Season 7, Episode 1: A superheroic start!

" Eyes have never seen, this big,
No one's ever dreamed, this big,
And i'll spend the rest of my life
Explaining what words cannot describe but i'll try,
I love you this big... "
- I Love You This Big, Scott M., AI 10 winner.

One week of semester break wasn't enough. After much time spent on words and slides and notes, i have only one week to relax before it starts back at one. I couldn't even finish a novel! I was preoccupied until the last bit of a week's freedom. Thor. Fast 5. Secondary schoolmates meet up. Bro's birthday celebration. Wesak day. On the bright side- a really bright one, i will be having mid-sem breaks practically every weekend. I have classes on Monday til Wednesday only with 15 credit hours at hand. In a way, i might be free-er this semester.

So like all first weeks, deliberation on which course to add, to forward, to drop was made. And thankfully by now, my time and schedule for the week is set and confirmed.

The first week was pretty relaxing as i headed back KL for a wedding- and oh, i just love weddings! My grandaunt-nanny's daughter's wedding surely was a wonderful one. Is it weird for me to think about how my wedding should be already?

School's out and the holidays begin for school children. Pavilion KL is a place you should be if you have a heart of Superman, an automobile like Batman or a ring like Green Lantern! The DC Comic superheroes are the highlight and as a fan of heroes, i was all ready with my camera! The display will be until next weekend.

Batman is my favourite among all. I don't know why. Perhaps, it's his story that attracted me.

Behind me is a comic of Superman in action!

Justice League and the DC Comic Superheroes!

Currently, i'm on a work progress for a fantasy story and hopefully, it will be amongst the likes and greats of DC and Marvel!

Now to American Idol 10. Scott McCreery was crowned the winner with 'Love You This Big' as the winning song. The result show was entertaining and i couldn't agree more if anyone says AI is back! J Lo and Steven Tyler, who performed Dream On, brought AI to a much amazing stage of its show. And Randy's 'In it to win it' motto this season was hilarious, especially in his clip! R Seacrest will always be remembered as the AI host. I believe Lauren, the runner up, is now idols to many of the girls in America! Way to go AI!

Second week. Things might get busier, but still, four days of weekend break! wc11 cheers to a superheroic start, and prays everything goes well this season!

At National Geographic KL, Lot 10.

Season 6, Episode 9: On the edge of glory

"I'm on the edge of glory,
and I'm hanging on a moment with you... "
- The Edge of Glory, Lady Gaga

You'll know when a good song is really a good song- when it's nailed to your mind and you hum to its melody in any silent moment. That was what i felt after listening to Gaga's new single. I felt it uplifting, motivating and captivating altogether. It has beat and lyrics that still not yet be discovered of any underlining, more abstract meanings. This one is rather clear as Gaga is usually very artful, in her music, with symbolism. She proves once again of her uniqueness with this. This song in particular grew to become my favourite song from her hitherto. Hooked from the start to the end, including and especially the saxophone part, this song accompanied me throughout my recent exam days. And what more better to be for it felt like being on the edge of glory in this very moment!




This post isn't entirely to compliment this new, great music.

As i am typing this, i have already completed my second year of study- means this is the final episode of the season. A remarkable season, i would say! Well, i don't find it necessary to blog over my exams. I've worked hard and attempted my best. Plus, my break is only one week. One. Week. So instead of allocating time dwelling on the past papers, why not channel all those time to something better. One week- so many things in mind to do, so little time.

I've recently watched 'Spartacus: Blood and Sand'. I would highly recommend this show if not for its excessive display of sensuality. It has great plot- seriously so unpredictable, dark and heavy drama filled with deceit and manipulation, paired with amazing acting and stunning action (or gory) scenes. It is definitely a show of the Gladiator-era that is worth watching- you can be moved to tears in some of its episodes too!

American Idol 10 cuts into its Top 3, forcing another one of my favourite the exit- James Durbin. He has his moments on Idol, truly remarkable, and has great high vocals. But i got to kind of agree with the comments on him being lately off pitch. With his departure, i'm putting my faith on Lauren to fit into the finale, forcing either Haley- doing exceptionally well in last few weeks, and Scott- never like him, out the run. This week will be interesting.

I had completed another short story masterpiece, entitled 'Counting Stars'. It's about love in the brink of blindness. Stay tuned.

Lately, i read many biographies of people who weren't an actor (from other professions) who then chose to be in the film industry. Somehow, a change of heart. And if it is to happen to me, it'll be another dream come true.

So much for the second year, and Season 6. Hopefully, everything goes glorious! wc11 bids you a break, and will resume his life in uni the next season!

Season 6, Episode 8: Week 14 meets the Wedding!

" Say goodbye in the pouring rain, and i breakdown as you walk away. Cause all my life i felt this way, but i could never find the words to say. Stay... with me, stay... " - Stay, Hurts

I have to say this- this post is on the same date as the Royal Wedding. To be honest, i have never known or read so much about the royal family until today. Thanks to the Star for the coverage and SkyNews for the wedding- even with American Idol Result show airing on the other channel, i'm compelled to witness the wedding. Although it was for long hours, anticipating their union is somewhat the wedding everyone will talk about. Oh, i just like weddings!

And wedding bells and choir and the wedding gown!

After two, last weeks of this semester, i can finally take a little time off to unwind and rest before i dive into the books again. If the most hectic week is to be chosen, it had to be Week 13. Even with the Tuesday a public holiday, the rest of the week was less sleep, more stress. There were tests on Wednesday and Friday, Presentation hosting on Wednesday, assignments submission on Wednesday and Thursday and an unannounced quiz on Thursday. Looking back at that week, i always question myself, how did i survive through the week. Indeed, it is always a nice feeling to know what you've done and accomplished. For whatever the results may be, i know i tried my best in all.

I woke up this week smiling. I got up from bed and headed to my work desk- otherwise known as my table with laptop, and switched it on. The mail that caught my eyes was the one i sent over the weekend, about a work me and my team we doing. And it has gotten the approval. The April Issue 2011 of Heart of Tronoh (HOT). Do check it out. If you want to know what it is, it's my uni's official campus newsletter. I was smiling the entire day, and hopefully that smile will last this entire week- the last week. Even the last week, as always a rush to complete coursework before the semester closes- more so with the shortened semester, i had a lab test on Tuesday and test on Wednesday, and assignment deadlines on Tuesday and Thursday. Of course, the ideal getaway is, and always will be, a trip back home!

So here i am, blogging to you from home, in front of the TV watching the wedding of the year.

I just knew Thor is opening today. Who's in?


Stay by Hurts.

wc11 rings the bell and gets set for the study week ahead!

Passage of time: A Pokemon confession

" I see now that the circumstances of one's birth are irrelevant ; it's what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are." - The First Movie, Pokemon.

Heard the quote before? Probably you may or may not know that i was once a fan of Pokemon. Well, 'was' isn't exactly the right word to use because i still am having that interest for Pokemon. Sometimes, i do reopen my orange box where i keep my Pokemon cards in it and duel with my brothers. I am a fire-plant deck. I know, what a combination, but i don't play for tournaments- i play for the joy of it.

I remembered fondly of my Pokemon days. I can't exactly recall how this interest sparked but cards were one of those things that amplified it. I collected cards, bought them at game shops or traded them with my family and friends. Yes, it was the Pokemon fever during my childhood years and like every child, we want to have more of everything- more cards, more rare cards, with star shaped marks or limited edition ones that make them all the more valuable.

It was sometime ago when Fridays used to be the day i go to my friend's house, or they come over, to have battles. Somehow, these card games bonded us closer together, though sometimes, battles might turn uncomfortable. But it teaches something- we win some, we lose some, but more importantly, it's about teamwork and cooperation. It was some weekends too that i can remember going to my cousin's house, as a secondary purpose to play these cards together. We played with his neighbours too- almost the whole neighbourhood had a deck. To raise the stake, bets we made. Loser loses a card- i hate this.

Because buying new cards are expensive, these Pokemon cards are seen as a reward for something. It somehow taught me about budgeting and saving. Or when i am satisfied at something i put effort in like the exams or my good behaviour, i get one. A packet of card costs about RM 12, in my days. My parents can't buy one for me only- my brothers will ask for themselves too so each visit ended up three times the price, which made it more challenging to buy. And with the amount of pocket money i received monthly, every bought Pokemon cards meant something to me. I can remember one time when i was out in KLCC, i was tempted to buy a packet. I called my mum to know if she allowed me. And she did!

Not only were the cards causing the Pokemon craze- the games too! I had a Gameboy last time (it's barely functioning today) and with the cartridge fixed to it, my game was saved. Yellow. Blue. Gold. Silver. I remembered even waking up early one day to bury my head in the small screen. Probably a reason of my short-sightedness today. Every battle creates the suspense and eagerness to win. Sometimes when my Pokemon misses, i hope the enemy also misses. I reached the end stage, after collecting all gym badges and was in the league, battling other trainers. I also had the connector- i'm not sure what it's called, but i can duel with my cousin with it.

The only problem with the game, or Gameboy, was that it was battery-powered. So each time the red light dimmed, i needed a new battery. And again, batteries are not cheap. I had an adapter though, but nothing beats the device being portable! While waiting for dinner. In a car trip. Somehow, i don't find such equivalent joy when playing today's iPod games like Angry Birds, Cut The Rope, etc. I'm not saying that it's not great. It's just that Pokemon games will always have a place in me. Moving the avatar, meeting other trainers and the screen spirals in. The avatar meets the opponent. He throws a Pokeball and out comes a Pokemon. You throw yours and the battle begins! We can attack, use items or change Pokemon.

You can witness your Pokemon evolving too, after much love and care invested in them. And that sound, the the screen blinking on and off.

Then there was the TV series and movies. I knew what time of the day the show aired and i came to the front of the TV to impatiently wait for it, as it plays the opening credits with memorable song. The title comes out and i was all eager to watch the show. Ash with his adorable Pikachu. And surely, it was every kid-with-Pokemon-interest's dream to be Ash. Living in a world to become the greatest Pokemon master, experiencing adventures with his best friends. Seriously, the bond of friendship is gold to the show. And at the end of the show, when they had fast clips to name the Pokemon, i remembered i knew all of them.

One reason why i was inspired to blog about this is because i had just watched the first and second movie of Pokemon again. Yes, the one with Mew Two and the one with the three Legendary Birds. Instantly, it ignited that long, silent passion. Watching them reminded me of Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Charizat, Psyduck, and even the miserable but entertaining to watch Team Rocket and Meowth! The movie has great values and i'm sure when i have a kid one day, i will show them what Pokemon movies are and learn the values the movies have to offer.

Playing Pokemon cards, games or watching the show is not being childish but it is an act that you relive your childhood moments. Whether or not you are a fan of Pokemon- and that you may not share the same liking to this post, i believe you have at least one childhood memory of such and that you cherish them. Being an adult doesn't mean you need to let go off the things you imagined much as a child, it is about using those memories to learn from and become a person who you really are.

No doubt, as time goes by, we tend to forget and have lost little passion of it. Find that one thing that can rekindle your sweet childhood times. It may not be Pokemon. Perhaps Doraemon- don't get me started on that, or Power Rangers, Dragon Ball, Sailor Moon, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle or Transformers, and you will realize that time, at that moment, stops and you'll be transported back to that age.

I know i did, for sure.

So the next time i head home, it will be my orange box that i will look for and search the cards i once, and always will, treasure.

I imagine myself holding my Ho-oh card with Gold Berry attached to it, with five fire energy cards waiting for a Dive Bomb!

As for now, i'll be watching the third movie soon!

wc11 confesses his Pokemon dreams...



*This post is a special dedication to all Pokemon fans out there. Do comment your Pokemon moments. =)

Season 6, Episode 7: Come night, another side of me.

Snapshot: Looking for that one star, in a starry night reflecting Earth Hour 2011.

* Not for minors (under the age of 18) for the first part of the post.

"There was a saying that we can shed light in the darkness but we can never stick darkness in the light. It tells that in every fight, in every combat, in every struggle, light triumphs over darkness, good overwhelm evil. " - A work in progress opening lines.

Finally, my friends stripped my club 'virginity'- it's funny how they labeled it. And time and time again, they asked me to go. At first, i couldn't because i had to rush to complete some tasks at hand. Then, there was so much time between then and the time to go for clubs, so i had no way of coming out from it. Completed everything, almost, and left to the clubs.

A little '6' or '9' imprinted on the back of my palm.

I'm surprised! In my mind, i thought clubs are dark, smoky, crowded, and all sorts negative. But when i was there, it had sufficient lighting and it wasn't as dark as i thought it to be. Not much crowd though, a Thursday night out. Loud, deafening music. The first place we went was Barroom.

I had beer. And the dance floor.

Enough with that, we moved to the next club. 2 clubs in one night! Zer0 had more crowd.

I had liquor. I danced. And i puked.

Yes, people. You read right. I puked out what i drank. Not drunk, but i can feel my head spinning and i required effort to walk straight. I used to wonder how a person can be drunk. Now, i sort of know it. I'm not the extreme case, thankfully, as in almost every minute, i was making sure of myself to not allow my subconscious mind to take over.

The mark still present after a night's sleep. Written ZER0.

You don't want to know how many times i tried to let it all out. Even when we were at McDs, the place i visited first was the toilet. Knocked out almost throughout my trip back uni. Went back to my room, off to bed.

I thought sleeping at 4, i would have woken up about 10. I woke up at 8.30, somehow, energized until before i'm about to leave for class.

Long story short, clubbing was indeed an interesting experience. My friend told me, "The first time i went clubbing, i drank a bottle, then puked. And drank again." I'm a first timer at this, and drinking needs practice. I wonder if i'll practice again anytime soon.

Thank you guys- for helping me to lose my club 'virginity'.

*****

I'm so used to writing double stories in one post. Why? My time line is all messed up. When i put something on hold, another new thing comes up, piling. Therefore, the only escape from this is to do this.

26 March 2011 was a date the world united to support and show care towards the Earth we live in. *Drastic change from the clubbing post, ain't it?*

The ELC was no different. Like last year, this year, we brought the Mass Gathering Earth Hour 2011 to greater heights, reaching out to more people to join in this effort. To anticipate this, we had also initiated a Facebook-less Day and i personally thank you for supporting this effort.

We met in the lecture hall and showed inspiring videos of Earth Hour, and we initiated our countdown to switch off the lights. Then, we lighted our candles and paraded to the Pavilion. There, together with everyone, we lighted up the symbolic '60' and had tons of photographs with it.

With Jay and Nabs, ELC alumni. Candles in the night.

My friends and i posing with the symbolic 60. Much effort was put in on the board to create this masterpiece.

My uni participated as well, switching off all the street lights. Back to basics, we used candle light to guide our way. By the time we regrouped in the lecture hall, it was about time to countdown for the lights to turn on

Thank you and congratulations to those came and survived. This year, it is to go beyond the 60 minutes. After the countdown, we had games for the audience and a special performance by the 'Flamin' Lips. It was entertaining, to say the least.

It was a memorable night, for sure, knowing we still care for the world we live in.

And that's not all. That night was the first time ever i had seen a shooting star! I was too overwhelmed by joy that i didn't have time to close my eyes and make a wish. Even if i had, i knew what i wanted to wish for already.

wc11 says "What say you?" on the dance floor, under the moonlight.

Season 6, Episode 6: Smiles on Saturday

" Candy, Chicks, and Rock 'n' Roll. " - HOP movie tagline

Just to lay it down first, the 'virgin' club party was postponed until further notice- but i'm still worn out over the events that happened on that Saturday. I suppose there will always be a Saturday in every semester that i will somehow be spellbound and never want to come back uni. Last semester was Sitiawan. This semester was... *let the smiley Saturday story begin...*

Early on the 2nd of April, Saturday morning, i shared a technique i learned during my drama school years, the chain effect, with the rest of the team. My friend started to call another friend at 6.30am, and she then called another friend. And he then called another friend, until the phone-in-line returns to me about 7am. Somehow, i felt like i was back, living in those memories. Something to talk about, ain't so? Anyway, we met in the cafe at 7.15am, had breakfast together and a final briefing before we took off. You may be wondering what's all this fuss- waking up early, having breakfast, morning briefing.

Well, it was, after all, a Smiley Saturday! Not literally, the name of our project under the ELC is called so.

So we left in our cars to the nearby school. It's a project conducted in school to promote the use of English through activities and enhance listening and communication skills. The school of our choice was the SK Seri Tronoh.

Once there, we were divided into smaller groups, from Year One to Year Six. As a facilitator, i was assigned to group 1 of Year 5 students. There were 11 students in my group. We had an ice-breaking session to break the ice and get to know each other. We will be buddies for the next three hours. So, we had out first activity, the tongue-twister.

" Tie a knot, tie a tight, tight knot, tie a knot in a shape of a ... "

And the students, in a circle, will add on to the line in alphabetical order. The facilitators had to play along. And when it came to my turn, i was the last one with all the words, and eyes staring at me.

"Tie a knot, tie a tight, tight knot, tie a knot in a shape of an apple, ball, cat, dog, elephant, ferry, giraffe, house, iguana, jaguar, kangaroo, lamp, mango, nest, orange, pencil, queen, rabbit, sheep, tiger, umbrella, violin, window, x-ray, ..." *I still remember them now*

The next thing i asked them to do was to come up with a name for our group. We're later called 'Tiger Lightning'. Moving on to our next activity, we did Snap Dragon. Probably some of you may know how to fold this already. It's the one where you can fit your fingers into four boxes, ask your friends to choose a colour then you show them the short-listed numbers inside. The activity was to improve listening skills.

Finally, we had little sketches. Something like a charades, they had to act some 'present continuous phrases'. Somehow, this got them hyped up and active. I had to follow their lead then. Just before we left, we had our final activity together which is a sing-along. Not bad, i can feel the spirit in them!

A group photo of my team, in their funny faces. Nice meeting them.

Just before we bid farewell to the school, the facilitators took a group photo together.
I felt the project, 'Smiley Saturday' was truly a successful and enjoyable one!

Headed back to uni, exhausted. But that did not deter us from continuing on with our night escape. Even with the tiredness settling in and my headache verging on returning, we were energized at the thought of going to Ipoh. And the big group narrowed down to four, as we left uni at 6pm.

We couldn't get to Jusco at the time we estimated. We were not familiar with the directions to get there, following instincts more than signboards. But we were just in time for the movie we wanted to watch, Hop.

Hop is a new movie that celebrates the magic of Easter. It's a colourful, vibrant and entertaining movie. A good choice of escape from the stress as we had real good laughs at some scenes. There are some family drama revolving around the two main characters- one a man, another a bunny. It begins with a child seeing the Easter bunny on the night before Easter. Twenty years later, they grew up and the boy, now a man, Fred, is a slacker and does not plan to get a job. EB, the son of the elder rabbit, decided he did not want to become the Easter Bunny because of the tremendous weight on the shoulder. He runs away from the family and goes to Hollywood. He dreams of becoming a drum player. He accidentally meets with Fred. And their relationship experiences downs and ups until the end. Not revealing much to you.

It's like Alvin and the Chipmunks. It has a good story to accompany. Overall, Hop makes for a good family movie and if you're in to have a good laugh, this movie offers you enough dose to enjoy for the rest of the weekend.

After movie, we went for a brief shopping. By then, our stomachs were grumbling and we didn't know what to eat. We went out Jusco to De' Garden (if i spell it right) and hunt for something good to eat. Looking at the crowd in Paparich, we dined in.

Me and my dinner. The place was nice. The food was alright, nothing impressive. Probably it was a wrong choice of meal?

The place around De' Garden is beautiful at night, with lights and water effects. It was my first time there and i'm sure i liked the place. After dinner, we went for desserts in the shops in the area. We left slightly after 11pm to get back to uni- midnight was our limit.

A very Hollywood-boulevard feel as we stared up into the palm trees.

What a weekend!

*****

Not too long ago, i was the MC for the Chem-E-Car Competition held in my uni.

Somehow, i'm getting the hang of being an MC.

With the committees of Ceremony and Protocol.

wc smiles on the Saturday...

Season 6, Episode 5: Starry visit

"What can you do when your good isn't good enough?" - Glee, Original Song

It has been so, so long since i updated my blog. Same excuse, busy. Sometimes, when i thought of blogging and have all the words set up in my mind, i log in here and lost all those words, ending up with nothing.

The usual. Tests. Tasks. And coming soon, a wave of assignments. So you might not see me soon after this again.

I shall end the serious stuff and move on to something more exciting. I grew a year older since the last post. Yes, i'm finally no longer in my teens. I'm already beginning with a number 2 in front. The birthday celebration will be posted later in conjunction, hopefully, with my 'virgin' club party- that's what my friends are labeling it.

Somehow, the 'exciting' part doesn't fit quite right. When i was younger, i thought of growing up fast and work. But now, i long to return to my childhood days and relive those playground times. If not, back to my primary or secondary school. My advise, enjoy yourself at your age. When you're young, do what young people do. Don't think of growing old fast. I always believe that a child possesses the most creativity and energy.

So, 20. What have i been doing with my life? Lately, like a mid-life crisis striking and haunting, i thought about the other great things that i could do. And what made me end up here, in this uni, for this course. Memories of all those choices and pathways after SPM came back, knocking to remind me of the main reason why i came here. I always imagine what if i didn't enter here. I will be with different people, different environment and probably, an entirely different me. I ain't getting any younger and often, i ponder to myself if i have been making and doing the most of my life to myself, the people around me and the world i live in. Somehow, there's an inside force calling me to do something bigger, something greater. But i just don't know what it is or how it is to be evolved.

To comfort myself, i always say that there is still time or later or next time. There will be a chance and all i need is to find the right time to seize it. What if the time is now? And what if i wait any longer, it slips away.

***

On the 18th of March, HOT and The Inspirer visited The Star headquarters and its hub in KL, and i can tell you this, it really was an eye opener. I've never entered The Star office in KL and i was looking forward to the visit. We left uni early to arrive on time.

As we entered, we were amazed by its design, especially the lobby/reception. Apparently, it was supposed to be a hotel but it didn't come together- and there was a Star Byte cafe. We were introduced to the person in charge of our visit and were showed around the gallery. Red.fm and Galaxie (and i can't remember the others) are by them too?

They brought us up into a room and introduced The Star to us- since i'm not a Star reader, this is good information. Then, we were introduced to Joshua, one of the journalists, who kindly answered several questions about writing news/reports and some personal background. They showed us their office. Since we were there in the morning, most of the journalists/reporters were out hunting information to complete their assignments. They showed us the photo gallery, other sections of the newspaper, and a fame filled room kinda thing. They were all football fans so club flags could be seen hung on their ceiling lights. I even met, in person, the artist of the only cartoon that i read in The Star, WC Kee 'Kee's World'. Somehow, i was overly excited!

Handing souvenirs and tokens of appreciation to the people of The Star in Menara Star.

Since it was a visit, done with the headquarters, we went for lunch around Bukit Jelutong. We were anticipating good meals or choices for better meals outside uni. Sadly, the place was rather like uni. And we had to settle for uni-like food.

A comic of the life in The Star bidding welcome in the Star Hub.

The Star Hub was really interesting. I didn't know that to make a newspaper, it has to go through many steps. The machines are large. Rolls and rolls of new paper. The platform reminded me of a ride in Universal Studios Singapore. The track looks like a roller-coaster track, moving up and down, turning at corners. Since no photography was allowed in the factory, you have to only imagine what i said.

Posing next to me is the layout of the hub.

Refreshments were served before we said our thank yous and goodbyes.

Somehow, i got motivated and inspired in this visit and hopefully, it will be channeled to greater use! wc11 enjoyed the Star visit tremendously!

Season 6, Episode 4: I'm Tangled...

" And at last, I see the light..." - Tangled

I don't even know why am I blogging now. I should be away hitting the books for an upcoming test, reorganize my planner for imminent meetings- and brace for some criticisms, or busy filling in details for an application. I should be anywhere but here, in this world, blogging.

Probably this will be a site for me to vent my frustration- or provide a slight entertainment from all these stress!

Yes, I had a great weekend escape. Lots of food, lots of fun. But that's the past, coming back to the present is worrying, sometimes demanding. I applied for an exchange program since last semester and only lately was i informed to apply for a placement myself. That's not all, i need to do it fast. Extremely fast. Deadline is less than a week and i need my documents prepared! Where to go in all this rush? Minus the weekend, where office or bank are closed, i am left to solve the remaining parts of the application which does not require any of this sort.

Then i need to know my courses which are transferable, or exchangeable. Forget my uni internet line- it's not very convincing. Luckily, i managed to get home for the weekend and utilize a more stable connection. Rush! After all is said and done, and filling in where i can at the moment, i have to put it in their hands. I will try my best to submit where possible and leave it to them to decide. Finger's crossed, everything will be fine.

The next thing is the commitment issue. Lately, i'm torn in all angles- studies and responsibilities, home and uni, local and international, that sometimes, i don't even have enough time to breathe- exaggeration intended. But to say the least, sometimes i couldn't even have a meal without having these thoughts in mind or sleep without dreaming about these issues. No, i'm not complaining. No, i'm not giving up. Sometimes we just need to say things out so that we don't get caught up alone in all these stress. Whatever i am doing now, i believe, is that i will try to stay strong for whatever comes. I needed to. If i'm not, everything around me, and myself, will fall into pieces.

Recently, i watched Tangled and surprisingly, it's a winner! I went to watch with not much anticipation or expectation, but i was blown away by the end of the show. It's great to see that Disney's back with another great music piece. Since i'm running out of time, i won't be writing a synopsis or an elaborate comment. One thing i can say is this, if you have the chance to watch this, prepare to be mesmerized by its magical impact! It is, after all, a Disney movie.

wc11 will leave at this and is off to dash out the other notes on his planner!

Season 6, Episode 3: Dare to be different

" Sing it for the world, sing it for the world! " - Sing, MCR.

Lately, i encountered several 'requests' tempting me to be different. Asking me to go outside my box, outside my comfort zone and take risk. Sometimes, i ponder to myself, have i not been daring enough to do something different? Have i not tried taking risks, facing challenges, overcoming obstacles? Have i changed enough for the people to see that i have changed?

It's not easy to answer these questions because the person involved is the person i see in front of the mirror. And to answer these questions is to look back, reflect, and find the answers. If i have not been pushing myself to my limit, daring to be different, i doubt if i could even be here. In uni. Juggling studies with responsibilities.

There's no need to try so hard- or sometimes, we're just trying so hard to prove to ourselves that we become not the person we know. The main point is that we know who we are, we know ourselves best. Life takes its course, taking us down a road filled with bumps and turns. And through that, we may be aware, or unaware, that it is teaching us a lesson, guiding us to handle the situation and testing us on an ungraded trial. We don't need to go around telling people we have changed. We don't need to find challenges because it will come to you. We don't need to dress differently, talk differently, act differently to highlight the external changes. We should dare to be different but not to the point where we lose our uniqueness and our true self because the moment we lose that in us, it is the time that we become common. When we know inside that we are different and we have changed, people will know. People can see.

And even if they don't, in time, they will come to see that we have changed.

One thing i know i am is that i am a planner. I plan most of my time. What i want to accomplish today, what i want to accomplish over the week, what i want to do later. The only problem is that it sometimes can become too rigid. Sometimes when i planned everything all so nicely, some unforeseen mistake comes to ruin the plan and causes the domino effect- all plans have to slowly reorganize. So the one thing that i need to work on now is flexibility. My plan is to be readily open for changes. We can plan, but that's the furthest we can go. We cannot control the future to be in place of the plan.

That's some serious piece of sharing. Switching topic, i'm still not done with my CNY posts. Second day of CNY in Melaka!

With all the cousins from mom side.

With the youngest aunt!

Playing cards is part of tradition.

So, try posting those questions to yourself. See how it comes out to be.

wc11.

Season 6, Episode 2: White Swan

" I had the craziest dream last night about a girl who has turned into a swan, but her prince falls for the wrong girl and she kills herself. " - Black Swan

Initially, this post's title was to be named 'Black Swan' but because it is still CNY and we prefer not to deal with anything 'black', i switched it to 'white' instead. And naming 'white' doesn't really alter the purpose of the post either. It has, after all, both in one.

Yes, when i knew this movie the end of last year, i had made it a must to watch it the soonest i got it- and comment on it. The trailer was out. The interview session was published. It sounded dark. It looked dark. It felt dark. 'Black' itself tells something, but 'swan'? Something as graceful and elegant as a swan be 'dark'- and i don't mean the colour. Something as pure as a swan be overshadowed and overcast. Black Swan lives to my expectation, scoring above and beyond what i had in mind for a psychological thriller drama.

It has been a long time since i had my expectations in movies satisfied. It's always much anticipation which is later followed by utter disappointment after watching it. But Black Swan? No. And not only does it deliver, it has that afterthought, riveting yet disturbing at the same time. A story of double like 'Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde' and great element of rivalry last seen in 'The Prestige'. Thrilling directing, over-the-edge acting. Definitely the best Natalie P's performance- no wonder a Globe was for her. And what more, this story revolves around the Swan Lake- every ballerina's dream performance, an ideal and intriguing setting for the movie to play on.

Natalie P plays Nina, the lady who has set her eyes on becoming the Swan Queen and let nobody else take her role in the performance. She was seen as the perfect, ideal white swan. But the producer wondered her capability to dance the black swan- the evil swan who steals the love of white swan that she needed to break her spell. The producer looked towards Lily, a suitable candidate to play black swan. Nina becomes paranoid of her role of every little detail that tried to threaten it and guarded it with all her heart- even putting herself in danger. A struggle on all levels- within herself and with external pressures to deliver the best Swan Queen. Soon *spoiler* instead of playing the black swan, Nina became the black swan- evil, wicked, dark, the other side of human being.

Despite some explicit scenes, this movie is a real winner! It has a story of purity and darkness intertwined in a highly competitive ballet performance, Swan Lake, and that shows the price of perfection! Watch it, give it some thought and the real essence of the movie prevails, slowly and silently to yourself.

Enough with Black Swan, things in uni are getting back on the wheel, rolling, accelerating. Dates of quizzes, tests, assignment dues, meeting dates, etc start to fill the pages of my planner. I had to have a planner, otherwise, everything gets jumbled up! Lectures are fine- some more interesting than the other. We can't always have fun lectures, some tends to be dry.

Helping my friend to pump her car tyre in this. I liked this picture. It's as if i'm promoting for The Chronicler, or the car, or both.

On the first day of CNY

In red on the new year's day!

Red and yellow lions make great combination! I used to fancy dancing lions when i was a kid. my mum said i was a good dancer.

The surprise this CNY- three lions!

My grandpa receiving the lion's present.

New Year's day was great. Tiring, but great. As i have said, tire ourselves once in a year and the return is always fulfilling.

wc11 dances the lion.

" I was perfect. " - Black Swan