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!

Thailand Graduation Trip - Part 2 Phuket (Day 6 and 7)

Right! I better get going with this if not I will never finish it! Haha

Alright for day 6 and 7, which were our last two days, I didn't take much photos :( Cause in day 6 we went for the ATV ride, water rafting and waterfall trekking! The photos are in Weilun's underwater camera which I'm still in the process of downloading, and it's not done yet. So I'll post them later okay! :) So yup cause of these activities I didn't bring my camera out. But here are some photos I took in day 6 after the activities! :)

Oh and some photos of cute monkeys from the monkey cave before the day begins! :)

 My brother from another species

 On the way back to Phuket from Pha Nga (outside of Phuket)

Fruit stalls!

 So I bought this fruit called Salak!

Which I also eat in Indonesia, and they're called Salak too

Thankfully it didn't rain during our activities -_-

And after we returned to Phuket, we wash up and then we decided to end of our trip (being the last night here) to go for a drink! But before that we went to search for food. So we walked along the beach street but couldn't find anything suitable. So we decided to go walk along Bangla road, which is famous for its night life! And to our luck we find a nice food fair :D So we just bought food and we share it together hehe. And there was an awesome singer too!

And after searching for a place to settle for our drinks, we decided to go to Red Hot Bar along the Ratuthin street, near the intersection of Soi Bangla. To all who are going Phuket, I highly recommend you to go there for a drink haha. Love the band and the atmosphere! They have jug margaritas too! We ordered a jug, and I ordered uhhh...

 

Okay here's the story I got real high that night haha. Drank (and shared) two pints and one bottle of Chang. Plus the jug margaritas. I forgot what happened but I remember that I vomited when I reached the hotel. And I got severe hangover the day after. Oh dear haha. But it's a great night I must say! Would love to come back :D

And yes the picture beside is the jug margarita hehe

Right so that's all for the last night in Phuket. For the last day, we decided to swim at the hotel after breakfast, wash up, and then we went for lunch. Before lunch we decided to go to Patong Beach to walk around but the weather was not on our side so we rushed back to the street. We decided to go to Jungceylon for lunch at a restaurant called the Soup Restaurant. And then we spent the rest of the afternoon walking around Patong :)

We were trying hard to look for the Thai Iced Tea! Haha, we found an unattended stall near Ratuthin street but no one came. So we decided to walk along Patong beach again and... We found it! Alright here are some photos I took during that afternoon.

 Patong Beach in the late morning

(Note the dark clouds at the back :P)

 En route Jungceylon via tuk tuk!

 We walked Patong Beach for this! Hahaha

And it tasted so good.

 Fine day at Patong beach

 The famous pancake stall!

 And what we found when we're back at the hotel HAHAHA

Oh man blogging about this trip made me really miss our trip so very much! At the same time I must also say that it's been a wonderful time I had with the 5 of us. I'm so glad that we went for this trip together and braved Thailand together. And quite thankful that weather has been on our side as well. I really love Thailand, it's a uniquely beautiful place. I would love to come back when I have the chance. I'll definitely be back! :')

And to end off this post, here's our jump shot at Patong!

 

Thanks for everything JAMBS!

-JAMBSGT13-

Thailand Graduation Trip - Part 2 Phuket (Day 4 and 5)

Alright continuing again! This time round for Phuket :D Alright so anyway since I left Bangkok for Phuket on the 4th day... Which means my whole trip lasted for 7 days. So technically we have 3.5 days for each place. Okay you get what I mean, day 4 and 5!

Anyway so yup we took a flight from Bangkok, it was a Bangkok Airways flight to Phuket and it's just like a one hour plus ride there? I like the plane! I thought I'm gonna starve cause we won't have food but we got some decent food of salad and a bun. Standard airplane food but well I know I'm a weirdo but I love airplane food yum!

So we reached Phuket at about 6:15 PM, though we left the airport officially at about 6.50. We booked a van from Singapore which fetched us from the airport to our hotel. The ride to the hotel was nice, though it's quite far (as I found out then) it was enjoyable.


And I just discovered that Phuket is such a hilly region! I thought it's just like beaches. Even to go to Patong we have to climb this winding hills that's kinda scary but thrilling to ride on haha.

 Us at the hotel room (my room)

We reached the hotel at 7.30 and we decided to just head for dinner and walk around Patong area (along Ratuhin street). We were also looking for tour packages for our 3rd day in Phuket. We decided to call it a night early as we had to wake up early the next day for island hopping! We gotta wake up at like 6.30! Haha so not much for the night. After chatting for a while in the girls' room we head to bed!









We woke up early the next morning, had breakfast at the hotel, and then we got picked up by the van. We were brought to the port where the speedboats are, I forgot the name of the pier! But the boat company we went with was Sea Angel. After being briefed for a while about our tour, we hopped on to our speedboat, led by our guide Mr Sunny. He's such an awesome and funny guy! Haha and our first destination was Maya Bay! :)


It was the first time in my life that I saw, with my own eyes, and even put my feet into clear blue waters! Well I went to a beach once like very far from my hometown, the water was clear, but not this clear! Haha. It was so beautiful! We were only given 30 minutes at Maya Bay. Though we were allowed to swim but I decided not to cause it's quite crowded. And I was carrying my DSLR as well. And oh yes my DSLR got a taste of seawater! Haha. Didn't see a wave coming and splash. But it's fine :)

I was really really happy to see these clear blue waters. Just amazing to be somewhere, a place you've always dreamed of being at. Right in front of your eyes! Lovely :)







After Maya Bay we went back to the boat and we headed for our next destination which was Phileh Cove. Cause of the high tide we couldn't walk on the beach etc so we were just there for sight seeing. Similar to that we went to Monkey bay. Well we're supposed to be able to walk down and feed the monkeys but due to high tide we couldn't as well. So sightseeing again it was! :) We passed by the Viking cave. Well not really vikings, but the cave is used for harvesting of birds' nest. Interesting to see this huge cave with some like ladders and stuff there. For more photos please refer to below! Hehe. Argh, I LOVE the blue waters!

 

 Phileh cove - some people were snorkeling here

  Monkey Bay!

 Pristine water ayayayayayayay

Viking cave

After that we headed for our first snorkel trip which was somewhere near Phi Phi island. I forgot the name of the place. It was my first time snorkeling and it was so fun! Err it was rather difficult to adjust in the beginning, especially breathing through your mouth and sometimes blowing the tube so hard to get ride of the water. And the occasional water leak inside the goggles. Sometimes I will just dive inside the water to see! Hahaha.

 This is where we snorkel (taken after snorkeling of course)

LOOK AT THE CORALS BELOW

Nevertheless it was definitely a lovely experience snorkeling to see the fishes underneath the clear water! Though the sight of sea urchin freaked me out.

After our first snorkeling trip we went to Phi Phi Don - The bigger Phi Phi island to have lunch. Thankfully it was included in the package cause I was quite hungry haha. It's a nice simple buffet lunch. And I drank a bit of seawater so I was very thirsty haha. The sight of water relieved me. After lunch we walked around the beach and take some photo! :)

 Us at Phi Phi Don

Moving on to our next destination, we headed for Khai Island. It's a tiny (I think) island that is so chill! I like! We were one of the first boats to reach the island so the seats were empty. We chose the best seats! Haha. In Khai Island we had like 1.5 hours to roam about. The water is once again very very pristine. We spent lots of time snorkeling near the beach and giving a feeding frenzy to the fishes! They're really cute, though sometimes they think my finger is bread too.

And I went to snorkel further and was SO SHOCKED to see this bunch of sea urchins in one area. I freaked out and swam back haha. But at the same time I was feeling amazed by the sight haha. More underwater photos with Melissa and Weilun. Will post em here once they uploaded it to Facebook haha. It's a fun experience! :)




And before we leave here's more photos of us and also our guide, Mr Sunny! :)

 Khai Island

Us and Mr Sunny!

Khai island was the last destination of our package so we headed back to Phuket after that. And after being transferred back to our hotel, we cleaned up (Weilun and I went swimming at the hotel) and then headed for dinner. We wanted to have dinner at the famous Number 6 restaurant but well we were unlucky cause they're closed from like the 6th - 24th April (if I remember correctly).



Oh well! So we had dinner at the restaurant beside called Dang restaurant. Good food with my favourite (extra) spicy mango salad haha.

We walked around Ratuthin street again to look for water rafting and ATV package and we got a good deal from this nice lady whom we've been bugging about haha. She's such a nice and friendly lady though! :) And then we went for food hunting and we bought our usual Oishii green tea and also banana nutella pancake haha. And that's all for the day.



We returned back to our hotel to sleep as we need to wake up early tomorrow morning.

Alright that's all for day 4 and 5. I miss the blue waters so much :(