Up the mountain, and back...

Wow! Time fly so fast and its almost the end of the year. I've been sort of neglecting this blog as I've been so busy with so many other things. So what's up with me lately:

1. I've started a new 'business' - Hadasah Hannah, which will be combining my passion of travelling, photography and accessories together :) Go check out my blog - www.hadasahhannah.blogspot.com, facebook - Hadasah Hannah or follow me on Instragram - Hadasah Hannah.

2. I've travelled every single month for the last couple of months - Vietnam in September, United States in October, Japan in November, Thailand in December. Super tiring. Can't even catch up with my travel posts. But don't fret, I've got a few blog post line up for next year :p

3. I've got a new PC. OK, not exactly a desktop but Rockstar got me the HP Slate for Christmas. I'm in awe. Super big screen, so many apps and the best part, its NOT laggy (my old laptop is 8 years old and half my time is wasted waiting for it to unhang -_- ). OK, time to switch to android mode.

4. I've got a macro lens for my DSLR. Also a gift from Rockstar for Christmas ;p Super like it. More close up pictures now. and hopefully better photos. yay!!!

5. I've gonna conquer 1 of South East Asia Highest mountain - Mount Kinabalu. I'm kinda scare cos I've not really prepared for it with the numbers of parties I've been attending recently. Oh well, no backing out now. Flight is early tomorrow morning. Wish me luck...

6. Lastly, I've decided to put this blog on hold for a bit. Wait, just for a bit..... Until the year ends. Wanna spend more time with my love ones. Don't worry, I'll be back next year. (It's just a couple of days more only)

Till then peeps... Thanks for being such faithful readers although I've not been such a good blogger.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year everyone!!!


p.s. If you still miss me, follow me in Instragram @theestherchew

My Dream, My Passion - Hadasah Hannah

So... I'm back from camp. 3 days 2 nights of young people left me exhausted and tired. But I had a good time with them. 

Anyway, I got big news!!! and no, I'm NOT pregnant -_-), here it is....

HADASAH HANNAH!!!

- gifts, treasures & pretty things -

I decided to combine my passion for travelling, accessories and photography together to bring to you this. Why the name 'Hadasah Hannah'? Hadasah means Esther in Hebrew. And I wanted another name to go with it and after googling and throwing around a few names with Rockstar, we decided on Hannah. Hannah means 'God's favour' and its so apt cos I'm taking a leap of faith and would need God's help and favour. Sometimes following your heart can mean taking a big risk but I've always been encouraging people to chase their dreams.. So here's me now, chasing mine. 

In case you still haven't figure it out yet, Hadasah Hannah will be selling accessories and treasures and pretty things that I find along my journeys. This items can be either brand new or pre-loved, but no matter what they may be, I'm determine to bring the best for you all. 

It's still in the early stages and I ironing things out but I have high hopes for it. So do show your support k.. :)

You can click the name below to view or go to www.hadasahhannah.blogspot.com. See you on the other side... :)

HADASAH HANNAH

An Adventurous 2012

It's just a few hours till the end of 2012! And since every other blogger is doing a recap, I think I shall too. So what adventures unfold this year? 

January : My family & I took an impromptu trip to Eagle Ranch in Port Dickson. It was our first time as a family there and it was a good time of relaxing and chilling.. 

February: Another family trip to Fraser's Hill. We had a great time just enjoying the cool weather, bird-watching and eating. 

February : An early Valentine dinner up in Genting. 

March : Pre-Wedding Photoshoot at Bukit Tinggi with me twinnie. 

April: A day trip with family to Kuala Selangor. An adventure indeed. We felt the earthquake that hit Japan there. 

April : A Boys' Brigade trip to Melacca but we did enjoy the food and sights nonetheless. 

April : An all girls trip to the sunny beaches of Port Dickson.

May: A drive up the East Coast with my family - eating, enjoying the sleepy towns and taking lots of pictures. 

May : Another diving trip with buddies in Perhentian Island. :)

June : A Boys' Brigade national annual camp with 2000 over young people. 

June : A short trip to Seremban for a friend's wedding and food, of cos. 

June : A last minute trip to Bangkok with sisters. Shopping!!!

September : Paris! A dream vacation with Rockstar. Our 1st honeymoon. 

October: A last minute diving trip with SIL to Tioman Island. I spend lots of time reading and enjoying the sun. 

October : A short weekend away with friends @ The Asian Sports Village for some water sports and outdoor camping. 

October : 2nd honeymoon with Rockstar to Tokyo & Osaka, Japan. 

November : I brought a bunch of young people to Philippines. An eye-opening trip.

And of cos the biggest adventure of my life is getting married to the man God has chosen for me :) Thank you Jesus for him..

Of cos, not forgetting lots of weddings, events, work, Boys' Brigade, family, changes, opportunities, eating in between. 

Such a busy year but amazing too... It was a roller-coaster ride but as 2012 draws to a close, I am looking forward to 2013 and wondering what it will bring on. Lots of plans but will leave all to God.  He has shown me just how Awesome life can be when I put my life, my husband and everything into His hands. 

Good-bye 2012!

new walls

I dressed up and drove back home for lunch with my parents. Guess where I ended up?

Painting walls. 

My sister's new project - In2Art Studio. Just a tiny space but we are all so excited about it.. Lots more work to be done but its getting along just fine.

Art classes will commence in November 2012. Location : Sri Damansara. Pre-registration will have special discount :) Anyone interested email me k :)

Oh, don't forget to like here k..

Going to bang my head on the wall..

Woh!!! What a day!!! I hit 4 malls today.. 

I woke up late today with a heavy head... You know the feeling when you wake up from a deep sleep. Yeah, I was groggy cos I had a nightmare day mare. I dream that I was being chase by some scary ninja people  Just like the scene from Fast & Furious 5. The part where the they were being chase by the mobs... No matter where I run or hide, they were bound to find me... So yeah, I woke up feeling like a ran a marathon, did lots of high jumps and some acrobatic stunts... 

Anyway, I did some work before rushing off about 11. 50am. I was already late as I was meeting Eunice at 12noon... which didn't make a difference cos as I was almost reaching her place, she text me asking where was I. I text back saying I was near Mid Valley.. and then she replied, " Please drive very slow....." Ishhh! I should have guess that she will be late... Upon reaching her place, I text her saying I was downstairs... 10 mins later, she replied, "Wait for me 10 mins." and yes, another 20 mins later, she arrived.... 

 Drove to Amcorp Mall and had lunch at Ka Fei Dian..

Fried Rice + Mushroom Chicken + Ice Lemon Tea. RM9.30

Nasi Lemak + Teh Ais. RM9.80

Such a waste. Half eaten plate of nasi lemak.

and then... shopping.. Did you know BookXcess is celebrating its 4th anniversary? They are giving up to 50% discounts on their already cheap prices books.... I'm in book heaven!!

Total spend : RM80+..

Never go book shopping with another book lover... You'll end up being late for work :)  Oh but Eunice, since you bought a cookbook and you were late, and I waited for you and I drove you there, and I drove you back, you better cook 1 meal for me k? wait.. make it 2  meals :)

And then I couldn't find my parking ticket... walked to the car to check and finally found it inside my hand bag... 

Then, Mid Valley. Mid Valley + Garden is like my last place I wanna go to shop.... I've been there a few times recently and its carparks are always full. And the worst is, the Management does not block the entrance when its full but just allow cars to keep coming in.... Yep, massive jam inside carparks... The last time I was there, I drove round and round for 45 mins without being able to get a parking...and ended up being late for my movie.. Anyway, I had to get something there so I drove there and was happy to note that all the carparks were full except one in The Gardens... which still had 148 slots... Yeah, right.. Don't get con... I drove all the way up and down... NO PARKING!!! Cos the empty slots were for seasoned parkers only.... I finally made an illegal parking, walked all the way to MidValley to get 1 item, and then walked all the way back..

Next stop, Jalan Raja Laut... 

Came out, tried to get to Starhill and got stuck in a terrible buka puasa traffic in centre KL... Finally arrived... Decided to park at Pavillion as it was cheaper which eventually turnout to be a very very very bad decision... (Let's save the story for later) I finished my work... and as I stepped out from Starhill, I saw "Sephora". I've been hearing about this brand for so long... as it was rush hour traffic time, I decided to take a peek... and I just got to say this "Sephora is like a candy store for the grown-ups"... There are so many different brands and products... Some were wayyy out of my budget but some were quite reasonable... 

I ended up with a Triple Action Cleansing Water (RM39) which I needed, a Flashy Liner 10 Jet Black (RM29) which I also really needed, and a Scrub Your Nose In It Face Scrub (RM39) which I *obviously* needed... (don't ask k.. the packaging just look nice)... 

And then here's what happen, I walked to my car. The Autopay machine refused to accept my RM50 so I walked 10 steps away to the News.com stand to buy a drink. The guy at the counter didn't want to accept my RM50. So I walked another 30 steps away to the bakery to buy 2 buns just so that I can change my RM50 to pay the parking ticket of RM6 and then walked back. Guess what!!??! I COULDN"T FIND MY FREAKING PARKING TICKET!!! I walked back and forth, turned my bag upside down like 15 times, asked the bakery lady, asked the bakery boy, asked the News.com guy, I prayed for a miracle... I tried everything... zilch!!! After half an hour, I gave up. I walked to the Information Counter on L2 and was send back down to B1 to the carpark management office... 45mins later and RM50 poorer, I left Pavillion... I did thank God that its just RM50 and not RM500 or something... but still, the feeling of losing RM50 for being so careless make me wanna bang my head on the wall...

Final mall, 1 Utama... and yes, I held on to my parking ticket really really tightly... 

Reached home about 9.30pm. It's been a long day. I need to de-stress. Rockstar is too busy to entertain me so I need some ideas to de-stress. Any ideas??

Saying good-bye to Atria Shopping Centre

Those who have lived long enough would have heard of Atria Shopping Centre. It was once a thriving premier shopping centre located in in the middle of the Damansara Jaya and was visited by throngs of customers everyday from all over. As years gone by, it slowly lost its customers to the newer and more vibrant shopping centre. And thus, Atria Shopping Centre was relegated to a small, cosy neighbourhood mall. 

Even though I have not been here for long, I have heard of stories from customers about their memories in Atria, where they hang around there during their school days, or the shops they use to visit or how they use to date in this building. And it does not matter where they have gone too or how far they have moved away, they still remember 'Good Ole Atria'. 

However, in keeping up with the current demands of society, the management of Atria have decided to re-developed it. As such, we (the tenants) are requested to leave this place. Is always sad saying good-byes but it must still be done. Here are some photos in memory of Atria. 

The ever-popular KFC

Now closed. 

Esquire Kitchen (moved to the shoplots outside, I believe its just a few doors away from Maybank)

Bata

Money Changer

FJ Benjamin Boutique

Boutiques & Gift shops

JE Enterprise - The popular place for Playstation fans & The Uniform Shop (moved to the shoplots outside. same row as Public Bank)

Psalms Oasis Souvenir & Gifts

Corridor. Silence. 

Eye Candy. (moved to 10 Boulevard)

Xpress Cut (moved to the shoplots outside. same row as Dominos)

Planet 365 (moved to Kelana Mall)

In appreciation to its tenants, the management of Atria organized a Get Together Dinner before the doors of Atria finally closes.

Dinner provided by Seri Penang. Absolutely delicious lamb. 

Briefing began by an OSK staff. 

The new development for Atria is planned with office suites and 5- storey shopping mall in mind. I have taken pictures of the slides presentation. More information is shown there.

Katherine (Atria's Complex Manager), me and Billie (Atria's Admin)

Forlorn. 

If you have not said your good-byes, it's still not too late. Atria Shopping Centre will be officially close on the 1st August 2011. Farewell, Atria Shopping Centre.