Sparkles of Life

new blog

2010-08-08T13:44:00.002+08:00

haha i've discovered the beauty of tumblr too it seems. so here it is a brand new blog --> whimsicalrhapsodies.tumblr.com

Mongolia Summer Camp 2010

2010-07-19T20:10:00.004+08:00

In a blink of the eye, the summer camp is now over. The realization of a dream of a long time simply feels so surreal to me and time just accelerated every step of the way towards and during the project.

Thank God for His many countless blessings, that...

Somehow through various channels, the sum that we prayed for just came in and all was sufficient for the camp...
I had just the perfect team for this camp. Lots of team dynamics and just the right people with the right skills for the various tasks needed at camp...
The day trip to Terelj unintendedly became our reccee trip for the camp as the campsite turned out to be just in the national park and hence we could arrange for the hike and horse-riding session for the kids...
When we still could not find translators just 3 days to our camp, our tour guide whom we met at our day trip in mongolia before the camp agreed to work as our camp translator and we found out that our guesthouse owner is an english teacher and she helped us to get her student to be our camp translator as well. All in a few hours, we found 2 good translators who played vital role in our camp...
Despite some communication issues and inefficiency, all the arrangement for transport, food and logistics still materialized, and all was transported to and fro campsite with the limited vehicles...
I could share about God and encouraged the kids in His ways and edify them in their walk as all the kids at camp happened to be christians as well. Thank you for the initiative that they took in asking us about our religion, which allowed us to find out that we share the same faith. And how I miss ending each day of the camp with praise, worship and prayer time...
All children, volunteers and mongolian camp staff all had a great time at camp and greater understanding of each other was established, inspiring the mongolian staff to do their part and help these kids as well...
We met a boss of a korean restaurant whom have been helping out street children and the poor living in the landfill for the past 5 years. Thank you for the wonderful opportunity that she gave us to visit her children shelter and to follow her to the landfill to feed the poor.
Thank God for equipping me all these time for this trip and giving me the right people to assist me. Thank God that I picked up korean which turned out to be so much more useful than english in mongolia.

While its pretty heart-breaking to hear of the children's living conditions and to see the harshness of life reflected in their worn-out eyes, it's also heart-warming and inspiring to know the dreams that they hold and the love that the children have for each other and for us. I guess everyone of us was moved by their love for us (always taking care of us and putting in their best effort to be good children and student during the camp). And I'm just really really happy to know that these children have had a wonderful summer camp which they had so much longed for, and from which they had gained much love and knowledge from us.

God bless these your children. Keep them in your warm embrace and be their refuge and strength. Open to them doors of opportunities and empower them to achieve the dreams that they have.

world cup fever in UB

2010-06-25T00:49:00.005+08:00

Just the first night in Ulan Bator and I've taken a little tour around the city square where the statue of Chinggis Khan sits and another of their national hero is, scaled the city hill to soak in the night skyline of UB and finally the highlight of the night catching the world cup at one of the city's biggest screening spot.

Thanks to the two lovely hosts we had:

And watching the world cup tonight was just so awesome and exciting and gratifying. The crowd was just so spontaneous with its loud whistling, table-drumming, and heaps of shouts and cheers. Not to forget the pints of beer and heaps of grill. It was so so good. Even watching the matches in pubs back home in Singapore simply couldn't match up.

The place where the madness begins:

The little world cup fan:

With all the wonderful activities, it really just feel so surreal to be in UB. So much like a fantasy.

Summer in mongolia

2010-06-24T20:15:00.000+08:00

After the tragic flight delay which caused all the 12hrs of faithful waiting at the airport to go futile, I'm finally in the land of Mongolia. Fortunately the delay was accompanied by the airline's thoughtful free hotel stat for the night till the next morning where the flight was rescheduled to.

Anyway, looking out of the window as the plane flew pass Mongolia was just magical. The vast green pastures dotted by white tents scattered in clusters n the speck of buildings where cities were spelled the fulfillment of a long time dream. Just amazing.

But once out of the airport, reality set itself in. Ulan bator is just simply out of my imagination. The supposedly breezey summer was a myth. Instead I was greeted by the sultry heat waves that clings and envelops the air. Where's the breeze? It was just hot air. It's so amazing how a country can have both extreme ends of weather. N besides the weather, i also found that yak meat was just such a myth.

But anyway im happy. Thank God that though the buildings were shabby, the interior of my guesthouse is decent n my new Mongolian friends cum guides were really sweet.

So here I am blogging on my phone in my cosy sauna like room.

- Posted from my iPhone

The Professional Gold Digger

2010-06-17T12:53:00.002+08:00

I'm really graduating into a professional gold digger with this project. 3 consecutive days of bazaar is just no joke. Feel the warm humid air sticking onto your skin as you try your mighty best to flash your most customer-appealing smile and sweet talking them into buying more dresses. Suppressing the surging rage cos of the heat and incessant bargaining. Feeling the pinch of selling at insane obscene cheap prizes.

days back home

2010-06-05T12:43:00.004+08:00

The days back home in this sultry weather feels really surreal minus the positive nuance of the word. well but not all negative too. but i do miss the carefree laid-back days and cool comfortable weather of overseas.

And stuck without any internship or jobs, I just find myself oscillating between idling and becoming really busy over the fundraising and preparation work for mongolia summer camp, which i would say ended really well for the fundraising gig. Despite the loomy pre-event ticket sales, the turnout that night went beyond expectation and donations were pouring in with every call for freewill donation and purchase of intermission snacks at any amount.

The bands whose performance soared above my own expectation as well

Late Comers

Sideline Universe

Grey Area

BLUT

the night's lovely MC a.k.a me :)

The awesome sexy dance by Blast!

The snack bar that brought us much cash. Thanks to David for his lovely yummy muffins too!

Lovely flowers from lovely friends. and of cos not forgetting the lots of other sweeties who turned up that night to give me their support! so sad that the night was so busy for me to have any pictures with everyone of them!

And now that the gig is over, it's just down to more fundraising, more gold-digging, and more prep work before I fly off in another two weeks or so. Yay!

But of cos there's also lots of slacking time in front of my computer catching up on gossip girl, and getting addicting to movies at gold class and becoming crazy enough to drive the BMW as my learning car.

And thank you to my sweet friend for the polaroid camera gift! Lots of pictures will be taken in mongolia at the summer camp! :)

Stressss

2010-05-22T02:22:00.002+08:00

STRESS in caps and bold.

gosh never been this stress over a project before. not in my scouting days of doing endless projects.

stressing over the funds

stressing over the gig

stressing over the ticket sales

stressing over the textbook writing

stressing over the camp program

stressing over the volunteers

stressing over the nitty gritty stuff

and the dire need to learn mongolia.

I'm taking up the faith challenge. ~Pray and have faith~

missing you

2010-05-18T01:22:00.002+08:00

Really missing US.

or maybe it's just the people and all the fun times and laughters shared that I miss... but i really miss the sun (but far from being hot!), sea and the relaxing culture too.

gosh i sooooo miss the the slightly chilly weather, relaxing at the beach, chilling out with friends at cafe and yogurt bars, doing silly things, cooking meals together, church and just all those lovely peeps whom I left.

and i'm so gonna miss chan ik when he enlist in the army. aww~~ as he left US to return to korea, I just get reminded of the same nostalgia and sadness I felt as our car left San Diego and then finally the last night in the hotel room of LA where the months of memories just come flooding my mind and just causing my eyes to brim. I'm really a strong person but goodbyes are just exceptions.

Fundraising Gig

2010-05-13T13:51:00.002+08:00

Having a concert this 30th May at Young Musician Society to raise funds for the Summer Camp Project in mongolia.

Folks do show your support and come for this event. Tickets are up at $20. I'm desperate for your cash so don't disappoint me. Don't worry an empty wallet enriches others (the mongolian street kids and orphans).

To book your tickets, simply drop an email to mongoliasummercamp@gmail.com OR text to 96150098

Taiwan

2010-05-10T09:44:00.007+08:00

Home sweet home and everything that happened just felt so surreal. Good holidays always just passed too quickly. so here's Taiwan the last chapter of this exchange cum holiday.

Did nothing much except eating all day long.

queuing up for the famous soybean milk and yu tiao

one of the many lu rou fan we had

not to forget the famous xiao long baos from Ding Tai Fung

and the Shi Lin Night market which was a disappointment and thus no photos

and also the famous toilet theme restaurant

Becoming gluttons aside, we also became professionals at vegetating, indulging and just "wasting" the day away

one the many massages we had

arcade time

But we still bothered to turn on our tourist side and did some proper sight-seeing

Mustered enough cultural capacity to go visit the Zhongzhen Memorial Hall

and tourist spirit to go scale the Taipei 101

Visited the Fisherman's Wharf

And took a long train ride out as well to enjoy the Hotspring!

test of faith?

2010-05-07T23:26:00.004+08:00

sum not coming in... numbers dwindling. Last minute pull-outs. Is this a test of faith?

Should I take a leap of faith?

this really feels like the right time... though I'm not sure.

US finale

2010-05-02T07:15:00.009+08:00

All passed too fast for me to be able to update in time sadly. and in a flash the chapter of schooling and exploring the US has come to a closure.

so the mixed feelings on leaving US asides, here's the highlight of the intense 3 weeks of traveling US

In Michigan, visited the automobile museum and holocaust museum in detroit, drove up to New Berry of the Upper Peninsula to see the Tahquamenon Fall (2nd to niagara) and chilled out in this small town of untouched nature paradise.

In Minnesota visited chan ik and caught a baseball match and shopped at the Mall of America.

In LA where we visited Disneyland and caught some filming action in Hollywood.

In Vegas, acting atas (high-class) with fine hotels fine dining and catching the Peepshow and poker-facing in casinos.

Grand Canyon. Overlooking the majestic creation of God and taking the chopper for the 1st time.

And now it's bye bye US and hello Taipei. *sniff* here's a last bit of US:

Chicago

2010-04-21T13:16:00.004+08:00

Delayed post update on Chicago. another beautiful city with great architecture, though I still prefer Boston for its english feel.

photo summary time :D

Kicking start with the spacious lux room at the hyatt place

Art Institvte Chicago

Millenium Park

Skydeck with its unique glass lookouts

Boston

2010-04-17T14:37:00.005+08:00

Another photo summary of the really beautiful trip to the beautiful city of Boston. Love Boston for its really english feel. :)

Kicking off our Boston trip @ Legal Seafood

Exploring Boston's rich historical heritage on the Freedom Trial with our cute (slightly mad) guide

Freedom trial ending at the Quincy market

inside the market

JFK Museum
Harvard

Parting dinner with the group (thank you for the good time spent together exploring the east coast)

time flies with a lil cam-whoring at Boston Airport while waiting for our flight to Chicago

I heart NY

2010-04-14T13:07:00.006+08:00

Too much stuff done. Too lil time on the computer each night with limited internet access. So here's the belated entry on New York. And time really just keep flying past!! It's already my 2nd night in Boston and tmr will be the last. awww~~

So pictures speak a thousand words, here we go:

Times Square NY

Central Park

NY Subway

Manhatten skyline

Statue of Liberty

Chicago @ Broadway

Christian City Church Manhatten

Wall Street with the statue of George Washington

Ground Zero (previously the World Trade Centre before Sept 11)

The WTC memorial museum
Korean Dinner

Night view on Empire State Building

Hello New York

2010-04-10T13:05:00.001+08:00

Happy to have J coming over n spent the 2 days before gg to New York just chillin out in San Diego. Went down to the zoo w Laura on e 1st day. E lovely gal skipped all her classes to b with us aww. Followed by dinner w so yeon jk jinny n Laura n the day ended with our Chinese poker game session w Laura n Jackie.

The next day was spent just chilling out at fashion valley n driving to LA. Stumbled upon sunset market along our way at Oceanside n it's pretty awesome.

N after a torturous night of flight, we finally arrive in NY n joined by e rest of our travelling mates. NY is pretty good so far. It feels really different from California n much closer to e America we perceive on TV. Pretty cool n I'm looking forward to seeing more of NY tmr!!

N again welcome J! N thanks for taking care of me.

- Posted from my iPhone

uncertainties

2010-04-07T07:17:00.003+08:00

just filed my petition finally for transcript change. after DAYS of going around campus meeting professors and deans to obtain the signatures to approve of my petition to the academic senate. i feel almost like those crazy maniac fans who go after the celebs for signatures. it's so energy and mood draining.

and now it's just trying to live with the anxiety of uncertainties. mongolia project and transcript.

fingers crossed and constant prayers. May the my prince of peace save the day again for me.

on the rock of ages I shall stand.

apprehensive

2010-04-05T14:46:00.005+08:00

apprehension rises

But faith surges...

as time slowly fades away and we're moving closer and closer to stepping into mongolia and executing my dream of two years. there's just so much uncertainties and lack of confidence. issues emerged as issues are resolved. however at the same time, praise God that instead of crumbling, I feel a mounting strength coming to face the challenges. I'm prepared.

touched by His love

my soul finds rest...

counting grace

2010-04-05T11:59:00.005+08:00

Thank you for the grace shown in blessing me with...

a wonderful school term on exchange

the wonderful friendships and great companion of sincere friends

more than just a shelter wherever I go but the warmth and hospitality of friends

Happy Easter!

my lord You died, You live, You always will be...the One and Only.

my 1st and fave chinese friend

my room upgrade :)

my fave korean people! :)

Felt the tremor of the earthquake in Mexico. 1st ever experience of an earthquake. pretty thrilling :)

Shaking starts...

Me: is it an earthquake

Laura: seems like maybe...

desk and seats shaking more intensely, cupboard burst opened

Laura: Should we escape?

Screaming in the background

Me: I think maybe...

cry me a river

2010-04-03T06:20:00.002+08:00

one stupid mistake of falling into the trap of the ambiguous phrasing of "letter" led to the totally intellectually challenged mistake of choosing the wrong option for transcript led to the current tragedy and potential catastrophe of not being able to transfer any of the credits back...

will i have to end up taking special semester and overloading with 6 mods per sem till i grad?

Lord save me~~~

Independence

2010-04-01T06:57:00.002+08:00

Hobo life really pushes the boundary of independence. After the thousand miles travel to Canada n back I find myself more comfortable n daring to travel alone in a foreign land.

So following the shopping n dinner with myself at UTC yesterday, I took a bus out today again for lunch n all e way to balboa park to meet kexin & co. With the aid of google map of cos. Wonders of technology.

N now I'm chilling out at a cafe in balboa while waiting for e rest to arrive. I really enjoy chilling out by myself at cafe, just people watching. :)

- Posted from my iPhone

Toronto

2010-03-31T08:40:00.006+08:00

Awesome time in toronto made up for the obscene price i paid to visit Canada. thanks to the lovely company that i have and sweet jewel who still played such a great host despite her sickness. though our "tai-tai" style travelling is just a tad bit pricey.

cheers to our tai tai lunch. and many many taxi rides.

So we still managed to visit the Royal Ontario museum.

The St. Lawrence Market in Old Town.

The beautiful church we passed by which happens to be the tallest in North America.

The CN tower.

And the next day was shopping in Eaton Shopping mall (biggest in toronto but hmm...) and lunch/dinner at K Town :)

the awesome team

the send off

N now my lonesome dinner at UTC. So freakin bored cos everyone else is having lesson on campus and I'm just hobo-ing and without a room to laze in. arghh.... until my sweet friend comes home and open up her room for hobo me to bunk.

Kinda getting tired of bunking... can't wait for the roadtrip to start and have proper motels to stay in...

missing "home"

2010-03-27T12:13:00.006+08:00

It's really strange to find myself missing my "home" back in San Diego while at my lil getaway in Canada. Guess in the 3 months time, I have developed a sense of attachment and familiarity to the place. In the cold freezing environment here, I really just miss the sun, the beach, and the warmth of california. The cold that isnt really all that cold. The cold that's refreshing and not bitter or biting.

Kingston is a real small town and I guess it is a really fun experience even at getting there itself. I had to change 3 flights to get there. San Diego to Chicago then to Toronto and finally Kingston. And the last flight to Kingston was really cute. The plane was sooo tiny and I was so tickled and amused to find out that there were just 9 passengers and just 2 rows of seats in the plane. So I had both the window and the aisle seat. Awesome. And the pilot announcement wasn't made through the PA system but really just him getting out of the cockpit (which we have full view of) and physically making the announcement. So the journey there was really fun (and torturous at the same time). And I'm so thankful to have sam to drive me to the San Diego airport in the wee hours and my friend and her two sweet friends picking me up by cab from the airport in Kingston.

Anyway 2 days in Kingston was spent lazing in my friend's dorm, shopping and clubbing. It feels so good to see her again after such a long time and I'm really grateful for her hospitality. It really does feel like a second exchange minus the school work. Just the lifestyle immersion. Pretty cool experience. Strangely I also found myself in weird instances as my friend had noted such as attempting to wear spring wear in 3 degrees celsius at the jetty, and last night's running to the liquor store to catch it before it closes in our full thick and heavy winter wear in negative degrees celsius temperature.

And today was the big travel down to Toronto for the weekend. So why the word big? All thanks to the bunch of airheads at Canada Coach, we were delayed to the next coach and had to arrive Toronto much later. Such a crappy system and nonsensical staff members who refused to admit their personal mistake and company's inadequacy. Even the coach driver in the next coach who witnessed our being "bullied" pitied us. But i guess these few months have really toughened me up and I take no nonsense. So though there's still unresolved problem and displeasure, at least I can say that we had shown ourselves not to be any asian pushover.

And i guess the coldness does translate to the coldness of the people maybe. I really find californians much more warm and friendly. 2 more days in Canada, let's see if I will have a different opinion of canada.

After the exams... Start of hobo life

2010-03-24T06:08:00.006+08:00

Hobo life started the minute exams end. Madness crazy run of events with the dinner with e 2 dearies from cell.

simple but sweet get together time at TGIF. really thank God for these peeps that i meet in UCSD n C3.

Then it was the madness packing and futile mugging for the supposed last exam paper on friday which turned out bogus when i was greeted by an empty exam hall on friday morning. madness... this is what u get when u skipped too many classes. u have no idea if the exam was cancelled or moved forth or venue changed... so u just hope for the best that it's cancelled. :S

After clearing the entire room out, finally it was time to kick start the endless travelling nomad days with snowboarding at Big Bear with my favourite people sam eun taek jae kyun n so yeon. Quite surprisingly it doesn't hurt to fall somehow (maybe i am lucky) and i managed to picked up the sport in just a few hours :D Uber fun!

Then on Saturday afternoon it was time to leave Big Bear and hit Sin City with alex and sam. And we're joined or rather we joined laura & c0 who also happened to be travelling in Vegas.

Some highlights: Caught the Lion King musical which was so spectacular, gambled roulette at the casino, and *drum rolls* visited the hottest strip club :S

N now here i am tired from the endless flight transit and waiting to board my last flight to Kingston, Canada. awww~~~ tired. didnt sleep on sunday night cos of the strip club and yesterday too cos I gotta make my way to the airport in the wee hours to catch my flight to Canada. And really thank God for sam who drove me to the airport and lost sleep as well. It would have been real freaky to go there alone. San Diego airport is such a tiny depressing desolated place!

C3 love from last sunday in C3

2010-03-18T07:04:00.002+08:00

Last Sunday at C3 last sunday. Nostalgia is setting in already...

And now its still the exams nightmare. 2 down and 2 more to go. arghhh~~

And i really know nuts for this coming two! :S

And it's so messed up that I have to pack my entire room back into my luggage n backpack in these 2 days time while i mug away like a mad woman :S

weekend before exams :S

2010-03-14T13:36:00.004+08:00

Last surf class today. Went for 2 classes straight one after another to make up for the classes missed. And it was so tiring but fulfilling. It was super high tide and the waves real huge and of course fun! :)

Right after was the guest lounge ministry gathering at Lily's place. Really feelin' and lovin' the C3 love. :) This is not the end. We'll see each other again for sure. Thanks for the warm welcome.

And now it's time to make up for lost time. Massive cramming session for exams ARGHHH :S

Happy Birthday to me

2010-03-13T17:39:00.005+08:00

Celebrating my birthday away from home and friends in a foreign land for the first time. And for the first time it also coincides with the exams and a paper due the next day. Goodness.

But thanks to all my sweet fellow exchange students dearies here in UCSD, things are really much much better. thanks for the lovely surprise at 12am and aww my darling eun taek and sam really just make my exchange here so much more heart warming. n lovely so yeon who tries her best to trick me to the venue. :)

And thank you to my 2 sweet dudes for ditching the books to have awesome dinner with me tonight as well :)

and cheers to my fatigue-filled cui face after an entire night up at the library right after the celebration with jin young to rush my final research paper for gesture out. omgosh... really tasting my bad retribution of skipping gesture class for sleep. :S

exchange STUDENT

2010-03-09T06:33:00.003+08:00

the finals is really really looming now. Just one week away and I have a final research paper due this friday for a module which i have hardly showed up in class the entire time. :S

Finally, I feel myself becoming an exchange STUDENT. this time with the emphasis on student rather than exchange. this is how bad I have been slacking:

me: haha this is the first time I'm in the library. never knew how it looked like inside...

so yeon: oh.. so where do u usually study?

me: oh? I haven't been studying...

And we really study so hard in the library...

Get Real

2010-03-08T06:51:00.002+08:00

Really love C3 and pastor jurgen. can't agree more with the importance of being real and getting real with people. away with the super religious mask and just grab a life and get real. And looking back at this entire exchange experience, I suddenly realized that contrary to what I had been thinking, I've actually achieved quite almost all that I have set out to do. Going to college and church, meeting all kinds of people. N C3 and college has taught me so much more than I would have back in my comfort zone back home. It's so good to meet challenging people in school and church is just so much more enriching with the opportunities for applications and context for better understanding.

Im so gonna miss ucsd and c3 church. And I think indeed I've widen my horizon and I've grown.

party time and breaking of the surfing hiatus!

2010-03-07T17:25:00.004+08:00

Went for the college semi-formal yesterday. the food was real bad. portion was wayyyyy too little. It's crazy. Like all college events. The food always runs out way too early. But the music was alright and the friends were awesome. :)

And saturday today felt so relaxing and good surprisingly after all the madness weekends of trying to explore san diego or going on roadtrips. i FINALLY went for the next surf class after lots of cancelled sessions due to bad weather and roadtrips etc. And I'm just happy to hit the water w my wetsuit n surfboard. And sweet mariko packed onigiri lunch for sam n i! :D

After surfing, the afternoon was sooo well spent just relaxing at starbucks at Pacific Beach. I felt so comfortable in this foreign land and it feels pretty like home suddenly. And yeah with this comes a tinge of sadness that this new lifestyle is soon gonna come to an end. yet at the same time, i do miss the lovely peeps back home. mixed feelings.

And to top the day off it was Alice in wonderland with sam, eun taek, sam choi and laura! :)

2010-03-06T07:53:00.001+08:00

My Savior loves, My Savior lives

My Savior's always there for me

My God: He was, my God; He is

My God is always gonna be

the ending days

2010-03-04T16:00:00.003+08:00

the end of the quarter is creeping near, exams are looming and the homeless days are lurking.

starting to feel the sadness of leaving this new 'home', campus and the new friends found.

and connect group today was really the most awesome time (not that other times are not) because there's so many new faces who joined! so many awesome sharings from people. and it's just so cool to meet them. but yet this is so ironically the end of it all. aww. i am so gonna miss church and connect group too. :(

and now i have to try and solve my 'homeless' crisis for coming spring break.

Pure Shit Rainy Day

2010-02-28T17:51:00.004+08:00

It all starts with this: the shitty turn of events

The morning pour, surfing got cancelled

Went for live firing, but to find that fire you can not

No prior experience with guns means you can't

Left for another entertainment hunt

Only to find the game with nature has begun

Rain pouring relentlessly

Off we run helplessly

In Carl's Jr refuge we seek

Bought our burgers and for the next hour we sit

Deceived by the hiatus we take off

Only to see the same old refrain enacting

Off we scatter to Tutti Frutti

Yogurt ice cream and lame shit Guess Who? we have

Nature's game finally ends as the sun sets.

Our spirits drain with the colors of the setting sun.

Out in the drizzling cold night air we await the bus

Rain boots from Target make the day

Soggy socks and shoes go away

Puddles and currents I conquer

In my poka dotted rainboots I defeat

The Pure Shit Rainy Day

arghhhhh... but movie session at one of the room in the hall opposite was really good. really comforting ending to the otherwise bullshit day. I love the movie, catch it if you can guys. It's called Cool Running.

Disclaimer: My "poem" never rhymes. But who cares!

Voice

2010-02-27T16:05:00.004+08:00

had my greater cultural learning this week. one big difference between the americans and us. they are so not gonna back down at injustices.

following a racist frat party, the campus was just swarmed by wave after wave of protest rallies by students.

and last night was an inspiring play that i caught acted by a talented cast of ucsd students. vagina monologue turns out to be pretty empowering and inspiring. especially so for those who have been hurt or simply unaware of the sexual violences that women all over the world had suffered. I guess it's pretty cool and i am slowly appreciating my sex education here in US. Controversial and thought-provoking it does stretches your faith and really just make you think alot more in ways you wouldn't have back home where the topic of sex seems like a taboo still.

bye bye tommy

2010-02-24T18:23:00.002+08:00

it was tommy's farewell party over at his place yesterday. our kiwi friend is returning early to auckland for his studies due to some paper issues. so sad. but we'll all meet again i am very sure.

anyway the party was really enjoyable. the group of us and the korean bunch. my fave people here. :)

and and we had a massive cooking session to showcase our singaporean food. phew~ my 1st ever attempt at making chicken rice turned out to be pretty successful! haha I guess I managed to fool people with my feigned experience. the taste was honestly authentic and home though. :)

blessed weekend

2010-02-23T07:29:00.003+08:00

Saturday was real awesome. Skipped my surf class (yet again... ouch my moolah!!) to join this church group on their monthly visit to a children home in Tijuana. Really really love how the home is such a loving place for these kids and how endearing these kids have become. Praise God for the passionate hearts of the people and volunteers at the home and in the church! Because of these people, the kids are so blessed. It's so amazing and I felt that inspiration and inkling once again to wanna build homes for these kids in various parts of the world. They deserve a home, food, education, God's love and a future. I'm just so glad to meet these kids and people.

But this dream is just so big and daunting for me. I doubt. I question. I'm confused. I don't know if I'm sent or was it all just in my own head.

Church on Sunday was real awesome. Once again, I felt God spoke. Do not be shallow with your dream, your passion and volunteer cos God operates in the deep water. (Luke 5- Peter met God cos he obeyed and rowed out into the deep water) And Pastor Jurgen gave such a great answer to this strange phenomenon of why sermons n devotion time always never fail to minister to you even in context of such a big congregation of people: that's cos the world revolves around God and God reside in you!

And a friend came along as well with us to church. first ever visit to church cos of the love he felt at the children home in Tijuana. amazing how God works. and pastor jurgen came to talk to us and as expected of God, pastor jurgen had been living in the same area as my friend in New Zealand for years and they just hit off so well. And at altar call, pastor jurgen just made such a daring move of calling my friend specifically to the front. It's so awesome to find someone with so much faith to make such a daring move and certainly a good judgement of people (knowing that my friend needs to be challenged and won't be turned off by it).

Anyway, after church was a real brief but fun visit to the Wild Animal Park with our rented car from campus. :)

Look at people through the lens of God, for you might be the only Jesus these people see

So blessed in a great multitude of things!

Presidents' Day Roadtrip

2010-02-17T10:48:00.007+08:00

yay so it's road trip again after the long hiatus from the previous roadtrip. this time the group got alot bigger. Its a whooping 13 of us. Singaporeans, Hong Kongers, New Zealander and guest appearance American. So with one 7-seater and a jeep we're off to San Francisco. Anyway here's a quick review before i get back to my work (argh):

Day 1 (2/13/2010)

Drove through the night again and arrived in San Francisco in the late morning and headed right to Fisherman's wharves (pier 39). San Fran is really a city of steep hilly roads. Parking was such a nuisance. But it's really a bustling city filled with life in the words of kiwi friend. Anyway the day was spent lazing and soaking in the ambience of Pier 39, visiting the Aquarium and finally our CNY dinner at chinatown in a canto restaurant. Food was sooo yummy and the firecrackers set off by the shophouses was exhilarating.

Day 2 (2/14/2010)

Finally finally after the previous failed attempt, we made it to Napa Valley. Visited this winery that's in a castle. Castello de amora. :) really lovely architecture and nice view overlooking the green pastures n hills. And lovely lovely wine collection of cos :)

Then it was lunch at Bounty Hunter and we finally finally had our beer can chicken this time. Whee ~~ :)

the famous beer can chicken

Drove back to San Fran but was caught in a traffic jam. crappy night but all was made up with this massive huge pillow fight near pier 1. A really funky annual event that San Fran has but it was pretty bloody too. Saw a couple of pillows with blood stains on them. How violent people are goodness. But apart from that, it was really quite an amazing sight. The entire square was covered with white feathers and white feathers dancing in the wind making it seems just like snow.

lame shot taken off Lombord street

Day 3 (2/15/2010)

Drove through the night yet again and arrived in the wee hours at Point Lobos State Nature Reserves. Had some photo-taking sessions at a few scenic spots and set off for a yummy japanese lunch before the insane race against time drive back to San Diego in order to return the car in time which we failed. Failing to return on time, we decided to extend our rent and just take our time. Stopped at Korean Town in LA for dinner before finally completing the roadtrip past midnight here.

roll-up keyboard

2010-02-10T13:02:00.001+08:00

my roll-up keyboard finally arrived at my room yesterday! whee~~

now it's time to catch up on the rusty fingers. :S

Naturally 7

2010-02-06T18:50:00.002+08:00

I am totally head over heels addicted to them. Just so amazing. Awesome Acapella Group. Never knew a human can sound so much like so many different sorts of instruments. Seriously no sound engineering

ramblings

2010-02-04T16:28:00.003+08:00

campus connect again today! lovin my new frenz and feeling so blessed for the christian companionship!

anyway today was tragic. I missed 2 lectures in a row cos i just couldn't wake up after studying till 5am for Law&Society midterm today. Oh my gosh. And my poor friend called me like a freakin 27 times and i just simply can't wake up. Didnt even hear the phone ring (or rather vibrate). Goodness. I must have slipped into a coma.

Anyways though it's challenging, I am loving law & soc. Reading law cases and doing law exams is just a breath of fresh air to me!

Anyway how time flies, it is now a month since I have arrived in the land of MacDonald. Seriously i am starting to feel so comfortable here and loving it here. I have also seen the good and bad sides of the education system here. Boring profs do exist here as well but I really see the beauty of the education system here. All the profs and TAs really make effort to remember everyone's name and they are always sooo encouraging. It's like there will always be good stuff that they can find even in the crappiest work you hand in. Can be bad but it's good as well. It certainly encourages more learning from people. Of cos maybe some harsh words is need to prevent complacency.

But anyways, my stack of readings is waiting. Goodness... gesture midterm on friday is just madness. I haven't done any of the readings since the start of the course. you can imagine the stack and I have only 2 nights and 1 day. *wails*

addicted to this song... soo wanna do a cover of it:

And this song makes me happy!

from His eyes

2010-02-01T10:10:00.003+08:00

Attended CCC again this morning and it's just as awesome as it is on the 1st session and more. Inspired by Jacob's prayer, I decided to be just as persistent as him and ask God to revive me from my jadedness. And as i pray and pray for God to draw me closer to him something happened. Never felt this before. It started with the words of the song speaking to me and God's gentle presence just come embracing me. My heart was gripped again by emotion and I knew i am gonna weep again. N God went a lil further this time, I felt Him speaking to me with such clarity that it felt like a union of spirits and all the troubles just vanishes as I saw them through His eyes.

God doesn't need our glorification and praise. The awesome One doesn't need assurance of others to know of it. So whatever anyone thinks does not affect Him at all. He loves us all the same. I shall never be upset with the words of others about my Daddy anymore nor should I be too upset at my failure in defense.

when it's not a bed of rose

2010-01-31T15:52:00.003+08:00

so wat happened to me these few days since i last updated my blog... hmm yeah as the title says life is not a bed of roses. things happened. i fell sick. flu and an injured knee. oh gosh sucks. and the feeling of failing God and not being able to fully express myself together with my physical conditions made me decided that i needed a retail therapy on friday.

yeah so i grabbed my new korean friend so yeon and my japanese friend mariko and sam and we all headed down to fashion valley for retail therapy. I set off wanting to buy heels and bags. But yeah as sam puts it bluntly i am a cockster. i ended up buying a pair of pyjamas, sunglasses and 2 tops. fortunately the 2 tops from charlotte saved the day. it would hv been really sucky to have just bought pyjamas pants at fashion valley. then it was chilling out at so yeon's place and eating her yummy handmade brownie

so life is made better again. thank you Daddy!

and then today with my flu still there (my voice fading) and my knee hurting, i had to go for my first ever surfing class! N yeah goodness i LOVE it. I thought I would freeze to death in the winter sea water but hell no. Surfing is such hardwork!! my entire body aches now and i just feel sooo exhausted. But yeah never knew falling off the board can be so fun. Being washed under by a wave can be sooo exciting too. So i guess I am looking forward to the next class! I managed to stand up n surfed for 3 seconds today. I promise I will SURF next lesson.

And then tonight was the Triton Spirit. An annual basketball event with other colleges. Bball college finals i guess. Pretty big event with free food and tee shirt and the crowd just went crazy. sadly i didnt bring my camera. bleahx. N it was dinner n supper chilling w new faces and old faces. n now yeah time for me to mug for my midterm and oral presentation.

2010-01-30T18:09:00.002+08:00

ルムーメットと一緒に住んでいることはとても大変だ。

あまり好きじゃない人好きなりたいのこと難しい。

allergy

2010-01-29T04:20:00.002+08:00

Displeasure pours out

Pure angst Pure irritation

A blinding distaste

An allergy

I'm ashamed. May I learn to love

what's first?

2010-01-27T03:53:00.003+08:00

Chuck the paper i had to write and went out with my 2 korean girl friends. madness.

And there's oral presentation to prepare and law cases to read for school tmr. arghh result of playing too much. but really weekends are too beautiful n precious for studying now. Lol

so play first, mug later. and so i am dead beat from lil sleep.

happy weekend

2010-01-25T16:48:00.003+08:00

Yes yes it's yet another blessed happy weekend! And it's right at our doorstep in San Diego. No road trips but it's just as blissful and eventful!

No time to do an elaborate entry so I'll just do a quick one before i rush back to my readings and paper assignment. I am soooo dead for this paper and my oral presentation due tue and wed. Seriously played too much.

Sat

ET's friend came down from UC Riverside to visit us. We spent a lazy afternoon on campus and then in coronado. Wanted to catch the sunset which we sooo freaking missed it because we're too caught up eating KFC. What bullshit we are seriously.

After that, we caught up w ET's friends to have dinner at downtown SD and then desert at this fabulously mouthwatering place called Extraordinary Desert. Verdict? the restaurant lived up to its name.

sadly no pictures cos i forgot to bring my camera. And great nice people met :)

Sun

MY FIRST SUNDAY MORNING IN CHURCH!! finally!!! I am just sooooo happy to be able to step into City Christian Church!! Transport is just sooo bad here that getting the hitch ride from friends in church whom we met at the connect group on campus is just such a blessing!!

And the church is really cool. It's in the compound of a local high school up in the higher land. Really scenic views. And I LOVE the worship band and the priest! Great message and i feel so recharged and uplifted. And people are all so welcoming and nice!

And in the evening was the korean bbq at our korean friends' place! It rocks sooo much more than I had imagined. So it was great food and a lot of new friends found!! :D

Storm Season

2010-01-22T16:14:00.002+08:00

Rainy days is an understatement. Imagine walking to class in the rain. And worse, without an umbrella. Not that umbrella make any difference cos the wind was just insane. So it was a chaotic scene of umbrellas flipping and inverting, big trees uprooting and collapsing.

Welcome to the storm season of San Diego, where flooding campus and hercules strong gust of wind awaits you.

Mid term starts tmr!! but i am soooo not in the mood for studying. gosh.

American Traffic Police

2010-01-20T14:39:00.002+08:00

our kinda pleasant encounter with US police and law education...

sam: aye slow down... there's a police car behind us

et (driver): huh! what?!

sam: oh no! they are coming after us... they are signalling us to stop. STOP STOP. hands on your wheels and stop.

(everyone in the car, wide awake and nervously waiting...)

after a long wait, sam got off the car with his arms raised before being shoo-ed right back into the car, and finally the police man came with his torchlight shining into the car to see us all.

police: are you guys lost?

(totally not the kind of 1st line i was expecting )

et: yeah... and our car is fast running out of petrol so we're rushing...

police: i see... that explains alot. did u see there was a stop sign at the road just now?

et: no sir, we're international drivers... we're not familiar... sorry

police: alright (checks et's license), please make sure u stop at the stop signs next time. And yeah your petrol station is just this way down (points and directs)

oh my gosh... soooo nice~~

1st Roadtrip in US

2010-01-20T13:37:00.006+08:00

yay so we finally got passed the phase of hesitation and just heck it. seized the opportunity of a long weekend (monday being public holiday; martin luther king day) and off we go!!

drove up from San Diego to Yosemite through the night. It was the usual gang of us (a pity my roomie gave it a miss) plus a new friend, Mariko from Japan. And that girl is really sooo sporting and spontaneous. She just decided in the morning to join us and tada that very night we're off.

It was a real crazy adventure. Super impromptu and last minute. Very very minimal planning was done if you can even call it planning in the first place. So we caught the breathtaking view of Yosemite and braved the freezing weather. I really think I grew crazier in US. it's freakin 2 degrees celsius but I am so not in the full geared winter wear. Just the same stuff I wear in san diego on campus. HAHA. Yosemite:

After Yosemite, the roadtrip continues down to Lake Tahoe where we spent our one and only sleeping night in this entire 3 days and 3 nights roadtrip. Stopped over at this really good ambience cafe for lunch/tea. heart the deco and ambience!

Explored the lake in the morning and left for Napa Valley for wine tasting. It's a real pity that it was all cloudy after a snowing night so the lake was not as picture perfect as it would had been. but none the less the sight of snow pretty much made up for it.

Napa valley was a real misery. Due to poor planning or rather no prior planning, we missed both the hot air balloon ride and the wine tasting. arghhh. so we just settled for a dinner and some good wine. Sad and unsatisfied, we pressed on and drove down to Santa Cruz at night only to see a dead town. Played laser tag at an arcade and we had our "hobo" style dinner by the wharf. Eating out in the chilly night air was pretty cool it turned out.

Lunner before our "hobo" style dinner:

Hobo dinner:

And then we went insane again by deciding last minute not to stay over at santa cruz but hit the road again. So it went. Another overnight drive!! All the way down to LA. Fortunately the time spent in LA was well spent! Did some shopping at the area near Farmer's Market and had a super yummilicious lunch at this restaurant called Cheesecake factory! As the name already implied, the cheesecakes were mind-blowing. Next we visited Ronald Reagan public library where we caught this huge american air force one plane. Pretty cool.

And I have to say, it was real adventurous not just in the spontaneous sense but also in the sens of "living on the edge"! Let's see, we kinda skidded up a curb while driving on the freeway, risking an overturned car... we kinda smashed our side mirror along the way in Yosemite and i was just seated on the right side of the driver where the smashed mirror was with my window half unwind... if i had wound down more i can just say good bye to my face... and we kinda got stopped by a police car for not stopping at the stop sign on the road...and we kinda kissed the bumper on the front of another car while we're reversing into the parking lot. Awesome!

Other scenic shots:

Check out the cross on the peak of the hill. The clouds kinda covered it the next instance that i saw it. really reminded me of God's words. Seek and you shall find. If u seek hard enough. God requires u to seek Him first for He has already done His part of loving you unconditionally.

another view off the hill where the Reagan Public Library was

College Life in America

2010-01-15T18:28:00.005+08:00

seriously for all things strange we have adopted this really apt expression of "welcome to america".

Where...

lecturers still uses the blackboard and chalk,

visual aids are kept to a bare minimum (amidst having to overcome the tendency for some prof to utter to emselves),

slides are NEVER gonna be uploaded ,

readings rain down on you as frequently as the frequency of lectures in a week for e freakin same subject,

your american classmates simply doesn't sleep even in the most boring class,

everyone is just too eager to post their questions and comments,

people all skateboard or cycle to classes

and so much more...

BUT i simply just love experiencing a different culture i guess. so the above simply isn't too much of a complaint but rather my amazement at how different things are.

Getting to know more and more people now. Impromptu movie session the other night was great fun. And I have signed up for hip hop class and will be enrolling w my new japanese friend in surfing as well. pretty cool

Getting ready for a road trip over this weekend. The gruelling planning sessions and the ultimate reversal of situation. exasperation which is kept under suppression demanding its release. crap. f***

When God Ran

2010-01-12T07:57:00.000+08:00

Can't stop the tears

weekend in san diego

2010-01-11T16:54:00.003+08:00

Hit the beach yesterday. Pacific beach was indeed a beauty in the day. Followed by an awesome supersized meal Italian dinner. Goodness. the food was good fortunately cos the queue was uber killer long. But the portion was crazy mega-sized!! the meatball was the size of a tennis ball!

campus life

2010-01-09T16:03:00.003+08:00

School is gettin better. Getting to know more people and feeling like i am finally slowly settling down and adapting. Happy days.

Overseas campus life is really pretty cool. Love the chilly weather. Love how i can hit the gym after class with the peeps and how it's just so cooling after the work out. Love walking in my tees and shorts after the workout out in the cold air. Love meeting new people. Love the meals and meal talks. Love making new friends both asian americans and ang mohs and international students. Love the freedom of living overseas alone.

N heart the impromptu frisbee game we had just out :) We were just chatting and the topic of frisbee came up, and one of the guys just went up the floors to ask around for a frisbee. And tada! God is sweet. It was exactly the one we wanted. A glow in the dark frisbee. And a terrific game after. :)

so spontaneous just like in NZ!

And i might really be going for hip hop class! woohoo! And surfing class! And the campus connect group is starting soon too! Make more friends!! :)

school and food

2010-01-07T06:57:00.002+08:00

3rd day in school and readings and assignment are pouring in already. I'm here for exchange hello~~~

and I'm sick of burgers and sanwiches :S

but panda express sucks... should i cook?

school

2010-01-07T06:57:00.001+08:00

3rd day in school and readings and assignment are pouring in already. I'm here for exchange hello~~~

First day

2010-01-05T06:22:00.002+08:00

First day ended with just 2 short classes of 50mins each.

It's pretty refreshing amidst the daunting feel. And really americans are just so much more vocals in classes. But anyway let's hope things pick up and i can make more friends. Turn on my friendly genes perhaps. But cant be help, I just love to act aloof and nonchalant in class.

Anyway, we've all met up with the rest of the nus students who are staying in Revelle as well. pretty cool and nice people. lets hope i make more non-singaporeans from now on. :)

Hello San Diego

2010-01-03T16:46:00.004+08:00

Finally moved in to San Diego yesterday. bunked in at a fellow exchange friend's brother's apartment. And i was tortured at night by this naughty lil hum sup cat which refused to go away. He kept crawling back onto me scaring me awake each time despite my shoo-ing. In the end, I simply gave up shoo-ing and let him have his way. So he slept really nice n comfortably by my legs on my sleeping bag with my warm as his heater in the cold winter. oh gosh.

so this is him:

And finally, the move into "home sweet home"!! :) This is hell exciting. The start of a new kind of life for a few months! God please make it an awesome time for me! Truckloads of anxiety and jitters coupled with excitement. So anyway here's how the room is after the madness unpacking!! feels so good to empty that luggage.

the empty room before:

After:

Felt like I am no longer a nomad and really settling down to live in America. And San Diego is real awesome! Lovely beaches and really just alot more "breathing" space than the overly urbanised and cluttered LA.

Scenic shot from the picnic dinner by the beach:

New Year Eve in LA

2010-01-01T15:32:00.003+08:00

New Year Eve in LA was simple and unique. Nope we didn't go for the countdown parties (too cowardly to brave the crowd) but instead we went horse riding in the day and had dinner at korean town!! :)) Just as happening in a different way! Happy day~~

K I'm starting to miss my friends back home quite abit over this festive season. Spending the new year abroad instead of counting down back home with friends while not too bad, also leaves this tingling feeling of the absence of something pretty important. oh gosh, i miss u guys!

anyways but i had fun horse riding today! i am seriously in love with this sport! and the horse i had this time is again a young stallion called Galaxy. Galaxy was pretty similar to Red (the one i rode in NZ), young strong and the alpha. So I had a really awesome time riding up in front leading the pack with Galaxy as the other 2 horses lag behind due to exhaustion. We rode for 2 hours this time and it feels really good. Very happy to have more time bonding with the horse, it feels like your own just for a while. And the guide this time was less stringent and allowed us to pick up speed with our horses if possible. We went up to the peak of the hill and the entire LA was within view. It feels pretty different from NZ. Not much awesome nature view but its also a total dif feel. Urban view with nature. Not too bad i guess.

Really yearn to have my own horse and pick up horse riding. And i discovered last night that it's not all that impossible a dream. There are horses up for adoption at the stables. Maybe in the future... maybe...

Anyway dinner was real yummy! korean food at K town!! FINALLY i visited K town! :D And the korean food is sooooo much better than back home! n yes my lil bit of korean was put to good use as well.

N now it's count down with my 2 friends in the motel haha. Watching the count down on TV, n munching chips, n waiting to pop our rose.

side note: security issue in LA is really no joke. one can meet at least 5 insane people in a day. there's always plenty of homeless on the street (tragic). And tonight was totally crazy. SO MANY pissed drunk rowdy characters off the street threatening our safety. It was the fastest we ever walked from the station to the motel after encountering all the oddballs along the way. People getting arrested. Weirdos flicking some weird gadget while stealing glances at us. Drunkard flexing muscles and working out on the train itself. :S

Avatar in Hollywood

2009-12-31T17:38:00.000+08:00

Went down to Hollywood today. Finally a real town town area. Did a real bit of shopping n of cos the highlight of e day was watching avatar at the posh arclight cinema. Goodness e cinemas was so grand. N the popcorn was real yummy topped w warm butter. But yeah it was all pretty ex. $15 for tix $5 for popcorn.

Afterwhich we visited a rock concept pub that serve awesome Thai food!

Finally the day ended w a close shave w danger. Quite funny snippet actually. My friend n I went down our motel to buy a drink n this dude just came right up to us asking for some money. Fortunately e owner was still around, n we diverted the guy to e owner n sieze e chance to escape.

Starting to miss my friends back home. N growing a lil apprehensive about school n also my module on sexuality. Will I be able to handle it? Learnt that it challenges my faith greatly. N somehow it hurts to hear of ppl fully convinced by the thoughts learnt in sociology n brushing God aside. Will I waver too? N I really think not taking a stand is just negative moral relativism.

- Posted from my iPhone

Venice Beach

2009-12-30T17:14:00.003+08:00

Went down to santa monica and had a uberlicious yummy lunch before heading down to Venice Beach to soak in the awesome seaview and sunset!! oh my... i would never have expected the sunset to match up with the ones in NZ but praise God it did! Really thankful for God's lil present for me this evening! I was feeling pretty nostalgic about NZ during these few days. And praise God too for answering prayers. I really feel the company getting closer now. :)

And i have a really lousy poker hand. OH GOSH. i got bankrupt at poker!! :(( and damn... the forfeit is gonna be sooo bad.

Downtown

2009-12-29T13:14:00.006+08:00

Went around downtown LA today. pretty boring really. but its also quite cool how dif areas give a dif feel n is populated by the respective ethnic groups like lil tokyo and this spanish place el puebo (spelling error detected)anyway it's a day of walking hell lot. man i miss the roadtrip. i miss the car. i miss the breakfasts. i woke up to hello panda in the wee morning and walked till quite a distant b4 hvin a decent brunch n again a great distant b4 a yummy lunch at this famous eatery established since 1924.

the portion for everything is seriously HUGE.

Day 1 in US

2009-12-28T12:49:00.001+08:00

long long journey on the plane. entire day just spent on flying till i'm dying. n since LA is behind Singapore in time, it's like living the same hours twice. extra fatigue and exhaustion. will land at about 3am but it'll still just be mid day in LA.

now i run out of movies to watch n things to entertain myself but to pen my thoughts now for posting when there's wifi later. arghh. played poker n big 2 on the flight system but it's almost like u're pre-prog to lose.

addicted to the casino shuffle. my eyes lit up when my fren said he brought along a deck of cards haha.

and i miss my really long hair... the stupid hair stylist cut it too short... n he still got the cheek to laugh at his "master piece" :(

bye bye singapore hello US

2009-12-27T00:30:00.003+08:00

last night in singapore. bye bye sunny island for the next 5 months! :)

and my luggage is bloody heavy. hate killer luggages. this is can not!! but i'm too lazy to repack.

Counting down to US

2009-12-22T18:13:00.002+08:00

Back from cell retreat. It was real hectic having to go for retreat right after the night i touched down from Auckland. And retreat was fine and alright. Now counting down to US. Goodness it still feels very far away and unreal. And the task of packing the luggage seems like an uphill task. And surviving overseas alone for the next couple of months seems pretty daunting as well though I'm also feeling a lil exhilarated at the prospect of it.

Missing Auckland still and missing the roadtrip and the peeps...

Day 5 and 6

2009-12-18T17:55:00.003+08:00

time really really flies and here i am in the apartment studio with just marilyn alone as the rest departed for their homes. sigh~~

our wonderful lovely escapade in NZ has come to an end this morning.

Day 4 was totally spent relaxing in our penthouse by the sea in Coromandel. Went grocery shopping, went jacuzzi, cooked our own dinner and just laze at the balcony sipping white wine n nimbling on gourmet cheese while enjoying the sunset. Life is good.

Day 5 was pretty intense and exhilarating as we set off from our 'home' in the morning to take a glass-bottom boat ride out into the sea to visit the cathedral cove at Whitianga in Coromandel and to snorkel. But snorkling was such a bad bad idea. The water was sooooooo freezing cold. It was a horrendous nightmare jumping in. But oh well it was still pure fun. But the freeze and the chopping sea afterwards made me a lil oozy with my unsettled breakfast (thanks to the friend who suggest I finish up the bottle of wine after my milk and cereal as it's a pity to dump the leftover). Nontheless, I survived the mini ordeal and it was pure fun. And we then grab a light lunch and went off to visit the Hot Water Beach. It was soooo packed with people. And it's really an amusing sight seeing everyone with spades digging into the beach sand for hot water. And natural sauna was really awesome.

Next was the really intense drive back to Auckland. Due to some mis navigation and a wrong turn by our friend the second driver, we found ourselves going in a circle and back to the area where we had stayed. But really thankfully, another friend in the group was really cool and capable. He took over the wheel, managed to beat the sunset at the winding roads and completed the drive back to Auckland under 3 hours (the journey should have been more than 3 hours). Quite crazy at the start no doubt as he really just sped all the way through the winding cliff roads. So we reached, checked in, rested briefly and had our dinner at some late night chinese joints before our usual nightly talk cock and late sleep.

Day 6
Last brunch together was really in the words of my friend, like the way we were when we first met. Our first lunch was spent in silence. This time too. But for different reason. What was initially unfamiliarity and awkwardness has really miraculously changed into nostalgia and sadness at the thought of seperation.

And finally the roadtrip gang parted after brunch as our friends left for the airport to Sydney and Christchurch, while marilyn and I have our last day and night in Auckland today.

Sigh~~~~ I really feel soooo grateful for this awesome roadtrip. Indeed God is really such an awesome God. I wouldnt be able to have such an enjoyable time without these new friends. Really God worked in wonderous ways! Praise God for these friends, for the car, and for the steady drivers.

And I truly miss you guys~~ And tonight there's no one to talk cock to anymore or to play cards with. Yes my gambling skills had increased exponentially thanks to the tutorial by my new friend.

Day 4

2009-12-16T06:16:00.001+08:00

Following our dining in e car feat while watching sunset last evening, we had breakfast in the car as we drove to coromandel for a day of lazing.

Really heart this roadtrip but it's already the second last day. I think I'll be really sad n miss these new frenz when I return.

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 3

2009-12-15T13:12:00.001+08:00

Adventure begins w a lil stroll/hike in the reserve of wai o taupu. Lots of natural geysers, hot spring etc. Witness the eruption of geyser Lady Knox too. The entire town is just amazing. As a volcanic region, u can see lots of geyser at the most random spots. Mountainside, random parks off the street, n even beside the drain of our hotel.

Next up was The Squeeze. An adventure combo that saw us hiking knee deep in water, between boulder cracks into the geothermal hotspring waterfall hidden deep into the nature reserve. Followed by the adrenaline (not too exciting) pumping jetboat ride through the lake.

N now I'm standing right in front of lake taupo. Soaking in the view of this huge lake. Made up of over 46 lakes. Area as big as Singapore.

N now for this

Take off!!

Finally now driving over to Huka falls b4 dinner :)

Lovely lovely day 3 of roadtrip.
- Posted from my iPhone

Day 2

2009-12-15T04:07:00.001+08:00

Yesterday was totally spontaneous. Went down to Rotarua and did horse riding up the hills n valleys along the way there. Love my handsome horse! His name was Red n he was totally gorgeous. Nice copper brown tone. I'm really so in love w horse riding that I feel like taking it up as a sport!!

After which, the entire day was spent vegetating by the poolside, meals in town n the impromptu frisbee in e park till night falls. Really hilarious. What intended to b a visit to the lake for sunset turned into a session of extreme sports in the shower of rain. The beautiful view of sunset over lake was totally neglected as attention shift to the flying saucer till it grew so dark we can no longer see each other n ourselves.

Heading off to wai o taopu now for volcano n hotspring. Wee~~ n music in e car is awesome too! Loveless by yamapi. :)

- Posted from my iPhone

Day 1 roadtrip

2009-12-14T02:00:00.001+08:00

Concussed last night right after gg to bed. Went the area of mata mata to view the farm area where LOTR is filmed n the glow worm cave in Waitomo. In a nutshell a day of madness fun n fatigue.

The travel mates are a real crazy bunch to be with. Went up the summit of Waitomo reserve w the guys n took real awesome photos of the field of daisies!! While the gurls who didn't get our text n thus fail to join us went off for some grass rolling else where. Lol, this is how spontaneous n crazy we are! Yay lovin' it!!

- Posted from my iPhone

Road trip start!!

2009-12-13T02:04:00.001+08:00

Setting off!! Madness cramping of luggage into car booth

- Posted from my iPhone

Pre-road trip

2009-12-12T19:38:00.001+08:00

Checked out of our hostel n set off for Auckland museum for some Maori culture in the early noon. Was joined in by our fellow road trip peeps n just hung out for lunch n sunset watching at mt eden.

The apartment today was real lovely. Heaven if the hostel was hell! There's our own living room n bedrooms n kitchen! A full apartment! :))

N I'm glad the new frenz are all nice ppl! N they even cooked dinner n we also caught fireworks from our balcony! Wat a lovely start! :D

- Posted from my iPhone

ちくしょう

2009-12-11T16:42:00.000+08:00

Escape the crampy room into the lounge n here we meet the xiao ang mohs. Strumming the guitar n hitting the piano. Not too bad the pianist's singing n playing n guitarist hmm...

N the partying n racketing continues versus the asian losers who retreated to their room. Lol.

にせん円のりょこうどうして楽しくなぁい？いろいろな物から、気持ちあまり悪くなりました。畜生。お金がたくさん払って。。なんだよ。。

- Posted from my iPhone

심심해

2009-12-11T16:14:00.000+08:00

Day of boredom in Auckland. Had an awesome breakfast in e garden of an Italian cafe. Then it was the intensive rotting at the hostel while waiting for Marilyn to settle her modules n phone interview.

Excruciating boredom. Then it was the shopping in e city which suck cos everywhere closed at 5pm n we weren't in time for any attraction. N the clothes were too big too ex or too over rated for it's prize. Rarr~~ n it's back to crampy lil hostel room. Arghhh.

- Posted from my iPhone

Late night ramblings

2009-12-10T20:47:00.001+08:00

Stuck in my cramp hostel room. With just a brief chat w an ang moh girl backpacker as I went to brush my teeth. Having nothing to do as I wait for Marilyn to finish up her interview preparation b4 we can hopefully discuss abit of Mongolia. Hmm...

Checked out the travel brochures as I was loitering around waiting to brush my teeth. NZ is seriously such an exciting place. But y is everything so ex?? N it also suck that many thgs here are e same as in australia.

Apprehensive about the coming travel mates now. Hmm... All are old birds living in Aussie for years. Surely, all aren't new to em. But they r to frog in e well me. How?? :((

Wanna go surfing but it's 100++ bucks. Seems impossible that anyone would agree. :(( kayaking is ex too. Wanna go see dolphins n whales but mare isn't keen. All too similar to Aussie it seems. How?? N the only thing Marilyn wants is bungee. Oh gosh. N I'm hesistant n reluctant.

I wanna surf surf! Boohoo so ex~~ next trip? Y y y must my friend go off for japan now? Boohoo if not trekking w him will be so fun!!

- Posted from my iPhone

auckland- waiheke

2009-12-10T18:26:00.003+08:00

Off the island of waiheke. Just day 2 n I'm sunburnt frm a day of island life. We had a real awesome house with the sea just in front of us. So it was a day of wine tasting at the vineyard, lil shopping at the town, n dining at alfresco at our lil porch outside the house n sipping rose by the beach. Oh gosh I've totally fallen in love w e way of life in waiheke!! Heart this place.

N all was good except my messed up body clock which can't stomach the time difference n causing me to wake up almost at every hour. Rarr!! Oh but good thg was since Marilyn n I are both up at 4.30am this morning we were in time to watch the sunrise at the beach at 5 am. Pity, we realised later that the view is blocked by this cliff. Arghh.

N now it's back to the city. Back to Auckland! And now I'm extra extra burnt. oh gosh... ouch~~~didnt visit much places today cos of the unexpected time taken to travel to our new hostel back in auckland. we went around the housing estates hunting high and low for it with our backpacks. left waiheke at abt 12 almost 1 pm, had lunch at a ramen shop after we reached auckland and began our torturous hunt at the city for the bus stop and the excruciating walk around the housing estates before finally checking in at 4pm. boohoo. but after which was a cool chill out around the neighbourhood and up Mount Eden. and the climb was absolutely worth it!! awesome sunset view at the summit! Lots of couples, families and friends around as well.
:DDD

Lots of post card perfect photos taken!! Up on facebook when I'm back :D

bye bye singapore hello Auckland!

2009-12-08T00:00:00.003+08:00

so it was the awesome God-filled saturday (man the youth service rocks!! glad i went despite the fact that i should be mugging for JLPT), and then it was bye bye JLPT on sunday!!

And finally tmr morning it shall be bye bye Singapore and HELLLO AUCKLAND!! woohoo~~ Wheee~~~ this shall be my first true blue backpacking and roadtrip experience!! like literally travelling with a backpack! no cheating. n suddenly it felt like back to the days of scouting... of packing clothes into ziplock and sucking the air out. LOL

kk all excited except that lil regret that i wont be able to meet my friend but oh well...

anyway yupz! see you guys soon when i return! 18th Dec :))

Mr Stud and the New Moon

2009-12-03T23:09:00.003+08:00

busy busy days when i should be mugging intensely for JLPT but really somehow I really just have half the heart of just passing it... I seriously can't aim for a high score cos it's just impossible within such a short time frame to improve your language ability... oh well watever it is I'll 頑張って！

but anyways so 勉強 has been disrupted very largely by SEP matters, housework and filming. arghh seriously. all the props making and shopping. all the time wasted at the embassy over the visa too. yess hell lot of time gone. but oh well it doesnt help as well that the drive to study is so low. and oh yes not to forget the mongolia summercamp project, it's also the time to push for the project really hard if it's to come true. and there's just too much hopes pinned and stakes on it that really really it has to come true. N i'll trust that God will see it through and i also entrust that all the opportunities (internship etc.) given up will not be in vain... there'll be more doors opening for me!!

So anyways for just in case sake, i shadnt say more about the video till it's premier on youtube and I'll post it here thereafter. meantime haha this is Mr Stud :)

OH and the unexpected fireworks at vivo during dinner with the video's PD. God's lil surprises in life... how awesome!

ANDDD of cos last but not least, was tonight's wonderful movie session with a lovely company!! Thankew Jas for accompanying me for new moon! I know we both heart Jac! It's really funny as well how this lady gasp in delight when Jac took off his shirt in one of the scene. The entire cinema just roared in laughter upon hearing her solo squeal/gasp. Man.. it must have been so embarrassing for her! but it's really funny and everyone was just totally ignoring what's happening on the screen and just laughing with her at her little blooper moment. Haha awesome time in the theatre!! ANDDDDDD AHHHHHHH I really heart Jacob! Gosh if a werewolf boyfriend is like him, wah I wouldn't mind a 100% taking a risk in dating him. One's who's sooo handsome, strong (really the protective knight material) and always warm! HAHA I'm a bimbo. :P

operation double shift (a.k.a housework)

2009-12-01T23:44:00.003+08:00

acrobatic act of balancing on the stool while hanging the clothes to dry~~ omg my arms are gonna detach... and before that was the staring at the washing machine with my dad.

dad said, "It's not that I don't know how to use. I just forgot how to..."

well done. good game without mommy. oh myy really learning to appreciate my mom more.

when you're gone

2009-11-30T23:00:00.002+08:00

never knew the house would feel this empty without you...

never knew the iron is that heavy and the iron board is so dysfunctional

never knew folding ALOT of clothes at once can be back breaking

never knew how to operate the washing machine

arghh... it sucks, now I know!!

mommy come back soon~~~

oh but I still gotta do all the above in US. AT LEAST it's just my share i have to do! Man... mommy it must have suck so much for u too~~ sorry! :(

2009-11-29T23:32:00.003+08:00

"Hurt people, hurt people.

Healed people, heal people."

This really struck a chord. How apt.

Also what a timely reminder from Him both at service and after speaking to someone that He had gone ahead and paved the way so everything will fall nicely in place, in ways better than I can imagine. Why haven't I learnt? Haha it's such a tough lesson for me, something that I will probably never finish learning. But it's always sweet with my saviour! Muacks! :)

over

2009-11-29T17:00:00.004+08:00

ah finally it's over. when the last song goes, with all the ups and vibes comes the emptiness. aww~~ though I didn't joined the people right from the start and didn't go to that many rehearsals but there was still this anticipation to this day, this morning. It all finally came to an end and really it was such a short two hours. In a flash, it's all gone. And the new people met and music therapy enjoyed it has all come to an end.

and what's left is an emptiness and a longingness

last music therapy

2009-11-28T23:48:00.002+08:00

last session of rehearsal for IGS, last dose of music therapy from the talented bunch of musicians. ahh... I'm excited and dont know how should i put it... hmm that it's the last i will hear from the awesome band and the awesome lead vocalist. aww...

stuck

2009-11-28T01:26:00.003+08:00

torn between the desires and the imperatives

like a beast on restrain wrestling to break free

caged in the perpetual despondence

the malady of infinite longing...

-stuck between the fantasy and what is real-

Holidayyy

2009-11-27T15:13:00.004+08:00

It's the Holiday!! :DD

Happily slurping jello at the off-shore island club now wee~~

Bidded exams farewell yesterday and now just leisurely mugging for my JLPT.

i can smell NZ coming real soon and then in the blink of an eye I'll be in US for the next few months. Yupz yupz life is great! And once again, there's so much i wanna do this holiday! Continue to hone my keyboard which i neglected half way through the hecticness of the sem. Brush up and pursue my japanese and korean.

And there's so much i feel like pursuing as well. I guess I agree with my dad. I'm real greedy. There's so much i wanna pick up and learn. I feel like picking up hip hop and still feel like gg for drums. And vocal class. arghh~~

And I wanna go for a global internship. but i guess maybe it's not the right time... but it would be great to do it after my quarter when I will already be in US rather than making a seperate trip there again. But I guess mongolia project will be my priority now... I wanna focus and do it well. Maybe I will have another chance... maybe take a sem off to intern in US? but what about the money? And i feel that my dad wants me to hurry up graduate and work and support the family. Arghh~~better put this off till my graduating sem? Apply or not to apply~~

And and there's still the summer school which i feel like going for which i haven't even told my dad. think he'll flip. and no surprise... all these exchange and overseas trips are making huge dents in our family account. but i really hope to spend some time in Japan to go for an intensive japanese language crash course and get a JLPT 1.

oh dear.... so much of "I wants". Guess i better focus on my JLPT 4 preparation which is staring at me right now first.

chasing the blues

2009-11-24T23:32:00.002+08:00

can i beat the effects of bad grades that holds 30% of your final grade? the curse of the 30%...

combatting demoralizing thoughts while mugging for finals is just unfortunate. praying so hard and still slipping into self-doubts. oh gosh. pray for me people.

mug breaks with Chasers War on Everything on youtube is quite effective at chasing the blues though. Highly recommend this series. Just so freakin hilarious, there's no way to stay unhappy at least for a while.

all not fallin right

2009-11-23T13:11:00.003+08:00

this is just so bad. in the middle of the exam week and fancy getting back a term paper with a *drumsroll* B-... oh gosh as though two Bs aren't enough. =(((

so saddening and demoralising!! And this B- is just so... I can't even describe it. The draft essay for it was pretty alright with some decent comments and I have worked on it only to get a B- for final grade?! Arghh I just cannot comprehend why didn't you point out the flaws earlier on the draft so I could correct it? why give me the nice positive stuff? to think you said you mark us down for the draft cos it's only 10% and you would spare us for the final essay which is 30%. So there goes 40%. oh gosh. help~~

I'm just so not confident of this semester. But perhaps it is better this way. A good wake up call for me before I get devoured by a growing ego. 하루님 도와주세요!

squirmish

2009-11-22T20:35:00.002+08:00

I should be focusing over my Marx Weber and Dukheim, but after witnessing that revolting sight I need to get it out of my system before i can fix my concentration.

It was real sick. On my way to the reading lounge just now was this tiny long black thing. It was all dark so it looked just like those chewy long gummy until this dude stepped on it as he walked past without realizing, and the poor brute thrashed and slithered its way into a bush at the same time successfully driving me right off in the opposite direction back home. :S

oh gross... the thing i hate most on earth... and a baby snake imply the presence of a mommy snake. oh gosh help~~~ my estate is not safe anymore.

2009-11-21T19:59:00.003+08:00

(1) *swoon*

sad story+awesome addictive tunes+hawt dance = just gotta put on repeat!

For second time gori, you finally have great taste LOL! TAEYANG!!!

(2) warning: absolutely hilarious (mayb a tad offensive)

Timely words and Rejuvenating sounds

2009-11-21T17:49:00.003+08:00

Music therapy at choir practice again. N seriously God work in wonderous ways. Even the most unimpt prayers can be answered. I prayed that I can just serve him joyously at choir prac today cos frankly it's a real struggle to ditch e books n also drag my battered body from this morning's battle to practice. But really praise God! I had an awesome n fruitful time both vocally n spiritually.

Apparently for e centenary service 2 vocal coaches from this Australian Christian band (nope not hillsong but just as awesome!) were roped in to assist the choir n vocalists. N wow... The coaches totally revived us. We learn to heighten songs, to groove to e songs, to shout praise, to just worship n enjoy. N everyone's singing tgt so strongly n powerfully!! It makes my heart race in excitement as well. It's so free n liberating today! N somehow I don't feel as caged anymore.

N I really like e way e coaches instruct. Really dif from the chinese instructors. No jargons no over harping on techniques n thgs just flows.

N the band again was awesome. Even had some impromptu jazz music from e electric guitarist during break time.

N today's word sharing was perfectly timely and I feel so strengthened once again. Great reminder from the awesome One to consecrate ourselves for God to work wonders among us (Jos 3:5). Idols (no not refering to pop stars but just stuff that distracts you) are such irritating things really. They just keep creeping into your hearts and minds without you realising till one day you're all infested. It's really so true that you don't even have to be a pagan to have idols. With just 2 very blessed semesters, I have forgotten my painful lesson. How sad... I am just like the israelites. Studies and achievements are threatening to get into my head and over-powering His position. It's time to restore Him. And I'm glad the TWO BIG FAT Bs had knocked some senses into me.

Stop the day dreaming. Stop trying to pilot my way through but rather set myself apart for Him to work great things through me. LISTEN before i act. So (though it's soooo hard), CAP 5 I will slay you! And i am so glad this is so timely! There's still 4 more papers to salvage. So God let me mug for your glory for the remaining papers and not for the gratification of my ego.

And time is running out for me to mug for my next paper with the entire day burnt at choir practice but I'll just trust You!

Anyway so it's ONE down and FOUR more! :)))

Oh and one more cool fact! Don't just think you're just one of the insignificant voice amongst the many, cos in one of the battles of the Israelites, it wasn't the army who went ahead but the worship team and they brought the enemies down with their songs and praise. How awesome. So sing! Sing with all you have! Man... i am having my hillsong dream again :((

mortified and horrified

2009-11-19T20:23:00.002+08:00

two GIGANTIC alphabet "B"s marked across two of my term papers/projects brought me back down to earth. In the first place, I don't think I am even up anywhere but maybe I am gaining a tad bit confident and day-dreaming too much. But this is real depressing and demoralizing. I really think nice profs are sooo important to have cos everything is just so subjective.

Just one more day to go before the start of exams and I have just soo ill-prepared. This semester is just a disaster. the disastrous deadlines one after another and finally that idiotic piece of work that only got a B which caused me to only have barely one week to prepare for 5 modules worth of exams.

Arghh... ... I really don't wanna leave for SEP with a dampen CAP. :(

Please save me :(

day of ditching the books

2009-11-15T00:38:00.004+08:00

Attended Daddy's calligraphy graduation. Congratulations dad! 3 years of sheer determinations is really not easy and today you see the fruit of your labour! It's really quite amazing, both mom and I agree that he has made remarkable improvements in his words. They are really starting to become pieces of art now. And I guess I am happy to share in his joy and to see him this happy. And the most important thing was, even mommy came down to support. Goodness... God I really see your wonders... please continue to work your magic I pray.

Daddy and his master piece no.1

The group of us relatives who went down to support (with his master piece no.2)

(a shame n0.3 is not captured well on camera)

Next up was the brought forward birthday party for Weishan since Liz will be leaving for Taiwan in a couple of days' time. And we had a joyous time, a sumptuous meal and I'm glad the (early) bdae girl was really happy! :D and and everyone love the lil korean doll i made! yes the thing i was making few days ago was this korean doll. But it's all well-worth it to know that she's (the doll) now being treasured by my dear friend. :D

Actual event photos captured on the camera of others so I shall patiently await them to appear on facebook.

Oh oh and it's also real awesome that the dinner didnt burn a hole in my pocket! okay... not as big a hole as i have imagined... I had yummy korean seafood pancake, bbq beef ribs, bbq pork, and gam jang tang (potato stew w spicy pork), and haha of course my soju and baek se ju!

time for others

2009-11-12T23:37:00.004+08:00

the entire day is burnt... that lil free time in between which i soooooooooooo desire to use it on myself to mug was given up. the lil bit of time before keyboard class was used to pop by the bookstore to get my tuition kid her new practice papers and assessment book cos there's no other time otherwise.

the precious time after tuition back home till only just now was burnt as well... ended up rushing down to the mall to get ingredient to make something for a friend and spent the rest of the time making it. Had to make and I can't delegate it to my mom or others ARGHH cos there's just no one else. MY PRECIOUS TIME~~~~ arghhhhhh i'm sooooo scared that even without sleep tonight, i will still not be able to finish up Marx, Weber and Durkheim! And if this slide, everything else will slide~~ n I wont b able to complete my revision for exams.

This sem is uber scary. not just the rate I had to churn out my projects and papers, but the extreme limited time i have for revision as well. What's more this sat is burnt as well with choir, daddy's grad and dinner. And next week when time is SOOOOOO freakin precious, another friend from overseas is here to visit. And again... I just can't say no.. :(

worried worried sick...

on the brighter side, keyboard make up class was great. I think the teacher make a difference. I just can't make it under that musician which I had last sem. the current one I am under seems better at teaching and the one coaching my make-up class today was great (*wholesome*).

K and marathon night shall now commence... NO SLEEP till i bid Marx, Weber n Durkheim farewell~~~

Use Somebody (our cover)

2009-11-11T11:31:00.004+08:00

aww the gig that i will missed cos i will b flyin off to US~~~

half a dream come true for this song...

I would really really wanna do this for a gig when i come back!! :DD

SOO HIGH!!!

please don't stop the music

2009-11-11T04:04:00.005+08:00

happily bloated from supper and trimming the videos of the jam session just now while waiting for my hair to dry.

really the simple things in life can make you sooo happy. Music and great companions made my night :DD

Had such an awesome time at jamming! Singing, Laughing, Enjoying the awesome guitar riffs, adrenaline-pumping bass and drum beats. This is why i am addicted to music :DD

and such a great contrast with what happened at supper after jamming. We see the morphing of these musicians into lame joke comedians. Hilarious time at Macs supper.

la la la~~ Happy Days!

mongolia summer camp blog

2009-11-09T23:47:00.004+08:00

The project blog is up and running. Please visit! :))

http://mongoliasummercamp.posterous.com

Find out more about the lives of street children in mongolia and exactly what this project is about! Take your first step now! :)

project finale

2009-11-09T21:40:00.002+08:00

it's finally the moment of liberation from the slavery of project this sem. FINALLY the project packed semester is over! and now it's time to mug for the final exams... arghhhh 5 papers consecutively... with less than 2 weeks to prepare... what a nightmare!

and there's still tuition to teach, choir practice to attend. :((

i need to unwind.... sojuuuuu

少し

2009-11-07T00:04:00.003+08:00

難しい宿題があると試験があるから、少しストレスなるよ。。。

友達をあったから、少し嬉し。。。

友達あう事ができないから、少し悲し。。。

support my project at: http://mongoliasummercamp.posterous.com

the little blessings

2009-11-01T22:37:00.002+08:00

Really thank God for the little installments of blessings in my life. Despite the lack of events these days and the times when I feel that I have turned so autistic, the realisation of these lil blessings really brought a smile to my face.

With this hectic semester (pressing deadlines one after another) and with the social enterprise competition which ended only a while back, I really felt my social world in uni contracting from my absence from club activities. With the juniors coming in and the seniors taking a back seat for this semester before the major annual production next semester, it really had become quite a strange place and a stark contrast from the old familiar. With it comes an encroaching emptiness. The tonnes of deadlines one after another didn't help either. I wonder what it would be like after i return from my exchange. I guess to look on the bright side of things, like what Marilyn said I would have gained alot more friends overseas, and I can just join another new club and meet even more people. So I guess yeah... But but!! Doesn't mean the vocalist dream is over!! I must work harder!! And I WILL BE the multi-talented individual that I am always envious of!

So yeah the days of writing endlessly for my endless pile of work had made me feel, and it did happen as well, that I'm withdrawing from the world. The lack of events is really a morale downer. And here I thank God for saving me from a state of self-misery by making me realise the smaller things in life.

Who say that endless events, parties, gigs are the only things that can spice life and give life more colour and meaning? The little blessings that brings you smile can mean alot too. I thank God for great friends. Thank you for sweet Momo with the phone call while i panicked in the deserted hospital and the awesome lift home on fri night. Thank you for the company and chit chat at rehearsal w jas. Thank you for the little after-service lunches w cell every sun. Thank you for the mug date with gori jesmine and the uber fun fish-spa. Gori, it was uber fun, thanks for fish spa-ing w me. :D

I realise little things that bring a smile to your face warm your heart just so much more.

on a side note, I think I have really turned into a sound freak. I really enjoy closing my eyes and just listen to every layer of the music in a song. Feel how every instruments are pieced so brilliantly together. It's another of those little simple joy in life. :)

Music Therapy

2009-10-31T20:07:00.005+08:00

unexpected music therapy filled the afternoons of yesterday and today. Accompanied my mom to catch MJ's This is It in the cinema. While I know MJ was good but i hadnt really listened to his music and goodness that few hours in the cinema was really therapeutic. It was really such a pity, the concert would have been the best of the best concerts if not for the tragedy. The music was awesome, the dance was mind-blowing. The dancers were all so awe-strikingly fantastic. Perfect moves and every move just oozes attitude. The musicians and vocalists are fantastic. And that girl guitarist really really rocks! MJ of cos needless to say was brilliant!

ok music therapy aside, it was also my 1st experience catching a movie in the Gold Class theatre. Goodness... the arm couches are soooooooo comfy. velvety and soft, and u can adjust the footrest as well and even recline if u want. aww... n there's blanket n the food menu. N N N the button on your TABLE (yes u hv a lil table for ur snacks n drinks, n no they're not served in those paper utensils) for u to press and call the waiter in, who will RUN to your service. man.. such a pampering experience.

And music therapy part 2 continues with this afternoon's LONG rehearsal for the intergenerational anglican centenary celebration service. Rehearsal was sooooo exhaustingly LONG. from 1.30pm till 6pm. man... it's almost like National Day. Ok God is definitely bigger than National Day. So anyway it's my first taste of singing in a choir and the verdict is: This is such a BACK and LEG BREAKING experience. oh gosh... standing for hours n singing repetitive stuff isn't that pleasant afterall. i think i very much prefer singing as vox w a band. aww... BUT all for God!! Ok now here's the music therapy part... the worship band was AWEEESOMEE!

Goodness listening to them the entire afternoon, I just can't stop marvelling at their brilliance. I really really love the main vocalist's voice!! He has that tone that I really really love. And he just sings n lead worship with such ease while playing the guitar as well! *envious and inspired* And the band!! Love that adrenaline-pumping rhythm from the drums, that emotional flow of melodies from the keyboard, the guitar riffs from the electric guitar and the soothing sound of the acoustic guitar!! Haix... it really fed my dream of one day becoming a vox in a band and MORE! It really fed my dream of aspiring to be a powerful worship leader in a band like Hillsong.

And I wonder if I will be able to find any venues to sing when I'm in US... would wanna still continue to sing, do gigs, and return stronger... wanna pick up hip hop...N when i return, everything would have changed as well. Argh... Please don't stop the music~~

Too Much Too Furious

2009-10-26T23:19:00.003+08:00

Past the halfway mark of the tunnel of my gloomy days and I still have 3 more projects to go. Oh gosh... It had been weeks of endless writing. It's pretty amazing how I have been able to come up with on average a 2000 word paper within intervals of every 3-4 days. I have just been researching researching researching writing writing writing non-stop cos with one submission another one is due in the next 3-4 days' time. :S There is no time to even think too much about the quality of work. And school work aside, I still gotta get my preparation for SEP done. Visa application, accomodation etc.

And I guess my brain and energy capacity is slowly wearing out. Here's a manifestation of my fatigue and constant preoccupation with my work:

Wanted to get coffee for myself before lecture this afternoon, and a guy cut my line after staring into my cup of coffee. It left me puzzled until I too looked into my cup and finally realized what had happened....My cup was just filled with ice cubes with no coffee. I had forgotten to get the coffee from the dispenser!!