don't stop, never give up.

thanks for the encouragement bby!
this will tide me thru the remaining 2 weeks and i can't wait to have fun with you from 29th Nov!
I am looking forward to Wicked, visiting xmas deco all around Singapore, trying out new places to eat, visiting Tintin exhibition, Universal Studios again, Christmas & New Year's!
thanks for always being there, now and always. :))

close of year 2 sem 1

How time flies. My Sydney trip marks my first summer holiday, the end of my first year in University, and the beginning of my second year. and WHAM! I'm in the midst of study week. This sem is really too impossibly fast to believe!
Plenty has happened since then, but the looming one is just days away: my final exams.

As usual, brings back memories to exactly one year ago, when I was studying for my very first exam in University. In the first semesters, cores are assigned, so there isn't really much of a choice. But after a year here, your options are now more open. I'm happy to say I am only down to one core for this year, which I will be clearing in two weeks time! so that leaves the rest of the modules open for options. What's most important I feel, is the interest in the module.

After a year of lost orientation in which tracks to choose, it doesn't boil down to which module allows you to score, but whether you've taken something you really have interest in. I have chosen to go into the broadcast track, although personally I feel its something I cannot score in, but its the satisfaction of completing the project that gives you this extraordinary feeling that I cannot achieve from seeing an A on my degree audit.
This is especially the case for my third and final project in COM225 module, which is the first project that I've been so dedicated and determined, not to mention involved in the entire process from pre to post production. Having the most awesome groupmates with just the right dynamics was definitely the key. A was a very good director to work with, his precision and perfection for the composition and framing truly did justice to our idea, not to mention his chirpy self that really brought about positive energy to all our shoots. C was detailed in every aspect, and was always pushing us on and encouraging us! K was the start of a new friendship, since she was on exchange, and if not for this project, I don't think I would ever have the opportunity to get to know her.
I remember back to that evening at the benches, when we all proposed our individual ideas, and just like that, our random ideas sparked off into a true beauty, an idea that got all of us so excited to work on! Even though our shoot dragged on for 3 sleepless nights, the adrenaline rush from being able to see the final product just tided me through. It is an amazing experience, something which I never thought I'll ever experience this semester .truly the most memorable production to work on thus far.

Apart from that, I have finally decided to minor in Psychology. Even though i scored a B for my psych module last semester, which is truly enough to put anyone off from taking any future psych modules, I have decided to press on. Perhaps it is just my fascination with the whole subject itself, but being an arts student, with the mathematics and biology, we just don't see eye to eye, thus I know I will not be able to score in this. Nevertheless, it is something I would have gone into had I not gotten a place in WKW, so this is the only chance that I will ever have to study something of interest, and imma grab good hold of it!

The last thought that I have before this semester ends, is my final decision to take up a language module. Initially for my very first semester, my GPA shocked everyone and myself even, but last semester it took a really steep dip, and I am out of the playing field for high GPA score, so my priorities have switched to taking what I have interest in, and I had shunned the idea of language, because I know it is not my thing. Been there, tried that before, it just didn't work with me. But at least taking a module in school means I don't have to pay $99 to learn it at some community centre, and probably with the pressure of it being a school curriculum, i might even learn it better! So thanks to advice from K, I AM GOING TO TAKE LEVEL 1 SPANISH!
hola español!



Next sem also marks the temporary goodbye from NTU, and into the section of my uni life which I have been looking forward to the most- EXCHANGE!!!
Flying off to Houston on the 6th Jan 2012, and starting school at Texas Christian University on 15th Jan 2012! I hope the food's good, people are nice, lessons are fun and traveling experiences are aplenty, and I really really do hope i do not overspend before I return in June.


The countdown to finals are exactly 6 days away, and my last paper is on the 29th! I hope time flies by, and before I know it, I will be busy planning for my exchange trips, getting Christmas presents, and accomplishing my after-exams to-do list which I have been keeping track of since a month ago before I leave SG!

HURRICANES- RIBS THAT WILL BLOW YOU AWAY!

Pardon the cheesy header, but i can't think of any reasons why they would name it hurricanes otherwise. This is LEGEN -wait for it- DARY BEYOND LEGENDARY!!
never in my life have I had more delicious ribs, but coming from me, the only other ribs I've had is tony romas, so maybe it doesn't take much to impress me. Butbutbut, from kate&krissy who have had tons of ribs before, if they say its good, trust them, its good!


Headed down to the Bondi Beach outlet! There is another one along Darling Harbor but this one is supposedly better? I couldn't really tell the difference, cept' the one in Darling Harbor had a rack which wasn't as good as the rest, so that one was just the slight bit of letdown!
Bondi beach was superrrr windy at night!! when we got outta the car, literally felt myself being lifted slightly off the ground- okay fine, not really off the ground, but nearly, just that little bit more!
Rushed indoors to duck the strong winds, and we were greeted by CROWDS OF PEOPLE, crowds, easily 20+ people in the waiting area with a full house. As expected, we waited nearly 45mins to an hour for our table.

The display of alcohols! I love it how the bottles shine and glimmer under the bright lights! Expensive upkeep to have this sorta displays in the house, sadly.

AWAITING THE RIBS!! the wait wasn't too long, and once you're seated, you feel satisfied with simply taking in wafts of grilled ribs with that special bbq sauce, it was so delightful, and wherever you turn your head, the other table seems to be digging it to what promises to be the most yummy ribs! you can tell easily, from the way they sink their teeth hungrily into the ribs, to mopping up the sauce on the plate with shreds of meat, oh gawd how i yearn for some hurricane's right now!! :(

ginormous knives used for cutting the ribs, nearly as big as our faces!

Starters: garlic bread!

Calamari in salt and pepper! I've grown to love the salt&pepper combination in food over there, combine two of the simplest seasonings you can find and make something taste sooo goood!


diggin' the bibs! :D for a messy eater like me! this saved me from splatters of bbq sauce!

wooooo. a moment to remember! my very first hurricanes rib!
we sure are HAPPY PEOPLE in hurricanes!

tata! we'll be back again soon! promise!
it was a reaaally enjoyable night at hurricanes! i had so much fun! not to mention a very satisfied stomach when i left the place!
hurricanes forever!

One Night at Vivid Sydney!

Finally i am blogging about my fab 10-days long trip to Sydney!
I haven't gotten the time to sort through the photos, but since I am down with a very bad case of swollen eye, I might as well use this time to blog!

Sydney is a beautiful city, and the weather was perfect when I landed! Clear blue skies with the occasional cloud, and SUNSHINE!
Kate and krissy met me right on time, even though I landed and cleared customs earlier than expected. It was a smooth drive back to their place in the city.
It is an AMAZING apartment they have there! all that space, not to mention the convenience. It is surrounded by everything you can ever need, and nothing's more than a 15-min drive away!

Headed down to Vivid Sydney on a saturday night! vivid sydney is the single-most fantastic display of lights I've ever seen. I've caught the one in Singapore once, but it was nothing compared to the one in Sydney! it was beautiful!
The weather was kinda drizzly, but that was easily solved by a short stop @ Max Brenner!

only one place they churn their chocolates and transport them through pipes along the ceiling to the counters! Just like a mini willy wonka's chocolate factory, minus the chocolate waterfall.


Hot chocolate by the pot!
I had a dark chocolate drink to-go, and it truly warms you right up! Not to mention the additional delight you get from munching the mini marshmallows bobbing happily in my hot choc! YUMYUM!

There were many events during vivid sydney, one of which was the fire show!
Basically just fire dancing to tunes, there was a classical tune, and Katy Perry's fireworks! Awesome to watch! and the blast of fire just warms you right up, also provided really good lighting for my camera! :D

All lit up by the 'dancing' fires!

Some nice dude that offered to help us take a photograph, and we were so worried he'll just take off with the camera! he was nice though! he didn't run off as we had thought!
& kate's spinach&ricotta ravioli in the picture too!

Before Vivid sydney, we headed down to rows of stores that were selling food, or rather, street food. But street food is nothing like it is in Singapore or Taiwan (which is the only thing that comes to my mind when I say street food), its really REALLY yummy food!
i.e. Kate's ravioli for example, that was SOOOO GOOD!

Some random meatballs thing which is just the biggest pot of stewing meatballs I have ever seen in my life.

Can't remember the name of this one, but they had it in beef/potato, piping hot!
Something like a cross between a spring roll and a non-spicy curry puff, if you can imagine. This was really yummyyyyyyy!
I also had KEBAB! my first kebab since I stepped foot in Sydney.
If there is one thing i missed so much about aussie, its the KEBABS! :((((((( Its never as good anywhere else, never as nicely toasted, never bursting with sauces, sliced meats and veggies, just never as good!! I think I had kebabs for my meals any chance that I had during my 10 days there, and for my lunch as well just before I flew back to Singapore!

Funny cloud umbrella man & woman, everyone was rushing to take photos with them! Part of vivid sydney & I want one of those umbrellas! I bet i'll feel happy carrying them around in the rain, cept' i might run the risk of getting an electric shock cos they have mini lightbulbs fitted on the inside, so maybe not.




cool car display made out of lights and blue wire! So pretty in the dark, and sooo outstanding!

Sydney @ night!

And one last stop @ St. Mary's! Looks prettier in the day though, but this picture looks as though it is snowing! <3
Wet and rainy weather for the night, but it was sooo worth the walk down to catch Vivid Sydney!
If there ever was anyone going to Sydney for holidays, this is the one thing you do not wanna miss!!

How holidays fly by

So soon, and i'm already on my last day here in Sydney.
This is the place to be. I can't say how much I love it here. The weather, the FOOD! the most AWESOME company one can ever wish for, and the whole atmosphere.
Over past ten days, I can only thank me lucky stars that kate and krissy know Sydney so well to have shown me the whole of Sydney, and bringing me to all the most yummiest places to dine!

One post is not enough to sum up my whole trip, so i'm only going to do it when i get home!
& i'm soooo excited, going to Hurricanes for dinner tonight!! I seriously feel so upset that they do not have hurricanes back hoome! >:(
tony romas pales in comparison to Hurricanes so badly! I can't imagine not being able to have Hurricanes after tonight. :(
But what a lovely city Sydney is. The people here are awesome, all so friendly and welcoming!
Chocolate here is soooo good, i will always remember my very first cuppa Max Brenner dark chocolate on that cold night down to vivid sydney!
Also, i saw the sunset @ Opera house which is just lovely!
I will be back!
Till we meet again!


many thanks to kate & krissy for being the two most awesome people for showing me around Sydney and putting up with all my odd living habits over the past 10 days! love you two! :D

chocolate oatmeal

nothing like a bowl of thick oatmeal with a dollop of nutella on a drizzly evening!
Just gotten back from Vietnam last thursday, and i'm loving every bit of Vietnam! one can really dine and live like royalty there! everything's so expensive now that i'm back in Singapore again!

Leaving for Sydney in 3 more days! can't wait! Since K has been studying there, there were many plans to travel down to Sydney, but none of them materialized sadly. But this holiday, everything's planned and arranged and I'm heading down for 10 days! Woohoo! \o/

There's sooo many pictures that I've yet to upload onto my laptop, but i'm too lazy to get to it. Having to sieve thru all the photos and select the ones that are keepers always carries an element of procrastination to it.

Weather's all weird nowadays, one minute its melting hot, the next minute it rains non stop. K says the weather in Aus is getting nicer these few days, I wouldn't say no to a chance to escape this tropical climate for awhile.

either half full or half empty

ohman. the whole world's on holiday mood, its rubbing off on me. :(
but seeing it another way, at least i don't have a back-to-back paper today! after last sem, back-to-back was crossed off the list already.
Next on my list is aiming to end exam earlier/at least on the same day as everyone. The same thing with EAR801 last sem, and i was all holiday mood a week before.

Just woke up from a longgggg nap even though i didn't really need one, but it feels good!
Had lontong, and i discovered some weird pellet-like thingy in my soup. Due to my self-diagnosed mild hypochondria, I have determined it to be some sort of 'extra' ingredient that will not sit well with my stomach. At times it becomes self-fulfilling such as today, and I already feel a tummyache working up. :((((
I need a personal doctor which can identify if i am really sick or not, all I need is someone qualified to tell me, no you're not sick, this is perfectly normal, without costing me $25 consultation fees.
I called B to ask him what that thingy was in my soup, he told me it was heibee, the dried prawn thingy, but in a pellet shape?? But I don't think so.. the last time I called him up over a real emergency he told me I was too stressed. :((


This time tomorrow, I will be one hour in my exam, and then I get to head down to Changi to buy my headphones, go for dinner and skype with Eunice & Chia!!
I am loving the Fabulous Friday deals down at Changi, and the deal tomorrow is an Adidas Sennheiser headphone set going for $50 (U.P $90) when purchasing $30 worth of products at T3 with visa. The next one I'm eyeing is the Disney plush toy going for $3, vintage Mickey and Minnie pair, but i'm still contemplating about that one cos i'm gonna have to spend another $30. This one is so justified cos i'm gonna need a pair of headphones to run with, IF i successfully manage to get back on my regular workout routine.

AHH taaaa back to studying for my final paper! come on come on last lap last lap!


[80% of the final exam will be based on the one lecture you missed and the one book you didn’t read.]

My life would suck without you, iphone

This is the last time that i'm gonna be here at the airport for the purpose of studying until late october when year 2 sem 1 begins. And Changi's offering free shuttle bus service hourly every weekend and public holidays to sengkang and amk! So i get a free ride home! But only after i stupidly missed the first one, leaving me stranded at the airport for another hour. I wonder how fast it would take though.

I can't say how much I love TBBT. Sheldon is epic awesome, i wanna be friends with him even if he's gonna drown me in intelligent insults all day long i wouldn't mind!!! Hahaha sheldon is just so sheldon and its gonna be so hard to ever forget such person exist once you get hooked onto TBBT. I am already thinking of collecting the seasons, and 30 years down the road, i would still be able to watch it and remember sheldon! Okay, fine, initially it started off with only loving TBBT for sheldon, but i've grown to love the other characters too! Raj is just stupidly funny with his 'huh' expression, always cracks me up! Wolowitz just has to pull off his sexy voice and i'll be laughing at whatever he says, he's seriously got such a sexaay voice omg. Bet he uses that to charm girls all the time in real life. Haha.
And Now thanks to my trusty iphone, im not gonna continue typing anymore as the bus has set off and i'm extremely prone to motion sickness, i shall revel in TBBT episodes on youtube! :DD


Bazinga baby!

i love the airport because..

Everytime I get so bored of studying, I can just allow my mind to wonder about the possibilities of spending my entire savings booking an air ticket out of here to anywhere random, anywhere outta here.

Two weeks later, this place will hold a completely different meaning, I will be here not for the purpose of studying for my finals, but here to sit an actual plane outta singapore! WOOPS! \o/
But somehow its always different from how I imagined it, the impromptu daydream that I've always had sparks off this adrenaline rush so tempting it is beyond description. You have to be here for a purpose other than flying, but somehow, a complete 180 degrees turn, and BAM! you're on the next plane outta here.
its crazy really, perhaps in my year 4 when I'm so close to graduating and wanna dare myself to do something like that just for the kicks!

From a total of 5 papers, I have painfully slashed my way thru down to 2 more papers. The battle's more than half done, but the 2nd half is always the worst.
Loss of motivation, fatigue bubbling, not to mention the uneven allocation of time spent of my first 3 papers, hence the negligence of the last two.
This exam period has caused me the loss of 3 public holidays, all of which occurred WITHIN the past 3 weeks. What are the odds yo, its a conspiracy I tell you.

But the best benchmark ever was having to take 3 papers in a row within a day. Seriously, if you want to provide any form of consolation for yourself during the exam periods, just sign yourself up for 3 exams on a single day for your first sem. After that, no exams will seem as sucky as that one, and everything will seem better when compared to that. It truly sets things in proportion for you.

justin lim kwan ting!

The Movie of Our Life

In the movie of our life,
starring you and me.
Hollywood is in for a treat,
wait until they see.

The stage is all ours,
so let's put on a good show.
We act these roles so well,
but they will never know.

Shakespeare seems out of date,
Romeo and Juliet got old.
Baby they have nothing on us,
so let our story be told.

We write romance scenes,
like forever had no end.
It all comes so natural,
with an amazing girlfriend.

We've only gotten started,
the end is far from now.
Nothing can break us up,
not even a broken vow.

People watch the notebook,
is that all Hollywood's got?
Girl, you and me alone,
make those scenes look hot.

They'll write a story one day,
and a movie to go with it.
Just get us to act it out,
It would be the greatest hit.

We may never be Hollywood's hottest,
Brad and Angelina will be in the past.
It will last as long as their careers,
but baby you and I will forever last.


credits: Darien