Ramblings, Musings & Thoughts on Daily Life

End Of A Blog

2009-06-02T21:24:00.002+10:00

8 months since my last post, and I'm still getting about 10 hits a day on this blog. So might as well put an official word that this is the end of this blog for me. Okay, who knows it might be just a long hiatus, waiting to be resurrected one day. =P

Parah Salin

2008-10-13T11:08:00.001+11:00

Of all the political jokes / satires on the US election out there, this takes the cake. =)

Melbourne 2

2008-09-10T18:43:00.002+10:00

After my graduation debacle (and, i've been told by many a friend that i shouldn't have been allowed to graduate if i don't even know how to find my seat! =P) came home and caught up on sleep. Anyway, here's some picture of other things that happened in Melb, with quick descriptions.

Next day went out to have a look at some houses in a suburb called Sanctuary Lakes, which is quite far, bout 30km from the city. It was a very nice township though, with huge nice sprawling houses, and a big lake right in the middle.

On the way back we stopped by Williamstown, and had the some ice cream there. Generally, all gelati shops in Melbourne are quite nice. But for the first time, i had quite lousy ice cream., which was all icy and not creamy. Anyway, some night long exposure photographs taken at the Williamstown pier.

And later along New Quay in Docklands. It was windy and freezing cold.

Following day went to Eureka Tower, which surprisingly i had never bothered to go to during the past few years in Melb. Nice stunning views of the city from 98 stories up, which incidentally happens to be the tallest building in the Southern Hemisphere. It's interesting to observe the well-planned roads which are the hallmarks of developed cities (unlike KL for instance, which has roads which from above would look like a jumbled mess of spaghetti). Roads are laid out methodolically in grids, and one can see the street lights illuminting long straight roads which seem to only disappear at the horizon.

After that had dinner with all the MoMU ppl in Red Silks. Ordered the seafood XO sauce friend rice, which i'm still very fond off. Unfortunately, forgot to take any photos.

Following day, we went driving all over the city to have a look at various schools for my siblings. From the ever popular places like Balwyn & East Doncaster which seems to have been infiltrated with more Asians than there are Aussies, to schools like Melbourne High, an old, foreboding castle which would prob have looked more at home in a Harry Potter movie.

At night had dinner with AIESECers at Casa Farro on Nicholson St. There was this promotion whereby each order of mains comes with free oysters. So we ended up with quite a bit of oysters, which is not something i like. The girls quickly gobbled them up.

Adjourned to Veron & CKs place after dinner for some games. They rest played mahjong whilst waiting for me to drive all the way back to send my family and come out again. After that we played Taboo, which with games like this tends to generate its fair share of super funny moments, which i can no longer rememer.

This sign, spotted along corridor in their house, might just about explain why everyone was happily smiling the whole night. =P

Next day, went to Vic Mart, had a look around and bought some things, then had dinner at Greasy Joe's in St. Kilda. Shared a burger called Fat Bustard. Look at the following picture and you'll understand how it derived its name. The description on the menu goes along the lines of "3 meat patties, 3 slices of cheese, 3 slices of bacon - no room for for vegetables".

Went to Damien’s apartment later to meet up with IHers. Watched a bit of the Olympics, and had a round of poker, and wonders of wonders, Sheanee won! haha.

Oh and then i made some of them watch this cringe inducing Olympic weightlifting accident video which happened the day before. Warning: watch this video only if you are not the squeamish type.

Met up with Claire, Patricia, and Maybelle at Max Brenners the night before i left Melb. And then August, Kai, Mel, Erwin stopped by for awhile too before they went off to Crown.

Visited Ah Ma at home.
Early the following morning, a 12 hour train ride to Sydney.

Melbourne

2008-09-03T22:14:00.016+10:00

Over 2500 photos taken in 2 weeks, i don't know where to begin. So lots of photos to follow, the rest can go up on facebook.

For the 1 week in Melbourne i stayed in my aunt's place in Mont Albert North, which is just next to Boxhill. A real blessing, as this saved a lot on accommodation not to mention a nice homey spacious place to stay, instead of being cooped up in a tiny little hotel room. And even better was that she was leaving for holiday the day we arrived, so practically we had the entire house to ourselves, and not only that, but she called up to put me on her insurance policy so i could use her car as well =) Well, this meant lots and lots of commuting, especially those times i had to make the 30km round trips to send my family back and then come back out to the city again to meet friends - the Eastern Freeway was my best friend. My geography of suburban Melbourne has improved so much in 1 week compared to the 3.5 years i was there, especially the Eastern subarbs. Only gripe about driving there is the very conservative speed limits. The speed limits of 100km/h on the highway and 60km/h, sometimes 40km/h in the suburbs are almost impossible to adhere to. =(.

Watching the sunrise from the plane, a couple of minutes before landing.

Watched 2 movies during the flight in - Kung Fu Panda & Iron Man + few other random short episodes like Discovery Channel. I guess watching these shows on such a tiny screen spoiled the top billing these shows received. Slept less than an hour. So after arriving, settling in, and having some food, i slept from noon till 4pm. After which it was time for dinner with relatives at some Chinese restaurant in Box Hill.

Saturday = graduation day. Woke up at 6.30am with like 2 hours sleep. Got prepared. Drove to uni. And after the rushed picture taking with everyone i hurried off to Wilson Hall. And this is where it gets interesting. You see, i was given a slip with my seat number on it. By the time i entered the hall all the other graduates to be were already seated so i hurriedly searched for my seat. I think my seat was in row T, and upon seeing the sticker indicating row S i looked at following row and saw an empty seat, so i assumed that that was my seat. After all the formalities of the ceremony were over with, it was time to start the proceedings proper. Names were called out, and my name was slated to be quite early in the proceedings. After a while, it struck me that something was not right. The names were proceeding too fast for it to correlate to where i was seated. I quickly got out of my seat and went to see someone in charge, whereby she informed me that it was too late. They assumed that since my allocated seat was empty, i was absent and hence took my name of the list. So, I have no idea who's seat i was taking, but my options were either to just take my certificate there and then, or come back later for the afternoon ceremony.

So yes, I suspect I'm a rare breed of one of the few "special" students who ever had to sit through TWO graduation ceremonies. Actually no, i didn't have to endure sitting through the entire morning ceremony. Once i realised the mistake i left the hall. But all things work together for good.. My silliness, naivety, carelessness, assumptiousness - call it whatever you want - meant that i had more time to take photos. I had my regalia rental extended the whole day at no extra charge, plus i managed to procure extra tickets for the afternoon ceremony which meant this time my entire family was able to enter the hall. And to top it all, a bright, vivid, ephemeral rainbow appeared right outside Wilson Hall during the ceremony. =)

During the afternoon ceremony I was the odd one out as almost everyone else were Arts students. I had a special seat designation, and what's more, i was told that i was to be the FIRST one on stage and briefed as to the proper protocol and things you had to do. Oh well, everything turned out okay and for all the effort and trouble parents go to attending their children's graduation, it's actually quite an anti-climax. Such is the life and times of a Melbourne Uni student trying to graduate. haha.

Anyway, here's photos of ppl who came to take photos - thanx for coming. Major complain is still the Melbourne Uni tradition of NOT providing graduates with a mortarboard, which is the quintessential image everyone has in mind when they think of graduations - ppl from other unis still find this omission shocking.

Managed to catch the Engineering graduation bear wandering around, so i stopped him for an obligatory photo.

Family pictures.

Btw, in case anyone was wondering if my sister's dressing looks familiar, it's for no other reason than that she was entirely outfitted by Jo the fashion stylist from own wardrobe (they're the same size =P)

It is at this point that I'll quote an apt portion from J.K. Rowling's speech at the the recent Harvard Uni Commencement (credit to Jeannie & Veron)

I am nearly finished. I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21. The friends with whom I sat on graduation day have been my friends for life. They are my children's godparents, the people to whom I've been able to turn in times of trouble, friends who have been kind enough not to sue me when I've used their names for Death Eaters. At our graduation we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that could never come again, and, of course, by the knowledge that we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister.

She was expounding on the importance and significance of the friends, i'll extend it to not merely the literal friends who was there at my graduation, but i believe friends that we have made so far that has brought us all the way to our graduations, through our formative years, at school, college, and university. These are our true friends. No doubt many acquaintances, even maybe friends, may be formed later on in life. But in this corporate environment, in this rat race that we all are inevitably a part off, isn't there an inkling of doubt as to whether the motivation of such friendships has to do with perhaps gaining business contacts / contracts, to further their careers, or just out of social obligation & necessity??

Whereas, i can safely say that the friends that we've formed during the fun times studying are true friends, not due to some hidden agenda, but for the shared connection, camaraderie, values, and sheer simple satisfaction of enjoying each other's company. I may have lost touch with many ppl over the years, when we meet up it's sometimes as if time hasn't passed and we can continue from where we left off.

I remember the first day i stepped into IH, arriving for the first time ever to Australia, in the midst of the cold winter, and the first person i saw was this cheerful little girl who was extremely helpful and helped me settle into my room. This person was no other than Kimmy, who never failed to greet me with a cheerful Hello! each time i saw her =). Staying in IH proved to be a wonderful experience, and i cannot imagine the stark difference that i would have faced had i decided to stay out by myself in an apartment. IH was a place whereby i had lots lots of fun and made lots of friends (it's impossible not to when you see 240 students all the time and at every meal).

The memories - the ever present gossiping and scandals which the entire college will somehow find out by the time the guilty party wakes up the next day (even my floor in Wadham was the scene of a couple of nocturnal philanderings), the many nights of staying up till late at night when most ppl have slept, playing foosball and ping pong at 4am in the morning (many times whilst we're actually cramming for exams the next day), studying in the Tute rooms, 'helping ourselves' to the bread left behind the kitchen early in the morning, our staple diet of Mi Goreng for supper, self help, the annual Ekiden runs, playing football, tennis, and basketball in the court, the countless 'surprise' birthday parties at midnight, the formal dinners, balls, Cafe, national nights, the group holidays to Grampians, Central Australia (a freaking cold desert in winter!), spending 1 week on a houseboat sailing aimlessly up and down the Murray river, Phillip Island, Wilsons Prom, etc. So many memories. And no, drunken debauchery wasn't one of them (if anything, i'll just fall asleep =P). I did participate a bit in college activities, though in hindsight i wished i had been more involved. After the influx of all the new freshers in 3rd year though, IH just felt different.

I'm glad i moved out during my final year. It's a totally different experience, not having 3 meals a day prepared for you (though i think I've only been to maybe 5 breakfasts during my entire stay in IH - at that too waas prob during fire drills), having to go grocery shopping and actually buy meat instead of junk food (living right abouve Safeway = convenience at your doorstep), having bills to pay which means not blatantly leaving the heater on 24/7 like in IH, not having a whole bunch of friends just outside your door whom you can call at any time. =(

But it was good nonetheless. It forced me to be more active in uni, and it was at this time that i joined MoMU and AIESEC, though Kai who has stalked me right from college was ever-present =P. Organising the MoMU events - night market, rock climbing, Merdeka Kenduri, i even emceed and was part of a boyband dance for the latter! AIESEC was about LCMs, organising the online portal, publishing the newsletter. Oh, and i was a tutor in uni too, which wasn't too great, but got paid a lot =)

I miss uni life too. No doubt lectures, assignments, and exams are always a bane when you're faced with them, but it's actually not too bad. As Chong Shen or MC will attest to, it goes without saying that you'd have quite a good chance of finding either one of Kai, Fred, or I asleep during lectures, and on rare ocassions all 3 at once! haha. I remember the many many last minute assignments which we would start the night before, stay up all night, go to uni to hand it in at 8am in the morning, and come home to sleep the whole day (Strategic Marketing was the worst of the lot!). The cramming for exams, which SWOT Vac has to be the best thing invented. It's amazing how one can go through the entire semester totally not understanding a single thing being said, and within the 1 week of studying everything suddenly becomes so much clearer.

I didn't mean to reminisce and wax lyrical about all that. I shall continue with the rest of the trip in he next post.

Updates

2008-08-04T22:40:00.025+10:00

To make up for the lack of recent updates, here's a mini compilation of updates. Plus photos, some recent, some not so recent.

Sometime at the beginning of the year, went to that fish spa place in Pavillion just for the novelty of it. As you know, I'm ticklish, so to have hundreds of ikan bilis-esque fishes nibbling at the soles of my foot can be very unnerving. At the beginning it was pure torture, but towards the end of the 30 mins i kinda got used to it. At least i wasn't as bad as Sze Lyn, who upon first inserting her leg into the pool shrieked so loud that everyone turned to look at her. haha.

Went back to Cempaka twice so far, once to the Swimming Gala, recently to the Commencements dinner. Met some of my old teachers, and I'm surprised quite a few of them could remember my name, after almost 5 years (the same couldn't be said of Mel though, who's leaving after Form 4 meant she has faded her into obscurity. haha, i'm kidding. At least she got comments from teachers who she looks like a model now =).

All i've noticed is that the school has changed so much from my time. Everything now has stepped up a notch - from each student carrying a Mac to school everyday, Smart cards, quality iMovies, expeditions to places like Mt. Kinabalu / scuba diving. Their performances and talents are also a different class. They have top class performing arts teachers, and for example, to commemorate this year being their 25th anniversary they came up with 25 different versions of the school song - jazz, rock, blues, etc - imagine that! During her speech, Datin said she was going to do a "Mahatir" which turned out to be her announcement that she was stepping down as chairwoman of Cempaka Schools. All in all, an interesting visit back to the school. Didn't recognise a single person save for some juniors, and friend's siblings. Saw Kah Yat's brother, Natasha's sister, Sin Fee's sister, whom the last i remembered of them were just small kids, now they're all grown up (and looking remarkably like their elder sibling).

Spot our teachers

Also, I met up with long lost cempakans in Sky Bar about a week ago. Ppl like Therese, Tamara, Anita, Jin Rong, Jac Ying, Adrienne, Sing Ning, John Sng, Kah Yat, Gary, Steph, Jennifer, many of whom i haven't seen since Form 5. Good to meet up with everyone again.

Last Wednesday, went to watch the Chelsea vs. Malaysia friendly in Shah Alam stadium. which had almost a capacity crowd. Surprisingly, the Malaysian team really gave a really good fight. They had more than a couple of good chances to score goals, and it was a pity they were all spurned.

What else is there....

I've driven all the way to Singapore and back in less than 12 hours, just to drop my brother off.

I've been playing badminton a few times with Jeannie and Kee Win at the Taman Megah courts. Played badminton with Ashley last week (she's really good!). Also, Gary always bugs me to play tennis with him, so have been playing tennis every once in a while. Past weekend, the joker made me play tennis at midnight 2 days in a row. Futsal not as often, but all i can say is that it's very very tiring to play in the hot, humid (plus bad ventilation) courts here.

I've moved to a new house (just 2 mins from my old house), and the garden has a nice swath of grass to kick a football around, so what does an engineer do? He creates a nice little goalpost made from PVC pipes to aim at.

See the nice little goalpost

Watched Dark Knight recently with Jeannie. Good movie, but i don't think it's as great as it was hyped up to be. The Joker's performance was good at the same time disturbing - think "Why so srs?" whilst holding a knife at one's cheek + the pencil incident [I read an article which said that to prepare for his role, he stayed for one month in a hotel room by himself just psyching himself. Might explain how come he finally committed suicde]. It's been breaking record after record, and there's been talk that it might even surpass Titanic's US1.8 billion takings? It's to be seen if TDK can beat the buying power of 14 year old girls with a crush on Leonardo di Caprio watching Titanic countless times.

Read one of the 2 books Kee Win borrowed me, The Money Changers by Arthur Hailey, which is the first proper novel i've read in such a long time. Kee Win, interesting exposition of the world's financial system, but not really too much of an eye openeer.

Okays, i think that's enough for now. I should have updated more regularly instead of disappearing and then having a long post all at once.

Melbourne, here i come.

2008-07-29T13:43:00.009+10:00

For those who don't know, I'll be going to Melbourne in a couple of weeks for my graduation. My whole family would be coming, save a brother who's in Singapore sitting for A Levels trials and tentatively flights are booked for the 7th to 21st. The current plan would be to stay in Melbourne for about a week and then proceed to Sydney and Brisbane / Gold Coast by train (my dad loves traveling by train and seeing the scenery, even if that means a more than 24 hour journey by the time we get to Brisbane! and that means time wasted traveling during the day too).

We're thinking about maybe giving Brisbane a skip though which means i would be able to spend more time in Melb, and the whole itinerary needn't be so rushed. So the dilemma, stay longer in Melbourne, or get to see Brisbane & Gold Coast (one of the few main places i haven't been to in Australia, save for perhaps Perth and Cairns)? Besides, MAS flights are flexible in the sense that one can easily interchange between arriving at / departing from Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane airports as they all cost the same. Decision has to be made soon - tickets to be paid up by 31st. I guess the reason I want to spend longer in Melb is i'm not sure if i have enough time to meet up with everyone. I envisage spending the day with my family and then meeting up everyone at night.

My graduation ceremony is slated for Saturday, August 9, at 10.30am. So, whoever wants to turn up and take photos or what not is more than welcome. I guess you can come before the ceremony starts, though i guess that would be too early for many to wake up. Alternatively, after the ceremony works well too, cept that last time i was told that you all had to return the gowns straight after the event is over. Anyone who's gone through the process wants to volunteer tips regarding graduation - i.e. photography, additional tickets, what to do on stage, extra paraphernalia like plaques, ceremony photos that cost a bomb but that might be worth buying, etc.?

Oh, and if anyone needs me to help bring stuff over, i can help out (within reason). Though the caveat is that they must be essential, light, non-bulky items. Kai, i can bring your spectacles.. But a bottle of shampoo?!?! haha, i'll see if i can accommodate that la.. And girls, i am NOT going shopping for you (that means you too CC, i heard you've compiled like a list of things you want!).. haha..

p.s. What's the weather there like now? A few weeks ago i saw it was like 5-7 degrees and everyone was complaining it was freezing.

Some of the funniest resume blunders, bloopers, and mistakes

2008-06-04T18:56:00.003+10:00

Came across this on the net. Can't believe ppl actually accidentally / intentionally include such things in their resume and expect prospective employers to hire them. Funny read though.

“Career break in 1999 to renovate my horse”
Hobbies: “enjoy cooking Chinese and Italians”
“Service for old man to check they are still alive or not.”
2001 summer Voluntary work for taking care of the elderly and vegetable people”
“I’m intrested to here more about that. I’m working today in a furniture factory as a drawer”
“Skills: Strong Work Ethic, Attention to Detail, Team Player, Self Motivated, Attention to Detail”
Woman who sent her résumé and cover letter without deleting someone else’s editing, including such comments as “I don’t think you want to say this about yourself here”
“an applicant ghosted a headshot as the background to her resume”
Other Interests: “Playing with my two dogs (They actually belong to my wife but I love the dogs more than my wife)”.
“One applicant used colored paper and drew glitter designs around the border”
Hobbies: “getting drunk everynight down by the water, playing my guitar and smoking pot”
Why Interested in Position: “to keep my parole officer from putting back me in jail”
A woman had attached a picture of herself in a mini mouse costume
Hobbies: “Drugs and girls”.
Under “job related skills” - for a web designer - “can function without additional oxygen at 24,000 feet”.
My sister-in-law misspelled the word “proofreading” in her skill set.
The objective on one recent resume I received stated that the applicant wished to pursue a challenging account executive position with our rival firm.
Objective: “career on the Information Supper Highway”
Experience: “Stalking, shipping & receiving”
“I am great with the pubic.”
A candidate listed her e-mail address as pornstardelight@*****.com
The applicant listed her name as Alice in the resume but wrote Alyce on the onsite application.
One candidate’s electronic resume included links to her homepage, where the pictures were of her in the nude.
“…sent out my resume on the back side of a draft of a cover letter to another firm…”
“My duties included cleaning the restrooms and seating the customers.”
One applicant for a nursing position noted that she didn’t like dealing with blood or needles.
Achievements: “Nominated for prom queen”
a resume… was printed on the back of the person’s current employer’s letterhead.
One resume that came across my desk stated how the individual had won a contest for building toothpick bridges in middle school.
Hobbies: “Having a good time”
Candidate included a letter from his mother.
Candidate stated the ability to persuade people sexually using her words.
Candidate wrote résumé as a play - Act 1, Act 2, etc.
Candidate included naked picture of himself.
Candidate explained a gap in employment by saying it was because he was getting over the death of his cat for three months.
Candidate’s hobbies included sitting on the levee at night watching alligators.
Candidate explained an arrest by stating, “We stole a pig, but it was a really small pig.”
Candidate included family medical history.
“nine-page cover letter accompanied by a four-page résumé”
“One applicant tried to make an impression by using four different fonts, three ink colors and a variety of highlighting options on her résumé”
“Revolved customer problems and inquiries.”
“Consistently tanked as top sales producer for new accounts.”
“Planned new corporate facility at $3 million over budget.”
“Seeking a party-time position with potential for advancement.”
“I often use a laptap.”
“Able to say the ABCs backward in under five seconds.”
“I am a wedge with a sponge taped to it. My purpose is to wedge myself into someone’s door to absorb as much as possible.”
“Finished eighth in my class of ten.”
“Received a plague for Salesperson of the Year.”
“Reason for leaving last job: maturity leave.”
“Failed bar exam with relatively high grades.”
“Am a perfectionist and rarely if if ever forget details.”
“It’s best for employers that I not work with people.”
“Let’s meet, so you can ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ over my experience.”
“I have an excellent track record, although I am not a horse.”
“You will want me to be Head Honcho in no time.”
“I have become completely paranoid, trusting completely no one and absolutely nothing.”
“Personal interests: donating blood. Fourteen gallons so far.”
“Marital status: often. Children: various.”
“I am loyal to my employer at all costs..Please feel free to respond to my resume on my office voice mail.”
“Instrumental in ruining entire operation for a Midwest chain store.”
Job Duties: “Answer phones, file papers, respond to customer e-mails, take odors.”
Interests: “Gossiping.”
Favorite Activities: “Playing trivia games. I am a repository of worthless knowledge.”
Skills: “I can type without looking at thekeyboard.”
Employer: ” Myself; received pay raise for high sales.”
Objective: “I want to play a major part in watching a company advance.”
Experience: “Chapter president, 1887-1992.”
Experience: “Demonstrated ability in multi-tasting.”
Experience: “I’m a hard worker, etc.”
Languages: “Speak English and Spinach.”
Reason for leaving: “I thought the world was coming to an end.”
Objective: “So one of the main things for me is, as the movie ‘Jerry McGuire’ puts it, ‘Show me the money!’”
Skills: “I have integrity so I will not steal office supplies and take them home.”
Objective: “To hopefully associate with a millionaire one day.”
Skills: “I have technical skills that will take your breath away.”
Qualifications: “I have guts, drive, ambition and heart, which is probably more than a lot of the drones that you have working for you.”
Objective: “I need money because I have bills to pay and I would like to have a life, go out partying, please my young wife with gifts, and have a menu entrée consisting of more than soup.”
Qualifications: “Twin sister has accounting degree.”
Experience: “Have not yet been abducted by aliens.”
Skills: “Written communication = 3 years; verbal communication = 5 years.”
Objective: “I would like to work for a company that is very lax when it comes to tardiness.”
Education: “I possess a moderate educatin but willing to learn more.”
Education: “Have repeated courses repeatedly.”
Salary requirements: “The higher the better.”
Salary desired: “Starting over due to recent bankruptcies. Need large bonus when starting job.”
Bad traits: “I am very bad about time and don’t mind admitting it. Having to arrive at a certain hour doesn’t make sense to me. What does make sense is that I do the job. Any company that insists upon rigid time schedules will find me a nightmare.”
References: “Bill, Tom, Eric. But I don’t know their phone numbers.”
Work experience: “Two years as a blackjack and baccarat dealer. Strong emphasis on customer relations - a constant challenge considering how much money people lose and how angry they can get.”
Personal: “I limit important relationships to people who want to do what I want them to do.”
Objective: “Student today. Vice president tomarrow.”
Accomplishments: “Brought in a balloon artist to entertain the team.”
Application: Why should an employer hire you? “I bring doughnuts on Friday.”
Achievements: “First runner-up for Miss Fort Worth, 1982.”
Reason for leaving: “Pushed aside so the vice president’s girlfriend could steal my job.”
Special skills: “I’ve got a Ph.D. in human feelings.”
Reason for leaving last job: “Bounty hunting was outlawed in my state.”
Experience: “Any interruption in employment is due to being unemployed.”
Objective: “To become Overlord of the Galaxy!”
Objective: “What I’m looking for in a job: #1) Money #2) Money #3) Money.”
Hobbies: “Mushroom hunting.”
Experience: “Child care provider: Organized activities; prepared lunches and snakes.”
Objective: “My dream job would be as a professional baseball player, but since I can’t do that, I’ll settle on being an accountant.”
Awards: “National record for eating 45 eggs in two minutes.”
“I am a ‘neat nut’ with a reputation for being hardnosed. I have no patience for sloppywork, carelessmistakes and theft of companytime.”
Experience: “Provide Custer Service.”
Experience: “I was brought in as a turnaround consultant to help turn the company around.”
Strengths: “Ability to meet deadlines while maintaining composer.”
Work experience: “Responsibilities included checking customers out.”
Work experience: “Maintained files and reports, did data processing, cashed employees’ paychecks.”
Educational background: “Highschool was a incredible experience.”
Resume: “A great management team that has patents with its workers.”
Cover letter: “Experienced in all faucets of accounting.”
Objective: “I am anxious to use my exiting skills.”
Personal: “I am loyal and know when to keep my big mouth shut.”
Job duties: “Filing, billing, printing and coping.”
Application: “Q: In what local areas do you prefer to work? A: Smoking.”
Reason for leaving: “Terminated after saying, ‘It would be a blessing to be fired.’”
Personal: “My family is willing to relocate. However not to New England (too cold) and not to Southern California (earthquakes). Indianapolis or Chicago would be fine. My youngest prefers Orlando’s proximity to Disney World.”
Resume: “I have a lifetime’s worth of technical expertise (I wasn’t born - my mother simply chose ‘eject child’ from the special menu.”
Resume: “Spent several years in the United States Navel Reserve.”
“I am fully aware of the king of attention this position requires.”
References: “Please do not contact my immediate supervisor at the company. My colleagues will give me a better reference.”
“Worked in a consulting office where I carried out my own accountant.”
Accomplishments: “My contributions on product launches were based on dreams that I had.”
Experience: “My father is a computer programmer, so I have 15 years of computer experience.”
Education: “I have a bachelorette degree in computers.”
Application: How large was the department you worked in with your last company? “A: 3 stories.”
A resume listed a skill as “being bi-lingual in three languages”
Background: “28 dog years of experience in sales (four human).”
In the section that read “Emergency Contact Number” she wrote “911.”
Candidate drew a picture of a car on the outside of the envelope and said it was the hiring manager’s gift.
Languages: “Fluent in English. Also I have been heard muttering Gibberish in my sleep.”
“Directed $25 million anal shipping and receiving operations.”
“One candidate included clipart on their resume of two cartoons shaking hands.”
Application: “On the line that asked what “sex” he was, he wrote “occassionally”.”

[source: JobMob]

Hillsong United in KL

2008-05-29T14:40:00.007+10:00

Over 3000 ppl packed into Glad Tidings PJ to worship God. Though I think I'm in the wrong generation, almost all of them are way younger than me. =P

University of Melbourne Open Day @ KLCC

2008-05-25T11:32:00.011+10:00

Went to KL Convention Centre this morning with Kee Win to volunteer for the Melb Uni open day. Helped out with registration then spent the next few hours at the Eng faculty booth entertaining prospective parents / students.

I spotted this lying on the table, and browsed through the Melbourne Engineering Research Institute 2008 Research Summary, almost 400 pages thick. I was amazed to discover our final year project warranted a mention.

Quite a blur photo, but here it is. (Btw, Chong Shen and MC, your project description is right there as well)

It was a fun experience. Hearing the questions posed, talking to the other volunteers and Uni staff, and learning a lot at the same time. It's interesting to note the disparity in opinions regarding the new Melbourne Model. Some parents are very keen on the idea of providing their kids with a more well rounded eduction, whilst for others, it is quite a hard sell, as they question the need to have to study an extra year (which means their spending more money). It didn't get past me either how much higher the fees currently are compared to when i was first there. But this is the way to go for the future, and I guess it just takes time for changes to be accepted. After all, it is like a double degree. 5 years of studying, and one graduates with not just 2 degrees, but a Bachelor's degree AND a Masters degree. After that, I did a spot on the panel and shared my experience of my time in Melbourne (which i think i ended up advocating the benefits of staying in residential colleges more than promoting the uni itself. haha)

Oh, and one more thing. I took a photo with Andrew Ooi, our much fabled and (in?)famous lecturer. He's originaly was from Penang, and used to work for NASA, but he's probably the most interesting lecturer in the faculty. He does the most ridiculous of things, like 'accidentally' writing on the OHP with a permanent marker. Or, to illustrate that an equation goes on and on, he wrote " + ...........", the dots stretching right outside the confines of the whiteboard, so much so that he starts writing on the wall..! Instead of labelling equations the conventional Eqn. (1), (2), (3), he'll label them with stickman symbols, or students names etc, etc. I guess it's good that he perpetually tries to be funny and cracks a joke every few minutes or so, making it impossible to doze off in class. And he used to ask students to take a photo with him so that he can post it up on his blog / Facebook account or sth. Well, much belated, but i finally have a photo with him. =P

Pulau Batu Putih

2008-05-25T10:50:00.003+10:00

Just found this funny from yesterday's newspaper headlines. After a protracted wrangle with both Malaysia and Singapore claiming sovereignty over Pulau Batu Putih (known as Pedra Branca to the Singaporeans), the International Court of Justice has ruled that the island belongs to Singapore. But the ICJ HAD to somehow give something to Malaysia. So what is Malaysia's consolation prize? A tiny outcropping of rocks called the Middle Rocks. Only problem? I doesn't even exist during high tide.! I tell you, only in Malaysian politics can something like this be twisted to sound like a victory.

Glory Glory Man United

2008-05-22T16:11:00.004+10:00

A long night. A roller-coaster of emotions. A fantastic game of drama which did justice to a final. Chances galore, chances spurned. Woodwork saving the day thrice. Nothing separating the teams after 90mins. Drogba's moment of silliness. Status quo after extra time. The heartstopping, nerve-wrecking lottery of penalties beckons. Ronaldo proves the detractors wrong with a goal on the big stage; yet contrives to miss a penalty. Terry slips - penalties move on to sudden death. And finally, victory snatched from the jaws of defeat. An apt commemoration on the silver anniversary of the Busby Babes. Who could have written such a script.

Champions of England. NOW, kings of Europe.

Update: Came across some viral images making fun of poor John Terry making it's way around the web. =P

Marié Digby Live @ 1U

2008-05-15T22:06:00.006+10:00

As part of GAP's marketing campaign, a free public concert featuring Marie Digby of Youtube fame in was held in 1 Utama.

The massive crowd, at the concourse area in front of GAP. And that's just downstairs, not to mention the many more clustered around the railings on the above floors.
After almost an hour of preliminary banter, competitions, quizes, obligatory promotions and free handouts by the Mix.fm emcees, only did Marie come on stage. She opened with her single 'Say It Again'.
And moved on to the piano.

She sang a couple of other songs and then we went downstairs to do some shopping. Though i rejoined the crowd and watched a few more performances.

Here are a few videos that i took.

Marie's reprisal of the song that catapulted her to fame on YouTube, Umbrella by Rihanna. (Cue for everyone to whip ot their video camera, SLRs, camera phones, etc. Btw, i even spotted one hardcore photographer who brought a mini ladder with him..!! hahaa. )

I think there was an intermission after this, but alas we decided to go home.

Anyway, didn't know too much about her before this and was never a big fan to begin with. Prob only caught a couple of her covers on Youtube, but nevertheless, she impresses. Some artists shine in the recording studio, and falls flat during a live performance, but glad to say, this girl has talent. She has a beautiful, melodious voice, and is more than adept with the guitar and piano, not to mention her ability to compose. And Jeannie, i know you always keep harping on about how kids of mixed parentage turn out good looking. Well, another case in point, she's an attractive blend of Japanese-Irish-American blood.

Ppl have been reminding me recently that Jerome is her most ardent fan. So Jerome, in case you're reading this you might be even more upset to discover that there was this one fan on stage (by virtue of this competition whereby one has to sing on stage to determine who can best imitate Marie's singing). Well anyway, at the end of it all Marie gave each of the contestants a hug, and if i'm not mistaken, that one guy quickly stole a kiss and gave her a peck on the cheek. hahaa. Oohh, and also Gary's friend managed to catch one of the posters they were throwing out (the same as the one at the top of this post).

[Just a random, perhaps related note of interest. Did you know that you can watch higher quality Youtube videos by appending the term '&fmt=18' to the end of a particular URL? That is, if there is a higher resolution version available (e.g. the video above).]

2 years to a quarter century

2008-05-05T01:39:00.009+10:00

So yes, i just turned 23 (just having to type that number makes me feel so old!!). Anyway, this year's birthday was just low-key, no fanfare or parties unlike previous years (which was good coz that meant no opportunites to get sabo-ed). I honestly didn't realise my birthday was approaching until just a few days ago. Got woken up in the morning with phone calls and smses wishing me a happy birthday (though all those who called from Melbourne claimed their intention was more so to wake me up, what with the time difference).

Michelle was nice enough to ask my plans for the afternoon and having none, we decided to go for lunch. Had lunch in Italianni's at 1U, which was great, considering the many planned meet-ups thus far had failed to materialise. =)

Got back home and then i went with my family to the Royal Sporting House sale in their warehouse in Subang, next to Sports Planet. Lots of branded clothings and shoes, which were going for extremely cheap prices, everything had a 40-60% discount. Many items caught my attention, but unfortunately almost all the clothes were left in XL sizes. Shoes had only one size left. That's what happens when you go to a sale on the last day. Lesson in point, if there is a sale make sure you go on the first day. Anyway, bought 2 shirts, a couple of socks, a cheap tennis racket, and football shoes.

Admittedly, i don't really need the football boots, but RM115 for such nice looking boots, which are comfortable and super lightweight, i just HAD to buy them. =P

Dinner was at Victoria Station near my house with family and a few relatives. You know how in these places they would sing a birthday song to whoever was celebrating their birthday? Well, over the course of the meal we heard the song being sung 3 other times. Seems like a popular birth date, and i personally know another 2 frens who share the same birthday. =)

Okay, anyway just wanted to say thank you to everyone for the wishes, the calls/smses, the presents, the meal/company, and its nice to know that ppl still remember me, especially all those far away in Melb and other countries, some whom i haven't seen in ages! On another note, looks like the birthday reminders on Facebook serves a very convenient purpose. I've been inundated by tons of wishes on FB, to the point where the first page of my Gmail is practically filled with FB notifications. Haven't read them yet, and to those be patient, i'll slowly reply over the next few days.

MIA

2008-02-28T07:23:00.007+11:00

To those still checking my blog, sorry for the lack of new posts. Though there's more interesting things happening in the world for anyone to take cognisance of my lack of updates. Go follow the Malaysian / US elections, or the recent super silly Malaysian judicial debacle, or the Oscars, etc etc.

Updates for now, if any, will be far and few between. Sigh, i feel like it's the beginning of the end for my blog.. haha.

p.s. Here's a photo of Eduardo's horrific trifecta injury of broken leg-ankle-shin last week - notice the disjointed foot!!

Stupid Malaysian drivers

2008-01-23T03:47:00.000+11:00

An experience just now galvanised me to update my seemingly neglected blog. Yes, i know it's been neglected, i know i haven't updated for quite a while. But there's really nothing much to blog about now, and i don't feel the mood to write anything. Though of course it'll still be nice to receive comments. Surprisingly you all have still been studiously checking my blog. Anyway, i digress...

Me, Mel, Erwin, Gigi, and Steph took Phaik Yee and Hung who came down to KL to Lookout Point on Cheras Hill for dinner. After going around in circles and spending over an hour traversing the city we arrived at our destination at almost 10pm. But that's not the point of this post.

It's all about how Malaysian drivers are the most selfish, inconsiderate, uncourteous drivers, having no sense of public decencty, respect for road laws and regulations, or even general common sense and responsibility. Admittedly, planning for parking is virtually non-existent there. But that does not give anyone the right to indiscriminately double park wherever they like. All it serves to do is to exacerbate the problem.

So when it was time to leave, we found this Kelisa, in all its splendor double parked right in front of my car. Incessant honking and even making announcements on the PA system failed to rouse the owner from his slumber of whatever tempurung he was hiding under. I think Erwin even went to the extent of walking around asking if anyone was the owner of the car. I tried many times, various car alignments to squeeze through the narrow opening, but to no avail. Even Mel and Phaik Yee in all their tininess valiantly tried to push the offending car.

A crowd gathers, everyone trying to give advice on how to extricate my car. Finally, after more than half an hour, and as a result of something untaught in driving schools, i.e. a 30-point turn, involving reversing back and forth numerous times, i managed to squeeze the car out through the narrow opening, with not even inches, but millimetres to spare on either side. And it's a manual car as well, mind you. Funny to hear applause upon a successful exit from a parking lot, but it was a very 'interesting' experience nonetheless. Even Gigi didn't want to leave to go to the toilet so as not to miss out on any action.

And the result of Murphy's law or whatever law it is is that only when i finally managed to get out that the owner decides to turn up. This lady walks out and enters her car without even a word of apology. At least, Erwin gave her a piece of his mind. Good thing we're not thugs otherwise we would have left scratches of telltale signs of our frustration on her car.

You see right, even in the event you cannot find a parking lot, even in the event that you really really have an urgent need to rush down, and you can't find someone to jaga the car while you're inside, at least have the decency or common sense to ensure that you're not blocking anyone. Leave a message with your contact number on your windscreen, don't stray too far from your car, or at least be alert enough to hear when you hear honking or announcements on the PA system. But nooo, some people prefer to live in their own bubble and think they own the road, oblivious to everything else. Anyway, there was a sign at the back of the car that reads, "Khalifah inside." You decide the significance of that..

This further reinforces the deterioration of the state of affairs in Malaysia. People nowadays can't care less about virtues which was once the staple of a considerate society. Now people's attitudes have changed to "do-whatever-i-can-to benefit-myself-without-regard- for-others." My experience was not a rare occasion. How many times have you seen people cutting queue at a traffic light or lane convergence, double parked, driven slowly on the right lane, overtaking on the left lane or driving manically on the roads. Only in Malaysia i tell you. It perfectly embodifies the Malaysian spirit of everthing can do to a new level. Malaysia Boleh.

Update: This is the wonderful view of the KL skyline from that restaurant (curtesy of Mel's awesome long exposure camera). You can even see the twin spotlights from KLCC illuminating the night sky.

Back home

2008-01-02T17:15:00.000+11:00

The quickest i've ever checked in. Not more than 15 mins from the time i steped foot into the airport to the time i received my boarding pass. Anyway, KL's good.. Didn't realise that there were some things that i miss. I miss home, my sister, whom i'm quite close to, the piano, the comfort of air-conditioning, which is a departure from Melbourne's sweltering 42 degrees when i left, the mobility of having a car, and the ubiquity of good cheap food at every corner. Though of course there needs to be some adjustment to the snail's pace of what we call "broadband" (though in fairness it's not that bad, just that i've been spoiled by Australia's high speed internet), seeing new developments appear overnight and colossal monstrosities called houses being built in my immediate neighbourhood, coping with the polluted air and humidity, and having to refamiliarise myself with Astro's revamped channel numbers, speaking BM, and learning new roads.

School starts tomorrow for my siblings, and i just realise how ugly the new Cempaka uniform is (think green and gold pinstripe blazer with brown slacks). And, my sister who's entering Form 1 is being taught Science by Mr. Sheat. The horror..

Byee Melbourne..!

2007-12-31T14:21:00.000+11:00

Time to say goodbye. It's been 1 year to the day that i've been in Melbourne – arrived on 1st Jan, leaving on 31st Dec. I don't think it's quite sunk in yet that this time i'll really be gone for quite a long while. I'll definitely miss this city, but even more so the friends who've made my time here so special and enjoyable. Don't worry, i'll be back in due time...

Btw, my hiding in a tempurung due to the lack of an internet connection has been the cause of the long hiatus since the last update. Many belated posts to come. And by the time you read this it's prob time to wish everyone a Happy New Year!! Oh, and a belated Merry Christmas too.

Packing and moving woes

2007-12-16T13:30:00.000+11:00

I never realised how extremely horrible, tiring, and time consuming moving apartment could be. In IH all we had to do was pack up all our stuff in boxes, and that was that. No need to worry about furniture, about plates, pans and cockery, or cleaning up. And looks can be deceiving. Whilst it looks simple enough to pack, the actual reality dictates that one has to slog and slave to pack up the most mundane of things. It's the small items that are especially irritating. And whilst packing up, there is a tendency for one to constantly seem to misplace things - packing tape, scissors, wiping cloth, all have been lost numerous times.

4 years worth of notes thrown away

Once the packing was done, it was time to call the movers. And this is where it might sometimes have been better to call in the professionals, not cheap Chinaman movers. The apartment had to be vacated by Friday, so we thought it was best to move on Wednesday. Few hours before they were supposed to arrive, they call up saying that their lorry had "broken down". After much deciphering what they were trying to convey, as they only spoke a smattering of English, they promised that they would come the next day at noon. Once bitten, twice shy, the adage goes. But we still trusted that they would deliver as promised. 10am the next day they call up again to say that their lorry was still broken. Being in an immense quandary as we had to be out by the next day we were very fortunate to be able to get another mover as a replacement immediately, which came at a slight premium.

Anyway, moving all the boxes, furniture, white goods, and odds and ends all the way down the corridor, into the lift, out along little Lonsdale, and up into the lorry also proved to be a lot more time consuming than expected. 4.5 hours of lifting, heaving, moving, and dragging, and all our belongings were safely in their new home of Temple Court, which is on Collins and Queens St. Took that long even with a manpower of 7 (Thanx Erwin, 24, and Anand who helped out).

Super tired, but that was not the end of it. There was still the trivial matter of restoring the apartment to its original pristine state. Which meant a lot of cleaning, scrubbing, scouring, vacuuming, moping, and wiping down surfaces. Fighting with dirt, grime, grease, and stains. Bathtub has never looked so white, or glass panes so transparent. Thanx Michelle for volunteering to help out at 3am in the morning.

So more than 20-30 hours invested over the past few days to pack, move out, and clean. Result is an immaculate apartment sparkling clean.

Adieu to my home for the past year, it's been a great place to stay. The envy of many a friend. The convenience of staying less than a minute's walk from Safeway. The convenienve of being loacated right in the heart of the city. And a pretty decent view to boot.

Time to start restoring order to my new home for now.

[Updating from Damien's place whilst watching the double header matches of Man U vs Liverpool and Chelsea vs Arsenal. Having no internet connection totally sucks =(]

Elf Yourself

2007-12-10T18:56:00.001+11:00

Veron sent this link to me, and then i was hooked. First i started making one, then one thing led to another and i found myself having fun elfing everyone. Jobless i know, but the payoff is when you see the smile (sometimes uncontrollable laughter) it inevitably brings to everyone's faces. Reactions tend to go along the lines of "WTF.. HAHAHHAAA. OMG OMG OMG.. DAMN FUNNY.. HAHAA" or "DAMN CUTE.. " as well as illiciting responses of "i look like an idiot laughing alone in my room". It's extra funny coz each character's dance moves are uncoordinated. Click the following links, and be prepared to be amused.

Me, Mel, Cliffe, Erwin
Kai, August, Hung, PY
Michelle, Emily, Su Ann, Jerome
Damien, Kee Hong, CC, Ken
Kee Win, Jeannie
Heidi, Sabs, Liss, Veron
Omega, Ah Ma, Chong Shen
Jo, Dharen
My siblings

Results..

2007-12-08T01:54:00.000+11:00

So, i've gotten my results, which means i can gradute. Somehow managed to do reasonably well in my final year. Honours score = 2nd class upper, which i guess i should be happy with considering my 2nd and 3rd year results averaged in the low 70s. Now, if only my 85 average in first year was taken into account. *wishful thinking*... hahaa..

Holidays so far..

2007-12-06T03:35:00.000+11:00

Okay, I shall try to satiate the clamours for an update. So, holidays so far has been pretty mundane and boring, even though I’ve somehow managed to be out of my house almost all the time. And I’ve been totally nocturnal, sleeping late and waking up late. Anyway, the events of the past few weeks....

Chong Shen’s birthday – ambushed and carried him across the road to the park, tied him to a pole with cling wrap, and then it was free for all. Flour, eggs, coke with mentos, you name it. Think he enjoyed it. =P

Jerome’s birthday – a pajama party, which ended with us 'conteng'-ing on his leg and painting his nails with nailpolish.

Kai's birthday whereby we had a surprise party for him at Uropa function room, though he had to spoil it by claiming he saw it coming..

Liss' birthday – dinner comprised Mexican food at Los Amates. Food was nice, albeit pricey, and portions were quite small. Adjourned to Red Hummingbird, a bar on Russell Lonsdale. Nice and cosy ambience, the open-air rooftop was even better.

Los Amates

Red Hummingbird

Then there was the AIESEC mini get-together. We went to the Vic Mart night market for dinner, and then adjourned to my place for a game of Taboo! Notable for Nirm’s "drunken" episode. And some funny descriptions. For example, try guessing Sabs question of “What is my piano teacher’s teacher’s teacher’s teacher’s teacher’s teacher”? The only person capable of getting -4 each turn. =P haha. Round 2 is on the cards hopefully sometime soon.

Bought jeans at Levi’s in DFO Spencer St. Everything in the shop was going for half price. Bought myself 2 pairs – the one on the left cost $35 and the other one $25. Quite a bargain.

One day whilst walking around Melbourne Central walked past Armani Exchange. What at first glance appeared to be mannequins dressed in the latest men's underwear turned out to be real-life models. Suffice to say, that caught the girls' attention.

Su Ann, the bravest who was the first to ask the models for a photo

August shocked to discover someone with a better body than him.. =P

Jo couldn't stop drooling, or tear herself away from her eye candy

A bit of Dota, though im not too addicted to it.

Poker. Yes, the ubiquitous past time that brings everyone together. There has been quite a number of home games. And then there were ppl like Cliffe, August, Kai, PY, and Erwin who've been to Crown to satisfy their poker cravings. Though my standing at the sidelines means i've not lost a cent. Pub poker in The Club in Caroline Springs. Nice experience. Top 20 out of 100+ ppl.

Explored a few new restaurants, though something has to be done about always ending up in Wing Loong more often than not.

Frisbee in the park. Fun game indeed. CC, go organise again, get more ppl. =)

Weekly soccer at Royal Park, often under the scorching sun, which is not fun at all. I'm a lot darker now.

Cleaning my messy house somewhat, and starting to pack up. Sigh, just over more than a week before I have to move out, and packing up and having to scrub and clean every single surface seems a sufficiently daunting task. Btw, I’ll be homeless after, anyone willing to take pity and provide a roof over my head? I’ll be nice, I promise. =)

I should get a casual job. Though there's prob not many availabilities at this time.

Free Rice for the needy

2007-11-26T03:43:00.001+11:00

Busyness. I seem to have more time to update during the exam period than after exams. I think the word procrastination springs to mind. Sorry to those who've been pestering for an update.

In the meantime, whoever's bored and looking for something to do, check out www.freerice.com. I just started playing it, and it's a fun and addictive vocabulary game which not only tests and improves your vocab, but for every correct answer, 10 grains of rice is donated through the UN to end world hunger. It gets quite tricky above level 30, and so far i've only managed to reach level 40.

If you're still really bored check out this online store selling good quality shirts, www.threadless.com. As a bonus, there's a sale now with shirts going for only US10. The flipside to that is that this means many of the nice designs have sold out. Well, check back in the future, as even at the normal price, it's still relatively cheap, and there's a constant influx of new, cute designs, like these....

Percintaan Tan Hong Ming

2007-11-18T16:41:00.000+11:00

In a similar vein to the "Whatever.." girl... Small kids can sometimes be very cute..

One of the best Merdeka TV commercials. Race doesn't matter when we are young, so why does it matter when we grow up??

Melbourne Cup

2007-11-14T02:20:00.000+11:00

Okay, about time i got around to detailing my maiden Melbourne Cup outing.

So this was last Tuesday, right after i had an exam in the morning, and having had just 3 hours of sleep the previous night. Rushed home from REB to quickly get changed, and off we went to Flemington Racecourse.

Before i go further i must admit my total lack of knowledge as to anything horse racing related, apart from Makybe Diva’s record breaking feat of winning 3 consecutive Melbourne Cups. Whilst on the train there i was asking how many horses would be out on track, as i presumed it would be something like swimming or athletics, whereby there are preliminary rounds eliminating all but the best 8 horses. Little did I know there would actually be 22 horses on track.

Anyway, arrived at about 2pm, by which time the sun was shining down radiating its heat and the sky devoid of any protective cloud cover. What struck me at first was the very raw smell permeating the racecourse. I’ve no idea where that smell emanated from, maybe horse droppings, who knows, but it sure wasn’t a very pleasant smell.

Made our way to a small patch of grass which had been reserved by the rest who had arrived in the morning. This was our tiny spot...

Amongst the vast multitude of people.

There were only 4 races left by the time I got there, the next one being the much vaunted Melbourne Cup. Decided to randomly place some bets, which didn't go too well considering my betting knowledge was zilch. I was confronted with a plethora of betting options such as trifecta, quieniala, exacta, win and place. Decided to play safe and went with the 3 favourites – Purple Moon, Master O’ Reilly, and Zipping. Well, i didn’t know that i had to state the horse number to place my bet, so i went up to the counter and said “Can i place a bet on Purple Moon, Master O’....” But before i could complete my sentence, the cashier interjected, “What’s the horse number?” which obviously i didn’t know. Had to hold up the queue momentarily while i found out the horse numbers. Silliness. Betting can be stressful. Haha.

Anyway, i spent a grand total of... wait for it..... $8, which is a pittance when compared to everyone else who seem to be whipping out wads of $50 notes. I guess it's no surprise then that Australian punters bet a total of $145 million on the outcome of just this 200 second race.

Anyway, as the race time approached, we pushed our way to the front of the open area to get a better view, and this is what we saw..

The horses coming around the corner...

Running right by us

And then they were gone.

Just like that, in less than 10 seconds, and i couldn’t even tell who was ahead. All the horses looked the same. Seriously. haha.

Some pictures...

Beautiful AIESEC girls..

Ex-IHers..

AIESEC contingent

A portion of the more than 100,000 people in attendance

Oh, and a mention should also go to Tristan’s bout of ingenuity. You see, the racecourse has a rule whereby no outside alcohol is allowed in, my guess being so that the concession stands can milk even more money out of everyone. So what did Tristan do? He filled zip lock sandwich bags with alcohol, and disguised them by putting them inside Shapes boxes. There was even a bun in which he cut out the insides so that he could hide a Tupperware of alcohol in it. Might be silly, but pure genius. haha.

So yeah, I managed to garner a return of $4.10 from my intial outlay of $8, with Purple Moon coming in 2nd, and Zipping narrowly missing out on 3rd place, which undoubtedly is a loss. I didn’t realise how unpredictable horse racing is, unlike say football whereby there is a pretty high chance that the favourite will win. Which reminds me, i still haven’t collected my winnings....

Overall, it was a decent experience. At least i’ve now gotten a feel of what goes on in “the race that stops a nation”. I guess most of the ppl who attended too didn't turn up so much for the horses than for the one a year chance to dress up to the nines, have a good time, and maybe consume copious amounts of alcohol. The temperature was probably a bit too hot for to be dressed in a suit, and causing the girls sun-burnt shoulders, but it was fun... =)

Other photos of the girls in their lovely dresses, hats, and fascinators.

Bizazrre Laws

2007-11-09T04:43:00.000+11:00

Came across this excerpt in yesterday's MX, which lists some of the most bizarre laws around the world.

In the UK, people are prohibited to from dying whilst in the Houses of Parliament. (So what, you expect someone in the throes of death to have the capacity to quietly excuse himself just so he can die outside and not disturb the session?)
In the US state of Ohio, it is illegal to get a fish drunk. (Is that even possible...)
Only a clerk in a tropical fish store has permission to be topless in Liverpool.
In UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants, including in a policeman's helmet. (Oh, so a non-pregnant woman can't? And why the precise mention of a policeman's helmet of all places.)
In Indonesia, the penalty for masturbation is decapitation. (Hmm. The dilemma they face. Self pleasure, or getting their heads chopped off.)
A male doctor in Bahrain can examine the genitals of a woman only in the reflection of the mirror.
In Switzerland, a man may not relieve himself standing up after 10pm.
It is illegal to be blindfolded while driving in Alabama. (Need that be said?)
In Florida, unwed women who parachute on a Sunday risk jail. (Haha. This is just plain funny.)
Women in Vermont must obtain permission from their husbands to have false teeth.
In Milan, you must smile except at funerals or hospital visits.
Japan has no age of consent. (Explains the adult industry's fascination with Japanese schoolgirls)
In France, it is illegal to name a pig Napolean.

Cracked me up. I have no idea how lawmakers could be so silly to even contemplate drafting and passing such absurd laws. Some of these are just plain logical-no-need-to-be-said type of laws, whilst others border on the comical and nonsensical. And to think an entire parliament has to waste time to debate and vote on whether to pass these laws.

My Marketing Plan Assignment

2007-11-07T17:58:00.000+11:00

Went to uni with Mel just now to collect my Strategic Marketing assignment. Well besides the added incentive of picking up a free Slurpee on Happy 7-11 Day. =) Anyway, remember the 12,000 word 70 pages assignment that i was complaining and whinging about how difficult, and totally illogical it was for them to expect such a comprehensive and detailed marketing plan from undergraduate students? Yes, THAT assignment. Picked the assignment up from Alan Gilbert.

And we both stood there not wanting to check our marks. "You go first," I said. "No, you go first," she replied. Impasse. "How about i check your marks and you check mine?" suggested Mel. Which was even scarier to than checking it myself.

So, with great trepiadation, i turned over to the last page to check my mark. Guess what i got?? [Highlight the blank space..]

28/30

I was quite shocked. I mean, not that i didn't invest hours and hours of effort into the assignment, but I am not a marketing student. I had no prior knowledge of Porter's 5 forces, the GE/BCG/McKinsey model, the meaning of critical success factors, how to propose a budget, and other marketing lingo. And due to lack of time, I thought that leaving out certain parts and writing half a page for each section towards the end would have an adverse effect on my mark. Not to mention having a referencing system that merely consisted of copying and pasting URLs into footnotes and leaving it at that.

Oh well, i guess the many sleepless nights paid off. And due to students' complains the weightage of the assignment has been increased to 60% of the overall mark. =) To cap it off the tutor's feedback reads:

An excellent strategic plan for IKEA. A very comprehensive, well researched + considered analysis.
Very good supporting recommendations for your marketing mix, budget, implementation + evaluation + control.
Overall, you have presented a very intensive + intelligent plan.
Astonishingly high level of course understanding.

I'm not even convinced myself about the validity of those comments, but i'm not complaining.. And not as upset with my decision to take this elective. =)

Experiment 101

2007-11-07T05:33:00.000+11:00

Jo's idea of an experiment at 3am in the morning, a break from the monotony of looking at her law notes the past 1 week. What happens when you have too many leftover birthday balloons? You release them back into the wild, to fend for itself. The balloon was released into the early Melbourne sky, defenseless and lonesome, awaiting a random stranger to pick it up and care for it, and give it a home.

Unfortunately, the balloon settled into the shadows of the bushes outside the state library, hidden from view. It's fate unbeknown, forever condemned to join the ranks of the lost and the forgotten...

Swanston St in a Day

2007-11-04T04:32:00.000+11:00

Time lapse video of Swanston St. from my blacony.

Happy birthday

2007-10-30T00:34:00.001+11:00

To my super forgetful, perennially messy apartment mate, Joanna, who constantly brightens everyone's day with her constant cheerfulness, sweet smile, laughter, and penchant for lame jokes. =P Happy birthday!!

Oh, and just because i found this funny photo of you.. =P (that's what u get for hiding behind doors and trying to scare me... haha). At least, you should be glad i didn't put up your 'wedding' photo with Sheanee. =P

Uni days are over..

2007-10-28T03:55:00.000+11:00

I had my last uni class yesterday. And it is indeed a poignant moment. It seems only a while ago when i arrived in Melbourne for the first time, totally alien to this foreign land. How fast 3.5 years have flown by. I've relished every moment of that time. I've made lots of friends, had lots of fun, and i doubt anything is going to better our uni years.

Sigh. It hasn't really sunk in yet. But I'm still sad. I guess it's time to move on and look to the future. And be optimistic even though the mere thought of having to work 40 hour weeks for the next 30 years sounds sufficiently daunting...

Weekend in the Sun

2007-10-24T12:56:00.000+10:00

Took advantage of the relatively warm weather over the weekend. Started off with a picnic lunch on Saturday at St. Kilda beach. Lunch constituted of Wicked Wings, homemade sushi, and a lovely cake which Ah Ma baked. Then spent the rest of the afternoon mucking around in the sand, playing catch, throwing Frisbees, and kicking a football around. Here are some random photos...

Jumping in mid-air

Human pyramid

Pretending to be a beach bum

Trying to throw Omega into the sea

Random pose

Dead jellyfish in the sea

Had ice cream in 7 apples, then left at around 5pm to go to Kee Hong's BBQ party at the poolside in Verve. As there's already been 5 other blog posts written in relation to this, i'll refrain from repeating them. Nevertheless, wishing you a happy birthday! Played poker and watched football till 4am, and by the time i got back i had been out for 18 hours straight.

On Sunday, went to Williamstown in the evening for a BBQ dinner. Amidst the pestering of flies, had a nice meal by the seaside. First time i've been to Williamstown, and i must say, i really like this place. A quaint little town away from the hustle and bustle of the city which presents a nice quiet getaway - and it's just a 15 min drive from the city. The beach is really nice too, perhaps better than St. Kilda's. And as it's a reclaimed man-made beach, it has a very gentle gradient and tapers off gradually into the ocean. One can wade out some 100 feet into the sea and still only have the waves lapping at your waist.

Preparing the barbie

Playing DS whilst waiting for the food to cook

My 3rd meal of chicken wings in 2 days

Burger patties

Moonlight dip in the ocean - water was freezing!

In should be more careful...

2007-10-17T01:25:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, i sliced my hand on a can lid. The result was a gaping wound exposing the flesh. [Warning: Some gruesome photos follows.. So if you hate gore, morbid sights or if blood scares you, don't scroll down]

The cut... which dripped blood all over the place.. in my kitchen, in the lift, in the waiting room..

Anyway, went to a 24 hour clinic on Sydney road to get it checked and the receptionist bluntly said "I'm sorry, we don't do stitches here." I mean, which doctor doesn't know how to perform such a simple procedure?? I'm guessing it probably had more to do with her getting up and getting ready to go home a few minutes later.. =(

So i went to RMH, which i must say is beset by inefficiencies and poor management. I thought only such travesties occured in Malaysia, little did i know Australia faces the same problem. The triage nurse took almost 30 mins just to process me, and i had to wait another 5 hours before i could even see a doctor. Ended up leaving the hospital at 4am!! Though probably much better off than other countries, Australia's public healthcare system seriously still needs a revamp. I would imagine something as simple as eliminating or reducing understaffing would greatly reduce waiting times and the millions of dollars lost annually due to lost productivity caused by waiting in lines. Not to mention reducing the pain, anger, stress and anxiety of everyone waiting.

Had a tetanus jab, and the doctor first poured lots of alcohol and rubbed vigorously, until the wound which had already started to clot started bleeding heavily again. He then has prod and poke the raw wound with his forceps. The doctor tried to use a Steristrip, some super adhesive tape to pull the skin together to close the wound, but he tried twice to no avail. So had to resort to stitches. And to prepare for the stitching he has to inject and administer the local anaesthetic right into the open wound. Not once of twice, but FIVE times from all angles. Cringe. I'm not particularly fond of needles, and i kept pulling my hand away when the needle came near. But after the first one went in, i realised it wasn't too bad. Anyway, ended up with 3 stitches. Though i think the 3rd one on the right was unecessary, only because he didn't do a good job with the middle stitch.

Okay, i know these pictures are a bit gross and gory, but it isn't too bad a cut. And i've had many friends thinking i lost my hand or my finger, or chopped off a huge chunk of flesh. Fortunately, it's nothing that close to being that dramatic. Just a superficial cut that needed stitches to pull it close. It hurts a little, but i can still hold a pen and write. Though i think i'll improve my left-sided dexterity in the meantime by having to use my left hand to brush my teeth, etc.

Btw, a big thank you to Mel and Cliff who brought me there and waited the entire time. And Phaik Yee, Hung, and Kai Yau, who came along later, even if there was the side hidden agenda of having a multiplayer Nintendo DS gaming session in the waiting room. Having a couple of NDS there to play Worms or Mario Kart really helped while the time away (though i'm not sure the other ppl in the waiting room who had to endure our shrieks and laughter necessarily agreed). Haha. Thanx guys, really appreciate it. And the few who called or msged your concern too.

The Hourglass Diet

2007-10-12T01:36:00.000+10:00

Erwin's post a while ago on why polar bears have a layer of fat (which actually didn't really make sense), and Su Ann's subsequent comment got me thinking. Not to mention the fact that i've had so many female friends who are in totally perfect shape complaining to me that they're "fat" or want to lose weight...

So the question is, why is there such a burgeoning tendency for girls nowadays to want to lose weight and go on diets, when medically they are in the normal weight range? Well, these stats may be from the US, but isn't is disturbing to hear that half of girls aged 10 have started dieting, and that 80% of 13-year olds have tried to lose weight?

I guess the mass media has conditioned everyone and skewed our perception of the ideal figure. It portrays thin as infinitely more beautiful than fat. And it doesn't help when Hollywood and fashion shows are jumping on the bandwagon. There comes a point when bones start sticking out of skeletal frames that it only serves to make them look malnourished and sick. Not elegant, not hot, not beautiful, nor attractive.

Take for instance the epitome of Hollywood dieting fads gone overboard, Nicole Richie.

True, this may be one of her least flattering photos, but there is no reason in the world for her to lose weight to such an extent. So much so that all it serves is to make her look gaunt, jaded, unhealthy, and look double her 26 years of age. And she even went to the extent of sending out this invitation to her friends, which though she later claimed was in jest, it's still pretty galling. Read the 2nd last paragraph.

Another A-list celebrity who's defending herself against claims of anorexia is Kiera Knightly, which though she must be commended for at least speaking out against such things, showing up at the red carpet looking like this doesn't help much in dispelling the rumours.
A pity, considering Kiera used to be hot and stunning and at least not as waifish-thin
And there is definitely a problem when there are models who strut down the catwalk looking like this. It's even more disturbing that such size 0 models are capable of commanding the attention of magazine readers worldwide, as simple deduction dictates that there has to be a considerable demand for these type of models to continue to ply their trade.

Maybe some of you have seen this video before, but it might actually explain the obsession with losing weight - it's all in the mind!

So my point is this. Forget the Atkins Diet, the Macrobiotic Diet, Weight Watchers, or the countless other fads out there. If you're healthy and not overweight, there's no need to constantly worry about your weight or check the weighing scales every morning. If you suddenly find that you're able to pinch a little fat around your waist, or if you realise that u gained a few pounds, be happy. There are more than 800 million starving who would be more than willing to take your place.

In fact, i think I should start my own diet, called the Hourglass Diet. The goal would be somewhere along the lines of 36-28-36. Curves are in, not skin and bones. Think Beyonce, or even Jenifer Hudson. Haha. Sadly, i doubt there's even a remote chance of this diet taking off..=(

Btw, beauty is all about perception, and in places like Africa where food is scarce, society values the extremely obese, as it reflects prosperity....

(Okay, that was just a random thought, and i realise some ppl might opine differently and have things to say. But oh well, it's just an opinion.)

On another note, congratulations to Malaysia's first "Angkasawan" in space. It's interesting to note that they had the foresight to find solutions to having to kneel down and face Mecca when praying. Would have been a bit of a challenge otherwise. haha.

2007-10-05T18:45:00.001+10:00

The 24 hour computer lab has been my 2nd home the past week,
Two 10000 word assignments due in 3 days,
Means that i've watched the sunrise twice while in uni,
More than 24 hours yesterday,
And prob. a 100 over then entire week,
Finally, i bid farewell to the worse assignment ever!
A marketing assignment that has become the hatred of everyone,
An assignment of 13,000 words,
An assignment so thick that no stapler could bind.
And all that effort, for a miserable 30%.

Being in the comp. lab for so long,
I've noticed things that I've never noticed before,
I noticed that the cleaner begins work at 3am,
I noticed that there is a surprisingly large number of ppl,
Still in the computer lab at 7am in the morning,
I realise that when I don't get enough sleep
I can't remember which floor I live on,
I realise that productivity comes in cycles,
Which ebbs and wanes,
As eyelids get droopier,
And that checking Facebook and MSNing whoever's awake at that time,
Is the only form of relief,
I realise that I'm the most productive under stress,
I notice that stress causes hunger,
I've realised that a simple section which looks simple enough,
Takes ages to complete!
I've realised that when the outline says 4,000 words,
They were only joking,
And that printing out the assignment 5 mins before it is due,
Is not exactly the best thing for the heart.
I realised that strangers can be brought together,
By a common despise of the lecturer,
And that there will be much to say,
When the QoT survey comes around,
I realise that choosing marketing as an elective,
Was not the smartest thing to do,
I realise that lecturers which are brilliant,
Are not necessarily the best lecturers.

Of assignments and more assignments.

2007-09-30T18:00:00.000+10:00

I just realised that i'll only be having 3 hours of classes this coming week! And 6 hours the following weeks till the end of semester. Which is in stark contrast to the 24 contact hours i had in first year. =)

Though the lack of proper uni contact hours doesn't mitigate the amount of work i'm currently facing. A 10,000 word final year report due on Wednesday, and a Strategic Marketing Plan that might just reach up to 100 pages long. Finding information about a company isn't an easy task. And having to explain how economics indicators like the GDP, forex rate, interest rate, etc. affects the industry is totally alien to a non-commerce student like me. I'll be working from sunrise to sunset, and burning the midnight oil this week, that's for sure... =(

And then there's a final year project exhibition the following week, some tedious programming assignment sometime later, and an Optimisation project on the last day of semester. The life of an engineering student. It's always been like that. Free the entire semester, watching with amusement whilst others have their midsems, but then suffering during the last few weeks when all our assignements contrive to end up being due around the same time.

Wilsons Promontory

2007-09-26T03:20:00.001+10:00

Just got back from Wilsons Prom. And for ppl like Michelle who hadn't previously heard of this place, Wilsons Prom is the southernmost point of the mainland Australia, a national park with beautiful walks and spectacular beaches. And Kee Win, just to clarify things, a promontory is defined as "a rocky elevation that juts out into the sea", not the nonsense that you made it up to be.. =P hahaha.

Anyway, 10 of us journeyed down to the Prom in 2 cars. Me, Sheanee, Kee Hong, 24, Kee Win, CK, Veron, Jason, CC, and Ken. Having to wake up at 7+am in the morning for the past 3 days is definitely not something my body is used to.

Anyway, some highlights of the trip... [warning: lots of photos, and that's already the pick from the many hundred photos we all took]

Our car

By the time we arrived at Wilsons Prom is was already late afternoon, due to the many stops and "detours" along the way. First stop was Whisky Bay to watch the sunset.

Artistic photo - walking into the sunset, literally

Dinner the first night consisted of our homemade concoction of drumsticks marinated in soya sauce. Turned out not too bad, probably coz we were famished by then.

Cooked rice in this water. That, is tank water. I have no idea what tank water is, but that's what comes out from the tap. It's so white it's tantamount to getting barley water from the tap. But it's probably all just gas bubbles in the water (i hope), as after a while the water settles and becomes quite clear. I've drank that water, and i'm still alive and breathing.. =)

An early morning start again the next day brought us to Tidal River, which if you look at the following photos has awesomely clear, blue, azure waters. The stuff you normally only see in postcards..

After crossing the river, the trail then led to a vantage point overlooking Normal Bay. Scenic views.

After lunch, our next challenge was to climb to the summit of Mt. Oberon. The Mt. Oberon nature walk is one of the highlights of The Prom. It is a challenging 3.4km relatively steep uphill climb. Halfway up, i was already contemplating giving up and taking a rest, be it not for Sheanee who was marching onward and setting the pace. Not wanting to let her walk up alone, we soldiered on, disregarding my complaining body. Fortunately, our arduous climb was rewarded by a spectacular 360 degree view from the summit, and all tiredness and lethargy was immediately forgotten as we savoured the panaromic views and took countless photos.

Quickly made our way downhill and drove to nearby Squeaky Beach. And the name of the beach is not just some random name. Squeaky Beach is so named because it is literally that - it squeaks! If im not mistaken, the grains of sand on this beach are all of the same size, which somehow creates a squeaking sound when one walks on the sand. Quite a cool and amazing effect... =) The sea though is super cold at this time of the year, and even a quick dip in the sea is enough to numb your feet, and it's even bordering on the painful..

Our attempt at building a sandcastle , complete with moat and bridge

Which came to ruin when the sea came and washed it all away

Btw, what happens when you're in the bush and you have a sudden urge to relief yourself? The only option is to use the dunny. What's a dunny? Look at the picture below. That is a dunny. Innocuous and innocent looking enough. What it is however, is a toilet whereby there's no need for flushing or a sewerage line to carry waste away. Everything just drops straight through the hole in the toilet bowl and remains there... forever.

Left the next mornign to Mornington Peninsula to drop Kee Win off, and all the places we wanted to visit such as the chocolate and cheese factory, or strawberry picking, all weren't in seaason.

So next best attraction was the Cape Schanck lighthouse...

Could almost have been a scene from The OC

Journey home, stopped by this Korean BBQ place in Box Hill, Seoulia. All-you-can-eat buffet meant me ending up totally bloated. A good end to a trip that yielded picturesque scenery, a chance to catch up with friends, and an awesome time. =) =)

Here's a few more beautiful panaromic shots stitched together in Photoshop...

Holidays

2007-09-22T03:45:00.000+10:00

It's been exactly one week since the holidays have commenced. And what have i done thus far?? Basically, spent like the entire weekend working on my Computational Mechanics assignment. Spent at least 30 hours over the weekend rushing the assignment which was due Monday. Anyway, i put the final full stop to my assignment at 9.45am on Monday morning, printed it, and went to uni at 10am to play badminton, all without sleep the previous night. =)

Holidays so far has been all about sleeping and waking up late, playing poker, playing soccer, celebrating birthdays, watching movies, and going out a lot (which means spending a lot of money). Basically nothing very eventful. But somehow, i find that i'm always a lot busier during the holidays then during the semester. Also went rock climbing yesterday with MoMU ppl, and my upper body is all aching now. Rock climbing's fun, but can be difficult. When you're halfway up the wall, and your muscles are burning and they feel like giving way, and the next handhold is just beyond your fingertips, it takes some mental strength to actually decide to push on instead of just letting go. My lovely housemate Jo, surprised everyone by being capable of climbing to the top of all the walls she attempted. Mel also managed to climb well. I guess for once, being small, lightweight and lithe has its advantages.

Okay, i'm off to Wilsons Prom for the next 3 days. I have to wake up in 3 hours time, and i still haven't packed. =(

On another note, Melissa Yow, the obsessive online shopper pointed me to this website www.dealextreme.com. I'm really amazed by how cheap some of the things are, and for a short while they're offering free shipping. Try not to want to buy seemingly everything listed there!!

Stuck in a lift...

2007-09-16T04:43:00.000+10:00

My first experience being stuck in a lift, and no unfortunately, it wasn't with a hot girl... =(

Here's the story. Kai and Chong Shen were at my place, working on an assignment due Monday, when Sabrina texted me asking if i could bring over my Taboo set to Heidi's place in QV 1 for their entertainment as they were leaving for their MLT (i.e. Melbourne Leadership Team) getaway holiday in Torquay tmrw morning.. So i happily obliged, and asked if Kai wanted to tag along just for fun. Big mistake!

On the way back from her place, we were marveling at how fast the elevator was traveling. So Kai being Kai, naturally had to start jumping up and down in the lift. Next thing i knew, the lift shuddered to a halt. After a brief moment of uncertainty, and frantic pressing at the buttons, we realised that we were indeed stuck!! Rang the emergency button, provided our name, location and lift number, and was assured that there would be a technician over in 20 mins. Fortunately, this is Australia and I shudder to think the outcome of this had happened back home. In Malaysia, at 2am in the morning, you can be assured that there'll be next to zero chance of being rescued expeditely.

Spent about 45 mins in the lift, as the technician took quite a while to figure out what was wrong (or maybe he was just punishing us for spoiling the lift). So what did we do to while away the time? I had a few rounds of Taboo with Sabrina over the phone, albeit over a bad line (though i'm surprised i managed to actually get reception in the lift), and Kai and I played Mini Golf on our phones using Bluetooth.

Anyway, moral of the story?? Never, never enter the same lift with Kai - unless of course you enjoy the novelty of being stuck in a lift. And this is not the first time either. Last year, somehow, even though he wasn't staying in IH, on one of his visits back he contrived to place balloons between the closing doors, hence entrapping himself. One of the most destructive boys i know, well, maybe apart from Kenny! haha.

I have fans..?

2007-09-14T14:50:00.000+10:00

Recent MSN chat with a friend...
Made my day. Apparently, there are perks that come with the job... =) =)

I should learn Mandarin...

2007-09-10T02:12:00.000+10:00

Kevin Rudd addressing the Chinese president, Hu Jintao, during the recently concluded APEC conference. His mastery of the Mandarin language and virtuosity impressing the large Chinise delegation present in the audience. It can only bode well for Kevin Rudd, who's widely tipped to become the next Prime Minister of Australia.

Now, if only i could speak Mandarin that well. At least, more than my basic repertoire of 1-10. =(

MoMU Merdeka Kenduri

2007-09-04T18:11:00.000+10:00

My emceeing experience - mispronouncing lots of words, talking too fast, and saying the wrong things. I even managed to blurt out things like "we're going to draw the lucky prizes!" Imagine that, the prize can actually be lucky?? haha. There were a few other bloopers that i've already forgotten. Fortunately, ppl seemed to miss my blunders, and i think i improved as the night went on. In hindsight, maybe i should have prepared more since almost everything i said was unscripted. Credit though to my fellow emcee, Michelle, who naturally has the gift of talking.. =P

I think overall, the night went well. Considering we had only sold like 40 tickets with less than a week to go, and we were afraid we couldn't get the numbers. But trust Malaysians to be last minute as usual, and we ended up having to expand the capacity just the day before to accommodate 170 ppl. Good food, good entertainment, and a nice last event for the outgoing committee. Anyway, here's deluge of photos of from the night as well as photos of all of us posing and cam-whoring. =P

[P.s. Check out my new eye-candy. Allow the page to finish loading, click any photo, and an overlay of a higher resolution photo will appear. Mouse over at the top left/right and click to go to the previous/next photo. Alternatively, press the left/right keyboard buttons =)]

For those who missed out (due to it being too expensive amongst the many excuses!), here are some of the performances during the night:

Skit: "Malaysian History as MoMU Sees It"

The girls' tealight dance to "Belaian Jiwa". During one of the practice sessions, as we didn't get any actual footage on that night. Pardon Roz's screaming at the end when hot wax fell on her.. =P

Melissa Seow's rendition of "Bukan Cinta Biasa" by Siti Nurhaliza.

Athina singing "It's Alright" by Penny Tai.

Our much vaunted and talked about boyband dance. I think almost everyone has by now heard about it or even seen the video. Considering most of us can't dance for nuts, i guess it turned out quite well. And if the peals of laughter and requests for an encore are any indication, it might even have been better than we thought it would be when we grudgingly went about the task of figuring out a dance a couple of weeks ago. If anything, at least it managed to brighten up Heidi's day, so much so that you've been posting it all over the place eh?? =P. Anyway, here it is again...

For those wanting a closer view and a different angle,

Sheryl lending her lovely vocals to the song "Fly Away" by Fish Leong.

Closing act: Michael Jackson's "Thriller"

Busy weekend

2007-08-28T03:45:00.001+10:00

CSS Ball
Thursday night marked the time i decided to abandon all notions of being an engineer to join the Commerce students (and my, are there MANY of them!) at their ball. Nothing too exciting happened, but it was fun. I'll post ball pictures sometime soon.

MoMU Elections
One year in the committee has just flown by. I remember last year just after the MoMU ball, the club was still in it's infancy and newly formed, and i was told that the post of Liasons Director was so far uncontested. At that time i simply thought what a good opportunity to join a club and participate in things non IH related. Turned out a Mr. Jerome ran for the post on that day, and suffice to say, he won, prob due to me never showing up for any event prior to that. In hindsight, I'm kinda glad for that - going around canvassing for sponsors just isn't my cup of tea. =P Nevertheless, I still ran for the post of General Rep. against 10 other ppl for just 3 positions if my memory serves me correct, and won. In the ensuing year, i had fun participating and helping organise the various activities that MoMU had to offer (which is a lot, compared to all the other national societies).

I'm glad for the opportunity to contribute to the club as part of it's founding committee, and to help in bringing it to where is currently is from a fledging startup just not too long ago. I've learned many things along the way. A certain family member of mine (who shall not be named =P) always sees me busy with all my extra-curricular activities (which includes AIESEC) and constantly questions my motivation and the reason i would waste my time doing such things without pay (he's too money minded! haha). I guess i could have invested the many hours i've spent doing other things. But if i could do it again i would. There's just so much one can learn in terms of taking responsibility, making decisions, liaising and communicating with people, and stepping up. I guess I've grown a lot from the shy, timid person i once was (hard to believe? i dunno. haha), but i believe there's still lots of potential for growth.

It is also through MoMU that i managed to catch up with Cempakans with whom I'd lost touch during my first few years here, Mel, Erwin, and Su Vyn. You guys are great as friends, and for being the visionaries who started the club. Thanx for everything and for pulling me into MoMU. =)=)

So, it is with great regret, remorse, sorrow, sadness, grief, reluctance, and compunction (okay, i Shift+F7'ed all of that in Word =P) that i bid adieu! Okay, maybe not - the upside it that I'll be a lot freer next week onwards.. =) And to my 2 housemates who's thinking of joining, why not give it a shot...

Commerce Students Graduation
Sacrificed my sleep in time on a Saturday morning just to take photos with the many Commerce students who were graduating. Steph, Lyn, Jason, Yvonne, Claire, amongst others. With just 3 hours of sleep the previous night it's a surprise i managed to pull myself out of bed. Anyway, the weather that morning decided to share in the joy of the ocassion to create the perfect day for the graduates. The morning sun was shining brightly, and the temperature actually wasn't too cold - kinda dispelling any notion that we're actually still in the midst of winter. Stood around for a while. Smiled. Took some photos. And that was that.

A foretaste of what I'll be facing in the not too distant future. Not that I'm dreading graduation or facing the working world, but I'm enjoying myself so much now that i don't want uni life to end...!! =(

AIESEC Elections
Left Uni once everyone had to go into the hall when the cermony was about to commence. Went straight to RMIT Business School to attend the AIESEC elections. Congrats to Heidi who's now State Manager of Victoria, and Jing who shall provide the vision, drive, and leadership to our LC for the coming year. All i can say after listening to hours of speeches and Q & A sessions is that any of the candidates could realistically have been LCP. It's really a difficult decision having to choose just one, but i guess it's a good dilemma to have and it reflects the quality and caliber of our leadership team, having to choose from such good talent. One could see that each candidate really wanted to win, each really had the passion and ambition to take the leadership. But there can only be one winner, and ultimately taking all things into consideration I'm sure the one chosen was done in the best interest of the LC. All i can hope for is that the ones who didn't win keep their spirits up and not be too devastated, as opportunities will always arise.

Btw, AIESEC has many "unique" traditions, and amongst them, is the way in which the candidates are informed of the winner. The outgoing Presidents stands over the candidates with a bucket of water; and the ones who gets drenched - goes home wet, but happy.

I was supposed to go plat soccer in the afternoon, but glad i decided to go home to sleep, otherwise i would have just collapsed in exhaustion and slept at the play. aha.

IH Play
Every amongst the many plethora of events and activities that goes in IH, the yearly play is one of them. This year's play was a musical entitled 'The Goodbye Girl'. It follows the story of an ex-dancer who's sick of watching men walking out on her over the years. In between struggling to make a living and raising her young daughter, she encounters a stranger whom circumstances dictate they share the same roof. As with all good stories, there can onlybe one (happy) ending, and the musical follows the unraveling love story.

All i have to say is that this play surpassed all expectations. For a student production which was put together in under 4 weeks, they have really impressed. I say it was $12 well spent. The lead cast were amazing. Dhivia's voice and stage presence was something that struck me since Music Night last year and again she delivered. Also, a commendable mention to Jeannie and Veron for providing the comedy relief and causing all of us (especially AIESECers) to roar in laughter at your performance. hehe =P

Footie match
Who would believe that after 3 years in the land down under, i have NEVER watched a single game of footy. For a nation so obsessed by this national pastime it is only fair that i at least went to a single match. So, at the persuasion of CC, i made my maiden journey to Telstra Dome with Ken, Jeannie, 24, and Kee Hong to watch the game between Western Bulldogs and Hawthorns. Honestly, i know next to nothing about footy. I know all the basics such as the scoring and rules, but anything more complicated than that and I'm lost.

The Western Bulldogs were the quickest out of the blocks, amassing a huge lead over Hawthorns, but what's different about this game unlike in soccer is that even if you're leading by a huge margin, things can suddenly turn against you. Which was precisely what Hawthorn did, with a total demolishing of the opponents after halftime. It was a goal fest in the last quarter with the ball virtually moving from centre circle to goal in a continous cycle. Final score: 151-67 to Hawthorns. Good first experience, but 3 hours for a sporting match can sometimes seem a little too long.

I guess what struck me was the messiness of the game. At almost any instance in time there will be a couple of men in yellow or black running on and off the field to make substitutions or hand out water bottles respectively. Given that there are already 36 players on the field and 7 umpires in total (i think), one can sometimes lose track of what's happening. But overall, i think footy's a nice game, it can be enjoyable and fun to watch. Though for me, it's definitely not as fun as soccer. =)

Merdeka Celebrations

2007-08-23T03:06:00.000+10:00

Okay, here's a bit of shameless promotion from me. As you all know, our beloved tanah air will be celebrating it's 50th birthday this month. In that respect, The Malaysians of Melbourne Uni (MoMU) society will be celebrating the golden anniversary of Malaysia's independence from British colonialism with a bang. First up, there would be a clubbing countdown on Thursday, 30th August, at Shamiana. There would be specialty blends of Merdaka cocktails, and awesome DJs for you to dance the night away. And don't get too wasted or over-exert yourself, because to commemorate the actual day itself (i.e. on 31st August), we offer you the chance to indulge in Malaysia's favourite pastime - i.e. eating. So come along to Arrows on Swanston for the opportunity to sample and gorge yourself silly on a wide range of Malaysian offerings. Beef rendang, curry ayam, nasi goreng, mee goreng, satay, bubur cha cha, just to name a few of the scrumptious ad delectable items slated for the menu. It might not live up to the $3 plate of mee goreng in your local mamak stall back home, but it comes close enough. And that's not all, as there'll be performances, and prizes to be won as well. So, hopefully that bit of marketing from me has piqued your interest, whetted your appetitive and gotten your saliva glands working overtime. Who ever's interested, let me know soon (click the posters below, or check out this Facebook event for more details). The saying "the early bird catches the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese" certainly doesn't apply here. Hope to see everyone there. !! =)

[Update: there's been more yummilicious additions to the menu - currypuffs, roti canai, sambal ikan bilis, and cendol, not to mention the grand prize of the lucky draw which would be a trip to Adelaide! so yeah, more reasons to come. And as an added attraction (or maybe not?), Kai, Chong Shen, and most of the committee will be dancing to 'Sexy Back' and Backstreet Boys (okay, i'll admit. I'm in it too). And I'll be emceeing on the night!]

In another bout of promotion, I've been asked by my friend to promote this website - Malaysia Book Exchange. It's basically an online market place to exchange all sorts of new and second-hand books without having to pay exorbitant retail prices. There's not too many listings as the website's still in it's infancy, but it's bound to grow in the near future, and i see lots of potential, so check it out.

In other news, the Commerce Ball is tmrw night, and i'm not hyped / excited, maybe coz i haven't had time to think about it at all. Whereas ppl like Damien has gone shirt shopping numerous times in preparation for the Ball, and the girls have been deliberating over which dress to wear, i think i'm just gonna throw on a suit and turn up. I guess i should be more excited about it, considering it is probably gonna be my last Ball (at least as a student), and i should take the opportunity to relish in the company of all my friends. sigh. It still hasn't hit me that I'll be graduating in a few months. Not looking forward to growing up so soon and facing the working world. I'll see everyone there tmrw..!!

Paintballing

2007-08-17T01:25:00.000+10:00

Some photos from MoMU Paintballing last Sunday.

Overalls to protect against paint splatter.

Cam-whoring

More cam-whoring

Learning how to use the marker (i.e. the gun) and adhering to all the safety rules.

Combatants in action

And learning how to hide

In full battle gear - only the first field and i already received many (painful) direct hits

Who's shoe is a dirty shoe....

Justin, David, and Roger (apart from Jo) being sissies and getting chest protection - Gives them the Ninja Turtle look.

Battle scars (one of many) - which in time, it becomes a big bruise

Even head shots *ouch*

Su Ann looks like she ended worse off - though she still can afford a smile

Final group photo

Paintballing was a fun experience. Not exactly what i envisioned - which was playing paintball out in the open fields, hiding behind natural barriers, and rolling in the mud. But, had to make do with what was offered in this man-made terrain of the converted warehouse. Apparently, the one in Echuca offers an outdoor field, but alas that's way too far away.

In hindsight, perhaps it's a good thing that it wasn't conducted out on a open field, as paintballing can be a very tiring activity. Having to constantly run, hide, duck, and sprint from one hiding place to another to minimise your exposure time. Add to that having to carry the markers (i.e. the guns), which are heavy due to the attached compressed gas canister. And it doesn't help when ones vision is constantly being obscured by the heavy fogging up of the helmet. At the end when i was sacrificing myself, running into the middle of the field to pick up the stuffed animals (becoz that's the aim of the game), ppl who still had tons of paintballs left were unreservedly peppering anything in sight that moved, as that was the last field of play. Not a pleasant experience at all.

Needless to say, paintballing is a very painful sport. I got shot numerous times, and i can attest to the fact that the human body's most sensitive areas are the arms, head, and inner thighs, though direct chest shots also hurt! Fortunately, i didn't get shot in the most sensitive place, as i didn't buy the protective cup, though there were a few close calls. Overall, it was an awesome and fun experience (albeit a painful one). =)

On another note, happy birthday to Steph (who's finally 21!) and Ying Yi. Hope you all had an awesome birthday.

I got a job!

2007-08-14T18:20:00.000+10:00

In Malaysia, that is. I knew Graduan Careers Fair was on last weekend, but i was too tired to actually attend the event on Saturday. Luckily, MoMU who has all the connections sent out another email detailing that they were still gonna be holding walk in interviews yesterday and today. So i simply rocked up after class today, totally unprepared and under-dressed (other ppl were wearing suits), and submitted my resume to a few companies.

Was interviewed first by Public Bank, and after some 15 minutes of conversation, the lady who was interviewing me said that she's prepared to give me a conditional job offer. Not too bad an outcome, considering i had no preconceptions of what to expect (i had hardly any knowledge about the banking industry), i wasn't exactly prepared for an interview, and i had 3+ hours sleep the night before (as i was working on my final year project presentation this morning). Anyway, the letter starts off:

Dear Mr. Chew,

CONFIRMATION OF OFFER OF EMPLOYMENT
Further to the interview you attended, we are pleased to confirm our offer of employment for the position of Trainee Credit Analyst to be based in the Klang Valley region. We will advise you of your branch in due course.

You shall receive an initial basic salary of RM2,200-00 per months. Your employment with the Bank will however be subject to the following:
etc
etc...

Haha, a credit analyst - after studying 4 years of engineering. Well, at least I get to approve your loans. haha. And RM2200? Not that fantastic, but i guess that's standard fare; and she did mention that since it's a graduate program, there will be an increase of between RM100-400 in renumeration every 6 months, for the duration of the 18 month program.

Next, went for an interview with OCBC Bank, and the guy was very straigforward, saying that "we are definitely interested in taking you, but considering that you already are a PR, I have doubts about whether you really are interested in working for us." Valid point i guess, but I'm just exploring my options, and anyways, they'll be giving me a 2nd interview.

Last interview was with Perodua. 5 mins in, and i already losing interest and felt like leaving. 3 Malay dudes (no offence for racial stereotyping), trying to interview me, not really sure of what to ask, asking each other if they had any questions for me. And there was this one guy who asked me about 5 times to go and play the piano nearby just coz he saw that i had Grade 7 certification. And he was excited about me joining their Perodua band, more than anything else. Quite a joke. Typical Malaysian company, flying 3 ppl all the way to Melbourne just to play around.

It was an interesting process, sitting for my first interview. But that's what i like about Malaysian interviews. The interviews are very conversational and easy going, as opposed to Australian interviews where they bombard you non-stop with difficult questions. Anyway, now's the time for me to start looking for jobs in Australia - someone keep reminding me to do so. I'm too slack! =P

Swamped

2007-08-12T22:50:00.000+10:00

With LOTS of work. Juggling between creating the AIESEC newsletter (and having to chase ppl up for articles), MoMU's Merdeka night celebration, replying numerous emails every day (mostly AIESEC related), designing our final year project, with a presentation on it this Tuesday, not to mention preparing for my Strategic Marketing presentation the following week as well thinking of what to present during LCM, and organising parties - and they are all pressing matters which require constant attention! It's kinda stressful coz there's always something at that back of your mind that you know needs to be done, but it's always fulfilling to do something well. =)

And somehow, i still find the time to watch football and go Paintballing. Sigh.

The blue marble by night

2007-08-09T15:31:00.000+10:00

Something interesting i chanced upon whilst surfing online. This is what the Earth looks like at night (click on the photo to view a larger photo). Man-made lights highlight the populated areas of the Earth's surface.

What's interesting is if you have a look at Korea, you can see the sprawling lights of neighbouring China, Japan, and South Korea. But have a close look at North Korea, and all that's there is a vast space of empty darkness. That's what years of sanctions imposed on North Korea have done. Here's a clearer picture.

CSS Ball Tickets Line Up

2007-08-06T03:25:00.001+10:00

So, apparently the Commerce Students Society Ball is so in demand that it requires a 24 hour wait in line just to ensure that tickets will be available when the doors open at 9am tmrw. Kee hong and Daniel, being ever so efficient got there at 8am this morning, hence obtaining the second (okay, maybe first) spot in the line. It's crazy i tell you. 800 ball tickets available [edit: i think its actually 1140 tix], and ppl who arrived at 11am had to be turned away / put on the waiting list. It better be good, considering one has to cough up $100!

Anyway, i popped by just now for a few hours to join in the (fun?) of waiting in line. It's amazing seeing the line of people snaking right around the Commerce building. But people were resourceful. Many brought mini tables and chairs and sleeping bags. There was even someone who pitched a tent! It was kinda a festive atmosphere with music blaring (quite loudly!) in the background, and ppl reading, chatting, or playing poker and drinking. At least the organisers thought of our welfare and sent a Dominos Pizza delivery guy every few hours to hand out free pizzas. Though why they didn't make toilets available is beyond me.

And what do we do to while away the time?? Tried to go through some of my readings, to no avail, so we played cards

and posed for photos

Oh, and did Damien give an indication as to which way he swings? You be the judge. =P

To Daniel and Damien who's camping out there tonight, hope it's not too cold you're enjoying yourself. haha. I would have joined too if only you had told me earlier so that i could bring my sleeping bag and books. Seems like a fun thing to do. Could have just woken up the next morning and trotted off 20 feet to class. =)

But anyway, i abandoned and left those 2 to their own devices, and came back to watch the Community Shield between Man Utd and Chelsea. Final score 1-1, with Man Utd winning on penalties - van der Sar proving to be the hero, saving all 3 of Chelsea's spot kicks. One more trophy to add to the trophy cabinet, nicely flanking the Premiership trophy won last season. As the Community Shield always heralds the start of a new footballing season, this means there'll be a football match to look forward to every weekend. Exciting times.

Learn Chinese in 5 Minutes

2007-08-01T17:14:00.001+10:00

I found this funny.

Go-karting

2007-07-30T16:36:00.000+10:00

Went to go-karting on Sunday at Ace Kart somewhere in Sunshine with AIESECers. It's only the second time i've been go-karting apart from the other time in Malaysia, and it is extremely fun, despite the fact that i couldn't come to terms with the concept of using both feet to drive. Left foot to brake. Right foot to accelerate. And don't use both at the same time. Which unfortunately, is something i accidentally did a couple of times, hence causing me to go into an uncontrollable spin. It's a concept that still befuddles me.

We had lunch at Laksa King on the way home, then off i went to play football in nearby Royal Park. 3 and a half hours of football, coupled with just 4 hours of sleep the previous night, meant that i came home and just collapsed in bed (after showering, or course =P). However, playing football in Australia is a breeze compared to playing in Malaysia. The cool temperatures and low humidity. You can play for hours at end and still not get that tired. In Malaysia, 10 mins, and i'll be panting and asking for a break. haha.

On another note, witnessed a spectacle along Swanston St last night. For those who haven't heard the news, Iraq, against all odds, against the backdrop of sectarian violence and frequent suicide bombings back home, managed to win the Asian Cup. After a nightmare run-up to the competition - whereby some players were detained for hours by Thai immigration officials, training equipment went missing, and 30 players having to stay in 7 rooms on arrival Kuala Lumpur, what the Iraqis have achieved is a huge achievement, to say the least. Well, as the FIFA president put it, football has the ability to unite people in the most desperate of circumstances. Unfortunately, even in this moment of joy, celebratory gunfire all over the country caused many fatalities and injuries due to falling bullets. Sigh. Iraqis. Why do they always have to have a weapon in hand.

Anyway, as i was saying, sometime after midnight yesterday i heard lots of noises outside. Wondering what was causing all the commotion i looked outside my window towards Swanston St, and saw a long line of cars, honking and stopping in the middle of the road with total disregard for traffic rules. One could see elated supporters waving the red, white, and black of the Iraqi flag, and people dancing on the streets. Hopefully, this proud sporting moment in Iraqi history will prove to be not just a reprieve from the daily infighting, but will provide a beacon of hope in a nation divided by war.

Conference Photos

2007-07-28T00:29:00.000+10:00

Well, it took me almost 2 weeks to post photos from conference. It's just been about a month since i started this blog, and feel like I'm already starting to neglect this fledging blog. Blogging during holidays seemed fun, now it's becoming more of a chore. haha. But better late than never i guess. I've been busy with doing Momu and AIESEC stuff, planning birthdays, not to mention working on my final year project of which we just had to hand in a progress report today. Coupled with uni classes, which I'm already falling behind in. It's tiring and hectic, but it's kinda fun. You feel a sense of satisfaction, accomplishment and being useful. =)

Anyway, a random collage of pictures from the AIESEC conference (which includes some very bad pictures of me).

Some videos.

Here's a video of one of the many line dances that we dance to during conference to keep us awake, and to raise our energy levels. This was just an example of the Member Committee showing us the dance. But normally, all 200+ of us would be dancing at once. I like this song, it's cute.

Chanting, which is similar to IH culture. We have chants for almost everything. Our own local committe, our state, our state and national managers, etc.

A compiled video of many conference photos thanx to Tristan.

On another note, I went for dinner and desserts last Monday with a few Queenslanders Shuwen was billeting. After dinner we went for dessert in Medallion, the Greek place on Lonsdale. First time I've actually been there, let alone try Greek desserts, and i have to say, it's quite nice.

My favourite is the Baklava (the triangle looking thingy). Extremely sweet, but scrumptious.

Birthdays

2007-07-24T19:10:00.000+10:00

Happy birthday to Omega who turns 22 today. Hope you had a fun birthday. Well, with you being thrown in the bathtub and getting water poured on you how could u not?? =P haha. Haven't known you for long, but thanx for being a wonderful friend who masquerades as an extremely loud, talkative girl who likes to insult and bully me, but is actually a sweet and pleasant girl, who has a big heart (haha. some would find it hard to believe, but i've seen that side of you =)).

Wielding the 'knife' very menacingly

Water ambush

Also, happy (belated) birthday Mr. Ng Kee Win. Someone's getting older by the day. hehe. nvm. I'm sure with age, you'll become wiser and smarter (hopefully). =) Good luck with your exam results. And though it's back to work for you, i'm sure you'll use the opportunity to impress your colleagues and superiors (as you always do). I was looking for photos of you, and in one folder entitled 'Kee Win Camera Day,' there were hundreds of your photos (remember that? =P haha) Anyways, chose the following photos, in accordance with the spirit of you always having to look nice in photos. =)

p.s. you're getting old. don't cam-whore so much. =P

p.p.s. I'll upload conference pictures "soon". Been very busy lately.. =(

3 years in Melbourne

2007-07-17T23:20:00.000+10:00

I was talking to Steph and Claire,
And we realised that its been 3 years,
To the day, since we arrived in Melbourne.
Time flies.

Conference Reflection

2007-07-15T03:20:00.000+10:00

So, I’m back from the AIESEC national conference. The past 10 days has been an exciting time of massive sleep deprivation, with around 4-6 hours sleep every night. Surprisingly, my body has been able to cope. I'm a person who needs the recommended 8 hours of sleep a day, so I’ve even surprised myself by being able to operate on so little sleep. But I guess the lack of sleep has had an adverse effect on my immune system. I'm falling sick! Nvm, just had a marathon 15 hours sleep catch up last night. I've never slept so much before. haha. Hopefully, that'll put me back on the path to recovery.

Anyway, I know that a lot of ppl haven’t heard of AIESEC. I know most of my friends heard about AIESEC for the first time when I mentioned it. So, what is this thing called AIESEC? Well, AIESEC is the largest student organisation in world and their main goal is to ‘provide an international platform for young people to discover and develop their full potential so as to have a positive impact on society.' The AIESEC network includes 23,000 students in 100 countries in over 1100 universities across the globe. It holds such prestige and powerful sway over international organisations like the United Nations that AIESEC representatives are invited to the United Nations to give their views. Many country presidents, CEOs of large corporations, and political leaders are AIESEC alumni, which gives credence to its ability to develop leaders. Honestly, I'm surprised that AIESEC isn't widely known in Australia, even though it's massive in other countries. This is a great pity, as I’ve been really impressed with what AIESEC has to offer. Just judging from the caliber of delegates at the conference, one can see that so many of them are confident, eloquent, friendly, and leaders in their own right.

There are many weird things that occurs during conferences: random chants and roll calls every morning (whereby every local AIESEC committee, state manager, and member committee has a chant/song just to verify that they are present – this alone takes 30 mins), line dancing (whereby at certain times throughout the day, all 230 delegates stand up and start dancing to songs just to get our energy levels up again), sledging (which is just a summary of all the shenanigans, hookups, and scandals that occurred the previous night), partying, random punishments (if you lose your name tag – I had mine stolen twice!), beer skulling (which is serious enough that rules for it are written in the constitution), and having to speak and decipher many acronyms. I guess these are reasons enough for some ppl to call it a cult! Haha. At least, it’s not as big of a shock to me as I’ve experienced some of these traditions at IH. But I guess these are all part of the rich culture, history and tradition that's part and parcel of what defines AIESEC as an organisation. It kinda makes everyone feel like one big family. Imagine going to say, an International Congress in Turkey, and being to dance to the same line dance, it just does so much to make one feel at home.

Anyway, my take on past week and a half. Honestly, prior to the conference, i wasn't exactly looking forward to going for it. I mean, I struggle to even wake up for classes, and now I had to wake up at 8am in the morning and only get to go home at 1-2am in the morning. I wasn't looking forward to having to meet many new ppl, having to be polite, smile and introduce yourself countless times, having to remember names. I wasn't looking forward to having to sit down and listen to seminars and speeches for hours at end. And I'm not a big fan of writing down your goals on a piece of paper, or what u want to have achieved in 10 years, what your aspirations are, etc. I’ve always thought that it’s utter bullshit how merely writing down your goals on a paper can help you achieve them. For me, I don’t really learn much from all the theoretical stuff that is presented. I mean, telling someone that you need this quality, or that quality, logically isn’t going to do much.

100+ hours later over the past week of having been cooped up at St. Mary's, and i will admit that i'm extremely glad that i did attend conference. I’ve made some friends, so much so that I’ve been added on Facebook literally the next day, and I’ve learned so much more about AIESEC during the week compared to the rest of the year. So much happened during the week that it's impossible to explain everything in detail. But i'll list the salient points of things that i've learned and taken away from the conference.

I didn't particularly have a sudden eureka moment from any one of the sessions, or from an explicit lesson taught at the conference, but a combination of just absorbing everything that's going on around you, interacting with ppl, and paying (sometimes partial) attention to whoever is speaking, and just feeling the overall vibe, has really encouraged me to pursue my dreams, to achieve the impossible, and to step out of my comfort zone.

The theme of the conference was ‘Momentum’, which is the driving force that causes an object to continue moving. The message contained being that we need to pick ourselves up, and challenge ourselves to achieve the impossible, to have a goal and vision, to have the drive and initiative to attain something, to not be contended with where we currently are, and when we take steps to actually achieve what we want, the momentum will constantly keep us going. It is the first step that is always most difficult.

One important point that resounded with me is the challenge to ‘step out of your comfort zone.’ Most ppl would agree that I’ve always been a pretty laid back and easy going person. Some describe me as always smiling. And that’s true, as I’m not really much of a worrier (which might not be such a good thing), it takes quite a lot for me to get angry, and I’m always happy with everything. But what I learned was that it is only when you step out of your comfort zone, when you take risks, and take a leap into the unknown – it is only then when you’ll grow. True, it may be extremely difficult, but it is only then when you learn to overcome your fears, and to discover your personal limits and boundaries.

Another thing which struck me was the impact of a leader. Leadership only brings you so far. If power and wealth goes to ones head, being a leader in a high up position making bad decisions and giving out detrimental orders would be a bad thing. I guess that's why AIESEC constantly reiterates the concept of creating a 'positive change agent', as opposed to merely a leader. A positive agent would in the corporate world exhibit qualities of corporate social responsibility, something which unfortunately is totally lacking in today's society.

During the conference, a poignant moment for me occurred during the transition of leadership. People who have dedicated the entire past year to work full time in AIESEC, and having to give it up and move on. In their farewell and reflection speech they described their experiences, the things they’ve learned over the past year, and some said that they didn’t know how they were gonna handle moving on from AIESEC, which has been such an integral part of their lives during the past few years. Emotions were evident, tears flowed, and it was very touching. It kinda inspires you to also try to achieve what they have achieved, knowing that the hard work and sacrifice will pay off in the end. Also, during the last day of conference, when everyone just stood in a circle, and random ppl started speaking up and thanking someone who had made an impact in their lives, some over a period of time, others just in the one week that they’ve met them. And ppl were crying just with the magnitude of what someone else has done for them. I’m really not much of an emotional person, but just then, I was really so moved and touched.

I personally believe that AIESEC provides a wonderful platform for any student to prepare themselves for the real world, to develop themselves personally, to gain some leadership skills along the way, and to maybe even embark on an exhange program to a foreign country. I have no idea what next year holds for me, and I wouldn’t discount the possibility of going on an exchange (just maybe, to China? =P) And i'm regretting that I'll only have a few more months in AIESEC and wouldn't have time to gain the full experience. I wish I had joined in first year. Thanx to Veron though for pulling me into AIESEC though, and i would encourage anyone else who has still has time in uni to give it a try next year. You never know how much you might like it.

Anyway, I'll post pictures and videos in the near future.

AIESEC conference = MIA for the coming week

2007-07-09T12:20:00.000+10:00

The past few days have been filled with pre-conference events, but the real thing starts tmrw. Have a look at the agenda! 9am starts everyday listening to seminars and speakers for hours at end. It's probably worse than uni. Dreading the sleep deprivation that's likely to follow.

Besides, i'm not staying in St Mary's College, as all interstate delegates are (saves me $100 =)), so that means having to wake up at 8.30am everyday, and reaching uni before 9am. What happens if anyone's late? One word - punishment! Take the following example. Guy girl alrternating upside down. Coin on stomach. Guy / girl has to roll over to the next person in such a way that the coin passes to the other person's stomach w/o dropping to the floor. End result - dodgy poses. haha..

And take a look at the Delegates Handbook for anyone so inclined. Party themes include Greed, The Jerry Springer Show, Karaoke, etc. How random and impossibly hard to dress up for. Okay, let's see how St. Mary's College food fares compared to IH.

Anyway, in accordance with how little time i'm gonna have from now on, there prob wouldn't be any updates for a week.. =P

7/7/7

2007-07-08T12:21:00.000+10:00

So today's the 7th day of the 7th month of the 7th year. Not of particular significance to me, though ppl around the world have been going crazy with mass marriages, not to mention enforced childbirths with C-sections and induced labour. Wait till 8/8/08 and we'll see all the 1.4 billion Chinese in the world going crazy. haha..

Anyway, found this random video showing a real life robot car transforming into a walking biped. Maybe in 100 years time this might evolve to something on the scale of Optimus Prime or Bumblebee. Just maybe. =)

Btw, today was Proctor and Gamble Developing Leaders Day, which consisted of forums and workshops conducted by recognised and respected speakers and leading corporate figures earning multi-million dollar salaries from various industries. And now for some viral marketing, check out this website: TheRealRoom.com, which is an offshoot of its parent company, Shift International. The site isn't up and operating yet, but it's supposed to provide advice and avenues in which to pursue courses / seminars that's supposed to help u face the real world. It'll focus not so much on basic stuff like resume writing, etc., but more so on leadership advice.

Also, Global Village is on tomorrow, starting at 10.30am. Everyone's welcome to attend. There would be a couple of workshops and discussion forums based around the theme of multiculturalism. There'll be stalls, musical performances, and cultural trade stalls. And, if all this still fails convince you, there's always the attraction of free food!

Phillip Island Trip

2007-07-06T22:35:00.000+10:00

I've been extremely busy the past 2 days since the commencement of the AIESEC national conference. I had the Star Sellers Seminar followed by the Gala Opening Night at Melb Town Hall yesterday, and the Youth Impact Seminar & Partner's Fair held today. 9 am starts everyday coupled with just 3.5 hours and 6.5 hours sleep the past 2 days respectively, means that i'm super sleepy and tired now.

Anyway, I'll quickly post some pictures from my trip to Phillip Island trip on Tuesday. The last time i've been to Phillip Island was exactly 3 years ago, and everything looks the same as before (not that i expected it to change). I can even remember the same tree even where i posed for a photo previously. haha. Our itinerary for the day included a stop at a tiny chocolate factory, followed by a visit to the nearby Churchill Island. After lunch, we stopped by A Maze n' Things and had fun in Puzzle Island, though the maze was pretty mediocre. Headed to the Nobbies to watch the sunset, but the roads were barricaded halfway there due to penguins coming ashore and the fear that we might run them over.

Or, click on the slideshow below to view more photos.

Btw, here's a video of my falling down the giant slide in Puzzle Island. Though the drop somehow doesn't look that high in the video, i can assure you that it's indeed a relatively high freefall. Mind you, it takes some courage once you're hanging there to actually let go.

So, since we had the car for the day we thought that we might as well make full use of our mobility, so we went to Box Hill for dinner in Kayu Nasi Kandar, only to discover that it's closed down with a sign advertising its sale. Went to some Taiwanese Restaurant instead. After that, went to neighbouring Doncaster for desert at the 24 hour Pancake Parlour. We ordered a few items and shared. The highlight was this crepe called Russian Blintz. Cream cheese with sultanas, icing sugar, and ice cream. Really delicious! Though at $20 its more than a tad expensive.

Poker @ Crown

2007-07-04T02:18:00.000+10:00

Yesterday, was the first time i played at the poker tables in Crown Casino as i was told by Ralph that Crown's been offering free entry Poker Tournaments on Monday nights. Called Damien and 24 to come along too, but they didn't manage to sign up as they came later and there were already too many ppl waiting on the reserve list. Suffice to say, i didn't even make it to the final rounds. First hand i was dealt was a 6 and 7 but i folded, with a few ppl calling all ins. Table cards were something like 6 6 A 7 3. Would have gotten a full house, but that's how things are. Folded the next few hands and called an all in with a K Q. Well, needless to say, i lost, but it was a good experience nonetheless.

Anyway, a Happy Birthday wish goes out to Mei Chin, one of the few ppl i know in my course. Got to know this girl properly last year from tramming to/from uni together (coz we're always late =p). I can always count on you to entertain me and keep me awake in boring lectures with all your silly nonsense. Disturbing me in class, drawing on my hand, playing games and not concentrating on the lecture, embarrassing yourself by doing stupid things, etc. haha. But i also appreciate your help with assignments, and motivating me to do work, not to mention random chats about almost anything. Really glad to have u as a friend. Hope you had an awesome birthday!

On another note, i went to Phillip Island today, but i'll update soon when i get the photos. Had 4 hours sleep last night. Time for bed.

Sunday Outing

2007-07-02T03:50:00.000+10:00

Woke up at 9am (the earliest I've ever woken up the past month), to go to the Camberwell Sunday Market. Basically, this market is like a huge garage sale, with every conceivable item being sold there. Antiques, collectibles, clothing, 2nd hand goods, furniture, random toys & trinkets, old books, coins, sewing machines, gramophone records(!), it's all there. Really not my kind of thing though (something Jeannie would prob appreciate), so i didn't find the market to be very interesting.

Oh, i did chance upon a very interesting book though among one of the boxes. Who remembers the children's book series, 'Where's Wally?' Well, someone very creative or perhaps in not so good taste created a spoof of the book entitled, "Where's bin Laden?' When i took this photo the seller commented, "Everyone is interested in this book, but no one wants to buy it." Hmm.. imagine buying this book for you kid. haha.
We had to quickly rush back at noon so that we could catch a bus to this yum cha restaurant called Tai Pan. Apparently, it is billed as one of the best yum cha places in Melbourne (supposedly even better than Shark Fin House). It's located in the suburb of Doncaster though, and the only means of getting there by public transport is a 30 min bus ride. I can't vouch for the claim of it being the best yum cha place, as i'm not fussy, and to me all decent food is palatable. hhaha. So yeah, don't ask me to be a critic and compare it to Shark Fin House, but suffice to say it was delicious and i left satiated with a very full stomach.

On the way back some of us decided to make full use of the Sunday Saver and went to Smith St as i was told that Nike was having a 40% sale. Unfortunately, only the back wall seemed to be on sale, and there was nothing on discount that was nice.

Transformers

2007-06-30T03:19:00.000+10:00

Just watched Transformers. It's a seriously a damn awesome movie. Though sometimes the storyline borders on the implausible, but with non-stop action throughout the 2 hour long show, and almost instantaneous robot CGI transformations, it's a real entertainer. Quirky, cute and robots with a funny sense of humour. Coupled with a hot chick to boot. Coolness rating: 11/10.

Oh, and when ppl start clapping at the end of the movie, it gives an indication of just how good the movie is...

p.s. The Making of the Transformers movie, for a behind the scenes look at the copious amount of computer graphics that had to be rendered and the level of effort involved in bringing this movie from comic book and cartoon to the silver screen.

can't think of a title

2007-06-29T21:49:00.000+10:00

So, yesterday i slept at 8am and had to wake up at 11am to go to uni to hand up my assignment. Subsequently, went to the engineering office to see a subject coordinator as i still haven't been paid for this semester's tutoring. He then asked me whether i was in my final year, and i replied in the affirmative. Continued to have a conversation with him regarding how the Melbourne Model would affect the structure of the course from next year onwards, and he detailed how there would be a revamp of the entire course structure. Anyway, as he was leaving he gave a parting statement, something to the effect of, "it's a pity you can't tutor next year as you were headhunted to help with the first year subjects!" Headhunted?!?! Quite a surprise, and totally unexpected, and i've no idea how anyone reached such a conclusion, but i guess i'm not complaining. Haha. Came back and slept for the better part of the day.

At night, went with Omega to have a sleepover in CS's house last night. Watched Ghost Rider, which was cool just for the sheer fact that one could recognise Melbourne landmarks in the movie, and the thriller The Number 23, which i thought was just plain boring.

In other news, who remembers this photo of Veron in this year's Commerce prospectus?

I remember she had this one small photo somewhere in the booklet, and she was waxing lyrical about it and was so overjoyed. Anyway, I had to help Joyce to the collect some AIESEC stuff from the Commerce office after our LC Conference Prep meeting, and saw a draft of next year's Commerce prospectus. And this dear girl's face was prominently plastered right across the FRONT cover. In full A4 sized glory. Imagine the horror of students applying next year upon seeing the cover!! hehe. okayla.. im joking.. At least now I can lay claim to knowing someone famous... =) sigh.. I can just forsee this girl is just gonna be so full of herself (i mean, more so than normal... =P hehe)!

Assignment headache

2007-06-28T01:00:00.001+10:00

$5 for a game of bowling at Strike Bowling Bar. Awesome. Played 2 games, best score - 5 spares, 1 strike for a total of 123. =)

After that had an AIESEC meeting first in Starbucks, with Heidi and Nirm, then adjourned to Heidi's apartment in QV1 for another meeting with the MLT. Nice apartment, with her bedroom having a wonderful view overlooking the city from the 26th floor. And she's paying the same rent as me. Lucky girl! Didn't join them for yet another meeting as they adjourned to Chong Qing Hot Pot. Lots of meetings, i know. I forsee the next couple of days and the end of the following week onwards occupied by AIESEC activities, especially as National Conference approaches. Anyway, I still haven't eaten at that restaurant, though I've heard a lot of stories about how spicy it is. Need to go there one day. Anyone up for it?

Oh, and a birthday shout out goes out to Ralph, who just turned 21! May you have a good year ahead and win lots of money at Crown! haha..

I like this photo. My artistic photo taking. =)

So anyway, who would believe that i still have an assignment due TOMORROW (actually, in 10 hours time)! And i've hardly started, which is so typical of me. If you're wondering why i still have an assignment due during the holidays it's because it was actually due during SWOT VAC, but due to the countless number of assignments we had due at the same time then, the lecturer gave everyone an extenstion. But me being typical me, i've neglected to do it during the past few days since exams ended. sigh.. guess im staying up late again tonight.....

Interesting links

2007-06-26T18:24:00.000+10:00

Okay, i know the last post was way too long. Here are some interesting links I've discovered on the web this time.

Click here for a surreal 3D experience of a barbershop. It's damn cool, but you need to be wearing headphones for this to work. [courtersy of Michelle]

This following video is of a 6 (repeat, SIX) year old girl impressing the judges (Simon Cowell included) in Britain's Got Talent with her amazing voice.

Or watch this video whenever you're sad or depressed. It'll never fail to cheer you up. Such a cute baby...![plagiarised from Erwin's blog]

And this fella's face is way too freaky.!

Post-exam activities

2007-06-26T04:11:00.000+10:00

Exams oficially ended one week ago, though it feels a lot longer than that. What have i done since then??

Monday
Stepped out of REB for my last exam of this semester, and realised that it was drizzling outside.. However, within a few minutes of standing outside in the cold waiting for friends, a beautiful rainbow appeared right over REB, spanning the entire sky. It was so clear and vibrant that you could literally almost see the mythical pot of gold at then end of the rainbow. But that wasn't the end, as shortly after, another rainbow appeared above the first rainbow, forming a double rainbow. It was really one of the nicest and fully formed double rainbow i've ever witnessed. Quickly took out my camera phone to capture the spectacle, but alas, a combination of my phone's poor quality and my bad photography skills didn't allow me to properly capture this fleeting moment.

I then proceeded to walk around the city with Sheanee and Joanna to find lunch, as we're the only ppl crazy enough not to eat/sleep before exams. Walked to Lygon St, only to discover that Ying Thai and another Thai restaurant opposite the street was closed. So we walked in a circle around the city and ended up deciding to go to this Korean restaurant along Victoria St, Han Guk Guan, but upon arrival realised that they too were closed on Mondays. We then tried Seoul House but they said that they weren't taking orders for another 20 mins, so as we were famished by then, we ended up eating in Stalactites. Came back and had a short nap, then later at night i had to go over to Kai's place to pass him something as he was leaving for Malaysia the next day.

Tuesday
Went to watch Ocean's Thirteen with CS, Omega, Ralph, and Chong Chyn (more commonly known as Ahma, so called due to her penchant for knitting!). In my opinion this third installment of the series proved to be quite a good movie, though a bit fake in terms of how every plan fell into place and how they had a contingency plan for every conceivable setback. Much better compared to Ocean's Twelve though. Ahma and I then went to Omega's place to cook dinner, and i have to admit Ahma's signature dish tasted quite good. She really can be a typical housewife next time and cook and bake and knit and even put up puppet shows for her children..! =P

Wednesday
I had lunch with Ahma and Omega courtesy of Chong Shen's (CS) wonderful cooking. Stayed and played poker and Wii for a while, before i had to leave for Bimbo's to have dinner with Jeannie, CC, Ken, Aaron, and Rahul, to celebrate Jeannie's last day of exams. For those who haven't discovered Bimbo's it an awesome pub in Brunswick St. which serves $4 (half priced) pizzas after 7pm. And they serve chocolate pizzas as well! We then went to San Churros for drinks and desert. yummm. =)

We then went to CC and Ken's apartment to play Bang! which is a pretty nice card game, save for the fact that it is sadistic. Coz i died, and later given false hope when i got revived, only to be instantly killed again. Came back at bout midnight, when Ahma msged me to say that they were playing games at her place. So off i went galavanting again.

Thursday
Went shopping in Smith St with Jeannie and CC. Didn't buy anything. But the clothes in Essential Men were generally quite nice (as pointed out by Jeannie). I might just go back there to do some shopping. As we had a dinner appointment with Veron to celebrate her end of exams as well, and we had some time to kill, we went to Chocolate Lounge in Spencer Street Station, which has pretty similar offerings to Max Brenner. We then went to Forefront Restaurant for dinner, and adjourned to my apartment to play card games for a while, before going to Barcode in Melb Central for a while to join in the IH end-of-exams party. It's pretty sad to realise that I feel so lost in an IH environement now whereas i used to feel so at home. There's too many freshers and new faces. =(

Friday
I was awoken at 12pm (relatively early for my standards =P) by Adelyn who invited me to go for Yum Cha at Shark Fin House. Went to Melb Central after that to buy 2 boxes of Krispy Kremes just to make use of the 'buy one dozen get another dozen free' voucher, thanx to Sheanee who pointed this out.

Steph came over in the afternoon bake, just so that she could make use of her Donna Hay recipe book. She made some delicious chocoloate chip biscuits. I thought this would be the perfect opportunity to actually bake something myself as i've always wanted to bake, just that i've always been too lazy. I actually bought the ingredients to make chocolate brownie during summer, but it was left sitting in the cupboard for 4 months. Finally put to good use the recipe 24 gave me, which makes awesome brownies. However, after baking it for some time the bottom still had not solidified, and i had to go out for dinner to Meshiya with Steph, Dada, Claire, and Maybelle. So i decided to leave the brownie to bake (on low heat), whilst i went out for dinner. Proved to be a mistake though as it turned the brownie rock hard. It tasted nice though, except for the horrible texture. Lesson learned!

Later in the night, as Cliffe's been thinking of organising a poker night i invited him and other ppl over. Played poker, mahjong, and other card games. Until at about 3am when almost everyone had gone home except for Erwin, Steph, and Cliffe, i decided to teach all of them how to play bridge. Big mistake, as Erwin was so hooked on the game that he didn't want to leave until 6am in the morning.

Saturday
Woke up late again as usual, and went to Melb Central with Steph and Claire to shop for birthday presents for Hui Li, and belated presents for Dada and Li Shan. Ended up in this very pink looking store called Peter Alexander and bought a desert cook book for Hui Li and pajamas for the other two.

Came back home and rested for a while before having to go to Hui Li's birthday party, which was held in the Uropa function room. It was good to see her after such a long time, and i've forgotten how funny she can be. Not to mention loud, talkative, and hyper as usual. It was a very fun party, not the typical birthday party but one where a lot of effort went into the planning. There were fun games throughout the night, and touching speeches given by her close friends which unfortunately i had to leave midway, as i had to go home to let AIESECers in as i promised Veron they could use my apartment for a Sing Star session.

It was a fun and noisy affair, with was notable for Raymond hogging the microphone and singing like he belongs on stage. Hopefully, we didn't disturb any of my neighbours, especially when everyone stood up and started singing and dancing to the song YMCA.

Proceeded to Damien's apartment after that for poker, which again meant me coming home at 5am in the morning.

Sunday

I went rock climbing with Ahma, Omega, CS, and Hwa Loong at Hardrock Climbing in Nunawading. A 30 min train ride followed by a short walk brought us to this cavernous place with 30 feet high rock walls on either side, with at least 20 climbing routes (much better than the rock climbing place in One Utama). Though the day was dampened by the onset of gastric after one physically exhausting climb, prob due to the fact that i only had a snack for lunch. =(

Not the most flattering picture

Came back home then went to Damien's place for pot luck. Stayed again until 5am talking and playing various card / board games thanx to Aaron who owns almost every nice board game there is to play. Bang! Munchkins, Guillotine, Taboo!, Mille Bornes, Pictionary, etc. Though, in my opinion Taboo! is still the nicest and most fun game.

Okays, that was one very, very long post, which sums up the past one week of my life. Pretty pointless i think, but as it's already written it shall be posted up. As Kai said, i write 'essays', which i realise takes too much effort. haha.. I shall try to write shorter posts next time.

Maiden Post

2007-06-23T03:20:00.000+10:00

So, I've finally decided to start a blog. What compelled me to do so? I guess I've always thought that blogging was never my thing, more the domain of those who like to rant, who are highly opinionated and who have a lot to say, none of which describes me. I've been too lazy to actually start a blog, merely contented with just commenting on other people's blogs, not to mention the fact that blogging is time consuming, and there is a pressure to constantly update. However, i guess blogging also has its merits, in that it enables friends whom I may not have seen a while to keep up with whats happening in my life. Besides, i think blogging promotes self reflection as properly typed out thoughts enables one to critically analyze what's going through their mind. It enables one to share interesting moments in life, to share a thought, photos, a funny video chanced upon online, or perhaps a thought provoking article.

A few people have suggested that i start a blog, which is why i shall endeavour to do so. After all, it is the holidays, and i supposedly should have a lot of free time (though i find that i've been going out a lot after exams were over. haha). Though, i guess blogging could become another form of procrastination, of which i am already quite the expert =(. Yeaps, so i guess now's the time to take the leap from merely commenting on people's blogs to actually start blogging!!
(we'll see how long this lasts... hahaa)