Last Post of 2009

Dear 2009,

You ROCK!!!!

You have been one of the best years in my life and I am sad to see you go. What will your big brother 2010 have in store for me, I know not yet. As the last moments towards end of the year tick closer, I shall celebrate your passing with a heavy heart.

I have never been fond of resolutions for I know it has never been easy keeping them. However, looking through my previous posts, I realized, I have made resolutions for you. From Hooi Fong, she wanted me to meet new people and to widen my network. For myself, I resolved to get to know the people around me and not be afraid. Brilliant you have made this possible for me. I have been terrible with people in 2008, but you, you gave me opportunities which I was happy to seize.

I braved myself to meet up with old friends I have never been comfortable to be alone. Some of these experiences are never to be repeated, some were so delightful those meetings became frequent, and others, made way to unforgettable experiences.

So many things have changed. I have more control over my thoughts and not let it wander too far. Self consciousness have been checked in bay, allowing me to be happy with friends, without me worrying about them not liking me. My mind have been more open, and my heart lighter. 2009 has made me into a happier person.

With 2009, I have encountered many new people and situations. I am glad to say I treasured every single memory of the people I have met. It's like jigsaw puzzle! I have not fitted in so well into anything for a long time. I felt assured. Belonged.

I was very laid back, holding on to the motto 'Living for the moment' like a lifeline. This was the hardest I have played yet. I languished in moments bringing new experiences, things I have never tried before. Truly enjoying the moment is only possible by not letting my mind go off to far, not letting myself over-think things. As giddy and intoxicated as I was wandering about in a dream, it's time to wake up. Reality awaits in 2010.

I have more focus and aim now. Next year will be my ultimate final year as a student. I will work my ass off to maintain my CGPA, if not improve it by a teeny bit. I will savour the freedom to go where ever I want without any liabilities or responsibilities, liberty that only life as a student can provide.

2009, I have been very happy. And content. But I have also been very sad. And cried so much. Good or bad, brilliant or devastating, you have been the best.

Signing off on the last post of 2009,
Quin


ps: As for you, my blog reader, thank you for being here through this year. Knowing there are people reading, catching up with my updates as well as commenting on my posts have kept the motivation in me to blog.

Till next year... 2010, the beginning of the end.

Until Next Year..

I will be in Singapore to usher in the new year! It will be my first time going out of the country for countdown. Anyhow, I have learnt how to schedule blog posts! Therefore, some last posts for this year will still be published even if I'm not home to do it.



2009 has been truly awesome. It is only right to end it with a blast. LITERALLY.


shit.i.am.scared.

Overture

Today has been a beautiful day. A day filled with fond memories shared among close friends and a satisfying home-cooked meal feasted with family.

Yes, I am alive and well. I got back from Hong Kong just last week and I owe this space some posts. Posts on Hong Kong, memories from school and also finally, the last post of 2009. It'll be a good one.

Coming Soon in December...

I have been back for one week. As you can see from my blog, there hasn't been anything that I've done, other than a make-shift book cover.

One thing that I HAVE been doing ever since I came back was driving. Here, I am formally announcing, my family's getting a new place! It's this other house just a few houses down from where we are living right now. The new place has this really cool attic that contained a home theater and a bar. Maybe some pictures after everything's done up looking pretty and sweet.

Anyway, back to me talking about constantly driving. Since we're preparing for the new place, I have been chauffeuring my mom to look at furnitures, compare quotations from different electric appliance shop, went to JPJ countless time for some stuff, and will be going to stupid sumpah-place tomorrow to settle some documents. All under the hot Penang sun.

That's part of the reason why I haven't been doing anything in my plans:
1. Zazzle
2. Photoshop tutorials
3. Illustrator tutorials
4. Sketch wedding portrait for so-and-so
5. Revamp blog
6. Stencil T-shirts

Anyhow, I will be painting my room! I am so excited about this project. I've gotten the green light from mom to do just about anything I want. It's kinda terrifying at the same time to have such liberty. So many ideas! So many different ways to do it! I've already picked out the basic colours of the new room, expect very light gray and sea-green (aquamarine). And trees. And more shades of gray. And stars. These are just roughly what I have in mind.

And o yeah, I will be leaving for Hong Kong this Friday. And Macau. I am very much looking forward to Macau for its architecture. It'll be a great subject for photography. Anddddd.... sneakers. New clothes. Foooood.

December! May you live up to your expectations!


ps: It's my mom's birthday today. Love you, mom! (i hope she NEVER finds out about this blog)

Complete Honesty

I have no idea what I am getting myself into. But it seemed... fun. Questions sent only to my inbox in Facebook. Hee.


ps: Do this too, so I get to ask you!!

Zzz

When you don't know what to do, you sleep.
When you don't want to think, you sleep.
When nothing interests you, you sleep.
When the whole world is ignoring you, you sleep.
When you start to get delirious from boredom, you sleep.

So, good night world.

DIY Book Cover

Second day back and I have just finished clearing up my old clothes yesterday. It's always a good idea to create space for new stock (yet to arrive).

I used to keep those T-shirts that I know I will never wear again coz they are just too old, but have too much sentimental value to just throw away. I got this idea to turn an old fav shirt into book covers from some design book. I got one of my old top with this really pretty shiny graphic (which will seem like such a waste to just chuck out) and tried carrying out this lil' project.


Wee... my Starbucks 2010 planner. The embossed effect looked kinda nice at first, but the more I look at it, the duller it became. So, I've decided to make the cover for this planner. (sigh... I really really liked the leather cover for 2009 tho..)



My old Samuel&Kevin top with the pretty graphic.


Butchered off the neckline and hood with a scissors. I only needed the body portion to make the cover.

Positioned the planner just right over the cloth, with the graphics properly aligned. The coin box was needed to weigh down the cover.

After sewing up the sides, this is how the planner looked like from the inside.


From the back. Notice my horrible sewing skills? O well.. it'll contribute nicely to the raw-hand-made style I was striving for. (yea rite..)

From the front. The cloth's a little bit wrinkled. I will have to iron it, I think. The cloth cover is perfectly detachable from the planner.

Excuse my crappy image quality from my crappy camera phone. Maybe better pictures tomorrow when there's more light.

痛愛

仍然難禁看著你這個壞人　有什麼的吸引
殘酷至此更讓我想靠近
心知要換個別人還是有人
如同前世欠下你的吻　還怎麼敢怒憤
已習慣親朋好友問我怎會為你等
學會講只因這種狠深得我心

＊喜歡你讓我下沉　喜歡你讓我哭
　能持續獲得糟蹋亦滿足
　喜歡你待我薄情　喜歡你為人冷酷
　若是你　也發現　你也喜歡虧待我
　我就讓你永遠痛愛著我
　(我願讓你愛上我更加多)＊

和諧甜美永沒有天意弄人　有什麼的吸引
誰待我好　我就會不過問
偏偏踫著那壞人　全部誘人

全球情侶故事也相近　寧願天昏地暗
要為錯的人傷過恨過　方算是勇敢
長世間不喜歡開心　喜歡痛心

Repeat（＊）＊

I have fallen in love all over again with Eason Chan. Here, he sang Joey's song. It sounded so sad, especially in the chorus. Thus it inspired this little snippet of pain and hurt below (Rui, don't over react, these are just words):

"I can't smile anymore, for I think only of you. Even if I forced myself to, it wavered through my tears.

I have no expectations, only dreams.
I didn't dare hope my dreams will come true, only allow me to continue owning them.
You made no promises, so how could you break a thousand?
There were no attachments, so what was it that got disconnected?

So painful. So very painful yet it is only a pinch compared to the wrenching pain it could have been.

I didn't know I was only dreaming it all, until the day I open my eyes, and woke up. Finally."

I will be going back to Penang for good tomorrow. Hand in the report and that's it. No more living just for the moment. Every step must be calculated. Every second fully utilised. I want my three months break to mean something, and not to be just squandered off, again.

It ends tomorrow. Let it pass soon, so I can stop hoping.

Team Red

That's it. My last day in Integricity.

Hah... I can write things like what I've learnt and people that I've met, but I've included all of these into my report. I've been typing so much on Integricity the past week. Anyhow, these are pictures of the place I have been working in for the past four months.

My desk.

Reception just outside the office. There's a foosball competition going on every six o'clock, every day, without fail.

One of my favourite perks of working in this place was getting access to design books and magazines. Too bad, I didn't utilise them properly.

Bean bag room! My favourite spot in the whole office. I WILL have bean bag in my future house.

Yesterday, the whole office went out for a farewell lunch in Frontera, Jaya One. The farewell was not for me alone, but for the other two colleagues as well, great guys who have been in the office longer than I did. The part I loved about yesterday's lunch was it was fully sponsored by the directors for the people going off. Ah... I am so going to miss all the free food: birthday cakes, Super Ring, milo, pisang goreng, keropok lekor, cup cakes, Krispy Creme. O well, at least now I can start on my diet plan. Oh, and also the day before, studio treat me to Japanese food coz I'm leaving. Umm.. I have a suspicion it was not a farewell lunch but celebratory instead. They were happy to send me off! Hee...

People leaving had to give a speech during the Frontera lunch (great fried chicken tenders they have!). I didn't prepare mine, coz I've already typed this long farewell letter addressing every one in the office that I've yet to send out then. Anyhow, I managed to thank ever one, appreciating them for the things I've learnt from them as well as the good times I had.

I didn't know working life could be this fun. It boils down to the people in the company. Very kind, patient and knowledgeable people. Not to forget, their love for bullying and pushing the intern around. Fuh... I have endured through it all coz I was merely an intern. But now I'm FREE!!

I remembered how reluctant I was of sending out my resume, looking for a job. And now, it's all over, an amazing experience from an amazing company.

Thank you, Integricity.

Itu Buku. Darn That Buku!

Report. Done and dusted! =D

Fuh. Seriously. It's done. Sat in front of the computer two nights in a row to finish it just in time for binding. Hard cover binding takes about three working days to bind. Since Friday's a public holiday, the ultimate cut-off date was today, Tuesday. Made it just in time. If nothing goes wrong, I will be getting my bounded report by Monday, prettily done up to be handed in.

I had an hour's sleep last night. Two hours the night before. Then had to drag myself to work, do work stuff and have no time for report during the day.

Things seemed to just go well for me today. I was planning to print during lunch time, but couldn't coz it's not done yet. But I got permission to go off work half an hour earlier to print, just a little leeway in time to beat the 6 o'clock LDP jam to Sunway. Traffics was clear. Got to the print shop, darn, no fonts. Installed fonts I saved in my hard disk into the virus infested computer, but spent two hours changing fonts in the body copy. I was so convinced resolution for the images were too low to print. I have given up, and sorta convinced myself to settle for pixelated images. But surprisingly, it came out alright. Maybe it's due to my worst case scenario imagination, though the quality was not perfect, it's better than what I thought could be. After three hours at the print shop, burnt RM190, print and taxi fare. Dank, this part of being a design student I don't miss.

A huge load is off my shoulders now. Report is done. Today's Tuesday. Tomorrow's a Wednesday. Then Thurday will come, my last day in Integricity. After that, I will go back home, bring down the car and start moving things to the new place in SK. Hand in report, and drive back to Penang. That will be the end of November. The end of my experience here in Damansara.

One by one, the days will pass. I was very excited about the idea of going home. Of finally having my own time to start on my little projects. But then it struck me. This is it. And it saddens me too.

Hur... am too tired now to relay all. Maybe the next post. On the people I have met, things that I have done.

See... even my sentence is so broken. Bits and chunks. Like don't know how to write.

Oh ya... before I forgot. I was standing in the print shop. Looking at all the artworks pasted on the wall. Ah... I am so far from being so good. I was just standing there. Looking at it all. Absorbing reality. It hurt to know. But by just accepting it all in, no excuses to why I am not that good yet, ignited a spark of motivation in me.

Just a spark. I'll probably not remember after waking up tomorrow.

Nights, peeps. Good stuff coming soon. Ok laa.. maybe mediocre, but will try to make it good. Ah... stupid fingers. Stop typing. I need to sleep. Oi! I said stop typing! Argh!!!

And there I had to hit enter twice. And on a new paragraph have to type something, right? Haha~ I love being delirious from lack of sleep.

Lalalalala~ ta!

Pretty Umbrella

Raining everyday.. but under the umbrella, I will still be humming to my iPod, even with shoes soaked through.

In Anticipation...

I love Christmas. Yea.. I know.. it's not gonna come for another month yet. But you could have fooled me with the atmosphere in the office today. There were Christmas songs playing and chocolates for everyone going around. The day was cool with the falling rain, perfect for warming myself up with a cup of hot toffee nut latte from Starbucks.




As much as I am anticipating the month of December and the end of the year, I am also going to savour the waiting. The anticipation, the excitement of thinking all that is possible, is sometimes much more exhilarating than the fact of it happening. Yep. I am boring like that. So sue me.


ps: big sad eyes giraffe belongs to Lianne, and big kelian eyes lion, GelatissimoLatte's Oli's.

For the Greatest Man with the Coolest Bike

Today's a rainy day. Sky is dark, temperature's especially low. I didn't go home again this year. Mom's not in Malaysia, so I guess none of us did anything in your memory. Not the usual way anyway. And I'm sure none of us forgot. Of course.

單車
陳奕迅

曲：柳重言　詞：黃偉文　編：柳重言

不要不要假設我知道
一切一切也都是為我而做
為何這麼偉大　如此感覺不到
不說一句的愛有多好？
只有一次記得實在接觸到...
騎著單車的我倆　懷緊貼背的擁抱

難離難捨想抱緊些　茫茫人生好像荒野
如孩兒能伏於爸爸的肩膊　誰要下車
難離難捨總有一些　常情如此不可堆卸
任世間再冷酷　想起這單車還有幸福可惜

經已給我怎會看不到
雖說演你角色實在有難度
從來虛位以待　何不給個擁抱？
想我怎去相信這一套
多疼惜我卻不便讓我知道
懷念單車給你我　唯一有過的擁抱

難離難捨想抱緊些　茫茫人生好像荒野
如孩兒能伏於爸爸的肩膊
哪怕遙遙長路多斜
你愛我愛多些　讓我他朝走得堅壯些
你介意來愛護　又靠誰施捨

難離難捨想抱緊些　茫茫人生好像荒野
如孩兒能伏於爸爸的肩膊　誰要下車
難離難捨總有一些　常情如此不可堆卸
任世間怨我壞　可知我只得你承受我的狂或野

Everytime this song plays, it brings back the memory of once upon a time. I miss sitting behind you, on the bike. Sometimes you will light a smoke while riding, and this will mix with the smell on you. All these, till today, embodied the smell of hard honest work to me.

I remember you picking me up from tuition at night. We'd always pass this steep road cutting through the hill. You'd purposely go fast, then bend low over the bike, so that I would feel the cold rush of wind directly at my face.

I remember concocting all sorts of silly stories in my mind when I sat behind you. Sometimes, I'd assume the characters and say the dialogues out loud. I always thought the wind covered my voice and prevented you from hearing. Now I wonder. Have you ever heard my stories?

I remember it was our ritual every morning. You'd take me on the bike and we'd go get a packet of potato chips from the grocery store. Then you'd drop me at the baby sitter's place at fourth floor. And when you came back from work, you'd buy tidbits for me. Is it any wonder now that potato chip's my favourite food?

I remember there was this once when you picked me up from school bearing this large piece of glass the size of a long dining table. I sat behind you with the glass held precariously between us. We were going at about 30km/hr. A ten minutes journey from school to home took 30 minutes that day. When I got down from the bike, the paper covering the glass was wet with my tears. Did you know? I was so scared.

I remember you paying me 50 cents to wash your bike. And five cents for every white hair I could find in your hair.

I remember you fetching me in a heavy rain. We were soaked through and through. You found it so funny that I said, "We were wet to our undies!" Why, I have no idea. Funny meh?

I remember you coming home from work in a rainy day. I'd rush to give you your towel to dry yourself. It was one of my many goody-two-shoes moments.

When mom didn't allow me to ride a bike, you were the one who convinced her to let me. Your reason to mom was, "How long do you want to protect her?"

I remember when I got my bike license, I fetched you once before. I think. Given the chance, you know I'd fetch you anytime you want for forever.

Today's your day. I miss you, Loutao.

Fat Black Whale

Run, Fool!

WAAAAAA!!!!!!!

Another worthy night of self discovery.

You know you're good. Good at what you do. Very good. But why is that your work is far from mind-blowing? Why is it that you got a B in a subject you're so confident in? So what if sometimes you couldn't show off your real skills when it comes to work? You tell yourself it's all the restraints stopping you. Time. Pressure. People poking their heads over your shoulders. Anything and everything stopped you from showing off what you're really good at.

But then came one night when all obstacles are removed from your path. People bothering you? Fine, take them away. Lack of time pressuring you? Fine, have all the time you want. Inspiration not coming? Okay, here's a muse, appreciate it.

The roads are cleared. Nothing and nothing is able to bother you now. So run! Run to your heart's delight. Run so fast, you're able to lift yourself off the ground and soar in the skies.

Pitiful, bitter, hard truth.

It is at a time like this, I am forced to admit, I don't even know how to walk.

Tonight is a good night. To realize just how bad I am.

The truth is crippling. But I am still good at picking myself up. I think. =D

Of Coins, Ice Creams and Babies

I posted on Facebook how I was too cheapskate to reload my phone and had to depend on free smses to contacts on FnF list instead. When I went into the office last bright early morning, Eugene came over to my place with an evil grin on his devilish face. He was armed with a tray of spare coins and began unloading coins worth RM10 on my table. It was both funny and slightly embarrassing for me. I was not really THAT broke. Some other colleagues then contributed to my 'charity' fund by giving me their five cents and lo-and-behold, a red packet. What the - !

Anyhow, thanks to these people, I now have credit on my phone (and I burnt seven bucks making a land line call home. sweet.).

Went to have McD take away after work. I had to wait fifteen minutes coz the ayam goreng's not ready. To while away time, I bought a sundae cone and the kind staff there gave me one double the size you'll normally get. Awesome people!

HF is buying a new car tomorrow. Her Mr. 2009. I am at the same time both excited and worried for her. It seemed like such a risk, not to mention financial burden to be getting yourself a car even before you graduate. I hope she knows what she's doing and things will work out well for her. On the bright side, now I can get free rides from her in her brand new car!

Hehe... I couldn't stop smiling when I heard this news. My sister's pregnant! Her second child. I am going to be an aunt fifth time over!

This day was just filled with happy little things that make my day.

Hallo Sneak Peek

I haven't been feeling inspired in the longest time. Ermmm... scratch that. I have been inspired, just not motivated to do anything about the inspiration. Anyway, I felt really keen on designing a Halloween wallpaper. All I could do tonight was to sketch it out. I need a scanner, or at the very least, snap this with my SLR to get better resolution.

Anyway, do keep a look out here for future improvements on this piece.

One thing I figured, inspiration is also something you need to practice in gaining. If you haven't been drawing/designing for the longest time, given a piece of paper, all you could do is stare at it. Well, for me at least.

May I Come In?

I need to completely own something before I can feel completely like myself. Maybe it's due to low self esteem or something. It's like a friend invited you to a birthday party. You arrived, gift in hand, just outside the door. You looked in and saw your friend having a good time with other friends. Being a coward and feeling really awkward, you stood outside the door, not knowing if you should go in and not daring to call out to your friend. It has to do with not knowing if you have the right to be there. Not knowing if you're wanted there. Not knowing if you belong there.

This feeling of needing to find a sense of belonging applies to a lot of things in my life. Meeting new people. Finding myself in a new environment.

Maybe I just need a good excuse for doing what I am doing.

***

I need to focus. Priorities in life at the moment: Finish internship. Create a stupendously impressive report. Polish skills. Upgrade skills. Make more design. Earn more money. Be very busy.

I have no time for you.

Zipping Time

I have been thinking a lot about the end of the year.

Two and a half more months and bye-bye 2009. I admit it's still a bit too early to do a recap, though it is not my intention for this post. How quick time flies, is one thing. How you don't feel the passing of time, THAT is scary.

A lot of people's birthday has been coming up. That's what prompted this post. It felt as if I have just celebrated it with them not long ago. Dank. It has been a year!

What have I done? What have I done? 2009. One of my favourite moments so far.

I intend to end the year with a resounding bang! No more idling away in Secret Recipe doodling on a foreign balloon.


ps: HF, remember? You have two and a half more months to realise the promise. Hah!

G-Force For Real

The first week in October shall go down as the most hectic of the year. Not that I did anything serious at all. Just loads of fun hanging around doing spontaneous unplanned things. All thanks to the company of two crazy people, Tres and Jr.

It's fun being around people who are game for anything. You don't think if you have the time, you don't bother with the locations, you just GO. We have made promises to go so many places, Melaka and Langkawi some time next month. What the heck. We're game. Let's GO!

It all started off with an innocent hang out between friends who are not really familiar with each other. Let's just say alliance are formed between us for though we have nothing in common, we do all have the same enemy. And enemies of one person, will make the best of friends with each other.

Drinking - dancing - getting drunk - puking - hugging - sleeping - breakfast - secrets - lies - drink again - dance again - drunk again - laughter - jokes at one person's expense - red box- singing - ice creams - 12 scoops again - chili pan mee - starbucks - feel the love - klcc - walking - pavilion - corona - drink again - loud loud music - good good night - bunking over - pretending not to know each other - having the best time ever with each other.

The crazy things we do. The stupid stuff we inspire each other to do.

Just moments like these I live for. At the moment. No plans. No commitments. No expectations. No promises. No pressure. Just good good time. And fantastic company.

I want nothing to ruin this.

The Night the Moon was Full

This might be a little too late to post up things on Mooncake Festival. Allow me to compain that I haven't had ANY mooncakes at ALL this year. Well, I did have a bite or two out of snowskin mooncake, but that is so ciplak!! I want pandan lotus paste with egg yolk. =(

Mooncake Festival, 3 October 2009. While it lasted, it was grand. For the moment. Simply for the moment.

So this is what a chipped heart feels like.
Thank you for being honest.
Thank you for giving me a clear perspective on things.
You needed time to think, to get your thoughts straight.
To be fair to me.
I needed time because this is going too fast.
I needed time to see you. To know you. To see if this is right.
It all sounded so rational. So civilised.

So why is it that when it's time to go, you held on to me still?
Why did our last kiss good bye tasted so sad?
Why are your eyes red with tears?
Why is it that when I finally closed the door, and you were gone, tears began to flow down my face?
We are giving each other time.
What if we are passing up on the perfect timing instead?
I am afraid that time will make this go away.

If not now, I am afraid it will never be again.


Some random piece of sappiness to share. Hee.

Movies: You've Got Mail

I do not remember the last time I watched a romantic comedy and went 'awwww...... oh my God...' when the two leads finally get together in the end. I have not watched 'You've Got Mail' in ages. This is absolutely one of my favs and I am glad to be reminded why.

They don't make romantic comedies like this anymore. Let's take some recent ones shown as examples. 'Ugly Truth' concentrated too much on the sex jokes to remember that it's supposed to be romantic too. 'The Proposal' had two leads which I think have zero chemistry between them, and the whole feel of the movie just fell flat. 'Ghosts of Girlfriend Past' had some of it all, good leads, nice story, funny jokes, but the thing is, it's nowhere near memorable.

Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks together is simply too good. There's this scene in the movie when Tom Hanks is supposed to finally meet Meg Ryan in a coffeeshop. But he stood her up upon realizing she's the girl he has been chatting online with. I used to think the reason for that is he got disappointed coz the girl he liked turned out to be the one he's always fighting with everytime they met. But watching this again after so long, I had a different point of view. He didn't back off coz he's disappointed in her. He backed off, coz he's afraid that she's going to be disappointed in knowing he is the online guy.

Maybe I was too young to realize all the little subtleties in the movie. But I am certainly enjoying and appreciating them now.

*Yawn*

Mom should be in the States by now. The last message I got from her was from Taipei, preparing to go to the night market. Darn. I miss mom. Hooi Fong was here from last night till afternoon today. Had lunch with her and then sent her off in a taxi. She's going home to Penang. Dank. I miss home. Noooo...... this bout of homesickness is ambushing me.. catching me off my guard. T.T

I am broke. So broke. I need to hold off on spending any money at all. My 'helpline' is temporarily down. So there's no way for me to make any magical calls and have money 'magically' transferred into my account. Makes me feel so insecure.

But thinking on a good side, that means I am stuck in my room for the weekend. No money=no going out. Yea~ can finish off my report. If I don't start writing, I might as well just flunk my internship semester.

Ramblings done. Thanks for reading. Aihhhh...........................................................

Movies: Departures

"Academy Award® Winner for Best Foreign Language Film of the year, "Departures" is a delightful and sensitive journey into the heartland of Japan and an astonishingly beautiful look at a sacred part of Japan's cultural heritage.

A premiere symphony orchestra in Tokyo disbands, leaving Daigo Kobayashi (Masahiro Motoki) suddenly unemployed. With wife Mika (Ryoko Hirosue) in tow, he moves back to his home town in the northeastern prefecture of Yamagata.

Spotting a Help Wanted ad featuring the word “departures,” he is excited about the prospect of trying a new career in the travel industry. The company owner, Sasaki (Tsutomu Yamazaki), hires him on the spot. Daigo finally ventures to ask what is involved, exactly, and is stunned to learn what he has gotten himself into: the ceremonial “encoffination” of corpses prior to cremation.

In desperate straits, Daigo overcomes his initial trepidation and begins to travel around Hirano with Sasaki. True to Sasaki’s expectations, Daigo develops a deep respect for life in all its variations, and a profound empathy for people trying to make peace with the finality of death.

Too embarrassed to tell his wife about his conversation-stopping profession and admit that he has fallen in love with the townsfolk, Daigo vainly tries to keep his new life secret. As their relationship hangs in the balance, the big question is how he’s going to react to surprising news she brings, as an encoffineer, as a husband, as a son and as a human being. It is Daigo’s turn to deal with life and death among the people who are dearest to him."

I do admit I was a little nervous about watching this film. From the beginning, I didn't know what it was about besides a story about a guy who works in a mortuary (in the end, it was not a mortuary, but an "encoffiner" - someone who cleanses and dresses corpses prior to cremation).

I figured my discomfort stemmed from a life long learning that death itself is a taboo. In my lifetime, I have been to funerals of relatives and strangers. Most of these ceremonies are filled with rituals and protocols. For Chinese (Buddhist/Taoist), when a body is lifted into the coffin or when the coffin is moved in any way, spectators have to turn their eyes away or turn their backs facing the scene. Everytime when something like this happened, there was this slight irrational fear that if I managed to sneak a peek, what would happen to me? Eternal bad luck?

I was in awe of the ceremonial “encoffination” of the Japanese portrayed in the movie. Their deep respect for the deceased moved me so much.

I haven't shed tears in a movie for a long time.

Of Contraceptions and Virginities

Let's talk about sex.

I had a pretty interesting conversation with a friend recently. To him, if a guy were to look for a future wife hoping she's still a virgin, well, good luck. I kind of resented his tone for it seemed to me that if a girl's no longer a virgin on her wedding day, or if her future husband's not the first guy whom she had sex with, this will somehow devalue her. How archaic is this thought?

I got an interesting forwarded mail from U-Jean a while back. It's about how a woman's value is determined not by what society deemed is right, but by her own choice. An excerpt from the article below:

"Typically, there is a whole lot of talk about a woman's honour and 'worth' (and again described in archaic terms), but very little on her choice.

Tell me something new. Tell me about a woman's choice to choose, a woman's choice to interpret her dignity and self-worth in her own terms. Why have we not heard much about men being virgins? Why is a woman's Self-Worth being defined by a tiny piece of skin, a few inches of cloth (either too much / the lack thereof) ?

Tell me about a Woman's Right to Choose what she wants to do with her Body. Tell me about a Woman's Right to Decide how she wants to express her Self-Worth. Tell me about a Woman's Right to Honour Herself in a way she seems fit. Tell me about a Woman's Right to Determine for Herself."

All along, it has not been about what people say is right, or what is deemed as appropriate. It is about a woman knowing her choices, and knowing what is best FOR HER.

Sex and worth talk aside, I'd like to share a link with you: World Contraception Day

It is the first website that I have been involved in from the beginning stage to the launching of the live site. The template of the site was designed by my Senior Art Director. I played a part in laying out the content and designing some of the headers you will see in some of the pages. It was a good experience to learn and see how a major site come into form from the initial planning stages, to design, to developing, to endless changes and lastly, to reality.

Do go to the site, make a pledge on contraception. Spread the word. Safe sex happens by choice, not by chance (plus, STIs are really disgusting, I should know, I was the one who layout all the disgusting pictures).

IT'S ALIVE!!!! (the site, I mean. Pardon me, but it is a pretty exhilarating feeling.)

Haagen Daaz Eat Your Heart OUT!

Whoa.. I am so full and bloated right now. I just came back from the Haagen Daaz ice cream buffet in Solaris Mont Kiara! Yea.. it's my first time going for an ice cream buffet. RM33.90++ for an adult, after tax and all that, it amounted to RM 40 per pax. So if you had Haagen Daaz ice cream before, you'll know that a scoop cost about RM 10. My target was five scoops, getting a little bit more than what I've paid.

I went with Juniour who enthusiastically responded to my invite. When I told him of my plans, he said, crazy, have more laaa!!!

In the end, I had 12 scoops of Haagen Daaz ice cream. Flavours were rum raisin, vanilla, macademia nut, mango and passion fruit, apricot, belgian choc, choc, some choc, some cherry stuff, strawberry cheesecake, and I think that's about all. Buahahah~ pretty proud of myself. My fifth plate consisted of three different chocolate flavours. I couldn't finish them at all. Anymore and my stomach would turn itself over. In the end, I passed them over to Juniour, who finished...

30 SCOOPS!!!

The employee there talked about how a lady before did 25 scoops. I was also very proud of Juniour for breaking the record! The guy ate ice cream like nobody's business! One regular scoop, he could simply pop the whole ball into his mouth and munch. 0_o

Pardon the horrible quality of my camera phone. Hee~

The incredible Master Juniour, King of ice creams!!!

The promotion is only available at the Mont Kiara outlet until further notice, but definitely will still be ongoing until the end of this month. You'll probably wouldn't find any advertisement on this. If the whole of KL knew, I think they'd empty out in a jiffy. Just look at the long line in Baskin on every 31st. So get you butts over there and eat your heart out!

After this, I swear my craving for ice creamS is over.

That is, until the next craving wave comes.

Imageries

There is no fear in being alone. Being alone is a good time to reflect upon yourself. I'm pretty good company, I think, that's why I like being by myself. Alone, is never synonymous with loneliness. People often mix these two things up.

There is no fear in walking. No matter the distance, no matter the hardship, reap joy in the fact that you're healthy enough to walk. Feel the security of the ground beneath your feet, laugh at the little stumbles and falls along the way. It might hurt sometimes, real bad, but rest assure in the fact that you can, still walk.

I took a whole load of pictures from Singapore. Truly random stuff. Check them out in my Facebook!

The Ice Cream Hunt

I do not know why, but recently I had this insatiable ice cream craving. One of the agendas for the Singapore trip was to eat ice cream. Not as a dessert, not as something to do whiling the time away, but as a SERIOUS BUSINESS. That's why I stuffed myself and nearly had an overdose of ice cream. Nearly. But not really.

Here, I present to you, the TOP 5 ice creams I had in Singapore:

WARM UP: ROAD SIDE ICE CREAM - COCONUT, CHOCOLATE, CORN, STRAWBERRY

All for the price of one dollar. Awesome, yes??

#5: TURKISH ICE CREAM - PISTACHIO

It tasted kind of weird at first coz pistachio was not a stable flavour of mine. Though full with nuts, the pistachio flavour was not strong enough. Maybe it's part of its Turkish ice cream characteristics, the texture of the ice cream was thicker and slightly different from normal.

#4: BEN & JERRY'S - STRAWBERRY CHEESECAKE AND CHOC SOMETHING

I asked Rui, why is it not "Tom & Jerry"? She said, the founders are really these two guys, one named Ben and the other named Jerry. Oh.

I had the strawberry cheesecake. It was actually alright but not the best I had. The strawberries were not big chunks like the ones in Baskin. The cheese cake bits were a little distracting and didn't blend in as well with the strawberry.

I had a little of Rui's choc. VERY nice~ It's bitter enough without being overly sweet.

#3: UDDERS - BAILEY'S & BOURBON

When I surfed their site, I saw the list of flavours. The moment I read Bailey's, I knew what I wanted. And got it, I did. It's very rare to find alcoholic ice creams here. At the most, there's Rum Raisin, which I love. The alcohol in the ice cream was very strong. For a non-drinker like myself, my face went red and flush from it. But no worries, we still walked a straight line after that.

#2: AZABU SABO HOKKAIDO ICE CREAM - BLACK SESAME

So good. The moment a spoonful went into my mouth, it was just too flavourful for words. It's surprising how much of a punch this unassuming flavour could pack. Very smooth, very flavourful, and not overly sweet. I could finish a tub just like that.

#1: MOVENPICK ICE CREAM - CARAMELITA

It's the most beautiful flavour thus the most beautiful name. It might seem like something common, caramel ice cream with caramel bits. But come on! Who on earth could resist caramel? I sure as hell could not!

It's sweet, just like how caramel should be. But the truth behind its excellence lie in the bits of caramel. Every single bite of the grainy bits was like exploding a little universe of bliss in my mouth.

One scoop of this was just perfect.




It had been a very good hunt. If I intend to this again, I'll make sure I have more than this. But mean while, just let me rest and recover first.

The Little Red Dot

Just got back from a trip to Singapore. Only a short weekend, but I have realised the promise made to Rui. Better late than never!

The current exchange rate is 2.47. The last time I went to Singapore, the exchange rate was 2.00. It hurt so bad to give RM 300 over the counter and only got back SD$ 120. You can easily draw your own conclusion that this might as well be the first time I go down to that tiny red dot on the map since the last time I went eons ago.

Since waaaayyyyy before I went down, the wise lady gave me a very wise advice:

"Don't convert."

Very wise words indeed. Thus, for the rest of the trip, I spent the dollars, thinking they were ringgit. All the time, keeping the mantra of the wise lady in mind.

For breakfast, Rui took me to this dim sum place in a back road. The star of the meal: Portugese Egg Tart. Crisp pastry with a soft egg custard on the inside. All warm and fresh from the oven.

She asked me to think of where to go. I said, I don't know. Do you want to go see the Merlion? she asked, rather reluctantly. Err.. no. Can we not do anything touristy? I could almost hear her sigh of relieve over the sms.

That's why, knowing what you want is very important. I knew it that I wanna fill this trip with a whole lot of walking, shopping, and eating. Nothing touristy. Just money-spending and each other's company.

And it was really just that through it all.

Check it out: HUNK!!! THREE O'CLOCK!! So gorgeous, so shiny, so adorable.. sigh....~ Don't you think the blue is just such a handsome colour?

We started off with some pretty good bargains. I got myself a new pair of pants, a black leather bangle and a journal. The journal cost me the most. It has this rough fabric cover and unlined acid free paper on the inside. My fingers trembled slightly as I ran my hand across the paper. It was love at first sight. I had never been good with journal. I really really hope I can make a difference with this one.

As for Rui, woohoo~ she had a field day.

She had been looking and staring and trying it on... an obvious goner. Sigh.

I have never tried MOS burger. I got myself the rice burger with unagi. It was not bad. But maybe too early in the day and was still full from dim sum. Didn't really see what all the hype was about.

After a looonnngggg day of walking on the streets, and from mall to mall, we finally sat down for... soup. Tangy tomato soup with basil. Different. Second time? Hell no.

For dinner, we went to Clarke Quay for this Japanese place, Waraku. The curry udon was not bad, but so far, the one from Pasta Zammai reigns supreme.

Between us, we shared this sizzling squid on a hot plate. It was pretty good. But the combination of the sauce and squid reminded me of the sotong bakar in Gurney Drive. Ah, home.

Clarke Quay's a nice place at night to just sit and chill. The place overlooked the river and across from where we sat, there's this row of bars and restaurants. Everything was lit up prettily. A good night for people watching. A lot of ang mohs and smartly dressed guys walking around. Is it any wonder why we sat there for so long?

Ooooo!!! The extreme drop! There's another reverse bungee jumping kinda thing too!! Soooo scared looking at it. We were wild eyed and excited just by looking. So where are we going on it?? Next trip! Pull Hooi Fong along. Lalalla~

Overnighted at her hostel in NUS. Finally, a peek into Rui's life in Singapore. I'd have to say, am impressed by her campus and hostel. Look! It looked just like a condo!

Our new bangles~

Wearing her new shoes, all black and white. Me? Mine's just ciplak. Her's the real thing.

The next day, I only had a few hours before catching the bus ride home. She brought me to Marche, a Swiss Market Restaurant. The theme of the restaurant is a market place where they cook in the open and the materials are laid around. There's a branch at the Curve. Never been to one before this. The presentation of the food was really tantalising. Mantra: Don't convert. I didn't. That's why the meal was so cheap. Repeat mantra: Don't convert.

Would really like to go this place again. Chia Yinn!! Up for a round of Marche?

She had root beer. Very cold and refreshing. I had banana shake. The milk shake was totally over priced, but then again, I was not converting.

Rui battling with her lamb!

I was so spoilt with choices, that I didn't know what to have. I ended up with chicken wings. Kinda lame, I know. But they were good!! And yeah, I had roesti. It's strips of potatos being fried flat in a pan. Just oil and potato and sour cream on the side.

Let me end this post with a tutorial on how to eat Roesti with chicken wing:

And the appropriate eating behavior:

Thank you, Rui, for an awesome weekend!!!!

Rui: And you're just going to leave like that? Just come and go, just like that?
Quin: And you're just going to let me go? You're not doing anything to make me stay!


So gay.