~ A ToPSy TuRVy & TiZzY TAzZy WorLD ~

brisbane flood

2011-01-12T04:51:00.015+08:00

I don’t know about you guys, but coming from safe and sunny Singapore, I never thought I would be embroiled in a natural disaster issue. I always thought I would be safe and have a carefree life (at least when it comes to the weather and environment; minus global warming that is). But alas, here I am, moved to Brisbane, and currently in the midst of a flood disaster. Thus far, 10 people have died (mostly children and women), and about 78 (including whole families) were unaccounted for. There was even what they called an "inland tsunami” (a.k.a. flash flood), which swept through a town (Toowomba), devastating everything in its path. I saw pictures of sofas and carpets floating in the waters out in the open.

I truly hope that this flood thing would pass real soon. And I certainly pray that my house will be spared. At the moment, it doesn’t look too promising though. (See pictures below.) The only consolation is that I live on the second floor. But still. I heard that flood waters will reach a maximum of 5m to 8m high. Dammit! My room is such a goner!

At the moment, I am safe and sound. That is what counts. I am stuck in my friend’s apartment (5 levels up) till the flood waters recede.

Never in my life did I think that I would have left my professional portfolio behind. It had always been my number one priority; or at least my top 3, after my passport and laptop (plus portable hard drives). How stupid of me? All my valuable testimonials from various people and organizations would be gone! The exact same thought that came up in my head when my house was broken into and my laptop and portable hard drive was stolen a while ago: “If only I had stayed on in safe and sunny Singapore”. I think chances of these things happening to me in Singapore would be close to 0%. Oh well… What’s more important is to learn through experience, and experience the experience. Make sense? Haha… Nevermind.

Alright, flood damage pictures as of 11th January 2011.

What a great start to a great year.
FML…

Pictures pictures pictures... Please bear with me, as I took these pictures in a panic, and of course, with my mobile phone.

My House & Street...

My stairway out of the house...

Look at my housemate's cars... Gone! On the right, there is a road sign, just indicates how high the flood water had grown.

My Street... If I hadn't told you this was a street, would you have thought this was a river instead?

Our Hero... Bruneian, Andrian, with his personal motorboat helping us out and evacuating us from the house. He was ferrying us back and forth, to salvage some of our important stuff. He even gave me his number, just in case I needed more help retrieving stuff. Mind you guys, prior to this, we were total strangers. How nice eh???

P/S: The constant war time siren gives me the jitters. And the constant sound of the helicopter flying around makes me think that I am in a war zone or something. Dare I say it's almost like some of the zombie movies i have watched.

P / P / S: Thanks for all the concerned calls and smses. I am safe and fine, for now at least. Haven't had the need to sit on my roof yet. Huge gratitude to those who offered me (and any other strangers) a place to live in. Especially if you are a complete stranger prior to this. That is an extremely selfless gesture. My sincere thanks to these people.

Peggy & Sonny's much awaited "Celebration 321"

2010-10-04T17:31:00.010+08:00

The above video was made for my TP best friend's (Peggy) much delayed "Celebration 321" cum wedding dinner event. Too bad I couldn't attend as I was stuck here in Australia.

OMG! Seriously, this short clip took me 2 days, and I reckon more than 100 takes, to make. Gosh! It was harder than I thought. First, I had to tone down on the outgoing-ness of the video. It had to be PG and parents-friendly. Then, I had to think of what to say, and make sure that whatever I said was appropriate for the occasion. (You know how the Chinese hate taboo words and stuff during weddings and other joyous occasions.) And then, I had to make sure that it was at least interesting enough, just so no one would fall asleep while watching the video. (Ummm... I think I failed on the "be interesting" part.) And the worst thing is, I needed to keep what I had to say really short and sweet. People who know me would know how long winded I am, making it a challenge for me. (I bet I can rival full time grandmothers out there.) And then, last but not the least, I needed to make sure that I pronounced certain things correctly. Tongue twisting words are definitely banned man! While filming myself, I kept pronouncing "Peggy" as "Pecky", and "regrettably" as "regratatatatatably" for no good reasons. These were just some of the many funny mistakes I made. I was contemplating doing a "NG" (No Good) video collage of all my mistakes, but decided not to since I didn't have much time. Ok, ok, and also because it was too embarrassing can?! -Faint-

I guess I am probably just very bad at this lah. Haha...

Anyway, this was done for my best friend's big day. And I seriously wish Peggy and Sonny all the best!!! I can't wait to see everyone during CNY next year.

P / S: I cannot fathom why the cover picture of the video is so hideous???!!! I thought maybe because the first image of my speech was horrible, and, thus, serve me right. But when I started viewing the video, I don't see it at all. Grrr... And yes, fucking F.A.T.. Dammit!

message funny

2010-09-09T21:59:00.002+08:00

A friend sort of sent me a SMS accidentally without knowing, at 6.48am, on a friggin’ Saturday. I was still enjoying my sleep-in then. Bloody hell!!!

The SMS:
Friend: Shit… Miss bus!
Me: Go Die!!! ASSHOLE…

P / S: The SMS he accidentally sent was a forward from one of my old SMSes to him a LONGGG time ago. I replied and went back to sleep almost immediately.

On MSN, hours later:
Me: Idiot, why you send me a SMS so early on a friggin’ weekend??? Disturb my sleep.
Friend: Got meh???
Me: Yea lah. Asshole!
Friend: Really??? Don’t lie! I didn’t realize.
Me: You could have accidentally sent it. Anyway go check your sent messages folder lah, idiot.
Friend: Must be a ghost that sent u that message. Hahaha…
Me: I wonder which thought is more disturbing; a ghost sending me a SMS, OR, a ghost sitting in your room, spying on you, using your mobile phone, and sending me a message through your mobile phone. Hmmm…
Friend: Fuck you!!!~

Haha… Nice get back??? The reason why he joked about ghosts was because of my bad encounter in my previous house. But I definitely got him back good. Lol…

table tennis after work

2010-09-07T20:51:00.002+08:00

The Table Tennis session after work was great!

It has been a LONGGG time since I last laid hands on a Table Tennis bat. Brings back fond memories of the good old army (FDS) days. Haha…

concert dilemma

2010-08-28T10:53:00.006+08:00

I'm gonna watch Adam Lambert in concert coming October. So excited!!!

Should I go for Rhianna and Angus & Julia Stone concerts too???

Broke broke broke...

weekend hermit

2010-08-22T19:31:00.000+08:00

I have been holing myself up in my room the whole of today because I was so exhausted from work. (Ok, actually I have been doing that for the past couple of weekends.) Goodness gracious! I think it must have been all that walking. I believe I have never walked that much in my life. But, oh well, I will just take it as my daily exercise regime.

On my recent weekends, I have been catching up on Rui En’s Channel 8 dramas via the internet the whole day. Thank God for the internet, else I would have missed out on all her exciting new shows this year. I must say this year is a good one for her, as all 3 of her dramas portrayed a different side of her. This probably just showed how versatile an actress she actually is. I was amazed at how great she was in all her roles, from the naive and happy-go-lucky Yang Xiao Dong (Happy Family; 过好年), to the awfully tragic and depressed Ye Si Qi (With You; 我在你左右), and then moving on to the gung ho and emotionally deep Hu Xiao Man (Unriddle; 最火搭档). I am sure that with these great dramas under her belt, she would definitely be nominated (and might even win) for a Best Actress Award at the next Star Awards Ceremony. -Fingers and toes crossed-

P / S: I am not going to reveal where I am catching up on these dramas, lest MediaCorp (or whoever) puts a stop to it. So not gonna burn my own nest. It is bad enough that Overseas Singaporeans can no longer access xinmsn.com.sg to catch up on local dramas. Thus, I would definitely be utterly devastated if my last resource is pulled off the internet. Anyways, boo to the lack of international access on the website. To think I almost signed up for the now defunct MobTV before I came back to Australia.

P / P / S: I just started on the drama, Unriddle (最火搭档). I shall start becoming a hermit until I finish the whole series. Wahaha…

eta skof chips

2010-08-13T20:29:00.004+08:00

My bag of Eta Skof... Yums Cheese & Onion Munchos.

Found this new product, Eta Skof, really interesting.

Just a brief introduction, this is a puffed corn cereal snack, probably made from an extrusion process. The snack comes in various flavours, such as spicy tomato, and cheese and onion; etc. And no, it is not an Australian product. It’s from New Zealand.

Anyway, what’s so interesting about it? Well, turn to the back and read the expiry date.

It says: “Best Before – You starve to death.” And then proceeds to show the actual expiry date.

Evidence... See what I meant??? Cute eh?!

So tongue in cheek! Every different flavour has got their own “best before” message. How nice. I can’t remember the rest, as I only identified with this one I am showing on my blog. It was the most fun out of the lot. Haha…

I like its playful view on an important food label regulation. It just amazes me how much we tend to forget to enjoy ourselves in our lives. Sometimes we really need to loosen up and just breathe and live for the moment.

And yes, the product is quite tasty as well. Not overly salty, yet just enough to tantalize your taste buds. Nice! A tad expensive though; at AUD$2.40 per (100g net) bag. I mean, it is cheap in terms of Australian standards, but not that cheap in terms of it being a new product. I can just imagine how much it would cost in a year’s time. I dare not even think about it! I mean, it is a well known fact that product pricing in Australia consistently increases every 6 months to 1 year.

Oh well, I shall just enjoy my Eta Skof cereal snack for now, and worry about everything else in the future. -Cross fingers-

pine and bamboo (peking duck)

2010-08-10T20:00:00.004+08:00

It rained the entire day today. Sooo irritating!!! I was soaked from head to toe while walking to work. Gosh! My toes were practically swimming in my shoes. Love the rain in Singapore, absolutely hate the rain in Brisbane. It’s just that, in Singapore, it seems more calm and cool when it rains, while in Brisbane, everything just seems dirty, messy, and wet. Blame it on the lack of shelters, and the vast patches of grass, mud and nature. (A little bit of addendum here... Sorry.)

Anyway, had Peking Duck with some of my colleagues for dinner today. Gosh, it was heavenly. I mean, the food was good enough. However, I must say that that was the only saving grace for the Pine and Bamboo restaurant; located at 968 Wynnum Road, Cannon Hill. (Tel: 0733999095). The restaurant’s specialty is mainly Peking Cuisine.

The Name Card... For your information; if you are interested.

First off, the place was extremely understaffed. Secondly, the wait staffs were not very polite or friendly. This, I was thinking, whether it was due to them being overly busy or something. However, that is still not an excuse.

Thirdly, the portions of the food were tiny tiny tiny... It was almost as if the portions were made for my cats.

Which comes to point number 4, what the hell happened to my duck??? I mean, we were only served the crispy skin; which was extremely delicious, I must say. However, other than that, I didn’t get to see (or rather should I say, taste) the rest of the duck. I was told that we should have been served the duck meat as well. But no! No news of the duck meat anywhere near our palates. Initially, we thought that the duck meat would be incorporated into our second course of the meal; which is a choice of either lettuce wraps or duck noodles. Thus, we assumed that the duck would be used for that. Duh!~ But no, none! This made us hopping mad!

Carving The Skin Out... The waiter carving out the crispy Peking duck skin for us to wrap in our pancake skins and sweet plum sauce. You can see the huge duck, whose meat was all wasted. Dammit!!!
My Crispy Peking Duck Skin... Yumsss!!! By the way, all the pictures are a little too dark and not very sharp because they were taken with my mobile phone; under very bad lighting.
The Whole Spread... See what I mean when I say MISER!!!??? Grrr...

Anyway, hungry us (yes, not filling at all) ordered additional rice and a Peking Chicken dish. Fabulous dish once again. But yea, the rice costs AUD$2.50 per bowl. What is this restaurant’s downfall? Blame it on them being “too much of a miser”!

Would I go back??? MAYBE…
Before I go back to this restaurant, I would have to be very certain that there would be no other options that serve better food which is more value for money. Either that, or when I start to crave for their Peking Duck again, that is.

If you are thinking of trying out their food, please do make reservations for a table. They can be quite packed despite all their shortcomings. Well, did I mention they’ve got like tons of press clippings about their Peking Duck dish displayed on their front doors? Well oh well…

P / S: As we were paying our bill at the counter, one of the wait staff happened to just enter the dining area from the kitchen. We then saw our Peking duck, along with the others’, sitting in a pile- in a bowl on the floor (or was that a pallet). I was sooo disappointed. Either the restaurant was gonna throw them away (What a waste! The duck died in vain!!!), or they weren’t practicing good food business hygiene (for my own personal standards, that is). Eeks! That freaks me out! I reckon the ducks’ bodies were too close to the floor, even though they were in a bowl (stacked up real high). I can’t imagine what they were going to do with all that excess duck meat which they’ve “cheated” off all their patrons.

P / P / S: It was raining too heavily, thus, no pictures of the restaurant front. But, you can’t miss it. The huge ass sign spans across the length (on top) of the whole restaurant, with simple bright red wordings on white background. Anyway, who can miss the strangely combined name of Pine and Bamboo??? I wonder what the name meant. Pine for the west, and bamboo for the east? Lol…

song for singapore

2010-08-09T16:53:00.002+08:00

Happy birthday Singapore!

You're being missed!!!

Too bad National Day falls on a Monday. Can't go for the NDP live screening at the university of Queensland. Have to work on Tuesday, that's why.

And yes, LOVEEE Corrinne May's NDP 2010 theme song, Song For Singapore. Such an angelic and lovely rendition.

next career move; seer for hire?

2010-07-27T21:25:00.002+08:00

Work is getting incredulous.

Incredulous, not because it is getting better. Incredulous, because I think I can begin to think of a different career path. Ever considered being a seer? I don’t think I ever did.

Conversation at work went like that:

Mr K: These are new products that the company is launching. –Hands me a list of products and their product codes- You need to find out the correct cartons (with the correct dimensions and size), labels, and whatnot to pack them into.
Me: So any idea what the products look like individually?
Mr K: No.
Me: Any samples for me to gauge with?
Mr K: No.
Me: Any dimensions for the products for me to work with?
Mr K: No.
Me: Then, how would I know which carton or labels to use for each of these products??? You don’t seem to know anything or have anything that I can use.
Mr K: Well, you just got to know, I guess. And no room for mistakes, since we have to launch these products soon. Deadline is first week of August. You have to do up these XXX and XXX forms for them before the launch too.
Me: And if I don’t know? Wow… Seriously, how are we to come up with something when we don’t even have anything to begin with. I haven’t even seen the products in real life at all. And I don’t think this is workable at all. But well, I guess I can try my best… -rolls eyes and walks away-

How nice? I guess I really have to consult my crystal ball right now. And that deadline is so close by. Why so last minute??? Now, I don’t just have to rush my reports for these XXX forms, which most of I have never done or seen before. I have to figure everything out myself, since I think the forms are quite idiot proof. The main problem lies with choosing the correct cartons and making an intelligent and correct guess.

I guess this company is either training lots of seer wannabes, or that the company just wants to knowingly sabotage themselves and close down their business in the very near future.

We shall see which conclusion stands.

I guess I can also read palms pretty well now too. Any takers?

And oh, I have yet to get myself a crystal ball too. Any sponsors for my new career??? I give you free reading for the first 10 vsits lah. Please lah, please lah…

Oh yes, and I realize that Mr K’s favourite quote at work is: “I don’t know”. And indeed, he stays true to himself, till this day. Even my friend, a UQ student intern at the company at the moment, notices that too. I wonder why my life at work is so “enjoyable” since Mr K is supposed to be my trainer too. It is no wonder I am so “good” at my work. Just great! FML…

chimpanzee with a sick mind

2010-07-19T21:48:00.000+08:00

This is one gross chimpanzee!!! Seriously! Inter-species oral sex... WTH!!! I wonder if the toad survived its ordeal. It must have been one mouthful of chimp cum. -puke-

I think if I were the toad, I would rather lose a limb or die, then live to tell the tale.

I seriously wonder what is going on in the toad's head; assuming that it was still alive. Or rather, I wonder what that chimpanzee is thinking doing something so atrocious. Oh well, animals will always be animals; I guess.

Wüstenblume (Desert Flower)

2010-07-16T21:30:00.000+08:00

I can't wait to watch this movie:

Wüstenblume; a.k.a. Desert Flower, is a movie based on Somalian model, Waris Dirie's autobiographical book of the same name. It is actually the first of 3 books.

I fell in love with this book many years ago, and just realized that the book was made into a movie. I am not sure whether the movie was out long ago, or coming out soon. I plan to watch it nevertheless; whether I have to download or watch the movie in the cinemas. Hopefully it isn't over yet, so that I can catch it in the cinemas. Hehe... And hopefully they make a movie out of the second and third book too. I am currently still missing 1 of the 3 books. Just couldn't find it anywhere. Grrr...

durian in ang moh world

2010-07-14T21:20:00.003+08:00

The other day I was eating a durian ice cream and shopping. I was happily browsing around a shop selling hiking gear, when I heard this Asian guy explaining the pungent smell of durian just right beside me. I realized in that instant that the aroma of my durian ice cream had circulated throughout the store, "stinking" up the place. It was funny how I saw the ang mohs (read: Caucasians) avoiding me, casting me dirty looks, and wispering about the "smell" in the shop. One Filipino lady even commented to her ang moh boyfriend / husband that the store smelt of durians for some reason. She obviously failed to notice that the smell was coming from my ice cream. Haha...

Oopsss!

Anyway, I bought myself a backpack which made me AUD$99.95 poorer. Well, it was on sale, and I have been looking for a cheap but functional backpack for the longest time in the world. Like finally!~

Anyways, I apologized to the shop assistant for stinking up the store. She was standing as far away as she could, but at the same time had to come close to serve me. The whole process went like this:

"She stood around, came over to me when it looked like I needed help, walk away as soon as she finished, walk back up to me to adjust my bag when I confirmed that I was buying, walk away a little more while I admired myself with the bag on in front of the mirror somemore before I bought, followed me around at a distance while I shopped somemore, and finally, accepted my payment at the cashier while humouring me with small talk and sales pitch."

Such a poor thing right? You could see it in her eyes and expression that she stopped breathing at parts while talking to me. I hope she didn't hyperventilate after I left the shop.

Actually, I didn't expect the durian aroma to be so strong from that small little stick of frozen dessert. I mean, it wasn't even real durian (I think).

Anyways, I love my durian ice cream! I shall not tell you guys where you can find good durian ice creams in Brisbane, just in case everyone starts buying up everything, leaving none for me. Boohoo me for being selfish. Wahaha...

Well, if you don't believe me, go try it yourself when you are in a place full of caucasians. It's a little mean, but a whole new experience nevertheless. Lol...

cow VS camel milk

2010-07-07T21:25:00.005+08:00

Food for thought; no pun intended.

Cow VS Camel milk. (Source)

Dare to try?!

I wish it would be commercialized asap. I can't wait to try.

Read this: "Camel milk is closer in composition to human milk". Wahahaha... That is sick, yet interesting at the same time.

Anyway, it was claimed that camel milk is healthier, and doesn't cause protein allergies.

sunny morning love

2010-07-03T11:21:00.000+08:00

It was freezing the past whole week. I was so cold, I couldn't even talk properly. Alas, I couldn't take it anymore and went off to Kmart and bought myself a cheap AUD$5.00 woven glove; for work purposes. Hell, you have no idea how cold my company's production area can be. I literally lost any senses in my hands after just 2 hours in the cold room. My hands were like red and dry, and when I washed my hands after that, the warm water stung my hands like water sizzling on a hot rock. Air conditioning during winter is definitely a no go...

Anyway it was totally embarrassing at work mid week. One of the production workers pointed out to me that my newly bought jacket still had its price tag on. -Faint!- And to think I had been wearing it for the past 3 weeks without noticing that huge ass price tag hanging around the hoody area. Haha... What a dork!

Addendum.

Finally, the weekends have arrived, and the Saturday morning looks really promising. It was sunny and slightly warmer, if not warm enough. How nice. I finally get to open my windows to air my room. Love it when the sunny rays come through the windows and brighten up my otherwise dull room. Why is it that by default, people prefer dully renovated rooms; where the walls are white and the cupboards of a dark colour? Why not psychedellic colours coupled with interesting prints? I am gonna make sure that my future house would be a psychedellic yet dark-themed Alice In Wonderland and Tim Burton mixture of sorts, with baroque and modern pop art influences, coupled with an uneven and asymmetric interior. Can't wait!

Alright, back to my mounting pile of laundry. Gosh... I'm turning my room into a laundry room with laundry lines and racks everywhere. Good thing the room is huge, to make up for the lack of a proper place for laundry sunning in the house. Loveee my current room, but dread the next move out in January 2011. If only the room was cheaper.

Shall be updating next entry soon. Shall write it while my laundry is churning in the washing machine later. Look out for it in 2 days. ;)

Tataz...

working in Australia

2010-06-26T08:22:00.001+08:00

This is my second week at work.

Absolutely hate my job!!!

Nevertheless, I still truly appreciate the fact that I currently have a job in Brisbane, Australia; in a time like this where most people are still trying to get a job. I know a couple of my friends are still jobless.

Well, people, DON'T GIVE UP!!! KEEP ON TRYING. Jia You!!!

Also, a HUGE thank you to those friends and family who had a hand in encouraging me previously too. Else, I would have chickened out and ran back home to Singapore monthssssss ago.

being overly critical?

2010-06-24T20:38:00.001+08:00

Anyone ever realized that we are always more critical of people in the same community (group / religion / race / gender) with us, then someone else from another community???

Weird isn't it? And I thought we were supposed to support one another all the more if we were from the same community / group.

Also, we tend to be emotional in our critics alot of times. Like for the same issue, we can normally be bias against someone, but totally accept it when it comes down to another person.

Hmmm... Just some food for thought.

P / S: This is from my own observation and realization of myself and people around me.

egg & chicken

2010-06-21T20:01:00.002+08:00

Have always wanted to share this funny conversation, but never had the time to blog.

Anyway, I was eating with a friend eons ago. We ordered Chicken Omelette. When the dish came, my friend just innocently remarked: "Aiyo, today we ate the mother / father chicken, and their child, all in one dish".

I burst out laughing...

I would never have thought of this. Quite interesting thought though. Don't you think so too???

P / S: For those few who still continue reading my blog, even after the drought of entries (for God knows how long), THANK YOU big big!!! Love you long long... ;)

P / P / S: I did the Academic IELTS test a few weeks ago, for my Masters in Dietetics degree application, since I couldn't use my General Training one. So idiotic right? Waste my money. In the end, the test similar also what! Only difference is that writing section 1 is not letter writing, but graph analysis lor. AUD$300+++ leh. Luckily my first test was sponsored by the university. Anyway, didn't do as well as the first test. BUT still scored an overall 8 out of 9. Thank God! If only I didn't screw up in my writing and speaking sections. And to think I still did pretty well for Listening, even though I screwed up 3 questions. Zoned out and missed 3 answers in one row. Haha... Dammit!

exciting sex and the city 2 OST news

2010-06-02T08:26:00.003+08:00

I can't wait for the Sex and the City movie 2 soundtrack. With its fantastic lineup and all, who can?

First, there are 2 Alicia Keys songs.

Then, there is this duet by Jennifer Hudson and Leona Lewis. -hyperventilates- I love these 2 singers to bits. Love the combination even more.

And then, as if not enough, there is a remake of Beyonce's hit "Sinlge Ladies" by cabaret legend Liza Minelli; probably with her own spin of cabaret and jazz on it.

And, alas, I hear something from the very talented Ricki Lee Coulter, one of the top 12 finalists from Australian Idol (sesason 2), in an American music compilation CD. I have always wondered where she was hiding herself, only showcasing her singing talents in the Australian market. It is time to showcase her deep, raspy and powerhouse vocals to the international market. Oh yes, apparently her song was being used in the trailer as well.

By the way, the four ladies of Sex and the City would be cutting a song as well. That is if the report I read on Yahoo Entertainment (titled: SATC2 Soundtrack Divas) is accurate enough.

for the sake of God... Move that butt already!

2010-05-13T14:55:00.004+08:00

I am so sick of the way Australians work. Seriously, can’t they just work without having someone to nanny them along all the time?

First, it is the rental agent. What a fucking retard. She can’t even do a simple lease transfer properly. And the best thing, she doesn’t even know how to reply phone calls and emails.

And the other problem is from my intern supervisor. I have been waiting for his testimonial since November last year. Seriously, can’t he just write one fucking short testimonial for my performance without having the need for me to send him so many emails and calls about it? And to think I even asked him for it since the last month of my intern. He even said that he would email it to me, before I left the company on my last day at work, as he was too busy to write it before I complete my internship.

Now, after so many unreplied emails and calls, I somehow feel like a fucking stalker.

Bloody idiots!

My Singaporean friends used to say this: Australians are so slow that when they work, even the machines they make are so damn slow. Hell, even the flies here fly super slow.

I cannot agree more.

But to be fair, I do have Australian friends (the minority) who are efficient as well. So well, the above comment should be directed at just the majority, I guess.

If any Australians out there wanna disagree of the above, then prove it! Just denying the fact verbally or through writing is no use. I can almost quote one full- Microsoft Words- page of inefficient, slow and unproductive major organizations that I have already come across in Australia if I needed to.

P / S: Why am I still here in Australia then? Well, just my luck to have chosen to come to a university here. I am just trying to earn back the huge amount of money I spent for my degree from the country where I spent it on. Trust me; I would definitely fuck off back to my own home country (or anywhere else) when the time comes. That, no one has to worry about on my behalf. I can’t wait for that day to come!

good news (finally!), Deakin accepted me

2010-04-20T02:29:00.002+08:00

For some reason blogspot is not showing my past 2 posts properly. I really hate the university’s Apple (Mac) computer shit. I shall get it right asap tomorrow. Just bear with the bad layout and print, until I collect my friend’s spare laptop to use.

Anyway, my main point in this entry is:

I am being accepted by Deakin University, for the year 2012 semester 1 Masters in Dietetics programme.

OMG! Thank God! I am still waiting for slow assed Flinders University to reply though.

Whatever it is, this is like the first and biggest best thing that happened to me for the past few months or so.

I just have to go do another IELTS test; this time round, the Academic version, for entrance. Oh well, how much harder can it be compared to the General Training version? Hopefully it can be a piece of cake. To think I thought I had made a steal when UQ sponsored my first IELTS test. Dammit! Now, it is almost rendered useless since I am doing the Academic version too. Oh well, I have already used my General Training results for my immigration purpose anyways. I just hope that this is worth it. Imagine previously, the thought of having to do a duplicate undergraduate degree (Applied Food Science and Nutrition; Majoring in Nutrition) almost teared me apart. Haha… Comparing AUD$300+ with AUD$25K, obviously I am gonna choose the former. Now I just have to tell my family in Singapore the good news.

P / S: Hey Adrian and Edda, Sorry for being such a pain in the ass, and having to trouble you guys with special deliveries every time you guys are on duty to Brisbane. Laptops are bulky and troublesome I know. Haha… I swear those burglars will die horrible deaths, as retribution. But thanks a lot for always helping. ;)

and it continues...

2010-04-19T10:44:00.004+08:00

As a continuation to the previous post, it was just the burglar’s luck they broke into the house and stole our stuff on my birthday. One of my three wishes were about them. Go figure. Haha…

And yes, my mum called me on my birthday to tell me that my (maternal) grandmother’s cat finally passed away. It had succumbed to the stomach cancer that was plaguing it for the past 6 months or so. Goodbye Furby! Although he was never my favourite cat, I still think he was adorable. My maternal side of the family loved him to bits. Rest in peace darling.

best birthday ever! -_-III

2010-04-18T11:37:00.009+08:00

Thank you for all the birthday wishes people!

But life is kinda not super rosy right now.

As mentioned to a friend a couple of days ago (via MSN), my life was probably at its lowest point; then. That was what I thought, then. Last night, I think was probably my lowest point in life and nothing can top that, seriously.

Haven’t been blogging angry posts as I am trying to keep this blog a happy place. But this incident was too much. I’m sorry for the upcoming vulgarities and uncouthness. Not like it is anything new lah. Lol…

Anyway, here goes…

I have been living on my friends’ couch in the living room for the past couple of weeks. I do have a home that I can’t return to for various reasons. (Shall post the reason up later. My housemates and I are searching for someone to take over the house from us right now.)

Last night, someone broke into my friend’s house (the one I am staying in), and stole ALL our laptops. They even took my external hard drive; which meant the world to me. Because of what someone did in a moment of greed and folly, that person caused misery to 4 others. They probably thought that all that matters was the money. They were wrong. My housemate has got his upcoming exams to worry about and an assignment due tomorrow. And that was all gone. My friend, studying law, had her freshly completed assignments taken from her. Another friend and I, had all our written resumes taken from us, further hindering our job search in our already bleak future careers in Brisbane. Speaking for myself, I lost 2 years worth of research, assignments and my undergeaduate Honours Thesis, plus about 10 years worth of memories in terms of photos and videos (most of which weren’t even blogged due to laziness).

I practically lost my life. I likened this to being reborn. Coinciding with my birthday, I feel that I am starting life all over again, picking up the pieces from scratch. Sure I might be able to recover some of my stuffs, but definitely not everything. And yes, everything in that external hard drive is important to me, minus the movies and music, that is. I was so sad that I actually contemplated packing my bags and running back to Singapore, just to lead a safe and peaceful life. However, I told myself to be strong. Why let the devil take over me and ruin a possible career out of Singapore for me?

Seriously, this is the last thing we need to happen to us right now, or rather anyone else.

You know what irks me more? The neighbour, also a Food Science friend, saw 2 Asians (one male and one female; possible Chinese) come into the backyard of the house. High chance they were the ones who committed this heinous crime, since they were seen leaving and then coming back again, while we were out doing some much need shopping and fresh air (haven’t been out of the house for weeks). Bloody bastards! As a fellow Asian and student, they should know how hard it is for all of us to survive out here in Brisbane without our families. How dare they make such bad moves? I hope they rot in hell.

Anyway, after all the CSI shit (finger printing and DNA) that was done in the house, I seriously hope that the burglars would get caught. Such fuckers! But I reckon it is of no use. As a fellow Science student, it is not a secret that DNA and fingerprint matching is hard to do unless the culprits already have records with the police. And being foreign students, I doubt that chance being high. Just a comment on the police department’s efficiency; they took 1.5 hours to arrive at the crime scene (our house). Initially, they got the wrong suburb and went all the way to New Stead, instead of St. Lucia where we are at. That is like HOURS away, please check Google Map how far apart these places were. I told my friends that if someone was trying to kill us, we would have died and chopped up and thrown into the river before the police arrived.

Then, they waltzed into the house and had to be prompted with questions they asked us. Like what the hell??? The only consolation was that they were nice, although they did assume that we were a bunch of rich brats (the feeling they gave us via their random comments), even though we are not. (We are not even rich lah.) I’m saying so because they actually said things like “you guys should get your stuff insured. I don’t know whether you guys bought your own stuff, or your parents bought them for you. But yea, you should get all your valuables insured regardless”. Another comment was “Wow, are you guys having a competition for high-end technology or something?”. (That was mentioned after taking down notes on the brands and cost of our gadgets.) I wasn’t present when the second comment was mentioned though. And yes, as it was really late last night when we reported the incident, they had to wait till this morning for evidence of the burglary to be collected. I totally understand this, but seriously, we lost almost hald our evidences due to rain and careless handling through the night. Shouldn’t the evidences be collected like on the same day to avoid any contamination and loss of evidences?

Also, the management for the house was horrible as well. They immediately pushed the blame on us for the burglary incident, although they did take responsibility for fixing the balcony doors. However, they said that they could only do that on Monday because it is SUNDAY today and their day off. WTH!!!??? After much phone exchanges, they decided to come down to put a temporary solution to the problem, with wooden planks holding the doors locked from inside. Wow… How wonderful. It makes us less worried eh??? Fuck you!

Anyway, this shall serve as a memorable birthday for me; my mid-twenties, my loss of life, my rebirth, and all.

Fuck my life right not. -_-III

And yes, happy- not- birthday to me. I am so loving my life right now.

P / S: For those who want to know which housing management this is, let me know privately via email or phone. I don’t want to be liable since this is not my rented property.

P / P / S: Just to answer the question from many of my friends, the burglars came into the house by prying open the balcony’s (insect) net doors. One unanimous conclusion from everyone was that these criminals were probably stalking us for days or weeks on end, this was due to the immaculate calculations where they actually tarteed the house 1 hour after we left (in BROAD DAY LIGHT- 3pm). This outing was a break from our normal routine, as I have mentioned above somewhere that we had been staying home all day the past few weeks. My friend noticed someone loitering outside the premises on several occasions, probably different people, but didn’t think much of it as students always did that while waiting for their friends outside their houses.

eye colour surgery

2010-04-16T18:18:00.011+08:00

OMG! I was just watching the The Tyra Banks Show, about black market plastic surgery in the United States, where they talked about this surgery procedure to permanently alter a person’s eye (iris) colour.

Gosh! Why are people always so obsessed with their eye colour? Why do some people with a darker shade of iris always see the lighter shades as “more beautiful”? Why are people obsessed with blue irises in particular???

Seriously!

Anyway, watch the video here:

Just to mention, this form of surgery is not usually heard of, and highly not advisable. The words of a professional plastic surgeon on the show.

Listen to what the woman (who had the surgery done) had to say of her surgery and her post surgery healing process- pain, increased risk of glaucoma, the inability for full vision due to the lack of dilation of the pupils (or something along the line, you get the drift); etc.

A quick search through the internet, and I actually found this “NewColorIris” website. I seriously have no idea if this is a bogus website or not; or rather whether it was the company they were talking about in the Show. Well, I guess they work the same way.

Looking through the website, I was shocked. Really! They even had before - after pictures of some of their patients. I felt sad for some of them already. One girl originally had 2 different iris colours. She had them changed to the same colour; a more consistent green. According to Wikipedia, this condition is known as Heterochromia. Such a rare sight! Why did she have to change it man?! What a waste. Didn’t she feel special or unique at all? Anyway, I guess everyone would feel differently about such things. I think she probably was ostracized and laughed at a lot for being different. Which is probably why she decided to change that part of her? In another picture, a Black guy actually changed his brown iris to a shade of plastic blue, which is just extremely unnatural. WTH! The things people do to themselves.

(Source; April 2010)

On another note, if you enlarge some of the "After" pictures on the website, I must say some of the jobs were not even done that well. You can see that some of the original colour of the iris could be visible behind the inserted coloured implant via the pupil “hole”. I guess that is probably God’s way of reminding the person his / her original true self.

Please don’t do such things to yourselves people! The most just wear coloured contact lenses lah!

you, you, you

2010-04-07T15:09:00.002+08:00

At times of adversity, play the blame game.

synchronized goldfish

2010-04-05T18:00:00.007+08:00

Amazing video peeps!

I have never seen anyone train a fish, much more a goldfish, any tricks. Seriously, aren’t goldfishes supposed to only have a 3 seconds long memory? Well, if I'm wrong, blame this SITE!

A mini search through the internet, it was mentioned in a couple of websites that the 3 seconds memory is actually a myth. It was further reported that goldfishes actually has a memory of at least 3 months. One example given was that goldfishes would be able to tell time and come up for food during feeding time, at almost the exact time, every day. More information can be seen HERE and HERE.

Interesting!

deakin full for next year???

2010-04-01T15:46:00.003+08:00

Alright, I am super shocked (and sad) right now.

Deakin University just got back to my agent at AusEd to say that the Masters in Dietetics programme in their university are full for the whole of year 2011. WTF!!! And it is just April 2010 right now. -_-III

Seriously, I hope this is just an April’s Fool joke lah. Grrr…

I am seriously crossing my fingers right now! I asked to be put on the waiting list (if they even have one!) just in case someone drops out. Either that or I would have to change my application for 2012. Wow! 2 years!

Anyways, I also applied to Flinders University, Griffith University and the University of Canberra.

Well, I have a feeling I might be rejected for most of the universities. I have been reminded that the Masters programme that I am applying for is extremely popular and difficult to get in, and that the risk of me being rejected is high due to the lack of Nutrition and Biochemistry modules in my Diploma and Bachelor. Haiz… I seriously hate my life right now. But oh well, I applied for the courses anyway. Like I’ve always said “you never know till you try”. I seriously hope someone accepts me. Especially Deakin or Flinders. ;)

P / S: For those in Australia, who wants to apply for a university place in any Australian Universities, you can try applying through AusEd. My current agent is doing a great job so far. I think far better than IDP Singapore, at least. Just my observations.

P / P / S: Well, anyway, the consolation here is that at least Deakin asked whether I wanted to apply for another faculty instead. So that means that they are not rejecting me, and that their claims that the programme is full is real right? Lol... Ok, I shall just console myself with this self made conclusion. (Disclaimer: Eh they really did ask me to consider applying for another faculty! I only made up the second half of my self conclusion. Muahaha...)

chinese names???

2010-03-30T07:56:00.002+08:00

I was filling up the Australian Immigration forms today, and I felt like a dick.

One of the questions asked me for my family member’s names in their Chinese characters.

WTF!!! What for man? It’s not like they would understand what I wrote anyway. My Australian friend asked me to make one up, for that reason. Haha…

Seriously, I have no idea how to write the words. I am currently waiting the email scan from my mum and dad.

How nice! -_-III

crabby patty died!

2010-03-21T17:37:00.003+08:00

I haven’t even had time to blog about my new pet crab (an inland crab, named Crabby Patty) yet, and now, I have to talk about its death, after just 1 week. I haven’t even had time to post up its pictures (taken after I found it in my wardrobe during one of its multiple escapes).

That is so sad!

I mean, seriously, I have no idea why it died. It sort of died suddenly without any visible reason. It was still crawling around the fish bowl actively, and even tried escaping every single night, prior to its death. It was even still alive early that morning. Haiz…

Now, it’s buried at the back of my courtyard.

This is so depressing.

Crabby Patty... Running away from me.

Let's say goodbye to Crabby Patty for the first and last time.

Wave Goodbye...

jobs lacking

2010-03-19T13:10:00.000+08:00

Wah finding work in Australia is almost like impossible. Totally NOOOOOO job vacancies AT ALL. The few that I found were all looking for experienced people in the industry. Dammit! Who said experience wasn’t important? You can have 500 000 degrees and no one would want you if you lacked experience. I totally have no idea how some people can just study and study, and not work.

Faint!

I am so gonna go down to IDP or AustEd soon to get my Masters programme applied, just in case.

camwhorish, but not THAT camwhorish

2010-03-13T01:31:00.003+08:00

I have to clarify that when I say “I love camwhoring”, it doesn’t literally mean that I loveee to take pictures of myself. It only meant that I loveee taking pictures; either with people and animals, or just being photographed (alone) by others.

I seldom take a camera, point it to my own face, and take a picture.

Unless I am super bored that is. Not that it never happened.

And yes, most of the pictures of me alone, are taken BY OTHER PEOPLE!!! Either with my consent, or without; enthusiastically, or unaware.

I am surprised some people don’t see that, and think that most of my “narcissistic” pictures were self taken. Yes, even if it was a portrait shot from a distance. Gosh! I must have grown a secret tail (like a monkey) or an arm (like an octopus) to do that from a distance.

full of addendums

2010-02-23T18:01:00.001+08:00

OMG! I don’t feel like going back to Brisbane. And my flight back is coming Monday! Grrr!!!

Addendum.

I put on weight, even though I cut down on CNY junk and Singapore food! WTH!!! I didn’t even eat bak kwa can!!! So angry!!!

But my hairstylist said I lost weight. Compared to last year. Hmmm…

Then I must have been extremely fat last year. Eeks! I wonder which thought was more scary.

Addendum.

There are so many things to do, but not enough time. So sick of rushing against time, and living out of my suitcase.

I still haven’t went clubbing / pubbing with my friends.

I still haven’t bought my military style jacket. –Don’t care if it is out of fashion already. I’m not buying it for the sake of fashion.- Basically, the clothes this season from all the brands I like suck!

I still haven’t read all my 8 Days magazines that Stephen had helped me buy.

I still haven’t swam and tanned enough with cousin Edda.

I still haven’t had enough of my grandmothers’ (plural because both maternal and paternal included) signature dishes.

I still haven’t admired cousin Averil’s CNY-eve born kittens.

I still haven’t had enough time to hang out with my cousins and friends.

I still haven’t cuddled my cats, Topsy and Tizzy, enough.

Addendum.

I realized a lot of my friends are flying to Brisbane on the 28th February. Even the non Brisbane student friends. Why not 1st March ar!!!??? I super bored on plane alone leh!!!

Ok, enough addendums and ranting. I need to go sulk more alone.

first driving refresher course

2010-02-22T18:30:00.002+08:00

I went for my first driving refresher course today.

I was so excited at being able to drive again, after 3 years of "no-drive". And yes, I was so scared that I would kill a pedestrian, tree, stray animal or lamp pole.

But it wasn’t as hard as I thought it’d be.

However, I was glad that I went for this refresher course since I totally forgot that I had to step on the clutch and brake combination to stop. I totally remembered it to be just the brake; which will amount to an e-brake. Hahaha…

Ok, anyway, I was better than I expected today. Another 1 or 2 lessons, and I would be just as good as before. Wahahaha... Ummm… Ok, I wasn’t very good before too. Lol….

Anyway, I was pretty disappointed with the instructor appointed to me. I specifically asked for an English speaking instructor. The receptionist said “sure, all our instructors speaks English” over the phone. In the end, my instructor cannot be any more cheena than he already was. Thank God I totally understood him. But I cannot stand it when he gave ambiguous instructions like 踩油 (Direct translation: Step on oil) and 吃油 (Direct translation: Eat oil). Apparently the former is to get me to accelerate, while the latter is to stop accelerating. I was totally confused.

The instructor even told me how lucky I was to get him since he has got 47 years of teaching experience. -faint- That would mean he is about 60+ years old can! No wonder he doesn’t speak an ounce of English. His teaching experience is almost as old as my mother lah. And truthfully, I don’t think I am that lucky when I got him as my instructor. He is not as good as he thinks he is as an instructor can. I still prefer my National Service Driving Instructor Mr Zamri. Not sure if he is still teaching though. Too bad I am currently rushing for time at the moment (with my departure date). If not, I would definitely give Mr Zamri a call. He is the best lah.

But to be fair to my refresher course instructor today, he was very patient with me, which was good. The last thing I want is to quarrel with the bloody instructor and berate him with my own brand of expletives for being rude to me lah. Haha…

P / S: The moment I got into the car, I told the instructor to treat it as if I have never driven in my life, even though I've got a driving license for years. Haha... I think he got scared for a bit.

addicted to curveball

2010-02-19T23:23:00.002+08:00

I am currently extremely into this online game called CURVEBALL.

It is a simple and monotonous game, but I am just so addicted to it lah.

And the thing is, as simple as it is supposed to be, I can never get pass level 7 for some reason. Yea, I seldom play games, so that could be a reason. LOL...

Grrr!!!

quantity or quality?

2010-02-12T22:42:00.004+08:00

Some one was telling me how he wished he was more sociable, and have more friends.

I was puzzled. I questioned him about the need for sooo many friends?

Seriously, I do not think that having more friends would validate anyone’s life. It does not mean that you are popular, or that you are an extremely sociable person by nature.

I feel that having just a handful of very close friends; friends who are there for you when you need them, and friends who laugh with you (not at you); would just be good enough.

What is the point of having a huge circle of friends who would not be there to lend you a helping hand?

What is the point of having friends who make empty promises; people who would never honour what they say?

These are all just useless “friends” who take up precious space and / or waste your energy trying to accommodate for nothing.

One analogy: Assuming you have 500 friends on facebook. And each time you post something up on facebook, 300 of these friends either comments or "likes" what you posted. But how many of these 500 friends would you actually call up for a meet up whenever you are free? And vice versa.

So basically, what is the point of having a massive circle of friends, but none are close enough at all? Well, basically, just for networking I guess? But then again, that is no longer a true friendship anymore. It’s business; and should not have been termed as a “friendship”. Isn’t it?

Just my two cents worth.
Enjoy!

ielts results

2010-02-10T11:33:00.001+08:00

I just received my IELTS test for my Australian Temporary Residence application.

Listening: 8.5 out of 9.0

Reading: 8.5 out of 9.0

Writing: 8.0 out of 9.0

Speaking: 8.0 out of 9.0

Overall: 8.5 out of 9.0

Thank God!!!

It was a fairly easy test. But I seriously hate the listening section. I feel that the way the listening section was tested makes it totally redundant and lame. Basically, a lot of concentration is needed. And I kept zoning in and out of concentration, so much that I missed out on a couple of answers and had to improvise with logical answers.

Anyway the whole thing is over now. Phew!~

packed like sardines

2010-02-09T11:25:00.004+08:00

Damn funny video I found online:

This is a video of how the Japanese squeezed themselves into the public trains.

I am seriously traumatized for a bit.

Just a few days ago, I was just so irritated at all that people in the trains and buses every time I went out. At one point, I even said to someone (I can’t remember who) “It’s a weekday, why aren’t all these people at work or in school???!!! Grrr…”.

There we go, the situation in Singapore is not as bad as that in Japan yet. Haha… It gives new meaning to the metaphor “packed like sardines”.

singapore is fast!

2010-02-08T10:47:00.001+08:00

I am extremely amazed at how much Singapore had changed over the year. OMG! I am speechless.

There were like 3 or 4 major shopping malls (Illuma, Ion Orchard, Orchard Central, and 313 Orchard) that just opened its doors recently (some shops not fully opened officially yet.). And then so many places were also renovated and made so much nicer (Mandarin Gallery and various neighbourhoods; etc). Gosh! Can Singapore work even faster than this? I must say it’s a pretty impressive job done.

I would say my favourite new mall is Ion Orchard. OMG! I loveee Bershka can! So many international labels opened their shops there as well.

Had a conversation with someone (can’t remember who) about this. Apparently we were just thinking how Singapore actually squeezed out ample space to build even more buildings and malls. As small as Singapore really is, the government actually managed to make full use of the tight space, and even find space to build even more stuff around the country. (There are still buildings being built in the city. I wonder what those would be when they are done.)

But one thing is for sure, Singapore is definitely gunning to attract more tourists, with all that IR and Sentosa thingy going on, coupled with all the new malls coming up.

Shiok! Good for shopaholics like me then! ;)

P / S: Disappointed with Zara’s collection this season. Bought nothing, since I didn’t think the clothes were very impressive. I have been waiting 1 year to shop at Zara and this is what I see when I fly back? Haiz… Even the other shops are a huge disappointment in their collection. Seriously, I have been out shopping everyday for the past 2 weeks, and I seriously bought nothing. -_-III Ummm… I am eyeing a Bershka jacket and a Topman jacket lah. But well, we shall see what happens this coming weekend. I think The Face Shop also has a new interesting product- some diamond microderm exfoliator thingy. Shiny diamond bits were actually seen on my hand after I wiped the tester blob off my hand. Might buy that too. Muahaha…

LV obsessed

2010-02-07T11:31:00.004+08:00

The other day I walked into the LV (Louis Vuitton) store with my friends; in shorts, slippers and a t-shirt. Not forgetting the unkempt and unstyled hair. Haha… You know what people would always say, how the sales persons in the store would look you down from head to toe if you're not dressed appropriately when you enter the store. I think that wasn't even my concern that day. (But I have to say, I didn't feel any negative vibes from the sales persons leh. I wonder if people are just being too self conscious and sensitive; or whether I am just too ignorant and heck care-ish.)

I think Australia has changed me. In the past I never really would walk out of the house without having at least my hair styled (except if I am buying something downstairs lah). But now, I am even going to Orchard like that. I don’t even care anymore. Haha… I mean not that I cared about how I looked in the past. Never really bothered about what other people would think or say ever. But well, I guess I am just being lazy right now.

Anyway, that is not the main point.

The main point is, I was just looking at the wallets in the shop and telling my friend how I am still waiting for someone to give me one of those, without having to buy it for myself. I even said that I needed a sugar mummy / daddy. Wahaha…

And voila, wish came true the very next day. Ummm… I meant the LV wallet, not the sugar mummy / daddy part.

Someone very nice actually gave me a LV wallet!!! In the shade of colour I wanted some more.

Wahahaha…

-Floats away dreamily-

humidity & its nonsense

2010-02-06T00:35:00.002+08:00

I always thought that it was bullshit when people tell me about the humidity in Singapore after coming back from overseas. I mean I do know that Singapore generally has higher humidity compared to most other countries, but I have never experienced the effects of it at all (coming back from another country).

However, for the first time in my life, I experienced it! Like finally. I was wet and hot and sticky the whole day for the first week of my return from Brisbane. It was so unbearable; I had to buy wet tissues to wipe myself down every now and then, several times a day. It was the most horrible feeling, since I felt dirty every single second.

But well, that lasted all but one week. I am back to normal now, gladly. Or maybe it is just me holing myself up in air conditioned places (except when I am tanning or cycling with cousin Edda and Adrian) every chance I get. We shall see!

P / S: Picture above was posted at random, because I was told that I never ever post pictures up on the blog anymore. Thus, the randomness. I did take lots of pictures with cousin Edda's iPhone over the week. Shall get the pictures from her and post them up. Very cool pictures edited with the iPhone's many applications. Excited!

swim, tan, eat (enjoying life)

2010-01-30T12:11:00.001+08:00

Went swimming and tanning at the club with cousin Edda for the last 3 days. Stayed over at her place too. Had lots of fun hanging out with her, Adrian and Isa. It was so funny how I sneaked into the club with her. Haha… Well, I had to sneak in since I am no longer a member there. Grrr! And yes, why should we waste money signing guests in when we can sneak in??? Oops!~

Which club? I’m not saying… Lalala

Anyway, I loveeeeee my new tan at the moment. Woohoo… I need a little more tan before I can stop. The tan lines from Brisbane are still there for some reason. Anyone up for a swim and tan, let me know.

Oh yes, the chilli crab and sambal baby squid we had were soooooo gooooood! Next on the menu, black pepper crab (Adrian’s choice) and salted egg yolk crab and prawns (I MUST HAVE!!! I don't care!!!).

P / S: I haven’t collected our camwhore pictures yet. I’m sold on the iphone, even if I don’t like Apple products. I guess the camwhore applications on the iphone really just stroked my furry head and neck the right way. Love the camera effects applications, and the efficient and competent enough camera functions. But no, not buying. Too expensive!!! Besides, I just got my current mobile phone, like, last year. I always use my mobile phones till they spoil one. Wahaha… Not a mobile phone whore lah.

P / P / S: I just remembered that I still have not post up the pictures cousin Edda and I took in Brisbane. She flew down to Brisbane in January lah. Ok, will go search for that picture and do something about it. The pictures were so fun, since they were all taken on her new Apple laptop (don’t know which model lah).

P / P / P / S: Should I buy a camera with underwater capabilities? Or should I save some more to get a DSLR??? Or should I get both? Hmph… CNY prezzie anyone??? Lol… Kidding!~

lameness

2010-01-27T10:58:00.005+08:00

Interestingly stupid MSN conversation today:

Someone: You’re back in Singapore already? So bad, never tell me.
Me: Well, it’s written BIG BIG on MSN quick message what.
Someone: I’m not so free to read messages. Why should I read messages?
Me: Well, basically because you wanted to know? Duh! By the way I am also not so free to send you messages. Why should I send you messages?

What a joke right?

Seriously, I don’t even know why this person is still on my MSN contact list, after like multiple “spring cleaning” sessions. (To be precise, twice a year.) Matter of fact, why was this person even on my contact list in the first place. Gosh! I think I really need to re-evaluate my criteria for adding people on my MSN! I currently feel like a whore, having someone I don't consider a friend on my MSN friends list. It almost feels like a prostitute having sex with random strangers (for whatever reason). (Well, I'm saying this because people who know me would know that I'm not the sort who adds any Tom, Dick, Harry, or Mary. Oh, unless someone's approach in the first place is correct.)

To Note: People that I want to meet up with would already know by now that I am back in Singapore. For those who don’t, well, MSN and the blog is the way to go for information. Otherwise, too bad, I guess you’re either just not important enough, or you just don’t care enough to notice from the many public spaces I have on post about this. (Of course, main reason would be the former.)

Ciao!

back in Singapore!!!

2010-01-25T00:05:00.001+08:00

Back home in Singapore, like finally. Home sweet home.

But for some reason, I am allergic to my cats too. Same thing happened last year during summer vacation. This really suck!!!

things undone still

2010-01-23T17:54:00.001+08:00

I am so screwed. I am flying back to Singapore tomorrow afternoon, and I still have not:

1. Packed my luggage.
2. Packed up and vacate my current room.
3. Packed up and vacate my space in the house.
[Because of points 2 and 3, it means that I have not even moved my stuff to my friend’s place for safe keeping.]
4. Returned the agents the keys and signed the bond release forms.
5. Found a new place to stay at when I return in March 2010.
6. Changed my mailing address for my bank statements, university online status; etc.
7. Washed all my dirty clothings.
8. Cleared up all the food in the refrigerator.
9. Had breakfast / lunch with my friends at Sizzler.

And the list goes on…

Haiz… What a chore! I shall continue when I am in Singapore, I guess.

P / S: Went for my IELTS test today. OMG!!! I am so pissed at myself. The test itself is not difficult at all. But for some sick reason, I kept zoning in and out during the listening section, so much so that I missed out quite a few answers, and had to make some pretty nasty guess work. And I overshot my composition by 250 words, which might mean that I am not concise enough. Grrr…

humans & animals; a preference for

2010-01-20T19:23:00.005+08:00

Someone asked me why I never ever change my desktop wallpaper. Well, basically that is because I miss my cats very much. And of course, because the collage was made by yours truly too. And then I was also asked why I never use my family’s picture as a wallpaper? Or my friends’ pictures, for that matter. Do I not miss them too?

Well, technically, that is because I miss my cats the most. I’m sorry to say.

Apart from that, I get this sense of resentment every time I am around humans too much. I almost wished that I was just surrounded by animals instead. Or for that matter, I would rather I was an animal. I kind of hate my parents for giving birth to me. Apart from that, I am all cool with them. So naturally, I don’t ever want to be around humans as long as it permits me to, thus, my resistance in using pictures of people around me for my wallpaper.

I am not sure about anyone else, but I kind of resent being human. Being human is kind of exhausting. We are always guarding against one another. The things we do to one another are just absurd. All for what? Trying to be better than everyone else? What about the deceit and backstabbing? And then there are the schemes and lies too.

Yes yes I know. It is worst in the animal kingdom, where the weak would perish, never to be remembered again, while the strong survives and thrives. Yes, I know animals have to work so much harder for survival. It was almost as if they could die at any second if they had let their guards down too low.

Anyhow, I really envy the life of a house cat or dog. There are never any worries; about food and shelter. That is, if they have a loving owner. They laze around on soft cushy beds, whiling the day away in a dreamy gaze, getting fatter and fatter each day without a worry. I can almost imagine swishing my tail to and fro, cocking my neck in an angle to allow sneak peeks of my surroundings as I enjoy my lazy slumber. I twitch my nose and whiskers occasionally, detecting the aroma of baked pies and fried fish. I lift my head, chin held high, taking in the beautiful aroma as it wafts pass my furry pink button nose. I hear the tinkle of the bottle, my name being called. With a quick soft push with my back legs, and a slow steady stretch of my front paws, I pull myself out of the whirlpool of laziness and waltz into the kitchen as my food was being laid out in front of me. There it lays; a whole fish deboned and cooked with love and perfection, my sparkling Perrier water glistening where the sun hits the surface of the sweet and expensive liquid. I lap up my food, taking my own sweet time. I wash myself after my food, licking my paws clean and wiping my face with my paws in a circular motion. I waltz back to my soft cushion lazily, purring as I proceed. My heavy body lowers into the silky welcoming cushion, just as my purring becomes engulfed in a silent rhythmic snore.

Well, anyway, my point is, give me a furry cuddly animal any time. And keep the humans away, for all I care. At least you seldom feel disappointed with the animal, but not the same can be said about humans.

Anyway, I shall end my ramblings now, as I delve back into my movies. Shall write again soon, I hope.

A disgruntled and exhausted human, and cat poseur.
XOXO

P / S: I love animals, but I hate birds to the core!!! They are worst than human beings.

films, books & the lack of time

2010-01-18T19:46:00.005+08:00

OMG! Was so busy the whole month, so much so that I just wanted to- and did- laze in bed when it was an off day (when I had nothing to do).

A friend pointed out that I have barely blogged at all the whole of year 2009. I was shocked at the truth. Didn’t really think time would pass so fast.

God! I am just so tired of living life. Why can’t all of us just lie around, enjoy the breeze and sun, and still be able to live life.

Back to watching the film, Phoebe in Wonderland, starring Elle Fanning (Dakota Fanning’s younger sister). Such a talented kid! OMG! I really think the acting talent runs in the Fanning family. Love those 2 to bits. In short, the film is about this little girl suffering from Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), her little world, her life perspective, and how she deals with things going on around her. Such a great show. It sets me thinking about my own OCD problems too. Unknown to anyone, even my family, I do believe I have a little OCD problem too; a very mild one that is. In the show, Phoebe likes to do repetitive things (washing her hands excessively), doing routine practices in hopes that she would be able to get or do something totally unrelated (like jumping the squares on the pavement a certain way thinking it would help her get the leading role in the school play), and having an extremely fluid imagination of things around her (running around the colourful garden with the red queen; a character in her school play). I think I am her 50%. Haha…

I mean, I don’t wash my hands excessively, but I am extremely sensitive to oily or polished surfaces, and would feel rather uncomfortable touching such things (for example, slippery and polished wooded floors with lemon pledge; etc). I would certainly wash my hands if I touched something like that. I also have this penchant for colour coding my things (such as my notes), the more colourful the better. Hey, I even categorize my clothes according to their type of use (such as for going out or for sleeping; etc), and then finally dividing them into colours within their categories. One other thing, when I was a kid, I use to have such great imagination as well. Same as Phoebe, I always did certain things in order to get or do something that is totally unrelated. This is actually kind of embarrassing really. Thank God I was just a kid then. For example, when I go out with friends or family, I always made sure (mentally) that nothing “divides” us as we walk… Such as by a wall, a lamp post or a tree, purely because I believed that our lives would get separated / divided for some reason (life to me at that time was like in a jelly-like matrix, where we were just blobs of flesh floating around lah). Imagine if I had told someone what I had thought when I was a kid. I think by now I might have been put in an asylum or something. I think this is not so much of being crazy, but just a crazy kiddo imagination. I mean, even till now, I think I still have got a pretty good imagination. I can people watch, and just imagine what they did before I’ve seen them, or imagine what they were gonna do after they’ve walked away on the street. It is almost like deciphering the purpose and meaning of a painting, thinking and making up what the artist might have been thinking when they were painting a certain portrait or something.

[*Edit: It was discovered that Phoebe was suffering more than just mere OCD. It was Tourette syndrome, an inherited neuropsychiatric disorder which renders her the inability to control the things that she do or say.]

Anyway, I am glad some of that crazy stuff has gone away. Lol…

Another film that I’ve watched recently, that I would like to talk about is The Lovely bones. This film was incredible! The scenes were so captivating it got the entire audience wanting more, even while they are still watching. This girl beside me was screaming her lungs out lah. I think the part that garnered the most cheers in the theatre was when the pedophilic murderer plunged to his death at the end. It was almost like God’s will that he would have to die, even though they couldn’t find any evidence for his crime. I was extremely gutted that they did not stop the murderer from disposing off Susie Salmon’s body (bundled up in a safe box) in time. It was an extremely haunting thought to know that her body would never be found in the land fill, forever. I don’t think I can ever live in peace until someone finds that body. Wahaha… Thank God it was just a film. I think the cinematographic effects were excellent, where the director depicted and separated heaven, earth, and reality with a fine line. The colours and effects used were so gorgeous and hypnotic that you just wouldn’t be able to lift your gaze even for a short while. (Well, except when that stupid girl beside me started screaming lah.) Anyway, the whole film is about Suzie Salmon accepting her death, how she sees the world moving on, witnessing the ups and downs of how her family gets by after her death, and how she longed to be kissed for the first time by the boy that she loved. A truly amazing film to watch. I wonder if the Alice Sebold novel (of the same name) from which the film was adapted from would be just as good. I mean, normally the books from which films were adapted from would be great, and then render the film slightly lackluster. Could this mean that the novel would be much more astounding? I really hope to find out soon.

Since we are on the topic of films, I have to say that I have yet to catch the 2009 film My Sister’s Keeper, and the 2006 film Little Miss Sunshine, both starring child star Abigail Breslin. I would prefer to read the Jodi Picoult novel first before catching the former movie, thus, I really need to find time to read the book that had been sitting on my shelf for months on end. Goodness gracious, so many things to do but so little time. I heard that someone had made a film out of the Paulo Coelho novel, Veronika Decides to Die, starring Sarah Michelle Gellar as Veronika. OMG!!! I have yet to finish that novel too. Grrr!!!

apologies to a friend

2010-01-05T23:43:00.003+08:00

A very good (best friend actually) friend recently asked me to be one of her two MCs for her wedding. I am extremely flattered and honoured because she actually trusts me with her wedding and all. Afterall, we have been best friends for like forever!

However, sadly, I have to reject her because I am not entirely confident enough in my spoken mandarin. (She forgot how bad I really was in anything remotely close to mandarin. Although I must say my China friends in Brisbane have mentioned that my spoken mandarin has improved tremendously since they first met me.) Really, I don’t want to make her special night a disaster.

Breaks my heart to say no to her in my FB message though.

I am extremely sorry girl! I hope you can find someone suitable for that role though. And yes, hopefully I would be around in Singapore long enough to attend your wedding dinner. I can’t believe that to this date I have not attended any of my good friends’ wedding dinners / receptions because of my degree and untimely stint in Brisbane. And yes, I still have not sent out the videos I made for them.

Alright, time to sleep. Enough of the Ugly Betty TV series marathon for now. More house viewing tomorrow! -feels like dying!-

lame randomness

2010-01-03T08:47:00.010+08:00

Was at this site called Photofunia. Saw this link from a friend's facebook account. I think I might have been on that website before, but I can't really remember! However, I do remember that I didn't see some of these funny and cool applications, till now:

Obsessed Cat?... Wahaha... That is not my cat by the way. Just one of the many random frames that the website provides.

Guess Who's My New Best Friend???... None other than Victoria Beckham; the queen of posh & style. Lol... Ok, I am kidding myself!~ I would look like a beggar beside her.

Vogue Cover Ghoul?... Ok, We have to admit, other than the mismatch in style, it DOES look like a magazine cover (gone wrong). I will call it the Halloween edition of Vogue Ivanny (Ummm... You know, they always put the country behind the magazine name? Well, I live on my own planet, thus, aptly named Ivanny). And stop looking at that girl holding the magazine!!! Or the girl on the back cover. Look at the magazine FRONT cover!!! This is an order!!! -Smiles-

Ok, enough fooling around. Back to business!

Ciao!

christmas & new year

2009-12-31T21:21:00.002+08:00

In the blink of an eye, it is yet another year gone by. How time flies! Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year! I can't wait to get back home (Singapore) for the food and Chinese New Year 2010 Celebrations!

Seriously, time went by so fast that my mind is still stuck at Christmas. Haha...

Whatever it is, I am gonna spend New Year Eve alone at home. I can't stand the crowds, seriously. As I did too when it was Christmas Eve and Christmas. I would rather stay home and watch movies on my laptop, really. Haha... I just downloaded 4 seasons of Ugly Betty, ready for a fashion and comedy drama marathon.

Some of my friends might think I am crazy, saying that there is a crowd in ulu (read: deserted) Brisbane. Well, seriously, there is much more people living around the area than we actually think there is. I guess everyone here jsut stayed home during normal times. I was out shopping on Boxing Day, and trust me, I was surprised by the number of people out there grabbing at the annual mega sale. The (popular) shops were so full I couldn't even squeeze my fat bum in. Not even for a second! I think on Boxing Day alone, I have seen far more people than I actually did (in total) over the 2 years living in Brisbane.

Anyway, people, if you're thinking of coming to Brisbane for a holiday, and shopping spree, December 26th is a GOOD SHOPPING DAY!!! Just picture this, huge sales in every shop imaginable, everywhere! Minimum sale was 30% storewide. How great is that? Guess was on a 50% storewide sale (on both old and new items), during Christmas and Boxing Day. I have never seen a shop more empty than Guess was during that period. All the shelves were almost empty. (It was so empty I didn't even see any Guess watches on display. Darn!) How crazy was the sale? Well, let's just say that I found tons of merchandise on teh floors in a lot of the shops, where things were also just put in piles, up for the grab by anyone.

Disappointingly, I didn't buy anything suitable. It may be a girl's shopping haven here, but a total opposite for a guy (unless you're loaded with cash and into electronic gadgets). I know one of my female friends actually spent several hundreds of dollars on teh sale alone. -faint-

Alright, my summary entry is still in the works. Busy with lotsa visa administrative stuff at the moment. There are so many documents and reading up to do just to get a Temporary Residence (TR) visa. Goodness! I hope all the time and money would be worth it. And I am also looking for a new house for next year. What a pain in the ass. That is last priority right now though, although I am doing that in conjunction with everything else. To make matters worst, no one seems to be working since the 24th December 2009 onwards. I heard the Christmas and New Year holiday is going to go on till the 4th January 2010! What lucky buggers! If only Singapore was like that! Humph...

Gotta go! More Betty the ugly for me in the mean time.

Ciao!

P / S: Why is blogger refusing to let me paste my written entry from Microsoft Words?! WTF! I had to retype everything into this blogger post lah! And I have to manually re-align the spacings in between paragraphs! Grrr!!! Hate it!!!

random mobile pictures

2009-12-21T23:23:00.002+08:00

Recently found these pictures taken with my mobile phone, while I was tidying up the files on my portable hard disk.

Shall share them with you guys:

Paperwork Headache!!!... This was taken during intern. Some people asked me why I've always hated to work in the Quality Assurance department. Well, with this much of paperwork to inspect, who wouldn't??? & just to note, this is not even close to the total amount of paperwork for one day!!! Oh, if the production workers were to fill the forms up properly, I don't think there would be an issue. But often than not, they don't. Third picture (far right) is of a sign I wrote & left in my stationary drawer. I was sick of having people "steal" stationary from my drawers, thus, I placed that sign there. That "person(s)" must think I have no idea what is going on, & have been taking things out of the drawer for a few weeks prior. I finally thought that enough is enough, therefore, I wanted to shock him / her the next time he / she does the deed. Needless to say, nothing ever got lost after.

Hideous thing!!!... Ok, I wasn't referring to the Louis Vuitton (LV) male model. Look carefully! See those huge black "specks" on the glass??? Those were mosquitoes!!! Check out how HUGE they are in Brisbane!!! Really hateeeeeee mosquitoes to the core. Needless to say, I was thoroughly traumatized that night. I actually wanted to take this picture to show it to you guys!!! They could almost suck my blood dry with that size lah. & they literally come in swarms.

6 Screens???... Some people didn't believe me, & was shocked, when I told them that the desktop in my previous laptop was split into 6 tiny screens when it started to break down. There we go! Evidence. It was kind of hilarious actually, as you can see 6 duplicates of everything on the screen. Imagine looking at 6 different mouse-s (just to ask, is the plural for computer mouse same as the animal mouse?) hovering around as I navigate the pages. Cool eh? Haha... By the way the desktop is so messy because I was trying to rearrange the files & was backing them up on my portable hard disk. Under nomal conditions, my desktop STRICTLY only has 2 icons (Recycle Bin & my own personal Ivanny folder). & my wallpaper is a self made collage of my 3 cats (Topsy, Turvy, & Tizzy).

Vandalism... Not done by me, just for the records. This vehicle was badly vandalized & smashed on the roads outside my intern office. I even saw the police trying to recover evidence from the site. Inefficient they definitely were, as the car was still there when I left the company; about 1 month after the find. Can't they bring it somewhere else, so that the unsightly mess can be cleared, & that evidence can still be intact be it rain or shine?! It was funny to think the vandal could have used the sun chair to break the windscreen (as pictured). How inconceivable???!!! Some school kids were messing with the car on a daily basis, possibly contaminating evidence. But well, the police didn't seem to care anyway. I think there is a good chance they might have even forgotten about it. Hopefully it is still not out there right now.

EXTREMELY HOT please!... In Brisbane, I have learnt to make my order for spicy food in an extreme level. Because the spice level here is just abysmal (if not non-existant). In actual fact, there is never a place which offers "Extremely Spicy" on their menus. The normal range is from Non to Mild to just Very Hot (which is not hot at all, in my standards). This waitress took my order, & it was kinda funny. She was shocked to hear me say the word EXTREMELY, & made a special note (E) beside my order. I explained to her shocked face my reason just in case she thought I was a freak. Hmmm... Actually my real intention was to make sure they didn't think too lightly of the "E" written in. In the end, my noodles were still barely spicy (even at extreme strengths). What a mood dampener. Oh, but the food is not bad there. Do give it a try some time, if you're in Brisbane. I think they do mainly Singaporean-Malaysian-Indonesian cuisine. But still, please don't compare with what we have back home. No fight lah! Haha...

random camwhore update

2009-12-20T16:54:00.012+08:00

I am currently working on all my ultra-backdated entries. Woohoo… Good luck to me! Haha… I am getting a headache trying to sort everything out. Especially, since everything is in a mess after my last computer crashed. Damn that shit lah!

Some people are eager to see those entries, while some others asked me why do I even bother (since some of those were like 1 year++ old). Well, I would still be blogging those since they are important stuff in my life. My Brisbane life.

Anyway, since those entries were sooooooooooooooo backdated, I would be archiving them in their respective dates as per se. I would include a summary entry with all the links for easy referencing and commentary for everyone. Don’t worry. Haha…

For now, more camwhorish pictures first. Haha…

Coming Out Of Slumber... Just woke up from an afternoon nap here. Shiok face! Haha... Ummm... Don't ask me about my tan. I think I just came back from the beach or something then, thus, skin colour is a little too dark. Even my lips were darkish. Haha... Anyway, there is something freakish about this picture that I adore. My head looked like it was detached (decapitated), & then put back on the shoulders. (That coupled with my sombre expression & messy sleep hair.) LOL...

Underwater!... Yes, I camwhored from land to underwater. what else? My next aim is to camwhore up in the skies!!! Haha... This was taken in a very dirty & salty pool, that is full of debris from its surrounding vegetation (@ Natalie's block). Ummm... This is just one of the many pictures taken. I posted only one of those pictures because I would be doing a proper entry on that soonish. Oh yes, days after, I learnt that the pool was being shared with 2 resident blue tongued lizards in the area. Eeks! -feels disgusted-

Boo!... Taken at Stradbroke Island (Cylinder beach). Yes, just two of many pictures taken. Similarly, would be doing a full entry on that too! Love the first picture!!! How did my fat legs look so skinny there??? I swear I didn't photoshop ANYTHING 'cause I don't know how to do that shit! Ummm... Quite obvious since everywhere else is fat right? Haha... I was contemplating putting like smiley faces in place of the nipples. Very conservative one you know. So shy! (Haha... Besides that point, very fat & saggy & pointy! Moobs alert!!! That's why caption for these pictures was BOO! LOL... How apt!)

Extremely Bored!... Was waiting for house viewing one hot sunny afternoon. I have no idea why I even bothered to arrive so early (1 hour advance). Thus, camwhored with my mobile camera. Didn't realize that zoom was set really high, thus, picture was entirely of face. But loving it nevertheless. Love my sunnies!!! I never thought I would be able to buy any! Couldn't find any that was suitable back in Singapore. But when I am in Brissy, I bought 3 pairs just this summer alone. Oops!~

HUGE Mosquito... Derived great pleasure killing this HUGE ASS motherfucker while walking to my intern office. See lah! How huge the mosquitoes, and every other insects imaginable, are in Brissy! Hate mozzies to death!!!

P / S: Because I haven’t updated any of my camwhorish pictures, some of my friends actually asked me if I have stopped my camwhorish rubbish. Sorry people. My response? “Once a camwhore, always a camwhore. Haha…” (Ok, that friend asked me that like months ago too. I am seriously outdated.)

P / P / S: Ummm... I apologize if you are expecting photoshopped pictures. Seriously, I have no inkling how to do that, thus, all my pictures are hideously unphotoshopped. You just have to either bear with the fattiness / blemishes / unkemptness, or just simply switch pages. Haha...

lunch with Kaiwen / Adrian in Brissy

2009-12-18T21:36:00.001+08:00

I totally am so late in posting this.

Ummm… Actually, this is not as late as the other entries lah.

Aiyah, but I’m just taking my time. No stress and rush. After all, I am on holiday now. Haha…

So yea, the year end is here yet again. Just before Kaiwen flew home to Singapore, we met up (25th November 2009) and had lunch + shopping; just to catch up. It was great seeing her finally after a hectic semester. Our polytechnic mates might think it is weird that even though we are studying in the same country (just different universities), we still seldom have the time to meet up even for a chat. University and our basic activities just kept us too busy. Anyway, we had Japanese food at Kagoya that day. Can’t remember what we had. However, I do remember the spice trivia. Everyone knows that I can take extremely spicy food. Only some people don’t. So that day, the dish we ordered had a spice level of 1 to 10 (1 being least hot, and 10 being extremely hot). Kaiwen was telling me how spicy it was and that she couldn’t go past level 2. She even mentioned that she hasn’t known anyone who had gone over level 4. So I listened to her, even though I was quite skeptical about the spice levels in Australia, and ordered a level 5. Goodness! It wasn’t spicy at all. I didn’t even taste the chilli. My dear friend deduced that my tongue is malfunctioning, as she scooped her level 2 chilli powder onto my plate. And yea, I still didn’t taste the chilli. That is level 7 in total. Haha… I told her I would try level 10 the next time round, and be the first of her friends to do that.

Kaiwen & Me... At Kagoya. My camera went out of battery, so I had to use my camera phone instead. What a bummer!

Next, was a meet up with Adrian. He was on flight duty that day (30th November 2009). I just want to say THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU for lugging my laptop all the way from Singapore to Brisbane. Some more you didn’t allow me to treat you to dinner. And you even paid for my dinner. -_-III So paiseh lah!!! But yea, I truly appreciate your help dude! Or else I would still be stranded without a laptop till God knows when. Haha…

Me & Adrian... As usual, camera went out of batteries coincidently here too. Haiz... Stupid Camera, time to change, I think. So yea, using my camera phone. & sorry Adrian, I can't remember which picture you hated. But I remember it's because of the hair, thus, the words are overlapping your hair, just in case. Don't worry lah, still handsome. Haha...

To Edda: I can’t wait for you to fly over in January 2010!!! We shall laze by the pool, sun tan and bum around at Hilton yea???!!! Woohoo…

To Adrian: Hurry up!!! Get your ass on the same flight as Edda!!! We can all then bum around together. Haha…

To both: Oh yes, please remind me to take a picture with you guys in your SQ uniforms. I keep forgetting whenever any of my SQ friends come over. Don’t know how many chances I missed already.

who is that singer? / xxxx brewery tour

2009-12-17T19:50:00.008+08:00

Love this singer’s voice heaps! Funny thing is that I have never heard of her, even though she’s had like 3 albums already. Anyone ever heard of her (张悬)? Or rather, how do I even pronounce her name???

Anyway, I found out why I was bloated during my convocation. Because I drank beer the day before the ceremony, as I signed up for the XXXX Beer Brewery tour with my family. Damn! Wrong move! Anyhow, the tour was fantastic though. It's my second time going, since the first was an excursion with the university for my Food Microbiology 2 module.

Us & the Brewery Building...
Us (minus me) & our Beer... There were 4 different types of beer here; Summer, Bitter, Gold, & PotterGold(?). We actually had 4 glasses each. But since we don't drink very much, the rest were given away to a group of Aussie guys who were so excited at the thought of having more beer to drink.

Camwhoring...

Alright, enjoy the music.

home cooked food

2009-12-17T07:43:00.000+08:00

Having home cooked food, without having to do anything yourself is awesome. I finally get to eat food that I have grown up eating, after so long. It feels good! I can't wait to fly back home to Singapore in early February 2010.

graduated!

2009-12-16T14:25:00.014+08:00

*Edit*

Me... Super fat!!! Face look so bloated! Can't stand it! And the mortar board made me look so nerdy (with my fringe poking out from under)! Grrr... I can't even wear my sunglasses to cover my face.

I have officially graduated today!!!

Yippee!

Like finally, and about time!

Anyway, it was extremely warm today. But overall, weather was great.

Anyway, just in case you guys were wondering, I didn’t get First Class Honours. So pissed off! Short of just a mere 2%. I am so pissed at myself and everything else. It all just boiled down to my Thesis, which I didn’t get a distinction for. Basket!~ Those who said they thought I would, sorry ar! Lol...

Anyway, one of my fellow Food Technology students made us real proud today. (I refer to her as a student because I don’t consider her my friend since we don’t really communicate much in university.) I don’t think I have ever heard of any Food Technology valedictorians even before today. So yea, her being our valedictorian representative today, despite our small numbers compared to the other faculties, made me think that it is definitely possible. I was just commenting to some friend last year that we don’t ever see any Food Science or Food Technology valedictorians, and walah, we have one this year. Woohoo… Just in case you guys are wondering what the big deal about being a valedictorian is, I will just let you know that the valedictorian is the student with the highest overall % score; not just in your own faculty, but also the highest in all the faculties combined for that very convocation ceremony. Phew, no pressure!~

Anyway, enough of talking. More pictures! ;)

My Family & Me... My grandmother, mother & sister.
Some of My Friends & Me... (top, left) Taryn, Aaron, Carol, Nadia, Qiuli, Vivian; (bottom, left) Roselyna, Yada, Aachal, Jill; (bottom, right) my research project supervisor, Dr Honest.

P / S: Someone asked to take my picture for some weird reason today. I have no idea who they are actually. Apparently it’s a family of mix Japanese Muslim. And they aren’t even in the picture with me and my family. Haha… So funny. I was quite shocked actually since I was just standing there talking to one of my friends. One of my friends said that either I look damn good or I look damn weird / funny. LOL… I believe it’s the latter, because I cannot believe how ugly I look in all my graduation pictures. Goodness!!! So friggin’ fat and ugly lah. My face was like bloated or something. I seriously need to lose weight already. Ever since my family came over to visit, I actually put on all the weight that I’ve lost previously. They only kept eating and sleeping lah. Not enough walking! I shall go run every day from 20th December onwards. Oh, and the mortar board seriously made me look extremely nerdy. Especially when my fringe is poking out from under! Grrr... Can't even look like Harry Potter if I wanted to! Hmphhh...

P / P / S: I think the new Chancellor is so mean!!! BIG FAT MEANIE! He didn't allow me a picture with him on stage. WTH! Last year's allowed pictures on stage. And he also didn't allow hugs from other students. He plain rejected them, like obvious, on stage. Gosh! Not very friendly eh?

*Edit*

P / P / P / S: In my defence, I think I didn't really put back all the weight that I've lost before the graduation ceremony. (I mean I did put some back on, but not ALL.) I think I was just bloated. Because I am looking at myself in the webcam now, and I look just fine. (Compared to the round, fatty, double chin-ed me during my convocation. Hate it when I'm bloaty in the morning.) And webcams are supposed to bring out the worse in you, isn't it?

Me Hours After... I was in disbelief, thus, I took an impromptu picture. Refuse to believe what I've seen today. Indeed, I don't look (too much) bloated! Thank God! I seriously can't do late nights & early mornings, I guess. Just need some reassurance, that's why. Haha... And yea, I am about to go to bed here so do not mock my attire.

leather shoes & its woes

2009-12-15T17:58:00.003+08:00

I am so disappointed that I couldn’t buy my pair of leather shoes in time for my graduation tomorrow.

The shopping situation went like this:

AUD$500+ (Comment: Siao! So expensive!!!)
AUD$400+ (Comment: Crazy! Shoes are so expensive here!!!)
AUD$300+ (Comment: WTH!!! Style and quality not worth the money.)
AUD$200+ (Comment: What? Too expensive sia!)
AUD$100+ (Comment: Not nice at all!)
AUD$77+ (Comment: So ugly, might as well pay abit more for better and nicer ones.)

Then, finally, this pair of Aldo shoes caught my attention (and affection). AUD$200+, discounted to AUD$159.

Perfect!
-Asks sales assistant for size-

T_T
Don’t have my size! WTF!!!
-Faint-

Now, I am without an aesthetically nice pair of leather shoes for my convocation. I shall wear my kiddish looking poly-days pair instead. Eeks!

P / S: I think leather shoes in Brisbane are overpriced! I think I can get a very nice and durable pair in Singapore for less than S$200 lor!

P / P / S: Please do not say that it’s just a pair of shoes, and no one will see it. If it is really that case, then why don’t I just wear a pair of slippers since no one will notice? Right? I would gladly wear a pair of canvas shoes to go with my formal get up, and make it informal and preppy looking. But I don’t think I am allowed to do that for my convocation. And yes, why would the university bother, if no one notices the shoes part???

steaming fish

2009-12-14T21:56:00.002+08:00

My mother and grandmother are currently trying to work out a way to steam fish at my place since there are no proper appliances available. Haha… I told them I don’t have much seafood to eat in Brisbane anyway, thus, the lack of appliances. LOL…

holidaying at home?

2009-12-13T22:06:00.005+08:00

OMG!!! I can't believe someone would want to stay at home the whole time, even though when "they" are on a holiday. Might as well stay at home in Singapore and not waste the air ticket right? I rather they gave me that money for my holiday plans. I have got so many things to buy and places to visit still.

Anyway, even if "they" don't want to go anywhere, I am still going somewhere. I will not stay at home like a loser! When it is time to play, I will play really hard. I earned it! I would be going shopping at DFO tomorrow, while "they" stay at home.

How weird!?

*Edit: DFO trip cancelled. Shall do something else instead.

random short recent updates

2009-12-12T23:12:00.006+08:00

I seriously hate organizing my portable hard drive files after the previous laptop konked out on me. Oh god! Seriously, everything is in a mess!!!

Extremely exhausted right now as well. Awaiting the peace and quiet soon. Then again, hopefully, it would not be too long before I can start packing up to go home. I can’t wait man.

Recently have been putting back on the weight that I have lost. The mother, grandmother and sister only like to eat, go toilet and sleep. My goodness! I think half the day went to just eating, sleeping and shitting. What a whole lot of time lost. I think I can achieve so much more on my own. Then again, I would definitely miss having someone cook and wash after me. Definitely feels good finally having food that I've grown up eating since I was a kid again. Haha… Pros and cons.

Oh well, life is never what we want. I guess it is up to us to determine whether our lives are truly what we desire. I truly am satisfied with my life at this moment. Very soon, I would need to start becoming a grown up and work to pay my bills. Very soon. But what the hell, I will just enjoy my upcoming Chinese New Year 2010 first before thinking that much.

Just some recent pictures to whet your appetites:

Random Group Shots... Day 1 in Brisbane City; At Maria's gathering. Thank you Maria for inviting!!! Day 1 in Gold Coast; At some chinese restaurant. Thank you cousin Jocelyn for bringing us around.

Random Camwhoring... With cousin Jocelyn. New Sunnies lah.

At Sea World... With our prizes; fluffy pufferfish soft toys!!! Woohoo... My favourite marine fish in the entire world!

At Movie World... Random lameness in the souvenir shops. Spent a whole lot of money for my friends in Singapore here. Goodness! You guys better love me more than you should!

At the Surfers Paradise Beach (Gold Coast)... More camwhoring. I come from a family of camwhores; both the paternal and maternal sides. What do you expect?! Haha...

I seriously have no time to blog about anything too lengthy for the time being man. I have decided to just blog the entries as they are dated originally, since most of them are at least one year overdue. BUT I will post a summary entry, with links, so that you guys have easy access to those entries. Will do that by Christmas definitely.

P / S: Cousin Jocelyn, you sure you not coming back for CNY 2010??? Wahaha… One more year in Brisbane Gold Coast without Singapore food is no joke wor!!! Haha….

zen-buddha not!

2009-12-08T19:06:00.000+08:00

I am so ready to tear my hair out and scream at the top of my lungs.

Seriously, I can’t wait for my family to get out of my house, back into the pampered abyss they call home (Singapore).

My goodness… Seriously!~ I can’t stand pampered people visiting me. To all friends and relatives, if you are: pampered, whiny, full of complaints, hate to walk, have a bad attitude, and pretty much full of shit; PLEASE DO NOT VISIT ME IN BRISBANE EVER!!! You are not welcome! And yes, I will kick you out of my house. Be warned!!!

For God’s sake. Even my 73 year old grandmother did not complain one bit. I don’t understand how a 50+ year old woman and a 18 year old teenager could lose out in comparison.

My friend told me to pretend that I am a zen-buddha for this 2 week period. I told her that cracks would be appearing along the mouth and fingers of the buddha, exposing an acid tongue and claws very soon. And that was just the second day.

I shall not elaborate to give face!

grandmother in brisbane

2009-12-07T20:56:00.001+08:00

My 73 year old (paternal) grandmother bought a Valleygirl bag!!!

OMG!!! Totally unexpected!

eat eat eat

2009-12-07T08:11:00.000+08:00

Mother, grandmother and sister are currently in town.

Busy busy busy busy!!!

One conversation to share though:

Mum: Wah you have got herbs growing (randomly) in the grass around your house! You should boil them and drink.
Me: Where? What nonsense!?
Mum: There! (points to a dandelion.) The flat leaves in a circle with a yellow flower in the middle.
Me: -_-III That is a dandelion, which is a weed.
Mum: Yea lor. My (whatever and whoever) doctor gave me this to drink for my (whatever illness). It is very good you know.
Me: I’m sure that is just a look alike plant. Not a dandelion. And it is not edible.
Mum: who said so? Cows eat it ok.
Me: You are not a cow! -_-III

I think a lot of people need to know that going to a foreign country, we should never pick anything random from the wilderness thinking that it can be food. The untrained eyes is the archilles heels for every traveller. I remember reading about how a Singaporean university student studying in don’t-know-which Australian state died from eating poisonous wild mushrooms which he thought looked like the ones selling in the supermarkets, a long long time ago (many years ago). Mushrooms especially, the toxins it contains are potent enough to kill. (More on mushroom poisoning: click HERE.) There are several plants that look similar with very small differing characteristics that escape the naked eye. We should never trust ourselves unless we are trained for picking the particular species.

chameleon, oh chameleon

2009-11-30T19:29:00.001+08:00

This is so cool!!! If only this was real!

The real thing:

P / S: My new laptop is here (in Brisbane)!!! Yay!!! Thank you Adrian and Edda!!! ;)

alone soonish

2009-11-25T10:33:00.000+08:00

In 2 days time, I would be the only one left in my house. And I would have to go back to an empty house for the next 2 months before I am scheduled to fly back to Singapore. And in 2 weeks time, I would probably be the only one left in Brisbane, as all my friends would be enjoying the sun and food in our beloved Singapore. Grrr!!!

Oh yes, I’ve decided to scrap part of my Australia travel plans due to the exorbitant flight prices. Goodness, the people at the airline companies really do know how to milk holiday-seekers dry. Geez! If only I had more time (and money) to plan my holidays properly prior to this. Oh yes, just to announce, my 20 weeks intern has just ended early this week. Woohoo… Time to party (albeit with just myself). T_T

Depressing!!!

Bad news aside, my laptop is arriving soon-ish! I can’t wait!!!

So yea, I was telling my friend that in times like this, I would probably be enough of a loser to be stuck in the computer labs at the university or at home, blogging my life away- every single day. Upcoming entries of Halloween party, Stradbroke Island; etc, soonish.

Ciao for now!

volunteering at (Moreton Bay) MBRS

2009-11-20T22:18:00.000+08:00

I am staying over in Moreton Bay right now. Volunteered my help for the Moreton Bay Research Centre (MBRS) Open Day for 2 days.

Quite fun!

I caught a Mermaid’s Purse, Puffer fish and Eel for the display tanks. Someone else caught a huge ass red hermit crab, some shell fish and lots of huge ass starfishes and sea cucumbers. Such a fantastic find! (By the way, if you’re wondering what a Mermaid’s Purse is, it is the egg case of a baby dogfish shark. Not very comforting to know that there are sharks lurking around the waters where we were eh? But oh well, the researchers know their stuff really well so there is nothing to be afraid of. I told him that it was SOOO COMFORTING to know that I found one in the waters we are in. -faint-)

Will update with pictures in this entry as soon as I take the pictures tomorrow, and get back to the university computer lab. So excited!!!

And yes, second weekend in a row going to the beach. So angry that I left my sun tanning lotion back home in Singapore. I had it with me the whole of last year, and only brought it home because I thought I wouldn’t have a chance to visit the beaches or pools this year (since I didn’t do any of that stuff last year).

too hot for comfort

2009-11-17T08:34:00.002+08:00

(Source: MyUQ Student Sign In)

It is friggin’ 35ºC today.

Fucking hot!!!

Addendum.

It was extremely refreshing and invigorating to be able to finally just relax and frolic by the beach. It has been too long since I actually dipped myself into a pool, much more the sea. And yes, I visited Stradbroke Island with a couple of friends. Tune back in in the next couple of weeks if you want to see babes in bikinis, or the beautiful oceanic landscapes of Straddie.

P / S: Yes, there were ang mohs sun tanning naked on the beach. No, they were not my friends. And no, I did not sneak pictures of them so that I can post them on the blog. Too bad! Haha... Everyone has got their privacies lah!

Addendum 2.

I finally collected the rest of the Halloween pictures from my friends. Just need to compile them and make some yummy collages! Hopefully, it would be up on the blog soon!

P / S: I better! My intern is ending on the 23rd November, so I would have more time spared. However, no, I won’t be entirely free even then as I need to settle my rental and housing and stuff. I don’t want to return to Brisbane homeless next year.

P / P / S: Yes, I’ve decided to look for a job in Brisbane just to gain some experiences for the next few years. I think it would be good. In fact, I think it would be better than going back to Singapore straightaway to work, as it would up my corporate worth (hopefully!). (But I’ve only given myself 6 months to look for a job. So if I am still jobless by September 2010, I would fly back to Singapore. Hopefully not though! Grrr!!!)

the boomz, shingz, and then jangz

2009-11-10T10:07:00.002+08:00

The other day, I was chatting with a friend in Singapore when I sort of got annoyed with his dialogue. That friend was using the Boomz and the Shingz, courtesy of Ms Ris Low, former Ms World Singapore 2009.

I was so irritated that I sank as low, and said Jangz. It just came out of nowhere; possibly from a tiny crevice of my malfunctioning brain.
(Grrr!!! I’m being poisoned!!! But at least that stopped all the Boomz, Shingz and whatnot rubbish. I hope these words would never be included in the new English Dictionary next year! It makes no cow sense!!!)

Anyway, my friend, at that very moment, got a little confused and asked me what Jangz meant. I told him that I made that up and that it was as brainless and meaningless (pun fully intended; no meaning, as well as a meaningless quote) as Boomz and Shingz, and I have no idea.

Wahaha…

That next person I hear using Boomz or Shingz will get it from me!~
Roar!!!

spit when you sleep

2009-11-08T18:32:00.000+08:00

I had a nightmare last night. I dreamt that I ate something horrible. I can’t remember what though. And then I started spitting everything out.

With that, I woke up, with a whole load of saliva on my face and pillowcase. It was so damn gross I tell you!

The feeling is similar to that when you pee in your sleep as a kid. Omg! I swear I was thoroughly grossed out even when I was just half awake. Haha…

P / S: And yea, I even dreamt of eating when I am asleep. How horribly incorrigible is that?

P / P / S: To date 2 friends have commented that I’ve lost weight ever since I started my healthier eating habit. (Although I’m sort of falling behind that regime this whole week again.)

hair hair go away

2009-11-07T14:48:00.000+08:00

Woohoo… Just had a haircut today! My old hair was 2 months old; kept long and messy just for the Halloween party. Hehe…

My usual Malaysian hair stylist wasn’t around since she just had a baby. I quite like how the current Japanese hairstylist had styled my hair though. -Bad Ivanny is thinking of switching hairstylist now. Eeks!-

They also took my “before” and “after” profile, saying that it’s for their blog or something. Gosh! Was my “before” hair really that bad?! Wahaha… I hope not! I didn’t get to see the pictures she took though. Hopefully, they won’t look too fat! Grrr… Oh, and I had a huge zit on the tip of my nose. The aftermath of the Halloween party makeup. Haiz… What to do? I always put in 100% effort for things I do, even if it meant I would get pimples and stuff. Haha… I seriously hope she’d Photoshop the zits out or something. LOL

P / S: I have yet to collect my Halloween party pictures from my friends. Hopefully I can get them soon. Now it’s the busy assignments submission period. Shall blog about that soon-ish.

P / P / S: For those who are thinking of coming over to Australia to study, PLEASE GET YOUR LAPTOPS FROM YOUR RESPECTIVE COUNTRIES BEFORE COMING OVER!!! I tell you, the laptop technology in Australia is abysmal. I am thoroughly shocked! Do the Australians live under a rock or something??? I’m getting my mother to buy my laptop from Singapore. And poor Adrian has to lug it all the way over to me. Sorry bud!!! I treat you dinner when you’re here k! ;) I hope the flight duties wouldn’t be too stressful or tiring for you. I swear I won’t ask the next person coming to Brisbane bring anything for me the next time round, unless I’m extremely desperate (like now) or something. I’m almost a diva lah! I don’t want everyone to think I’m like using them or what. (This thought excludes my parents though. Oops!~ Haha... Don't tell my parents! Shhh...)

cakes & coffee

2009-11-04T17:57:00.003+08:00

The Huge Cake...

Earlier this week (Monday, 2nd November 2009), I was in the city giving out huge slabs of cake to passersby for free. (I hope you guys in Brisbane had a slice that day! Haha…) The cake was part of the 2 metres by 0.5 metre chocolate mud cake my company made for The Coffee Club’s 20th anniversary.

The cake was massive and it attracted lots of attention the moment we got it out of the van.

Just some trivia, the cake was made of 34 mud cakes put together, to make one huge one. I heard it was about 160kg. It took about a week to make. Don’t even ask me how much chocolate did we used during baking. I lost count!

And yes, I assisted the pastry chef as he made the cake. I was the one who weighed the ingredients, and cut and sliced the layers of the cakes. The pastry chef did the mixing, baking, and building.

The Pastry Chef who made the cake... No, that is not me! Haha...

Cool stuff eh?

What was even cooler was that I got to attend the function T.C.C. held, at one of its outlets in the Brisbane City. My supervisor and colleagues rubbed shoulders with the who’s of who in the food industry, while I stood around just people watching.

Best thing of the whole event, I got to meet the business partners cum founders of T.C.C., Mr John Lazarou and the Emmanuel Brothers (Mr E.D. and E.K.). Such cool people! Oh, not forgetting the FIRST EVER T.C.C. customer in Brisbane, or rather in the world, Mdm Dorothy (I hope I got her name right). Apparently Mdm Dorothy played a huge part in T.C.C.’s 20 year history, where she came into the first outlet in Brisbane Queensland one day before its official opening (it was raining heavily), and asked to buy a cup of coffee. Well, she got the cup of coffee for free. (Read more about T.C.C.’s story HERE!)

Anyway, I didn’t take any picture because I didn’t bring my camera along. I was too busy anyway.

I loved the whole experience since I got to work out of the office, and met so many new people. Love meeting new people!!! I thoroughly enjoyed my day!!!

P / S: I used to idolize Starbucks, and had once hoped to model my future café career like how it did (of course with my own twist). However, I think I have just switched my inspiration because T.C.C.’s start up history and business route is so much closer to what I had envisioned.

P / P / S: T.C.C. is not to be confused with the other TCC (The Coffee Connoisseur).

slipper saga

2009-10-26T17:28:00.006+08:00

My slipper strap broke when I was walking to the university yesterday. So damn pissed off. In the end, had to walk around campus barefooted, like how some of the Australians do.

Gosh! Seriously, I wonder how they manage to walk from one point to another.

I couldn’t even walk more than 500m without having to put my falling apart slippers back on, and walking with a broken swagger. (I was dragging my feet so that the slipper sole stayed on my foot.)

I mean, seriously, the pavements were rough, with little jagged stones jutting out everywhere. It was almost like walking on shattered glass. Well, not that I know what it feels like walking on jagged glass lah. Haha…

And yes, I stubbed my toe twice within 5 minutes. My clumsy toe jabbed itself against the pavement. And thereafter, it threatened to commit suicide if I didn’t put my slippers back on; strap broken or not.

A new reason for me to get some new slippers, don’t you reckon? Wahahaha… I hope I can find cheap Havaianas or something. Woohoo…

Ok, back to my report. So depressing!

the shock; religion

2009-10-24T12:54:00.002+08:00

I think I scared the shit out of some random guy who knocked on my door preaching Christianity this morning. Haha…

I just woke up, shaggy haired and all. Just as I was done making brunch, I heard a loud knock on my house door. I ignored it at first, but he was persistent. I thought what had happened, thus, I went out without thinking. I can’t be bothered about how I look anyway. Haha…

The moment he saw me, he gave an “OMG!-Jump-backwards-in-shock kinda expression”.

I almost laughed out loud at his reaction. He probably thought I was Medusa or something. At that time, my “lion’s mane” was in every direction. Trust me, my hair looked as if a chicken had sat on my head for 8 hours and had just gotten up. Thank God I was up on the balcony looking down at him, and not face to face. He might probably die of the pain in his stomach from too much laughing.

Well, I give him credit for regaining his composure fast enough and started his preaching, although I can tell he wasn’t fully at his best since his speech was all over the place. He couldn’t even think of a proper comeback when I lied to him that there were no Christians living in the house. When he carried on nevertheless, I just thanked him for his time and told him that I was a free thinker, and then went back into the house, shaggy hair and all.

Shall I just play the Addams family theme song right then and there?
Dur dur dur dah… –snaps fingers twice-

Digressing back to the preaching…
Seriously, you don’t start a conversation with a question like “Have you ever wondered who’s been helping you make your decisions in life? Blah blah blah…”.

You really want to know?

Let me tell you, I make MY OWN decisions! God only helps me along the way, supporting my every decision. Even if my decision is not always a success, it has failed me for a reason. An unforeseen lesson. A blessing in disguise probably, at times. I learnt that a long time ago. So if I had answered that “God is the one who helped me with my decision making every time”, would that mean that He had purposely made me go out into the balcony with the puffy fluffball on my head when that guy knocked on the door? Or was He the one who told me to ignore the guy when he first knocked on the door? What about all the other nasty stuff that I have done in the past? Lol… I would love to see his reply for that! Wahaha…

Apologies. I am sometimes sadistic when it comes to a debate. Haha…

Anyway, believe me or not, I truly believe in ALL religions and ALL kinds of Gods. That is because I always think that in this world, there is only one God. In another term, one Higher Celestial / Supreme Being. I have always believed that all the different religions in the world actually came from that one same source / person. It is human nature to exaggerate and remember only key ideas that one personally prefers (biasness). Therefore, it is probably due to this flaw in the human species that led to misunderstandings in what has been relayed. This probably set the slight differences between all the religions. And then over the years, power hungry men and women might distort the truth and teachings along the way, for their own benefits. (What? Never heard of corrupt or evil religious leaders meh? Those paedophilic priests caught in the past for one, not evil meh? God told them to molest and rape children issit? Did God tell them it is ok to molest or rape children or anyone else?)

Another reason could also be due to the way different people interpret things. I can say the same thing to 2 different people, of 2 diverse backgrounds. And these 2 persons might actually interpret what I say differently. Therefore, causing the difference in teachings and relaying of the true message.

For example, I can say that “I love cats!!!”. One person might take it that I am an animal lover on the whole, while the other might think that I only like felines. A third person might even think that I am into bestiality, specifically with cats, but that is on a whole different spectrum of the conversation. (Gross!) Haha…

My third reasoning for the differences, would be that different people might have different thinkings. Therefore, these groups of people might clash with their own set of beliefs, in a particular religion. They separate, set up 2 different religions that preach different beliefs based on the same aspect.

Fourth and last reason, I think that by looking at the religious images from all religions, I kind of see similarities in everything. The halo around the head. The way the hands are placed. The way they look at you. This hint at similarities, that could even point to the fact that they are actually all images of the same person; just personalized by the influences of the ethnicity or nationality of their followers. What about the fact that each religion has got its own holy records? The Holy Books / Scriptures / Bibles / Qur'an; etc. Than again, someone can argue that these images and holy records could have been made up by, you guessed it, men. So who are we to say that the images and holy records of our own religions are real? Who are we to challenge someone from another religious or ethnic group about their beliefs?

Therefore, to make the long story short, I think the true God in this century would be (or rather, becoming) HUMAN BEINGS! Agree?! Which is bad! I don’t think anyone should have the audacity to dare challenge anyone with their religious preaching anymore. Just keep an open mind and respect everyone else’s religions and beliefs. (However, my statement does not extend to Scientology. Apologies!)

P / S: I was supposed to write an argument about the differences in gluten free and non gluten free cakes and baked products (about how the gliadin and glutenin proteins behave during baking) for my report. And here I am, writing an argument on religion. Lol… Alright, shall keep this entry light hearted since religion is a sensitive and taboo topic.

Going back to work!
Adios…

major fishballs & nasi lemak craving!!!

2009-10-22T07:21:00.003+08:00

Believe it or not, but I miss FISHBALLS!!! I really miss the ones that come with my dried mee kia with chilli. You know, you know, those bouncy ones made of real fish meat???!!! The ones I buy here are all frozen and made of just flour and fish flavouring.

P / S: This is a sudden craving while I am working (in the office). For some reason, I think I'm weird! Going bonkers soon.

P / P / S: I miss Nasi Lemak too. Made some myself weeks ago, but I just miss the authentic ones from Singapore!!!

cock-eyed

2009-10-21T21:11:00.000+08:00

I am officially pissed off with myself!!!

I misread a report’s due date to be 2 weeks later than it should be. Therefore, I am currently left with just slightly over 2.5 weeks to do the research report. And I haven’t even done any readings for it yet. Not having a laptop doesn’t help matters as I now have to hibernate in the university’s 24 hours research computer laboratory till the wee hours.

I am officially dead! Because I can’t be bothered to do anything more than just write the report based on whatever shit I can find over the internet and various other crappy journals that I can just get my paws on. (I know we are not supposed to be using the internet. But who cares!!!???)

Grrr…

Actually I am not the only one who misread the due date. Funny enough, my friends and I just had this misconception that the report would only be due in the last week of our intern placement. And yea, I am the only one who hasn’t touched that stupid report. And that was because I cannot be bothered with it. Sianz!!! Rushing like a mad dog now! Lack of time = substandard and mediocre work. Just like what happened to my Thesis. And you know what the funniest coincidence is? This report is very much my intern based mini Thesis. Gosh! Apparently the association of me and writing a Thesis always don’t work out. I must have been cursed or something. Thank God I am done with my experiment by now though.

Anyway, I thought I would be so over with exams at the end of last semester. But I was wrong! I just registered for my IELTS yesterday. The nearest test dates available was January. Therefore, apologies to Angela and OC (Marcus), I won’t be able to attend your weddings. Yet again I missed out on great things in Singapore. Marcus’s wedding would be a Sword Of Honour ceremony some more. (Ummm… I hope the wedding is still on ‘cause I have yet to receive an official invite.) Haiz... Anyway congrats people! I wish ya guys all the best in your marriage!!!

P / S: I didn’t get to make a wedding video montage for Santi in August. And yea, no mention on my blog as well. Apologies x 1 million!!! ;)

P / P / S: Gotta get back to work people. Will update my blog real soon. I hope!

random small updates

2009-10-12T17:02:00.006+08:00

Work is starting to get exhausting. Sometimes, I just wish that I can just take a long break. I’m definitely going to go on a long tour at the end of this year. I’m still deciding whether to choose between New Zealand or state hop around Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Tasmania). What do you think?

Anyone interested in a long holiday? Can’t find anyone to go with. Everyone either wants to rush back to Singapore (or anywhere else in the world), or that they do not have money to tour. Oh yes, and those that are working can’t afford to take long leave.
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Got cancelled on my whale watching cruise trip twice in 3 weeks. Damn irritated!

It’s either strong winds, rough seas or dust storm. So angry with mother nature!!!

Ivanny wants to see WHALES!!! And dolphins! And turtles!
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I have a Halloween party coming up at the end of this month. I’m so excited!!! Can’t wait man!

Woohoo…

I’m not telling you guys what I want to dress up as. I am taking this very seriously because it’s my first Halloween celebration. I hope every one else would be sporting too.

People who know my two favourite gory obsessions would be able to guess what I would be that night. It is a 2 in 1 ok, like instant coffee. Wahaha…
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Ok, I have to get back to typing out my materials for the company meeting tomorrow. I hate meetings because there are so many preparations to be made before going to one. So troublesome! I rather eat my own hands. Having no laptop is definitely not helping.

P / S: My updates for Part 2 onwards will definitely have to wait till I get my new laptop. That would only happen at the end of this month (earliest). The Toshiba model (Toshiba Satellite M500-St5401) that I am waiting for would only be out at the end of this month. Australia is super slow can! I have been sleeping at 8pm almost every day since the day my laptop spoil. Super bored!

laptop fucked & dead! (for good)

2009-09-20T09:47:00.002+08:00

My laptop died peeps!!! About 2 weeks ago. Diagnosis by the technicians reported that I have to replace the whole system board (a.k.a. motherboard), and costs a staggering AUD$1062.16 to do. Therefore, I am looking into buying a new laptop instead.

Please INTRODUCE me like new laptop models in the current market if you can. (Not interested in Apple, HP, or Acer laptops though!) I don’t really have enough time to do research on this matter lah.

And I have a couple of assignments to submit soon. Gosh!

I feel like just dying now.

Why my laptop died? Please click HERE. Everything on the forum explains all the things I went through. Therefore, I shall NEVER patronize HP laptops anymore. In my own opinion lah.

P / S: I didn’t ask people don’t patronize HP ar! I said I won’t only ar! Don’t sue me!!! Whatever that was written on that forum were written by people I don’t know. The only thing I can say is that I experienced exactly everything written there. Except for the tests on the temperature thingy, since I can’t be bothered, and have no clue what the toot they were saying. (IT idiot here, remember?)

P / P / S: I might not have written about my experience with HP’s service centre technicians previously. In fact, I MIGHT have even written how fantastically efficient they are in some entry in a January / February 2009 entry. However, that is because I forgot to update. In actual fact, they were extremely efficient the first time round (got my laptop in a week). However, I neglected to mention that the problem wasn’t resolved at that time. It took 4 send downs to HP before it got fixed. And the very last time I sent it down PERSONALLY, only then did the service technician say that he is (I quote:) “Using a new part hot out of a sealed box hor!”. So you meant to say that the first 3 times you either didn’t replace anything or that you used an old part that was fixed from someone else’s spoilt laptop??? Is that what they meant? I don’t know. I dare not make allegations. They know it best themselves. –looks around fishily-

ultra backdated updates part 1 (pre-bollywood party/Amar Raj bdae, & jogging rubbish)

2009-08-30T19:20:00.037+08:00

The deed is done. The tag board has finally been removed. And it looks so much neater. OMG!!! I can’t believe it.

But it will definitely be missed!!!
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Now, for PART ONE of my ultra backdated blogging:

Pre-Bollywood Party Preparations, & Amar Raj's Birthday Gathering...

This happened in 13th September 2008. Wahaha... Almost 1 year ago. I think I’ve broken the record eh? Lol… Anyway, this was a pre-Bollywood Party preparation cum gathering for Amar Raj’s birthday celebration. It was a surprise celebration for him lah. The thing I remember most about that day was that we were all so busy with the birthday celebration planning and Bollywood Party stuff preparation that everyone was really stressed out. Well, nothing a few beers, whiskey and vodka can’t solve eh??? Haha… Oops!~ (For more on the Bollywood Party entry, click HERE.)

Anyway, what happened was that Simran was supposed to go downstairs, to the kitchen, to retrieve the cake while the rest of us were supposed to act blur and carry on with whatever we were doing. For some reason Mr Amar Raj decided to follow on a last notice. It was then that we panicked and started making weird comments. And I think my stupid comment got everyone’s funny bone off the radar. I said “Ummm… Raj, got a spider, quick come catch it. –Marjo screaming at the same time for sound effect-”. That was stupid because first of all, everyone knows that I am not afraid of any insects or whatever creepy crawlies (except centipedes). So obviously, quite fake right? OMG! I almost died.

Yes peeps, don’t ask me how I remember such details for something that has happened so long ago. I just do lah. LOL… If only I am just as good at remembering details when I am studying. This world would be perfect. Haha…

P / S: Most people in the pictures have since either graduated (BHive, Murni, Stefan, Adeline, Vanessa, Katherine) or have completed their exchange programmes (Loretto, Marjo), and gone off to another part of the world for whatever that would come for them. Miss those noisy fun filled days man!!!

P / P / S: Oh yes, don’t remind me about my hair. Totally overgrown at that time. But aiya, nobody will care lah ok! Haha… I think that night, I’ve got worse to worry about. Somehow, someone took a group picture, and I was sitting right in front with my legs wide open. OMG! Can see my fatty inner thighs leh that picture!!! Lucky that is about all! I can’t remember which buffoon did that lah. –curse and swear-
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Random Pictures...

Moving on, 29th September 2008, I went for a late night jog with Georgina and Juliana. Juliana was still my housemate at that time. I just have a penchant for running in the night as I seem to fare better at that time of the day. I always had to force Juliana and Georgina to go jogging with me in the night since they preferred an earlier jog. The things I make my friends do... Haha...

Random Lame Pictures...

Anyways, the pictures were taken after the jog, when we were bored after cooling down. You might think it seemed fine, but really, it was winter and extremely windy when we were camwhoring ourselves to death. Georgina was more reluctant in the camwhoring, as it was already close to 11pm++ when we were done. We had to coerce her into doing it.

Jumping Action Shots... We kept trying & trying till we were satisfied with the pictures. Quite lame actually. LOL... We were trying to go for the walk-on-air look, but all of us failed terribly, except Juliana, who managed to almost look like it in one of her 2 pictures. I even had one irritating picture (top left corner) which has this come-slap-me face, that I almost wanted to burn the picture.

How-To Demonstration... Ever wondered how we did the jumping shots? Ever wondered how we jumped so high even in friggin' cold winter? See for yourself... Step 1: Climb up wooden post. (Just in case you didn't notice it in every picture.) Step 2: Ready yourself for the leap of your life in a crouch. Step 3: Swing your arms & fling yourself off the wooden post. Yes, standing broad jump style. Step 4: Flail your arms, legs, face, & everything around for the flying-in-the-air feel. Step 5: If all else fails, just friggin' pose on the wooden post & pretend it was intentional. Haha... Oh yes, pose weirdly, so that people remember you for it, rather than your failure of securing a nice action picture. Don't say I didn't hint you. Hehe...

UQ Tribute... A tribute to UQ, since we were all students from the university. And that these pictures were taken at the university's sports complex.

Nevertheless, it was still quite fun, the ideas we get even when we were grimy, and decked out in unglamourous and almost barely there apparel in the midst of cold cold winter. Haha…

P / S: Ummm… Yea, I should really start jogging again, since my graduation is coming this coming year end. I definitely hope that I don’t look like porky pig (as I already do now) as I receive my scroll from the chancellor. Eeks! What a scary thought. And yea, I am quite shocked how fair I had become by then. I totally need more healthy sun rays here in Australia man! Miss Singapore's sun lah...

it is time to remove the tag board

2009-08-26T18:58:00.006+08:00

Hey everyone, I have made a decision to remove my tag board on the left hand panel. Believe me when I say I have been struggling for a longggggggg time trying to decide whether or not to remove the offending blob. Alas, I have decided to do it finally. I will definitely miss all those wonderful tags most people have made there.

I want to thank everyone for tagging on the tag board all these years and keeping it alive and active since day 1; even when I stopped blogging for days and weeks on end. I truly appreciate all the comments and tags- whether positive or negative. The only reason why I am removing it is because I am sick of the limited amount of characters it allows me to write in. (Hate it when I have to use elaborate and eccentric abbreviations to replace long words.) Also, I don’t really like the outlook of the entire blog with the presence of that unsightly box on the left anymore.

However, fret not. Those who have always found time to express their views on the blog can still do so under the Comments section titled “What Say You?”. And yes, you can still remain as anonymous, and do NOT have to have a blogger account to write any comments.

I am so glad to have finally made this decision. Woohoo… Now my next goal is for a whole blog skin revamp. That, shall have to wait though. I need to source out good resources for that since I am an IT retard. (Ok, make that an ultra IT retard… Haha)

Alright, till the next time I post up my other entries (the ultra backdated ones I am currently working on, with pictures!!!), have a great week ahead.

Ciao!!!

P / S: The tag board will be left where it is until the end of this week (Friday). This is to ensure that my last few replies would be read by those they were intended for. Please do not continue to comment on the tag board though as i am taking it off anytime soon. Do it in the comments section. ;)

coming up soon... (+ studying weirdo)

2009-08-24T20:40:00.005+08:00

I’m currently working on an entry (or rather, many entries, since I had to split all the backdated entries into many different parts) that was supposed to be on here like 1 year ago. I know… Haha… Lots of pictures to collage lah. Be patient people! Stop scolding me… Lol…

Oh, by the way, people in Singapore: STOP COMPLAINING THAT IT IS SUPER HOT IN SINGAPORE yada yada… It’s winter in Australia now, but it’s 33ºC. That is what I call hot. And it is friggin’ WINTER!!! 26ºC to 28ºC only complain so much for what???!!! Imagine people living in countries with seasonal climates have to adapt to extreme cold and hot all year round. Isn’t that worst? What is 20ºC+++??? I seriously hate studying in winter, and hate my mere existence during summer. Anyway, I seriously can’t bear the thought of having to walk 20 minutes to and from work every day in the HOT weather. Oh yes, Brisbane has got the best weather compared to the other Australian states. I can totally imagine how the others are suffering elsewhere. Eeks! I will pray for you guys ok!!!

I have lots of things to write about- both negative and positive. But I didn’t want to start an entry with negative stuff after a long hiatus. Therefore, the above short paragraph is about all the negativity I can summon myself to write thus far.

Need to go and sleep now. Shall continue with the entries tomorrow… Massive!!! Just to whet your appetites with my wackiness below:

Yes, that was how I looked while I was studying last semester. Took a little break and went into the toilet to refresh myself. (Yes, that also meant that I camwhored in the toilet. Of all places...) I laughed so hard my stomach almost popped out through my mouth and into the toilet bowl. And yes, I walked around the house like that, every day for that period, sending giggles amongst my housemates. But I don’t care lah. I sort of have no image one lah. LOL… No choice! My hair is too long and it kept irritating me by falling all over my face while I tried to study. Then, there was also no time for a haircut. Anyway, not that bad what! Right right?

I’m definitely considering shaving off my hair.

And I think I am weird. Last year I wanted to keep an afro. This year I wanted to shave it all off. What’s next man? Actually, recently I was thinking of dreadlocks. But nah. Don’t suit me at all lah. So forget it. Too smelly anyway, and I don’t want to keep a rotten fish in my hair wherever I go. Eeks!

Last but not the least...

Viruses are like aliens... Some of my many flow charts done for my Genes, Cells & Evolution module. I lost one of my two self drawn flow chart booklets at the exam hall. So pissed!!! I threw the other one out too since it's no longer a complete set.

Don't you think that viruses look and behave like aliens? I reckon that was where the fabulous people in Hollywood got their sketch ideas from for the previously huge movie hit "ALIENS" (and its other movie sequels). For your information, the bacteria cell they grow in explodes (lyses), releasing many "baby" viruses. Sound familiar???

almost locked out

2009-08-04T22:27:00.000+08:00

I was looking forward to blogging when I planned to come home early today. But alas, I had to do 2 extra OT hours at my intern company as I just started my research and development (R&D) work today. Totally shagged! I was making cake bases (7 different versions of the same recipe) for 5.5 hours straight, without stopping. I was so damn tired by the time I was done.

It was so damn dark already when I finally took my bag and made the long journey home. I think I was damn lucky as well. Because my colleague nearly locked up the main office where my bag (+ money, train ticket, mobile phone, jacket; etc) were on my office table. I appeared just as she made the final turn of the key, locking the metal door shut. It was so funny when we just looked at each other, mouth wide open and shocked, when she turned around to leave. Haha…

Oh yes, and my walking shoes were inside the office too. If I had been locked out, I would have to wear my unglamourous and heavy industrial boots home lah. Not forgetting to mention that I would also be without money (to buy a new train ticket), communication-less (without my mobile phone), and super cold (jacket was on my office chair). Hahaha… Thinking about the above scenario was disturbingly funny.

Anyway, tough luck. I would blog again soon another time. Maybe tomorrow? I hope so. I had so much to tell, but only spent so little time at home. I had been going out like nobody’s business man. I see it as a reward for working hard on a daily basis. It is also to make up for the loss of time from the previous 3 semesters when I had to lock myself up at home to do my assignments and stuff. Wahaha… But this is not going to continue for long since I have so much research coming up, plus all those assignments that I have to prepare for submission at the end of this month.

I just want to say, I AM SOOO EXHAUSTED!!!

But at the same time, I am sooo happyyy!!!

I think I love to work!!! Woohoo… But of course I don't mind getting paid without doing work lah. Lol...

P / S: No time to edit the entry. Need to use the time and do some other stuff. There is just not enough time in a day to do everything. GRRR!!!

thank goodness

2009-07-30T21:02:00.002+08:00

I thank my lucky stars that I got into the curent company I am interning at right now. One of my friends just wrote on Facebook that he had to quit his intern job because he had to cut up cows’ faces every day to do some sort of tests. OMG!!! Super horrible lah! I would quit too! But then again, in my case, I don’t have much time left till graduation. Which also means, I can’t quit if I am in his position. Gosh!!! I feel so fortunate that the only thing I had to cut open were muffins, cakes and loafs.

I just got my first supervisor’s intern assessment today. Scored pretty well; almost full marks. I’m glad I am doing things the way it should. Now, I just have to get that ridiculously stupid report set by the university done, plus my company's research and development project, and I would be safe for this intern module. Woohoo… Oh yes, I have a second supervisor’s intern assessment at the end of internship too, which I hope I can maintain whatever I should maintain. Haha…

Shall update the blog with pictures in the coming weekends soon… This blog was almost deserted. Can see cobwebs everywhere liao. I’m currently dusting off the thick snowy layers. -Sneeze!- Lol…

busy busy busy

2009-07-09T23:52:00.001+08:00

Haven’t checked my blog for days. Been too busy, as will the next following days. I can’t wait for the weekends when I can finally sleep in and laze.

first day of intern in aussie

2009-07-06T19:39:00.002+08:00

Today was my first day at internship. Kind of a refreshing feeling, because it is the first time I have worked in an all ang moh (read: Caucasian) environment. I tell you, the feeling is extremely different. For starters, my colleagues are really nice and funny people.

The morning started really cold. I almost froze to death. gosh! I was freezing as I made my way to the bus stop, and then to the train station at 7am. Had to bathe at 6am, so you can imagine how cold it was. Seriously, the journey is damn far. It took me about 1.5 hours to arrive in the morning, not forgetting the 15 minutes mad rush I did from the train station to the office premises. Seriously, if I have to brisk walk (almost jogging) for 15 minutes every morning for 5 months, I think I can lose weight. (If I walked at normal pace, then it will take me 30 minutes.) Yea, and then after work I have to walk another 30 minutes back to the station. How nice.

The moment I stepped into the office, I was almost dying. And I made it just on the dot, at 8.30am.

And then I had lab safety induction, where I was asked to do an open book quiz the very moment I stepped in. Haha… My brain was still asleep and not registering anything at first, but I guessed I snapped out of it after a while. The whole day pretty much passed with nothing much to do, since it was my first day. It was introductions the whole way through. And I totally regretted not bringing LONG THICK socks. Seriously people, if you are required to wear brand new safety boots at work, I advise you to buy some nice woolly socks that cover all the way to midway of your calf. Because those damn shoes will bite into your skin like they hadn’t eaten for a gazillion years. My whole calf is full of blisters and abrasions right now. Imagine me walking around with a bit of a limp the whole day because of that. Thank God no one noticed, or rather, maybe they just didn’t ask me what’s going on. I made a mental note to bring a pair of long socks for tomorrow, apart from the ankle length ones that I normally wear with my walking shoes.

I hope tomorrow would be an even better day. They mentioned that they’d be discussing my project with me when I come in, first thing in the morning. I can’t wait!

And yes, plenty of pastries and cakes to eat. I had this raspberry and white chocolate muffin, and brought home 6 to share with my housemates (and for breakfast tomorrow morning). And those muffins weren’t even selling in the market yet. How lucky of me!

And yea, I left 1.5 hours earlier than I should today, because the supervisor allowed me to. And then it took me another 2 hours to get home, for some reason it took longer than when I was going to work in the morning.

Alright, gotta sleep early or else I won’t be able to wake up tomorrow.
Nitez peeps!
Ciao!!!

P / S: I gave away 2 of my muffins to complete strangers because they kept staring at my muffins when we were in the train. They were sitting directly opposite (facing) me, and kept making movies of my muffins in their heads. I couldn’t stand the staring and asked them if they wanted one, just to stop the staring. (They almost burned a hole through me can!) They unceremoniously nodded their heads, took one each and gobbled it down in front of me. Then one of them even returned the dirty muffin cup to me after eating. How rude and lacking of initiative. People give you yummy food already still want people to throw your rubbish for you. Idiot! And best of all, after eating, they continued to stare, as if I would give them another one. I just took my book out to read and ignored those bastards. How ungrateful!~ If I had known, I might as well have kept those 2 muffins for my other lovely friends lah. What a regret! Another mental note made in my head.

virgin (brisbane) clubbing experience

2009-07-02T10:02:00.002+08:00

The Group... (from left) Hui Min (China), me, & Eeling, Alex, Ler, Alvin (Malaysia). Met some other friends at the club too, but didn't have a camera to take a picture at that point.

Went to a club called Family a couple of nights ago (29th June 2009) with a couple of friends for the Klub Kandy Dance Party. Ummm… The clubbing scene there is just alright. Seriously, the experience wasn’t totally as exciting as I thought it would be. Super lots of Asians I must say. I could almost count the number of non-asians with both hands.

The Guys... For some reason, the girls didn't take pictures.

Music, is the utmost important factor in a club. However, my friends and I just thought that the club lacked a little of an oomph in terms of its dance music. Ironically, we even went to a specially organised DANCE party, thus, I cannot imagine what the music would be like during normal times. The house beats were horribly mixed and overused, I must say. That is in my own opinion though. I thought they kept replaying the same beats over and over again, so much so that every single song felt the same. If they were going for consistency, then probably they succeeded; although, to me, it sounded more repetitive than consistent.

Random Shots (not by me)... There is the interior of the club, the DJs, & the random dancers that appeared on stage for a short while. Pictures are blur due to lighting & laser.

In the premise, there were 3 levels. Level 1 was the main House / Trance music dance floor. That was where all the repetitive music I was talking about earlier came from. Level 2 was lounge area where you get to sit or stand around to observe the level 1 dance floor, while you drink. This was also the reception area where you would enter directly from the main doors. Level 3 was my favourite, where they play mostly R&B dance remixes. The music flow here is what I would rather call consistent. However, I think they need to update their music more often. The only current tune I heard the whole of last night was probably Beyonce’s Single Ladies, which lasted for like 3 minutes or less. The other music played was probably from a gazillion years ago.

Level 1 Dance Floor... Interesting enough, this picture showed alot of ang mohs, which is not a true representation of the proportion.

In terms of music, I would give it 3 out of 10.

The variety of drinks there I can’t comment since I didn’t drink much. However, I must say it’s the first time I’ve seen beer in a club. (Maybe it is because I didn’t pay attention in the past when I was in Singapore. Maybe it could also be because of my preference for vodka based drinks that I neglected the beers in the past.) And since this was my virgin trip to a club in Brisbane, I can’t compare the prices between the different Brisbane clubs as well. However, judging by the prices (without currency conversion), I would say the drink prices were comparable with Singapore’s very own clubbing scene. Taste wise, I would say my Vodka Lime was extremely pleasing on the palate. It wasn’t overly strong, alcoholic wise, and they even took the effort to crush the lime properly. However, this is not a good thing for those who crave for strong tasting vodka mixes eh? But I like my vodka this way, thus, I shall be bias here. Oh they even have a choice of soda water or carbonated water (or something along the line).

For the drinks I had, I would give it 7 out of 10.

Interest wise, I would say the club is stay-able only for about 3 hours or so. First of all, there weren’t many people around. Possibly because it’s a Monday night. Then again, I would say the lack of people is also due to the high turnover rate, where people come and go every single second. Also, just to note, I was told by a friend that on a good day, the queue can actually go down 3 streets. Thus, I guess I just went on a bad day. Haha… Also to note, when I say there weren’t enough people, I don’t mean sparse existence of the human kind within the club premises. I just meant that it wasn’t packed to the brim, where everyone danced like sardines in a can. I guess I am biased here again. I just prefer to club in an extremely crowded club, where people actually bump into each other while dancing. Haha… I think it is more “high” this way. No?

The Banana's Toilet... Someone (I can't remember who) wanted to go to the toilet, but didn't know which was the gents. One look and I told him that it's obviously the banana! Like Duh!~ I have no idea why females are represented by a coconut though. The breasts?

Overall, I would rate my clubbing experience at the club (Family- Klub Kandy Dance Party) 6 out of 10. By the way, I am rating my experience, not the club’s competence. So, that about sums up my virgin trip to an Aussie club.

Oh yes, if you’re hungry after clubbing, I saw a 24 hours McDonalds and another Kebabs & Pizzas place just a street away. There are also tons of taxis parked along the streets for clubbers’ convenience.

Then again, I get pissed talking about taxis, as I was extremely pissed off with our cab driver last night. That fucking bloody bugger just had be a spoiler for a wonderful day. He was rude, obnoxious, and extremely irritating. He was rude because he told me that he knew the St. Lucia surburb very well and didn’t need me to direct him; when I offered to direct him as we approached the vicinity as he seemed totally confused. (I mean, who wouldn’t be confused since we have 3 different streets to go to as all of us live on different streets around the same area.) And he was very rude and blatant when he said that. He was obnoxious because he switched on his Punjab radio station when all of us were conversing with each other (obviously in Mandarin since we didn’t want him to know what we were talking about). He was extremely irritating (cum rude) because he didn’t reply us when we asked him stuff; stuff such as do you understand the directions that I just told you; etc. He even refused to stop when we told him to, and went almost one street ahead, and stopped only when my friend shouted at him rudely. Bloody fucker should just go back to India if he is not happy being a cab driver can!!! (By the way I am not being racist when I say he should go back to India. I’m saying that because he is obviously and coincidentally from India. If he was from Singapore or China, I would say the same thing albeit a change of location. Just to inform, most of my very close and good friends are INDIANSSS, so the fucker who say that I am racist should just go eat shit and die. And fuck off, that is.) I think it is because of such people who spoil the reputation of their own nationality / race, thus, there is always this racism issue. Damn, I should have taken a picture of his fucking mug!!! Then again, I scared the camera lens crack.

P / S: Don't expect me to dress up for clubbing. I have no idea why some people bother to dress up, only to feel restricted at the club. I mean, some clothes are just not suitable or comfortable for dancing and drinking in a confined premise. Also, I think if you have it, then you have it. You can be striking even if you don't dress to the nines overly.

expression VS interpretation

2009-06-30T17:01:00.002+08:00

I was called insensitive and mean by a friend because I typed on MSN:

“Yea, I guess he is an “uglier” version of Elvin Ng, with just a slight resemblance?”

OR was it:

“Yea, I guess he is an “uglier” version of Elvin Ng, with just a slight resemblance.”

(I can’t remember the last punctuation.)

Insensitive because that friend thought I had said that this person was UGLY.

However, in my own personal opinion, I don’t think I was insensitive, and that I did NOT imply that the person was ugly.

Point 1:
Because in terms of an English expression, uglier doesn’t mean ugly. For example: This flower is uglier than that other flower, probably in terms of colour or pattern. But ultimately, both flowers are not ugly. Just not as pretty in context of being compared. It is just like me saying that I am fat on my blog. But does that mean that I am truly fat? Maybe I am, since in my own standards, as well as amongst my group of friends (you skinny bitches!!!), I am considered plus size. Maybe not, since I am certainly not the fattest bastard on earth. Now now, did I really mean that all my friends are bitches with the above sentence? Or, did I just call myself a bastard literally? No? why not? But I did put it into the sentence, and some more no inverted commas wor. So how? Right!~ For those reading, get my meaning from this example? No? Then read on…

Point 2:
In English punctuation terms, “ugly” (inverted commas, aka quotation mark) just mean the opposite in terms of the word it encloses. No? (Click HERE for some English lessons; specifically search for the part on “quotation mark”.) If not, what are inverted commas for? Decoration? (Well, it would be decoration if it wasn’t taken into account when put together.) Talking about punctuation, like I said before, they are there for different purposes. Like my example in the “insensitive” sentence I wrote above, I couldn’t decide whether I had put a question mark or a full stop at the end of the sentence. However, why am I so uptight about that? Well, because a question mark and a full stop interprets differently. I want the truest representation for what I write on this blog, thus, I need to clarify my lack of memory on that part. So, case in point of view, a question mark would mean I am asking a question back whether my statement was true, while a full stop would mean that that was my statement without further questions. However, even then, both sentences still don’t imply that I have called someone ugly. Maybe just not as good looking as Elvin Ng. No?

Point 3:
The issues on interpretation. Who can we blame? The interpreter or the writer? The interpreter who interpreted the sentence in a certain direction, without being forced to. The writer who could have chosen a better substitute word. Who then? In my opinion, I say the writer is not at fault. Because first of all, what are punctuations and the different methods of description in the power of the English language for? That is to further signify the direct difference between 2 similar terms, ain’t it? If not, why are those invented for? Fault the interpreter??? Can the writer be blamed for the interpreter’s sensitivity or lack of direct interpretation? Thus, the question here is, who is in the wrong? The writer’s lack of use of a different word, or the interpreter’s lack of understanding towards what was written? In my opinion, it is ambiguous, where both can be faulted. As in like, why must you choose that word? Or, why must you interpret it that way (are you being too sensitive)? However, I do know that in terms of an academic examination, the wrong interpretation just means you answered wrongly, and thus, fail. Can we say that the author of the textbook shouldn’t have written it that way? Could we have asked the writer of the published text or the lecturer to have expressed the term using a different word? I don’t think so.

Point 4:
Then, comes the issue of writing as a form of art. Isn’t interpretation a form of art as well? When a painter showcases a piece of painted canvas, isn’t the true form of art being in both the skill of the painter, as well as the difference in interpretations of the canvas? So in expression and interpretation, aren’t both an art on the same line? If you say choosing of words is an art, I would say interpretation of the word is also an art. Isn’t it so in this context? Thus, instead of faulting the writer, why not fault yourself for your own interpretation?

And then on a side note, does saying that someone should have interpreted something differently = saying someone is stupid??? Does it even inter-relate? Interpretation of a different direction, I would say is proportional to saying, initial MISINTERPRETATION. However, what does stupidity have to do with misinterpretation? If that is the case, then the whole wide world is stupid, since everyone has differing points of views of the same things. No?

Point 5:
Question on whether I could have chosen a different word? Like what? “Not as good looking as”, “Not as handsome”, “Below average compared to XXX”, “Lacking of compared to XXX”, “Handsome but not as handsome as XXX”; etc. Don’t all these phrases have negative connotations as well? If you say they are more sensitive and/or less hurtful, who made that rule to say that it is less damaging? I think it is just in the mind of the beholder, which is not my problem as a writer but your problem as an interpreter. No? So rather than 3 to 4 words, why not just one word? Besides, what other more polite ONE-worded words could I have used to replace the word uglier? I can’t think of any, because in the first place, it isn’t even a word. Ugly is a word, not uglier (it’s a one word phrase by itself).

Point 6:
I have many other points to make my point but I am too lazy to write on such an insignificant thing. The entry is already overly long too. Besides, like I said before, I make no apologies or explanation for what I write. So stuff it! Bottom line is, I stand by what I write. I think the most important point is that I made clear that calling someone ugly or whatever other similar negative connotations with previous writings is not my true intention. It is better than being sneaky and lying about the true intention after writing or saying something, just to put oneself in a good positive light.

I do apologize for the misinterpretation though; HOWEVER, I do NOT apologize for my usage of vocabulary and punctuation. Because I feel that words and punctuation have been justified in black and white, over the years, for its command in the English language as well as the connotations it brings forward.

On another side note, it was said that my apology (for my expression of the sentence) was accepted in due of gentlemanliness. However, there was no clue of true gentlemanliness where a reciprocal apology for the misinterpretation was non-existent. So, my question is, does that count for gentlemanly behaviour?

So what say you people? What is your take on this issue? (I certainly encourage comments for this, however, if you didn’t read the entry fully due to its length, or if you just want to give a fucking CB comment, better think twice with your fucking brains. For your information, all nonsense comments will be deleted, so don’t waste your fucking time and mine. Ummm… Then again, who am I kidding. If a person didn’t read fully and decide to give a fucker of an answer, would not see this final note, ain’t it? Haha…)

P / S: Elvin Ng’s name is being used in this blog entry because prior to this, it was mentioned by the friend on MSN that the “someone” looks A BIT like Elvin Ng, but not quite because he has got his own style. Elvin Ng’s name was used not because I randomly pulled out a name from a bag.

P / P / S: I am writing this blog entry not because I am angry, or not because I am bitchy and want to put that friend in question down. I am writing this entry because I want to let everyone reading this understand that in a write up or speech, you often don’t get the whole picture (especially in the case of writing, because of the lack of expression of emotions in the words used or a lack of insight on the writer’s facial expression while writing), unless you know the person very well. Like how I was discussing with another friend, a simple phrase of “What? I have always been vulgar what.” can be meant menacingly or can be meant in a “just saying” attitude.

P / P / P / S: By not knowing all the above said English commandments also does not make you bad at the language. Often than not, someone who is inclined in the English language tend to oversee such minor details, compared to someone else who isn’t as well inclined. That is because English-pros tend to think too much. Why they think too much? Because they are so good that they tend to be able to come up with several different connotations to a sentence, where most are not wrong. For example, saying that quotation marks mean that the word in between is the direct opposite of its actual meaning, does “uglier” mean that you’re handsome (in fact, even more handsome, since uglier means uglier than ugly), or does it just mean that you’re not ugly at all???

what am i gonna do?

2009-06-25T16:36:00.002+08:00

The sudden burst of free time is so overwhelming; I have no idea what to do with it. I think I am going to hole up in my room, light some aroma therapy oil, tuck myself under my blanket, and read a book. Like just chill. It’s been ages since I last had time to even feel the waxy covers of my books. They were just sitting there collecting dust, and waiting for me to pick them up and stroke their pages seductively.

Lately, I've got so many unpublished entries. Not that I’ve regretted and don’t want to publish them anymore, but the feeling is no longer there. Like what Juliana had mentioned on her blog, about her deleting entries that she thought was inappropriate after publishing. Mine's a different case. I have tons of half written entries lying around the laptop desktop. The reason why they would never see the light of day is because I’ve lost the emotions I had while writing the entries. I think it would be meaningless to post them, ‘cause then, they would not be reflecting my true emotion at the very moment. The sad, angry, or emo entries are just there, wasting space (plus the tons of complaints I had over the past 6 months). Happy entries, with pictures, would definitely be posted though.

I think I have to tidy up my laptop and portable hard drive already. That is, after I clean up my filthy room and toilet (everything was totally neglected during the whole semester). Ummm… Yea, I have a whole pile of clothes to fold too. Haha… Gosh! Totally not looking forward to that.

it's over

2009-06-24T19:19:00.003+08:00

Alas, everything is over. The last paper wasn’t that much of a prick. Thank goodness… Made some major mistakes or else I would have scored a distinction or something.

It’s time to party before the results arrive hot out of the oven.

Woohoo…

P / S: How I wish I can go back home for the short vacation. All my friends are back home in Singapore, Malaysia, China; wherever but here. How envious!~

cold cold day

2009-06-24T07:18:00.001+08:00

It is friggin’ cold today. It is sooo misty outside right now, I have trouble getting back into reality. I still think I am in dreamland lah.

I hate studying during winter though. Singaporeans are always so hard up for winter they don’t realise that winter is only shiok if it’s a vacation, not when you live in the place. I hate it when someone says to me “Wah shiok hor, Australia now winter! Singapore sooo hottt.” Grrr… They have no idea how difficult it is to study when it’s so damn cold all the time. And when you switch on the heater, it is too stuffy and hot. And Singapore is hot? Gosh, you have yet to experience summer anywhere around the world. Trust me!~

I couldn’t sleep at all last night. I mean I did sleep for 2 hours because I was just too tired to go on. And then I woke up at 3.30am and studied all the way till now. Oh man! Hopefully, everything is safe and sound in my squishy brain. I can’t wait to sleep my fill later today!!!

Juliana and Kookyplum, Paddington any time PLEASE!!!! Weekday or weekend???

I need to enjoy before the dreaded 2nd of July (results day!!!). Grrr… You know what my housemate Isabel and I were discussing yesterday? It is this:

“Australia is so slow in everything. BUT when it comes to exam results, they are like a bolt of lightning.”

Another bad exam today, and I would seriously have to slit my wrist. Not literally though. Lol...

horrors

2009-06-23T19:51:00.003+08:00

I officially declare this the worst exams I have taken in my entire life. Seriously? How about fail 2 out of 2 taken; with 1 more difficult one coming up? Grrr!!! I think I’ve broken my personal record; never fail means never fail, once fail then fail all together. Gosh! Anyway I am definitely not the only one breaking that record this semester. So be it lah. Sianz…

I wonder what is up with the lecturers this semester.

Apparently this year’s Chemical Food Analysis paper was deemed the hardest in years to come by everyone. Looked through all the past year papers and they were shit compared to our paper today.

Having just one question worth 120 marks totally didn’t help matters. (There was 5 part questions; each worth more than 20 marks. And all 5 parts are connected. So if you don’t know part a, say goodbye to parts b, c, d, e.)

Seriously, no one I spoke to had finished the paper. And best of all, most of us didn’t do the last 3 parts, which was worth more than 60 marks. So you can imagine how bad most of our grades would be. Damn it lah... What a waste of my time. Some more paper so late than start; 5.45pm to 7.55pm. Almost fell asleep can.

One piece of good news is, the lecturer mentioned that he would moderate our grades if everyone did badly. But then again, how much can he fucking moderate? Cannot be fail then moderate to become credit (5) or distinction (6) right? I am sooo over it already. I have another exam tomorrow. I better study extra hard for tomorrow’s paper, or else I would have to say goodbye to a good class of Honours.

Haiz…
So irritated now! Ok, don’t want to talk liao. Thank God my mum was quite supportive when I told her to not buy her air tickets to Brisbane for my year end graduation. I totally told her i might be repeating, and all she said was "do your best". -Make me feel even more guilty only.-

Ciao!

P / S: Don’t say I didn’t fucking study, because this is an open book examination. Failure does not equate to a lack of studying (or whatever studying in the right way blah blah; because if I didn’t study in the right way, then I don’t know where all the fucking distinctions and credits I got in the past came from).

P / P / S: And for those who want to say that open book examinations are easy, go fuck yourself. If it’s so damn easy then how come almost the WHOLE class cannot finish the paper?

a piece of Singapore

2009-06-21T08:39:00.004+08:00

Old Shop Houses in Singapore...

Just some pictures I found in my laptop, pictures that I have long forgotten about, until now.

This is taken somewhere in Singapore during CNY 2009 (February). I can’t remember exactly where this place was, since I was in my uncle’s car going wherever he went.

But I was just amazed by the interesting infrastructure of the buildings; the colour, the design; etc. I would love to own such a unit in the near future- renovate and modernize the interior, but at the same time retain the exquisite exterior. This almost looks like antique to me. I especially love the pasty mismatched colours. Everything just screams of long lost history and culture. Such beauty.

Riding (in the) Past... I absolutely love this photo. I was sitting inside my uncle's car, taking pictures of the infrastructure when this Indian dude rode past on his bicycle unknowingly. Funny how I really like the shot. He made the photo look more convincing & alive. (I hope he wouldn't mind having his picture appear on this random blog.) This photo was definitely taken by chance. How lucky! I just wish that the fat ugly van was parked somewhere else when I took this picture.

finally!

2009-06-19T17:26:00.000+08:00

I’m finally done with my reports.

Submitted the last one just moments ago!

Woo hoo!!!

-Pop some party poppers-

Now, I just have to concentrate on what is left of my exams- 2 more to go. No more running in between exams and reports. This feeling is sooo great!

representation (light of hope)

2009-06-19T08:29:00.007+08:00

Cocoon... Taken at Hawken Drive, St. Lucia, Queensland, Brisbane, during Spring 2008.

I’m not sure if I’ve posted this picture on the blog before. But well, I would do it now (even if I have previously done so) as I absolutely love this picture I took with my mobile phone.

This represents hope, a hope for a better future.
This represents rebirth, the birth of something beautiful.
This represents sunshine, rays so warm they make you happy.
This represents uncertainty, with whatever that might emerge from within.
This represents pure love, between its creators here or up above.
This represents something new, all shiny and sparkling ready.
This represents a new beginning, for whatever that lies ahead.

What about you?
What would this have represented?

*Edit: Entry title was inspired by DSJQ. Thanks dude!

mushrooms & greenery

2009-06-18T19:04:00.004+08:00

Just some random pictures of mushrooms I took with the camera on my mobile phone. Ever since I got myself the Samsung F480, I totally changed my mind about mobiles phones having sucky cameras. Love the camera function, hate everything else about the phone though…

Anyway, I truly adore Australia’s Greenery. They say Singapore is the Green Island; clean and green. Yes, it is true. However, I think Singapore is sooo green it just lacks colour and life. Everything is leaf and grass, and more leaf and grass. I think sometimes, a couple of flowers can do the trick to brighten someone’s day.

I noticed that in Australia, most of the plants here blossom. Yes, even the weeds have colourful pretty flowers. I am amazed. They even have wild cactuses growing on trees and deserted patches of grass and trees. I loveee wild cactuses; how I wish I could bring some back home (Singapore).

Anyway, during the rainy season, wild mushrooms of all shapes, sizes and species can be seen sprouting overnight all over the fields here. Quite amazing, because I am a mushrooms person too. I used to pick them and plant them in pots in my grandparents’ garden. I sometimes wonder how these mushrooms actually manage to grow that big within just one night. And they grow in the most peculiar ways; in rings!!! I’m in awe…

Boobs or Mushrooms?... Peeps, don't you think this pair of mushrooms look like a pair of boobs (especially the nipples cum areola part, albeit abit manly & too wide)?
Huge one!... Yes, this mushroom was so huge i had to take a picture of it. The previous pictures didn't do justice to its size, thus, the inclusion of my feet in the picture.

catastrophic examination

2009-06-17T15:28:00.005+08:00

Dammit!!! Catastrophic examination today!!!

EVERYTHING I studied and focused on didn’t come out AT ALL. TOTALLY!!! Not exaggerating!!!

Naturally, I didn’t know how to do half the paper, and wrote rubbish. I hope the tutors won’t laugh too hard when they mark my paper.

Damn sianz. Apparently one of my friends focused on the same theories as me, and worst of all, she didn’t even finish the paper!

I think I can just really wait to retake the whole module. OMG!!! I can’t believe this is happening to me in my last course work semester.

I now silently just pray for a pass (4). No need to aim high for this module already. Grrr!!! I just need to graduate by the end of this year!!!

And the paper wasn’t even difficult. It is just that we focused on the wrong parts. The paper was super easy according to many others!!! I guess there won’t even be a chance for a moderation, if need be. GRRR!!! I'm definitely expecting one "fail" (3) when the results are released. Dammitttttt!!! -cross fingers that won't happen-

I just complained to BHive, and she said I’m totally crazy. Because instead of being my usual sad and grumpy and pissed off self (after such an incident), I was laughing. She said I’m becoming looney. I have to agree with her also lah.

Alright, enough of complaining and ranting on the blog. Back to my report writing for my very last report for the semester.

Ciao!

P / S: I hope the same thing won’t happen for my other modules. Haiz…

P / P / S: No, my assignments won't help me with this module because it is pre-requisite to pass the final exam to pass the whole course. I did pretty well for my assignments though.

you croak, i kill

2009-06-16T19:41:00.005+08:00

OMG… My housemate recently had this new found penchant for singing to his music. It’s really disturbing (as in scary kind of disturbing, not disturb kind of disturbing) because it’s like the exam period. (Even though he is probably relieving stress, it’s creating stress for everyone else.) And, I wouldn’t mind him singing if it was pleasant to the ears. But I’m sorry, it’s more of like a hyena being strangled, choked, and having its throat cut (all at the same time), while being sodomized by an unknown tree branch from some weirdo stranger.

Goodness gracious…

I couldn’t stand it any longer and sent him a SMS (can’t be bothered to walk out of room and knock on his door):

“Your singing voice is making me think of committing suicide, and killing my brain cells. I’m sure our neighbours can hear you ‘cause I can hear them talking, much more singing.”

I was extremely polite with my message already. Thank you!~

Imagine, what if I have to think of all the facts I studied tonight in my exam tomorrow, and all I can remember is his horrible singing? -Shudders at the thought-

Thank goodness he stopped his nonsensical singing or else I would just have to murder him by stabbing him with my pens. I would definitely leave one pen for his asshole to signify his sodomization in his flair for singing.

Alright, I am kidding. Ok, back to viruses, and HIV now. i absolutely hate viruses!!! God please kill me now! T_T

P / S: I told a friend recently that I would definitely not get any distinctions this semester. And that someone kept asking me why not. It is not like so incredulous right? I mean, I didn’t explain further and just told him that I don’t want to elaborate as I don’t like to give excuses for any of my failures. I think sometimes we just shouldn’t explain something too much else people would start to think that the explanations are just excuses. I mean, it’s quite typical human behaviour. Ultimately, what other people will remember will still be what’s written in black or white. So just save it. 10 years down the road, no one will remember why you did badly. They will just remember that you did badly for XXX modules. So let’s just save the crap for our own digest.

P / P / S: Got a reply from above mentioned housemate. He apologized for his HUMMING!!! I didn’t know you can hum with goddamn words. Isn’t humming supposed to be HMMM HUMMM HAAA kind of thing? LOL… I was quite direct with my 2nd reply but shall just leave this a mystery, since he was apologetic. Haha…

rainbow's pot of gold (for the determined)

2009-06-15T07:35:00.009+08:00

Daisy; Taken somewhere out there in Brisbane during Summer (2008).

The sun is coming out soon.
The rain would be over.
Flowers would blossom,
and
Rainbows would glow.
Search for the pot of gold,
It is there you’ll see.
Much to the delight of the discovery,
It would always be.

Then,
The rain would come again.
The bitterness of the cold.
Windy chills and pattering rain,
Slapped from head to toe.
Umbrellas overturned,
Clothes soaked in winter rain.
How do you feel?
Like a battered rag doll.

You trudge on forward,
In your marching boots.
Coat clutched tight around your body,
Umbrella’s frame as walking stick.
Head held low,
Wet hair matted on your face.
Pale from the coldness,
With each step you walk ahead.

Glow from the inner strength.
Heat burn from desire.
But only until the next sunny morning,
You finally see the gold.

Blossom like this beautiful daisy,
Wither like this ethereal willow.
No matter what it is,
You will always be you.

So persevere on!

Ethereal Withering Tree; Taken at Dutton Park, St. Lucia, Brisbane during Winter (2008). It has since been cut down.

P / S: Motivation comes before hardship, while Perseverance comes before the Reward.

war zone

2009-06-14T09:19:00.012+08:00

Me.. Grey, & devoid of feelings; like a robot. While mugging for a quiz weeks ago. (Taken with my webcam; not sure what camera effect is that though).

My room looks like a war zone right now. There are notes, papers, pens, text books, food wrappers, opened boxes of tidbits; etc, all strewn around…

Nothing could get into that brain of mine when it comes to Genes, Cells and Evolution. I just keep thinking about other random things, so much so that I decided to get out of the house for some junk food shopping. When I was studying, it almost felt like this: “ABC Transporter chocolate is a Kit Kat membrane ice cream protein that Reese transports molecules Doritos across cell membranes”. Yes, I know. Take out the food items and you get the basic genomics sentence I was reading. Grrr…

Now, I don’t even know what was being retained in my head after a god damn night of uneasy sleep. Yea, I was having really bad dreams, probably because of stress. I just kept dreaming about my studies, exams, my unfinished reports; the images go around like in scenarios that were not exactly on my advantage.

I seriously need this to be over real soon man.

I almost feel grey most of the time right now. Almost lifeless. Almost devoid of feelings. Yea, like a robot. Haha… Oh well, it’s common for students to feel that way. At least I know my friends are busy holed up in their rooms right now too.

Oh, and HUGEEEEEE thanks to BHive for the story booksssss!!! "Love you many many lah" my friend. LOL… -Totally laughing at that expression!- She bought me 2 story books (Fridays with Philip- by Philip Lee, and Veronika Decides to Die- by Paulo Coelho) for my birthday (which was eons ago). It was meant to be a request baggage ‘cause she was coming back to Brissy for a holiday, but it turned out she didn’t want to accept my money as she intended for it to be a birthday present. (So paiseh, else I would have only asked her to help me buy just one of the books previously.) And she also brought along a copy of 8days magazine, which had the updates on this year’s Star Awards Show (which I had to miss), and most importantly, Rui En’s feature (something about her new endorsement on some make up line). And we can’t even hang out much, except for the first 2 dinner nights because of the impending exams and unfinished reports. What a waste!

The Books... Go read!!!

I can’t wait for the exams to be over, even though I don’t want it to come any time soon. So contradicting right? Haha… And then I just have to finish up the 3 reports that I have yet to submit, and my holidays would officially start. Woohoo… Can’t wait! Especially when this holiday is so short due to my upcoming internship, which starts in July 6th. Damn… I would totally welcome the break from studies man! By the way, I was just informed that my internship university tuition fee is AUD$9060, an increase of almost AUD$500 to AUD$1000 from the previous year. WTH… (My Australian friends pay just about AUD$2000.) -faint-

fate & bad timing

2009-06-08T23:16:00.001+08:00

I forgot to mention the other day, but I finally found a company willing to take me in as an intern student. They didn’t even interview me proper, and made their decision just based on my resume. I was relieved because there were tons of stuff I was trying to squeeze into that tiny brain of mine just before the “interview”. (By the way I saw a very wide and huge rainbow- almost like wall paper- the same day 'cause it rained like it's fucking trying to drown me in my tie and formal clothes. Didn't take a picture though 'cause my mobile camera couldn't zoom enough. Haha...)

And then, 2 days after I accepted the intern offer at company A, my first choice company B actually called up for an interview.

You say lah, is God like trying to send me for a ride or something? Making fun of me issit?

I was a little pissed because I had sent my resume to that company for months. 2 months to be exact. And that I had waited for 1 whole month without sending out any of my resumes to any other companies, just hoping that I could get my first choice without complication. No reply. When everyone else around me was going for interviews, some even getting jobs already, I was sitting there waiting and typing my goddamn reports. Of course I got scared! What if I didn’t get a company in time and can’t graduate? All the other good companies are dropping like flies, and I am still here not sending my resume out still.

Seriously, I would have rather Company B didn’t call me at all. Because knowing that you really wanted to go somewhere, and knowing that there was a possibility before, just that it came a couple of days too late, really sucked big time.

Anyway, just to say, I rejected an interview with Company B since I already promised Company A that I am committed to their company. It is too late. Company B is definitely offering more money than Company A though. And the experience that I can get from Company B could also possibly be greater than what Company A can give me just based on the size of the companies. However, I also think that in an industry as small as the food industry, loyalty is extremely important. Thus, I am sticking to my choice, just purely based on a first come first serve.

I mean, can you imagine if I gave up the current Company A that I have, and went for an interview with Company B, and then they decided that they didn’t want me because they weren’t sure if they needed an intern, then wouldn’t I be screwed? And what if that was all done like in the last minute? I hate last minute stuff, really, because I don’t think I have the resources to deal with it in a foreign country. I think that is also probably why people always say they go for the ones who exude confidence and decisiveness, because only then would they be secure enough to take whatever risks that come their way.

This is my degree I am talking about. Therefore, I would not take any chances. I rather stick to something that is already planned, and decision made steadfast, and not last minute, rather than play my luck which could come back with a 50/50 success or failure. I can’t afford that 50% of failure because I can’t afford another 1 year of my life doing nothing but waiting for another chance at the placement module. I am determined to graduate end of this year, and nothing can stand in my way!

P / S: I am not naming the companies here because I am interested to work with both of them in future after I graduate. And that is if they are still interested. Hopefully, just hopefully, till then, the same thing would not repeat itself. Because I don’t think I can deal with the same situation, because by then, it is my career that I am talking about, not any other child’s play.

i miss having pets

2009-06-06T11:06:00.002+08:00

I miss having pets!!! Grew up with animals, and have always had some kind of little animals around me. I just can’t get used to not having any cute furballs running around my ankles, and bugging or cuddling up to me. Grrr!!!

is there a virus shit going on?

2009-06-05T13:06:00.009+08:00

*Edit* Just in case, I need to declare that I do know that Kaspersky is a legitimate and reputable anti-virus programme. (As pointed out by a few people to me privately.) But, just to clarify, what I meant in the entry is that the link to Kaspersky on that alleged fake Facebook security page is fake (as mentioned by another website). And, also, I did mention I don't know which website to trust anymore after all that had happened. So that Facebook security page could have been authentic, and the website that said the Kaspersky link there is fake could have been fake itself. OR, it could have been vice versa. So in anyway, I am so not taking any chances. However, my point in this edit is to say that I know Kaspersky is a reputable anti-virus programme, just not from the link on that page as mentioned by some unknown online article. (Sources not included because I alt-ctrl-deleted the whole webpage when it happened, remember? Haha...) Yea, so go download the REAL Kaspersky please. *Edit*

I am so fucking mad right now. I seriously hate those people who have nothing better to do. I hate these people because they are so free they start to set up virus pages and whatnot. Last 2 nights I received a scare from “Facebook”. Seriously, I can’t even remember what is its name. Some Koobface or whatever kuku bird lan jiao name they gave it. CCB!!!

I don’t want to explain what is it lah. Just go read up about it on the internet or what lah.

Anyway I thought I should look for a solution online just in case I was infected. Then I came across this security page from Facebook and stuff. And then the page offered solutions to all these fucking viruses thingy from the social networking site itself. I tell you, it is fucking fake! ‘cause I clicked on one called Kaspersky or something, and it jammed. So I thought I’d just go over the other windows about the virus that I’ve left open, to check for other solutions. Thank God lady luck was on my side, as the next website actually claimed that the Kaspersky site on the supposedly fake Facebook security page is the fucking CB virus in disguise.

I panicked and "CTRL, ALT, DELETE-D" every single page on my computer just in case.

I seriously don’t know which website is real and which is fake anymore, regarding this issue.

Seriously, don’t these people have anything to do??? Bloody shit! I seriously hope that their bodies, face, dicks (for guys) and vaginas (for girls) would rot and fall off lah.

I seriously hope that nothing would happen man. Because this is my fucking busy period!!! Reports all due same time. Exams fucking peeking at me from the corner of the street. Lecturers breathing down our necks, waiting for our damn reports.

And yes, I am using the word FUCKING so many times over and over in this entry because I am seriously fucking angry. Because I can’t imagine what I would do if all my reports are wiped out from my hard drive. And also my back up hard drive is plugged into my laptop, so back up or not, it will be fucking gone if anything happened.

So my advice to everyone reading this is: DON’T FUCKING USE FACEBOOK FOR NOW UNTIL YOUR MOTHERFUCKING EXAMS AND REPORT SUBMISSIONS ARE OVER!!!

God bless all of you and my tormented soul!

P / S: And yes, before everything above started, I also saw another website saying that once infected with the Malware, the user will get pop ups asking us to update our Adobe flash players. Yes, I get that every single time I open any Adobe file now. CCB!!!