Constipated Ramblings

Ginger

2012-01-12T20:44:00.002+08:00

Wasn't quite in the mood for anything today as last night Ginger had to be put to sleep due to some unknown reason causing him have continuous fits. According to my mom he could barely even move. Vet said it may have been a tumor in the brain or something spinal related.

As silly as he may have been sometimes, he's still been a great dog. It'll be also be very lonely for his brother Pepper from now on. It's hard to imagine them not being a pair since they been together since birth.

I'll miss you Ginger. I know i still have a picture of you somewhere and i'll post it up here when i get the chance.

Mouthful

2011-05-03T22:26:00.003+08:00

Have you heard that New Kids On The Block and Backstreet Boys song yet?

You know that boy bands are scrapping the bottom of the barrel when the hottest boy band from the late 80's form an alliance with the hottest boy band of the late 90's.

They should form a name or something.

New Backstreet Kids maybe?

Backstreet Block Boys? (B-B-B, quite nice what hahaha)

Or perhaps simply Kids and Boys with a dash of irony (considering their age).

Spice girls should join in the mix too. Now that would be fun. With a few more people they could form a soccer team and go have a match with Super Junior or something.

Sparkle

2011-03-16T20:18:00.004+08:00

Have truly abandoned this blog.

Between Bruno Mar's 'Marry You' and Colbie Caillat's 'I Do', all i can think about is Dom's rather interesting but silly suggestion to buy a diamond engagement rings 5 years before hand in order to gain an upper hand over inflation and "We're going to need it anyway."

In other news, hope that the Japanese will pull out of this massive tragedy.

Meh.

2010-08-04T21:56:00.003+08:00

You know you've probably gained some sort of weight from working when Dom says

"How much do you weight? I think i gained 2 kg from after i started working."

Hmmm, maybe time to actually go swimming?

With Inception making so much waves and making every movie goer into a state only previously known to Lost fans, have you read the free comic prequel?

http://movies.yahoo.com/feature/inception-comic.html

"Khaaaaak Tuuui"

2010-07-30T21:04:00.004+08:00

Driving behind a nice Sports Edition white myvi with nice modified rear lights, stuck in the traffic lights along Damansara.

On it rear screen lies 2 stickers.

On the top right corner says "If you think this car is cute, wait till you see the driver inside."

On the top left corner sticks "Most beautiful princess in the world."

Just as i'm beginning to wonder if this driver is attractive (afterall, nice looking car), the door opens and a female driver with shades lets out a nice mouthful of spit out the road. Right where my tires will be driving on in the next couple of minutes.

Not so attractive afterall.

Sometimes you can't just help but laugh at the timing of moments like these.

Tepi Pendek, Atas Tipis.

2010-06-29T22:30:00.003+08:00

I was at the indian barber and i noticed that for some reason indian barber shops will always have that picture of guys with 90s haircuts in their shop.

I find this weird because as far as i know, in all my experience of going to indian barbers (which is pretty much all my life. Have only changed barbers a grand total of 4 times in my life. Once because we moved and i never liked that shop, another because this one man show was so good that there were too many customers and finally because i moved to puchong.)

But here's the funny thing. I don't know what the picture is for. The hairstyles are clearly outdated as can be, and there's almost never ever an asian guy in that picture. Ever. I've never seen any guy going in, pointing at the picture and saying "Boss, macam ini." What they should do is just get many pictures of footballers and copy paste their faces in there. Then guys can go in and say "ya boss, macam Rooney punya." (which won't happen)

Another funny thing about the indian barbers is that there is always more chairs than barbers. The rest of the chairs are essentially never used, unless there aren't any vacant seats to wait on. It's like some indian barber code that your shop must always have 4 chairs no matter the number of barbers. They should just class indian barbers by chairs. If you got 2 chairs you're no good, if you've got 4 chairs you're pretty decent and if you got 6, wait in line please.

Squeeze

2010-04-29T18:18:00.001+08:00

Why do we even bother saying a pain in the ass?

Why don't we just say pimple in the nose?

That's a hell lot more annoying personally.

Have you tried rubbing your nose (ok fine, digging also) with a pimple in your nose? It's like impossible. So all you do is you end up scratching it.

And that is painful, more so than a pain in the ass i think.

Hmmm.

Receipt in Shoe Boxes.

2010-04-19T19:11:00.005+08:00

Well since everyone else have seem to have considered a sudden revival ala CPR to their blogs, figured i too shall post something.

Tax season is around the corner. Now i have no clue about tax. Nothing, nada. All i know is that it's suppose to be the only certain thing other than death.

That's why i have a tax friend. That's always handy.

Probably a good idea also to have a medical friend, accountant friend as well as a medical friend. Just in case you know.

Me? I'm the landscape architect friend and i don't bring much to the table, i'll openly admit. Since i refuse to do gardens anyway. Because doing my dads is tough enough as it is. And also i'm not very good with plants.

But i digress.

I know nothing about tax because, well i don't pay taxes. I'm don't need to apparently (i sure hope so) but if you one day find me calling you for help from jail (any lawyers reading my blog? I need a friend) you could probably guess why.

Ahem. So what is tax anyway?

To me, tax is like the bill at the end of a dinner you never knew you ordered.

"Lobster in sharkfin sauce sprinkled with caviar and truffle? I don't remember eating this!"

We pay them anyway because the waiter says you ate them. And you vaguely remember playing with the lobster claw. But deep down we all think about not paying and just making a break just before the desserts come along on a Chinese 10 course meal. Then never come back to the restaurant again.

Fortunately for us restaurants don't have agents to come knocking to your door.

Or do they?

Muddy Books

2010-03-23T22:56:00.003+08:00

The week has been quite weird.

With my grandma in quite a sickly condition. Things don't look too good.

Furthermore, Perth experience a massive hail storm. I consider myself lucky to have had my graduation the week before and left the place a day before.

This is what has happened to my beloved library. The irony.

(picture taken from facebook group)

Will get to posting graduation picture when i get the chance. Sucky week eh?

The next studio will probably be something about design the new architecture library. I can sooo see it happening already.

Happy Brithday to Me

2010-01-18T22:49:00.002+08:00

Celebrated a bit over the weekend. The actual day passed by without much hassle.

The only eventful thing was that i was sleepy the whole day.

23 is weird. It's only a year pass 22, yet the difference feels substantial. At 23 most of us leave uni, start work, get shit pay and try to survive past the month.

As my sister puts it, the not-so-fresh time of your twenties have begun.

So it has, so it has.

22721925.

2009-12-19T15:03:00.002+08:00

It's quite unimaginable how a place you've stayed for at least 15 years of your life can suddenly seem so foreign and akward.

Lack of furniture? Lower ceilings? Something didn't seem quite right.

It was only 4 years ago that i was still living there. With no specific room. I moved accordingly everytime i came back from Perth and except for the maid's room i've slept in every other room for a specific period of time.

The tv has probably never left it's position for the whole duration i've stayed there. Just sitting on that black entertainment set with a broken left cupboard.

The dark green rails along the staircase have been painted so many times before i can't actually remember what the original colour was when we first moved in.

Our tree outside the house remains to be one of the few shaded areas along the whole street, but it's roots is pretty much destroying everything around it and probably has to go soon.

The whole area is being developed quite rapidly, becoming substantially denser than i've ever remember it to be.

The once forest (even had a forest fire at one point) is now beautiful semi-D's with a terrible access. Further up the road more bungalows are being built, all so high they could pretty much shadow the link houses opposite them. I've never been able to go up so high the hill before because it used to be filled with trees.

But then, the moment the old news paper man or the tilam man comes, and the dogs start howling, all seems good.

(i'm actually fairly interested in why dogs howl when they old newspaper people come if anyone has any answers, it isn't specific to just my area as far as i know)

Sandimation?

2009-10-14T20:26:00.005+08:00

Somethings are impressive, some not so.

Others simply breath taking.

Ukraine's Got Talent winner.

Very amazing sand art/animation people should see.

But since i don't do facebook videos (like everyone else seems to be doing lately)

So i shall stick it here.

Also just read this on the star online.

While the issue generally doesn't concern me much, if anything it'll benefit me (because i'm a chicken that way, so sue me) but nevertheless, i think if horror films are weakening your faith in your religion, maybe, JUST MAYBE, horror films aren't exactly your biggest problems eh?

Need to stop procrastinating and get back to my folio.

Lalala.

"Fukui-san!"

2009-10-11T14:17:00.003+08:00

You know what's rare and something i've never seen before and can never seem to find on the internet?

A non dubbed version of Iron Chef.

I don't think there is any other show where chefs wear such ridiculously colorful chef outfits and then pop up from kitchen stadium holding a meat clover while acting suprise when the challenger chooses him.

Then continue to produce crazily amazing dishes with a theme ingredient.

How i wish i had a ridiculously colourful chef outfit now.

I'll like to see Gordon Ramsey try that outfit. Then challenge Chef Chen Kenichi. With roadkill as the theme ingredient.

Or maybe something else.

The economics of marriage?

2009-09-30T13:24:00.007+08:00

An interesting thing happened last night.

I was talking to Dom about drugs at first, then the topic somehow got switched to marriage.

This was likely a response towards my earlier statement about how 22 year olds can get married at this point in their lives.

Since neither of us was anywhere close to approaching the question from a social point of view (sigh?), we took a financial approach instead.

Which was clearly Dom's stronger point anyway haha.

We assumed a monthly salary of 2500 (after EPF) since it was the closest, most realistic number we had.

We started factoring in cost of daily meals, weekly entertainment, tax and petrol opting to exclude housing rental, car loans and some bills (we assumed at this point the general population of 22 year olds stay at home with their parents, a sad reality).

We got a fairly reasonable number actually.

But then we thought to be fair, those things we excluded needed to be included at this point.

Which didn't leave us with much.

Then we started discussing about the cost of marriage. Then there was the cost a honeymoon. And how many years it would take before you could afford to get married instead of seeking the help of venture capitalist (i.e. father mother sdn bhd).

The diamond ring looked like an optional extra at this point.

THEN!

We lost interest and started talking about how his imaginary M5 would kick my imaginary RX8s ass. Which subsequently lead to a gentlemanly discussion about a Golf GT in comparison with a RX8 and which we would choose if money grew on trees and Bruno was never banned in Malaysia.

So while i don't think we came to much of a conclusion, we agreed that 22 - 24 year olds just cannot financially afford marriage without seeking divine intervention (*ahem* father mother)

So, considering the flow of my conversation with Dom, the final conclusion is if you're ever going to consider marriage at 23 or 24, maybe, JUST MAYBE think about that nice car too eh?

At this point we may just stare at Adam morbidly since he's probably the closest to that rather sticky situation.

HAHAHA.

*edit: this may prove insightful when they dig up my remains and conduct a postmortem to find out why i could never get married in the future*

3 and Half Weeks Left.

2009-09-22T22:08:00.002+08:00

I can do better than this.
I can do better than this.
I can do better than this.
I can do better than this.
I can do better than this.

*smashes head on table*

Ok, now to do go do something more productive.

Lalala.

So apparently, we are a F1 team now.

2009-09-15T23:09:00.013+08:00

I can only wonder why? Let's be honest here, sure we drive very fast at times. Our rempits can also perform quite amazing feats with the cheapest motorcycles, and if there were a race and award for that, we would win that hands down.

But let's be serious here, 1Malaysia F1 team? I can see it coming up on Top Gear top news being poked fun at anytime now. And quite fairly so too.

Remember our last F1 venture? Yeah neither do i.

Because apparently we didn't do very well.

I would really like to have seen what was going on in his mind that eventful day.

"Hmm a better football team? Nah, no hope already that one. Fix our Malaysian crime rate? Aiya, chill we can tackle that later. Corruption? If we curb that then who's going to pay for my coffee every morning? Eh driver, ask the police fellows to go faster on the highway la. 110 is only a guideline la. Go, go, faster.
Waaaaait a minute, i think i might have something here!"

F1 driver, malaysian angkasawan.....

Hmmm how much do you want to bet they are gonna field a good looking driver?

"Hey at least if we don't win, at least we'll get the ladies!"

I remember years ago how our very own Malaysian rally driver Karamjit Singh (who was doing well too) had so much trouble just to get funding for a race where he was actually winning in. Where were the corporate and government fundings then?

Don't get me wrong, i quite like the whole idea to be totally honest. Afterall, no guts no glory. So in that sense, we're putting in a lot of risk with the possibility (however unlikely) of doing well.

But if we have extra money to burn, why not spend it on some more useful things before investing in F1? How much does F1 cost annually anyway? (answer: probably too much.)

Better public transport for example. Najib can go 1Malaysia that all he wants

Yellow and red busses with 14 stripes? Sure.

His awesome grin on each LRT? More trains means longer grin! Fantastic.

Replace KL Sentral as 1Malaysia Sentral and paint a portrait of him on the roof so everyone will see it on Google Earth? Why not? Sounds like a plan to me.

Or education. Because let's face it, are our F1 drivers going to be speaking Malay or English?

"Driver! Rasanya sayap depan kamu yang terlanggar tadi ada masalah teknikal la, lap berikut cepat masuk lubang berhenti!"

"Eh eh, jaga selekoh kanan you! Alonso di belakaaaaang aahh!"

Haha, who am i kidding. Why would Alonso be behind us?

Hopefully, if we do win something. At least we can look forward to an extra holiday.

And well, if we don't win, we might at least be able to modify the shit out of our Malaysian made, Malaysian produced F1 car to look like the Ferrari teams one. Because we do that well, very well.

"Kelisa want to look like mini cooper? CAAAAN. Waja want to sound and look like Mitsubishi Evo? No problem. Bigger exhaust only. You want your car like the Tofu 86 in the cartoon? Sure thing, i'll order the sticker and i'll hook you with up with some extra black paint for the carbon fiber look."

Apparently the government's funding will be through Proton.

So on the bright side, F1 technology from Proton MIGHT trickle down to our very own national car one nice day in the future right?

Maybe we'll finally get rid of the power window problem eh Proton?

No, wait a minute.

Aren't F1 cars windows free?

Fark.

*edit: i don't even know why i bother with coffee sometimes, it doesn't even really keep me awake. It just makes me really hungry, at 2.30 in the morning. Growl.

and there has been a recent 7 billion ringgit proposed extension to the existing LRT system that does seem rather exciting.

Because nothing says Happy Merdeka more than a petrol hike.

2009-08-31T01:23:00.003+08:00

Sometimes at this time of the year i do a carefree, fun post about Malaysia, in conjunction with Merdeka.

I don't think i can bring myself to do so this year though.

Either i've become more self aware and cynical about my home country since 4 years ago or things have changed, just for that *little* bit worse.

Recent events seem to suggest we're somehow becoming worse off, that 1 Malaysia is merely a facade behind a very tense underlying problem.

It has almost literally become a rug covering the dirt underneath it.

On a lighter note, this is a very creative video. I especially like how it ends. Heh.

Happy birthday Malaysia. Make a wish.

Squeak

2009-08-23T17:41:00.004+08:00

Many have said that the weather is suggesting that spring is coming, and 2 weeks ago i would have completely agreed.

The weather was fine, there was a tint of lovely breeze just enough that get you smilling. No more rainy, gloomy days.

Then the weather decided to go 'Just kiddding! HAHAHA got you!'

And now it's all gloomy and rainy and cold again.

Bastard.

So this brings me to my next point.

I can't decide if to wear shorts or training pants because of the weather.

Hmmm.

Decluttering my harddisk in the cold is a plus though i suppose, since i suspect it won't heat up as much.

Handgun or fingergun?

2009-08-10T16:34:00.005+08:00

Why is that everytime i present my idea for this semester's brief in class i always feel like pointing my imaginary handgun to my head and go bang while walking home thinking about it?

handgun. Double barrel somemore.

While there is not discouragement or major criticism to trigger this feeling, it just feels like the idea is a bit silly and i can't take charge of the idea to push it further. Very weird feeling this one.

I guess even after 4 years, putting your thoughts up there for everyone to possibly scrutinise it never goes away. It works better when you believe your idea wholeheartedly, but when you have a doubt or skepticism regarding your own idea, you might fall short to defend it.

It's actually to early to say that this idea won't work at all.

In fact i'm glad i went today, gave me some things to think about. Lecturer was also fairly encouraging about it.

I just felt like whipping up my fingergun that's all.

Bang, bang.

Recently i've been thinking a lot. About fried chicken. Crispy yummy fried chicken. Damn you Chicken Treat!

Of Ikea bedframes and long readings

2009-08-09T00:51:00.003+08:00

I for one have never been too good at reading.

I developed the ability to read at quite a late stage of my life.

Actually i could probably already read, but was just never bothered to lift a book

(why read when you can watch cartoons? Transfoooomers! Robots in disguise........)

Ahem.

It came to a point that my mother had to force me to read.

So she devised a cunning plan of getting a neighbour and setting up a 'reading hour' to make me sit down with our neighbour and read Reader's Digest for an hour knowing i wouldn't simply run away (to watch cartoons) and make a fool of myself in front of a neighbour.

It worked (to an extent)

However, throwing 80 pages of readings for me to read on Friday evening and then expecting me to lead a discussion about it the following Tuesday is just mind blowing.

I'm studying landscape architecture, i like books with pretty pictures, not words.

It's relatively interesting, but c'mon the last group had less than 30 pages!

Then there's the design brief i have to confirm. No one told me you had to come up with your own brief in normal 4th year studio!

I'm ranting. Ignore me. I realise perfectly well 80 pages can be done simply over a weekend.

This post reminds me of a Transformers book i once had. That was probably the one book where i read over and over till it evaporated and disappeared.

It also had pretty pictures.

As pretty as large vehicle robots can be anyway (which to the 8 - 30 year old boy is freaking gorgeous)

Of Oksigen and Oxygen

2009-07-15T12:55:00.009+08:00

So, just got back from Sydney, that was pretty good. I'll post pictures.

If i don't get swine flu

(i normally never post trip pictures anyway swine or no swine, although i usually do intend to. The pictures, not the swine.)

Best i can say is, i'll try.

Anyway, came back to Perth to read Malaysian news that the government intends to reverse the teaching of maths and science back to Malay.

All i can say is WTF?

This is like taking 5 steps forward then going 5 steps back and then ponder whether to continue ahead half a step or maybe just sit there smiling.

Progress? Really?

There was always this nagging news that they might pull the plug, but i never thought it would happen. I believed that their common sense should pull through in the end, these were just empty threats i thought.

I mean we've "only" had THREE prime ministers think this issue through, maybe we need another.

One said: Of course we need it! English is very important one! Ok no need to think already, science and maths in english! Rural how? Aiya no problem one. Don't waste money to think anymore, faster go build that crooked bridge i want.

Another said: Ermm, hmmmm. Wait, let me sleep on it then i let you know.

Then we have this sudden last one that said: Shit! This one not working! Better faster convert back to Malay, sure win votes one. Research? No need la, waste money one. Times are bad ok.

I thought our current Prime Minister was doing a fair job, but i think this decision may be swaying that thought now.

So here we are, back at step one. Wondering what to do next.

This is a little like playing snake and ladders. Where you know you get that one snake at the end that sends you ALL the way back down to the start?

The problem with we Malaysians is that we seek immediate results but besides plastic surgery and botox, i'm not quite sure what else gives immediate results. Maybe that ab cruncher they sell at night, i'm not sure.

It hasn't even been a decade since they implemented Science and Maths in English, i highly doubt they even got a new generation of fresh teachers to graduate since the beginning of this implementation to go out and teach yet (i'm looking at you ee wen, *ahem*). So of course we don't have enough competent english teachers yet!

Of course there's talk about rural students and how they aren't copping with English. And fair enough, but don't you think they should at least be given more time to actually try? I mean 7 years, come on, that means the 1st batch of form 1 high school students that were part of this experiment will probably be entering STPM or some form of pre-U now, how do you know it's not working? How can you know it's not working when they have barely begun the challenge of university yet, let alone working life?

I say rather than waste money changing the text books back to Malay and what not, maybe just spend that money on education for the rural students? Seek another alternative to improve their English? Maybe?

Ultimately i think the question is 30 years down the road would we be saying "Shit! Why wasn't my science taught in Malay? Now i can't even spell oksigen!" or "My maths cannot make it! Why didn't they teach it in Malay? I would have done so much better!"

The least they can do is give this thing more time before saying "Ha-Ha" (in a Simpsons, Nelson sort of way).

Or at least until the next general election.

At least that will give me some sort of inclination on who to vote, or rather who not to vote.

And if both coalitions decide the need to abolish this?

Well, i just hope there's an independent fella i can vote for.

OR a pub where i can drown my sorrow in.

First blood

2009-06-19T10:30:00.006+08:00

My virgin experience.

So, there was poking, squeezing and a twinge of pain.

And of course there had to be blood too.

It was all over in 9 minutes 30 seconds.

All 470mls of it.

So yes, i have finally donated blood for the first time. I'm quite glad about it too, always wanted to donate blood. I should make it a point to do it frequently.

big ass bandage, i thought all they usually do is a plaster and go home

Good karma my sister says.

The thing about needles and blood though

There's always this one vein on my left hand the medical people like to prick.

Obviously because it's the most prominent one, it's probably not easy getting veins from me (i'm not exactly the thinnest fella around)

I once had 4 needles go through before finally getting blood.

So anyway, i mean it's fine that this vein is pumping it out, but thing is, i've always felt this vein was located at a very akward spot on my arm so everytime a needle goes, i get this weird weak sensation after it's all done.

So yes, i think the idea for when being a vein is, never be prominent, or you'll be struck with a needle.

I'm pretty sure that's what all the mother veins tell the baby veins when they grow up.

Freezing toes

2009-06-14T15:34:00.006+08:00

Currently reading,

Always Looking Up: The Adventures of an Incurable Optimist by Michael J. Fox

I read his first book Lucky Man twice, and i think in a time where i'm struggling a little bit to find my feet, it might be healthy to read a book by an incurable optimist.

You know, i sure hope that we have enough jobs for psychologist in the near future.

It feels like with everyone studying psychology, we'll outnumber psychologist to psychos 3 to 1.

Well, at least it's not the other way around, that would be a worry wouldn't it?

I suspect that in the near future, psychologist will be curing other psychologist because they can't find jobs or something.

Yes la yes, i'm fully aware of the vast field a psychologist can go into.

I'm just saying.

Why no one want to study landscape architecture one? (ok, nevermind, don't answer that. I still envision hope.)

Here's a rather interesting song by a Malaysian artist i found out about through ee wen's blog (her's was of a different video with the same song).

Its fun no?

Lock it in the time capsule

2009-06-05T23:56:00.009+08:00

I was clearing my computer of the work i did this semester (when i was actually meant to be writting my final essay. Procrastinate, procrastinate, oh brain, why do you torture me so?)

Anyway, this cleasing of work is what i do after every semester, with files everywhere on the deskstop and unorganized file formats ranging anything from jpeg, pdf, sketchup, psd and dwg, it's sort of a requirement to sort everything out and burn it into a dvd for archiving (not to mentioned i hate looking at anything other than the final product at this point because of the crueling week prior to the cleansing).

It's become somewhat of a ritual perhaps, to rid of the pains and frustrations of the semester and prepare to begin the new (also, i usually need more free space to download movies).

But anyway, i came across a folder with images inside i scanned many months ago at the beginning of semester. It was meant for Dom, but also an electrical copy for myself. He had intended to use it but because of the sheer size it couldn't be done. Nevertheless, i forgot about it and left it somewhere in the dark corners of my computer.

Until i went about procrastinating today!

And tada!

I present to you, a form picture from standard 6 taken nearly 10 years ago.

you should be able to get a clear view by clicking the link and viewing it at full size

To find me, simply search for the Frankenstein hair (a lot of things don't change, my hair, is among them. It's what happens when an unstoppable force meet an immovable object, they both give up when they see my hair)
Adam is quite easy, because he's simply the fairest of them all. Seriously, the only thing whiter is our shirts (assuming clean) and perhaps a few girls of other ethnicity.
Dom i'm afraid, may be tricky. But keep in mind he use to be shorter than Adam, however, he has always been that skinny.
Zhen Han some people may find hard because he's changed a lot. But again, keep in mind he was once upon a time (ah, good times) shorter than me also.

And if you squint really hard, you'll probably find a few recognizable faces too.

I originally hadn't intend to post this, but i figured, tonight being Dom's birthday (happy 22nd) it was somewhat suitable. And since i missed his party, maybe this would make up for it (not really does it? He probably still wants a present too).

Also, i suppose it shows how long i've actually known these guys (ok to be fair, i didn't actually know Dom in primary school, i knew of his existence, but our paths never crossed. But i hardly think it matters now.)

Looking back at this shot, capture almost 10 years ago, is quite amazing. The amount of change that has went through mentally and physically in a decade is funny to the point of astonishing. 10 years is distant, but yet somewhat still relatable. If i look at it in another 10 years, it will probably feel even more remote.

But this shot had the great opportunity to capture us all, at the deadly phase known as, puperty.

Great, this post now has more words than my essay. Fuck.

warning labels, yellow liquids

2009-06-01T01:49:00.009+08:00

I believe if there's one thing i've never concealed, it would probably be my love for energy drinks.

Granted, it's not very good for my overall health however i don't drink it often enough to cause severe damage.

This folio week has been relatively tough.

For reasons unknown, i have been extremely unmotivated, to a point of laziness even i have never experienced before. I have stepped foot into a level of procrastination where no pok has been before.

Anyway, i needed the energy drinks. I was very desperate.

And as if a prayer answered, energy drinks were cheap that week! 6.99 for a pack of 4!

so much energy it even comes with a 'warning' label

It wasn't any ordinary pack of 4 either. It was a pack of 500ml. Which is double the quantity of the normal cans. Sweet.

I've personally never had the larger cans before, purely because these things are quite expensive. They also make my pee very yellow after high consumption.

Not that you really needed to know the last statement.

On the side note, have you ever noticed that the colour of energy drinks are also pee yellow?

the regular 250 ml vs the 500 ml

'Mother' energy drink i think is locally produced and it has quite a sense of humor. I've only noticed this while i was in the computer labs. Sleep deprived and frustrated while waiting for my computer to load photoshop, i started to read the contents of the can.

The first part says 'If you need a MOTHER of an energy drink, you need MOTHER. It delivers double the hit, in a big black can. So now when a mate turns up with a wussy-sized can, you can raise your MOTHER up and proudly say 'did yours come with a man bag'."

The last line is my favourite.

Further down, it reads "Warning! High caffeine content....OK, we know that's why you're drinking it but our lame legal guys made us warn you not to feed this to kids, up the duff women or the weak who just can tolerate it."

Ha, i don't know about you but that's quite hilarious to me. At least they can make fun of the whole thing.

i'll end with a rather funny commercial they had a while back. In efforts to re-promote the product i think.

Running Away from the Inevitable

2009-05-10T14:02:00.006+08:00

This, is the nephew.

I got this picture from the Ta Jie about 2 weeks back and i quite like this picture. It's quite funny.

What's even more interesting about this picture is, it isn't even his real smile.

This is what he does apparently when you tell him to "xiao xiao" or smile smile (i'm not very sure what language the command is passed on with, but i think he'll react to both)

Leave it to the psychologist to make her child smile upon command.

I know i make a lot of fun about they way she teaches her dog and son (and it's also extremely effective), but it's just funny the way she makes it all work like clock work lah.

I had a Skype session one weekend back with her and true enough he does it when my sister tells him to.

Even more interesting was how she got him to stand in a corner after he reacted to slamming the keyboards and crying.

It's interesting because prior to this, i don't think i've ever seen the facing-the-wall-time-out-for-you thing other than in comics.

So westernised lah.

During the good ol days, unsheathing the rotan would do the trick.

Or the metal clothes hanger, oh don't we all remember that one. They don't make hangers like they use to.

Then child abuse laws had to come along.

Of Ruling the World and Offensive Coffee

2009-05-01T10:49:00.006+08:00

Currently reading,

How to Rule the World - The Essential Handbook for Aspiring Dictators

Because, well you never know when you may just need it. Always better to be prepared right? Never know who the next Saddam, Hitler, Stalin, Bush or Margaret Thatcher might be right?

And also i need to have something more fun to read before i sleep every night.

Salt bowls should never be where the sugar are at. Never.

I attempted to make coffee for myself and reached for sugar without paying attention.

A fatal mistake.

It wasn't until i mixed the brown powder with the fine white one before i realised it was fine. A little too fine.

By then the damage had been done. Without a particle separator machine or something there was nothing i could do.

So i figured, heck. The hot water was ready and so was the coffee with salt. So i added more sugar and poured the hot water in with some milk.

Let's just say more sugar doesn't work.

So, Do Chimneys Leak?

2009-04-19T00:04:00.007+08:00

Know the answer?

Yeah, neither do i.

So i asked my sister the other evening, and apparently she didn't know either.

Here's the thing though.

The place where i stay now? Has a chimney.

And as far as i know, no rain nor possum has ever set foot into it.

Neither has a fat man in a red suit in a major need of shaving.

very messy i know. But it's there to camouflage the chimney.

Maybe it's blocked at the top or something? Hmmm

Considering it's unlikely for me to put my head into it anytime soon, i guess we'll never find out will we?

But if it is, i guess it'll explain why Santa never comes.

Or Mary Poppins.

Imagine The World Without

2009-04-04T21:51:00.009+08:00

I woke up this morning with this burning thought in my head to say one thing.

Imagine the world without fried chicken.

There we go.

Might be something to do with some dream. Which i can't remember, but must have been full of calories.

Or 11 secret herbs and spices.

Watched Monsters Vs Aliens today. I don't know, i felt a little bit dissapointed somehow. I think i was anticipating something more Shrek-ish, but then again most animated cartoons don't work that way do they?

Anyway, about the fried chicken.

If it ever happens, there's always turkey.

Christmas 2008 Roast Turkey

Now just imagine a bucket of turkey, with 11 herbs and spices. And a smiling Ronald McDonald.

No, wait a minute.

Squirter

2009-03-01T19:00:00.005+08:00

There's probably a reason why people don't eat tomatoes in front of computers. Or specifically, laptops.

Tomatoes are bloody squirters.

9/10 times this will probably never happen to you. But then you get that one tomato! And it goes wooooooouusss and splat.

And now because of that, a few of my keyboards are being rather wonky at the moment.

Probably filled with some seed underneath or something.

Oh well, at least it'll dry out and probably is bio-degradable.

I'll just have to live with the clicking noise evertime i press the spacebar and some other keys. Which is*click*like*click*all*click*the time.

In other news. My clothes here no longer fits in 3 small drawers.

I'm not sure if that's something i should be proud of or sad about.

On one hand it shows how sad my life is due to the lack of clothes to begin with,
on the other, it also shows that, well i can no longer fit my clothes in 3 small drawers.

Which is a problem, when you don't 3 and a half drawers.

Oh well.

ALSO! I found out that i didn't actually lose my Jason Mraz concert pictures in the great purge of 2008 (also known as the day my harddisk died in my old laptop). Nevertheless, i still lost my pictures of India, which i can get from friends, but not all of it.

So that makes me a little sad still.

Sigh, i'm beginning to find out that i'm not exactly full of ideas for my work these days.

Which is a problem, when your course is all about producing great ideas.

Ahhhhhhhhh fuck.

Resolving

2009-01-18T21:54:00.003+08:00

Since i missed the usual New Year's resolution deadline, and Chinese New Year seem to be not quite here yet, i figured i would have birthday resolutions instead.

Chances are, i'll followed either few or close to non of them. Nevertheless, i shall attempt.

First off, i need to buy less black coloured clothes.
I like black clothes. It gives the slimming effect. It's deceiving. And it's hard not to like when you still haven't shed that 10 kg weight from all those years of studying.
However, dandruff and black doesn't seem be too friendly.
If you ever want it to snow during Chinese New Year, call me over, then shake my hair really hard. Wala!

Because i intend to resolve to buy less black, i now must do the impossible.
Lose weight.
I always took prime in the fact that i never gained any weight since i was 13.
Until i came to Australia anyway. Then, oh well you've seen me. You know the story.

The past 6 months has allowed me to travel to 3 different countries that i have never been or little recollection of. Personally, i have never been too much of a travel person. I'm unfortunately quite unadventurous. Nonetheless, the travelling has been rather interesting and i seem to be liking it. So, i think i need to finally at least do that stupid road trip we've been talking about.

On a more serious note. I think, being 22 i should, and really need to be more confident in what i do and what i say. I worry because i'm self conscious. If what i do is right, if it's rude to others and acting stupid has never caused too much trouble has it? In all realistic possibilities, this will not be realised. But, it's not wrong to hope right?

For the moment i can't think of anything else to add. But hey, there's always Chinese New Year resolutions to add right?

Being 22 is just another number right?

But 22 seems like quite something though, because it feels like i can officially start going into quarterlifecrisis.com now.

Hong Kong,

2009-01-11T20:11:00.007+08:00

Where the 8th deadly sin is to walk slower than 4 meters a second.

Where food is expensive, yet there is always this burning desire to eat something.

Where a space slightly bigger than my room would cost 6,500 ringgit a month.

Where escalators are fed with testosterone to make them move like horny rabbits. (note: don't actually know what horny rabbits look like. But, imagine Thumper (Bambi), just worse.)

Where trains are fed with steroids grade electricity to make them move much faster.

Where you can enjoy the sensation of sitting in a toilet cubicle in the mall while it trembles with fear due to the MRT just above it.

Where guys can wear skinny jeans and carry man bags, yet make ita look like the most normal thing on earth. (it's not. Really.)

I for one will never get use to seeing a man bag being carried around.

Yes, it makes sense. Yes, you can stuff plenty of things inside.

But bloody hell, it's a man bag.

Enough said.

Welcome to Hong Kong.

All I Want for Christmas Is...

2008-12-26T20:27:00.002+08:00

You.

OR

Perhaps this big ass plasma would be better. 150 inches of pure pixels goodness.

"Dear Santa, i've been good this year, so if you could spare about 100,000USD during this global economy meltdown, that would be great."

During my last few days in Ho Chih Min city, i also saw the biggest ass refrigerator i've ever seen. Given, it was most likely a prop than a giant fridge, but one can always dream on Christmas no? Afterall, Santa's real right? Right? Riiiight???

Unfortunately, i don't have a picture of the ginormous fridge. But for your sake, i shall use my (lack of) descriptive skills to enable your imagination. It's basically like any nice fridge you've ever seen, except 5 times the size.

You know, for such small people, the Vietnamese people sure have a lot of large appliances.

101 Reasons

2008-12-17T21:52:00.004+08:00

Not to wear a V neck t shirt when hiking on a hot sunny day.

Reason 1.

Reason 2. Refer to reason 1, then flick yourself in the eyes for wearing it.

I am now 2 shades away from being Vietnamese. You can laugh when i get back. But i'll be darker than you. And with a V.

Enough said.

Of Boxfish and Bamboo Houses

2008-12-14T21:40:00.010+08:00

Let's face it, i haven't actually been working much. I don't think work counts when you spend 2 working days and the weekend at some beach resort not doing much. Oh well, in many ways it has been somewhat disappointing, but of course, there has been eye opening moments. We'll see how the week continues to progress from here. I suppose the only real reason why i feel somewhat disappointed is due to the fact that i just psyched myself up this holiday purely to work and i may not be getting the amount of work i was looking forward to.

I actually had a very interesting fish this weekend. It tasted like chicken (doesn't everything?). And it was also square. It's liver was also in its head region. I am guessing this fish didn't really get the memo when God held the evolution conference a couple billion years ago.

Which really brings me to my next point. I haven't really had a lot of chicken in Vietnam (the secret to staying slim and well shaped perhaps?). Do people here not eat chicken? I honestly don't know. Or maybe when they really want chicken, they have boxfish.

But enough about the resort for now, we'll leave that for the next post with pictures (which means never).

My room toilet here seems to be emitting a rather weird odor right now. It's not nice, it smells like sewage. Or bull crap. Maybe even a combination of both.

I'll survive to the morning. Barely.

So, results came out. That went well. So well i forgot about the whole thing until my uni mate reminded me. Nothing fantastic. Still, it's good enough for me. Would have been nice if that 3rd subject was on the same level with the other 2. Nonetheless, it's good enough for me. I'm averaging 68% at the moment. Thing is, usually, that 2% would bug the shit out of me. But somehow, it doesn't this time. Which means, well, nothing actually.

I just spent the afternoon watching Step Brothers. I think i just officially killed whatever brain cells i have left.

*edit: i actually just had chicken for lunch today. Or at least i thought it was chicken. Maybe it was boxfish disguised as chicken. Hmmm.*

Skinny People

2008-12-03T21:22:00.005+08:00

There are no fat people in Vietnam.

I'm morbidly obesed here. In Malaysia i'm just fat. Chubby even (debatable).

(un)Fortunately, i'm meant to do a lot of walking here. A lot.

I fear for my fat (chubby) feet.

Speaking of feet, i just realised my Nike shoes supports that Ipod thinggie that allows you to track your running mileage, after using the shoes for many, many months and soaking them in dirty Indian flash flood water.

Nice move.

You now know why Malaysian men come here to look for wives.

Because all you have to do is close your eyes and grab someone off from a motorcycle (you'll most likely die in the process) and they'll be reasonably (for the lack of better words) slim and well shaped.

There are also no McDonalds and BurgerKing in Ho Chi Minh city.

Coincidence?

Ho Chi Minh is nice. I want to go back there one day.

Update. Not Really.

2008-11-21T21:35:00.003+08:00

So yes, i am back. Had to be, in order to attend Adam's 21st.

That went well, Adam will probably not be posting any pictures of it up on his blog anytime soon. For good reasons too i suppose. But that doesn't mean i won't. After all, isn't that good friends are for? Hehehe.

And you know what's better? Dom and i managed to acquire a picture we were never suppose to get, all thanks to Adam's drunken state. Very good.

I was channel surfing the other day and stumbled upon MTV which consequently lead me to a Jonas Brother's video. I know, i know. But stay with me for a second.

But it's actually the first time i've ever seen one of their videos, or heard how they sound like for that matter.

So, anyway, under these videos were captions of SMSs people sent it.

One read, "i think the virgin thing is so hot."

Not in the real world people, not in the real world.

Clever Adverts

2008-10-16T22:29:00.005+08:00

I had intended to do various postings on my India trip once i got back. But semester has picked up pace a little and i've still got some major issues to deal with in the next 2 weeks. However, i do plan to talk about my India trip. Unlike my Melbourne trip, something i never got around to do. But in the mean time, i'll end the post with 2 very funny commercials i saw while in India.

I like the 2nd one a lot, because it just goes to show. We'll always want something some else has. And perhaps that when you finally get to the top, the simplest things matters most.

Flush.

2008-09-22T22:32:00.002+08:00

Airports are rather funny places to be at.

Those little self contained worlds with maximum security, tax free cigs & alcohol, weird sound that goes *deng deng deng* before every announcement and autoflush toilets.

I have a problem with autoflush toilets.

When did we actually forget how to flush? Because i was in the assumption that my right hand was for nescesary things like flushing, pulling my zip up and writing, while the left was for other.......er stuff.

Like digging your nose.

I'm sure we can teach technology lots of things, but i really think flushing, isn't one of them.
I mean it doesn't really know when i'm actually done is it? There i am, enjoying one of the few things man have been doing consistently since the beginning of time and it goes, flush.

Dude, i ain't done yet yo.

So there you are, standing up slightly in that akward position trying to avoid flushing waters. Waiting just to sit down a gain.

And when you're finally done, it doesn't really flush. Then you have to manually flush the damn thing anyway.

Then there's those auto taps. That switch on when you put on hands underneath the taps. And those sometimes don't really work either.

So you put your hands underneath it, you wash for a bit thinking this is nice, i don't even have to turn the taps on. Then it switches off and you think
"I think i'll have some soap."
And so there you go, putting some pink soap on your hand from the dispenser. You don't actually know why it's pink, but you go along with it anyway, rubbing your hands together, cleaning in between the fingers thinking
"This is nice, i'm going to have clean hands now! How exciting!"

And then the tap stops.

So now you have soapy bubbles in your hands that didn't get washed off. Then you put your hand underneath it again waiting for more water. But it doesn't work!

And you stand there, with you soapy hands, trying a few more time to finally get some water out of those taps while the whole world moves along, without soapy hands!

So, basically the autoflush is waaaay to sensitive while the autotaps aren't really sensitive enough.

I have no clue how this wonderful technology works.

Maybe the autoflush is just more sensitive because there's more mass from the tighs up rather than from the elbows down.

Then again, asses aren't universal, so why should autoflushes?

Conversation With Myself

2008-09-06T12:02:00.007+08:00

So, the internets is back.

And we can conclude that on the 8th day, God created the internet, and Buddha chipped in for the modem. I'm sure so did the other Gods and Goddess as well. Then somebody created wifi.

And now i finally have youtube back again.

Sure, msn, e-mail, facebook, friends and family, it's all good, but youtube.........it's my source of procrastination.

What's that feeling when you know you should be busy doing something because you have that looming dateline coming up, but you're not really doing anything. And instead you feel all relaxed and stress free and decide to write a post?

Because i think i have that right now.

Calm before the storm? Something along those lines?

The India trip is coming up soon. 10 days of running around 3 towns. Then there's the Taj Mahal. Should be quite exciting.

Also, i finally had the chance to see and touch American dollars. I am very uninteresting, i know. It's smaller than i thought it would be.

It's also very, green. And white.

Another thing, what's with the guy that is refusing to apologise? He goes on rambling about how the chinese were squatters in Malaysia and that was a historical fact and he was referring about the pre-Merdeka days. And now he demands an apology.

Sure, all that's fine and dandy. So he was actually there to give a history lecture i'm sure. No wonder the Deputy Prime Minister needed to apologise also.

What i'm more interested is what was his topic of the night that led to such a 'colourful' history lesson.

Actually, i don't know why he's making such a big fuss. If he wants to get out of this situation, it's really quite simple. All he has to do is quote Lingam.

"Looks like me, talks like me, sounds like me, but it's not me"!

Seriously, it's aliens. It's them scientologists poeple. Serious!

Slow

2008-08-27T23:11:00.004+08:00

My internet's shaped. So, i'm now reliving the days of the medieval times when real men carried heavy swords, wore armor and went online with 54kps dialup.

What makes it worse is that it isn't even my fault. My service provider just didn't reset the montly quota.

Others however theorise that my account has been hacked and somebody used it to download 12GBs of porn. Not funny. Not true, but not funny either.

This means no more youtube and less procrastination though. I don't like it.

I do however like green tea.

Because after drinking green tea, water and everything else tastes sweet.

Except for ice cream.

Because it's already sweet, or something.

Yea i know, i'm all about the science in this blog.

Memories.

2008-08-22T23:33:00.009+08:00

Often, we'll rarely miss something utill we lose it.

It's these moments that remind us how fragile life can be, how unpredictable it often is.

We were never particularly close, but i've known you for a long time. I have very distinct memories of you in primary school and some years of high school, not to mention add maths tuition with Steven.

You've battled hard enough.

May you rest in peace Ju Liang.

You will be missed.

15 April 1987 - 20 August 2008

Live!

2008-08-07T23:28:00.010+08:00

Not sure how long it took for the queue to move along before we entered at 8.30pm. Managed to get a standing spot for which was relatively close to the stage.

Place to be

These gigs though, never too fair to the short are they? Oh well.
Note to self: When short, queue early.

There was a supporting act till about 9.30 before the main man hit the stage. Melaine something was her name i think. I'm not very good with names really. She was pretty good, but i wasn't exactly paying attention after an afternoon of confusing lecturers about simulated realities and illusions. Philosophical theorist often think too much i say. Another post for another day really that one.

Boys and girls. Mr Mraz, the man himself

The guy is seriously good live. The clarity of his voice, the way he works and plays the crowd is awesome. That 60 bucks is worth every single penny.

His band members are excellent. There were this 3 guys with the saxophone, trumpet and trombone. I'm not sure exactly who they are, but i like them.

The little guitar, or something

I think one of the things that make him such a great person to watch live is his charisma, and i believe when playing at smaller places like a club rather than a stadium, it magnifies his charismatic personality even more.

Toca Rivera (percussion) with his 2 fingers and djembe drums.

High Tens and Low Tens (and also something about butt grabbing if i recall properly)

Honestly, if you were a big fan before going, after the concert you'll definitely be curious and it won't be long before you start googling his name and reading him up on wikipedia or something.

Jason Mraz doing his thing

There was the usual encore (well, more like floor stomping actually) and the "extra" half and hour.

started with a bang, ended with a blast

band for the night

It's a real pity that Malaysia don't get concerts and gigs like this often enough. With all the strict rules and yada blar, i'm not surprised though. We're missing out though.

But if you do get the chance to catch him. I reckon do it. I would go again if i had the chance. Has to be a reason why all his shows are sold out no?

Sorry about the pictures, a little crainy with noise. I'm not very good with the whole picture taking thing. Especially in dark places. I don't do too well with picture posts either, it takes too much time and effort, then gets all screwy in the middle. Something to do with my layout and technical nonsense that makes me nuts. Then there's the spacing that gets screwed up also. I'm anal, sue me. I would also youtube some videos, except yeaaaaah, i'm not very good with that either. (someone please tell me that i'm good at something)

Was a good night. Didn't even have to worry about reading up pessimistic, philosophical theorist after that. However, my back and feet were killing me.

Complaining i was to the sister who was wearing high heels.

There wasn't much more complaining after that though.

Wonky Weather.

2008-07-30T16:18:00.004+08:00

It's been more than a month. I apologize, although i'm unsure why.

Yes i did go back to KL for that one month, but i barely had the chance to meet up with the people that i wanted to meet. And perhaps that is why i am apologizing.

The times when i did meet with people, it was often late and i was also usually late (almost missing the opening of a few movies due to this.)

Of course, i don't think i need to explain anymore. It's always the usual reason, it's never anything else.

Uni started 2 days ago. The timetable is ok. Although a little messy. Because my semester timetables are always the same but this semester came along with an elective and one day less of studio. Which makes things confusing, only for me. Anyone else would shout at me for being dumb.

Which is all good i think. It breaks up the routine of my course a little bit, which i think is exactly what i need.

Sometimes i wonder why must the course be so philosophical. Can't we all just be logical and a little barbaric? All this philosophy is making me......sleepy.

Ah, to eat that last piece of chocolate or not to eat, that is the question.

At situations like these, i just ponder what Cookie Monster would tell me.

"Chom, chom, chom, chom"

Problem solved.

Dilemma

2008-06-26T22:54:00.003+08:00

I really need to choose between those 2 subjects one of these days.

So, what should it be?

Art of Sculpture or Art in Twentieth Century USA.

SHIIIIIIIT.

I understand neither. Of course that isn't the only 2 options. But it's the 2 most realistic, because.......well, i'm a crowd follower. I feel secure in taking only things everyone else is taking. So sue me. So if the subject was, let's say, Art: Cave Paintings of the Artistic Caveman that never caught a Sabertooth tiger, i would still take it if everyone else was.

Adam reckon i should do the USA thinggo, because he stands a better chances of helping out if that need ever came. Which would be useful when it comes to that 2 major essays.

But Sculpture sounds much more interesting (even though i lack the ability to build stuff). And i also hear it's an easier subject.

I hate choosing. Especially when it's between 2 things i have zero interest in.

Now, where can i find a coin?

Sometimes.

2008-06-23T22:52:00.006+08:00

It was a very solemn affair, and highly emotional.

The very way it should be i believe.

After all, he was such a great man, more than words could ever described. Impossible to replace.

Sadness and tears is the only fitting emotion, to show how much he would be missed.

May you rest in peace.

20.6.2008. I'll always try to remember this date. I'll miss you. We'll miss you. I only wish i got to say goodbye.

The End of Things.

2008-06-15T22:27:00.006+08:00

So, i've been mentioning this concrete thing for a while now haven't i?

Tomorrow the due date. It's my final assignment, after that i'm home free.

Soooo, today afternoon, off i went to take my piece of concrete out from it's frame work. Yeah it turned out pretty shit.

Actually, i pretty much knew it was going to be a piece of rubbish the moment i started doing it. But, there was this hope. The hope for a little miracle and luck. Maybe a little help from whatever big guy up there, or perhaps the tooth fairy, maybe the easter bunny or maybe if i was really lucky, santa claus.

But, i also forgot the day i poured my concrete was also Friday the 13th. Alas, it was not meant to be.

Ok, i'm talking crap here. Truth be told, i already knew this was going to turn into a piece of shit. Quite frankly, i pretty much knew what it was going to be. A disaster.

But, it would have worked. Had i been smart and glued the 2 parts together. However, since i'm pretty much a retard about concrete, i didn't glue them together. Hence the disaster.

Will i fail? I don't know, i hope i don't. I hope she's sympathetic enough to give me a pass. To be totally honest i wouldn't mind repeating the subject if it wasn't for the money and the overloading a semester. Given more time, i could probably do better. I like concrete, i like the subject. I just can't, make things.

It's a love hate relationship.

Piece of shit. There should be 3 lights.

Awesomeness.

2008-06-10T01:35:00.005+08:00

Petrol in Malaysia has increased by 40% (something so sudden all we can say is WTF?), food prices are expected to increase by 10% in the next month. Electric tariffs are going up.

2 natural disasters in Asian within the past month and a half. Causing tens of thousands of deaths.

Global warming is happening right under our noses.

You know what the world needs right now?

No, not more of 'The Inconvenient Truth'.

We need Captain Planet.

I swear, that cartoon was way ahead of it's time.

Saving the environment, diversity, unity and green hair. All in under 30 minutes. That's awesomeness right there. (ok i'll also admit that i thought The Soviet Union chick was hot, more so than the Asian chick)

'Captain Planet: The Movie', is what film producers should really be focusing on these days.

Now, where do i get my hands on to those special rings?

all that said, and i'm freaking worried about my concrete illumination device more than anything else right now. This feels worse than folio. Put my out of this misery noooooooow.

It's Aliiiiivveeeeee

2008-06-01T02:08:00.003+08:00

So, it's about 2 am now. I got back from uni not too long ago, was meant to stay longer but the heaters are killing me. It's way to hot to force a already crazy brain further. Actually i regret a little for not moving into the next lab instead. But i've already come home and changed into my comfort pants, it's way to late now. THE comfort pants are on.

So, i'm about a week away from folio week (week of death to the non-architecture commoner). I'm progressing, getting my shit done, although not fast enough i think. I really think it's time for those energy drinks now, but they're getting soooo damn expensive.

I'll be printing in A1 pages in semester, A1 pages cost 10 dollar in my faculty. Sure that's not that much to pay. But it also means i have to drink less energy drinks and more coffee, because one sheet of A1 is about 4 cans of energy drinks and coffee is instant coffee is cheap. And less energy drinks during folio week means a very grumpy Pok. So, is anyone willing to sponsor this ~~addiction~~ need? I'll be eternally grateful and name my firstborn after you. Yes, even if your name is Tarzan Tan.

I entered Facebook the other day, now i don't usually access my Facebook other than maybe to play the occasional poker as a stress relief. It's sad i know, i forgo probably one of the only ways for me to keep a social life and i use it to play poker instead. I've even disabled those stupid emails they send. I don't know why i'm explaining why i accessed Facebook to you people when it doesn't even matter, but yeaaaa...........
ANYWAY

One of these things caught my eye, it showed that my 1st sister had joined the 'Breastfeeding Mothers Support Group (Singapore)' group and my 2nd sister had joined 'Cradle Investment Programme' group.

Now this probably isn't very interesting, but i just find it hilarious. I'm cool that way. Ok fine, weird.

I just find that, i think there's no better way to disect the distinct contrast between the 2 sisters than having Facebook show me the 2 headlines side by side.

Ok la it's actually not that funny now that i've actually written it down. But it just shows the distinct personality we expected from them even 5 years ago. One settling down with her family (and a dog that pees on command. Weird.), the other out there aiming to be the first Kelisa driving multi millionaire so she can retire by 35.

Actually i would be worried if Facebook showed me each sister joining the opposite group.

4 Weeks Left

2008-05-10T23:35:00.003+08:00

The month ahead looks grim.

Yeah, it's THAT time of the semester again.

Time to bring out the arsenal, the big guns, the chicken essence. And of course, let's not forget! Bring forth thy energy drinks! Sleepless nights here i come!

Not that i don't do enough of that already anyway.

But hell, 3rd year sure is tough. I might just fail something. Now that would be a total bummer. But i kid not, this semester might just be that semester where somethings going to give.

People are going around talking about quiting the course. Imagine, in their 3rd year. After more than half the battle won. And these aren't exactly people that have been slacking off either, a lot of people have just grown tired after it all. Losing the will to do the course i suppose?

When people told me during my 1st year about 3rd years actually quiting their course halfway, i could never believe it. It just seem so crazy to do such a thing. Especially after 3 years. But now, in their shoes, it doesn't seem very hard to believe anymore. In fact it seems probable if not anything. 1st and 2nd year, things aren't really tough enough to force someone to quit unless they are quite sure this isn't what they want to do. However, come 3rd year and everything changes.

Anyway, just ranting. Procrastinating.

For some other news. I might be coming back to KL for the June/July holidays. Nothing is concrete yet, although unlikely to be there early enough for Dom's birthday.

And then there's the possibility of going to India next semester. That should be interesting.

Till next time then.

Rough It Out?

2008-04-20T20:32:00.004+08:00

Well i haven't been updating. No surprise though. I have been exceptionally busy. I know i say that a lot, but this time it's for real. This year has been tough, very rough. Everyone thinks so. Well, every 3rd year i know anyway.

Had a rough 2 straight weeks.

I'm sure it's the same for everyone else. It's just that, i don't think i've ever felt behind in my course before. Never exceptional or great, but i always did alright. This semester though, i just feel. No, wait, i know i'm falling behind. It's not one of those 'feeling-like-i-won't-pass' kind of bullcrap i usually say.

Even had a comment from someone that it was the first time that they saw me looking nervous and worried, when i'm usually relatively calm and collected. I deny it. I'm always nervous and worried although usually trying not to look like it.

So i'm quite glad that the 1 week mid semester break has finally came, i really need it to get my shit together.

Life's too short to be too worried about studies.

The weather's getting cold. Winter is signaling it's arrival. It's actually the weather i like. I like the coldness, and when the rain's not raining it's almost the perfect weather to be in .

So, my parents were here for a couple of days for my sisters graduation ceremony. First one i've ever attended. I never had the chance to attend my older sisters ceremonies due to exam timetables and school to attend, bah.

Was a good couple of days, had good food, good wine. Good time bumming and going around. Although it wasted a couple of rather important days, i think in terms of priorities at the moment nothing comes before parents (not having a girlfriend helps, which ironically was the thing my mom kept mentioning. Tsk tsk, doesn't she realise if i did have a girlfriend i would spend even less time on house matters than i already have? Heh.)

What i think needs to happen, is to get that fear back into my head.

Frustration = Sleep

2008-03-29T14:46:00.002+08:00

Things to do, assignments to hand in, excersize to do.

And, i am of course doing none of it.

I like my approach to frustration.

I sleep.

So yeaaaah, i've been sleeping a lot lately.

Quite counter productive as a solution. Not to mention temporary.

But hey, it's a comfortable solution. Well, as comfortable as how hot the weather is and how often i change my bed sheets anyway.

It's what? 4 weeks now? And i'm can't move forward. Mind doesn't really feel too enthusiastic about everything. Or anything rather. Then again that's not very true. Going to Ikea is almost turning into a fetish. Almost.

Well, i suppose i should get going to re-designing the impossible. Or designing the uncertain.

OR i could go play with this Facebook application that tells me the size of my brain.

Why do i have the feeling it's going to tell me that i'm a pea brain? Then again i suppose it's easier than doing work.

Whee.

Of the Organic and the Man made

2008-03-12T21:06:00.004+08:00

Acemana smithii?

Clivia nobilis?

"Quiz tomorrow? 28 plants i've never heard of before? I need to know the common name AND THE SCIENTIFIC NAME YOU SAY?"

So, so......very fucked.

Now, when are those suicide booths from Futurama getting invented again?

Ok, fine i exaggerate. But seriously, i am very screwed.

On the bright side of things, i mixed and poured my first load of concrete yesterday!

It was a fairly neat affair, far from what i had anticipated anyway. It very at least cleaner then my shredded cincau and almond jelly. That.........didn't go so well. But yes, another story for another day. For now all i can say is, me and my bright ideas. And the final outcome was, interesting. (i use the word interesting very loosely here, it really depends on your imagination, black worms or fatt choi)

Anyway, back to memorising magical spells. Or something along those lines anyway.

Remind Me Again

2008-03-08T12:14:00.003+08:00

We had our first class of plant study since i started this course 2 years ago on Thursday morning. Funny, because i've always thought that we would have to study much more on plants considering it WAS after all a LA course.

Funny.

I don't like plants. Seriously. This semester is meant to be indecisive i think.

On one hand, a concrete class where i get to pour cement and mix concrete (yay!)

Then on the other, plants with all it's botanical names in all it's glory. (boo!)

Seriously, these botanical names are just basically learning magic spells from the world of Harry Potter.

Regarding the 3rd unit, a theory project of Dubai. I haven't decided on that yet. Not sure if i like that yet. It sounds hard. Pity there isn't a field trip. Dubai would have been fun. Although i probably would have had to sell 1 and a half testicles to afford the trip, leaving half a testicle with no future.

But there's all this research we have to do before going into design. Gah! I dislike area research a lot.

I like concrete, i dislike plants. Remind me why i'm doing LA again?

The Inner Geek Arises

2008-02-29T22:26:00.004+08:00

I spent the good part of the last 24 hours reformatting my sisters old desktop, running from living room to my room.

And you people complain i don't exersize enough.

You'll be suprised how much sweat you produce just by sitting down unscrewing the damn CPU cover on a hot summers day.

Anyway, as i was saying. Re-formatting. I've personally never done it before in my 21 years of life so this was pretty much my inner geek's rite of passage.

It's a great suprise how much time this things take. Then again i suppose much fault lies on my side as well, but i much prefer to blame inanimate objects that control our lives. They allow my life to have more meaning that way.

I sort of kept getting the process wrong each time, making it worse. And when i DID get it right, i decided i would screw around and make it worse again, hence back at square one at 11.30 pm Perth time.

What a load of time wasted.

So what you say? I have plenty of time you say? Even when i'm studying i have loads of time you say? Your course is a lazy man's course you say?

Well, i suppose i can't argue with half of that can i? Nevermind, it's not about that.

Oh, on the side note. My sister and i found a fantastic Ikea sofa chair sitting outside a house waiting to be collected. It's seriously great. It's missing it's legs, the sofa cover and the cushion. Yeaaaa................, but seriously, it's awesome. I'm sure going to take a picture one day.

Then there was this huge ass spider, like huge ass. Hanging on the way beside my room door, threatening to fall the wall on my big, fat (sister measured, for psychology's sake, my head was measured head. 38 cm i'm told. Big brains i hope.) head.

At time of blog post, i'm getting a little nervous because i lost track of the spider. Just a few moments ago it was hanging on the corner of a wall far away from the laptop. Now i don't see it. Oh shit.

Wait......noooo.....arrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrggghhhh.

-to be continued-

Of Screwing and Locks

2008-02-27T20:35:00.004+08:00

Well dear blog, i'm back in Perth. And as usual during this time of the year, i sweat my ass off till i could be roasted, slightly golden brown.

For some weird reason, i have this feeling that 2008 is full of things breaking apart. I probably shouldn't be so naive think that the gods are against me and they like screwing around with my stuff, but once in a while your mind tends to wander towards such theories.

My bicycle lock decided to screw up on me and change it's combinations in flight and hence i start my 1st day in Perth trying every combonation from 0000 to 9999, i'm currently at 2100, i'll keep you posted, if i have the patience.

Even my blog is having problems loading, the post just doesn't come up. The day i left there was a huge thunderstorm that killed my house modem and the house gate just to name a few things.

Saw an awesome sofa today in Ikea at the "nobody wants to buy this" section. It was 150 bucks and black. I liked black.

Have i mentioned that it's hot?

I would strip and walk around at home with my underwear but then i'll save my sister the trauma and take another bath instead. Always good bathes.

Today i regret not buying cheap speakers from KL so i could watch stupid movies on the extra desktop here in Perth, now i have to find a way to plug in earphones. But of course i'll have to unpack, move my luggage move the computer table and put the computer on the table.

Phew, all that sounds like a lot of work. Maybe i'll let that luggage lie around till washday, i'm sure i'll finish that luggage of clothes sooner or later.

I'm sure.

3 kg, How about you?

2008-02-19T20:25:00.003+08:00

Ah, another Chinese New Year has gone by. The ang pows. The illegal fireworks. The excessive food. The be a vegetation for 1 day (or in my family's case, 1 meal) and be a glutton for the rest of the next 15 days. It doesn't matter which part of Chinese New Year you love most, Chinese New Year is always fun.

I mean if you already broke your New Year's resolutions for 2008, there still Chinese New Year. And even if you broke your resolutions again, there's always the next 14 days and so on. But of course anything after that, well you just have you start making your own excuses.

And if you noticed, no matter how health conscious a person is, no one in the right mind will ever make fat free Yee Sang on Chinese New Year (score for the gluttons!)

I think Chinese New Year is about the only time when you can commit half if the of the 7 sins, everyday. In fact you'll more likely or not be rewarded via gambling. Awesome isn't it?

This year has been pretty good. I've got a new Mahjong set (awaiting the respective Sifu's to teach me the art of Mahjong prior to me leaving for Perth) and new plastic cards both thanks to my cousin.
I have a pretty good poker set.

Now all i need are some felt tables, a roulette table and a nice little hill near Pahang to put them all in.

On the darker side of things, i've gained a little too much weight (Yes i realize i'm just soothing my ego by saying a little when of course in actual fact i've gained back my 1st year uni weight. Oh yes, back to the drawing boards of the gym for me. Excellent.)

There's actually entering 3rd year of LA and going back to Perth. Which is rather daunting. 3rd year and i still feel rather stupid, now THAT'S call optimism. The only people i feel more superior to are those that will be entering 1st year of LA, because they are the only people where you can boast that you know how to rotate a canvas to landscape format in Photoshop.

Then there's also the trip to Lowyat which is somehow stuck between nowhere and never on my imaginary calendar. (Yes, yes. I sense a killing aura from Dom)

All in all, nothing special going on. I've met all the people i've wanted to meet (but of course not frequent enough) due to my rather "special" circumstances as the household driver cum office boy ala Autocad monkey (who barely can draw anything right).

On the side note, it feels like this is the first time since i began university where i don't really feel like going back to Perth. I've honestly never felt so before. And i have no real reason to explain it (~~other than the fact that i have endure more tuna pasta.~~ Kidding la kidding la sister, don't lock me out of the house please.)

Being older just means having more responsibility. Being old sucks. Why did we ever wish we were older when we were young? WHY?

Ah well, I blame Lamborghini and McDonalds. False hope.

Hi, My Name Is Pok and I'm a Mentos Addict.

2008-01-28T17:34:00.000+08:00

I think i'm addicted to Mentos.

I dropped a half a bottle the other day and i haven't stopped thinking about it since.

I then decided to go buy a bottle of it in the 7-11 on the way to my dad's new office to take wall measurements today. But, they unfortunately didn't have the ones i wanted, so i bought a tube of Mentos instead.

I'll admit, i finished it the moment i got home. Which was probably only 15 minutes later.

Is there a Mentos addict hotline or something?

On the side note, why is there always a Ramli burger stall beside every 7-11? Do all 7-11 stalls come with a complimentary Ramli Burger stall that we don't know about? See, the universe is full of mysterious questions just waiting to be answered.

Way To Start 08

2008-01-16T22:57:00.000+08:00

Everything is breaking apart. Every electronical component and machinery. From the car, laptop, desktop to mp3 player.

2008 doesn't like me.

Another 351 days to next year you say?

I'm so screwed.

And 2 more days to my birthday i'm told?

Oh fuck. I'm getting old.

Not in time to vote though. At least i think not.

The next election is in HOW many years you say?

I've pretty much deserted this blog. *shugs*

Another Year Hops Along

2007-12-31T17:47:00.000+08:00

Is it just me or did 2007 just flash right by? I think it has came and gone so quick that i don't think i've actually grown accustomed to the 7 in 2007.

When i was younger (namely Standard 1) i would write the previous year even when it was a new year just because of habit, fortunately enough i'm old enough now not to be so stupid (otherwise i would be an absolute fool in university presentations)

Personally what have i achieved in 2007? Well i can't think of much really. In fact i don't think if i've achieved anything worth while through the year, but then again i suppose on the bright side although i didn't do anything great or memory worthy. Nothing bad happened did it? On the contrary, i moved out of the first time, my oldest sister had her first child, and i finally got 3 damn distinctions in university (i only take 3 subjects a semester, so sue me). Hahaha i swear that last one was quite a surprise.

Then there's Malaysia, with the papers showing us all the various events that has happened throughout the year. But i suppose the one i want to talk about would probably be sending the astronaut to space. I mean sure, the rallies were important, very, especially when i can vote next year. Well actually i don't think i can, depending when they call the elections anyway.

This year we finally sent a model into space. A smart one at that. Gee, who knew life could be so unfair.

So anyway, we spent er about US 25 million for the Russians to bring one of our guys into space. Gee sounds a lot like an overpriced space taxi right to me no? Well, i do suppose it is a very Malaysian thing to do lar you know. The Russians have finally caught up with our grand concept of overpriced taxis la. Aiya it was only about time before foreigners started screwing us with overpriced taxi fairs if we always tamper with our meters right?

My newphew was in town just recently. He's rather fussy, so i've decided not to carry him till he's old enough to be thrown around. He also sucks him thumb a lot, and the occasion fist. I kid not. Fist, you read correct. Quite the sucker i would say.

I also realised, it doesn't matter if i'm 2 months old or 20 years old. I still want the same things in life. Sleep, eat and play. That's all we need ain't it?

All in all, another year with war, gloom and doom. Seriously, do these Miss World's really wish for world peace? Or are they just really wishing for fat free pizza?

You Have Been Warned

2007-12-04T21:33:00.000+08:00

I was going to do this rather emotional post (rant, rather) about my frustrations and feelings at this point of my life. Instead i slept it off and didn't do it, and it was kind of a 'in a moment' thing.

Oh well, i'll do this instead.

My family owns one of the most deadly things in this world. Well actually, it's only rather hostile to the male species and transsexuals i suppose. Unless they somehow er work differently. Anyway, other than that it's relatively tame towards the female gender.

The device?

A toilet seat that will not stand.

I kid not, whoever that designed this either has an ruthless grudge against penises or .......actually i can't think of another reason why this would be designed.

I suppose it could jolly well be the joints not being tight enough. But i like my theory better.

So yes, my household owns a toilet seat that you have to hold up while you pee (females excluded)

Just the other day i was relating this 'thing' to my 2nd sister when she recounted the story when she first found out the toilet seat couldn't stand. Her knowledge however came with a price, in the form of a traumatic experience for one of my younger nephews. He is of course presumably, scarred for life (fortunately, not physically).

Therefore, it is this day that i warn all that dangle and visit my home to be careful of the toilet closest to the living room!

Then again, it makes an excellent conversation starter.

Mystery of the Missing Sim Card

2007-12-03T00:12:00.000+08:00

I'm sitting in front of the computer learning exactly how the hell to change a doorknob. I'm also reading up exactly how the hell solar heaters work.

The joys of coming back home.

But it's all good. I need to meet people though. Especially those that i rarely do meet up with.

That however is rather difficult consider i can't find my sim card. No one has a clue where it went, i'm sure i left it here with my parents. And my parents well have no idea. I'll probably have to go make Maxis issue a new one for me soon enough.

Results are one in a week's time. And i'm absolutely confused about re-enrollment. Of all times, they had to change the course structure now. Bah.

That's all folks

Nonsensical Updates

2007-11-21T13:38:00.000+08:00

Everytime i leave for Malaysia, my sister and i are in essence importers into Malaysia.

We smuggle everything from chocolates, cheese, wine, smoked ham, poker sets and tv series.

Well, the last 2 more of my doing anyway.

I don't think i even bother bringing clothes home anymore.

Well having said that, i think it's quite clear i'm going home soon.

But i don't think i'm normal. I'm never too excited about going home. I suppose i generally have nothing much to look forward to going back. I'm weird like that.

But this year has been absolutely boring to stay in Perth. There's nothing to do. I sit at home and play facebook poker then lose tons then watch repeats of So You Think You Can Dance, which is an absolutely fantastic show by the way. Cat Deeley is damn cute.

*ahem*

Right, where was i?

I went to collect my folio yesterday, one of my works were exhibited. And i have no idea why. It's terrible compared to the others on that wall. Well i suppose that was why it was in some small corner that even i didn't notice till about 40 seconds later.

As an art student, it's ironic that i have no sense of graphic layout.

To sum things up, things are rather, meh.

Open Those Windows

2007-11-12T20:05:00.000+08:00

It's summer and boy is it starting to heat up.

I, for one has never had too much of a liking towards summer.

It's hot and the UV rays burn. And global warming doesn't help things either does it now?

Then there's the flies. Those flies. Australian flies to me are relatively stupid. They are generally slow and pretty easy to kill. Now if only they would allow me to bring in one of those electric fly killer things (you all know what i mean, you've all been mass mosquito killers at one point of your lives), then we wouldn't need dung beatles anymore.

I swear it's so hot right now, i'm prepared to take off my clothes and hang around naked in my living room ala Homer Simpson style.

But i'll do both my sister and her boyfriend a favour and not do them any surprises which would more likely or not end in a nightmare.

But geez, 39 degrees in November? A little early ain't it?

I swear, 40 years from now buying property in Antarctica wouldn't seem such a bad idea anymore. Or maybe the moon. Hmmmm.

*I'm really quite interested in what will happen in the coming elections in Malaysia. With the rallies that has happened recently (the more recent, happening one being the one on the 10th of November). The rally that happened on Saturday gained quite a bit of coverage didn't it? I'm really curious to see how the government reacts (if at all) to these recent events especially with the elections coming soon. Well i suppose they could do what they usually do, hush everything up a little, belittle the situation and well cut a few zeros in the figures then finally print it out to the papers. Wheee. Malaysia Boleh arh (i swear, we really need a new slogan.)

In other news, it has only been today that i was told the difference between a mens bicycle and a females bicycle. Just that bar in the middle. And it was only today that i found out why. I feel al little stupid, but hey, it's enlightenment no?

Possums Will Have to Do

2007-11-02T11:11:00.000+08:00

What started out as a gung ho determination to move houses has now withered to a "i suppose i can live with possums, they're not so bad when they are not fighting.", "hmmm, the roof is cracking, but heeeey it's a big house there's still other parts of the house i could live in."

It true, the house we living in now looks quite promising.

Now this is of course due to the rising prices of rent throughout the state. This makes it difficult to find cheap, close to uni housing.

There is another alternative. But my idealistic mind is very reluctant to force people out of their homes.

Argh i don't know!!!!

I need to go finish my last assignment.

I want some instant noddles. But since i have none.

I'll just make do with normal noodles and lots of vegetable stock.

*edit: noodles tasted nothing like the instant noodles i was graving for. Was a total failure. So i drank all the soup and fried it instead. What?
I was brought up by the African kids don't have food to eat mentality.*

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!

2007-10-28T00:23:00.000+08:00

It really isn't as fun as it looks.

It's better.

I kid. Especially when you chuck it all down in a span of 2 and a half nights. Not exactly doctor recommended dosage.

Made me and the stomach all funny and wonky.

Blah Blah

2007-10-17T13:10:00.000+08:00

Considering there's like over a billion people with Chinese names on this Earth of ours, you would think the least the western civilization could do would be to know where our first name began and where it ends. It's not THAT difficult! Our first name is just behind our last name which is no where near last. Also our middle name isn't really a middle name but it is in the middle although it's part of the first name which is like behind the last name.

Seriously.

I'm sorry, it's just the stress, fuelled with confusion and a hint of murderous intent towards my ~~lecturers~~ assignments.

Couple that with my looming deadline of horror combined with a bunch of stupid bees buzzing away outside my toilet window making me a total wuss because i'm afraid i'll be showering halfway and they'll swamp in and sting the shit out of my balls or something.

Then there's the vase i broke. But my sister broke something recently too, so we're even. I think.

Then there's the decision whether to stay in this possum stomping, bee hogging ridden house or risk it all by looking for other houses which will most likely end up more expensive.

Have i mentioned deadlines yet?

All mainstreet needs is a Starbucks, that's going to be my design concept for my presentation tomorrow. I swear.

I'm just screwing around. Things could be a lot worse.

So Apparently......

2007-10-10T01:06:00.000+08:00

.....i'm on Facebook now.

Yes yes, i've fallen to dark, (supposedly more fun, poking) side now.

Yes it's hard not to succumb to peer pressure during those weak moments of assignments and procrastination.

To be totally truthful, this is probably the worst possible moment for me to be joining Facebook due to the rising amounts of work and increasingly close due dates.

Nonetheless, it is done.

Everyone is using it.

Haven't actually explored the features yet. So all mighty ones, teach me the evil ways of Facebook poking.

Vague Memories

2007-09-26T22:46:00.000+08:00

I've been busy, very busy. You know that one week break where you're suppose to catch up? Well, i did absolutely nothing.
And this is what happens when you did absolutely nothing, everything get's bottlenecked and you're screwed.

Ah, the joys of life.

You know, i don't even remember dates anymore. I know it's like somewhere in September now, i think.

Just the other day a classmate asked me for the date, and i had no clue at all. No clue. Nothing.

Hmm, worrying.

There's this very, confusing feeling of university time in my life.
I sometimes have to remind myself that i'm actually only in 2nd year.

But that's hard to do when you think 1st year was such a long time ago. It feels like ages ago since i started uni.

Then again, it isn't JUST 2nd year anymore, that's half my course finished!

But then again, i look back it felt like only a few days ago that i was in Melbourne and the semester just started while yet, here it is week 9? 10? and only almost 3 more weeks before my ultimate deadline of horror.

I tell you, i'm getting old la. These days all i can think about is registering to vote next year.

*Well, the nephew is suppose to be almost of month old now. I reckon i should just call the fella with his Chinese name la. Don't call his ang moh name Ian la. Where got cina like that? Now Pok is cina la. Cina Babi somemore.

*edit: Just today while walking back from uni in the rain. I realised i don't know the number of the Perth police department, or the fire and ambulance department.
I seem to not know quite a number of things lately. On the bright side, there's lots of work and autocad mumbo jumbo to be done.
Wheee the joys of life.

Nice and Flat

2007-09-15T19:41:00.000+08:00

Hot, dry, flat and in the middle of nowhere.

was relatively unproductive, the field trip and the past non teaching week, also known as mid term break, disguised as a time to catch up with whatever you can't do. Enough said.

Of omelettes and muscle pulls

2007-09-01T14:58:00.000+08:00

Coming back from the gym after not doing a full workout because i felt a slight pull and later cooking an omelette with the most unhealthy ingredients i could find in the fridge (breaths in) is probably one of the most ironic things I've done recently.

Oh yes, cheese, cheese and a little more cheese probably wouldn't do any harm cheese. Oh, you know that butter has been in the fridge a while now, i'll use that instead of oil. Hmmm, i think i'll forget about the vegs, cheese.

So you try to do the perfect omelette with rice and cheese, making it as symetrical as possible. Afterall, symetrical things are often the things that are considered beautiful in this world.

So you flip it not once, not twice but three times just so you can get both sides nice and charred.

There was rice, meaning it's much harder to flip unless it's sticked together with enough egg. Kiamsiapness however runs in the family, therefore less eggs would be better the brain thought, otherwise going to have to buy egg again.

And so, a final fourth flip was decided.

and it was screwed up. The omelette broke.

I ate it gluttonously nonetheless.

There you go, story of my life.

*shall be spending the next 4 days in a rural town sleeping on squash court and showering in communal showers, 350 kilometres away. Brilliant.

They Won't Let You Sleep

2007-08-28T20:48:00.000+08:00

Pride and Prejudice killed Broadband, in the master bed room, with a bittorent.

Dial-up speed isn't as slow as i thought it would be, neither is it as fast as i want it to be.

Watching 'You've Got Mail' reminded me that most kids aged 12 and below would probably never know the distinct, annoying sound of a modem dial up.
*

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.

I'm pretty sure the person that told Jack that didn't know that Jack attended workaholics anonymous. Or that he was a very busy uni student.

Too much work, too little time, too lazy and too large a percentage. Oh yes, life is hectic. So what's new. But 40% by week 5 isn't exactly fanciful. Especially if critics are vague and instructions are general.

Why are there tuition raids when there are other more pressing issues to be resolved before the 50th?

Nephew whose name i don't know and can't remember, refuses to be born and enter the real world. Inducing may be necessary to force him out and carefully remind him that life isn't always all placenta and wombs.

Enough said.

*edit: newphew decided finally to pop on the 30th at 2 am. Late entrances are always more elaborate in any event.

Melbourne: Day 1

2007-08-10T23:55:00.000+08:00

I can't remember when they arrived, but we did our usual catch up's. You know, the "so, hair very long ah.", "doesn't look like you're getting any thinner", "so how much did you lose in the casiono?" conversation.

Standard procedure.

We sat around doing nothing but sat on a bench just talking about things in general while the station slowly packed up with increasing amounts of urban white collars rushing with their white and black uniforms.

It was like a scene in a movie, with the 3 of us just sitting there while everything around us moved in fast forward.

We later hung around the food court eating free Mentos crewing gum and happily complaining about Australia until it was nearly 9 am.

The original plan was to go back to Zhen Han's place and chuck my stuff and later coming out to do whatever i'm suppose to be doing as a tourist from Perth. However (to my dismay), the 2 poker nuts decided that instead of that, i would be lunging my 2 tonne bag around Melbourne city for the rest of the day.

We walked about the Southern Cross station with the 2 friends just as new to the area as i was. They told me where the Telstra Dome and that was about as far an introduction i got on the area. I even enquired the whereabouts of a "Go-Lo" (place to get cheap stuff) for the possibility of getting an inflatable bed while they chuckled and laughed about the existence of such a place. Seriously. Melbourne isn't all about Crown Casino guys.

The weather however wasn't exactly very supportive of my trip. It started to drizzle and rain. If you know Australian weather, you know never to rough it out. Just allow the bugger to do it's magic and move along your journey 10 minutes later.

Being the landscape architect though, i don't think i can explain how Melbourne enchanted me. It was a place where design came alive. It the sort of place where a convervative and budget controlled Malaysian would deemed unrealistic and radical. This made me wonder if i actually made the correct choice going to Perth.

Melbourne seems to be the place to bridge the conventional and the modern and i think that's the most evident in their buildings within the city. And the best thing is you don't really feel the gap, the oldest building in the city could easily be across the street to the most modern landscape of the city.

But yes, we did what all visitors do when they first step foot in Melbourne. I presume.

We went to Melbourne Central and watched Transformers, on the day it was debuted. Yes i'm assuming this is what everyone recommends the moment their friend arrives in Melbourne. Go watch a movie.

It was also here that Adam decided he would almost step foot into a girl's toilet.

note, almost. We managed to convince him in time that he had balls.

(but i don't blame him, it was early and the lack of sleep was killing everyone. Any one of us could have been the one to step into that toilet.)

Unfortunately it was Adam, good for him.

The movie was good, but even the lovely Megan Fox couldn't bring 3 single (presumably) sleepy males away from the mood to doze off. The effects of sleep deprivation was rather obvious.

With those lovely big, comfy chairs. It was only a matter of time before we stopped paying much attention but instead stared at the scene with half a brain going "hmmmm".

The show was good and a Transformers fan was glady satisfied.

We finished the movie very sleepy and confused. Nonetheless, i was still shown the other parts of the city and later had lunch while hanging around conversing about a topic of conversation i would never understand. It's suppose to have something to do with large groups of friends and housemates. Or something to do with Duck rice. I'm not very sure these days.

We walked about in Federation Square a little bit and it was not long before my camera's battery died on (which you will find happens quite a few times in this whole trip, thus the lack of pictures)

Federation Square is interesting, it was quite recently that i was told how impressive the area was.

it was the the last picture before my battery went off.

Obviously, in the 1st day of my trip i was a little too tired and confused to really bother where i was. I didn't have any bearings of where i was and purely relied on Han and Adam. But i wasn't too excited to see much, i was much too worn out and so were they. We left the city early to head back (much to my relief, 2 tonne bag was tearing my shoulder apart.) for the much needed rest.

Adam and i headed for Frankstone which is where i would stay for my first night. It was also here that i proved the existence of 'Go-Lo', at the very place where Adam stays. It was a very in your face statement. I was delighted.

*I spent much of the past week not sleeping rushing to something so vague and inconclusive only to be hit later with an adware due to my carelessness. I blame the sleep deprivation.

Took me a good 2 days to remove the bloody bastard, and i don't think it's even totally removed.

Been having a lot of thoughts lately. Things that boggle my mind, plenty of What If's and Maybes.

On the other hand, i finally found a decent pair of 20 dollar jeans. Cheap, nice jeans makes anyone happy.

I Wish Work Would do itself.

2007-08-01T23:44:00.000+08:00

Despite not feeling the need to blog, i detest to do my work even more.

(because i'm lazy. *edit*And confused, very confused. I really cannot emphasize the ammount of stress i've "invested" into this course, i don't even know if i can even take real world stress anymore.)

So here i am. Excellent. Procrastination is anything and everything but boring. Because whatever you're running away from and ignoring will always be worse.

I figured i would start a post on that trip to Melbourne now. A little late, nonetheless still a post that has to be done.

Right, where to begin then i wonder?

~~Once upon a time, in a galaxy far far away place called Perth, there lived a young adult with gravity defying hair, affectionately known as Pok.~~

I suppose then i begin with the probably one of the most exciting part of the whole journey then. The day i left for Melbourne, also known as 29th June 2007 or sometimes also referred to as the day i nearly missed my flight.

Yes, i can now honestly admit that i forgot about my flight. Actually it was more of a slip of memory rather than being forgetful, which is the same thing according to my rational part of the brain.

Long story short, i was going to cook rendang with rice enjoyed with a half hour worth of Simpsons and later Big Brother. It was then, in the mist of the cooking board and big cutlery knife that i thought to myself,

"Now wouldn't it be funny if i was actually leaving tonight not tomorrow night? Haha"

Having inherited the ability to be paranoid after living with the 3rd sister for so long and also born with the habit of self doubt. I decided to check my flight plan which to my absolute delight turned out to be tonight.

"Uh-oh"

So right, i had 4 hours to print my plans, pack and prepare myself. 4 hours to the male mind is probably around 28.5 hours. All i needed was to pack 3/4 my wardrobe and a towel and i was done. Barely took me 20 minutes. In fact, i managed a basket of laundry too.

I've said it before and i'll say it again.

Desperation is my inspiration.

I called Adam just to make sure he didn't make the same mistake as i did (even after being friends for so long, i'm sure we have common habits of stupidity lying around somewhere that i don't know about). I was quite relief to hear that he was off to Crown Casino that night. Just as according to plan. Phew.

I left for Melbourne at 12.15 am (0015 hours) on the 29th of June 2007 (this was the reason i got confused with the dates which is quite stupid i'll admit.)

I arrived at Melbourne at 5.35am Melbourne time, meeting Zhen Han and Adam at Sourthen Cross station around 6.30am.

Being typical Malaysians, they were late so i took the luxury to explore the station a little bit. Yeah la it was a big station, it needed exploration.

Ok fine it wasn't exactly huge, but i came from Perth la ok, happy now?

Taking the trip from the airport to the Sourthern Cross station, Melbourne's general city look reminded me of Singapore, however once touching down at the station, it was KL Sentral all over again. Finally, a sign of metropolitan life.

*i'm breaking up my post of Melbourne into a few shorter post rather than one long, giant post. Because it just makes more sense to me, and my mind works in peculiar ways even i don't know how to explain,

**i only managed one post last month, i don't know why i'm even bothered to realised that. However, August should be far more interesting. With the 1st sister fully pregnant and also ready to pop anytime now, the official title ceremony of mommy, Grandma Veron, Gong-gong, Auntie Vern, Li Ann yi yi, Uncle Jason and Uncle Pok shall soon be official. Yes it is indeed exciting. Uncle Pok, HMMMmmmmm.

The nephew is suppose to be out and ready preparing for the life of a human in 2 weeks or so! This is exciting news because it marks the expansion of the Leow clan and also the first in my family! And being the 1st grandson for both sides and all, i foresee a lot of pampering happening for the kid.

I also imagine a lot of ~~dog~~ baby tricks coming from the 1st sister.

*In other news, i'm very, very VERY stressed out.
So i play Theme Hospital and write nonsense on this blog.

Where's The Sunshine?

2007-07-06T08:04:00.000+08:00

It's raining, it's windy, there are plenty of tall apartments and travelling via train is no good for the poor.

Yep, i''m in Melbourne all right.

It's currently day 8? 9 or my trip then. Managed Mount Buller which was probably the climax of my trip and the thing i was most looking forward to in the whole trip.

Not that the 12 Apostles isn't going to be good. But Mt Buller has snow! And skiing! Wheeeeeeeeee.

*Ahem*

Managed really good weather there too. Couldn't ask for a more perfect timing i swear.

Did i mentioned that i nearly miss my flight here? I was lucky to be cooking too when i remembered.

Hehe. Having too long a holiday after semester does tend to make you forget dates which you need to fly off.

Probably do a more detailed post with pictures when i get back to Perth. As for the time being, greetings from wet, rainy Melbourne.

Beyond the Ultimate

2007-06-22T01:24:00.000+08:00

You would think that with so much time on my hand i would at least do the things i've told myself to do wouldn't i?

Unfortunately (i'm sure you all saw this coming, i'm a bum after all)

The 3 main things i was meant to do after the end of my semester was:

Jog more often
Wash the car
Translate my license

I've done, urrm essentially nothing of the above.

So much for having an agenda then.

But in my defence, i have jogged. But due to my rather er, flat foot on the right side. This is proving to be more difficult than i predicted. The new shoes i bought doesn't seem to help as miraculously as i thought it would.
But fear not! I have not given up hope on the jogging part (as for the thought of losing weight, well THAT sort of flushed down the drain the moment i decided half a bar of Dove chocolate isn't enough to fill my cravings of sweetness. Then again, satisfaction cannot be measured by the quantity of cocoa! Am i not right?!?!?!?!)

Ok, have i killed a quarter of your brain cells yet? Or have u left the blog?

Yes continuing. I believe, as a person, i'm still the same. As a bum however, i think i've evolved if that's even possible.

Yes, i am near completion to the ultimate bum. My daily routine involves waking up at nearly 12 pm, then switch on the computer on the way to the bath room. Find something to eat. Sit in front of computer till dinner. I do however cook dinner at times instead of relying on the sister to do so(which is a fair improvement i might add!). After dinner consist of multiple television programmes till about 10 pm, then i hang around the computer till i feel like dropping.

Next day: repeat from start.

I can't even tell you the exact dates anymore. Uh hu, i'm THAT lost into time now.

But but! I am trying to change that slowly (yes you cannot rush progress i'm afraid!) and i'm predicting by the time i start my 2nd semester i'll be able to begin my day at 9 am once more.

As for washing the car and translating my license. Well i have no excuse other than i'm a total bum. (Bum equipment should just sponsor me at this point. Really.)

So i think i've answered the question when u ask if i've done anything interesting lately.

Well, i do want to go to the beach to take some pictures of the sunset one of these days if it's possible.

But you know me, execution of a plan is just such hard work if you're me :D

On the down side though, i seem to be suffering from a slight insomnia from hours 11pm to 2.30am. It requires explanation beyond even my reasoning.

Oh! The Irony.

2007-06-15T13:45:00.000+08:00

I'm not sure what's more ironic.

Watching teen fit camp (tv show about obese teens losing weight) while eating too much Nutella.

or

Looking at myself in the mirror thinking about reducing greenhouse emissions while i switch on both hot and cold taps when i wash my face just so i can get warm water.

or perhaps it's this one

Ang Moh's addressing me as Pok while Asians address me a Paul.

HMmmm.

The third one i find quite amusing. Although come graduation it probably wouldn't be as amusing anymore.

I shouldn't find it amusing you might say since most of my friends back home address me as Pok anyway. But i think it's the fact that people address the name as a formal name rather than a nickname that cracks me up a little. It's the difference how they say it, the tone.

I like watching TV shows about obese people losing weight, well because it gives me motivation to work out. But my sister mentioned once that instead of obese people losing weight, they should have a tv show about anorexics gaining weight. I think that's a bloody good idea, it would be great fun to watch really. I don't know why people don't do that, we've done every other thing there is to do on reality tv anyway. I mean do you know that they are making a reality tv show about pirates now?

Yep, the human race consist pretty much about a million dollars and reality tv shows.

Drizzling Amusements

2007-06-09T00:11:00.000+08:00

I went to the city today, a 'adventure' i don't normally indulge. I don't see anything to do in the city other than hang around in Borders and Crazy Clarks. I like Crazy Clarks because you find weird cool stuff there. I like seeing random stuff. Which is probably the reason why i like walking around in hypermarkets back home.

I'm weird, i know.

Went to the city with a very mindful mission to accomplish. I was there to look at a new pair of shoes. Came home with a headache and no shoes. Very disappointed i was.

It started to drizzle on the way back home. I decided i would walk through the main university grounds on this rather gloomy afternoon. It seem appropriate somehow. I didn't have a reason to, so i rationalised by saying to myself that it had more cover than walking along the street.

Walking under the rain is refreshing. Especially since i rarely set foot into this side of uni grounds. The weather wasn't especially cold today and i haven't been out for a long time.

Along the way i encountered a guy smoking while walking in this slight drizzle. You would think that a bit of rain would deter him from smoking wouldn't you? But i suppose that's why he was using an umbrella and i wasn't.

For no reason what so ever, instead of walking along an area without much shade (which was the path i intended), i staved off to somewhere with more cover, i kinda of regretted the decision because i wanted to walk in the rain.

While braving the elements, i was walked along an area of the library which i identified as the geology part of the library. This part of the library was the lowest floor of the library with a glass window looking out into the uni field. Normally there aren't too many people in there on a Saturday afternoon, but keep in mind this is study week, therefore explain the vast amount of people in there.

I glanced at the people in there for a second or two, some looking through their papers, others sleeping on their arms, while some seem on the verge of pulling every strand of their hair and the whole lot.

And i just couldn't help but do it.

I smiled out of amusement.

This is so bad for my karma. I'll probably die from this flu because of that. Hahahaha. Good luck people.

The Many Faces of Agent Hugo Vendetta, the Half Elf.

2007-06-03T23:38:00.000+08:00

Yes, the face we love has evolved from

this

"Mr Anderson can't act."

to this,

"I like my satin and my headband. Oh yeah, and Arwen."

and later to this fellow here,

"Natelie Portman is so hot bald. But all i have is this mask. And i'm not even happy."

However, come July. *jheng jheng jheng!* He has a new face. A very, how shall i put it? Digital face.

Not exactly elfen, but it should do.

Oh yeah! Decepticons leader Megatron! Wohoo! Yes, the Transformers film is out in July4th which is basically a month away. Still, it's like Transformers! They even got the guy who voiced Optimus Prime in the old days to do voice acting! (i'm the species with a capital Y chromosome, so sue me.)

So yes, big shiny machines that transform into vehicles that shoot stuff. This is a sure win, male testosterone recipe for box office hit (unless Michael Bay destroys the whole franchise of what we know as the greatest cartoon of all time.)

And now! Mr Hugo Vendetta Smith Weaving can add that to his resume! How awesome is that?!?!!

You have to admit though, being able to go from
villain to hero and back makes him really quite a versatile actor. And if i've heard that many Agent Elrond jokes to last me a life time, my confidence would be quite squashed by now. Then again, any publicity is good publicity no?

happy smith and papa smith is a very different thing ok.

But i think we all realise what's next for this rather interesting actor. No? Don't bluff, i know you know that i know you know. (don't mind me, all this stupidity is actually the after effects of Redbull and too-much-time-ism.

Hugo Weaving as Hagrid in Harry Potter and the Revenge of Agent Vendetta.

Ok, now that i've finish killing half of your brain cells, move along and go study you studying little ones. (while i sit around and do nothing heheheh)

my sister says there isn't enough chick flicks in the cinema's this year, it's all just 80's children cartoons.

And i couldn't agree more :)

face it girls, Barbie the movie featuring Orlando Bloom as Ken isn't about to happen anytime soon.

Year 2, Semester 1. Closed.

2007-06-01T16:38:00.000+08:00

Unless i fail to pass which i hope will not happen.

Well, since i had to spend half my fortune for printing and later spent the other half on Redbull, i'm now officially broke.

Seriously, architecture and landscape architecture is not a cheap course. We kill lots of trees annually i swear.

I'll have to sell my kidney if i ever want to a pair of new shoes. I'll have to sooner or later because my current Power shoes are just in a state where it goes "kill me, just kill me." So there goes the possibility of jogging. For now.

Well then, officially done for the semester now. And i have set a few personal records once more.

Ho ho. Less than 5 hours of sleep in the past 48 hours. You shall never expect something with such sleep depriveation from PokX again (until next semester that is).

I really never thought it would happen. Not sleeping. I'm used to at least sleeping an hour at least before getting back to work again as a refresher.

What's different this time you ask?

Redbull. It's no bullshit, it's shitload good, gave me loads of energy.

See what i mean?

Nonetheless, i feel the after effects. My eyes are feeling puffy or dry or something.
My neck is stiff and sore, my fingers are numb and stiff from all the cold nights yet i'm more awake than i usually am. And my pee looks like Redbull too. Like really yellow and and stuff.

Which is the colour of Redbull in case you didn't know. Pee colour.

But you know what, for once i don't feel relieved to hand it in. I feel like i missed too much here and there (and i did for fuck's sake, didn't realise it till it was too late. Was a big chaos, i just hope my marks aren't reduced too much from it.) For once, i'm feeling more worried about passing. There's actually pressure, i don't know where it's coming from, i feel very worried. No kidding.

But it's all out of my hands now, just wish me luck. Lots and lots of it.

And that's also the end of my semester, i won't be having to study till next semester. For those about to have their exams ~~neh neh neh bu bu~~ good luck to ya all.

But yeah la, i'm feeling a little like shit this moment. Couple that with now being able to sleep (my usual method of drowning my sorrows with lots of ZzzzZzzzzz) i'm feeling not entirely cranky, but more like temporarily insane (i wouldn't trust myself with a butcher knife right now, but there's garlic to chop, how?).

But anyways, like i said, can't do much about it now can i?

But still, every semester you learn something new. This semester i learned not how not to sleep and learn how to bloody read instructions properly.

To anyone, i'll be free from now to er let me think, about July. So do let me know if you're up to anything.

Here's something relatively interesting. I was reading the uni's magazine and just read "UWA Debating Union" as UWA Dating Union. Geez. (socially deprived i swear)

See, that's why you don't deprive me of sleep! I become stupid! (har, har don't even think about saying whatever you're thinking)

Now i shall leave and pray to my ancestors and highly gods (because that's what taoist do) that i pass my studio unit.

Of Volcanic Pimples and Deadlines

2007-05-19T14:16:00.000+08:00

Considering how people have actually asked me why i haven't been online recently, i guess its only fair that i bother updating once in 2 blue moons and a comet shower here, in this Pok forsaken blog.

Yes, that's right nothing is new, i'm still busy pursuing my drawings and wishing time would stop for 2 weeks or so and give me a head start. How unfortunate.

Even large numbers of pimples that appear for no reason fail to scare me now.

I'll probably have to find a nice floor spot for sleeping in the faculty in the next 2 weeks or so before all the good concrete floor spots get taken up by other students.

I really need new songs for my playlist. When you start humming to the 70's Batman theme song, you definitely need new songs somehow. *de,de,de BATMAN, DEDEDE lalalalala BATMAN*

But my p2p programs kinda suck and they refuse to download songs for me.

So i do what i can and find songs out of my ordinary routine. I look in my albums. Popping along for a peculiar reason was the obvious choice of old man songs. Andrea Bocelli.

So yes, here i am. Listening to one of the world's most famous, blind singers, singing a language i don't even understand. I do however try to sing along as much as possible, (as futile an attempt as that seems). I'm not sure what i'm doing wrong, i don't know if i'm suppose to be blind, or be able to speack Italian.

None the less, i enjoy the music. It calms me. And probably makes my listening habits a little more interesting.

You know what i really need right now? Cans and cans of Redbull (to make me absolutely hyper) and maybe even *wait foooooooor it* coffee. Strong coffee, no sugar, no milk. Hu.

Either that or quit blogging and move to my faculty where i can ACTUALLY do work.

Bugger, tough choice.

Why 300? Why cannot be 350?

2007-05-04T13:17:00.000+08:00

I finally took the time to watch 300 a couple of days ago, while eating dinner or lunch. I can't remember. I'm getting too old for such mindless troubles.

I know that its very late for me to actually be talking about this show considering how long it has been out.

This show had its fair share of mixed reviews when and while it was showing. Even to the point of 2 of my friends. Adam saying that the show wasn't as big a deal as it was raved on about from Dominic.

300 in my books is a typical alpha male movie. *ROAR!*

Here's a thought,

What's the difference between these 2 groups?
At the top, 300 wash board abs in skin tight underwear Spartans waging war against a million strong Persian army.
While at the bottom, a large herd of fighting Uruk-hai with disgustingly long hair and bad breath waging war against Orlando Bloom and his gang of pretty looking warriors. (they were only short of Brad Pitt of Troy, he had other ~~pretty~~ petty things to do.)

Both compromises a group of fighters with superior fighting skills and a peculiar hobby to shout loudly at the hostile enemy. Both has the love of shields, swords, helmet and blood.

So, you begin to wonder, what exactly is the difference between them then?

Quite simple. Face problem.

This world being superficial and unfair, the ugly men will be less likely to survive the end of a movie. Had the fighting Uruk-hai spend more time to groom themselves at least to the standard of short hairy Grimli, they would have been ~~Orlando Blooms~~ Legolas ~~gay partner~~ best friend already.

So, boys and girls, this is why grooming of self is important lor and the good looking will always dominate the top of the dating food chain. So always listen to your mommy and brush your teeth.

A community message brought to you by Char Siew Pok.

Ok, better stop preaching about something i don't live by (scratches gravity defying long filthy hair)

Right, where was i? Oh yes, the 300 Spartans of washboard abs who shout manly statements like "THIS IS SPARTA!".

I understand why this is such a catch phrase though. Shouting "SPARTANS!" is as manly as saying "Autobots! Transform and roll out!". Ah, the great times of cartoon history that was. Very manly indeed. I pity the fool that grew up without Transformers.

I mean, look 300 is a movie comprising of fighting, sex, more fighting, naked chicks dancing, even more fighting, shouting manly phrases, blood and gore, did i mention fighting?

Which testosterone filled male would say no to this? At this point i haven't hear a single male say this movie is bad, they just say it isn't as great as it sounds. 300 is to males what chick flicks are to females. (although i very much enjoy the occasional chick flick. Ok fine, you caught me, not occasional. Almost every weekend on TV
there's a chick flick i would watch at least half. I'm ashamed.)

But all in all, i think that 300 isn't a show i would really watch again. Unless its on Astro or something and i happen to watch it. Otherwise its unlikely that i would purposely go watch it. I agree that it isn't as great as its hyped out to be. Its cool in the sense that you go "Whoa, slow motion killings." but other than that, that's all it is i reckon. However, it sure beats Transporter 2. (no Adam, its unlikely we'll ever let that go.) Hahahaha.

The next month shall be very intensive, i'll either do no post. Or more. Depending on how much i procrastinate. Its almost reaching that time of the semester where i rarely shower, rarely sleep and the area where i work will be a tornado inflicted zone. THE assignment is due very soon, and i'm feeling like crap because i've got close to nothing. And with one month left in the semester for me. Its not something i want. To summarise it, i feel insecure about my work at this point. I have no confidence in pulling this assignment off. Not one bit. I'll either be cranky, hyper, very very quiet and antisocial or being pissed off at random things.

That Magical Feeling

2007-04-23T01:55:00.000+08:00

Procrastinator Pok strikes again! Ahoy! With about 60% of my assignment done (very very over stated rough estimate) I've decided to take some time out and blog about random events once more!

The next couple of months shall be very interesting. Its an emotion of excitement, bewilderment and sadness all at the same time. The expansion shall be very much look forwards to. It will be an event of historical status.

No i'm not talking about the arival of my nephew in the months to come. What i'm talking about is something perhaps of even more importance.

What i am talking about is quite obviously (if you don't know already), the 7th and final book of Harry Potter.

~~Procrastinating Pok and The Never Ending Assignments~~
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows.

With the book expecting to arrive around the end of July, half the world has prepared to save money in order to sacrifice half their earnings to the Darth Lord, J.K. Rowling. The other half will either be too poor and read the online version instead, or wait till the pirated version comes out from JB.

I like the Harry Potter series no doubt. It doesn't matter if the books after the 4th one hasn't been as great or pleasing, the series is after all like an addiction. One you start and continue, its hard to stop and not bend to the will of the Dark Lord and peer pressure. 2 of the most scary and evil things in the world. Enough said.

No doubt that the world of Harry Potter is enchanting and amazing with spells that kill, unlock doors and erase memory. Perhaps it is the expensive broomsticks that fly around draining off whatever energy your balls may have after a long flight that attracts you instead. Or maybe, even that wicked thunderlike scar which have no association to AC/DC.

But do you know what is the most magical thing in the whole series? Its isn't what i've mentioned above. No it isn't. And nooo girls, (for the two thousand and twentieth time) it isn't Daniel Radcliffe either (god heavens no).

What is most magical is that even though the characters stay in a huge castle with an amazing fest of food available to them on a daily basis, easily accessible kitchen with over helpful house elves, they will never ever seem to gain any weight what so ever! I mean c'mon, they drink Butterbeer. Hello, butter? beer? That's the 2 things that brought along cholesterol and the beer
gut. How come i don't see that happening in the book? What are these house elf putting in the food? What are they feeding the students? No galories magic salt? Or is it Pumpkin Juice Light? C'mon! You've got to tell the rest of the world! We need answers!

Even more magical is perhaps, the late nights the students experience. They work late till the night, late night parties after winning a great Quidditch match. Without even the trace of any caffeine needed. No tea, no coffee, no Redbull. Even more worrying is sight of a place without a Starbucks. What is the world coming to!?!?!?!? What in the world are in these pumpkin juice and butterbeer?

Butterbeer supports Gryffindor

Come July, the world shall be anticipating many questions. All hopeful that they will finally be answered in this final book.

Is high metabolism a requirement to become a wizard or witch?
Will Dumbledore's power extend all the way from his grave, or is he not dead yet? And all we saw was a Dumbledore dummy dumb dumb?
Will Harry Potter finally join ACDC and fulfill the destiny of his scar?
Will Darth Rowling finally overtake Darth Oprah in the World's Richest Women list with the unleash of her final, most powerful and (very likely) most expensive book ever?
Will Hermione and Ron live happily every after and ditch the single Harry Potter? Or will Hermione change her mind and ditch both these losers in the end? (*gassssp!*)
Will Gandalf the Grey come and save the day!? Or will it be Gandalf the White? (Jheng jheng jheng!)
Will Procrastinating Pok be able to afford the 7th book?!?!
~~And will the Biggest Loser be Marty! Chris or Pati!!?!?!~~ sorry sorry, different topic.

All should be answered in the months to comes (except for that last one, coming Thursday can find out already). We all await with anticipation!

disclaimer: Jk Rowling, if you happen to google Darth Lord and JK Rowling at the same time and happen to find my blog, please have mercy on me my lord! Its late and i'm here doing work and am all cranky, wonky and ~~ditzy~~ grumpy. I still love Harry Potter albeit having weird ways of showing it.

This Isn't About Weight Lost

2007-04-18T03:52:00.000+08:00

I think my previous night sleep-at-7.30 pm plan has kind of back fired on me. Because its now 3.53 am on a Wednesday morning and i can't sleep. My sleep pattern is screwed.

Note, it wasn't exactly my plan to sleep at 7.30 after watching 'The Biggest Loser' (had to watch this show, even if meant a very painful half an hour), i had a splitting headache and felt like in the first time in a long time, i was about to fall down with one of those high fevers i get once in 2 blue moons.

(un)Fortunately, that didn't happen and ~~i'm now unable to request for a MC~~ i'm allowed to go back to school to face my presentation on Thursday (for those that know. No i didn't do my presentation on Monday because various reasons which would bore you)

Its bad enough that i can't sleep. Even worse is, all i'm thinking while lying on my bed is how to continue my reasoning and 'argument' for my design idea i'm currently working on. Yes, that's all i can think about these days, work. However, don't get me wrong. Thinking about work doesn't mean actually doing the work. Oh no. I'm the absolute bum and procrastinator (i almost deserve an award for this i'm sure), i do my work last minute as a sign of respect for my life motto
'Desperation is my Inspiration'

Which is sad to say, isn't a very reliable motto really (well it helped me through ICPU). Well, at least for drawing anyway. Sadly.

Well, no reason to sleep and think about work. I thought i may as well get up at 3.53 am on this Wednesday morning and continue my work while blogging about the lack of desire to sleep (first time in the history of ~~Paul~~ Pok Leow's life. No desire to sleep. Really, now that's just absurd!)

I don't know what took so long, but the realistic realisation of how hard 2nd year landscape architecture is only hit me on Monday while the pin up sessions were performed. It dawned to me that this isn't 1st year anymore, there is a very real and serious possibility that i could fail the unit if i didn't perform and produce what i should be producing at 2nd year level.

As the critics were going on, that was mainly in my mind. It came to me that these people (who will mark your final work) aren't there to try and appreciate just the opportunity (well they will if they think the idea is real good) and realism behind your idea, their real job is to point out the weak sections of your work and idea.

Somehow i can't get around the Malaysian education system which i was brought up with and embrace the system i've been introduced in the past year and a half. I just can't do the critical thinking and self work which i'm suppose to be doing. In this criteria, i mark myself failing.

The problem here lies in motivation. My current motivation isn't to produce an excellent project, i cannot seem to find a reason to do that. Instead the current motivation is fear.

Fear is an ally and enemy.

It pushes you to do your work with the fear of failing. Yet, at the same time fear limits your ability to work due to the pressure of perfection. However this can be overcomed by trial and error.

I know this, yet i don't do it. Motivation is a real problem here. This semester is beginning to remind me of my 1st semester here, which wasn't the best. But i've also noticed that i've grown much more since then and at the very least know what to do (i'm just not farking doing it!) and how to try and overcome the problem.

Ok, this is beginning to sound like a 'Biggest Loser' sob story already. Better change the topic.

Well, parents will be coming around sometime in the end of April. So, that's something to look ~~out~~ forward to. The 'Annual Parental Inspection' is what i like to call it. Also know as Api (fire). So have to be careful also. Otherwise parents shall inflict their ultimate move on you. ~~kamehameha~~ Nagging.

Well then, sister just told me the gender of her 1st child yesterday. And i think the next few months should be quite exciting with the expansion of the family tree. Of course one would wish that everything will turn out well and good.

If you don't know what 'The Biggest Loser' is, it's a reality TV program in Australia that focuses on weight lost. And inevitably, weight lost is always linked to a sob story.

3rdsister's old place, somewhere in Perth

Ok, note to self: Never do 4 am post again please for your own benefit. You're too serious at 4 am. And you're already bad enough normally.

Surge Of Creativity Wor.

2007-04-15T02:29:00.001+08:00

It was 2.30 am on a Sunday and i was lazy procrastinating from the continuation of drawing more lines using my already messy table.

Was checking friendster (don't know why i bother, but its became more of a habit than an addiction now) and stumbled across my daily horoscope apparently.

Capricorn (Dec 22 - Jan 19)
The Bottom Line
A surge of creativity will hit you today -- carry a pen and paper wherever you go.
In Detail
A gigantic surge of creativity will hit you today -- be prepared to take advantage of it. Carry your journal and pen with you so you can jot down your brilliant ideas. This is the beginning of a very productive period full of experiments, educational challenges, and opportunities for self-improvement. Don't immediately discount any idea that you have today -- even though you may have to sift through a lot of them to find a gem. Resist the urge to censor yourself.

Phhhhhsstt.

Surge of creativity? Hahaha, this is encouraging. Especially since when you have a deadline in less than 24 hours away.

But a surge of creativity? Oh c'mon i haven't had that in eons. Probably since i was 10 and starting drawing silly gamebooks.

Now that doesn't sounds too encouraging does it?

Back to work, back to work. I think i need someone to whip me like those ancient Egyptians building pyramids, or i'll never finish this. But don't worry, i will "resist the urge to censor myself". Haha that line cracks me up.

Ok enough coffee and tim tams.

*whips*

In That Other World.

2007-04-11T00:45:00.000+08:00

In a perfect world where i'm totally irresistible to the opposite sex and the absolute ruler of the entire galaxy far far away with a jedi army at my disposable.

It will also be in this universe where sleeping from 3am to 1.47pm will be truly rewarded with pride and joy while ~~ipoh~~ ipod's are actually affordable to the people below the poverty line such as myself. It doesn't just stop there, in this world fountains such as these are nothing but daily affairs.

Yes my friends, what you see is not a chocolate pot. What that is, is the closest thing you can get to the fountain of life (or sin, whichever makes you gay and happy). That is, a chocolate fountain, complete with calories and fat (not to mention the ultimate delight), at your disposal.

This world would be where dogbites (and leg hair) would never gross you out.

In that other world, Zhen Han would still oblige to wear make up unfortunately (different story, different day).

It shall also be in in this stupid universe where i would also be done and prepare for this stuuuupid presentation on Monday. Rawr!

Unfortunately for me (and the rest of the world and jedi knights), this world exist only in the back of my pillow when i have my afternoon naps. Hmmmm. Afternoon naps (in a silly Homer Simpson sort of voice)

How unfortunate.

*grumble mumble*

*ho ho, just received some increadibly embarassing photos of Zhen Han the tennis partner. This pictures rank high up as Adam's in a bra pictures. Fortunately for him, i'm a little busy to post it up right now. There are things in life that makes one's life more interesting sometimes. Perhaps another day.*

Dog Gone It Part 1

2007-04-05T21:54:00.000+08:00

Now, i think it's been a routine for me to start ranting about my life.

And today, is not different.

Past week has been notably stressful, and since major assignments and dog bites don't exactly go hand in hand. I haven't been perfectly jovial really. Especially since when good friends call up at 1 am the night before the due date not to say hi, but instead sounding as though he just seen a monster sleeping beside his bed (or someone else's bed for that matter hehehe). But nonetheless, me being the good friend i am (cough), of course layan him also la.

Side note, i did finish my essay albeit rather last minute. And most people would say, considering easter break is just around the weekend, things should look up no? Well, no. Not really.

But let's leave this post to be perhaps more optimistic (whatzzat?) shall we?

I've been messing around with picture post lately because well, when i was clearing my computer i found quite a number of pictures that never saw the internet, and i was evidently not being fair to the pictures.

I've decided to post up these pictures of dogs that i took a while ago while still holidaying in Malaysia. ~~to attract more girls into this blog~~

Anywhoos, its no secret that i really like dogs. Unlike Zhen Han who is absolutely fearless to everything EXCEPT dogs, i really like them. So when i actually got bitten, i wasn't too worried about the actual teeth sink in and all part. I was more worried about infection. The bite wasn't all that bad really. But still, no idea why it bit me. I'm sure it was actually going for my sister for calling him weird. I'm sure.

As much as i like dogs, i never got around to be able to train one. Its quite clear from the fact that my 4 dogs at home does everything but obey me.

My oldest sister on the hand, she's much different. She got a dog last year (i swear that's all why singapore's birthrate is going down, everyone just keep dogs) and she managed to do lots of things with it!

This my dear readers, is Snowy.

this picture was particularly hard to take because she refused to sit still the first time we saw her. But nonetheless, i managed.

It actually becomes quite amazing when a dog pees and poos on demand really. Even when they don't have poo!

Having said that though, Snowy lives a very different life from the dogs in my house. She has chew toys, treats she gets if she perform certain things, dog hotel when my sister isn't around. She even has a little "bed" under my sister's actual bed! Those are luxuries my dogs never had. Which is sad in a way, but still! We treat those ~~bastards~~ guys alright i think. We use to have this dog called Brandy (who unfortunately got caught) that i really liked. Although he used to go around biting people in bicycles, he listened to me the most though. Its sad that we never really got to see him again.

she's looking a little sad and bored here really. Either that or she's just posing.

She gets a lot of attention in my sister's household now, however i sometimes wonder what will happen when my sister has her baby (yes that's Uncle Pok for you!). I remembered the time when i had a dog called Lucky (who eventually got old and died of heart worm) who was so jealous of my younger brother when he came into the family. He would growl at him when my brother got too close, there was just this distinct, evident dislike he had for my brother. Which was very weird really. Of course he eventually settled down.

grabbed these pictures from my sister. Everybody together now, "AWWWwwwww"

Snowy is quite funny really. She runs around a lot and like all these small dogs on marble floors, tend to slip when turning a corner at high speed (speed kills, don't drink and drive. What the fark
am i saying?) And if you give her treats she'll sit down till you say "take it!".

This happening though has been quite an amusement to my 2nd sister and i. We sometimes amuse ourselves by speculating what our niece/nephew would have to do in order to get a treat. Hehehe. Yes this is what the single people in my household joke about when everyone is in a jolly mood.

don't worry Zhen Han, its no giant

But no, let's get back to dogs. Snowy being cute, small, furry and pink-eared is the typical kind of animal wants to cuddle till you almost choke them. But i reckon i still like bigger dogs though. Not as
play proof, but still quite fun to have around. Who needs kids (well definitely not Paris Hilton, she should just stick with dogs. I can only imagine the world with a baby Paris.)*shudder*

Next time on Pok's animal and dogs!

The fast growing, cute looking (not as cute once he bites, trust me. He's starting to bite hard) brown, mischievous, super brat.

I'm sure you've all noticed i've starting doing a lot of picture post. I'm sorry, i don't know what wrong with me. They doctors can't explain. I'm just turning weird. It's either stress or living with a sister. Maybe both. Heh

Procrastinating Pok

2007-04-01T16:03:00.000+08:00

Its no good, i'm not finishing this report. I'm here, procrastinating. Reading random post of random blogs, procrastinating.

I'm in deep shit aren't i?

I get confused when i'm asked to change referencing styles.

I want to sleep and wake up having this report finished by fairies.

I need a more intelligent brain. Jimmy Neutron size preferably.

I want the ability to bend space time continuum. Hiro rocks.

I need to stop dishing random statements and digest all this shit.

Did i mention a dog bit me for no bloody reason?

I also allowed my sister to cut my hair (which turned out reasonably well). And there's the 3000 word report due on Tuesday (really, you don't want to complain how much more marks your reports are worth because mine will flatten yours. No doubt.)

This report sucks. Enough said, enough space wasted on the Internet.

"Architects Do It With Models"

2007-03-30T11:06:00.002+08:00

At least with different types of models anyway. That was a statement i saw on my faculty's t-shirt sometime ago.

Stayed up all night try to talk my computer out of doing anything stupid.

Well, no. Not really.

When i say stayed up all night it was probably only until 3.30am Perth time.

No i'm not turning insane.

All this just means that i recently started my 3D assignments.

It's funny how as computers become more advance and high powered, these softwares become just as demanding. Thus making the increased power and shit, all bloody redundant.

So yes, i had to do the impossible and talk my Toshiba through the night.

Nonetheless, finished the assignment and was quite proud of myself before i slept. Primarily because i restarted the whole assignment last night after i produced half a model for the past week.

Ey, let me brag a little bit can la. Don't say not nice la please. ~~or i'll have to delete your comment nyahahaha~~

With that done now, there's still that 3000 word report that i have to worry about (oh yes, my life is full of worries these days. That's why i eat Smith Chips. Lalala. I should go into advertising eh?)

But bah, i don't want to talk about that today. I shall talk about that 99 dollar suit from Harbour Town that i have a itch to buy. Whats worse is i haven't even seen the suit, sekali its some old fart looking suit. This shows one thing and one thing only. I am highly influence by the sole most evil thing in this world, the price tag.

Ok fine, i'm "price concious". But really i think i need to go clothes shopping. This coming out from my mouth is no easy feat. But it seems like i've either left most of my clothes in KL, have suprisingly few clothes, or my washing machine ate all of it (hmm). My wardore is pathetically small.

Well, not true. The wardore is big (too big really), i'm just not occupying it. I take up about 5 hangers and 3 drawers (number without winter clothing, winter clothing is additional)

1 shades, 1 crazy hairstyle, 1 jeans, 1 black t-shirt and 4 fingers. That pretty much summarizes my sense of style right now.

But without any incoming income, it's hard to justify for these thing no? So i needed some excuses, especially for the suit. (if i ever buy it anyway)

Thus, i seek random consultation. Adam was (un)fortunate to be around.

Adam suggest that i "seek your feelings and use the force, young Skywalker."

No, not really. He told me to just say i would need it for my sisters weddings. Hehe, which is actually a better excuse than what i could have thought of really. I was thinking along the lines of investment for career life. But i like his one better.

Let's see, 3 sisters. One married, another with a steady boyfriend, the other one doing quite well financially. Hmmm, 2/3 isn't too bad a statistic to get a cheap suit hor?

Its ironic that it isn't the promise of knowledge and pleasure that brings me to a book, but fear of losing what i already know.

That Night Before

2007-03-26T23:09:00.005+08:00

When i post this often (as Adam has said before), it means quite simply 2 things. I'm free from all things or i'm procrastinating. The reason for my frequent posting is obvious with explanation.
The past day has just increased my urge to further post. Things haven't been going well the whole day. I'm frustrated, i'm annoyed. Things never went any better either as the night progressed. And to be totally honest, i have no window to vent all of this. So, sorry for the recent complaints and more complaints. But there are times i just need to state my frustration, there isn't even a need to explain it. Just to state it. So i do it here.

ANYWAY, i was looking through my laptop to clear unneeded things in my pc to increase space for TV series. Managed to come about a couple of pictures which i thought i should consider posting since it's been in my pc for so long.

Normally i would post such post in the collective ADP website, however that space has just well died for a while now. Even i don't really bother anymore, that's how bad it is. So yes, it shall be posted here till further notice.

Now before there was this:

don't know about half the people in this picture, but i reckon its a good pic of ADP

ADP had to of cource settle domestic matters and to bugger Adam about his packing. So we all gather in his house, his room, hanging around. Doing what we do best.

ADP's Official Cheerleading Team - Take 1 (Failed)

Neermai

Much Better. (forget the fact that it's mirrored)

Of course, that's not all ADP is capable of. We're very much resourceful too. We often have kendo sticks, plastic knifes or even bamboo sticks as props. That night was no different. Meeting the ADP nunchaku (if you don't what this is, here's a hint. Ninja Turtles. Michelangelo. Enough said.) team. Proudly sponsered by Adam.

Fear Us.

Unfortunately, The One That Packs Last Minute had to heed a call by his father, leaving the Domkey and i, a new camera, 3 nunchaks too many, too much time and a lot of imagination to bear.

"Do you see what i see?" "Looks like Adam falling his arse off the plane."

ADP's ultimate mode of communication. Ninchaks A-GO!(which explains why we're always late really)

As far as i know, there's only 2 ways to tame a Domkey. One is to feed it lots of Gundam anime. The other is this:

Just slam a pair of nunchaks into him. Bigger hammer preferable.

As far as Adam and i are concerned, we very much prefer the easy, less-time consuming, amusing way. Or brutal if that's how you call it in your country.

Of course, we got around doing much much more productive things that morning. One of them of course is laughing at Adam's estimated height which he never achieved. But that in all is another story for another day. Haha

All in all, quite a productive night wouldn't you say blokes?

5 Days In The South West

2007-03-22T19:58:00.001+08:00

The 5 days in Meelup was fairly reasonable i suppose. Thing wasn't as bad as i would have expected, except maybe for the presentation (which was the main farking point of the trip).

But no matter, in Landscape Architecture one either learns or burn (and i suspect such is the situation in many other things in life), and unfortunately i ain't fire proof, and neither is my underwear. So yeaaaaah.

Anyways, back to Meelup. Yes, Meelup was in essence quite beautiful. It had quite a fantastic beach, with extremely clear waters. The water is also generally calm throughout the day because its located in a bay (which we should all know with our PMR based knowledge is generally well protected)

However having said that, the trip was evidently not all fun and games. It was more like, work, continue, have a beer and more work. Or something in that nature anyway. I have a strange suspicion that sleep was never part of the agenda.

The youth hostel wasn't as bad as it appeared to be from the exterior. I reckon i stayed quite comfortably during the past 4 nights i was there. It was basically a room with 2 bunker beds. Sort of like a ~~prison cell~~ college rooms.

Meelup Beach

Meelup as nice as it seems to be, seems to be rather superficial however. It contains many problems which are left to use to solve in our design classes, well in theory anyway. The problems aren't exactly extensive, however many of the local residents aren't exactly willing to sacrifice something else in order for change, which makes this a challenge.

Although the place has reasonably high potential as a tourist destination, many and unwilling to market it towards that direction. And i actually agree with that, this place definitely seems more agreeable without a large tourist base. I'm personally not suprised that this place is marketed solely towards the beach and you can hardly gather any information about the regional park around the area. It's quite obvious that the beach is the most distinct natural feature that would awe anyone. Obviously there are many other problems to be solves but would be too lenghty to write down here. I've probably bored you have to death already, you're probably half a leg into heaven by now.

Castle Rock from the regional park

Meelup is one of those places where people just don't really know about. More so if you're an international student, and i think its things like this that always poses as a major culture shock to me. I can honestly say, its been a year and i'm still too dumb about too many local knowledge that it makes one feel very inferior. Which is why (ignorant as i am) i still firmly believe that a course like Landscape Architecture experiences one of the worst culture shocks. But enough about my rants.

Sugarloft Point (i think.....hmmm, getting old with the memory)

The trip was interesting in many ways, especially if one of the things concern your drunk lecturer throwing random food into a pot to make something quite un-edible. Of course, waking up in the morning for a walk to the beach down the hostel for some quiet, alone chill time is nice as well.

When the heck will i ever chase up to my work is still unknown to me, seems to me like its going to be a rather stressful semester though. Yes, that boring commerce degree does look appealing sometimes, no doubt about that.

Meelup????

2007-03-06T18:58:00.000+08:00

Currently in the main main library doing research, which i essentially do not do after 8 (the library, not the research) because i'm quite the bum.

Fortunately for me, theres a group meeting tomorrow and i've got nothing. Oh bummer.

Ask me to research about Me*lup hydrology? Walau.

Mee hoon i know la! But Me*lup?!!? WTF?

Yes yes i know, that's why we need to do research. But then, how to do research for hydrology? Got no books in the geology department about hydrology also! Stupid mee hoon, i mean Me*lup. Can't they ask us to do this AFTER the field trip to Me*lup? BAAAAAAAH.

I've honestly got nothing which is quite shit. Well i suppose i can use that black and white photocopy picture of the hydrology which doesn't really show much because its suppose to be in colour.

Complain, complain. Yes i know. I'll shut up now. Times like these that makes me want to do boring commerce degrees. Boo.

Back To Perth. And Its Hot.

2007-03-03T10:42:00.000+08:00

Right, let me update myself on the current events.

Life is so far, quite from interesting. With 2nd year landscape architecture looking gloom and boring, i'm pretty sure life could be a lot better.

With lots and lots and even more work to look forward to, yes 2nd year life looks rather gloomy. (and i haven't seem to have met any Jap girls as Adam have, according to Zhen Han anyway)
And you know whats worse?

Because i moved out of college, i don't get to play pool now. Damn it.

But, all is not lost! I shall make reasonable excuses (eg: Wah! Long time never see, ey we must meet up la. I come to college now can?) to acquire this privilege to play pool. No worries, i'll still trash Adam and Zhen Han's arses.

Currently sitting in the Biology Library typing this out. I have no source of internet, neighbours are surprisingly clever to lock up their Internet connection. Crap. Will take another 2 weeks because internet can finally be set up, so until then its unlikely that i will be blogging. But as far as i can tell, no one else is. Which is quite sad. I thought people were suppose to blog more when they are further away so that others will know whats happening with them, however that doesn't seem to be the case is it?

It's funny. There's this funny stench where i'm sitting. And i highly doubt that it's me. Because i just took a shower (and applied deodorant too!) I think its the library or this particular seat i'm stting on. (ewwwwww)

But nonetheless, i'm a guy. And guys are more hygienically resistant (in otherwords, "dengan erti kata yang lain" or was it dengan kata erti yang lain? more dirty la.)

Anywhoooos, better get back to work with these regional parks and stuff. Bah, i no like plants and national parks now. But at least i finally get to play around with 3D stuff. Woohoo!

On break (break? more like work #$%^$@#$ i could crap and rant all night about how much work i have even in first week, but i shall not bore you) until further notice.

Stupid Powered Windows

2007-02-14T21:02:00.000+08:00

I think if i were to be given a dollar every time a Proton window broke down, i would be quite self sustainable by now.

Either that or i wouldn't have to sell half a kidney to pay for a Valentine's date.

Really, hasn't Proton learnt its lesson yet?

Heck, if they really just can't do anything about their power windows. Why not just cut cost and switch them to the old fashion roll up windows? Its not like those are any worse. Heck the Lancer i use in Perth is a roll up, and i'm not embarrassed by it.

Baaaaah. Wawasan 2020? Can or not one?

Actually, i would want to know the real reason why its done so badly. A good valid reason. Then again, if i really had the guts i would have done what our dear Mr Moaz did.

Write into the newspaper. Hahahaha. Nice spot by Adam last week. An article by our geography teacher in The Star. I would look up the article, but i'm too lazy.

Another reason that i left out why Valentine isn't so great.

Traffic jam. I hear its pretty bad. Especially the tolls. Tsk tsk. I'm actually quite glad i'm at home actually.

Now don't mind me while i go upstair and watch ~~The Holiday~~The Departed (yes, a nice manly movie. Ok la, theres a big chance i may just go finish watching the Holiday since i didn't get the chance to finish it the other day)

Valentine With The Capital $

2007-02-13T22:57:00.000+08:00

Ah, Valentine's Day *cue: Darth Vader theme*

One of the most evil days in the whole human calendar. Its a wonder that this day is actually decorated with pink love shape things that do not look remotely like our heart.

Then again, i'm skeptical because i'm single no? But yet, writting a Valentine's post is like this annual thing that i have to do. Ah well.

Heh, my 2nd sister says Lilian Too says she's going to get married this year. I'm guessing that the statement only applies partially, well not at least until you buy some of her supposedly super powered medallions and crystals which definitely had to have fallen from the sky rather than being hand made by underpaid Chinese civilians in a dirty factory. Why else would it cost half a nuclear bomb and a 4th world country?

Then again, i could be wrong. After all, i'm not blonde and rich. *shrugs*

Right, so back to Valentine's Day then. If you have your hot date and credit card ready then good for you. For the rest of us, we'll be staying home watching reruns of Grey's Anatomy and perhaps the (not so new) Heroes. Which if you don't mind me saying is a damn good show.

I've never understood Valentine's Day. I mean, everything cost so much more! Who in world with their right minds would pay for such major rip offs? I might as well sell you my future kids and half of my kidney if i ever want to afford a bouquet of flowers and that dinner. Still, like i said before i'm probably a skeptic because i'm single.

Or maybe love really is blind. And rich. Which makes an excellent conman combination!

My 3rd sister says she's going to celebrate Chap Goh Meh instead. So she's probably planning to throw some mandarin oranges into Matilda Bay (which is a very nice bay btw) and hopes her triathlon boyfriend doesn't pick up a jelly fish instead. But to be honest, i think the idea of Chap Goh Meh seems so much more romantic to me though (ya la ya la laugh all you want). And it doesn't cost your kids and half a kidney to buy a mandarin orange, you may need to know how to swim or hope for very shallow and clean waters though.

Whoever invented Valentine's Day was either a very loving and caring person. Or a lousy accountant. I mean, if i were him/her, i would copyright this whole damn Valentine's Thing la! Then everyone in the world would have to pay you royalties once a year.

Ok the history of Valentine is probably much more complex that that, but heck i'm too lazy to read the whole article on Wikipedia. So i'll just make it up. (which works for me!)

Wouldn't know how my oldest sister would celebrate Valentine's Day though. But i'm guessing her husband is more than willing to buy a nice expensive dinner for her. But with her being pregnant and ~~old~~ all, it may just be one of the last few peaceful Valentine before kids start screaming and running around calling me Uncle Pok.

I swear, in the near future even the Wantan Mee auntie in the kopitiam down your road is going to charge extra because her wantans looks like hearts and was allegedly done with extra love and care. Or perhaps the next time you order your tosai or roti, they will make the curry extra red and say its a special valentine curry. Hmmm, if this ideas are ever implemented remind to take royalty.

For the youngest brother, i'm pretty sure he's still at the age where they think girls are mutual enemies.
As for me, i think i'll do what i usually do. Wake up around 9 and take an afternoon. That is all.

This flower is for both the single people out there, and also the not so single lucky bastards. Heh. Have fun on Valentine's Day then.

Those That Flew Away

2007-02-11T21:40:00.000+08:00

Aiya, actually i don't want to post one. Very busy. Johor almost twice a week these days. Then Chinese New Year also coming.

But then, i remember Adam dedicated a post for me when i left for Australia. And i thought not very polite if i didn't do the same, otherwise one day he might just go"Oi! Mch! You owe me one post! And since you didn't post, you owe me dinner." or something along that lines (technically he owes ME dinner, but i know what he will say la. "Who ask you never come on Wednesday night?!?! Your own fault."

See, i can foresee 2 conversations with Adam even if it won't happen. This is exact proof of how long i've known him. It's no secret that he's probably one of my closest friends if not the closest (although close friend or not, i still like to keep a lot of secrets from these people hehehehe. Quite fun, should try it someday) But nonetheless, when that secret is prepared to be spilled, its normally to Adam (or Dominic, depending on who ask first normally).

I like the above picture. Although it doesn't show much, but its a very casual picture of Adam and I just talking and chatting like normal. Which makes it somewhat special.

I think i'll dare say that personally, i know Adam well enough. We've been friends for literally more than half my life now. Since the old innocent days of the school bus, to our canteen and tuition days in Catholic High to the days when i had to call the half asleep bugger up for college before we arrived too late for a decent parking space. It's probably fortunate to say that we've had probably all ups in this friendship. (As far as i know, i don't think we've had any major arguements that would force me not pick him up from college or something of that sort.

(i don't do morning pictures too well. The extra weight doesn't compliment me either. Damn.)

I even remember the time when Adam just came back from England, i would tell you honestly, he wasn't exactly the coolest guy around. I remember him being teased quite a bit, and i also remember having sympathy for the fella, i felt he didn't really deserve the teasing. Probably wasn't the best of times for him then. Yet, 10 years down and this guy here is my best friend. How the hell did that happen? Beats me.

To further show illustrate how good a friend i am to him. His house phone is the only phone number that i can remember in my whole list of friend *wah, clap clap clap*

Ok fine, i know what the bugger will say. You want to know? I tell you. "Ceh, that's because your house phone has 3 of the same numbers already, all you have to do is remember the other 5 numbers only!"

But that isn't the point see, because i actually bothered to remember those 5 numbers! Wah! Good or not! Good le!

I think its safe to say that, without Adam, i wouldn't have much of a social life. Honestly. He's the one that calls me up and forces me out for a movie or something. I would of course rather choose to stay home and sleep. However, we all know how persuasive Adam can be sometimes (especially when there's a good movie to watch. Which reminds me, he doesn't have a good deal of skill in selecting movies, he's so far dissapointed me and Dom 2 times. And counting. Hehehe)

Even if i know we won't be seeing each other as often as we use to, i think it's probably safe to say that he'll still stick as my best friend. Like it or not.

Adam and his dad. The one that left for Australia, Melbourne. Thursday (8th Febuary 2007)

Not to burst your bubble la hor Adam. But i think you need to share this post la.

Because theres also another person that i think i should talk about.

Its no secret that i'm probably not as close to Zhen Han as i am to Adam. But that's just because never hanged out with him as much when i was in form 1 and2. Nonetheless, i considered him one of my best friends as well. Just like Adam, i've known him for probably half my life. If you ever bothered sitting down while i have a conversation with Zhen Han, you'll probably notice one thing. We talk a lot about 2 things.

Primary school and tennis.

sorry la, this was the only picture i could find of you in my computer

But you know what, what more befitting picture than this? A picture of him in his tennis court. Although we were pretty much friends in primary school, we never really talked much during the start of secondary school. He was in a better class, i was in 1F4. Quite a substantial difference. However, form 3 came about and this was probably when i actually started to form a stronger friendship with him. 2 simple reasons.

One, we were in the same class. Two, he started learning tennis and it wasn't long before he decided losing wasn't fun and started to kick my ass in a game i was suppose to dominate over him. He is one of the few people with the greatest ball sense i'll ever know. He plays so many sports that i've lost count. He's the 2nd most frequent person i meet to yum cha other than Adam and Dominic (notice how i count Adam and Dominic as one person? Hahaha)
There are also times when i can just relate to Zhen Han more than even Adam or Dom. Its because i feel that many times we share many common interest and lifestyles. Just the other day we were looking through our kindergarden year book and laughing our asses away. Its been THAT many years. How can i not say he's a good friend?

Nonetheless, both good people and even greater friends. Heng Dai's if you will. Its these people that 30 years down the road, you'll be talking to, while having that black thick cup of kopi-O at a mamak (most preferably Taman Desa la guys if can. Nearer to my house.)

*ps: Dom, don't be jealous. You wait your turn to fly la, then only i can post. Semenyih not far enough le.Now post too long to include you already le. Heheh kidding*

Oh wait, before i forget.

I trash their asses at pool. Hahahaha, you guys better come back better.

Small Dog, Big Pain

2007-01-25T11:33:00.001+08:00

Idiot quote of the day:

Pok: "That's the 2nd time something has stalled on me! !@#$%^"

Domkey: "Whats the other? Your relationships?"

The other one: *snigger snigger*

I swear, i have bastards for best friends. How in the world did i end with 2 brats born in the UK as best friends? What did i do to deserve this? *shugs*

This little creature here may not look like much. But i tell you, he's a bad one. Really, i don't think i've had any puppies as bad a him. He's like this rebellious little.......thing. I dare say, looks sure can be deceiving. Just the other day, he bite my mom till she bleed (don't know how, but he did). I think he's pampered a little too much. Maybe we should start the occasional slipper whacking. Heheheh
I like dogs, unfortunately i never got the hang of training a dog. To my dogs, i'm probably just another lamp post who offers treats and the occasional call of random syllabus to them. My sister's dog on the other hand, pees on demand. Daaaymn.

Just another 2 weeks before a couple of random people leave the country for some random places on Earth. KL sure is going to be a lot more quiet without them around. Roads may be a little less dangerous too.

Just in case you didn't know. The thing that stalled was my car la. Busted radiator.

I hate it when i cut myself shaving.

The Big Two

2007-01-17T23:45:00.000+08:00

I keep telling everyone that it isn't a big deal. But everyone decides otherwise and mentions the 3 letter word that begins with O.
So days before i hit my 20th birthday, i decided to form a list. A list which establishes what i know about myself. So it begins, quater life crisis, er i mean the need for self realisation.

This life or my past life, i am in no way nocturnal.
This statement is true for 2 reasons. First, i have a unofficial curfew although its not mentioned in my life contract concerning my parents. This unofficial time is normally 12.30 am which i then conviniently hear as 2.30 am (only one digit missing ma, somemore the digit is so small). However, 2.30 is my absolute limit. By then, the 2nd reason starts to kick in. I think you know already what. I get grumpy and sleepy (try naming the seven dwarfs, i already gave u two. Go ahead, do it in one go. Under 3 minutes, no cheating.)

I have bloody small eyes
This requires no introduction. Unless of course the plastic surgeon fairy decides otherwise. Which i highly doubt so. Even the tooth fairy decided not to take my half rotten teeth at the tender age of 8. *shugs*

No matter how i continue to resolve to be more open and less shy socially, it's never gonna work.
Same goes for my resolution to wear contact lenses and dye my hair. Then again, not having the ability to wear contact lenses isn't exactly my fault. Unfortunate in life's game of possibilities unfortunately. Yes, its a matter of genes. *shugs*
Fortunately for me, i do believe i am progressing in this annual failure. Yes my dear friends! I sense progress in my social skills (although my social calender begs to differ quite bluntly). Nonetheless, i am willing to admit. I'm am naturally shy and less than perfect in term of social skills. Hmm, small eyed and shy. Maybe i was a turtle in my previous life (don't ask why i said turtle, no idea).

My life is only going to get more and more busy from now.
Its unfortunate to establish this fact so early, however an unavoidable truth should not be ignored. The fact that the landscape industry in Malaysia isn't exactly the best only hit me about a week ago and i'm quite lucky that my dad has this many long term project that could very well be waiting in line for me. Such is life, we can only work around it. Be optimistic. Which brings me perfectly to my next point.........

I'm a born pessimist
You would be too if you kept losing to your sisters in terms of what mattered most in my family. Academic results. Also, being born in an Alpha male family which automatically increases expectations of the 1st son blah blah blah blah to be naturally be good in business, socially dependent and somewhat amazing doesn't help.
Lucky for me, i've decided that i couldn't care a rats arse after i stopped growing (in terms of height only ok! Don't go imagining other things. Heh) at the age of 12. Yay!

I'm a @!#%^king dependent
No suprise here. Unless i've done something long enough or at least once. I still like to try and get someone to do with for me or at least with me. Yeah yeah. So bite me.

I'll be 20 and single
And not rich enough unfortunately. Yes, i realise that being 20 without being in a single relationship had made my life reasonably sad. Reasonably. In terms of my social resume anyway.
Sure it would be good to in a relationship now, but fact remains i'm not desperate. Heh. Besides, i've gotten used to spending Valentine's Day with a good movie. It isn't as bad as it sounds okay!

Superman isn't very good at disguising
Or everyone around him is as blind as a bat. I mean, c'mon Louis Lane. Hellooow! Specs? No specs? Its not like people go "Ey? Where did Pok/PokX/Paul/Pig/That Bastard go?" the moment i take my specs of. Then again, if i did that, i would be the one that would be blind.

I need to farking watch a movie
Or at least get enough dvds to satisfy my need to watch all the shows that i missed last year (which to be fair wasn't very long ago). Of course i have an excuse for not watching movies last year la. Because i made a point not too ma (Do i hear people swearing in ka dou-ness because of such a lame excuse?) It's too long a story to explain anyway. Perhaps another day.

Honest and open
Not nearly enough. *cough* Thoughts, feelings, matters happening in my life. Yes its true that i rarely disclose things i feel that others do not need to know, not even to best friends and family. Of course, push me a little more (like a year and more maybe lol) and i'll probably crack too (even more so if you're female in gender haha yes i'm bias. Bite me.) Of course, i do resolve to slowly crack down and be honest about what is going on in my mind. Although there are times, i like this peculiar trait of mine. Contradicting? You bet.

I can quite fairly admit that i'm not sure of what to say on this list. Its true that i don't know much about myself. Up till this very day, i personally cannot acknowledge my exact strength in a certain field or thing. But don't get me wrong, i believe we all have a certain special talent in a matter. It's just when we discover it. So there we go. Last few minutes of being 19. Hitting 20. 20 is a funny age i say. It's the bridge between actual adulthood (technically) and the last year of teenage hood. It's like a void without a hood (hood, get it yo? You know, like hood? No? Nevermind)

So did you get all the 7 dwarfs under 3 minutes? Bet you didn't. Heh

Want To Know Why?

2007-01-03T20:31:00.000+08:00

Do you want to know why i'll never be able to get a girlfriend in my 3 month break? Very simple one, i tell you why.

It's because everything i come back to Malaysia. There will be 2 unofficial jobs waiting for me.

By day, i am Ah Mat Leow and Intern Leow, by night........i'm just too sleepy.

Ah Mat Leow takes care of everything from buying newspapers, to picking up brother, to repairing car, to sending mother to Tesco, sending sister (lucky her boyfriend got car now, good ah!), watching the house, rushing my mother home so she can watch her 4 o'clock Tio Chew show.

In which everytime we somehow appear to be almost late before 4, she would exclaim "Aiya! Faster, i need to go home and watch my 4 o'clock show already!!!!!" At that spur of the moment, nothing else is more important than the 4 o'clock show. Nothing.

And all those is if only i'm not Intern Leow for the day. Ah Mat Leow can only exist if Intern Leow is having a off day. If i'm intern Leow, that's a whole different story all together. As intern Leow, my morning begins much earlier. I drive my father to his office down in Cheras normally, other times we would just venture to some meetings he has to attend. If i'm in the office, most of the time ~~i listen to songs and shake leg~~ i run through his network resources hoping to learn something. Primary construction drawings.

Of course, i still haven't mentioned the weekly Johor journey visits. These visits involve going back and forth to Johor in one day. Quite interesting if you like driving on long stretches of road for long hours.

See, i'm cursed to be single la i tell you. So my 2007 wish is to be rich la. Being rich and single shouldn't be too bad la!

Moving Towards 2007

2006-12-26T20:22:00.000+08:00

It seems like another year is passing by without me noticing.

My birthday is in less than a month away (*hint *hint)

I'm turning 2 decades old.

I'm not one that is bothered by numbers. But being 20 seems to be putting a little pressure on me.

I'm no longer a teenager. I can no longer make the excuse that i'm too young for this, or that. It's no longer applicable. I'm sometimes very afraid that in 3 years time, i'll finish my degree and most likely work directly under my father. It scares me because, the pressure of comparison will exsist even if i choose to ignore it.

It also scares me that i might crumble a foundation my father has worked so hard for. Sometimes i feel i'm not as passionate about this occupation as him. Our motivation for the same objective appears to be somewhat different. Sometimes its as though i'm doing because it was an easy choice, or because i felt the it was too much of a waste.

But comparison and failure alone doesn't make me this worried a Pok. I've lived under pressure of comparisons my whole life, it no longer makes me feel as discouraged as it use to. Being 20 means that my teenage life has ended, and to be brutally honest, lately (yes. only lately la) i've been feeling that i've missed out of lot in my teen life. This probably due to the following my dad to work everyday routine and not being able to enjoy my holiday. It's not that i'm complaining (ok fine, i do complain at times), i know its for my own good, benefit and advantage. But sometimes i just feel, well why can't such knowledge be passed down to me at my own pace instead of what is seemingly a force down of knowledge? It isn't just my father, at times its my whole extended family (long story short, whole family very business minded. Very.).

However i do also understand that my father isn't as young anymore. Its also best that he transfers such knowledge to me so that he can get to his much deserved relaxation and enjoyment in life.

It's not that i'm angered or feeling very emotional about this. This is just a thought, an understanding of my current position and what lies ahead for me. I've come to realised that i've rarely put down my thoughts in this blog, i've always tried to humour and i find that i can't do that anymore (yeah la, getting old. What to do........)

And i needed an update la. No one bother coming here liao. So good time to put up such a post also. Heh.

The weekend has been a day of great news for my family and great fun with Christmas barbeques. And i get a new t-shirt too (annual Christmas present from cousin), and that always put a smile on my face (because don't have to buy New Chinese New Year baju already).