of the month

March
1) Weekend trip to Bangkok in early March
2) Went to Krabi with Elle end-March

April
High school reunion in Port Dickson

May
Another fortnight-long solo trip to Europe covering Germany (Frankfurt), Spain (Madrid, Granada, Córdoba, Sevilla and Toledo), Malta (Valletta, Sliema, Rabat and Mdina), Cyprus (Larnaca), Austria (Vienna), train ride into Austria and Slovenia before entering Croatia, Croatia (Zagreb, Plitvička Jezera (Plitvice Lakes), Zadar, Dubrovnik, Split, Trogir and Rijeka), and back to Germany again (Cologne and Bonn) before catching the flight home.

Alhambra and Albaicín in Granada, Sevilla, Córdoba, Toledo, Valletta, Plitvička Jezera, the old city of Dubrovnik, the historic city of Trogir are all UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

June
Took an overnight train to Singapore to check out the Great Singapore Sale (massive disappointment) and flew home the next evening

July
1) Pre-birthday celebration in Bohol and Cebu in the Philippines before a stopover in KK prior to flying home
2) Took a coach to Singapore to watch the Kop and flew back by Firefly

August
Spent the Merdeka weekend in Jakarta with a day trip to Bandung

September
Flew to KK to attend SK’s wedding

October
Visited Myanmar (Yangon, Nyang Oo, Bagan and Mandalay)

November
1) Treasure hunt trip to Awana Kijal
2) Checked out Macau, a UNESCO World Heritage Site

December
1) Spent a weekend in Phnom Penh
2) Had a reunion with Andrea in Sri Lanka. Among others, we visited six of seven of the country’s UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

I also watched movies during the year, some good, some lousy (Transformers was disappointing) and majority were average. Cut down on movie outings after August, specifically after new ticket prices were introduced. Haven’t watched 2012 or Avatar (Audrey, you’re not alone here) and don’t intend to. Am considering watching Sherlock Holmes and maybe some good movies this year. Otherwise, will just borrow DVDs.

I also managed to finish reading three dozen books. Could be better but I’m glad it’s not worse.

Health-wise, thankfully, no sick leave. But I managed to hurt myself badly the moment I was out of the country, didn’t I. And on the last day of the year too. So I’m now as injured as my baby Cesc ;’ (heck, even Capello is to undergo a knee surgery).

Big Brother discovered he has the dreaded C-disease (to be honest, I’d be surprised if he didn’t see some disease coming even if it’s not C-disease at the rate he was smoking).

My parents also managed to travel quite a bit. And they did well health-wise considering their respective ages and the wear and tear to their bodies.

And of course there were also those break-ins, first my parents’ and then my residence. Reminders that wealth doesn’t last, times are bad, life is not always smooth or goes the way we plan it. And that God’s test comes in many forms. It’s how we deal/react with His tests and challenges that shape our lives and determine our strength, faith and trust in Him and His love.

May God’s love see us through and keep us strong. Espero que usted tiene una maravillosa 2010!