Hello world. Gonna update a little on myself today.. This week it’s been hectic. It’s library week. I didn’t really do much for the library.. I’d prefer calling it supervising. Teehee. Well, I felt bad .. But oh, well. It ends tomorrow. I shall make it up to them by helping them clean up tomorrow.

Anyway, other than library week, form 5s had to do some scholarship thing for ourselves.. Pn. Catherine came to our class few days ago to brief us about it. I didn’t really do much. Didn’t even get a teacher to sign my recommendation letter. So, gave up. Not applying for scholarship! Other than school, everything’s cool. Gotta study for my upcoming exams in few weeks and prepare for my career day next week! I’ve got so much to ask and do! I still cannot decide what I wanna do after SPM. Wondering, any suggestions? Well, I love children, I love photography. 2 years ago, my counseling teacher said I had the Event Organiser face. Thought about child psychiatrist, now I’m not too sure anymore. Thinking of the event organiser again. Maybe I should really get on with it? I don’t know. ): Help me out!

The launching of library week. Theme: Rewind.
I was very very far away.. Mind the heads and photographers.. I was too lazy to move 50m front. Heh. But, ain’t they cute? They are all being hippy and showing the peace signs. Including our 3 guests on the right.

The war zone in the library. Cool eh? They have real Japanese and Malaya actors!

Hanging Gardens of Babylon. They had about 6 of the wonders of the world displayed in the library. All of our hard work.

The stone hedge.

The APD room. This is where the fun and food is.

They even sell these cute ladybug chocolates!

I just love this effect. SO COOL! It’s the president, Anlie for the library week by the way. (:

This is the vice president, Shau Wei. The funny, crazy, and gosh.. He’s so sporting. And helped the library a lot. (:

Cindy and I got bored.. And we were in total darkness most times. Due to the mysterious rewind thing. This is cool right! You’d never guess that it’s a TV screen.

This is the hole in our library roof.

Physics experiment Miss Liang showed us. She’s the funniest teacher. (:

This is Pei Ling. (Hope I spelled that right.) She’s quite adorable, and often seen in the library these days.. I wonder why.

Well, I have no comment for this.

Then there is Alex, one of our famous real live-moving-robotic-wax figurine. Sad part – everyone either teases or bullies him. Fun part – he doesn’t mind!

Haider. He was one of the Malaya actors. I think. Tryna act sad.

Back in class, was just playing around with my camera while waiting for my teacher to come. Nothing much now.

What I think is, no matter whom we are, we long for the same thing – happiness, love, luxury and every other materialistic form in this world. When we have achieved all of those, then we are called to be a success.

Success equals to our dreams and is derived from hard work and determination. To turn our dreams into reality, we have to find out what we are fully capable of.  Making use of our knowledge and attributes in our lives will make the planet a better place. Hence, a better life for us and achieve success. Being a success would be the ultimate stage of our lives don’t you think?

Everyone starts to strive for success by starting off with a simple dream. I’ll share with you my dream that is bound to be reality.

First off, being so exposed to the world, I’ve grown to have many interests and hobbies.

Photography is my deepest passion.

Food reviews the second one cause of 2 things – I get to photograph food and learn more on our world’s food culture.

I love doing photo-manipulation and photo-editing with my Photoshop.
I love blogging and sharing things with the world too!

My 2 cousins and me in the middle
I love playing with kids.

And, I secretly enjoy playing video games.

But the 3 things that I love most are children, photography and blogging.

Last year, all I thought of was to enroll myself into a Mass Communications course and be a PR manager because I’m just an average student. That kind of thinking, I know now, is shallow.

Over one Chinese New Year, being with my relatives and many, many young cousins/nieces/nephews, I found out I grew to love being around children. They are free souls that can absorb any teaching and have nothing much to worry about. (Except when their toys get spoilt, they’d need to think of ways to bug their parents to buy new ones.) But you see, I realized children seemed attached to me too. They would remember who I am and enjoy my company. They want me to play with them and teach them. I felt connected to children and I was the middle person between their parents and them. (Although, many people would think that’s because I’m still considered a kid since I’m only 17.

I want to major in something that involves the study of children behavior. A kindergarten teacher was my initial thought. However it came to me that being a teacher will not lead me to my true passion and success. I dug deeper and found out that there is a job that will fulfill my dreams. A child psychologist.

Straight away, I’ve got everything planned out now.

1. Apply for a psychology course and study like mad. Literally.
2. Major in Child Psychology.
3. Work as a child psychologist for a few years and stay thrifty and frugal.
4. About 30+ years old, I would probably be married with cute kiddies of my own. Well, in order to have well brought up kids, I cannot be a workaholic and spend time with my kids to make sure they have the best childhood lives. So, goodbye child psychologist career (Hopefully, I won’t miss it.)
5. I would be quite free then, with just my kids around me. I would do the things I love most. So I’d say hello to my new part time jobs – Photographer/Blogger
6. Of course I would miss the children-related career, so I intend to open a child care center after that.

Now, you’d probably be thinking, ‘oh, what a naïve girl! She thinks she can be the most successful person with those 6 steps.’ Nope, I’m telling you, this is the way I want to succeed in life. I don’t have to prove to people that I’m successful by being a billionaire. I would be successful because I would have had a great career, found true love, spent time doing my hobbies which would earn me money and make me happy. With all that, I have achieved my dreams and success. I would be satisfied with my life. (:

You are supposed to look for the puzzle pieces of your life. Not wait for it.

Hey people! Holidays are COMING! So stay tune okay? I’ve got lots to blog on. (:
Just another 3 more days, then I’m on freedom mode. Teehee.

Check out my tumblr! (:
Click!

Glad you get to meet my pet fish. (:

One of the best thing about being a youth today is the amount of knowledge available at the tip of my fingers! Using Google alone gives me the opportunity to look for all kinds of information including school project references, major exam tips (UPSR, PMR, SPM), world news and the latest trends.

The second best thing would be all the energy I have to live life to the max! I can go bungee jumping and play paintball for the whole day and still have enough energy to do some shopping at night. Being a youth, I can accomplish 60% of my wish list.

In terms of education, we are so blessed with all sorts of courses and colleges! (Not to mention the scholarships and workshops!)

I cannot predict the future and do not really want to think about what the world future would be like. Things happen. One minute the world seems right, the second minute, the world might be upside down. To worry about the future would just bring frowns, stress and more wrinkle lines to my face. We will know the future when it comes, then if things are going bad, I’ll start worry.

But I’m worried about my beloved planet. I do not want 2012 (the movie) to happen. Mankind will just perish. Inspired by movies like Lord of The Rings, Avatar, Robin Hood and all the other fantasy movies, I really don’t mind living in a world filled with greenery along with the already-there buildings of course. What I mean is that since we cannot shift or just bring down the buildings in the world, why not plant more trees and beautiful bushes and flowers around us? Why not plant something on every tiny inch of the world? Look at the roads now, there are always empty soil here and there, just waiting to giveaway its nutrients. So why not plant something there and make the world look more beautiful? (:

Plant a row of these, everything will look so much prettier. (:

I don’t know about whether most youth are rebellious or not but I can say I am a little rebellious and so are a few of my friends. But I feel that in Asian culture, the youth still respect their elders and they wouldn’t rebel unless provoked countless of times. The youth in the past generations are very seldom rebellious compared to youth today. I may be rebellious but I have not rebelled greatly before. I would always try to find another way to solve the problems and rebelling will always be my last resort.

Harder. Why? All the pressure youth get.. *shakes head* Well, during my parents’ generation, they could play outside without worrying that there’s a kidnapper nearby. Youth today have to worry about a lot of things. We have to be extra careful of the sex maniacs, gangsters, kidnappers, serial killers and the list goes on.

Besides, youth are getting more pressured by people around us. My mum wouldn’t allow me to go to parties for a very long time. The worst part, when she comes to pick me up, automatically, I would receive a scolding/lecture about being at the party, what could have happened, and I shouldn’t make her wait so long etc. It makes me lose the party feeling. Although I know she means well, and I know the crime rate is getting higher by the day, I just feel deprived. Parties and hanging out with friends are the only times I can enlarge my social circle. After getting the same lecture a few times, I just stop going to parties. No matter how much I long to go to a party, I would simply not go. Very upsetting.

Conclusion – Youth today are getting more depressed, deprived and stressed.

One of the few parties I went to. (:
(August 2009)

My parents’ generation had less problems to deal with back then as they were not as exposed to the world as the youth today. So they have less stress than us. They lived their youth life without the word ‘worried’ written all over their faces. Youth today may have almost everything they need, but being able to choose from so many choices, the pressure and stress comes uninvited. Why? Cause one may like a few out of all the choices. But if one is only allowed to choose one.. Having to decide and having a deadline to it brings stress.

The dark. I’m always afraid of the dark. Afraid of what lurks under my bed and in the shadows. But as long I’m under my blanket, I’m fine. (:

Family
We are great in making jokes. (:
From left: Mum, Brother, Sister and I

Photography
My passion. (:

Food
I live to eat all the good food. Not vice versa.

Dancing
It makes me feel so alive and high.

Music
I love sentimental music! It touches my heart so much and singing along to the song just makes me smile.

Photoshop
It does wonders that gives me so much satisfaction! So happy to be able to do these kind of stuff..

Being hated by my class (for 3 consecutive years). That was when I was in primary school. I was the average looking girl who fought with her best friends. As time went by, none of us even remembered the argument. But then I was getting bullied by almost everyone in class and I didn’t know why. Luckily for me, there were a few that didn’t follow the crowd to hate me. They realized the rumours about me were fake. Thank god for that, or I would have died of loneliness. Anyway, this didn’t really teach me much, but 2 years later, I found out the real culprit who started spreading rumours about me was my best friend. I was stunned. That really hit me to the core. I was so naive and blur back then. I’ve learnt to be more alert and updated about on going rumours and events now (just in case). Not that I enjoy hearing rumours, but I learnt that if I do keep myself updated with rumours, I wouldn’t say the wrong things to people that might hurt them. I just have to keep in mind that I shouldn’t spread the rumour.

Family. I find that there aren’t many ‘true friends’ anymore.. Many seem to just come and go. I have close friends, but no best friends now.

Me, my mum and my aunt @ Chiang Mai, Thailand

As for family, well, blood is thicker than water. What else is more to say? (: Many times I had to make a choice between friends and family. Mum would always say, ‘you wanna play with your friends so much, go live with them then!’ Of course, she was joking.. But I took it seriously. I don’t want to live with my friends.. God knows what they might do with me.

Friends and I at school. I’m the 2nd from the right. B)

Umm. I’m a food lover. Since I was a kid, I always tagged along with my mum to food reviews. Not all the time, but sufficient times to teach me to appreciate good food. I had my first taste of champagne when I was 9! (Note: Tasted, not drink) How many kids get to try that? I was so lucky. (:

About 2 years ago, my mum stopped using her office photographers and used me instead. She found out it was much easier to have me taking pictures of the restaurant and food. I’ve tried so many restaurants in KL and Selangor. Some are really good! Like High Tide, Sage, Samsaraa, Craft Brews, Yummy Duck and Sanook. I’ve tried so many kinds of dishes from all over the world! Best part is that I get to try yummy food while improving on my photography skills AND a new thing to post up on my blog! Killing 3 birds with one stone. Ain’t that great?

Another thing about me is that I write for Niexter. Niexter is a weekly pullout (Thursdays) in the News Straits Times. There are 8 pages of articles. All written by youths for youths. It only started January 2009.

Me and Jules at the Streets Fair 2009

Through Niexter, I have interviewed people who I wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to meet in my life on my own. Like Mr Daud Vicary Abdullah from Deloitte. A German boy and I interviewed him about Islamic Banking. I interviewed Jules and Prem from the Fly FM Rush Hour as well! I also got a chance to meet up with the Indian Ambassador’s wife to talk about Deepavali and 3 Malaysian Philharmonic Youth Organisation (MPYO) members.

Nang it!

Hello people. Currently listening to Disgusting – Ke$ha. The song is actually quite nice.

‘It’s disgusting, how I love you.
God I hate me. I could kill you’
‘It’s disgusting, how you changed me.
From a bandit to a baby.’

How inspirational. Kesha is just so cute. Love her. Her song ‘Your Love is My Drug’ is finally on radio. Remember my 3 chapter story? Took her song name as the title of my story.

It’s been a while since I updated anyway. Last night was at Federal Hotel with mum and her friend. Watched a Cantonese opera show. Not the best, they told me. Oh kay. I don’t know much about Cantonese Opera but I’m damn sure English don’t go with it. They gave us segments from different stories. First one was Dei Lui Fa. About this couple who committed suicide on their wedding night. Anyway, they sang it in English. Eck. It was okay after that, they sang in Cantonese after that. Anyway, the food was okay. Not great, but okay. We didn’t join the press table cause it was in a private room with no access to the opera stage. So we sat outside. Just the 3 of us.

I’ve been cutting down my meal sizes too. But tough to do so because of the yummy food around me all the time. Darn. Gotta try harder.

My mid-term exams are coming real soon. I realized how much we depend on tips. Without them, we don’t seem to study harder. O_o Might be wrong for some cases of course.

I’ve got a question.

I love photography and blogging. I’m 17 and already sold many pictures to the press (Mum’s a journalist, she uses my photographs). I write occasionally for Niexter and got pretty good experiences. I gained some moolah through Nuffnang as well. Teehee. Should I continue doing this and study some kind of course that can improve myself at this 2 aspects and make a career out of this? What course am I suppose pursue then? But I don’t wanna waste my efforts studying science stream for nothing.. But, come to think of it, if I do something I dislike, then.. I’d eventually waste more time and all that. Or maybe this is like an alternative career like my friend’s. OMG. This is so frustrating. I’m getting really frustrated. Care to help me?

RM668/688++ per table (10 pax)

Straw Mushroom with Oyster Sauce Stuffed in Mango

Braised Fish Soup
with mushroom, bamboo shoot and ginger

Sliced Lamb Leg with Preserved Bean Curd

Fried Chicken with Macadamia nuts

Shanghainese Noodle with Spring Onion Oil

Ginkgo with Yam Paste

Kelab Mawar.
I love lights. (:

Nang it!

Be sweet and VOTE THIS FOR ME DAILY!

1. You have to like the page.
2. Go to my gallery which is the link above and vote for every picture!

It’s that simple. Do it everyday for me!

Nang it!

Monday

4 Aussies came to our school and our morning session students were, as usual, over excited and loud. (: It was bad cause we made noise during performances and speeches. Ahhhhh.. What a bad impression. Anyway, we celebrated the opening of Language Month.

Tuesday

I had my Congkak Competition today. Farah didn’t come, so I got into the next round and won Stephanie, but lost to Kei Kiat in the 3rd round. Damn. I could have been the champion!

Just random bokeh picture at the asrama. My first time in there!

Half of a Congkak.

Congkak really requires a good strategy

Thursday

5 Keledang (my class) had 7 free periods. Guess what we did. First 2 periods were PJK, so we went down to the field-which-is-getting-smaller-each-year, and took turns to play badminton. The weather was playing pranks on us. IT WAS SO HOT. OMG. Anyway, after that we went to the library and guess who came in! Foo Pei Shi! The girl who went to Penang International School. She just got back from Bali holiday. After recess was over, we were in class, playing the most ‘childish’ yet fun games ever. Remember ‘chi ku bak’? Azrai seldom won. Hahaha. He only wins if he starts the game. After a while, we played this game Mithran introduced. LOL. ‘My mother went to the market to buy some chicken, what colour would it be?’ Then he slowly changed it to ‘My mother went to the market to buy some condoms, what colour would it be?’ Anyway, when the 7th period was over, Mrs Tan G.T. came into the class, made us stop playing and do Malay grammar. Dammit.

The new fitness area in my school. How gay.. When October comes, everything would be vandalized.

Kit Lu, Euodia and Cindy. I did a mini photoshoot.

Playing badminton.

The most striking pants colour I ever seen in my school.

Me and Cindy

Now for the single portraits.

Kevin
Credits to Cindy. She took this picture.

Foo Pei Shi

Me and Pei Shi

Using my failure magnifying glass. Dammit..

Cindy

Somehow, I like this photograph..

Steffi and Kevin

This is my classmates during free periods. Can you imagine us during lessons?

Close up of Cindy’s name tag. LOL. I LOVE KL. KL represents Kit Lu and Koon Leon. Not Kuala Lumpur. Haha

Friday

They finally annouced the photography competition winners! I got first place! Yay! 2nd place is Wong Ee Choong, 3rd place is Wong Lup Yee and 4th place was Yim Sue Yan.

Here’s the pictures I submitted to them.

And this is for Cassandra and Zee Jiun. (:

Nang it!

My missing copy of seventeen (January). Even the front cover colours faded! Stupid people, can’t they put the copies where they should be?

After dealing with the aerial man, we all sat in my mummy’s car and drove to KLIA to send my sister off to Auckland.

The Mother, The Brother, The Sister and The Younger Sister (me).

Nang It!

This time I won’t let you get away
my heart is in your hands and it’s there to stay.

when i get really lonely i think of you smiling.
-glen hansard

Don’t wake me up if this is a dream because things aren’t always what they seem. So don’t ruin this for me. If you’re a fairytale, I still believe.

We give and we take from each other so much,
that I feel we don’t need no one else

It scares me how I need your laugh.
You’re everything I’ve grown to miss.

because i know you’re too good to be true
i must have done something good to meet you.

When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.

I spend 23 hours a day wondering whether we’re wrong for each other, wondering whether we’ve got the energy
that we need to get through everything that we seem to get into, whether the baggage we both bring would sink
a small ship. But in the 24th hour, I realize I’ve been thinking about you for 23 hours. There’s something about
you I can’t stay away from. Something about you, that makes me want to love you.

today i discovered that happiness is not something we find,
its something we create.
this is my first step toward recovery.

Credits to wys-quotography

Exams. See you soon.