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Monday began in monochromatic shades of greys that is almost cinematic. A pronounced picture of Kuala Lumpur City heaving with emotions, but silent. All the unspoken that sleep in my brain, now bleed from the tips of my fingers and onto this odd page of the world wide web. This city is beautiful, I told myself; this city is a gaping hole –its economic challenges, its political element at every nook, its contrasting communities that live within one another–, this city is a floodgate of opportunities.

Marina once told me that because Malaysia is not a squeaky-clean country that we have so much room for growth. We love our land, for if you dig the sense of earth (no pun intended), differently but all the same.

I sit myself down, trying to drink the world through my viewfinder, hungry for some colours in the black and white city on this breezy morning. I ordered a three-quarter latte. The barista, later I found out named Jimmy, took my order, with a smirk. Maybe he was looking for some colours on this cold morning, too. I watched the people around me and then this woman spoke. Her cheeks tinted salmon pink, her wrinkles deep espesh her smile lines, her hair soft and sleek, her voice tender yet strong pierced the silence like a hot knife slicing through Christmas turkey. I lowered my camera and braved myself this odd conversation with a stranger.

How was the coffee? Smooth. Good body. Lacked in aroma. I told Jimmy to use non-stick pitchers because they always make better milk, and even better pours. He scrambled from behind the counter to hold up a non-stick. I wonder if it is a Teflon. Nevermind for now, I will return to find out more. We shook hands and bade to meet again.

Conversations make my world warmer.

for well you know that it’s a fool who plays it cool
by making his world a little colder




A whirlwind, I’d say. In a mere half a week’s time, I’ve –if I were to just name the big three things that happened– quit a job, scored another and discovered a new industry I have passion for.

Many fortunate things happen to me all the time and they are usually surprises that unfold themselves. I wouldn’t say that I worked hard for all of them because they would be totally unrelated, so I guess I’m that lucky bastard I’ve accumulated a lot of good karma. That said, I do work hard, very hard.

Moral of the story: be nice.

A Michelle Chan PSA

The 1Malaysia book vouchers worth RM200 given to the Form Six and tertiary students are impacting students more than just ‘lightening the burden’ from how I see it.

Not all students require the hundreds of Ringgits worth of textbooks every semester. Students, then, may choose to use their RM200 vouchers on paper products, stationeries, non-academic books or even magazines. Some students who do not find use in their book vouchers, wish that the RM200 can be converted into cash–and they could, if they are able to find willing buyers.

Schoolchildren from Year One to Form Five received schooling assistance of RM100 in cash earlier in the year. Instead of spending the cash on revision books or anything that will assist their studies, the unwise ones could spend extravagantly on food or fashion, all at once, if they wish so.

I overheard in Kinokuniya today while queuing for my voucher to be validated, that for four out of the five guys behind me, it was their first time actually stepping into a bookstore besides their university’s. They don’t look a day older than I am but were fooling around; saying that the last thing that they remember reading was Life’s Brief Candle. A Shakespeare that we learn in Form One English. I was shocked, but considering the little-to-none reading culture in Malaysian homes and schools, I see how I am just privileged to have adopted the like in reading since young.

Before this, I thought that cash was a much better way to ‘aid’ students because we do not only need things that can be found in a bookstore (eg.: food, TouchN’Go recharge).

After the eavesdropping I did today (sorry), I felt that the vouchers are actually making students roam the bookstore, looking for something that they really like to spend the RM200 on. It doesn’t really matter if it is academic or not, in my opinion. Among my peers and I, we’ve bought manga, cookbooks, graphic novels, a Moleskine! and craft books.

I know that PM and parents might not have thought that students would spend the book voucher on cookbooks, manga and graphic novels, but if we do not need to purchase textbooks for the semester, why not? And what better way to ‘lighten the burden’ than some good enlightening reading sesh? I have learned so much from reading, though not as much as living, I really wish that the reading culture in Malaysia would grow to encourage more critical thinkers to question and write! I like to read Malaysian perspectives on the world but I always thought more writers need the edge on being critical and specific about our subjects.

RM200 is not a bad start at all.


Exceptional People. Goldin, et al.

Here is what I bought from Kinokuniya today, which I will use for my essays on Mobile Worlds. I already found certain chapters to be very apt! Yay me. Of course, this book does not cost RM200 alone. I also used the voucher for a cookbook and some paper products.

postscript If anyone reading still has unused vouchers, better get roaming! They expire on 31 March 2012.

Eschew Cynicism

The first week back in university; people are just a blur. The thing about first days/weeks is THE ENERGY; “start afresh”, “turn over a new leaf” and all its similar meanings live for their short whiles. It isn’t some kind of epiphany – rest assured, I knew it by heart. I smell that over-optimism people in- and exhale every now and then, and feel slightly disgusted. When I sniffle that stench on myself, I take a long hot shower to bring myself back on my feet.

I’m going into the fourth year since leaving secondary school, but it frequently hits the 20-year-old, finishing her sophomore, so furiously in the face now that every –every– thing I do is punctuated by how grown-up I feel. Did I mature too rapidly? Was it by fate or by choice?

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Two Some nights ago, I was knackered and aching from the lack of sleep and adjusting to waking up FOR university, again. I sit myself across my long-time friend. We both just finished work and am having dinner together before she goes to Singapore/South Korea (not for good) (yet). I had to pass her some things that she’d use on her trips.
I think she’s on her flight to South Korea as I write this…
She just called to ask about the AirAsia web check-in/boarding pass procedures, so she’s still in the country haha.

She, like Mabs, reminds me of carefree days at primary school age that I’d reminiscent (we’ve known each other for THAT long!) because when we are talking in whatever medium it is, we are able to laugh about some very minute detail that are –if you’re not either one of us, will not be– vivid. I was so present. Now, I feel like I’m always living by the hour that I planned ahead the week before…

All in all, we’re all in much better places now, personally; thankful that we’re not completely ignorant fools, that we do answer to our responsibilities, that we are independently moving towards our goals. I’m so proud of the two of them in different ways!


L: after dinner that night, Jade & I went to buy her last minute daily needs :P
R: :grin: FaceTiming with Mabs at her university library in Boro when I was in Melby

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Just got back not too long ago from KL’s Golden Triangle area for a news story research and I have now more ideas than one. Should be a good sign to start an assignment; because these stories can be complementary if you do it right.

By the end of the day, we sat on a round table in Times Square and discussed the validity of some points and topics interesting to each of us.

Whilst some points I had in my mind that were relevant, I thought that I was being too biased already. I have been pretty realistic pessimistic lately regarding some issues and I was, in some ways, being unfair to other issues even if they were only my thoughts. Listening to the three of them speak casually with passion on the topics interested them, I managed to bring myself back on my feet.

Lesson of the story: Eschew cynicism. Always look at things with different lenses. Don’t be over-optimistic nor -pessimistic. Find your middle ground.

How quickly this week drifted. I’ve already seen all my lecturers and kicked start some tasks.

Excuse you for not being paranoid but I realised yesterday how packed my tasks due dates are. Towards the end of the semester, which isn’t long at all I’d say, I have six tasks due on the same day and they range from 15-50% of the respective units.
I’m a workaholic, I’d admit that, but I don’t fancy the idea of sleeping over in the studios.
EVER
AGAIN.


#1 Being excited talking about moustache with Ida in the cafeteria. (Photo taken originally with Ida’s Samsung Galaxy Tab.)


#2 Ida Ida IdaIdadaI daIIda thanks for listening to me whine so patiently :P

On the first day, I was really upset about X but by the third day, I conceptualised a theory that I’ll test to see if I can resolve the problem.

Stop talking about it.
Morgan Freeman on how to end racism…and if you can end racism with that, we can end anything (eg.: that pompous ass), and start everything.


#3 I’d tell you she’s applauding on something I did but you’d know I lied.


#4 *FACEPALM*


#5

20120229-121003.jpg
#6 Look what was on the board in Multimedia Lab!

Hopefully the change in course map will help me stop being so stressed. My competitive and perfectionist sides are not ready to risk a bad grade for one or two exceptional ones. It’s just…so much effort poured in and I want all my units to receive the equal amount attention.

(Gee it just hit me the last half of the previous sentence is super OCD!)

Vintage Sounds

Today, I want to share my current playlist, which reminds me of Melbourne city streets in the early mornings/late nights. I suppose it’s because I adopted the liking to them there. I listened to them every morning while waiting for trains/trams to arrive and send me to the café I worked at. :) Or when I get off work, I plug into my earphones and start strolling the city with cameras in hands.

Oddly, it made me felt very NOT Melbourne whilst listening to that when I *was* in Melbourne and now it reminds me of Melbourne SO. MUCH. #TravelWithdrawalSyndrome

I am pretty attached to these sounds at the moment and I haven’t been bored of them (yet) after so long!
I even go to sleep with them sometimes.

OK I think I’m pretty lazy, so I’m just going to share A FEW.

Excuses by The Morning Benders

LOVE LOVE LOOOOOVE THIS
I also like the concept of this music video very much. In the beginning when Jon (yeah, we are on first names basis now hahahhaha) introduced this video, that thing about Phil Spector is straight to my heart!

Quelqu’un m’a dit by Carla Bruni

Blue Moon by Jo Stafford

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Evidently, I got even lazier than I predicted myself to be & I actually have something to do. BYE!
Oh I just want to add that Jo Stafford’s voice is GOLD. Yeah. That’s all. Au revoir!


Stafford, 1947

If you want to read my disappointed review about GPT, you can read it here and you should, because it is an honest account. Not like the unhelpful and overrating reviews that I read prior to going there myself…!

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Now the four of us have been ushering celebratory days together for a long time and we are very spontaneous with trips regardless short- or long-distance (Cameron Highlands, Port Dickson, Singapore).

This trip is not an exception although it’s V Day and bla bla bla. But that’s not how we roll.
Long story short, we ended up at Sepang Gold Coast.
Not that I feel V Day should be the only day in the 365/6 days of the year to bla bla BLAAA you’re not interested in my theories, now are you?


#1 Me taking a photo of SW on her side of the villa taking a photo of me on my side of the villa…


#2 Someone else’s balcony.


#3 One of our balconies! L: w/out flash & R: w flash.


#4 The same balcony, where we also played card games. :grin:


#5 Another balcony which I thought was more ME! :P It would be great to kick up my feet and just read here. Or clear out the rattan chair and I’ll have sufficient space for my yoga mat.


#6 YUKATAS!


#7 A TV which actually has entertaining channels…


#8 The boys decided that it was wise to bring PS3. LOOK AT THE SHEET OF DIRT ON THAT THING!!! It was so difficult to ignore and I got slightly ticked off because instead of cleaning it, Marcus only wrapped it in a plastic bag before putting it into his bag. (Cue: OCD…)


#9 I lined our footwear! (Yeah, OCD. I know.) Looks like an extended family lives here but no, it was just the four of us… :D

The only thing I’d commend on would be the villas’ interior – everything was TOP conditions.
High thread count bedsheets, an actual comforter, quality tempered glasswares, a bathtub that works, very solid marble bathroom counter, stainless steel electric kettle (that doesn’t smell), clean balcony floors, no unexpected pests haha, etc.
I was really impressed by the interiors and felt half less conned when I actually went into the villa.

my GPT review

Other than the villa itself,


#10 We went out to the ‘sea’ when it was low tide. So low, that we could’ve walked more than a kilometer into the sea. But we didn’t make it so far. It was just about 200 or 300 meters before we turned around because it was just a void.


#11 On the right are Dan and Marcus bromancing… :roll: IT WAS SCORCHING HOT. We traipsed back to have dinner…



#12 After the elaborated, overrated and overpriced dinner that we had in the resort itself, we sat around a bit to watch the karaoke before going back to the villa to play cards and PS3.


#13 Red patches all over them. Sighhh at our boyfriends, YSW!


#14 Alco…which we all had but only one soldier down:


#15 ……bwahahhahahahaah. :P The level of his alcohol intolerance: hangover two hours after drinking.


#16 SW and I did hair mask LOL.

One by one passed out in the end. I woke up the earliest but went back to sleep because the skies were so cloudy, I couldn’t see the sunrise. :(


#17 Infinity pool.


#18 Here is a pap photo of Dan and I before we left. This is actually especially for Mom because she always complain say that I don’t get my photos taken when I travel…so here!

It was a good trip, just a bad place. Good company compensated.

I just want to express my disappointment about a resort I’ve been to just over the recent Valentine’s. The company was good and I still managed to remain relaxed and happy, but I feel that my disappointment over the place’s concept should be noted.

From what I (and SW) have heard and seen from reviews, Golden Palm Tree is similar to Avillion (Port Dickson), which is a far cry. I’ve been to Avillion and it was actually on water you can dive into. (Well, not dive, but you can get into the water, at least.)

So imagine my disappointment when I saw random objects floating on the dirty soap water which my booked villa was on…

:( :( :(

We thought we’d treat ourselves instead of the usual budget travel that we do all the time. For the rate that we paid, I expected a lot more. I thought that we should’ve really went the extra miles, and the extra bucks, for Avillion after arriving, but oh well, too late. I do not recommend Golden Palm Tree to anyone – that’s what I am saying.

Perhaps the management should rethink their entire concept. What are you really selling here?

The only thing I’d commend on would be the villas’ interior – everything was TOP conditions.
High thread count bedsheets, an actual comforter, quality tempered glasswares, a bathtub that works, very solid marble bathroom counter, stainless steel electric kettle (that doesn’t smell), clean balcony floors, no unexpected pests haha, etc.
I was really impressed by the interiors and felt half less conned when I actually went into the villa.

Despite that, if I really just wanted good interiors, would I go to a resort? No. Any hotel in the city closer to anything cosmopolitan would also do it.

I’d say that the ‘seascape’ views weren’t all that either. Not only that, there won’t be WIND even if you cannot afford to pay for the higher range, which are at the farthest end of the ‘palm tree’ signature allocations of villas. Sighhh…

OK I’ll blog about the happier times over at GPT another time. This is the end of my review. Bye-bye.

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