Five Hundreth

5 days ago on the 15th of May would have marked the 5th Anniversary of this blog. I'm pleasantly surprised at that, as I wouldn't have guessed I would still be blogging after half a decade. And in fact, have been consistently doing so month after month with only the occasional absence during periods of heavy workloads. But even then, I sometimes schedule posts ahead when anticipating hectic times.

This post marks the 500th post. For that I'm actually surprised that it took such a long while to reach this amount of posts. I've a new found respect for people who have made it to this number with quality posts, because everyone knows that a lot of my posts are quite short. But to be completely honest, 500 is just a number. Sure I do look back every now and then to recall where I was at during this very moment one or two or three years ago. But I never try to revert myself to that person. Instead I have a tendency to be slightly horrified by the way I blogged, the language used, the pictures and the occasional cheesy phrases.

I like to look forward, trying to subtly tweak the way I present myself to the world. The style of writing. The way I present my pictures. The change of headers... I'd like to say all that is calculated and thought of beforehand. Because a blog, after all, is not a direct representation of who you are; It's a carefully selected, condensed and often modified version in which the blogger plays the role of the editor of his own life. So I guess that's what I'm doing here: Editing my life...

2010 | A Year in Warhol-esque Pictures

It seems this is the third time I'm presenting a picture from every month of the past year. Sort of a review in pictures. I like it. It forces me to sift through files of pictures allowing me to recollect all the good times I've had.

But just to add that smidgen of wonkyness to the collection of pictures this year, I've edited them into slightly Warhol-esque pictures by playing with the colours.

January | We were together after such a long time. We need another meet-up



February | We drank the night away, by the beach.



March | We all wore green that day.



April | We took a group picture but in reverse.



May | We finished our crit! And started to part ways.



June | We took to Redang Island, and had the best time together!



July | We went crazy taking pictures.



August | We gave two people a tart.



September | I went abroad, a change of scenery.



October | We had our first few dinner gatherings.



November | I saw some Warhol



December | It snowed and snowed and snowed.

2010 was an interesting year. I'm not all that sure how I could sum it up. It was a mix of ups and downs. Bits I will keep in my mind forever and events I wish to purge from memory. Certain incidences may have messed me up but fuck it, that's just life. Things won't miraculously change for the better, there's a process that we all have to go through.

I guess what I'm trying to say is that just because the year is ending doesn't mean everything will change for the better. We're still in this continuum which at anytime, anything can happen. But it's the effort and the actions we take that can alter the course of our future. So, take charge of your future. Take a chance. And if it doesn't come out favourable, there's always alcohol.


Happy 2011 everybody,
see you next year!

KL-eaving

Three years has gone by. Three. 3. Three years ago, if someone were to ask me where I spent my life, I would say "Penang!" with excitement. Now, I almost feel an obligation to include KL, PJ, Subang, what have you into the list.

Three whole years has gone by. And in those three years, I know I have grown. My tastes, changed; My perceptions, altered; My ideals, rebooted. Old routines abandoned and new habits adopted. There isn't a specific point in time when this change occurred. It was a gradual process that went unnoticed day-to-day, only apparent when reviewed after a year or two.
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Yesterday morning I awoke at 6:15am in my aunt and uncle's home in SS23. My aunt diligently leaves for work at 6:30am. From the room I've been inhabiting for 2 years, I could just make out the noises suggesting my aunt is already awake and leaving soon. As my eyes adjust to the lack of light, I could barely make out the room I've grown to call home. It's the largest room I've had all to myself. Ever. The room seems different now. Boxes piled up next to the bed. My usually cluttered desk on the other side now spotlessly clean. It's just like the day I moved in.

I emerge from my room with a chill creeping down my spine and head downstairs. With the front door already opened, I peeked out at the porch and see that my uncle is backing the car out into the street which was still eerily silent in the pre-dawn sky, waiting for his wife. She comes down, all ready, work case in hand and wonders why I am up so early.

It's my last day in KL. I just wanted to see her off before I leave in a couple hours' time. We both exchanged well wishes and gave each other a hug and bid farewell. In just two years, I have gone from barely recognizing who they were to knowing that my uncle likes his cola and which brand of laundry detergent my aunt buys. I've grown to love them and their lives.

One last hug and my aunt leaves for work. My uncle shuts the door and we climb the stairs up to the bedrooms. I would sleep for another 3 hours before I clean up, load all of my stuff in boxes into the Corolla, bid farewell to my uncle and drive 400 kilometers North to Penang.
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Three years in KL can do alot to you. I'm so happy that I made the decision to study there. There is nothing I would change. The awesome fun times, the mishaps and everything in between are part and parcel of who I am at this point in writing. I want to think I've changed for the better. That my thinking has matured and my ways somehow improved. But what I appreciate most about the experience would be how KL has made me take a good hard look at myself. And I'm beginning to accept my virtues and flaws. I'm a work in progress, so bear with me here.


Stay tuned.

Out of the blue

| I love it when I discover an item in my bag which reminds me of my travels or past incidences. In this case a couple of receipts and tags from Tokyo that was in one of the pockets of my bag.

Stay tuned for more.

2009 : A Review in Pictures

Wow, another year comes to an end. 2009 has been a really great year for me. I travelled far and wide this year and I remind myself to count my blessings everytime I take a look back at all the things I've gone through. Every little incident has in someway shaped my character and I wouldn't go back to change a single thing.

As I was assembling photos and picking out one for every month, choosing one above the rest for its significance, I reflect on all I've experienced in the past year and see how much I have grown physically and mentally. I may have 40GBs of photos in 2009 alone. But each and everyone of them captures a specific moment and freezes it in time and are thus unique. Just like how this blog is a way for me to record my thoughts and opinions and memories.

Note:
1. No photos were taken in the month of March.
2. 4 photos are featured for July.

January | with Mei Zhi & Karen, Teluk Bahang



February | Farah, Kairi & me, Cameron Highlands



April | in college with Jo & Sophia (this is the ONLY photo I took in April)



May | post-studio crit, Sunway Pyramid



June | at the Jelutong Expressway jetty



July | just outside Field Museum, Chicago



July | with Jayme by the Chicago Riverside infront of Betrand Goldberg's Marina Towers and Mies Van Der Rohe's 330 Wabash



July | on the Millenium park pedestrian bridge, Chicago



July | Jayme and me overlooking Mount Rainier, Washington State



August | in Penang with college friends on class trip, SXI field



September | May, in front of Kapitan Keling Mosque



October | lost, somewhere in Tokyo



November | revising Project Management in college



December | picnic, Kepong

I sincerely hope you've all had an amazing year as I did. I wish 2010 brings as much fun as 2009 did. And maybe more.

Happy New Year to all.
Goodnight, Travel Well.

Stay tuned for next year.

Some Assembly Required

Today's the day Brother Paul Ho, principal of St. Xaviers and last brother principal of Malaysia, retires. I remember much about him since he was after all the teacher advisor of the society I was chairperson in: The Catering and Hospitality Club. I remember him mostly of his thoughtful leadership, considerate thinking and wry sense of humour.

In the years 2001-2005 and even until lately, I could see and appreciate the work and contribution he puts into the school. Whether it's the Shangri-La toilets, renovation to the canteen or even that awesome double-decker oven for the bakery, it was truly the work of a visionary.

I present to you some of the pictures from Bro. Paul's retirement assembly:

- Bro. Paul, waving to us (ex-students) during the assembly.

- Commemorative tree planting.

- His portrait which would go alongside the pictures of the former principals.

- A group shot with the man himself.

This would have to be the last school assembly I attend with him addressing the crowd. And one of the best assemblies at that, since we (the ex-students) got to sit on chairs!

Now that he's retired I just hope he has a great life ahead of him. And the best of luck in his future endeavours.

Stay tuned for more.

The One with the Survivor

For the past 2 days, I've been pretty much home bound; cleaning up my room which has been in a hot mess ever since I came home. I had boxes and boxes piled up on the floor and laundry strewn here and there and a layer of one inch thick dust coating most of my stuff. I went through most of my things, getting rid of a lot of crap (HSC notes anyone?) and more crap (12 year old magazines) and even more crap (dried up stationary and expired products).

And along the way I found this:

- I wonder if all who were involved still remember this.

I just wanted to keep a snapshot of it before I throw it away. Y' know, just for memories sake.


Stay tuned for more.

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!

Raya Week Pt.1

Home at last. I've been longing to sleep in my own bed. Sleeping on beds other than the one back home somehow does not give you that same sense of satisfaction. The first thing which comes to mind for me when I think of 'home' is 'sleep'...Is that a bad sign?

The thing is, i've been so excited to come back home. And now that i'm actually here, i'm at a loss at what to do. I SHOULD be doing some light research or perhaps giving some thought into the upcoming assignments. But all i've accomplished is eating, waking up late, eating, lazying around and did I mention eating? But in between the aforementioned activities, i've managed to squeeze in a few outings.

Before I headed back home, I managed to wrap up my assignments, presentations and mid-semester examinations. Overall, I would say that I fared average-ish, which is such a relief. Well, water under the bridge. I'm anticipating a whole new wave of *gulp* assignments.

- after the Building Construction II presentation.

Soph, KW and I managed to do some catching up with Pam over a game of badminton. Running around the court breathlessly was a sign that my stamina (if I ever had any) was decreasing.

- post-badminton game.

Back in Penang, i've been going out quite frequently and will probably continue on doing so for the rest of the week. Just today I hung out with Wye Sern, whom i've been meaning to meet, and Boon Yong. We just went out to the mall, had lunch and talked crap (Ahhh...the stuff great outings are made of). And before we headed back home, we decided to pay a visit to the new INTI campus in BJ.

- at INTI with WS & BY.

Walking along the halls and seeing the noticeboards sure brings back memories. Same goes when we stared at the old campus from the new building which is right beside one another.

- the old campus sprawled amongst the greenery.

Oh, and guess what we saw on one of the noticeboards?!:
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This:

- That's me! And Boon Yong in front of me.

and this:

- Guess who's that flanked by Lee Xin and Kai Xin! (Fyi, the arrow was not meant to point at your boobs).

*Click on the pictures for a larger view.


Stay tuned for more :)