Crashing back to reality

The holidays are coming to an end, and finally, the weight of the coming semester seems to be beginning to bore down on me too quickly. I need to "depressurize" from this holiday high and start getting back into the real world.

One of the worst things that could happen this week is that I cannot register for my core courses online. So now I need to rush back to Penang the following day after coming back from Malacca to register these courses manually. And I cannot take French level 2 because it clashes with the core course I cannot register for!!!

And I will be taking 7 subjects/ 20 units again!! I wonder if it is healthy to do so?? And on top of that, I expect to be taking on more responsibilities in terms of AIESEC.

Its a good thing, right???

Post MyLDS Reflection.

As easy as it may seem, it is actually quite hard to put in writing all the wonderful insights that I have gained in MyLDS (Malaysia Leadership Development Seminar). I will share them to anyone who asks because it is more personal that way.

Besides that, I would just like to add that MyLDS was not your typical leadership training camp. You are not trained only to be a leader, but a positive change agent to impact the society around you. This is one of my aspirations now as an @er.

Just would like to share some of the things that have impacted me during MyLDS that have changed my life forever:

In chronological order:

1. Being voted for as Awesomers most outstanding eXchanger
2. Discovering my vision
3. Winning the best Square Dance for LCUSM
4. Losing the elections for LCP in my mock-LC
5. RACE
6. Being nominated as an outstanding delegate
7. Filling out the application form for Mock MCP elections
8. Making a difference in my mock-LC during LC simulation and MyAIESEC.net simulation
9. Being nominated as Top-20 in the Mock MCP elections with Evelyn and Jason
10.The interview for Top-10
11.Thanking the people who have inspired me this whole time (almost brought me to tears)
12.Having Evelyn and Jason stand along with me as top-10 of Mock MCP elections
13.The speech and Q&A sessions
14.Discovering that we are all winners in that aspect, because we know what we wanted and grabbed the opportunity to make a difference
15.Reading the sugar cubes that were written on the bus ride back

There are many more such moments and it would take a long time to list them all down, but these are the ones most significant to me. Just wanted to say to all who read this, I am an ordinary student who has big dreams. I went all out to achieve the goals that I have laid down for myself. Have you?

10 local destinations to travel to before graduation..

I know it sounds silly and absurd, but I do wish and hope to visit (or revisit) some of these places before my graduation in 2011. Here's the list:

1. Taman Negara
2. Mt. Kinabalu
3. Cameron Highlands
4. Perhentian Islands
5. Tioman Island
6. Redang Island
7. Niah Caves/Mulu Caves
8. Semporna/Sipadan
9. Langkawi
10. Malacca/KL/Penang Heritage Trail

Out of this list, I have already been to 3, 6, and 10. So that means I have 7 more to go. However, I would really love to revisit some of these places again. Means I have to start saving up for these trips, especially the ones on Borneo.


I also have a list of South East Asian destinations I want to visit, probably after graduation.

1. Halong Bay, Vietnam
2. Chiang Mai, Thailand
3. Borobudur, Indonesia
4. Angkor, Cambodia
5. Hanoi, Vietnam
6. Ko Samui, Thailand
7. Yangon, Myanmar
8. Phnom Penh, Cambodia
9. Singapore
10. Luang Prabang, Laos

These will be slightly trickier, and I will most probably do them together on my way north in the BIG BACKPACKING TRIP AFTER GRADUATION so that I can save on travel fees. Who knows?

I lost my phone

I am too upset now.... I lost my phone.

Because of Madagascar 2.

Because I have to silent my phone.

Before the movie.

Because it is the cinema's policy.

Because somebody decided to make it a rule.

Because most people are not considerate enough to turn their phones to silent.

Because they have brown matter for their brains.

Because they are bought up that way.

Because the society is that way.

Because there is great degeneration in society today.

Because we are not doing enough to educate our young.

Because we are too busy working, playing, instead of educating our young.

Because we lose sight of the future.

Because we cannot prioritize.

Because we do not know what is really important.

Because there are too many distractions in the world.

Because the commercial world knows what buttons to push.

Because they do a lot of market analysis.

Because that is what they are hired for.

Because that is what they do for a living.

Because they need to support their families.

So, they have no time for their families.

And no time to educate their young.

So I will lose my phone...






I lost my phone.

It's a good thing I am not wasted..

First of all, thank you to all those who wished me for my birthday, and also to those who celebrated it with me, it was truly memorable and special.

It was interesting (to me) how it all went. Well, on my birthday-eve, my friends and I went to Friday's so I would get a special "birthday treatment" from the staff there, and also to play Monopoly. I got a piece of cake and they made me sing a song, only after I've had half a bottle of Heineken... We hit the theaters after that and watched Quantum of Solace.

After that, we headed to Kapitan to go online, and to continue playing Monopoly, until around 4 in the morning.

For dinner, my friends and I went to Seoul Garden for a buffet Korean BBQ steamboat. We stuffed ourselves, and then went to G Spot (in G Hotel, next to Gurney Plaza) and listened to a live Jazz band. I had a Bailey's Irish Cream, and someone got a Pussy Foot (a mocktail). Later, they announced a special 15 minute promotion: Tequila shots for 5 ringgit each!! Two of us went for it and had two shots each. It was my first time drinking shots, I was overwhelmed by the first shot, but the second one went down easier.

Anyway, I downed a lot of water when I went back, so I didn't get a headache in the morning. and so I am here now blogging.

I'm sorry if any of this seems boring, but I think that this is one thing you have to be there to see for yourself...

Happy birthday?? Absolutely.

Rant about stupid people.

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, there are stupid people in the world. While you may frown at the use of the word "stupid", no amount of diplomacy can discount the fact that there are some humans who are not created equal, and are therefore, genetically under-endowed in terms of intelligence and intellect. I am not referring to dumb people. Everyone had their blonde moments. I am talking about those who are genuinely stupid, people who are too stubborn to be instructed, and would never ever admit their own stupidity.

Why do I say this? During the course of my not-very-long-but-still-seems-long-enough life, I have had to deal with all sorts of people. But university is the place where I have an eye-opener. I am amazed at the great amount of stupid people there. I hope nobody gets offended by this, but if you are, then you probably are not one of the stupid people I am talking about (since you understand what I am talking about). But if you are offended, then take a step back, (or a hundred), and take a swing. Or two. I don't mind. I'm not stupid enough to stand in the way of your punch.

This rant is getting out of control. I think I have said enough and caused enough damage. now it is time to find a secret hideout.

Mid exam lull

I am halfway through my exam, after doing 3 papers, and right now I am supposed to prepare myself for the next exam, my BATI paper on friday 3pm. Problem is, I cannot seem to bring myself to study for it. Or study my French and Literature, even though I think my Theories of Receptive and Productive skills paper was done quite badly.. le sigh.

On a lighter note, I got an A for my HXE107 Coursework (40%) and an A, A, and A- for my HXE 108 Coursework... And a B for critical thinking. But i don't really want to think about it.

And I already bought tickets for the 20th, on Thursday. My last paper is French, on the same day, from 9 to 11, and my bus leaves at 2 15. Now I should probably start packing for home, and considering the amount of stuff I have, it is going to be a long and arduous task.

That's all for now, I will keep updating as I go along.

I got tagged

First of all, Don't believe Rubini because I didn't really ask to be tagged. Anyway, I still got tagged so I'm just gonna reply to it.

INSTRUCTIONS:
1. The tagged victims have to come up with eight different points of his/her perfect lover.
2. Have to mention the gender of his/her perfect lover.
3. Tag eight other victims to join this game and leave a comment on their blog.
4. If you are tagged the second time, there’s no need to do this AGAIN.
5. Lastly, most importantly, HAVE. FUN. DOING. IT.


1. A person who accepts me for who I am, but still tries to push me to my peak.

2. Someone who can stand my little quirks and annoyances, preferably someone who knows me long enough to know the reason behind these little quirks. Means new friends don't qualify.

3. Someone I can go shopping with.

4. Someone who is above average in intelligence, but not smarter than me (so that I don't have to explain every joke and sarcastic remark), and so that we can exchange witticisms.

5. Shares the same taste in books, movies, dramas, food, pets etc...

6. Different enough so we won't get bored in our realtionship

7. Someone who is willing to dress up properly for special occasions, use proper table manners etc

8. Someone I think about when I wake up in the morning.


I tag the person sitting behind me, beside me, in front of me, above me, below me, before me, after me and YOU!!!

My exam timetable

Its that time of the year again, not with pine trees, or even angpows, but with nerve-numbing head-bashing nail-biting and whatnot. It's exam time!!! And here is my exam schedule. My exams will be from the 3rd of November till the 20th of November. There will be six papers.


3/11 - HPW102 Critical Thinking
4/11 - HXE308 English for Specific Purposes
5/11 - HXE107 Theories of Receptive and Productive Skills
14/11- HBT112 BATI
18/11- HXE108 Introduction to English Literature
20/11- LAP100 French Level One

So there you go, my timetable.
Hopefully I will be able to test my mettle and not get melted...

Poisonous ant bite...

Yesterday, I was bitten by an ant on my arm as I was talking on the phone, on my way to the library from the Language Centre. I yelled in pain. OUCH. It hurt a little, but I was bitten by ants before, so no big deal right? WRONG. The bite started to sting, and in five minutes the whole area as large as my fist started to swell. OUCH.

It has been a day or so now, and the swelling hasn't dissipated. No other ant bite I have experienced was as bad as this. So, I have come to two conclusions:

1. The ant was poisonous. In fact, ants are the most venomous insects in the world, rivaling spiders and bees. OUCH
... and the fact that the swelling hurts to the touch means something...

2. The ant was radioactive. And I will get superpowers... LOL. My friends keep saying the ant powers that I will get is that I will be hardworking... HMMMMMM....


According to the Schmidt Sting Pain Index, I think that the ant is probably a fire ant, which carries the sting pain index of 1.2 .

MAybe when I wake up tomorrow I can be extremely powerful or something.... HEHE....

ONE

One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
Two can be as bad as one
It's the loneliest number since the number one

No is the saddest experience you'll ever know
Yes, it's the saddest experience you'll ever know
`Cause one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest number, worse than two

It's just no good anymore since she went away
Now I spend my time just making rhymes of yesterday

One is the loneliest, number one is the loneliest
Number one is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
One is the loneliest, one is the loneliest
One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
It's just no good anymore since she went away
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest
(Number) One is the loneliest number that you'll ever do

Update in order

It has been more than a month since I have updated my blog. It isn't totally due to laziness (it plays a part), but also because of a myriad of different reasons.

1. Assignments

I have a ton of assignments, ranging from the easy to the extremely complicated ones (not difficult, mind you, just complicated). And doing these assignments take time. A lot of time.

I have just handed in my HPW102 (Critical Thinking) assignment today, and to be honest, I am not too happy about it. I feel as if I didn't do it justice. Same goes with my HBT112 (Translation) assignment. sigh.

2. No internet

I have no wireless signal in my room, and I am too lazy to move to a wireless hotspot because to me, it's not worth it. 'nuff said.

3. Actually, I can't think of a third excuse. Maybe I'm just lazy.


Anyway, here is the update:

1. I might not be coming home during Raya break.
2. I got an A for a presentation. Woohoo
3. USM is now an APEX (Accelerated Programme for Excellence) University
4. There was a landslide near my hostel
5. I still hate WUS with all my heart.

That's all for now...

Short Update

Not much time to update here, what with having lots of lectures, tutorials, assignments, events to attend, fun to be experienced, and life to be lived...

Just wanted to do a short review of life in USM so far.. I am currently taking 7 subjects, which are:

1. Theories of Productive and Receptive Skills
2. Approaches to English Literature
3. English for Specific Purposes
4. French
5. English and Malay Grammar and Editing Strategies
6. Critical Thinking
7. Core Entrepreneurship

I am currently quite happy with my selection of courses, with one exception... WUS or core entrepreneurship is really making my blood boil just thinking about it... Stupid miserable people forcing us to take a course we don't want to.... i would much rather be using the two units to learn Japanese, Creative Writing, Language Ideology and Power, or anything else, because I never envision myself as a businessman or entrepreneur, and I expect to be hired immediately on the word go, just because I am me. (But of course that will never happen in real life , but bear in mind this is only a fantasy of mine). After being forced to listen to mindless business chatter, we were compelled to sit for the lousiest test in the world, and forced to sell mindless junk in a pathetic expo catered to poppycocks and schnitzlefritzes. Anyway, I could talk all day about this, but I will move on to something else.

Tests.. I have one next week, and a few more lined up for the end of the month.. I know I need to study, but just can't seem to muster my faculties to put myself in front of a book. My 'brilliance' has kept me from reading ahead of class so far, and I could easily understand what the lecturer is saying, but I have not started a teeny bit of actual revision. I might need to do that really soon. When I have the time and mental capacity.

Assignments. 7 subjects, six assignments. Most of them due this month or the next. Need to do them, can't seem to find the time. Mostly 6-8 pages long, and needs to be cited. Which brings another headache. Which style to use? There are so many, ranging from the Modern Language Association to the American Psychological Association. And I need to cite references even from the Net. ( I had this question, if I had an article on the Net, and made references to it, do I need to give acknowledgment that I copied from my own work?). Anyway, I hope to draft 3 assignments by the en of the week, which gives me another week to work on them, because I intend to study during the holidays and not work.

That's about all right now, I will e back in Ipoh for a few days next week, but after that I will be back in Penang for a holiday!!!

Rants

USM Hotspot sucks. There is no equivalent word, in any language or dialect, that can fully encompass the total inefficiency of said Hotspot. Its uselessness is inexpressibly worse than Streamyx! But that goes without saying. After all, all free services not provided by nature is bound to suck. Take for another example, the 'free' bus service (we pay RM60 per semester), which is comparable to an industrial sized tuna can. Especially at peak hours. And that is all fine until you are almost late for a lecture and there is no more space that is humanly possible to squeeze into unless you are Mr. Fantastic or if you practice high-level yoga.

On the brighter side, I will be taking part in an AmazingRace this weekend, where I can finally take a full tour of Penang. I am now a member of PKA (Agape Christian Fellowship) and AIESEC (Association Internationale des Étudiants en Sciences Économiques et Commerciales). Still pondering whether I should take part in Archery, Debate, or some other thing, or nothing else.

On another note, I have a presentation for my English For Specific Purposes class this Wednesday. The topic I have chosen is : English For Satirical Purposes. This presentation accounts for 5% of my final grade.

That's all the ranting I have the energy for for now. Most of it was spent trying to connect to the internet and looking for stuff for my presentation (try refreshing a page a hundred times... It's tiring)So see you guys later!!

Another quick filler update

I'm now online at Restoran Istemewa, and was hoping to update my blog about the events that took place on my first week in USM, but I haven't got the time to get good pictures of campus yet. Therefore, I'll just do a short update of current events.

1. I was late for a lecture on wednesday and thursday respectively. I was late on wednesday because I couldn't find my lecture hall, and also bus was full and I had to walk/trot/run all the way to the lecture hall, which was near the other end of campus from my hostel, and from a totally different place from where i expected. Fortunately the lecturer hasn't started the lecture proper, but I had a limited choice of tutorials due to this...

The thursday fiasco was due to rain....torrential rain I'm used to , but it was sheet rain (falling in sheets??) with strong winds!! My umbrella almost blew open...

2. I am no longer taking Communications as my minor. In the first place, I went for the first lecture and the lecturer already scared us with an assignment and group presentations.... In the second place, I was informed by a friend of mine who tried to apply for the same thing that I was doing, YKT 102- Introduction to Mass Communication, that first year students from other schools are not allowed to take this particular course... And this was after I bought the textbook!! So now I am looking for a buyer, but if all else fails, I will keep the book for my private collection (it costs 55 ringgit).

I am now pursuing a minor in Translation and Interpretation ( A big thank you to Dr.Azimah, my PA, and Dr. Hasuria, who let me into the class), and language has been something like a pet passion of mine, thanks to House, who speaks in at least 6 different languages.

I am also taking French as a foreign language, and if all goes well, I might take up Japanese or some other language as well.

3. Thanks to the before-mentioned Introduction to mass comm textbook, I am now skint (british way of saying broke, penniless, poor). If I don't find a buyer, I will have to live on bread alone. Sigh, no Queensbay, no new books, no nasi kandar, no life until next month!!! So I'm praying, hoping someone will buy the book from me, because otherwise I will have to dig up my cents and live on them...

4. Speaking of cents, coins are very important and in high demand and short supply here. They are used for photocopying, Washing machine, water dispenser, phone calls, etc etc!! That's why I'm saving my pennies and quarters up. The washing machine costs RM2 to operate, the dryer another RM2, the water dispenser RM0.20 for each litre, yadda yadda yadda, so coins are very important here.

This post is getting longer than I expected, I will stop here, and resume when I have some pictures to show you guys... Thats all for now, au revoir!

My First week in USM

It all began one fine day, a Saturday to be exact, when a young man's life is to be changed forever. He would enter one of the top universities in the country to pursue knowledge, experience, friendship and at the end of three years, a degree in English Language and Literature Studies.

Ok. Enough with the crap and let me move on to what happened on my first week (as I remember it).

On the first day ever, Michele and I got a lift from Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Lee (very nice people with a very nice condo in Batu Feringghi) Michele was dropped off first at her temporary hostel at Cahaya Gemilang (Brilliant light i suppose) and left to fend for herself. I, on the other hand was give Aman Damai, which is the other end of campus, and also very near the lake...

I got my receipts checked out, got my souvenirs and stuff ( a bag, some books and a tie) and went to my room ( K02/115B) and met my temporary roommate, Wei Yap, who is doing Physics... We got to know each other a little, He's from Malacca things like that. And around 3 pm, we went to 'Dataran Aman' (just a small field) to get ready to go to Dewan Tuanku Syed Putra (DTSP from now on) for a taklimat or something...

I'm so sorry i have to stop here, but I can't remember what went on and I have a lecture soon and (insert your choice of excuse here___________________) So i'll leave this post as a cliffhanger right now, will try to take pictures of some of the locations and stuff... Till the next post, au revoir!!

Final Post before leaving

Dudes and babes, I am one hour away from departure, and I just wanted to say this before leaving: I will miss a lot of you, and some of you I will miss a lot.

Keep in touch,

Cheng Fai/ Zach

A word on Nostalgia...

The term nostalgia describes a longing for the past, often in idealized form. The word is made up of two Greek roots (νόστος nostos "returning home", and άλγος algos "pain"), to refer to "the pain a sick person feels because he wishes to return to his native land, and fears never to see it again"

So when somebody is nostalgic, they are in other words, homesick. That's strange considering I have considered myself nostalgic by yearning for the past. But the past I yearn for is not something I have personally experienced. I yearn for the 'good ol' days', when the air was cleaner, the education better, less worries, better lives etc etc... But that type of yearning is not nostalgia. It is merely a yearning for something I can never achieve.

If that is the case, then I am definitely most 'unnostalgic', or as some put it, I have wanderlust, or the strong desire to leave home, which is also untrue. I think in my situation, I am just very able to leave something/ put something down without looking back. Without regrets. Without feeling a nagging pull to my conscience. A new world awaits.

Right now, I'm preparing to leave for my studies in USM, Penang. Granted that it is not very far from home, the logistics involved in such an undertaking as moving off for studies are very complicated. And for the first time, I am feeling a little twinge. I am going to miss some people in Ipoh. Something I have never felt when I am leaving a school, institution, or center...

Anyway, I'll be leaving on Friday, 8 15 A.M. to Butterworth. The time is short. There is almost no time for farewells. No closures. Just like every time. Maybe the lack of closure is the reason I can just put something down, leave it and never look back. Maybe. Just maybe. But I do want to look back this time. I want to remember your faces, your names, you. Even if I don't get a chance to say goodbye.

My bags are packed, my tickets bought, my heart is almost set. We shall meet again. I hope we can be friends again. Put all these behind us and be friends, when we meet again.

Camerons Solo Adventure Part Two

This is part two of the Cameron Highlands solo adventure series, and I hope to cover the time tunnel in this part..

This was taken at the front... A whole wall of old stuff... One man's trash is another man's treasure??


In the beginning, there were primitive life forms??? What were their lifestyles like? Their way of life??



Ancient Racquets...


Transportation...

And ancient bike/scooter thingy

a tram???


Old motorcycles..


A mini-mini....


A driver's license from the days of the Federation...


Ancient brands that are still available today...

Milo and Cadbury... Milo was marketed as a tonic food drink in those days



Darlie toothpaste, aka DARKIE in those days...


LOL Darkie is WANTED!!! If you do have one, you can claim a reward!!!


A Darkie coaster


Hacks sweet


Seven Up poster


A variety of posters and paraphernalia..


Ancient Pepsi cola still in the bottles! One sip and you really won't ask for more!!


Really really old old newspaper!!!


Another couple of bottles of old drinks.... Tasty??


Old electrical stuff...

And old fan... It looks more efficient than some of the ones we have today (4-blades), but fingers beware!!!


And old gramophone...


This comic was placed near an exhibit:


Wonder if they'll ever make a handphone that has a rotation-dial...


Old batteries, Eveready and National



Money Matters

An old register/calculator combo. Wonder how they made these things to work... This was pre-electronic calculator days lol.


Another one of those things.


This one actually looks like a toy.


Some old coins...


And paper money. I'm sorry it looks like this, i tried rotating them but it doesn't work!!!


More money...



Miscellaneous...











The admission fee was RM5, which i think is justified under the circumstances.... This place is like a museum, but one that lets you touch most of the exhibits... And as museums go, the things on exhibit actually relate to our lives. So it was well worth it for me!

Thanks for reading, I will post the third part soon...

On another note, I will be entering USM on the 28th June for my orientation. So right now I'm just tying up the loose ends and cleaning up my stuff in preparation...

I'm Ecstatic!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, I am proud to announce that I have been accepted into USM's English Language and Literature Studies course!!! Enough said.

I think I am one the few people who actually got their first choice.

Condolences to those who were not given theirs.





USM, here I come!!!

Solo Camerons Part One

Just so you know, I had another solo Cameronian adventure recently and i just found the time to post up some of the many pictures I took. This is going to take a few parts to finish so please bear with me.

I started my adventure at the junction leading to the tea factory. Decided to walk all the way up and down again....

The view on the way up to Sungai Palas Tea Factory.



A turkey. I hate turkeys. They chase me...


At last, I've reached the Tea Factory!!!



Isn't the background scenery fantastic?



The BOH sign. 'Best Of Highlands'


Another view of the plantation!

After the hike down, It was only natural to visit the Butterfly garden, where I took plenty of pictures...


A large beetle...Chalcosoma atlas. or Atlas beetle


Creepy beady eyes!!


Ugly frog




Snakes!! Too bad I don't speak Parseltongue.


More snakes.



Big scary butterfly. Or is it moth? Can never tell..


A weird looking bug caught my attention.


Large lizards!

Another ugly frog


Does this lizard look like a velociraptor?

This is the end of part one, Part two will have pics from the time tunnel!!