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-Is an English Language major undergraduate who likes to Take It Easy.

Words and languages, Jane Austen, period dramas/films, Vitagen, Korean dramas, good songs, better books, Green, wanderlusting, Culture, writing, Experimenting

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Firstly, let me get this announcement off my chest...
I've got a secret

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Designer: fedora_girl :)
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So, the one week break for me came and flew by in the blink of an eye! The highlight was on Tuesday where I went to the beach (Sentosa!!) cuz I miiissed it, and man, I'm glad my friend convinced me to skip Aikido to fully chill out at the da beach without worrying about rushing back to school.

Siiigh. Good times.

Played Frisbee, cycled, oogled at 3 wedding couples and did yoga on the sand.


^Awww


^Caught in the middle. hehehe. Sorry to put you in that spot, Mad.






^Messenger boy



^ *Creeeak*


^ooohm.


^aaahm.


^aaah.


^Wheee. throwing Peaces into the wind.

don't ask. I just went crazy with the impending sunset and the silhouette effect, so I started doing all these poses i normally did at home (yeah right). at least I look convincingly lithe and limber? haha


^the purplely (weird colour) lighted Merlion at night. With the sparkling dotted lights all over.


^i used the self-timer on my camera-phone. I swear, it was my first time using it and it was like a freaking metronome making a tuttuttut sound-the flash took forever to set off. Check out the 'city lights' on the horizon :D Actual fact: those lights are cranes and construction lights building the 2010 Integrated Resort/Universal Studio.


^comparing/showing off our Veronicas-esque hair.



I miss the beach so muchly.






Thanks to my friend huda for enlightening me on the Ramadan rituals! So...I was supposed to prepare a Sociology assignment for class today, supposed to talk about an event with symbolized rituals/customs. I was thinking of doing the Lunar festival, but then thought, I don't even participate in it AT ALL. I haven't even buy a measly mooncake as yet. And who really celebrates it? Little kids. With their sparklers and colourful lanterns which play pre-recorded chinese lullabies? (I don't know the right word for those irritating songs)on repeat rotation. So I got to thinking about doing on my prom night but then thought it didn't really fit the assignment criteria. We were supposed to show the 3 stages of the event: Separation, Liminality(out of the ordinary) and Re-incorporation (and hence, re-birth)

And then I thought about Ramadan and then the Hari Raya celebration after,...perfect! I learned so much today! Previously, I only knew my Muslim friends fasted for a certain period and then had a big festival when it was over. I didn't know why or how long exactly they fasted for(i honestly thought they fasted only for a week or two).

I didn't know they fasted for 30 days! I didn't know they listened out for the morning and evening times in the media(such as on the radio) to start and break fast(and their prayers) respectively, everyday . Be it 5.28am or 7.03am, and what have you. And I didn't know the timings were different around the world.


I didn't know that the Islamic calendar was really similar to the Jewish one (as explained on Wikipedia on 'Ramadan').

Most importantly, Ramadan is a period where Muslims consciously try to change their bad habits (such as smoking, even watching too much TV, shopping, etc). And make new resolutions. Essentially, they have one whole month to reflect, to produce good (mentally) and do good (physically to the less fortunate people) and to do it together, as an identifiable group.

When the whole fasting month is over, comes the big 'breaking away', with a celebration-a festival called Hari Raya Aidilfitri. I've got the name right. Previously, I only knew it as Hari Raya something, and was even second-guessing my guess, thinking whether it was even called Hari Raya. You know what I mean. There's Hari Raya Puasa...and...what else? I think there are other names but it's eluding my memory at the moment... Anyway, back to the festival. My friend distinctly shows how the Muslims 'reincorporate' themselves into society and everyday life. To quote her answers directly:

"• We usually put on new clothes (baju kurung), usually matching colours for the same family to symbolize unity.
• Communal prayers held early in the morning.
• Then we ask for forgiveness from family members
• Visting the oldest member in the family (e.g. grandparents if they are still around) or visit uncles/aunties (for my family…usually we rotate---for the gathering during the first day)
• Feasting at their houses (quite an elaborate meal)"

Next time, I'll be more forgiving and understanding when I get rejected everytime I asked my muslim friends to join me for something or another, such as- a meal, or sports club, or even a night sports event and really know what it is like for them to ensure that their Ramadan rituals take precedence over other social obligations.

I am such an enlightened Singaporean now:D


On to fluffy entertainment, I can't resist asking you all to check this video out, made by my favourite girlband, The Veronicas and posted on their youtube account 2 days ago. What can I say, guys have their gadgets and girls will always have their soft toys. :DD The girls are effing hilarious.

PS: Their hairstyle is very close to what mine is right now. (my hair's very layered and naturally wavy, the rebonding's wearing off) Now i just wanna learn how to do my makeup like them ^^



QOTD (quote of the day): "Enlightenment, meditation is really a shift in perception. It's not a thing that you go and do or become, since you're already that." -Anonymous







So...I got my hair cut on Sunday. Stepped in the shop at around 7.20ish PM and the hairdresser agreed to do my hair. I hadn't known they close at 7.30 on Sundays. When he was done,it was 8pm! Kudos to him for being so patient.

I decided to get my hair cut before schoolwork starts piling up and my hair grows too long. And mainly cuz i felt it's been a bother the past few days, literally feeling all hot and bothered under the collar, with Singapore's unpredictable weather.

i like it. my fair feels so much lighter.

Though i still can never get that fringe right (i wanted Short-short so it won't grow so fast and cover my eyes and yet i didn't want it long because then my forehead will be exposed. ah wellll.)

Yay, now I won't be causing 'accidental ripping out of long hairs' during those aikido rolls. LOlz!

PS: Hayley Williams' hair is still da best.




Yesterday I had a casual outdoor jamming session with my 2 guitarists outdoors (Ren and Faiz).

First off, I was 45 minutes late in meeting one of them. If you know me, I have a really hard time meeting people or attending classes on time. And then the other guitarist was slightly LATER than me. Then we walked towards the Esplanade direction, we passed by the big underground open space and there were BMX bikers? there practising some stunts. I didn't want to hear their bikes continually crashing on the floor so we decided to walk on and find a quieter place for jamming. We passed by the underground corridors where there was a long row of pictures on one side of the wall. Supposedly to bring out the artsy side of Singaporeans. Then we arrived at the Esplanade, Ren wanted to jam on the normally empty open stage but it was all set up on that day. So it meant a band was going to perform there later. There were already groups of youths sitting around on the lounge-like chairs provided in front of the stage. When we passed by the area, we felt eyes on us and Ren said they probably thought we were the performers. SO we walked outdoors after that and do you know the huge bridge a little distance away from the Esplanade? Well apparently, they've installed a mist-making device there, so we had some fun walking through the thick mist and chilling out there for a while, feeling all refreshed. Two people even took photos of the 3 of us playing around with the mist.

Then we found an abandoned tent to sit and play under, near the tall war monument. There were like, hundreds of mosquitoes who took the opportunity to bite us like nobody's business. It was a lovely day to be jamming outdoors, but Ren had to keep tuning his guitar after playing a song once through every time because of the humid weather. Some tourist even secretly tried to take a picture of us, and I didn't know until he walked off, and Faiz told me.

After playing for an hour or so, we walked over to the former city hall building i think. They had a red carpet rolled out at the entrance and people were hanging around there. And there were banners advertising the Binale, so I guess the place is open to the public at the moment. While we were waiting to cross the road, I saw workers setting up some structures, and was told they were going to be the F1 seats!! What. I then looked down and saw that the road looked newly paved and smooth and was stunned for a moment. And like, whispered in awe, "the F1 cars are going to race over HERE in a few week's time right?". Haha, come on. Tell me you would be excited too! It's going to be Singapore's first time hosting an F1 event later on this month and it's going to be F1's first night race. Is it not cool or what?

So moving on to today. My parents are out now to Chan Brothers travel fair and they are looking to book a tour package to Egypt for the whole family in mid-December. They told us to give them other options in case the Egypt package had no more vacancies. Turkey/Greece was thrown up. And I examined the globe at the piano table, thinking where else we might be interested in going. I wanted India but no one was really interested. Well I'm not interested in Egypt, all sand and sun and history. But since the whole family wants to go, I have to quietly settle for that. Anyway, like i said, I was looking at the globe and my dad was mocking me. And then I suggested, 'West US, Hawaii' and then he said 'US in the winter? are you using your brains?' something like that. And I got all mad and said, 'i don't think it snows in the west of US'. does it? and then, 'you told us to suggest some more places, there's my suggestion.' And then he said, 'well, i don't need your suggestion' and i was like, 'fine! eff you. i leave it to you now. whatever.' I didn't actually say the F word (cuz then i'd probably get beaten up) but I was really very angry with his stupid childish comments and insinuations. Whatever. Let it go. He's the one paying, he can boss around all he wants.

I really am not looking forward to this next family vacation. I have stories to tell about my family vacations over the years but that will be another blog entry for another time.

Oh, my parents just called home. It seems we're going to Turkey on 15th Dec for 10 days.

For now, Happy Lunar festival, everyone! I know people are celebrating only because my home is situated in front of the Chinese Gardens and there was a long line of cars going in there for hours last night. And tonight as well i'm guessing.




Tuesday:

I decided not to go for my Aikido class after all. There goes my resolution. But this time, I had a good reason for it ok? :) I wanted to be home to spend the day with my mum, 'be there' for her. I had just read in the papers on Sunday about this Norwegian (or was it Swedish?) woman who voluntarily chose Euthanasia on herself because she was in the last stage of cancer. And in her last few moments, her son recalls that she spent the day obsessively cleaning around the house, yelling at her sons to pick up their dirty socks and at her husband for scrubbing out the toilet properly. Life is much more than that. So on tuesday, what do you know, my dad takes his day off too, and got her this cute bouquet of flowers with a mega huge sunflower in the middle. and my bro came home early too.

I got her a bunch of hot pink flowers, and a couple of hairclips. We had pizza and at night, when we cut the cake at around 11something, my bro and father thought they were movie directors, competing to take the best shots/angles and taking like, a hundred pictures of my mother posing with the cake and flowers. I rolled my eyes and just sat in a corner. I wasn't lifting my finger much to help in taking pictures because both my mum and dad had already yelled at me for not being helpful in putting the batteries and memory card into the camera, blahblahblah. Long story short, they made some more idiotic comments, my dad-saying i would never be a journalist, my mum-saying i always ruined everyone's birthday. And i didn't want to taste the cake after that.

I just slammed the two cards I made for my parents on the table and walked away after all the photo-taking and cake-cutting. Oh, i did pose for two picture but both times, i was glaring at my mother.

Wednesday:

My dad's birthday. And yes, my parents' birthdays are one day apart. No one got him anything except my mum, who panicked and bought him bags of nuts (yes, ask away. he just loves them) and a card (which she consulted two english/korean dictionaries but eventually wrote such a short message inside -_-).

Honestly, I didn't know what to get my dad. His interests are eating bananas, work, playing the piano, reading the Chinese newspaper, watching the news (ENGLISH and CHINESE) and giving his snarky commentaries, and occasionally, cooking pre-canned or frozen food on Sundays and public holidays for the family.

Honestly, what does one get him?

I bought a soya bean drink for him (and yes, he loooves those. if he could, he would drink them the whole day), but his stomach wasn't feeling too good that day so he passed on it.

I was hoping my brother would get him something thoughtful, but my brother turned out to be too broke to get my parents any presents at all this year.

Thursday:

Had my practical driving lesson. This time, I had a different instructor. No more Mr Tan that day. For this instructor, he didn't tell me to start the car. Instead, he drove me out the circuit, and we switched seats somewhere by the side of the road outside. Which was a really weird spot to change seats but all the other school cars were doing it. When he was driving me to that spot, I was so awed so see my instructor changing gears so swiftly and the car was moving oh so smoothly. Dang, I wish I could drive like that one day!

1)I can't change up my gears so smoothly. 2)I have trouble changing down my gears. BUT, I did manage to change down my gears from 4th to 3rd to 2nd ONCE with no problems that day. 3) I finally noticed what speed I was going at when I was cruising along this particularly long stretch of road, 70km/h! Which was close to the speed limit on an expressway. And, take note, learner drivers aren't allowed on highways, so I was pretty proud of myself that I didn't lose control of the car or something at that 'high' speed.

Friday
FINALLY attended Aikido class after missing 2 sessions. I sweated in just a few minutes, after doing a few forward and backward rolls. Oh, and I SO forgot how to do a backward roll. There's a technique to it ok? It's so not easy for a beginner. So i pretended to do some kind of weird contortion on the floor, and acted like i know what i was doing. LOL! I nearly smashed my glasses for that.

And then at some point in class, when we were doing some self-defence moves with our partners, the Instructor demanded to know why I was acting like such a newbie and he pointed at me and made the accusation that I had joined the class since the beginning of this year, so i should KNOW the moves. I kept insisting no. Like, wth. I forgave him for that accusation because he is a 70 year old guy. And you know how it goes with guys like that.

Miss two classes and this is the treatment you get. bleh :P




I better pop by to update before I put it off.

Well, I thought my Saturday would turn out to be really rushed.

Was supposed to meet to jam with my guitarists outdoors in the morning but work cropped up for one of them so we had to postpone it :( Then I was supposed to go for my martial arts training in the afternoon (Nam Pah Wai martial arts. And yes, I'm taking two types of martial arts this semester! :D). I had already made a resolution that I would attend every single training session and learn really fast, if I turn out to be serious about taking on a position in the police force in future. And then I go and break my resolution by skipping it on Saturday. That's because I didn't want to rush to the train when I met Mad to go to the airport. I figured I would be so sweaty from the session, I didn't want to get any sweatier.

So yeah, I was about almost one hour late in meeting Mad, cuz I was so excited back home packing all my Avril Lavigne stuff. Posters for her to sign? check. Albums & tour VCD for her to sign? check. A group backstage photo of us taken in 2002 and for her to check out and hopefully giggle about? check. A poster board I made in 2003 and kept it around because I always wanted to give it to her someday, and didn't manage to, back then? check. Printed lyrics of The Best Damn Thing to distribute to the other fans, modify the lyrics, and to sing to Avril? check. Camera? check! I was carrying what looked like a humungous bowling bag when I finally caught up with Mad at the station. It looked like I was all packed for a weekend getaway.

Long story short, did we see Avril? yes. I waited for about 45 minutes at the airport. And told the others she'll probably be wearing a hoodie, and be barely visible, because of her petite stature. I was right. What I didn't expect was that the two security guys beside her on both sides were so freaking tall, and she was wearing shades. And looked down all the time. And then when she walked out after a few seconds, two professional stalkers dashed to her (and later met her at her hotel. which makes me all the more mad! they totally spoilt the plans of us fans!) and gave her things to sign. That caused all of us fans to panic, so we started swarming around her, and then HER security people panicked, thinking we were reporters or something. I hate idiotic security like that. I later found out that the tall skinny but damn hostile security guy on her left was her brother! So...the important thing is, she only signed stuff for less than a minute, didn't smile, didn't wave, didn't say anything, and let her security people basically spoil the mood for us fans. Oh Avril, you still haven't changed. You're still that superstar who don't act like one. And i don't mean it in a nice way.

the highlight of the whole incident was that, her band members started coming out one by one after that. They were all super nice, cheery people. The atmosphere became really different after that. I took a couple of pics with a guitarist and her backup dancer (the one with the pink hair:))and was pretty nervous, haha. Tried my best to smile in the pics but it didn't turn out looking so good. :P I shall see if i wanna post up the pics. Anyway, I asked them whether it was their first time in Singapore, and they expectedly all said yes. I do hope they have a great time here.

Then Mad and I went to go eat at the foodcourt! Most of the food is so outrageously overpriced there. After that, i got my wish to check out Terminal 3 so we strolled around there for quite a while. Terminal 3 has so many open spaces.

My Sunday was spent trying to finish up one particular school assignment. And I kept smsing and talking with an Avril fan twice on the phone, giving her encouragement and suggestions how to kill time at the indoor stadium. She had been there since 1.30pm because she had passed her Avril presents and cards to a person who was going for the Meet & Greet. The concert only starts at 8pm. When I got off the phone with her the second time, I was in the middle of a screamfest and even a mini wrestling match with my mum, who had decided to spend her sunday throwing all my clothes and other things on the floor. Thanks to L for listening to me spill what happened. I love you!!

So...Monday my eyes were all puffy and beady from all the crying on Sunday and on top of that, i got the monday blues because as you know, my class starts at 9am. Boring Monday.

Today is my mum's birthday. I don't quite know how I'm going to be 'celebrating' it. What I do know is that i'll be back late because I have aikido training tonight. We'll see how things go.

Now it's time to start getting ready for school, I'm already running a little late!




I'm so glad I was only ten minutes late for my Monday morning class today! This was such an improvement from last week, where I was late by half an hour and was supposed to give a presentation but my friend ended up covering for me. -_-

It is so not good to have a class seminar on MONDAY MORNING at 9AM to noon. The whole class was so quiet and people were nodding off one by one. Luckily, the teacher ended the class half an hour early. When it ended, one of my classmate said he was off to find a quiet place to get some sleep. hahaha!

Nothing else much. It's just a slow start to the week.