To You

This Moment In Time

This moment in time

A thousand thoughts run across my mind

Many fractions are of you

How so?

Clueless myself

This moment in time

I won’t wish for time to rewind

But I wish for the future

For though the past holds laughter and tears

But I for sure know

That tomorrow will bring more than what the past holds

This moment in time

Right here right now

Listen to your heart, your soul

And I thank you for being you

For this moment in time

Always and forever

I shall always keep the faith

PS Something that I created due to a spark of inspiration from chatting with my friends

A Week of Nanjing

Nanjing, the capital of Kuomintang. Famous for its city walls which are about 600 years old. This city is a mix of the old and the new. On one side you can see part of the old city wall while on another side of the wall, there are rows of apartment blocks.

Some of the places that I went to was Nanjing Museum, Ghost-Face City, The Emperor's Summer Xanadu, ZhongShanLing and Confucius Temple. I shall rate the attractions according to my preferences.

No.1 : ZhongShanLing

China Rated : 5 A scenic attraction

What is it : This is a large reserved area of green aka the lungs of Nanjing. Here, you will find the tomb of Dr. Sun Yat Sen in the shape of a bell. Apparently, the architect that designed the tomb suicided after building this place because he was heavily indebted because of the high cost of building this place. A long time ago, this was 'the' place of all places. Song Mei Ling also lived here

once a upon a time. Her mansion is still standing and open for visits. Next to Dr. Sun's tomb is the royal tomb of the First Ming Emperor aka MingXiaoLing. Here, the emperor was buried together with all his wives and concubines as accompaniment. However, the exact location of where the emperor was buried is unknown to prevent enemies from digging up his grave.

MingXiaoLing, The Tomb of The Ming Emperor

This is the other realm (After you crossover the gate). Apparently the emperor ordered the designs to be built as if he was still living after his death.

ZhongShanLing. The design is such that from the bottom looking up, you can only see steps although there are 8 planes separating each flight of steps and from the top looking down, you can only see the planes and no steps in sight.

No. 2 : Emperor's Summer Xanadu

China rated : I'm not sure but it is one the most well conserved historical place in Nanjing

What is it: The emperor used this place as a holiday villa (if I remember correctly what the tour guide explained). The buildings and materials used were all according to fengshui and myths, i.e. the pathways are designed with coins and butterflies because coins=wealth and butterflies=beauty. Only the emperor himself can step on these pathways.

No. 3: Confucius Temple.

China rated: unknown

What is it: This is the altar of education and knowledge. Here, they display all the tools i.e. books, brushes and biographies of all the famous scholars from the past including a bronze statue of the famous Tong Pak Fu. They also showed how ppl used to cheat in the exams in the past and how small and crampy the exam squatters were.

No.4 : Ghost-face City

This is a city wall. How the ghost face came about, I have no idea. Maybe the wall became lopsided through time and eventually formed the face. There's a lake in front of the wall which makes it look as if the ghost was looking in the mirror at itself.

This is XuanWu lake. I didn't rate this place because I felt that the scenery was already tampered with all the renovations works taking place around it. Apparently, nanjing in undergoing a huge makeover in preparations for Winter Olympics in 2014.
This is just another typical city wall. They are all over the city, usually near their parks. Parks are actually a common occurrence all over China because of the culture of strolling and hanging out in parks especially the old generations whereby they pass their time away playing chess and poker and singing chinese operas.

PS. For more pictures, go see my facebook. I uploaded most of my pics there

5 Cities Later

A whole BBQ lamb. One of the famous dishes in Ningxia

In Front of Tiananmen Square
Tongli, Suzhou

China Pavilion, Shanghai World Expo 2010

I'm back home once again after a long trip around China. Had a great time there thanks to my hospitable course mates. I went to Nanjing, Shanghai, Suzhou, Beijing and Ningxia. The first four cities might be familiar to everyone, the last city Ningxia might sound foreign. Ningxia is a northern province bordering Mongolia. Most of its people are Muslims aka the Hui people.

A City Wall in Nanjing.

I've tasted a lot of foods around China, some looked so foreign to me but they all tasted good. In

Ningxia, I think I consumed my entire lifetime's lamb portion within 8 days. Apparently the sheep there are famous all over China for its tender meat.

Shanghai was really packed with tourist especially at the World Expo. And Shanghai is very costly. Burned a big hole in my pocket just after 3 days.

Suzhou was much more relaxed and laid back. I got to sleep in a 300 year old house and on an antique bed that we only see in museums. The surroundings were really nice and ancient as well.

Beijing, although I didn't spend much time there, I managed to visit Tiananmen Square and the Forbidden City. These 2 places are right next to each other and they are massive. The entire Forbidden City is as big as an entire Georgetown.

Lastly, the mysterious Ningxia. Mysterious it might be to us commoners but not to film makers worldwide. Many films like Treasure Hunter and The Mummy 3 was filmed right here.

These are my short intro for the cities that I've set foot on. Will write soon on each of the places I went to soon~Zai Jian!

First Trip of My Sem Break

Langkawi was where I went. Two uni mates met me at Langkawi for a short two days one night trip. A surprise guest appeared at the pier. I was not aware of him joining 3 girls on a trip. Anyways, I spent 2 hours waiting for them at Langkawi Jetty in KFC and I befriended a Korean guy whose on a backpacking trip across SEA and China.

Long story short, I think I only managed to down some amount of alcohol and bought chocolates and entered Underwater World. The Cable Car was shut for maintenance. I wanted to go visit the Anna and The King filming site but apparently it was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004. What a pity. I really liked that place. Langkawi improved a lot from the last time I went there about 6-8 years ago.

Tonight seems to be blogging night. This is the third post already.

A New Addition to My Tech Collection

Although this is not considered the latest technology, it is a new member to my must-take-alongs during holidays/trips.

I have a sudden urge to name all my stuff so that I can find them easily (but it's not like they are going to come running when I call them).

This was courtesy from my cousin sisters : Eve and Lisa. Thanks! love you guys!

My Birthday

To say the least...It was a surprise but the real surprise was the number of friends that turned up. So many unexpected faces...and because of the number of people there, I was so shy because 1. I just finished bathing and was in my pjs 2. I was *ahem*-less the whole time everyone was in my room.

But nothing beats having my friends putting aside their exams for a few moments to celebrate with me. And I LOVED the durian cake. Yes...I love durian... after the celebration I played monopoly on the computer. The game sucked. Would take up the board monopoly anytime.

Of Tweetering and Blackberrying

I finally got a blackberry for myself...after nearly 6 months of non-stop recommendation from people around me about the greatness/efficiency of this handheld device. Although it is just a normal one, after using it for just 3 days, I acknowledge its efficiency-ness and I will get a better one soon (when I have the dough for it..which is not anytime soon).

Since I have nothing much to do at home ( or just plain procrastinating) I recently opened a tweeter account....and I've been following a lot of celebrities...and heck do they twitter like mad...

Today I did something I haven't done in years...I went to play badminton..yes...the irony was I still could play..maybe there's just some things that you never forget once you learned them...I was flat out on my bed the whole afternoon after the game.

Tomorrow I'm doing a movie marathon of Shrek Forever After 3D and Robinhood. Looking forward to both movies!

Home Sweet Home

I'm finally back home. But still with a lot to do.. Two days and I still cant find time to laze around at home like always. Going for Iron Man 2 later.

Somethings that I like

since i'm procrastinating in the library, i'll do some blogging. My cousin recommended some blogs for me to browse through..and I really like them. Found another one through my friend's blog as well.

http://loveyourchaos.tumblr.com/

http://u-jean.tumblr.com/

http://colormekatie.blogspot.com/

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

There are a lot more from these websites. I think they really do have some minor uplifting effect on me by giving me something to think about (other than assignments and deadlines and assignments)

Finals is Coming

I'm entering the last week of the semester. Time just flashed by. A quarter of the year has come and gone now. I'am at the end of my 2nd year in university. Soon, I'll be in my final year doing my thesis.

Although it's almost my final week, assignments are still mountain high. I've been spending a few of my weekends cooped up in the library for internet access to finish up my assignments (although it is also a temptation to facebook and youtube, blame it on the lack of internet access). I'm so stressed up that I've been acting weird. I refused to do anything productive (finishing assignments) for the past 3 nights. All I did was play Chuzzle and Bejeweled and drama-marathoning.

Of late, I've have a lot of temptations for materialistic wants. The biggest of them all has to be Blackberry...Most of my relatives have BB. I'm about to be persuaded to own one. The only thing stopping me now is $$$ and I just got my current phone about a year ago. And I want to go on holidays too..

A month from now, I'll be home...I seriously need to catch up on my sleep. I've been deprive of sleep for the entire semester now that I look like a panda with huge dark circles, but the chances are highly impossible with friends coming over to Penang for holidays. Yes, I'll be the tour guide again. I've been tour guiding every single semester break. I'm actually sick of the tourist spots in Penang, and I can actually memorise all the history related to those places.

Holidays, come to me ASAP!

Updates

still busy. think will be so till the end of the semester which is just 2 weeks away. then it's my finals. will be going home on the 5th of may.

current state of mind...is to go home ASAP. very very tired mentally and physically.

need a break from all these madness

Busy Days

The title speaks for itself. B-U-S-Y!!!

My current condition

Almost burned out.

Tired.

Sleepy.

Post CNY

Back in uni for about 2 days...I should be doing my assignments or studying at this moment but instead, here I am blogging...

I just took a mid term yesterday..and assignments due tomorrow + quiz. I don't know which to prioritize more. WTF...

Yesterday's exam was the worst one ever because the amount of studying I did was ZERO. Could some one just hit me on my head?

Chinese New Year Sightseeing

Some of the places that I took my coursemates from university to during their short visit to Penang.

Destination No 4: Khoo Kongsi, Armenian Street

Comments : I actually like this place a lot. The carvings and statues and drawings are classically old with a tinge of old China nostalgia. Each and every carving of animals, deities and drawings carries a meaning and have functions of their own, usually to ward of evil or as a sort of advice to the mortals on Earth. At night, when the lights are turned on, the place looks like a shimmering golden house.

Entrance fee : RM 5 or RM 1 for students and children

Number of times visiting : Since Dec 08 till now....5X

Destination No 3: Pinang Peranakan House aka Green Mansion, Church Street

Comment : This place is also very special. Just newly opened last year. My second time here. I expect to step my feet inside this place for many more times, not because I love it but because I have to bring someone visiting Penang here. This house belong to an old man from China (which I forgot the name) and currently owned by some antique collector. All the walls, doors, floors are restored to their original glory. The antique pieces belong to the current owner. There are a lot of displays showing the past and evolving culture of the Baba and Nyonya living in Penang. The famous Singaporean drama series Little Nyonya was filmed here as well. For those that have no inkling about Baba and Nyonya and Chinese home architecture should pay this place a little visit. Another similar house in Penang would be the Blue Mansion aka Cheong Fatt Tze on Leith Street. The house is a good place for understanding chinese architecture combined with feng shui.

Entrance fee : RM 10

Number of times visiting : 2X

Destination No 2 : Kek Lok Si Temple, Air Itam

Comment : For me, I only come here during CNY celebrations because of the lightings. At night the scenery is good and the newly built Kuan Yim statue behind the Pagoda is a good visit as well. What I hate about this place is that there is only one way up to the temple and it is always jammed during CNY. I drove my friends here at about 11.30pm and the jam was still horrible and the lights are off at 12 midnight. That only left us 20mins to look around.

Entrance fee : Free to certain areas, Access to certain areas would cost RM2

Number of times visiting : Lost count
Destination No 1: Penang Butterfly Farm, Teluk Bahang

Comment : If you like insects and butterflies and reptiles, this is the place to visit. They have scorpions, mandarin ducks, turtles, insects and many many butterflies flutting around near you. If you smell like a flower, the butterfly might even make you as its pit stop. If you like insect photography you should come too. Although my photography skill aren't superb, the pictures of butterflies below are captured by moi.

Entrance fee : RM 10 for Malaysians and Retirees. RM 20 for foreigners. I forgot the price for children.

Number of times visiting : Lost count. But from Dec O8 till now I think maybe 4X

These places, I didn't rank them. I just arrange them according to the sequence that I visited them. So friends (or strangers) reading this, have you been to these places eventhough you are a Penangite?

My New Year...

I think my new year celebrations have finally ended..or at least it should end so that I can concentrate on completing my assignments.

What have I done so far? The usual...eating a lot (seriously a lot) and gambling (only once). So far I've had chinese new year dishes, steamboat, japanese food, hawker food, german food and many more. The list is ended. I'm amazed at my tummy's capability to input so much within one week.

I spent time with friends and family and also enjoyed myself sightseeing with uni mates. Went to my worst club night ever too.

What I have NOT done and should be doing are my assignments and studying. I keep on rambling and reminding myself to do it but my willpower isn't strong enough for me to stick my butt down to start doing any serious work.

Another 2 in 1

Watched Valentine's Day and All's Well Ends Well 2010 today. The cinema ticketing counter queue was sooooo loooonnggg.. from the time I arrived to collect tickets for the first movie and when I left after 2 movies and dinner and some story book hunting.

Valentine's Day had so many top stars acting in it. And I like how they portrayed how people perceive Valentine's Day and Love. Sometimes love just happens. But Sometimes when you thought it was there all this time but it actually wasn't. Quoting V Day 'You don't step into love. You fall head over heels in love'.

As for All's Well Ends Well 2010...In my opinion, it is just the typical chinese new year movie that is churned out by the HK Film Industry year after year. Gives you some good laughs and you forget about it after new year's over.

I'm actually looking forward to watch Hot Summer Days but I think that would have to wait till I go back to Land Beneath The Wind.

What I'm dreading is also..going back because then I would have to face reality of mid terms and dead lines. My work progress so far is 0%. And half of my hols are gone. DAMN.

Double Celebration...Double Happiness

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!!! and not forgetting....HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!!!
Although I'm not celebrating valentine's but it's also an occasion note worthy...

So guys and girls....enjoy yourself to the max...before normal daily live activities resume..

Au Revoir!

Come CNY

I'm back again.In the fourth week of the semester..going into the fifth week. 20 days back in sabah but another 20 days to go home for Chinese New Year.

Studying mode is still not sinking in. All I've been thinking about is to go home and meet up with my friends and family during the new year!

And the sun doesn't shine when I need it to.

Second Year Second Sem

Things kicked off nicely for me. Had loads of laughs with my friends before we all left for uni. I have loads to blog about my semester break but time does not allow. Maybe during my chinese new year break in a month's time.

Things are starting to pile up. All due before chinese new year...dang it. Internet is going be difficult for me again. But since I came back on Sunday, I've managed about an hour of internet daily.

010110

The new year has arrived...My resolution>>EMBRACE IT with anticipation! Bring it on 2010!