2023 was pretty tough. The release of Tower Quest was a proud moment, but the financial aftermath was not something easy. Getting a stable job fixed that. I feel like my personal finance “restarted”, and will take a while to get where I actually feel secure. I emphasized on the word “routine” a lot this year, because I didn’t really have one until I got a stable job.
I ate a lot as usual. Went to a few more concerts than I planned to. These were coping mechanisms I feel. Going out for trips helped. Indonesia was a lot better than I expected, but resting at home was also very content.
I thought a lot about how the internet and social media has changed. I thought a lot about how dating has changed.
I bought Fujifilm cameras on an attempt to “revive” photography. Haven’t gotten the feeling of satisfaction and content through photography in a while. I feel like my creative output is limited, and there’s a lot that I’d like to express but couldn’t.
Japanese learning was gradual.
Gaming slowed down, mostly playing Genshin Impact.
I don’t plan to plan about 2024 in 2023. So let’s talk about 2024, in 2024?
Happy New Year. :)
TLDR: Financial insecurity almost broke me (both literally and not), food and concerts were my coping mechanisms.
The timeline, in non-existent Malaysian seasons:
Spring
- Started the year with a blonde hair
- and an almost empty wallet
- Tower Quest was released on January 18th for Android
- Xiao Long Kan was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-005.e2d8a74b_VxAEE.jpg)
- Tower Quest was making about 1K$ about 3 weeks after released
- wallet happy for a while
- Signed a contract with a US based publisher for Tower Quest
- rén by Dragon-i was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-006.080ae050_2bRYuX.jpg)
- bought my first Macbook Air M1
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-008.1d33ae8a_Z2oA92l.jpg)
Summer
- Tower Quest was released on April 29th for iOS
- Broke down from too much stress, needed a break, took that break
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-009.d636a3ef_1vjHI7.jpg)
- Went to Planter Chin, owner said gonna take a break from August onwards, I could relate
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-010.5ccd1811_Z1hU5YP.jpg)
- Paolo Paolo Gelato was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-011.81d8814c_Z1LFYEq.jpg)
- Started the weekly hiking plans
- Shishido Ramen has always been amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-013.2b2d565e_ZTmHvU.jpg)
- Decajoins was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-014.ffabd165_2aMIMY.jpg)
- Camping was… tiring
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-015.4ee0be55_ZBPLm8.jpg)
- Selling stuffs was satisfying
- (but being poor was not)
- Micro Lego was fun
- Board games were fun
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-019.e14df53e_ZAL521.jpg)
- Natural black hair was the new black
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-020.04eedbf3_Z1EhJC7.jpg)
- Restarted my piano playing career
- Fell in love with William in Hani Eatery
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-022.234a6a0f_Z1Dtfyr.jpg)
- Sunset Rollercoaster was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-023.ce94afbf_DEEFX.jpg)
Autumn
- Friends getting married makes me feel old
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-025.c6404d80_u6FDu.jpg)
- Still hiking, started this website
- Contract with publisher ended, Tower Quest gone inactive
- Started job seeking
- North Sumatra was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-027.a446f868_ZA81Or.jpg)
- Merdeka Parade was wayyyyyyy too crowded (+ Malaysians could actually walk 8km)
- but the Milo from the Milo truck was invaluable
- Getting a job this year was hard
Winter
- I tried my best, but home cooking would perhaps be something after retirement
- No Party for Caodong was amazing (having no pictures of them was also amazing)
- JLPT N5? Mixed feelings
- Bought two Fujifilm cameras at once
- Coldplay was fucking amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-028.72fa0de2_2sEY2v.jpg)
- A trip to US is expensive af
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-029.647045d9_RQrvr.jpg)
- Eating out with colleagues were shockingly uncomplicated
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-030.41bc3ce5_ZgJPlC.jpg)
- Gym planning is still a WIP (a tough one)
- Company dinner was shockingly under-budgeted
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-031.4c27a718_27Q0HX.jpg)
- Enoshima was amazing
![](/_astro/231231-about-2023-032.e1110aff_ZTw6I7.jpg)
- Moving an entire warehouse was not for the faint of heart
- Adding another member to the Christmas Party was shockingly easy