2008: A Year in Pictures.

As the year comes to a close, I can't help but get excited as I anticipate and hope for a better year ahead (Although many predict an unstable economy in 2009, nevertheless, we should remain positive). This year has been an awesome ride for me. I've come across new people, things and experiences which I can learn and grow from.

SO what will the year 2008 be remembered for? The opposition's victory in the Malaysian general elections? The Beijing Olympics? Heath Ledger, Paul Newman and Bernie Mac's death? The listing of Georgetown as a UNESCO heritage site? Crazy petrol prices? Britney's downward spiral?

As you ponder on that and on other things, here's to a great year and hopefully we'll have many great years ahead.

Happy New Year Everybody!

Stay tuned for next year!

Snapshot: Penang

- U.A.B. Building,
Victoria Street, Georgetown.

Stay tuned for more.

Merry Christmas

Have yourself a merry little Christmas. Hopefully your stress has melted away in the company of your loved ones.

Stay tuned for more.

Shopping Woes.

Whilst shopping malls in KL are having their annual fan-fucking-tastic blow-out sales, I'm stuck in Penang. Yes, nothing beats the feeling of being in the comfort that is home, but I'm talking price slashes, major discounts, further reductions and sales that would absolutely tempt even the most frugal being to drop some serious cash on anything from clothes to tech gadgets.

This is absolutely unfair. Why must I always be in Penang when the mega sale extravaganza explodes its way into the KL malls!

I may sound like some spoilt brat who sees every glass as half empty. Yes, I have a whole side of me which is totally pissed. But then again, I've another side altogether which is kinda relieved. And these two are always in conflict. Why the bi-polar feelings you ask? Well, as we delve deeper into the global economic crisis, I can't help to tell myself that I must make drastic adjustments to my shopping habits. I don't need my parents to tell me that this is not the time to be spending. So, in a way, I'm glad that I'm roughly 400kms from the nearest Zara, Pull and Bear or Club Monaco outlet.

Although I have yet to complete my shopping for Chinese New Year (If you think it's too early to shop for CNY, please check your calender again) I think I'm going to limit myself to 2 outfits, which is the norm. Until the money tree starts to grow, I am seriously considering to impose an embargo on shopping.


Stay tuned for more.

Two Hundredth

I dream of lazy days. Where I can wonder the streets or trek along the forests and there would be nobody but me. Where I can walk alone and there is no one else to please but me. Somewhere where I don't judge and get judge. Somewhere where I can be myself. Somewhere where I can dream. A place where fantasy and reality merge.

I dream to be in a place where the weather is cool and the air crisp. Where rays from the sun peek through the cloud filled sky. A place with dew stained plants and a light layer of mist hover ever so delicately above the soil. Where a light spritz of rain fall gracefully against my skin.

I want to be alone. In a nook or cranny. A place to dream again.


Stay tuned for more.

Snapshot: Penang

As I cycled into town today, I just had to take a couple of shots of this 19th century mansion which captivated me when I was young. I used to pass by it every weekday on my way to high school.

- The Mansion
Northam road, Georgetown.


- Side entrance.


- Mosaic detailing depicting Neptune, god of the sea, located above the arcade of the side entrance.

Stay tuned for more.

Reunited

I can't believe it's been almost a year since we've met. It didn't seem so long. Just goes to show how fast time passes.

We've been keeping in touch, so catching up over a meal at Sakae Sushi went smoothly. It felt just like last time. :)

- Sandra, me, Mei Zhi. Reunited once more.


- At Gurney Plaza.


- Warming up for a game of cards. Chinese New Year is approaching soon.

Stay tuned for more.

Some Sort of Kung-Fu?

It was just earlier this evening when I was having dinner with my parents at a Japanese restaurant. Dad and mum had dinner sets and I had my Unatamadon *Unagi rocks*. So we were dining on our food when this nuisance of a mosquito buzzed over our food.

My several attempts to slap it away was unsuccessful as it kept on returning and hovered over mum's salmon sashimi. So finally...*nip*

I killed it
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
with my chopsticks.


As it was hovering, somehow I managed to catch it with my chopsticks. It was quite surprising to me as mosquitos are small creatures and fly pretty fast. And I thought catching them at the tip of chopsticks would be quite a feat.

- I took this with my cellphone so it's really blur. But circled is the scene of the crime. COD: Death by Crushing.

Oh well, let's just call it...Murder By Chopsticks.


Stay tuned for more.

It Doesn't Take Much.

It doesn't take much.

Sure you're busy. But are you always THAT occupied?

It's one of those things where all it takes is a little effort. It's not a one way street. Reach out and get embraced. Call and get called. Give and receive.

It's quite simple. One phone call. One "Hello, how're you doing?". Even a text for all I bloody care. Like I said. Reach out and get embraced. It's a two way thing.

Some effort is all I ask.

Without the effort, it's as good as dead.

It doesn't take much.
.
.
.
.
.
Really, it doesn't.


Stay tuned for more...

One Week

A week ago...

We had our celebratory meal to mark the end of Studio crit and with that, the end of the semester. So, instead of typical restaurant-type celebrations, we lunched at Sentul park! Picnic Style. Let the pictures do the talkin'.

- We had fruits and fried rice


- and sandwiches and drinks


- which we ate on the grass by the lake


- in good company.


- One last shot before we packed up.


- On the way back via commute

5 days ago...

I packed up my bags and hit the road right after lunch. Driving 4 hours all the way back to Penang. The journey was alright. Sunny weather all the way.


3 days ago...

The weekend was madness in Penang. The island was swarmed with cars sporting license plates from all over the country. Gurney Drive and the Plaza was saturated with people all trying to squeeze into the mall for some shopping in the newly opened wing.


Today...

I'm here. I just caught a movie with Zhi Xiang earlier today. And i've finally had the time to surf the web and update after spending nearly a week without the internet.


Stay tuned for more...

Just In Case

- Is this t-shirt meant for me or what? AND it's from ZARA!

Stay tuned for more.

CRITically Nerve-wrecking

Subject: Design Studio 1

Task: Design a 'Parasitic Retreat'* for a superhero character. The structure was to be hosted by one of three site locations allocated. The built-up area must not exceed 50m². And we were to produce technical drawings of the plans, elevations, sections, axonometric/perspectives and create a 1:50 scaled model.

*The term 'Parasitic Retreat' would correspond to a structure (your parasite) located on another structure (the host). Imagine an 'urban modern treehouse'.

Remarks: After sessions upon sessions of designing, developing ideas and concepts, changing and altering designs and consulting the lecturers for feedback for weeks and weeks, we finally finished off everything, and put up our work in the Studio and presented our work to the judges today. This is THE reason i've been so stressed out and busy for the past week that left me little time to blog or grocery shop or sometimes, eat.



+ My Proposal

Site: Pedestrian bridge, Kampung Baru

Superhero Character: Storm of X-Men

Design Concept: Minimalist, Absence of definitive Boundaries, Play on Transparency.

Outcome: Munroe House.

- Munroe house which 'clings on' to a pedestrian bridge (Pedestrian Bridge not shown).


- Aerial view


- Ladders are used to connect between floors. (Although technically Storm can fly.)


- Most walls are eliminated to expose the interior to the exterior elements.


- Open plan for maximum space use.


- Gigantic louvers cast different light patterns according to the position of the sun.


- Model in the making.


- Me (holding the model with the bridge) with my pinned up technical drawings and pictures behind. Picture taken after my presentation.

I'm a little exhausted but very relieved that the ordeal has ended. My crit session was satisfactory and i'm quite pleased with it. I'm just hoping for the best now.


Stay tuned for more.