Hansley Liew

Dig Me Out

2012-01-21T03:05:00.000+07:00

Due to a week of hiatus, I have entirely lost the momentum in blogging let alone the will to snap pictures because everything turns grainy and requires endless photoshopping. It took me 2 days to finish up this so-called post.

The feeling of post exams is immense; no need to study for the next 2 weeks or so; no need to wake up panicking with a hefty, substantial tonnage of momentum that constantly drills into your brain reminding you that you have no time for preparation and all you're facing is a red marked fail for finals. Been sleeping roughly six hours a day, for every day of the past week or so. It's been exasperating, for my eyes to snap wide open every morning while everyone else are still comfortably slumbering in their own beds, planning for an outing or so, enjoying their lives with endless picture posts tagged in some interesting place or maybe even a vain self-taken picture of a female with a short meaningless caption. Started off with waking up at 9 to start the so-called cramming until I gave up half way since I became conscious that instead of cramming, my eyelids slid off their grip for energy to stay wide open. Hence, blame the biology clock & irregular bowel movement.

I was feeling appalling and unsatisfied for Anatomy & Histology, honestly I did what I could for Anatomy and 3 semesters of effort paid off pretty well, I frankly divulged. It ended with a less than 4 days preparation for Histology and I died dreadfully on what was not asked in my question card, which maybe made me look like a complete dunce in front of my examiner. A chapter on Haemopoiesis on whether a 3% myelocytes in a patients body is normal or not, asking what are the precursors for myelocytes… There goes a huge portion of my marks for Histology. Nevertheless, the mucking exams are finally over; now to enjoy a winter trip with a couple of friends to Belgium and several other places. A day spent googling directions and printing maps to move around the city of Brussels on my day 1 solo trip. Apparently, I’ll be taking 14-hour bus ride from Volgograd to Moscow, and another flight to Riga for transit and finally Brussels all alone since my two other friends are taking a flight 24 hours later than mine. Long story short, I was a day late in booking my flight hence by the time I decided to book my ticket, the price got jacked up to nearly MYR500 more expensive. Bugger, therefore I stepped out bravely and decided to face the solo trip alone. Would definitely be one amazing adventure I hope?

Shall do my packing and printing tomorrow, self-reminding of other miscellaneous nonsense like food and etcetera. Speaking of which, I simply loathe Russian winter, it was all warm and chilly a couple of days ago until yesterday, it decided to drop the humongous displeasing freeze bomb of -23 degrees. Now I’m stuck in a dilemma of whether to drag my winter coat along all the way to Belgium or not since I will only be needing my trench coat there. To bring both and waste my 8kg of space or to freeze myself by putting on layers of thermal and a trench coat over while moving about in Moscow?

Anatomy

2012-01-12T03:06:00.000+07:00

Best Anatomy teacher ever

Last day of Anatomy class, finally an end to 3 semesters of Anatomy. A subject that I initially thought one could score just by cramming, memorizing, swallowing and gobbling every single piece from text books and atlas; but somehow along the way it proved me wrong. A subject that one can really fantasize and ponder: "how did God created us in such deep level of complexity?". A field that is somehow impossible for one to master but eventually medical doctors do. Simple amazing.

Anatomy exam this upcoming Monday, whatever results I get; as long as I don't regret what I've put through these 3 semesters.

Tying Your Golden Knot

2012-01-10T20:26:00.000+07:00

Celebrated Lily's birthday over a nice dinner with best friends

Mike being the photographer of the night. Deserts: Chocolate cake, strawberry cheese cake & Marble cheese cake

"A sister is a gift to the heart, a friend to the spirit, a golden thread to the meaning of life"
- Isadora James

I've always thank God for putting this person into a part of my life, a sister who always understands me in ways most people could not, someone who always supports and cares when others failed to do so, a special person who inspires & keep me moving on when everything falls apart. Happy Birthday, love you lots.

Calm Silhouette

2012-01-08T21:39:00.000+07:00

Silhouette of a kitten I took after Histology several weeks ago and grave, extreme editing on Photoshop

Be still, poor brain. Be still

Muse Over Coffee

2012-01-06T16:01:00.000+07:00

Hot chocolate drink I had with a few of my friends the other day

My early morning studying plan never works, constantly setting the alarm as early as 9AM but I will somehow ended up waking at 10PM, purposely slacking and dragging the time for cleaning up and breakfast until 11.30 near afternoon to finally start some reading. So much caffeine intake due to my extreme addiction and self abuse of coffee of various brands just so that I do not get sick of one has transformed myself into a mobile Starbucks, maybe in the near future I will be able to urinate coffee.

In the midst of either memorizing muscles or various topographies for splanchnology, a moment of self-musing thrashed down my head.

"The more you study, the more you would want to work, but then you'd most probably won't know anything by working straight away without studying; hence you decided that it's better off that you retire straight away, but then a harsh fact tells you that you will end up penniless to retire just because you never work."

Now back to reality of overambitious, pretentious hard-core but forever in slow progressing, so-called grandiose cramming; but first... let's make lunch.

Celebrated Dinner

2012-01-05T15:38:00.000+07:00

One of the major benefits of studying abroad, you'll end up not only as a graduate, but also a minor in culinary. All home-cooked meal

Jacquelyn's garlic bread

Dennis' caesar salad

Kaliz's deep friend chicken

Eelin's moist chocolate cake

Mike bought two huge pizzas

Eelin's pork in HP sauce, till now I couldn't figure out what is HP

Carmen's mash potato

Brat's spaghetti & pasta sauce

A Christmas/New Year celebration celebrated with group mates, a wonderful home-cooked meal in great proportion, a game of cards, liquor & truth or dare and a night over a Dennis' apartment. Just a post and a short notice of appreciation to those who prepared the food, it's a pity that the pictures do not look half as good as how they taste like. I was stressing out like mad during that afternoon, tasting and readjusting the flavor of the pasta sauce I prepared. Minced maybe 300g of pork, garlic, onions and some spices praying that this so-called concoction will turn out as good as others'.

Someday, you'll taste my home cooked meal.

Slow Pony Home

2012-01-04T20:50:00.001+07:00

It’s a pity that one has to be lodged in the solitary of his somber room facing pages of notes that doesn’t seem to diffuse between different layers of his brain; outside, pure white snow and decent 0 degree temperature as their chaperone during this winter. Why are exam periods so gloomy and dull, even nature seen through a closed translucent window or false cyber world displayed from a Macbook monitor can be more interesting than this.

Sketched this last month, must be during one of those boring lectures I had

Currently, iTunes playing ‘Snow Pony Home’ by The Weepies. Really adds on to the ambience of tedium repetitiveness routine of waking up, eating, pretentious reading, sleeping, a game on the iPod touch, maybe a short episode of Big Bang Theory. Not forgetting multiple, uncountable cups of coffee and disorientated eating habits like 2 days of vermicelli noodles in a simple soup of soy sauce & 'chili padi' and eggs and slices of cabbage.

A reason to get a DSLR, every single detail can be taken clearly

To balance a day between inguinal canals, inguinal fossa & Brussels & Bruges, Belgium and some other places soon to be in contact with me. Depressing

2011, You Have Taught Me Well

2012-01-01T04:59:00.000+07:00

“Happy New Year”, a phrase mentioned accompanied with a handshake or a hug despite whether they’re from a friend, close friend or random acquaintances. Not forgetting to mention crowds of drunken Russians in all their fancy hats and girls competing on who has the shortest skirt or most expensive fur coat wilding in public. Uncanny that I was not entirely enthusiastic about the ending of 2011 merely, but definitely not as keen and fervent as everyone else scattered all around mother Earth. Maybe it's because I'm mentally thinking that my new year starts similarly as my semester in med school, September instead of January because winter exams are ruining the fun and spirit of the New Year.

The countdown was not as fancy as the ones back home; it was more of a mini Malaysian gathering when we bumped into one another for countdown. I am clued into the fact that I’m not really an outgoing person especially when it comes to large crowds with suffocated by breaths of the many and shrills and shouting for the New Year, hence I stoned in the hostel last year. This year was different apparently, decided to take a walk outside after a casual dinner at Jun’s place which finally lead me to witnessing the countdown with a bunch of friends.

How much does it take for one tofully utilize and enjoy 365 days annually? Does it really take one to setresolutions which we are bound to break? Often we set certain accomplishmentsyearly, doing the archetypal but seriously resolutions and goals can be setanytime of the year. Hence, I recite to not setting them in my last post of2011 because I believe that better of go with the flow and whatever life gives us, I'll take it with open arms and whatever roads and bumps I face ahead of me, I'll make sure that I'm in perfect condition to jump over it.

I never stop to feel frightened to see the days passed so quickly, just to have that thought itself consumes several minutes. To see the giant ‘1’ being stroke out from the calendar, replacing it with a 2. I have grown beyond this transition state as the months were added.

Taken back in April 2011 during spring camp

I’ve always underestimated thevalue of being appreciated and supported, honestly. 2011 taught me, through awonderful circle of members where God has placed me to grow up with,spiritually. I started taking up an interest that I never thought of beinginterested in – Media. The usual handling of projectors, slide transitions,video making, designing and a bit of decoration. But what are behind all this,is the amazing people that have taught me so much; friends like Dr. Xun Jin& my really good buddy Clez especially. Here and there, I’ve pick up a lotalong this trail. Being so supportive in this field that I find passion at, thesupport that not everyone can gain from close friends or even parents.

I learn to start putting more faith in God, to maintain this special relationship with the one up there. I once shared this during cell group that in a Christian life, apart from faith and hope, what's most important - Growth. We say that we grow as we walkalong with God, but how much did we actually grow? In pico-meters? Nanometers? It doesn't matter . Inever realized how important this ‘growth’ can be when a very close friendmentioned to me that she is somehow ‘moved’ and motivated by the way I dealwith God, the way I put a certain amount of faith in doing God’s works. Thatshe, decided to start picking up a habit in her own religion as well. It’s animmense feeling of unspeakable chain of words to actually be an exemplar and inspirationto those around you especially when they are of different religion.Unknowingly, I have again… took a leap forward.

Bowling session, taken around late spring of 2011

Not forgetting a bunch of batch mates that I owe my thanks to, regardless that we skip lectures to meet up, regardless that we don't interact as much as our group mates, regardless that we might walk on different levels of friendship. Little by little, we share the same dream and goals to be better doctors in the future. I've trained myself to have better mindsets, I've learned to stop comparing myself to those around because it's an infinite tiresome 'workload', those that are better than you are everywhere. But I've also become competent in appreciating the effort of those friends around me who have shared their knowledge when it comes to studies.

Taken on the night before New Year's Eve

It was an entire contrastive scenario, one can live alone facing 4 empty walls in secondary school and make it alive with a handful of As. University & batch mates, that's when I realized that being alone, being selfish leads one to no where. Indeed, those who share will, in one way or another gain more than those who keep hold onto everything to him/herself. Group 29 mates who has been along with me during my studies in Russia. All the drama we shared, all the mindless gibberish talks, all the intellectual debates summed up to a fabulous year; and hopefully more to come in the future.

MF Mission Trip to Sibu

2011, I decided to participate in the humanitarian mission trip organized by Malaysian Fellowship, Moscow to Sibu. Togive, serve & love, as it is, a brand new experience of temporarilymigrating from the urban city to those rural areas where vehicles are hardlyaccessible. To notice the innocence of children in the rural areas of Sibu, tograsp their lives and education and simultaneously be grateful of what I havethat I’ve always take for granted of, to mingle with the local people andexperience their warmth though it may only be a half an hour flight from myhometown. All in all, MF mission trip has thought me how to take flight from myown comfort zone and be in others’ shoes.

I remembered a scene of anelderly with glaucoma or something related, begging, literally in tears beggingwith hope for us to save her from what she’s going through. Not many peoplehave the opportunity to have their wish granted; certainly she was one of theunlucky ones. This elderly has taught me to care for more [even if it sounds cliché],and have compassion for others.

Taken in Salzburg, summer of 2011

Many individuals will cross yourpath, some will stay, and some will go. All had their purpose as you did intheir lives. A true friend is one who knows you inside out and no matter howfar geographically, in which latitude you are lodged at. These people have seenthe best of me, and also the worst of me. It took me a while to find them, but trust me; I am lucky to be one of the lucky few to have these two buddies like Mike & Eelin as my soul friends because not everyone are as fortunate as me. I thank them for being there in my best and at my very worst, when I mentioned worst means it was a real hell of shit I went through.

Family portrait taken late autumn of 2011

They have watched me grow to becomewho I am today. I learned not to hold on to friends, but to let friendship takeits course. If a friendship ends, I am grateful for the time and move on. If Iend a friendship to keep my life clear from negative influence, I am gratefulfor whatever that person taught me. My dear sis, Lily who somehow.. just somehow, clicked with me and shared an understanding that no one can possibly ever share with. Family, I love you.

2012, let's see where you will take me this time.

'Fingering'

2011-12-28T22:27:00.000+07:00

Here's a really conversation that I stumbled upon during Histology lecture, could not be bothered to censor the abhorrent language.

S: *Showing the annoying 'peace' sign with a vast smile* [you know the regular 'V' sign performed by our grooming and middle finger, here's a visualize version ^__^V]

A: "S stop showing that annoying 'peace' sign."

S: *'Peace' sign intensifies*

A: "I swear if you continue to show that 'peace' sign I'm going to fucking cut your fingers and shove them into your asshole."

Genius, who on earth would ever have such ludicrous to think of such thing. Simply impressed, mortified and hilarious to the core half the lecture hall laughed their butts off the floor.

Caricatures

2011-12-27T03:34:00.000+07:00

Top from left: Sis, Cheryl, Mike, Eelin. Bottom from left: Jo, Jun

From a different angle, pictures taken by Mike with his DSLR

A finger full of caricatures

Mini sized

I doodled a couple of caricatures for Christmas the other day, just a random few people who I really thank for being in the part of my life. Jo & Cheryl especially being really nice buddies during cell group, Mike & Eelin my true friends since I landed in this foreign land and Lily & Jun being my sisters always taking care of me. A tiny token to my loved ones.

Sweeter Christmas

2011-12-25T02:34:00.000+07:00

Marinated beef, bacon, mushrooms, onion rings and cabbages

Teppanyaki instead of the regular roasted turkey

Mike & his DSLR

Sis in her PJs

Host for the night

The only heart shaped cookie I managed to make

Cookies in random shapes and sizes with pink and green icing sugar

Zen. What I assembled with the remaining cookies

Christmas. A chain of events that summed up to a fantastic celebration of the birth of Jesus. First I had caroling session with cell group members in the hostel; apparently it attracted more international students other than Malaysian students themselves. Then headed to Jun's place for dinner with the family, it's sad that the numbers decrease as the years passed. Gathered till 2.30AM and the three of us Lily, Mike and myself walked back home in the night streets as Christmas approached.

No white Christmas, no family, no home-cooked meal; but it's okay, because what I have now is more blessed than ever.

Pardon Me, Walk

2011-12-24T17:53:00.000+07:00

Twigs taken as I walked down Volga river

The city, all the hustle and bustle, through the eyes of a high-flying night bird, we take in the scene from mid air. We’re being engulfed by this life of ours, in our broad sweep, the city looks like a single gigantic creature — or more like a single collective entity created by many intertwining organisms. Countless arteries stretch to the ends of its elusive body, circulating a continuous supply of fresh blood cells, sending out new data and collecting the old, sending out new consumables and collecting the old, sending out new contradictions and collecting the old. The cycle continues and us being the victim rotting within this suffocating life of ours.

Misty, foggy afternoon right after Russian class

I took a stroll down the foggy morning, oblivious. It was a simple stroll down with my best friend while the peak of activity passes, maybe taking baby steps to dwindle down our basal metabolism that maintains life. For once I felt that I have balanced out my life pretty well, temporary though.

A random lake or pool, these two sounds similar to me

So, do you guys think like me? The urge, desperation and unreleased exhort to find peace. It's nothing Ghandi-influenced or random self mediation with black balloons, but a momentous pondering on changing tracks and roads. What ifs? When nothing seemed to change and what's worst... when nothing is going to change? No, not many people waste their time bothering about this because they prefer to leave life as it is, not even aspired to take a few milliseconds off just to wonder.

Something that I always thought that will only appear during summer

Maybe it's an alternative way of releasing tension and pressure of not being to enjoy life, or another way of feeling envious that more than a quarter of the people around me are having so much fun. It's like as if their lives are stressless and not induced by a single dose of pressure. Even if present, it will something pathetically minute from my perspective but to some, it seemed like a magnified armageddon. That is the point I know that this brat has really... really grown up.

Friends We Used To Have

2011-12-23T00:53:00.000+07:00

I remembered how we used to have a capacious range of colloquy or clambake from anything to everything. There has always been this person, well if you are fortunate to have this one person that you somehow felt disconnected all of a sudden. Things were going well, until a certain point when it transformed from a brashly brewed friendship to something deeper than mild but abruptly gone tasteless and diluted. Not the best ways to describe a situation but pardon me for my lack of vocabularies and dramatic turmoil to pull out a sketch.

I found a pattern on how friendship works, one of those eureka moments as I was showering thinking and pondering off simultaneous other than the habitual shower. Once you successfully started a friendship with a friend and if providentially things go well between you two no matter whether this friend is of the same or opposite sex, you will proceed to phase two; a friendship but with deeper meaning to it. There’s a thing called ‘tolerance’, the level differs from one to another. If you are one of those individuals with a wide range of tolerance then you will have no problem at all, literally to mix with different forms of homo sapiens lingering on the surface of mother Earth. A good example, my very own biologically father who mixes with people from all walks of life; me on the other hand, a total opposite. I’m a self proclaimed, self-cognizant, semi-more-than-three-quarter anti-social brat.

Back to the topic of phase two, once the ‘tolerance’ level kicks in… we tend to filter better than the glomerulus of our kidneys. Those with certain behaviors, personalities, thoughts, mindset and anything related to that matter of subject that are acceptable within our ‘tolerance’ level, shall be also be bearable and auspiciously being acceptable by our body. In other words, we tend to be a little more observant, our pupils dilate more effectively and somehow signals begin to transmit more clearly. We start to see more sides of people and their true colours and their attitudes or behavior might not be in par as what we normally do. This automatically creates a gap between us, it maybe a boon or a bane. A boon that we are aware of this person’s true self and decide whether to take any further steps or not; a bane that if somehow this person continues to be in different mindsets or show any sort of manners that we dislike and regrettably break the bond of friendship between us two.

Sometimes I do regret but the awkwardness is inevitable, you will only bumped into that particular person and utter to yourself monotonously and sigh, “we used to be such good friends but…”

Daylight Dough

2011-12-21T03:12:00.000+07:00

Pig & mouse

My creation - money bag. Typical Taurus

Curry puffs just because I'm too good in making them

Winter solstice celebrations used to be celebrated at home, the normal helping my grandmother to make glutinous rice balls tradition since I was a child in pre-school. Attended the one in Hiroshima hostel last week so a few of us gathered together to make our very own as well. However, it turned out to be making dough models since smartarse poured a tad too much of hot water and accidently cooked the dough. Eureka moment and hence a brand new innovative invention.

I finally found a brand new purpose of my digital camera, yes it takes really shitty grainy images with noise; however it shoots decent candid recordings.

Freshman Party

2011-12-18T02:59:00.000+07:00

Another video with the help from my buddy Clez and a bunch of really sporting juniors; I had a hard time tweaking around Adobe After Effects, gave up in the end and shifted to iMovie instead. Here's a real good damn reason why I need my own DSLR.

Side note: Please watch in HD

Mistletoe

2011-12-17T18:55:00.000+07:00

Kostya, Katya & Alicia

Annette, Cheryl & Unmil

Cynthia, Alicia

"Twelve Days Of Christmas" by members of Catholic church

Performance by Polytech hostel

1st Year juniors with their dance

Russian Youth

Media Boss, Jyh Chyang

Brat working on his Macbook Pro

Clez & his solo "Better Man"

Grandpa Jo

Jun & I

Blanket stealer

The amazing organizer behind this event, Cheryl Chee

Pink ranger, hence I paired up as red ranger as well

One of my true best friend, Eelin

Media buddy, Clez who worked side by side in every JE event

Pretty sis

God always have His ways to make the impossible, possible; and even better... by making the possible, magnificent. Especially for our Jesus Embassy (JE) recent event: Freshman Party/Christmas Bash 2011. Through weeks of preparation and a new church building, by God's grace things went out smoothly. I like the way how JE does things, our leaders put so much faith in us, constantly encouraging one another in order to pull out something amazing. Despite the fact that we might feel discourage or dead struck facing a flat wall with no inspiration, personally it was those desperate times when I'm dying for an inspiration to create a video or designing invitation cards, posters or anything related to media. I'm grateful to have these amazing seniors in JE that put so much trust and support when it comes to media. As I looked back, indeed I have grown much throughout the years in serving JE.

In fact, it has always been the one and only association where I find myself fully utilizing my talents, ideas and skills and being appreciated at the same time; it's archetypal when one is given a responsibility, the initial phase turns out well but on the way you will end up being obliged to listen to others' ideas or at least being 'interfered' and gets your enthusiasm demolished and finally end up not liking what you're doing. Been there, suffered from it.

Behind all the events, a team which I somehow find myself working with - Media Crew. A new series of sound system, heaps of tangling wires & equalizers, projectors and cables connection. All these behind a front screen just so that the audience can enjoy a perfect night. Media is something that not many people will pay attention to, until a mistake occurs. When sound systems are not working well enough, when microphones aren't functioning, when projectors fail to show the right pixels, when sound is not equalized. The learning process is endless, from Adobe Photoshop to Adobe After Effects to Final Cut Pro softwares which I am... currently still a noob at. When Xun Jin was here, he used to be the one a 'standard-meter'; the great satisfaction when your work is published to the audience to view and the feeling when you are encouraged and most importantly... being appreciated by many.

I've constantly tell myself, there is too much life has to offer and there is an abundant of things for us to learn out there. One of the motivational talk given by a very good buddy of mine, Clez that day was about 'Focus'. I started to apply what I can learn from others, JE band, the ever best, spontaneous, public speaker ever Mr. Akin/President himself and many others. To focus on what I enjoy doing, doing in the name of JE, in the glory of God. Tiny & minute but little by little I promise that I'll make everyone proud someday.

God, you have no idea how grateful I am for all the new things that You have taught me.

Side note: Photographs taken by Mike, using Clez's DSLR, uploaded by me. Talking about working together when each of us has a handful of responsibilities to handle for the night.

Despo

2011-12-16T17:05:00.000+07:00

Desperation, what can one comment on that? To evaluate a term that manifest or being cognizant of with the things around me, situations from anything to everything can be fit with this particular terminology. Desperate because our brains fail to control our emotions, driving one haywire or lost. I find it amusing to see this around me, to see some people trying so hard till their grip overwhelms what is intended to reach. Once you loose one, you find another substitution and have a session of pathetic monotony thinking that it's their lost for not being your possession. The truth is that one does not even have the rights to claim anything their so-called initial property when one's idea to own it backfires.

Maybe some of us do not have the courage nor do we have the bravery to embrace such gush and sudden push, because we have so much considerations and we claim them to be 'rational' thoughts. It's tricky to debate on two situations when I've comfortably positioned myself in this 'rational' stand here. Against all theories that emotions control the human brain, logically and depends on situation to avoid looking piteous and drastically anguished and desperate. It creates an atmosphere where everyone is uncomfortable because their every actions are so obvious that people around them pity of what he/she is doing due to the fact that we, so called rational people are incapable of doing because self value is more vital.

So, to be desperate or not to be one?

Christmas Bash 2011

2011-12-15T17:39:00.000+07:00

See you there this Saturday!

Anchor

2011-12-14T19:04:00.000+07:00

I decided to participate in the impossible; requesting a friend of mine on simple tutorial of making a paper rose. A really nice origami which until the present day... is still an impossible to me. Foldings are very much intricate and perplexing, but results are really impressive.

Behind all my past origami, the expert

By the way, I have YET to produce my very own origami of a simple rose. Compared to sketching and my regular doodling, origami is another form of art... only in 3D form.

iPod Touch lock screen background

3 colloquiums, Physiology done, Biochemistry due on Monday and Anatomy this upcoming Thursday. Just survived cervical plexus & brachial plexus and I've got less than a week to cram the entire peripheral & sympathetic/vegetative nervous system. Best pre-Christmas presents I've ever received. Winter exam in less than 2 months time and as I searched though my brain, it seemed that I've learnt nothing for the past few years in med school. Desperately begging that it's only partial paranoia manipulating my self conscious.

Colour Pencils

2011-12-13T04:04:00.002+07:00

Inspired by a handful of colour pencils used during Histology class, was sketching oviducts and ovaries under a light microscope when it struck my mind to snap one of those photographs similar to those shared in tumblr blogs.

Fly Alone

2011-12-12T04:59:00.001+07:00

Fatation

2011-12-11T18:09:00.001+07:00

Last minute Friday dinner

I had one of the most realistic dream ever the other day, thanks to a tardy afternoon nap last Friday. Dreamt over a dinner of roast chicken but crestfallen by the fact that it was only a dull-witted, vapid dream. By the time I wake up it was already 9PM, impossible for me to make my own dinner. Hence, dragged along Mike to a nearby grocery store to realize that dream of mine of having roast chicken over dinner. In addition to that, got ourselves ice-cream and Pepsi for float.

If there's a terminology to describe the satisfaction behind this, the word will be the yet-to-be-discovered, wait a sec... already-discovered-by-me-but-not-yet-approved - Fatation. Definition: Process of turning one's self fat.

Bush, I Beat You

2011-12-10T04:16:00.000+07:00

Perfect weather of -2 degrees

Took a stroll down the road as I set off in the afternoon with a few friends; just to chill in a cafe for a meal or two since classes ended pretty early today, seemed like a long time since I have a gathering with these people. Randomly saw an unrelated photograph of several home cooked dishes tagged by my friends on Facebook and I was thinking of collecting a few of us to have lunches with puerile and whinge over irrelevant matters throughout our classes.

Closed up

Snapped some photographs as we make our way to this particular familiar restaurant of no exact location, took us 2 back-and-forth strolls along this road to reach; alas it closed down when we saw a sign stating that it is currently for rent. Rendered their contrast level and sharpness to create this rough edge effect.

Interior and a candid snapshot of Carmen

The interior was pretty nice and I was tempted to move to a small shelf where some tiny figures and toys were displayed but my camera battery died halfway before I could snap a photograph of the plate of Siberian dumplings with baked cheese I had earlier.

Great conversations over a cup of Frappe, was not much of my liking because it wasted too diluted with really pale, mild coffee stench.

Blow Jobs To A Banana

2011-12-09T20:10:00.001+07:00

It fascinates me when the world is filled with a diversity of people and their way of thinking. A small country like Malaysia alone possesses ideas, concepts and mindsets diverge in many ways you can hardly imagine; let alone if we widen our perspective globally. Some I find them parallel, some are inspiring and can draw people to loose their jaws and on the opposite side, some are just plain preposterous. A recent finding I found on Facebook shared by a friend of mine on "Islamic Cleric banning woman from bananas and cucumbers for sexual resemblance".

A leader should not put anything personal mindset into leading a country, either democratic or republican. Food resembling sexual organs are too subjective and there are no definite rules in stating that a slightly oblique object resembles a penis or that apples and watermelons resemble a womans' breast. I wonder how is he capable of implying such thinking into real political practice; maybe he was being too horny salivating over his wife who could not offer him sex while eating a piece of banana. Or the guilt gushed as his maid was busy cutting cucumber in the kitchen because he was cheating on his wife? Who knows, the odds are infinite.

"The unnamed sheikh, who was featured in an article on el-Senousa news, was quoted saying that if women wish to eat these food items, a third party, preferably a male related to them such as their a father or husband, should cut the items into small pieces and serve.He said that these fruits and vegetables “resemble the male penis” and hence could arouse women or “make them think of sex.”

If we were to put this cleric rule into real practice, of all the valid reasons why woman can only eat chopped, diced, served bananas is because it does not resemble a penis. Declaring publicly that bananas, cucumbers, zucchini or carrots are fruits and vegetables resembling a males' penis, and formalizing it as a rule is sufficient to embed the thought these are male penises. The main goal here is to steer clear of sexual thoughts because these resemble sex organs. Hence changing it's appearance would not be the best of choice for evading such thinking unless their husband told their wives that instead of a banana he claims that its an apple.

"The sheikh was asked how to “control” women when they are out shopping for groceries and if holding these items at the market would be bad for them. The cleric answered saying this matter is between them and God.Answering another question about what to do if women in the family like these foods, the sheikh advised the interviewer to take the food and cut it for them in a hidden place so they cannot see it."

Since the variety of food around us are immeasurable, the thought of which is resembles a sexual organ is too subjective and there are not definite answers to it. My suggestion if I were a cleric leader is to ban all source of food, entirely sweep off anything edible in my country, from grains to fruits.. anything and everything.

My food source will be plankton, hiring the best engineers and scientists to create genetically modified plankton in pill form. If anything in pill form induces any sexual thought, then grind them into powder form. Or, stir them with water and drink them directly for prevention of so-called 'dirty thoughts'. Chocolate flavoured plankton pills, roast chicken flavoured drink etcetera.

It's human nature to have such thoughts, God created everything on the surface of the earth the way it should be. Cleric thought? Nothing but a pile of rubbish.

In Living Cover

2011-12-07T03:15:00.001+07:00

A feather that I sketched last month but could not find the right time to post it up.
Artwork inspired by room mate and his DSLR

Sometimes the meanest gesture, the awkward diffidence maybe deleterious to true feelings. But this brat has something that he does not wish to face, let alone voice it out. You might not see it now, but what I'm doing is for your own good. Someday you will understand.

Pyknotic

2011-12-05T16:14:00.000+07:00

Should I make a friendly gesture of 'Hello' when it seems awkward? Those really unbearably moments of cumbersome, and induced uncomfortable injections. The truth is that there has been too much workload, procrastinated workload and pending reading that is an obligatory to be done if I want to survive med school. Here's a prove to that, a new terminology I learnt while flipping though Histology of the female reproductive system: Atretic follicles, Pyknotic, noun related to pyknosis which is an irreversible condensation of chromatin in the nucleus of a cell undergoing necrosis or apoptosis.

Such a hypocritical maneuver to act smart don't you agree?

Of all the recent events that have happened lately, I find no time to even snap a picture to relate. Sometimes I'll dig through my sling bag just to grab my camera and snap random pictures, pausing in the middle of the road on my way back. "What are you doing?" "Just snapping random, non related photographs for my lousy blog I proclaimed..." A sign of armageddon for this blog perhaps? Where the blogger himself has lost interest in taking pictures because nothing seemed to relate on what he's blogging.

On the other hand, I just received my new passport [fancy why on earth do all passport pictures always appear extremely horrendous]; hence, am currently burdened by the fact of rushing back and forth from hostel to Visa department dealing with my new Visa application. Here's a situation, I went there initially to submit my documents, Visa lady informed that I need to make a 1k Rub payment in a nearby bank and thats all. Dragged my arse to the nearest bank, returned to Visa department with more documents, only then she told me that black/white pictures are required. Rushed to snap some pictures, another lady told me to return back after 2 hours. Reluctantly and irritatedly lugged myself back home for a short nap and went back to the studio and alas! It was closed.

FML

Now I'm facing with a pile of menstrual ~~blood~~ cycle notes.

New Interest

2011-12-04T05:16:00.000+07:00

Draft of the most recent short movie that I'll be directing with fellow media members and juniors

A new found interest that I picked up after stepping into university, video recording, directing and tweaking with iMovie and Adobe After Effects. Hence, a site to upload all the noob products I've created the past years. From random recordings on 3 megapixel N78, to 8 megapixel Canon digital camera and free-loaded DSLR. An addition to my wish-list in the future - a decent DSLR of my very own.

Plato My Arse

2011-12-01T20:40:00.001+07:00

Life is about ups and downs, now why the heck am I repeating this overrated phrase. No means of paraphrasing. Today has been a day of both up and down, in less than 24 hours both elements played along. Up, because I'm done with an the regular test on Trigeminal nerve, a huge down because I was stuck halfway forgetting the other branches of Infraorbital nerve that form the Superior Dental Superior and I absentminded forgotten about the third gland that is innervated by the nerves. One nerve down, 4 more to go for the next week with even more innervations and topographies to memorize.

The more you cram about Anatomy; the more you wished that the human race will be better of being in spirit form without any bones, muscles, foramens, notches, nerves and etcetera; but then again, doctors will be nugatory which made my entire rant redundant. Doing my regular thing of complaining.

***

Another 'up' for the day, today marks as the last Philosophy class. One of those subjects are have utterly no relation in the field of medicine but yet obligatory for us to take it, wait till you meet my semi-bolded vain, male teacher who has this particular gesture in embracing his vanity while repeating: "I don't understand what are you talking about..." The only response to that is a hard shove of toilet brush down his throat and rinsing it with elephant urine. Terrible. Like asking us whether we are idealist or materialist, who is Plato, Socrates and Aristotle, what are the schools founded by them in early Greek? Seriously... seriously?

***

For the guard that blocked me, not allowing me to enter the hostel. I left my hostel card in the room; instead of letting me in to retrieve he, he was partially dragging me to the front as if I was a refugee entering the foreign land of Russia illegally. Showed him my card and he has an addition load of questions regarding why my current look doesn't resemble the one in the card. It's called 'racism' hence I retorted back with an old time English term, not even contemplating whether the fool understands of not, 'Stupid".

Feed him to the dogs and they'll complain that he's reek meat and refuses to even sniff a piece of him.

Lesson learned: Never ever treat people nice [Parental advise required for adolescents and kids below 15 years old]

Ghost Bird

2011-11-26T06:05:00.000+07:00

The truth is forever painful and hurting; we had a few cycles around Urological ward today and the doctor showed us to this particular patient. She’s only 21 years old, suffering from diabetes mellitus with severe pyelonephritis undergoing 2 weeks treatment but it was effortless so they had to perform surgery on her. Lying there motionless with tubes connecting her left kidney in order to drain out urine. Edema was pretty severe on both legs and face. Only a year older than us, yet the gap of life differences is so prominent; life is cruel and I wouldn’t even think of what to do if I were in her position.

Sometimes it’s better to not let people know the truth; truth alters any form of relationship despite being on solid, firm ground or rocky roads. We might not be able to accept it, hence we try and put efforts in order to pretend that we do not mind. Not everyone is heavy hearted to face the truth.

I’m trying to escape most of the truth that haunts me deeply, explains the insomnia that I’ve been having recently. Wondering why does it have to happen at this time, with this particular person, during this special phenomenon; against all odds and liberation my mind just goes on wondering. Even from the context I’m portraying seemed to show that I’ve been jumbling everything in one post, I tend to get myself lost and diverted from a certain pathway while blogging.

In search for inner peace, in search for serenity, in search for therapy before I lost the way searching myself in reality.

No Name Face

2011-11-25T03:54:00.000+07:00

What a precipitous outcome, it was swiftly 0, to –2 degrees until it dropped massively to –18 degrees one morning. Hence, I’m obliged to ditch the regular Autumn trench coat and had to dig through my closet to put on a winter jacket. Being a cheapskate and not owning any winter boots yet, feet nearly got frozen on my way to main campus. A pair of winter boots range from 4k Rub to 6k Rub, approximately MYR400 to MYR600. I’ll wait for money to drop from the sky.

Random fat cat that I bumped every week in one of the hospitals, as ignorant and as grumpy as ever

Yesterday was Thanksgiving Day; I had an abrupt unintentional Thanksgiving dinner with Mike & Eelin. It was just a random Thursday of having the initiative to cook for my best friends until all of a sudden Mike mentioned: “Hey, it’s Thanksgiving today!” A simple dinner over ‘Chi-kut-teh’, some hard boiled eggs and Sprite. We had so much talking, unnoticed and by the time we decided to call it off… it was already 30 minutes passed midnight.

A day after Thanksgiving, there’s an endless list of things that I’m thankful for; but for now… I’m thankful for having best friends like Mike & Eelin.

Side note: Forgive my lack of inspiring posts, too much too do, too little time, too much procrastination and too much laziness to trounce.

Pro Chicken Cutter

2011-11-24T23:57:00.000+07:00

The supreme feeling when you mastered the skill of cutting, de-skinning, de-boning an entire full-size chicken, cleaning your utensils and dump the chicken into a pot in less than 10 minutes; while the person beside you just stood there awkwardly with another full size chicken doing nothing at the same time, monotone to self: "what a looser."

Nose Poke

2011-11-22T17:29:00.000+07:00

It’s difficult to sketch those non-anime eyes, either you end up getting them in unequal sizes or shapes; same goes to these pair of black framed spectacles and arms and lower extremities. Conclusion, anything that requires drawing in pair form in opposite direction has it’s arduousness and difficulties. Explains why my artworks get all lazier when I’m finished with the character’s head.

Couldn’t explain much from what she wants to express or convey; hence, a poke on the nose. Been doodling a lot of random caricatures recently.

We Are Dreamers

2011-11-21T01:59:00.000+07:00

No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet, death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it, and that is how it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It's life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new.

Steve Jobs, Stanford Commencement Adress, 2005

Took a short break from Histology, grabbed some colour pencils though they seemed alienated by the grips around my phalanges. I prefer my drawings to be bold, nude and natural run across the surface of the paper by pencil lead with slight shading. This time, it got a little different to the addition of minor hues to it.

Sugar Skull

2011-11-19T05:48:00.000+07:00

I had the urge of doodling something related to what I had felt a couple of days ago, something related to fear but not quite at it. It wasn’t something depressing or doleful to an extend that it wretches and distresses me, close to it but there is a wide gap present upon reaching that level. But definitely not my regular abstemious life, it had to meant something and hence this artwork came to live.

Sugar skull, one of the most popular figures of the Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico. It has nothing to do with me practicing such form of celebration; but I find that sugar skulls are intricate and unique at the same time. I tried to convey what I felt through it, despite the absence of correlation between both parties. If I were to draw something dark, gory and medieval; it would have belied my own feelings by then.

I was impressed by the meticulous, comprehensive and precise tattoos of sugar skulls performed by tattoo artists on actual human skin. My was comparatively child’s play, considering the fact that it was randomly sketched when I was munching over ‘Twix’ in one hand, eyes stuck on some Taiwanese reality show and a right hand griping my regular 2B pencil sketching. 10 minutes later, I gave up and stopped with an uncompleted female figurine beside.

Was attempting a similar artwork, adding a slight Japanese scent to it but the inspiration and focus came to naught after that.

2011-11-18T03:16:00.000+07:00

The power of photo editing, diminishes eye bags, weariness, swollenness… basically everything on the face as a result of sleep deprived.

Maybe add a wig and excessive makeup, all hail photo editing. Over timed for my so-called short rest from Histology.

Passport Ride

2011-11-15T04:46:00.000+07:00

A recent event obliged me to take a 14 hour bus ride all the way down to Moscow; I absentmindedly lost my passport last month. Now don’t get all over me questioning unremittingly regarding how I lost it, or like most people would go on perpetually reminding me search for it at this ‘so-called last place I have put it’. Well, if I am able to recall where I last placed it I would not even be bothering making police reports, and going through all the trouble dealing such issues.

Made several stops for urination, cleaning, breathing and random photo snapping

I was lucky to be accompanied by a friend; going through all the hard times due to such loss. It may seemed like a minute problem, but really… it’s one of those times we can make a clearer filtration of who are those standing next to you when a problem such rock hard wacked on your face. 14 hours of bus ride is indeed straining, the cramped, confining seat causing you to change position every half an hour, the constant adjustment on where to place both legs; I ended up placing my root directly behind the head rest of this anonymous Russian in front of me.

Eelin’s Cappuccino with cinnamon and mine was with German chocolate

We arrived an hour and half earlier before estimated time, the local time was 5AM with a degree of –5, was wondering in the dark streets of Moscow until I randomly spotted a 24 hour operating ‘Coffee House’. Rushed in to catch some warmth and waited till 6AM to place some orders. I recalled telling to my fellow comrades, one of the luckiest thing in life for me is to have a proper breakfast with a nice dose of caffeine, preferably coffee. Well, this happened to be one of those ‘lucky’ days.

Breakfast was tortillas with cheese and ham

Chit chat, got hold of some friends from Moscow just in case I got lost or got kidnapped and tuned into some Cantonese soap operas in Eelin’s iPad while waiting for food to arrive. Uncommonly surprised to see people entering the building when it was only 6AM or around that time, mostly well dressed in suits and tuxedo after they removed their winter coats. Mid-aged working citizens beginning their day, most of them with croissant drizzled with chocolate syrup. I love social learning, hence being as observant as I can.

Insisted on not wearing winter jacket, hence I wrapped myself with 3 layer of clothing including thermal over an autumn trench coat.

Took a cab that costs me more than a hand and a leg and had to wonder around an entire hector filled with embassy headquarters. The ratio of our Malaysian Embassy compared to Swedish and German is around 1:10:10, no joke. Took me sometime to rewrite documentations all in Malay, was stuck all the way thinking how to translate pocket from English to Malay. But thank God all is done.

Kievskaya

Mr. Tan, Minister Counselor of the Malaysian Embassy was really kind to buy Eelin and I lunch, had some really interesting conversation with this fellow. Drove us to the nearest train station and did some walking before heading back to Volgograd.

2 nights in the bus without sleep, missed Biochemistry and Russian for Monday. Thank God that things are settled now, lesson learned: chain every valuable items to yourself, that’s what limbs are for.

Blaze

2011-11-10T03:43:00.000+07:00

Vintage people never die

First attempt trying the fire effect

The Twilight Edward Cullens

Perfect blaze

Autumn, You Confused Me

2011-11-09T04:41:00.000+07:00

Why do good times passed so fast? Even seasons are obliged to obey such law, autumn stays for a wee too short; leaves did not even have the chance to embrace their golden charm, let alone bringing out their rare ruby redness which I assumed most photographers are desperate for. As for me, it is only this year that I did not utilize a camera during Autumn season. Digital cameras are terrible in taking pictures now that I learned a thing or two tweaking with a DSLR.

It was all sudden, woke up as early as 7AM to make myself daily coffee while scrolling through newsfeed from Facebook, apparently that came as my prior compared to reading real news from Star online or sites similar to that. Bombarded with status updates regarding first snow in Volgograd, only realized when Sean asked me to peek through the window and discovered that everything was covered in snow.

Bugged a friend to tag along with me after some period of endless persuasion just so that we can leave earlier to snap a few shots on the way. Not forgetting to mention that I had Physiology colloq on that very day. It didn’t go perfectly well, questions about long and short reflexes in Enteric Nervous System that I left out while studying.

Currently being sunken in my confused state whether to call this season autumn or winter?

Of Names

2011-11-07T05:13:00.000+07:00

How can names be such a hilarious subject to discuss about over a cup of coffee when four are gathered together? The hysterical part was when we depend on the internet searching for sources over our names’ origin and making a fun out of everything. Like Cynthia who actually came from a mountain, well that’s a bad way of mentioning it when it actually originates from the Greek moon goddess who was born on Mount Cynthus. Not forgetting, the name Fiona with a related name ‘Fionnghal’ which was wrongly pronounced as ‘Fionghai’ initially by the person herself causing such a hell load of havoc when I thought it came from some rural village originating in China. Sean, when he just starting proudly describing his name’s origin from Ireland and out of the blue someone mentioned the Jamaican pop singer ‘Sean Kingston’, epically ruined his moment.

Conversations like this are worth sacrificing Histology for; laughter does not last forever.

***

On a side note, I've been having a major headache on what phone to get to replace my dying N78. Stop flushing my mind with the latest iPhone 4S because people need to stop having stereotype thinking that Macbook users must also own an iPhone. Wrong. The latest iPhone 4S doesn't impress me at all, it tricked me into believing that Apple would release an iPhone 5 with larger screen display; besides, to be honest... iPhone 4S with a price tag as huge as THAT! It's either people are getting richer and richer or that people just want to actually follow the trend of graciously owning an iPhone. Hence, I'n in dilemma of considering either Android or Windows phone. Android's interface looks overall too messy; Windows on the other hand has really smooth stunningly simply interface. Since I'm not familiar at all with both Android and Windows phone...

I'm either considering HTC Titan or HTC HD7, price unknown yet but hopefully by end of January it'll will drop as low as my budget. Initially I was really liking Nokia Lumia 800 until... I realised that no bloody idiot will ever buy that device since it doesn't even have a front facing camera. Flea brain

Chocolate Cheese Song

2011-11-05T17:39:00.000+07:00

An afternoon of pool with a few friends of mine, you feel like a superior omnipotent once your skills in pool are improving in nanometers; never felt so great in my life. Pretty get the hang of it once you practice more, that is… if there are anymore further holidays for me to kill time and to gather buddies for tiny gatherings such as that.

Night I spent a night with homemade cheese/chocolate fondue with Mike & Lily; one of those random ideas that flashed through your mind once in a while but we never seemed to bother about it. So I asked Lily “come let’s do a fondue at Jun’s place this Friday night!” We did manage to realize it, only at a different location and minus Jun out of the equation.

The sinful gluttony of dipping baked bread in warm, fragrant cheese with wine. Perfect concoction to please every taste bud, it must be the blue cheese effect but Mike insisted that it was the wine that was performing it’s magic. Just like the fondue stand, it has this therapy effect, lazing around on my room’s floor carpet with thick fluffy blankets, satisfying ourselves with a mouthful of cheese and bread. When we got sick of that, we melted bitter/sweet chocolate in milk and have ourselves chocolate fondue instead. Fork a banana in it and the feeling gets all your nerves and taste buds voraciously orgasmic. Bananas and chocolate, nothing beats them I swear.

Not forgetting the series of music from the 90’s, now that’s what you call heaven.

Catch Her Way

2011-11-04T22:49:00.000+07:00

Planned out a birthday dinner for Jun at Coffee House last Tuesday night with Lily & Mike, it’s been long since we have our very own ‘family’ time together. Got myself a dark purple shirt with red cardigan for the night, a perfect chum along with my ‘Tropic’ drink I ordered.

Shot of Mike & I, purposely making me look tall here

Mike and his “one guy two wives” post, that’s what I name it

Pretty girls, sis and birthday girl, Jun

Forever acting cool

Had some random candid snapshots with my digital camera for the night, the thing about digital camera is that so much extreme editing on various software is essential to create a decent picture. It’s a really hideous ugly lady putting on makeup with the thickness of my Anatomy text book; without it they’ll just look revoltingly unsightly.

Had some really tasty good, Coffee House serves one of the best pizzas and pastas, shared among ourselves some cake to sum up a fantastic night.

Stair Wells

2011-11-03T06:31:00.000+07:00

Belated birthday artwork of a good friend of mine, taken by Mike’s DSLR & polarizer

First day of my 3 days holiday just started, though it does not feel like a holiday since I will be mercilessly bombarded by Physiology, Anatomy & Histology colloquiums for the next week. The feeling of wanting to slack through these three days by endless dozing and siesta broke off reluctantly. People were asking for plans during these few days, but all I wanted is to just follow the flow; hence I settled down with an afternoon lunch and pool session, along with homemade chocolate fondue at Jun’s place with loved ones tomorrow.

Pretty much resembling the real person, minus the imbaance chibi liked head

I had 2 days continues of 3 hours of sleep only these few days, no idea why but I could not seem to figure out what’s the cause of my grave insomnia. A transparent burden not being lifted but the chances of me trying to recall it is nil. I’m considering calm, Zen music with a bolded blue coloured mat for yoga or meditation to ease the withered mind of mine.

Time for my pencils and papers. Maybe some song by Kina Grannis or Jason Walker, good stuff. Not forgetting a huge mug of coffee.

Hold Them Back

2011-11-02T05:12:00.000+07:00

Flutters of happiness flying unsteadily, hovering each flap of wings so quickly and lightly; have you ever wonder why does merriment, zest and levity last for such a short while? If you know that delight and joy is only temporary, how could you even fully soak yourself in those high-spirit moments of gaiety?

They say that life is the pursuit of happiness when we’re young. Then, you grow up and learn to be cautious, having doubts, thinking more meticulous before taking any actions. Uncertain whether to make a second step or not because you could easily break a bone or a heart. You look before you leap and sometimes you don’t leap at all because there’s not always someone there to catch you. Life becomes less safe as we grow up because we are embedded that a deplorable, abysmal and an atrocious misery will come after us. We’ve transformed into such pessimistic and negative people when we don’t understand the cycle of life, ups and downs reverberate themselves without control.

When did we even stop being fun and started being scared of life?

Jun

2011-11-01T03:10:00.001+07:00

Happy Birthday Jun, lots of love & hugs from Lily, Mike & myself

Nice Spice

2011-10-30T05:53:00.000+07:00

Did I mention to you that I have very little Indian friends before I came here? Blame the scattered diversity of race in Malaysia dividing those in the East & West. Apparently I only had one before I knew Kaliz. Having absolutely zilch of knowledge towards the Indian culture, let alone Indian cuisine. Maybe the only thing I could label as Indian-associated items were roti canai, sari, chapatti and of course curry & Deepavali. It was our pleasure to have Kaliz cooking all morning at Dennis’ place just to gather a few of us for an amazing Diwali lunch.

There was sambal chicken, chicken curry, dal, papadam, mixed vegetables and thanks to Dennis & Leet Liang we had Longan as beverages to chill down the spiciness though it was merely spicy, merely satisfactory according to my taste buds’ stimulation level towards pain.

A great afternoon, with a great deal of photography session; apparently photographs are still lodged in Mike’s DSLR and I lost all my patience waiting for him to upload them in Facebook. On the other hand, Dennis’ place is nicely decorated with Japanese orientated Noren.

Believe, In Order To See

2011-10-29T04:40:00.000+07:00

The many faces of those in cell group

A revelation made indeed, till today I never felt more grateful for the solid foundation laid by my previous seniors who founded Jesus Embassy (J.E). Thanks to them, J.E has evolved massively. From daily night prayers I used to have with Hsu Zane, Lily, Jun & Mike to weekly cell group lead by Kelvin to the recent new fellowship we had along with new juniors. So much has grown for the past 3 years, from a tiny gathering of people countable with handful of people to a group from us gathering here every week to share and study the word of God.

Praise & worship has never been the same without these people; I’ve always tell myself that I could really not find any place like here, seems that whenever I head back home for summer break, the thing I missed the most is service and gathering with a bunch of ‘family members’.

Today’s cell was beyond extraordinarily, decided to go for a twist by focusing on words & thoughts shared among us on how God changed our lives. Indeed, we know that the Bible is a living proof of His words & actions. Likewise, learning from people’s experience is the prime method of knowing more about God. Priceless testimonies and experience on how God changed our lives and how God touched us, it really drives me speechless whenever I have in mind how amazing our God is. In fact, the word amazing itself isn’t sufficient to entirely describe his mercy and power.

Something that really stroke me for the night, a verse shared by one of the cell members, “It’s typical for any normal human being to see in order to believe; but for us Christians, it is always vital for us to believe in order to see.” Our regular prayer routine begins with a short gratitude, comparable it continues on with a long endless list of requests and needs and most probably we’d end it with a short note of forgiveness and reminder. God knows everything, He knows what are our desires and eagerness; needless for us to rephrase to remind him. But what we should do is to actually have faith and trust and actually believe in what He is capable of despite the fact that it might be subjective and un-measureable. He doesn’t work in any systematical way, instead all He ever wanted is to have trust and belief in Him and surrender it all entirely and He will do the rest. Blame skepticism and dubiousness that we are all familiar of; apparently we should ditch that thought and concede what we have to Him.

As I meditate through that, I constantly remind myself… God understands our desperation and hunger, nothing radical is needed to prove to Him whether we get what we deserve. He has plans for us, and all we need to do is just leave it to Him and get with the flow. It’s just that simple, hard to believe but it’s true.

Ghost

2011-10-27T04:23:00.000+07:00

I’ve been constantly reminding myself to do things immediately, evoking this retched mind of mine to avoid any procrastination. I recalled weeks ago, I set up a new to-do list in my iPod touch labeled ‘high priority’ with 3 bolded red stripes just so that I would be assiduous enough to snap some shots of autumn trees since it has yellowing for weeks. But believe it or not, despite carrying a digital camera to classes/lectures everyday I never tend to bother about it. Even a 3 bolded red striped ‘high priority’ reminder isn’t sufficient to spur up the tendency to do things instantaneously.

The most recent event to prove that I wasn’t procrastinating was actually completing a quarter of pre-reading on Physiology 2 days earlier as well as Anatomy: Telencephalon and it made me felt like an omnipotent ruler.

Seemingly, spent more than an hour plus chit chatting with my buddies and tweaking around the web cam after discovering this amazing ‘ghost’ effect. It creates semi-transparent, coloured, slow motion of those in view. Also, the starting the deluge of wall posts from friends surprised that I actually got a new hair cut. My 3rd year in Russia and this was the first time I actually got a proper hair cut from a professional; ostensibly I could not stand getting any imperfect hair cut from friends with flaws all over. Hence, I told the hair dresser I wanted it all short, really short.

The outcome of it, it actually took me approximately a week to accept this new look. Psychologically I normally think that an average hair cut will look at it’s best after 2 weeks, hence the vanity within me is escalating slightly as I think that my current hair style fits the most. Ditched the unnecessary bangs and fringe that the preponderance of Asians owned. Most importantly, it was well trimmed and no crooked holes snapping here and there.

For now, there are lots of things to settle, endless events to be worried about, infinite amount of patience needed to face my everyday life.

Diwali

2011-10-26T22:28:00.001+07:00

A little gathering after Physiology.
Happy Diwali to those celebrating

Pathetic

2011-10-25T03:46:00.000+07:00

Been repeating, reiterating, recapitulating the same thought, phrase, word, verb, noun whatever that is in accordance the the term that has the same definition it processes over infinite times. Encountered a scene that I've seen more than any television commercial, akin to hitting the [pause] [play] [rewind] button more than anyone could count, pathetic. Nauseous and bilious as it looks, I have no rights but to just silently swallow every queasy and qualmish action.

Why being so pathetic?

Pancakes & Choc

2011-10-23T18:33:00.001+07:00

What a gift the mornings we received every single day, not just any typical morning where classes/lectures or any form of stress source come slumping on us; but those Sunday morning that we are being apprised of having ultimate relaxation and an endless cascade of productivity.

Decided to drag my lazy bum up after a 9AM morning call to make pancakes and chocolate, 2 hours of endless talking, watching the stack of pancakes stretching out in heights. The final touch, melting bars of dark, bitter chocolates in fresh milk. Hands down! Divine as a thick flow of chocolate streamed through every piece of pancake, and what’s better than having these heavenly goods being shared around a circle of close friends?

Now take a deep breath, feel your lungs expand and feel the calm and tranquility. Thanks for a perfect Sunday.

Condolence to Yueyue

2011-10-21T01:26:00.000+07:00

I’m sure by now people from all walks of life have been stupefied by the death of Yueyue, the hit-and-run toddler case happened in China. It sparked an outpouring of sympathy and solicitude across nation and world wide. There was a slight chance of miracle when the toddler was not found dead after being run over by a vehicle not only once, but twice! Unfortunately even the best medication and intensive care could not revive the death of this poor soul; she failed to survive from the injuries.

Such agony and injury; physical or mentally; how much can a toddler like this endure? Another innocent human life wasted, literally wasted due to men’s own self-centeredness. Homo sapiens, when did we became so monstrous, heartless, merciless and evil? How is it possible that the standing 18 people witnessing such tragedy just got rooted there without any compassion or concern while others fled away acting as if nothing happened when there was an actual toddler dying on the streets on Foshan, China.

According to shanghaiist.com

“ The first passerby, who is very likely to have witnessed what happened, walked around the girl, without even looking down to see what happened to her. Behind him was another man, who apparently also witnessed the accident, but decided to make a u-turn so he wouldn't have to come up close to the girl lying on the road. One cyclist took a brief look at the girl, but decided to cycle away as if nothing happened, and a fourth passerby also walked around the toddler.”

It was only when the body was ran over by another van; a dozen of people started to actually notice something. Bystanders leisurely made their move around the girl, who by this time was in a bloody mess. Most probably maybe took a glance or two and shifted away unsparingly. By God’s grace, finally a female scrap peddler decided to do something and it was only at this time, the girl’s mother appeared and rushed the girl to the hospital.

I read heaps and heaps of articles and news regarding what the world thinks about this, it is from the comment sections that I realised how screwed up and sick our human mind is apparently. Stereotypes will label the entire China or worst Chinese including Asians, thinking that they are also in the same boat as these 18 people that ignored a dead body. Comments claiming that they should be punished and sent to hell and a reply retorted that ‘Christians are scums’. What has this got to do with the entire nation of China and what does hell has to do with Christians? Humans can sacrifice so much financially, effort and time in overzealous attempt to modernize and globalize the world but failed badly in showing the slightest Pico meter of compassion and mercy.

Warning: The following video contains graphic images not suitable for all viewers.

In this current state, belief and mercy has been cleanly swiped off from the surface of the Earth. What has religion taught us before? There was a debate on whether a belief in God make more Good Samaritans out of us? As redundant as it may sound on why would people even bother to debate on such issue, there are people who voiced out their points. Some questioned why people might think that a belief in God would make one more moral. History (and the present) provides plenty of counter-examples; he on the other hand also never realised how history has brought immense changes to the world for those who believed in their respective religion. Some thinks that a better solution than religion is for the government to enact Good Samaritan laws, and claimed that belief is something naive because it doesn’t stop any sort of violation, gangsterism, vandalism and any sort of social issues mushrooming every corner of the world. Rubbish, it is because humans are loosing their faith and submitting themselves to so-called reality and hence never trust God and finally turned all lost which finally lead them into the wilderness of evil and a den of iniquitous.

Without god we are nothing, belief is something subjective and not every individual choose to believe it. I trust that each religion has a main purpose in making good Samaritans and disciples out of everyone, it is us who will choose whether to follow or not. Saying religion has nothing to do with making the best out of everyone is not only naive but stupid.

My deepest condolence to Yueyue and her parents, you will always be remembered.

Worth

2011-10-18T03:24:00.000+07:00

“.. also, I have to be worried about you because no one else would."

-Grey's Anatomy season 7

You know those really bad times when you feel so restless, bare and naked without people who care for you and help you through those hard times. It’s like walking and wriggling wearily with a hefty, ponderous burden behind above your shoulders across an inky dark tunnel. At the same time, all you want to do is just screech with the loudest clamor blaming God for hurling such millstone.

“ WHY IS IT ON ME AND NOT ON SOMEONE ELSE?
WHAT HAVE I DONE TO DESERVE ALL OF THIS ?! ”

The onus is on you to show that you have suffered more than any other people; to tell people that you have grown from such dire consequences but most importantly to show how much faith & trust you have put on God as He guides you along the way. Unnoticed but true.

Moreover, to open and widen your eyes to see who actually stays by our side; hand in hand overcoming those moments when we’re giving up, loosing faith, literally dying in shame & forlorn. Maybe a handful of people or less will remain, but it doesn’t matter because those are the ones that are worth living for.

Add Sugar To Egg

2011-10-17T23:35:00.001+07:00

Sushi, it takes endless patience when it comes to rustling up a decent, fragrant, perfect sushi rice. It takes an ample amount of vinegar and sugar and the right rice in order to make sushi. Which I clearly fail at it and still crawling slowly learning and perfecting my culinary skills at it.

Tagged along Eelin for an afternoon to roll up some of these and distribute it among some juniors and friends; never knew that adding sugar while stirring up and omelet can make it taste so much better. Eons I have underestimated this thing called sugar, never once I bothered about it apart from baking a pie or desert. Even a nice hot cup of milo/coffee doesn’t require sugar for me. Hence, the jar is forever left unattended and untouched. It’s like adding an entire new dimension to the particular jar of sugar in my cupboard.

An Asian dish calls up for an Asian series [Why? It’s because I’m dead racist] , like how I’m watching a Korean series – City Hunter. Highly recommended, thumbs up.

Amputation

2011-10-16T03:57:00.000+07:00

What does it feel to be amputated? Will we be able to feel the acute gush of agony, sharp pang of torment and throbbing pain? This thought just came to my mind, what is worst than having yourself being amputated? Let it be our own feet, or arms or maybe a mild finger?

I just saw a scene in Grey’s Anatomy season 7 episode one, don’t question be about why I just got started with episode one. Blame on the pile of workload I have to read everyday please, wait… blame my university, but then again blame me for choosing this course. That was a whole series of gibberish condemnation caused by yours truly.

Random picture of my shoes and a Fiona’s leopard’s slipper

There was a scene, whereby a lady accidently fell into a pit hole together with her husband and her legs were crushed by a vehicle who came crashing down on them. Orthopedics and medical officers came to the rescue but eventually they were unable to do much of a help due to fragile ground. Thus, they came down to a dreadful conclusion of persuading the husband to amputate his own wife’s legs above knee level. He was in tears, as he took a scalpel and began his move on her flesh. It was heartbreaking and cruel but that was the only way to save his wife’s life.

I asked a friend, stunned by his actions: “Will you do that in order to save someone else’s life?” He replied: “That’s a real challenge, it’s like hurting someone you love in order to save her…”

Ever come across the time when we hurt someone intentionally just because we’re trying to help and save them or preventing them from feeling even more hurtful? The feeling of remorse is unbearable I understand, just like amputating a part of someone you care.

Ayam Masak Lemak

2011-10-14T04:43:00.000+07:00

I’ve always been trying to stir up some Malay dishes, curry, rendang or anything similar to it seemed a bit difficult to me. Try and error maybe, but I’m a person that stresses on a one time success just to keep the motivation up considering the fact that I’m not a person who possesses strong enthusiasm in culinary and cookery.

Decided to start from the easiest, easy in a sense that ingredients can be obtained effortless; begging or simply asking from generous friends who shipped their stuff all the way from respective hometowns. Coconut milk, tumeric, ginger, onions all stirred up into a concoction of fragrant dish of ‘Ayam masak lemak’ or literally translated as ‘Chicken cooked in fat’.

Not bad for a first timer, would be served perfectly with ‘lontong’ . Shall attempt basic curry soon enough.

Received, Give

2011-10-11T03:53:00.000+07:00

Note of paper while cramming Histology in study hall

Hard

2011-10-08T03:28:00.000+07:00

“ It’s only when hard times, we can really see who our real friends are.”

I could not agree with this more, especially when you’re sinking leisurely; when there is neither help nor help. Just a slight grasp of faith you can hold on too, knowing that there might not be a miracle. We feel guilty for not trusting God, but it’s hard to put Him and reality primarily at times like this. Nevertheless, there is no harm to try.

Steve Jobs

2011-10-06T02:55:00.000+07:00

I’m very proud to be an owner of a Macbook Pro; neither because it is fancy being labeled as an Apple product that people from all walks of life like to overrate it as, nor it is a gimmick simply because it sounds glamorous to elaborate any flamboyancy. Due to it’s design, simplicity, solid foundation of Macintosh & all the other reasons I can think of which is nothing comparable to Windows.

In fact, the pioneer and creator himself cannot be compared to anyone else; hence he is my idol – Steve Jobs.

I received a text as early as 7AM in the morning by Lily informing me that Steve Jobs died. Sooner after that several friends of mine texted me from various places, some questioning about his death, some expressing their grief. Further more, news feed on Facebook and Twitter feeds were bombarded by this tragedy. It was hard to swallow initially but sooner, I realised that it is true that our world has lost a legend.

Here I am typing on my Macbook Pro, one among the million pieces of gadgets he created; listening to songs on my iPod Touch. My idol lives forever, his inspiration will forever continue.

Harmonix

2011-10-05T03:56:00.000+07:00

I was supposed to blog several days ago; but as usual when procrastination strikes in and workload just uninvitingly started to pile up with aversion. Such antipathy when it comes to several concluding tests in one go for a week, a decision to sacrifice my regular afternoon nap wishing that ‘just maybe’ I could have some additional time to prepare for other subjects other than pre-reading heavy subjects for the next day seemed to be redundant and superfluous since pre-reading itself is already insufficient for subjects such as Biochemistry & Physiology on the next day, what more to say pre-studying for concluding tests. Classic rants but no action taken, words from an epic failure.

Harmonix, just some random song title I stumbled on while probing here and there and everywhere the net for good Indie music.

Meanwhile, iPhone 4S is out instead of the long anticipated rumoured iPhone 5; no tapered design with larger screen size or different home button. Just another regular iPhone 4 but with better 8 megapixel camera and addition of several applications and the so-called voice command SIRI. There goes my time, straight and wasted as I was following some live blog/live stream on Apple event yesterday.

Before this I was in a deep dilemma whether to save up some money for winter trip or to change my dead Nokia N78 to this so-called overrated iPhone 5, it’s clear to me that obviously winter trip will be much more worth it now. But you got to admit that if the iPhone 5 really were to end up like this, Apple would most probably get a good laugh by every other devices in the world because it obviously looks hideous, out of proportions and cheap. Now how the bloody heck am I going to survive with a dead phone; still desperate for a substitute though. Maybe an Android?

Twitter trends flooded with SIRI jokes, and I was even wondering myself: “Are they even going to integrate SIRI with Bahasa Melayu? Or at least lousy Singlish/broken English? Considering the fact that Malaysians speak pretty… poor English. Like for example:

Malaysian user: “Errr can help me check tomorrow’s weather ar?
Malaysian iPhone 4S: “Cannot check yourself meh?”
Malaysian user: “If I can check myself, I won’t even ask you larh!”
Malaysian iPhone 4S: “Malaysia always hot one! Need to ask me meh?!”
Malaysian user: “Diam larh!”
Malaysian iPhone 4S: [language detected… Lousy Malaysian English]

October

2011-10-01T22:51:00.000+07:00

I'm falling apart, I'm barely breathing
with a broken heart that's still beating
In the pain, there is healing
In your name I find meaning
So I'm holdin' on
I’m barely holdin’ on to you

Seriously, the best song to start off October. So bold, acoustic and touches the soul; with lyrics written in such manner, anyone can just die.

Coffee & People

2011-09-30T03:13:00.000+07:00

Half of the 2nd years were supposed to have our medical check up today; at an intolerable ungodly hour of 8AM in the morning when my entire system is not probably functioning yet. Nevertheless, got a call from a batch mate informing that there was some unavoidable accident in the hospital so there goes our medical check up. Best part was that all classes were all cancelled as well, it was a day of holiday for us.

Hence, everyone migrated to the nearest McDonald’s to have breakfast. Grabbed myself a double beef egg burger and a cup of latte in commemoration of National Coffee Day.

A nice rainy day for a cup of coffee, food and bunch of friends to gather and talk about practically everything in the world. How our mindsets clashed with others, how other’s link with one another; how creative and unique this diversity is.

Side note: In the verge of flinging my N78 away, it’s system jams/hangs almost every minute I want to send a text message or make a simple phone call, or even Whatsapp/Skype. Whenever it malfunctions, it takes endless effort to restart and when it does, it eventually hangs again and again. In addition to that, it gets even better because I need to recharge more than 3 times a day for no reason. Someone pay for a new iPhone please?

Judge Me

2011-09-29T03:42:00.000+07:00

Here’s a vain picture of myself, aviator glasses courtesy of Kaliz

Blogging, I always consider myself undergoing a change. Some sort of a metamorphosis, rejiggering the way I express/type/write whatever noun used to indicate how a blogger works on his little galaxy. I call my blog a personal galaxy, me being the creator on determining how many miles that lie between two planets, climate and organisms and etcetera.

Everyone changes throughout their blogging days, I changed in quite a significant amount. I always consider myself being able to revamp into a kinder, better, less judge mental person; in short maybe to grow a new heart in mind. Clearly, I have failed badly.

The world is weak, despite the massive overzealous growth in technology and freedom to express in simply any sort of ways one can ever imagine… the world is still weak. They are unable to handle what people judge on them, just a tiny comment of so might pierce through their meek soul. Maybe they are being misjudged? Maybe what we deduce from the first impression is highly perpendicular from what the original person is?

The truth is that, these are all uncontrollable and without restrictions. You can try to curb it, but really… why waste the effort.

As obnoxious, selfish, rude as it may seemed, we can’t really stop people from judging or making comments about us. It’s how the world rotates; slight curiosity stimulates and inflicts what we think and when something somehow… deviants from our own personal mindset, people comment. Unless, you’re truly a follower who unfortunately hound along whatever everyone says, or maybe suffered from a massive gangrene being unable to have your own thoughts and mindset. Or else, it is impossible for one not to judge.

However, everything has it’s limits. We judge accordingly, not abusively. Not putting what’s bad in every single aspect of a person arranging their weak points accordingly from head to toe, that is just plain intolerable. In conclusion, people judge… if people ask me whether I judge, I’ll just reply: “Yes, I’m pure evil and I judge and rate everyone from A to Z.”.

Mid-Autumn

2011-09-28T23:15:00.000+07:00

Mid-Autumn festival – a festival celebrated with family; a couple of wooden stools, pieces of moon cakes particularly those with egg yolk accompanied with hot tea and conversations lost in hubbub as family members gather together under one moon. My third time being apart from home but, I am not missing every bit of warmth and love simply because I have all my love ones beside me.

Family

Best friends

… and community.

[ Photographs credit to Shen Yew ]

Being Indie For A Night

2011-09-26T03:28:00.000+07:00

Jazz Festival, Prague

If only I have in my hand a class of thin highball cocktail, maybe a loose clasp on the edge of glass mixed with a concoction of gin & tonic embellished with wedged lemon, make that a ration of 1:2. A scoopful of shaved ice would be perfect, then I would just imaginarily smoke myself through the night dying in Theory Of A Dead Man’s music. Conjuring up thoughts being an indie singer playing his acoustic guitar in a deserted bar, ignoring what gazes upon him and only to work his chords and being accompanied by his vocals, this exact feeling.

Since his life is so worthless, shoddy and tawdry; never would be expect any woman to pay attention. If someone ever told him “You’re my wonderwall”, He would whip his penis out and be like, “Hi. It’s yours. Take this forever.” He knew that she’s a dick magnet, but she’s hot, up on stage, doing shots and seducing every male. Even though that this relationship of hooking up is only a stopgap; nothing serious but banging and exploring throughout the night, getting laid in any cheap motel would be fun for a night. Not your typical underage copulation but so much intense, graphic and raw as she grinds it to the beat.

No need any sunlight to induce the slightest sentimental mush. It wakes him up, “Oh F*ck!” Across his face landed a strong slap; a force of realization. Quietly, grabbed his boxers, baggy jeans, tank and whatever that has been left behind. Maybe stumbled upon an empty bottle or two as he doddered out the door feeling no shame or whatsoever. “Who gives a damn right?”

Drop In The Ocean

2011-09-25T03:36:00.000+07:00

Little would I expect that it would actually rain; never estimate the power held in these tiny droplets of liquid spherule. It could easily drastically alter a summer-like day to what is called gloomy, gelid, frigid and chilly all at the same time to churn out the autumn days.

Sunday is the golden clasp that binds together the volume of the week, mine had a good starting point. Enjoyed cell group session in the morning and did some grocery shopping with a list of dishes gyrating through my mind. Felt like trying out the new ‘Peri peri chicken’ that I stumbled upon online, or doing the regular lemon chicken, or just simple buttered garlic chicken…

After a fruitful 3 hour evening nap, I ended up with simple porridge topped with ham floss seeing that I was craving for the scent and aroma of sesame oil just to suit the balmy late summer/beginning of autumn.

Millions long for immortality who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Nothing beats a rainy day other than music by ‘Ron Pope’ accompanied by hot coffee and endless slides of Biochemistry.

Oat, Trust

2011-09-24T03:13:00.000+07:00

Sipping through a warm cup of oat milk, stirring it as the delicate flakes swirl and twirl in the midst of cream matte liquid; a combination of flavour and scent when it drops to 8 degrees outside. Works fine to rest a tired mind, it works simultaneously without us noticing it. How all these nerves, plexus, veins and arteries connected to one another contributing to a cloud of ideas and endless ponderings. Opaque, clear, leaden & somber or joy with exuberance.

It does not require me much thinking when it comes to something so subjective, if I am not directly involved or encompassed. It requires a certain amount of experience & testing, no need an overdose of marathon.

Mike & I, photograph at Vienna, Ausrtria

Recently, a good friend of mine brought out an issue on ‘Trust’. It had never come to my mind how a five letter word can either build a bridge linking two particular individuals together or the other way round. Time is never a factor when it comes to most things, but to build up trust we really need an opulence of seconds to gain trust from someone, what’s more… it’s not any ordinary someone. True friends bond trust together in their friendship.

Friends come and go all the time; you don’t really need plenty of friends with a social cycle of thousands of diameter compared to others. You just need one good friend whom you can solely lay their trust on.

What is Science?

2011-09-22T22:14:00.001+07:00

I used 5 days to rethink about some stuff, though timing is something particularly subjective and I would not consider 5 days minus other prototypical daily routines sufficient enough. Juggling between those subjects most certainly took up 80% of my 24 hours, again subtract the excess sleeping time that my brain works for rearranging and reorganizing information entered during pre-reading over the night, despite the fact that they might be little in mass.

Hence I’m left with maybe an hour or less to rethink, reshuffle, re-ponder and most importantly remaking reflections on myself within a day.

Stalked photograph by Mike in one of the hostels in Prague, Czech Republic

By the way, this appeared during Philosophy class today. My self-absorbed vain, obnoxious philosophy lecturer who thinks that he is the hottest guy ever in class and keeps during the ‘protruding’ posture like how girls do when they intended to make their cleavage more prominent and obvious to the audience.

Philo lecturer: “What is science?”

Me: “Science is a form of study or investigations carried out to prove a certain event based on hypothesis..?”

I should be saying that science is food, content removed due to certain issues; life is just that lame when your blog becomes your mouth and people swallow them down without much sense of entertainment. Shoot me.

Baju Melayu

2011-09-16T03:41:00.000+07:00

It’s been long since I approached myself to such ambrosial scent, the rich taste flowing across my stagnant taste buds. Being a Malaysian but yet hardly grasp a spoonful of authentic Malay cuisine, hence a million thanks Areena and her housemates for making an effort for having an Open House cum Raya celebration at their new apartment.

We had curry, rendang, ‘lontong’ [my favourite among all the scrumptious food which I intended to steal the recipe from Areena], nasi himpit [which I assumed that it was chunks of ketupat] and some other Malay dishes that I embarrassingly failed to know.

On the contrary, it was the best time to gather all 2nd year batch mates together under this humble roof as we welcome another hectic year. I’m pleased to proclaim that it is really fuming the spirit and essence of ‘1Malaysia’. Pretty interesting when we all were walking in traditional Malay costumes along Russian streets with all the Russians staring at us, all we lack is a Malaysian flag.

Thumbs up for Dennis & I wearing our traditional Malay costumes, was about to get ‘sampin’ from Malaysia but apparently I have no idea how to wear it. Maybe next year.

[Photographs credit to Aniq, Cuiya & Dennis]

Oblongata

2011-09-14T05:08:00.000+07:00

Been stumbling down the periphery of the corridor like a lifeless zombie, apparently the JPA 1st year students arrived at such odd hours yesterday; arrival time in Volgograd was 11.30PM and by the time officially lug their buttocks in the hostel it was already way past midnight. Who books flight at such ungodly hour?

I had Physiology & Immunology the next day, 4 hours of sleep after helping them settling down their stuff proved how awfully feeble and ailing my brain was. Eyelids were exceptionally heavy the next morning especially during Physio class; could not bother much but to gaze at the time every second wondering when will class end so that I am able to doze off in dreamland.

Started off and ended off roughly with MCQs for Immunology, but who gives a damn about it when we only have less than 10 classes for this semester. Slacking and plan to ditch that subject, stumble upon groceries for bak-kut-teh minus the pork and ended up with chi-kut-teh instead.

Did some meeting/gathering/assembly whatever you want to label it; more of a formality sort of senior-junior session for the night. Exhibit one: some girl asked whether should she boil mineral water bought from the store after I told her not to directly drink tap water like what European countries are allowed to. Exhibit two: guy who asked me how to wash his briefs/underwear. Major face palm, I blame certain universities that pamper students over the edge, making them failing in learning the slightest of independence. Same goes to me when I first cam here, could barely even cook rice.

Wednesday is my official hate day, can’t wait for the weekend. For now, it’s revising notes, listening to videos, pausing and replaying videos with a human skull in my arm. Anatomy please be smooth and kind to me.

中秋节快乐

2011-09-12T04:05:00.001+07:00

Apart from receiving my parcel today, I also received an unexpected piece of moon cake from my China room mate. Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all!

Hot Air Balloon

2011-09-10T04:12:00.000+07:00

Saturdays used to be overfull, teeming and seething with a jumble load of things. I remembered for my previous semester during my first year, Saturdays were repeated with Anatomy & Histology lectures respectively and Anatomy class where we have weekly quiz that persists on till 3PM.

Then I’d probably lug my body back home for a short nap before I head to Jun’s place to meet up with family for cell group. There was Kelvin, my cell group leader, sis Lily, roomie Mike, Jun and her kitten whom I consider as family as well.

Now back in the old track as a sophomore and in a ballpark of 2 months summer holidays, we decided to reaffix ourselves to family time. Seating crossed-legged in a local cafe that serves great food; a good ambience for conversations. Minus a member, Kelvin who recently graduated last summer.

Not forgetting tweaking Jun’s HTC Sensation & Mike’s iPhone, which explains why I have this picture thanks to Lily Chong. She insisted on ‘sepia’ when I wanted ‘retro’ instead, somehow Adele’s song would have the perfect melody for this picture.

If only pictures sing.

Another random snap with donkey sis holding Mike’s iPhone and me pressing against the snap button cause’ apparently I have longer arms. It takes a while to adjust to my own looks without the regular bold black frames, and contact lenses instead. No wonder I look so retarded in it.

Today we wrote a prelude, more Saturdays to come to build our own family fairy tale.

Moves Like Jagger

2011-09-09T00:28:00.001+07:00

Technology, something so advance that we couldn’t possibly pass the baton to the next runner. Is that the worst, non-related and yet trying-to-push-the-limit sort of simile ever or what? Approximately 20 years of having English as my mother tongue and this is what happens when lethargy strikes, using Russian as my excuse to keep up the pace. Failure.

Kaliz’ BB Torch, notice something?

It’s either Whatsapp-ing, or BBM-ing or Viber-ing, diffusing through the air with everyone and literally e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e ‘touching’ or ‘sliding’ on their screens. I’m one of the sole survivors still loyal to manual pressing, unable to ‘touch’ the pathetic, tiny screen I have on my N78. It stood tall and proud amongst all iPhones, Blackberries & HTCs; soon there’ll be iPads, Galaxy Tabs ravaging in lecture halls.

Was going to snap pictures of slides in lecture hall when lecturer announced that slides will be given and hence…

Biochemistry class was cancelled, Physiology class was cancelled due to some renovation in the Chem department; that means a week of classes without these 2 heavy subjects in addition to that, meaning an extra timing added to my sleep time.

Cross section of a tongue, even this doesn’t sound interesting

Classes are definitely less hectic compared to 1st year, at least it doesn’t end at 6PM almost everyday like last time. However, I’m having double Histology which is no offensively shitty since I’ll be straining optical muscles and nerves under light microscopes drilling slides into my brain. No fun at all.

Random spinal cord

Apart from that, settled down hostel payments, documentation payments; all the payments that drive me broke. Literally broke. Apartment hunting on hold since agent is always finding spots beyond my tolerance, simply could not imagine myself switching transportations and walking over miles and miles just to get more privacy.

Conclusion, hostel is almost like hell and I’ll just have to constantly remind myself that beggars do not even own a house to feel contended.

Red Roses

2011-09-07T05:14:00.001+07:00

Simple, comprehensive and effortless. So light and easy to contact one’s heart; those are the songs I bound to listen. There are periods when it just bonds with my feelings so easily, friendly as it seems but not all times, and when it does… it just goes on ringing and pumping.

I did not understand how quickly one could fall in love, not mentioning myself but it’s really hard to distinguish something so pure and nice.It’s almost as an affliction that one would eventually recover from. Been listening to songs by AJ Rafael lately, it really has the magic to make you feel in love.

Even Mike & Lily both responded: “Hans are you in love??!”

“No, obviously.” It’s just amazement and spellbound that lyrics can have the force to reach into every fiber of one’s body and makes your heart feels nice and this particular song is able to do this.

Cause I've been
Thinking 'bout you lately.
Maybe you can save me,
From this crazy world we live in.
And I know we could happen,
Cause you know that I've been feeling you.

We Could Happen

The adrenaline rush, rapid changes in level of dopamine featuring a sensation of adolescent when one experience love. He just wants to be with her, holding a slight chance that there is a closeted spark in their presence; it drives him mad thinking about her, falling for her.

It sets the fun in together, the sad in apart, and the joy in a heart and only she can save him from this dizziness in his heart.

I wish I woulda asked you out
I wish I didn't have these doubts about myself
For those 3 minutes that you stood in front of me
I wish I hadn't walked away
I wish I had the guts to say
Would you be my
I wish I woulda asked you to be my valentine

Red Roses

He seeks for bravery, this hidden valor and intrepidity. Maybe he has been through this before but never has the guts to say; it earned many cracks in his heart each time utters “Valentine” or her name. Or maybe it’s the last “first” he has to give away, the one where he dive his head into another culture of audacity and fearless.

Pray that he will be daring or else he’ll be sunken in coyness and mousiness.

But if you would notice me
I'll give you everything
That you are missing can I be the ordinary guy
For you
So take a good look at me
I'll show you everything
Cause’ you showed me magic
Can I be the ordinary guy for you

Emma Watson

She’s a star but too bad he’s just a nobody, dying to be someone for her desperately. He keeps on pondering on stagnant ground, “If only I was …. and if only I have … then she’ll ….”. Not knowing when will she ever notice his presence, all he wants is to be her secret to be kept solely in her heart. Love is a temporary madness.

It erupts like an earthquake and then subsides, all he wants is to have this outburst adoration and affection to be shared.

No matter where you go,
I won't be very far,
'Cause in my head I'll be right there where you are,
'Cause love has no distance baby,
Love has no distance baby
No, not when it comes to you and me.

She was mine

It’s complex but true. Love isn’t about finding the “perfect” person. No one is perfect in this world, but there are people who are perfect for you, and it’s all about trying to find someone who can love you with all of your imperfections. When two strangers meet on the horizon with the slightest coincidence, knots are tied, gaze connected and arms are clenched.

It’s a promise to be made, he promised that he’ll be there forever. Though it maybe it kinky and sounds so bogus to be there till the end of the universe but that is what this silly boy said; simultaneous… they secured it and buried this promise of theirs under the moon light.

I never knew that it would be so grand,
Listen to the comet soar while you are holding my hand.
And yeah I don't know what to do when we walk out of sight,
Except to look at all stars in this amazing night.

Starlit Night

Grip the arms of your loved one, choke on canned air. Order the wine that’ll wash down a great candle light for two. Watch a romantic movie about a troubled couple and bite your lip in anticipation of a happy ending over his couch. Fall asleep before it comes, watching her eyes close and wake up feeling the air that he’s breathing.

He simply couldn’t imagine a day without her next to his bed. It seems rather silly that the future remains uncertain, but so it should. They are facing a beautiful empty canvas to be painted and embellished together.

And this is the part when we say we're in love
And the part where we have our first kiss
But this ain't a movie, I know you can't come with me
You got your life, he better be treatin' you right

When We Say

As they grew older, they learnt about the deep perplexing elements of relationship and love: the little everyday despondency, the constant battle between forbearance & understanding, the fear of giving up, the hate that grows and grows at the slightest prodding, and all the compromises you have to make for the people you love and the people who love you. Some may fall in love and some may fall out of love. Apparently, they fell out of it.

It all came down to an empty road, he trod lightly and counting pebbles along his way. She took her pale-pink luggage and set off to another place almost perpendicular to his. Heavy-hearted as he sang all the sad songs and unable to find enough to drown the things she said.

500 days, I know it wasn't the best,
But I won't ever forget, no I won't ever forget,
500 days, I know it wasn't the best,
But I won't ever forget, no I won't ever forget you,

Five Hundred Days

Love, most people took it for granted. They both secretly wonder whether other people, like them would also make bargains with God. Granting promises of selflessness, ‘if only they can turn back time and fix what’s broken, if only God would give them someone to love, if only he was a little bit more sensitive, if only she was slightly more understanding…’

They know, love has it’s consequences and ups and down, nevertheless life is always fair in the end. Just one simple relationship, one can learn so much. Maybe for them, it takes more than a long journey of courage, first love and feeling to realise.

An Awesome Gathering

2011-09-03T03:26:00.000+07:00

I had a great gathering session with a bunch of friends, the usual Mike, Dennis, Eelin, Kaliz, Sharifah, Areena, Kenji, Jacquelyn & myself.

Wanted to head to this place ‘Royal Frontel’ but apparently we had to pay an extra 100 rubles just for live music and dancing, worst he was trying to translate hundred from Russian to English thinking that we couldn’t understand a word of Russian. Thus, we had dinner at ‘Coffee House’ instead.

Apparently, I never knew that this place existed until today. Nice ambience, great windows facing the sea and good seating for a place to chill.

A wide selection of drinks, savoury dishes and deserts. 3 beverages that we ordered: ‘Exotica’, ‘Tropic’ and a miniature cup of hot chocolate. Notice the comparison.

Great conversations to catch up with everyone from everything to anything, apparently groups were all switched and hay-wired; Mike & Eelin are added to my group for classes and tutorials now.

I had ‘Fettuccini with mushroom sauce and chicken’, now here is a great way to start off 2nd year.

Of Blogs

2011-09-02T02:45:00.000+07:00

I admire those bloggers who have so much intelligence and knowledge, they seem to have a grasp on the whole schmear and at the same time being exceptionally expressible and fluent in making manifestations and conveying thoughts to others.

Rather than those who blogs about events, dumping heaps of photographs, activities, self-taken shots of so-called self-proclaimed gorgeous pictures and etcetera. Nothing particularly wrong doing that, most Asian bloggers have the tendency to do so. It’s like a trend, when one gets famous because of that everyone and literally e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e wants to follow his/her footsteps by doing so. As a result, we end up with a haycock of what I call as ‘typical’ blogs.

I never ever fancy much to read about them, maybe some just because their photographs attract me and their unique way in writing style. But sad to say as a majority, most of these blogs possess the utmost most obvious similarity in blogging.

Example: head to a recently opened cafe or restaurant, snap heaps of pictures [advantage to those having DSLR & actually know how to utilize it well], pour out all the pictures, maybe insert several pictures of camwhore shots if they’re good looking and finished. It’s that easy, this step repeats itself, self-generate and undergo never ending mitosis. It’s like mutation, carcinogenic growth or tumour in the blogging world. Pathetic.

Hence, I shall list several blogs that I find them simply legendary, genius and die to be as good as them someday [excluding those in my blog list].

1. http://tylerknott.com/

2. http://quaintly.net/

3. http://paulocoelhoblog.com/

4. http://abeautifulmess.typepad.com/my_weblog/

5. http://mayzhee.blogspot.com/

2nd Year

2011-08-31T02:47:00.002+07:00

Finally, by God’s grace I’ve settled down safely in my hostel here in Volgograd, Russia. No doubt that it was distressing that the summer holidays ended really fast. As if it was accelerated pell-mell. Hours spent on plane and train and praying hard just to have a safe spot on Russian land.

Dealt with documentations and VISA stuff and etcetera, all the headache and trouble just to ensure that all this mess will be settled before the semester starts.

Weather is still averagely warm, slightly warmer than Malaysia. Spent my second day cleaning the room and sleeping basically due to fatigue and jet lag. Could not be bothered to do apartment hunting, I’ll probably leave the job through an agent, hoping to get a decent apartment.

Went to do a little shopping to get her pair of flats but ended up with lunch, flat-less

New semester starts tomorrow, having Immunology lecture as early as 8AM. Thank God the place is just 10 minutes or less walk from my place, hence I’m planning to wake up as late as 7.30AM to get ready.

My brain is still not adjust to suit all this hectic study yet, currently resting on holiday mode. First thing I checked on my time table is winter holidays instead of winter exam, talking about the outpouring shame upon me as a med student.

Last day of September, never did it slip through my mind that it was Malaysia’s 54th day of Independence. As much as the number increases, it will make no difference if it does not grow and develop the way it ‘should be’.

New semester starts tomorrow, finally in my sophomore year.

Packing Again

2011-08-26T00:20:00.001+07:00

Packing. It affects one deeply emotionally, it can either be jocular and filled with anticipation or despairing. About a month plus ago I recalled myself packing with much excitement because I was heading for my summer holidays to several countries and ironically here I am all ready, packed to return back to Russia as a 2nd year med student.

I’m not the type of person that grieves and sobs whenever I leave home; call me heartless but I just don’t find it necessary to be doleful leaving home. I’ve been shipped overseas for more than 2 years and I am pretty impress at myself for being able to adapt at surroundings efficiently.

Holidays were productive, of course there were several things that I strived to complete but failed to do so. Other than that, all is done. Managed to meet up with some friends, speaking of friends… The longer and more time I spent overseas the fewer the friends I have. Other than having different holidays, different time zones, some of us didn’t share the same mindset as before.

Maybe it’s a leap stone towards adulthood and leaving the adolescent years behind to rot to dust. Some of us change faster than others, gaps appearing in every nook and cranny but still I managed to have conversations with some of my fellow buddies. Confabulations that are priceless and motivating.

I realised how important family is. Not that I have never been aware of it, just that I appreciate my family even more as I go through things each day. I am astounded at how certain flocks of people connect wit their family members, some take their family for granted; some have conflicts that are so minuscule but been magnified into tetrameters; some experiencing cold wars. No family is perfect, it’s how we tolerate and sacrifice for it in order to create a better place called home.

I enjoyed being a rock at home, all that is static and being rooted to a spot at home doing nothing. It’s been eons since I savor upon such tranquility and relaxation of basically doing nothing. Sleeping more than 12 hours a day, engulfing on food, being a couch potato, substantially being an extreme sloth.

All my thoughts being stacked in a messy post, maybe it reflects the blogger’s feeling allusively. Clutters of mixed feeling, anticipation towards a whole new semester and a slight downcast that I spent such little quality time with my family and a little heavy hearted to leave them so soon.

A song to sum this post up.

Language Filtration

2011-08-23T23:54:00.001+07:00

Being straight forward doesn't mean that words doesn't go through the brain; but talking blindly without rationality and getting it back at time same time certainly proves that one is a true imbecile, idiot.

Filtration, commonly the mechanical or physical operation which is used for the separation of unwanted objects by interjecting a medium through which only the ones that are needed can pass. Be astounded, I’m staggered when my brain defines a certain terminology that well; all thanks to science. However, when you compare that to any Oxford dictionary.

Whenever I stumble on something that irritates my nature, I react. The brain simultaneously winds around certain angle to burst out a quote or random saying and next it will stimulate nerves through my ulnar nerve and all that is nearby to post an update typically on Facebook. Hoping that the certain someone will miraculously get what I meant.

Dennis was mentioning this to me, about a guy that posted a foul word of mockery on Facebook, more of an extreme sense of insubordination towards a higher elderly or authority, inserting usage of abhorrent language. No big deal right? Half of adolescents do that when they are in rage – idiots. The funny thing was that, his status update got his own teacher’s attention and the ending can be well predicted.

Making such publications and getting it hit back right on the face is hilarious, you got to admit that. A person accumulates a colossal mass of courage, bravery with idiocy and lunacy leaking between them in order to publicize it to the world, and yet by the end of the day… all he gets is shame and being chagrined by the public. Imbeciles.

About the term filtration, wonder why did I even make such a mess explaining it… Be a smart, rational person in life and filter your words before actually pouring them out, because you never know when you’ll be tag as an imbecile without filtration.

Thankful Again

2011-08-22T01:20:00.001+07:00

I’ve been walking on Earth for more than 20 years, make it approximately 244 months, around 976 weeks, 6,832 days, estimated 163, 968 hours which is 9,838,080 minutes and a total of 590,284,800 seconds. Even by calculating those, I’ve increased the second of my moment being alive.

To keep this in mind, I would probably have more time to live on Earth than others, more chances than others; more things to be thankful for than others. Just a self note to remind myself how precious my life is compared to many others.

Experienced an extreme rural life when I was doing humanitarian mission trip to Sibu, Sarawak made me realised how lucky and fortunate most of us are. It it wasn’t for this trip, I would not have paused and prompted myself to appreciate what I have in life.

We took everything for granted, especially when we were young. I had almost ever single McDonald's Happy Meal toy when I was young, dad would get it for me or at least I will try to coax him to get it for me. At that time it wasn’t something I need, maybe it was just how I get used to certain habits in life. Bad habits such as being demanding.

Kids here could not even be bothered whether they have toys or not, nor would they know the existence of shops like McDonalds’. Maybe they have the opportunity to know it through the boob tube, but not having any possibility to gain anything from it makes not owning it no difference.

They spent their days going to school if they are lucky, playing around with children from villagers, just randomly running around under searing hot run barefooted and hoping into rivers painted in opaque chocolate. Cleanliness was never an issue to them, maybe their immune system got sick and fatigue over parasites growing in their gastro-intestinal system.

Things like this, we took for granted. Education, transportation, technology, and even basic cleanliness. We even omit people around us, parents, friends, teachers and every single individual that has at least set a foot print in our heart as we are approaching adolescent years. Not everyone has a perfect family; the perfect family that doesn’t break apart just to ensure that their children has a bright route to stride ahead; or the type that sacrifices time, effort, energy and finance to build up a child’s future.

Some maybe less fortunate, they overlooked and spurned the pivotal role education and proper parenting play in a child’s base. As a result, children whom are grown up in such manner may find it arduous and onerous to be in par with others. They may noticed how much they have lacked and lost compared to others. Thus, I am grateful that I am brought up in a proper manner, despite the minor flaws foibles.

I recalled myself writing posts such as this, it gets to the same point but I tend to oblige myself to remind myself on how lucky I am. It’s difficult to imagine others going through things worst than me when I’m drawn into something dreadful & harrowing, but there are a million other things to be thankful for.

Trusted & Love

2011-08-21T11:34:00.001+07:00

“ To be trusted is a greater compliment than being loved ”

15 Years

2011-08-20T00:53:00.004+07:00

I had a great swim today; apart from the spacious and vast diameter of the pool itself, I managed to catch up with a friend whom I known since kindergarten. It took me several seconds to calculate how years of friendship we shared – a total of 15 years or so.

We had steamboat, an entire table of food shared by the 2 of us. Ironically, a table beside us was organizing some sort of annual gathering. Looking at ours, I asked him: “remember how so-and-so used to organize such activities and it only last for 2 years after primary school?”

It takes so little effort to loose contact or to break any correspondence with people. We may not belong in the same par nevertheless, our friendship goes beyond blood.

Shared endless jokes and catching-ups, really… I have him as the only friend that I contacted since primary school. The one that lives so near from my house but due to distance, due to relations, due to mindsets; we differ through age. Thankfully a short annual meeting saved it all.

It’s good to have a loyal friend for such a long time.

Pada Waktunya by Ivan Handojo

2011-08-16T01:02:00.001+07:00

A great wake up song to remind how beautiful the day is going to be

Ada waktu untuk menangis Tuk tertawa,
tuk bertahan saja
Ada waktu untuk menunggu,
tuk percaya
Bahwa semua akan indah
pada waktunya Ada waktu untuk menangis
Tuk tertawa,tuk bertahan saja
Ada waktu untuk menunggu,
tuk percaya Bahwa semua akan indah Pada waktunya

Education ‘Fun’

2011-08-15T02:43:00.001+07:00

A friend of mine recently mentioned this to me: “You’ve missed out all the fun in Malaysia!”

I was wondering, what fun could I possibly be missing out apart from unable to reconnect with friends since most of them are scattered or soon to be flung to different parts of mother Earth. Fun in a sarcastic tonality.

Despite being shipped all the way to the Russian federation, I manually flip through the papers online to catch up with latest issues regarding my hometown. I have at least 7 choices of websites bookmarked under ‘News’ on my Chrome. The tricky thing about online newspaper is that one must be able to be smart to choose which to read, which to absorb, and which to believe.

Personally, I read The Star Online just to update myself on local as well as global issues revolving around Malaysia. You can’t dig any deeper just by reading that, but thanks to the overzealous devout outgrowth of mass media, blogs or other sites easily taught me within minutes of all that is horrible in our country. I wouldn’t put it exactly horrible, owing to the fact that I still patronize this country of mine.

It’s an endless growth, like roots and branches and stems that have been outgrowing since forever; paving every single speck in this nation. From education, with students griping over scholarships that are sought-after, the unbalance quota system that seemed to favour those in their own circle and many more… Even the recent news over a teenager suing Khazanah over Cambridge scholarship. These are just diminutive affairs covering our education system. I pity the future generation, like dolls being manipulated and tested.

Having said that, we still got to move on even if we are tangled among these veins of bloody revolutions endured by children, students, working people near and far throughout Malaysia who literally bleed out for a better future.

If you label this as a race or rally, then it is dejected to say that the outcome will all be the same. It’s because before this rally has even started, the ‘battle’ has already been won. Why fight with thin air and invincible warriors? I salute those who still bear their armors and swords.

Majority might be thinking that I’m currently seated on cloud 9 speaking about this without nothing to worry about education. As a matter of fact you’re wrong, I’m not even on any government-bounded scholarship pursuing my degree. My parents work to fork out every single penny out from their own pockets to ensure that my road is clear. In such position, I still choose to retreat. Back off all the strain and fighting for nothing can be changed, so what if much sacrifice needs to be taken into account? I believe one way or another it makes us stronger.

Nowadays, people go by asking ‘Hey, where is your son/daughter?’ or ‘Wow, sponsored by JPA/MARA/Petronas/Shell… [name whatever scholarships that are available, I bet they’ve memorized them behind their palms]’. It occurs all the time that parents have forgotten to even perform the most intrinsic work as a parent. I cannot comprehend on how Malaysians label people based on a certificate, or what’s worst.. how they brand us as ‘government sponsored’ or ‘private’.

Labels mentioned above doesn’t ensure you a longer run in society, given the best education to someone without the desire to pursue in it does not make him better than any other.

What we can mobilize within our capacity that will benefit this unwanted situation is not just for the sake of ourselves, but for friends, family and for the sake of our country. Doesn’t matter if it affects people in measurements of nanometers.

On a more personal note, I gained a lot when having conversations with friends regarding issues similar to this. It doesn’t separate us being sponsored or not. I’m very proud of people around me, those that understand the current situation and making the very best out of everything.

Istanbul: Hagia Sophia

2011-08-14T22:52:00.001+07:00

One of the main places of tourist attraction in Istanbul and undoubtedly an architectural wonder of the times is the Hagia Sophia.

The magnificent part in the architecture of the Hagia Sophia was its impressive central dome. What’s fascinating is the history behind this building, it was originally a Christian church but converted into a Muslim mosque.

One of the many fascinating structures of Hagia Sophia.

Another thing I love about Turkey, people here are really good looking. Muslim man and woman here have very distinctive features and all are very open-minded and not overly conservative.

The rich and impressive mosaics depicting various Christian images that were seen throughout the church.

The Islamic masters adorned the Hagia Sophia with attractive geometrical designs and also made extensive use of expensive colored stones, carved wood craft, gold and mother of pearl.

The interior of Hagia Sophia has splendid lightings and really detailed handworks of Islamic elements.

Among all the places I have visited during this summer trip, I find Istanbul the perfect place for shopping. Got myself some apple tea and Turkish delights, a gift that I received almost everytime whenever an acquaintance visits Turkey.

A local university in Istanbul, how gorgeous is that! This is only the entrance, really looks like some castle along the way.

Dinner was a real let down, food literally tasted like overnight food, apple tea and chicken/lemon soup was nice though.

For the final night of my summer trip, all of us gathered upstairs at the lounge to have a drink of cocktail. Prattled on almost everything till we actually fell asleep upstairs till 3am to lug our bodies back to our rooms.

Turkey, a place that I’ll definitely return someday.

Istanbul: Basilica Cistern

2011-08-13T20:37:00.001+07:00

On the way back from Vienna to Malaysia, I had more than 24 hours transit in Turkey. Hence, did a last minute booking in Cheers hostel. So far, the best hostel I have ever stayed throughout my summer trip. What a coincidence that most of my friends that have travelled to Turkey stayed here as well!

A golden retriever ready to welcome you to Turkey. According to this super friendly owner of Cheers, they actually adopted him few years back when he was only a puppy and now.. he’s all grown up.

On the top floor there is a lounge for travelers to chill, all 4 of us slept here all morning because we arrived in Turkey around 5AM and we could only check in pass 12PM.

Lunch was chicken in some sauce with yoghurt wrapped around in Turkish bread, tried out their so-called famous beverage apple flavoured BOZCA but turned out to be Zapple.

One thing about Turkish people, their forte is definitely business. Right after dinner they invited us next door to see how hand made crafts were made and what to you know… after so much persuasion we ended up carrying back bags of scarves.

Turkey is famous for apple tea, here’s a model manipulated for promoting purposes.

Visited an underground city, Basilica Cistern. This reminded of the Labyrinth in Budapest. It is the largest of several hundred ancient cisterns that lie beneath the city of Istanbul.

There were two statues of Medusa and a brief history about her, I managed to wait patiently in order to snap these pictures cause’ all the professional photographers were hogging the entire area with their Dslr.

Came across a park with heaps of people, mainly children feeding pigeons! There was this particular boy with light blue spectacles, a stand-out among all the kids because he was the cutest.

An overview of Istanbul, Turkey through the lounge on the top most floor of Cheers hostel.

Salzburg: Sound Of Music Tour & Mozart

2011-08-12T14:49:00.001+07:00

Met a Malaysian family here touring with their daughter, recently graduated from law school in London, they suggested us to take a ‘Sound of Music Tour’ with them to visit Salzburg in it’s prettiest estate. No doubt, we were entertained by a really amusing tour guide.

Clouds were slightly gloomy but thank God there wasn’t any rain because according to weather forecast, it was supposed to rain with a temperature of 12 degrees. Couldn’t be trusted sometimes.

We were astounded by nature’s beauty, mountain cliffs and houses and cottages along the way that were all so splendid. Exactly like living in a fairy tale of happy endings.

We came to a town where St. Michael’s church is located, I donated several Euros and got a bottle of Holy water to bring back home.

I had an afternoon tea with Eelin, tasted one of the famous apple strudel & cheese strudel in hot vanilla sauce, perfect for chilly weather.

We arrived in a garden as the tour ended, nothing fancy compared to those in castles but this was really spectacular. Flowers blooming everywhere, imagine walking in this with a perfect weather of 20 degrees. Scent of heaven everywhere.

Spent quite sometime here just walking, life here moves in slow pace. It look me quite sometime to get used to it, to actually admire the beauty of nature.

Wanted to do some shopping since shopping streets were everywhere, ZARA, H&M as large as a 4 storey building but there were too many tourists flooding the area so I ended with a leather sling bag for mum.

Mozart’s birthplace

We had ‘lunch’ at some desert place, ordered a table full of cakes.. I had chocolate orange cake and a cup of coffee. Entertained by street performers opposite the place we ate.

Took a picture with Mr. Mozart himself before bid adieu to this lovely place.

Salzburg: Dinner & Rainny Walk

2011-08-11T13:03:00.001+07:00

I didn’t intentionally plan to visit Salzburg located somewhere in western Austria, but due to some miscommunications and errors in planning… realised I have an extra 2 days for my tour. Thus, we decided to visit one of the nearest place from Budapest by train.

Here’s the interior of train with a guy for you all to salivate on.

Weather in Salzburg was down to less than 20 degrees, 3 of us assuming that the entire Europe is experiencing summer didn’t even bother to bring any thicker attires. All I had was a cardigan, so I had to borrow my senior’s leather jacket since he requested me to bring it back to him back to Kuching. Thank God for that or else I’d probably catch a cold.

We booked a hotel instead of a hostel because hotels are cheaper than hostels. from the looks of this girl you can know how excited she is. [ Also, can salivate over her if you want to ]

We had a scrumptious dinner at some Pakistan restaurant, serving a wide range of curry. I had lamb curry and fragrant rice, perfected by a bottle of Italian red wine courtesy of Mike’s mum.

Weather was slight drizzling and cold, nevertheless we still had a great walk around the city of Salzburg. Streets were empty and shops were all closed but yet they seemed to be open with lightings still on.

By the way, Salzburg is famous for the birth of Mozart and If you have seen the movie The Sound of Music, you may think you know all there is to see in Salzburg. Hence souvenirs and gift shops will be flooded with miniature musical instruments or Mozart figures.

Everything sold here is so delicate and exquisite, not those flimsy, floaty handcrafts. What’s surprising, these items are just kept in a glass cupboard right in front of the shop with lights on despite the shop being closed, without attracting burglars of thieves.

A totally different culture from our country whereby normal citizens want to steal metal covers on drains, vandalizing everything that pleases the eyes. That’s why I love Malaysia more.

Budapest: Great Market Hall & Gellert

2011-08-10T02:12:00.001+07:00

We did some grocery/souvenir shopping at Budapest’s Great Market Hall, a 2-storey building selling from anything edible, wearable, decorate-able. I got myself half kilo of raspberries and an ‘I LOVE BUDAPEST’ yellow coloured tee.

That was for lunch, some sort of friend pastry with sour cream, ham and lots of cheese and another one was with Nutella chocolate and nuts.

Apart from that Budapest is renowned for it’s thermal baths, and one of the many famous baths is Gellert Bath. We had a really good afternoon here, pampering ourselves in thermal baths, swimming pools. Simply amazing for stress and fatigue relief.

After a long afternoon of relaxation, we took a walk all the way up Gellert Hill. The hill offers one of the best views on the city for travelers. Along the way, you will be amazed at home gorgeous and stunning nature has to offer.

Couldn’t decide which flowers to post, so I posted every single breed I can find.

On the top of the hill, you can find the Citadel, a fortress that was built to keep always an eye on the city. From the terraces of the building, there is a marvellous panorama to the city.

By a short walk one can reach the Liberation Monument. Looked totally strayed in my ‘I LOVE NY’ tee while taking this picture in Hungary.

A huge cross statue above the hill, thought behind my head tells me that it played an important role on how Christianity arrived here.

Budapest: Labyrinth, Shops & River Cruise

2011-08-09T00:21:00.001+07:00

The Labyrinth of Buda Castle is among world’s 7 underground wonders. We chilled at this area with free coffee or tea and Wifi service.

Containing a series of imaginative exhibits the Labyrinth comprises of 1000 yards of complex caves, cellars, dungeons and springs which run beneath of Castle Hill. But since everywhere is dark, literally pitch black you’ll just assume that everything is rock.

Super dark and wet everywhere, it’s like walking in a cave observing weird structures that I’ve never seen, just like this gigantic bottle of Coke'.

Some other pictures taken in Labyrinth, only that this time I was smart enough to use flash in night mode. Previous ones were all taken via 3 megapixel N78 camera. Self-proclaimed genius at work.

An evening spent walking around random streets of Budapest, came across this area of old, vintage shop lots selling antiques and books.

Apartments look really retro, bringing back to the oldies with climbers and twirlers crawling over walls.

Spent the night on a river cruise to experience local Hungarian cuisine as well as to enjoy Budapest during the night.

Best Hungarian goulash, basically beef cooked in stew. There was more food but since it was a buffet, me with the overwhelming Malaysian spirit simply couldn’t waste time snapping pictures of every single piece on my plate right.

Budapest: Buda Castle, Fisherman’s Bastion & Matthias Church

2011-08-08T21:50:00.001+07:00

One of the destinations I went in Budapest include Buda Castle. The only way up is by using the spectacular but very touristy and pricey cable car. As the cable car is rising up you get the chance to witness the beautiful view of Pest across the river.

In the courtyards of the Royal Palace, lie several statues and also the Matthias Fountain, no idea why everyone is sitting around this fountain doing nothing and interfering photographers; for those who couldn’t bother to care much about photos since I’m using a digital one, random snapping will do.

Snapped some pictures of remaining remnants as well when I was there, bridges that I tend to amble on several times to so-called reminisce historical past of Budapest [not that I know any].

Castle has really amazing status of gods. Neat, detailed artwork.

Fisherman's Bastion. This is the large white tower and lookout terrace complex you see hanging over the side of Castle Hill.

The building of the Matthias church, also known as Church of Our Lady and also a picture of one of my travel buddy, Eelin Tan. Edited a whole lot on toning because she was literally roasted due to Hungarian summer.

Walked down along the castle district and noticed more status. Had tea break at this coffee shop, the young lady was selling home made strudels with raspberry juice, I had one with cherries and poppy seed.

Budapest: Heroes' Square, Parliament, St. Stephen's Basilica & Opera House

2011-08-06T20:13:00.001+07:00

Located near Budapest City Park lies Heroes’ Square, a must-visit place to visit when traveling to Hungary. I had to walk how many meters away from this monument to snap this lousy picture thanks to a digital camera.

In the middle of the monument, there is a 36-meter high stone column, which is crowned by the wing figure of Archangel Gabriel. On the base of the column the seven Hungarian Chieftains, while on the side colonnades, kings and main personages of the Hungarian history are figured.

Photograph of Budapest Parliament building, looks more like a palace. Train stations have really nice vintage looks as well.

Went to Saint Stephen's Basilica, the largest Roman Catholic church in Budapest, it has the second highest ecclesiastical status in Hungary.

The Opera House and a Louis Vuitton retail store opposite to it, makes the one in Gardens look like a kiosk compared to the ones in Budapest.

Budapest: City Park

2011-08-05T14:19:00.001+07:00

After a long train ride plus cab ride and hours of searching, we arrived in Budapest, Hungary. Stayed in a hostel called ‘Tiger Tims’; design and facilities deserve a 4/5 but overall due to lack of privacy and insecure rules and regulations… I’d give it my last stay here, and it’s located next to a sex shop so might be convenient for some of you.

Snapped a picture of the retro elevator, the ones with 2 doors and metal sliding gates to operate.

Had lunch, a variety of schnitzels of pork and chicken size of your arm, salads of different toppings and cream. Dining in Europe is always worth it because everything comes in XXL portions so a plate like this costing around 9 Euros can be shared among 2 people unless you decided to devour everything by yourself.

Budapest seemed to be a quiet city, nothing like Vienna or Prague or maybe it’s because it’s the weekend and everyone chose to laze and relax at home. Even malls close as early as 6pm in Europe. Took a stroll in Budapest City Park, hectares and hectares of greenery and nature.

The enchanting Vajdahunyad Castle with the City Lake at its foot.

Baroque facade, this part of the building houses the Museum of Hungarian Agriculture.

Anonymous, wanted to snap a picture with him but was a little freaked out.

There are lakes for people to train their dogs here during summer, sights that will never ever happen in Malaysia because pets are for stoning and house embellishing and also abusing.

Another huge lake for couples to row their boats romantically or to place their children on benches while rowing their boats. Several unique designs created by artists can be spotted on this lake.

Great view of Budapest.

Prague: Streets, Art & Hard Rock

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Church of Our Lady in the Tyn from the Astronomical Clock Tower, there were packs and packs of dancers doing Bohemian dance, kiosks selling Bohemian food, stalls selling Bohemian items like miniature Greek weapon accessories that I simply couldn’t be bothered of.

Random posters of concerts held in St. Nicholas Church and my ‘nth’ attempt taking a good shot of this guy. Funny because when Mike takes shots of me, it can be done within seconds but when it always takes heaps of tries just to take a perfect shot of him.

A statue of a boy with a golden penis outside some toy museum. A very good way of describing puberty and a really random guy randomly digging his hands into his pocket.

Statues, talents and sold items to portray how much Europeans appreciate art as much as other aspects, unlike certain country who never bothers to even glance and take into account.

We decided to do some charity by purchasing a piece of brick and paint it into a masterpiece to be arranged with other bricks made by people from all walks of life to create this wall. I placed mine above a brick made by Russians, what a coincidence!

Now not only am I kind for charity, I’m patriotic and ready to serve for Malaysia because I actually painted a brick ‘Malaysia’.

Had a fantastic dinner in Hard Rock, beer, nachos and Red, White & Blue burger in spicy Buffalo sauce and cajun seasoning, then topped with crumbled blue cheese accompanied by great 90s music.