Friday, October 30, 2009

Everybody Hurts

Today I was listening to Nightswimming by REM and stumbled upon this song.

Don't know why, the melancholic lyric and the melody sort of suits my mood now. The beat and the bass rift are really nice. The lead singer's voice is quite a thing to listen to also.



Nightswimming is also one very nice song. Peculiar lyrics but the piano arrangement is fantastic. I specially love this live performance. So "got feel"!!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

陌生人

陌生人,
谢谢你在我不知所措的时候,
很自然地牵着我的手。

在黑暗一片的森林里,
你紧紧捉着我的手,
每一刻都不放开。。。

当我差点绊倒的时候,
你会把我捉得更紧。

你,让我想起他。。。
想起与他的每一分,每一秒。。

走出森林的那一刻,
你很自然地放开我的手,
就如你很自然地牵起一样。

陌生人,
我们是属于两个世界的人,
只是巧合在分叉路相遇。。。
真如我与他,
之间隔着的比两个世界多。。。

陌生人,
谢谢你,
让我重温生命中那美好的一刻。
走出森林,
我不需要你那双手再牵着我走。
我有信心自己在月光下,
寻找另一个奇迹!

这首不上不下,没头没尾的文章(算是文章还是新诗呢?)是我在前几天露营的时候,突然间有灵感,用手机写下的。。。其实没有戴含什么意思,只是突然有灵感写下的。。。

不过真的要谢谢“陌生人”们。我不懂你们的名字,因为实在有太多人。只是知道你们其中有一位在森林中,好想大哥哥牵着小妹妹,带我走那伸手不见五指的森林。另一位在我掉下水的时候,很用力地把我拉上来。。。还要多谢那群在我受伤包扎的时候,一只讲笑话逗我笑。。。

我还是相信自己会创造奇迹!!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

First Aider in Every Home Camp 2009

Last weekend I went for a camp in Gopeng. Kem Kepimpinan Gemilang is an NS camp and UTAR's First Aid Society had decided to send us there for a first aid training instead of the usual in-the-meeting-room course. Besides first aid training, we experienced camp life there for two days.

The camp site

I have had my fair share of experience camping so this experience wasn't entirely new to me. However, the highlights for me were the water- rafting and also night jungle trekking. Both experiences were terrifying but exciting at the same time. The physical challenges were equally fun, even though I did some of them before. The interesting part was that the challenges were done with different strategy and ways compared to last time. Very interesting human interaction indeed!!

Briefing when we arrived at the campsite

Again, no camp is complete without me ending up in the sick bay... I got stomach cramps the moment I got onto the bus (No, it wasn't anxiety... I am a seasoned camper...) I think it was the food I took the night before... And also, I cut my fingers with the rope during the Tarzan Swing physical activity. It was rather embarrassing since I don't know how, sort of let go of the rope when I fell into the not-so-deep water. And since I can't swim and I can't stand on the slippery base either, I think I spent at least 5 seconds underwater, thinking that I was going to drown. Imagine my panic!! Thanks to the guys around whom I can't remember their names for pulling me out of the water!!

Ok, let the pictures do the talking... Photo credits to Ooi Chee Chuan, Wilson Teoh, Danny Shee, and Marcus Ooi.

Water rafting and kayaking...
We splashed each other with water once we get near each other...
WATER BATTLE!!!

First Aid talk by Mr Chua.
He was hilarious!!

Danny Shee practicing CPR on Little Anne...

Ooi Chee Chuan also practicing CPR...

Are they practicing bandaging or Mr Napkin?

Quek, our chairman, eating lunch

My group mate posing with a slice of watermelon

After the night jungle trekking

Playing with the flag poles...
Until accident happened...
Danny and Maddy... You two ROCK!!!

Organising committee, Hanessa and Danny

During camp fire...
Though the camp fire wasn't up to satisfaction,
but I think some of them had a great time..

Playing creativity games on Day 2...
Marcus only managed to capture my hair (the redhead on the right)...

Quek resting on the field....

Other groups playing the creativity game...
Guess whose butt is that? ;)

Trainers demonstrating how to climb the wall...

This is parkour style man!!

Group photo at the base of flying fox platform

Flying fox!!
(That girl was not me... I think it was Hui Kee)
But this one for me was a little boring...
I did flying fox for like... five or six times before...

First Aid Club members at the camp...
(The camp was opened to non-members as well)

All campers at the camp...
About 80 people there...

My group members, White Group
From left, Rainz, Sin Yee, Jamie, Mei Jing, Amanda,
Eric Tan, Yuen Four, Hoong, me, Mui Xian

Organising committee

Credits to DANNY SHEE...
I already injured... Half dead with the overflooding of pain signals...
And Danny took an embarassing picture of me...

It was a great camp. Thanks to the committees for all your effort. It was fun and beneficial, despite the aches and lethargy after the camp.

I am not a committee of the First Aid Society and no one pay me to advertise, but ladies and gentleman, JOIN THE FIRST AID SOCIETY!! All the activities are truly beneficial and fun!

Looking forward to this weekend's First Aid special training...
I wonder if I can pass the St John Corporal test again or not...
Haha...

Friday, October 23, 2009

Little Life Journey

After looking at my blog history and transferring photos from my phone, I realised that it has been a while since I update on my life. Well, quite busy with the hospital trips, birthday celebrations and of course, start of a new semester...

Anyway, for the past month, I got a lot of interesting experiences. For one, I had a taste of what nurses or private care workers do by taking care of my recovering grandma. While everyone was blogging about how fun their Mid Autumn Mooncake Festival was, I had a one-of-a-kind celebration. We did it in the hospital. Yes, all 10 of us crammed in that small hospital single room. Of course no lanterns... But we were watching TV and eating mooncake. No grand dinner but a lot of Twisties and Buritos. It was the simplest celebration in years, but I dare say it was the warmest celebration.

My royal duty of cutting the moon cake in the hospital

Also, because of "my diligent care for my grandma" (I quote my Aunt), she brought me to this really cool diner in Greentown, called David's Diner. This place serves entirely traditional American Food. The pricing wasn't really the average pricing. But the food... Gosh, I swear I got a heart attack when I saw how big a plate it was!! The meat was marinated with herbs and the Tacos fried to crunchy crisp brown. Love it!!

My grape snowy...

Very nicely decorateeed

Chicken soup with garlic bread in David's Diner

October is really a birthday month. On 5 October, we had a really simple celebration for my dad at home. It was Suk Ning's birthday too... Belated Happy Birthday girl!!

Daddy's Chocolate Mocha cake

Yea, I know... I am a daddy's girl... *wink*

On 11 October, it was my uncle's birthday. Unfortunately we didn't had any celebration. But at least his wife got him the ceremonious cake... And of course, baby Yun Si was home...

21 October, it was Hon Yeun's birthday. 22 October, it was Goldon's birthday, Vee's birthday, Nithiya's birthday, etc... We only got to celebrate Vee's birthday in the house. But I like to extend my birthday greetings to all of them. By the way, Vee's birthday was really fun... We did a lot of funny stuff in Nicole and Kumutha's room... Zac trying to burn everything he can find, just so to play with the lighter. They nearly burn my pants!!! But Vee didn't dance for us despite popular demands...
Vee's cake with extra cute stuff...
Maklumlah dia tu Cute Queen

Coming, 25 October, it will be my dearest Brother's birthday. Due to some other events this weekend, me and my dad won't be at home. So we threw Raymond an early birthday party at home. (Don't worry, I will keep my promise and pay for whatever gift you chose, hehe...)

My Bro's very special square cake...
He said it is the easiest to cut wor...

I wonder why we are not smiling widely at the camera...
Caught off guard perhaps?

Wonder what he was wishing for...

Making funny faces after cutting the cake!!

Back to campus... Nothing much besides really hypnotic boring classes. Gosh, how can 3 hours lectures, twice a week of Pendidikan Moral and Pengajian Malaysia be interesting? Computer Systems and Applications wasn't that bad though... We already learned some of the stuff, but it's good to have a recap... But that doesn't stop us from having fun in class... Watching Zac vs Kumutha's Mess Her Hair Up combat is always the highlight of the lecture. Battle of Wits between Nicole and Hon Yeun are always fun to watch... Not to mention take count of how much Ming Tze the Snack King eats in class... Of course, watching Levnn's copyrighted "sien" face can be entertainment every now and then...

Everyone's sien face in class...

I wonder what Nicole was trying to...

Alas, this weekend I will be off to a camp in Gopeng. First Aider in Every Home... Looking forward to kayaking and flying fox!! And jungle trekking at night!! Wonder if there will be abseiling... It has been a long while since I did abseiling...

Have a fun weekend!!

Thursday, October 22, 2009

You Are My Strength

The start of a new semester... Not typically encouraging, given my poor performance in the previous semester. Feels like I have the jitters, that things are going to go wrong again, no matter what I do...

I am not a particularly religious person, and not a Christian. But I read a verse somewhere. It inspired me. It reminded me that I am human that I am not perfect. It reminded me that I will not be able to do anything as long as I continue to doubt myself. It reminded me that God is with me as long as I let Him.

God, You are my strength. I believe that You created me for a higher purpose. And I will not give up myself simply because you put an obstacle in front of me. I will be that piece of clay that You pat on in order to make me into a useful pottery. Amen.



You are my strength
Strength like no other
Strength like no other
Reaches to me

You are my hope
Hope like no other
Hope like no other
Reaches to me

In the fullness of your grace
In the power of your name
You lift me up
You lift me up

Unfailing love
Stronger than mountains
Deeper than oceans
Reaches to me

PS : I am not sure if I make sense. Sometimes even I don't make sense to myself. But to those who feels like I do, to those who feels like you have failed yourself last semester, or to those that you don't feel like working hard this semester, don't be. Pull yourself up, kick start that engine, and we work towards the pursuit of knowledge!!

Officially Missing You

This is one very nice cover by two very talented pretty Korean singers. Love the guitar play and their sweet voices, perfectly harmonizing each other.



Officially missing you...

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

不属于

眼前的那一幕,
不属于;
看到,宁愿假装看不到,
因为不属于。。。

平静的湖面,
被一颗石头,
划破了那镜面;
残余的,就只有涟漪。。。

月牙弯,
清风迎面吹,
星星像散沙,布满天空;
心星也像打碎的玻璃,布满灵魂。。。

眼前的一切,
心中涌上喉咙的感觉,
不属于;
那把声音,
那张脸,
那熟悉的背影,
不属于。。。



PS: 今天,我好像不见了灵魂一样,什么都心不在焉。。。
我的“为什么”,永远都不会有答案。。。
这首不上不下的新诗,也是心不在焉写的。
根本不懂我在写什么。。。

咳,我真无聊。。。

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Love Story Again and Again

I saw this slightly different version on YouTube. It is also arranged by Jon Schmidt, the guy genius who arranged the original Love Story Meets Viva La Vida. This version is more focused on Love Story, which is a superb song by the way...

Enjoy~~



I am currently learning Love Story Meets Viva La Vida on my guitar. Mostly inspired by the play by the Jay Brothers in my earlier post. However, Google actually failed me because I couldn't find an acoustic tab! Therefore, I did something INSANE by amateur standard and started doing my own tabs!! It is painfully slow and not quite accurate.

So, if anyone out there happens to have an accurate tab,
please share with me ok?

Today, well, technically, yesterday, I am feeling ridiculously insanely nonchalantly happy over a matter that I am not sure of myself!!

Better to be ridiculously happy
than ridiculously sad right?

Monday, October 19, 2009

Morning.New.Godspeed

Incoherent title. Just lack of inspiration.
I feel like penning something today, but couldn't find anything that is blog-worthy. Thus, I shall blog on something quite obvious to all UTARians...

Biomedical Science Year 1 Semester 2 starts today...

My first class this semester is in less than 8 hours. 8am classes for subsequently 3 days... Yea, a real bummer...

I am never and probably will never be a morning person

But new semester, new hopes, new aspirations, new everything...

Ladies and gentlemen,
may we set out in our never ending voyage for knowledge,
yet again!!
Good luck.
Godspeed.

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Love Story meets Viva La Vida

This is a really great cover by the Jay Brothers, Jay Lim and Jay Sern, hailed from our very own Bukit Mertajam. Their fantastic play of acoustic guitar and electric guitar and the display of various techniques are just jaw dropping!!

Though there are some mistakes in the play, but this is a really awesome piece of work!! I specially admire the sliding parts and how fast their fingers move.



Cool huh?

This is another wonderful cover with a little jazzy feel to it in the piano play. This cover is by the Chuah Brothers, one playing the piano, the other playing the "drums" with iPhone application that plays like a drum by tapping fingers on the screen. Smart piano arrangement plus technology? Cool!!



This is a collaboration between Clara and Eddie. Despite all the noise and distraction, I think the performers are awesome. They really capture attention. And I definitely love how they complemented and harmonised each other's singing. Lovely!!



I suddenly feel like playing this song. Sadly, I don't think I am up to that standard yet, and obviously, I have no one to duet with... Alas...

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Same Mistake

I am currently addicted to this song...



Results came out today. As expected, but very disappointed. I should be thankful instead I am angry at myself for producing this kind of results although I know I did my best. I amazed myself again. I hope this is the worst results throughout my degree years...

Monday, October 12, 2009

Good Chemistry

Saw this on Facebook... Thought of sharing with you guys...



This is so cool!!
The exact chemical reaction I don't know yet. But I am finding out now...

The Bucket List

The original idea came from YY who took inspiration from the movie Bucket List. And being so free during this semester break, I actually did this Bucket List.

A Bucket List is a list of things that one wants to do before one kicks the bucket, meaning die.
Copy this tag, fill in your answers and post them on your blogs, Facebook, Twitter or whatever as "The Bucket List". Your answers can be achievable, impossible or downright ridiculous. After all, life is about dreams, right? Tag 10 person to do this tag as well.

The Big Stuff
1. Visit all the art galleries and museum in Rome and France
2. Backpack through Europe
3. Invent cure for AIDS or terminal cancer
4. Lecture in prestigious university like Harvard or Cambridge or John-Hopkins
5. Perform in a music band or a drama play
6. Go to a runway fashion show and take pictures with models and designers
7. Stay at Bulj Al Arab, the tallest hotel in the world with my entire family
8. Visit all the Ancient and Modern Wonders of the world. Yes, the Pyramid and Stonehenge and Taj Mahal and Eiffel Tower and everything else...
9. Go on a cruise in the Caribbeans with my family
10. Discover medication that solve allergies once and for all

The Simple Stuff
1. Bake a cheese cake on my own
2. Get seriously wasted!!
3. Own an electric guitar with a kickass amp
4. Be a bridesmaid
5. Learn archery
6. Go ice skating
7. Go to a ice cream buffet where I eat ONLY ice cream the entire day!!
8. Grow a plant (I am really a plant killer, so that will be an achievement)
9. Make a complete stranger laugh
10. Learn sign language

The Heart Stuff
1. Lie on grass counting stars with a significant other
2. Dance in the rain with a significant other
3. Say "I Love You" and mean it
4. Date a musician
5. Kiss in the rain or under water
6. Kiss on top of the Empire State Building
7. Hold hands, lie in his chest, enjoying the silence
8. Try all sorts of food while going on a date (Dining is probably the best way to date!)
9. Make him laugh until he cries
10. Visit Paris or France or Rome with him

The Crazy Stuff
1. Have sex in the rain
2. Try food sex... (Chocolate and honey... )
3. Drive a race car
4. Bungee jump from Grand Canyon
5. Go on a roller coaster ride
6. Go bald for a charitable cause
7. Sky diving
8. Learn archery and shoot an apple on someone's head
9. Go para-gliding from some really really really tall place
10. Take a picture with a lion or a leopard or a snake in Africa

The Tagged
1. YY (You gave me the idea in the first place!)
2. Kumutha (And you heard part of my list over dinner already)
3. Nicole ( Do it in Facebook!!)
4. Cheryl (Because it will be interesting)
5. Ben (Because it will be equally interesting)
6. Levnn (Just for the fun of it)
7. Amy Hoo (I mis tagging you!!)
8. HienFuh (My first tag for you)
9. Ciel-Hikari (Cause I never tag you before)
10. Hui Ting (Just interested in your list)

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Kill Bill Vol 1 & Vol 2 - A Review

I have a lot of time to kill. Thus, I've watched Kill Bill Vol 1 and Vol 2.

The movie opened with the masacre of a wedding and we saw Uma Thurman being shot by a man named Bill. Then we knew that The Bride was shot in the head on her own wedding by Bill and she fell into a coma for four years. After she woke up, she revenged on all the 4 assassins that killed everyone in the wedding chapel. Before the story ended, we knew that her daughter whom she thought she lost when Bill shot her, miraculously survived. The Bride killed Bill anyway and the end.


The story was relatively simple. The plot is very predictable. But Quentin Tarantino is a genius. Kill Bill is really paying homage to a lot of Asian culture. The cinematography that resembles those classics of the 60's. Of course, the iconic "yellow suit" that many identified with the legendary Bruce Lee. Not to mention, the homage paid to Pai Mei, China Kungfu, Japanese martial arts and many more. Hell, even Uma Thurman looks a bit like legendary Asian star, the late Anita Mui. This movie is like snips of many many Asian elements brilliantly joined together in one movie. However, I do have to say that the soundtrack sucks.

Lucy Liu is so hot playing the Japanese mob!!
She is so elegant, right to the moment her head got sliced off into half!!

Pai Mei, brilliantly played by Hong Kong martial arts legend, Gordon Liu.


They look alike, don't they?
Minus Uma's green eyes and Anita's a little too Asian features...

Anyway, this movie contained quite an amount of blood and gore. This one is not as realistic as in District 9 but still we can see limbs flying around and blood fountain everywhere. It was rather disgusting to see the way Lucy Liu's character die, or watch GoGo the bodyguard bleed. In fact the whole Japanese part involving the murder of Lucy Liu's character was very disgusting to watch. Uma Thurman's The Bride slaughter the entire Yuen Wo-Ping fighting troupe containing a rumoured of 88 or more human. Everyone lose at least one limb or worse, decapitated. It was literally a blood bath for The Bride.


If you love Pulp Fiction, you most probably will like this one. Quentin Tarantino is admittedly one weird brilliant director and script writer.

Ratings : 6.5/10. I heard there will be a Kill Bill Vol 3... (Wait, Bill is dead. Another Bill to kill?)

Friday, October 9, 2009

Let It Be... Stand By Me, Beautiful Girl

This is a very very very impromptu medley...

I was just jamming away with my guitar without even realising the mic was on. But when I listened the playback, I kinda like it...

This one is strictly for fun. Sing and play quality is not so good...




Let me know what your opinion on the arrangement.
I never put together 3 songs like this before...

I Want A Pomegranate!!

I WANT A POMEGRANATE!!!



You want a pomegranate?

Thursday, October 8, 2009

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

I finished the book. In 3 days.

Yes, it was intriguing. No, it wasn't that surprising anymore.


This fourth novel installment of Robert Langdon series by famed author Dan Brown was highly anticipated. The story revolved around the centuries old not-so-secret secret society, or simply put it this way, a society with secrets, the Freemasons. Again, the hero is no other than Prof Robert Langdon, Harvard symbologist who was put on a wild goose chase when being flown from Cambridge to Washington. The setting was, of course in Washington DC, where Masonic lore involving the American Forefathers and Masonic building were abundant. The whole story, again, happened within 24 hours, with lots of running around, breaking hidden codes, chased by authorities, racing against time, found the secret, kiss the girl. The exact same recipe as in Angels & Demons and also the Da Vinci Code.



I cannot actually review about the plot. because Dan Brown's elements of surprise are all hidden in plain sight, in the plot. So doing a review on it might destroy the surprise. But I do have to say the main storyline was pretty predictable. The only thing that kept me guessing was that who was the culprit behind the evil plot. And the climax was quite shocking too. Other than that, this book is quite educational. Though I dare not say that I know all about the Christian myths in Da Vinci Code and Angels & Demons, I did heard about the Dead Sea Scroll and the Lost Gospel of Magdalene before. But Masonic myths are equally interesting. Dan Brown did a great job on explaining and educating me in terms of symbols and all. Well, we never know if they are all true, since Freemasons are highly secretive of their legends and stuff.


Thia book is a good read. But don't expect too much. To me, it no longer hold the surprise in the plot as the other two books. Be ready to expect a predictable plot but be ready to be surprised by the secrets hidden in plain view.

Ratings : 8/10. I expect Hollywood to spoil the story by super-condensing it and make a lucrative business out of the movie.

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