S'pore- Prologue and Downtown Core

The last visit to Singapore was like 10 years ago. I had vague memories about it. Nevertheless, here I am again.

The bus trip was tedious from Penang, 11 hours to be exact. I tried to maximize all the entertainment utilities abroad, from books to laptops, TVs and the comfy-enough-to-sleep chair. Unfortunately the latter two broke down, of all things. Gah. Otherwise the trip was pretty smooth.

Arrived at the Golden Mile Complex around 7.30pm after going through the kastam checkpoints of both sides. Although definitely not expecting a "Sir, can you step aside please? We have some question for you" treatment, it's kinda cool to go through inspections like a potential terrorist.

Picked up by my aunt, we eventually headed to Ang Mo Kio apartments, where my uncle cum tour-guide-for-the-next-days was waiting. After settling in, we had our supper at a nearby food court. There is a big day ahead of us tomorrow.



































The oh-so-clean corridor of our flats.





















Planning ahead

We, or rather, my uncle, decided to bring us to tour the Singapore City itself on the first day. Illustration speaks for the journey.
















Breakfast. Food is ok if you are not comparing.





















Ang Mo Kio residence sky-line. You won't believe that these flats are around 20-30 years old if you are a Malaysian. At least I don't initially.





















Approaching Bugis Street, supposingly the S'pore version of Lorong Kulit.
















Some dork

















The upcoming casinos building in full speed




















The obvious symbol of Singapore- the Merlion
















The Humongous Durian: Esplanade- Theaters on the Bay
















Art in the Boat Quay area





















Passageway on one of the streets facing Downtown Core





















The Victoria Theater
















Downtown Core city skyline
















Views along the river





















Sir Raffles overlooking
















The Durian upclose
















The various shows that would be performed in the theater.
















The magnificant Fullerton Hotel

















Singapore from above...er...on a lift.
















Entrance to the imposing Buddha Tooth Temple. The temple is air-conditioned by the way




















Inside the ground floor of the temple. Yes, it is multi-leveled and even consist a garden on the rooftop.

Besides, we also had a quick tour to Raffles Hotel (now a national monument), Chinatown (for food and cheap stuff) and various hotspots in Raffles Place like the Supreme Court, the Parliament House and the City Halls. However, due to my short-life battery of my phone, I was unable to capture those pictures.

Downtown Singapore is an exalted place to explore itself, with its tall imposing commercial buildings and various superb key districts that holds some of the identity of Singapore.

Up next, the zoo.

Time Out

It is still in a midst of Chinese New Year and of course, the holidays. So to "maximize" my leisure time, I indulged myself in tons of movies and series.

As it is the period of hiatus, the much-hyped series are on hold. So, I decided to endorse in lesser-known series. Here are some of them worth watching:

1. Leverage














Modern Robin-Hood-styled series. After all, their tag is: "Sometimes bad guys make the best good guys." Coupled with witty humour and character building plots, it provides adequate entertainment that makes stealing and scams seemed fun.

2. Lie To Me








Focusing on a group of people who act as walking lie-detectors. Through facial expressions and bodily gestures, they are able to tell you whether you are lying or not. It is convincing and fascinating due to its evidence-based, scientific and psychological story lines.

3. Eleventh Hour














The never ending expansions of the FBI departments, this time focusing on a special science adviser. Together with his protecting agent, they uncover the exploit of science in a badass way and save innocent civilians from it. Basically, its pretty much like X-Files with the absence of the supernatural course.

4. The Mentalist














Similar to Lie To Me, The Mentalist is yet another detective/crime solving show (I think I'm pretty much obsessed with cop shows, if you just noticed). Patrick Jane (Baker) is an consultant with a talent of extreme observation skills helping the cops to detect criminals and sometimes manipulate them into admitting their crimes. A very different approach in crime solving which is appealing and intriguing at the same time.

5. Mad Men












A multi-award drama series depicting the US society in the 1960s, focusing more on an advertising talent, Don Draper. A wholly different atmosphere from other series and a satisfying eye-opener of a not-so-distant-past.

Alright, here ends the promos. While the popular series are slowly reemerging from their hibernation, it is always gratifying to get out of the hype box once in a while and mollycoddle in the less-explored.

Back

Hiatus ends here. Harlo people.

It's Chinese "niu" year! Well, almost. After a taxing exam period, I finally found the mood to realize that CNY is coming. Not that the world doesn't remind me (the convenience shops had the CNY songs booming through their loudspeakers everyday when we passed through to dinner place), not surprisingly it is just the stress and expectations that inhibits the celebration mood. However, glad that those are over and I am ready for receiving ang paus in a gleeful mood. XD

It now comes to the end of yet another semester in college. Oh wait. It is not just yet another sem...its now my last sem in col. And the previous two weeks, I am already doing statements of what will be the last time to do this and that. I will miss college life (in fact, already did), no matter the good, the bad or the ugly.

No matter how much I love to travel, it seems that everything is expensive to ever to be given a thought of. Sigh. Work is definetely needed then. No excuse. Sometimes, I just had to apologize for my involuntary decline for all those graduation trips.

That's it for now. Once again, Happy Chinese New Year! Ang pau banyak mari!

Prior to Hiatus

Just killing time. It is time to have a hiatus. Before that, some small notes here.

It will be my one final exam in TARC (god bless it be the last anyway). Already starting to miss college. Remembered my first preparations for exams, yeap, the green-walled fan-squeaking-like kena-rape study room in the hostel. So lively, with all the people from KMG. Priceless memories.

Two subject it is. But it ain't helped by the fact that we have a dumbasssohaifatbeeyatch who just don't know how the hell to give instructions or tips to us Tarcians. I'm not going into a full rant here. It would be one whole webpage long. And I'm deprived on energy to do that. And one more thing, just because I slack big time in class and looks like some junkie from the street doesn't mean I gave you the right to underestimate me. You will see, beeyatch.

And speaking of energy, I am so going to ruin my body for this one week plus. Will be charging up my caffeine dosage intensively. And lots of junkies. I can shape back later. I am blessed (or cursed) with a very fluctuational body.

My head was buried 6 feet under the notes and I need to get it out for a while. So I decided to go shopping tomorrow. Fresh air needed. And yes my double prosperity burger. Finally they got the chicken version.

Right now, the only series still entertaining me are Leverage, 30 Rock and Star Wars animation. That shows how sad the hiatus period can be.

Alright, this blog will RIP for a while now. Happy CNY people, just in case. And good luck to those going for exams and FYPs and thesis.

Looking Back 2008

2008 AD is pretty much uneventful. Probably because I didn't make any NY resolutions. There are more downs than ups, sadly to say. But a great deal of experience and harsh reality gives me a deeper insight of what life was, is and going to be.

I don't want to sound either a pessimistic or like an over-rated Feng Shui Sifu analyzing a series of events in a year, but a little recap to remind myself that I am still alive and well and should be greatful of that.

I appreciated the fact that I was given the opportunity to work in an comfortable executive-style office for an established human resource company. Everything is great there, the staff, the environment, the job, the pay and the coffee vendor machine. Two things I see first-hand: 1)School don't teach you everything, seriously. 2) Office politics is a dirty place to go into.

And then there is THE election. Was tad late to register. But hey, its a year of dramatic and exciting changes. Obama called for a change in the US of A, but the aura must have swept into Malaysia. And BN got a helluva reality slap from the opposition.

Then I lost my car. Blardy thieves stole it. Still hoping that it was not already in the chop shop.
An optimistic view would be I don't have to pay for hiked prices of petrol. And on a happier note, I got a new HP and lappie.

Personally suffered emo-ness for a while and appreciated the support from my dear friends. And then there is thesis. Mixture of anxiety and adrenaline rush really got me through. Depression is inevitable, but no Major Depression Episode stuff. Thank God.

And oh...its the last day of 2008. I don't think I am going to do a NY resolution.

Happy 2009 people.

Merry Christmas

Just a short note here....cause I am practically stealing people's line to blog. Internet is not working at my home....damn suckmyx again.

Merry Xmas to all people...and a Happy 2009. My Christmas Eve had been the most peaceful ever since I headed to college, just spending time with family at home. No countdown. All my buddies are either not in Penang...OR.....didn't know that I am in Penang. OK...now I announce: gua di Penang liao.

Anyway, hope you guys got a whole lot of presents. So you can share some with me.XD

Once again, Merry Christmas!

*P/s: I just notice this is my centurion blog for this year. Hehee.

Recycle as Need and Deed

If its not for the timing of TM's refusal to serve us for the past 24 hours ( and more), this post would have been here yesterday. Bo huat lo, its better late than never.

So, fellow Tarcians from APR2 and AMS2 is working their asses out for their much-anticipated campaign called Recycled is a Need and a Deed. Yea, I know its some age-old rotten issue that has been bothering our generation since we were young, but really, how much have you contributed to the concept and most importantly, do you know how to recycle? These people is teaching us how....

















The opening ceremony





















The information booths

















The big shots introducing the campaign.




















The campaigners in white.

I do recycle, here is 5 that I've been practicing:
1. Still using clothes that are 7 years old, from outings to pyjamas to wiping tables.
2. Prefer to eat out instead of ta bao
3. Do not use straws in most occasions, especially in McD's or CJr.
4.Magazines as present wrappers
5.Request not to use plastic bags if not required to in convenience stores.

Small tag lar....if you are interested.

Its a tad late to tell you guys to go visit the booths now but to recycle is never too late. So go recycle lar....and for more info, click here.

Aftermath

Sure got aftermath one. The thesis really derailed my life, that getting back on track needs 4 Hulks to get through that. It isn't all bad of course. I did enjoy my life abit. Okay, maybe a little bit more. Okay, okay....too many much more. In fact, academically speaking, it is really a rot as if I already graduate when I'm not.

First, all those beauty sleeps. To pay the sleep debts. And of course a touch of genocide is needed on my volcanic-like-exterior face. Still ongoing, lots of "lencongan kat hadapan" signs here and there.

Then the series. Series ohh series. Added The Mentalist and 30 Rock into my must-watch list. Then yesterday more reinforcement arrived, namely Fringe and Perempuan Gossip. I'll try to just collect and NOT watch.

And then the games. Finish download and currently solely focused on FM 2009. Then my particular dear dear friend has to come my house and put a RA3 DVD on my desk. Really, fulat loh....

On a random note, I think my course is lucky enough to have thesis only. No campaigns or FYP. Baru baru attend a soon-to-be-a-local-best-selling-series-if-ever-made drama telling from a bunch of PR/MS people. Really had no idea so dramatic one. Need stress management? Call 1-800-Shrink-Available-To-Help toll line. XD.

And last note, don't watch The Day Earth Stood Still (or something like that, who cares). Kanasai. Totally pointless.

Bye Bye Thesis, Harlo Life

Finally, the gigantic burden is out of the way. I really owe my body a nice good rest. A hibernation should be good. The continous sleepless life have practically mess up my system.




















Pity there is no rain when I ran to the balcony to do that. Tak cukup dramatic.

So, I am partially free now. Still got assignments and mid-terms. But then have to salvage the moment first.

And pray that my thesis acknowledgment kiss-ass enough to gain some marks....XD

Bye Thesis, Harlo Life.

Burned

It is now Day 3. Or should I say Night 3. Being veteran nocturnal creatures, the night is the most productive. C1 and C3 are done with. Proceeding into LR.

Caffeine, all of sorts and sizes, had been our best companion and reinforcement. As the night passed and daylight approaches, it is time to return to the coffin and get some desired hibernation.




















The mess to sucess

4 more days to deadline and we are free.

Shit Be Gone

Deadline is in one week. I am at C1 nia. Still pondering how to connect the literature in the review section. Pening pening.

And of all times, fever had to hit me at the most crucial moment. I am waaay back in conjuring up a sensible thesis, and now my brain wants to heat up itself. Very taunting.

Word of advice....don't do last minute work. Can die wan....

The only comfort that I keep reminding meself is its going to be over in one week.

Good luck people.

Ten For Babes

So I decided to start a Top Ten Hottest Actress thingy..you know to balance the hype for top ten hottest actor. Tell you what....it is waaay much easier to do man than woman..because there are waay to many hot actress to cramp inside top ten. Ok, enough crap....prepare for more crap now...

10. Ali Larter























Hot body, hot smile and hot personality. I don't care what character she play in Heroes...just make sure she will make it to the end.

9. Willa Holland




















Starred in OC and 3 episodes of GG...but I know nuts about that....saw her performance in film Garden Party and instantly FIL with her very sweet look.

8.Eva Green


















She might not be like classically beautiful at certain angles. But I just like her very foxy look. Don't know why she kena killed so fast in Bond. They just hell don't know how to appreciate her.

7. Natalie Portman






















She got the both cute and elegant factor. Rare la to combine both.

6. Hayden Panettiere





















She can be the normal looking casual girl and she is already hot enough. Think make-ups and glamour gowns just don't fit her well. Be like Claire la..."I just want to be normal."

5. Charlize Theron



















She is hot no matter what movie she is in and is exceptionally hot in Aeon Flux. Love her talent too.

4.Nicole Kidman



















Think Tom Cruise is just insanely dumb to actually dump her.

3. Kate Beckinsale





















As the gun totting latex-clothed vampire in Underworld, she made a huge impression on me. Love her elegance.

2. Angelina Jolie






















Angelina Jolie woh.....need to say anything else? *Still gasping for breath....

1. Jessica Alba























If she is not in any of the guys list of hottest actress...he must be gay. Who.can.resist.her? Hot, cute, elegant and sexy. The complete package.

And I tag anyone who read this lar. Yes ladies be a sport too k?

Ban Here Ban There

Ok...I am non-muslim and is not suppose to discuss things concerning the official religion of Malaysia. But hey, the NFC has gone way too far in narrowing their minds and promoting dumb philosophies.

So it comes to the recent banning of yoga for female, which is considered a "deviance" from their teachings is way over the rationality. First they forbidden high-heels and lipsticks, then botox and entering beauty pageants, then "forbids tomboyism". And now banning yoga.

Next they will had a plan to send all women to Afghanistan, seek council with Osama and his organisation, brainwash all of them and return them here, put a chop on their head saying: This is Pure Woman.

All they can think of everyday is to limit the rights of their fellow devotees and trying to show their power in deciding stupid rulings against this and that. Get a life. Go tour Amsterdam and get a heart attack there.

Ten Ten Ten Ten

For fun and being sporting sake, I'll just do the Top Ten Hottest Actor thingy first....and come up with me another list of Top Ten Hottest Actress. Happy hoh, everybody?

P/S: "Hot" as in my own way of defining them, because I can't really judge them on looks alone.
Let's start (in no particular order)......

10. Mark Harmon




















Probably not many know him. But after watching six seasons of NCIS, I think he is what keeps that series alive.

9. Matt Damon
























He is cool. Like his performance for Jason Bourne.

8. Johhny Depp
















The utility man. Had always admire his acting skills. Go do more movies, Captain Sparrow.

7. Robert Downey, Jr.



























Talented. Like his performance as Tony Stark.

6. Amaury Nolasco























The mascular Hombre who just makes speaking Spanish sexier when he panicked and blurted out tons of gibberish Spanish in PB.

5. Tony Leong



















Was actually thinking of his wife when he pops up in my head. Oh well ok, he is another great actor. Caught my attention in Infernal Affairs.

4.Ewan Mcgregor




















Had always like movies with him in it. He just brought energy into them. Bearded Obi-Wan just makes him look sexier.

3.Matthew Perry



















Bing! The right man to be casted as Chandler in Friends.

2.Ryan Reynolds























Goes back since the days I watched Two Guys, A Girl And A Pizza Place. Everytime I see him I was already laughing way before he said anything. And oh, Smoking Aces is good too.

1.Will Smith


















Independence Day was the intro movie of him for me. Never disappoints me in his shows since then.

I'll dare-tag guys to do this. Starting from thomas and jeremy....XD

America Decided

It's an Obama win alright. Lots of records broken. First African-American President and all. And it is a very interesting and amazing campaign to watch, right from the start where he started fighting with big shot Hill Clinton.

As for 72-year-old McCain, shuda retire d la. Even his desperate choice of a female noobie know-nothing-at-all vice-president candidate is a disastrous choice. Now if he can't make a good choice for his assistant, what's more for the nation right?

Anyway, congrats Obama. May your promise of change be fulfilled. The whole world is watching your every step.

Project Kick-Ass

Project Kick-Ass goes very smoothly and without much drama....

.....except that the scum took off with my roommie's Nike shoes.

KNNCCB.

Oh well, too late to do anything. My rommie kau peh kau boh the whole day d.

I Wonder Why

So many things to think about. My brain felt pruned time and again. Sometimes the hard disk just crashed. Kanasai. Somore cannot reformat.

When I look at passer-bys, thoughts just flooded in. How ar? It doesn't seem to match. Yet the scene is cheery. But in my cognitive perception, it just doesn't fit. Ok I dono what am I saying oso.

So many things I don't understand. And these things sometimes clouded my better judgment. Decisions in my head seems to be like a roller coaster. Today this one, tomorrow that one.

Is this depression ar? I don't felt anxious, so I doubt it. Maybe it is just the brain playing tricks.
So what to do?

Get on with life lar...stoopid.

P/S: I need lots lots of individual space nowadays. So forgive me if I always decline hanging out. Plus I really saving money.