day.

Cheesy 龙

2012-01-20T19:14:00.002+08:00

Happy Chinese New Year! Enjoy this 龙 weekend hehe!^^v

Arrietty's song (Cover)

2012-01-04T01:45:00.001+08:00

Cover over a piano version of "Arrietty's song" originally by Cecile Corbel for the movie "The Borrower Arrietty"/"The Secret World of Arrietty", produced by Studio Ghibli (Its their 2nd newest release before "From up on poppy hill"). I really liked this song the first time I heard it, and its sung by Cecile, who is not a native Japanese singer. The original song is mainly played with the harp by herself and its recorded in many languages by the same singer as she is fluent in all of them (English, German, French, Italian etc) and also by another singer G.E.M. in Cantonese. Cecile apparently was a huge fan of Studio Ghibli and she sent them some of her demo tapes, which led the producer to choose her for this project. Its a haunting, mysterious, mystical sounding song (the original at least), which is quite fitting for the movie I guess.

I have yet to see the movie, but shall do so soon! It won the Animation of the year (2010) at the 34th Japan Academy Awards. I think it wouldn't beat the older movies but should be a enjoyable film nonetheless.

So here's the video complete with english subtitles I made:

Arrietty's Song
originally by Cecile Corbel
from "The Secret World of Arrietty"
-

I'm 14 years old, I'm pretty
元気な小さい Lady
床下にずっと借りぐらししてたの
I'm 14 years old and I'm pretty
Genki na Chiisai Lady
Yukashita ni zutto Karigurashi shitetano

時にはHappy, 時にはBlue,
誰かに会いたい
Toki ni wa Happy Toki ni wa Blue
Dareka to Aitai

風髪に感じて空を眺めたい
あなたに花届けたい
Kaze kami ni kanshite, Sora wo nagametai
Anata ni hana todoketai

向こうは別の世界
ほら蝶々が舞ってる私を待っている
Mukou wa wake no sekai
Hora chou-chou ga matteru, Watashi wo matteiru

そう、変わることのないわたしの小さい世界
嫌いじゃないのでもあなたを
もっともっと知りたくて
Sou, Kawaru kotono nai, Watashi no Chiisai Sekai
Kirai janai no, demo anata wo
Motto, Motto Shiritakute

喜びと悲しみはいつも折り混ざってゆく
Yorokobi to kanashimi wa itsumo ori mazatteyuku

風髪に感じて空を眺めたい
あなたに花届けたい
Kaze kami ni kanjite, Sora wo nakametai
Anata ni hana todoketai

向こうは別の世界
ほら蝶々が舞ってるあなたを待っている
Mukou wa wake no sekai
Hora chou-chou ga matteru, anata wo matteiru

太陽の下で花に囲まれて
あなたと日々過ごしたい
この想いを胸に新しい世界で
私らしく生きる
Taiyou no shimo de, Hana ni kakoimawate
Anata to hibi sugoshitai
Kono omoi wo mune ni atarashii sekai de
Watashi rashiku ikiru

The original:

Futomaki sushi

2012-01-02T21:37:00.001+08:00

Woke up this morning and realised I ran out of breakfast foods (bread, cereal, pasta) so finally can't procrastinate using the sushi ingredients I bought way back. Been meaning to make some, but kept putting it off. So decided to make some futomaki sushi with the limited ingredients I have in the fridge.

Watched the another 'cooking with dog' video to remind myself how to do the omelette:

And then made mine!

Its really easy. If you work fast, the whole affair takes ~30mins I would say. :)
Excuse the really humble ingredients. (u.u)

and instant miso soup.

Back to work~

11 mins of glorious fire in the sky

2012-01-01T20:56:00.000+08:00

Good morning!~

I think by now its safe to say every country in the world is already in the year 2012. Woke up this morning to see BBC's video of last night's spectacular SPECTACULAR fireworks display at the London eye online. And after watching it I must say they really went all out with this one, seeing as the Olympics is starting this summer. 2012 is also the year that marks the Queen's Diamond Jubilee to celebrate 60 years of reign. Hence, economic woes and regional instability issues aside, these are some few causes for celebration.

Hence I've heard that it would be worth seeing this year, but as usual the crowd is a deterrent, so opted to try watching it on Primrose Hill instead, which was packed with a sizeable crowd over the entire top of the hill. The advantage is that you can get a really pretty paranomic view of the city, and that means you can see MANY MANY fireworks spot all at once (I didn't know there were so many in the UK!) including the London eye one. But the disadvantage is of course, you're are not under the umbrella of the fireworks with the sounds of the explosions ringing in your ear and the lights lighting up the entire sky in the field of your vision, but watching it from a distance. So the whole time I was like AHHH I WISHED I WAS OVER THERE! ah well, there is always the BBC video to remind myself of what I missed. X.X i shall try to brave the crowds next year perhaps if I have friends who are gungho enough. (D, A? :D)

I would say London won the best fireworks display this year. :) What do you think?

Some photos of the day:

Started my day by watching 2nd half of the annual NHK Kohaku Uta Gassen stream online. Ayu was the opening act probably cause she needs to rush to her own countdown live. Here's a relatively clear video:

Look out for 1.40 mins where there is a neat surprise! (highlight below for hint)

( Her dress is not what it seems! )

The red (female) team won! After the last years years of domination by the white team (male). :)

Went to Natural History Museum to meet CS on her last day in London enroute to Canada for exchange.

Then joined her relatives for afternoon tea at Mandarin Oriental Hotel which they said was the best they have tried in London.

Then went to a Chang's noodles near British Museum for Henan and Sichuan food (Lamb knife cut noodles) which was a nice warming meal for winter days. After which went to their house for a short stay until close to midnight when we joined Liz at Primrose Hill. (I sooo need a good camera for night shots!)

There were many people setting off Kong Ming Lanterns.

Anyway Happy New Year! :D

Another New Year

2011-12-31T00:21:00.007+08:00

Yet another year has passed. In another 24 hours' time, it's going to be a new year for everyone. For me, this year is significantly different from the last, which is, too, significantly different from the preceding one. The recent years have all proved to be of extreme instability and perhaps a perfect example to illustrate the concept of change.

Same old — new year, new resolutions. What is a new year without the setting of new goals and targets anyway? The problem is that I can't even bear to give 2012 a thought. It's unnerving to realize so many things at once. All of a sudden, I'm no longer a teen. A year later, I'm an adult. Graduation after graduation, people meet, people leave. Everything is suddenly zooming past me like a whirlwind.

Or maybe it's just me (I did think of this). Maybe it's just me complicating life. Me putting too much thought into irrelevant issues that I stop being aware of the more important aspects in life, only to find out that I have missed so much when I snap out of my trance one day. So yeah, maybe, just maybe.

In any case, I'm pretty proud to announce that my life is back on track. Education, love, finance-wise, all looking good, at least for now that is but I'm an easily contented girl. I have my insecurities at times but I shall blame that on hormonal imbalance instead hah.

In the coming year, here's my list of resolutions:

1) Leave my hair long (all guys prefer long hair, no?)

2) Save up! (for, you know, future...)

3) Understand myself more (which is pretty difficult because the older you grow, the more you realize that you are onehellfafickle&baffling bitch, or at least that is what I think. Plus I genuinely believe that I need to understand what I want before I can give others what they want, especially when views don't agree.)

4) Survive in school (I say survive because I'm starting to feel the insignificance of papers to come by the mathematical concept called average)

5) Be happier (as with every year, naturally. Which, I realize, has got something to do with being a fool at times.)

6) Everyone around me to be happier (because I do love all of you so.)

I think that's about it. They are somewhat simple, slightly boring, some may even consider them to be immature (in the sense that I ought to mention something about ambition, career, something more concrete, dream bigger etc. FYI, I already have a good idea of what I want with regards to that so don't worry, haters). Anyway, it's always the simplest wishes which are the hardest to fulfill.

As much as I fear, I still look forward a new year and I will live it spending quality time with my family and friends. I will accept all new challenges with faith and since I'm another year older, I will make wiser decisions.

So, yes I am ready. C'mon 2012, BRING IT ON.

鳥の詩 (Cover)

2011-12-30T02:13:00.000+08:00

Finally recorded "Tori no uta", a rather well-known song even by people who don't watch the anime AIR (It is the opening song). Its originally sung by Lia who did a few other songs for KEY animation. I say "finally" because I really like it, but never saved a recording because its a little difficult to get a decent one. Its a little challenging to sing because of the wider flucuations in pitch - I quote wikipedia: "Lia's vocal range spans almost two octaves from F-sharp₄ to D₆." So....I think I went flat on the lower notes.

Anyway, here it this:

鳥の詩

Tori no uta from AIR (anime)

Originally by Lia

English translation from Atashi

We saw off the vanishing contrails

It was too glaring and I ran away- I was weak at all times

And regretting that I couldn’t stay unchanged since that day

That I couldn’t stay unchanged forever

I let go of your fingers

That bird still can’t fly well

But it’ll learn of slicing through the wind someday

An unreachable place still exists afar

Keeping my wish only to myself, I gaze at it

Children walk on the railroad tracks in summer

Exposing their bare feet to the blowing wind

I put my childhood days into the distance

I put the hope that takes off into my hands

We chased and chased the vanishing contrails

And overcame this hill, and since that day, they’ve stayed unchanged forever

So that it’ll be there for us readily

We can uphold the sea-godlike strength, certainly

The windmill’s blades spinning in that sky

Dream the same dream forever

I’m always gazing at the unreachable place

I kept my wish, the bird’s dream, to myself

When I look back, even if the cumulonimbus clouds

Concealing the sunburnt railroad tracks change shape

May we remember

The yesterday the seasons left behind

We chased and chased the vanishing contrails

And we burst into laughter at the too-early sign, forever

For our gazes to look straight ahead

Even if your hand is soaked in sweat, I won’t let go of it, always

We saw off the vanishing contrails

It was too glaring and I ran away- I was weak at all times

And regretting that I couldn’t stay unchanged since that day

That I couldn’t stay unchanged forever

I let go of your fingers

01:18

2011-12-27T01:15:00.003+08:00

Right, so this is the second post of the night. I'm just wondering - who still reads our blog? Like seriously, even I don't feel like reading my recent posts lol.

I just drove out with K's car on my own and oh god, it's such fun.

Yeah, that's the end of my random pointless post hahaha.

Season Greetings

2011-12-26T22:11:00.005+08:00

Ergh, I'm so terribly uninspired lately I can't stand myself. It's like I can't be bothered to dress up. I cheat and I throw on a leather jacket over everything and voila, I look put together. But no, I want new ideas, I need new styles. Le sigh.

Holidays pass real fast. I'm not exactly having a lot of fun but it's been satisfactory. I love my friends, family and my boyfriend. They have been great. I just feel like I lack something innately. Perhaps I have been too caught up with my bowels. My abdominal hasn't been looking great. I feel bloated most of the time and I was put on chlordiazepoxide and domperidone. It sucks. Or maybe it's that my skin is looking bad, though it's recovering.

On the other hand, I have been feeling accomplished. I'm kept busy with classes and occasions. There was so much on my to-do list! Genting trip, K's birthday, Christmas and New Year's Eve soon. It has been real fruitful. Pictures another time! I guess because of these consecutive parties that I had to organize that I am tired out. Fortunately, they all turned out successful and I am so proud of myself. Lots of friends showed up for K's BBQ and I received many compliments for the Christmas decorations during the house party. Attended K's friends' Christmas party on the eve of eve and I enjoyed myself immensely. I think it's lovely that I enjoy their company. They are really an awesome bunch.

As for the other aspect of my life, I am also indulging in Korean dramas till wee hours in the morning. Hyun Joong is just pure L.O.V.E. And then there's my boring hair that I tie up everyday. I am thinking of going dirty blonde just for the fun of it. I'm being fickle though - dirty blonde doesn't sound like it would go well with a qipao, does it?

Yeah, so that is mostly what goes on in my mind. It's not a lot but I'm occupied with them all the time. School's starting again soon and I wonder how I can make the best out of this semester. My recent CAP has been surprisingly not-as-bad (that means it's still bad sobs) considering the amount I studied. I got an A- for MKT1003X despite only reading the notes two days before the paper and not bringing in a textbook for an open-book format. Yes, everyone should take this mod. It's sadly boring but do it for your grades.

I think I am done updating on my life again! I don't think I sounded quite happy so I'm going to assure you now that YES I AM HAPPY. It's probably because I just hit twenty-one and ought to give my future some thought. It's scary how uncertain that can be so I'm deep in thought most of the time. But I am happy.

Till my next update!

Happy Boxing Day xx

コクリコ坂から From Up On Poppy Hill (Cover)

2011-12-26T08:34:00.003+08:00

A short cover of "Sayonara no natsu" さよならの夏 from the movie コクリコ坂から (From Up On Poppy Hill) by Goro Miyazaki, Studio Ghibli. Its a gentle and wistful kind of song. If you watch the trailer or read the plot of the movie, you'll find that the theme song actually does relate well to it.

さよならの夏

Originally by Aoi Teshima

Translation:

A ship veiled in the shining sea

leaves behind the steam of good-bye

If I went down that loose hill,

would I meet the summer coloured wind

My love is a melody

which I sing high and low

My love is a seagull

that flies high and low

If I tried to call out in the sunset,

I wonder if I'd encounter the gentle you

The sound of a piano that somebody plays
very much resembles the rumbling of the sea
Do the people who come and go late in the afternoon
carry a summer coloured dream too?
My love is a diary
that spells the pages of my life
My love is a boat
that goes throughout the empty sea
If I looked back in the sunset,
I wonder if you'd be looking for me

On the promenade shaking trees
cast shadows of good-bye
Can the old chapel and chicken weather vane
be seen in the summer coloured town
Yesterday's love is nothing more but tears
they will soon dry out and disappear
Tomorrow's love is a mere refrain -
words that have no end
If we met by chance in the sunset,
I wonder if you'd embrace me.

The trailer for the movie if you are interested:

いつかのメリークリスマス (Cover)

2011-12-25T08:31:00.000+08:00

Another recording done on christmas eve.

I wonder if I did the song justice?

いつかのメリークリスマス

Itsuka no Merry Christmas

Originally by B'z

The lights of December

Are slowly lit

And everyone comes to love

This frenetically dancing town

I rushed to the shops right before they closed
And bought the chair you wanted
Alone on the train, holding my package
I was happy

I felt like we could
Hold hands forever
Everything was sparkling
As we chased our dreams without a care

We smile at each other
As we think of how the day will come
When we’ll share all of both our happiness and our sadness
A merry Christmas one faded day

I sang as I followed the tracks to your house, hurrying a little
When you opened the door
You were busy making dinner

When I proudly showed you your present
You were happy from the bottom of your heart
At the sight of your face
I came right out and held you again

I felt like we could
Hold hands forever
Everything was sparkling
As we chased our dreams without a care

For the first time
I was afraid of losing you
A merry Christmas one day
When I realised what it was like to love somebody

Watching the light of the candles that lit up the room
I said we’d never be apart
And then suddenly
I cried, without even knowing why

I felt like we could
Hold hands forever
Everything was sparkling
As we chased our dreams without a care

For the first time
I was afraid of losing you
A merry Christmas one day
When I realised what it was like to love somebody

As I stand still someone hurries past me
Carrying their luggage with a happy face

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T02:57:00.000+08:00

Here are some of my favourite songs to listen to on this day. :) They all have a different mood. Which one is closest to yours?

Itsuka no Merry Christmas (Originally by B'z)
I really really like the lyrics.

SMILE (Myco)
A nice upbeat Christmas-y song.

Winter Wish (Love Hina)

by Yonekura Chihiro. Another memorable christmas anime insert songs.

Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
Do I plug this too much? A classic though.

If you are a fan of jpop, this is an excellent list you can check out for more songs :)

And lastly,
A short christmas medley.

Have yourself a merry little christmas!
Good night. :)

Food chronicle

2011-12-23T22:56:00.005+08:00

Alone again with darkening sky outside at 2pm. Had 3 hours of weak sunlight today. On the bright (haha) side, yesterday was winter solstice so that means I can start counting down to longer sunlight hours with each day. I really should be mugging now since there is nothing on, but I'm stuck refreshing tabs on my explorer (come on i know you do too). And when the stubborn stagnancy of that finally bores me (which is a feat since I'm beyond bored), I turn to growing imaginary crops, raising livestock, bribing/befriending villagers and wooing cute bachelors on an farming game (Harvest Moon: A Tale of Two Towns!). I've set my heart on Cam to wed my character to. Takes me an one to get through one day on it. #fml. Other sad things to do is grocery runs, housework (what little of it) and ddr to get my bum off the chair for a few hours. Can't complain much as its kinda like a self induced laziness I can only blame myself for, but hey! what are holidays for? All I can say is i'm not alone heh heh heh. not that it should be an excuse.

Anyway, spent like a good 40mins perhaps today making pancakes. Its a long time to take for a few pancakes, but I was determined to get nice looking ones, which entails low heat, max time.

Used the morinaga japanese pancake mix I got on a whim after some failed thin crepey ones I ended up with last time, cause fluffy ones are the best! And I'm happy with the result. :) Looks kinda like the box doesn't it?

The instructions were pretty detailed:

1 medium egg + 100ml milk, + 150g packet of mix.
beat up egg and milk, add mix, lightly mix till even and don't over mix.
heat up pan with medium fire, coat evenly with oil, don't leave droplets of oil or it won't brown evenly.
remove pan and place on a wet towel to distribute heat evenly.
replace pan on small fire.
pour a ladle of mixture from a height of ~30cm from pan.
heat till small bubbles appear on top ~3mins.
flip over pancake and cover pan with lid for about 2mins.
done and repeat! phew.

It tasted really nice with the tart cranberry sauce i made from a while back. now i'm really full. ><

Some previous food photos (to justify taking them):

Gave in to temptation and bought the bar version of the Pink Marc de Champagne Truffles I always see in posh departmental stores. Its really sweet (a little too sweet?) with a mild champagne taste in the filling. Hmm..perhaps the truffles will taste better, but I think the packaging is sweet.

Smoked salmon was on offer in Waitrose and I bought 9pds worth of it. 0.0 (Its in a packet!) Had many indulgent toast with smoked salmon for a few days but its not exactly healthy (salt!) so not buying anymore after its gone.

Homemade matcha latte! Its really simple and healthy. :) Good way to start a day, and alternative to coffee! (Has caffeine)

And Pierre Herme macaroons! Which I think is nicer than Laduree's in terms of flavour and its not as overly sweet. :)

I got the white truffle flavour (was always curious about how it tastes like exactly) and...well I don't think it really goes with macaroons. ^^; There is a nice pearly sheen to it though. :) 綺麗！

and also Chuao - Dark Chocolate and Blackcurrant. Which was a good match. Each costs 1.85pds. *_* Probably the most worth-your-cost dessert to make it yourself.

Anyway, I should be studying! Or at least trying to.

テルーの唄

2011-12-20T03:24:00.000+08:00

Hello. An update on my life. Its currently winter break now and London is being characteristically itself (rain and overcast skies.). The sun sets at 3ish mid afternoon and I'm home alone on my winter break thats not due to end until 3 weeks later. I should be studying, but haven't gotten into the hang of it yet, so i'm just being sedentary and wasting my time away. So, singing is just about the most calorie busting activity I have. Yup.

Acquired a new (ex!) microphone as a present recently, so here is a recording to celebrate! :) hmm...not fantastic but oh well! There are 2 versions, the 2nd is more similar to the original singer (Aoi Teshima's singing..i think) and so happens to be shorter by one verse. The first is more of my interpretation? Didn't try and imitate her airy style(?). You probably can't tell the difference perhaps, so I shall cut the crap. =_= Until i can decide which to keep, here's both! @.@

#1

Cover of "テルーの唄" (Teru no uta) originally by Aoi teshima from the movie "ゲド戦記" (Tales from Earthsea).

Lyrics translation:

At twilight above the clouds, the hawk which is always flying alone, must be sad.
In the midst of the silent wind, he cannot rest his wings that are clutching the air.

What can I compare my heart to?
My heart is like the hawk's.
What can I compare my heart to?
I feel sad just like him wheeling in the sky.

In the shadow of a rock in the drizzling rain, a small flower in bloom, must be painful.
In the dim coloured rain, she has no one to touch and love her faint peach petals.

What can I compare my heart to?
My heart is like the flower's.
What can I compare my heart to?
I feel as painful as being exposed to the rain.

Copper

2011-12-12T20:46:00.002+08:00

My new copper nails looks almost minx, so friggin' rad I can't stop admiring.

Hi All

2011-12-09T21:06:00.005+08:00

SURPRISE! Yes, I'm not dead. Just been suffering from the lack of inspiration lately. And I really mean it with respect to every single little thing. It's like I'm in a bubble looking at the world to which I can't reach, and neither can it reach me. It is quite a funny feeling, really. Kind of quaint in fact. Not threatening-quaint, but hmmmm-quaint, if you get what I mean.

(Actually, I blame it on my defunct laptop which I haven't got to repairing it. In it are links to my sources of inspiration here and there, little bits of my past and present, and naturally, some dark secrets of mine.)

On another note, Christmas is coming and that excites me. I'm not a crazy over Christmas but I always appreciate a good occasion to get together. What better than Christmas with all its festivities already brewing all over town? I have even got my Christmas tree up and going ;)

And that concludes my short update on my life. As for the rest untold, they are all mighty good ♥

Archipelago Restaurant

2011-12-02T09:37:00.001+08:00

Had an exotic, one-of-a-kind dinner with T today, at Archipelago, a fusion cuisine restaurant near my place.

When we first went in there were no other guests in the restaurant, and so I was feeling like "uhoh" is this a bad sign? The decor was an ecletic mish mash of stuff from asia (india, china, japan) and tribal witch-doctor like stuff, and the attendants look pretty epic too, so it added to the intimidating atmosphere, which was strangely still friendly. One of the waitress looks like she was from the adams family as T remarked. She had a tattoo of a pharaoh. How cool is that? We had a reservation but T forgot the password which turned out to be Seahorse. The waitress was teasingly insistent on it but she gave up in the end. Later on the rest of the restaurant guests turned up. turns out they were fully booked with a party as well!

Anyway, on to the exotic dishes!

Canapes.

Starter: Caymen Islands

This was really nice! Its crocodile meat in vine leaves. the plum sauce went well with it. :)

Side: Love bug salad - Locusts and Crickets on a salad bed.
Insects were not as bad as we thought. I liked the crickets better than the locust. tried the bugs on their own first, which tasted like crunchy fried something. and then had it with the leaves, which was a good combination as the crunch of the exoskeleton gave the salad texture. :) The only thing was having to stop myself from thinking about what i'm eating and prevent the gag reflex.

Main: Kilamanjaro Cossack
This is "rich gnu & shitake mushroom stroganoff with roasted root vegetables". The better main of the two we had. The meat was tender and the stew tasted good! The naan was average though. beetroot salad was ok.

Main: Hottentot's Crossing
- "seared zebra with a port & juniper sauce and sour green mango soba noodles"
I liked the fusion style here for the soba. Zebra was a little chewy/tough, but otherwise is quite similar to pork.

Lastly, dessert was ....Chocolate Scorpion! Well it sounded exciting, but I was imagining the scorpion's pincer to be half my thumb size but its more like the whole scorpion was thumb sized. =_= Its tiny! And doesn't taste like much. Chocolate with a crunchy interior like choc rice crispies. lol. oh well. the drink was nice though!

The bill aka. damage.

But I think overall it was an worthy experience. :) Would recommend Archipelago!

Happy 21st XH!

2011-11-16T04:23:00.001+08:00

The youngest of us is now a legal adult! :D

Since poetry/writing is one of your favourite hobbies (and not what I'm particularly good at :P), here's a happy birthday poem just for you!

Once upon a time you were born,
And came into this world of tricks,
Pleasing all you saw or heard you,
Quickly growing into the one and only zoeychrix.

You learn and gain experiences, find loves and joys,
Woes and pains, hobbies such as writing or art,
Discover likings for cats and fluffy things,
And with each year grow increasingly smart.

Years pass, and you look back at times you loved,
Times you hated and times you missed.
And though at times your life may be hard,
You should always remember that life is full of bliss.

So, today, a momentous occasion that it is,
An important and exciting celebratory DAY,
I'd like to take this opportunity (with the Van),
To wish you a most wonderfully amazing birthday!生日快樂!

[ Outsourced to Tom X) ]

Distant Worlds

2011-11-09T02:11:00.001+08:00

Was out for the whole day last Saturday, which is rare for a homebody like me.

Met Rach and QY for breakfast as it was a rare occasion for QY to come down from Southampthon. Was a really good catching up session in Le Pain at Royal Festival Hall, which I think is becoming one of my favourite places in London, having been there 2x times last week and many times before for concerts. :)

The weather was chilly already then, but today's extra chilliness really signalled the end of autumn. Winter is definitely on her way soon. Even the sun sets at 4.30pm recently.

After they had to leave, I went hunting for my upcoming Iceland trip's gear near Covent garden. I was quite worried about the harsh conditions I imagined it would be like and bought tons of stuff like woolen socks, hiking boots, gloves, base layer etc. But, after asking around more, it shouldn't be too cold yet around the time I'm supposed to go. Some of the store assistants I sought help from most probably either exaggerated stuff or was misinformed. =_=

Went into Laduree's shop and bought some macaroons for tasting. Its a well-known brand, and whilst I think it is nice, its probably slightly over-rated?

Got the sea salt and caramel and orange blossom flavour. its 1.60pds each. $$

And then went over to Lai's house for pre-show piano jam! Which consisted of her playing ff pieces and me listening. lol. I could only hazard a few half-assed pieces from my one-month long piano training.
Then had dinner at some Japanese place before heading to the grand-looking Royal Albert Hall. Saw some cosplayers on the way there.

The venue! It was a good concert which I believe for ff fans, is pure heaven to reminsce the familiar songs they hear when playing. For me actually, only a few pieces are familiar like To Zanakard, Eyes on Me etc, as the lack of PS, XBOX and other platforms meant I couldn't play ff games even if I would love to. Its sad to say I've only played the really old ones I to IV. X) but listening and picking out the themes from those games during the concert brought out a pleasant nostalgic feeling. (uhoh i sense at this point in life i'm already starting to reminsce about childhood. Noooo!~~~)

The Maestro himself. Nobuo Uematsu who composed all but 1 of the songs that night. He came off as very quirky and cheery!

Anyway, recorded quite a few videos (HD quality! XP) and posted them on youtube, so here~!

for more, just go to my channel's page! Happy watching! <3

The Secret of the Unicorn

2011-11-04T10:02:00.004+08:00

Watched Tintin at cineworld in canary wharf today. Was quite excited to see it after watching the trailer, and I'm happy to say it lived up to my expectations. Its pretty much as promised in the trailer. The pacing was good, the animation was quality stuff and it had many familiar funny moments and outrageously crazy scenes. Would recommended it, especially if you are a fan of the comic. I recall during my younger days, when I frequented the library more often, Tintin was one of the book series I really liked as I am a mystery genre fan. I would often try to find one that I haven't read, and I think I've completed the series then.

Had tapas for dinner at La Tasca after with 2-4-1. It was good-average food and the place was nice, service was good etc, but the portion size was not really worth the bill if it was full price (4 small battered prawns for 5pds?!) Each dish below averages 4.50pds.

Then saw a.....

...mouse on the underground for the first time. they scamper really really quickly. There were a few more in the tracks playing catch.

Anyway, bedtime!
Adios!

Surely I Will Regret This

2011-11-03T04:09:00.000+08:00

Surely I will regret this tomorrow morning, but I am unable to turn otherwise from what it is that consumes me tonight, although I have done an admirable job of disregarding that which has been eating away at me for awhile.

I have set the fan in my room to moderate strength in a bid to dry my hair. Yes my hair is drying but it makes my arms cold. At the same time I imagine there is fire all around me because something is consuming me and fire is a good approximation. Under fans flames dance, they burn. Cold fire... which burns. How strange. Everything is strange these days. Normalcy is old news. I never read the same thing twice. But since these are strange days, rules go out the window, and I read the same things again. Again and again and again.

Why? It is a very good question to ask in a quiet and serious manner. I imagine someone asking me why earnestly, keenly, leaning forward and obviously interested in what I have to answer. But I have no answer. We are all afraid of answers these days. In school we are encouraged to ask questions and Think Critically. That's what I try to do too, in life. That is what I would reply. That I am still Thinking About It.

But has it ever occurred to you that all of that is bullshit? There are obviously answers on this Earth. There are many many answers. That is how we can do exams. Because some things are right, and some things are wrong. If not the final result, there is at least a right process. Not that we are any better at acknowledging processes.

It's a problem fundamentally about absolutes. Absolutes mean we could lose if we choose. So we don't. We beat around the bush until the bush grows and grows and eventually it obscures us from what was once so clear. In all probability, what was clear still is. It has simply been obscured.

It's a case of schrodinger's cat. When left alone, we both do not really know and are certain of an answer. But once asked, we are forced to choose one or the other. We are greedy and lazy beings who don't want to lose. So we do not choose. We train ourselves in the art of circumventing answers. But we have forgotten a very crucial aspect in our training. We forgot to train ourselves to not desire answers.

An assassin is ready to kill, but the most successful assassin is both ready to kill and ready to die. How many mortal beings have the courage to be ready to die? If we are not prepared to choose, we do not deserve answers, we deserve to lose. At least losers still have schrodinger's cat for company. If you ask me if that's a fair existence I am forced to choose and I will say yes. But otherwise, it is both a desired and undesired form of existence.

We live to die eventually anyway, why do we keep escaping the truth? The one truth that was, and still is, the answer?

Ryuichi Sakamoto

2011-11-03T01:54:00.000+08:00

Went for his World Tour Trio Concert yesterday at the Royal Festival Hall which costed 32pds for rear stalls, but you get to watch it for free! They recorded and put it up for viewing, so this was what I saw:

(its very suitable for playing as accompaniment to work/study)

It was a performance very true to him I feel. He was in his own world, playing his songs and not entirely aware or worried about how the audience would think.

I only really knew 2 pieces well before the concert, which is "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" (at 48mins) and "The last emperor" (101min) since I saw the latter on film. The former was when my general paper teacher played it in class as a background music during some computerised quiz we were taking. (Thanks Mr. Cheong! X))

It started off with many slow, ambient pieces, then broke into his more known compositions and then ended with his newer, more experimental pieces.

His violinist was Judy Kang, who auditioned in a contest for the tour and made the part. Both the cellist and her were pretty good. The sound of her violin brought out the vibrancy of Sakamoto's pieces which tend to be more quiet and soft.

The show ended 1.5 hours later where he came out for 3 encores. :)

The crowd turnout had a significant proportion of Japanese and Asian people, and was younger than the previous classical performances I went to.

Overall, it was a performance that was worth the experience. Though watching the recording is a close second!

I would recommend:
@31mins: Seven Samurai ending theme
@48mins: Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence
@101mins: The Last Emperor
@107mins: Check out the cute moment
@109mins: happy end

Happy listening!

Halloween

2011-11-01T08:25:00.001+08:00

Carved a pumpkin just like the year before despite busy schedule. This one is a medium sized one vs. the huge one last year. So its more fuss free and manageable. :) Good for a quick carve.

Any mundane-ness experienced while carving it was gone once it was lit up. Success! See the evil grin in the eye!

Toffee apples.

Toffee apple are really really nice! (nicer than it looks!)
Its the dry candied sweetness of the toffee with the mild juicy sweetness of the apple = <3

Watched Halloween 3, Season of the witch, which was ok but a little gimmicky reminiscent of older horror films.

Also had a pleasant shock when 4 kids came trick or treating. Gave them what little sweets I had. A 2nd group came later and more maltesers were gone. They were all soo cute! Wish I had photos but didn't know if they would have minded. Dont think people my age qualify for trick or treat anymore. :( hmm...

Anyway,
Happy Halloween!

Happy Birthday to D.

2011-10-24T06:42:00.001+08:00

To be read.

Here's wishing you, a lovely 21st!

♥

2011-10-15T01:21:00.005+08:00

Got to love bombarding K's webcam folder with my face.

And the photos which follow are for those who kind of inferred from one source or another that I am down/upset/emotional. Don't worry - my life is perfect as it is. Have fun cringing! ^^"

x♥x HY

In a Café I'm Forever21

2011-10-02T02:26:00.001+08:00

It has obviously been too long since I've engaged in any creative work for leisure. Of course, I'd been Photoshopping like mad for Start-Up@Singapore but that doesn't count. Time is so scarce and precious these days that I'm wont to spend it on anything personal unless absolutely necessary. Primarily these necessary me-time take the form of leisurely meals because that's about the only thing I can do on campus, and if I don't take any time out to breathe, I will surely go mad.

So why have I spent the time tonight to draw this?

Because while time is difficult to come by, harder still, is inspiration.

I meant to go to Gloria Jean's to study today. And I did. I read half of the notes I needed to cover for Biodiversity midterm on Tuesday. But sitting in a café is never merely just sitting in a café. It's a time for me to gather myself and my thoughts. In between reading my notes, I found my mind drifting off to other things, helped along by the songs the café was playing. These thoughts will remain mine alone, suffice it to say they were pensive yet inspirational. I think that helped in no small measure, influenced by what I ate, to later inspire the outfits above while I was on the train home. Pumpkin Scone and Irish Nut Créme Latte. Yes, I have to order the most exotic food on the menu, as always.

A half day out turned into a full day affair when I couldn't resist the lure of shopping because I was in a mall. That doesn't make sense to you, but you haven't been cooped up in school for days in a row and kept out of town because of work, work and more work. Being able to be in a mall is a rarity and luxury in itself. The tribal themed clothing in F21 and my penchant for shirts somehow sparked the idea for the first look and I subsequently thought of the rest.

It's seriously been a long time since I last drew anything, much less touched my color pencils. The lack of practice is duly reflected, but again, even leisure has to be rationed and there just isn't time for perfection. It's a pity that all that passion has to go to waste because of more practical pursuits in life. If I could have life my way, I'd just sit in cafés all day long (all around the world!) to be inspired and channel that inspiration to drawing or writing or simply, creating. Because surely that is more worthwhile than passively going through the motions, like what my life has mostly reduced to now.

Life isn't measured by the number of days you lived, but the number of days you remember. And what better way to remember than creating tangibles to help you remember the days gone by? Intangibles... That's fodder for another post, not now.

Thoughts in a dark room

2011-09-27T20:09:00.004+08:00

I have been thinking, since my twenty first is drawing close, that I am afraid. I'm afraid of the future, what life is going to bring me. I'm afraid I would never reach my goals. I'm afraid of the lurking uncertainty. I have come to realize that as one ages, his experiences will weigh him down. Particularly so because one cannot unsee, unhear, undo or even unfeel things that they have once gone through. Sadly, pain and trauma follow their owner for a lifetime, I think. They become this persistant burden that grows heavier and heavier as years go by. Yet, on the other hand, one is able to unbelieve, untrust and undream so easily. And at the very end, this just makes the world an enormous sphere of negativity, nothing more.

Summer gone.

2011-09-26T12:22:00.002+08:00

Well here it is again, the day before i return to a different place, climate, life, 2nd home. My luggage is unpacked and I am surprisingly not very worried about it, just feeling a little sad again. Didn't think I would feel emo, but its a little like that. Mainly because I'll wonder how the family will function without extra household help (not that i claim to be a BIG help. idk.) and of course, no more homely comforts. Back to independent living. And the cold. I'm not looking forward to the freezing short sunlight hours, and potential for winter weight gain. :/

So hows, a last post before I get busy clearing stuff in the room etc.

Had a hair cut finally after 1 year of not doing so. Its a lot lighter and cooler now, which made me think i should have probably done it sooner at the start of summer. So it went from this (which should be my longest ever, what i call Mori（もり）森 　hair, because it looks like i've been living in the forest without access to salons.)

To this....
I miss the length already!
Plus without the length to weigh the natural waves down, its slightly more messy now. (the photo below is after blow-drying straight so it doesn't show!)
But, not cutting is not an option cause if i don't, the next time i come back it will be おばけ(ghost) style instead of 森 style。
heh heh. Jk.

After colouring/highlighting again at Salon, then met up with Carol and Soph at Crystal Jade Kitchen for Dim Sum yesterday.

oh and also, decided to bling phone again!
Granted, 3D bling is not very convenient, but I'e ALWAYS wanted to try it after seeing them repeatedly in Gyaru/Jap magazines, so here it is!
I hope it lasts...

And...also another item which i spied and Watsons and decided to buy it again to satisfy the wants from reading the above source. Its really pigmented and in a cute colour (Macaroon Pink!) which you rarely find in western make up brands I feel. Candydoll by Tsubasa Masukawa! Ok well i'm not that much a fan of hers nor that into Gyaru e.g. Popteen style anymore. X)

Mehhh I should go pack nowwww!
Till next time!~

Striped

2011-09-26T08:29:00.002+08:00

The start of he second half of the school term - Let's go!

Stained glass deco

2011-09-17T21:49:00.003+08:00

Hello! as usual, summer break + itchy fingers + personalisation tendencies =

Inspired by CLAMP styled wings. (Think cardcaptor sakura :P) I've always been in love with the shape of their wings. Its really simple but cute. ^^ Hopefully this will last. I've already redone it once as the last one was a bit bunged up due to the lack of varnishing (stupid me.)

Also did one for my door/window in uk. This is how it looks before its dried. Cinnamonroll (The food by the same name is <3 too! (>u<) ) is another one of my favourite characters from SANRIO, other than Little Twin Stars. I'm not too much of a Hello Kitty fan despite its popularity. I think I like the pastel schemes of the former two more.

Dried and varnished with clear nail polish. I decided to do the varnish after realising how delicate this is. The surface will adhere to surfaces e.g. glass hence ANYTHING that touches it kinda screws it up. If you look at the green balloon, you can see the remnants of a brown book's cover (those which are fiberous). I'm quite mad. They are also very easily stretched out of shape, so the varnish helps.

The affordable kit.

So~ if you ever need an alternative to rhinestones and bling, you can try this. Its peel-able with minimal damage to phone. I think a little bit of the colour runs into the white backing, but its fine. It's kinda works like silicon backings etc you usually see with phone covers, but they are a little too rubbery and obstructive-looking on a phone i feel. Its like all that trouble to reduce the sizes of phones and make it look sleek and shiny, but it gets covered up with all those protectors anyway.

じゃね！
ゆりあ。

2011-09-16T19:52:00.003+08:00

Life has been well despite furious studying for the CAs. I have been indulging in coffee and occasional retail therapy.

Got a bacteria infection on my cartilage a few days ago and saw a doctor for it. Somehow, I feel sicker after taking Amoxicillin. ):

On a chirpier note, papers have been treating me well and I can't wait for Monday to be here!

BACK TO MED CHEM XX

中秋夜

2011-09-13T01:13:00.001+08:00

DAYと一生にThe Centralでの時。

At an RC organised mid-autumn event in Sembawang.

At Home.

祝中秋节快乐.

明月几时有？把酒问青天。

不知天上宫阙，今夕是何年。

我欲乘风归去，又恐琼楼玉宇，高处不胜寒。

起舞弄清影，何似在人间！

转朱阁，低绮户，照无眠。

不应有恨，何事长向别时圆？

人有悲欢离合，月有阴晴圆缺，此事古难全。

但愿人长久，千里共婵娟。

Remember 9.11

2011-09-11T23:29:00.000+08:00

I can hardly believe it's been a decade. It felt like yesterday.

I'm back!

2011-09-05T02:01:00.006+08:00

I'm going to come back to blogging here because, I realized, that keeping my thoughts unpublished and to myself is taking a very bad toll on me.

I don't mean I'm unhappy. I'm not. It's just that I can get pretty cranky out of the blue for no reason at times and this upsets me (and the people around me I would assume).

And I said for no reason because there is really none. I can't fathom my life more complete than this moment. All because THIS is what is happening to my life currently--

I don't think I have seen myself smile like this in ages. I mean, fine, this is (I admit) under the influence of alcohol of some sorts but hey, look at me, I look fucking happy, no?

Exams are coming up and I'm facing (minor) issues at home but I will pull through this. Have survived and will continue to survive.

Adiposed

2011-09-05T01:57:00.002+08:00

ZOMG this is taken 2 years ago before Van flew for UK and...

WE ARE SO FUCKEN SKINNY.

omg. best chocolate cake i've had.

2011-08-25T17:24:00.001+08:00

Its inexpensive (relatively) and very very nice!

I'm surprised. Its not too sweet, light at the top with a nice satisfying crunch layer of hazelnut flakes.

I think i can feel an impending sore throat.

As described from Four Leaves website:

"Coco Exotic" - A delectable treat for "chocoholics", filled generously with light chocolate mousse and crunchy hazelnut flakes.

yup. so anyway, this is a random post but just felt nice cakes should be shared. XD

The nearing end

2011-07-11T00:58:00.000+08:00

8th July

2011-07-09T13:23:00.000+08:00

Thanks D and A for the pretty bouquet! Can't wait for 22nd! ;p

Itsumo nando demo (live)

2011-06-27T15:26:00.001+08:00

Tommievan

it's calling out from deep within the heart
I always want to dream cheerful dreams
sadness can never be counted but
I will be able to see you on the other side
every time people repeat mistakes,
they know the blue of the simply blue sky
it seems as if the road continues endlessly but
these hands can find light
the quiet heart when parting
the ear listens as the body changes to zero
living, mysterious, dying, mysterious
the flower, the wind, the city; they're the same
it's calling out from deep within the heart
let's draw out dreams always, numerous times
instead of stating the number of sadness
sing softly with the same lips
even in the closing memories, there are always
whispers that cannot be forgotten
even on the shattered mirror shards,
a new scenery is reflected
the quiet window on the beginning morning
the body that is changing to zero is being pleased
I won't search beyond the sea from now
the shining thing is always here,
it can be found within myself

Wuthering Heights

2011-06-25T01:11:00.003+08:00

Just finished the first book on my summer reading list. I do like how the story was narrated to its readers through Lockwood (tenant) and Mrs. Dean (Housekeeper) via secondary account, and it is rather intense and sometimes heart wrenching. Though it makes me wonder very much if Catherine had just married Heathcliff despite possibly leading a beggar's life, would all these tragedies be avoided. I guess if Heathcliff had known how Catherine felt (he did not overhear her conversation to Mrs Dean in its entirety and fled after hearing "It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now") He might not have been driven to this extreme. Hmm..just some lingering thoughts. There also does not seem to be a single main character in there who has no blame in the happenings. Most of the characters described have many character flaws, which is probably why i don't really side wholeheartedly with any one character. idk, but i do sympathize with Edgar Linton more, though his role in the story is quite simple. But overall, Wuthering Heights does indeed deserve being one of the greatest novels of all time. Quite a good read!

Some of my favourite and more enlightening and pivotal quotations/paragraphs:

'This is nothing,' cried she: 'I was only going to say that heaven did not seem to be my home; and I broke my heart with weeping to come back to earth; and the angels were so angry that they flung me out into the middle of the heath on the top of Wuthering Heights; where I woke sobbing for joy. That will do to explain my secret, as well as the other. I've no more business to marry Edgar Linton than I have to be in heaven; and if the wicked man in there had not brought Heathcliff so low, I shouldn't have thought of it. It would degrade me to marry Heathcliff now; so he shall never know how I love him: and that, not because he's handsome, Nelly, but because he's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same; and Linton's is as different as a moonbeam from lightning, or frost from fire.'

'I think that's the worst motive you've given yet for being the wife of young Linton.'

'It is not,' retorted she; 'it is the best! The others were the satisfaction of my whims: and for Edgar's sake, too, to satisfy him. This is for the sake of one who comprehends in his person my feelings to Edgar and myself. I cannot express it; but surely you and everybody have a notion that there is or should be an existence of yours beyond you. What were the use of my creation, if I were entirely contained here? My great miseries in this world have been Heathcliff's miseries, and I watched and felt each from the beginning: my great thought in living is himself. If all else perished, and heremained, I should still continue to be; and if all else remained, and he were annihilated, the universe would turn to a mighty stranger: I should not seem a part of it.—My love for Linton is like the foliage in the woods: time will change it, I'm well aware, as winter changes the trees. My love for Heathcliff resembles the eternal rocks beneath: a source of little visible delight, but necessary. Nelly, I amHeathcliff! He's always, always in my mind: not as a pleasure, any more than I am always a pleasure to myself, but as my own being. So don't talk of our separation again: it is impracticable; and—'

- Catherine Earnshaw, to Mrs Dean, on the subject of her agreeing to marry Linton despite loving Heathcliff.

'You teach me now how cruel you've been—cruel and false. Why did you despise me? Why did you betray your own heart, Cathy? I have not one word of comfort. You deserve this. You have killed yourself. Yes, you may kiss me, and cry; and wring out my kisses and tears: they'll blight you—they'll damn you. You loved me—then what right had you to leave me? What right—answer me—for the poor fancy you felt for Linton? Because misery and degradation, and death, and nothing that God or Satan could inflict would have parted us, you, of your own will, did it. I have not broken your heart—youhave broken it; and in breaking it, you have broken mine. So much the worse for me that I am strong. Do I want to live? What kind of living will it be when you—oh, God! would you like to live with your soul in the grave?'

'Let me alone. Let me alone,' sobbed Catherine. 'If I’ve done wrong, I'm dying for it. It is enough! You left me too: but I won't upbraid you! I forgive you. Forgive me!'

'It is hard to forgive, and to look at those eyes, and feel those wasted hands,' he answered. 'Kiss me again; and don’t let me see your eyes! I forgive what you have done to me. I love my murderer—butyours! How can I?'

-Heathcliff, to Catherine when she is gravely ill and shortly before her death.

"That, however, which you may suppose the most potent to arrest my imagination, is actually the least, for what is not connected with her to me? and what does not recall her? I cannot look down to this floor, but her features are shaped on the flags! In every cloud, in every tree—filling the air at night, and caught by glimpses in every object by day, I am surrounded with her image! The most ordinary faces of men and women—my own features—mock me with a resemblance. The entire world is a dreadful collection of memoranda that she did exist, and that I have lost her!"

- Heathcliff, after Catherine's death towards the last of his days when he no longer seeks revenge.

And the beautiful, but slightly sad concluding paragraph to all the decades of love, misery and vengeance:

"I sought, and soon discovered, the three headstones on the slope next the moor: the middle one grey, and half buried in the heath; Edgar Linton's only harmonised by the turf and moss creeping up its foot; Heathcliff's still bare.

I lingered round them, under that benign sky: watched the moths fluttering among the heath and harebells, listened to the soft wind breathing through the grass, and wondered how any one could ever imagine unquiet slumbers for the sleepers in that quiet earth."

- Lockwood, upon visiting the graves of the 3 people whose triangle relationship started it all.

Dinner&dessert

2011-06-24T13:39:00.000+08:00

Birthday Cake Surprise, Founder's Favourite and Strawberry/banana ice-cream. <3

Had a good catch up talk. Since both D and A are working, that means only night meets are possible! Dinner was at a japanese restaurant in Orchard central which was quite good and dessert at Cold Stone Creamery was heavenly. I guess that queue was worth it. :)

Back to SG - A post to re-orientate self.

2011-06-18T21:43:00.000+08:00

Reached Singapore in the early morning today after a direct 14hours flight. Cabbed home in the rain and gave instructions back to the familiar block of flats. Singapore on an early Saturday morning is peaceful. Everything seems the same, except the lift has been refurbished and the house is a lot emptier now. Came home to a sleeping brother. Parents will only be back at night. Hurriedly unpacked most of the baggage, showered and broke my glasses AGAIN, after it slipped from my nose to the marble floor. Stupid loose screw finally caused a disaster. Now surviving on a very old pair of glasses which only allows perfect vision 1 metre away. sigh. i want lasik. Then took a 6hours nap(sleep?), the beginnings of jetlag. I shall endeavour to sleep by 12-1am tonight.

Still feeling a little disorientated. What do i do this summer? There is a list of small tasks i should attempt to clear soon.

Left my retainers in London. :/

But on a brighter note, DAY meeting tomorrow. :)

Shedding

2011-06-14T22:15:00.005+08:00

I am turning into a boring person because while I feel the urge to purge, I have nothing interesting to share at all. The ticking hands of time, so to speak, amplify the headache consuming me. I don't bring my charger back from work so as to minimise the amount of computer time I have. I have 43... no, 46 more minutes. The time keeps changing.

It's also the time of the month. And fever, that familiar friend, is playing games with my mind. My throat dies so much faster during these periods (ha ha) and I nervously gulp water down as if I am drinking health and life itself back into me. Life has pretty much been a blur of work, friends, drinks and music of late. Food too, for I have been eating a lot - I know it when I don't get tummy discomforts prior to my periods.

When you end up talking about your endometrium, you know you're really boring. Perhaps it's not so much that I don't have anything better to reflect on, but that there are things that I choose not to reflect upon. Back when I was more contemplative, I was unhappier, I think. Now that life is speeding by, I only seem to have time to watch my wallet and my health. The mind is neglected and sits in my skull forlorn.

Here is where I draw a blank and can't go on. No solutions, no plans.

I shall go rest my head and throat.

Halfway

2011-06-10T05:46:00.002+08:00

Year 2 is over!
extramural interview and aquarium tomorrow. :)

Pretty in Pink

2011-06-03T21:39:00.000+08:00

Just won a mini Shu Uemura facebook contest of the above title. :D

Had to upload a pink themed photo with a caption that begins with "I am pretty in pink because...(10words)" and the prize is 1 year's supply of their new 'Sakura cleansing oil'! (which translate to 2 bottles.)

And they chose the 5 most creative entries via internal judges, which i think is alot better than the other system of using 'likes' which is just hell annoying isn't it? and i think alot of people resorted to using fake accounts etc. Though it probably is better publicity, its alot messier and the question of fairness hangs in the air.

I've been using the Green-tea version and would have to say it is really quite effective at removing makeup (including stubborn mascaras), and also its not damaging or harsh on the skin. The light fragrance also makes it fun to use. :) Overall its quite a good quality product even though at 56.5pds for a 450ml bottle is a tad pricey.

Anyway...exams in 3.5days! omg. spent yesterday not doing much cause met my parents and today they are off to Paris. Hope they will be safe! e.coli outbreak in europe is quite deadly. 1500people infected is quite a substantial number in this short period of time. Recieved my supply of selected singapore goodies :D to last me though the exams, though with this stupid cough i shouldn't eat too much. :/ sigh, back to work!

oh, if you are interested in my caption:

....it illuminates me with the fresh, glowing colour of spring.

lame i know but hey it sounds apt for a makeup company!

I will follow you into the dark

2011-06-01T03:36:00.001+08:00

Have been listening to more english/classical stuff, instead of just jpop recently.

This is one song i really liked.
New favourite english artists include: john denver, simon&garfunkel, katy perry...

Eggmayowich

2011-06-01T00:37:00.000+08:00

Hmm...if you are wondering what is so significant about 2 pieces of toast and egg filling and a piece of lettuce for me to post this (Hey! its organic lettuce!) well i guess this reflects my current sad state in life mainly due to the ever recurring headache of exams which plagues all average students (well, some of us don't really care about school so). And, to add salt to injury, i have a annoying dry cough. Hence the fact that i have 2 eggmayo (kewpi!) sandwiches in my belly, is something relatively happy to blog about.

To make things more pathetic seeming, i haven't actually hardboiled eggs on my own (ever?! 0.0) but thats because i usually fry them which in my opinion is much faster and easier. its not really healthier if you mix it with mayo in the end anyway, which tastes like heaven (probably because i haven't had it in a long time). looked up "how to boil eggs" on google before midway through trying (hey! cooking is a science!) but after looking at all sorts of specific, detailed instructions, i gave up and just "anyhow", erm the Singaporean way. Hmm, sometime ago my Scottish flatmate asked "what is ANYHOW?" when she overheard me and another Singaporean conversing in the kitchen. Enthusiastic and awkward explanation ensues. Anyhow, the eggs turned out well if you can't tell from the photo. :)

Parents coming tomorrow to London and heading off to Paris while i struggle badly with revision (its impossible to memorizeeee!!!) and then they'll be back when i finish. Then clue one more week in London and then home.

anyway, back to whatever is on my table. help. >< cannot...remember....

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Moschino

2011-05-30T23:47:00.001+08:00

New watch yum yum!^^ HAPPY GSS!

917

2011-05-30T23:08:00.003+08:00

About a week ago, I fell in love. It happened at the Robinson's Sale at Expo. I laid eyes on not one, not two, not three, but a goddamn collection of these sweet babies that sent me cooing over them like some effeminate gay man. The salesgirl on stand-by must have thought I was cuckoo but no one stands between me and my pop art/8-bit inspired stuff.

Not only am I a huge, GARGANTUAN, fan of lined edges and 8-bit (I will get to that) things, I love bright colors and Puma has always been one of my favourite sneaker brands. So imagine my palpable excitement to lay eyes and hands on these works of art. Yes, these aren't just sneakers, mind you. These are works of art.

I just love how the shoe looks like a drawing instead of a real shoe. The blurring of the two dimensions makes one feel like having a piece of something that shouldn't exist. Rarity is always exciting.
Everything about this series of shoes is perfect, but I particularly like the lined laces and the little movement lines that seem to make the shoe come alive. Also check out below the sweet jagged edges along the ridge and the dots that lend it some whimsicality. I never thought I was that much of a sneaker girl but this is pure love.
Oh but fickle lover I am, because after experiencing a spinning head and quickened heartbeat from the pop art shoe experience, what should I see next but 8-bit inspired shoes.

I think I could have died happy in that moment. Or at least the geek in me could. If there is one and only one kind of inspiration I go most gaga over, it is 8-bit related ones. I just think making real life items pixelated is impossibly cool. I've seen pixelated (fake) plants, pixelated watches, pixelated food, pixelated fashion (obviously) and now I have it, pixelated shoes.

Don't think it's obvious enough so I will take it upon myself to point out what's pixelated and therefore breathtaking about the shoes. The eyelets of the laces are pixelated, as is the signature curved swathe on the body of the shoes. The lines are slightly pixelated too. And though you can't see the puma logo at the heel of the shoe, that tiny leaping cat is pixelated as well. Utterly in love with the details.

Couldn't find a nice picture of the brown/black one against a white background so this one shoe's gonna buck the trend.
I'm not a technical person but I was able to find some details about this last pair courtesy of this site. It has a name, the Puma 917 Lo Su-Pa. It's apparently also jointly inspired by a make of Porsche (unsurprisingly the 917) in addition to retro video games, but I'm not a car buff, just a computer geek and so the pixels are all I care about.

Curious about how the Porsche 917 looks like, however, I ran a simple search on Google and came up with this. Way retro!

The best thing about this love affair was that it could have developed into a long term relationship with a mere $60. But being the indecisive shopper that I am, obviously I didn't get any pair on the spot (not that I could have picked one out of them all anyway), and it was the last day of the sales. Le sigh. Trés sigh.

Till we meet again somewhere then, my loves. Till the day you are mine. Adieu. A bientôt.

New

2011-05-22T23:49:00.003+08:00

Old hair -- which is, by the way, already very short (boy cut). (And that's a dress by the way)

New hair -- pardon the tired face. I am really very worn out right now. I HAVE AGED.

It is REALLY short. I dislike.

I actually think I can have an identity crisis now. My hair is WAY TOO SHORT. I must start wearing all the pinks and dresses I can find.

On the other hand, it's new hair new life again. I will take some time to adapt to both.

Primer

2011-05-21T02:16:00.005+08:00

Good morning. Tell me something about yourself. Something that's not quite safe and not that simple. It's okay, don't be shy; be reckless. I want to hear you say it. You could sing it, if you like. Tell me what you do and who are you. Tell me who are your friends and who are your lovers. Tell me all that you know. I've got all day and all night, I could sit and listen to you for... maybe forever. I can tell you're interesting. Most people are interesting to me anyhow. I want to hear everyone's life stories. Including yours. Not especially yours. But right now it is your turn to speak, and I want to hear it. Go slow, it's alright. You don't have to spill it all in one go. You could go in chapters, and I could read you like a book. But tell me from the beginning to the end - your childhood, adolescence, adulthood and death, if you can bear to. Close your eyes and I will persuade you to. I promise to be gentle. I promise to be invisible. I can hold your hand. I can whisper in your ear. But the story, it must unravel from between your lips on the ends of your breath. I will catch your breath for you. You have nothing to worry about. It will be quiet and fabulous. It will be educational, inspirational, emotional. Tell me something I don't already know. I won't say a thing. I will forget it one day, even. Tell me what you are wearing, what you had for lunch and what you do before you sleep. It is important to me, yes. It is necessary that I know. No, no, it is not dangerous at all. Everything is safe with me, remember? As long as it is with me. Do you mind if I write everything down? Let me get some paper. I am here and I am going to be for awhile. So take your time, and take mine.

I am listening.

Talk to me.

PI.

2011-05-19T07:26:00.000+08:00

me: PI~KAAAA~

Sent at 11:51 PM on Wednesday

thargest: lol xD

Sent at 11:53 PM on Wednesday

me: CHUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU

Sent at 11:56 PM on Wednesday

me: *thunder shocks*

Sent at 12:12 AM on Thursday

thargest: ow!

Sent at 12:13 AM on Thursday

me: pi

Sent at 12:15 AM on Thursday

me: pikapikapi,pikapi. (translation:i charged it for 5mins, thats why it hurts so bad)

Sent at 12:16 AM on Thursday

thargest: um...indeed

me:

pika

Exam fever, Natural Products fever

2011-05-18T19:52:00.000+08:00

Studying about Natural Products does this to you:

1. Start drinking green tea (CATECHINS)everyday + sliced ginger recently.
2. Start buying blueberries (FLAVONOIDS-ANTHOCYANOSIDES!), strawberries, grapes whenever on sale.
3. Drink every drop of the soup you boiled vegetables with, and note only dark coloured veggies like spinach, carrot, brocolli, corn, mushroom etc etc.
4. Desire to buy and consume supplements like ginkgo biloba (TERPENES), ginseng and the like.
5. Desire to sprinkle a handful of herbs like rosemary, thyme, clove, anise star into dishes randomly.

....will all these help me remember all the latin names, family names, consitutents, effects? @o@ hopefully the ginkgo biloba will help. zzzzz.

To be, or not to be...

2011-05-16T06:22:00.002+08:00

Photo update. Went for the last leaver's dinner of my School chinese society's 25pds per head dinner at Pheonix Palace restaurant. The food was good and the place was posh and the service was good, but its still too pricey for all that. it was subsidised to 10pds so i shan't complain though.

Goh chok tong was here!

and oh, my School, LSOP (London school of Pharmacy, University of London) is now merged with UCL and so it shall be known as LSOP, UCL (UOL) from Jan 2012. *shock*
We know the school has been considering this option for quite a while now, but hearing the decision and announcement is still abit of a shock.

---

Watched Hamlet at the Shakespeare's Globe last Friday. I was there 6 years ago - (oh my thats a long time! ) on my geography trip in Sec 3. We watched a play then too but i can't remember the title. It was a play quite well done, a pity about the angle we had to watch it at though. it was a seat all the way at the side. The previous time i was standing at a corner of the stage's edge. The main actor was good - the character's array of emotions was well brought out and vivid. Ophelia was played by a black woman who was ok in her acting, but its just a little weird cause her father and brother was played by whites (Pardon the race reference). The cast comprised of only 7 people who took on different roles (for those playing more minor characters) and they were also the music accompaniers.

After the famous line (see title) was uttered, some guy in the audience gave a few abrupt loud claps. lol.

Going to watch the Lord of the Flies next friday and a trip to greenwich on saturday.

---

Hmm...exams on 7th and 9th June. This time all the subjects are taken together- the 2 papers are only different in the style of questions. Stressed. If i take the paper now i would definitely fail it with <10% so this is the amount of work i have to do till then. Stress. (x)_(x)

hmm abrupt entry deserves abrupt ending.

there.

prawn flavoured rice with BBQ kebab. XD

Wheelock Place

2011-05-12T01:56:00.012+08:00

The most intriguing thing about today was the pack of edamame soy beans in Marks and Spencers. It was lightly salted but contained about 40g of fat if you consumed the whole packet. Or at least those were the numbers she remembered. You call that 'lightly'? Pfft.

She noticed that in Singapore, people liked their chocolate biscuits (milk, ew) and jam tarts a lot. Those were always the items on sale. Delightful alternatives like shortbread were always in short supply. Shortbread, get it? Ha ha.

Lame.

Oh hey, Foursquare indicates that a shop called Cumulus in the same complex has a Special. (Tap.) Check in to this location and show it to the staff to receive 10% discount! Wowee, someone find me an escalator now. She rode up to the 2nd floor and sauntered down the aisle. It's been ages since she last came here. Same old flashy designer shoes, still neat. New eco bag shop... nah. CUMULUS. Aha but it looks intimidating. iPad cases iPad cases iPad cases boring bags guy bags borrrring *alien pod like bag*. She stopped, turned around, backtracked down the store's front display and walked into the store. A pause. Any pesky, over-eager, hippie store-helper ready to pounce and attack? No. Good. Breathe a sigh of relief. Moving on to the bag that caught her eye. "Made Of Recycled Truck Tires. Made In Japan." What's new? But it's nice. See here how rubbery it is - she flexed the material between forefinger and thumb. Unzipped it and zipped it back up halfway. Don't bother looking at the price tag. She completes the cursory walk around the store and heads out. So much for that.

I really feel like having pasta or pizza today, lonelygal90 muses. It was just one of those days to go Italian. She thought about the fish soup and rice awaiting her back home. She doesn't feel like going back. Pasta de Waraku is completely empty as she walks past. She purposely avoids eye contact with the waiter at the entrance. Poor guy, passed over by passerbys as if non-existent. Why would someone let others chip away at his existence bit by bit with emotionless eyes like that? It must be sad to be him. NYDC, on the other hand, has a number of customers. This is proof that life is unfair. Pasta de Waraku is obviously much tastier than NYDC. What are these people thinking. Maybe they weren't thinking.

As she breezed past Epicenter, her nose wrinkled involuntarily at the thought that she had unwittingly walked herself to the back of the complex. Not wanting to go back the same way and see the same old things a second time, the only way was down. The escalators going down had to be the coolest escalators in Singapore. They were stumpy and curved. Like a gnarled dwarf. Very cute. There was now a dilemma. Borders or fresh air outside. Well, she did browse through a good part of Borders before heading upstairs just now and she doesn't like repeating old scenery. Variety is the spice of life. Someone very wise must have said those words. She moved to head out the glass doors, coincidentally at the same time that Non-descript Male In Office Attire moved to head out too. She got too close. He looked weirded out. I'm not following you, douche, get a life. :/ Her bite took her aback.

For the first time in a long while, she uncharacteristically wondered if she would have been happier today walking with company than walking alone.

Aimless walking is her favourite activity. By the time she was home it was 9.30pm.

Fish soup, ma, I'm hungry.

F3 Contest

2011-05-10T14:27:00.002+08:00

If you haven't heard, I have recently took part in the F3 Style Scout Contest. Please vote for me here!
Your vote/help is greatly appreciated xx

(P.S. It's the button below my picture!)

(P.S.S I have TWO pairs of tickets to the above event (where you can get 20% off storewide) to be given out. Just vote for me (link above) then drop me a mail at ng_huiyi@hotmail.com with your name and contact details by 13 May, Friday 21:00. I would be picking the winners at random thereafter!)

Scrapbook

2011-04-29T16:16:00.003+08:00

Hiii, I started another blog not long ago. I intended that as my online scrapbook,a collection of my favorite pictures, editorials and outfits sort of place. I update it quite frequently, you can view it here. I will still be blogging at iloveday though! They are of two completely different content. Have fun!

Existential

2011-04-26T02:25:00.007+08:00

I went to town to take a walk after my paper today. I moved along in a daze because my brain felt overworked, saturated and blank all at the same time. I think there surely is some correlation between being stressed and feeling like spending money because I succumbed to getting a notebook. Not just any notebook, obviously. It looked damn glossy and chio in the store and there was a 30% discount + today was the last day so I guess the hand that pulled out the money to buy it was weak. Bad hand.

But I'm quite satisfied with it because looking at it on my table now, it's still chio, though less glossy. It's also classy. And IT MATCHES ONE OF MY CARDIGANS. Now how awesome is that. Luckily the laptop sleeves that I wanted were kind of expensive so I didn't get them if not the dollar damage would have been greater. Just nice the brown or black one I wanted was $35 when the cheaper looking green or silver ones I didn't like were $25. $10 leh. Miffed.

That be my sexy notebook.

Walked and walked till 9pm for when I walk I just can't stop. I must mention that I found two gorgeous nude heels in f21 today but because they were like $40-$50, I didn't buy. :( It's actually quite hard to find nice nude heels (strappy) so I think I will maybe see how I feel after exams if I should reward myself. Probably not judging by today's paper but one can cross fingers... Or if I manage to secure a good internship, then I can reward myself too. :)

I had a wave of inspiration while in Cineleisure today and I had envisioned this post to be a lot more epiphanic and revelatory really, about how one shouldn't gaze into the abyss (ie. emo) because if you gaze for long it gazes back at you (Nietzsche's idea, not my own) yadda yadda but turns out I'm being uncharacteristically casual and anyhow. Wow I just used bad English. Congratulations. I'm really getting a bit siao already from the cramming these few days.

I wonder if studying is like taking the brain to a gym. If you go to a gym and you exercise, your muscles will strengthen and develop. So does studying, which arguably gives your brain a good workout, improve the mind? It sure doesn't seem to feel like it though. In fact, I'm quite positive my brain is regressing over the years. I'm getting more stupid as I age, at least in terms of achieving academic success. Not studying the right course is perhaps just an excuse. The reality is that I'm just not as smart as I once was as a child. How demoralising.

I also find that being in a study mood requires immersing oneself into a particular state of mind. Distractions like social media are like addictions. They're difficult to wean off at the start, but once you do, maintain your determination to keep aloof and you find that life goes on pretty much the same without it. Meanwhile, you get a lot more useful work done too. The important thing then is to motivate yourself to keep staying in such a mental state. It's kind of similar to having self-control and not over-indulging in pleasure. When you start feeding your brain pleasure, it doesn't want to work so hard anymore for fulfillment and it merely seeks out the next 'dosage' of pleasure (partying, partying, yeah! Fun, fun, fun, fu-SOMEONE HELP ME). Yet pleasure is such a hard thing to deny. It goes against its very nature. We aren't meant to reject things that feel good... That's a monk's job.

Guess it all lies in your purpose in life then. What are you hoping to achieve at the end of the day? Living for the moment or working towards an uncertain future? I have dreams of a future where opportunities will be present regardless. I suppose that's a dangerous picture I'm comforting myself with. Thought I was over with questioning my raison d'etre. Apparently not.

^^

2011-04-25T19:04:00.000+08:00

HIIII IT'S TWO DOWN THREE TO GO HELL YEAH!

~

2011-04-23T22:09:00.004+08:00

Such is my obsession.

(But okay lah, I have changed my nail colour to Clear&Glittery last night. Was intending to use black shatter over the orange but black shatter is a bitch to apply. I have lost interest in it.)

And such is my life.

sacher-torte

2011-04-23T06:41:00.001+08:00

At cafe sacher. It claims to be the original, but it was not mindblowing fantastic though its good. This chocolate cake is a little on the sour side which i suspect to be marmalade due to the presence of some orangy jam like substance under the chocolate covering.

Anyway today was a day of museum visiting in the midday when its the hottest. The result of a lesson learnt yesterday. Bought some chocs, alcohol and foodstuff.

Dinner was at a italian place called vapiano which apparently has a branch in london too. You choose the pasta type and sauce (had crayfish lobster sauce and aglio) which they then cook in front of you. It was quite nice and cheap i would say. Would hunt for the london branch when i get back, tucked somewhere around oxford street.

Then went for a mozart concert which was COSTLY at 42euros but it was very touristy. it was a touristy crowd which means there was alot of camcorders and cameras and kids. and the orchestra was all dressed up in wigs and frilly clothes but somehow it makes it seems over flashy. the orchestra was also quite dimished and the hall was packed. overall it felt like we fell into yet another tourist trap/gimmick. But towards the end i gave up judging it as a classical concert but more of entertainment. They played not entire songs but excepts of the more known segments.

Ah well. Vienna is a nice city i would say. Last day tmr here before taking a coach to budapest. Vienna is quieter and less touristy than prague(?). Unlike londond it has nice romantic places to sit and enjoy the cool night air with beautifully lited buildings in the background. Ldn is too dirty and dangerous in comparison.

Just showered and abt to go to bed.
Till next time!

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chili beer

2011-04-22T03:52:00.001+08:00

At a viennese pub-restaurant. Just came out from the hostel at 8ish after a 3hr long nap. We all admitted defeat after going to the franz-josef's palace residence to the sweltering hot sun. Even though it was suppositely 23degrees out, i swear it was like roasting over a bbq pit. Its my 4th day and im positively a shade darker. Hopefully tmr will be able to tour properly without suffering. :/ waiting for viennese schitzel.

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on coach to vienna

2011-04-21T06:35:00.001+08:00

It has wifi, free drinks, tv and radio. 0.0 so from 12am to 5am we'll be on this yellow bus and forgoing one night's hostel stay like true blue thifty students.

2 days in prague is kinda enough to see the city i must say. Its a really picturesque city with many romantic buildings and sights, but in terms of interesting things to do or watch...idk we dont think there is much.

A few interesting observations:
* meat is comparatively cheaper to eat here than veggies and fruit. The czechs love their pork and beef etc.
* the public transportatioon is mostly based on trust. U r supposed to buy a ticket and validate it yourself. Have yet to see a ticket conductor.
*there are alot of dogs around and they are everywhere, in parks, kfc....
.
.
.
Anyway thats all the update for now. Shall try to sleep.

update: now at wombats hotel which is looking pretty big and very nicely funished/equipped! No room yet, too lazy to shower and fighting an urge to sleep. Hmm...how to survive today?!

Night!

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Prague

2011-04-20T04:00:00.001+08:00

Old town square. Prague is a really pretty and romantic city. <3

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Pipes

2011-04-20T02:03:00.002+08:00

See, I very nice right, been posting so many pictures for viewing pleasure. Okay, need my beauty sleep (this is the bimbo in me talking). Hah, nights~~~

pictures

2011-04-18T21:49:00.002+08:00

#iloveday has become my photolog of random takes hahah.

Sizzler

2011-04-18T21:40:00.002+08:00

Brother's birthday celebration at Sizzler. As you can see, everyone is in pairs. (Meh!) My parents took pity of me and let me stand between them.

jetting off

2011-04-17T20:37:00.001+08:00

To first stop czech republic!

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Omurice ~

2011-04-17T03:01:00.001+08:00

Cooking project with Tommie last night. Its definitely more fun to follow a recipe than my usual making food palatable way of cooking.

Ingredients:

Finished product. Ate while watching pom poko...a quirky studio ghibli film about human-caused destruction of racoon's natural habitats.

Anyway I'm heading off tomorrow! To Brno, Prague, Vienna and Bratislava for 10 days. Still unpacked! @~@; Update when I get back on the 27th! This is so going to screw up my workload cause my whole easter break is pretty much gone!

Anyway, if you are inspired, see the legendary cooking video!

Orange x Blue

2011-04-17T00:08:00.001+08:00

#Megahugeass narcissistic photo. Don't judge thanks xxx

+44

2011-04-15T23:32:00.004+08:00

Shorter hair. Darker hair. Possibly slimmer. Four months apart. But when I look at the second picture, I can still feel the cold winds that gave me shivers every morning. This warms my heart. One point five more month to go!

Happy Lips

2011-04-15T02:22:00.001+08:00

Lips that matches nails. Epitome of OCD.

FB

2011-04-12T01:12:00.005+08:00

My life has been pretty Hipz&Hapz recently I guess, since I have been attending random events based on friends' invites. I got to dress up a lot more within this period and I love to dress up so that's good. I'm just too lazy to upload photos to Blogger because resizing is a bitch. You can visit my facebook for photos!^^

X, D

$748

2011-04-10T17:50:00.013+08:00

From Apple Store (Singapore).

Couldn't help noticing that the numbers 748 when said in Chinese (七四八）sounds literally like "go and die" （去死吧）。

Subtle hint from Apple that perhaps it's time to retire the iPhone 3GS? It's probably unintended given that the translated result is quite crude, even if they had wanted to convey such a message. But if it is indeed a little joke from the pricing department, then kudos to Apple, as always.

*

On a sidenote, why is even the cheapest iPhone so bleeding expensive (including 2nd hand sets) that I've no choice but to only consider Android phones?! Not that Android phones are without merit, they're great in their own ways. I'd just like to have the option to choose.

Aubade Against Grief

2011-04-06T21:21:00.006+08:00

Chaste sun who would not light your face
pale as the fates
who vanished

when we turned aside; recluse
whom grace
returned and by returning banished

all thought but: Love, late
sleeper in the early hours, flesh of my bone,
centaur: Excuse

my faults—tardiness, obtuse
remit of my own
heart, unruly haste

to keep my mouth on yours, to wipe the slate
clean, to atone—
what could I want but to wait

for that light to touch your face,
chaste as Eros in the first wished-
on rush of wings?

--- Cynthia Zarin, The Ada Poems

I found particular resonance in this poem and so I shall let it speak on my behalf. Increasingly, certain emotions and issues need to be dealt with and conveyed ever more delicately, subtly and insouciantly. Yes, it is meant to be esoteric, but esotericism is also its curse. When we blanket the most basic human thoughts and desires under swathes of obscurity, we run the risk of abstracting them to romantic proportions undeserved or even worse, tenderising their rawness into a processed pulp, and at the end of it, losing touch with what it once meant to be human and young.

Namie

2011-04-05T06:02:00.001+08:00

Recently went to listen to some of Namie Amuro's songs. tbh, i only really like 2 of her songs, "four seasons" and "baby don't cry". Also read up abit about her life e.g. she is a single mother, former queen of jpop, how she may have contributed to the ganguro trend of dyed hair +tanned skin+high boots and skirts, her pregancy hiatus and revival of popularity etc (of all things i should be studying....><). She also appears in magazines alot cause she's really quite pretty, with a nice small, sweet pixie face and model figure. I think she sings with alot of emotion, but vocals wise i still prefer other artists, so not one of my favourites.

Anyway I found some of her old lives and i realised "four seasons" has really pretty lyrics so here it is, and i also highly recommend "baby don't cry"!

"Four scene of love and laughter.
I'll be alright being alone.
Four scene of love and laughter.
I'll be alright being alone...
Four scene of love and laughter.
I'll be alright being alone...
Four scene of love and laughter.
I will be okay.

If I meet my love, and we part,
We'll meet again, like we did before.
The sweet darkness I find
Fumbling around deep in my memories,

I can taste the sweetness of the past.
Although you're not anywhere
I'll be alright,
If I close my eyes to that,
Love won't change,
I believe

When the spring light warms, the flowers bloom
In summer, I gaze at the moon floating on the sea
The fall wind, and the winter snow
With that sigh, I wish to be warmed,
Four seasons with your love
Once again.

The promise of that only wish
Fades away when time passes.
Can you feel me underneath the skin?
If feelings again happened that way,
We'll be alright,
If I just believe,
No matter how far away you are,
Stay with me.

The spring flowers sleep as we meet in the night.
I leave a message in the sandy beaches of summer.
The fall rain, the winter tears,
With a show of love, I wish to be warmed,
Four seasons with your love
In a dream.

Time flows into my heart,
And truthfully,
Our every day is nearer to a memory,
Love and dreams may be things forgotten
one day, but, my wish is to be warmed.
Four seasons with your love,
Within my heart.

Four scene, four four seasons
Four scene, I’ll be alright…
Four scene, four four seasons
Four scene, stay with me…"

食べ物、食べ物、食べ物。。。？？？！！

2011-04-02T22:27:00.006+08:00

昨日は、オスフロドからの友達で一緒に”兔と亀”で食べた。
ロースト鴨が長い時間が持っていない。だからこれを注文だ。

さすがおいしい。私のお気に入りのレストランの一つ。
と久しぶりな友達でいろいろ事が喋った。。。大学、住宅、生活、彼氏は。。。

あと晩で、野菜を炒めた。

でも、ちょっと失敗だ。
はは。味を全然いないので。

やっぱりソースを買う必要があります！

ばかみたいな変顔。何でそんなの写真が見せる？知らないだ。

もっと変顔。。。へへ。
(Highlight for quick translation)
Yesterday, ate at "hare and tortoise" together with friend.
Have not had roast duck for a long time. So I ordered this.

Delicious as expected. One of my favorite restaurants.
Its been a long time since i spoke to her. We talked about many things. . .
Later at night, stir fried vegetables.
But it failed a little.
No taste at all.

It seems like I have to buy sauces!
Stupid strange face. Why show that photo? I do not know.

Prof: "Your piece deserves a slightly more imaginative title than Business School"

2011-04-01T13:29:00.006+08:00

Choosing to attend business school is the best decision of my life. How can it not be, when it has the shiniest and newest school building in the whole of the university? It makes you feel good just looking at it from the outside, so good you almost forget about the classes you have to take. The splendid glass and metal façade of the business school also outshines the humble concrete premises of all neighbouring faculties; it couldn’t hide its own supremacy if it tried. I couldn’t have made a better decision if I tried.

Not that appearance is everything – though it certainly is almost everything, since packaging, branding and marketing are crucial to consumer perception as business school will teach you – classes are broad-based and useful too. They teach students a smattering of How To Use Excel Sheets, Answering Convoluted Calculus and Rehashing JC Subjects etc., all fine skills that can only be learnt in university and will surely be indispensible tools of survival in the future. Business classes are also practical in teaching students to profit and to prosper, indeed, to hold profit and prosperity in the highest esteem. That it does not seem to teach anything much else should not be a big concern; I mean, after all, everyone graduates from university seeking to make a living and you can’t survive comfortably or for long on a deficit. People do say that money cannot buy happiness. But they’re wrong. They obviously have not attended business school. They need to make the best decision of their lives and come. Then they would know.

It won’t be easy getting in to business school though, the competition to attend is unsurprisingly tough. Only the most hardy and determined of all students get selected. These are the ones who display the willpower necessary to put themselves through the discomfort of frequently donning stiff work shirts and toe-pinching shoes to school when students in other faculties get to wear whatever they please. But even more admirable are the evidently forward-thinking business students who eschew typical campus musings of an intellectual nature (the real world is not a university, Kant and Hegel are dead and cannot feed or clothe you) and choose to talk stocks and markets instead. Only these enlightened students make the effort to consciously choose ahead of their peers to place themselves in real world environments, the same one they would be slaving away in for the rest of their lives. It is a miracle they don’t get bored or tire of it. Not when money’s at stake. Like I said, business students are a rare breed. They know to go after what is important in life.

To think that I could have ever wanted to study something other than Business. How silly.

Short ironic writing for a school assignment where we had to write something ironic and then critique it ourselves. A disclaimer - it's meant to be exaggerated and stereotypical and should not be taken to be a factual review of business schools or students. Prof said "This was most enjoyable, quite imaginative and witty!", which was surprising because I'd thought it was too superficial and general, which would make it unbelievable and un-funny, especially for those in the know. Anyway, thought I'd share it because I do share its broad sentiments, even when I recognise the inherent prejudices I'd written into the piece.

Today is April's Fools. But I have not heard of anyone playing any pranks yet in school. What a sad year. Seems like no one's really in the mood for jokes or poking fun when serious things in Japan and the Middle East have cast a sombre shadow over much of the world. Oh well. As per previous years, I'll destress one of the next few days by reading up articles on internet pranks companies pulled today. That's always been a fun procrastination activity. Not that I can afford to procrastinate especially now given all the work I need to face in the coming weeks.

But at least my papers will not be that boring to research and write (the word count is the killer part), I've got one investigating whether animals partake in music making instead of using sounds solely for communication (4000 words, wtf), and another on the appeal of using irony: why not just be straightforward (2000 words). Also have one on how age affects patronage of art (2500 words) but that is more challenging because I didn't select the topic myself. Maybe if my papers turn out to be interesting, I can even "cheat" and blog parts of them here. Then at least I won't have to disappear entirely from blogging. (Y)

Silence in the night

2011-03-30T13:42:00.000+08:00

Its 6.30am and in 5-6 hours time i have to turn in a lab report which i have yet to finish. Fell asleep at 10pm, woke up at 4.40 and thought i missed a window to talk to someone. I seem to be spending more time waiting than i really should. Fortunately a little later, that window cracked open for a moment and some fresh air drafted in.

Now its back to the other writing.

I shall hold my breath for the next opening.

Trip to Tekong

2011-03-29T01:02:00.013+08:00

A very overdue post on my first and probably last time on the isle of Tekong. 2 weeks ago the brother went to serve the nation and mom was telling me, once in a lifetime experience leh, better go lah. So I did. Was never one to pass up the opportunity to step into "forbidden" land or refuse visiting an island.

Turns out, Tekong was much more developed than I had expected it to be. I guess having only ever been to Ubin out of the various Singapore islands, I'd assumed Tekong to be similar. Particulary, I envisioned it to be like the OBS camp grounds on Ubin for some reason. Instead, it felt like... a boarding school.

Quite nice actually. But guys would probably disagree.

We toured the place and all that but that wasn't very exciting.

What was fascinating for me, was actually the scenery of the island. Of all the things my guy friends have told me about army, none have ever mentioned how beautiful the views from the island are?!

Then again I suppose when you train there for days or are confined there for weeks, you don't really get to see much of the scenery at the shores of the island. And probably seeing it everyday diminishes its spectacularity. Still, for a visitor like me, it was quite a sight to behold. It felt idyllic and almost resort-like. How could BMT be so bad if it took place on such a nice island?

Then again, Shutter Island seemed nice too at first. Or maybe all islands just appeal to me.

So cute, the boat is named Speedy Gonzales.

Yeah, and I was accented with pink that day. To balance out all the testosterone of the place.

I would have liked to stay to explore the island, since I won't ever get a chance to go again, I think. (Maybe if I have a son next time. :O) But my parents were absymally uninterested in the view, much less with staying. Wonder if it is actually a crime to self-prolong your visit there. It would have been interesting to try. I'm reckless and naive like that.

いのちの名前 cover

2011-03-28T14:35:00.001+08:00

この歌が好きの大切な人へ。

お誕生日おめでとう。

ーバン

Mad as a march hare

2011-03-27T18:43:00.004+08:00

Woke up to a lazy Sunday morning.

Warning: extremely long post up ahead.

The past 4 days have been pretty eventful starting with a north Indian lunch out with coursemates on Wednesday at Chuntneys. I realised i missed just chatting with them over meals - everyone's always busy at uni. The food was average though, i've had better along the same Drummond street. The variety of food on offer is mostly the same and all the restaurants are vegetarian unlike the ones in Singapore. There are also few south Indian restaurants so you are highly unlikely to find your chicken/mutton briyani for example, which i missed.

I absolutely love this dessert. Its dough ball (with an interesting consistency) soaked in sweet syrup!

Then it was arcade day out for tom's pre-birthday celebrations on Thursday near River Thames.

Had dinner at Giraffe at South bank centre first. The food was quite nice and of quality, but expensive for the portion as with most restaurants in the UK.

hit the bumper cars, bowling lane, air hockey, hoops, racing, motorbikes etc. was good fun but playing with pound coins may explain the few people around at night even if it was a thursday. then again i think the british is not a too big fan of arcades (an asian thing?).

Had a night stroll back home. For once in a long time it wasn't too cold such that you just want to crawl into a hole and hide. I could walk around in a skirt and no, it wasn't cold.

Big Ben at night is prettier than in the day i think!

Saw the Olympic countdown clock for the first time though i've walked past here on several occasions. Though with the recent protests the whole trafalagar square area should be quite in shambles for now.

the london coliseum where we watched 'parsifal' at. I didn't know it looks so nice from afar till now since we were rushing to get there last time.

a 'yay' photo with his present.

Bowling with tom's coursemates on friday at Elephant and Castle.

and...dinner at pizza hut. was as stuffed as the crust after.

Finally. ended with a trip to the airport on Saturday to send him back to the US. One of the many trips to come. (u.u)

On a random note, I started playing Pokemon (o^-^o) Black too. XD

Speaking of which the new Nintendo 3DS looks good.

gah, i need to catch up on work!

bye!

March

2011-03-27T13:15:00.003+08:00

It's Sunday 13:18 and I crave eggs benny.

Had five new pairs of shoes in March. That's a record high!

Anyway, April is fast approaching. Be kind to me.

Redemption

2011-03-26T00:17:00.009+08:00

Beginnings are always the most difficult. The first petal peeling away from the bud, a baby's first step, the first word on paper. It is all too easy to be led into believing that the end is the part hardest to get through. Death and dying, decay, disgrace, all these end states that we hurry to sidestep and shun. But the truth is, the end of anything will come someday. It is a given that we cannot escape, a truth no one can run away from. It can be prolonged, yes, pushed along by the hands of time or will of man, but what for deny nature its natural course? Better to deal with endings in dignity than to go out defeated, like a dog.

Beginnings are a different matter because they are exercises in choice. The beginning marks the moment the potter's wheel starts to turn, and what is spinning is nothing until minds that control hands and fingers give it form and shape. Everyone starts out with lumps of nothing and each beginning is simply the cognition, recognition, of an infinite array of opportunities before you that are yours to seize. It births you a baby, entrusting you with its growth and development, it becomes yours to blossom or abandon. Endings are simple because they are a guaranteed certainty; beginnings come with a burden, the baggage of beauty in uncertainty.

The abrupt and inevitable end to my possession of a phone and mp3 player heralds for me a new beginning these days, several new beginnings in fact. I have found it always helps to couch crisis in literary terms, much like how we sing of love, we write of crises. Yet giving voice to thoughts is not a given, first words are elusive and rather than staying for the challenge, we are quick to turn our attentions instead to distractions all too eager to capture away our minds. We compulsively check our phones when there is nothing to do, scroll mindlessly through Twitter updates, click randomly around in Facebook, look for the umpteenth time at the day's schedule... suddenly all the free time in the days of our lives are now engaged, like marbles slowly buried, sealed and eventually mummified under an avalanche of sand that leaves no gap unfilled. Accordingly, the voice of life chokes, stifles, suffocates. Prolonged, it might even one day be snuffed out completely. No more voice, no words with which to write.

Fortunately, following the sudden elimination of technological distractions for me, missing words and sentences tumble quickly back into the crevices of my mind, exiled creatures relieved to return home. Without coaxing, for the past few days they have invaded hungrily my waiting and travelling times, aggressively reacquainting themselves with the long lost friend of free time I had become estranged from. Returning, reacquainting, restarting. I can actually feel myself reclaiming my lost voice and releasing, in a series of protracted conversations in my head, thoughts held captive for far too long with no way of articulating them. To think once again in running prose, proper sentences, the odd paragraph even, is disarmingly refreshing and rejuvenating. Once more I can rejoice in the private pleasure of chasing thoughts through to their end, instead of being interrupted mid-thought and losing it forever.

New ideas formed, new beginnings forged. If not the beginnings of future expositions on a variety of topics I mull over then certainly of clarity and maturity. Convinced, for the first time since a long while, that the voice must never be silenced, that there must surely be value in writing, even if no one seems to have time to read anymore these days. The struggle with audience must be separate from the struggle to translate and develop thoughts and ideas.

Our minds are our sole informants on how our lives are fleshing out, how we live is not so much crucial as what our minds tell us about how we are living. If I could entomb my mind in a web of distraction forever, I could submerge my voice, be one with many, live in obfuscation and die none the wiser. But nothing is forever - if not the end of a stream of distractions then the end of my life. In the last fleeting moments of clarity I might have, is that how I would like to remember to have lived? The mind cannot be deceived forever. And so I must hone and define my voice, with the help of others with perspectives, in order that an expanded mind can inform and enrich life. Perhaps even to share it, maybe, if anyone is interested. Audience. Attention. My biggest barrier and weakness. I must not forget that this is about beginning: I must begin to write, once more, for myself, for my mind.

If loss was a form of retribution, surely the advent of new beginnings is now my redemption.

hair

2011-03-25T23:41:00.003+08:00

ZOMG I SERIOUSLY LOOK DAMN DIFFERENT WITH LONG HAIR. AND WHY IS MY HAIR SO SILKY HERE. HOW DECEIVING.

Okay, this is just to update cause I haven't been. That's all lol.

ps. didn't bother editing this photo so it is really THIS silky-looking and tame okay.

Officially feeling the spring

2011-03-24T06:20:00.005+08:00

The weather for the past 2 days was a drastic change from all the winter coldness of the last few months. temperatures was averaging 15 degrees celsius midday and sunny! Knee high socks was proving too warm to wear, while 15 denier stockings are currently comfortable. Seems almost like we skipped a season and went to summer instead. Hoping this warm beautiful weather will last.

Also, i finally tried on another pair of earrings other than the mismatched ones i have been wearing since 2+ years ago when i first pierced my earrings.

When i took them out for the 1st ever time 6mths to 1 year after piercing, I couldn't find the back opening of the piercing and had to re-pierce my skin myself. That experience resulted in my extremely long period where i didn't take them out at all. XD

so i'm happy. :) I guess i can finally start collecting earrings now.

Van

on a brighter note

2011-03-19T22:01:00.003+08:00

The weather is looking good today. Perfect for a suntan by the window.

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x

2011-03-19T20:35:00.003+08:00

course c results out. one day on, and still depressed at mediocrity.

i guess you reap what you sow. winter is ending. i should get working.

Hair Transformation

2011-03-16T21:11:00.005+08:00

This is the first photo in my Webcam media so I'll start from here.

Got bored and cut my own bangs, which I quite liked. And my hair looks damn shiny?!

Let it grow out again and dyed it a lighter shade.

Itchy hands, so went to cut bangs again. Hated it this time.

Wears a hairband.

Grew out, so I could pin it up. Dyed it dark I think (well, it looks dark here)

Dyed it red brown (I love red)! Plus hair became longer.

Red fades.

Experimented with middle part since my fringe was longer.

Tie hair with middle part. Trickiest hair ever.

Dye ash blonde. Still obsessed with middle part.

Hair real long now! Still blonde. Liked to pin my fringe cause it looks so neat.

Other times, let it down.

Got sick of long hair (the styles don't seem to change??) so I chopped it off.

Chopped more off. Still blonde.

Short hair and dyed it black. Has since fade to dark brown.

Before these photos, there are still long rebonded hair, long wavy hair (permed it), black bob, platinum blonde bob (for hair show), black bob (which faded to brown bob). Have been addicted to experimenting with hair since. They change one's looks instantly! Anyway, so which one do you like best?

Spring?

2011-03-15T23:25:00.005+08:00

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Had a really sunny day today of temperatures ranging from 8-15 C. Have been seeing pink blossoms (cherry?) and random flower patches, though the trees are still bare. I really hope the temperature warms up soon and i get lovely greenery again.

School work seems to be gaining on me again, and i developed a sore throat, a condition that seems to plague me very often. i shall stuff myself with vegetables and fruits and fluids to ward this off.

Bug/virus go away!

- Van

p.s. The 2012 Olympic tickets are now on sale. I wonder if i should try and get them?
p.s.s. I hope Japan recovers soon. All the news reports about the quake, tsunami AND nuclear crisis are really saddening to read about.