Goodbye Singapore, and Thank You.

(First of all take note that I've been writing this since 24/5/2013, one day before I left Singapore)

Well, it seems so surreal and bizarre that I am finally going back tomorrow. Going back for good. No longer living in my cosy humble room in Singapore. No longer coming back in Singapore for schools and so on, I'll stay in a hotel the next time I'm here. I've spent 11 years living on this sunny island I called my second home. And now I'm returning back to my homeland. I will really really miss this place like a lot. Too many good things happened. And learned.

I was packing my room and table with my sis with great difficulty. Not because of the size and amount and such only, but also because of the waves of memories that rushed within me. My primary school report book, PSLE score, my Tanglin report book, class photos and so on. And then I just graduated so seeing all the SP stuff on my table made me really look back on the journey I've embarked on. It just seems so fucking surreal that I'm going home.

There are seriously too many stories to be looked back upon. Too many lessons I have learned. Too many things I will miss doing. Too many things, just too many. I don't even know where to begin with. I can't possibly list down the things that I will miss or every bit of memory that remain within me and so on and forth. I really don't know where to begin.

Leaving Singapore is like leaving a life, literally. A life you've been living for 11 years. Something like a habit you've been doing, a routine. Every day, every week and every month. And to realise that you're finally going to leave this routine, forever, it just feels so weird. One, I don't know how will life be after this. Two, I don't know how I can bear leaving this place and holding the memories of the 11 years. Time seems to fly so quickly. I didn't realise at times.

Like all journeys in life, and the Buddhist teaching of Anicca, which is the contemplation of impermanence, everything will one day come to an end. I know this deeply even back then when I first came to Singapore. I know there will come a day where I will go back to my homeland, for good. I just don't know when. And after years and years of living here and studying here, tomorrow is finally the day that I'm going back for good. The day is here.

(Writing this now as of 27/5/2013, I'm back in Indonesia)

I guess the whole of 25/5 happened really fast. I didn't expect it to happen that fast. But well yup I'm writing this in my room back in Indonesia, knowing I will never return to Singapore back as a student, to study there like how I used to be for the past eleven years. When I woke up on 26/5, it feels so weird. I woke up with the fact that I'm no longer going back here just for a holiday and I'm now back for good. But life has to go on, right?

Anyway I'm thankful of the 5 friends of mine - Carmen, Jolene, Sharon, Shaula and Tacy for sending me off to the airport on the 25th. And also to Carmen, Jolene, Sharon, Melissa and Tacy for the lovely scrapbook you made for me! It's so lovely and I even cried as I flipped through it at the airport. When I read it in my room at night when I was back in Indo I... (shall not say) but I couldn't help but feel sad about the whole going back thing.

But I'm really glad on the other hand to have met people like them! It really made me feel that my life in Singapore was made so much more memorable and fun thanks to these people. Also not forgetting the farewell cards that a few of you made for me. I was crying as I read them on the plane. It was just so sad haha. Can't bear to leave you all and the sunny island. But like I mentioned above, life has to go on and it will. So... Yeah.

As I was waiting to board that plane home, it occurs to me that my 11 years of life in Singapore was playing like a flashback. All the memories jumbled up beautifully like a tapestry playing in my head. I looked back and looked back and I am really happy of the outcome. Of the life I have lived for the past 11 years. Being an independent foreign student living in Singapore. The people I've met, the trips I went to and the friendships and relationships I've forged.

So yes I must say that I am sad for leaving, but at the same time I am happy for the experience. Because if it's not for these eleven years, I wouldn't be who I am today. If it's not for the people I've met and the things that happened to me, I wouldn't make it this far. So yes, like Dr Seuss said, don't be sad because it's over but be happy because it happened.

When I weigh the things over - between what if I didn't come to Singapore to study and with the fact that I have come here to study, things will be so much more different and I wouldn't even want to imagine how I will be if I were not to come to Singapore to study. The things I have learnt, the independence I gained, the goals I have reached and the dreams I have fulfilled. I would seriously be a totally different person (more of in a less good way).

One thing that I gained from all these eleven years of studying in Singapore, is independence.

Living away from my parents, and only to live with my brother and sister (from 02-03) and with my eldest sister (04-08) and my elder sister (10-12), it is natural that I have to learn how to be responsible with myself and to take care of myself. I guess not having your parents around can let you do things. To wreak havoc and to take responsibility of your own actions. And of course being a  "guai kia" I chose the latter. Though I did some of the first choice hah.

Like going to the doctor by yourself when you're sick, going grocery shopping by yourself so that you're not hungry and your well being is being maintained. Cooking your own or buying your own food. Paying and being responsible of your bills and so on. All these revolve around maintaining and controlling your own monthly allowance. So back then life was rather fun, challenging and confusing. Deciding what to eat/cook for dinner was one of life's hardest decisions back then. I'm serious! Haha. Sometimes indomie would save the day.

And all these came into a climax when I was on my last year of poly life. Because I was living entirely by myself. It was weird and difficult at first being alone and not having anyone by your side. For example I would usually have my sister to talk to after school but then, I had no one to talk to. I would just cook dinner, watch the TV and then do my assignments. Blogging and social media was one of the platforms to keep me "communicable".

And to keep me sane there were my piano, music, blog, diary and of course running. Being alone challenged me to make my life more meaningful - to be happy by yourself. That's when I begin taking long walks (like walking home), exploring places alone (Like Labrador Park), just chilling alone in Starbucks with my journal and so on and forth. And from all these experiences I begin to appreciate the joy of being alone. The joy of solitude.

How I learned that, sometimes, loneliness gives me happiness. 

Well actually being alone would be something I will miss the most from my life in Singapore. I know when I'm going back here I'll be meeting lots of people at work. And yeah, less me-times. I will try my best to fit some me-times into my life though for sure.

Singapore has also given me many chances to do things I would never imagine myself doing. From music wise, to adventure and of course in terms of school.

The three schools I went to - Pei Tong Primary School, Tanglin Secondary School and Singapore Polytechnic, have really impressed me a lot. Although I have only been to a primary school here in Indonesia till I'm P4, schools in Singapore differ so greatly as compared here to my homeland. Of course, in many different ways. I just love how schools in Singapore teach us in a more holistic way. There are camps, many CCAs to choose from, and we got to learn and experience many other things that I didn't imagine myself experiencing.

Music has always been my passion since young. When I was a little boy I always wanted to learn the piano, or to be part of an orchestra. And although I'm sad that PTPS didn't have a band/Chinese Orchestra I was a proud member of its Angklung/Kulintang Ensemble! And it was in primary 5 when I went with my sister to watch NYJC band performance. They played "The Seventh Night of July" by Itaru Sakai. That's when I decided I WANT to join band in secondary school. And so I did, till I reached poly.

And joining band was one of the best decisions I made in life. Getting to perform in Esplenade concert hall with SPSB was really a dream come true for me. 23rd January 2011 is a day I will never forget, for it's the first time in my life that I performed with SPSB in Esplenade. And also the 16th of November 2012 which was the last concert I had with SPSB, also in Esplenade. I guess many people would consider this as something rather small.

But to think that I come from a small town, where classical music is not something that is being loved by many people's ears, I really think performing in such a world-class concert hall (to me that is, since I haven't experienced others) is such a huge deal to me. Feels like the dream that I had when I was young came true and yup I feel really happy about it. Not forgetting too, to be able to perform overseas in Korea, in public! Definitely another memorable event.

So that's music wise. Adventure wise? I am a proud member of an awesome team known as The Green Transformers. It was an environmental project in Inner Mongolia where we planted fir trees to combat desertification in that region, and also to prevent sandstorms. At the age of 19 I wouldn't imagine myself going to such places in the world for an environment project. And here I am, being proud of the team which planted 1133 trees during the project!

And following that year too, a group of us climbed Mount Kinabalu for our Leadership Programme (LEAP) Intermediate. Similarly, climbing a mountain or can I also say, the highest mountain in Southeast Asia, was never in my agenda during those times. But well I gave it a try, gave it a shot and with the help of my team mates I was able to summit to the top and of course go down safely in one piece haha. It was truly a memorable trip, and still by far the greatest achievement that I ever did in terms of adventure.

So yeah being in Singapore has let me discover many beautiful places in the world that I myself didn't imagine could visit. All these trips taught me how beautiful the world is and that there are so many places that I should see to satisfy my knowledge. The different landscapes, cultures and people really made me open my eyes that this world is one huge beautiful place. And it just made me hunger to go more different places in this world.

And of course, in my last year in Singapore I signed up for a lot of 10KM races. It all begin in 2011 with Standard Chartered Marathon 10K. Seeing my friend, Weiping, who ran for a lot of races (and run fast!) really inspired me and made me want to try to run too. Slowly and slowly, with a silent whisper of "give it a go" I just signed up for more races in 2012. A total of 6 races that I signed up for. And similarly, running wasn't something I was fond of. But it turned out to be something I enjoyed doing and I hope I can continue to go for races even when I'm back here.

School was both fun and enriching to me. I love practicals the most, because they are when I get to put what I learn from the books and notes to real life. They opened my eyes about the real science world and I am always being fascinated by it. Lectures were fun with some of the awesome lecturers I have met. I have always loved biology since secondary school. And I always wonder how the human body works. In these three years, many of life's questions have been answered for me. Though I know deeply I still have billions of questions unanswered.

The human body is too complex.

And from school, not forgetting the aesthetic side too - the camps! Back from the DPA camp that I went when I entered SP, to CLS FOC which was really fun, the band camps and last but not least the camp that left me with the most impact was CLS Foundation Leadership Camp (FLC). The camp which I learnt the most, and the camp which left me with the most impact even up till today. I'm so glad to have been selected for the camp.

So yeah, going to Singapore to study has given me so many opportunities to learn and to grow as an individual back from when I was a young boy of 10 till now. And also it has given me the opportunities to discover another side of me which I never knew before. It has fulfilled some of my dreams and goals, and let me do things I never imagined myself doing. And I am really really thankful of all the things that I have experienced in these years.

I have met many people in Singapore. And many people who really shaped myself to be who I am today. I guess people come and go in your life, all for a reason. A reason which you may not know now but maybe a few years later or something like that. I couldn't really say everyone who have done so. And even if I were to list a few, I think it's not fair for the many others whom I don't mention. But I'm really glad to have met each and everyone of you who have made my life in Singapore such a joyful one.

And even to those who brought dark clouds to my days, I thank you because I learned the value of happiness. And I also learned not to be someone who I don't want to be haha. So sorry for being mean.

Teachers and lecturers, thank you for imparting your knowledge to me. Without the hard work that you have put in, and the sleepless nights you spent marking our papers, I wouldn't be who I am today. I am thankful for your dedication and time you have given to us, guiding us and shaping us to who we are today. Both as a student, and as a human being.

To my friends, thank you for the joy and fun we had together. And also for being there beside me as we brave the storms together. The food we savoured and the bitterness we threw away. The tears we cried and the drama we just laugh simply at now, and also the youth we had went through. The memories you wrote in my mind and the love you cast in my heart.

To the insignificantly significant people I met. Like the owners of the minimart below my block, the hairdresser I've been going to for 9 years, the shop helpers at Jo Ann Foh (which is the shop I printed my photos and develop my films), the Mr Bean aunty that greeted me every morning as I got my breakfast, the aunty from Foodcourt 3 drink stall who (I think) hated me because I always ask for less ice or ask for complicated orders like teh-o-peng-kosong. Well these people really add colours to my life on the sunny island. And I thank you for that.

So from everything, and everyone. The people I have met and the things that happened to me, I learned one truly important lesson about life and that is everything happened for a reason. Life may not give you a reason now, but it may give you a reason three days later, ten days and so on. But yup, the past eleven years have taught me all these. And because of this I learned to be more calm and be more accepting. Stop pointing fingers at others and life but maybe I should think hard again, and wait. Because life may just give you the answer.

Where am I heading next you may ask?

I'm going back to Indonesia, my homeland as you all know. And I'll be helping out my dad in his business. And yes, his business is totally unrelated to what I studied (ssshh keep the comments to yourself). This decision I made may be a tough one for me but I'm going to take one step at a time and I'm sure I will be able to help out in the end. As much as life is like a storybook, you can't just flip over to a new chapter. In life, you need time to adjust.

For the past eleven years my parents have been supporting me both financially and emotionally. Financially, of course the living expenses and the school fees. Though as I grow older I become more financially free from them through my savings. Like for my overseas trips in poly I would pay it by myself (or sometimes my mum insist to help me pay a few). And like my gadgets be it my camera of my iPod and handphone. Being a foreign student, school fees are not small. So I am really really grateful and thankful to have my parents' support and help.

Emotionally? Well they supported my decisions, and also allow me to go for trips. But the emotional burden that I truly felt from them is to have their children/son being away from their side for most of the time. If you just realise, I spent all my year in Singapore, only to come back to my hometown during holidays. So lets do some maths here. In Sec school I would go back on CNY + June Holiday + End of year holiday and that would equal to 4 + 28 + 45 = 77 days. So I would only spend about two months plus back at home with them.

I guess I'm thankful that in polytechnic, holidays are spread out more evenly. Although sometimes I spent some of these holidays with camps or overseas trips. So every year I would get roughly the same amount of days back at home. So I know the emotional burden that they have to bear. Especially back in the beginning when three of their children were overseas. At least towards the end there were two and then lastly, one and that is me.

I could see the sense of relief my father has when I went back here on a Sunday. And I felt glad too, to realise that at least now my parents know I'll be by their side. No longer spending only 2 months plus a year back at home. And I feel glad for them too.

My parents are no longer young you see. Nobody is forever young. It seems so scary and sad to me that last time it was my dad who held my hand when I was walking. And now I am the one holding his hand as he walks on slippery ground or going down the stairs. Last time it was my mum whom I hold on to as I go up the escalator, now it's the opposite too. I've been noticing and experiencing this last year. And I knew deep in my heart that I have to go home.

After what they have given me for the past 11 years, I guess it's time to return home and pay them back.

So to (no offence) those who thought that I'm going back to "waste my three years of poly" "waste a placement in my course" "waste a placement in Singapore" "took the wrong course" and so on and forth, I hope you could take back your words after knowing the reason why I'm going back for good. If not then too bad.

I really don't think I have wasted my years in poly. I don't think I took the wrong choice. I fully learned what I've been wanting to learn about. As I left SP with my GPA, I really don't think I wasted my three years. I don't think I took the wrong choice, because if I did, I wouldn't be in this course anymore. Or I would have left halfway.

Life is never a straight road. You can never expect things to go smoothly for you. We are never born to walk through a straight path without meeting curves and roadblocks and so on. Besides like what I always said, the things I learned and the lessons I gained from these three years are too precious to be wasted. So I really have no regrets choosing this path, choosing this course, and even making this decision of going back home.

Besides, sometimes I question myself. Have school lost its name as a place where we learn and get knowledge, to become a place where we SOLELY prepare for our future. Do we come to school to learn, or do we come to school to become what we want to be. Do we come to school to get knowledge? Or to just come as robots telling ourselves this is what I will do in the future and if I don't do this I should go away from here.

Is it wrong to learn how to make a pizza, but you ended up making pasta for dinner? Has the skill you earn gone to the bin?

Okay enough of the essay-writing-like moments.

I guess I will stop here. To end of this longest post in my blogging history, I just want to thank everyone whom I've met in the past 11 years for giving colours and wonders in my life on the sunny island that has become my second home. To the things I have experienced, and basically to Singapore for shaping who I am today. These eleven years will definitely be the highlight of my life, a journey and memory that I will never forget.

So with that,
Thank you.

Graduated at last

Hello everyone here I am writing this as a....

SINGAPORE POLYTECHNIC GRADUAND, CLASS OF 2013!

I seriously can't believe that I have graduated. But as much as I can't believe it, I... Really have graduated. Seriously I am now a graduand. SERIOUSLY! Haha. It feels all so surreal that I'm done with my polytechnic life, that I have officially graduated and formally bid farewell to my polytechnic education. It feels bizarre yet fruitful and... All real.

It was really great haha. Graduation felt like the fastest thing that ever happened in my life. It all happened in a flash. When I was on stage I went all numb and deaf. It feels like I couldn't hear what the crowd was saying, how the announces pronounced my name. It all went quiet and deafening really. In a good way. It was just all crazy and fast.

And guess what I did for my graduation?

YEAH BABY

Okay pardon the unglamness but that's what I do. Ouyeah haha. I'm so glad that I did what I did on stage! I wanted to shout "I Love Kidney Fibrosis" on stage but I reckon that's kinda too nerdy. Then I wanted to take a photo of the whole cohort in the middle of the stage but my camera was too heavy and bulky so yeah not feasible.

So that was the least of things I can do.

Well as I looked over at the photos I took today, it feels like it was yesterday when I entered poly. Seeing all the faces of my friends, lecturers, staffs and everyone else. It felt like a dream really. I am really going to miss everyone in SP. It feels like the whole of poly was a dream. Well but it's definitely not going to be a dream I wish I wouldn't wake up from haha. 3 years is enough.

But yeah I will definitely miss all these people. They are just some of the most loveliest people on earth. And to part with them just feels so... Sigh. Unthinkable.

Well I'm just glad I took this route. I really have no regrets joining SP, joining Biomed.

Till then SP, I'm going to miss everyone. Thank you for the three wonderful years of great learning journey. Three beautiful years of unforgettable memories. And I will definitely miss you like crazy. It's been a great honour to be your student :)

And well, here's me signing off as an SP graduand

Happy Graduation!

Graduating, tomorrow

I can't believe that it will all be our turn to graduate tomorrow. After three years of hardwork and three years of wishing I could graduate alongside my seniors. After three years of blood (literally), sweat and tears, and also three years of unforgettable moments both in classroom and out. Tomorrow I will formally bid farewell to my polytechnic education.

I sincerely have no regrets to take this path. This path where back then many still consider as the "other" path. Some say I will change for the worst when I step inside, while some say poly will definitely change your life. May it be that I have changed for the worst or better, I leave it for the world to judge. We're all born to be judged anyway so no complains.

But well I have definitely bitten more than I can chew, in a good way. I have learnt more than what my lecture notes have taught me, and I definitely have learned more that what my COURSE have taught me - if it's not for the people I've met, the camps I went to, and the trips I have signed up for (Thank you CLS FOC, CLS FLC, Greeen Desert @ SP Fall 2011, LEAP Intermediate Kinabalu).

Going to polytechnic have definitely changed my life in many ways. The way I see it, the way I approach it, the way I handle it. Not only that I've learned so much about the beautiful human body, but I've also learned the complexity of the human mind through the interactions I've made with different people. Like I once said, poly taught me not only about biomedical science but also, about people.

And I'm truly proud with what I have achieved now. No one told me to go to poly (in fact everyone's asking why back then), no one told me to enter biomedical science. I'm thankful that my parents supported my decision. It is only me who told myself to enter this school and this course. And at the end of the day?

I feel proud of what I've achieved. As I always believed, the only reward you get for choosing the path you choose for yourself is a sense of joy and satisfaction no one can feel but yourself. Even if it means that you may not head towards the direction you wish you were heading.

To be honest I don't know how to feel about tomorrow. How I will feel on stage. What will I think and what will be on my mind. Well it's for me to know and me to find out. What I know is, I will definitely miss the people I've met and the lecturers who had taught me. Though we may be separated, I know we'll still be bonded with one thing known as friendship.

Well. It's my graduation tomorrow. So to all my CLS buddies, happy graduation. Time to celebrate off our three years of hard work.

See you tomorrow and HAPPY GRADUATION!

A different night

It's quite weird, that tonight should be a night where I spend time getting excited and nervous about the new semester, or term. But it's all different now.

I'm definitely looking forward to graduation.

But I'm thinking more of how things will be when I'm back.

As of now, lets enjoy the moment.

Withdrawal Syndrome

 Takk Fyrir Sigur Ros

It's another late night posting, and yes at this ungodly hour. But oh well I really need to write this time. Cause I'm having quite a rather bad withdrawal syndrome from last night's Sigur Ros concert. It was just too beautiful, so beautiful, speechless-ly amazing and thus indescribable by words. It was so sad and depressing to wake up yesterday morning just to realise that the concert was over (though it was over like 10 hours ago then) hahaha.

But also I woke up feeling amazed and glad that I had went for the amazing concert!

Perhaps I should write why I love Sigur Ros (SR) and how I came to know them. I found Sigur Ros 3 years ago, right when my life in SP began. And I found them by pure accident. It's not by recommendation or anything. But I have to thank someone who brought me to the great band - he's my CLS FOC Group Leader (GL) Joel.

I clearly remembered him posting a Youtube link on his Facebook wall of SR's Goobledigook performance in Iceland with Bjork. When I first heard the song I went "Okay this is a weird song and a cool-looking band" but at the same time the song made me happy. I was interested and I went to look up for more of SR on Youtube. When I typed "Sigur Ros" on the search bar, the first song that pops out was none other than my favourite from them - Hoppipolla.

I clicked on the video, and for the first time in a very long time, I feel sad and happy at the same time. The feeling when I heard the song for the first time was so indescribable. It felt like as if I discovered something great, something that will stay with me for a very long time. And I can even still remember that night when I played Hoppipolla on repeat. It was such a nice song that I kept on listening to it. Back then I didn't have any of SR albums so I have no choice but to play it on Youtube. It was truly a moment of epiphany and wonder for me.

Then on the weekend I spent some time searching for more SR songs. Well SR is the first band that introduces me to the post-rock genre. Before post-rock the only songs close to post-rock that I enjoy listening to were Indie songs. Post-rock was a brand new genre for me. So in the beginning it was "difficult" to understand SR songs (duh they're all in Icelandic or Vonlenska) and also to appreciate them. But I found more songs and I began to enjoy them more and more.

I guess SR taught me to learn to appreciate music differently - in a sense that after years of listening to classical, chilout and indie songs, I began to appreciate music that don't sound like anything I've ever heard before. That things don't have to make sense to be beautiful. Not saying that their songs don't make sense, but I guess it's just too beautiful to have to make sense. Okay seriously what am I talking about! Hahaha.

But well yup, SR has taught me to appreciate music and life more. They have made me change my perception of music, and inspired me where no music has inspired me before. I must give thanks to them because their music have been with me since the first day I bought them. And of course, I have to thank Joel too for "accidentally" introducing me to the band. If he were not to post that link, I wouldn't have known SR at all.

And have you ever had this feeling of being thankful because you know someone/have something, and that you realised how different your life would be if you were not to know them or have them? Well SR is one band that I ever feel so thankful for knowing, for listening and for loving. Because life without SR would pretty much be different now. In so many different ways, that one I can bet with you. So thank you for being part of my life Sigur Ros :)

In fact I have plans to play Sigur Ros songs in my funeral mwahaha.

Well yup those are my thoughts for Sigur Ros. I can write many different things about Sigur Ros but well that will be really long. But that's how I know them and how and why I love them. And I guess many people have different perceptions about enjoying Sigur Ros songs. I've been to two of their concert in Singapore and Jakarta, and I observe different crowds.

Some just quietly enjoy their music. In fact I have come to discover a few people who listen to them. There are those who share with me how much they enjoy and so on. Well I don't know where I belong haha. I just love them. I guess it doesn't matter how you love them. Just listen to their songs and everyone has their way to enjoy it.

Like in yesterday's concert there are those who go all out, moving and rocking their bodies to their songs. There are those who stare in awe, quietly. There are those who share their excitement by shouting and cheering. And there are some who are expressionless. But I know we all share one thing and that is our love for their music :)

You see, I learnt from yesterday's concert that there are no rules when it comes to enjoying music.

There's no such thing as "steps" to enjoy music. Just enjoy it basically, there's no need to follow a certain rules, or a way which everybody does. There's no such thing as "step one to enjoy music and step two and step three". Music is a universal language. And being universal, there's no certain way we ought to speak and to listen to them.

Though urrm there are of course, etiquette to a concert right? Like uhh no clapping till the song ends or worst in the middle of a song. Was so sad when the flute solo from Olsen Olsen was ruined by applause T_T It's so beautiful then "clap clap clap" oh dear. But oh well nevertheless I think everyone had a great night! Though I read on the web on how some people were smoking INSIDE the venue and there were a few rowdy crowds.

And yes guess what I was being offered cigarette by this ang moh, and I was staring at this huge "No smoking inside venue" sign on top of him. Just told him no thanks haha. And oh gosh do I look like someone who smokes? -_-

On the other hand, well some of you may wonder why I blog at this hour.

It's all simply because... This is the hour and the time where I can have time to myself. In my quiet room, with music blasting to my ears. The place where I can write my feelings out and ponder about life. I've always believe and I always tell myself to set aside some me-times to myself everyday. Be it 5 minutes or so. It's good to have them. And I always enjoy writing so yeah. Writing is the best platform for me to spend my me-times.

Though I'm worried that my blog posts are getting lower and lower oh dear. It's a bit worrying that this is only my 32nd post in this year, and today is the 132nd day of the year. I could have blogged like a hundred posts by this time of the year actually! Well I'm sure I can hit my goal of blogging my 1000th post before I turn 23 haha. I'm turning 21 soon!

Alright I guess that's all for today. I hope to blog here soon. Damn I love blogging.

Happy Sunday folks!

Sigur Ros Live in Jakarta!

 Sigur Ros JKT

Amazing, beyond words

Once again it's 4:06 AM and why am I here? Cause I want to blog about the most awesome concert I've been in my life and that is yes, Sigur Ros Live in Jakarta last night! It was just a truly amazing concert. I've been to their last year's concert at Singapore but I really feel this concert was better than that one heh. It's just amazing! I can't stop thinking about how awesome it is. If I were to dream about it, I won't be surprised either. I wish!

Anyway yup it's my first time watching a concert here in Indonesia. I really didn't know what to expect. And best part is? I'm watching it alone! Yes since no one at home likes this kind of music, and I know no one here who does anyway hah. And it's my first time watching a huge-scale concert alone as well. It was a good experience. Wasn't bad at all, just that waiting alone can be a bit depressing (lots of delays today) but it's alright.

Best part about watching concert alone: You can do whatever you want when watching the concert without anyone-who-knows-you judging you. If you know what/how I watched the concert, you'll find me a lunatic maybe. But tralala. There's no rule to enjoy music.

But anyway yes it was such an amazing concert oh gosh. I love the setlist, and they played new songs from their soon-to-be-out album Kveikur as well. Which some I've never heard of hehe. Kveikur and Breinnstein are lovely though. Was hoping they play Isjaki but oh well no worries.

And of course the highlight (to me) to Sigur Ros concert is Hoppipolla! And this time round, it's more amazing cause seems like the whole of Istora sang along with Jonsi to the song. It sent shivers down my spine listening to it and singing along at the same time. It's so scary and so good that I cried when the "climax" of the chorus hits. It was just so amazing. Thankfully I have immortallised the (I call it) Hoppipolla moment once again.

It's so amazing. I really hope I can see them perform again one day! :')

And I even got inspired to write a puisi (poem in Indonesian)! Here it is...

Malam ini Indonesia bernyayi
Bersama Sigur Ros di malam yang sunyi
Istora berubah menjadi sebuah mimpi
Mimpi yang selalu ku ingin hidupi
Hidup  ku lupakan
Rasa takut ku ancurkan
Hari esok ku hapuskan
Malam ini Indonesia bernyayi
Bersama Sigur Ros di malam yang sunyi
Istora berubah menjadi mimpi
Mimpi yang tak ingin ku akhiri

And once again,

Here's to to me, the greatest band on earth

TAKK!

Late night posting

 We're all afraid of taking the first step to a new place

But deep inside we know we have to.

Well you must be wondering why I'm posting on such ungodly hour. But well, I just feel like writing. And time is money. If I can find the time, and the feel to write, I should better write. So anyway it's dawn of Monday, a new week is starting and Sunday has just ended. Such a pity that I couldn't find enough time to really blog, I mean properly blog, like how I used to do back in Singapore. How I would just properly sit down and blog, have time to myself.

Well of course, I have to say goodbye to that life soon. A new one is starting and things have to change. I just need to get used to this. Though I really enjoy blogging and just sitting down here all by myself writing down my thoughts and feelings about the days. I guess I realised that after blogging for 5 years, the older I get, the lesser I want to blog about what happened during the day, but more of random thoughts that I have about the day.

It seems all so surreal that we will all be graduating soon. Well pictures of the seat numbers and graduation invitations are pouring all over haha. And I just found out mine too via SAS. It just seems... So surreal but hey it's VERY real I mean we are really graduating haha. And that polytechnic life has come to an end. Graduation is the day where we formally bid farewell to our days in poly. The three bittersweet years that we all went through.

I guess time is flying and it always flies. I still remember that three years ago, the 17 year old me wish I was the one graduating back then, in Graduation 2010. For three years I've been wishing to graduate and of course after three years of blood (literally), sweat and tears, I'm finally graduating soon. I can't wait to be back with all my friends in our graduation robes. Taking photos and just have a good time together. Though part of me wishes poly life to never end!

And of course after graduation we'll all move on with our lives. Some will enter universities, some starts working first to gather experience and some enter universities late. And like the rest, I need to move on too. And I know what I'll be doing, we know what we'll all be doing - we just don't know how it will go right? And we human beings are afraid of three things - uncertainties, moving on and taking the first step. But we know we have to.

Alright enough of emo stuff about the future-slash-graduating.

On the other hand, I CAN'T WAIT FOR FRIDAY! Cause I'll be watching Sigur Ros live in Jakarta concert! Aiyayayayayay. Been feeling so jittery and excited about this, well probably cause the days are getting closer (I mean I have been waiting for this since January) so yep. But nevertheless yes I'm pretty excited, can't wait to hear them again! Alrighty, I know Friday will come quickly. And thinking of the ending of the concert already made me feel sad T_T so don't think about it hahaha.

Alright I'll see you again, hopefully soon. On the other hand, here's to a great week ahead!